monsta-x-jagi

[monsta-x-jagi]

His Consigliere’s Favourite Cocktail - Part 4

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word count: 5.3k

Warnings: poisoning, guns

Notes: n/a

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You followed the signs for the toilets, and knew very quickly you were being followed. You had just finished reapplying your make up when Wonyoung walked in.

“Oh it’s you sweetheart. And what happened to your hair?” She said as she walked in. If she knew you were expecting her, she didn’t show it.

“My boyfriend happened. Can you believe the guy?” You said with a laugh as you pretended to fix your hair.

After a few seconds of watching you, Wonyoung moved behind your and picked up some of your hair, exposing your neck. “Let me help you,” she said as he ran her fingers through your hair, roots to ends. It felt calming, and you loosed a gentle breath as your shoulders relaxed. “That’s it. Now let me work my magic,” Wonyoung said as she began pinning strands of hair back in place.

“You’re really good at this,” you said. Her fingers were calming in your hair, making you close your eyes. 

Wonyoung smiled through the mirror and continued working. “Just let me add your hair pin back in.”

You never wore a hair pin to begin with. It was almost too late when you realised this. Your eyes shot open just as you suddenly felt something sharp grazing the back of your neck. You instinctively jolted forward and your hair fell apart again as Wonyoung’s grip on your hair gave out. You turned around to see her holding a very thin, pointed blade that could almost pass for a hairpin at the right angle. 

“What are you doing?” 

Wonyoung’s face had now lost all the warmth and gentleness it held earlier in the night. Her lilting voice was much more threatening as she spoke.“Look, we can make this easy or difficult. I can slice you up until Chae Hyungwon can’t recognise you, or you can come with me on your own. Choice is yours.”

You could feel your heart thumping, and your willed yourself to remain steady. You had your orders, you knew the plan. 

“I’ll come with you.”

Wonyoung guided you out of the bathroom, with an arm wrapped around your waist to take you wherever she wanted. To outsiders, it would look like two close friends, but you knew that blade was right by your stomach - one wrong move, one stab and you might end up bleeding out from a fatal wound.

You ended up being taken to one of the plush suites in the hotel. It was empty but was clearly being used, judging by the number of bags strewn around the room. You didn't get a chance to glance at the bags as you “cooperated" when Wonyoung sat you down on a chair and tied your wrists on to it. She took a seat on the bed, leisurely crossing her legs, but you knew the following conversation would not be leisurely. 

“Why are you and the spy master here tonight?” 

“To bid on jewellery, same as everyone else,” you replied. 

“Ah right. Let me rephrase that question then.” She glanced at her nails, faking nonchalance. “Why are MX agents here? Especially the consigliere?” 

You had always hated repeating yourself, so you tried not to sound frustrated as you spoke. “For the same reason I told you earlier. I am here because I like jewellery. Hyungwon is my date.”

Wonyoung chuckled. “Oh please, what kind of consigliere screws a spy master?” She sat back upright and leaned forward towards you. “They’re impossible to trust, don’t you think? Like do you actually think he likes you?” 

Well that was a bit personal, and you weren’t even sure how to craft an answer to that. Did Hyungwon like you? Did you trust him? Sure you trusted him to follow your orders, but he probably only did that because he was meant to, and you outranked him. You relationship had always been transactional - you both sought comfort and solace in each other. He had always been good company for dinner or drinks, and even though you didn’t feel the need to discuss his sexual past, you knew firsthand he was an attentive and caring lover who always brought you pleasure. But does he like you? Does he crave you? Does he worry about you? Does he want you?

You swallowed and tried to find an adequate response as both Wonyoung’s proximity and her words sent a shudder through you.

“Hyungwon doesn’t have to like me. I am the consigliere, I call the shots.” You hoped you sounded strong and certain as you said it. 

Wonyoung’s expression remained neutral. “Well then at least as the consigliere, you should have informed MX to not come here and interfere with SSE business tonight.”  

You shrugged. “MX is not making an appearance tonight, so we won’t be interfering with your business, whatever that may be.”

Wonyoung walked out from behind your chair towards a dresser holding a wine cooler. She poured some of herself and took a sip. “Mm not bad,” she said before looking at you again. “But you’re wrong consigliere. You and Chae’s involvement in this auction directly interferes with my clients’ business. You’re taking away the jewellery our company will be repurposing to pay for foreign investments. What you’re doing goes against competition law.”

You genuinely couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled out of you at that. There was no way this woman was a paralegal if she believed that.

“Oh my god, do you even have legal training?” Ok maybe it was a bad idea to mock the person holding you hostage. This is why you don’t go out in the field.

“Now your first mistake was competition law. Looking to competition law to protect your business is a weak move when competition law is made to protect consumers. I know your next tactic is to go down the common law approach, but you’re misguided if you believe MX has a duty of care towards SSE’s interests. For starters, MX is not here, it’s just me and my boyfriend having a little shopping spree. Secondly, this is an auction. We all bid as we want, there is no established relationship, no duty of care, no reason for anybody to consider proximity or foreseeability of harm, when we’re all bidding on what you want.” And then for good measure, just because you were hot-headed, you added, “Plus, if you ever went to college, you’d know an auction is the number one place to see first degree price discrimination."

As you made your explanation (more like mouthed off enough to seal your own execution order), Wonyoung made her way to a different corner of the room. Your eyes followed her once your words ran out, and you saw her emerging with the same hair pin of a knife as before. You then watched as she unscrewed the ornamental portion of it to pull out a syringe. She held it up to her eye, checking the liquid, and pushed the plunger until a little liquid squirted out.

No. No, no, no, please no. Did you say that out loud or just think it? Honestly, you have no idea and it didn’t even matter. A drunk, angry woman carrying a syringe was quite scary. Maybe it was a mistake running your high and mighty lawyerly mouth.

“Well it’s been lovely getting to know you this past hour, but unfortunately, it’s time for me to go,” Wonyoung said as she approached you.

You shrank back in your chair, even though you knew escape was impossible. Briefly, the thought of using the chair itself as a weapon struck you, but the chair was some ornate piece that you couldn’t even lift up comfortably to try and ram into her to knock her off balance.

What the bloody fuck was in that syringe? When Hyungwon said you were bait, you expected imprisonment and restraints yes, but not possible death by poisoning. And where the hell was he?

 In your mind, Wonyoung’s steps towards you slowed. You flailed in your seat, trying to dodge her for what felt like hours, and your energy seemed to rapidly deplete, despite the poison not even having hit you yet. Soon, Wonyoung stood in front of you, close enough to grab your neck and immediately halt your movements.

“Stay still. It’ll hurt less.” With nothing else to go off of, you decided to heed Wonyoung’s firm, threatening words. “It’s just a sedative, you’ll live.” 

Oh fuck. Your eyes widened in fright. That had to be a lie. The right amount of sedatives injected into a person could stop their heart. A new round of begging and pleading ensued, even though you knew it was no use. The injection pierced your arm, and you couldn’t even look in that direction. Tears welled up in your eyes in fear, and your chest tightened. Where was Hyungwon? Or even Hoseok at mission control who was probably keeping an eye on everything right now? 

You started loosing sensation in your arms, the bindings no longer tight and straining against your forearms. Your head started to droop, but Wonyoung seemed to have the care to not allow it to completely fall to the side without support, gently lowering it to your chest. Your eyes felt heavy, and eventually you let them close, until finally, you felt nothing. 

——————————————————————————————————

Conveniently in the room next door, Hoseok was putting away some tactical gear while Hyungwon sat on the bed and watched. Hoseok had attached some sort of microphone to the wall, with a speaker that was now relaying the conversation taking place next door where you and Wonyoung were.

A radio on the bed beside Hyungwon crackled, and he tossed it to Hoseok.

Hoseok placed it to his ear and listened, then informed Hyungwon, “Minhyuk says he needs another 15. He’s dragging a body somewhere.” 

Both men looked towards the speaker where they heard Wonyoung: “They’re impossible to trust, don’t you think? Like do you actually think he likes you?” 

Hoseok gave Hyungwon a grim glance. “Think y/n can handle another 15 of that?”

Hyungwon worriedly shook his head. He knew you couldn’t, he knew these taunts were high up on the list of everything that ticks you off, but for your sake, he hoped you could. He fell backwards on to the bed and groaned. “God, why won’t Minhyuk hurry up? I don’t like y/n having to sit and take that.” 

Hoseok placed a comforting hand on Hyungwon’s leg. “Hey. I am sure y/n knows better than to listen to that rubbish. Plus like, you’ve already told her what she means to you right?” 

Hyungwon didn’t answer and instead looked towards the speaker again. Hoseok noted his silence and pursed his lips. Had the two of you really been like this for months? How was it that both of you ignored the fact you two craved each other for more than sex? The safety and happiness of the person had always been a priority, with each of you doing little things to take care of each other, but without ever mentioning it. Hoseok knew Hyungwon was probably thinking something similar. 

Hyungwon wondered why he hadn’t made the effort to have that conversation with you. Was it because you always avoided the topic? Was it because he wasn’t sure that you felt the same way? 

Your laugh echoed over the speakers, interrupting the thoughts swirling in his head. It was so out of place for this mission, especially for an interrogation. Hoseok looked over at Hyungwon, confused, but Hyungwon broke into a huge grin and said, “Call Minhyuk. Tell him he has time to bury that body if he wants.”

“Huh? Why?” Hoseok asked, and Hyungwon nodded towards the speaker.

“She only laughs like that when she knows, really knows, she’s got you. It’s honestly so cute,” Hyungwon gushed. 

“Aren’t you worried she’ll provoke Wonyoung? Isn’t it like interrogation 101 to not provoke your captor?” Hoseok asked. “Surely you as spy master explained that.” 

“Shh, I’ll explain after. For now, just listen and tell me we aren’t lucky to have her,” Hyungwon said and nodded to the speaker.

Your voice then became the only thing filling the room. “Looking to competition law to protect your business is a weak move when competition law is made to protect consumers. I know your next tactic is to go down the common law approach, but you’re misguided if you believe MX has a duty of care towards SSE’s interests. For starters, MX is not here, it’s just me and my boyfriend having a little shopping spree. Secondly, this is an auction. We all bid as we want, there is no established relationship, no duty of care, no reason for anybody to consider proximity or foreseeability of harm, when we’re all bidding on what you want.” You paused, and Hyungwon could almost imagine you taking several deep breaths, before he knew you would add some moderately scathing retort. “Plus, if you ever went to college, you’d know an auction is the number one place to see first degree price discrimination.” 

And there it was. Hyungwon covered his mouth to hide his gleeful snicker at listening to you put somebody in their place. “God she’s smart. She really went from consumer practices to torts to whatever she learned during her undergrad.” 

Hoseok also couldn’t help smiling with Hyungwon. “Yeah, I can see why Changkyun recommended Hyunwoo recruit her. You’re right, we’re really lucky to have her.”

“Mm, you mean I am lucky to have her,” Hyungwon replied softer. “I should really tell her that huh?”

Hoseok shook his head amused but refrained from teasing Hyungwon, instead offering some encouragement. “Yeah, you really should. By the way, what the heck is a tort?”

Hyungwon let out a deep sigh, as if the mere thought of torts tired him. “Don’t ask. They’re a pain. Did you know it’s a type of law made after someone drank a snail?” 

“Gross.” After some silence, with their ears still tuned to the speaker, Hoseok spoke again. “Did you hear the other thing she said?”

“What?” 

“She called you her boyfriend,” Hoseok said, watching as Hyungwon’s eyes widened in surprise before the man grew thoughtful again. “I can’t believe you of all people missed that, not when you’ve spent the last 20 minutes stressing about whether she knows how you feel about her.” 

“You noticed?”

“Hyungwon, everybody in our entire mafia knows,” Hoseok said exasperated, but still keeping his voice down. “You two are couple goals. Whenever she sits next to me watching and listening in on all your missions, do you know what she says?” 

Hyungwon shook his head to say no. He had heard in passing that you paid attention to his missions thanks to Changkyun, but he never stopped to consider the scale or dedication at which you paid attention to him. 

“She keeps asking me how dangerous it is, and whether she should prepare anything for when you come back. And when there’s nothing to say about your mission, she just tells me stories, but somehow they all keep coming back to you.” Hoseok stopped his recount to detach a small camera off his suit and threw it at Hyungwon. “I swear Hyungwon, if I am right about how you haven’t confessed to her yet, I am sending the entire body cam recording of our conversation to her tomorrow morning.”

Hyungwon caught the camera and a soft pink tinged his face. Mission somewhat forgotten, he asked, “What stories does she tell you?” 

Hoseok opened his mouth to make a retort but your screams suddenly filled the room. Pleading, begging, crying, your words jumbling into each other until they became incoherent. Hyungwon immediately stood up, grabbing his gun. That sweet romantic look on his face from earlier was replaced by fury and determination.

Hoseok’s eyes narrowed as he focused on your voice, trying to pick out the garbled words you were screaming. His lips curled in worry as your voice started to fade. “They gave her a sedative, it won’t be fatal,” he told Hyungwon, hoping to reassure him. 

“Fatal, or not, we’re going right now.”

——————————————————————————————————

Your body felt like concrete, stiff and sore everywhere. There was a particular stabbing pain in your upper arm. You slowly moved your fingers to trace over the region, and found a bruise, the kind that comes from bad injections. Beneath you were soft sheets, your favourite kind, made with silk imported from that very specific silk farm in Japan. Your body jolted in realisation - only your own bed had these sheets. 

You raised your head, trying to look around. Blinking and adjusting to the low light, you found the familiar layout of your own bedroom at home in the MX compound. A glass of water had been placed on the bedside table, and your clothes from the night before had been removed. You were dressed in one of pretty nightgowns, the kind you only used when Hyungwon stayed over. 

Where was he, actually? Did he find you after you lost consciousness? Was the mission a success? You took a deep breath and tried to sit up, groaning loudly as you did. For a minute, the room was spinning, and it felt like you were standing on slanted ground when you swung your feet off your bed. 

You probably sounded like some elderly woman that grumbles about everything as you finally stood up from your bed. You had to clutch the wall as you walked to your doorway. Who even brought you home? Did one of the women in Hoseok’s army change your clothes?

A stream of curses left your mouth for each step you took, until you finally reached you kitchen. You hadn’t even been in here in several days, but someone had cleaned it, so now you had to crouch down to reach your cupboards and find a saucepan and some ramen. Cue more groans. You eventually got your knees to bend to a crouch, and even picked up a pot, but you suddenly lost the strength to stand back up. The pot fell from your hand with a loud clang and you lowered yourself the remaining distance to sit on floor, breathing heavily. 

You barely heard the footsteps in your own home throughout all this.

“Baby, you need rest,” your most favourite voice in the world said.

You looked up see Hyungwon standing in your kitchen. He was wearing a comfortable sweater and track pants, and his hair was a little messy, like he had been sleeping. Suddenly, you were aware that you were wearing some flimsy nightgown and hadn’t even brushed your teeth. In your head, you quickly brought your hands to your head, trying to smooth out your hair. 

In reality, your hands slowly came up to cover your face and pull on your hair. Seeing this, Hyungwon quickly rushed to you and crouched down beside you. He took your hands and held them in his.

“No, no, don’t cry. You’re okay, baby. I am right here, you’re safe.” 

You (slowly) lifted your head up to look at him, your face confused. “I am not crying,” you replied. “What happened?”

Hyungwon smiled softly and smoothed down some of your hair. “How about we go back to bed and lie down first? I’ll explain everything then.”

He placed his hands under your arms to pull you up. Your body didn’t have the strength to protest, so you let him take you back to your room. After helping you get under the covers, he walked to the other side of your bed to join you. He curled himself around you, knowing you weren’t in a state where you could move your own body comfortably. You had opted to simply lay on your back, head rolled to the side away from him. 

Hyungwon propped himself up on his elbow, and gently rubbed your side with his other hand. “You’re going to be okay… everything is going to be okay…”

You lay still with your eyes closed, not even sure if you were processing his words. You opened your mouth to try and say something but Hyungwon shushed you. 

“Shhh, just rest. Wonyoung gave you a sedative. Just rest and let it wear off okay?” 

You groaned in disagreement. “Hyungwon, I can still speak,” you said, your voice a little hoarse. 

Hyungwon smiled and brushed some hair out of your face. “I know. I heard you talking to Wonyoung last night, you were so brave, especially when you went off at her.” 

“I thought you would be mad,” you replied, casting your eyes downward in embarrassment. It was the spy master himself who had taught you to never provoke your interrogator, but you completely forgot about that.

“And why would I be mad, sweetheart? You did so well last night.”

Usually, you would say you felt fuzzy from the praise, especially when your hard work was recognised by someone whose opinion you valued, but today, it was because you shook your head too quickly to disagree with Hyungwon’s words. “I showed the exact reason why I don’t go out in the field. I let my emotions get the better of me. I lashed out at Wonyoung and babbled useless things when I should have just used my cover story like I was supposed to.”

Hyungwon shifted a little closer to you so that he could loosely throw an arm over your waist. “Y/n, you know your emotions are not the reason you don’t go out in the field.” He sighed when he saw the disappointment on your face that was clearly aimed at yourself. “We don’t send you on missions because you’re our consigliere. You’re too important to risk like that.” He didn’t add that he hated sending you into the field too.

“But even Hyunwoo goes on missions,” you whined. “I know he was there last night, even though I didn’t see him.”

“Hyunwoo doesn’t have legal knowledge like you do,” Hyungwon replied, trying to reassure you using the thing he knew you loved most about yourself. He knew you were proud of your job, of all the knowledge you accumulated over the years. But he also knew you hated it when your perfectly rule governed understanding of the world wasn’t shared by someone else.

“And look where that got me last night,” you cried out, your voice cracking because of your dry scratchy throat. 

Having anticipated your growing outburst, Hyungwon almost immediately sat up and reached over you to the bedside table with the glass of water. Holding the glass in one hand, he guided you to sit up with his other hand on your back. “Take a sip.” 

You did, and immediately felt the water soothe your throat. You then took the glass from Hyungwon, gripping it in both hands to take several more gulps.

“There is actually something from last night I need to talk to you about,” Hyungwon said while you drank. 

“You want to do our debrief now?” You asked as you placed the now empty glass on the table. Your voice was deeper, business-like as you anticipated the routine debriefing following a mission.

“No, it’s not a debrief,” Hyungwon said, shaking his head. He was familiar with the way you switched to business-mode, because for the longest time, that had been your default setting. It was how you and Hyungwon began hooking up in the first place, wth you needing an outlet to get out of your head, away from your work. Today, Hyungwon had ensured you would be successful in that endeavour, as he added, “Technically, you’re on sick leave right now, so nobody is allowed to talk work with you.”

“Sick leave isn’t a thing for the MX inner circle,” you replied with a frown. “I know because I write every single employment contract.” 

Hyungwon chuckled. “And we never would have met otherwise. I still remember how you came to my bar to personally take me through the contracts for all my employees.” 

“And then I chose to keep coming back to that bar, so aren’t you a lucky guy?” You replied, while ducking your head down with a laugh as you slowly exited work-mode and returned to the present. 

Lucky. The word brought the conversation with Hoseok last night to Hyungwon’s mind. He was supposed to be telling you something today. 

“You’re right. I am lucky,” he murmured to himself. 

You looked back up at him, still smiling. Your whole body seemed more fluid now, as if the relaxant had faded a little more since you got into bed. “What did you want to ask me about?” Even your voice was smoother now, and devoid of the deep business tone you had earlier. 

“It’s about the cover story we had last night,” Hyungwon said, and chewed his lip while he searched for the words. “How did you feel about it?”

Your lips pouted as you thought. “It was good,” you supplied after a minute. 

“Just good?” 

“Well yeah, it was easy to carry out. To pretend, to play, to act,” you explained, your head nodding as you methodically listed your reasons.

Hyungwon nodded along with each reason, wondering when you were going to join the dots together. “Did you ever think about why it was easy to pretend?” He asked to prompt you.

Your eyes flicked to the side as you recalled whatever you could from the night before and Hyungwon knew you were searching for the logical, practical, proper answer. It was the one wall he hadn’t gotten past yet, even though sometimes he saw the cracks in it. 

“You were a good boyfriend,” you finally said. “You made it look like you actually liked me, you got me food, you kept me close, you comforted me when we talked to those chauvinists. It was very believable.” 

That was true. Hyungwon had fulfilled everything you should have expected from a boyfriend. But you couldn’t accept that he liked you. He was doing it for the mission, he was a skilled spy master capable of putting on a facade for anybody, meaning those believable actions were specifically crafted to be believable. 

Hyungwon eyed you for a few seconds, then asked, his voice feeling uncharacteristically small, “Do you believe it?” 

You felt uneasy under his gaze. “Believe what? That you would make a good boyfriend?” You hoped there was enough bravado in your voice so you would appear unbothered, but you knew that probably wasn’t the case, not with the sedative impairing your actions to a small extent.

“Believe I could be your boyfriend,” Hyungwon said, correcting your earlier question. 

Your chest felt tight. How were you supposed to respond to that? You knew, you had always known, you wanted more than committed sex. Because who the hell even says they have a committed friend with benefits that makes everything feel okay even when it’s not?

When you didn’t answer, Hyungwon added, “You claimed it boldly last night.” 

You frowned. You were certain you didn’t say that in front of him.

“You said it to Wonyoung, not to me. I was in the room next door, getting ready to come get you,” he added when he saw your brows knit in confusion. 

“Oh.” You looked down again, your face relaxing into a gentle smile that you tried to hide. So Hyungwon did follow through on his promise to find you last night, he didn’t abandon you. But that smile faded when you realised your words might have been an untimely confession.

“Hyungwon, look I am sorry,” you said. “You don’t have to- I didn’t mean it like it was- god did I ruin something between us?” You sank further into the covers and rolled your head back to look at the ceiling.

In between your stressed out, deep breaths, you heard Hyungwon say, “Now why would you think that?” 

You heard him shifting on the bed beside you to sit up. He then placed a hand on the mattress beside you, and moved to lean over you, giving you no choice but to look at him from under the covers.

“Y/n, what will it take for you to realise I didn’t pretend? I have never pretended to like you, because there was nothing to pretend anyways.” 

You pulled the covers slightly away from you, like you were some frightened creature coming out of a cocoon. Above you, you saw Hyungwon’s eyes sincerely searching your face and begging you to understand him, and not brush him away this time around.

“So then last night, when you…” you trailed off as you remembered. “When you kissed me last night, when you bought me the dress and jewellery, when you…”

As you grew lost in your thoughts, Hyungwon leaned down to give your forehead a quick peck. “Yes. To everything.” 

Your face warmed at that, but you weren’t about to let that last wall crumble quickly.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” you replied, mostly because you weren’t sure how to respond to a confession. You had tucked away your feelings so deep that a confession wasn’t even something you had thought to prepare for.

“I don't need to. I just know every instance you’ll bring up is going to have the same response.” Hyungwon lowered himself on to his forearms, which brought him close enough that if he just leaned forward…

“And what response is that going to be?” 

Your question gave him the perfect opportunity. He closed the distance quickly and leaned forward to kiss your lips. “Because I love you,” he said once he pulled back. 

You hoped this wasn’t some fever dream brought on by the sedative. Was your heart racing from the recovery or from Hyungwon’s words? Were you still breathing normally?

Hyungwon watched as revelation, relief and finally doubt crossed your face, specifically in that order. 

“Are you real?” You muttered, to yourself, not to him. 

“Are you?” He countered. 

“Yes?” You said, somewhat questioningly. 

Hyungwon smiled and rolled off you onto his side. You also turned to face him, and his arm instinctively came to rest across your waist, the same way he’d held you countless mornings in bed, but this time with actual meaning. 

His fingers toyed with the fabric of your pretty nightgown.  “Hoseok threatened to send you his body cam footage if I didn’t confess today,” he said. 

“You’re telling me Hoseok knew you were… were in love with me before I did?” You asked, pausing as Hyungwon’s confession still coursed through your brain. 

“Baby, I think everyone but you knew,” Hyungwon replied as he moved his hand up to touch your face and stroke your cheek. “Hoseok and Changkyun also told me about your new hobby.”

“What hobby?” 

“God you’re cute.” Hyungwon squeezed your cheek before explaining. “The one where you go to Hoseok’s house to sit at his mission control station. You know, I always thought you did it because you’re consigliere.” 

You shied away from his gaze again. Hoseok had been the unfortunate recipient of your many love fuelled stories about Hyungwon for months. “What did Hoseok tell you?” You asked, embarrassed that your lovesick behaviour might have been revealed. 

“He told me to ask my girlfriend,” Hyungwon replied and you couldn’t resist having just a little bit of fun.

“Your girlfriend?” You asked sceptically.

“My girlfriend.” 

When you didn’t say anything after, Hyungwon clarified, “my girlfriend who still hasn’t said she loves me back.” 

You shuffled closer to Hyungwon, and he welcomed you by lifting his arm for you to tuck yourself under. 

“Trust me, she does love you back,” you said, your words somewhat muffled against his chest. “I love you too, Hyungwon.” 

Hyungwon kissed the top of your head. “I know. Now rest. I will still be here when you wake up.”

[monsta-x-jagi]

His Consigliere’s Favourite Cocktail - Part 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word count: 4.3k

Warnings: suggestive (making out)

Notes: n/a

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the night of the auction, Hyungwon invited you to get ready at his house, having taken it upon himself to prepare your outfit. 

“Your dress is laid out on the bed, I’ll get your jewellery and shoes after you get changed.” He explained as he led you to his bedroom. “I’ll just be in my closet if you need me” he said before disappearing into his expansive walk in wardrobe to give you some privacy.

You picked up the dress, draping it against your body. It was floor length with some luxe material. It was a simple design, backless with a cowl neck, and in a delicate pale pink that was meant to give off the image of someone who was gentle, soft-spoken and demure. Beside the dress were several pieces of pretty lacy lingerie you could wear that was the complete opposite of gentility. You felt your cheeks burn in anticipation for how the night might end - it may be a mission but Hyungwon still knew how to have fun.

You stripped out of your simple everyday clothes, letting them pool on the floor before putting on your favourite of the lingerie sets followed by the dress. You then made your way to Hyungwon’s vanity table where he had kindly prepared a box of your favourite makeup for you to use. 

As you were engrossed in your makeup, Hyungwon came to stand behind you. He watched you in the mirror for a few seconds, letting you finish the final touches to your makeup. Once you put your tools down, he placed his hands on your shoulders and leaned down until his face was level with yours. 

“Hey gorgeous,” he pressed a kiss just below your ear. “Got you something.”

Hyungwon stood back up to reach into his suit jacket and pull out a flat box which he placed on the vanity in front of you. You watched as he opened the lid to reveal a diamond suite comprised of earrings, a necklace and a ring. You gave yourself a few moments to admire the jewellery before removing your current everyday earrings. Hyungwon took that as a sign to pick up the new ones out of the soft padding they came in and start gently easing them onto your ears.

“I know it’s simple, but I wanted you to have something nice tonight,” Hyungwon said as he finished fastening the earrings. 

“Hyungwon, don’t say that. They’re beautiful,” you replied, twisting to look at him. “This entire set up with the dress and jewellery and everything is beautiful, so beautiful I almost forgot it’s a mission.” 

Hyungwon smiled down at you, gently tapping the earrings. “You’re right. You do look beautiful.” 

You ducked your head down, feeling your cheeks heat up as you smiled at the compliment. Out of your line of sight, Hyungwon picked up the necklace to place around your neck. You lifted your head up when you felt the cool stones against your skin, and pulled your hair back so Hyungwon could close the clasp. Once he did so, he pressed a kiss to the back of your neck.

“I should buy you more pretty things,” he murmured. 

You watched in the mirror as his fingers grazed over your collarbone to toy with the strap in your dress. He slid a finger underneath, and dragged it lower towards your chest, only to move sideways to adjust your necklace and centre it. You swallowed and tensed up, trying to will away the shiver and goosebumps threatening to break through your body.

It was that reaction which told you it was time to end the moment, and return to the mission at hand. You could not, would not, allow your feelings to compromise this mission. 

So, in the few seconds Hyungwon admired you through the mirror, you grabbed the ring and slid it on to your left ring finger. You knew you had been looking forward to having him slide it on you, some sick part of you feeling giddy about your committed fuck buddy treating you like their treasured partner.

As you stressed about your own thoughts, you failed to see disappointment flicker on Hyungwon’s face as you unceremoniously pulled on the ring. 

“We should get going. The auction starts soon,” you said as you stood up abruptly from the vanity table, and Hyungwon quickly took a step back to give you some room.

You paused when you realised you didn’t have any shoes on. As you looked around, Hyungwon walked back to pull something out from under his bed - a shoe box. He brought it back and knelt down in front of you to pull out a pair of heels with bejewelled straps. Wordlessly, he picked up one of your feet to slide on the shoe before setting you down to fasten the straps.

“Hyungwon…” you said as he did the same on the other leg. “You don’t have to…”

“I want to,” he said, standing back up to his full height. Even though his voice held no tension, the sudden addition of his height made it feel like this wasn’t something you could argue with. “I like taking care of you, so just let me have this.” 

He gave you one quick glance, before walking past you to the door of his bedroom. You couldn’t help but wonder why his shoulders slumped just slightly like he was dejected.

“C’mon, we’re taking my McLaren,” he called as he waked out of the bedroom without waiting for you.

While Hyungwon had been sweet and gentle while helping you get ready, he seemed much more tense and on edge when you got in the car. He wasn’t a reckless driver by any means, but something about how he didn’t wait for you to follow him out of his room, or even bothered to open the car door for you suddenly irked you greatly. You felt disappointed in yourself for even expecting niceties from him when this was just a mission, and felt even worse when you realised you’d come to like being cared for by him.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t notice your gaze had fallen to Hyungwon until he spoke to you. “You’re staring.”

“Huh?”

“I said you’re staring. Is something wrong?”

You quickly turned your head, searching for something outside your window to focus on instead. “No, I was just thinking. About stuff.”

You heard Hyungwon grunt in response, but didn’t look in his direction until you felt a large, warm hand rest on your knee.

“Relax,” he said as his fingers drummed against you. “Just focus on playing the part. I’ll be right there to help you through it all.”

You looked down at his hand on your knee and covered it with your own. Immediately, you saw his arm lose some tension, and you started sliding your fingers between his until you were holding hands.

“I like it when you’re like this,” you said softly.

“When I am like what?”

“Just…” you fiddled with his fingers. “Just when you’re being helpful.” And caring and attentive and sweet and the list could go on, but you didn’t say any of that.

“Then let me do it more. Let me help you more,” he said, like it wasn’t the simplest and most logical thing in the world as he tightened his fingers around your hand.

“I-I don’t even know if there are things like that. Like there’s parts of my work I can’t share with anybody and I’m sure it’s the same for you and…” you started babbling.

“Not everything is about work, y/n,” Hyungwon gritted out, and his foot pressed ever so slightly harder on the accelerator.

The auction was being held at an upscale hotel, which was familiar territory for MX. A valet opened the doors for you and Hyungwon before taking the car keys from him. Hyungwon walked around the car to stand beside you and interlocked his fingers with yours. It caught you off guard, since it was an unspoken rule to almost never show any affection publicly. Hyungwon gave a small tug on your hand for you to start following him inside, and you smiled to yourself knowing he would probably keep a hand on you all night. For the mission, for the cover, you told yourself. But was it so bad you wanted to enjoy it?

Hyungwon led you to the elevator, and punched in a floor you assumed he knew from the invitation. He let go of your hand once the doors closed, and you couldn’t stop the barely audible whine from leaving you.

“Don’t worry, I just needed to grab the invitation,” he said as he reached into his suit jacket. 

“I wasn’t worried,” you lied, standing beside him and facing the door.

Hyungwon gently grabbed your arm and spun you to face him. “I know. But I am.” When he saw your brows knitted in confusion, he added, “Worried about you. You rarely go out in the field, so I gotta make sure you’re okay.” 

“In case you forgot, the first time we met was in the field,” you replied. “And I was a honeypot back then too.”

Hyungwon trailed a finger over your hair, being careful not to accidentally tug on the intricate updo you had on. “That was years ago. And you weren’t a honeypot, you were pretending to be Changkyun’s innocent little sister.”

You cocked your head to the side, remembering more details with a pout on your lips. Hyungwon dropped his hand to your shoulder and rubbed circles on your bare skin, watching as your face lit up when you recalled the amusing memories of your past mission. “Kihyun said sleazy men love young innocent girls, so I played the part, but Changkyun found the whole thing hilarious because I am his noona best friend.”

Hyungwon smirked as he recalled another discrepancy. “You are also not at all innocent.” His fingers stopped their gentle circles and dug harder in to your skin as he leaned closer to bring his lips near your ear. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

You could smell his cologne from this close up. The proximity surprised you and you pulled away slightly to turn to look at his face, but were instead greeted with his lips inches from your own. Your eyes flicked down, noting their closeness before remembering you can’t kiss with your lipstick on. Fuck Hyungwon for playing you like this. 

When he started pulling back, your hand shot up to grab the back of his neck, and hold his face close. “Do you know how hard it is to not kiss you when you’re close to me  like that?”

Hyungwon plucked your hand off his neck and brought it to his lips to press a lingering kiss. Still smirking, he said, “Then I guess you’re at my mercy tonight. We wouldn’t want the guests to see you with smudged lipstick now would we?”

You didn’t get a chance to make any scathing responses to that since the elevator doors opened. Hyungwon immediately straightened up and laced his fingers with yours again to walk into a large hall where guests were milling about, some enjoying light refreshments at their tables. The auction itself was yet to begin.

“Blossom?”

You looked up expectantly at Hyungwon, hearing the pet name.

Hyungwon cleared his throat. “Blossom,” he said in a less inquisitive tone. “That’s your nickname tonight. Because you’re dainty in pink.”

You liked it. Not that you’d ever let him know, so you replied with, “Well it’s a shame I can’t call you cupcake tonight. You hair’s up.” You pointed out with your eyes, making Hyungwon reach up and check if his hair was still in place.

“You know, I never said you could call me that,” he pointed out, scrunching his nose.

“You also never said I couldn’t,” you shot back.

Hyungwon blinked for a few seconds then let out a dramatic sigh. “Of course this is what I get for dating a lawyer. Anyways, we need to create opportunities for people to see us as a couple, and not just MX representatives. How about you go to the bar, then meet me over there where those men are? They’re business executives that I’ve been gathering intel on.”

He spoke quickly, but you didn’t miss the first sentence. Still you couldn’t jeopardise the mission, because within what might have been a confession were also instructions for his blossom. You told yourself you'd bring it up later, even though you had a history of never mentioning those little slip ups in conversations.

You watched as Hyungwon walked to the group of men first and got comfortable talking. You then walked to the bar, and ordered a zero alcohol beer for Hyungwon and a mocktail for yourself.

“Now why would you order something so boring for a night like this?” a feminine voice said behind you.

You turned around to find a blonde woman with the most striking blue eyes you’d ever seen. You smiled sweetly at her and said, “Just don’t want to make a mistake tonight.”

“Oh I hear you. One time, I blew 2 million on the wrong artwork at an auction because I was too drunk.”

You hoped your inner judgement of this woman wouldn’t show when you kindly said, “that must have been difficult. Anyways, my partner is waiting for me, I have to go.”

Even as you walked away, the woman placed a hand on your arm to stop you. “Ah you’re a plus one? Who are you with tonight?” 

You looked towards Hyungwon instinctively and the woman followed your gaze. “Ah, he seems like such a handsome man. Anyways, I am Wonyoung, I am representing SSE tonight.” She extended a hand to you out of habit, noted the drinks in your hand and laughed in a bright tinkling voice. “My bad sweetheart. Now you run along to your man.”

After Wonyoung  turned away from you, you walked to Hyungwon’s side and handed him the drink. The men around him flicked their gaze to you but didn’t pause the conversation. Hyungwon nodded along, while simultaneously snaking his free arm around your waist to pull you flush against his side. This action did create a lull in the conversation, as one man stopped talking mid sentence.

“Gentlemen, have you met my girlfriend?” Hyungwon asked the group.

“Good evening Miss…” one man began.

“L/n, isn’t it? You handled that racketeering case last month,” another man supplied. 

You weren’t surprised businessmen knew your name since you did occasionally handle legitimate cases outside of mafia business, but it was still unexpected. Sensing your unease, Hyungwon’s fingers rubbed your waist, inadvertently sending sparks through your body when you felt how the fabric moved against your skin. 

“Yep, it’s me, in the flesh,” you said while forcing a laugh. 

One of the men eyed you up and down. “You’re a bright lawyer. Your name has been thrown around since you were a college student.” 

You were truly flattered by that, and decided to show it. “I wasn’t aware you had been following my career since college. That’s very kind of you to say so.”

Another man clicked his tongue and nodded towards Hyungwon. “It really is a shame you’re off the market. But if you ever get bored, come find us, we’ll show you a good time.” 

You felt Hyungwon bristle beside you. His hand tightened around your waist, and a darkness spread across his features. 

“Jagiya, it’s fine, they didn’t mean to,” you murmured tugging on his suit jacket. You even used the pre-agreed nickname he came up with for the mission, so that he would know you’re saying something in the context of the mission.

Hyungwon encircled your small hand in his, and pulled it up to press a kiss. “Nobody talks to you that way. They should know their place,” he glowered. 

You were aware the group of men were still standing nearby, albeit looking incredibly embarrassed. You decided it was time to let them escape. “Gentleman, it was enchanting to meet you. Please excuse us,” you said and turned to walk away.  

The men bowed their heads as you and Hyungwon left, moving to an empty table. Even from far away, Hyungwon still glared at them.

You placed a hand on his cheek to turn his face back to look at you. “Wonnie, we have to keep playing our parts, even if we don’t like it.”

Hyungwon twisted his head to kiss your palm. “They should know better. People like that can’t call themselves men.” 

Your heart swelled with pride at hearing that. You knew MX had always respected women, but seeing Hyungwon defend you so openly was something new. Plus, he wasn’t just doing it because it’s the right thing to do for all people, he seemed to be doing it because he cared about your comfort. 

You rubbed his cheek with your thumb again, reassuring him. “At least we’ve convinced everyone this is a private engagement where you plan to spoil your girlfriend. Nobody knows MX is crashing it,” you said, referring to your key role tonight: putting everybody at ease and deluding them into thinking there is no mafia presence. 

Hyungwon shrugged. “It’s a pretty obvious truth. You’re important to me, my love.”

Your jaw dropped open as the words registered in your head. So direct, almost out of pocket, but were they true? Plus they weren’t addressed to “blossom.” Did that mean he was speaking to you, the real you and you alone? 

Then the question of whether you were reading into it too much entered your brain. Should you fight that claim, maybe push him away? Or should you try to see how far you could take it? You decided on the latter.

“Are you sure about that, Hyungwon?” You asked with a coy smile. “I think we could convince them a little more.” 

Hyungwon cocked his head to the side, studying you and the game you were playing. “What is it y/n? What do you want?”

“I’m just saying,” you replied, trailing a finger up the inner seam of Hyungwon’s pants. “There’s quite a few eyes on me now. Don’t you want to give them a show?”

Hyungwon watched as your finger dragged higher, then grabbed your wrist. “You’re skipping too far ahead in the plan, sweetheart.” 

Sweetheart. He was still talking to you, outside of any mission. “Are you telling me you planned to do something else with me tonight?” you asked.

Hyungwon let the questions hang in the air as he bit his lip, conflicted. It was reaching the point of the night where the auction would begin and the second part of the plan would be put in to action - that being the portion he hadn’t revealed to you. 

“I did plan something, but for later,” Hyungwon finally said and you raised your eyebrow at him. “But I can’t wait any longer,” he added.

You scrunched your eyebrows, confused.

Hyungwon stood up from his seat. “Get up,” he said curtly and at first you didn’t budge. “Get up, blossom,” he then repeated, gentler.

Understanding his meaning, you stood up quickly. Hyungwon then clasped your hand tightly and started leading you to a set of doors which opened out into a balcony. You were surprised when he pushed the doors open, with no questions from any lingering staff or guests nearby. 

“Why are we out here?” 

Hyungwon took you to the middle of the balcony and spun you around so that you faced the auction hall while he stood in front of you. He then leaned down so he was close to your ear and could speak softly. 

“I need to tell you something. You’re being watched.” You eyes widened, anxiety swiftly coursing through you. Hyungwon continued speaking. “The woman who spoke to you at the bar has been watching you the whole night. She knows your identity, and has informed one of the executives.”

“She’s called Wonyoung, SSE’s rep, only we know that’s a front for that new gang Ive,” you muttered as you peeked around Hyungwon, looking for either of the culprits. 

“Stop looking.” His words were gruff. They were an order. You promptly complied and Hyungwon continued his explanation. “Those businessmen have a side project where they use raw gems as a currency for illegal goods.” 

You couldn't resist making a sassy remark. “You make it sound like MX doesn’t do anything illegal, when we’re literally called organised crime for a reason you know.” 

You were expecting Hyungwon to bark out a laugh or something, but his attention seemed elsewhere. Hyungwon’s eyes travelled over your body and his hands dragged all the way down your back until they reached your hips and held you firm. He took a small step to the side, angling the two of you enough that both of you were visible to the guests in the auction hall. Finally, he brought his lips to your neck, hovering them just under your ear. 

“Chae, what are you doing?” You asked even though you made no attempt to push him off.

“Blossom, hands around my shoulders,” he said as he gave your earlobe a small tug. You wordlessly followed his instructions, albeit cautiously and gingerly.

“Tighter. Cling to me. Moan, make noise, anything.” There was a sense of urgency in his voice and his hands were digging into your hips harder with each word. 

“Hyungwon, please just tell me what’s wrong,” you said, slightly breathy.

“You’re my girlfriend. Just act like it,” he replied as he started placing small kisses along the column of your neck.

“Hng… I can’t,” you said. In response, Hyungwon pressed a hand to your back to pull you closer, and allowed his teeth to graze your neck, finally forcing you to let out a small cry. Satisfied for now, he resumed his gentle kisses.

“Please can you tell me what you’re doing?”

“Don’t beg, they can’t hear you. Just keep touching me,” Hyungwon replied. 

Your chest heaved out in a sigh but you did as he asked. You tangled one hand into his hair and pulled his head closer to your neck. 

He started sucking on your soft skin, making you cry out in real pleasure this time. “Oh god, Hyungwon!” But just as quickly, he pulled back to stand up straight again.

“Do you care to explain what that was about?” You asked, arms still over his shoulders.

“You’re very lucky that Wonyoung is a crap spy,” he said as he took your hands and brought them to rest on his chest instead. “She comes within my line of sight every 3 minutes and hasn’t even tried to hide that she’s watching you.” 

“So you decided marking me up was the way to get rid of her?”

“Relax, it shouldn’t leave a mark. I didn’t go long enough for that,” he replied and brushed his thumb over where his lips were earlier on your neck.

You also reached up and touched your neck, finding your skin unusually warm. Your face was probably a little flushed too then. Needing to regain your composure, you decided to talk about the mission again. “Alright, so tell me more about the gems and currency.”

Hyungwon smoothed down the fabric he had clutched and wrinkled earlier near your hips as he spoke. “Their little side gig interferes with MX’s business, so we’re thinking that if we get our hands on the gems, we can stop their project. Hyunwoo, Minhyuk and Jooheon will be entering the auction hall soon for that purpose, but you are leaving.”

“Why? It’s a financial transaction, that’s a part of my responsibilities.”

He shook his head. “Not tonight, blossom. We’re not buying anything except time. Time for Kihyun to rig explosives and for Changkyun to prepare all the necessary gear.”

“Then where do I fit in?”

Hyungwon looked up at the sky for a second, collecting his thoughts. “You’re gong to hate me for this.” 

“Spit it out, jagiya,” you said, almost grinding your teeth.

Hyungwon’s lips turned into a small pout. “Don’t say ‘jagiya’ like that. It’s a very beautiful word in my native language.”

“I am sorry, alright. Just, please, tell me what’s going on,” you replied. “And I am not above begging,” you added for good measure. 

“Funny. I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a smirk which faded quickly as he resumed his explanation. “Wonyoung and the executives will want to meet you privately. You need to give them an opportunity to do that, and then keep them talking for as long as you can.”

“And how should I go about being bait?”

Hyungwon almost winced at hearing your word choice. “You’re not bait, y/n, I won’t let anything happen to you.” He rubbed your back soothingly. “But please, just trust me on this.”

And then without warning, Hyungwon smashed hips lips against yours. He went into it open mouthed, his tongue demanding entry into your own mouth. It was messy, and Hyungwon held you in place by knotting his fingers into your hair, which pulled apart your intricate updo. Even the gasp you made at Hyungwon messing up the look you had put so much effort into tonight was swallowed up by his frantic lips. When he finally released you, his thumb brushed hard against your lip to smudge your lipstick even more than the kiss did. You knew you looked a mess.

“Blossom, why don’t you go freshen up?” He said, nodding towards an exit and unable to hide the smirk on his face. Still stunned, you simply stared and nodded. 

Before you left, Hyungwon pressed a kiss to your forehead. “I know you can handle whatever they throw at you. Just keep them busy, and I’ll come find you soon, I promise.”

Next Chapter

[monsta-x-jagi]

His Consigliere’s Favourite Cocktail - Part 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word count: 5.6k

Warnings: overuse of petnames, smut

Notes: n/a

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For last week’s mission in the projects, Hyungwon did indeed end up having more men. You had given Minhyuk the order to bring some extra men, knowing Hyungwon wouldn’t. You then squared the money for the extra labour with the accountant, Jooheon. Minhyuk and Jooheon had both given you a cheeky grin as they completed your request. If Hyungwon knew you had put Minhyuk and Jooheon up to the job, he didn’t mention it. You actually hadn’t seen him since the night before his mission, both of you having been busy with conflicting schedules, but for you, this weekend was a quiet one for you. All the boys except Changkyun out on missions somewhere, which is why you weren’t surprised to open your front door to see the youngest member of MX’s inner circle. What did surprise you was his anxious expression.

“Hey Kyunnie, something wrong? I though we were hanging out tomorrow.” 

“Yes, we are, but I need your help with something right now,” he said urgently.

“So then what can I do?” 

“I need you to get Hyungwon out of jail.”

“Alright, give me a ride there then.”

Visiting the jail wasn’t out of the ordinary for you. You walked in armed with a warmed up legal brain and a briefcase full of cash. Whether it was for bribes or for posting bail, you'd know within a matter of minutes. It was a Sunday night, and the station wasn’t seeing much traffic. You approached the desk of an Officer Jeong, who was MX’s usual point of contact for police business. 

“I’m here for Chae Hyungwon?” You asked. 

Officer Jeong looked up and smiled sweetly at you. “Aren't you a darling, little miss? Coming to pick up your boyfriend?

“Mmm funny. What’s the charge?” You asked as you sat across from him and propped up the briefcase on his table.

Officer Jeong glanced back down at some papers. “Grievous bodily harm?”

Fuck. GBH wasn’t easy to handle if the victim talked. You already knew this would be a bribe type of case and not a bail type of case.

You plastered a fake smile. “I sense some uncertainty there in your voice. So how about we play a game? You tell me which element you’re missing and I tell you exactly how few things you can actually charge him for?” 

Officer Jeong chuckled brightly. “You’re a good lawyer aren't you?”

You leaned in closer and placed a hand on the briefcase to draw attention to it. “And you’re a good cop. So why don’t you tell me what the real charge is?”

Officer Jeong was quiet, and you knew he was looking around the room just to check if one of his straight-laced coworkers saw him. When he realised it was safe, he placed a hand on the briefcase and nodded at you in his silent signal. 

“It’s not like we can prove GBH without serious injury. And serious can be subjective right?” Officer Jeong said as he pushed himself off his chair and left towards holding. A few minutes later, he returned with Hyungwon. 

Unlike most young men being picked up from police stations, Hyungwon didn't hang his head in shame. He stood in front of you with his hands in his pockets and greeted you wordlessly with a nod. You gave a generic goodbye to Officer Jeong, who informed you Hyungwon’s car will be brought out by an officer soon. 

“Thanks for getting me,” Hyungwon said as he took some quick steps to catch up with you as you walked out of the station.

“Don’t thank me,” you replied while holding open the door for him. “It’s what I’d do for anyone.” 

Technically, that was a lie. The consigliere only bailed out people this late at night if the don was asking. Hyungwon knew his boss wasn’t home this weekend, and the police hadn’t even gotten around to processing his paperwork yet. He deduced Changkyun must have been listening in on the police radio and probably told you. 

What you just did wasn’t something you’d do for just anyone. It warmed Hyungwon’s heart but he kept that to himself. He walked out to stand beside you. “I don’t see your car. How did you get here?”

“Changkyun dropped me off, and said I can get a ride back with you,” you replied, all but confirming his theory.

Hyungwon ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “About that… I don’t know if I can drive you safely.”

You spoke quickly to cut him off. “Don’t say anything. We’re still on police property. I’ll take the keys.”

Once the car was ready, you sat in the driver’s seat, adjusting things to your liking. Hyungwon didn’t bother with adjustments and just squished himself into the passenger seat, which he always kept adjusted to your height across all his cars (not that he’d ever tell you that).

You two drove silently until Hyungwon spoke. “I don’t think I was prepared to see you like this,” he said with a chuckle. 

“Like what?” You asked without looking away from the road.

“You never drive. You and Hyunwoo are the only ones who use personal drivers.”

“Are you trying to say I am a bad driver?” You asked as you reached a stop light and finally looked at Hyungwon. You wouldn’t call yourself a bad driver, especially since you knew traffic law very well and could pass the theory test with your eyes closed. You were just an inexperienced driver.

He seemed amused, as he replied, “I just think it’s funny that you can’t even look at me for a second when you drive.”

You scowled and turned back to the road since the lights turned to green. “It’s important to keep your eyes on the road, and it’s not my fault you haven’t unlocked consigliere style privileges of being driven everywhere yet.”

“Do consigliere privileges include dressing like that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Driving meant you couldn’t read a single expression on Hyungwon’s face, or look at what or where he might be pointing at. All you could read into was his tone, so you waited for his verbal answer but it didn’t come in the form you expected.

You felt cold fingers trail up your exposed thigh, and flinched slightly.

“I meant, do you wear these skirts because of your consigliere privileges?” Hyungwon asked in a teasing tone.

You swallowed. You couldn’t check your skirt right now, nor could you remember what you wore tonight. You couldn’t even remove a hand from the steering wheel to adjust your clothes. 

“What’s wrong with my skirt?” You asked.

Hyungwon’s fingers now dipped to the inside of your thigh. “I just meant, did you plan to wear a skirt that would ride up this much? I can see it move higher each time you move your foot to brake.”

He squeezed your thigh just as you reached another stop light. Pushing the break had your legs coming closer together, meaning his fingers were now held between your thighs until you started driving again.

With the car stopped, you turned to Hyungwon again, and saw him smirking. He rubbed his free thumb on your skin and said, “Now are you squeezing my fingers because of the brakes or something else?”

“Just the brakes,” you said with a shaky breath.

Hyungwon wiggled his fingers between your legs, and you parted them slightly so he could free them. As you did, the car moved forward just a little.

“Oh steady there y/n, the brakes,” Hyungwon said.

“Oh fuck!” You nearly shouted, and slammed your foot down, making the car lurch. 

Your head hit the back of your seat, and you felt your hair clip digging in to your scalp. You took several deep breaths to calm yourself, and heard Hyungwon’s badly muffled laughter beside you. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you Chae?” You admonished while you gingerly reached back to undo your hair clip.

“Nothing, I just hadn’t realised you were such a passenger princess,” he said between a few wheezed giggles.

You chucked your hair clip at him, before driving again. 

Hyungwon appeared to have enjoyed the drive back to the MX compound, which took an extra 10 minutes because you drove under the speed limit. You parked the car in front of your own house with an aggressive, jerky stop.

“Come inside for a bit, we still have to discuss your GBH case,” you said as you switched off the engine. 

You got out of the car and walked to your front door. Hyungwon wordlessly followed you, closing the front door after him. He followed you all the way to your kitchen where he watched you grab two coffee mugs.

“I need to go make some coffee and grab some documents. Your stuff is still in my room if you want to shower,” you said.

In your eyes, this was a caring gesture. MX members had to make themselves available if the consigliere requested it, but you knew Hyungwon would much rather clean up first, maybe even get some sleep and talk in the morning instead. If you made it sound like pushing the meeting back was your idea, then Hyungwon didn’t have many valid reasons to disagree.

You went to your bedroom, and sat against the headboard with some random papers you’d need on a later date to bed. You placed the two cups of coffee on your nightstand. 

Hyungwon walked in a little after you got comfortable on your bed. “Trying to stay awake?” He asked, nodding towards the coffees. 

“Yeah, we still need to have that chat,” you replied as you put your papers down. You noticed Hyungwon had a small towel around his neck and his hair was still damp. “Didn’t you find my hairdryer?”

“I did but I am a little nervous about heat damage,” Hyungwon replied as he sat on the bed beside you. 

You giggled at his response. Hyungwon had a habit of bleaching his hair, so he kept away from hot tools. He resumed towel drying his hair and you tried to return your attention to the documents in your hand, but the movement of Hyungwon fussing with his hair kept catching your eye, making it difficult to focus.

Feeling your gaze on him, he stopped and looked your way. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

Hyungwon immediately winced when he realised what he had called you out loud, but you didn’t seem to mind. You eyed him for a few more moments before you placed your documents down on the bedside table. You shuffled closer to Hyungwon’s side and took the towel from him. You stood up on your knees and moved to straddle his lap. You then placed the towel back on his head to start drying his hair again, and smiled in satisfaction when you saw Hyungwon’s body relax a little more against the headboard. You also allowed yourself to rest more comfortably on his lap, and his hands settled on your hips.

Remembering his words earlier, you murmured in a small voice, “Sweetheart? Do you really think that of me?”

Hyungwon hummed as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, too lost in the feeling of having you on his lap while you dried his hair. “Think what of you?” He asked languidly.

You shrugged. “Just, you know, now, when you called me sweetheart, you don’t say it often.”

Hyungwon started rubbing circles with his thumbs on your stomach, mostly to calm himself in case you were preparing to tell him off for calling you sweetheart. He didn’t open his eyes, and asked in the same laid back tone, “Do you want me to say it more often?”

You shrugged and continued drying his hair. “No, it’s just that it was unexpected.”

Hyungwon opened his eyes to look at you. “No? You don’t like sweetheart?” 

Your hands stilled in his hair. Should you reveal your true feelings tonight, or was it not the right time? He was in bed with you, calling you his sweetheart while you sat in his lap and dried his hair. Was that supposed to mean something?

You eventually settled on not confessing. “It’s not that, I meant like, I don’t hear it a lot, but like its not bad or anything, I was just wondering why, um, yeah…” you stammered until your voice slowly died out.

Hyungwon removed your hands from his hair and held them in his lap between you two. “Y/n, if you don’t like sweetheart, I can call you literally anything else. I could say baby, love, honey…” 

You dipped your head down to hide the smile taking over your face. No, you couldn’t let him see how much you liked hearing that. “No, Hyungwon, it’s not that.” Sighing, you looked back up at him, and found his eyes full of hope and sincerity, and quickly changed your mind. “Look, I really do like those little names. I like all of them actually. It’s just that…” 

“It’s just what, bunny?” He asked, his eyes twinkling. 

You cracked a smile, and shook your head. You removed your hands from Hyungwon’s to begin drying his hair again, trying to ignore both his questions and the fluttering of your heart. 

“C’mon, sunshine, tell me what’s wrong,” Hyungwon persisted as he watched you focus back on his hair.

“Don’t worry about it Hyungwon, you can call me whatever you like.” As curt as your response was, Hyungwon could see from the way your face lit up with each pet name that you were enjoying it.

“Tell me, angel, what’s bothering you? Is it work?” He pushed, clearly enjoying watching for your reactions. And maybe also because of the hope that this lighthearted dynamic with you might mean he can finally hear about your inner thoughts. 

“No, no, just because you’re being all mushy doesn't meant I am going to share my work,” you replied. His hair was mostly dry now, and you focused on smoothing it down with you hands. 

“Does my jewel need me to do something else for her then?” He asked, his voice dropping a little lower. You and Hyungwon both knew what he was offering.

You chose not to reply and instead stood back up on your knees so your hands could reach the back of Hyungwon’s head and continue finger brushing his hair. It brought your chest much closer to his face. Hyungwon held your waist, helping you balance as you leaned forward. 

“You smell lovely, princess,” Hyungwon said as he pressed a kiss to your shoulder.

Knowing he couldn’t see your face, you smiled to yourself. Taking his earlier kiss as an invitation, you pressed a kiss to the top of his head before lowering yourself onto his lap again. 

“You smell good too, cupcake,” you replied once you were facing him. 

Hyungwon broke into one of the widest smiles you’d ever seen him have. “Since when am I cupcake? You usually say baby and darling.” 

Your eyes widened as you realised that Hyungwon had not missed the times you slipped with your words. Although you did have a reason for picking cupcake. 

Hyungwon took in the way your eyes twinkled as you played with his freshly dried but unstyled hair. “Your head looks like a cupcake,” you finally explained with a giggle.

A mafia consigliere. Telling a seasoned fighter. That his head looks like a cupcake. The rest of MX would be hollering if they heard that.

“Oh really? A cupcake? Do you want to eat me up or something huh?” Hyungwon teased. 

You shrugged, a coy smile playing on your lips as you glanced up as if in deep thought. Hyungwon slipped his hands underneath your shirt, his fingers rubbing your waist. 

“Higher, please,” you said, breaking from your deep thoughts about cupcakes.

Hyungwon raised his eyebrows. “Higher? Do you want a massage?” 

“I mean, I can just get my massage gun, you don’t have to,” you began. It was probably too much of an inconvenience to ask him to knead your flesh with his large, strong hands right? 

Hyungwon brought his hands to your shoulders and gently pushed you back so that you fell backwards onto the mattress. He had you laying on your back before you had even finished your sentence. 

“Or I guess not then?” You said, more to yourself than him.

Hyungwon moved to hover over you, and took your chin between his fingers. He leaned down to press a soft kiss to your lips, and pulled back before you reciprocated. 

“Turn onto you stomach, blossom. Your cupcake would love to give you a massage,” he said. 

You scoffed amusedly. “Where are you getting these little nicknames from?”

You studied his face for a few seconds, admiring how the lights above him created a small halo around his head, before flipping on to your stomach. Hyungwon straddled your legs so he could comfortably reach your upper back, but kept his weight on his knees. It only took a couple kneads of his fingers for you to let out a moan. 

“Please god oh please keep going,” you sighed, closing your eyes and sinking further into your mattress. 

“I can go for as long as you need, love,” Hyungwon said, and he hoped you knew he didn’t mean that with any undertones of the sexual transactions you had usually shared in the past.

You weren’t really sure how long Hyungwon (wait no, your cupcake) continued to be your masseuse, since you closed your eyes and enjoyed the sensations. Likewise, your cupcake (wait no, Hyungwon) took pleasure in hearing your happy noises which eventually subsided to nothing while you retained a content expression on your face.

Even when Hyungwon stopped, you didn't open your eyes.

“Hey,” he placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Y/n, are you sleeping?”

“Mmnooo,” you replied, half muffled by the mattress.

“C’mon, sleep properly. You’ll get cold and your neck will hurt tomorrow,” Hyungwon said as he nudged you awake.

You grumbled that the light hurt your eyes but still dragged yourself to the top of the bed so you could crawl under the covers. Hyungwon joined you soon after he turned off the lights. Immediately, your body turned to face his and he opened up his arms so you could nestle yourself against him.  

“We forgot the coffee,” you mumbled into his chest.

“I’ll take you to get nice coffee in the morning, if you want,” Hyungwon replied as he stroked your hair. 

“I didn’t finish my work today.” 

“Don’t stress your pretty head about that.”

You pulled back a little to look up at Hyungwon. “Hey. I take my job seriously.”

Hyungwon looked down at you, finding your dedication equal parts amusing and concerning. “I take your well-being seriously. Sleep for now, I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.” 

“I should have let you sleep sooner too,” you said. “I shouldn’t have even mentioned the massage.”

Hyungwon almost rolled his eyes. “Just say thank you and go to sleep.”

You kissed his chest. “Mm okay, thank you.”

He kissed the top of your head. “You’re welcome. I like making you happy. I need to make sure you’re okay.” 

Hyungwon fell asleep. You did not. You stayed in his embrace, thinking. He enjoyed making you happy? Was that supposed to mean something or was it the sleep talking? Your relationship right now was good though. There was no reason to change it. You got the sex you wanted, the friendship and company you wanted, and other good moments in between. Hyungwon was both fun and funny, he took an interest in your life and he made you feel good both physically and emotionally. 

But what did he get out of being with you? He got sex, and you knew he enjoyed it. You had informed him he could receive unlimited legal advice from you as long as you were together, although he hadn’t really cashed in that offer yet. 

If Hyungwon could hear your thoughts, he would’ve said your heart. It’s not that he didn’t want to feel your sweet cunt squeezing his cock, or live happy with the knowledge he’ll never face prison, but he wanted more than whatever this was. It had been months of this - sex, with sweet moments interspersed somewhere, like today. You drying his hair, and him giving you that massage, all the while you teased each other with pet names was having the same effect on both of you.

Awake or asleep, both of you were wondering the same thing: it’s more than the sex, it’s the person.

Hyungwon woke up first. He saw you had rolled away from him sometime during the night. A smile graced his features as he took in how peaceful you looked. Sleeping seemed to be the only time you weren’t plagued by the mountains of work you insisted lawyers had to do. Maybe that’s why you were the most high strung person Hyungwon had ever met. 

Hyungwon shuffled to your body on the bed. He reached over you to tap your phone and check the time. It wasn’t even 10am yet. There was no reason to be awake. He pressed a kiss to your forehead before wrapping his arms around you and falling asleep again.

Your eyes fluttered awake. You extricated yourself from Hyungwon’s hold, which wasn’t hard since he was a deep sleeper, and checked the time on your phone: 11:43am. Too late for breakfast, clearly. You propped your head up on your hand and gazed at Hyungwon. His thick lips, soft wavy hair, toned arms you liked to be wrapped in… you had never voiced how much you enjoyed soft mornings like this, and the need to experience them for eternity seemed to grow stronger each time you woke up with Hyungwon. You pressed a kiss to his temple, hoping it conveyed what you wanted.

Feeling your hair brushing his skin as you moved above him, Hyungwon stirred.

“G’morning,” he groaned in his raspy morning voice while keeping his eyes closed.

“Mm hey. Sleep well?” You asked as you pressed another kiss to his face.

“So well,” he replied as he rolled on to his back, eyes still barely open. “C’m’ere.” 

He lifted an arm for you to tuck yourself under and had you lay across his chest. You two snuggled up close, with blissful smiles on your face. Hyungwon stared at the ceiling, mindlessly tracing patterns on your back, while you listened to his calming heartbeat. 

Finally, he broke the silence. “You know, last night, I met with these jewellery sellers.”

“Yeah?” 

“There is a gem auction happening soon, invite only, and I managed to get us one. Do you want to go?” 

“I thought you had a mission last night, not personal business?” You asked, lifting your head off his chest to look at him.

Hyungwon shook his head reassuringly and you lay back down on his chest. “No, it was a mission.”

You hummed, and asked, “So how did you end up in the police station?” 

If it wasn’t for how both you and Hyungwon were in a mafia, his answer would have been horrifying. “I sort of almost ran somebody over with a car.”

Your eyes briefly widened and you propped yourself up again to look at Hyungwon. “Well that’s certainly GBH alright. I assume your victim lived since it wasn’t homicide?”

“Yeah, I let him live once he gave me the information. The auction is going to…” Hyungwon began, but you shushed him quickly.

“Baby, don’t,” you said while placing a finger on his lips. “I know we have a personal relationship but I still need to follow protocol. I’ll receive the information through Hyunwoo after your debriefing.”

Hyungwon picked up your hand from his lips and kissed it. “Baby? A personal relationship?” He repeated your words with a smirk.

You tried to pull your hand away, put some space between you two, but he held on tight.

“Uh nuh, you gotta tell me what this personal relationship is,” Hyungwon said, keeping you in place as his other hand toyed with the hem of your shirt.

Your eyes moved to the ceiling, the window, anywhere but him as you gave an unconvincing answer. “Ok so, we have a… personal relationship. I interact with you in a non-professional capacity… like friends.”

“Hmm… friends…mmm, friends…” Hyungwon rolled the words around his mouth as his hand slipped under your shirt to trail up your side. “Changkyun must be lucky then.”

You pursed your lips. “Kyunnie? What’s he got to do with this?”

Hyungwon’s hand had reached your chest now, and his thumb was brushing the curve of your breasts. “I’m just saying, your friends are lucky people, because they get to do things like this.” 

He started rubbing your nipple with his thumb and a small gasp left your mouth. After a few more circles, he squeezed your nipple, catching you off guard and making you drop down to your elbows. It brought your body back in contact with Hyungwon, who held you close and rolled over so that you were under him now.

“Do all your friends get to see you like this?” He asked, having now pushed your shirt up enough to expose your chest. 

“No,” you said quietly with a shake of your head.

“No? Wow I must be special then,” he smirked and lowered his mouth to one of your nipples. You cried out, and clenched your thighs, trying to get some friction. 

You felt Hyungwon smile against your breast as he pulled his lips off it. “Do you need attention elsewhere?”

You nodded, not trusting yourself to open your mouth.

“Words, blossom. Tell me where you want me,” he replied, sitting up but still rubbing your saliva covered nipple with one hand.

“D-down there,” you said in between breaths. 

Hyungwon’s face still had that self-satisfied smirk as he reached in to your pyjama pants. He ran a finger in between your lips, feeling the wetness that had been pooling between your legs. 

“Can I take these off?” He paused and gestured to your pants. You nodded, and he tugged them down to your knees. 

He returned his fingers to your core, stroking up from your hole to your clit. He used the wetness on his fingers to help circle your clit in agonisingly slow circles. “I can’t believe you let your friends do this to you.”

You tightened your lips around your teeth to stop a whine from escaping, but you one little moan escaped as you bucked your hips up in to his hand.

Hyungwon pulled his hand away from your clit and smacked your thigh. “Stop trying to hide your pretty sounds from me. C’mon love, deep breaths, I want to make you feel good.”

Your body heeded Hyungwon’s words before you had a chance to comprehend them. “Oh fuck,” you sighed as you relaxed and sank into the mattress. Now with every breath there was a string of little moans escaping. The loudest one burst out when he inserted a finger. 

Hyungwon watched as you clutched at the sheets and thrashed your legs just a little. “God sweetheart, I want to hear those sounds everyday.”

“You could - ugh - fuck - you could if you - hiss - fucked me everyday,” you replied, with your sentence being broken up each time he pumped his finger in and out.

“Is that what you want?” Hyungwon asked as he watched you threw your head back with your eyes squeezed shut. “You want to fuck your friends everyday?”

“Hng- no.” 

Hyungwon took that moment to push in another finger? “No? You’re clenching pretty hard for someone who doesn’t want to fuck their friends.” 

“Oh fuck you Hyungwon,” you growled, trying to raise yourself a little more often the bed. 

“Fuck me? Why’s that? Does no one else know how to make you feel good?” Hyungwon curled his fingers inside you, oh so close to that spongy spot.

You let out a seething breath. “Don’t fucking test me.”

Hyungwon curled his fingers inside you again. “Can your friends do this baby?” He asked as his fingers finally hit the spot.

“Oh my god!” You cried out, head thrown back.

He ran his fingers along that spot again. You knew your orgasm was starting. Your fingers scrunched sheets as the pleasure coursed through you, making your eyes roll back and legs tremble. Hyungwon kept his fingers working inside you.

“That’s it baby, ride it out. You’re doing so well for me,” you heard his voice somewhere above you. He brushed some of your hair off your forehead and placed a kiss on your brow when you breathing began steadying again.

You rolled your head to the side to find him and looped a hand around his neck to pull him lips down to you. You could feel his smile as you kissed him softly. You drew up your knees closer to your body. Feeling your knees against his body, Hyungwon ran his hand up soothingly from your knee to your hip as he pulled your body in closer to his own. As his hand moved higher to your waist, you lopped both arms around his shoulders to pull him closer to deepen the kiss. It brought his hips over yours and allowed you to feel his clothed hard on against your exposed core.

You pulled back from the kiss slightly. “Let me take care of you,” you said in a whisper as you pushed your hips up to rub yourself against his erection.

Hyungwon gave your lips a quick peck before pulling back even further. “No, y/n, this was about you.” 

You pouted. “But I want to make you feel good.” 

Hyungwon smiled and tapped your lip that was jutting out. “Hm, cute. But I can’t stay, blossom. I have a meeting.” 

Your pout stayed as Hyungwon pushed himself off your bed and sat on the edge. You pulled your pyjama pants back on, as sticky as they were, and got off the bed to stand and face him. 

“Well at least come shower with me?” You asked as you offered him a hand.

Hyungwon smiled bright as he took it. “The day I say no to that question is the day you should take me to court.”

It was a few days later when you saw Hyungwon again. The whole of MX was gathering to discuss the next course of action regarding their jewellery heist. 

The plan for the jewellery heist was as follows: Several MX members would bid on jewels, driving up the price and preventing anybody else from taking them, until as many of the jewels as possible went back into storage, where remaining MX members would be taking them from before any payments were made. When the jewels are discovered as gone, before they could reach the individuals that purchased them (MX), you would be filing a series of insurance claims for all the pieces Hyungwon “claimed” at the auction - essentially, MX would be double dipping by committing insurance fraud.

Since it was suspicious when multiple members from the same mafia came to a jewellery auction, each member had believable covers. Minhyuk was an art collector dabbling in jewels, and Hyunwoo was an accountant representing some investment firm (conveniently owned by MX). Jooheon was the replacement for the host of the auction, whom Minhyuk was getting rid of just before the auction was supposed to begin. Changkyun would make an appearance later in the evening as a jewellery designer, while carrying necessary tools to break into the safe room the jewels were stored in. Kihyun would follow Changkyun after he sets up explosives. Finally, as usual, Hoseok would hang back to coordinate everybody.

It was rare for you to attend strategy meetings, so you stayed silent the whole time, instead noting down a reminder to yourself to prepare all necessary documents for insurance claims. 

“I hope all of you keep any documents you’re given about these jewels so I can submit them with the totally legit insurance claim we’re making,” you said to the room.

“Actually, Miss y/n, you’ll be picking them up yourself because you’re going out on the field as Hyungwon’s cover story,” Hoseok said, with his mouth set in uncomfortable line. 

You first looked to Hyunwoo to double check this was indeed a confrmed, final, set win stone plan. When your boss nodded, you gave Hyungwon a quick glance, but his face was neutral.

“I uhh haven’t been in the field in ages guys,” you replied hesitantly. “Although it could be a good change of pace and scenery,” you quickly added, trying to stay positive. “What exactly is my role?”

“You’re going as Hyungwon’s partner,” Jooheon replied with a dimpled smile. “You’ll have fun I think, looking amazing all dolled up, not that you aren’t already pretty.” Under the table, Hyungwon cleared his throat and extended one of his long legs to kick Jooheon. The message was clear: back off.

You pursed your lips as you looked between the two. Your team was counting on you to do this, and usually you would take any mission given to you, even though you weren’t someone who regularly went out in the field. But this time, you were worried. Could you stay level headed while pretending to be a couple? Would you lose sight of what’s real and what’s just the cover story?

You would find out a week later, on the night of the auction. 

Next Chapter

[monsta-x-jagi]

His Consigliere’s Favourite Cocktail - Part 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word count: 5.7k

Warnings: alcohol, smut (nipple play, fingering, oral (f. receiving), unprotected sex)

Notes: Yeosang cameo hehe. Also, writing smut is hard

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For 7pm on a Wednesday night, the bar was pretty crowded, but Hyungwon’s little protege bartender, Yeosang, was keeping things in line. He knew you on sight, after all this was your regular haunt with all your favourite vices - good alcohol and ethereally handsome men. Man, actually. Just one. Now if only you could get his attention. 

“You’re doing good there, sweetheart,” you sipped your drink and said to Yeosang while he cleaned some glasses. 

“And you seem like your usual self,” he replied, looking you up and down and smirking. 

You swirled your drink in your glass. “You must have been eyeing me for a while if you think you know my usual self.” 

Somewhere behind you, Hyungwon watched as you sat down at one of the bar stools, and ordered a drink. You didn’t talk much, but his staff all seemed to know you. Hyungwon’s lips curled into a self satisfied smirk as he watched you scanning the crowd over the rim of your cocktail glass. You would come to his bars looking for one thing, which was him. This was the next step in a pattern you had cultivated since you joined the MX Mafia. The solace you originally sought in alcohol steadily shifted to Hyungwon, and the man wouldn’t lie that he felt a spark of pride shoot through him when he saw your lips turn to pout. You had failed to spot him. You missed him. 

But that prideful feeling soon turned to something unnerving and uncomfortable for Hyungwon. He watched as you shrugged your coat off your shoulders and let it drop onto the bar stool. Even with the throngs of bodies at the bar, the dim lighting and noise from the kitchens, Hyungwon’s eyes darted to all your exposed skin. Your blouse was sheer, showing the entire expanse of your braless back. In that moment, Hyungwon cursed the task and target he had been assigned tonight. He could not, should not, compromise his mission to placate the jealousy he felt thinking about how all that exposed skin should be for no one but him.

Hyungwon momentarily thanked his expertise in espionage for owning he managed to keep an eye on both you and his target. This gratitude evaporated when he saw you swivel on your bar stool, and let your bare legs peek through. You crossed your legs, one over the other, and rubbed your calves together, causing whatever minuscule skirt you had on to all but disappear. At this point, even Yeosang, as saintly as he was, couldn’t stop himself from throwing a couple glances your way. The sight made Hyungwon grit his teeth. Those legs were his to have wrapped around his waist, and they would be soon enough, if it wasn't for this goddamn target. 

In a move he knew Hyunwoo would scold him for if he ever found out, Hyungwon decided to approach his target. 

“Hey man, sorry to interrupt, but the bartender wants to see you,” Hyungwon said as he walked up to his target and tugged on the man’s sleeve.

Yeosang paused his work at the bar when he saw his boss approaching, holding, almost dragging, some man by the sleeve.

“Yeosang, this man is one of our biggest spenders tonight, give him a good one on the house, alright?” Hyungwon said as he roughly deposited his target onto the bar stool beside yours. 

You and Yeosang shared a glance, knowing exactly what Hyungwon meant - drug the target and interrogate him later. It was not your boss Hyunwoo’s preferred method, and it certainly wasn’t yours either as the consigliere, but it did get the job done, so who were you to complain?

“Chae, is that a good idea?” You asked as you swivelled the bar stool to face him. Okay, so maybe you did have a small reason to complain.

Hyungwon’s eyes darted down at your legs for a split second. He felt a small ounce of relief that you had on a skirt, and that the front of your blouse was actually very much opaque. Even better, it was a dark fabric that barely showed the outline of your nipples. Honestly, Hyungwon didn’t know why he cared so much. You two weren’t exclusive.

“Well, he hasn’t been very forthcoming and I’ve been observing him for hours,” Hyungwon replied as he crossed his arms and stared down at you.

You held his gaze for a moment before taking several gulps of your drink to finish it off. “But he appears pretty pliant. Have you considered simply speaking to the man?” You asked in the low, serious and almost uninterested voice you used to handle business. It was a stark contrast to the honeyed voice you used on Yeosang when you said, “Be a good boy and pour your boss a drink won't you?” 

Knowing his boss’s preferences well, the young bartender readied a glass of Hyungwon’s choice whiskey, and though it was much appreciated, Hyungwon almost laughed at how quickly Yeosang scrambled to follow your directions.

“So what brings you here, Miss y/n?” Hyungwon asked as he picked up his drink.

You smiled coyly at him, then turned away and signalled for Yeosang to get you another drink. Yeosang started to make what Hyungwon only assumed was your new favourite cocktail. 

“You need to answer my question first, Chae,” you said while you waited for you drink. “Why drug him when you could just talk?��

Hyungwon leaned against the bar and swirled his drink in glass, smiling down at you. “Maybe I just enjoy it more.” 

“Hmm,” came your response, with your eyes focused on Yeosang adding the garnishing to your cocktail before he slid it over to you. Your face lit up as you noticed it was a strawberry. “Darling when did you start keeping strawberries just for me? I know you don’t serve these to just anybody.” 

Yeosang gave you a shy smile, and Hyungwon realised you really were too chummy with the bartender. You barely spent more than 15 minutes with Yeosang on the days he worked, but somehow you two could communicate non-verbally and the boy even knew you favourite fruit. 

Still, Hyungwon really couldn’t find fault with the boy when he said, “Mr Chae told us to keep your favourites stocked year round.” 

Point for Hyungwon perhaps? He may not know your favourite fruit, but he could still show he cared, right? And the fact everybody knew you were spoken for was a bonus to him. Of course, the only question plaguing him was whether you knew you were spoken for. 

Hyungwon watched as you took a bite of your strawberry, still a little giddy about it. “Y/n, will the interrogation really be an issue?” He asked. 

You covered your mouth as you ate the strawberry and answered. “It’s not the method that bothers me. It’s the bureaucracy of it all.” 

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Hyungwon asked as he did not speak legalese.

You raised an eyebrow at him. “The paperwork. Do you realise the mountains I have to fill out every time we need to explain why someone we talked to has been drugged or worse? Do you really enjoy punishing me that much?”

So there’s your complaint. The paperwork. Classic lawyer business, and classic y/n business too. The only thing you seemed committed to in your life aside from regular hookups with Hyungwon was your job.

“Mm, yeah, actually, I do,” Hyungwon replied with a smirk. He wasn’t lying, he did enjoy punishing you, just not with paper. He then leaned closer and added, “If you’re that worried about the paperwork Miss y/n, let me drop by and help you out.” 

You like to think you’re not oblivious, and that you know what game Hyungwon is playing. “Help me out? Are you sure that's all you plan on doing?” Because the last time you drowned in paperwork, Hyungwon did make it worth your while, but from under the table. The thought made you lick your lips.

Hyungwon’s eyes followed that movement. He was close enough that his knees touched yours and you could smell is cologne. Hyungwon smiled as he recognised what you were thinking about. “There’s a lot of things I plan on doing to help you, y/n,” he said in a low voice. 

You pulled away to look up at his eyes. His usual gentle brown eyes caught the light from the bar and looked feral. Just how you wanted. 

“You just want to make me suffer don’t you?” You said and snaked one of your feet up his leg, hooking it behind his knee. It was supposed to be disarming, but Hyungwon’s face didn’t reveal a reaction, like the trained spy he was.

Before you could make progress in riling up Hyungwon, Yeosang returned. “Ma’m, is there anything else I can do for you tonight?” He asked, somewhat unaware he was interrupting whatever was taking place in the heated bubble surrounding the spy master and consigliere.  

Hyungwon pulled away from you and straightened up to respond to Yeosang, hs voice devoid of the sultry teasing from earlier. “There’s business I need to discuss with Miss y/n in my office. Just take care of the target, Hoseok will come pick him up soon.”

Hyungwon didn't wait for his little protege to reply, though he did briefly consider if he was a little too gruff. Yeosang was just being a good bartender, treating you like a customer. When the boy left, looking unbothered, Hyungwon placed his empty glass on the counter and took a step away from you to give you space to hop off the bar stool. You readjusted you little skirt of negligible length as you stood up, and Hyungwon quickly grabbed your coat to drape over your shoulders loosely. 

“Thanks Chae,” you said to him. 

“Anytime,” he replied. He wasn’t lying. Like hell he would let this entire bar see your body while you walked to his office. Hyungwon knew he wasn’t the only man at this establishment who felt their blood rush somewhere down their body when they saw your almost naked self.

It was almost funny how widely known you and Hyungwon’s little hookup game was. Neither of you made a concerted effort to hide it. At first it didn't matter, you two were always professional in front of others, but there were far too many giveaways: when Hyungwon realised you forget to eat in between work, he started ordering food to your house. Your neighbour Minhyuk thought this was adorable and promptly informed the whole of MX. Likewise, you were never required to sit at mission control with Hoseok, but you started doing so each time Hyungwon had a mission. Not even a bribe of rare and unique ramen flavours stopped Hoseok from revealing that to everybody, saying he was simply bursting at the seams from the cuteness of the whole thing. 

“So, what business do you have with me?” You asked Hyungwon as he ushered you into his office. Closing the door, he walked to stand in front of you. He placed his hands on your shoulders, and gently pulled you into him. Instinctively, you placed your head on his chest and wrapped your arms around his waist. His scent, his heartbeat, his hold, all of it felt like home and safety, which wasn’t something you come across often in your line of work.

“You are my business y/n, you know that,” Hyungwon murmured into you hair. 

He meant it as him wanting to simply know what happened, why was your day so bad you needed alcohol. But he knew you’d twist it to mean something unemotional and ergonomic. 

You lifted your head to look at him. “Really? Care to tell me how business is going then?” You knew that wasn’t what he wanted, and you immediately felt guilty for the teasing bite in your voice, but you couldn’t form an emotional connection with the spy master.

“Is that what you need today? To talk about what happened?” Hyungwon asked, cocking his head to the side and taking in your features.

You swallowed, flustered. It didn’t matter how many months you’d been sleeping with him. His beauty still caught you off guard. And the way he was looking at you like he was actually concerned about you? It’s a miracle your knees didn’t buckle then and there.

“Hyungwon, you know I don’t talk about my work. I just tie up the loose ends when you’re all done.” It was all you could offer to hide your real reason. To talk about your daily lives, your emotions or something mundane would mean acknowledging there was more between you two.

And Hyungwon clearly seemed to think so. “Y/n, we work together. Not just that, but we are together… aren’t we?” Hyungwon said as his fingers grazed your cheek, his voice faltering slightly at the last words. But unfortunately for Hyungwon, it takes more than one person to to be together.

You looked away from him trying to avoid thinking about that question, and said dismissively, “I know. I just don’t want to make things harder for you.” 

This was a losing game. In all these months, you and Hyungwon never fought, instead choosing to dance around the issue, but the dance was done for today. The relationship will remain unchanged and unacknowledged. Still, Hyungwon tried once more. 

“Come sit down. Just for a bit. I want to know what happened that made you come here and occupy my bartender’s attention,” Hyungwon said as he manoeuvred you towards the couch. 

“Oh you noticed that didn’t you?” You chuckled as Hyungwon sat on the couch and pulled you down to sit between his legs with your back against his chest.

“Darling, it’s hard not to notice women who come into my bar looking like this,” Hyungwon said as his long fingers dipped between your thighs, dragging teasingly back and forth. 

“How many women have you been seeing, Chae Hyungwon?” You asked, your tone hardening. 

Hyungwon took in a sharp breath. He should have been more careful. You are the consigliere who read between the lines for everything, and you were also the most suspecting person he knew because you always considered any and all outcomes instead of just the most likely one. It made you a good consigliere, but he wished you would understand you were more than that to him. 

Luckily for Hyungwon, he knew how to placate you. He slipped one of his hands underneath your blouse, tracing circles on the soft skin near your waist, occasionally trailing higher to brush the curve of your breasts. He could see the rise and fall of your chest from above you, and he knew your breathing was getting ever so slightly faster. 

“Well today I saw a woman trying to hit on Yeosang, and she was wearing this exact top. And as for her skirt, I wasn't even sure if she was wearing one,” Hyungwon said. He brought his lips to your neck in between words, placing soft kisses, never quite lingering in one place and just barely teasing all your sensitive spots he’d uncovered over these months. 

“Chae…” you said in warning, trying to twist in his lap. You absolutely would not be sharing the details of your work day with him, and no amount of kisses would change that.

“Shh, stay still,” Hyungwon said softly in your ear. “Just let me do this.”

You didn’t have it in you to fight Hyungwon’s words, and you knew you needed this. Getting lost in his touch, letting him take you to the edge, had all been the best parts of your life these past few months.

“Turn around,” Hyungwon said when he unlatched his lips from your neck. You obliged, not that you’d ever tell him to his face that you liked it when he took control. But knowing ow well Hyungwon could read people, he probably already knew. 

You turned around to straddle his lap, your arms resting around his shoulders. Your lips found each other quickly in a kiss that was needy on his part and sloppy on yours. Neither of you wanted to admit the desperation behind it. Hyungwon’s tongue made slow, teasing drags inside your mouth, and you couldn’t get enough of it, or him.

You dragged your hands down to his chest to unzip his jacket. You slid your hands underneath, fingers spreading over is defined chest and brushing his nipples. Hyungwon moaned into the kiss at the sensation before pulling away from you to shrug off his jacket.  His shirt followed, getting tossed on the floor. You mirrored his actions and pulled off your blouse. 

Hyungwon watched as your breasts fell free, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. “I still can't believe you wore that all day.”

“Why? Did you want me to wear less?” You asked as you brought your hands to cradle your breasts, and rubbed your nipples with your thumb. 

Hyungwon slipped a hand behind your neck and pulled your face closer. “What I want, sweetheart, is for every fucking man in this building to not stare at you.”

 You smirked to yourself and settled yourself further onto his lap, conveniently finding a growing hardness below you. “Why? Does it bother you when you think about how many men have seen my tits or tried to grab my ass?” 

Hyungwon pulled your face even closer to bring your mouth to his, hard, and started kissing you again. You braced yourself against his chest, digging your nails into his soft skin as his hadn’t moved up from the column of your neck to twist his fingers into your hair. 

Hyungwon’s other hand played with your breast, flicking and rubbing one of your nipples. You pulled back with a gasp when he pinched your nipple, and Hyungwon moved his lips to your jaw, before kissing his way down your neck to your chest. Finally, he reached your other nipple which he began sucking on, sometimes swirling his tongue over it. You held his head, keeping his mouth on your breast as you started grinding on his lap, letting out soft whines when you rubbed yourself just right. 

Your hand eventually fell away and Hyungwon lifted his head from your chest to look at you again. He ran his thumb over your slightly puffed lips and sighed. “God, baby, I just… I can’t let somebody else have you.” 

You bit your lip, unthinkingly, but your eyes showed the hesitation. Hyungwon had never said things like that to you., as possessive as he could be. Still taking in your features, he traced the marks he’d left on your neck and chest earlier, covering them in softer kisses this time around. 

“I’m yours tonight, Hyungwon…” you murmured, dipping you head and trying to meet his eyes.

His hands stopped meandering their way across your skin. “Say that again.” 

“I said I am yours,” you repeated. 

And that was Hyungwon’s undoing. 

His fingers dug into your waist as he pulled you in for a bruising kiss. Holding you, he guided your rhythm against his lap. You looped your hands around his neck, and pulled yourself even closer. Soft moans and breaths from you filled his ears. Hyungwon let his hands move lower to your hips, ass and then to the back of your skirt. 

“Please baby, want your fingers,” you whispered as you felt his fingers reach under your skirt.

You thought he would push it up, but instead, you heard a tearing sound. You pushed off Hyungwon to stare at him bewildered as his hands found the little slit at the back of your skirt and ripped it in two.

“I liked that skirt,” you said with a pout as your skirt fell away. 

“I didn’t. You're mine and nobody gets to see or touch this ass,” Hyungwon said gruffly as his hands ran over your plump flesh, kneading and squeezing it. His fingers then reached your panties, running his fingers over the cloth. 

“Please, baby, just give me your fingers, please.”

You were never the patient one in this relationship, and usually Hyungwon would tell you to wait, because good girls get rewarded, but today, he reached into your panties immediately after your first whine. His fingers dipped between your folders, coating themselves in your pooling wetness before moving to your clit. They smoothly and slowly circled the nub, steady with no rush. You let out a small whine and hid your face in the crook of Hyungwon’s neck. More whines punctuated your shallow breathing until Hyungwon pushed a finger in and was rewarded with a breathy groan. 

“That’s it, pretty girl, let me hear you,” he whispered in your ear as his long fingers worked inside you, with lithe and measured strokes. You lifted your head off Hyungwon’s shoulder, and your glazed eyes trailed down his toned abdomen to the bulge straining his pants. Your fingers reached to undo the snap of his jeans, but another mewl escaping your mouth stopped you. 

“Arhng! Oh god,” you cried out with your head thrown back as you realised Hyungwon had inserted another finger and was curling them against the patch of spongy tissue inside you. You gripped his shoulder for balance as you started bucking your hips into his hand to chase your release.

“Don’t be greedy,” Hyungwon said gruffly, although he didn’t try to stop you from fucking yourself on his hand. 

“I’m not,” you whined. 

“Do you want to cum?” His fingers curled once again and you cried out.

“Yes. Please. Please let me cum,” you said breathlessly afterwards. 

Hyungwon smirked as he took in your lust blown eyes. “Soon, consigliere, soon.”

He shifted his free hand to support your back and lay you down on the couch. You pouted when he took his fingers out and left you feeling empty. 

Hyungwon reached out and brushed your lip with his thumb. “You’re cute like that. I almost forget you’re my immediate superior,” he said. You watched as he moved off the couch to finally remove his pants. They dropped to his ankles and he kicked them away somewhere behind him.

You sat up in front of him, and started shuffling to move off the couch and get on your knees, but Hyungwon stopped you. He held your jaw in one hand, looking down at you. 

“I know you’re a cockslut darling, but your mouth isn’t what I want today. Now lie back down.” He pushed your face away, and the momentum caught you off guard enough to fall back down into the cushions of the couch. Hyungwon knelt in front of you and pushed your already spread legs wider. He placed soft kisses along the side of your thighs, coming so close to your heat that his nose brushed your clit and made you buck your hips.

“Patience, love,” he chuckled. 

“You can’t get me naked and leave me hanging, Chae.” You knew it made him laugh again, as you felt his breath ghosting over your thighs. 

“Don’t worry, consigliere, you know I always deliver,” he reassured you even though there was absolutely no need. Your ascending moans were proof of that.

Hyungwon spread your lips with his long fingers to expose your dripping cunt.

“I can never get enough of this,” he breathed out. You groaned, trying to tell him to get on with it. 

Your relationship with Hyungwon wasn’t supposed to be emotional, just transactional, and lawyers didn’t like it when transactions didn’t go according to plan. Wait fuck, why was this even on your mind? You come to Hyungwon to get out of your head.

Which he did soon, when he started lapping at your clit. His tongue drew circles while his long fingers returned to your hole. He dragged them against your anterior wall, and your moans reached higher decibels that would only melt away to the noise of the bar outside the office. Your stomach started to tighten and you knew you were close.

“Ah fuck, Hyungwon!” You hissed and grappled with Hyungwon’s hair when he gave a particularly harsh suck to your clit. Your fingers tightened on his hair with each moan, but his fingers did not relent on pushing against that sweet spot, and only caused the pressure to build further in your stomach. 

“Hyungwon- I.. argh, I am so close,” you said between breaths. 

Hyungwon lifted his face out of your pussy, and ran a soothing hand over your quivering thigh. “Cum on my face love.” 

It didn’t take long after he returned his lips to your cunt for you to finish. Some more licks and you let out a strangled cry of Hyungwon’s name. He ran his hands over your thighs soothingly while you rode out the wave of pleasure. It warmed a part of his heart to hear you cry his name, and he wasn’t quite sure how to label that emotion just yet.

Hyungwon waited as your breathing steadied, whispering words of comfort that you couldn’t quite process. 

“Are you ready my love?” He asked.

You nodded through your pants, but Hyungwon raised an eyebrow at you. “Yes,” you breathed out. He always wanted words, he’d made that clear from the beginning.

Hyungwon smiled softly at your response. He leaned over you to place a soft kiss on your lips. “Not too spent are we?”

“Mm no,” you breathed out.

“Good.”

He slid his hands under your hips to bring you closer as he readied to enter your dripping heat. After your previous orgasm, you barely felt a sting as he entered. Hyungwon watched as your jaw dropped open in a silent moan and gave you a moment to adjust before he started thrusting. He began with slow and deep strokes, and you couldn’t tell if he was teasing. 

“Chae, you’ve waited long enough, please just fuck me.”

Hyungwon’s pace didn’t falter as he gave you a cocky grin. “I can’t tell if you’re saying that for me or for yourself.”

He gave a stronger thrust straight after and you moaned. “It’s both. Both of us.”

Hyungwon grunted but didn’t respond verbally. He started incrementally increasing the speed, being determined to drive you insane. Slow, purposeful, passionate was his style, and the buildup to your orgasm was always better this way.

“Please baby I need more,” you moaned.

Hyungwon leaned forward and captured your lips in his. It muffled your moans until he pulled back to look at you.

“You always make the cutest noises,” he said as he pressed a few kisses to your neck and collarbone.

You tilted your head back to give him more access. Unwittingly, you also bucked your hips up to meet Hyungwon’s thrusts, and he took it as a sign to shift his pace up higher. Your moans which had been steadily punctuating the air were now joined by Hyungwon’s deep ones which had grown louder. Almost embarrassed, he buried his face in your neck to muffle his own sounds. 

“No baby, let me hear you too,” you said, your voice barely a whisper.

“You’re clenching around me so much,” he replied, without acknowledging your earlier comment. You both knew you were close. Hyungwon felt the squeezing pull of your cunt become more regular, and it didn’t take long before his hips stuttered and he released inside you.

You had needed that. Hyungwon was right when he said you came to him hoping for release. You had never expected to graduate from propositioning bar patrons to fucking the owner, but you didn’t regret it. Judging by how Hyungwon now lay draped over you, his breath fanning the perspiration on your body while you slowly carded your fingers through his hair, you knew he didn’t regret the way things turned out either.

It was probably close to midnight when you and Hyungwon left his office. It was a weeknight so the bar was dwindling down. Yeosang was probably already stacking chairs or something. You took a back exit to Hyungwon’s car, with his jacket wrapped around your waist. You left the scraps of your skirt for the cleaners to find. 

Hyungwon held the car door open for you with a gentlemanly smile, and you silently got in. He was only polite to you because you’re the consigliere, and you refused to let yourself think anything further than this. You settled into your seat and began scrolling on your phone while you waited for Hyungwon to get in.

“You are quiet tonight,” Hyungwon said as he drove towards the MX Mafia compound. 

You replied without looking up from your phone. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

“Did you uh enjoy the sex less today?” Hyungwon asked, running a hand through his hair. 

“What? No, no, it wasn’t that,” you cried out defensively, and maybe a little too eagerly. You returned your gaze to your phone and reminded yourself to remain composed. “I just had a ton of crap to deal with. I had a meeting with that man Kihyun has been itching to kill, and handled some negotiations with him that made me want to steal Kihyun’s idea. But don’t worry, you more than made up for all that shit I dealt with.” 

You ended your words on a chirpy note, but Hyungwon was less amused. He ground his teeth as his hands gripped the steering wheel harder than normal. “Did you go alone?” 

You took a breath, bracing yourself before answering. “Yes.” You knew what was coming next.

“Why would you do that? He’s dangerous, disgusting, he could’ve hurt you. And did he come alone? I bet he didn’t. You’re allowed to take backup, fuck that, I’ll have Hoseok train an entire team for you if I have to, but you have got to stop putting yourself in danger.”

You listened to Hyungwon’s tirade, his tone sharp but his words well meaning. When he reached the end, he took a few deep breaths to steady his voice, and added gently, “If not for me y/n, at least do it as the consigliere. You matter so much to us, you know that.” 

For a split second, you wanted to reach over and touch him, remind him to relax, but you knew you couldn’t change his mind. So instead you decided to put your usual barrier in place, and slip into your consigliere mask. 

“Hyunwoo just texted. There’s been some changes for tonight.” Cold and logical, steady voice. Completely ignoring his vulnerable words earlier.

“Oh? What did he say?” Hyungwon was well trained, he wouldn’t ignore Hyunwoo’s orders, or yours as consigliere.

But it seemed you had “trained" your members well too. After a few months into your “relationship” with Hyungwon, the entirety of MX had come to the conclusion that messaging one of you meant reaching the other. You two practically spent enough time to be considered the same person, but still couldn’t label this relationship. Pathetically comical.

“You’re meeting somebody in the housing projects, and you’re only taking Minhyuk tonight, no additional men,” you explained.

Hyungwon hummed in response as he smoothly turned into the cul-de-sac that housed the MX compound. You scanned his face for signs of worry but didn’t find any.

“It’ll be dangerous,” you said to fill the silence. 

Only when was it not? That was the definition of being in a mafia, Hyungwon wanted to say, but he didn’t. Instead, he parked outside your property on the MX compound, and waited for you to gather your things. Realising you wouldn’t be getting a response, you stepped out of the car.

“Hyungwon, take me with you tonight,” you suddenly said as a final resort, leaning in through the open door.

Hyungwon almost hit his palm on the horn when he heard that. Why would he take you out in to the field, on a mission which had just become incredibly dangerous now that there were no additional men being sent? There would be hell to pay if he risked the life of the consigliere, not to mention how much it would hurt him personally to put you in danger.

“No.” Hyungwon replied in a voice that informed you he wouldn’t argue with you on this. Hyungwon wanted to say he didn’t want to see you put yourself in danger, anything he could to keep you from harm’s way. “I can handle it alone.”

“But Hyungwon, you need more bodies. I can’t have you and Minhyuk go alone,” you implored.

“I’ll take some men of my own then,” Hyungwon said without meeting your gaze.

You knew he was lying. “You shouldn’t lie to lawyers, baby,” you quipped as you pushed the car door closed.

Hyungwon watched as you walked to your front door, his jacket still wrapped around your hips. When you weren't looking, Hyungwon smiled to himself, knowing you’d be keeping that jacket. You’d done it a few times now, and he was almost starting to think it was on purpose too. When you reached your door, you suddenly turned around and approached the car again. Hyungwon pulled down the shutter for you.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Hyungwon said expectantly, the pet name slipping out.

“I’ll talk to Hyunwoo about the mission. It’s dangerous sending two of our top members without backup. I can’t have you screwing up the deals I’ve been writing up contracts for all day today.” 

You didn’t wait for Hyungwon’s response before walking back into your house. Hyungwon remained parked in front of your house, thinking. It’s true, your relationship did start out as business, you needing a good fuck to get out of your head and him needing… what? As much as he loved sex with you, that wasn’t what kept him coming back. 

He wanted you, to know you, to protect you, to be with you. Today, he knew he achieved the second item of that list, since you at least told him vaguely what you did today. For Hyungwon, that was a small step to entering your life. 

If only he knew that you taking an interest in his missions, the fine details of what he does, where he goes and how dangerous it is, was one of the small steps you were taking to keep him in your life.

Next Chapter

[monsta-x-jagi]

His Consigliere’s Favourite Cocktail

Summary: you and Hyungwon have been “committed fuck buddies" for a while now. You get to enjoy some great sex and get out of your head for a bit, while he gets... less than he signed up for. And it’s definitely your fault because why are you so determined to keep putting up walls? And what’s Hyungwon gonna do about it?

Characters: mafia spy master!Hyungwon, fem consigliere!Reader

Total word count: ~21k

Warnings: provided in individual chapters

COMPLETED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

[monsta-x-jagi]

Aww I am so glad to hear you enjoyed reading it!! And your review was so sweet, thank you so much ☺️💝

Crown and Chrome

Summary: Kihyun disappeared from your life just as quickly as rode into it. You fell for him, hard, and he left you to put yourself back together after him. And you tried. But what will you do when he comes back into your life and into your company?

Characters: biker!Kihyun, CEO!reader

Total word count: 29.5k

COMPLETED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue 1

Epilogue 2

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome

Summary: Kihyun disappeared from your life just as quickly as he rode into it. You fell for him, hard, and he left you to put yourself back together after him. And you tried. But what will you do when he comes back into your life and into your company?

Characters: biker!Kihyun, CEO!reader

Total word count: 29.5k

Warnings: provided in individual chapters

COMPLETED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue 1

Epilogue 2

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Epilogue 2

Synopsis: Kihyun finally achieves his dream

Word count: 2.3k

Triggers: suggestive content (food play)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Present The Future

“So anything else we’re buying today?” Kihyun asked as he swung an arm over your shoulder. 

“Some more steel for that new apartment building before those tariffs come into effect next month would be nice,” you replied.

“Really, love? You want my card to buy steel?” Kihyun asked with his eyebrows raised, then shrugged. “Alright, sure, if that’s what you want.”

“Yeah, it is what I want,” you said with a pout. “And you’re going to make it happen because you’re my investment director. But you can use the company funds instead of your card.” 

Kihyun chuckled. “Anything for you, sweetheart.”

“Then… can you buy me ice cream?” You asked sweetly and kissed his hand. 

“Sure, baby,” Kihyun replied as he steered you towards the gourmet ice cream place you liked. 

At the store, you placed an order for the two of you, then looked expectantly at Kihyun. “Didn’t you promise to pay?”

Kihyun smirked and slid an arm around your waist to your bag. “I did, so give me your purse.”

“The fu… use your own,” you said with a playful shove of his shoulder but didn’t stop him from taking your card out and tapping it on the machine. He placed your purse in his own pocket afterwards.

As you waited to receive your order, Kihyun hugged you from behind and kissed the top of your head, whispering, “You know, you should really check which card you’re using when you go somewhere.” 

You spun around in his arms to face him. “Oh my god, is this about my taxes? I told you, Hyungwon’s my private accountant now, and he’s happy handling my accounts and bank statements.” 

“Baby, I don’t think he’ll have much to report on your expenses then,” Kihyun said as he stepped around you to take your ice creams from the cafe worker. He gave you yours and led you out of the store to the carpark. 

When you reached the exit to the mall, your assistant had your car waiting. “Is it just back to yours, Miss y/n?” She asked from the driver’s seat once you and Kihyun settled in. 

“Yes, Jiwoo.” You replied then turned to Kihyun as you took a couple licks of your ice cream. “So anyways, tell me whatever you wanted to about my taxes then?” 

Kihyun’s eyes settled on your tongue licking your ice cream for a few seconds before he cleared his throat and spoke. “I just meant you should check the tax implications for the card you use,” he said with a shrug

You scoffed and said, “If you just want to do my taxes and take care of me, just say that.”

“See that’s funny because I absolutely would do your taxes if you asked me to,” he replied as his hand found yours in the backseat of your car. 

You picked up his hand and kissed it. “I think it’s cute that you love me.” 

Kihyun took his hand out of yours and tapped your nose. God you were so adorable. He then held out his own ice cream for you. “Wanna try mine?” 

You smiled and took a few licks, making eye contact with Kihyun as you did so. Then you smeared some of the ice cream on your lips. “Kiss, kiss?” You asked as you made doe eyes at Kihyun.

Kihyun obliged happily, kissing you and letting his tongue probe your mouth almost immediately. With one hand, he reached over to close the partition, not wanting Jiwoo to feel embarrassed, even though she’s seen and heard her fair share of things.

When Kihyun pulled back from the kiss, looking slightly flushed, he turned away from you to pull your purse out of his pocket. 

“You know princess, you really haven’t changed in all these years. Your situational awareness is still abysmal,” he said as he began pulling something out of your purse.

“Oh god what did I do now?” You groaned. 

Kihyun nodded towards the partition with a smirk. “Well first, it was the partition.” 

You bit your lip, both amused and embarrassed. You knocked on the partition and said, “Hey Jiwoo? You can go home after this, Kihyun and I will be staying in.”

“I already figured that Miss y/n,” Jiwoo replied with a snort. 

You took another mouthful of ice cream and turned back to Kihyun. “Happy now?” 

“Oh extremely, princess. Can’t wait to have you all to myself,” he replied as he reached over and ran his thumb over your lip. “Now, want to know the second thing you’ve been unaware of?” 

You gave his finger a small kiss before replying, “Go on, tell me.” 

Kihyun smiled smugly as he picked out your debit card from the purse in his lap. “Why don’t you read what this card says?” 

You chuckled and decided to humour him. “What could it possibly say other than… Yoo Kihyun? YOO KIHYUN?”

“Baby, if you want to be screaming my name, that can be arranged,” Kihyun said with a smirk as he took a very long and provocative lick up his ice cream that definitely made you squirm in your seat.

“You’re telling me I’ve been using your card for weeks now?” You asked as your jaw dropped open. 

“Months, actually,” Kihyun said as he tucked a finger under your chin to push your jaw up, making your breath hitch. 

He then brought his face closer and said in a low voice, “My princess, if you need something in your mouth, remember you’re holding an ice cream.” 

He kissed the corner of your mouth after and pulled back before you could kiss him, making you let out a small whine. Smirking to himself at your reaction, he leaned down to take a mouthful of your ice cream.

He let it coat his lips and swiped his tongue to clean it off. “Mm this is sweet but not as sweet as you.”

Your thighs clenched at the sight, which didn’t go unnoticed by Kihyun. He placed a hand on your thigh, letting his fingers slip between them. Almost instinctively, you opened up, letting him drag his fingers higher along the inside of your thigh, brushing your clothed core. 

“Will you let me have a taste, darling?” He asked as he applied pressure over your clit, making you bite back a groan. 

When you nodded yes, Kihyun leaned down… to take a bite of your ice cream. 

“Hey!” You cried out, but it was quickly muffled by Kihyun slamming his mouth on yours, the kiss being a desperate clash of tongue and teeth where you could taste your own ice cream on his lips. The sugar rush combined with your own hormones almost made your head spin as you moaned into his mouth.

When Kihyun pulled back, he trailed wet kisses down your jaw to your neck, leaving you sticky from the sugar in the ice cream. With one hand holding your ice cream, and the other holding your (his) debit card, you could do nothing but let Kihyun push you further into the seat and bury his face in your neck. Each little shudder of a breath made Kihyun more eager as his kisses grew harder.

“Sorry, baby,” he said between kisses along your collarbone. “You weren’t eating your ice cream and it looked lonely.”

He took some more ice cream on his lips and started kissing your neck again. The coldness of his lips made you gasp loudly, and your cheeks flushed when you remembered your assistant was still driving you. In the back of your mind, you heard tapping on the partition.

Kihyun chuckled, unbothered. He kept going back and forth between your neck and ice cream, coating more and more of your skin in the sticky sweetness. 

The sensation made you squirm, as you felt the need to be cleaned off. “Oh god… Kihyun, please…” you breathed out, not even sure what you were begging for.

At one point, you felt Kihyun swirl his tongue at the base of your neck then lick a stripe up towards your ear. You could feel the milk in the ice cream dribble down the side of your neck from the heat of his tongue. He placed a kiss below your ear before gently biting it.

“My love, is the reason you didn’t eat your ice cream because you wanted something else in your mouth?” Kihyun’s husky voice rang in your ear. The hand he had been lazily dragging along the inside of your thigh moved to pry his debit card out of your hand. 

You heard it clatter somewhere within your car as he tossed it away. “It’s fine, we can find it tomorrow,” he muttered as he reached over to undo your seatbelt.

“Ki- wait…”

Kihyun looked down at you, admiring the glistening marks of ice cream he’d left all over you. “Honey, didn’t you notice we’re home? Jiwoo knocked on the partition and left already.” 

“Oh.” 

Kihyun slipped a hand under your knees and around your shoulders. “Let’s get you inside,” he grunted as he hoisted you out of the car and carried your through your house. “You owe me for getting that car all messy.”

Several hours later, you lounged on your bed, waiting for Kihyun to finish sorting out the laundry problem of getting rid of all the ice cream on your clothes. As he suggested, you decided to look through both your bank accounts while waiting. Aside from automatic payments like your utilities charges and phone bill, none of your other expenses showed on your own account, while Kihyun’s account was being charged for something everyday. 

While you scrolled through bank statements, Kihyun climbed into bed beside you. 

“Whatchu looking at?”

“You were right, love. I have been using your card,” you said, furrowing your brows. 

Kihyun kissed your cheek and slid under the covers. “Told you I’d take care of my princess.” 

You bit your lip at that and smiled. Putting your phone down, you slipped into bed beside him, lying down with your head on chest.

“You know, I did wonder why some stores started using your name for my orders,” you mused. “But I didn’t really stop to think why.”

“I told you, sweetheart, it’s because you don’t have situational awareness,” Kihyun chuckled as his fingers swirled patterns on the back of your t-shirt.

“I don’t know baby, you really seemed to get a kick out of seeing me use your name,” you said, a smirk colouring your features.  

“Hm? What?” Kihyun mumbled.

You pushed yourself up to look over him. Kihyun smiled serenely, tucking back some of the hair that fell down around your face.

“Kihyun, I am just saying,” you said, kissing his palm when he moved to cup your cheek, “there were more direct ways to get me to use your name.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kihyun said with a deep sigh, but his eyes darted towards your closet for a fraction of a second. 

“I’m sure you don’t,” you said and got out of bed, moving to your closet, to your jewellery drawer. “You know, I didn’t think it meant anything when you said you knew exactly what pieces of jewellery I’ve been wearing recently, but then I saw a little something in your bank account.” 

Behind you, Kihyun bit his lip nervously. “What did you see?” He asked shakily.

“I’ll show you,” you replied, rummaging through the drawer until you found a small, but familiar box. You opened it to confirm your suspicions, then walked back to your bed, hiding the box behind you and crawling to Kihyun. 

“Aw baby c’mon,” Kihyun groaned from your bed as you straddled him. “If I’d known you were this horny, we could’ve spent longer earlier you know.” 

“I don’t know, maybe something will happen later anyways,” you shrugged, with a coy smile. 

“It doesn’t have to be later though,” he clarified in a lower voice, running his hands along your hips.

“Are you sure about that baby, coz you seemed very prepared,” you said, revealing the box from behind you and placing it on Kihyun’s chest.

His hands stilled on your hips as he quickly sat up, letting the box fall to somewhere between your bodies. “Darling, how did you know?” 

You smiled and dipped your face into the crook of his neck. “The card,” you mumbled, before lifting your head again. “I saw a suspicious purchase. I saw the jewellery redesign fee for an order I didn’t make so, I searched for the full invoice.” 

You reached between your bodies for the box and opened it to reveal an engagement ring with a pink diamond and blue sapphire. It was gorgeous, and even though the surprise was ruined, Kihyun still felt happy that you were mesmerised by the ring.

“I know you made this out of my pink diamond hoops and your sapphire cufflinks. It’s beautiful. And very romantic. I love it,” you said while gazing at the ring.

Kihyun took the box from your hand, and placed it aside on the bed. “I had this whole speech planned out, I was going to tell you how much I love you, and how I can’t live without you and…” 

You kissed him, smiling as you did. “Does that speech involve the magic words? Will you marry me?” 

“Yes?” Kihyun said, as he ran a hand through his hair.

“So you will marry me then?” You asked him, tangling your fingers with his. 

“Princess, isn’t that my line?” 

You giggled. “Yes.’”

“So then, will you marry me, y/n?” Kihyun asked as he picked up your hand.

“I just said yes.”

“I know. That’s why I got the ring on before you finished saying yes a second time.”

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Epilogue 1

Synopsis: More figures from your past come back for a happy reunion

Word count: 1.6k

Triggers: none

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Present

Kihyun walked into the investment department, with orange hair. 

“Oh my god, its finally happening,” Wooyoung giggled. 

“What’s finally happening? You growing up?” Seonghwa asked without looking up from his work. 

“If you're waiting for that, I'd give up,” San added. “What Woo meant was that our boss is finally wooing his soulmate.” 

“You don’t woo soulmates, it just happens,” Seonghwa said. 

“Yeah but most soulmates don’t sell their property to your own company and disappear,” Wooyoung retorted. “Kihyun's got a lot of making up to do.”

“And it seems he’s started with trying to return to the past with his orange hair,” Seonghwa finally concluded. 

“Gentlemen,” Kihyun shouted from his office. “I can hear you talking about my hair. If it's really your concern, just know the CEO said it’s okay.” 

Kihyun didn't add that you had dyed it yourself in your garage, although San would discover quite soon when he saw you in the break room.

“Holy hell what happened to your fingers?” He asked while you stood there eating a muffin. 

“My boyfriend happened,” you smiled coyly as you examined your orange stained fingers. 

“I thought your boyfriend is the one who's supposed to get his fingers dirty, not you,” San said, checking that nobody else was around. 

“YAH!! What the fuck man???” You shouted, mouth still half full of your muffin.

From outside in the hallway, Hyunwoo smiled to himself as he heard you shouting. He hadn't told you about how he knew to contact Kihyun for an interview all those months ago, but he was happy with the outcome because you were happy. Finally, the sole source of your happiness was with you.

———

“I didn’t think there was another packet of these here,” Kihyun said to you as he opened a packet of his favourite biscuits in the break room at MX. 

“I happened to have a spare at my house,” you replied without looking away from the microwave where you were heating up the two lunch boxes.

Kihyun had returned to preparing food for you when he learned you were still incompetent in that department. You leaned back into Kihyun’s chest as you waited for the lunch boxes to heat up, and he planted a kiss on your temple. When the microwave dinged, you removed two lunch boxes and gave one to him.

“Sorry I can’t eat with you, honey, I have a meeting,” Kihyun said as he took it. 

“I know, San mentioned it,” you replied and started walking out of the break room. 

“No, wait,” Kihyun called after you, making you stop in the doorway.

“Yes?” 

“If we finish up everything by 5, I can take you to that repair shop this afternoon?”

“Sounds good,” you replied to him and blew a kiss.

Back in the meeting room of the investment department, San picked up his phone to see a message from you: how long will your meeting be today?

San replied: I know why you’re asking, you just want to see Kihyun 

You: shut up

San: don’t worry, ill take care of it

He turned to Seonghwa and Wooyoung and said, “Whatever happens today, make sure Kihyun leaves the building at 5.” 

The two men nodded, understanding perfectly.

When you had asked Kihyun to come with you to get your car fixed that day, he wasn’t expecting to end up at the Fix On and On Garage.

“Why does that sound like Mingi?” He muttered as he stepped out of your car.

You did the same, and walked into the shop without even bothering to lock up your car. “Hey Mangi!” You shouted into the space.

A tall man with hair bleached white walked out. Mingi.

“Hey if it isn’t my favourite CEO,” he said with a high five to you. Then looking past you, he saw Kihyun. “Damn, it really happened huh?”

“Yeah,” you said, glancing back at Kihyun and waving with a smile. 

“Not Yoo Kihyun shacking up with the boss!!” Mingi hollered.

You snorted and smacked his stomach for that.

“Oh careful there. Kihyun just might kill me,” Mingi said as Kihyun walked up to you two.

You giggled and whispered with mock seriousness, “Don’t wait to find out, just get started on the car.” 

“So, when were you going to tell me you were friends with Mingi?” Kihyun asked as you two drove back home.

“Since you finally asked about why I have no tools in my house but make modifications to my cars and bikes,” you explained. “I started meeting him because I genuinely needed help with my car back in university, but then Mingi eventually taught me how to ride and do other things myself.” 

“Princess, I hope the only riding he showed you was on a motorbike or else I’m going to…” Kihyun growled.

“Yes, yes, kill him. Mingi’s been telling me that for years,” you said dismissively. “Anyways, do you want dinner at that fish and chips place?” 

“You mean the seafood place? Honey’s Restaurant? Near my old warehouse?” Kihyun asked. 

“Yeah, that place. They know me really well.” 

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. It would be weirder if they didn’t know you,” Kihyun said, messaging somebody on his phone and smiling coyly to himself while you drove.

“Miss y/n, Mr Yoo, the owner would like to greet you after your meal,” a waiter at Honey’s Restaurant said to you and Kihyun. 

“Of course, I’d love to chat with him,” you replied. 

“I still can’t believe you haven’t met the owner of this restaurant,” Kihyun said. 

“I just did the contract. Hyungwon handled the talking,” you explained. 

“That explains a lot. I wonder if you would have changed the contract if you knew who the owner was.” 

“Well I guess I am about to find out today. Do you know why he wants to see us?” You asked.

“I have some ideas,” Kihyun replied, looking out the window and not meeting your gaze. 

You nodded, not really understanding what he said, until somebody’s loud voice grabbed your attention.

“Hyung!” Someone shouted behind you. The restaurant wasn’t crowded so it was easy to pinpoint the source of the voice: a very familiar man with dimples and a radiant smile.

Kihyun stood up from the table and approached the man, pulling him into a hug and patting his back. “Hey, how have you been, Jooheon?”

When they broke apart, Jooheon walked over to your table. “Hi noona,” he said when he stood in front of you. 

“Oh my god, Honey? You're the owner?” You said, standing up in awe.

Jooheon laughed shyly. “Yep. Joohoney, there’s only one Honey,” he said and opened his arms to offer you a hug as well. 

You gladly accepted, holding him tight. “God, I can't believe you actually bought the restaurant you kept asking me about that one afternoon.” You pulled back and examined is face. “I see you gave up the space buns and racing?”

Joohoney also kept his arms around you as you spoke, ever the cuddle bug. He was probably the only person Kihyun wouldn't be jealous of. “And I can’t believe you actually wrote in the fish and chips clause in to the contract. God you two really are the cutest couple I know.” 

———

“You know, this is the first time we’re shopping and I don't need to have all my things delivered to my place,” you said to Kihyun as you walked through the familiar shopping mall.

“It’s also the first time I can commission jewellery pieces for you,” Kihyun replied as he pushed open the door to Yunho’s jewellery store. 

“Oh babe, it’s cute you think you can buy jewellery for me when you don’t even know what pieces I own,” you said while you waited for a staff member to appear from somewhere within the store. 

“That’s funny coming from someone who seems only wear one particular pair of sapphire earrings,” Kihyun said as he flicked the drop earrings and watched them sway. 

“At least I own other pairs,” you said with an eye roll. “But none of them match your cufflinks.”

Soon after, Yunho walked in through the “staff only” door. “Y/n darling I knew I heard your voice,” he chirped as he closed the door and turned around, only to stop and stare at the couple before him. “Y/n, is that… him?” 

You giggled and clung to Kihyun’s arm. “Uh huh. It’s him.” 

“Him? That’s all you two call me?” Kihyun asked, eyeing you and Yunho’s exchange. 

“You did create quite a bit of work for me when you ended things with y/n, you know,” Yunho said tersely to Kihyun. “Man the number of pieces she wanted redone almost broke my heart as much you broke hers.”

You could feel Kihyun growing nervous beside you so you said, “Calm down, Yunho, and don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy playing around with all the gems I gave you.”

“True, but you’re the true gem, darling. You’re my favourite customer,” Yunho replied with a wink, making you chortle.

“Well if I’m your favourite customer, I hope you don’t mind my new order because it’s pretty big.” 

“Alright, hit me with it,” Yunho said, grabbing his notebook.

“I want you to create matching cufflinks for all the earrings I’ve bought from you in the past six months.” 

Both Kihyun and Yunho stared at you wide eyed. 

“Honey, that’s too much, I can't let you do that,” Kihyun said first. 

“Honey, listen to your boyfriend because at the rate you’re going, I am going to have to hire more workers,” Yunho added. 

“Pretty sure I pay you enough for that,” you said. With that, you paid, signed the order form and thanked Yunho. 

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 6

Synopsis: You have good friends. Kihyun gets what he deserves.

Word count: 4.2k

Triggers: none

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Past (Kihyun focus)

You saw Kihyun regularly throughout the semester, usually a couple times a week. Most afternoons, he would pick you up after classes and bring you to the warehouse where you'd study. Saturday nights remained for racing. Kihyun and Yunho had also gotten much more familiar now since Kihyun often went to pick up your custom jewellery orders. Occasionally, you’d try placing orders for Kihyun too, but Kihyun somehow kept convincing Yunho to cancel them and use the money to add something a little extra to whatever piece you ordered for yourself. 

But watching you wear these jewellery pieces, with a series of dresses as colourful as your personality, always made Kihyun feel a twinge of insecurity. Every couple of weeks you went to networking events, sometimes for your mother’s firm and sometimes with other law school classmates. Many of these classmates were dating other university students too. You always offered to take Kihyun as a plus one, which was half the reason you kept ordering extra pieces (usually lapel pins or brooches to match your outfits), but after a couple events, Kihyun began declining most of them. 

He would make up excuses about needing to work on his bikes more, but the real reason was that he wasn’t good enough for you. Someone like you - beautiful, educated, well-liked - couldn’t be with someone like him - a grease-covered biker whose biggest achievement was staying alive while racing at inhuman speeds. The solution to his dilemma came in the form of a meeting he’d never expected to have: a meeting with MX Property Development’s Executive Team. None of the names or faces in that meeting room were particularly memorable, aside from the CEO and the chief engineer, Son Hyunwoo, who offered Kihyun an ultimatum.

“Mr Yoo, I will say that your relationship with my daughter has not influenced my decision to buyout your warehouse for our redevelopment,” the CEO said. Noting Kihyun’s shocked face, she added, “I‘ve known for quite some time actually. My daughter isn’t subtle when she is happy, so I knew she was seeing someone. All I had to do was check the CCTV footage in the city to find out exactly who you were.” 

Kihyun gulped. This woman was terrifying. No wonder you kept saying you needed to feel safe.

The CEO continued. “Now lucky for you, I did consider your relationship with my daughter when I decided on the pricing.” She slid a sheet of paper across the conference  room table to Kihyun with a sum written on it that was so high Kihyun nearly fell out of his seat.

“Let me be frank, Mr Yoo. Even though you make y/n happy, I don't think you’re the man for her. She’s young, she’s starting out in life, and she needs someone of her calibre. Now the money I’ve given you is what my analysts think will be enough for you to turn your life around and become someone worthy of my daughter.”

A small smile started to break out on Kihyun’s face. 

But the CEO’s next words quickly dashed it. “However, this sum is conditional. If you leave y/n, without a single word, I will personally wire this money to you,” she said while tapping at the sheet of paper. “However, should you choose to stay with her, I will only give you the legally required amount of compensation.” The CEO sighed and finished with, “Simply put, I do not want to see you with my daughter until you are a respectable man.” 

The Past (y/n focus)

Finally, the last day of semester. Almost two months of vacation awaited you, meaning almost two months of non-stop Kihyun time. It was Friday, Kihyun was probably adding the final touches to his bike before the race tomorrow. Excited, you went to the warehouse, like you did every Friday night.

“Ki, baby, it’s the holidays!” You shouted happily as you tried pushed the door, but your voice died down quickly, as did your strength. 

The warehouse door was chained shut and couldn’t be opened fully. You pushed it enough to peek inside and saw that it was dark.

“Kihyun? Honey, are you in there?” You called into the dark, but got no answer. You fumbled for the flashlight on your phone to shine it through the door. Maybe he was asleep or something. You guided the light around, looking for the familiar couch but didn’t see it. You shifted the light some more to see if there were any bikes around, but there were none. 

The place was cleaned out. 

“K-Kihyun?” You said, much quieter, your lips quivering. 

Suddenly the wind whooshing around the harbour felt cold. All those little pathways throughout the harbour were suddenly unfamiliar and scary. And to think you walked here by yourself. You sat on the ground by the warehouse door, hugging your knees while tears slowly dripped down your face. You dialled Kihyun’s number, heard it ring, but got no answer. You tried several more times but still got no answer.

Then you tried another number - Joohoney’s. Kihyun used your phone once to call him, so it was probably in your history. 

To your surprise, Jooheon actually answered. “Hello y/n.” 

You sniffled and returned the greeting, then asked, “Where’s Kihyun?” 

You heard Jooheon sighing on the other end. “He said you guys broke up. We don’t really know where he is either.” 

“What??” You gasped. “But we literally spoke yesterday. I was going to come see him after class but he’s not here. Who said we broke up?”

“Kihyun did. He said you broke up today,” Jooheon repeated.

“How even…” you murmured, your crying intensifying. You then cleared your throat and asked, “Could you send me your address please? Maybe I can wait for Kihyun at your house?”

There was a pause, and you heard shuffling and muttering on the line before Jooheon spoke. “I am sorry y/n, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Dejected, you said goodbye to Jooheon and ended the call.

The Past (Kihyun focus)

“Are you happy now, hyung?” Jooheon asked bitterly when he put the phone down.

Kihyun groaned from his bed. “You know I didn’t have a choice.” 

“Well have you at least thought about what you’ll do with the money?”

“Yeah a bit,” Kihyun replied, sniffling away his own tears. “I’ll go to university, I’ll get whatever goddamn degree I need, and find her again.” 

“If you’re that sure about her, why didn’t you stay and fight for her?” Changkyun said from the doorway to Kihyun's bedroom. 

“I know she is everything I want in life. But I want to become everything she will ever need or want in life. There’s a difference there and currently, I am not what she needs or wants.”

“Eh judging by how much your phone has been ringing in the living room, she probably needs and wants you pretty badly,” Changkyun said with a shrug and walked away. 

The Past (y/n focus)

There was one more person you could contact. Kihyun wouldn’t like it, but it was his fault you were in this mess anyways. You had found Mingi on Instagram once, so you searched for his account and DM’d him, hoping for a response. 

You: Hi Mingi, it’s y/n here. If you’re free I’d love a favour.

He replied about 10 minutes later.

Mingi: Well this is a surprise Mingi: What can I do for ya?

You: Can you pick me up from Kihyun’s warehouse? I will explain when you get here

Mingi: Oooh mystery Mingi: I like it Mingi: Be there in 5

True to his word, Mingi arrived in 5 minutes. He even had the decency to bring a spare helmet for you. Since the last time you had seen him, he had changed his hair to black with blue highlights.

“Hello y/n. What did you need? Can’t lie, I am shocked you texted me,” Mingi said, walking up to your huddled form by the warehouse door. When you looked up at him with your swollen, red eyes, Mingi hurriedly pulled his helmet off and crouched down in front of you. 

“Oh no, what happened? Was it Kihyun? Did he dump you? Do you want revenge? Did he hurt you? Are you lost? Did something happen to Kihyun?” The words tumbled out of Mingi who wasn’t exactly sure what favour you could possibly want but never expected to find you like this.

You tried nodding, since one of those guesses were right, but you started crying before you could form any words. Mingi watched you for a few seconds, unsure of what to do, then stood up and walked away back to his bike. 

“No wait, Mingi, please don’t leave, please, just stay” you called after him, your voice cracking between your sobs. 

Mingi turned to look at you, his gaze being the softest you’d ever seen him. “Relax, y/n, I’m just going to grab that helmet for you,” he replied. 

He returned with the helmet, and placed it over you, gently trying to push it on to your head. You noticed he was struggling, probably worried about hurting you by pushing to hard, so you pulled the helmet on yourself. “Are you taking me somewhere?” 

Mingi bit a finger while he looked you up and down. “I was hoping you could tell me. You look like you’re dressed for something nice.” 

“Oh…” you looked down, smoothing the business dress you’d worn today. It was white, and probably stained now. It also fit very, very tightly over your hips, and would almost certainly ride up the second you got on that bike. “I had things on today,” you said in explanation.

“Things?” Mingi asked. “You look like you were supposed to go to a wedding or something.” 

You giggled at that, and Mingi smiled with you. At least you weren’t crying on the ground anymore. 

“I just dress nice for my classes. Law school and stuff, y’know?” You offered as an explanation.

“Oh boy, law school,” Mingi said with a low sigh. “Kihyun really won the fucking lottery with you huh? Though considering how you’re stranded here, he probably doesn’t realise it.” 

Your face immediately turned into a scowl. “Mingi, I get enough shit about that from everybody else alright?”

“Right, right, sorry, touchy subject, I see,” Mingi said, pursing his lips.

You sighed, stood up and hoisted your bag over your shoulder. “I texted because I need a ride home. I’ll give you money for the petrol when you drop me off.” 

Mingi blinked confusedly. “And I presume Kihyun can’t take you home?” 

“Mingi,” you said his name with gritted teeth. “Are you dense? Did you not notice he’s gone? The warehouse is empty?”

“Huh???” Mingi’s jaw dropped open. “No fucking way,” he said as he walked past you to peek into the darkened warehouse. “Shit, you’re right.” 

“So then, can you take me home? I can tell you the way,” you asked after giving Mingi a few moments.

“Yeah, alright.” 

You followed Mingi to his bike and got on behind him. He almost snorted when he felt you hands ghosting over his waist, unsure whether to hold on or not. 

“Y/n, all bikers understand. You hold on for safety. Kihyun won’t kill either of us.” 

You sniffled behind him but eventually wrapped your arms around his middle. “Kihyun would never hurt anybody.”

Mingi revved up his bike. “No, what you mean is Kihyun would never let anybody hurt you. He’s always been incredibly protective of you, did you know?” 

“Sorta,” you mumbled. “Turn left here.” 

Mingi did as you said. “Did you know he won’t even tell most of the other bikers your name?”

“Wait what?” This was news to you.

“Yeah, one day he came up to me and had me swear to never reveal your name to other people. I assumed he was just being a jealous possessive asshole, who thinks with his dick and not his head…”

You smacked Mingi’s shoulder for that, making him laugh. Eventually, he continued. “But I started to suspect there was another reason a few months ago when I dropped by the warehouse one time and heard you telling Jooheon about why he shouldn’t buy a restaurant in a particular suburb. It really sounded like you knew your shit.”

“Are you trying to tell me you’ve never met a person who understands the property market? Also, enter the highway over there.” 

“No, it wasn’t that, there was one more thing,” He said as he changed lanes. “I heard you say something about a company like you almost owned it.”

“Oh, I see.” 

“I feel like I’m hitting something here. There is a connection between that company and why Kihyun doesn’t want people to know your name, right? Also which exit do I take?” 

“The one in 3 kilometres. And yeah, I guess you’re right about that company,” you replied.

Mingi was quiet for a few seconds, focused on reading the signage for the exit. He then asked, “So since I already know your name, will you tell me the whole story?” 

You sighed. “Yeah alright. It’s not like my identity wasn’t known by my whole school or something. But, you’re right, I do technically own a portion of a property firm. Have you heard of MX?”

“MX? Bloody hell who hasn’t? Don't they own all those fancy apartment buildings? Fuck y/n, who even are you?” Mingi cried out, shocked, then said calmly, “Also, did I miss the turn to your street?” 

“No, it’s the next road on your left. And maybe when you drop me off, you’ll see MX’s CEO,” you replied. 

“I can’t tell if you’re joking there.”

“I’m not. She’s my mum. Also, stop over there, that’s my house,” you replied. 

Once Mingi killed the engine, you climbed off his bike and gave him back his helmet. 

“Thank you for the ride,” you replied as you rummaged through your purse and pulled out some cash. “This is for the petrol.” 

Mingi took the money and stared at it, scrunching his face. “Man I feel strange taking money from you. Like you’re Kihyun’s girl, and you’re you know… that,” he said with a nod towards your house. 

You pouted and shook your head. “No, I’m just y/n. And I’m not Kihyun’s girl anymore.” Your voice cracked at the last word of your sentence. 

“Oh hey hey, no more crying. He fucked up, not you, alright? And I know we only said hellos at the weekly races but you seem like a nice person. You’ll find someone better, okay?” Mingi said, squeezing your shoulder gently.

“Mingi you used to ask about my week and try flirt with me to piss off Kihyun,” you replied. 

“And somehow you always dodged the flirting and told me about what you were studying instead. It’s how I figured out you’re probably a cool person, and…” Mingi paused, unsure whether you’ll cry again. “…and I saw very quickly that you only had eyes for Kihyun.”

“Thanks for that,” you said with a sad smile. “But you won’t be seeing me at the racetrack anymore, so good luck to both you and Kihyun for tomorrow. I’ll get going now.” 

“Thanks y/n. See you around.” 

The Past (Kihyun focus)

“Hey asshole, you mind explaining why you left y/n stranded at your empty warehouse last night?” Mingi said he pulled on his racing gear beside Kihyun in the change rooms.

“Stay away from y/n,” Kihyun said through gritted teeth.

“I dunno man, she asked me to pick her up and I found her crying on the ground. She said you broke up,” Mingi continued. 

“Yeah we did,” Kihyun said without meeting Mingi’s gaze. 

“Can’t believe you fumbled that. She’s pretty, she’s smart, she practically owns MX, what more could you want?” 

“For you to not have the hots for my girlfriend?” Kihyun said with gritted teeth.

“Didn’t you just say you dumped her?” Mingi scoffed. 

“Shut up or else I’ll throw something at you.” Kihyun grumbled. Then he asked, “Hold up, what do you mean MX?”

“I mean exactly what you’re thinking. I know who she is,” Mingi replied nonchalantly, while folding some clothes into his bag.

“Mingi,” Kihyun said sternly, “how the hell did you find that out? I swear man if you did something to her…”

“Jesus Christ Kihyun, you really do think the world’s out to ruin your relationship huh?” 

“Shut up, you don’t know the half of it,” Kihyun said as he slumped down onto a bench.

“And neither does she, I bet. Did it ever occur to you to actually speak to her before breaking up via Joohoney’s phone, you dumb fuck?” 

“Listen Mingi, can we cool it with the criticism? I am sure she called me a bunch of names too,” Kihyun said, glaring up at Mingi. 

Mingi shook his head, keeping his voice calm. “No, she actually tried to tell me you’re a good person who would never hurt anyone. But then you left her crying at an abandoned warehouse. She trusted you to do nothing more than love her, and you failed.” 

The Present (Hyunwoo Focus)

With Hyungwon’s departure from MX Property Development, Hyunwoo was tasked with finding the replacement. He looked through the applications with Hyungwon, until one caught his attention: Yoo Kihyun. The name was admittedly familiar, and a look at the candidate’s LinkedIn profile picture showed he was precisely the young man from several years ago, all the way down to the orange hair. And he wasn’t a bad candidate either with a stellar record of negotiating some very lucrative deals. 

Hyunwoo slept on his thoughts for a few days - would you even want to work with Kihyun? By and larger, Kihyun was the best candidate, so Hyunwoo eventually told Hyungwon the story of your past. Hyungwon already knew about how your little first year uni student self fell in love with a biker, but he had no idea this biker’s workshop was part of an MX acquisition, or that your mother paid him off to leave you. Hyunwoo and Hyungwon were both pleasantly surprised that after Kihyun disappeared, he really did become the kind of man you were supposed to be with.

Hyungwon was the first to suggest an interview with Kihyun. Even without you two being star crossed lovers, he was still the best candidate, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to finally give their lovely new CEO the happiness she needed right? But what if Kihyun had already moved on?

Luckily, Hyungwon had an answer to that. He went down the good old personal friends route. You’re school friends with Somin of Kard, who was Kihyun’s supervisor and also happened to be his reference. A quick phone call and mention of your name was all she needed to explain that Kihyun was currently single. So Hyungwon advised Hyunwoo to invite Kihyun for an interview. The two decided to hold the interview away from you, so the Friday before Hyungwon’s retirement, Hyunwoo invited Kihyun to MX’s gym of all places. Still, he did let slip there was a potential party date waiting for you at the gym that day.

The Present (y/n focus)

Having you, his boss and the love of his life bring up all the ways he unintentionally hurt you while standing in a deserted parking lot was not how Kihyun thought his evening would go. But your voice had gone from practically spitting venom to something introspective. Both of you were still holding each other’s hands too.

“Y/n,” Kihyun began. “I know I fucked up. Everyone around me who knew you made sure I knew that every single day.” 

You hung on your head, looking down at your interconnected hands. “Kihyun, I just don’t understand why you did it. If you just wanted to be sponsored, you could’ve asked the company. If you wanted to keep dating while you got your degree, you could’ve. But why did you have to leave?”

“It was your mother, y/n. She paid me to when I gave up the warehouse,” Kihyun said, somewhat worried for your reaction. 

“Are you saying you left because you were angry my mother’s company wanted to buy your warehouse?” You asked, looking up at him confusedly.

“What? No!” He said a little too quickly while pulling your hand, finally bringing your bodies together. 

You let out a small cry at the impact, and stared up at Kihyun, your faces inches away from each other.

Kihyun looked at the ceiling, trying to keep his calm and collect his thoughts. With a long exhale, he said, “What I meant is, your mother personally paid me to become a man worthy of you.”

You rolled your eyes at that. Even after all these years, you were stuck at this one question. “Jesus fucking Christ Kihyun, you still don’t get it,” you said, laughing to yourself. “You keep forgetting that I was happy with you. You gave me the affection I wanted, the support I needed and everything in between.” 

Kihyun shook his head. “No, that’s not true, y/n. You deserve to live like a princess, and as much I wanted you to have that life, I couldn’t give it to you.”

You moved your hands to hang around his neck as you spoke. “But wasn’t I your princess?” 

Kihyun leaned down to press a kiss on to the inside of your arm. “What if I still want you as my princess?” He murmured into your skin while his arms loosely circled your waist. 

You smiled at his words. “You know, the moments when I felt most like your princess was when you simply took care of me and tried to make me happy.” You started tangling your fingers into his hair as you spoke, your eyes looking dreamy and distant as you reminisced. “Stuff like packing a lunchbox for me so I could sleep more, picking me up from all my events because I wanted to drink. And more recently, how you’ve been restocking my fridge at work without telling me.”

Kihyun’s eyes widened at that. “I didn’t know you knew that,” he said sheepishly, looking to the side, away from you. 

You giggled at his reaction. “Minhyuk dobbed you in.” 

Tentatively, you leaned your head down on his chest. Almost immediately, his arms tightened around your waist. Your heart felt like it would burst out of your chest, and you knew your cheeks would begin to hurt soon with how much you were smiling. Being in Kihyun’s arms again felt like home. You felt like every bit of tension you had carried, every worry, problem and fear, had all disappeared.

 

You weren’t sure how long you stood there, wrapped up in Kihyun’s arms until he spoke. Playing with your earrings, he said, “You kept them. I am surprised.” 

You took his hand and kissed it. “Why is that?” 

“Yunho told me you returned most of the jewellery you had ordered,” Kihyun replied. 

“Oh.” It was true. Since Kihyun kept getting Yunho to add a little something extra to all the pieces you commissioned during your relationship, you ended up returning everything and having them remade. Despite this, you had one question. “How did you find out?”

Kihhyun traced his finger down your neck to your scarf, playing with the material. “When I went to order more pearl cufflinks to match all my suits.”

You plucked his hand off your scarf to examine the cufflinks. It was the same design as the earrings you gave him. The giddiest smile crept on to your face seeing that and Kihyun smiled with you. “Does it really make you that happy?” He asked. 

“Yes,” you replied, pressing yet another kiss to his hand. “It shows we are together.” 

Wait did you really say that? You hadn’t even talked about it yet. Did you and Kihyun want to be a couple again? Like sure he was holding you like this and talking about the past but what if this was just a random moment? 

“Uhh what I meant was…” you began.

“Do you actually want to give me a second chance?” Kihyun asked quickly. 

“Um well,” you tried again. 

“Please y/n.” 

“Ki…” you sighed. “Just… I don’t know. Do you want to try again?” 

Kihyun cradled your face in his hands. He couldn’t believe what you were asking. “God y/n, you’re like an angel. I would try absolutely anything in the world if it meant I could be with you. I am not letting you go again, not without fighting.” Kihyun’s own tears threatened to spill as he said this, so you stood up on your tip toes and kissed his jaw. 

“Yes. Let’s try again.”

His tears finally fell. But they were happy, relieved tears. Everything he ever achieved in life, it was all for you. Returning to you had been his only purpose in life for several years, but he could finally step up and realise his dream: loving you again.

“My princess, can I kiss you?”

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 5

Synopsis: You finally find out why Kihyun left you

Word count: 5k

Triggers: none

Author’s Note: I am sorry I had to make Jongho the villain

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Past 

As your university semester drew nearer, the number of worries you had about the future began escalating. Kihyun could see it on your face every time you grew quiet and turned your gaze downward as if you literally didn’t want to see what was lying ahead of you.

Today, Kihyun had taken you shopping at your favourite mall. This mall included a number of high end stores, and with you being you, it was a given that you would always be more comfortable spending money than Kihyun, so you usually didn't ask him to accompany you. Hence why today, you were surprised when Kihyun called in the morning and told you to get ready to go shopping.

So now here you were, trying on what’s probably the 6th dress in the newest release of designs while Kihyun sat on a couch and waited for you to show your outfit. Kihyun liked to think he had the patience of a saint, but he had come here with a plan today. There was a store he wanted to take you to and he wanted to get there before the end of the day. 

Finally, you came out of the dressing room with all the outfits you tried. “I don’t know which one I should get,” you said with a frown.

Kihyun chuckled and shook his head. “I know even if you don’t buy it today, you’re going to go home and order it, or just wait until next weekend to come here again. Just buy all of it.” 

Satisfied with his response, you paid for all your items and asked the store to deliver them to your house since the bags would never fit on Kihyun’s bike. Then you left the store with Kihyun, holding his arm as he steered you to the store he had in mind. 

“You know, when I get my first car, we’ll finally be able to bring our shopping home,” you mused. 

Kihyun tapped your nose. “I think you mean your shopping, princess. Anyway, we’re here.” 

Kihyun took you into a high end jewellery store, heading straight for the counter. This was unlike him, he didn’t wear a lot of jewellery. Kihyun walked up to the very tall young man at the counter and explained he was there to pick up an order. 

The man looked up, flicked his gaze between Kihyun and you, and his features contorted to shock when he saw you. “Miss y/n, is that you? It’s been a long time!” 

Kihyun looked at you confused. You laughed and patted his arm before replying to the man, “Yeah it has been, Yunho, I didn’t have any events the last few months.”

“So I take it the order is for you then?” Yunho asked looking between you and Kihyun. 

Kihyun cast a desperate look at Yunho. You were not meant to know about this until next weekend when you leave for university. 

But to your credit, you laughed it off and told Yunho, “No, it’s my boyfriend’s order.” You leaned your head down on Kihyun’s shoulder and smiled brightly. 

Yunho’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Boyfriend huh? Cute, very cute.” Yunho spoke while shuffling behind the counter to grab Kihyun’s order. “Does your family know yet?” 

Kihyun felt your grip on his arm tighten. He didn’t need to look at you to know your jaw was tensed as you spoke. “Uhh no, they haven’t met.” 

Yunho slid a small bag across the counter with a sad smile. “Perhaps it’s for the best, eh?” 

“Well I mean, didn’t your parents accept your decisions finally?” You offered weakly. 

“Oh y/n,” Yunho said. “I chose to become a jewellery designer instead of a doctor. Being around diamonds and being with a diamond in the rough are two very different things.” 

Later that night, as you and Kihyun were lying in bed at his house, Kihyun continued thinking about what Yunho said. He stared at the ceiling, one hand behind his head and the other drawing patterns on your back while you lay your head on his chest. Speaking more to the room than you, he asked, “Are you happy with me, y/n?” 

You lifted your face up from his chest and answered quickly with no hesitation. “Of course I am. Why would I not be?” You furrowed your brows as you scanned his face. “Where is this coming from, baby?” 

“Nothing,” Kihyun mumbled without meeting your eyes. 

You drew yourself up onto your elbows and crawled up higher so you and Kihyun could be face to face. “Does my family bother you?”

“What? No,” Kihyun replied. 

You smiled softly down at him as you brushed some hair off his forehead. “You’re not very convincing… but tell me this. Have you ever seen my parents in the house? Have you ever seen me interact with either of them?”

“No…” Kihyun answered slowly. 

“Exactly. They don’t pay that much attention to me. But you on the other hand,” you paused to kiss his forehead, “give me all the attention I want, and I couldn’t be happier.” 

Kihyun smiled and picked up your hand from his hair to kiss it and held it above his heart. He then said, “I am glad you feel that way y/n. I want to be able to make you happy. Every single day.”  

“And you do. You make sure I eat, you reassure me when I am studying and can’t understand something. Plus you always turn up for all the boring errands I have to run. I don’t think there’s much else I could ask for,” you said while your fingers drummed against his chest soothingly.

You scooted back down to lie on his chest and continued your explanation. “Above all else, you make me feel protected.”

“Um princess, just because I am a biker, doesn’t mean I fight like one,” Kihyun replied. 

You smacked his chest lightly. “You know that’s not what I mean. Besides, wasn’t it you who said I have absolutely no regard for my physical safety?” 

“Babe, I think everyone who has ever met you would say the same,” Kihyun teased. 

“Yeah ok fine.” You rolled your eyes. “But what I meant is that I feel like nothing bad could happen to me when I'm with you. And if something has gone wrong, being with you just makes everything better. It’s like you keep me away from all the bad things in my life.” 

Kihyun ran his fingers through your hair while he worked through his thoughts out loud. “I don’t think I deserve praise like that. I don’t even know if I deserve to be with you.” 

You buried your face into the crook of his neck. “Don’t say that. I don’t need you to give me everything in life. I just need you to keep loving me.”

The Present

Minhyuk, San and Wooyoung were all seated on the couches in the CEO’s office now. So far, you had explained all the good things that ever happened with Kihyun. 

“So he was your first love then?” Minhyuk asked. 

“More like her only love,” Wooyoung retorted. 

“No, she actually had a pretty good run with Jongho. Her mother even started telling her to invite him on vacations,” Minhyuk explained.

Wooyoung rubbed his hands together. “Man that dinner with the navy is going to be good. Kihyun and Jongho going toe to toe…” 

San smacked Wooyoung’s shoulder. “Bro she’s still your CEO, don’t say shit like that.”

Minhyuk ignored the two and asked you, “So how did you and Kihyun end things? We know it wasn’t on good terms but what happened?” 

“He left me. Simple as,” you replied with a shrug. 

“Left you? What, were you two married or something?” Wooyoung asked giggling. 

“No, he just stopped talking to me one day,” you replied. 

“Damn. That is cold. And low,” San said. 

“No wonder you can’t even look at him during our meetings now,” Wooyoung said. 

Minhyuk nodded along and added, “Glad someone else noticed.” 

Everyone was quiet for a minute, until San said, “You should wear your sapphire earrings tonight and mess with his head, especially after what Wooyoung pulled in the elevator.”

The other two men turned to you for an explanation.

The Past

The night before your first classes, you and Kihyun were at his loft, spooning on his bed. 

“I can’t take you to your first class tomorrow morning, but I know you’re going to do fine,” Kihyun said. 

“I hope you’re right. But hey at least I studied over the holidays right?” You said.

Kihyun placed a couple kisses along your shoulder. “Honey, you know you didn’t have to do that. At this rate, you’re going to be able to write your exam with your eyes closed.”

You turned around in his arms to face him. Kihyun’s gentle, content smile faded when you pouted and asked, “What if you forget me while I am gone?” 

Kihyun tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear. “Princess, why would you think that?”

“Because you’ll keep working and racing, but I am going to study. You’re going to live your life independently, while I intern at my parents’ company,” you replied. 

“But there's nothing bad with that, is there?” Kihyun asked. “You know you can come to my warehouse any time, except…”

“Except when I have class, I know,” you sighed. 

Kihyun chuckled and continued. “If I am free, I can take you to class, or pick you up after? We can still do everything we’ve done all summer.” 

“Yeah, you’re right,” you said a little dejectedly and nuzzled your face into Kihyun’s chest.

Kihyun ran his fingers through your hair. “Don’t fall asleep baby. I still need to take you home.”

You whined and wriggled in his hold. “Can’t we just stay like this?” 

“Alright. Just a little longer then, my love,” Kihyun said and pulled you in tighter. 

When Kihyun did take you home, the time you spent saying goodbye outside your house was longer than the ride there. You were sitting sideways on his parked motorbike as he braced his hands on either side of your hips. You looped your hands around his shoulders, content to just stare at his beautiful face. 

“I can see your roots now,” you giggled when you saw the streetlight fall on Kihyun’s hair. 

“Mmm, remember that time you tried to dye it for me and got Cheeto fingers?” Kihyun grinned. 

“I can’t believe you wanted a photo of me like that,” you said, smiling while looking down at your feet.

Kihyun placed his hands on your waist and said, “Hop down for me.” Once you did, he reached behind you to open the under-seat compartment of his motorcycle and took out a photo album. “This is for you.” 

Curious, you took the album and started flicking through it. Pictures of you filled the pages, including the one of you with Cheeto fingers. Eventually the pages turned blank. 

As if reading your mind, Kihyun said, “I left that section blank so you could add your favourite photos. Do you like it?”

 “Kihyun… this is…” you gasped, struggling with your words. “Just… come here.” 

You hooked your hand behind his neck and pulled his lips down to yours. As you sucked on his lower lip, he pushed his hips toward yours to hold you against his motorcycle. He leaned down further into the kiss, causing you to momentarily lose your footing. Your little surprised squeak was lost within the kiss as Kihyun entered his tongue into your mouth and made slow movements along the inside of your lips while you arched your back and practically clung to his shoulders.

When you both broke apart, breathless with puffy lips, Kihyun traced your cheekbone and the shell of your ear with his hand, his thumb finally reaching the little pearl earrings you were wearing.

“Pretty,” he breathed as he played with them. “There’s something for you at the end of the album.”

You opened the album again, leaning it against Kihyun’s chest while you flicked to the back. There was a thick envelope attached. Opening it, you found a pair of earrings with teardrop shaped blue stones. 

“Will you put them on for me princess?” Kihyun asked as he tried to peer down at your face to gauge your reaction.

You nodded, and pulled out the little card the earrings were attached to.

“Can I take these off you?” Kihyun asked as he lifted his fingers to your pearl earrings.

“Okay.”

Kihyun gently pulled the clasp off each, and tucked the earring into his palm before fitting your new ones on you. When he was done, he scanned your face, admiring your new look. “You look amazing, just like always.”

When Kihyun took your hand to place your old earrings in them, you stopped him. “Keep it. Get Yunho to make them into cufflinks or something.”

The Present

As you got ready for the dinner, you thought over San’s suggestion. Eventually, you gave in and removed your diamond hoops to slide on Kihyun’s sapphire drop earrings before driving your car to the restaurant. The other executives were already waiting at the restaurant for you when you arrived. 

Minhyuk waved you over once he saw you. “Miss y/n, you changed your earrings,” he said with a coy smile. 

You smiled at the ground and nodded. Leave it to Minhyuk to cause just the right amount of chaos.

“Whoever picked them had a good eye eh?” Minhyuk said, glancing at Kihyun.

Kihyun’s eyes locked with yours at that moment, both of you searching each other’s faces for a reaction that neither of you were willing to give. Kihyun looked away first, and played with the cufflinks of his suit jacket.

“Shall we go in then, Miss y/n?” Kihyun asked and you nodded.

Kihyun walked beside you, looking straight ahead as he led you and the other executives through to the restaurant.. It was the closest you’d stood to him in a long time, so you took the opportunity to give him a sidelong glance and take in his features. Simply put, you were staring, until you eventually got lost in his beauty. 

“You look good, y/n.” Kihyun whispered, more to himself than you.

“Hmm what huh?” You blinked, your reverie disrupted when you saw Kihyun speak but didn’t quite catch his words.  

Kihyun turned, scanned your face for a few seconds, then smiled. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

He pushed open the door to a private room at the restaurant where the navy officers were already waiting, seated at the table. You immediately recognised Jongho but found another familiar face beside him. 

“I.M.?” You gasped to yourself. 

Changkyun stood up and walked around the table to you. “Yes noona, it’s me. Technically, it’s Commodore Im now, but you can call me Changkyun. IM was just my racing name.”

“I had no idea you went into the navy! And you’re an officer now? That’s amazing,” you gushed, happy to see a familiar face. 

Behind you, Hoseok said to Kihyun, “Looks like your friend is hers now. She really does know everyone who is a someone.”

Kihyun clenched his jaw, but nodded. It’s not like he was worried Changkyun was flirting with you, but the fact that you were gushing over someone from your racing past while acting like you didn’t even remember Kihyun when he first saw you, was irking him off. He walked up to you and Changkyun and touched your arm to get your attention. 

Noticing Kihyun’s hand on your arm, Changkyun said, “Hyung, I didn’t know you got back together with noona.”

Instead of saying what he needed to, you and Kihyun sprang apart with his hand jolting off your arm. You knew Jongho at the table saw that. As did the rest of your executive team. You cleared your throat and spoke first, trying to reduce the awkward tension. “We’re not. He’s my investment director.”

“And she’s here on business today. Call her Miss y/n,” Kihyun told Changkyun, his voice growing steadily colder as he held Changkyun’s gaze. 

You left Kihyun and Chankgyun to stare down at each other, moved toward the table and pulled out the chair at the middle to sit down. Your executive team followed suit and filled in the spaces beside you. Once they were comfortable, you turned to Minhyuk on your right. “Can you get things started?”

So Minhyuk opened a portfolio and took the navy officers through the architecture department’s designs. Hoseok stepped in each time a question was asked so Minhyuk wouldn’t have to lose his train of thought. The cost related questions were always directed to Kihyun. Hyunwoo and you sat observing it all. Finally, Minhyuk closed his portfolio and looked to you. It was your turn to grill the officers. 

And usually, you would go about this in a calm, professional manner, but today, that was proving to be difficult.

“In order to proceed, my firm will need confirmation on by the end of the week,” you stated.

“And you’ll get it,” Jongho said without looking up from his notepad. You noted his insignia was that of a lieutenant.

You pursed your lips. “That didn’t sound reassuring,” you accidentally muttered out loud.

Thankfully (or not), Kihyun heard you and told Jongho, “MX can scrap the tender if we don’t receive confirmation.”

Jongho scoffed and pointed at you with his pen. “No you won’t. That one could never pass up a good deal.” 

Your executives could sense the tension. Hyunwoo’s jaw was clenched, Kihyun’s eyes were narrowed and Hoseok was rubbing his knuckles together. Beside you, Minhyuk scrawled something on a sticky note and slid it over to you: stay calm, we’ll handle it. You looked between your executive team and nodded. 

“MX has always made the most of resources its been given. Surely you can’t blame us for that,” Hyunwoo began, diplomatically.

“If you’re such a successful company, why would you need a government contract?” Another officer asked. His insignia said he was a commander.

You knew that question was intended for you as the CEO. The answer was simple: profit. But what’s a tactful way to say “military contracts pay big bucks?”

You opened your mouth to speak but Minhyuk tapped your wrist. Wait, he was silently telling you.

Just then, Hoseok stepped in. “MX is looking to expand the range of projects it takes on. Our portfolio is currently very heavy on commercial property.”

“Think of it as a defensive portfolio,” Minhyuk added, ever the mood-maker.

Kihyun rolled his eyes at the pun. Changkyun watched as you stifled a giggle and smirked, looking between you and Kihyun. 

He then leaned down the table and asked, “Commander, is your question satisfied?”

“Yes, Commodore,” the lower ranked commander responded.

“Any more questions?”

“Yes, actually,” Jongho said, licking his lips as he spoke. “How does our y/n plan to handle any personal conflicts of interest during this project?” 

“Excuse me?” Kihyun hissed, cocking his head. Minhyuk and Hoseok exchanged a worried glance.

You exhaled sharply through your nose and asked. “Is there a conflict of interest you’d like to expand on, Lieutenant? Or perhaps the Commodore?” You asked, looking between Jongho and his superior, Changkyun. 

“I see no conflicts,” Changkyun shrugged. 

“Commodore, are you aware the CEO of this firm has had two personal relationships with people on this table?” Jongho asked. 

Now Changkyun looked confused. Two? Changkyun only knew of Kihyun.

Hyunwoo cleared his throat, hoping to be the peacemaker. “Miss y/n has many close relationships with industry figures. Its simply a byproduct of her schooling.”

“Oh y/n, how many men did you go through?” Jongho shook his head and cackled to himself. 

“Lieutenant,” Changkyun warned. “This matter is not relevant.” He bowed his head to you. “I deeply apologise, Miss y/n.”

You heard the slamming of papers beside you from Kihyun. He was seething. “If there is anyone here that cannot handle past personal relationships, its you. This whole meeting, you have not once addressed Miss y/n properly. Instead, you demean her for a series of personal, non-business related, and need I say harmless, choices from her past. I think it’s very clear that this contract…”

“Yoo Kihyun,�� you warned, getting him to stop his tirade before he said something you knew your company would regret.

“Oh this is hilarious. Y/n finally found the man who would protect her. Is that why you hired him? And not just him but that blondie too, passing you notes like it’s 4th grade?” Jongho mocked. 

“Mmmm, alright, I see how it is,” you rolled your eyes and drawled. 

Hoseok nudged Minhyuk almost excitedly. They knew this voice was reserved for when you were going to tear someone apart.

So you loosened a breath and began. ”Alright, Jongho, let’s talk about my personal relationships. If you and I ever had a meaningful personal relationship, then you would know that I draw the line with you insulting my staff. My architecture heads can cover projects in every single architectural discipline. My head engineer has had recruiters seek him out internationally. And my head of investments, the one you say I have a personal relationship with, has handled deals totalling more than this entire state’s military budget. But since you didn’t know any of that, it looks like we never had a meaningful personal relationship.”

Minhyuk smiled openly and proudly while watching you. Kihyun snickered behind his hand.

Taking a breath, you delivered the final blow. “Now Jongho, let me show you what a personal relationship looks like.” You faced Changkyun, and said in a sickly sweet voice, “Changkyunnie, will you do your noona a favour and get her ex-boyfriend to leave?”

Even the calm Hyunwoo’s jaw dropped open when he heard that. Several officers’ eyes widened too. 

Changkyun held you gaze, smirking proudly while he spoke. “Lieutenant, you’re dismissed.” 

The meeting wrapped up quickly after that. Chankgyun apologised several more times for his lieutenant’s behaviour and the remaining officers didn’t even make eye contact with you. Minhyuk would say that’s equal parts because of your speech and because of Kihyun glaring at anyone who looks your way. At the end of the meeting, Changkyun agreed to review your tender and forward you the contract to look over and sign if you still wished to proceed.

Outside the restaurant, the executives all headed to their own cars, making small talk as they went. 

“What’s everyone’s weekend plans?” Hyunwoo asked while stretching his arms in the parking lot. 

“My son’s visiting,” Hoseok replied. “His wife is pregnant now actually.”

You gasped excitedly. “Hoseok, that’s wonderful to hear. Let me know when to send something for the baby shower okay?”

Minhyuk laughed at that. “Look at you y/n, living vicariously through us. If you just want to buy small cute things, say that.”

“You know…” Hoseok began with a glint in his eye. “Y/n might not need to live vicariously anymore. I think she has someone, eh?” 

“What? No, no, it’s not like that,” you laughed, a little awkwardly since you weren’t sure who the someone Hoseok was referring to was. To move things along, you prompted the others to share their weekend plans as well.

“I'll just work on my bike probably,” Kihyun said with a shrug.

“Bike? Did you know y/n is into that as well? She has a whole garage actually,” Hyunwoo said. 

Kihyun’s interest piqued at that. Since when did you have your own garage? You never did any work on bikes back when you were 20. When did you start? 

“Well I am just going to sleep. Maybe get lunch with Hyungwon,” Minhyuk added, while rummaging for his keys. By now, all five of you had reached your vehicles, all of which were parked close to each other. 

“Sounds fun,” you said with a nod as you watched Minhyuk get into his horrendously yellow car that matched his sunshine personality. 

Hoseok did the same, moving to his black Range Rover. As he unlocked the door, he turned round and said, “I almost forgot y/n. Enjoy your date this weekend.” 

“Uh sorry, date?”

“Ah so it’s still the early stages then? That’s okay, you two will make a cute couple,” Hoseok said, while getting comfortable in his car. 

Hyunwoo, who never kept up with the gossip, looked at you incredulously. “Oh have you met someone recently? What’s he like?” 

“Didn’t you know? It’s Wooyoung from investments. You know, that boy that’s always hanging out with San,” Hoseok explained to Hyunwoo while he started his engine.

“Ahhh, I see, so you finally allowed San to set you up with someone. I’m sure he’s a very handsome fella then, just like San,” Hyunwoo replied as he too got into his car. 

You didn’t get a chance to explain before both Hoseok and Hyunwoo closed their car doors, waved goodbye and drove away. 

This left you and Kihyun in the parking lot. 

Kihyun cleared his throat, and approached a motorbike that had been hidden behind the cars earlier. As Kihyun was putting on his helmet, he said, “I’ll get going then, y/n. See you…” 

“I am not dating Wooyoung,” you blurted out, cutting off Kihyun. 

Kihyun paused. So then what had he seen on the elevator during lunch? Kihyun swallowed and tried to speak tactfully. “I see. It’s okay. If this is about what Jongho said during dinner, don't worry, nobody is mad at you.” 

You looked down at you feet to collect you thoughts before speaking. “I didn’t quite mean it like that but… oh well, doesn't matter.” 

“Yes it does. I wish it went smoothly today. Then you wouldn’t have to be humiliated by Jongho like that,” Kihyun said with an edge to his voice. “I should have looked into it more when you said he was in the military.”

“Aww Ki, it’s not your fault,” you said gently, taking a step closer to him. Kihyun almost second guessed it when he heard the cute nickname, but you didn't seem to have noticed what you said as you continued speaking. “I am still grateful you had a contact.” 

Kihyun chuckled softly. “Well, I think my so-called contact liked you more than he liked me.” 

“True. I never thought your contact would be someone I’d recognise. Plus, we got lucky that Changkyun is a commodore,” you mused.

“Yeah he joined the navy sometime around when I sold the warehouse,” Kihyun added as he leaned against his bike, content to continue what was probably the longest conversation you two had shared so far.  

You cocked your head, processing his words. “Wait, sold the warehouse? When was that?” 

Kihyun’s eyes widened realising his mistake. “Uhh what I meant is I sold a warehouse, but it wasn’t mine.” 

He pushed off his bike and stood up straighter while you made quick strides to him and closed the distance between you two. He didn’t make an attempt to move away from you. You stood so close you could could’ve caged him with you arms if they weren’t occupied by your bag.

He studied your face as you looked up at him with your brows scrunched. Kihyun wasn’t sure what you were about to do, and he was shocked by how cold your voice was when you spoke., “But you did sell your warehouse. The one we always met in.” 

Kihyun didn’t reply. Neither could he meet your gaze at that.

You gave a mirthless chuckle and continued. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t find out? It took one day, one fucking day and a report my colleague handed me to find out what happened. To find out exactly who you sold that warehouse to.”

You were angry. You were hurt. Kihyun could see the tears pooling in your eyes and how you were clenching your fists. “Y/n, it’s not what you think,” he began. 

You stepped even closer to him, chests almost brushing. “I am not an idiot Kihyun. That warehouse was private property, your property, and MX acquired it. My firm. You’ve seen me study property law so you know I know what that means.” 

You started accentuating words with your fist so Kihyun clasped both of your clenched hands gently and brought them to his chest. “Y/n, baby, I was just trying to protect you.” 

“What were you trying to do? Make me chase you by leaving the rights to that entire plot of land under my mother’s company? Was it to stake some claim so you could come crawling back one day?” 

“Please, y/n, it’s not like that,” Kihyun said, biting his lip and looking down. 

“Do you honestly expect me to believe that?” Your voice became lower, punctuated with angry hisses. “You fucking sold your warehouse to my mother’s company, and disappeared without another word to me, asshole.” 

“You’re right, princess, and you have every right to be mad at me,” Kihyun moved your closed fists to one hand and reached out to cup your face with his other hand, but you stopped him.

You loosened one of your hands from his grasp to grab his wrist and push his hand away from your face. “You don’t get to call me princess, not after what you did.” 

“Baby, please believe me, it was the only way I could protect you,” Kihyun pleaded. He still kept one of your hands on his chest, while you brought his hand down to his side and lightly linked your fingers together. 

In a more measured voice than earlier, you said, “Do you know what it was like to walk into that warehouse and find it empty? Do you know how it felt when the first project they gave me at MX was to redevelop your warehouse like it meant nothing to me?”

“Y/n, I am sorry. For everything,” he said.

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 4

Synopsis: Precious moments from your past with Kihyun

Word count: 3.6k

Triggers: smut - oral (m and f receiving), fingering

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Past

You fell on to your bed dazed. Had you really just said yes to dating a biker? Yes, you did, because he made butterflies erupt in your stomach like nobody else ever had. You were at the warehouse each day now. Usually, you brought something to keep yourself entertained with while Kihyun worked. Occasionally, he’d ask you to grab him tools or snacks from his kitchen. Each time he asked you for something, he’d call you princess, baby, sweetheart, love and so many other pet names. 

———

You were on the couch, doing some prep work for your university classes (yes, you’re that studious) but kept getting distracted by Kihyun who was working on a bike in the warehouse. His oversized t-shirt draped like a cloud over his body, and you kept wondering what it would be like to slip your hands under his clothes. You’d only been together for a week now, and he kept his touch minimal, but you were getting antsy. 

“Ah fu- where did I put those nuts?” Kihyun muttered as he stood up from his crouched position beside a bike and looked along the shelves lining the workshop.

You smiled to yourself, knowing which set he was referring to because you’d noticed it a few days earlier. You got up off the couch, walked to stand beside him and took his hand to point out the correct box. Kihyun took it down, and you saw there were some grease smudges and stains on his clothes and skin. Even though the fans were switched on, the heat was making his skin glisten with sweat.

“Thank you, love,” he said, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and placing a kiss to your temple.

You spun to face him, and his arm fell to your waist while he balanced the box of nuts, bolts and whatnot in his other hand.

“Yes, baby?”

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders. “Can you kiss me again?”

Kihyun smiled softly at you. “Can you give me a second to clean up, baby? I don’t want to get grease on you.”

“Grease can be washed off right?” You asked while playing with the neckline of his t-shirt.

Kihyun hummed and lifted his hand to cup your cheek but stopped when he noticed the grease on his fingers. “Are you hungry princess?” 

“No, I just want you to kiss me,” you pouted.

Kihyun chuckled. “So you are hungry, but for me. God you’re adorable.”

He leaned down and ghosted his lips over yours, testing for your reaction. When you tightened your hold around him, he started moving his lips, kissing you properly. That was your first kiss together.

———

When Kihyun found out that you either ate out or ordered food to the warehouse because you couldn’t cook, he started making lunch each day because he wanted to make sure you ate healthy. When you did go out for a meal, Kihyun insisted on paying, even though you told him you have your own money and can take care of yourself. You still had a couple months until your university classes started, so you were trying to make the most of it by spending every waking minute with Kihyun. 

———

It was New Year’s Day, and you asked him if he wanted to go down south to see the fireworks. You had also been eyeing a new seafood restaurant in that region for months. That day, you would discover exactly how much Kihyun hated seafood. You didn’t think it necessary to inform him beforehand, but he handled it like a champ. Unfortunately, while you ate a literal seafood platter, he had to satisfy himself with chips and aioli.

After a dinner which was satisfactory for only one of you, it was time to watch the fireworks at the beach. Kihyun came prepared with a blanket. You sat down between his legs with your back against his chest. He’d run his hands over your arms to warm you up whenever the sea breeze hit. Sometimes he would press kisses to your neck and shoulders, murmuring in agreement each time you said the fireworks were pretty. 

You two sat there even after the fireworks finished. By now, Kihyun was placing wet kisses along your shoulders, dragging his tongue on your skin and letting the sea breeze do its work making you shiver. You leaned your head back, giving Kihyun more access. He complied dutifully, sucking hard on one particular spot.

You fingers dug into his thighs as you moaned his name. “Oh Kihyun, oh baby, what are you doing?”

“Getting you warmed up,” he replied as one of his hands trailed up and down your thigh languidly. He was teasing you, taking his hand so close to the centre between your legs before dragging it away again. 

Finally, you took his hand and guided it to the waistband of your pants. Kihyun didn’t resist when you slipped it inside. You guided his finger through your folders then started rubbing your clit with it.

“Oh fuck baby,” Kihyun groaned, gently biting your shoulder. He kept circling your clit while you dipped your finger lower to collect some of your wetness on your fingers. 

“Wanna taste?” You asked him as you held up your fingers. 

Kihyun leaned down and licked your fingers. “I can’t wait to go home and devour you.”

His own fingers started probing your hole as he gently pushed one in. He pumped it in a few times before adding a second one and you squeezed his thighs again as you felt the stretch.

“Kihyun… are you sure you can wait until we get home?” You said in between breaths.

“Do you want to test my patience princess?” He replied tauntingly.

His thumb pushed down harder on your clit.

“Ah fuck!” You cried, throwing your head back to rest against Kihyun’s shoulder. He slid other hand under your shirt to knead at your breasts, and his thumb rubbed circles over your nipples that were still covered by your bra. Your breaths steadily quickened, fanning his ear and jaw.

Kihyun smirked when he felt your shoulders pushing into his as you started lifting your hips up to buck into his fingers. “Getting close princess?”

You let out unintelligible groans, until…. mmm…nnnn…ahhh…

You let your head roll until you nuzzled Kihyun’s neck. Your breaths became calmer and deeper. Kihyun removed his hand from under your shirt, and adjusted it for you. He then gently removed his fingers from you, and wiped them off on some tissues he had in his bag. He moved aside a little, placed his arm on your back and slowly guided you down on to the beach towel.

“Lay down sweetheart. Will you let me clean you up?” He asked as he grabbed some more tissues. You looked up at him, with half lidded eyes and a slightly flushed face, and nodded. 

Once you were clean, Kihyun lay down facing you. “Hey,” he said as he pulled you towards his chest.

“Hi,” you giggled. “Guess you’re not that patient huh?”

Kihyun placed his fingers under your chin and asked with a twinkle in his eye, “What makes you say that?”

“You couldn’t wait until we got home,” you replied.

“Oh gorgeous,” Kihyun smiled smugly. “There are so many things I am waiting to do with you. If I told you what they were, we won’t be going home for a long time.”

You whined and buried your face into his chest, making Kihyun laugh.

———

Another routine fixture of your relationship was the Saturday night race. Kihyun had bought you your own riding gear now, and he added Kikibebe patches to all of it too. But you kept wearing Kihyun’s own Kikibebe jacket, especially since you were his darling, the exact definition of a Kikibebe. Having gone to several races now, people were starting to recognise you, and you had even made a couple friends. It was an entirely unique social circle, much unlike the circles your well to do family ran in. The latest financial news was never the topic of conversation and people didn’t know whose child you were. You liked that anonymity. 

You were just Kihyun’s girlfriend, here to support him during a championship qualifier race. The other partners of racers were going all out cheering as the last few laps started. You zeroed in on Kihyun. He wasn’t slated to win today despite being a fan favourite, but still, you could hope right? Plus he didn’t have to win to qualify if his lap time was decent. You watched as Kihyun overtook a few racers during the last lap. The finish line was there, just within reach. And he crossed it second place, losing first to an older, seasoned, biker. 

You ran out of the stands towards the section of the race track that racers and their close friends or family would gather in after the race. You leaned against the fence there and watched as Kihyun took off his helmet and shook hands with the other racers before seeking you out. First Kihyun looked up into the stands, brow furrowing when he didn’t see you. It was cute. 

You called out to him and waved. Kihyun’s face broke into the biggest smile ever as he jogged to you and practically crushed you into a hug. 

“You did so well my love,” you said softly. 

Kihyun pressed his lips to your temple. “Thank you for coming today.” 

You pulled back slightly and brushed some of his sweaty hair off his forehead then leaned back in to press a kiss to his nose. “I’m proud of you.” Your fingers reached for the  zip of his motorcycle jacket, but Kihyun wrapped a hand around yours and stopped you.

“Now what exactly are you doing there?” 

You rolled your eyes. “Just let me hold you closer.” You sharply tugged down the zip, opening his jacket, before slipping your arms inside to wrap around his waist. 

Kihyun chuckled as he felt your fingers tracing his toned muscles under his compression shirt. He let you hug him tighter, and snuggle your face into his chest.

“Baby,” Kihyun began as he smoothed down your hair. “You do need to let me go so I can get up on that podium for a few minutes.” 

You grumbled something incoherent, making Kihyun laugh. He reached behind you to pry your hands off him.

“Hey, look at me?” Kihyun said so that you would lift your face up. “Give me 5 minutes to finish things off here, then we can go home and cuddle okay?”

Kihyun made good on that promise, but not in the way he thought he would. While riding back into the inner city suburbs, you asked Kihyun to drive to his house and pick up some clothes so he could stay the night at your house.

“My bathroom is that way, feel free to use any of my products. If you want anything else, let me know,” you said as you unlocked your front door and walked in. Kihyun paused in the doorway as he comprehended where he was. 

“Are either of your parents here today?” Kihyun asked.

“No, thankfully. My mum has a meeting in another state.” You led Kihyun through your house until you reached the him bathroom. “Bath or shower?” You asked. 

“Bath,” Kihyun answered.

You nodded and walked over to turn the tap on. You heard Kihyun slide off his jacket and place it on the sink counter.  Smirking to yourself when you heard more fabric rustle, you turned away from the bathtub to watch as Kihyun took his shirt off and dropped it to the floor. But your smirk was soon replaced by equal parts awe and lust as you stared at Kihyun’s sculpted chest and abs. You slowly walked up to him, letting your gaze wash all over him.

Kihyun smirked when he caught you staring, and said, “Baby, stop drooling.” 

“I can’t help it,” you murmured as you wrapped your arms around his neck and looked up at him. You pressed a kiss to his jaw and leaned your head down onto his shoulder. “Why’d you stop?” 

Your trailed your fingers down to his chest to rest your hand there, gently drumming your fingers on the muscle.

“Stop what, darling?” Kihyun asked as he picked up your hand off his chest and kissed it. He encircled his other arm around your waist and gently swayed.

“Taking off your clothes,” you replied quietly, listening to how your voice would bounce off the bathroom tiles.

Kihyun didn’t reply immediately and continued swaying you. “I was waiting for you to leave,” he then admitted. “I wasn't sure if you would be comfortable with that.”

“Oh Kihyun,” you sighed, lifting your head up and smiling coyly as you cupped his cheek. “Let me show you exactly how comfortable I am.” 

Holding his gaze, your dragged your hands down to his pants, undoing the buttons and zip before you reached inside. Holding his gaze and watching for his reaction, you closed your fingers around his shaft and pumped him slowly. Kihyun hissed at your touch, and his fingers on your waist dug into your skin, making you smirk in satisfaction.

“Relax baby,” you cooed and dropped to your knees. You roughly pulled his pants down and took the tip of his cock in your mouth. 

You swirled your tongue along his tip then took in more of his length, until finally your nose grazed his pelvis. Kihyun threw his head back and swore as his hands came to grip your hair. When you pressed your tongue deep into the underside of his cock, and flicked his frenulum, his knees buckled and his fingers twisted further into your hair.

“Ohhh, uhh, y-y/n…” Kihyun spoke in between breaths. “Baby… if you keep… keep doing that… I am going to cum.” 

You hummed as you took him into your mouth again, not really registering the meaning of his words. 

“Oh, y/n, please, fuck, ugh!” Kihyun hissed and tugged on your hair to pull your mouth off him. 

You looked up at him with adorable doe eyes and wet lips while Kihyun picked up the shirt he’d dropped on the floor to cum on it. 

“What’s wrong?” You asked Kihyun in a small voice, still kneeling and feeling a little shy.

“Nothing baby. You’re perfect, I just didn’t want to overwhelm you. But I want to return the favour,” Kihyun replied as he helped you stand up. Then he looked over your shoulder. “Also, that bathtub looks like its about to overflow.” 

You let out a small exclamation and ran to turn the tap off. While you did that, Kihyun kicked off his pants and walked towards you. Standing behind you, he ran his hands up and down your arms and leaned his chin down on your shoulder. 

“Y/n,” Kihyun said in a low voice. “Turn around darling.”

You spun around, with Kihyun’s arms hanging loosely around your waist. You braced your hands on his chest.  Kihyun’s face was a little flushed, and you could feel his semi-hard member against your leg. 

“You should wash up baby. You had a hard race today,” you said.

Kihyun twirled a piece of your hair around his fingers. “There’s something I gotta do first.” He pushed the neckline of your top aside to place a kiss on your collarbone. “Aren’t you going to let me return the favour, love?” 

Kihyun continued kissing your neck and shoulders, his kisses becoming harder and more frantic, sometimes sucking on the skin. You brought your hand to the back of his head, tangling your fingers into his hair. 

Kihyun tightened his hands around your waist when he felt your legs shake a little. Kihyun unlatched his lips from your neck and moved you so your hips touched the bathroom counter. “Honey, sit up here.” With some support from Kihyun, you climbed up, and Kihyun slotted himself between your legs.

He then attacked your lips fiendishly, and you sank into the kiss. You wrapped your legs around his waist to pull him closer, and felt the heat from his body seep through the motorcycle clothing you were still wearing. 

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Kihyun said between kisses. His hands which had originally been pushing down on the counter moved to undo your pants. You lifted your hips up, letting Kihyun pull the leather off, together with your underwear. You briefly gasped when the cold countertop touched your bare skin, but that was forgotten when Kihyun slipped his hands under your hips and pulled you to the edge. He let your legs hang off his shoulders, and you’d barely balanced yourself on your forearms when you felt Kihyun’s lips on your inner thigh, placing small kisses and working his way up to your core. 

Kihyun could taste your juices the instant his tongue touched your outer lips. You let out shuddering breath and a low groan when you felt his tongue on you. You had been growing wetter since Kihyun started stripping and you knew you’d only leak more as Kihyun’s tongue continued probing your folds. 

Your legs tried to jerk closed when his lips enclosed around your clit but his hands dug into your inner thighs, holding you in place. Kihyun then tucked an elbow near your thigh to free one of his hands. He continued his ministrations on your clit, alternating between sucking at your clit and stroking your folds with his tongue, and with his free hand he plunged two fingers into you. The squelches from your cunt mixed with your reverberating moans that only seemed to make Kihyun more eager to please. If the man had one goal, it was to have you drenched, and you knew the countertop would need wiping down afterwards. Eventually, your breathing began to tremble, much like your legs. You felt the tension in your stomach release, and if it wasn’t for Kihyun’s hold on you, your body would have crumpled even further onto the bathroom counter. 

Kihyun gave you a few moments to catch your breath.

“Feeling good, love?” He asked and you nodded. “Can I lift you up?” He asked as he helped you sit up. You gave a breathless “okay.” 

Kihyun slipped his hands under your hips to bring you closer to him. “Hold me tightly,” he said and you looped your arms around his shoulders and tightened your legs around his waist.

“I’m taking you to the bath,” Kihyun said as he carried your koala self to the bath tub. “Can you stand baby?” He asked as he set you down. He kept his arms around you to make sure you didn’t falter. When you seemed stable, he helped you discard your remaining clothes and helped you into the bathtub. Once you sat down, Kihyun walked around the bathroom, picking up the clothes strewn all over the place. 

“Kihyun?” You called as you watched him.

“Yes sweetheart?” He replied without looking at you while he grabbed some tissues to wipe the counter space.

“Aren’t you going to join me here?” You asked. “The bath was supposed to be for you in the first place."

Kihyun looked up at you, his hand stopping mid-air in between wipes. “Would you like me to?” He asked with a nervous swallow. 

“Do you not want to?” You asked, scrunching your eyebrows.

“Believe me, darling, I would love to, but I thought you would want privacy,” Kihyun replied. 

“Really? Privacy?” You scoffed. “That’s funny coming from the man walking around naked in my house after he just had his face between my legs.” 

Kihyun stared at you, unsure about whether you were annoyed or just teasing him.

You rolled your eyes in amazement. “Just get in. I want you with me.” 

Kihyun grinned. “You don’t need to tell me twice.”

———

You rolled over and sat up on Kihyun’s bed, groaning when the sunlight hit your face. “It’s too early for this,” you mumbled.

Kihyun smiled, waving woken up from your movement. “You’re always welcome to sleep more. I don’t have any clients coming in.”

You smiled to yourself at his morning voice. “Hmm, but I have class soon.”

Kihyun sat up behind you and gently rubbed your shoulders. He placed a kiss on your neck and said, “I’ll make breakfast and drop you off then."

He slid out of bed while you remained there seated, stretching your arms. Letting out another groan, you fell back on to the pillows. “Why did I even stay up so late last night?"

From somewhere you couldn’t see, Kihyun replied a little distractedly, “I don’t know, darling, but this time it wasn’t my fault. Also, stay right there, just like that.”

You lifted your neck up, looking around the room, and saw Kihyun holding his camera, pointed at you. “I look like garbage, what are you doing?"

“Never, I repeat, never, say that about yourself,” Kihyun said as he snapped a photo of you. “You’re my whole world y/n.”

You cracked a wide smile at that and Kihyun snapped another photo. “God, how did I get this lucky? To be able to wake up next to you?”

You sat back up on the bed, clutching the blanket to your chest, amused at Kihyun.

He took a few steps closer to you. “Look towards that window,” he said and took another photo of you. Checking it, he said, “How is it that when you’re around everything else disappears? You look unreal in that light.”

He had lowered his camera now, so you tugged on his hand to get him to come closer to you.

Kihyun reached out to trace your face, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re like an angel y/n. And I am so scared you’ll leave."

You smiled back and replied. “I love you, Yoo Kihyun. Why would I ever leave?"

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 3

Synopsis: In the past, Kihyun makes you his. In the present, he sees someone else try to do the same

Word count: 4.7k

Triggers: none

Author’s note: I am sorry Jongho is the villain

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Past

You didn’t try to rile Kihyun up any further for the rest of the night, and as promised, he took you back to the warehouse at the end of the race. You still clung to him as you both rode, but your grip was looser, and you’d occasionally lift yourself off his back to look around. When he stopped his motorcycle outside the warehouse, Kihyun began taking off his helmet, and you took that time to trace the patches on his riding jacket, which included the same patch on your jacket. 

“Kihyun, what does it mean to be a Kikibebe?” You asked as your fingers kept circling the same patch.

Kihyun got off the motorcycle and offered you a hand to help you off. “It means Kiki’s baby, or Kiki’s darling. It’s my fan club.” 

“I see. You know, someone came and asked me if I am a Kikibebe because of your jacket, ” you said as you as you waited for Kihyun to help unbuckle your helmet as well. 

“And what did you tell them?” Kihyun asked, an intrigued smirk on his face as he removed your helmet for you. 

You scoffed. “Don’t look so smug, I said yes so they wouldn’t question why I was wearing your jacket.” 

You walked ahead of Kihyun as he moved to open the warehouse.

“Even if you said that, they were all still questioning it, weren’t they?” Kihyun replied.

You folded your arms and watched as he pushed open the warehouse. “You tell me. Is it normal for the entire audience to stare at me?” 

Kihyun walked inside the warehouse first, and took a seat on the couch. “I suppose it was something to be expected. You did turn up wearing my jacket, after all.” 

“Yeah but I look like any other fan. Are you sure they weren’t staring because you chose to interact with me?” You asked as you sat beside him on the couch.

Kihyun shrugged as he turned to face you. “That’s also one reason. But its more the first reason.”

“Because I wore your jacket?” You raised your eyebrows at him. “Are Kikibebe’s that rare?”

Kihyun shook his head, smiling like he knew a secret. “No, its because you wore my jacket.” 

You narrowed your eyes at him. “What are you talking about? It’s just a jacket with a patch right?”

“Yes and no,” Kihyun replied. “To anyone who didn’t see you when we arrived together, you would look like a normal Kikibebe. But to everyone who saw us together, you are the literal definition of a Kikibebe. As in, you’re mine.” 

You scoffed. “I didn't realise that stereotype about bikers being possessive was true.” 

Kihyun bowed his head down slightly and replied, “Its one of the few stereotypes that are true, including for myself, as much as I don’t want to admit it.”

You nodded in understanding and asked, “So now the whole biking world thinks I am yours?” 

“Uh yeah, pretty much.” 

You took off Kihyun’s jacket and spread it out to trace the patch again. “So what happens if I wear someone else's patch next time? Like, I don’t know, Mingi’s?” you asked, looking at Kihyun through your lashes.

Kihyun didn’t miss the opportunity to tease you. “Then maybe I have to make you mine again. Can’t let Fix On get his hands on you.”

“Oh really?” You asked as you shifted closer to Kihyun on the couch. “How does a biker do that? How will you make me yours?”

Kihyun’s cheeks heated up slightly at your words. “Maybe you can find out next time you come to a race.” 

Your hand moved to his shoulder and you began tracing the stitching on Kihyun’s jacket. “But imagine the chaos if I come on your bike wearing Mingi’s patch. Or worse, his jacket?” 

Kihyun chuckled, even though his eyes were fixed on your fingers trailing down his arm. “Oh Mingi would love that. He thrives on attention.” 

You hummed. “I am sure he would. But what about you? What are you going to do when your Kikibebe is wearing somebody else’s patch?”

Your fingers had reached the end of his sleeve and were working their way back up his arm. Kihyun swallowed and glanced at his phone. “It’s getting late, y/n. I should take you home.” 

Your hand stopped at his shoulder and your adorable doe eyes looked at him. “Guess those are questions for next time then.” You smiled your signature soft smile and stood up from the couch, grabbed your things, and walked to the door of the warehouse. “Bye Kihyun.” 

Before you had even managed to push open the warehouse door, Kihyun scrambled after you. He had just realised how he would make you his.

The Present

Hyunwoo led Kihyun to the investment department and introduced him to the team. Then the two men walked around to the other departments for Kihyun’s self-introductions, before Hyunwoo ended the tour at the break room. But throughout it all, Kihyun’s brain was a on autopilot. Instead, all he could think about was you in that meeting room a few hours earlier. 

You were still just as headstrong and knowledgable as he remembered. You even dressed the same in diamond earrings and pretty pinks. Although… Kihyun didn’t know why it disheartened him, but you weren’t wearing the goodbye gift he bought for you all those years ago. 

Kihyun handed over the NPV question from today’s meeting to a group of investment analysts who included the department’s resident clean freak, gossip machine and hottie. And they all had an interesting story to tell Kihyun about you, the new CEO.

Seonghwa, the clean freak, explained that you had been on countless dates, but you never seemed to date the same man for more than a few months. Your reasons for ending things would include terrible cooking, not protecting you enough and finally bad sex. Seonghwa could understand all of those reasons except “not protective enough,” which is where Wooyoung, the gossip machine, stepped in. He heard you telling one of the secretaries that only one man has ever made you feel like all your worries don’t matter. You had said you didn't need physical protection from anything - which Kihyun struggled not to laugh at because he knew how little regard you had for safety when you were younger - but instead, you stressed you wanted emotional protection. The closest things you had found to emotional protection was in the form of San, the department hottie. After a particularly rough breakup, you went through a crazy exercise phase, which is how you met San in the office gym and became best buds. The most confusing aspect of this friendship however, was that San relied equally on you for emotional support, and you were absolutely immune to the charms of the office hottie.

“I will clarify that emotional comfort means y/n would console me back when I was a hopeless intern,” San said. 

“Maybe she didn’t want to date San back then coz he was a lost cause and she was the star of the legal department,” Wooyoung laughed.

“That’s around the same time y/n had her heart broken. Can't believe that in the time San worked his way up from intern to associate analyst, she still hasn’t recovered from whatever asshole she dated,” Seonghwa said.

The trio’s words took Kihyun back to a time he would rather forget: the second time he said goodbye to you, only he never gave you the chance to say it back to him. It didn’t take much thinking to know that the terrible breakup you went through was Kihyun. It was just after your first semester of university, when your mum sent you to MX to rotate through the departments and pick up some skills so that you could eventually take over the company. Kihyun knew you had been looking forward to that vacation, but he also knew it became a time you’d rather forget because of the project MX ended up handling back then.

It was eventually time for the afternoon meeting with the investment department. The ‘pirates,’ as this particular investment team was affectionately called, were already waiting and ready to present in the conference room when you arrived.

“Hey Sannie,” you chirped as you walked in. “Wooyoung, Seonghwa,” you nodded and smiled. Then with a deep breath, almost as if it pained you, you said, “Kihyun” and sat down. 

This interaction didn’t go unnoticed by San, and San’s concerned expression towards you caught Wooyoung’s attention. 

“Miss y/n, would you like to begin?” Seonghwa asked calmly, while eyeing his teammates with a silent order to behave. You nodded for him to continue.

The NPV calculation was positive. The DoD job would be profitable regardless of what type of contract your firm might be handed. So you instructed the pirate trio (and Kihyun) to begin checking the numbers for working capital and capital expenditure for any designs the architects would draw up in the coming days. The admin/marketing team should finish the application for the tender tomorrow morning.

“Then do you want the numbers by the end of the week?” Wooyoung asked.

“I expect them as soon as possible once the architects release a preliminary drawing. I also specifically want unlevered free cash flow so that the legal team could try adding some tax clauses,” you explained.

“Miss y/n, I can get started on the FCF tonight if you want,” Kihyun offered.

You could feel San's gaze on you as you answered. "Architecture probably won’t finish up for another day so you’ve still got time. I am actually more concerned with meeting your contact.” 

Kihyun smirked as he played with his pen. “You’ve met Im Changkyun before.” 

You sucked in a breath sharply. Yes, the name did ring a bell, although you hadn’t quite figured out from where, so you said, “I’m sure I met him back when I knew Jongho.” 

At this, San gasped. “Wait you’re gonna meet Jongho? Didn’t he almost crash your car?”

“Relax dude, I won’t be meeting him in a car, I’ll be safe,” you replied, well aware Kihyun’s curiosity had been piqued. 

And Kihyun’s curiosity would be satisfied when Wooyoung asked you, "What's the deal with this Jongho fella? If he nearly crashed your car, he’s an ex right?”

You pursed your lips and nodded. “He couldn’t understand why I knew so much about cars and engines and stuff. He insisted on driving this one time, and he refused to turn on manual when we were going down hills.” 

You didn't notice but Kihyun’s fist tightened around the pen he was fidgeting with. 

“Why do you know so much about cars?” Seonghwa asked. “Especially considering I've only seen you use a motorcycle before.” 

Kihyun’s head shot up to look at you. He didn't remember ever showing you how to ride a motorcycle. When did you end up learning?

You laughed as you responded to Seonghwa. “Our last CEO was a mechanical engineer remember? I picked up some things from her but…” you flicked your gaze to Kihyun before continuing, “somebody else taught me some things and they stuck.” 

“Are you going to feel safe meeting Jongho? Do you want me to come with you?” San asked.

Before you could answer, Kihyun spoke up. “Miss y/n is meeting Changkyun, not Jongho, and I am going with her. I’ll make sure she’s okay.” 

San looked at you, saw your equally shocked face, and decided not to say anything. 

Wooyoung grinned as he looked between you and Kihyun. This entire meeting, you had tried to pretend Kihyun didn’t exist, to the point that even though he sat across from you, your shoulders were twisted towards the ‘pirates.’ Meanwhile Kihyun never managed to meet your gaze and Wooyoung was ready to bet his entire fortune that Kihyun actually snapped the pen he was holding when Jongho’s little car crash was mentioned. The office was going to get interesting very quickly. 

Later that night, in the quiet of your house, that you lived in alone and ate catered food in, you pulled out the photo album that was hidden in the drawer you kept bed linen in. The album was full of photographs, mostly of you. Some photos were intimate, like the one of you covered by a simple blanket early in the morning, with a sleepy smile on your face as you reached out to the photographer. Some photos made you laugh, like the one where you held up orange tinted hands at the camera after trying to dye someone’s hair. Sometimes you weren’t even facing the camera, like one where you were lying on the couch pulling a face while you typed out your assignments.

But then the style of the photos changed from camera quality to selfies. Some were taken over home cooked dinners, many more were taken while sitting behind someone on a bike, and a few others included orange hair peeking out from somewhere behind you while you were lying down. 

Then at the very end of the book was a little envelope. Inside it was a pair of blue sapphire earrings that you wore all throughout first semester, until one day you couldn’t bear to wear them anymore.

The Past

“Don’t go alone,” Kihyun called as he ran after you. “I promised I would keep you safe, and that includes getting you home safely.” 

You gave him an amused smile. “I thought we agreed I don’t pay attention to my safety.”

“Yeah well we didn't agree whether I do the same,” Kihyun retorted. “And I don’t.” Kihyun reached over to grab one of the helmets hanging by the door and gave it to you. “Put this on and wait for me outside.” 

As caring as he was, his voice carried a finality to it that you didn't plan to argue with, so you waited as Kihyun brought his motorcycle out of the warehouse and locked up again. Then like before, you both got on. 

Kihyun let you get comfortable then said, “I’ll ride a little slower, and you can guide me to your house okay?”

It wasn’t a long drive, maybe 15 minutes. The roads were mostly empty at this time too. Kihyun was driving slow enough for you two to make conversation.

“Kihyun, do you live in the warehouse or somewhere else?” 

You could hear the smile in Kihyun’s voice. “I have an apartment elsewhere. I share it with Changkyun and Jooheon.” 

You squeezed his waist in acknowledgement, then asked, “So what’s the bed in the warehouse for? Mingi said…” 

“Never mind what Mingi said. And it’s a bed. You sleep on it,” Kihyun said somewhat gruffly.

You chuckled and rubbed your fingers against stomach. “Relax. It’s your space, do as you please.” 

“Y/n, I can't relax when you keep stroking my stomach like that,” Kihyun said. 

“What? This?” You asked as you trailed one hand down his side towards his thigh.

Noticing that you only had one arm wrapped around him, Kihyun revved his bike a little, enough to make you grip his waist tightly again so you wouldn't fall off.

“Not so confident now are we?” 

You made a small fist and hit his stomach to show your annoyance.

Kihyun laughed. “Don’t worry princess, I know how to ride, I won’t let anything happen to you.” 

This time, your mouth was close enough to his ear that he heard your sharp intake of breath, and he felt the way your arms squeezed him and pressed closer. 

“Princess? Does that do something to you?” Kihyun asked again.

You mumbled a no and tried to bury your face in his back.

Kihyun laughed. “Be honest, princess. I felt the way you squeezed me.” 

You whined and hit his stomach.

“Use your words, princess. Are you touching me like that because you want me to touch you?”

Kihyun felt your arms tighten around him again when you admitted, “Ok fine, maybe I like being called princess.” 

“Well I am glad we cleared that up.” 

It wasn't long before Kihyun stopped his bike in front of your family’s house. Like before, he got off first before helping you down. He placed his hands under your chin to get you to look at him while he loosened your helmet. 

“Y/n, there's one more thing I want to ask you.” His fingers finally unclasped the helmet buckle. “You’re not seeing anyone are you?” 

You shook your head. Kihyun lifted the helmet off you. 

“Well then, princess,” he said as if testing the word on his tongue, “will you go out with me? Will you let me call you my princess?”

The Present

It had been several days since Kihyun began work, and he still couldn’t get over the chaos of the early morning executive meeting. Today’s meeting had ended well before 9 and, Lee Minhyuk was browsing the Internet to help you pick an outfit to meet the naval officers later in the evening.

“Hey Kihyun, what’s your friend’s favourite colour?” Minhyuk called across the room to Kihyun who was reading some financial reports.

“Purple,” Kihyun replied without looking up. “Why?” 

“So y/n can look pretty for him,” Minhyuk giggled. 

Kihyun had never slammed a report down fast enough. You didn't even have to try to look pretty, you’d always been pretty. And why would you dress up for Changkyun of all people, especially when your ex might be joining too. Kihyun walked over to stand behind you and Minhyuk to look over your shoulders at the website.

Minhyuk clicked a purple top and you scrunched your face to say no. He found a purple blazer and skirt combo which you were ambivalent to. Then he found an off shoulder purple dress and you nodded aggressively. 

“Oh she likes it eh?” Minhyuk said looking up at Kihyun. 

“Don’t wear that one,” Kihyun said sharply, prompting you to turn around and look at him.

“Why not? It’s pretty,” you said, trying not to think about how Kihyun’s arm was bracing against your chair. If you leaned back, you’d rest your head against his torso.

“Wear something longer, you’ll get cold,” Kihyun said. 

“It falls to my knees though,” you muttered as Minhyuk kept scrolling. He stopped at a bright purple scarf.

“Y/n, why not this with regular businesswear,” Minhyuk said. Then turning to Kihyun, he added, “And she’ll be warm too.” 

Kihyun rolled his eyes at Minhyuk, but said, “Yeah that looks good, but wear it with your oversized black blazer,” He didn’t wait for you or Minhyuk to respond and walked to the door.

“Hey hold on, how do you know she even has that? I don’t think she’s worn a black blazer once this whole month,” Minhyuk called after him.

Kihyun turned around and smirked, his eyes boring into you. “Just something I remembered.”  

You were so screwed. The blazer? That was Kihyun’s blazer you once wore to the office. You’d slept over at his place one night and woken up late. You thought you couldn’t go to work in your denim mini skirt and black singlet, until you looked in Kihyun’s closet and found the blazer. It was quite a surprise a biker like him owned something like that, but you weren’t complaining. You put it on and practically ran to your car in his driveway. But now the problem was, you didn’t have that blazer anymore because you returned it to Kihyun’s closet, and you thought you did so before he even knew you wore his blazer.

Still inside the conference room, you pulled out your phone and rang San.

“Yo what’s up?” He answered. 

“I need you to find out Kihyun’s shirt size,” you said.

“Like now? Or for like Christmas?” 

“Like now now. He told me to wear a black blazer in his size,” you answered. 

“And why would he do that? If you’re just after a men’s blazer, half this office could probably help you,” San replied. You heard some hushed voices before San added, “Actually Wooyoung begged me to say you can borrow one of his.” 

You laughed at Wooyoung’s antics but then considered. Wooyoung and Kihyun were roughly the same height. “If it fits, I’ll take it. Wooyoung has the CEO’s permission to get me a black blazer in his size as long as he gets it to me before the office closes.” 

“He says he’s got one at home and he’ll have someone grab it for him,” San said. 

“Thank you so much you two. I owe you one, Wooyoung,” you said. 

“Buy me lunch!” Wooyoung practically shouted into the phone and San started shushing him.

“Alright, I’ll take you to lunch and we’ll call it even.” 

You met with Wooyoung outside the building several hours later to drive to a nearby Mexican restaurant, and let him pick whatever he wanted. To his credit, and your surprise, he picked the cheapest option there. Afterwards, Wooyoung drove you two to a nearby building where his housemate, Yeosang, was waiting with the blazer. You waited in the car as Wooyoung grabbed the bag which happened to be from a women’s clothing store. 

When you saw that, you groaned and asked, “I thought I said I needed a men’s blazer?”

Wooyoung chuckled. “It's there, I promise. Yeosang probably just used the first bag he saw. I didn’t tell him it was for you or anything.” 

“Oh good, because the entire investment industry finding out I am using my underlings clothes will definitely end well,” you replied sarcastically. 

"You say that but what about the fact your underling Kihyun basically ordered you to wear this?” Wooyoung replied.

“He didn’t order me, he suggested it,” you scoffed. 

“Uh no, the gossip goes he told you to cover up and wear a purple scarf with a black blazer that’s oversized.”

“God where do you even hear these things?” You rolled your eyes. “Still though, putting that in a women’s clothing store bag wasn’t a bad idea. Kihyun won’t know I am wearing your clothes, right?”

Wooyoung pulled his car into MX’s parking lot. He switched off the engine and turned to face you. His usual teasing voice was replaced by a serious one. “Miss y/n, I need to know what’s happening between you and Kihyun. He’s acting weird.”

“Weird? That doesn’t seem like Kihyun.” 

Wooyoung sighed. “I can’t tell if you don't see it because of how hard you try to ignore him but Kihyun was uncomfortable - no, furious - hearing about Jongho. He’s also struggling to keep a straight face if you so much as smile at San. I don’t think I need to tell you why men behave like that considering how many dates you’ve been on…”

You smacked Wooyoung’s shoulder at that.

Wooyoung continued. “But Kihyun wants your attention. He is into you. And if you’re willing to go to this much trouble for him, I’d say you feel a little something too.”

You looked down at your lap, at the bag you were holding. You stayed silent.

“Y/n…” Wooyoung said gently. “I am asking this as your friend. Did something happen between you and Kihyun?” 

You finally looked up at him. “Yes.” You said in a small voice. 

Wooyoung nodded. “Is he the one who made you hate your first project at MX when we changed those warehouses into the marina?” 

You nodded. Your lips were quivering too much for you to ask Wooyoung how he even made these connections.

“And I am guessing he's also the reason you keep going to that restaurant at the marina? And even demanded that regardless of who the owner was, they had to serve chips and aioli?” 

“Look I was stupid okay? I had just gotten rejected by that fashion designer KHJ and needed an outlet,” you groaned.

“No, it’s actually pretty romantic. Eating the food that reminds you of Kihyun for so long,” Wooyoung mused.

“God I really feel sorry for that owner. Maybe I should speak to him someday and tell him he can get rid of that from his menu if he wants,” you said, rubbing the tears off your face.

Wooyoung grabbed your hand to stop you from damaging your skin from excessive rubbing. “Don’t do that, just uhh… tell you what. There’s no one around right now, so let’s get you inside, grab San or Minhyuk, and talk about this okay?” 

Wooyoung helped you out of the car, carried your bag and walked you to the elevator, where he waited with you for it to come down. You had your back to the entrance of the building, so you didn’t see Kihyun and Hoseok walking in, but Wooyoung did, and a mischievous thought formed in his head.

“Hey Miss y/n, don’t hate me for this, but I have a plan. Do you trust me?”

You sniffled. “Sure Woo, it’s not like this could go worse right?”

Wooyoung watched the elevator coming down, and said to you in a low voice, “You're going to get on and go to your floor. I’ll take the next one up. And then, you're going to let me say whatever I want…” 

“You already do that,” you retorted.

“Right, but to the people behind us.”

You started to turn your head but Wooyoung grabbed your jaw and held you still. “Don’t do it. Don’t look.”

The doors opened and Wooyoung guided you inside with a gentle hand on your shoulder. He then spun you around, which is when you saw Kihyun and Hoseok standing behind you. Hoseok looked at you questioningly while sipping bubble tea, but Kihyun was watching Wooyoung with his fists clenched. With your attention elsewhere, Woyooung had to physically close your fingers around the bag when he handed it to you. 

Then in a louder than necessary voice, Wooyoung said, “You’re going to look so beautiful, I can't wait to see you in that.” 

He walked off laughing just as the elevator doors closed, and the last thing you saw was Hoseok’s amused face beside Kihyun’s jealous one.

Minhyuk was already waiting at your office when you arrived, and he was holding the purple scarf you wanted delivered. He must’ve noticed your troubled face, because he started explaining.

“Don’t worry. Wooyoung dropped by architecture. I swear that man is like my spirit animal though, he was thinking exactly what I thought,” Minhyuk said as you opened the door to your office. Minhyuk took a seat on your couch while you gazed out of your window towards the marina.

“Then I presume you know who Kihyun is to me?” You said without looking at Minhyuk. 

He sighed and adjusted his sleeves. “Look, I knew something was up between you two. You are so determined to not look at him that you twist your entire body away from him. Which means the rest of us have to watch as Kihyun practically commits every square millimetre of you to memory any time you’re in the same room. Point is, one of you never looks and the other is always looking.” 

“But that doesn’t tell you he’s that person from my school to university days,” you replied, still looking out your window. 

You heard Minhyuk standing up and walking towards you. “No, but we could tell he knew more about you than the regular person. I’ve worked here since your were an intern, and I like to think we’re good friends who know each other well, but Kihyun seems to know your soul.” 

You turned around, looking at Minhyuk with a tear stricken face. “What do you mean?” 

Minhyuk smiled softly. “Did you know Kihyun’s the one restocking that aioli sauce in the break room that you eat with practically everything? Although you should know he uses it just as much as you.” 

You giggled at that. “Did you know that one time I begged him to go to this seafood restaurant, and he came even though he hates seafood? The only thing he was able to eat was hot chips.” 

Minhyuk smiled when he noticed the way your eyes sparkled as you talked about Kihyun. He checked his phone. “Woo and San will be here soon. How about you tell us the whole story when they get here?”

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 2

Synopsis: In the past, you and Kihyun go on your first date. In the present, it’s Kihyun’s first day at work

Word count: 4.2k

Triggers: none

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Past

“Are you absolutely sure about this?” Kihyun asked you for what must be the 5th time that evening, as he handed you a helmet.

“Yes, my answer isn’t going to change from last time!” You cried out, your patience beginning to wear thin.

The last time you referred to was when you had pizza with Kihyun, in his warehouse garage. You told him you were interested in going to the motorcycle race on the weekend, and needed the details. It would be the craziest thing you’ve ever done, and with more than 3 months of vacation until university, you were ready to try something different.

Kihyun shut you down almost immediately. 

“It’ll be too dangerous. It’s not your scene. Tickets are expensive too,” he tried giving a million excuses.

And you foiled him at each one. “How can I know whether it’s my scene or not if I’ve never been? And did you forget my family owns most of this harbour now?”

“No comeback on the danger part though?” Kihyun said, raising his eyebrows.

You hummed in thought then answered, “Voluntary assumption of risk.”

Kihyun couldn’t stop himself from groaning at your response. You pulling out some legal term (he didn’t need to know the Civil Liability Act didn’t apply in this situation and you were just pulling his leg) was precisely why you needed to stay away from this place. You were destined for greater and brighter things, and Kihyun couldn’t understand how a mind as brilliant as yours failed to see it. But then he thought, maybe you truly didn’t know. Maybe you truly didn’t understand the dangers of the biking world. Maybe he could safely expose you to it all, and finally you would understand.

Which is how Kihyun ended up trying to get you dressed in motorcycle appropriate gear on a Saturday evening. But having you put on his leather jacket over your pink baby tee, and exchanging what were probably overpriced but well-made jeans for his sweatpants was having an unexpected effect on him. 

You walked out of Kihyun’s bathroom dressed in your new outfit and a slightly sour look on your face. 

“I can’t have you falling down and damaging your skin,” Kihyun said.

“Well I was counting on you being a good rider that wouldn’t drop me when you mentioned also being a racer,” you countered.

“I am not holding you when I ride. You’re holding me. It’s your responsibility to not fall off,” Kihyun said sternly.

For a second, anxiety flashed across your face. Without saying anything more, you walked over to Kihyun who was holding a helmet. You took it from him, and pulled it on wordlessly, then began fiddling with the straps.

Kihyun watched your fingers fumble, sighed and put his fingers under your chin. “Let me,” he said, and you did.

Once the warehouse was locked, Kihyun climbed on his bike and waited for you to join him. Just like in the movies, you swung your legs over the seat and wrapped your arms around Kihyun’s waist. Then you placed your head down on Kihyun’s back, catching him by surprise. 

“You good there, princess?” He asked, hoping his voice didn’t betray him.

“I am ready, let’s go,” you answered, oblivious to the effect you were having on him.

It was a quiet ride, about an hour, until you had left the city limits. Kihyun spoke only to warn you when he might speed up or when there were sharp turns. You hummed in acknowledgement each time he spoke. Sometimes you would wriggle and readjust yourself in his seat, and Kihyun swore all he felt was you pressing yourself closer to him,  but astoundingly, he didn’t mind. He almost missed the way you felt pressed against him once he stopped the bike and you loosened your grip. You had arrived at a motorplex you didn’t even know existed in your state. It was teaming with people, some in biking gear, some in what you assumed were costumes, and others in regular clothing. Kihyun exchanged a quick and customary hello to a few riders nearby as he got off his bike, then offered a hand to you. Even with his riding gloves on, he was hyperaware of your hand in his.

“So listen, I need to go to registration, maybe say a couple hellos, but there’s food trucks over that way and since it’s still early, you should be able to get a good spot in the stands,” Kihyun explained.

You nodded and started unzipping the jacket he lent to you, but he placed a hand over yours to tell you to stop. 

“Keep it. You might get cold.” 

You nodded again and asked. “Will you take me home as well? If so, how will I find you?”

Kihyun’s eyes widened in shock and maybe even offence. “Did you really think I’m the kind of guy to leave you stranded like that? I brought you here so you leaving safely is my responsibility.”

A soft smile spread over your face. Even with his prickly personality, his words still carried care. “Thank you,” you said.

“I’ll come and find you after the race okay? Cheer for me, yeah?”

Once Kihyun left, you went to the food trucks and bought yourself twisty potato skewers, some knockoff pad Thai, and frozen yogurt with 75% of the available toppings before heading to the stands. You found a spot at the front by the railing and began eating.

“Mind if I sit here, Kikibebe?” Someone said behind you. 

You turned around, your cheeks full of your inauthentic pad Thai, to find a girl with the most impressive cat eye makeup you’d ever seen. 

“No, go ahead,” you managed to say in pout form.

The girl giggled and sat beside you. “I don’t think I have seen you here before, so how long have you been a Kikibebe?”

“Sorry, Kikibebe?”

“Kihyun’s fan club. You’re wearing his patch and only his patch, so I’m guessing you’re new to racing?” The girl offered. 

“Um yeah, I guess you could say that,” you said with a tight smile. 

About the time you finished your noodles, the racers came out. The noise from the crowd almost made you drop your frozen yogurt, but you quickly joined in the cheering. You could easily see Kihyun’s orange hair as he waved to everyone with a cosmically dazzling smile. You also briefly saw Jooheon with his red space buns, and Mingi with his fire hair. At one point, you thought you saw Kihyun catch your eye from the racetrack. 

But then the race began, the crowd became even louder, and the atmosphere was all consuming. People were standing and leaning against the railing, screaming and crying from shock, awe and anger if they lost their bets. At one point, Mingi overtook Kihyun, and the girl beside you grabbed your arm for comfort. But then on the last lap, Kihyun slipped past him to win, and you and your new buddy were jumping for joy. At the end of the race, when Kihyun waved and bowed to the crowd, he looked towards you again, only this time, your new friend caught him and all but swooned. You found her reaction comedic, even though Kihyun’s smirk at the end of the race, the way his hair clung to his sweaty skin, and the way his hands looked while he pulled his gloves off were all making your mouth dry. 

Quite literally, you were thirsty… for Kihyun.

The Present

Returning to work on Monday brought more surprises than anyone bargained for. The first surprise came in the national news. Tenders were open for a contract with the Department of Defence to build infrastructure for a newly acquired nuclear submarine fleet. Everyone knew defence contracts were lucrative, so the whole firm was abuzz. You already had people with backgrounds in naval architecture, and civil, chemical and mechanical engineering at the firm. It also didn’t hurt that the firm had past experience with waterfront projects. The stars had aligned just for you, it seemed. 

But then the second surprise came. The tenders would be viewed by the actual naval officers assigned to the new base, and your stomach dropped when you saw one of the names: Choi Jongho, who was simultaneously your first serious relationship and the worst ex you ever had. 

“Hoseok, you were in the PR side for a bit. Tell me, do I have to put my name on the tender?” You asked during the daily executive meeting.

Hoseok took a bite of his oatmeal. “You were on the legal team, so you already know the answer. You’re acting CEO now, you sign off on everything.”

“Yeah but… I just don’t want to deal with him, you know?” You said, hanging your head in frustration.

“Then don’t. Send one or even all of us to the meeting. Half the architects in this building report to me, and the other half report to Hoseok. Hyunwoo handles the engineers, and I hear our new head of investments has an engineering degree too,” Minhyuk said while he squeezed some moisturiser on to his hands.

“Speaking of our new man, where is he?” You asked, looking pointedly at the empty seat in the conference room while you attached some press-on nails.

“Ah Miss y/n, that’s my fault. I told him to arrive at 8, and it is not 8 yet,” Hyunwoo said sheepishly. He was the only one in the room who was not doing some sort of personal grooming. 

"Well at least we can expect Kihyun to turn up ready for the day like all the other engineers,” Minhyuk quipped as he packed away his skincare products.

There was a good reason for this bizarre meeting. Your mother, the past CEO, always held the daily executive meetings between 7 and 9 am to plan the day before regular employees arrived. Each division in your firm had their own timetables. Much like your mother, who was an engineer by trade, the engineering department started work at 9 on the dot, and could usually leave work in time to eat dinner at home. The legal department didn’t fire up until at least 10am (lawyers were divas), but could always go out for late night drinks (lawyers are alcoholics). Then the architecture department fell in the middle: they began work after the engineers and before the lawyers, but nobody really knew when they left the building. Lastly, the investment team was in the building all day every day in some capacity. Considering all this, you made the early morning executive meeting a casual affair - food, pyjamas and skincare routines were welcome. The only thing not tolerated was non-attendance without a reason.

Though you’d give Kihyun a free pass this time around when he eventually arrived and became the third surprise of your morning. But for now, your thoughts were racing. Would he recognise you? Would he remember you? Would he be awkward? Would he still be as protective of you as he used to be? If given the chance, would he try to heal all your old wounds? Or would his appearance tear open the wounds he never knew he left?

Because that’s precisely the problem. You never knew why he left you.

The Past

After Kihyun's race was over, he sent you a text message saying he’ll come find you at the grandstand. You didn’t see it since you were watching the other races while occasionally chatting with the girl beside you. Eventually, Kihyun decided to make his way over without waiting for your response. He could almost feel the audience’s gaze swivelling to him as he walked through the grandstand to where he last saw you.

Kihyun found you laughing about something with an audience member who saw Kihyun before you did. Her eyes widened in recognition and she tapped your arm hurriedly to let you know. When you found Kihyun weaving his way through the audience, you waved hello with a bright smile, and Kihyun couldn’t help but return the smile as he quickly walked to you. 

“So, did you enjoy your first race?” Kihyun asked.

“Yeah, it was interesting, and congrats on the win,” you said. “Wanna sit?” You gestured to the space beside you.

Kihyun shuffled his feet before replying, “Actually, there’s something else I want you to check out. It’s got a better view than here.”

You shrugged and stood up. “Ok, let’s go.” 

Kihyun reached over to grab some of the food wrappers you were carrying, and you let him take them from you. But then he wrapped his hand around yours. “Don’t trip,” he said, and began leading you out of the grandstand.

Even though you followed him, you saw people watching you two.

“Kihyun, people are watching,” you said softly to him. “Kihyun, are you famous or something?”

“Don’t worry about it, just follow me,” Kihyun replied without looking back at you and leading you out. 

He didn’t let go of your hand even after you left the grandstand. Kihyun led you out of the racing complex, past more people, all of whom continued to stare after you both. Not minding them, Kihyun took you out into the bushland (dry forest for you non-Aussies) surrounding the racetrack.

“Kihyun, why are we out here? What about your bike?” You cried, trying to pull your hand out of his. 

Kihyun still didn’t let go. “Relax, they’ll be safe, but there’s something I want you to see.”

He led you up a small sandy hill, using either the illumination from the racetrack as a guide, or simply his own familiarity with the path, you didn’t know. Eventually, you reached a clearing, with some solid ground and grass instead of sand under your feet. Kihyun stopped here and let go of your hand. He turned to face you and placed both hands on your shoulders. 

“I promised you I wouldn't hurt you, and I meant that,” he said with conviction as he looked directly into your eyes. He then spun you around so you could see the racetrack again.

At first you were doubtful about whether this was a better view. You could see the whole complex illuminated against the dark of the bush, but parts of the track were obscured .

“So uh, what am I looking for right now?” You asked Kihyun. 

“Just give it a minute. Take a seat, actually,” he replied and sat on the grass with his legs stretched out and hands behind him for support. 

You joined him, hugging your knees into your chest, and kept your eyes trained on the racing complex in silence. 

“You know, this is one of those places where people won’t hear you scream,” you said, breaking the silence.

“Y/n, I can’t tell if you’re joking, but I swear that’s not what this is,” Kihyun said from beside you.

“Yeah but you literally just took me to the kind of place someone would hide a body,” you replied. 

Kihyun bit his lip nervously as he drew in his legs to sit cross legged. “I mean, if you’re uncomfortable, I can take you back?”

You shook your head and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Just be happy that for once, safety crossed my mind.”

Kihyun groaned. “That was a terrible joke. Hopefully the motocross event is more entertaining than your jokes.” 

“Motorcross?”

Kihyun smirked. “I brought you here because motocross is loud and hectic in the stands, especially for someone who’s there for the first time. But from here, you can see all the tricks with less noise.”

Just then, you heard revving and cheering, much louder than any previous segments. A motorcycle practically leaped into the air soon after. Kihyun watched your reaction as you breathed out a soft wow and became a little starry eyed.

“Do you like it?” He asked.

“Mmm, I do,” you replied without taking your eyes off the motorcycles doing flips in the air. “I also have another joke for you.”

“I don’t have high expectations but go on…” Kihyun chuckled.

“Another benefit of being in a place where people can’t hear you is that you can scream as loud as you want,” you said with a smirk, even though you kept your eyes focused on the racing complex. 

Kihyun was silent for a few seconds, then asked, “Why would you randomly scream loudly?”

“Coz you’re enjoying yourself?” You offered, turning to face him. When you saw his confused expression, you asked, “You don’t get it?”

“No.”

“Huh, you’re cute,” you giggled and turned back. 

“Well if you're screaming because you’re enjoying the race, you can do that while in the stands, so yeah, I don’t get this joke either. Honestly y/n, you’re really bad at this,” Kihyun said.

You fully turned to face him. “I didn’t take you for an innocent person, Kihyun, especially considering the things you said about this crowd.” 

“And I didn’t take you for a terrible communicator considering how eloquent you usually are,” Kihyun retorted. 

“Leave me alone, eloquence and jokes don’t mix, okay?” You grumbled with a pout as you turned away.

Kihyun gave you a sidelong glance. “Hm. You’re cute when you’re grumpy.” 

You sighed and rolled your eyes.

Kihyun’s lips curved into a devilish smirk and he leaned in closer to you, his lips almost brushing your ear. “And actually, I knew exactly what you meant. I can’t believe I thought you were an innocent person the first time I saw you.” 

You spun your head towards him, your faces being inches from each other. Your gaze flitted to his lips, an action that didn’t go unnoticed by him. 

"Is there something you want to tell me?” You asked, your mouth going dry once again.

Kihyun pulled back, grinning. “Nope, I just like messing with you.” 

You were grateful he wouldn’t see the flush spreading across your cheeks, but you weren’t going to let him win. “So you like messing with people, but not messing around with them?” You asked.

"What's the difference?” Kihyun replied.

You smiled gleefully as you replied. “Looks like Mingi was right. You mess with people because you don’t have the balls to mess around with them.” 

Kihyun’s eyes narrowed, and suddenly you wondered if you’d taken it too far. Even if his words were suggestive, his voice was dripping with something like anger when he replied, “Are you sure it’s not because you don’t have what it takes to mess around with me?”

But you wouldn’t back down. “Maybe you should mess around and find out.”

The Present

As expected, Yoo Kihyun arrived in the meeting room at 8 on the dot. His hair was a natural brown, instead of the bright orange you saw on the weekend. 

Hyunwoo made the introductions. “Ah Kihyun, welcome to the team. This is Minhyuk and Hoseok, they handle the architects, and this is Miss y/n, she handles the legal team but she’s also acting CEO.”

Minhyuk and Hoseok both stood up and shook Kihyun’s hand. You remained seated until Kihyun approached you.

“Miss y/n, I look forward to working with you,” Kihyun said.

It took a second for your etiquette training to kick in: never shake someone’s hand seated. You stood up sharply and offered your hand to Kihyun, who shook it gently. You swore you felt electricity brush through you in that moment. 

“Now that Kihyun’s here, let’s talk budget for the new contract,” Hoseok said.

“Are you familiar with defence contracts?” Minhyuk asked Kihyun.

“I read up on them last night. My understanding is that there will be various subsidies, or reduced competition depending on the contract,” Kihyun replied. 

“Good, that’s a start,” you said appreciatively. “But to be specific, this contract will probably be a cost-plus contract where the DoD covers project costs and provides a certain profit margin. However, there is no exclusivity, and I want MX to take on as much of this project as possible. My thinking is that if we reduce the project costs, we can find a way to expand that profit margin.” 

“But we can’t sacrifice funding for our current projects, just to take on as much of this new project as we can,” Kihyun replied.

“That’s where you come in,” Hyunwoo replied. “Get investments to look at the return on equity and investment (ROE and ROI) for similar naval projects in similar firms.”

“Also, just do a preliminary check on the net present value (NPV). Logic tells us the profit margin clause will mean its a positive NPV, but let’s be sure,” Minhyuk added.

“Good, good, that can all be arranged,” Kihyun replied while he wrote down some notes.

“But Miss y/n, what if the project isn’t cost-plus? Was if it’s IDIQ or prime?” Hoseok asked.

“Surely if it’s IDIQ, we do exactly that? Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity?” Minhyuk proposed.

“To be honest, that worries me,” you said. “Can we calculate an NPV on an indefinite timeline?” 

You looked at 3 of your 4 executives for an answer, since you weren’t sure if you could keep a straight face when you looked at Kihyun. 

But despite your lack of attention towards him, Kihyun answered, “It’s okay, you don't need to be worried.” 

His gentle voice had the rest of the room melt away as you finally focused your attention on him.

“I can calculate the NPV as a perpetuity, and I’ll index it to the consumer price index (CPI) so we have a preliminary growth value,” Kihyun reassured you. 

He still sounded the same as all those years ago, back when you would tell him all your worries with tears in your eyes, and he would rub your back, tuck your hair behind your ear and kiss your forehead. 

And now, you would do those things to yourself when you needed reassurance, like how just now, you tucked your hair behind your ear before responding. “That sounds good. Please do the same for a prime contract possibility too.” 

“Yes ma’m,” Kihyun said, almost smirking. 

“Miss y/n,” Hyunwoo’s calm, deep voice brought your attention back. “Do you have any contacts in the navy you could ask?” 

Before you could answer, Hoseok spoke up. “Hyunwoo, she doesn’t want to talk to him, remember? We’ve all heard the Jongho story and you know it gets messy.”

“My apologies, Miss y/n, it slipped my mind,” Hyunwoo said, bowing his head towards you.

“Don't worry about it, he’s not important,” you said, with your eyes cast down and acutely aware there was one person in the room who didn’t know the Jongho story. 

And that one person had to speak up just now. “Actually, I have a contact in the navy. He’s called Im Changkyun, and he mentioned being assigned to a new base recently. I’ll see if he knows anything.” 

The rest of the executive team looked at Kihyun. Hoseok spoke first and with pride, “I think we just found Miss y/n’s match.”

After the meeting, the five of you separated, with Kihyun going with Hyunwoo who was his assigned mentor for the week so he could get settled in. Minhyuk and Hoseok followed them to go to the elevator while you walked next door to your office.

“I see you changed your hair,” Hoseok said to Kihyun.

“Yeah, it was in the employee policy document,” Kihyun replied. 

“You know, if you mentioned it to y/n, she probably would have let you keep your orange hair,” Minhyuk said. “She allows me to do my skincare during our morning meeting.” 

“No, it’ll be unprofessional. I have to be presentable and ready for the day,” Kihyun replied. 

“Spoken like a true engineer, eh Hyunwoo?” Minhyuk laughed as Hyunwoo hummed in agreement. 

“Wonder if y/n will like you,” Hoseok mused. “She was very curious about you during the weekend.” 

This was news to Kihyun. “Did she say anything?” 

“Not that I remember,” Hoseok replied, honestly, since he truly didn’t. “But she went to school with Somin of Kard, who I believe was your coworker?” 

Kihyun nodded. 

“Oh who are we kidding? Y/n went to school with everyone who is a someone now. Guess that’s what happens when you’ve been gifted all your life,” Minhyuk laughed. 

Kihyun frowned at that. “Do you always talk about Miss y/n so flippantly? She’s your CEO.”

The atmosphere in the elevator changed. The regular banter that was common among the executive team during off-duty moments seemed to have missed the mark. 

Hyunwoo decided to calm everyone. “We’ve known y/n since she was an intern here, and you’ll soon learn she is very open about everything. Her knowing someone everywhere is truly an asset, even if we tease her for it and she’s actually a very understanding boss who wants the best for this company, even if the company wasn’t what she always wanted.”

Kihyun didn't mention that he already knew this about you. He knew how friendly you were and how you never suspected a person of ever having ill intent, as much as he disliked that trait. He also knew the reason you made the pragmatic decision to become a lawyer and eventually CEO for MX, even if it meant letting go of what you called your sole happiness.

[monsta-x-jagi]

Crown and Chrome - Chapter 1

Synopsis: How you meet Kihyun for the first time, in the past and in the present when he comes back to you

Word count: 3.9k

Triggers: none

Author’s notes: MX members are all different ages, assume seasons occur like in the southern hemisphere

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Present

You glanced at the photo frames on Hyungwon’s desk as he looked over the papers you just handed him. Cherub cheeked smiling faces looked back at you, much like the round cheeks Hyungwon had. Hyungwon’s children, whom you had met several times and even bought Christmas presents for.

“Miss y/n, are you busy this weekend?” Hyungwon asked, without looking up from his papers.

“Aside from your party, no. Was there anything you needed?”

“Yes, actually,” he said, finally looking up at you. “Go on a date.”

You looked back at him, confused. “Oh um I wasn’t aware you were…”

“Of course it’s not for me,” he groaned. “It's for you. I want you to go on a date this weekend.”

You had a similar conversation with the two Mr Lees on the executive team. Currently, you three were milling about in the break room.

“Y/n, when are we getting invitations for your wedding?” Lee Minhyuk asked. 

“I don’t know, how much notice do you require?”

Minhyuk groaned and Lee Hoseok laughed at your reply. 

“Y/n, the only notice we’ve been getting is how badly your dates fail,” Hoseok said. 

“Yeah, y/n, live life a little bit,” Minhyuk said while he raised his coffee mug in a toast. 

Minhyuk and Hoseok had recently become architectural directors after being at your company for as long as you can remember. But in the time they climbed the corporate ladder, you jumped up several rungs when you inherited a majority share holding in MX Property Development. Prior to that, you were the head of legal affairs, but now you dealt with all the executive jobs your mother left you after she jetted off to the Seychelles or French Curacao or somewhere. 

Mr Son, another member of the MX executive team, drifted into the break room.

“Hi there y/n,” he said as he reached for some protein powder in a nearby cabinet.

“Damn, Hyunwoo, you’re hitting the gym that early today?” You asked as you pointed at the microwave clock.

Hyunwoo shrugged. “Yeah why not? Plus, if you join me, I could introduce you to someone who could be your date this weekend.”

You groaned. “Did Hyungwon tell everyone about that?”

Hoseok, the older of the two Mr Lees, laughed. “The entire executive team knows the only time you got close to marriage was looking at my son’s prenup.”

Minhyuk smirked and added, “And the time you hit on that fashion designer shamelessly after a meeting is probably the second closest you’ve ever been to marriage.”

“YAH!!!” You cried and smacked him. “I’ve been in long term relationships before, okay?”

Another voice floated to the break room as Hyungwon walked in. “With all due respect y/n, six months sleeping with some biker when you were nineteen is not a long term relationship.” 

The others in the room chortled loudly at that.

“You’re lucky my mother hired you, and not me,” you growled, even though you knew Hyungwon meant no harm.

“You can’t fire me anyways, when I’ve already handed in my retirement notice,” Hyungwon chuckled. “You better bring a date this weekend okay?”

“50 bucks says she doesn’t,” Minhyuk giggled and Hoseok muttered “deal” in response.

You rolled your eyes. “Sometimes I wonder if I should do some restructuring at this firm.” 

As you rode home that night, on your motorcycle, your mind wandered to thoughts about the biker Hyungwon mentioned. That biker was the man who ruined all other men for you. You first met him while walking through some of the outer piers at the harbour, lined with abandoned, rusting warehouses. He had refurbished one to use as his garage and tinker on bikes with. It had been several years since then, and the warehouses had been replaced by restaurants and a bustling marina which you (or rather your mum’s firm) owned after redeveloping it. The marina and some remnants of the old harbour could be seen from the windows in your office at MX Property Development. You’d be lying if you said you never stared out of the windows for extended periods of time.

Today, you stopped by your favourite restaurant at the marina. The business had changed owners a few times, but each owner and their staff got to know you quickly. They knew your usual order (hot chips with aioli, and keep it coming), and your favourite seat (by the window, in the westernmost corner). So naturally, you were ushered there, your food was brought out within minutes, and you began pondering what Hyungwon said today.

The Past

It was the summer after graduating high school, and you accompanied your mother on a site visit to an area she was considering redeveloping. You were tired of staying home doing nothing, and your university classes wouldn’t begin for another 3 months. While your mum spoke with surveyors, analysts and other stakeholders, you wandered off on your own, headphones in. You barely heard the sound of engines and wheels skidding somewhere in front of you, until you saw a boy with orange hair on a bike, with smoke coming from the tires. 

“Kihyun, we told you not to go so fast!” Someone called, and you saw two more boys running towards the orange haired Kihyun from inside one of the warehouses. 

Kihyun let out some heavy breaths, then his gaze fell on you. “We got company,” he said towards the warehouse entrance.

Two heads popped out, one with black hair and one with red hair in spacebuns.

You stared back at Kihyun, your head cocked to the side, studying him as he studied you. He wore black leather pants and some sort of faux leather jacket with various patches attached.

Kihyun looked at you in your pale pink sheath dress. Clearly, you didn't belong anywhere near here. 

“Hi, can I help you?” He asked as he got off his bike and approached you. 

You removed your headphones and stood still. 

“I promise I won’t hurt you,” Kihyun said. 

“I was just uhh walking around. I came here with some people, but then we got separated so uh yeah, here I am I guess?” You replied. 

You were smiling so sweetly and innocently that Kihyun almost forgot what he wanted to say next. But once he gathered himself, he asked, “Do you need directions back or anything?” 

You continued smiling and shook your head. “Nope, I am completely okay. My mum is probably busy with the investors anyways.” 

Kihyun nodded, not quite processing what any investors had to do with you visiting an abandoned warehouse. 

“Were you also supposed to be at that meeting today? You don’t exactly look like you’re dressed for work in these warehouses,” Kihyun asked, gesturing at you dress. 

“Oh right,” you said while absentmindedly smoothing the sides of your dress. 

Kihyun’s eyes followed the movements of your hands and he couldn’t help but notice the way the dress hugged your hips. 

“I’m just on vacation now before uni begins, and my mum thought it would be nice to take me to work with her since we all know I’ll end up working at her company in the end,” you explained. 

Kihyun slowly shook his head as he processed your words. “So your mum is the one who’s been buying up parts of this harbour?”

“Yeah,” you replied.

Kihyun watched as you lifted your hair from your neck and fanned yourself. Of course, it’s summer, the UV index is through the roof, and you’re standing in the sun.

“Hey uh, would you like to come in? The sun’s kinda warm,” Kihyun said, and gestured towards the warehouse. 

“Wow really? Thank you, that would be lovely,” you replied and walked past Kihyun to move inside.

Kihyun watched you with some confusion as he followed you in, your gait being strangely sure and confident. “I assure you we won’t hurt you. There’s some drinks in the fridge, feel free to sit by the fan.”

“That’s very kind of you, thanks,” you replied as you looked around the warehouse. 

Several bikes littered the space, some with their parts removed and lying on the ground. There was a faint smell of grease, and shelves filled with toolboxes and spare parts. 

“So you’re a mechanic,” you said, with a hint of awe in your voice. 

Kihyun came and stood beside you. “Yes. And you’re MX Development’s CEO’s daughter.” 

You hummed in agreement.

“Did you ever think its a bad idea revealing information like that to someone you just met?” Kihyun asked. 

When you turned to face him, Kihyun wondered if your doe eyes could possibly look more innocent.

“Well uhh, I can see why it would be bad but, everybody at school knew, and many people figure it out pretty quickly,” you replied. 

“Are you sure that’s not because you mention your mum’s job in the first few seconds of meeting someone?” Kihyun teased.

Your gaze turned sharper as you turned to face him. “Actually, it’s because I can provide decent property investment advice myself. I know how real estate markets work, and how property prices change with mining booms, migration, government policy and other things.” 

Kihyun smirked. “That’s impressive. Is that all on your resume then?”

You shook your head and a small pout formed on your lips. “No, I just have my school marks and the degree I’ll be studying.” 

“Which is?” Kihyun asked. 

“Law,” you replied. 

Kihyun didn’t ask anything more. He motioned for you to take a seat on a couch and headed to a fridge at the back of the studio. He returned a few seconds later with two chilled water bottles. He loosened the cap of one and gave it to you. You both silently took several sips as Kihyun sat on the opposite side of the couch to you.

“What about you then? I feel like motorcycle rider isn’t really a job,” you said.

“Do you think a job is all there is in life?” Kihyun asked.

You glanced up at the ceiling as if in thought. “Well, no, but you do spend a great deal of your life working, so it definitely contributes to a person’s character.” 

Kihyun chuckled and replied, “Well you’re right about that. I am a motorcycle mechanic actually, and this is where I modify my bikes for races and things.” 

“I thought that type of thing only happened in movies,” you mused more to yourself than him. 

“Something tells me there’s a lot of things you’ve only experienced in movies,” Kihyun smirked.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “What are you implying there?” 

“I wasn’t implying anything. I just think its funny that someone like you would be getting comfortable on my ratty couch.” 

The Present

The event you promised to bring a date to was Hyungwon’s retirement party. Held at the Four Seasons, your admin staff had invited the whole firm as well as some big names and allies in the industry. You wore a long sleeved pink dress that reached just above your knees, with your regular diamond hoop earrings that you wore daily since you were 20.

“So who’s replacing Hyungwon as your head of investments?” Somin from Kard Investments asked while you both served yourselves food from the buffet.

“Why? Tired of being just an associate?” You joked.

“Well, from what I gather, head of investment at MX pays just as much with less hours. It’s a good position,” Somin shrugged.

“So apply,” you replied. “I’m not joking, Somin. The position won’t necessarily be filled internally so you have a shot.”

Somin placed a hand on your arm, silently telling you to be quiet. She moved you to sit down at a table, and only spoke once you had both started nibbling at your food.

“The reason I asked is because a buddy of mine applied,” Somin said in a low voice. “He’s been making waves recently for bagging some good deals, but he’s always said he will end up at MX someday.”

“Huh, wonder what his story is,” you said as you started eating.

Somin glanced around the room as if checking whether someone was listening. “He said there was someone he knew at MX. And that he wanted to find her before it was too late.”

The Past

The second time you saw Kihyun was about a week after the first time. You were back at the harbour, though you didn’t come with your mother’s entourage. This time, you were mindful of any fast moving motorcycles as you made your way to the warehouse where you first met Kihyun. The door was partly open when you arrived, so you slipped inside.

“Ki-kihyun? You in here?” You called as you walked in side. You dropped your bag on the ratty couch you had sat on last week. The lights were on, and tools were scattered around like someone left in a hurry. You walked further in, until you saw a ladder leading to a loft. Perhaps against your best judgement, you climbed up to it, and found a neatly made bed and a table full of skincare products, including many of the brands you used. 

You heard the door to the warehouse being pushed open so you climbed down from the loft. A tall boy with yellow and orange hair was standing at the entrance. Did all of Kihyun’s friends have unnatural hair colours?

“Oh I haven’t seen you before,” the boy said. “Where did Kihyun go?”

“I don’t know, I was hoping you knew,” you replied, still not sure who this boy was.

“I don’t know, I’m not the one coming down from his loft,” the boy said with a shrug.

“Well you’re welcome to wait for him with me,” you said, and gestured to the couch. While he got comfortable, you went to the fridge to get a bottle of water for him like Kihyun did for you. 

When you returned with the water bottle and stood in front of the boy, he looked you up and down. “You don’t look like Kihyun’s type… you’re too pretty.” 

You rolled your eyes and shoved the bottle towards him. The boy smirked, nestling further into the couch and sitting with his legs spread wide. After a good gulp of water and a resounding gasp, he asked, “So how did you get involved with Kihyun?” 

“We uh crossed paths?” You offered. It was true in a literal sense.

“And now you’re so close he lets you up to his loft huh?” The boy smirked.

“No, we’re just acquaintances, it’s not like we do anything together,” you replied. “Honestly, I’m not even sure he likes me.”

The boy’s jaw dropped open. “Wow I never thought he was that kind of guy.”

“Why? What’s Kihyun like?”

The boy scratched his hair, looking a little confused. “He doesn’t really bring girls here. But he also isn’t the type to lead someone around like this.”

You stared at the boy for a few seconds before exclaiming, “Wait you thought we were dating?”

The boy made an annoyed face. “Well it’s never just fucking where Kihyun is considered.”

“Uh wow okay, good to hear,” you said, taking a step away from the boy, slightly taken aback by his language. You turned around, wondering whether you should pretend you needed to go to the fridge or something, but then you caught site of a motorcycle helmet clad figure in a familiar jacket covered in patches emerging from somewhere at the back of the warehouse.

“Princess, is everything okay?” Kihyun asked as he took off his helmet.

Your breath hitched at the pet name. You didn’t think it would have an effect on you, but you liked it. Still, why would Kihyun say that when he’d met you once?

Behind you, the fire haired boy was laughing. “I knew you could never just hook up, man. You’re already calling her princess.”

Kihyun walked past you to the boy, and said through gritted teeth, “I meant you, Princess Mingi. What are you doing in my garage? Were you hoping to find out what I’ve prepared for this weekend?”

Mingi placed the water bottle down and smirked. “Your girl doesn’t like being called princess? Why not? She’s very pretty.” 

Kihyun followed Mingi’s gaze to where you stood, fidgeting with your watch. Today, you were wearing denim shorts that were hidden beneath an oversized sweater, creating the illusion you had no pants on. It was hot, and Kihyun suddenly wondered if you’d look like that wearing his oversized clothes too.

Kihyun returned his attention to Mingi. “You should leave. I’ll see you this weekend.”

Mingi chuckled and got up. When he reached the door, he turned around and winked at you, then left.

Kihyun fluffed his hair and turned to face you, asking, “What can I help you with?” 

“Oh I was just in the area and wanted to say hello. I didn’t mean to intrude or anything, but then your friend came in and I talked to him for a bit,” you stuttered out, then added, “I will leave if this is a bad time.”

Kihyun sighed. “No, don’t, you can stay a bit, I’ll order us some pizza or something.” 

Kihyun joined you on the couch and handed his phone to you, indicating for you to pick what pizza you wanted. 

“So what did Mingi ask you?”

“How we met, our relationship status, things like that,” you said while scrolling Kihyun’s phone.

“He’s not my friend, just so you know,” Kihyun said. 

“Oh,” you let out. “Well I didn’t tell him anything sensitive. I just said we crossed paths, if that makes you feel better.” 

“No, don’t worry about it,” Kihyun said again with a sigh. 

You looked up from the phone at him. His shoulders were slumped, his head hung down.

“Is something bothering you? Is it me? I can leave if you want to be alone. I really just wanted to say hi while I was in the area,” you rambled.

Kihyun lifted his head up quickly. “What? No, nonono, it’s not that. It’s just that Mingi is my rival, and we’re racing this weekend.”

“Ah so you’re stressed. That’s okay, happens to the best of us,” you replied, handing the phone to Kihyun with your pizza choices inputted.

Kihyun hummed in agreement as he finished making the payment. After a beat, he said, “Next time you’re here, be careful okay?” 

“Be careful of what?” 

“Of who,” Kihyun corrected. “Not everybody who comes to this warehouse will treat you well. I know Mingi wouldn’t do something as disgusting as hurting you to get to me, but some bikers might. I don’t want you to run into someone like that.”

“Oh,” you let out meekly. “I never really thought about it that way.” 

“Honestly y/n, in the two times I’ve met you, I learned you never think about safety,” Kihyun said, and you couldn’t tell if he was disappointed in your behaviour or just concerned.

“Well, nothing has ever happened to me, so I just assumed what I am already doing keeps me safe,” you replied, a small pout forming on your lips.

“Mingi was right about you,” Kihyun said as he took in your adorable pout. “You really are a princess.” 

That word again. It made something clench inside you. You swallowed and asked, “Why am I a princess, Kihyun?” 

“Your life is peaceful. Your family own some of the most lucrative real estate in this state. You go to good schools, get good grades and buy nice things. People don’t have a reason to hurt you.” 

“Wow.” You said in shock. “Just wow.” 

“Was I wrong, princess?” Kihyun asked, emphasising the last word.

“Don’t call me that, it does something to me,” you said with a scowl. 

“I know. That’s why I said it,” Kihyun grinned. 

“Fuck you,” you muttered. “I am not a princess. You just shoved me into strain and opportunity theories on crime occurrence.” 

Kihyun blinked. “Crime? I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. You literally just explained why my life lacks strains conducive to criminality then linked it to the idea that crime is highly opportunistic,” you replied.

“Y/n, I’m still lost. Unlike you, I didn’t learn these things at school,” Kihyun said, his jaw tight. 

“Don’t worry, most people don’t. I learned this stuff myself,” you said with a proud smile. Kihyun thought it was cute. 

“Ah, so the princess has a library?” He teased. 

“Stahp!! I am not a princess, I do crazy things too,” you whined as you gently shoved his shoulder and laughed. 

“Really? Like what?” Kihyun asked intrigued. “What’s the craziest, wildest thing you’ve done?” He caught your hand on his shoulder and place it down on your thigh, holding it slightly longer than necessary.

You took a deep breath before answering. “What I have planned to do this weekend.” 

The Present

You and Somin finished eating quickly before going to mingle around. You approached your executive team who were all huddled up drinking. Minhyuk handed you his half finished bottle of beer when you joined. You briefly flashed him a look of annoyance but took it anyways. It wasn’t like you to pull rank to remind him you were his superior and weren’t going to drink his leftover beer. As the night went on, different figures approached Hyungwon to congratulate him and wish him well. A select few approached you to congratulate you on inheriting the CEO position, though it was something you had always expected your mother to do eventually. 

And even though you did not agree with most of the decisions your mother made for you, you weren’t stupid enough to pass up on decisions that would unilaterally benefit you.

“What are you staring at?” Hoseok asked. 

You didn’t realised you had been zoning out.

“Did someone catch your eye?” He asked while taking a sip from a soft drink can. 

When you didn’t reply, Hoseok followed your gaze to find a man with orange hair in a suit. The man’s back was to you, and he was talking quite animatedly with a group of investment bankers. Or so you assumed since the whole group was Kard Investments’ trading floor.

“Do you know him?” Hoseok asked you.

“No, but the hair…” you said, more to yourself than him.

“Oh for sure, he needs to get rid of that before he comes into work on Monday.”

“Monday?” You asked, eyes widening. 

“Yeah, didn’t Hyungwon tell you? That’s the guy that’ll take over for him,” Hoseok replied. 

“When did HR confirm that? Who did the hiring? Why wasn’t I notified?” You thought aloud. 

“Now those are all valid questions and best left to Hyunwoo. He met with the guy last week to finalise things so he knows him best,” Hoseok said. 

“So our new hire is from Kard?” You asked, nudging your chin towards the congregation of Kard traders.

“Yes, but you know what’s funny is that he’s always said he wants to work at MX,” Hoseok mused.

You and Hoseok stared after the orange haired man some more.

“I don’t suppose you happen to know his name?” You asked Hoseok.

“It’s Yoo Kihyun.”

[monsta-x-jagi]

Legal Affairs

Summary: you are a lawyer handling a preliminary black market involvement investigation on Wonho

Characters: idol!wonho, lawyer!reader

Total word count: 35.8k

Warnings: provided in individual chapters

COMPLETED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

[monsta-x-jagi]

Legal Affairs - Chapter 13

Synopsis: Utter bliss

Word count: 3.3k

Triggers: mentions intimate image abuse, kissing, unprotected sex, oral (f. receiving), hickeys

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yoona practically cackled while you and Hoseok both remained shocked by the photo. 

“You’re lucky we don’t know who the woman is, but just remember we have this okay? We’ll be going now.” 

Yoona and Kazuha were at the door, when your legs finally worked and you ran after them. All the members had stopped whatever they were doing to look at Yoona now, so they began following you when you went after Yoona.

“That’s still criminal,” you said to the two women. 

“Tell us how,” Kazuha spoke this time and you realised even her voice was familiar.

“Intimate image abuse. Intimidation. Blackmail. I could go on,” you tried to appear nonchalant even though you were terrified. 

“God you’re really no fun,” Yoona said and rolled her eyes.

“Actually, y/n is about to make things very fun for you,” Hyungwon’s deep voice said from behind you from where the other members stood.

“I sincerely doubt that,” Yoona said scrunching her nose.

Hyungwon smirked and walked past you towards Yoona. “Y/n is the pushiest lawyer I have ever met. She doesn’t stop until her case is complete. She’s got the ear of the CEO of Seoul’s best law firm, and has prosecutors eating out of her hand. Believe me when I say she can make your life hell.”

Yoona seemed to tremble under Hyungwon’s gaze. You’d seen online comments that said Hyungwon cursed with his eyes, and you were starting to see that was true.

Hyungwon continued. “Y/n has also worked black market cases, so she’s got contacts in more places than you could imagine.” 

Kazuha cracked first. “Sunbae, he’s right.” 

To your surprise, Yoona followed soon after. She sighed in defeat and showed Hyungwon the phone as Kazuha deleted the images. 

When the two women walked away, Hyungwon turned around to face you and the rest of his members.

You spoke first. “I’m impressed, Hyungwon. You honestly seemed to handle that better than me.” 

Hyungwon smiled shyly. “Actually, I got the idea from Hoseok.” 

You looked behind you at Hoseok, who suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.

Hyungwon decided to explain to you. “Hoseok told me the first night after he met you that you were the CEO’s chosen one and apparently specialised in black market cases. I personally found that terrifying. Then Minhyuk told us about you driving his annoying ass at an even more annoying time. Then we saw what trouble you went into at the party and we just heard you threatening to sue Yoona to the ends of the world. Also Hoseok was really jealous about that prosecutor.” 

You nodded absentmindedly, processing everything. 

“He talks about you a lot, in case you didn’t know,” Hyungwon said.

Minhyuk walked up to you. “Thank you for everything, Miss y/n. I know I really threw you into the deep end there.” 

Minhyuk was right. You didn’t realise you’d be fighting with a snake like Yoona. But knowing how battered he must be after that, you decided to say something simpler instead. “It’s okay, you helped me get the suspects. As far as I am concerned, you cracked my case.” 

“Maybe that’s what was so terrifying for Yoona,” Kihyun said, joining the conversation. “It’s the fact you knew the black market, so you would probably see through her.”

Hyunwoo cleared his throat nearby. “Hey uh, let’s move back into the dressing room shall we?” He waited until all of the group walked back inside but stopped you. In a low voice, he said, “Please talk to Hoseok, okay?”

You found Hoseok sitting in front of a mirror, scrolling his phone. 

“Hey,” you said as you slowly walked up to him. 

“Y/n,” Hoseok gasped, quickly putting his phone down and looking at you. 

“I um wanted to talk to you about what happened,” you said while playing with your hands.

Hoseok held up a hand for you to stop talking and you felt your stomach drop in fear. 

But he resolved that feeling quickly. “No, y/n, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I thought that because we’ve both said we like each other, you wouldn’t be so horrified, but I can see how it can be a lot to handle.”

You leaned your elbows down on the counter in front of the mirror. “No, Hoseok, it’s not that I am horrified by it. I was just scared. If an ethics committee found out we hooked up in the middle of the investigation, I would be in a lot of trouble. At least if it was dating, I could mess with the timeline so it looks like we only started dating after the investigation,” you explained.

Hoseok placed his hand over yours. “Y/n, I truly never meant to hurt you through any of that. But… if it’s any consolation, I haven’t taken you on a proper date yet, so your excuse could still work.” 

You smiled briefly at that but didn’t meet his gaze. “God then I think about all the signs I missed. Like how did we end up like that when we clearly knew each other? Like I mentioned I knew how the security system worked. And I knew you wore a onesie AND I happened to be with someone with a body like yours.”

Hoseok raised his eyebrows at you. “If I remember correctly, you’ve done nothing but salivate after me since you met me, and you were the same that night.” 

“I won’t deny that. You’re a very attractive man,” you said, finally meeting his gaze and holding up your hands in defeat.

“And yet you didn’t notice how I looked at you?” Hoseok asked as he gently pulled you towards him so you were standing between his legs. “Watching the way you fought for me was honestly just pretty hot. But then I couldn’t get enough of all those moments when your cold lawyer mask slipped, and I saw how sweet you are.” 

You knew you couldn’t stay mad at him anymore. You slipped your hands behind his neck and smiled down at him. 

His arms encircled your waist. “Y/n, you know I like you right?” Hoseok said softly. 

You nodded. 

“Then can we put this behind us?” He asked.

You nodded again. Tears began forming in your eyes as you felt the stress you had been carrying dissolve away. Hoseok moved a hand to cup your face and ran his thumb over your cheek. 

“Why are you crying, baby? There’s nothing to worry about,” he said.

You couldn’t form words to express your thoughts, so you snuggled your face into his shoulder. Hoseok rubbed circles on your back as he held you. 

While Hoseok was holding you, Hyunwoo approached you both and said to Hoseok, “Remember we’re on stage in 2 minutes.”

You pulled back when you heard that. “Hoseok, I should go then. But maybe call me later tonight if you have time?”

You started turning around to leave but Hoseok pulled you back in. “Not without a kiss for good luck,” he said.

And how could you say no to Hoseok? You leaned down, and gently placed your lips over his. After reciprocating, Hoseok brought his hand to your neck and pulled you in closer. The pressure made you squeak and Hoseok slipped his tongue into your mouth. 

“1 minute!” Hyunwoo yelled, forcing you and Hoseok to break apart. 

Hoseok kept his hand behind your neck and held you in place. “Wait until I come back, okay?” 

And you did. Hoseok pulled you into a sloppy and sweaty kiss again when he returned from the stage. 

“Are you doing anything tonight?” He asked you. 

You shook your head.

“Good. How about we go out somewhere? I can’t believe I still haven’t taken you on a date,” Hoseok said. 

“Hoseok, don’t you want to shower and rest? Not to mention, didn't we agree that a date can wait until after the investigation?” You asked.

Hoseok whinged. "But we just made up and I want us to spend time together.”

You thought for a bit, then suggested, “Why don’t we do what I did last time when I wrote my report at the dorm?”

Hoseok scanned your face questioningly. “You want to sleep with me?”

“No, I mean yes, but in like…” you stuttered then sighed. “Alright, maybe I’ll sleep over if I end up working for a while.”

Hoseok smirked when he heard you stuttering but didn’t comment on it.

You drove yourself to the dorm because you didn’t want a repeat of the many parking fines. When you arrived, Hyungwon opened the door for you.

“Hey come in. Everyone’s just taking their makeup off, but Kihyun beat me to the bathroom,” he said by way of greeting.

You took a seat on the couch. “I’ll just be here getting some work done,” you said and Hyungwon left to his room. 

A little while later, your felt familiar hands on your shoulders. Hoseok leaned down and looked at your computer screen.

“So, whatchu doing?” He asked. 

You smiled, lowered the screen and turned to face him. “I just finished writing an email to Seonghwa about checking up on some mysterious journalists. I left you and Minhyuk’s names out of it though.”

“Do you want to take a break? We can have ramen, watch a movie perhaps?”

You giggled. “You want to take a 2 hour long break?”

“Well you had a big day today. Don’t you want to take a nap or something at least?” Hoseok asked.

You cupped his cheek and replied, “Hoseok, I think you want a nap because you had a big day today. And I am guessing you want me to join you?”

Hoseok was already moving your laptop off you and helping you up so you could go to his room. “Of course I do.” 

Hoseok lay down on the bed first, before motioning for you to join him. When you lay down facing him, he wrapped an arm around you and pulled you in closer. You slipped a leg in between his, chasing warmth, and he rubbed your back soothingly.  

“I could stay like this forever,” you sighed as you felt your body relaxing at his touch.

Hoseok hummed and pulled you in tighter. 

“I’ve just about proved you’re not involved in anything. Seonghwa should confirm with me soon.”

Hoseok grunted softly in response. 

“If he doesn’t, I’ll have to go meet with him again,” you added, and Hoseok raised his head to look at you.

“You know I don’t like him,” he said. 

“But you also know he’s handling the investigation and has to talk to me because I am your lawyer,” you reply teasingly. 

Hoseok shook his head and whined, “But you’re my girlfriend, and he likes you. He kept finding excuses to touch you during that lunch.”

You found Hoseok’s jealousy cute. “Well, guess what? You’re my boyfriend, and I like it when you touch me.” 

Hoseok squeezed you tighter and ran his hands along your body as if cementing your point. You two remained embracing, quietly, with just the sound of your breathing filling the room.

After some time, you felt Hoseok’s grip loosen. You looked up to find him staring at you. He twirled a piece of your hair as he spoke slowly.

“You know, there’s one more thing I’ve been meaning to ask you. It’s about that night with the costume party.”

“You know I’m not mad at you anymore right?” You asked him.

A faint smile ghosted Hoseok’s lips. “No, it’s not that. I was just thinking of how you said you only kinda enjoyed that night because you were interrupted and distracted. But right now, everything is the opposite of that.”

You smirked even though you felt your cheeks burn. “That’s well observed.”

Hoseok’s gaze flitted to your lips, and very quickly his lips were covering yours. They moved in time with yours, and his tongue was eager to explore your mouth. Hoseok shifted so you were under him, and you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Your fingers twisted themselves into his hair, making him groan.

Hoseok trailed a hand down to the hem of your shirt, and you gasped when his fingers brushed over your stomach. Hoseok unlatched from your mouth and smirked before moving his lips to your neck. His hand moved higher, squeezing your breast through your bra. The sensation made you writhe your legs, softly moaning out Hoseok’s name which only made him suck harder on the flesh of your neck. 

“Does it feel good baby?” He asked in between kisses. 

“Yes…” you said breathlessly. “Hoseok, are you leaving hickeys?” You knew there would be marks tomorrow morning. 

Hoseok pulled back and smirked. “I want everyone to know you had a great night tomorrow,” he said as he slid both hands under your sweater to pull it off. 

“Maybe I should meet with Seonghwa tomorrow then, so I can show off all your hard work,” you quipped. 

Hoseok’s gaze grew predatory at that. “I am going to make sure you don’t even remember another man’s name tonight,” he growled. He harshly pulled down your bra so your breasts fell out. His lips circled one nipple as he ran his tongue over it while he kneaded your other breast. 

You reached across Hoseok’s back to slide your hands under his shirt and he helped you pull it off. It was hard to contain your gasp once he did that. You already knew how he looked, his photos could be found anywhere on the internet, but seeing his abs still elicited some primal, lustful response in you. 

Hoseok watched as you appreciated his body. “Like what you see?”

“God, so much,” you sighed as you trailed a finger down his chest towards his lower stomach. “May I?” 

You fingered the edge of his sweatpants, gently pushing your fingers in. Your hand enclosed around his length inside is pants, and he gasped. You pumped him a few times before he regained his composure. 

“No, baby, stop,” Hoseok hissed out. 

You pulled your hand out quickly. Had you done something wrong? Seeing the flicker of shock you couldn’t hide on your face, Hoseok picked up your hand and kissed it. “Tonight’s about you. Let me take care of you. Let me thank you and show you how much you mean to me.” 

After dropping your hand on to the bed, Hoseok brought his hands to your thighs, and  drew patterns over the material of your office pants, making your legs writhe. He then hooked his fingers around the waistband of your pants and tugged them down. He ran a finger between your lips which made you moan loud enough you were certain the other members would hear. 

“That’s it baby, let me hear you,” Hoseok groaned. He rubbed your clit and your legs quivered some more. “If only you knew what your moans did to me.” 

You knew. You knew very well. You could see the material straining in his sweatpants. “Hoseok…” you started. 

He inserted a finger into you. “I love it when you say my name like that.” 

Sounds of your sighs and grunts filled through room, occasionally punctuated by the squelching of Hoseok’s fingers, but you wanted more.

You pushed yourself up on your elbows and reached over to still his hand between your legs. He watched as you took his wrist and brought his fingers to your mouth. You swirled your tongue around them before pushing them into your mouth and licking. You flicked your eyes to Hoseok to watch his reaction. 

Hoseok threw his head back for a moment and sighed deeply. “You really want to tease me like that don’t you?” 

You smirked, then licked his fingers again. 

Hoseok groaned, “Now I just have to taste you.”

He wasted no time in pushing your thighs apart and placing his mouth in between them. He started with little kitten licks, where his tongue ghosted over the arousal already smeared on your skin from earlier. The lack of pattern and trying to guess when he’d finally reach your throbbing clit made you whimper.

“Hoseok please, just please….” You said between gasps. Wen Hoseok licked his finally licked his way to your folds, you practically shuddered. Your moan must have been loud enough for the rest of the dorm to hear, but neither you nor Hoseok cared about that right now.

Hoseok began fingering you again while his mouth remained on your clit, swirling and sucking over it. Your hand tangled further into is hair, and the tugs from your fingers only seemed to make him more eager to continue lapping at your sopping core. Your breathing became louder as you felt that familiar knot forming in your stomach. 

“Hoseok I’m close,” you gasped out.

Hoseok lifted his head up, and the little light win the room made his lips glisten. 

“I want you to cum around my cock baby,” Hoseok said.

He pulled off his pants, revealing his cock as it hit his stomach. His tip was already leaking. Hoseok slid his hands under your ass to tilt you up before lining himself up. 

“Ready baby?” He asked as he ran his tip along your folds. You nodded.

He inserted himself slowly, stretching you out. 

“That feel good baby?” He asked, his lips still glistening from earlier. 

“Yes, now please, move,” you breathed out. 

Hoseok braced his arms around your head, and your eyes flicked to his biceps. But then at his first thrust, your head tipped back and you whined. Hoseok kept going, and soon you were both lost in a chorus of grunts and moans. Your hands wrapped around him, digging into his toned back muscles.

Eventually you could feel yourself clenching around him. “I-I’m close.” 

Hoseok pressed a sloppy kiss to your jaw and quickened his thrusts. At this point, your words weren’t even coherent, ranging from “don’t stop,” to various breathless moans, to Hoseok’s name being a mantra on your lips.

And then your back arched, and one final guttural growl escaped from your lips. Hoseok followed soon after, painting your insides in warmth, just like the warmth that fluttered through your body. 

Once your highs subsided, Hoseok’s body came to rest on yours, though you knew he was hesitant as to whether the weight would be too much. You ran your fingers through his slightly damp hair and he placed a few gentle kisses across your shoulder before getting up. He returned with a warm wash cloth to wipe your thighs with. 

“Y/n?” Hoseok’s voice broke through the silence. “Are you okay?” 

You lifted your head off the bed. You didn’t realise you had been lying there in silence. “Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” 

Hoseok dropped the washcloth somewhere on the floor and lifted the covers to crawl under them again. He lay down facing you. “You just haven’t said anything yet.” He placed his arm on your waist and pulled you in closer.

You traced patterns on his arm, taking your time before responding to him. “I think… you will finally sleep well knowing your one night stand from the party enjoyed tonight.” 

Hoseok didn’t find your words funny. He swallowed nervously and asked, “Y/n, you know you’re more than that right?”

You trailed your hand up to his face. “Yes, Hoseok. I just wanted to tease you about the last time we were in bed together.”

“And just like last time, stay the night, okay?” Hoseok asked. 

You hummed in response. “With how you’re holding me, I didn’t think you’d let me leave anyways.”

Hoseok grinned at your response. You snuggled into him and got comfortable. Hoseok began stroking your hair, just like last time.

But before you fell asleep, you heard him. “Goodnight sweetheart. Tomorrow, I’m taking you on that date I promised.”