neilissevered

[neilissevered]

Hey! I’ll eat anything up with baku + hurt/comfort :) It can be inspired by one of the episodes where juntae gets beat up by the union. Don’t mind anything as long as it’s angst + fluff at the end!

જ⁀➴ COLLATERAL

He fought like hell to get you back. Now, in the quiet after the storm, he holds your hand and calls it home. Full fic, whc2 timeline, mutual pining and yearning, hurt and comfort Park Hu-min (Baku) x gn! reader wc: 6k+ tw: depictions of violence and torture, reader gets kidnapped by the Union masterlist

You couldn’t forget that day, not even if you tried. It was scorched into your memory like a brand. Everything felt like it was on the verge of collapse—like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting to explode.

Every step you and your friends took felt watched, weighed, and judged. The town that once wrapped around you like a warm blanket now pressed in like iron bars. Even the familiar hallways of your school, once loud with laughter and life, had turned cold, hollow—like the echo of something that had already died.

The Union was relentless. You, Hu-min Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun knew that. The gang wasn’t going to stop until Eunjang High School became a part of it. And they didn’t care how violent it would get.

It was that day that all of you realized that not even the police—or any adults could help.

“Shit, what the hell happened to you three?!” you cried out, barely able to breathe.

Your chest heaved like it was collapsing under the weight of fear. You had sprinted across town the second you heard the Union had taken Jun-tae. Your legs had moved on instinct, faster than thought, fueled by panic. Because Jun-tae… he wasn’t a fighter. Not really. But he was loyal. The kind of loyal that doesn’t run even when he should. The kind that stays, 

even if it means getting torn apart.

But you only heard about Jun-tae.

You’re in the hospital now, still shaking, your palms still clammy. You’re staring at your friends, trying to make sense of it all.

“Hu-min, what the hell happe–” The you see it.

The words die in your throat.

You follow their gazes and feel your stomach twist, as if gravity itself turned on you.

There he is.

Si-eun, lying unconscious on a hospital bed, motionless. His skin is pale, lips are cracked. And next to him, his mother. Her hands tremble as she clutches his, tears carving silent paths down her cheeks. Her sobs aren’t loud. They’re quiet, broken things, as if even her grief is afraid to speak in a world this cruel.

The sight hits you like a punch to the gut. You feel your knees weaken. Rage, guilt, and fear all surge at once. You want to undo everything.

But all you and the other three boys can do is stare.

And wonder if anything will ever feel safe again.

“----!!!!” 

Your name blasts into your ear like someone just hit you with a megaphone.

You flinch, snapping back to reality like you’d just surfaced from underwater. The cold metal table. The cafeteria noise. The cheap plastic tray in front of you. You're back. No hospital. No unconscious Si-eun because that was all a week ago. You and your friends were okay, but you couldn’t help but still reel from the past events.

“Hey, dumbass,” Hu-min says, way too close to your ear. “You deaf or something? You just missed the best part of my story!”

You jerk your head away with a grimace, clutching your ear. “What the hell, Hu-min?! You trying to shatter my eardrum?!” You hissed, face slightly red from the embarrassment, because once again, your table is becoming a public attraction in the cafeteria because of how loud Hu-min is.

“You were zoned out for five whole minutes,” Jun-tae chimes in, mouth half-full. “Thought maybe you had a stroke.”

“Or died sitting up,” Go-tak adds while snickering, not even looking up from his food. “I was just about to take a picture of your face. Our new group chat photo.” 

You shoot them a glare. “Thanks for the concern. Reallyyy feeling the love right now.”

Hu-min rolls his eyes. “We were concerned. Until you just kept staring at your rice like it insulted your whole family.” he then ruffled your hair, giving back your chopsticks that you dropped, and motioned to your food as if urging you to continue eating.

Si-eun gives the smallest snort from across the table. You glance at him. He's eating slowly, quiet as ever, but there's a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“What? You too, Si-eun??” you groaned.

You roll your eyes, shaking off the last of the memory’s grip. “Great friends I have. Real supportive.”

“You’re welcome!” Hu-min chuckles, flicking a grain of rice at your tray. “Maybe don’t zone out like you’re about to transcend to another plane of existence.”

You shoot him a glare. “Maybe don’t scream directly into my brain next time??”

He smirks, and there’s something a little smug in it. “Hey, where’s the fun in that? You can still hear, right?” he reached out, snapping his fingers next to your ear as if to prove a point, then suddenly patted your cheek. You swatted his hand away, unimpressed but flustered nonetheless. You hate that your face warms a little. 

You look away quickly and shove some food into your mouth—something bland and mushy. Comfort in mediocrity, you guess.

Jun-tae then nudges you with his elbow. “Jokes aside, you good, though? You looked… far away.”

You pause. Then nod. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Hu-min casts a sidelong glance your way, his grin wavering for just a moment. He quickly shifts the conversation to another story, successfully bringing back the earlier joyful atmosphere of your group.

However, beneath the table, his knee gently nudges yours, a silent message that he isn't convinced by your excuse, not even for a heartbeat. Yet, despite his doubts, he chooses to let it slide. For now.

“Alright, move aside and I’ll show everyone the true, Hanamichi Sakuragi!” 

Hu-min whooped, beating his chest a few times as he proudly held the basketball in one hand while parading around the court like he was ready to win the national championship 

Across from him stood Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun—each one wearing the same deadpan expression that screamed not impressed.

It was a spontaneous after-school plan. The five of you had decided to kill time on the court before heading home. The sun was dipping low, casting the sky in swirls of burnt orange and violet. Students slowly trickled out through the gates on their way to cram school—Si-eun almost included, until Hu-min cornered him and dragged him into the game.

You’d opted out of playing today. Something about your mood just wouldn’t let up. Your mind was still stuck on a memory you couldn’t quite shake. Nothing traumatic, nothing new—just something lingering, like smoke after a fire. Everyone was fine now. Or at least, they seemed to be.

But Hu-min…he has been different lately.

You noticed how he’d glance around corners before letting his friends pass. How he’d always walk a step ahead, shoulders tense, scanning. He acted like no one noticed—but you did and you were sure the others did too. He was watching the world a little too closely now. And everyone else? They let him.

No one’s complaining, though. You all appreciated the company, and there’s not a single moment when it turns dull as long as Hu-min is there.

So instead of playing, you sat back and let your eyes wander. Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun had decided to team up in a 3v1—some dumb challenge just to “prove” Hu-min really was the best at basketball (his idea, obviously).

And he wasn’t even half bad at it, which only fed the fire.

There was something about Hu-min’s energy—loud, electric, overwhelming. But there was warmth there, too. The kind that reached deeper than you expected. He made you feel safe without trying to. Like someone who could carry the weight of the world if it meant his friends didn’t have to.

But sometimes, you wish he didn’t feel like he had to.

Still, watching him now—sweat on his brow, laughter in his throat, arms wide like he was daring the world to challenge him—you felt it again. That warmth.

The kind you never knew you needed until he was already in your life.

And you weren’t ready to let it go.

Hu-min spun the basketball in his hand with a cocky grin, chest puffed out like a cartoon character about to deliver his winning line.

“Alright! If I make this last shot—” he pointed dramatically toward the hoop, then to you with a wink—“I’m taking you out to dinner tomorrow!”  

You blinked, a wave of surprise washing over you. “Me?” Your thoughts were so suddenly interrupted that it took a second (or maybe two) to process what Hu-min had just flung into the air like his basketball. When it finally hit you, your cheeks flared. A date?  

Your lips parted, but no words came out. The word date echoed again in your mind, not in his teasing voice but softer, like a whisper folded between your uncertain thoughts. You’d never really stopped to consider the idea. Between dodging the Union, healing bruised knuckles, and watching over the others, there just wasn’t time. Romance always felt like a luxury too fragile for the kind of life you unfortunately led.

But now...

Your heart did this strange flutter, like it had just realized it was in a body that could feel. And not just feel—but want. Want soft glances across a rooftop, laughter shared in quiet corners of the gym, the press of a hand that stayed a moment longer than it needed to. You and Hu-min have been friends for a long time. You weren’t going to deny that there was something more in your friendship. Something that has maybe been long overdue. 

He leaned in, his smirk widening like a crescent moon. “Yeah, you. What? Afraid to be seen with someone as stunning as me in public?”  

You rolled your eyes, trying to mask the laughter bubbling up inside. “Stunning? You mean ‘delusional’?”  

“Touché,” he chuckled, casually spinning the ball on his finger, “but let’s be real, it’s hard not to notice someone who steals the spotlight.”  

You exchanged playful glances, the air thick with unspoken possibilities. 

Go-tak immediately gagged in the background from the suddenly sappy atmosphere. Jun-tae booed. Si-eun didn’t even look up while he tried to catch his breath.

“You miss this, and you’re buying us dinner,” Si-eun muttered.

Unbothered, Hu-min jogged to the three-point line, hyped himself up under his breath—“Alright, let’s go, this is my moment”—and shot.

It bounced off the rim.

Hard.

There was a beat of silence while everyone watched the ball roll off the court in the saddest way possible. Go-tak and Jun-tae exploded with laughter. It’s like the best comedy they have ever seen.

Jun-tae pointed. “This is why you’re single!”

Go-tak doubled over. “True love denied by poor aim! Holy shit I should’ve recorded that moment!”

Even Si-eun cracked the faintest smirk while he watched the other two mock Hu-min, trying to mimic his very sad attempt at shooting the ball by jumping around.

After a few back-and-forth curse words and hard teasing from the other three, Hu-min gave up the banter and tossed them the ball 

“Whatever! That was the wind pushing the ball out of the hoop!”

 He walked off the court and went to where you were seated on the steps, trying not to look amused.

He dropped down next to you, wiping sweat from his brow, still breathing heavily. “They’re so annoying,” he muttered. “Anyway, pretend that went in. The offer still stands.” He winked.

You let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach your eyes. The whole thing did take your mind off the Union for a bit, but there’s still a gnawing feeling inside of you.

Hu-min noticed. Of course he did.

He leaned in slightly, elbows on his knees, his voice lower now. He gently nudged your arm. “You’ve been quiet today. More than usual.”

You glanced at him, then away. “It’s nothing. Just really tired today.”

“Hey, don't give me that.”

A beat passed before you spoke again. You let out a sigh, deciding to just come clean. “It’s just… after what happened to Jun-tae, I keep thinking—what if it happens again? What if we’re not ready next time? Hell–I don’t think you guys were ready at that time..”

Hu-min was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, voice soft but steady.

“It won’t. Because I’m here.”

You looked at him again. This time, he was serious. No teasing. No grin. Just Hu-min—warm, real, and right beside you. He smiled reassuringly, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze yours.

“I’m not letting anything happen to you, not even to those idiots over there,” he said. “Not now. Not ever again.”

The fading light caught in his eyes, the orange glow softening his usually loud presence. 

He didn’t need you to thank him. He didn’t need anything in return.

Just everyone’s safety, and yours especially.

That was enough for him.

“Hey! Everyone, go straight home, alright?” Hu-min called out as the group started packing up. The sun was dipping below the rooftops, casting long shadows on the pavement. It was getting late, and they all had class the next day.

“What?! Hey, what about our dinner treat?” Go-tak whined, slinging his bag over his shoulder with exaggerated disappointment.

“Hm? Never heard of it,” he replied coolly, brushing off the comment with a shrug.

Go-tak squinted at him, unimpressed. “Whatever, man. I hope you trip on your way home.”

That earned a round of laughter from the group, loud and lighthearted. Plans for the weekend were already being tossed around, something about crashing at Si-eun’s apartment, stealing his snacks, and maybe raiding his room while they were at it.

Goodbyes came in waves—sloppy hugs, playful jabs, promises of seeing each other tomorrow. One by one, Jun-tae, Go-tak, and Si-eun disappeared into the night, leaving behind the fading echoes of their chatter.

And then it was just the two of you.

You hadn’t even realized until now that Hu-min was still holding your hand. He hadn’t let go the entire time.

The street felt quieter, the space between you closer.

You looked down at your intertwined fingers, rough calluses, and warmth pressed against your skin. It wasn’t like you to be flustered, but something about his grip—firm but gentle—made your pulse skip a beat.

You glanced down at your hand, still tangled in Hu-min’s. “You know… You don’t have to keep holding it.”

He looked at you, still grinning widely. “I know,” then didn’t let go.

You raised an eyebrow. A laugh bubbling at your chest, “So?”

“So what? My hands comfortable.”

You gave him a look. “Comfortable?”

“Yeah. Warm. Steady. I dunno. Just don’t make it weird.” By that, he already started walking with you, leading you to your own home while he swung your intertwined hands in the air.

“You’re the one making it weird.”

“I’m not making it weird! I’m making it—casual.”

You snorted. “Casual handholding?”

“Yes. Extremely casual. Like bros.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Wait—no, not like bros—don’t quote that—”

You burst out laughing, and Hu-min looked like he regretted everything immediately. But he can't help but smile at the way you look. How lighter you seem to be after he talked to you earlier.

He groaned. “Ugh, I was doing fine until I missed that shot..”

“You mean your terrible attempt at asking me out?”

“It wasn’t terrible! It was slightly… underwhelming. That’s different.”

You grinned. “Do you know what underwhelming means?”

Suddenly, Hu-min let go of your hand and, without warning, brought both of his hands up to cup your cheeks. Before you could react, he tugged at them gently, stretching your face with the kind of shameless mischief only he could pull off.

“Look at you,” he teased with a grin, “still trying to act cool! Go-tak taught you how to tease me, didn’t he?”

You squeaked out a protest, swatting at his wrists as you tried to escape his grip. But your laughter bubbled up uncontrollably, tangled with his own. The sound filled the quiet street. Loud, chaotic, unfiltered—just like him.

When the laughter finally ebbed, both of you were left catching your breath. His hands were still on your face, but the playfulness had faded into something gentler. His thumbs moved softly now, brushing lightly over your skin as though he was trying to smooth away the laughter—but really, he just didn’t want to let go.

Then, without a word, he swiped his thumb at the corner of your mouth. Slowly, carefully. His gaze lingered, drinking you in like this was a moment he wanted to memorize. His chest rose and fell with a quiet breath, a softness settling in his eyes that you rarely got to see.

You didn’t pull away.

Instead, you leaned in—just barely, but enough for him to feel it. Your foreheads touched, the unusually close contact warming the space between you.

“I should go home soon, Hu-min”

He immediately pouted, pulling back just a little, arms falling to his sides. Your place was only a few minutes away—barely a walk—but that didn’t stop the small crease of disappointment forming between his brows.

“You sure you don’t need a hero to walk you home? I’m free of charge, y’know”

You laughed, shaking your head as you began walking away from him while waving goodbye.

“Relax, I can handle a sidewalk!” 

“You’ll miss me!” He shouted, waving his hands at you as you got farther and farther away

You rolled your eyes, shouting back, “I’ll see you tomorrow Hu-min!”

“Yeah, yeah—text me when you get home!”

You turned the corner, heart light, steps even lighter. The echo of your laughter still lingered in the air, like the night itself had softened just for you both.

The sidewalk was quiet, save for the rhythmic scuff of your shoes against the pavement. You were maybe three minutes from home, still replaying the evening in your head—his laughter, his touch, the way he looked at you like he was still holding back something bigger than words.

Maybe it’s the fact that Hu-min had made everything light and easy. He made you feel safe with his presence.

You didn’t notice the footsteps behind you.

Didn’t hear them speeding up.

Didn’t feel the tension creeping up your spine until—

CRACK.

A sharp, white-hot pain exploded across the side of your head. The world spun, and your knees buckled.

Your breath caught mid-gasp as your vision blurred—then dimmed.

You collapsed to the pavement with a dull thud.

The Union now knows where to hit Hu-min where it hurts.

“Bro,” Go-tak said, mouth half-full of kimbap, “you’ve been glued to them like a damn sticker.”

Hu-min didn’t even look up while chewing his food. “What’re you talking about?”

Jun-tae leaned back on his elbows, grinning. “Baku..you waited outside the bathroom for them. For, like, five minutes. That’s practically dating.”

Hu-min scoffed, tossing a rice ball at Jun-tae’s head, not caring when the sticky grains got everywhere. “I was standing there. Coincidence.”

“Sure,” Si-eun deadpanned, not even bothering to look up. “So you do that every lunch break?”

“Hey. I missed when you didn’t talk a lot.” his ears were already turning red. He shoved more food into his mouth just to avoid answering while the Go-tak and Jun-tae teased him.

“You’re obvious,” Go-tak said, gleefully piling on. “Like, puppy-eyed obvious. It’s kind of painful.”

“I don’t do puppy eyes!” Hu-min snapped.

“Yeah? Then what was that look when they gave you their leftover fries yesterday?” Jun-tae teased. “You looked like you got proposed to.”

Hu-min whipped around to glare at him, dramatically offended. “I was hungry! Fries are sacred!”

The group burst out laughing, and Hu-min shoved his tray toward the center in mock rage.

“Whatever, man,” he grumbled. “Can’t I just make sure they don’t trip over air or get kidnapped or something?”

Go-tak leaned in, smug. “So you admit it.”

Hu-min rolled his eyes. “Admit what?”

“That you’re down bad.”

“I’ll kick you off this roof.”

But even as he threatened violence while the group continued to mock him, Hu-min’s eyes wandered—just for a moment—toward the hallway beyond the stairwell door. You were leaning against a locker, laughing at something your friend said, completely unaware of the way he looked at you.

He didn’t even realize the corners of his mouth had twitched into a smile.

Your mind surfaced slowly, like dragging yourself out of deep water.

At first, there was only sound. Distant. Muffled. A low hum. Dripping, maybe. Footsteps? It was hard to tell. Everything blurred into one long, throbbing buzz that pulsed behind your eyes.

Then—pain.

A vivid pressure bloomed sharply at the side of your head, a sinister ache that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. A small whimper escaped your lips, a sound of desperation as the awareness intensified the pain, making it feel unbearable. You instinctively tried to reach for your throbbing temple, but your arms remained unresponsive, trapped and helpless.

That’s when you noticed the cold biting into your wrists. Rough rope. Metal against your spine. You were sitting, but slumped awkwardly. Tied to something.

A chair?

You cracked your eyes open. It was dark, your vision swimming. Everything doubled, then tripled, before settling into a shaky blur.

You blinked hard, your vision unfocused. Finally, you could see your lap, the once pristine school uniform, now clearly streaked with dirt and grime. Your eyes shifted to your legs, bound tightly to the chair, rendering you utterly immobile. Your body felt heavy and fatigued, while the ropes dug painfully into your skin through the fabric of your clothes, a cruel reminder of your helplessness.

The side of your face throbbed with every heartbeat. Your lip stung, metallic and swollen. There was a coppery taste in your mouth. And god—it was cold. You were covered in sweat and probably your own dried blood from the head injury. 

Voices, low and distorted, floated somewhere nearby. Talking. Laughing? Arguing?

You couldn’t tell.

Your breathing picked up, chest rising faster now as reality snapped into place like shards of glass reforming, and finally, you can remember a few things. Hu-min. The sidewalk. The pipe. The voice saying, “They’re down.”

You weren’t home.

You weren’t safe.

And Hu-min wasn’t with you.

Panic stirred in your chest, but your limbs felt heavy. Your head dropped forward again, your body sluggish and uncooperative, still recovering from the hit. Still too slow. You could only cry out in pain. From the fear and helplessness 

But you were awake. And you were alone.

“Oh! You’re awake!”

Suddenly, their laughter rang in your ears like a fork scraping against a plate. You winced in pain as you did your best to look up at the faces of the people who took you. You only recognized one. He was part of the union, you think. 

You remembered seeing him once, behind Si-eun during a fight. He wasn’t a frontliner…more like someone who watched from the shadows. Quiet. Calculating.

Now, he was smiling at you like you were a puzzle he already knew how to solve.

“There it is,” he said with an amused sigh. “Took you long enough. You’re tougher than you look.”

You didn’t respond. Your tongue felt too heavy. And besides, what was there to say?

He walked closer, crouching just in front of you. “You probably don’t remember me. But I know you. Or at least, I know what you are to him.”

That made your stomach twist and your heart drop

Hu-min. 

You could still feel the warmth of his hand in yours, the echo of his laugh, the way he called after you—

“You’ll miss me!”

God. You wished you could hear his voice now.

“He’s loud, your little boyfriend,” the Union guy went on. “Always charging in, throwing punches. Never shuts up.” Everyone laughed behind him, some even mimicking Hu-min’s actions. They looked prideful, as if they had already won.

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

“But when he finds out we have you?”

“He’ll be real quiet then.”

You met his gaze, fury flaring despite the pain. Once he got close enough, You spat without hesitation.

It landed square on his cheek—a messy mix of blood and spit that made him recoil instantly.

“Fuck! You little—” He cursed, stumbling back as he wiped his face in disgust. He glared at you, the others looking in disbelief.

“Alright,” he muttered. “You want to be brave? You need a little reminder, then”

He motioned at the other boys lazily. And before you could react—

A fist drove into your gut, hard.

Air exploded from your lungs. The room spun. You couldn’t even scream. They all laughed as your chair tipped over from the sheer force. You came crashing down onto the floor, your body was hit hard, the edge of the metal frame biting into your side. Pain bloomed in waves, sharp and pulsing, as the men’s laughter echoed above you.

“Hey! Get this on video,” one of them barked, pulling out a phone with a grin. “Let’s send it to Baku.”

He crouched beside you, tapping the screen to start recording as you struggled to lift your head. Before you even did, though, a foot slammed into your rib. Four other guys started kicking you.

“Let him watch this on loop. He’ll come crawling on his knees.”

A cruel grin spread across his face.

“Maybe then he’ll finally get the message—Eunjang loses.”

Bakutastic🏀: “Heyyyyyy u home yet?” Bakutastic🏀: “Heyyy” Bakutastic🏀: “Helllooooooo” Bakutastic🏀: “nsajndweaksml” Bakutastic🏀: “Is ur phone dead?” Bakutastic🏀: “Message me asap or im eating all ur food tmrw.🙄🙄”

Hu-min scratched at the back of his neck, frowning. His phone screen lit his face in the dark room, your chat still open. You were only five minutes away when you left. Maybe your phone died. Maybe you knocked out the second you got home.

Still… something didn’t sit right.

Was he being clingy? Probably. Did he care? Not even a little. He just wanted to know you were safe. That’s it.

Another minute ticked by. Then another.

Ten minutes now.

He hadn’t moved—just sat there, staring at your contact name like the screen might light up if he waited long enough. His fingers hovered over his keyboard again, but he didn’t know what else to say without sounding panicked.

With a frustrated exhale, he sat up in bed, grabbing his hoodie. Screw it. He’d swing by. Just check. He wasn’t sleeping until he—

Buzz.

His phone lit up in his hand. Unknown number. No message. Just a video file.

“The hell?” he muttered, already swiping it open.

It only took two seconds. Two seconds before his heart plummeted.

The screen showed you. Tied to a chair, slumped and on the ground, Blood staining your mouth, bruises blooming across your face. The camera was shaky, laughter in the background.

Then—a kick. Straight to your stomach. You coughed hard. Violent. Your whole body jolted.

Hu-min’s breath caught. His hands started shaking.

Another blow. You flinched. He did too.

He couldn’t look away. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

He was already on his feet, grabbing his jacket, his phone, keys—whatever. His body moved on instinct, pure adrenaline roaring through him.

He knew those faces and exactly where they took you.

The Union thought they were clever. Thought they could break him by using you.

His sneakers pounded against the pavement as he took off down the same street you walked earlier. He didn’t feel the wind. Didn’t hear the cars. All he could hear was your voice echoing in his head—

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Hu-min!”

He didn’t care what he had to do.

He was going to find you.

And God help anyone who tried to stop him.

“Ahh.. The hell is taking him so long?”

Then suddenly—a loud slam of a door. 

Hu-min didn’t give them a chance to speak or even think. 

He charged.

The first man barely raised a hand before Hu-min’s fist connected with his jaw. A sickening crack split the air as the man crumpled to the ground. Another lunged from behind, but Hu-min twisted, catching his ribs with a brutal elbow that sent him gasping and tumbling to a table.

There was shouting now. The sound of boots thundering.

Hu-min didn’t stop.

Didn’t think.

He ducked under a crowbar swing, landed a kick that sent one into a pile of crates. Blood. Screaming. The taste of copper in the air. Three left.

His knuckles were raw, breathing ragged. But none of it mattered.

Because in the corner of the warehouse—

He saw you.

On the floor, still tied to the chair, face bruised and barely conscious. His chest squeezed so tight it hurt. He swore the world narrowed to just you. But he didn’t run to you…not yet. He couldn’t. Not until the last two were down.

One came at him with a pipe. Hu-min took a hit to the shoulder, but it barely registered. He caught the man by the collar and slammed him into the wall with a cry.

Then, finally, it was just silence.

He dropped to his knees beside you.

He breathed your name like a quiet prayer, voice cracking at the edges as he gently cupped your face. “Hey—hey, I’m here, I got you.”

Your head tilted weakly toward him, a small movement that took all your remaining strength. Blood trickled from the corner of your mouth, a harsh reminder of your current state. But then your eyes fluttered open, and as they focused on him, you attempted a smile, however shaky. 

“Didn’t think I’d see you sooner," you murmured, the words emerging scratchy and raw, a feeble attempt to inject humor into the tension of the moment.

Hu-min, however, could only let out a heavy sigh, a mix of disbelief and concern etched on his face as he knelt beside you, beginning the careful task of untying your binds, his hands steady despite the gravity of the situation. 

“Let’s get you to the hospital, okay?” He gently helped you up into a sitting position before carefully scooping you up in his arms. The ache in his body was also starting to set in, but he pushed through. Neither of you was out of the dark yet. Not until he got you to safety.

You knew it was best not to talk about what happened to the Union guys. You’ve already seen Hu-min enraged before, as long as it was a loved one he had to protect, so the little time he took to beat up everyone wasn’t surprising. You just hope he wouldn’t be stubborn about getting himself checked out to the hospital as well.

The world smelled like antiseptic and plastic curtains.

The beeping of a monitor pulsed steadily somewhere above your head, each sound tugging you further into wakefulness. Your body ached—your ribs, your face, even your eyes—but the warmth of the blanket and the rhythmic beeping grounded you. Slowly, you regained your strength as you recalled the events from earlier. The union guys…Hu-min…and lots of blood that definitely wasn’t just yours.

But you were safe now.

And alive. 

The door to your hospital room slammed open with a shout of your name.

“Holy crap, you’re alive!”

“Don’t sit up too fast! Wait—is that pudding? Can I have it?”

You blinked groggily as Jun-tae, Go-tak, and Si-eun spilled into the room like a whirlwind of mismatched chaos. Jun-tae was juggling a small mountain of snacks, Go-tak had flowers he definitely stole from the nurse’s station, and Si-eun... was holding a bag of gauze and band-aids like that was going to help.

“What the hell happened?” Go-tak said, mouth half-full of chocolate. “Baku just disappeared, and next thing we know, he’s dragging you into the ER like an action movie!”

“You look like you got hit by a truck,” Jun-tae added helpfully, squinting at your face. “No offense. Still cute, though.”

You managed a weak laugh, wincing at the pain in your ribs. “None taken.”

Si-eun placed the bandage bag gently on the bedside table, as if that made up for everything. “You scared us.” There wasn’t much emotion behind his voice but his eyes told everything that he wanted you to know.

A soft knock came from the doorway.

You didn’t even need to look. You felt him before you saw him.

Hu-min stepped in quietly, hands shoved in his pockets, still wearing the same hoodie from earlier—creased, smudged with dirt, and faintly stained with blood at the sleeves. His eyes were on you. Only you.

Jun-tae caught the vibe immediately.

“Right,” he said, standing. “We’re gonna… leave you two alone now. Get well soon okay?”

Go-tak opened his mouth to protest, already halfway through your pudding, but Si-eun dragged him out by the collar.

The door shut with a soft click.

Silence.

Hu-min shuffled closer to your bed, awkward and quiet now that the others were gone. His hands fidgeted at his sides. “You good?” he asked, voice low. Rougher than usual.

You gave him the tiniest smile. “Been better.”

He exhaled—like he’d been holding that breath since the moment he brought you in. His eyes scanned your face, your arms, and the gauze along your temple. Even just looking at you seemed to hurt him more than his wounds.

“I should’ve walked you home,” he muttered. “I knew something felt off. I shouldn’t have let you—”

“Hu-min,” you interrupted softly, “I’m okay.”

He looked at you then. Really..looked. And whatever storm he was holding back cracked just slightly.

“You could’ve died.”

“But I didn’t.”

He was quiet again. 

Then, gently, he sat down beside your bed. His hand hovered near yours on the blanket for a moment before finally resting over it, warm and firm. No amount of words can describe the fear he felt when he saw your bloodied and half-unconscious. It was terrifying and his heart was torn in pieces at the sight of it all. 

“I thought I lost you,” he said quietly, not meeting your eyes.

You squeezed his hand as best you could.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered.

He exhaled through his nose, like he didn’t know what to do with that kind of relief. His grip loosened, not to let go, but to soften. Gentler now.

You expected him to joke, maybe crack something stupid like he always did. But instead…

He leaned forward a little, resting his forearm carefully on the side of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about what I’d say if I got here too late,” he said, voice quiet and uneven. “And it scared the hell out of me how much I hated that thought.”

Your breath caught.

“I don’t know when it happened. Maybe it was that time you laughed so hard you snorted in front of the cafeteria, or when you always knew what snack I wanted before I asked.”

He glanced away for a second, then looked back at you. His jaw clenched like he was bracing for impact.

“…But I like you.”

The words weren’t smooth. They weren’t rehearsed. They were raw, honest, and heavier than he expected them to be.

You blinked. “Hu-min…”

“I know I’m a mess. Loud. Reckless. Not really the type you’d expect anyone to be into.” He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand, cheeks starting to color. “But I’ve liked you for a while now. And I didn’t say anything because it was easier to pretend I didn’t.”

He looked up again.

“But I don’t wanna pretend anymore.”

Silence.

Then, your fingers curled around his. Despite the pain, despite the bruises, your smile was soft and warm, and so you it made his heart trip over itself.

“…You think I don’t like you back?” you murmured.

His mouth opened slightly. “Wait, you do?”

You rolled your eyes, the smallest laugh escaping your lips. “You’re so dense. I mean–I never said no to you asking me out earlier…”

“Oh..right..that”

“Hu-min..did you forge—” 

“Wh–No?!”

He hesitated, his face flushing a deep shade of crimson as he struggled to find the right words, eyes flickering with uncertainty and a hint of longing. You watched him with a gentle, amused smile, noting the way he fumbled for excuses, each more clumsy than the last. 

Softly, you leaned in closer, your presence intimate and warm, and pressed a tender, almost feather-light kiss to his cheek. The simple gesture silenced him, leaving him momentarily speechless, his cheeks still tinged with blush. A playful, knowing grin spread across your lips as you looked at him, creating a moment full of shy affection and unspoken desire.

You pulled away just a few inches, enough to see the expression frozen on his face—eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, as if his entire personality had glitched from that single kiss.

His brain short-circuited.

You grinned. “You okay there, hero?”

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then suddenly, he moved.

“Hey!—what was that?!” he burst, voice cracking halfway through, flailing a bit as if you’d just committed some heinous act of war while he held the cheek you just kissed. “You can’t just—just—ambush me like that!”

You tilted your head innocently. “What, didn’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that!” he blurted, ears turning bright red as he tried to laugh the embarrassment off.

You just laughed at him, and that was what did it. Something in him snapped—not in anger, but in reckless determination.

“Oh, that’s it,” he muttered, face still crimson, but eyes locked on you now with wild resolve. “You wanna play that game? Fine.”

Before you could react, he leaned in fast, closing the already small distance between you.

He kissed your forehead. Quick. Warm.

Then your nose.

Then your other cheek.

Then your temple.

Each press was messy and rushed and completely unsmooth, but so full of affection that it made your heart stutter.

“Payback,” he said, in between each kiss.

You were too stunned to speak, caught between laughter and something far deeper as he hovered close, hands braced carefully on the sides of the bed as each kiss was more ticklish than the last.

“Don’t think you can just surprise me and get away with it,” he mumbled against your skin. “I’m Baku! I don’t lose.”

You only nodded softly, raising both of your hands in front of you as a gentle gesture of surrender. Hu-min then pulled away, slightly panting from the burst of laughter that escaped him, his eyes sparkling with affection. He gazed down at you, his gaze filled with a tenderness that made your heart flutter. Carefully, he reached out, his hand gently cupping your face, and tenderly tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. 

His voice was low and warm now as he whispered, “...You’re mine now. You understand that, don’t you?”

And from the way he said it—not possessive, not demanding, just utterly devoted—you knew it wasn’t a threat.

It was a promise, and you didn’t need to answer with words.

The way your fingers laced with his said more than enough.

He stayed there with you, his forehead resting softly against yours, both of you breathing in sync. The hospital room was silent save for the steady rhythm of the heart monitor and the hum of the air conditioning, but it somehow felt peaceful now, like the world outside could wait.

There was no more fear, no more fighting. Just this—shared warmth in a sterile room, and a future quietly beginning between stolen kisses and promises unspoken.

His thumb traced light circles against the back of your hand, as if grounding himself in the fact that you were still here. With him.

And you were.

As your eyes slowly slipped shut, a tired but contented smile on your lips, Hu-min stayed right where he was—watching over you, steady and soft in a way only you ever got to see.

The beeping of the monitor faded into the background.

And the rest of the world faded with it.

an: 6k words again.. This is why I take ages to release a full fic. I hope everyone liked this!! Not too sure if I got Baku's character to a T. Comments and feedback are appreciated! <33 This was such a pain to edit in Tumblr both my laptop and phone was lagging so bad I think I need to make shorter fics now..

[neilissevered]

hi <3 just saw ur latest post telling that feel free to req smth but the thing on ur profile says reqs are closed 😞 im js wondering if it's ok to request something rn or do we have to wait for ur bio to say requests are open :3

Oh my gosh I did not realize that😭 yesss you guys can request anything! Though I might upload them in the form of drabbles instead of full fics since I’m still working on 2 reqs!!

Tysm for letting me knoww😭 I didn’t see that, will change it now!

[neilissevered]

I just wanted to say that Collateral is one of the best fics I’ve ever read!!! You’re an incredible writer and capture each character perfectly. While reading it I felt like I was watching another episode of the show. Can’t wait to read whatever you post next 💕

Oh my gosh this is the sweetest comment I have ever gotten🥹 thank you so so much anon!! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it and that I was able to capture all the characters energy to make it feel like an episode for you!!💗💗 this made my day so thank you soo much!!

Will definitely write so much more fics for whc🫶🫶 if you ever want to request anything, feel free to do so!

[neilissevered]

Pretty excited to start writing for the Sieun req ,, I just find it funny bcs it’s reader getting taken by the Union …again😭😭😭 poor reader😭🙏

[neilissevered]

Hi! Oh my goodness. I was the one who requested the Baku fic and I am inlove!!!! The way you write is absolutely stunning and I love the way you write about Baku 🥹 He’s so endearing and he deserves alll the love. I love love love!!!!! Thank you so much for fulfilling my request. You’ve done it beautifully.

Hello anon!!🫶 first of all—thank you so much for requesting and I’m super glad you liked it!!! It was fun writing your request and your message means so so much for me!! Thank you!!🥺

[neilissevered]

Hey! I’ll eat anything up with baku + hurt/comfort :) It can be inspired by one of the episodes where juntae gets beat up by the union. Don’t mind anything as long as it’s angst + fluff at the end!

જ⁀➴ COLLATERAL

He fought like hell to get you back. Now, in the quiet after the storm, he holds your hand and calls it home. Full fic, whc2 timeline, mutual pining and yearning, hurt and comfort Park Hu-min (Baku) x gn! reader wc: 6k+ tw: depictions of violence and torture, reader gets kidnapped by the Union masterlist

You couldn’t forget that day, not even if you tried. It was scorched into your memory like a brand. Everything felt like it was on the verge of collapse—like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting to explode.

Every step you and your friends took felt watched, weighed, and judged. The town that once wrapped around you like a warm blanket now pressed in like iron bars. Even the familiar hallways of your school, once loud with laughter and life, had turned cold, hollow—like the echo of something that had already died.

The Union was relentless. You, Hu-min Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun knew that. The gang wasn’t going to stop until Eunjang High School became a part of it. And they didn’t care how violent it would get.

It was that day that all of you realized that not even the police—or any adults could help.

“Shit, what the hell happened to you three?!” you cried out, barely able to breathe.

Your chest heaved like it was collapsing under the weight of fear. You had sprinted across town the second you heard the Union had taken Jun-tae. Your legs had moved on instinct, faster than thought, fueled by panic. Because Jun-tae… he wasn’t a fighter. Not really. But he was loyal. The kind of loyal that doesn’t run even when he should. The kind that stays, 

even if it means getting torn apart.

But you only heard about Jun-tae.

You’re in the hospital now, still shaking, your palms still clammy. You’re staring at your friends, trying to make sense of it all.

“Hu-min, what the hell happe–” The you see it.

The words die in your throat.

You follow their gazes and feel your stomach twist, as if gravity itself turned on you.

There he is.

Si-eun, lying unconscious on a hospital bed, motionless. His skin is pale, lips are cracked. And next to him, his mother. Her hands tremble as she clutches his, tears carving silent paths down her cheeks. Her sobs aren’t loud. They’re quiet, broken things, as if even her grief is afraid to speak in a world this cruel.

The sight hits you like a punch to the gut. You feel your knees weaken. Rage, guilt, and fear all surge at once. You want to undo everything.

But all you and the other three boys can do is stare.

And wonder if anything will ever feel safe again.

“----!!!!” 

Your name blasts into your ear like someone just hit you with a megaphone.

You flinch, snapping back to reality like you’d just surfaced from underwater. The cold metal table. The cafeteria noise. The cheap plastic tray in front of you. You're back. No hospital. No unconscious Si-eun because that was all a week ago. You and your friends were okay, but you couldn’t help but still reel from the past events.

“Hey, dumbass,” Hu-min says, way too close to your ear. “You deaf or something? You just missed the best part of my story!”

You jerk your head away with a grimace, clutching your ear. “What the hell, Hu-min?! You trying to shatter my eardrum?!” You hissed, face slightly red from the embarrassment, because once again, your table is becoming a public attraction in the cafeteria because of how loud Hu-min is.

“You were zoned out for five whole minutes,” Jun-tae chimes in, mouth half-full. “Thought maybe you had a stroke.”

“Or died sitting up,” Go-tak adds while snickering, not even looking up from his food. “I was just about to take a picture of your face. Our new group chat photo.” 

You shoot them a glare. “Thanks for the concern. Reallyyy feeling the love right now.”

Hu-min rolls his eyes. “We were concerned. Until you just kept staring at your rice like it insulted your whole family.” he then ruffled your hair, giving back your chopsticks that you dropped, and motioned to your food as if urging you to continue eating.

Si-eun gives the smallest snort from across the table. You glance at him. He's eating slowly, quiet as ever, but there's a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“What? You too, Si-eun??” you groaned.

You roll your eyes, shaking off the last of the memory’s grip. “Great friends I have. Real supportive.”

“You’re welcome!” Hu-min chuckles, flicking a grain of rice at your tray. “Maybe don’t zone out like you’re about to transcend to another plane of existence.”

You shoot him a glare. “Maybe don’t scream directly into my brain next time??”

He smirks, and there’s something a little smug in it. “Hey, where’s the fun in that? You can still hear, right?” he reached out, snapping his fingers next to your ear as if to prove a point, then suddenly patted your cheek. You swatted his hand away, unimpressed but flustered nonetheless. You hate that your face warms a little. 

You look away quickly and shove some food into your mouth—something bland and mushy. Comfort in mediocrity, you guess.

Jun-tae then nudges you with his elbow. “Jokes aside, you good, though? You looked… far away.”

You pause. Then nod. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Hu-min casts a sidelong glance your way, his grin wavering for just a moment. He quickly shifts the conversation to another story, successfully bringing back the earlier joyful atmosphere of your group.

However, beneath the table, his knee gently nudges yours, a silent message that he isn't convinced by your excuse, not even for a heartbeat. Yet, despite his doubts, he chooses to let it slide. For now.

“Alright, move aside and I’ll show everyone the true, Hanamichi Sakuragi!” 

Hu-min whooped, beating his chest a few times as he proudly held the basketball in one hand while parading around the court like he was ready to win the national championship 

Across from him stood Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun—each one wearing the same deadpan expression that screamed not impressed.

It was a spontaneous after-school plan. The five of you had decided to kill time on the court before heading home. The sun was dipping low, casting the sky in swirls of burnt orange and violet. Students slowly trickled out through the gates on their way to cram school—Si-eun almost included, until Hu-min cornered him and dragged him into the game.

You’d opted out of playing today. Something about your mood just wouldn’t let up. Your mind was still stuck on a memory you couldn’t quite shake. Nothing traumatic, nothing new—just something lingering, like smoke after a fire. Everyone was fine now. Or at least, they seemed to be.

But Hu-min…he has been different lately.

You noticed how he’d glance around corners before letting his friends pass. How he’d always walk a step ahead, shoulders tense, scanning. He acted like no one noticed—but you did and you were sure the others did too. He was watching the world a little too closely now. And everyone else? They let him.

No one’s complaining, though. You all appreciated the company, and there’s not a single moment when it turns dull as long as Hu-min is there.

So instead of playing, you sat back and let your eyes wander. Go-tak, Jun-tae, and Si-eun had decided to team up in a 3v1—some dumb challenge just to “prove” Hu-min really was the best at basketball (his idea, obviously).

And he wasn’t even half bad at it, which only fed the fire.

There was something about Hu-min’s energy—loud, electric, overwhelming. But there was warmth there, too. The kind that reached deeper than you expected. He made you feel safe without trying to. Like someone who could carry the weight of the world if it meant his friends didn’t have to.

But sometimes, you wish he didn’t feel like he had to.

Still, watching him now—sweat on his brow, laughter in his throat, arms wide like he was daring the world to challenge him—you felt it again. That warmth.

The kind you never knew you needed until he was already in your life.

And you weren’t ready to let it go.

Hu-min spun the basketball in his hand with a cocky grin, chest puffed out like a cartoon character about to deliver his winning line.

“Alright! If I make this last shot—” he pointed dramatically toward the hoop, then to you with a wink—“I’m taking you out to dinner tomorrow!”  

You blinked, a wave of surprise washing over you. “Me?” Your thoughts were so suddenly interrupted that it took a second (or maybe two) to process what Hu-min had just flung into the air like his basketball. When it finally hit you, your cheeks flared. A date?  

Your lips parted, but no words came out. The word date echoed again in your mind, not in his teasing voice but softer, like a whisper folded between your uncertain thoughts. You’d never really stopped to consider the idea. Between dodging the Union, healing bruised knuckles, and watching over the others, there just wasn’t time. Romance always felt like a luxury too fragile for the kind of life you unfortunately led.

But now...

Your heart did this strange flutter, like it had just realized it was in a body that could feel. And not just feel—but want. Want soft glances across a rooftop, laughter shared in quiet corners of the gym, the press of a hand that stayed a moment longer than it needed to. You and Hu-min have been friends for a long time. You weren’t going to deny that there was something more in your friendship. Something that has maybe been long overdue. 

He leaned in, his smirk widening like a crescent moon. “Yeah, you. What? Afraid to be seen with someone as stunning as me in public?”  

You rolled your eyes, trying to mask the laughter bubbling up inside. “Stunning? You mean ‘delusional’?”  

“Touché,” he chuckled, casually spinning the ball on his finger, “but let’s be real, it’s hard not to notice someone who steals the spotlight.”  

You exchanged playful glances, the air thick with unspoken possibilities. 

Go-tak immediately gagged in the background from the suddenly sappy atmosphere. Jun-tae booed. Si-eun didn’t even look up while he tried to catch his breath.

“You miss this, and you’re buying us dinner,” Si-eun muttered.

Unbothered, Hu-min jogged to the three-point line, hyped himself up under his breath—“Alright, let’s go, this is my moment”—and shot.

It bounced off the rim.

Hard.

There was a beat of silence while everyone watched the ball roll off the court in the saddest way possible. Go-tak and Jun-tae exploded with laughter. It’s like the best comedy they have ever seen.

Jun-tae pointed. “This is why you’re single!”

Go-tak doubled over. “True love denied by poor aim! Holy shit I should’ve recorded that moment!”

Even Si-eun cracked the faintest smirk while he watched the other two mock Hu-min, trying to mimic his very sad attempt at shooting the ball by jumping around.

After a few back-and-forth curse words and hard teasing from the other three, Hu-min gave up the banter and tossed them the ball 

“Whatever! That was the wind pushing the ball out of the hoop!”

 He walked off the court and went to where you were seated on the steps, trying not to look amused.

He dropped down next to you, wiping sweat from his brow, still breathing heavily. “They’re so annoying,” he muttered. “Anyway, pretend that went in. The offer still stands.” He winked.

You let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach your eyes. The whole thing did take your mind off the Union for a bit, but there’s still a gnawing feeling inside of you.

Hu-min noticed. Of course he did.

He leaned in slightly, elbows on his knees, his voice lower now. He gently nudged your arm. “You’ve been quiet today. More than usual.”

You glanced at him, then away. “It’s nothing. Just really tired today.”

“Hey, don't give me that.”

A beat passed before you spoke again. You let out a sigh, deciding to just come clean. “It’s just… after what happened to Jun-tae, I keep thinking—what if it happens again? What if we’re not ready next time? Hell–I don’t think you guys were ready at that time..”

Hu-min was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, voice soft but steady.

“It won’t. Because I’m here.”

You looked at him again. This time, he was serious. No teasing. No grin. Just Hu-min—warm, real, and right beside you. He smiled reassuringly, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze yours.

“I’m not letting anything happen to you, not even to those idiots over there,” he said. “Not now. Not ever again.”

The fading light caught in his eyes, the orange glow softening his usually loud presence. 

He didn’t need you to thank him. He didn’t need anything in return.

Just everyone’s safety, and yours especially.

That was enough for him.

“Hey! Everyone, go straight home, alright?” Hu-min called out as the group started packing up. The sun was dipping below the rooftops, casting long shadows on the pavement. It was getting late, and they all had class the next day.

“What?! Hey, what about our dinner treat?” Go-tak whined, slinging his bag over his shoulder with exaggerated disappointment.

“Hm? Never heard of it,” he replied coolly, brushing off the comment with a shrug.

Go-tak squinted at him, unimpressed. “Whatever, man. I hope you trip on your way home.”

That earned a round of laughter from the group, loud and lighthearted. Plans for the weekend were already being tossed around, something about crashing at Si-eun’s apartment, stealing his snacks, and maybe raiding his room while they were at it.

Goodbyes came in waves—sloppy hugs, playful jabs, promises of seeing each other tomorrow. One by one, Jun-tae, Go-tak, and Si-eun disappeared into the night, leaving behind the fading echoes of their chatter.

And then it was just the two of you.

You hadn’t even realized until now that Hu-min was still holding your hand. He hadn’t let go the entire time.

The street felt quieter, the space between you closer.

You looked down at your intertwined fingers, rough calluses, and warmth pressed against your skin. It wasn’t like you to be flustered, but something about his grip—firm but gentle—made your pulse skip a beat.

You glanced down at your hand, still tangled in Hu-min’s. “You know… You don’t have to keep holding it.”

He looked at you, still grinning widely. “I know,” then didn’t let go.

You raised an eyebrow. A laugh bubbling at your chest, “So?”

“So what? My hands comfortable.”

You gave him a look. “Comfortable?”

“Yeah. Warm. Steady. I dunno. Just don’t make it weird.” By that, he already started walking with you, leading you to your own home while he swung your intertwined hands in the air.

“You’re the one making it weird.”

“I’m not making it weird! I’m making it—casual.”

You snorted. “Casual handholding?”

“Yes. Extremely casual. Like bros.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Wait—no, not like bros—don’t quote that—”

You burst out laughing, and Hu-min looked like he regretted everything immediately. But he can't help but smile at the way you look. How lighter you seem to be after he talked to you earlier.

He groaned. “Ugh, I was doing fine until I missed that shot..”

“You mean your terrible attempt at asking me out?”

“It wasn’t terrible! It was slightly… underwhelming. That’s different.”

You grinned. “Do you know what underwhelming means?”

Suddenly, Hu-min let go of your hand and, without warning, brought both of his hands up to cup your cheeks. Before you could react, he tugged at them gently, stretching your face with the kind of shameless mischief only he could pull off.

“Look at you,” he teased with a grin, “still trying to act cool! Go-tak taught you how to tease me, didn’t he?”

You squeaked out a protest, swatting at his wrists as you tried to escape his grip. But your laughter bubbled up uncontrollably, tangled with his own. The sound filled the quiet street. Loud, chaotic, unfiltered—just like him.

When the laughter finally ebbed, both of you were left catching your breath. His hands were still on your face, but the playfulness had faded into something gentler. His thumbs moved softly now, brushing lightly over your skin as though he was trying to smooth away the laughter—but really, he just didn’t want to let go.

Then, without a word, he swiped his thumb at the corner of your mouth. Slowly, carefully. His gaze lingered, drinking you in like this was a moment he wanted to memorize. His chest rose and fell with a quiet breath, a softness settling in his eyes that you rarely got to see.

You didn’t pull away.

Instead, you leaned in—just barely, but enough for him to feel it. Your foreheads touched, the unusually close contact warming the space between you.

“I should go home soon, Hu-min”

He immediately pouted, pulling back just a little, arms falling to his sides. Your place was only a few minutes away—barely a walk—but that didn’t stop the small crease of disappointment forming between his brows.

“You sure you don’t need a hero to walk you home? I’m free of charge, y’know”

You laughed, shaking your head as you began walking away from him while waving goodbye.

“Relax, I can handle a sidewalk!” 

“You’ll miss me!” He shouted, waving his hands at you as you got farther and farther away

You rolled your eyes, shouting back, “I’ll see you tomorrow Hu-min!”

“Yeah, yeah—text me when you get home!”

You turned the corner, heart light, steps even lighter. The echo of your laughter still lingered in the air, like the night itself had softened just for you both.

The sidewalk was quiet, save for the rhythmic scuff of your shoes against the pavement. You were maybe three minutes from home, still replaying the evening in your head—his laughter, his touch, the way he looked at you like he was still holding back something bigger than words.

Maybe it’s the fact that Hu-min had made everything light and easy. He made you feel safe with his presence.

You didn’t notice the footsteps behind you.

Didn’t hear them speeding up.

Didn’t feel the tension creeping up your spine until—

CRACK.

A sharp, white-hot pain exploded across the side of your head. The world spun, and your knees buckled.

Your breath caught mid-gasp as your vision blurred—then dimmed.

You collapsed to the pavement with a dull thud.

The Union now knows where to hit Hu-min where it hurts.

“Bro,” Go-tak said, mouth half-full of kimbap, “you’ve been glued to them like a damn sticker.”

Hu-min didn’t even look up while chewing his food. “What’re you talking about?”

Jun-tae leaned back on his elbows, grinning. “Baku..you waited outside the bathroom for them. For, like, five minutes. That’s practically dating.”

Hu-min scoffed, tossing a rice ball at Jun-tae’s head, not caring when the sticky grains got everywhere. “I was standing there. Coincidence.”

“Sure,” Si-eun deadpanned, not even bothering to look up. “So you do that every lunch break?”

“Hey. I missed when you didn’t talk a lot.” his ears were already turning red. He shoved more food into his mouth just to avoid answering while the Go-tak and Jun-tae teased him.

“You’re obvious,” Go-tak said, gleefully piling on. “Like, puppy-eyed obvious. It’s kind of painful.”

“I don’t do puppy eyes!” Hu-min snapped.

“Yeah? Then what was that look when they gave you their leftover fries yesterday?” Jun-tae teased. “You looked like you got proposed to.”

Hu-min whipped around to glare at him, dramatically offended. “I was hungry! Fries are sacred!”

The group burst out laughing, and Hu-min shoved his tray toward the center in mock rage.

“Whatever, man,” he grumbled. “Can’t I just make sure they don’t trip over air or get kidnapped or something?”

Go-tak leaned in, smug. “So you admit it.”

Hu-min rolled his eyes. “Admit what?”

“That you’re down bad.”

“I’ll kick you off this roof.”

But even as he threatened violence while the group continued to mock him, Hu-min’s eyes wandered—just for a moment—toward the hallway beyond the stairwell door. You were leaning against a locker, laughing at something your friend said, completely unaware of the way he looked at you.

He didn’t even realize the corners of his mouth had twitched into a smile.

Your mind surfaced slowly, like dragging yourself out of deep water.

At first, there was only sound. Distant. Muffled. A low hum. Dripping, maybe. Footsteps? It was hard to tell. Everything blurred into one long, throbbing buzz that pulsed behind your eyes.

Then—pain.

A vivid pressure bloomed sharply at the side of your head, a sinister ache that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. A small whimper escaped your lips, a sound of desperation as the awareness intensified the pain, making it feel unbearable. You instinctively tried to reach for your throbbing temple, but your arms remained unresponsive, trapped and helpless.

That’s when you noticed the cold biting into your wrists. Rough rope. Metal against your spine. You were sitting, but slumped awkwardly. Tied to something.

A chair?

You cracked your eyes open. It was dark, your vision swimming. Everything doubled, then tripled, before settling into a shaky blur.

You blinked hard, your vision unfocused. Finally, you could see your lap, the once pristine school uniform, now clearly streaked with dirt and grime. Your eyes shifted to your legs, bound tightly to the chair, rendering you utterly immobile. Your body felt heavy and fatigued, while the ropes dug painfully into your skin through the fabric of your clothes, a cruel reminder of your helplessness.

The side of your face throbbed with every heartbeat. Your lip stung, metallic and swollen. There was a coppery taste in your mouth. And god—it was cold. You were covered in sweat and probably your own dried blood from the head injury. 

Voices, low and distorted, floated somewhere nearby. Talking. Laughing? Arguing?

You couldn’t tell.

Your breathing picked up, chest rising faster now as reality snapped into place like shards of glass reforming, and finally, you can remember a few things. Hu-min. The sidewalk. The pipe. The voice saying, “They’re down.”

You weren’t home.

You weren’t safe.

And Hu-min wasn’t with you.

Panic stirred in your chest, but your limbs felt heavy. Your head dropped forward again, your body sluggish and uncooperative, still recovering from the hit. Still too slow. You could only cry out in pain. From the fear and helplessness 

But you were awake. And you were alone.

“Oh! You’re awake!”

Suddenly, their laughter rang in your ears like a fork scraping against a plate. You winced in pain as you did your best to look up at the faces of the people who took you. You only recognized one. He was part of the union, you think. 

You remembered seeing him once, behind Si-eun during a fight. He wasn’t a frontliner…more like someone who watched from the shadows. Quiet. Calculating.

Now, he was smiling at you like you were a puzzle he already knew how to solve.

“There it is,” he said with an amused sigh. “Took you long enough. You’re tougher than you look.”

You didn’t respond. Your tongue felt too heavy. And besides, what was there to say?

He walked closer, crouching just in front of you. “You probably don’t remember me. But I know you. Or at least, I know what you are to him.”

That made your stomach twist and your heart drop

Hu-min. 

You could still feel the warmth of his hand in yours, the echo of his laugh, the way he called after you—

“You’ll miss me!”

God. You wished you could hear his voice now.

“He’s loud, your little boyfriend,” the Union guy went on. “Always charging in, throwing punches. Never shuts up.” Everyone laughed behind him, some even mimicking Hu-min’s actions. They looked prideful, as if they had already won.

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

“But when he finds out we have you?”

“He’ll be real quiet then.”

You met his gaze, fury flaring despite the pain. Once he got close enough, You spat without hesitation.

It landed square on his cheek—a messy mix of blood and spit that made him recoil instantly.

“Fuck! You little—” He cursed, stumbling back as he wiped his face in disgust. He glared at you, the others looking in disbelief.

“Alright,” he muttered. “You want to be brave? You need a little reminder, then”

He motioned at the other boys lazily. And before you could react—

A fist drove into your gut, hard.

Air exploded from your lungs. The room spun. You couldn’t even scream. They all laughed as your chair tipped over from the sheer force. You came crashing down onto the floor, your body was hit hard, the edge of the metal frame biting into your side. Pain bloomed in waves, sharp and pulsing, as the men’s laughter echoed above you.

“Hey! Get this on video,” one of them barked, pulling out a phone with a grin. “Let’s send it to Baku.”

He crouched beside you, tapping the screen to start recording as you struggled to lift your head. Before you even did, though, a foot slammed into your rib. Four other guys started kicking you.

“Let him watch this on loop. He’ll come crawling on his knees.”

A cruel grin spread across his face.

“Maybe then he’ll finally get the message—Eunjang loses.”

Bakutastic🏀: “Heyyyyyy u home yet?” Bakutastic🏀: “Heyyy” Bakutastic🏀: “Helllooooooo” Bakutastic🏀: “nsajndweaksml” Bakutastic🏀: “Is ur phone dead?” Bakutastic🏀: “Message me asap or im eating all ur food tmrw.🙄🙄”

Hu-min scratched at the back of his neck, frowning. His phone screen lit his face in the dark room, your chat still open. You were only five minutes away when you left. Maybe your phone died. Maybe you knocked out the second you got home.

Still… something didn’t sit right.

Was he being clingy? Probably. Did he care? Not even a little. He just wanted to know you were safe. That’s it.

Another minute ticked by. Then another.

Ten minutes now.

He hadn’t moved—just sat there, staring at your contact name like the screen might light up if he waited long enough. His fingers hovered over his keyboard again, but he didn’t know what else to say without sounding panicked.

With a frustrated exhale, he sat up in bed, grabbing his hoodie. Screw it. He’d swing by. Just check. He wasn’t sleeping until he—

Buzz.

His phone lit up in his hand. Unknown number. No message. Just a video file.

“The hell?” he muttered, already swiping it open.

It only took two seconds. Two seconds before his heart plummeted.

The screen showed you. Tied to a chair, slumped and on the ground, Blood staining your mouth, bruises blooming across your face. The camera was shaky, laughter in the background.

Then—a kick. Straight to your stomach. You coughed hard. Violent. Your whole body jolted.

Hu-min’s breath caught. His hands started shaking.

Another blow. You flinched. He did too.

He couldn’t look away. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

He was already on his feet, grabbing his jacket, his phone, keys—whatever. His body moved on instinct, pure adrenaline roaring through him.

He knew those faces and exactly where they took you.

The Union thought they were clever. Thought they could break him by using you.

His sneakers pounded against the pavement as he took off down the same street you walked earlier. He didn’t feel the wind. Didn’t hear the cars. All he could hear was your voice echoing in his head—

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Hu-min!”

He didn’t care what he had to do.

He was going to find you.

And God help anyone who tried to stop him.

“Ahh.. The hell is taking him so long?”

Then suddenly—a loud slam of a door. 

Hu-min didn’t give them a chance to speak or even think. 

He charged.

The first man barely raised a hand before Hu-min’s fist connected with his jaw. A sickening crack split the air as the man crumpled to the ground. Another lunged from behind, but Hu-min twisted, catching his ribs with a brutal elbow that sent him gasping and tumbling to a table.

There was shouting now. The sound of boots thundering.

Hu-min didn’t stop.

Didn’t think.

He ducked under a crowbar swing, landed a kick that sent one into a pile of crates. Blood. Screaming. The taste of copper in the air. Three left.

His knuckles were raw, breathing ragged. But none of it mattered.

Because in the corner of the warehouse—

He saw you.

On the floor, still tied to the chair, face bruised and barely conscious. His chest squeezed so tight it hurt. He swore the world narrowed to just you. But he didn’t run to you…not yet. He couldn’t. Not until the last two were down.

One came at him with a pipe. Hu-min took a hit to the shoulder, but it barely registered. He caught the man by the collar and slammed him into the wall with a cry.

Then, finally, it was just silence.

He dropped to his knees beside you.

He breathed your name like a quiet prayer, voice cracking at the edges as he gently cupped your face. “Hey—hey, I’m here, I got you.”

Your head tilted weakly toward him, a small movement that took all your remaining strength. Blood trickled from the corner of your mouth, a harsh reminder of your current state. But then your eyes fluttered open, and as they focused on him, you attempted a smile, however shaky. 

“Didn’t think I’d see you sooner," you murmured, the words emerging scratchy and raw, a feeble attempt to inject humor into the tension of the moment.

Hu-min, however, could only let out a heavy sigh, a mix of disbelief and concern etched on his face as he knelt beside you, beginning the careful task of untying your binds, his hands steady despite the gravity of the situation. 

“Let’s get you to the hospital, okay?” He gently helped you up into a sitting position before carefully scooping you up in his arms. The ache in his body was also starting to set in, but he pushed through. Neither of you was out of the dark yet. Not until he got you to safety.

You knew it was best not to talk about what happened to the Union guys. You’ve already seen Hu-min enraged before, as long as it was a loved one he had to protect, so the little time he took to beat up everyone wasn’t surprising. You just hope he wouldn’t be stubborn about getting himself checked out to the hospital as well.

The world smelled like antiseptic and plastic curtains.

The beeping of a monitor pulsed steadily somewhere above your head, each sound tugging you further into wakefulness. Your body ached—your ribs, your face, even your eyes—but the warmth of the blanket and the rhythmic beeping grounded you. Slowly, you regained your strength as you recalled the events from earlier. The union guys…Hu-min…and lots of blood that definitely wasn’t just yours.

But you were safe now.

And alive. 

The door to your hospital room slammed open with a shout of your name.

“Holy crap, you’re alive!”

“Don’t sit up too fast! Wait—is that pudding? Can I have it?”

You blinked groggily as Jun-tae, Go-tak, and Si-eun spilled into the room like a whirlwind of mismatched chaos. Jun-tae was juggling a small mountain of snacks, Go-tak had flowers he definitely stole from the nurse’s station, and Si-eun... was holding a bag of gauze and band-aids like that was going to help.

“What the hell happened?” Go-tak said, mouth half-full of chocolate. “Baku just disappeared, and next thing we know, he’s dragging you into the ER like an action movie!”

“You look like you got hit by a truck,” Jun-tae added helpfully, squinting at your face. “No offense. Still cute, though.”

You managed a weak laugh, wincing at the pain in your ribs. “None taken.”

Si-eun placed the bandage bag gently on the bedside table, as if that made up for everything. “You scared us.” There wasn’t much emotion behind his voice but his eyes told everything that he wanted you to know.

A soft knock came from the doorway.

You didn’t even need to look. You felt him before you saw him.

Hu-min stepped in quietly, hands shoved in his pockets, still wearing the same hoodie from earlier—creased, smudged with dirt, and faintly stained with blood at the sleeves. His eyes were on you. Only you.

Jun-tae caught the vibe immediately.

“Right,” he said, standing. “We’re gonna… leave you two alone now. Get well soon okay?”

Go-tak opened his mouth to protest, already halfway through your pudding, but Si-eun dragged him out by the collar.

The door shut with a soft click.

Silence.

Hu-min shuffled closer to your bed, awkward and quiet now that the others were gone. His hands fidgeted at his sides. “You good?” he asked, voice low. Rougher than usual.

You gave him the tiniest smile. “Been better.”

He exhaled—like he’d been holding that breath since the moment he brought you in. His eyes scanned your face, your arms, and the gauze along your temple. Even just looking at you seemed to hurt him more than his wounds.

“I should’ve walked you home,” he muttered. “I knew something felt off. I shouldn’t have let you—”

“Hu-min,” you interrupted softly, “I’m okay.”

He looked at you then. Really..looked. And whatever storm he was holding back cracked just slightly.

“You could’ve died.”

“But I didn’t.”

He was quiet again. 

Then, gently, he sat down beside your bed. His hand hovered near yours on the blanket for a moment before finally resting over it, warm and firm. No amount of words can describe the fear he felt when he saw your bloodied and half-unconscious. It was terrifying and his heart was torn in pieces at the sight of it all. 

“I thought I lost you,” he said quietly, not meeting your eyes.

You squeezed his hand as best you could.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered.

He exhaled through his nose, like he didn’t know what to do with that kind of relief. His grip loosened, not to let go, but to soften. Gentler now.

You expected him to joke, maybe crack something stupid like he always did. But instead…

He leaned forward a little, resting his forearm carefully on the side of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about what I’d say if I got here too late,” he said, voice quiet and uneven. “And it scared the hell out of me how much I hated that thought.”

Your breath caught.

“I don’t know when it happened. Maybe it was that time you laughed so hard you snorted in front of the cafeteria, or when you always knew what snack I wanted before I asked.”

He glanced away for a second, then looked back at you. His jaw clenched like he was bracing for impact.

“…But I like you.”

The words weren’t smooth. They weren’t rehearsed. They were raw, honest, and heavier than he expected them to be.

You blinked. “Hu-min…”

“I know I’m a mess. Loud. Reckless. Not really the type you’d expect anyone to be into.” He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand, cheeks starting to color. “But I’ve liked you for a while now. And I didn’t say anything because it was easier to pretend I didn’t.”

He looked up again.

“But I don’t wanna pretend anymore.”

Silence.

Then, your fingers curled around his. Despite the pain, despite the bruises, your smile was soft and warm, and so you it made his heart trip over itself.

“…You think I don’t like you back?” you murmured.

His mouth opened slightly. “Wait, you do?”

You rolled your eyes, the smallest laugh escaping your lips. “You’re so dense. I mean–I never said no to you asking me out earlier…”

“Oh..right..that”

“Hu-min..did you forge—” 

“Wh–No?!”

He hesitated, his face flushing a deep shade of crimson as he struggled to find the right words, eyes flickering with uncertainty and a hint of longing. You watched him with a gentle, amused smile, noting the way he fumbled for excuses, each more clumsy than the last. 

Softly, you leaned in closer, your presence intimate and warm, and pressed a tender, almost feather-light kiss to his cheek. The simple gesture silenced him, leaving him momentarily speechless, his cheeks still tinged with blush. A playful, knowing grin spread across your lips as you looked at him, creating a moment full of shy affection and unspoken desire.

You pulled away just a few inches, enough to see the expression frozen on his face—eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, as if his entire personality had glitched from that single kiss.

His brain short-circuited.

You grinned. “You okay there, hero?”

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then suddenly, he moved.

“Hey!—what was that?!” he burst, voice cracking halfway through, flailing a bit as if you’d just committed some heinous act of war while he held the cheek you just kissed. “You can’t just—just—ambush me like that!”

You tilted your head innocently. “What, didn’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that!” he blurted, ears turning bright red as he tried to laugh the embarrassment off.

You just laughed at him, and that was what did it. Something in him snapped—not in anger, but in reckless determination.

“Oh, that’s it,” he muttered, face still crimson, but eyes locked on you now with wild resolve. “You wanna play that game? Fine.”

Before you could react, he leaned in fast, closing the already small distance between you.

He kissed your forehead. Quick. Warm.

Then your nose.

Then your other cheek.

Then your temple.

Each press was messy and rushed and completely unsmooth, but so full of affection that it made your heart stutter.

“Payback,” he said, in between each kiss.

You were too stunned to speak, caught between laughter and something far deeper as he hovered close, hands braced carefully on the sides of the bed as each kiss was more ticklish than the last.

“Don’t think you can just surprise me and get away with it,” he mumbled against your skin. “I’m Baku! I don’t lose.”

You only nodded softly, raising both of your hands in front of you as a gentle gesture of surrender. Hu-min then pulled away, slightly panting from the burst of laughter that escaped him, his eyes sparkling with affection. He gazed down at you, his gaze filled with a tenderness that made your heart flutter. Carefully, he reached out, his hand gently cupping your face, and tenderly tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. 

His voice was low and warm now as he whispered, “...You’re mine now. You understand that, don’t you?”

And from the way he said it—not possessive, not demanding, just utterly devoted—you knew it wasn’t a threat.

It was a promise, and you didn’t need to answer with words.

The way your fingers laced with his said more than enough.

He stayed there with you, his forehead resting softly against yours, both of you breathing in sync. The hospital room was silent save for the steady rhythm of the heart monitor and the hum of the air conditioning, but it somehow felt peaceful now, like the world outside could wait.

There was no more fear, no more fighting. Just this—shared warmth in a sterile room, and a future quietly beginning between stolen kisses and promises unspoken.

His thumb traced light circles against the back of your hand, as if grounding himself in the fact that you were still here. With him.

And you were.

As your eyes slowly slipped shut, a tired but contented smile on your lips, Hu-min stayed right where he was—watching over you, steady and soft in a way only you ever got to see.

The beeping of the monitor faded into the background.

And the rest of the world faded with it.

an: 6k words again.. This is why I take ages to release a full fic. I hope everyone liked this!! Not too sure if I got Baku's character to a T. Comments and feedback are appreciated! <33 This was such a pain to edit in Tumblr both my laptop and phone was lagging so bad I think I need to make shorter fics now..

[neilissevered]

it’s so annoying trying to read something from the weaker hero # and seeing only fics about that autor that uses AI, it’s so obvious that she uses it and they still denying

Well😭 tbh I don’t think there’s anything we can do,,,they’ve already been called out abt it, doesn’t seem like they’re stopping anytime soon😔

We can just hope more new authors will write for whc🤞🤞

[neilissevered]

Just finished the baku x reader request!!! Warning its 6k+ words..😭😭 I think i’ll be able to post it tomorrow!

[neilissevered]

CRAZY THEME!!!! WOWWW

OMG HELLO TYSMM!!😭😭 I LOVE UR FICS SM😭😭 I’m actually ur ‘🖊️’ anon only reason I cant go off anon is bcs I can’t comment with this side blog🙂‍↔️

BUT TYSMM I LOVE UR THEMETOO

[neilissevered]

Hey guys!! Requests are closed!! Tysm, will be working on 3 requests for a while 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

WORK IN PROGRESS (will also edit this based on my progress)

• Baku x reader - posted!

• Sieun x reader - Halfway through!!

• Gotak x reader - haven’t started

[neilissevered]

ˋ°•*⁀➷ FROSTBITTEN, BY YOU!

“Your hands are cold”…“Then warm them.“ In which a silly tease turns into an affectionate gesture. Weak Hero Class 1 x GN! Reader (Seperate) Friends to "Something More" trope Characters included: Yeon Si-eun , Ahn Su-ho Wc: 1k+

An: the header makes it look like shse 😝😝😝 reqs are open! (Just no dark stuff pls) Might just take me a while to get to them bcs I’m reviewing for uni 🙂‍↔️ btw I also added more spaces i between the text. Idk if it makes it more readable since I like to use the smaller text size but lmk if you guys prefer the other one!

⤷ YEON SI-EUN

Let’s be real, he’d probably be perplexed at first. A million theories running in his smart brain (how to effectively warm a cold hand…with a cold hand)

He’s honestly like WikiHow…sometimes.

But jokes aside, Si-eun is a very guarded person who is trapped in his own emotional space.

He’s cold and distant and a little out of touch with reality (he has his little world basically.)

Si-eun only lets his friends stay “close enough” beside this huge wall, and it’s his defense mechanism to protect himself from getting hurt 

But there will be an exception for you. A little crack in that wall. Maybe.🙂‍↕️

It’s cold. The kind of cold that bites your fingertips and turns your breath to mist. It’s almost winter in Korea, so you wouldn’t be surprised if it starts snowing, which is why you already have a thick puffer jacket on to protect you from the onslaught of the cold. 

Yeon Si-eun seemed to share the same idea but appeared completely nonchalant, except for the faint flush of his ears and nose as the cold air bit at his face. He looked ethereal in how calm and composed he remained, as if the cold didn’t touch him at all.

You, on the other hand, felt like one more gust of icy wind might snap your bones clean in half. Frostbite, then shatter, then crumble into snow dust. That’s how it felt. But still, you didn’t complain. Not out loud, anyway

You never do, especially not around Si-eun.

Not because you’re afraid of his quiet indifference or the walls he puts up. 

It’s just… You want to protect this.

The peace.

The soft, quiet moments you and he share, like this one.

You walk beside Si-eun quietly, your backpack slung over your shoulders. The sun is already sinking, dipping behind the buildings like it’s retreating early for the day. The silence between you is familiar. Comfortable.

But ‘quiet’ is probably an understatement. You’re doing your best to quell the chattering of your teeth while you clench and unclench your jaw like an idiot because it would be embarrassing if Si-eun notices and suddenly points it out.

And..he does notice it.

The way your shoulders are just a little hunched.

The way you tuck your hands into your sleeves.

The way you blow on your fingers when you think he’s not looking.

And yes, your teeth chattering too. 

“Your hands are cold,” he says suddenly, breaking the silence. It’s the first thing he points out—even he isn't sure why either. 

You glance over, a little surprised…maybe mortified too, because you just jinxed yourself. Has he been looking? The thought of it made you flush even more at his factual statement. You weren’t even sure how to respond.

So you played it off with some light teasing. 

You smile a little and shrug. “Then warm them.”

You expect him to ignore it, like he usually does, or deadpan at you, unamused with your antics. But he stops walking suddenly.

You turn, your own feet stuttering as he’s suddenly two steps behind you. “Si-eun?”

He looks… hesitant. Like he’s overthinking something that shouldn’t need this much calculation. You were about to tell him it was just a joke, but then, after a beat too long, he slowly reached out.

Your breath catches.

His fingers, stiff at first…brush yours.

Then he takes your hand fully, slipping his fingers between yours, palm to palm.

If you were flushed before, now you're beet red. 

You feel how cold his hands are, too. But neither of you says anything. 

The moment shifted, enveloping you in a sense of intimacy and connection. Your gaze drifted downward to where your hands intertwined, feeling the warmth of his touch replace the cold air around you. As you gently squeezed his hand, a new gesture that changed the reality of ‘this’ shared moment, anchoring you both in its authenticity.

He doesn’t meet your eyes, just stares ahead with his usual indifference. But you can see how his ears, nose, and cheeks slightly reddened. 

“You said to warm them,” he mumbles.

You squeeze his hand again gently, heart thudding louder than your shoes on the pavement. “Yeah,” you whisper. “Thanks.”

You don’t speak the rest of the walk home. But he doesn’t let go either.

Later that night, he texted Su-ho

Si-eun: “They looked cold, it was just logical”

Su-ho: “ “Just logical”??? u gonna propose next or run a weather report?😹”

Si-eun: “blocked.”

⤷ AHN SU-HO

This guy's confident… Ridiculously so that he’s kinda impulsive at times.

He’s not afraid to tease, push buttons, or take the lead.

But I believe he’s emotionally reactive and perceptive. He just masks it with charisma or action yk.

He will play along. Challenge you back…until it all becomes very real. Fast.

You’re walking side by side, the shortcut between blocks quieter than usual. It’s getting late, and it's mostly because Su-ho decided to drag you out of your home for a very adventurous trip…to the convenience store. You weren’t complaining, though. You got free, hot ramyeon, and you got to spend some time with your…best friend.

Yeah. 

But the cold has crept in hard. Your fingers sting a little from being out too long and without gloves because of the impromptu hangout, and so you keep flexing them inside your sleeves, hoping that your body warmth will be enough for your fingers not to fall off.

Su-ho glances over.

“Your hands are cold” he says, voice casual, like he’s just pointing out the weather.

You raise an eyebrow, rolling your eyes a bit while a little smile tugged at your lips at the sudden observation, “Oh, thanks. Totally didn’t notice.” 

He smirks. “Hey, just saying. I’ve got an eye for details.”

You snort. “Okay…Then warm them.”

It was intended as a light-hearted teasing, a fleeting comment that would slip effortlessly into the air between you as you transitioned to a new subject. Yet, in that instant, Su-ho halted his steps, his demeanor shifting.

 You suddenly understood that your playful banter had morphed into a challenge, one that left no room for retreat. What seemed like mere humor now possessed layers of profound significance, and you found yourself fumbling with its..double meanings far too late.

You blink. “Wait, I didn’t mean—”

He’s turned toward you, one brow lifted, a flash of challenge in his expression. The corners of his mouth were slowly morphing into a grin because you just gave him a very dangerous idea. “What? You think I won’t?” he says, cocky grin in place, but there’s a real flicker of heat behind it.

“Say less.”

Then, without giving you time to overthink it, he reaches out and takes your hand in his.

His palm is warm. Solid. Confident, like everything else he does. But his grip isn’t teasing. It’s steady, focused, and…real.

The air between you changes — shifts from playful to something charged. He looks at your joined hands for a second, then back at you. His grin suddenly softened as he looked at you with so much sincerity.

“Better?” he asks.

You nod, surprised by how warm your chest feels, too.

“Yeah,” you say softly. “Actually… yeah.”

Su-ho doesn’t let go of your hand. Not after he’s sure you want this too. If anything, his grip tightens, more certain now, like he's claiming something he's longed for. He doesn’t even try to hide it. Instead, he keeps walking, dragging you with him like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Told you,” he says, smirking again. But quieter now. “I’ve got a good eye for details.”

You don’t reply. You just hold on.

Because for once, he isn’t talking like he’s trying to impress anyone. He’s just there…With you. Hand in hand.

Later, you and Su-ho passed by Si-eun

Si-eun stared at both of you, then at your joined hands

“Didn’t know hypothermia made people flirt.”

Su-ho smirks. “Didn’t know you cared,” as he brought your hand closer to his lips to blow warm air into them

You’re pretty sure your face is warmer than your hands now.

Wooo tysm for reading until the end🙂‍↕️ just thought of the prompt suddenly bcs it’s been pretty cold here in my country😭😭

Dividers by: @cursed-carmine

[neilissevered]

→ LIKE REAL PEOPLE DO

There’s something in the way he looks at you after the fighting stops. Like he’s trying to figure out if you’re worth burning for. Drabble, no specific time or place, enemies to ??? Geum Seong-Je x gn! reader wc: 800+ tw: toxic behavior masterlist

You’d fought once.

Just once. Not with fists—But it came close.

Words sharp enough to bruise.

You’d called him a pathetic lapdog

He’d called you a good-for-nothing fake.

Both of you meant it. Probably.

Back then, you were still entangled with The Union, not loyal. Just stuck. Geum Seong-je saw that and picked you apart for it. He thought it was amusing how much you tried to flee and how openly you were mocked for it.

Or maybe he just hated what he saw in you: someone who chose comfort over chaos, safety over scars.

“People like you,” he started while crushing a burnt-out cigarette beside your foot, “rot from the inside.”

You told him to go to hell.

He smiled and laughed like he was already there.

Months pass.

You break away from the Union quietly, without fanfare. You wanted to forget all the things that had happened while you were there. Well, you did. Almost.

People weren’t wrong when they said ‘a piece from your past will always come back to haunt you’; that piece was him, Geum Seong-je.

Sometimes, his voice lingers, a haunting echo that makes you feel sick. It's sharp as a blade, yet frayed around the edges, tainted by the way he used to speak down to you, each word cutting deeper than the last. 

Both of you were always at each other’s throats.

Always just one breath, one wrong word away from a fight.

But neither of you ever questioned how it’s always him you run into.

Every alley you turned down, he was there. Leaning against the wall, an unlit cigarette between his fingers like he’d been waiting.

And at every Union meeting, his eyes always found you first.

You used to glare back. Now you just meet his gaze, let it linger.

He never looks away. Not once.

It should feel like a standoff.

But it doesn’t.

It feels like something else entirely. Something dangerous and too close, like standing at the edge of a cliff and not wanting to step back.

So you left, and thankfully, no one notices.

Except for him.

You think he’s still angry.

You think you are, too.

But then he finds you after school, like he always did in the past. Back alley, dusk light, blood on his cheek like a familiar kind of warning. 

You freeze, breath catching. The air shifts the moment he steps into it. He never announces himself, never says your name..just watches, like he’s sizing you up or maybe remembering you.

You tense on instinct, muscles coiled.

Because with him, you never know what you’re getting. A fight, a smirk, or silence that cuts deeper than either.

But even now, bruised and breathing heavy, he doesn’t strike. He just leans against the wall, gaze dragging slowly over you, like you’re not a threat, but not nothing either.

And for a second, it feels like the past never left.

It just waited—right here, in this alley, in him.

“You’re still alive,” he mutters.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I’m not. Just surprised.”

He doesn’t walk away.

After that, it becomes a game.

Push, pull.

Look, but don’t look too long.

You say something sharp and painful, and he smirks like he likes the sting.

He leans a little too close. You don’t back down.

He laughs when you’re angry. You hate the way it sounds real.

Sometimes, you think he’s trying to make you leave.

Other times, you think he’s waiting to see if you will.

“You still hate me?” you ask one night, in the glow of a half-dead streetlight. You don’t even know how you ended up with him again. You just did. And you hated how natural it all felt.

He doesn’t answer right away. Just leans against the wall, eyes on you like he’s trying to pin you down without touching you.

“I don’t know what this is,” he says finally.

“Seong-je, you—“

“Does it matter, though?” He grinned, cutting you off.

Suddenly, he pushes off the wall, slow and deliberate. You don’t move. You don’t breathe. You just watch him approach with that same magnetic pull that always wrecked you.

He stops in front of you. Closer than he should be, close enough that you can feel the warmth of him in the cool night air. His hand lifts, then his fingers brush your cheek. Not affectionately, but in a way that he is warning you.

 His palm settles there, thumb skimming just under your eye. His gaze flickers from your mouth to your eyes and back again.

“What? Going to run away again? You know I’ll always find you.” 

Your breath catches.

Push, pull.

Suddenly, you’re at the edge of that cliff again.

You wish he’d just said he hated you.

Because whatever this is..this pull between your ribs when he looks at you, this rawness in his voice when he says your name—it’s worse. 

It’s something quieter. Slower.

It burns low and constant like a fuse you can’t bring yourself to snuff out.

And somehow, you know:

When it finally goes off, it’ll hurt more than fists ever could. More than any sharp word ever thrown between you.

Because it won’t leave bruises.

It’ll leave something worse.

Something that lingers. 

And you’re not sure what to do when that happens.

an: OKAY so I know this is really short and lame, but I'm still warming up to Seong-je's character (without making him a total creep), but feedback would be greatly appreciated! Would love to know everyone's thoughts about this! AND yes, this is loosely based on Hozier's song lmk if you guys want me to turn this into a full fic!

[neilissevered]

To the anon that req baku x reader hurt/comfort, I’m working on it!!🙂‍↕️🫶 tysm for requesting i’m already doing the outline, might be able to finish it in a week or less!

[neilissevered]

200 notes tysm guys!!🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

SCARS AND SOUVENIRS

After Su-ho falls into a coma, Si-eun is consumed by guilt and isolation, pushing everyone away—even you, the one who stayed. Yeon Si-eun x gn! Reader takes place when Su-ho fell into a coma, mild angst, hurt with comfort, slow burn, it gets lighter towards the end I swear wc: 6k+

an: Hello! This is my first time writing for whc, and I love Si-eun so much (I'm a Si-eun truther fr) anyways, this might be a little study on his psyche after the events of Su-ho, like how it affected him emotionally, physically, and socially. (So this is going to be LONGG) And it makes me wonder how he dealt with that and how someone could possibly help him. I hope you can enjoy this fic!

Edit: this turned out longer than I expected😭 each scenes are separated by a divider!!

It’s strange how guilt works. It consumes unforgivably, and it doesn't matter whether the person deserves it or not.

Si-eun was no exception as he stood transfixed, gazing at Su-ho's motionless body. The rhythmic hiss of the ventilator, the only sound breaking the silence, seemed like a cruel irony—a mechanical substitute for life, barely sustaining Su-ho's fragile existence. The mere thought that his friend might be slipping away, irretrievable, sent a chill down Si-eun's spine, filling him with an unspeakable dread. 

How did it all happen so fast? He does not know. It’s beyond his knowledge. No amount of textbooks can give him the answers that he needs.

Because when he finally finds something good, something tangible, he has to be the one to watch it all crumble away. 

Si-eun admits he isn’t good with friends.

God, much less a friend group that has an odd mix of people. He, the ‘human calculator’ as the others would comment, you and Beom-seok being the new transferees, and Su-ho, who has made the school his home. He’d grumble, brood, and even nearly stuff his ears with cotton because the combined noises that his three friends made were equal to an entire classroom during break time. 

He clung to the memories of those chaotic moments, cherishing every second as if they had occurred yesterday. It felt like an eternity ago when he was desperately trying to keep their group from falling apart. He vividly recalled the struggles of understanding Beom-seok's motives on Young-yi, of restraining both you and Su-ho from making reckless decisions, as the situation spiraled out of control like a runaway train.

The weight of those responsibilities still lingered, making his heart heavy with the burden of what could have been.

Jealousy happened,

Secrets were made.

Punches were landed.

And kicks were delivered to the head.

Now, you and Si-eun were left with the debris of the destruction. Both left to gather the pieces, desperately trying to go back to how it was before. Even when the damage had already been done. 

That would have been okay, a lesson-learned moment. Just start again, right? But as you gazed into Si-eun's eyes, you realized that he, too, was spiraling gradually, with his grip on reality being tenuous at best.

And god, how much you wanted a solution to everything. But how could you make one when even Si-eun can’t?

So now, you are here. In a classroom that has become a shell.

Sometimes, if you doze off during a lecture or if you close your eyes a little tighter, you could hear it—the cackles of laughter, the teasing, and the little calculated voice that always comes right after. You can sense it too, in the air, where something or someone is missing. And you can’t help but let your eyes wander to the empty seat next to the door.

You glance around the classroom, feeling a wave of frustration wash over you. Your gaze falls on your classmates, who are chatting and laughing with each other, completely carefree. It's as if they're oblivious to the pain and suffering you and Si-eun endured, like they're living in a different world.

The bitter, awful taste settles in your mouth, like a sour lemon drop dissolving on your tongue. You can't help but wonder how they can be so normal, so indifferent, while you're still reeling from the trauma. It's like they're pretending nothing ever happened, and that's what makes it so infuriating.

But really, it felt like you were on your own with suffering.

You look towards Si-eun, honing in on his textbooks as usual, posture slightly slouched as he takes notes, earbuds stuffed into his ears. From an outsider's view, it just looks like Si-eun being Si-eun.

But for you? There’s tension all around him. The guilt and suffering are too suffocating when you get close. What was once warm between you two has now turned cold and stale. His back faces your front, acting as a wall, and he sits there in front of you like a stranger.

And oh, how it toyed with your heart. Because this was your only friend left.

Young-yi was gone, having distanced herself from your group ever since she saw the state Su-ho was in. It makes sense to stick closer to Si-eun. To figure out a way to slowly mend things. To be there for Su-ho until he wakes up.

But no matter how much you stared, knowing that Si-eun could feel your intense gaze, he would not look back. He would not even acknowledge you.

He left you there in your world. And for the entire day, you switched between staring at the empty pages of your notebook and the empty seat beside the door.

“Si-eun.”

.

“Si-eun, it’s lunch time, we should get something to eat.”

He hasn’t been eating, you noticed. Like you also noticed the heavy bags under his eyes or how pale and cracked his lips have gotten. He can keep pushing you away if that’s what he wants. But you're firm. You'll wait patiently, ready to offer a lifeline when he's ready to accept it. 

He does not say anything. Not even spared you a glance as he took out his earbuds and crossed his arms to lay his head down on the table. 

You stood frozen, a statue of silence, as the heavy air between you hung like a challenge.

But you didn’t push. You left and came back to leave snacks on the space beside his head—a silent way of saying that you were still there, and you were going to wait for him to come to you when he was ready.

And that was it.

For weeks, you orbited his world, a constant but invisible presence. Not touching, not speaking, just silently there. And as you gazed at his back, a mix of concern and longing swirled within you, leaving you to wonder if somehow, you could absorb the weight of his guilt. To ease the pain that seemed to pull him down. To set him free.

Si-eun: “Su-ho, today felt just the same as it did weeks ago. I visited your grandmother last night. She’s okay. She told me Young-yi still calls now and then. Dropping by on the rare occasion, and she seems to be okay as well. I’m being transferred to a new school soon after finals. Thankfully, it’s not too far from here. I hope you’re doing well. Wake up soon.”

You and Si-eun would visit the hospital after school.

In reality, though, it felt more like shadowing Si-eun as you followed him. It had been a while since you walked beside him. For some reason, the closeness of that felt too much. It’s like the tension between the two of you would pop if you stayed too close. It made your hands clammy and your jaw tense while you tried to focus on matching his footsteps to ground yourself.

You’re both so painfully aware of each other that it hurts. Breathing the same oxygen, sharing the same memories—and yet he’s so close, but so far. You missed him.

Moments like these, you wished he would say something. Anything. Tell you to leave him alone, or stay, or just acknowledge that you existed in his orbit. That he can still see you.

But he was quiet.

To the hospital, and to the room where Su-ho stayed. He didn’t go inside, though. He stayed outside, typing away on his phone.

He was always like that, you noticed. You’re always the one inside. And maybe it was because the reality of Su-ho's condition was too difficult for Si-eun to confront. Maybe he forced himself to imagine his friend as usual, complaining about the unnecessary hospital stay, or pleading for some seaweed soup.

As Si-eun's thumbs danced across the screen, you suspected that he was sending messages to Su-ho, clinging to the hope that his friend would soon respond, and everything would go back to normal.

“Su-ho, look, your favorite drink was in stock this morning.” You brought Su-ho’s favorite drink this time. You hoped that the mention of it would make him wake up, say something cheesy and teasing while happily accepting the drink.

Sitting down at the cold, hard hospital chair, the drink in one hand, you took in the sight of your motionless friend.

The stillness was unnerving, and you felt an overwhelming urge to leave, to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the room. The antiseptic smell, a pungent mix of disinfectant and stagnation, hung heavy in the air, making your head spin.

You didn’t want to stay too long. You know Su-ho would hate that too. You also hated the stupid beeping of his heart monitor. It was supposed to be a reassurance, a sign that he was still clinging to life, but to you, it felt like a cruel taunt, a harsh reminder of his fragile state.

Your eyes turned glassy as you recounted the past few weeks. A lump forms in your throat as you tell the struggles of trying to be there for Si-eun, trying to wake him up from the guilt that he buried himself in.

A guilt and suffering so raw and all-consuming that you can feel yourself getting drowned in it too.

You squeezed the drink in your hand as you let out a sob. Your voice became shaky and jumbled. Phrases broke as you tried to make sense of everything. You felt defeated, as the world you once knew was no longer there.

And finally, you fell.

You fell on the fragile structure you made yourself stand in—the structure that you offered to Si-eun as a lifeline for both of you, and a silent plea that you would, and could, carry some of his burdens too. That you and your remaining friend can share the weight of it all.

Sobs shattered your entire body, no longer caring if Si-eun could hear you. You were so tired, so exhausted from keeping your own emotions in check so as not to overwhelm Si-eun with your desperation and weakness.

And as if the universe itself was mocking your despair, it rained hard. The thunderstorm matched the whimpers you let out as you held onto the drink.

You felt nothing. You felt like nothing but the overwhelming buzz of pain and desperation beneath your skin. Your head pounded with the rhythmic sounds of Su-ho’s heart monitor, your eyes blurring and unblurring each time you tried to wipe away the downpour of tears.

Overwhelmed with so much emotion, your mind gave control to your body as you abruptly stood up—the scrape of the chair against the hospital’s floor left unheard as your cries filled the room.

And you did the only thing your body wanted to do.

You ran.

You ran out of the room where your friend was tethered.

You ran away from Si-eun, his worried call of your name falling on deaf ears.

You ran out of the hospital, and in doing so, you abandoned the world you once knew.

The rain welcomed you like you belonged there, underneath the merciless droplets as your clothes became wet and soggy, clinging uncomfortably to your figure as you tried to quell your tears.

You held your chest tightly, trying to breathe and letting the rain wash out your tears. Your legs felt like lead, your body drained from the adrenaline rush that had left you spent.

You felt like sitting and wallowing in your puddle of despair without a care in the world, even if it would ruin your pants, and really, you didn’t mean to be dramatic, but you were just so confused; you and your friends are just a bunch of high schoolers.

The complexity of the situation seemed to mock your naivety, leaving you wondering how something so ordinary could unravel into such chaos.

Before you fell any further, the rain suddenly stopped. You no longer feel the droplets of water hitting your body, and you are left shivering in the cold. Slowly, you turned around 

And he was there.

Yeon Si-eun was there. His face contorted to a mix of genuine concern and fear. His dark, doe eyes are glassy, almost begging you to tell him what’s wrong as he shakily holds out an umbrella over your head. You noticed his labored breathing, almost panting.

You wondered if he had chased after you. His clothes were damp, too, and you saw that the umbrella only protected half of his body.

In that moment, the rain-soaked world around you melted away, and all that mattered was the fragile connection between you and Si-eun.

He whispered your name, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, but before he could continue, you interrupted him. Your voice was laced with a mix of emotions—pain, sadness, and a hint of anger.

“Hey, Si-eun.” You gave him a pained smile. Your grin not reaching your eyes as a scoff escaped your lips, a sound that was both bitter and disbelieving. You weren't even sure yourself what emotion was driving it.

“Is this how you feel? Every day?” You asked the question, your voice barely above a whisper.

You stared right back at his eyes, and for once, Si-eun saw the hollowness that yours held. He didn’t reply. He just gazed, his eyes drilling into yours, searching for something, anything, that could explain the void you were carrying.

But he couldn't hold your gaze for long. His eyes wavered, dropping to the wet ground beneath his feet, as if the weight of your words had become too much to bear. Suddenly, he was aware of everything around him—the sound of rain, the feel of the cold air on his skin, the smell of wet clothes clinging to his body, and your disheveled state.

“Look at me, Si-eun.”

He doesn’t, he couldn’t. He’s trying to wrack his mind for something. Something to solve this. Something to fix every— 

“I said, look at me when I’m talking to you!”

You grasped his shoulders as you let out another broken plea, the sudden action making him drop the umbrella that was protecting both of you from the rain. The material of his jacket wrinkled under your shaky grip as you looked right into him.

“Su-ho…he’s not gone. He’s still there. You know how strong he is. We both know that.” You lightly shook him as you spoke, as if trying to shake him awake while you broke down in front of him.

“But why, why do I feel like you’re the one who’s gone?” 

“I’m right here–”

“No, you’re not!” You cried out in desperation.

 And he finally looks. His mouth was slightly agape as he tried to find the right words to say. It was too much for him. The vulnerability that you bared for him. The pain that you held in your eyes, as he could feel every tremor of your hand on his jacket. He realized then that he can’t logic his way out of this. 

Because Si-eun had always been the rational one. He solved things, Fixed things. Calculated outcomes and plotted next moves like it was all a chess game. But this..you?.. You weren’t an equation. He couldn’t use his pen. Couldn’t punch it out or bury it in a textbook behind silence. And that terrified him more than anything.

“He’s not coming back any faster, no matter how much you ignore me.” 

For a heartbeat, there was only the sound of rain. No umbrellas. No pretense. Just the two of you, soaked and broken, under the weight of what had been lost and what still could be.

You said that last sentence in a whisper. Almost like an ultimatum. You were tired, spent, maybe about to get a fever from the cold and rain. You shakily let go of his shoulders. The sorrow in your eyes returned to its empty state the longer that Si-eun was silent. 

Half-expecting him to walk away, you started to leave. Maybe to go back to your home, or a convenience store. You weren’t sure. You just wanted to be away from everything.

But before your second step even landed, you felt it. His hand wraps gently around your wrist, lightly squeezing as if begging you not to go. Not yet. 

You hated that you stopped. Hated that part of you still wanted him to stop you. That some fragile, stubborn corner of your heart had hoped he’d reach for you. Just once. Just this once. Even after what you went through to finally get to him. This was your last prayer, whispered in silence.

And he heard it. Not in words, not even in the tremble of your breath, but in the way your wrist stilled under his touch, not pulling away. And the air between you was thick with everything you didn’t say. Every apology left unspoken. Every moment lost in hesitation. His hand was still on yours, unsure, as if he was still trying to figure out whether he had the right to hold you there. Or maybe he had already lost that right long ago.

But he held on anyway.

His hand remained on your wrist. Warm and almost grounding.

“Don’t go.” It sounded like a plea. Soft and wavering and so unlike the Si-eun you knew. 

“I know I don’t deserve to ask that.” He added. Catching his breath for a moment while you silently listened. “After everything.” 

Si-eun was aware of what he did when he distanced himself from you, his last friend. He can practically feel the desperation in your voice whenever you try to talk to him. Or every time you left food on his desk when lunchtime rolled around at school. He knew the turmoil that you were also quietly suffering in, and how his guilt slowly turned into your guilt, and his sorrow became your sorrow. 

Your silence urged him to continue.

“I thought if I kept you away..I wouldn’t break anything more than I already had.” You can hear how much it cost him to say those words. He was hesitant; you can feel it in the way his grip on your wrist wavered. It was almost as if he wouldn’t stop you if you wanted to go. He won’t force you to stay. 

And that’s what undid you. 

You turned. You finally looked at him and you saw his eyes, red, puffy, and tired. His face was flushed from how freezing it was to stay in the rain. He looked like a boy. It made you realize how messed up all of this was. Both of you were too small for a world so big, and the burdens too heavy to carry for some high schoolers who were supposed to be reviewing for the next exam.

“I wasn’t asking you to fix anything, Si-eun.”

“I know. I see that now”

“What happened to Su-ho… It wasn’t your fault.”

He was stunned by that. His lips slightly quivered from the cold or your words, he wasn’t sure. It felt like a dam finally broke within him. And with it came silent tears. Not loud, not visible at first. Just the kind that slipped quietly from his eyes, mingling with the rain on his cheeks. The kind of crying that looked more like surrender than sorrow. A collapse too quiet to be noticed unless someone was looking.

You were.

The wound was still fresh on him, seeing Su-ho stuck on that bed became his daily nightmare, and what he did out of revenge didn’t make it any better. 

For a moment, you pulled away from him and bent down to pick up the discarded umbrella, bringing it over both of you, even though you and Si-eun were already soaked to the bone. 

“You don’t have to go through it alone, Si-eun.” 

Finally, it feels like a weight has been lifted off both you and Si-eun. It wasn’t completely gone, of course. The pressure and the mark it left stayed there as both you and Si-eun went about your days. After that moment in the rain, you felt like you cracked his walls a little. Hope was renewed, and you had something new to cling to.

A silent routine fell between you. In the early mornings, you both walked to school, always meeting at an intersection before continuing up the street. Sometimes you would ask how he is or if he has eaten breakfast. He would do a one-word answer that was typical of him or just nod at what you’re saying.

 It wasn’t like before when there was Su-ho, Beom-seok, or even Young-yi. The rowdiness of your once-friend group has left something peaceful. You missed all of it, of course. But change was change, and you accepted this one, albeit reluctantly. 

You’d always admired him. His sharp mind, his laser-like focus, the way he could tune out the entire world for the sake of a problem set. It was impressive. Annoyingly so. He was the kind of student who made teachers beam and classmates groan.

But Jesus, did he ever stop?

Your physics teacher was deep in a monotonous rant about projectile motion, gravity, and God knows what else, his voice dragging across the room like nails on a chalkboard made of sleep deprivation. Meanwhile, you were locked in a life-or-death battle to keep your head from surrendering to gravity in the most literal sense. One more droning equation and you were going to face-plant into your desk, no hesitation.

So, naturally, your only reasonable option to stay alert and awake?

Challenge Si-eun, distract the genius. Stir the unshakable.

Si-eun, for his part, was completely focused. He took down notes as the lecture went on. Ignoring everything and everyone around him. It has been a while since the noise in his head finally settled. He started to sleep a little easier now, and he no longer felt too bitter about switching schools with you. Besides, he could still visit Su-ho as the hospital was a walking distance away from the building and—

Thwack!

A crumpled piece of paper nailed him right on the back of the head. Not hard enough to hurt, just enough to derail whatever train of thought he was riding and bring it crashing into the station. The paper hit his collar, bounced, then rolled dramatically down his shoulder before falling onto the floor.

Si-eun blinked. Pen paused mid-stroke. He didn't even need to look back.

There was only one person bold enough to mess with him during a lecture like this.

You.

And God help you, you were grinning.

You were already leaning forward by the time he straightened up, chin propped lazily on your hand, an innocent expression on your face that was anything but innocent. Your eyes met the back of his head like you were waiting for him to combust. You can see it. The way his attention wavered, and he stopped drawing stupid diagrams. Days with Si-eun no longer felt cold or heavy. Things were finally starting to get better.

 And there is no way in hell he is going to continue listening to how Newton just made math even more complicated.

When he didn’t turn around, you leaned in closer, voice just above a whisper. “Hey, Einstein.”

And finally, Si-eun sighed through his nose, eyes flicking toward the crumpled paper now lying sadly on the floor like a fallen soldier. He could already predict what would happen next. 

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” you asked, blinking. “I haven’t even said anything.”

“You’re thinking loud enough.”

A grin curled at your lips, mischievous and playful. Just the fact he was entertaining you with banter was already more brownie points for you. You have him hooked. “Good. Saves me the trouble of whispering.”

Still no turn. Still scribbling notes. Classic Si-eun. So you upped the ante.

You gently tapped the back of his chair with your foot. Once. Then again. A steady rhythm before you decide to drop the greatest idea you've ever had.

“I’m bored. You’re overachieving. It’s raining. Let’s skip.”

Now he turned. Just slightly. Head tilting enough to give you the meanest side-eye to ever exist as if to question your entire being. So, you responded in kind with a raise of your brow as if challenging him. He only blinked before letting out a sigh.

“You want me to skip class. Physics, of all things. To do what exactly?”

Finally. “Convenience store run. Ramyeon, hot canned coffee, maybe strawberry milk if you’re feeling nostalgic. You, me, fluorescent lights, freedom.”

 You gave him a playful wink, your fingers drumming against the desk steadily and loud enough because you were trying to distract him from the teacher’s announcement of an upcoming quiz, and you weren’t losing your progress of finally getting back your friend. The bond was a little shaky, but you decided that baby steps were better than nothing. 

In reality, though, Si-eun already knew about that quiz. It was announced a week ago during a lecture where you were fast asleep on your table. Drooling. 

“Tempting,” he muttered, but you caught the flicker of amusement behind his eyes.

“I know you’re hungry,” you added, nudging his chair one more time. “And don’t lie and say you’re not, because your stomach made a noise two minutes ago. It sounded like a dying bear.”

“That was your pen falling.”

“No, that was my patience falling.”

He gave you a long, exasperated look—but it didn’t reach his eyes. No, there was something else there. The smallest tug at the corner of his mouth. A softening. You could almost see the scales tipping, and it only made you grin even wider. Suddenly, you didn’t care about what was happening around you. Not when you finally find that little smile that you have been working on to bring back. 

And then you said, more quietly this time, “Come on, Si-eun. Just one break. The world won’t fall apart if you breathe for forty-five minutes.”

A peaceful quiet sat between you for a second. He knew what you meant, and you didn’t have to say it. He’d been carrying too much. Always pushing and enduring. There were times he would go back to his self-wallowing, where he would still accidentally push you away, and studying has always been his escape.

 But today, you were offering something else. A moment outside the pressure, the guilt, the relentless pace of trying to be okay.

He looked down at his open notebook, the half-finished diagram of an arcing projectile staring back at him like it, too, was trying to convince him to stay.

And then he exhaled. A quiet, almost imperceptible surrender, and he began packing up his things.

You blinked. Leaning over his shoulder to confirm what you were witnessing, “Wait… seriously?”

“You want to go or not?” he said, zipping up his bag without meeting your eyes. “Before I change my mind and remember I have a conscience.”

You shot up from your seat, already grabbing your bag. “You had a conscience?”

“Don’t push it.”

Thankfully, the teacher didn’t care. Si-eun was transferring, and he is an excellent student on his own.

And you..well, you’re transferring with him.

The sun slanted low through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the dusty shelves. The library was near silent, the kind of quiet that felt sacred, like even time had been asked to hold its breath as students slowly filtered out of the library until it’s just you, Si-eun, and a handful of other students who buried their noses into books.

You sat across from Si-eun at one of the back tables, your notebooks spread out in disorganized chaos, while his were stacked neatly, probably even color-coded by subject, knowing him. Between the two of you were a handful of empty candy wrappers from the snacks you'd brought. Well, mostly for yourself..Si-eun had eaten two, while you’d somehow managed six. You weren’t sure why you were keeping count.

 The original plan was simple: study together, then head out to visit Su-ho at the hospital. That was the plan, anyway.

But at some point, the words on the pages had begun to blur. 

Si-eun leaned back in his chair slightly, brows furrowed in focus, scribbling notes into the margin of his textbook. You were supposed to be solving a physics problem, but instead, you watched him and the way the sunlight caught in the strands of his hair, how his mouth moved just slightly when he read in his head. 

Has he always looked like this? 

Peaceful and just absorbed in his world, but not in a bad way. You felt some pride to see how much you and he have improved compared to a few weeks ago, and Si-eun’s resilience was one of the things you admire about him.

Until you couldn’t tell where admiration ended and something else began.

You didn’t mean to speak. It just... slipped out. 

“You look peaceful like this.”

His pen paused mid-stroke.

He didn’t look up immediately. You could see his shoulders tense slightly and the way his eyes blinked once, then twice, like he’d heard something he wasn’t sure he was supposed to. Because it wasn’t one of the things he predicted you would say. Maybe another convenience run to abandon all school work. But not..this.

A long moment passed.

“I’m just studying,” he said finally, voice low, almost cautious, his words carefully picked out.

“I know. That’s what makes it weird,” you replied, a soft tease in your voice to disguise the trembling truth underneath as you continued to look at him. Like, really…look. To others, it’s creepy and a little unnerving. But for you? You were just appreciating him. His doe eyes, the long flutter of his lashes, and the gentle slope of his n—

He glanced up now, eyes catching yours, and the look there was unreadable. Careful, guarded. Like, he wasn’t sure what page you were both suddenly on. But it felt like at that moment, you were sure you knew where you wanted to be. 

You leaned forward just a little, elbows on the table, fingers grazing the edge of his notes.

“You don’t let yourself rest much,” you said. “Not really. But right now… You look like you can breathe.”

Si-eun blinked, clearly thrown by the tenderness in your tone.

He opened his mouth. Maybe to change the subject, maybe to deflect with sarcasm or just deadpan at you and throw something monotonous and witty—but then he stopped. Closed it again. The moment felt too raw, too vulnerable, and he knew he wasn’t good with moments like these. 

 Something twisted uncomfortably in his chest. Something new and foreign, and Si-eun doesn’t know if he likes it or not. 

Hesitantly, he lets that feeling consume him.

“I don’t know how to anymore,” he admitted quietly. “Breathe, I mean. Not unless it’s for someone else’s sake.”

The words landed between you like a confession. Raw and unguarded. And you blinked slowly at him, as if trying to process the words he just said.

You let the silence settle, not awkward, but reverent. You reached forward, slowly, and placed your hand beside his on the table. Not touching. Just there. Close enough to feel the warmth that radiated off of him. Just close. Close enough to feel the quiet warmth radiating from his skin. There had been no tension before, but now it hummed softly between you, fragile and electric. 

And in that moment, you knew everything between you and Si-eun was about to change.

He looked down at your hand that was beside his. He felt frozen in his place, unsure of what to do next.

“You don’t always have to hold everything alone,” you said. “I seriously meant what I said a few weeks ago. You don’t have to go through it alone, Si-eun.”

“I know.”

It was a Thursday.

Nothing remarkable about it, at least on the surface. It was the kind of day that existed simply to pass time, quietly folding itself into the end of the week.

The halls had emptied hours ago. On days like these, students tend to want to leave a lot earlier. Friday was just tomorrow, after all.

But for you and Si-eun, it was just another day closer to getting transferred. To start anew. Or even better, another day wherein both of you could stay longer in Su-ho’s room and do your homework there.

But today?

You woke up feeling different. Not your usual happy self. You figured it was just one of those days where the air felt heavy, and some things around you reminded you of the reality that you lived in. An empty seat beside the door, or the fact that you still held so much concern for Beom-seok.

It made you feel sick.

The entire day went by in a blur, and you just lay down on your crossed arms, trying to cover your ears to subtly muffle the noise around you. Even Si-eun noticed it.

He noticed you.

Your clipped and short answers. Your blank stare outside the window of the classroom. The way you barely touched your food.

So he came up with an excuse.

At the end of the class, he made you sit down with your books while he offered to guide you through your homework. Something about kinetic energy and inclined planes, but your brain was too tired to cooperate. Too full of everything else. Everything unspoken.

Everything you had been holding in was like water behind a dam. Breathing became a chore, and blinking became too tiresome.

You sat together in the corner of the classroom, desks pushed together, books open but long forgotten.

You weren’t sure what was heavier. The ache in your chest or the silence between you. But you weren’t trying to solve the problems anymore, and neither was he. His pencil had stopped moving ten minutes ago when he noticed you were no longer listening and saw the subtle quiver of your lips on his peripheral vision.

You sat in that quiet, not strained, but fragile. And you were the first to shift.

Your hand brushed his, accidentally at first. Then… not.

He didn’t move away.

His hand was warm, a little rough, as if the world had asked too much of him too young. But it grounded you. The moment you felt it, the weight and reality of it? Something inside you cracked open. You hadn’t realized how much you needed something steady until it was there. Until he was there. This... was his way of carrying your burdens, too.

You didn’t say anything.

Words felt like they’d cheapen it.

Instead, you let your body speak the truth your mouth couldn’t form. You leaned, slowly, carefully, until your head came to rest against Si-eun’s shoulder.

At first, he went still. Rigid.

He didn’t know how to do this, how to be this. A safe place. Not when he was used to being sharp edges and deadly intelligence, used to carrying his grief and guilt like armor.

But then you sighed. Barely audible, a breath more than a sound, and something in him shifted.

He let you stay.

He let himself want it.

And in doing so, he finally made peace, albeit briefly, with the storm inside him.

The vulnerability still frightened him, though. That you could see through him like this. That you knew he wasn’t always strong. That there were parts of him still bleeding, still unsure. He didn’t know what this meant, what you meant—but for the first time, he didn’t want to shut the feeling down. He didn’t want to retreat into his silence.

Because you too felt like a safe place for him amidst the trauma that you and he shared.

You made sense in a way that terrified him.

And as he sat there, your head warm against his shoulder, your breaths slowing, your fingers still close enough to find his again if you wanted to, he realized something he hadn’t dared put into words until now.

He didn’t want to let go of this.

He didn’t want to let go of you.

And it scared him more than anything, how right it all felt.

How much the two of you made sense.

Anddd that’s it! Thank you soso much for reaching the end!! My phone and laptop were lagging like crazy trying to edit this so I tried to make it as readable as possible for everyone😭 I went thru about three revisions but if there’s any wrong grammar im so sorry!! dividers by: @/uzmacchiato

[neilissevered]

if it’s the same acct I’m thinking of, they’ve been called out before & lied about not using AI/using AI only for titles!!

BYE😭😭😭 I saw that callout post,,,,actually gave them the benefit of doubt but the recent fics..I mean cmon.

Why even use ai..that just takes the fun away from writing

[neilissevered]

Im crying man I just saw the most ai generated weak hero fic to ever exist😭😭😭😭 guys, a good way to improve your writing is reading lots of books (or fics even) or just looking up tips online from other authors. IT TAKES TIME. Please do not resort to ai😭

[neilissevered]

→ LIKE REAL PEOPLE DO

There’s something in the way he looks at you after the fighting stops. Like he’s trying to figure out if you’re worth burning for. Drabble, no specific time or place, enemies to ??? Geum Seong-Je x gn! reader wc: 800+ tw: toxic behavior masterlist

You’d fought once.

Just once. Not with fists—But it came close.

Words sharp enough to bruise.

You’d called him a pathetic lapdog

He’d called you a good-for-nothing fake.

Both of you meant it. Probably.

Back then, you were still entangled with The Union, not loyal. Just stuck. Geum Seong-je saw that and picked you apart for it. He thought it was amusing how much you tried to flee and how openly you were mocked for it.

Or maybe he just hated what he saw in you: someone who chose comfort over chaos, safety over scars.

“People like you,” he started while crushing a burnt-out cigarette beside your foot, “rot from the inside.”

You told him to go to hell.

He smiled and laughed like he was already there.

Months pass.

You break away from the Union quietly, without fanfare. You wanted to forget all the things that had happened while you were there. Well, you did. Almost.

People weren’t wrong when they said ‘a piece from your past will always come back to haunt you’; that piece was him, Geum Seong-je.

Sometimes, his voice lingers, a haunting echo that makes you feel sick. It's sharp as a blade, yet frayed around the edges, tainted by the way he used to speak down to you, each word cutting deeper than the last. 

Both of you were always at each other’s throats.

Always just one breath, one wrong word away from a fight.

But neither of you ever questioned how it’s always him you run into.

Every alley you turned down, he was there. Leaning against the wall, an unlit cigarette between his fingers like he’d been waiting.

And at every Union meeting, his eyes always found you first.

You used to glare back. Now you just meet his gaze, let it linger.

He never looks away. Not once.

It should feel like a standoff.

But it doesn’t.

It feels like something else entirely. Something dangerous and too close, like standing at the edge of a cliff and not wanting to step back.

So you left, and thankfully, no one notices.

Except for him.

You think he’s still angry.

You think you are, too.

But then he finds you after school, like he always did in the past. Back alley, dusk light, blood on his cheek like a familiar kind of warning. 

You freeze, breath catching. The air shifts the moment he steps into it. He never announces himself, never says your name..just watches, like he’s sizing you up or maybe remembering you.

You tense on instinct, muscles coiled.

Because with him, you never know what you’re getting. A fight, a smirk, or silence that cuts deeper than either.

But even now, bruised and breathing heavy, he doesn’t strike. He just leans against the wall, gaze dragging slowly over you, like you’re not a threat, but not nothing either.

And for a second, it feels like the past never left.

It just waited—right here, in this alley, in him.

“You’re still alive,” he mutters.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I’m not. Just surprised.”

He doesn’t walk away.

After that, it becomes a game.

Push, pull.

Look, but don’t look too long.

You say something sharp and painful, and he smirks like he likes the sting.

He leans a little too close. You don’t back down.

He laughs when you’re angry. You hate the way it sounds real.

Sometimes, you think he’s trying to make you leave.

Other times, you think he’s waiting to see if you will.

“You still hate me?” you ask one night, in the glow of a half-dead streetlight. You don’t even know how you ended up with him again. You just did. And you hated how natural it all felt.

He doesn’t answer right away. Just leans against the wall, eyes on you like he’s trying to pin you down without touching you.

“I don’t know what this is,” he says finally.

“Seong-je, you—“

“Does it matter, though?” He grinned, cutting you off.

Suddenly, he pushes off the wall, slow and deliberate. You don’t move. You don’t breathe. You just watch him approach with that same magnetic pull that always wrecked you.

He stops in front of you. Closer than he should be, close enough that you can feel the warmth of him in the cool night air. His hand lifts, then his fingers brush your cheek. Not affectionately, but in a way that he is warning you.

 His palm settles there, thumb skimming just under your eye. His gaze flickers from your mouth to your eyes and back again.

“What? Going to run away again? You know I’ll always find you.” 

Your breath catches.

Push, pull.

Suddenly, you’re at the edge of that cliff again.

You wish he’d just said he hated you.

Because whatever this is..this pull between your ribs when he looks at you, this rawness in his voice when he says your name—it’s worse. 

It’s something quieter. Slower.

It burns low and constant like a fuse you can’t bring yourself to snuff out.

And somehow, you know:

When it finally goes off, it’ll hurt more than fists ever could. More than any sharp word ever thrown between you.

Because it won’t leave bruises.

It’ll leave something worse.

Something that lingers. 

And you’re not sure what to do when that happens.

an: OKAY so I know this is really short and lame, but I'm still warming up to Seong-je's character (without making him a total creep), but feedback would be greatly appreciated! Would love to know everyone's thoughts about this! AND yes, this is loosely based on Hozier's song lmk if you guys want me to turn this into a full fic!