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moonstruck. | chapter one pt 1 - orders from above

𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗶 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗻 '𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗸.' 𝗶’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲—𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮, 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱. 𝗶 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝘀𝗼, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏! warning. contains explicit sexual content, drug use, angst, domination, spacestation!au, slight action, slow burn, strong language, intense sexual tension, a more technologically advanced iss, explicit fantasies, and adult themes. reader discretion is strongly advised. mdni.

wc. 32.1k

aboard the iss moonstruck, you're the only woman among a crew of dangerously attractive men. just as the mission winds down, an unexpected event unleashes a flood of hidden desires and forbidden fantasies. the vast emptiness of space only heightens the heat between you. before you touch down, something could change everything. when it’s time to return to earth, will you even want to, or will these passions make you wish you could stay in space forever?

your fingers hovered over the touchscreens, scanning the station’s sensors, eyes skimming through the familiar green blips. each successful ping felt like a tiny exhale—proof that, for now, everything was running smoothly. even in space, monotony had its rhythm, but the flickers of distraction—the pull of daydreams—kept the days from blurring into one endless grind.

around you, the low hum of conversation buzzed like background static. the crew moved like clockwork, each absorbed in their task, but your mind wasn’t on the data in front of you. not even close.

jake caught your eye, sitting nearby, the soft glow from his work lamp casting a warm, golden hue over his face. his fingers moved with precision, tinkering with some device, hair falling into his eyes in that messy way you’d come to associate with him. and then he did it again—biting his lower lip like he had no fucking clue how distracting it was.

your gaze trailed down his neck, catching the subtle shift of muscles, the veins on his arms visible as he worked.

you shifted in your seat, heat coiling in your core as you tried to pull your mind back to the task at hand. but when your eyes lingered a second too long, jake glanced up, catching you. frozen for a split second, you quickly plastered on a slow, innocent smile—though your thoughts were anything but.

his gaze held yours a beat longer than necessary, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. cocky, knowing, like he could see right through you without even trying. a quiet chuckle escaped him as he shook his head, turning back to his work, that damn smirk still lingering.

you swallowed hard, tearing your eyes away, glad for the distraction as sunghoon and jay started bickering over at the navigation console.

“i’m telling you, it’s fine,” sunghoon muttered, running a hand through his sleek black hair, muscles flexing under the tight black tee he always wore. the shirt did nothing to hide the definition in his arms, and you couldn’t help but watch. by the time you realized he’d caught you staring, it was too late. his lips quirked into a subtle smirk before he turned back to jay.

“it’s still off by two degrees,” jay snapped, his voice sharp. “and two degrees might not mean shit to you, but it could fuck us over later.”

you shifted your attention to jay, the tension in his jaw noticeable, his honey-colored skin practically glowing under the dim lights. the way he squared off with sunghoon only made him more intense. the muscles along his neck stood out as he argued, and you bit back a groan. it was hard to stay focused with so much testosterone floating around.

sunghoon didn’t miss the shift in your gaze, his eyes flicking back to you, amusement clear. but he kept quiet, like he was in on some private joke.

“you’re just being a perfectionist,” sunghoon grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“and you’re a lazy fuck,” jay shot back, not bothering to look up. “and yet i’m always the one fixing your shit.”

the argument was almost comical, and you smirked, caught somewhere between entertained and exasperated as you glanced between them. jungwon, who’d been silently jotting notes, didn’t even bother looking up from his tablet. “someone’s tense,” he mumbled under his breath. “maybe the pilot should handle the navigation.”

jay finally looked up, his eyes catching yours. “yeah, well, someone’s gotta stay on top of things.”

you shrugged, licking your lips as you shot him a playful smirk. “you’re both control freaks.”

sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. “well, you seem interested in our debate, got something to add?”

heat crawled up your neck, but you weren’t about to back down. “no, sir, just enjoying the view,” you replied, your voice light and teasing.

sunghoon’s eyes narrowed, but the amusement was obvious as he rolled his eyes again. “we’ll see how funny you think it is when we’re off course by a couple degrees and fucking crash.”

jay chuckled low, though you didn’t miss the way his posture stiffened when you called sunghoon ‘sir.’ it was meant as a joke, but it hit harder than you expected. “i’ll bet you anything we end up fixing it—again.”

jungwon, with a sly grin, finally chimed in. “i’m betting on jay.”

before you could respond, jake stretched and made his way over, the air in the room subtly shifting as he leaned against your table like he owned the place, his shoulder brushing yours in a way that didn’t feel accidental, but he didn’t pull away either.

no, he stayed there, closing the space between you bit by bit. it was like he couldn’t help himself. his presence was always impossible to ignore. he always had that way about him, flirting was just in his nature.

“what about you, y/n? who’s your bet?” jake’s voice still carried that amusement, but now it felt thicker, heavier, as he inched hsi face even closer. his arm still brushed against yours, heat rolling off him, and that pull—it was undeniable. you leaned in, just a bit, letting yourself feel it, feel him.

across the room, sunghoon’s jaw tightened, his eyes cutting away, while jay lifted an eyebrow, clearly entertained by the whole thing. but it was jungwon who stood out the most. his eyes were sharp, watching every move, though he kept his expression cool.

“you two seem pretty cozy,” jungwon said, his smile light, but his eyes? dark, calculating. “finished that reactor yet, jake?”

the words were innocent enough, but the way jungwon said them twisted something deep inside you. there was an edge to it, a quiet challenge. jake didn’t miss it, grinning even wider as he slid closer, his arm brushing yours again—this time on purpose.

“almost done,” jake’s voice dropped, low and teasing. “though it might need a little more... hands-on attention.” the double meaning was clear as day, and you felt the heat rising between you, that undeniable tension simmering just beneath the surface.

jungwon’s smile faltered for a brief second—just long enough for you to catch it—before he masked it, turning back to his holo-pad with a sharp click of his stylus. it was like he knew something, but he decided not to say it, keeping whatever it was to himself.

as he worked, you let your eyes linger on him for a moment longer, noticing the way his hair fell over his eyes, those incredibly pretty, cat-like eyes that always seemed to hold more than they let on.

but then there was his jaw—sharp, defined—something about it contrasted with his otherwise cute, almost boyish face. despite that soft look, there was so much quiet masculinity in the way he carried himself. jungwon was always laid-back, more reserved than the others, but you never missed how cheeky he could be sometimes, especially for being the youngest. still, when he worked, it was like a switch flipped—he was as focused and professional as any of them.

he never seemed to pay as much attention to you as some of the others did. sunghoon would steal glances, his gaze lingering on you longer than necessary, sometimes brushing against you in ways that felt more intentional than accidental. jay’s approach was different, more subtle, but still there. and jake—he made it obvious, not even bothering to hide his interest.

but jungwon? he kept his distance, observing from afar. that quiet, unassuming charm seemed to pull you in even more because he wasn’t actively trying. and that somehow made him all the more intriguing. still, you chalked it up to him maybe not being interested in you that way, especially since jake had made it pretty obvious he was marking his territory. it felt like jake was laying claim in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, always the first to lean in, touch, flirt.

but still, shit, if you hadn’t thought about what it would be like with jungwon. you’d caught him sparing glances, his eyes lingering in places they probably shouldn’t. there were times when his gaze dropped to questionable spots on your body, clearly checking you out. then again, maybe it was just because you were the only woman here, surrounded by a bunch of incredibly hot men. anyone would find themselves caught up in the situation.

and it wasn’t just jungwon who had your mind wandering. there was also heeseung—the commander. you swore he treated you differently, always softer, gentler, like he was holding back, but never once had he made a move. no teasing touches, no lingering looks, nothing. yet there was something there, something you couldn’t quite put your finger on. maybe it was the way he spoke to you in that calm, authoritative tone, or how his eyes would soften when they met yours, like he saw you differently than the others did.

you bit down on your own lip, fighting the urge to laugh at the obvious tension. no one was saying it outright, but it was there, hanging in the air, heavy and unmistakable. it felt like the kind of thing that could snap any second, and everyone in the room was feeling it.

sunghoon broke the silence with a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes. “let’s just make sure we don’t crash before placing any more bets,” he muttered, his tone sharp and a little irritated.

“don’t worry, sunghoon,” jake said smoothly, his eyes locked on yours, his voice dripping with amusement. “i’ll keep things running smoothly.”

sunghoon narrowed his eyes at jake but didn’t say anything else, turning back to his station. jay, leaning against the wall, watched the whole exchange like it was the best entertainment he’d had in days, clearly enjoying the show.

jake took that moment to lean in even closer, his breath brushing against the skin of your neck as he whispered, “you keep looking at me like that, and we might need to place some bets of our own.”

your pulse quickened at the low, teasing edge in his voice, heat crawling up your spine. with him this close, the rest of the room seemed to blur out of focus, your attention solely on him.

your lips parted, the retort on the tip of your tongue, but before you could get it out, the harsh crackle of the intercom cut through the air, yanking everyone back to reality.

heeseung’s voice came through, steady and calm as always, but there was something beneath the surface that made your stomach tighten with unease.

“crew, assemble in the command deck. mission control has an announcement.”

that tone—it was the one heeseung used when things were about to go south, the kind you didn’t want to hear after hours of routine checks and harmless flirting that had clearly gone a little too far. it sent alarm bells ringing in the back of your mind, a subtle but clear shift in the atmosphere.

jake, leaning against the console beside you, let his playful grin drop in an instant. “fuck me, it’s never good when they pull this shit out of nowhere,” he muttered, running a hand through his already messy hair. you could feel the shift in the room like a ripple effect.

the teasing smiles and soft tension that had been lingering between you and the guys vanished. the atmosphere flipped, like someone hit a switch. jungwon’s usual smirk was gone, his lips pressing into a firm line, while sunghoon tensed, his posture rigid. even jay, who had been laid back all day, was now frowning, eyes narrowed in concentration. whatever was coming—it wasn’t going to be good.

you stood, your legs still warm from the low-level banter with jake and testosterone that had been bouncing around, but now? now it was business.

something about heeseung’s voice was bugging you, gnawing at the back of your mind like a bad glitch in the system.

“guess those bets are gonna have to wait,” you said, forcing a small smile as you glanced at jake. you couldn’t ignore the way your stomach twisted with unease.

“shit timing, man,” jake groaned, stretching his arms above his head, muscles flexing under his shirt. “i was just getting comfortable.”

“figures,” jay muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “i was about to call it quits.”

jungwon, already moving, slipped out of his seat with a fluid grace, like switching to serious mode was second nature for him. his broad shoulders stretched against his uniform and lab coat, muscles shifting under the tight fabric as he stood, and for just a second too long, your eyes lingered, tracing the lines of his back, the way everything seemed to fit just right.

and, of course, jungwon felt your stare—because jungwon always knew. the guy was a master at reading people, catching the smallest details. his lips twitched into a ghost of a smirk, there and gone so fast you might’ve missed it if you hadn’t been watching him so closely. then, like nothing happened, he turned back to you, his expression all innocence, acting like he didn’t just catch you in the act.

“something on your mind?” his voice was casual, like he was asking about the weather, but there was an edge to it, like he was daring you to admit it. jungwon was sharp, always pushing just enough to see if you’d bite.

you bit back the heat rising in your chest, letting out a nervous laugh.

“just making sure you’re not dozing off, jungwon,” you shot back, trying to play it cool.

jungwon’s eyebrows raised slightly, that smirk threatening to break free again. “me? dozing off?” he asked, voice light, almost amused. “i’m always paying attention.” his tone was innocent, but his eyes betrayed him—sharp, knowing, like he’d caught every glance, every moment where you looked just a little too long.

“sure you are,” you muttered, trying to sound unfazed, but he wasn’t buying it. you could see it in the way his gaze flickered, like he was studying every inch of your reaction, storing it away for later.

jungwon stepped closer, just enough that you could feel the shift in the air. “i mean, if you’re concerned about someone falling asleep on the job,” he said, his voice a low hum now, “you could always keep an eye on me. make sure i’m awake.” the teasing lilt in his voice was undeniable, that playful edge mixed with something darker.

you raised an eyebrow, not backing down. “oh, i’ve been keeping an eye on you,” you said, leaning slightly into the banter, fully expecting him to pick up on it.

jungwon tilted his head, giving you that same innocent, wide-eyed look he always did. “me? what for?” he asked, voice light and casual, like he had no clue what you were hinting at. but you knew better. the twitch of his lips, the subtle spark in his eyes—he was toying with you, feigning dumb just enough to keep you guessing.

“you know,” you replied, smirking. “just making sure you’re staying out of trouble.”

he blinked, putting on that perfect act, eyes widening in mock surprise. “trouble? me? i’m the last person you need to worry about,” he said with a soft laugh, shaking his head like the whole idea was ridiculous.

you couldn’t help but laugh too, though you knew he wasn’t as innocent as he pretended. you think. “yeah, right. i’ll keep watching just in case,” you teased.

jungwon gave you a grin that almost reached his eyes but not quite. “i appreciate that,” he said, still playing along. “good to know i’ve got someone looking out for me.”

“yeah, just doing my duty,” you replied, leaning back with a smile. “someone’s gotta keep you in line.”

he chuckled softly, still keeping his playful, innocent mask firmly in place. “glad it’s you then,” he said, the teasing tone just subtle enough to be brushed off if you weren’t paying attention.

before you could respond, jay cut in, breaking the tension. “you two done flirting over there, or do i need to remind you that we’ve got work to do?”

jungwon gave you one last glance, feigning complete innocence like it was second nature. “flirting? who, us?” he asked, hands up in mock confusion, acting like he had no clue what jay was talking about. his expression was so pure, so convincing, you almost believed him—almost.

“nah,” jungwon continued, glancing at you with that perfectly innocent smile still plastered on his face. “if anyone’s flirting, it’s jake. guy’s always pushing it, don’t you think?” his tone was light, playful, like he was just tossing out a harmless observation, but you weren’t fooled. the glimmer of mischief in his eyes gave him away, and you knew exactly what he was doing.

jay, standing nearby, let out a quiet chuckle but kept his mouth shut, his eyes glancing between the two of you. he knew what jungwon was up to. jungwon could act innocent all he wanted, and jay would let it slide, just like always.

you rolled your eyes, though a grin tugged at your lips. jungwon’s act might have fooled some, but not you. still, you had to admit, the guy was good at it—too good. maybe he didn’t like you that way, but there was something off about how he was always just a little too nice, too innocent. but every now and then, there were moments, brief flickers in his demeanor that made you second-guess everything.

sometimes, when you caught him in mid-conversation with jay or the others, jungwon had this dark, almost dangerous look in his eyes, something that sent a chill down your spine but also made your heart race. it was quick, barely noticeable, but you saw it. the way his gaze would sharpen, his posture shift, giving him this magnetic, almost sexy air—like there was something much deeper under the surface. but the second he noticed you watching? it was gone, just like that. the sweet, innocent jungwon was back in place, all smiles and charm, as if nothing had happened.

“sure, jake’s the problem,” you teased, crossing your arms and giving jungwon a pointed look, trying to push past the lingering feeling. “and you’re just an innocent bystander?”

jungwon flashed you that same too-perfect smile, the one that made you question everything. “exactly. glad you get it,” he said smoothly, his voice still dripping with that fake innocence. it was infuriating—and yet, you couldn’t look away.

jay smirked from the sidelines, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth, but something about his silence made you think he knew more than he let on. maybe he saw those shifts in jungwon too, but he wasn’t going to say a word. it was their unspoken game, and for some reason, you were caught right in the middle of it.

and as much as you wanted to believe jungwon was just being his usual self, there was that nagging feeling that he was hiding something—something deeper, darker. and whatever it was, he was damn good at keeping it locked away, only letting it slip for those brief, fleeting moments.

the command deck was only a few steps away, the harsh artificial lighting of the station bouncing off the metal walls, making everything feel a bit too sterile. the constant hum of the oxygen recycler, the faint buzz of power coursing through the conduits—it all seemed louder, more oppressive. through the small viewport, earth was a tiny blue dot, so far away it might as well have been a dream.

jake shuffled next to you, still grumbling. “i don’t even wanna fucking know what this is about.”

sunghoon adjusted his belt with an irritated sigh. “they’re always screwing with us. i swear it’s a hobby at this point.” his gaze flicked toward you, lingering a little longer than normal, like he was sizing you up, figuring out where you fit in all this.

you could feel it—the shift that happened when you joined the crew. it wasn’t just them orbiting each other anymore. now they were orbiting you too, and it added a new kind of tension to the mix.

jay, walking ahead, threw out a comment, trying to lighten the mood. “well, let’s hope this isn’t another fucking disaster,” he said with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

you chuckled, trying to play along despite the unease creeping up your spine. “couldn’t be worse than the last shitshow, right?”

jake snorted, shaking his head. “you just fucking jinxed it. guarantee it’s something that’s gonna screw us for weeks.”

jungwon, who had been walking silently behind, slipped his holo-pad into his jacket, joining the group with his usual calm, but you caught the way his eyes flicked to you for a moment, like he was gauging your reaction. “maybe they’re sending us home early,” he joked, though his voice was edged with something darker, like even he didn’t believe his own words.

“yeah, right,” sunghoon muttered, clearly not in the mood. “in your dreams, jungwon.”

the tension was thick enough to cut through as you all stepped into the command deck. it felt like heading into a goddamn spacewalk—no tether, just the vast, cold unknown ahead.

heeseung was already at the controls, fingers hovering over the panel like he could feel the tension coming through the damn console. you grabbed the nearest handrail, grounding yourself. things felt off, and you weren’t sure why.

the screen flickered to life, and director park’s face appeared, colder than usual. no smiles, no pleasantries—just straight to the point. “moonstruck crew, we’ve got a situation.” his voice was clipped, professional, but you could tell by the look in his eyes this wasn’t going to be good. “the solar flares we’ve been tracking are escalating.”

jake leaned in beside you, muttering under his breath, “fuck. here it comes.”

park’s voice pressed on, the severity of the situation sinking in with every word. “the flares are causing massive disruptions in our satellite systems. communication relays are going dark, and we’re seeing more anomalies than we can manage.”

“how bad?” sunghoon’s voice cut through the silence, the tension in his posture making it clear he didn’t want bullshit.

park didn’t flinch. “bad enough that we’re preparing for the possibility of losing comms with you entirely. we’re working on solutions, but if things continue at this rate...”

jungwon, who had been silent, gripped the handrail beside you, his knuckles white. “what’s the plan if comms go dark?”

park’s face hardened slightly, but his words carried the weight of what he wasn’t saying. “if comms fail completely, you’re to operate autonomously. same mission parameters. keep the station operational, gather data, and manage any onboard emergencies.”

that word—autonomously—hung in the air like dead weight. you’d trained for this, sure, but knowing you could be completely cut off from earth? that shit hi

jake’s voice was low, barely above a whisper. “autonomously? that’s just a fancy way of saying we’re fucked.”

you didn’t respond, trying to focus on what park was saying, but your mind was spinning. the station was okay—livable, sure—but the entire crew had been counting down the days to go home, expecting to leave this floating tin can behind in a week. now this?

heeseung, ever the level-headed commander, spoke up, though the tension in his voice was clear. “how long are we talking for comms disruption?”

park’s answer was grim. “it’s unpredictable. prepare for the worst.”

the air in the command deck felt thinner, the silence stretching on as you all processed what that could mean. the silence stretched thin, like the air was getting sucked out of the room. you could feel it—the weight of what was about to come next. you glanced at heeseung, and for a moment, his usual unreadable expression cracked, just slightly.

“there’s more,” park continued, his voice dropping, tension thickening with each word. “due to the solar activity, we’re extending your mission by six months, maybe even longer depending on how this situation develops.”

six. fucking. months.

the room went dead silent, the weight of the news hitting like a meteor impact—sudden, brutal, and impossible to ignore. six more months in this goddamn floating tin can, with only the crew and the tension that had been building for weeks.

jake was the first to speak, muttering a curse under his breath, his disbelief clear. “six fucking months? are you serious?”

sunghoon, usually composed, looked visibly rattled. “that’s... a lot. how are we supposed to handle that?”

jay’s voice was low, like he was still processing it, trying to make sense of what park had just said. “this is so fucked. we were supposed to be out of here in a week.”

jungwon’s hand tightened on the handrail, knuckles turning white. “six months? you’re asking for more than just an extension. this is going to fuck with all of us.”

park’s voice softened, but the urgency never left. “i know it’s a lot to take in, but you’re the best crew for this. you’ve been trained to handle high-pressure environments. the station’s livable, yes, and you have everything you need to survive up there. we’ve accounted for every contingency.”

jake scoffed, shaking his head. “livable? sure, for the short term, maybe. but six months? have you ever been up here, park?”

sunghoon added, his voice more frustrated. “the showers barely work half the time, the recycling system is always on the fritz, and we’re running on supplies that are stretched thin. we weren’t built for long-term isolation like this. not in a space this small.”

jay chimed in, crossing his arms, his frustration clear. “and the mental strain is real. sure, we’ve got the simulation pods, but they’re fucking inaccessible half the time. and yeah, we’ve got a gym and a greenhouse, but it’s not enough.”

his words hung in the air, the truth of it sinking in. the pods, meant to simulate different environments, had been glitching for weeks. the gym felt claustrophobic, and the greenhouse, while functional, was no replacement for real sunlight or fresh air. everything was a poor imitation of the outside world.

you glanced around the room, feeling the weight of their words. they were right. sure, the station was technically livable, but it wasn’t built for long-term comfort. the walls were cold metal, the air always felt too thin, and the hum of the station’s machinery never stopped. it was like living in the belly of a beast that never slept. and there was no real privacy. you could hear every breath, every sigh, every murmur from your crewmates. even when you were alone, you never felt alone.

park remained composed, but there was an edge in his voice now. “i understand your concerns, but this mission is critical. the solar flares are causing anomalies that we can’t monitor from earth alone. you’re our eyes and ears out there. without you, we’re blind.”

sunghoon leaned against the wall, his voice low but sharp. “we’ve been holding it together, barely. the systems are breaking down. the food’s already shit, the recycling filters are running on fumes, and we’ve had more malfunctions in the last few weeks than i can count.”

he motioned toward jake, the station’s engineer, who had been pacing the room, his jaw clenched. “jake’s been patching things up with duct tape and prayers. we’re hanging on by a thread here.”

jake stopped, crossing his arms, his frustration palpable. “yeah, and there’s only so much i can do. half of these systems were designed for short-term use. long-term? they’re falling apart, and if something critical goes down—” he paused, shaking his head. “it won’t be a fucking quick fix. if the oxygen recyclers or water filtration systems fail, we’re done. no one’s making it out of here.”

jay nodded, adding to the frustration. “and what happens if something does go wrong? if we lose a critical system or something fails? you want us to keep patching things up with duct tape and good intentions?”

park sighed, clearly trying to remain diplomatic. “we’ve sent additional supplies, and we’re working on increasing your resources. you’re the most trained crew we have for this type of mission, and we believe in your ability to handle the situation. we’re also increasing mental health check-ins to ensure everyone’s stability.”

jungwon, standing quietly near the edge of the group, was silently fuming. as the station’s medic, he had seen the toll this mission was taking on everyone—mentally and physically.

the gym might give the illusion that everyone was staying strong, looking like they spent every hour working out, but he knew the truth. their health was deteriorating. the recycled air, the lack of sunlight, the poor rations—it was all starting to wear them down in ways that weren’t immediately obvious.

jungwon scoffed, his grip on the handrail tightening. “mental health check-ins? you think that’s going to keep us from going crazy up here? it’s not that simple, and you know it.”

heeseung, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice calm but laced with frustration. “director, we get that this mission is important. we understand the stakes. but you’re asking us to survive in conditions that are barely sustainable. you can’t just push us into six more months without considering the toll this will take—on the station, and on us.”

park’s voice softened further, but the urgency never left. “i understand. i do. but right now, there’s no option to pull you out. the solar activity makes it impossible. we’re doing everything we can to support you, but the reality is, you’re the only ones who can monitor this situation. we can’t afford to lose that data.”

jake let out a bitter laugh. “so we’re just supposed to tough it out, huh? keep collecting your data while we go stir-crazy up here.”

sunghoon rubbed his temples, clearly exhausted by the conversation. “what’s the backup plan then? if something goes wrong, if someone reaches their breaking point, what then? what’s your contingency for when this station becomes a ticking time bomb?”

park paused for a moment, his voice steady but not without empathy. “if things escalate, we’ll do everything in our power to help remotely. but right now, pulling you out isn’t an option. i understand your frustrations, but this mission is critical. i need all of you to stay focused and work together. we’re depending on you.”

the silence that followed was heavy. six months—or more—trapped in this tin can, with no real backup, no escape plan. you looked at the others—jake, pacing, his hands clenched into fists; sunghoon, leaning back with a deep sigh; jay, arms crossed, staring at the ground like he couldn’t even process what was happening. and jungwon, his calm exterior cracking, his knuckles still white from gripping the handrail.

heeseung finally spoke again, his voice steady, though you could hear the frustration beneath the surface. “we’ll make the adjustments. but we need more than promises. we need to know hq is working around the clock to get us out of here as soon as possible.”

park nodded. “understood. i’ll relay your concerns to the team. stay strong, moonstruck crew. we’re with you.”

the screen flickered off, leaving the room in an oppressive silence, the weight of those extra six months hanging over everyone like a dark cloud. you couldn't even speak, you stayed mute, but the reality of it all sank in.

sure, life on moonstruck wasn’t bad—not by space standards. the technology was cutting-edge, the station a marvel of human ingenuity. it wasn’t like the old days when being in space felt like living in a glorified metal box with freeze-dried food and endless isolation. they had advanced systems, better equipment, and theoretically, with the right resources, people could live up here for extended periods. hell, some scientists even argued they could live indefinitely.

but no matter how good things seemed, the world up here still felt too fucking small. the constant hum of machinery, the artificial light cycles, the recycled air—it all pressed down on you, making the station feel like a cage. and it was still dangerous, despite all the advancements. it all relied on the station’s materials holding up and the crew not losing their minds in the process. one critical system failure, one breakdown in the wrong area, and everything could go to shit fast.

but it was the little things that got to you. the urge to hang out with friends, to grab a drink at a bar, to feel the grass under your feet. the constant artificial gravity was great and all, but nothing compared to the feeling of being grounded—literally. you missed the sound of the wind, the way it rustled through trees, the sun warming your face. six months of the same sterile environment, with the same faces, the same endless tasks. there was no escape, no break. not even a weekend to fucking decompress.

even the smallest interactions with normal life felt like a distant memory. you missed your neighbors, the weird small talk you used to have when you bumped into each other on the way to the store.

you missed being able to disconnect, to get away from it all. up here, everything was work. there was no vacation. no breaks. you couldn’t just take a day off to do nothing or have a spontaneous hangout. it was all regulated, down to the very last minute. sure, you were living “great” compared to the early days of space exploration, but that didn’t change the fact that you felt trapped.

and the tension? that was another beast altogether. you could see it in the way the others shifted, their eyes glancing at you, at each other. it wasn’t just the mission anymore—it was personal. the walls of this place felt smaller with each passing day, and with six more months added, the edges were starting to blur.

and you were 100% sure that everyone was feeling the exact same thing.

you could see it in their eyes, the way they avoided each other’s gaze, the way their movements had become more tense, more deliberate. the unspoken frustration was practically suffocating. six more months in this metal cage, with nothing but endless routines and tight schedules, and everyone’s patience was hanging by a thread.

it wasn’t just about missing normal life—it was about the lives they’d left behind. you weren’t the only one who had things waiting back on earth. every single one of them had something—someone—that made their time in space feel like a fucking sacrifice. jake, always talking about wild parties, family, his friends back home, the endless nights of fun. jay, who used to live for adventure, had an entire life built around freedom, spontaneity, and chasing the thrill of life. you couldn’t even begin to imagine how much he missed it all.

sunghoon, with his cool, collected exterior, probably had a circle of people that kept things light, kept things fun. the kind of guy who had it all laid out for him back on earth, able to enjoy whatever the hell he wanted—no limits, no fucking mission weighing him down. and heeseung? he might have been the steady commander up here, but back on earth, he probably had everything under control in ways that didn’t involve space suits and daily checklists. the kind of life where people admired him, looked up to him. and now, here, that meant jack shit.

jungwon was the mystery, but even he couldn’t be immune. nobody could survive this kind of isolation and pressure without feeling the weight of what they’d given up. they all had incredible lives back home—lives filled with excitement, freedom, and people who probably missed the hell out of them. fun times, late nights, stupid laughter. a world that didn’t revolve around mission objectives and the cold vacuum of space.

six more months of this, and none of you would be the same. there was a reason none of you talked much about earth anymore—hell, it wasn’t like anyone needed to ask. you all knew. bringing up the life you left behind, the freedom you once had, would only make the weight of this place heavier. everyone missed it—missed their lives, their people, the things that made everything feel less suffocating. but talking about it? that would just rip open the wound.

so, you avoided it, every single one of you. it was easier to stay absorbed in this tiny, artificial world that had been built around you, where everything revolved around mission objectives and survival. it kept you busy, kept you from spiraling. you clung to your roles, routines, schedules—anything that distracted from the gnawing ache that life outside this tin can felt like a distant memory. even the smallest reminder of earth would hit like a punch to the gut.

there were nights—long, silent ones—where you could feel everyone wrestling with the same thoughts, the same longing for what they’d left behind. but no one talked about it, because what was the point?

the truth was, you weren’t just missing earth. you were missing yourselves—who you were before this mission swallowed you whole. six more months felt like a lifetime.

heeseung was the first to break the silence, his voice calm but heavy with the weight of leadership. “you heard him. jake, run a full systems check. jay, recalibrate the data streams and make sure we’re getting accurate readings. sunghoon, adjust the navigation plans in case we need to change course. jungwon, inventory the medical and ration supplies. we need to know exactly what we have left.”

then his eyes landed on you. for a brief moment, they softened, a flicker of concern flashing before his usual stern expression returned. “and you,” he said, his tone firm, “start analyzing the incoming data for any anomalies. we need to stay ahead of this.”

as you nodded, already preparing to dive into your work, heeseung paused, his gaze lingering a little longer. “you okay, y/n? you’ve been quiet.”

his question caught you off guard, but it wasn’t just him noticing. the others glanced your way, their attention breaking from the task at hand. the air was thick with tension, and everyone had been caught up in their own frustrations and worries, but now, the focus was briefly on you.

you took a breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "yeah, just... processing," you replied, offering a small smile, though you weren't sure if it convinced anyone.

heeseung studied you for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly, like he was weighing whether to press further. but then, he gave a short nod, accepting your response for now. "alright. if anything feels off, speak up."

the others shifted back into their tasks, though you could still feel their glances lingering, especially jake, who had stopped pacing and was now watching you with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"yeah, if you need to vent, we're all stuck in this tin can together," jake added with a smirk, though the attempt at humor felt half-hearted. his eyes softened after the joke, his usual bravado slipping for a second. "seriously, though. you good?"

sunghoon grunted from where he was adjusting the navigation controls. "we're all a little off. six months of this shit... anyone would be.”

jay glanced up from his station, recalibrating the data streams. “yeah, y/n, don't let the weight of this mission get to you. we’ve made it this far. we can handle it.”

jungwon, who had been quiet while organizing medical supplies, looked up, his usual calm demeanor masking whatever thoughts were running through his head. “take it easy,” he said softly, his tone gentler than the others. “don’t let it build up.”

you appreciated their concern, but you knew they were all struggling in their own ways. everyone was dealing with the looming pressure of the extended mission. and now, you were expected to push forward like nothing had changed, but everything had changed. six more months felt like an eternity up here, no matter how advanced the station was.

“i’m fine, really,” you replied, more confidently this time, trying to shake off the tension in the room. “just need to focus on the data. let’s get through this.”

heeseung gave you one last look before turning back to the command panel. “good. because we're going to need everyone at their best.”

the rest of the crew nodded in agreement, but the atmosphere in the room remained heavy. they all went back to their tasks, the sound of beeping consoles and quiet murmurs filling the space once again.

after hours of working in tense silence, the crew finally called it a day. the command deck felt suffocating, so everyone silently migrated to the common room—the one place on the station that still felt somewhat comfortable. it was small but functional—basic chairs, a table in the middle, and a view of the stars that stretched endlessly through a nearby viewport. it wasn’t much, but it was the closest thing to a break they could get.

everyone settled in. sunghoon dropped into a chair with a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “i don’t care what park says—this is a goddamn prison sentence.”

jay leaned back in his seat, eyes half-closed as he massaged his temples. “no shit. we’re supposed to be monitoring anomalies, not testing how long it takes for us to lose it up here.” he let out a low, bitter laugh. “we’re stuck playing scientists in a tin can while hq watches us like rats in a maze.”

jake, sprawled out on the small couch, smirked. “at least rats get cheese. all we’ve got is freeze-dried crap and those ancient-ass board games they sent us.” he motioned to the shelf in the corner of the room, where a stack of old, beat-up games sat collecting dust. monopoly, chess, even a deck of cards that looked like it’d been shuffled a thousand times.

“seriously, who the hell sent monopoly? it’s like they want us to hate each other.”

jungwon chuckled from his spot near the viewport, the stars reflecting in his eyes. “you thought the mission extension was bad—try losing your entire empire because someone landed on your hotel.”

jay snorted, shaking his head. “if that’s the best hq can offer to keep us sane, we’re screwed.”

you sat at the table, staring at the games, a small smile tugging at your lips despite the weight of the situation. “they couldn’t even send anything new? these are older than all of us combined. who still plays monopoly?”

sunghoon grumbled, crossing his arms. “i’d rather stare at the stars than lose my mind playing some ancient game.”

jake rolled his eyes. “hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. it’s better than nothing. besides, what else are we gonna do? stare at each other for six more months?”

jungwon, still gazing out the viewport, spoke up, his voice thoughtful. “it’s not just the boredom. it’s everything and i cannot stress this enough—the routine, the isolation, the food, the lack of real sunlight. it’s all starting to take its toll. we can joke about board games, but we need more than that to keep it together.”

heeseung, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, nodded. “jungwon’s right. the mission’s important, but we’re going to have to make sure no one cracks under the pressure.”

jay shrugged, looking over at the stack of games. “guess we better get used to those ‘ancient’ games then. might be all that stands between us and losing it.”

jake laughed, shaking his head. “if monopoly’s our only shot at sanity, we’re in deep shit.”

“maybe it won’t be so bad,” you said, trying to keep the mood light. “i mean, we’ve got stars, shitty coffee, and monopoly. what more could we ask for?”

“a way off this station,” sunghoon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

the idea that at any moment, everything could come crashing down was a fear none of them could shake, no matter how much training they had. sure, they had prepared for this, trained for every conceivable scenario. but no amount of preparation could erase the primal fear of dying in space—the most isolated, unforgiving place imaginable.

it was silent for a moment as they all seemed to realize the gravity of their situation. their gazes drifted toward you, sitting quietly by the viewport, staring out into the endless void. the stars, distant and indifferent, reflected in your eyes. you were a reminder of something real in the midst of all this emptiness. and it hit them all at once—they were royally fucked.

jake, sunghoon, jay, jungwon, and heeseung—each of them felt it. the thought gnawed at the back of their minds, the fear that the station could fail, that one malfunction could spell the end for all of them. dying in space wasn’t like any other death. it was cold, slow, painful. the idea of suffocating in the void, with no one to save them, sent a chill down their spines.

but it wasn’t just the fear of the station failing that weighed on them. it was you.

you were sitting there, oblivious to the way they were all watching you. your presence had become both a lifeline and a source of complication. you were what kept them sane, gave them something to focus on besides the crushing monotony and the constant threat of death in space.

they all stared at each other, then back at you. the tension had always been there, but now, with the mission extended, the cracks were starting to show. you weren’t just a crewmate. your presence was something that grounded them, kept them tethered to reality. but it was also a source of distraction, a reminder of things they couldn’t have.

jake shifted in his seat, trying to break the tension with his usual cocky grin. “so… anyone up for a round of monopoly?” he said, his voice light but with just enough edge to suggest he wasn’t entirely kidding. no one laughed, but the tension broke just slightly as heeseung shook his head with a smirk.

“god, jake, of all the ways to torture us…” heeseung muttered, leaning back against the wall.

jay, on the other hand, sat up straight, cracking his knuckles with a grin. “you know what? i’d rather deal with monopoly than sit here feeling like we’re all doomed. at least i can bankrupt you guys and call it a victory.” he glanced at you briefly, then quickly looked away, his smile faltering for just a second before he shrugged. “but it’s getting harder.”

you turned away from the viewport, catching the tail end of the conversation, your eyes flicking between the guys, sensing something more beneath the surface of their banter. “what’s getting harder?” you asked, your voice steady, but a hint of curiosity slipped through.

“my dick,” jay said, barely suppressing a smirk. the room went dead quiet, the tension thick as his eyes flickered between you and the others. for a second, it was like no one could believe what he had just said.

then jake snorted, breaking the silence, a grin spreading across his face. “jesus christ, jay,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief, though the corners of his mouth were twitching with amusement.

heeseung, leaning against the wall, couldn’t help but chuckle, though he tried to cover it with a cough. “man, you really had to go there, didn’t you?”

sunghoon let out a low groan, rubbing his temples. “we’re losing it already. it’s been, what, a few hours since the mission got extended? this is gonna be a long six months.”

jay, still smirking, raised his hands in mock defense. “hey, i’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

you blinked, momentarily thrown off by his comment, but then the absurdity of the situation hit you, and before you could stop yourself, a laugh bubbled up from your chest. it wasn’t just jay’s crass remark—it was everything. the tension, the pressure, the ridiculousness of being stuck in a space station with no real escape. somehow, laughing felt like the only thing that made sense right now.

“well, at least someone’s honest,” you said, trying to stifle the laughter but failing.

jungwon, who had been quiet in his seat, shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “we’re doomed,” he muttered, though there was a trace of amusement in his voice. "completely doomed.”

the tension in the room finally seemed to break, the absurdity of the moment lightening the weight that had been pressing down on all of you.

it had been a few weeks since the announcement, and honestly, everyone had settled back into the routine. but the tension, that underlying current of frustration, isolation, and desire, was always there—just beneath the surface. the close quarters, the monotony of work, and the impossibility of real privacy made it harder to ignore the weight of being stuck up here together for six more months.

conversations had gotten more pointed, more loaded with subtext. no one said it outright, but it was clear that everyone was feeling it. little moments became bigger than they should’ve been—brushing past each other in the hallways, stolen glances across the command deck, lingering touches that felt too casual to be casual.

that’s why, as you stood at your station reviewing the latest data, it didn’t surprise you when jake sidled up beside you. his voice was low, teasing but with that same underlying edge that had crept into all your interactions lately.

“so, what’s your read on heeseung?” he asked, his tone almost playful, but there was something more there. “you always seem to know what’s going on with him before the rest of us.”

the conversation didn’t come out of nowhere. tension had been building between heeseung and the rest of the crew for days. he was the leader, sure, but his quiet demeanor had turned into something more unreadable lately. the others had started noticing it too—the way he seemed distant, more focused, like he was carrying the weight of this mission alone. and maybe, in a way, he was. but jake, ever the one to push boundaries, wasn’t content to leave it unspoken.

you smirked, not missing the competitive edge in jake’s tone. “i just pay attention,” you replied coolly.

the room went quiet for a beat, your words hanging in the air like a challenge. jay, who had been lazily flipping through his data stream, suddenly looked at you with new intensity, his usual lighthearted expression slipping for a moment. even sunghoon, who had been running system diagnostics nearby, paused, glancing over at you with a raised eyebrow, clearly impressed.

it wasn’t lost on anyone that your dynamic with heeseung had shifted in recent weeks. whether it was because of the pressure, the isolation, or something else entirely, no one could say for sure. but they noticed. heeseung had been watching you more closely, leaning on you for decisions that seemed to go beyond the scope of your role. and you? well, you couldn’t deny that there was something magnetic about him—the quiet control, the unspoken intensity.

jake leaned in a little closer, his smirk widening. “you sure it’s just ‘paying attention’? feels like there’s more going on there.”

you rolled your eyes, though your heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. “jake, not everything is a competition.”

“maybe not,” he said, shrugging casually, though his eyes flicked to heeseung’s empty chair, “but it’s more fun when it is.”

sunghoon, ever the observer, chimed in, his voice low but amused. “he’s not wrong, though. you seem to have a pretty good read on him. better than the rest of us.”

“he’s not easy to read,” jay finally said, his voice more serious than before. “doesn’t let much slip.”

“he doesn’t have to,” you said, glancing toward where heeseung had been standing moments before. “he’s good at hiding things, but if you watch close enough, you’ll see what he’s trying not to show.”

jake raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but trying to keep it casual. “yeah? and what’s he hiding right now?”

you shrugged, keeping it vague but knowing full well the answer. “a lot of weight. he’s the one who has to hold everything together when shit goes sideways. doesn’t mean he isn’t feeling it too.”

there was a pause, and the others were watching you now, subtle but noticeable. they didn’t expect you to be this observant, to have picked up so much about their dynamic.

it wasn’t like you were an outsider anymore, but the fact that you could read between the lines—could get a read on heeseung of all people—that was what got to them.

jay’s smirk had all but disappeared, his gaze flickering between you and jake, like he was reassessing the situation. jungwon, who normally wore that smug, knowing smile, was surprisingly quiet, eyes narrowed as he processed your words. even sunghoon, who always played it cool, looked a little rattled.

jay let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a smirk. “shit, you really do have us all figured out, don’t you?”

you grinned, keeping your tone light but teasing. “maybe. or maybe i’m just good at pretending.”

jungwon, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, finally spoke up, though his tone was measured and careful, like he didn’t want to give too much away. “you’ve always been observant. it’s one of the reasons you’re here, right?”

there was no flirtatious edge to his voice, nothing that hinted at anything more, but you could see the way his eyes lingered on you for just a moment too long before he looked away, his smirk fading into something more serious.

you shot him a look, your grin widening just a little. “never said i wasn’t paying attention.”

the air in the room shifted. it felt like they were all starting to realize just how much attention you had been paying to each of them, and not just to the obvious stuff either. the subtle looks, the way they held themselves when they thought no one was watching, the quiet moments when they let their guard down. and somehow, that made them see you in a new light.

the fact that you could read them so well wasn’t just impressive—it was incredibly attractive. fucking intelligent and sexy, and you could feel the change in the way they were looking at you.

they exchanged glances, small, almost imperceptible nods of approval, you were someone who kept them on their toes, someone who saw more than they let on. and that? that was dangerous, in the best way possible.

jake leaned in closer, his voice dropping low enough so only you could hear. “so, what do you think heeseung’s next move is?” his breath brushed against your ear, and though his tone was casual, there was an undercurrent of competition—like he was testing you, wanting to see just how sharp your observations really were.

you smirked, not missing a beat. “he’s going to keep the pressure on, try to make it seem like everything’s fine. but he’s close to breaking. give it a few days, and you’ll see him crack.”

jake raised an eyebrow, impressed but not ready to let you off that easily. “you really think you’ve got him figured out, huh?”

“oh, i know it,” you whispered back, leaning in just enough to match his energy. “watch and learn.”

jake chuckled under his breath, shaking his head but clearly intrigued. “we’ll see.”

as you straightened up, ready to walk toward heeseung, jake leaned in, his voice low and teasing, but laced with genuine curiosity. “what are you gonna do?” he asked, his eyes following your every move.

honestly, you didn’t know. your plan, if you even had one, felt shaky at best. part of you wanted to push heeseung, to see if you could make him crack, but then doubt crept in. what if it backfires?

heeseung was so good at keeping his cool, always composed even when the pressure was unbearable. still, the way he’d been holding himself lately, like he was barely keeping it together, made you think that if anyone could get a reaction out of him, it might be you.

your heart raced as you considered your options. flirting? yeah, that might piss him off. but would that be such a bad thing? maybe you wanted to see what he’d do if you pushed him just a little too far. hell, it wasn’t like you had a better idea.

you shot jake a knowing glance, not bothering to answer as you made your way toward heeseung’s station. the silence in the room felt thick, charged with anticipation.

you could feel everyone’s eyes on you, their curiosity palpable. jungwon, jay, and sunghoon all exchanged glances, clearly wondering what the hell you were planning. even jake, always ready with a joke, was unusually quiet as he watched you approach.

heeseung was barely keeping it together. he was focused on his console, fingers flying over the controls as he reviewed data, his posture tense. he hadn’t noticed you yet, too wrapped up in his work—or maybe just too good at pretending not to notice.

you stopped just short of his station, taking a deep breath before leaning in slightly, your voice soft but deliberate. “everything okay over here, commander?”

heeseung didn’t look up, his jaw tight as he responded. “fine. just keeping things in line.”

you tilted your head, stepping a little closer, your heart pounding. fuck it, here goes nothing.

“you sure about that? you look like you’re ready to blow.” the words were out before you could second-guess yourself, the teasing tone more daring than you’d intended.

shit, why’d you have to say that? his mind raced, heart pounding in his chest. you had no idea what you were doing to him. no fucking idea how close he was to snapping, not just from the mission, but from the way you made him feel. the way his body reacted to every word you said, every time you looked at him like that. and right now? fuck, he was hanging by a thread.

"what are you getting at?" heeseung managed to say, his voice steadier than he felt. he was trying to keep his cool, but fuck, your presence was throwing him off balance. he didn’t need this right now. didn’t need you making him feel things when all he wanted was to keep the damn station running and his emotions in check.

heeseung finally looked up, his eyes locking onto yours, and for a split second, you saw it—a flicker of something darker, more intense. but just as quickly, it was gone, his expression hardening again.

but before you could push him further, an alert blared through the station. the sudden, shrill sound cut through the tension like a knife. the crew jumped into action, immediately gathering around the central console as the error message flashed across the screen.

warning: pressure threshold exceeded in sector 4. immediate attention required.

heeseung’s expression hardened, his jaw clenched as he processed the information. you saw the shift in him—gone was the cool, calm commander, he moved quickly to the console, his fingers flying over the controls as he tried to get more information.

“sector 4? that’s not supposed to be under strain right now,” sunghoon muttered, his tone sharp.

jay was already analyzing the data streams. “it’s a sensor malfunction… or worse, a real breach.”

“fuck,” jungwon added under his breath, his usual calm slipping.

heeseung’s movements grew more erratic as he tried to troubleshoot the issue, but nothing was working. the error message kept flashing, the pressure levels rising dangerously in sector 4. frustration was boiling over, and you could feel it in the air.

“goddammit,” heeseung growled, slamming his fist down on the console with a loud crack.

the entire room froze.

the force of his punch broke one of the buttons clean off, sending it flying across the console. for a second, no one moved, all eyes on heeseung as his chest heaved, the tension spilling out in a rare, explosive moment of anger.

the sound of the button clattering to the floor was the only thing breaking the silence.

heeseung stood there for a moment, staring at the console, the broken button lying pathetically on the floor. his hand was still clenched in a fist, knuckles white. you could see the strain in his expression, the way he was struggling to pull himself back from the edge.

slowly, he exhaled, trying to regain control. his jaw tightened as he straightened up, forcing his voice to sound composed, though it was clear he was barely holding it together.

“fix it,” he said, his tone clipped and strained.

jake, who had been standing just a few feet away, raised an eyebrow. “fix what? the error or… your temper?” his smirk was back, but even he was treading carefully.

heeseung shot him a glare, though there was a flicker of humor behind the anger. “the button, jake. fix the damn button.”

jake let out a breath, shaking his head but smiling as he bent down to pick up the shattered piece of plastic. “you know, breaking things isn’t gonna help, commander. next time, maybe don’t punch the console.”

heeseung’s lips twitched, the tension easing just slightly. “just fix it.”

as jake crouched to start working on the damaged button, the rest of the crew slowly relaxed, the intensity of the moment dissolving into something almost… absurd. jay let out a low chuckle, leaning back in his chair.

“you really went for it, huh?” jay muttered, his voice low but amused. “didn’t know you had it in you.”

sunghoon smirked, crossing his arms. “better the console than one of us.”

heeseung shook his head, finally managing a faint smile. “you want to be next?”

you, still standing nearby, couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the exchange. it was an intense moment, but somehow, the humor in it lightened the mood. you glanced at jake, who was still fiddling with the broken button, and then at heeseung, who was now standing with his arms crossed, his attempt at composure just barely holding.

“what?” jake said, looking up at you with a grin. “you think you can do better?”

you rolled your eyes, but the smile never left your face. “just hurry up and fix it, jake.”

heeseung took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering frustration and straightening up. his shoulders relaxed slightly as he regained control, his usual composed demeanor sliding back into place. "and jake, once you're done with that, finish patching the system. i want that error cleared ASAP." his voice was firm but steady now, the edge of anger gone.

jake gave a mock salute, grinning as he worked on fixing the console. "on it, commander. try not to break anything else while i’m at it."

heeseung shot him a dry look but didn’t bother with a retort, his mind already shifting to what needed to be done next.

he scanned the room, making eye contact with each crew member, his tone taking on a new level of seriousness. "once the system’s back online, everyone meet in the common room. we need to talk."

you felt the weight of his words settle over the room. this wasn’t just a casual debrief. whatever heeseung had in mind, it was clearly something important.

“jay, monitor the pressure levels in sector 4. make sure we don’t have any more malfunctions like that,” heeseung continued, his voice low but authoritative.

“got it,” jay replied, already pulling up the necessary data streams, his earlier humor replaced by focus.

heeseung’s gaze flicked over to jungwon and sunghoon. “jungwon, run a full diagnostic on the medical equipment. make sure everything is in working order. sunghoon, double-check the navigation systems. i don’t want any surprises while we’re fixing this.”

“on it,” jungwon said, his calm demeanor returning as he moved to his station, though you caught a glimpse of concern in his eyes.

sunghoon nodded, already tapping away at his console. “navigation’s been stable, but i’ll make sure everything’s tight.”

heeseung took another deep breath, his hands briefly gripping the edge of the console as if to steady himself. then, his eyes landed on you. “i need you to finish the anomaly report. If there’s anything unusual, anything that looks even remotely off, flag it immediately.”

heeseung exhaled, pushing away from the console. “once we’re done here, meet in the common room. we need to talk through what’s coming next.”

with that, he turned on his heel and left the room, the tension following him like a shadow.

"well, shit," jay muttered, sinking heavily into one of the chairs in the common room. heeseung finally called them for a meeting, one long overdue, and in a way, everyone had been looking forward to it—hoping maybe it would mean things could shift, make the extension a little more bearable.

disappointment and exhaustion clung to every movement, and you could feel the pressure. heeseung was sick of it; you could tell by the way his foot tapped restlessly on the floor, something you rarely saw from him.

you slipped into your seat, feeling the uncomfortable cling of your uniform against your skin. everyone was stealing glances at you—quick, fleeting, but obvious enough to notice.

heeseung sat in the middle, trying to maintain his usual calm, but the tapping of his foot gave him away. "we need a plan," he finally said, his voice clipped, like every word took effort. "they didn’t give us much of a choice, but just following orders isn’t working anymore. we need to gain some control back." his gaze flicked toward you for a moment before settling back on the table, his posture sagging under the weight of the situation.

"eighteen fucking months," sunghoon grumbled, his fingers tapping against the table, frustration clearly bubbling beneath the surface. "twelve was already pushing it, but six more?" his eyes lingered on yours for a beat too long before looking away. "we’re all gonna lose our goddamn minds."

across from you, jake rolled that damn baseball between his fingers, the one he’d brought on board from earth, his constant anchor. his hand brushed yours as he reached for something, and the brief touch ignited a spark of heat between you. you couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes held yours for just a second longer than usual, that unspoken pull between you two bubbling up again.

he smirked, just a hint of it pulling at the corner of his mouth, before he leaned back. "plenty of time to figure out how to keep ourselves entertained." his tone was playful, but the frustration was undeniable, maybe even masking something darker.

jungwon, who had been quiet, crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. "we can’t just coast through this. we need structure—something to focus on, or we’ll fall apart."

"if we don’t, we’ll all snap," jay said, his voice sharp, his eyes flicking toward you with something else lingering there—something heavier. "maybe even jump out the airlock."

the silence that followed was thick, everyone processing his words. the realization of how much time you’d all be stuck together on this godforsaken station weighed heavily on everyone.

"so what now?" jake asked, tossing the baseball between his hands. "what’s the big plan, commander?"

heeseung looked around the room, scanning each of you before he spoke again. "we start by taking control of what we can. routines, schedules, projects. we can’t control HQ, but we can control how we handle this."

sunghoon let out a slow breath, leaning back. "easier said than done."

"it’s gonna take more than just shift rotations," jake added, raising an eyebrow. "we’ve been up here long enough to know what pushes each other’s buttons. we need something real, something that’ll keep us from tearing each other apart."

"what are we thinking?" jay asked, rubbing his temples. "we can’t just wait for comms to drop and hope we hold it together."

"contingency plans," jungwon said, his voice steady, though there was an unease behind his eyes. "if comms go dark, we divide tasks, no mistakes. we’re in survival mode, not routine."

heeseung nodded, jotting something down on his holo-pad. "i’ll take station control. jake, you stay on engineering, make sure everything stays online. jay and y/n, you’re on data streams."

"and what about the mental side?" you cut in, leaning forward as the weight of the conversation pressed down on the room. "we’re not just talking about system failures. didn’t HQ say they were willing to give us everything we needed, and that they had their own contingency plans?"

jake scoffed, leaning back in his chair, rolling that baseball between his fingers. "yeah, their 'contingency plans'—more like they’ll deal with it when shit hits the fan. remember mr. park’s answer during the announcement? ‘stress indicators, we’ll do whatever we can remotely,’” jake mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “fucking whatever."

sunghoon, usually one to stay composed, let out a low sigh, his voice heavier than usual. "they owe us more than just resupply missions if they’re going to keep us here."

“he’s right,” you said, breaking the silence. “let’s fast-track the request for those sim pods… whatever it takes to keep our heads straight."

sunghoon’s eyes flicked to you again, lingering a little longer this time. “yeah, extra time for physical... activity wouldn’t hurt.”

jungwon suddenly shot up out of his seat, making everyone turn to look at him. his eyes were wide with realization, like a light bulb had gone off in his head.

"wait, didn’t HQ put something in the mission manual about requesting extra supplies for extended stays? there’s a whole section on wellness kits. holy shit."

before anyone could respond, jungwon was already tearing through the shelves, scattering gear across the floor as he searched for the elusive manual.

"what the hell are you doing?" jay asked, half-annoyed, half-amused as he watched jungwon make a mess.

"looking for the fucking manual!" jungwon’s voice came from somewhere behind a pile of supplies, his excitement clear. "we need more than just rations and water, and I swear HQ wrote something about extended wellness."

sunghoon snorted, arms crossed, his gaze sharp. "you really think they’re gonna approve that?"

jungwon, always the optimist, finally stood up, holding a beat-up folder like he had just figured it all out. "if there is anything i'm certain about, its that HQ doesn’t want us cracking under the pressure. they need us operational, not losing our minds or they'll never get the data they need."

heeseung was already scribbling on his pad, eyes barely glancing up. "we’ll submit it. but don’t hold your breath. hq’s about keeping us alive, not comfortable."

jay leaned in, eyes locked on the manual. "we’re not asking for luxury. we’re asking to stay sane."

the air in the room thickened, jay’s words cutting through. this wasn’t just about surviving space—it was about surviving each other.

"maybe we can request better gym equipment," you suggested, trying to keep the conversation on track. "more time for workouts, something to burn off the tension."

jungwon nodded, flipping through the manual. "and psychological support. if HQ wants us functional, they need to send more than just food."

heeseung was writing faster now. "i’ll submit the request. until then, we stick to the routine. keep sharp, stay focused."

then, out of nowhere, jay piped up, deadpan. "think we can ask for porn?"

for a second, the room went dead silent. sunghoon, mid-sentence about rationing, let out a snort so loud it echoed. "you’re fucking kidding, right?"

"what? i’m serious," jay grinned, leaning back. "if we’re stuck up here for six more months, might as well keep the morale high."

"yeah, because HQ’s really gonna send us a porn subscription," you laughed, shaking your head.

sunghoon laughed harder, still shaking his head. "yeah, HQ would love that. ‘dear HQ, we’re requesting... supplies for morale. please send fleshlights.’"

the laughter exploded around the room, a much-needed break from the tension that had been suffocating everyone. for a moment, the air felt lighter.

"or toys," jay added, straight-faced. "dildos for the lady, vibrators... you know, the essentials."

"fuck off," sunghoon muttered, wiping tears from his eyes. "you’d probably submit that request too, wouldn’t you?"

the laughter was loud, but it was masking something deeper. everyone knew the humor was just a way to cope with the weight of everything—the stress, the isolation, the unspoken tension that was constantly bubbling beneath the surface.

"honestly though," jake said, his voice low, almost serious now. "we need something. anything to remind us we’re still human."

"or we’ll lose it," sunghoon agreed, his voice suddenly sober. the laughter had faded, the weight settling back in.

"maybe we could request movie nights," you suggested. "old classics, popcorn. like back on earth."

"popcorn? we’re lucky we even get decent fucking coffee," sunghoon shot back, still grinning but the humor wasn’t quite there anymore.

you leaned back in your chair, raising an eyebrow. "well, then i'm definitely putting in a request for a dildo."

the room erupted in laughter again, but this time, there was an edge to it. something darker, something lingering just beneath the surface. the heat in the room was rising, that familiar unspoken tension returning.

"as if we don’t already hear enough through these paper-thin walls," you added, voice teasing but biting just enough to get a reaction. knowing damn well on multiple occasions you'd heard them—grunts, moans, the sound of bodies against tile in the showers.

fuck, it's why everything was always fogged up after. the tension in the room spiked instantly, thickening like the humidity in those steamy moments. you could almost feel their unease, the way their gazes sharpened, daring you to say more.

jake leaned in, voice low, like he was pushing just to see how far you'd take it. "oh, we’ve heard you too. don’t think you’re so quiet either."

your pulse quickened, but you refused to let it show, raising an eyebrow instead. "is that so?"

"oh yeah," jake said, leaning back in his chair, that smug grin playing on his lips like he had the upper hand. "walls aren’t thick enough to hide everything, sweetheart."

you could feel every set of eyes on you, but you didn’t back down. "funny, because some of you sound like you want everyone to hear."

jay snorted, but there was a darker edge to it now, his grin holding something sharper. "that’s because some of us don’t mind if you listen."

"hell," sunghoon muttered, arms crossed, gaze fixed on you. "you seemed pretty into it last time. didn’t even try to drown us out."

your heart pounded, but you shot back smoothly, "wasn’t trying to."

for some reason, it didn’t feel like harmless flirting anymore—it felt like a challenge. everyone felt it. the frustration, the want, the constant pressure building in the room like a ticking bomb.

heeseung hadn’t said a word, but his silence was louder than anything. the way he stared at you, jaw clenched tight, his eyes smothering, like he was daring you to push further. it made your skin prickle, every inch of you aware of how intense he was without even opening his mouth.

sunghoon shifted in his seat, jaw locked, clearly uncomfortable with the way things were unfolding between you and jake. but he didn’t say a word, didn’t jump in.

he just watched, tension rolling off him like he was waiting for something to snap. jay, usually the one to lighten things up with a joke, was dead quiet too, his eyes narrowed, taking in every second of the exchange like he was studying it, waiting for the next move.

you stood slowly, feeling like you might’ve just made things a whole lot worse. shit, this was getting to you. and bad. your heart was pounding, your palms felt clammy. you broke eye contact with jake on purpose, dragging it out as if you were the one still in control, even though you weren’t so sure anymore.

"well, let’s hope HQ sends us something useful," you said, trying to inject some lightness into your voice, but it wasn’t fooling anyone. the tension was still thick, practically vibrating in the air. "i’m calling it a night."

the door barely clicked shut before sunghoon let out a breath, shaking his head, eyes still fixed on the spot where you’d just stood. "she’s totally fucking with us," he muttered, voice low but tight with frustration. "did you see that? deliberate provocation. i swear."

jay ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in his chair, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips but not quite reaching his eyes. "you think? that was more than just fucking around. she knew exactly what she was doing."

"no shit," sunghoon shot back, his voice strained. "i’m telling you, man. we’re all this close—" he held up his fingers, barely an inch apart—"to saying fuck the damn rules. who’s gonna last another six months with her around?"

heeseung, still quiet, finally spoke up, his voice low and steady, but the tension in it was undeniable. "rule three is fucking us all over. and you know it." his eyes flicked to jake, who had been oddly quiet throughout the entire exchange.

"well, shit," jake finally said, running a hand over his face. "i’m fucking pent up. that’s all i got." his tone was casual, but the weight behind his words was anything but. his eyes flicked toward the door you’d just walked through, his frustration clear as day.

then jake leaned back in his chair, a low, bitter laugh escaping him. "cause okay, fine." he straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck like even recalling it was enough to set him off.

"remember when she 'accidentally' spilled water all over herself? walked around for half the day in just her bra, like it was no big deal." his voice dropped, taking on a darker, frustrated edge as the memory played out in his mind—your soaked uniform sticking to every curve, your skin glistening under the ship’s harsh, sterile lighting. "swear to god, i almost busted right there."

jay let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "oh, i fucking remember. she acted like nothing was wrong, like it wasn’t driving all of us insane. that was no accident."

"she knows," jake continued, voice tight. "she fucking knows. and she’s doing it on purpose." he ran a hand through his hair, frustration thick in every movement. "i mean, who the hell just struts around in nothing but a bra for hours and pretends like it’s normal?"

every single one of them had that moment seared into their brains—a shared image that haunted them during their nights alone. professionalism had long since been thrown out the airlock. you’d been teasing them for months, pushing, baiting, playing with their heads just to see how far they’d go.

they were men, starved for any kind of real connection, trapped in this endless isolation with only you to fuel their frustrations. and you? you were having the time of your life, knowing exactly how to wind them up, knowing just how close to the edge they all were.

and you were the only woman in their universe.

every movement you made, every glance you threw, was calculated. you knew how to push their buttons—when to be coy, when to be bold. it was a game, one you were expertly playing, and they were your captive audience, hanging onto every shift of your hips, every subtle smile. you could feel the tension rising every time you walked into a room, the way their gazes would follow you like you were the only thing that mattered. because, to them, you were.

on this ship, isolated from the rest of the world, you were more than just a colleague—you were their obsession. their only distraction from the monotony, the only woman they could see, touch, fantasize about. they were unraveling, one by one, and you could feel it.

"don’t forget yoga day," jay added with a dark laugh. "jesus christ… those fucking leggings. bent over right in front of us, ass up in the air. she’s daring us to look. she fucking knows."

he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smug grin stretching across his face. and he was right—you had to know they were staring, their eyes locked onto every curve, every move you made. but you never said a word. you just kept pushing, acting like you weren’t driving them all to the brink.

"she’s got us by the balls," sunghoon groaned, raking a hand through his hair. "and the worst part? we’re letting her. we’re fucking playing along, and she knows it."

but it wasn’t just that. they weren’t just letting you get away with it. they were playing back, each of them with their own strategy. they'd all tried to figure out what would make you crack, what would make you react. but the truth was, none of them realized just how far gone they already were.

"every time i help her with something, i’m just waiting for an excuse to get closer," jake confessed, his voice a mix of frustration and longing. "those fucking leggings… i’ve jerked off to that more times than I can count."

"and then there’s jungwon," jay smirked, flicking his gaze to the youngest of the group. "mr. saint over here, pretending like he’s all innocent. come on, man, we all know you’re just as fucked as the rest of us."

jungwon didn’t deny it. he just smirked, leaning back in his chair. "hey, someone’s gotta keep her guessing. the nice guy routine? it’s working."

sunghoon scoffed. "you really think she’s buying that 'innocent' act? she’s smarter than that. she can see a wolf in sheep's clothing from a mile away."

jungwon shrugged, unconcerned. "maybe. but it’s keeping her intrigued, and that’s all I care about. we’ve all got our ways of keeping her on the hook. some of us are just better at it."

jake rolled his eyes, the frustration clear on his face. "yeah, you’re lucky she’s into that whole 'nice guy' thing you’ve got going on. but we all know the truth—you’re as twisted as the rest of us."

jay leaned forward, his grin growing wider. "everyone’s got their angle. me? i’m going with the 'bad boy with a heart of gold' thing. act tough, but show her a softer side when it counts. trust me, it’s working."

"and I’m the laid-back, funny guy," jake chimed in, grinning. "makes her laugh, keeps things light. you know what they say—laughter’s the best aphrodisiac."

sunghoon chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "obviously it's the whole 'brooding and mysterious' thing that keeps her on edge. she can't fucking resist me."

jungwon raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips. "so what, we’re all just clichés now? good to know we’re not exactly original."

"whatever works," heeseung finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying enough weight to make the others shut up and listen. he had that way about him—didn’t need to say much, but when he did, everyone paid attention. "we’re stuck up here for another six months. doesn’t matter what game we’re playing—we’re all feeling it."

heeseung sighed, running a hand over his face, his frustration obvious. the tension in his posture was palpable as he recalled the moment from earlier, when you had stared him down, almost daring him to crack.

"shit," he muttered, the memory still vivid in his mind. "what the hell was that about earlier? i literally stay the fuck away from her because every time i see her, i wanna fuck her brains out. did one of you say something to her?"

the room was silent for a beat too long, and then all eyes slowly turned toward jake, who had been lounging in his chair like none of this was getting to him. but it was obvious, even to him, that he’d been the instigator, the one who pushed it a little further each time. he smirked, shrugging his shoulders like he couldn’t care less, but the tension in his posture gave him away.

"don’t look at me like that," jake muttered, running a hand through his hair. "yeah, maybe i’ve been fucking with her a little. wanted to see how much attention she was paying, you know? but i didn’t expect heeseung to crack the way he did."

heeseung shot him a glare, his jaw still tight. "you think this is funny?"

jake’s smirk faltered, and he sighed, leaning forward. "no, man, i’m serious. none of us thought you’d be the one to snap, not this soon." he looked around the room, finding some backup. "we were just trying to push her buttons, see how far she’d go."

"that’s exactly it," jay jumped in, rubbing the back of his neck. "we all wanted to know how much of this game she’s playing, how much she’s actually paying attention to us."

sunghoon nodded, arms still crossed but his expression softening. "yeah, no one’s blaming you. shit, we’re all on edge. it just hit harder than we thought."

the room fell into a brief silence, the reality of their situation settling over them like a dark cloud. they weren’t just competing for your attention; they were trapped in the same hell, each of them fighting against their own desire, their own instincts. but none of them were backing down. not when it came to you.

jay leaned forward, his usual grin fading as his voice dropped, more serious now. "can i say something?"

immediately, the others exchanged looks, making exaggerated faces as if they were already annoyed. it was a thing they liked to do—teasing jay, especially when he got serious. there was no real heat behind it though; it was all playful, just their way of showing they cared without actually saying it.

"oh, here we go," sunghoon muttered, rolling his eyes with a smirk, while jungwon raised his eyebrows like he was preparing for some kind of lecture.

jake nudged jay, grinning, "go on, professor, enlighten us."

jay just sighed, knowing this was their usual bullshit. "you assholes." but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. it was their way of showing affection.

"honestly? i’m just glad it’s her," he continued, his voice shifting into something more genuine. "we could’ve been stuck up here with anyone, but we got y/n. smart as hell, sexy as fuck. makes this whole thing bearable."

"yeah," jake nodded, his expression softening as he thought about it. "being trapped in this tin can with her? it’s a fucking miracle, to be honest."

"or a curse," sunghoon muttered, though his tone lacked any real bitterness. "depends on how you look at it. hq knew what they were doing when they sent her up here with us."

jungwon grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "maybe they thought we’d be more productive with a little extra motivation."

jay chuckled. "well, mission accomplished. i’ve never been more motivated in my life."

jungwon leaned in, voice dropping, almost conspiratorial. "let’s be real. hq extended this mission. they owe us some kind of compensation. and i think we all know what we want."

"well, looks like we’re never gonna get what we want," sunghoon muttered darkly, running a hand through his hair, eyes still locked on the door you’d left through. "by the time we touch down, we’ll all be lucky if we don’t have fucking erectile dysfunction."

heeseung sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, the tension finally cracking through his usually composed front. "but how the hell are we supposed to get what we want? hq doesn’t give a shit about what we’re going through up here."

the room sank into a heavy silence, the weight of their situation settling back on them like a ton of bricks. they were all feeling it—the frustration, the helplessness. each one of them visibly resigned to the fact that the pressure was getting too intense to keep ignoring.

then, out of nowhere, sunghoon’s eyes lit up, like someone had flipped a switch in his head. he straightened up, practically buzzing with energy. "jungwon, you’re a fucking genius."

jungwon blinked, clearly caught off guard. "huh? what the hell did i say?"

sunghoon, grinning like a lunatic, plopped back down, scooting his chair closer to the group. “okay, listen—it might be a stretch, but remember what jungwon said earlier?”

heeseung nodded slowly, clearly not following. “yeah… that we’re not exactly original?”

sunghoon groaned, rolling his eyes, giving heeseung a playful shove, though there was a flicker of irritation behind it. “no, dumbass. i’m talking about the manual. you said we could request supplies, right? why don’t we get creative with our requests?”

jay nearly spit out his drink, laughing. “yeah, sure. ‘dear hq, please let us fuck y/n. sincerely, your horny, desperate crew.’ good fucking luck with that.”

the room erupted in laughter, the tension easing for a brief moment. but underneath the humor, they all knew there was some truth to what sunghoon was saying.

heeseung leaned back, crossing his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. “jay’s got a point. we can’t just request something explicitly like that. but if we word it right, we might get something close.”

the laughter died down as they all realized how serious heeseung was.

sunghoon, who had been grinning moments before, blinked in shock. “wait. you’re serious?”

heeseung nodded, his expression sharp. “dead serious. rule three is bullshit. ‘no fraternization’ was fine when this mission was twelve months, but eighteen? we’re not machines. we’re fucking human. and i’m going to tell them exactly that. if they want us sharp, focused, and not sexually frustrated to the point where it fucks with our work, they’re going to have to drop the rule.”

the silence stretched, everyone absorbing what heeseung just said. it was a wild idea, but with how things had been going, they all knew that tension was growing unbearable. they weren’t sure if you’d go for it either, but the way things were headed? it didn’t seem like it would take too long before it got to everyone.

jake let out a low whistle, grinning. “you’re actually going to do it.”

heeseung shrugged. “it’s simple. i’ll put it in the report. we make it clear. this is about crew efficiency. rule three is hurting that.”

sunghoon let out a shaky laugh. “fuck. you might actually get away with it.”

“if hq wants us to stay functional,” heeseung replied, his tone dead serious, “they’ll drop the rule. if they don’t, they risk us cracking under the pressure. it’s their choice, but they’ve already screwed us once with this extension.”

jungwon finally leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief, but a grin tugged at his lips. “and what if they actually say yes?”

jake leaned in, grinning like a kid who just got away with something. “then we’ve got the green light, and i’m calling first dibs.”

heeseung rolled his eyes at jake but didn’t argue. “now that i think about it, i don’t think—" he hesitated, biting his thumbnail, his foot tapping against the floor. his mind was racing, and the reality of the situation hit him—this was a crazy idea. it sounded wild, but something in him had finally snapped.

"ah, fuck it. just leave it to me. i’ll make sure hq doesn’t know what hit them. i'm done. bad enough the mission got extended, but i don’t think i can handle not even getting a fucking touch out of her."

“shit, heeseung, that’s ballsy as fuck,” jake laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “you’ve been the one keeping up that whole ‘fine line’ act this entire time. you’ve never even flirted with her once! how the hell are you gonna explain this to her? she’ll be shocked you’re the fucking instigator.”

heeseung just smirked, leaning back in his chair, finally allowing himself to enjoy the idea. “that’s the point. she won’t see it coming.”

jay raised an eyebrow, still half-smirking but clearly intrigued. “so, what? you’re gonna go from ‘strict commander’ to ‘hey, hq says we can fuck now, let’s break some rules’?”

heeseung’s grin widened slightly, his voice dropping to a lower, more confident tone. “nah, i’m not stupid. we’re not jumping from zero to one hundred. but it’s obvious she’s been pushing us, seeing how far we’ll go. she knows exactly what she’s doing.”

sunghoon snorted, shaking his head with a smirk. “still, man, you’ve kept your shit together for this long. you’ve been the one keeping everyone else in check. this is a big fucking swing.”

“exactly why it’ll work,” heeseung replied smoothly, his eyes flicking around the room. “you guys have been playing the obvious angles—flirting, teasing. i’ve been holding back. that’s what gets to her. she’s expecting one of you to make a move. not me.”

jake let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. “so you’re planning to drop that bomb on her, huh? just come out of nowhere?”

heeseung’s grin sharpened, his gaze locking onto jake. “when the timing’s right, yeah. but first, hq needs to give us the green light. i’m not about to go in unarmed.”

sunghoon leaned forward, clearly intrigued now. “you really think she’s gonna go for it?”

heeseung shrugged, but the smirk on his face didn’t waver. “dude, she’s curious. she’s not playing favorites. the only thing holding any of us back is that fucking rule.”

jake shook his head, the grin spreading across his face unmistakable. “you’ve really thought this through, huh?”

heeseung’s eyes flicked around the room, his voice dropping but steady. “we’re all in the same boat—extending this mission has made everything worse. they’ve put us in a pressure cooker. we’ve got needs, and i’m gonna make sure they realize rule three is more of a problem than a solution.”

sunghoon laughed, leaning back in his chair. “if you manage to pull this off, i’ll admit—this is some genius-level shit.”

jay nodded, his smirk returning. “alright, captain. if hq says yes, we’re behind you. just make sure you don’t scare her off with this shit.”

heeseung’s eyes gleamed with confidence. “don’t worry. i’ve got this under control. when it comes to her, it’s all about playing the long game.”

the guys kept the conversations going, their voices bouncing off the cold, metallic walls of the station, amplified in the stillness of space where time didn’t really mean anything. there was no day or night here, just an endless cycle of tasks, the artificial lights never dimming, only the hum of machinery and their voices breaking the monotony.

this was their downtime, the only chance to let off some of the tension that had been slowly suffocating them. and for a while now, you had been the center of that tension, feeding it like gasoline to a slow-burning fire.

the fucked-up camaraderie they’d built—sharing their thoughts about you like this—was a weird kind of bonding. they were men, stuck in space, starved for any kind of female presence, and here you were, pushing their buttons, teasing them.

at least they weren’t alone in this, all playing the same game, all fucked up in the same way. it made it easier to laugh about the situation, but the weight of their words wasn’t lost on anyone. it wasn’t exactly normal, but what was ‘normal’ anymore? not up here.

they laughed, cracked jokes, but deep down, there was that creeping thought—were they still sane? sitting here, casually talking about wanting to fuck the same girl like it was no big deal. they told themselves it was just lust, just cabin fever, and that they were men starved for any kind of release. you were the only woman in their orbit, so of course they’d all end up wanting you.

it was simple biology, right?

or maybe, being isolated for so long had warped their sense of reality. maybe living in this artificial bubble of constant tasks and forced restraint had twisted their heads. either way, none of them were ready to admit that this had gone beyond harmless fantasy. they weren’t just imagining it anymore—they were feeling it, deeper than they wanted to acknowledge.

jungwon leaned back, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “imagine her doing private ‘stress relief’ sessions. we could take turns, rotate shifts. that’d be a real morale boost.” his voice dripped with playful malice, but the way the others reacted—laughing, smirking—told him he wasn’t the only one who’d thought of it.

a chorus of ‘ohhs’ and chuckles filled the room, each of them nodding knowingly.

heeseung groaned, burying his face in his hands. “don’t even fucking start. i can feel my self-control slipping already.”

sunghoon’s eyes darkened, his voice carrying the weight of months of pent-up frustration. “seeing her in anything smaller than that uniform? fuck, that’s already enough of a dream. i wouldn’t last.”

the guys exchanged frustrated glances, the tension palpable now. they were all chasing the same thing, competing for the same prize. and they all knew it. but no one was backing down. not a chance.

jake, always the one to break the tension with humor, clapped his hands together. “alright, enough of this shit. we’ve still got a mission to finish, remember?”

jay scoffed, leaning back with a smirk. “yeah, but let’s be real—the real mission is seeing who gets to y/n first.”

sunghoon shot him a sharp look, his lips twitching into a grin. “oh, I'm definitely fucking her first.”

“in your fucking dreams, sunghoon,” jay shot back, shaking his head. “you don’t stand a chance.”

jungwon chuckled, rolling his eyes at their back-and-forth. “you guys are ridiculous.”

with that, the group started to break up, heading off to their quarters or back to whatever task needed doing. but the tension? the harsh truth was that it wasn’t going anywhere until someone did something about it.

so they will.

back in your quarters, you sat on the edge of your bed, running your fingers along the cold metal frame, feeling the low hum of the station vibrating beneath your skin. you could still hear their laughter echoing faintly through the thin walls.

they were probably talking about you. they always were, though they tried to hide it. you may not have known the specifics, but you’d heard enough—your “bra,” your “leggings.” all the signs were there.

it had been brewing for months now, and you were the one stirring the pot, feeding that slow-burning fire. there was something intoxicating about the power you held over them, how their eyes followed you with every step, how they hung on your every word. they were wound tight, like strings about to snap, and you had them wrapped around your little finger. the thrill of it, knowing you could push them further, was enough to keep you going.

you stretched out on the bed, closing your eyes, letting out a slow, controlled breath. but the heat still lingered under your skin. your body hummed with the tension, the same electric current that seemed to fill the air whenever you were around them. you weren’t immune to it. far from it. you craved it, the game, the push and pull, the thrill of knowing that at any moment, things could tip over the edge.

the coming days were going to test every boundary, every rule. you could feel it. they were getting closer, their patience wearing thin. soon, one of them would make a move, and when that happened? you weren’t sure if you’d be able to stop it.

but for now, you were still in control. and that’s exactly where you wanted to be.

you were playing with fire. and fuck, did it feel good.

as you stepped into the common room, you were blissfully unaware of the way their eyes followed every movement, the shared smirks, the glances exchanged. beneath their masks of casual normalcy was a barely-restrained hunger. it amused them to no end that you were completely in the dark about their thoughts, their plans. it made the game all the more exciting.

jake moved first, as he always did, his laid-back demeanor never quite hiding the heat in his eyes. he handed you a cup of coffee, his fingers brushing against yours, the touch lingering just a second longer than it needed to.

“morning,” he greeted casually, though his gaze told a different story.

“morning,” you replied, your smile teasing as you took the cup. “thanks, jake.”

jay, leaning against the table nearby, watched every movement you made, his eyes dark with something unspoken. “busy day ahead?” he asked, his voice laced with something raw beneath the casual words.

“always,” you replied, brushing past him intentionally. your arm grazed his, the contact sending a spark through the air. you noticed the slight hitch in his breath before he covered it with his usual smirk.

sunghoon appeared next, setting a report down beside you, leaning in close enough that you could feel the warmth of his breath against your neck. the sensation made you bite back a shiver.

“need a hand with this?” he asked, voice low, laden with innuendo. “i could stay late... help out.”

“i’ll let you know if i need you, sunghoon,” you replied smoothly, your words holding a meaning both of you understood. his grin widened, clearly enjoying the game.

and then there was heeseung. he didn’t approach you like the others. he stayed in the background, observing, but his eyes... his eyes were something else. dark, intense, burning with promises that remained unsaid. his thoughts weren’t innocent.

no, they were filled with images of you—bent over, gasping under him, his hands gripping your hips.

he could almost feel the heat of your skin, hear the sounds you'd make. he wanted to take you completely, to push you to the brink of exhaustion, to bury himself balls deep inside you until the only thing you could do was scream his name.

you caught his gaze from across the room, your heart quickening at the way he looked at you. there was something undeniably raw in his stare, you weren’t sure what it was, but it sent a thrill straight to your core.

“heeseung,” you called, keeping your voice steady despite the flutter in your chest. “any updates from hq about that report on the provisions?”

he blinked, pulling himself back to the present, his expression shifting to something more professional. “not yet,” he replied, though you could hear the excitement under his words. “but i’m sure we’ll hear back soon.”

later that day, the familiar hum of the ship was interrupted by an announcement crackling through the comm system. it was a tone you didn’t hear often—serious, urgent, summoning everyone to the conference room for an important briefing.

the boys exchanged quick glances, barely able to hide their excitement. they knew what this was about. you, however, were still in the dark.

as you all gathered in the room, the screen flickered to life, revealing director park from hq. his face was calm, composed, but there was something else in his eyes—a hint of amusement, maybe even mischief, as he addressed the crew.

“moonstruck crew,” park began, his voice authoritative. “we’ve reviewed your latest report regarding the requested provisions. i have to say, it’s... unconventional, but we understand the unique challenges of extended missions.”

the room went silent. you glanced at the guys, confusion starting to bubble up inside you. their faces gave nothing away, but there was a crack in their poker faces—something was up. they knew exactly what was coming. you, however, had no idea.

park continued, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “hq understands the pressures you’re facing, the isolation, the strain. we take psychological and physical wellness very seriously. and, after careful consideration, we’ve decided to grant certain... accommodations.”

your confusion deepened. “accommodations?” you asked, cutting through the tension, your voice demanding an explanation.

park’s eyes lingered on you for a beat too long before he answered. “yes. accommodations. specifically, we’ve decided to void rule three—no fraternization. we believe that allowing some... flexibility will help maintain crew morale during these extended missions.”

the words hit you like a freight train. voiding rule three? fraternization? your heart skipped a beat as the weight of the situation began to sink in.

“hq has also included a new provision—a prototype contraceptive drug designed to prevent pregnancy. it’s been successfully tested, but there are certain precautions you’ll need to take during the first week. abstinence is advised until the drug takes full effect.”

your mind raced, trying to keep up with what you were hearing. they were approving this? after all the rules, all the fucking warnings? this was real?

the guys shifted around you, their excitement barely contained, smirks tugging at their lips. they had orchestrated this, hadn’t they? this wasn’t just a coincidence. this was their plan all along.

your voice trembled as you blurted out, “wait—did you seriously approve a report for them to have sex with me?” you couldn’t help the disbelief in your tone.

it all felt too surreal.

director park’s expression didn’t waver, calm and professional. “as i said, crew wellness is a priority. we trust that you will handle this maturely and within the guidelines provided.”

you stared at the screen in shock, the absurdity of the situation crashing down on you. you were supposed to keep things professional, follow the mission rules, and now? rule three was just... gone.

it was fucking ridiculous, but the truth of it was undeniable.

his soothing voice low and teasing as he leaned in close enough for only you to hear. “you think this is funny, don’t you? like we’re the ones desperate?”

his breath ghosted against your ear, and you felt the heat of it sink into your skin. but what really caught you off guard—what sent your pulse racing in a different way—was him.

heeseung, the one who had never so much as flirted with you, the one who kept his distance, always professional, now standing inches away, close enough for you to feel the warmth of his body. what the fuck?

you turned your head slightly, meeting his gaze, half-expecting him to crack a smile, to laugh it off as a joke. but his eyes were dark, serious. there was no hesitation in the way he looked at you, no hint of the reserved commander you’d come to know. he was bold, intense. and the shift in him knocked you off balance.

“heeseung,” you breathed, your voice lower than you meant it to be. “you’ve never—” you swallowed, your heart hammering in your chest, trying to wrap your head around the sudden change. “you’ve never even flirted with me-”

his lips twitched into a small, almost amused smirk, but the heat in his eyes didn’t waver. “maybe i didn’t need to, sweetheart. maybe i was waiting for the right moment.”

the words hung heavy between you, the weight of them hitting harder than you expected. waiting? that wasn’t what you thought he was doing at all.

for months, he’d kept that boundary clear, never stepping out of line, never even giving you a hint that he saw you like that. sure you'd catch him staring.

but now? it was like a mask had been ripped off, and the hunger in his eyes told you everything you didn’t know was brewing beneath the surface.

your mind raced, trying to catch up. this wasn’t just some casual flirtation anymore, not with him so close, his voice low and dripping with intent.

and the rest of the guys? they were in on it too, watching, waiting. fuck, were you just played?

“you’re telling me... this was all part of some plan?” you asked, your voice steadying as you tried to grasp the situation, the sudden intensity between you and him.

heeseung’s smirk widened, his hand brushing against your waist as he leaned in even closer, his lips barely an inch from your ear.

“don’t act so surprised. i’ve been watching you, y/n. you’ve been playing this game with all of us, keeping us at arm’s length, teasing. i’ve seen the way you’ve looked at me. but now?” his voice dropped, darker, his fingers tracing the edge of your waist.

“now, the rules have changed. and i’m done watching.”

your breath caught in your throat. this wasn’t just a flirtation. it was a claim. his words, his touch—it sent a shiver down your spine. fuck. how had you missed this? how had you not seen him waiting in the wings, biding his time?

before you could even respond, jake, always the one to break the tension, stepped forward, his voice teasing but laced with that same hunger.

“didn’t expect heeseung to be the one to finally throw the first punch, huh?” he grinned, the challenge in his eyes clear. “figured it would be me, didn’t you?”

you blinked, still reeling from heeseung’s sudden boldness, and found jake standing close too, the space around you tightening with their presence.

the tension thickened as sunghoon and jay exchanged glances, clearly amused by how quickly everything had escalated. but it was jungwon’s voice, steady and calm as always, that cut through the rising intensity.

“it’s quite the surprise, isn’t it?” he said, his eyes locking onto yours, his expression unreadable. “heeseung’s been patient. but now that rule three’s out the window... he’s just catching up.”

where the hell did he fit in? he had always seemed like he was on the sidelines, but now... now it felt like he might’ve been in on it too, right from the beginning.

your mind raced, trying to piece it all together. had you really underestimated them that much? especially him?

and the worst part—shit, he was totally okay with it. jungwon’s calm expression wasn’t the sign of someone caught off guard; it was the face of someone who had been waiting for this moment all along.

you could see it now—he’d been just as involved as the others, maybe more, letting you believe he was the innocent one, the one not caught up in all the tension.

you had completely underestimated them.

“you’re all fucking insane,” you muttered, half to yourself, half to them, the reality of it all hitting hard. “this whole time, you’ve been plotting behind my back?”

jay laughed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall, watching you with that dark glint in his eyes. “plotting? i wouldn’t say plotting.”

your heart raced, the air between you and them thick with anticipation, your body betraying you as a wave of heat spread through your chest. they were all staring, waiting for your reaction, but your eyes kept drifting back to heeseung.

heeseung, the one who had flipped the whole dynamic upside down in one sentence, with one touch.

and then heeseung spoke again, his voice lower, rougher, dragging your attention back to him. “so, what’s it gonna be, y/n? you’ve been toying with us for months. are you ready to stop playing?”

and instead of fear or anxiety, a sudden, uncontrollable urge to laugh bubbled up inside you. the ridiculous lengths they’d gone to, it was absurd. and you couldn’t help but let the laughter escape.

the sound of your laugh cut through the tension like a knife, echoing in the quiet room. the guys froze for a moment, unsure of how to react. you doubled over slightly, holding your stomach as you tried to catch your breath, the sheer insanity of the situation sinking in.

“what the fuck,” you gasped, still laughing as you straightened up, wiping at your eyes. “you all actually went this far? heeseung, seriously? you, of all people?”

heeseung’s eyes flashed with amusement, his lips twitching into a small smile despite the heat in his gaze. “what can I say? i’m full of surprises.”

you blinked, still caught off guard by how easily he was handling this, how smoothly he’d slipped into the game. it was like the heeseung you thought you knew had been flipped on his head, and you still weren’t sure what to make of it.

sunghoon smirked, leaning against the table, his eyes flicking between you and heeseung. “you really thought you had us all figured out, didn’t you?”

your laughter faded into a wide grin as you glanced around the room, the absurdity of the situation settling in. “honestly? yeah, i did. but clearly, i was wrong. very wrong.”

still grinning, your pulse racing as the reality of the situation continued to sink in. “but don’t think for a second that means i’m going to make this easy for any of you.”

heeseung’s smile turned into something darker, something that sent a shiver down your spine. “i wouldn’t expect you to.”

you stared at him for a moment, the tension between you thickening, the playful atmosphere from earlier fading into something more intense. this wasn’t just a game anymore. they were serious. and now that the rules had changed, it was clear that things were about to escalate in a way you hadn’t quite prepared for.

before you could respond, the intercom suddenly chimed, a loud beep cutting through the tension like a slap to the face. a notice flashed across the screen: ERROR DETECTED: SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IN MODULE B. IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED.

heeseung’s entire demeanor shifted in an instant, the playful smirk vanishing as the calm, composed commander resurfaced. “alright, that’s enough,” he barked, his voice sharp and authoritative, snapping everyone’s focus back to the mission.

“jake, get down to module b and run a diagnostic. jay, you’re with him—make sure the power relays are stable. sunghoon, prep the backup systems in case this escalates. jungwon, check on the environmental controls and report back any anomalies.”

he rattled off orders with precision, his eyes already scanning the data on the nearby console. the guys quickly nodded, the lighthearted mood evaporating under the sudden return to station duties.

“and you,” heeseung added, his gaze landing back on you, still intense but now more businesslike. “stay in the control room and monitor the comms. i’ll coordinate from here.”

everyone moved swiftly, their faces now serious as they prepared for their tasks. the tension in the room had shifted dramatically, the heat from before replaced by the cold efficiency of crisis management.

but just as you were about to follow his orders and make your way to the comms station, a sharp slap landed on your ass, the sting of it making you jolt in place.

you spun around, eyes wide, but everyone was already dispersing, their faces unreadable. jake was smirking as he moved towards module b, sunghoon looked all too innocent, and jay’s back was already turned, heading for the power relays. jungwon? he was the calmest of them all, moving towards the environmental controls like nothing had happened.

“really?” you muttered under your breath, glancing around in frustration. you scanned their expressions, but none of them gave themselves away. no one was going to admit to it.

heeseung, already focused on the console, glanced up, his voice still all command. “what’s the holdup, y/n? get to your station.”

you shot one last glare at the group before making your way to the comms, the lingering sting from the slap only making your pulse race faster and you couldn't help the growing smile on your face.

the soft beep of the station’s notification system signaled the arrival of the provisions, a quiet chime that echoed through the walls, letting you know they had landed via the pods in the greenhouse. of course—the greenhouse. easily the most serene spot on the station, where everything seemed less mechanical, less sterile. it was a quiet slice of beauty in the middle of all this metal, with its lush plant life growing under the stars, thanks to the glass ceilings overhead.

and, naturally, it was jungwon’s domain. his clinic was tucked away between the plants he tended so carefully for medicinal use, a space that felt uniquely his. jungwon always had a calm energy about him, a certain ease that contrasted sharply with the others.

even now, after everything that had happened, after all the tension and teasing, you still didn’t know how deep he was in this game. did he want you the same way they did? or was he just going along for the ride?

as you stepped into the greenhouse, the warmth hit you immediately, a stark contrast to the cool, sterile air of the rest of the station. the soft hum of the machines monitoring the plants blended with the gentle rustle of leaves, and for a moment, it didn’t feel like you were in space at all.

jungwon was already there, as expected. he stood with his back to you, bent over one of the planters, his hands gently tending to the herbs he so meticulously cultivated. there was something about the way he moved—calm, methodical, completely at ease in his element. you watched him for a beat longer than you should have, taking in how steady he always seemed. jungwon, the puzzle. he was harder to read than the others, and even now, you weren’t sure what he wanted. but that mystery only made you more curious.

as if sensing your presence, jungwon straightened up and turned to face you, his expression soft, a smile tugging at his lips. “you’re early,” he said, his voice warm but still carrying that professional tone. there was something playful in the way he looked at you, though—like he knew more than he was letting on.

“wanted to see what hq sent us,” you replied, trying to keep your voice casual as you moved closer to the pods. the tension between you and jungwon was always subtle, simmering just beneath the surface, but it was undeniable. you both felt it, even if neither of you acknowledged it.

jungwon stepped up beside you as the pod lids opened with a hiss. “they sent everything we requested,” he said quietly, his eyes scanning the contents. “medication, supplies... everything we need.” his fingers grazed over the medical kits, but when his gaze landed on the more personal items—massage oils, lubricants, silk restraints—you saw the corner of his mouth twitch, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes.

you raised an eyebrow, testing the waters. “everything?” your voice dropped slightly, teasing. you wanted to see how far you could push jungwon, to see if he’d crack.

his gaze met yours, steady, calm. “everything,” he repeated, his tone smooth, but there was a flicker of something playful beneath his words. the tension between you both thickened, and for a moment, you wondered if jungwon was playing a different game entirely.

you let out a soft laugh, stepping back just a little, enough to create space but not enough to break the tension. “guess you’ll be busy then, doctor,” you teased, keeping your tone light even though your heart was racing a little faster. “when do i get my dose?”

jungwon’s lips curved into a small smile, the kind that made it hard to tell whether he was joking or not. “after dinner,” he replied, as casual as if he were discussing routine work. “i’ll be administering them one by one.” his gaze flicked to the kit for a brief second before landing back on you. “including yours.”

you tried to gauge him, biting your lip as you took a small step closer. “what if i want mine now?” you asked, your voice low, testing the limits.

but jungwon didn’t react the way you expected. unlike the others, who would have jumped at the chance, jungwon just smiled, his demeanor unfazed. “patience,” he said softly, his tone almost playful, like he was indulging you. “we’ve got a schedule, remember?”

you frowned slightly, thrown off by how normal he seemed. no tension, no flustered reaction, just the same calm, chill jungwon.

“what exactly do you use these plants for?” you asked, changing the subject as your curiosity got the better of you. the air was thick with the scent of herbs, and you couldn’t help but wonder what role they played in his work.

jungwon’s hands moved smoothly as he worked, plucking leaves with practiced ease. “medicinal purposes,” he explained, his tone still light. “some are for treating injuries, others... for more specific needs.”

you raised an eyebrow at that, intrigued. “specific needs?”

but instead of elaborating, jungwon reached for one of the plants and, in the same movement, slipped a small vial into his jacket pocket. it was subtle, so subtle you almost didn’t catch it. almost.

you didn’t press him on it—yet. but something about the way he did it caught your attention. what are you hiding, jungwon?

he looked back at you, still calm, still composed but playful nonetheless. “i’ll make sure everything’s ready for tonight,” he said, his voice smooth as ever, though there was an edge of something else in his words. “including your dose.”

he moved closer, holding out a small black kit, sleek and unassuming. “this is yours,” he said softly, his fingers brushing yours as you took it. the brief touch sent a shiver through you, and for the first time, you saw a flicker of something in jungwon’s eyes that hadn’t been there before. interest.

“thanks,” you muttered, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze. you cleared your throat, gripping the kit a little tighter. “so... what’s in here? do we have different kits?”

jungwon leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, his smile almost teasing. “i already told you, the essentials,” he said, his voice smooth. “syringes, your doses of the prototype drug, a few other... provisions to keep things running smoothly.”

you blinked, feeling your pulse quicken again as you stared down at the kit. “right. the essentials.”

you turned to leave, the weight of the kit in your hands, but just as you reached the door, jungwon’s voice stopped you in your tracks. “one more thing.”

you turned back, curious. jungwon was standing closer than before, his smile still soft, still playful, but there was something else in his eyes now. “don’t overthink it,” he said, his voice low. “just let it happen.”

the words hung between you, thickening the air in the room. was he talking about the injection? or something else entirely?

you gave a slight nod, not trusting yourself to speak, and left the greenhouse, your mind spinning with everything that had just happened. jungwon had always been hard to figure out, but now? he was more of a mystery than ever.

as you made your way back to your quarters, the kit clutched in your hands, you couldn’t help but replay the interaction over and over in your head. jungwon.

you sat on the edge of your bed, staring down at the kit. the essentials. jungwon’s words echoed in your mind, leaving you with more questions than answers.

while the others had been so obvious, their intentions clear from the start, jungwon was different. and the more you thought about it, the more you realized that he wasn’t just playing the same game. he was playing a better one.

you opened the kit, your fingers brushing over the contents— and it was exactly as he said. vials, syringes, sleekly packaged supplies. everything looked so normal, but the weight of it felt anything but. the station’s soft beep signaled that dinner was approaching, and your stomach knotted, not with hunger but with anticipation.

after dinner. jungwon had said. he’d be administering the doses one by one, including yours.

you wondered what he was really thinking behind that calm, almost playful facade. was he holding back? or was he the one pulling all the strings, playing the long game while the others rushed in? you didn’t know.

but you were going to find out.

you stepped into the common room for dinner, and it was already alive with tension. the long table was surrounded by the guys, each one settled in like they owned the space, the air thick with anticipation.

jake was sprawled back in his chair, arms lazily crossed behind his head, grinning like he was on top of the world as he bantered with sunghoon, who had his eyes on a tablet, pretending to be uninterested. but the way his fingers tapped against the screen gave him away—he was barely holding back.

jay was across from them, that usual smirk plastered on his face, but tonight it felt sharper, like he was waiting for something to happen. and at the head of the table, of course, was heeseung, his eyes flicking between his holo-screen and you the second you walked in. he didn’t even bother hiding it, lingering a little too long before forcing his attention back to whatever he was pretending to work on.

jungwon came in right behind you, quiet as always but with that subtle, playful spark in his eyes. the same one that had been making your heart race since this morning. it was impossible not to notice the way his gaze lingered just a second longer than usual, and despite trying to push it out of your mind, his earlier words played on repeat.

“ah, look who decided to join us,” jake called out, leaning forward with a lazy grin. “just in time. we were about to start without you.”

“like you’d ever start without me,” you shot back, sliding into the seat beside jay. the banter was familiar, but tonight, it felt charged, the tension between you all like a live wire waiting to spark.

heeseung cleared his throat, setting his holo-screen aside, his usual commander mask in place. “alright, let’s keep this simple. you all know the deal.” his tone was all business, but his eyes told a different story—there was a glint there, a flicker of excitement that he wasn’t bothering to hide. “we got the provisions we asked for. jungwon will administer the doses after dinner. everything is in place.”

nodding all around the table, but the atmosphere was fucking electric now. you could see it in their faces—the hunger. jake was practically bouncing in his chair, his grin stretching wider, while sunghoon’s eyes were sharp, assessing, like he was already planning his next move.

jay leaned back, but his gaze burned into you, dark and knowing. and then there was jungwon, sitting at the end of the table, watching you quietly, that playful glint flashing in his eyes for just a second before he hid it again.

“so,” jay’s voice broke the silence, his smirk twisting into something darker, more dangerous. “now that rule three’s been tossed out, we can finally have some real fun, right?”

heeseung shot him a warning look, but even he couldn’t hide the amusement tugging at his lips. “don’t get ahead of yourself. we still have a mission to run. last thing we need is for this to spiral out of control. ever heard of push and pull?”

“spiral out of control?” sunghoon raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “you sound worried, heeseung.”

heeseung’s calm facade slipped for just a moment, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. “i’m not worried. just reminding you idiots to keep your heads on straight. we’re still professionals.”

jake snorted, rolling his eyes. “yeah, ‘cause nothing says professionalism like asking hq to fuck y/n,’” he drawled, voice dripping with sarcasm. “real fucking professional.”

the weight of what was about to happen hung between you all, undeniable now. no one was pretending anymore.

jay’s smirk widened, his eyes locking onto yours with a look that made your pulse quicken. “so, what’s the plan after dinner, huh?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, but there was nothing casual about his gaze. it was challenging, filled with an intensity that left no room for misinterpretation. “think you’ll be able to handle what comes next?”

you narrowed your eyes, matching his stare, refusing to back down. “you’re asking a lot of questions, jay. you sure you can handle it?”

his smirk deepened, leaning forward slightly, the space between you shrinking. “oh, i know i can handle it,” he shot back, his voice dropping even lower, almost daring you to push back. “the real question is... are you ready for what’s coming?”

the rest of the room had quieted down, everyone watching the exchange unfold, but you could barely register them. it was just you and jay, locked in this silent battle of wills, each testing the other.

“you’re cocky,” you muttered, a hint of amusement in your voice as you held his gaze. “but we’ll see how long that lasts.”

jay chuckled, but there was no humor in it. it was dark, intense, laced with anticipation. “i guess we will.”

heeseung, trying to maintain the last shred of control, leaned forward, eyes scanning the group. “remember, kids, the drugs aren’t instant. they take time to kick in.” his voice was sharp, commanding, but there was an edge to it, like even he couldn’t hold back anymore. “we’ve still got a mission to run, so don’t go fucking everything up before we’ve even started.”

“yeah, yeah,” jake waved him off, his grin turning downright wicked. “we’ve got time. plenty of it.” he turned his gaze back to you, eyes darkening with something more. “and believe me, we’re gonna make every second count.”

you felt the heat rise to your cheeks, your heart racing as the room’s energy shifted even further. it was no longer a question of if something would happen—it was a matter of when. the air was so thick with anticipation you could practically taste it.

jay chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, eyes never leaving yours. “hope you’re ready,” he said, voice dripping with intent. “this is just the beginning.”

the intercom chimed suddenly, cutting through the thick atmosphere, but even that wasn’t enough to snap you out of it.

attention, crew. an error has been detected at station c-2, the research lab. diagnostic failure on data stream 07. manual override required.

jay’s expression shifted immediately from amusement to focus. he was the lead scientist, after all, and this was his domain. you caught the flicker of concern in his eyes as he glanced in your direction. the playful vibe that had been lingering around the table vanished instantly.

heeseung leaned forward, his tone sharp and commanding. “looks like that’s your station, jay. you better check it out. and you—” he nodded at you, his eyes serious, “go with him. see if you can help get it back online.”

you nodded, the gravity of the situation settling in. despite everything that had changed between you and the crew, the mission still came first. and this was part of it.

jay stood from the table, his earlier cocky grin replaced with something more determined. “let’s go,” he said, motioning for you to follow. “this could be serious.”

the others watched you leave, the tension lingering behind you as you followed jay down the narrow corridor. even with the weight of the station's alert hanging between you, the heat from earlier still simmered beneath the surface.

“think it’s bad?” you asked, trying to gauge just how serious this might be.

jay shrugged, though his brows furrowed slightly. “could be nothing. but diagnostic failures aren’t exactly common. might just be a glitch, but we need to check it manually to be sure.”

you reached the research lab, the door sliding open with a soft hiss. inside, the familiar glow of monitors and equipment greeted you. it was cooler in here, almost clinical. this was jay’s world—his sanctuary. the place where everything was methodical, predictable. except for now.

on the main console, a large screen flashed red, an error code blinking repeatedly: stream 07: failed data transfer. manual override required.

you stepped up to the console, scanning the information quickly. “looks like something’s interrupting the data flow,” you muttered, your fingers moving across the touchscreen. “i’ll need to run a deep diagnostic to figure out where the error is coming from.”

jay stood beside you, his eyes focused on the screen. “yeah, but we’ll also need to reset the sensor array manually. the connection’s probably severed between the arrays and the main system.”

you nodded, already pulling up the sensor data. “i can handle the diagnostic from here, but you’re going to need to check the arrays. they’re on the far side of the station, right?”

jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. “yup. i’ll head out there now. keep working on the override, and i’ll stay connected via comms.”

as jay left to deal with the arrays, you settled into the console, your fingers flying over the screen as you worked to override the error. the hum of the station felt louder here, echoing in the silence of the lab. the tension from earlier hadn’t disappeared—it lingered in the back of your mind, fueling the curiosity that had been gnawing at you.

what if this wasn’t just a glitch?

“how’s it looking?” jay’s voice crackled over the comms.

“i’m running the diagnostics now,” you replied, eyes scanning the streams of data in front of you. “looks like a severed connection between the relay and the sensor array. nothing permanent, but it’ll need a manual reset.”

“got it. i’m almost at the arrays now.”

you continued working, tracing the problem back to a minor software bug in the relay system. easy enough to fix once jay reset the arrays. but your thoughts kept drifting back to the dining hall. the way the guys had been so bold, so raw about what they wanted from you. it left you buzzing, caught between disbelief and anticipation.

“i’m at the arrays,” jay’s voice broke through your thoughts. “give me a minute to reset them.”

you nodded, even though he couldn’t see you. “take your time. i’m almost done on my end.”

the silence stretched on as you worked, the soft hum of the station almost hypnotic. then, suddenly, the error message disappeared, and the data streams resumed their normal flow.

“arrays are reset,” jay confirmed over the comms. “everything should be back online now.”

a smile tugged at your lips. “looks good on my end. diagnostic complete. data stream 07 is back up and running.”

“nice work,” jay replied, relief evident in his voice. “i’ll head back.”

as you sat in the dimly lit research lab, the glow from the monitors casting long shadows across the cold walls, your mind drifted back to the conversation from earlier. everything had shifted between you and the crew, and there was no undoing it.

you hesitated for a moment, your thoughts swirling before you decided to speak. “hey, jay?”

his response came casually, but there was an undercurrent in his tone, something tense, something guarded. “yeah?”

you leaned forward slightly, your tone light, almost playful. “why are you always so hot-headed?” you asked, the question hanging in the air between you two.

“you’ve got this whole tough guy act going on, but... is that really who you are? or is it just a front you’re putting up?”

there was a pause, longer than you expected, long enough that you wondered if you’d pushed too far. when jay finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more thoughtful, laced with something darker. “maybe a bit of both,” he admitted, a low chuckle slipping through, but it lacked humor. “i’ve always had a short fuse, but... it’s not always what it looks like.”

your curiosity deepened, leaning back in your chair. “what does that mean?”

you could hear the faint echo of his footsteps over the comms, signaling he was getting closer. “it means,” he said slowly, “sometimes it’s easier to let people think i’m pissed. keeps them at a distance, you know? better they think i’m mad than know what’s really going on.”

his words pulled you in. “so, what’s really going on, then?” your voice dropped, a challenge in the question. “you hiding something?”

jay let out a short laugh, but this time, it was darker, more serious. “aren’t we all?” he countered, his voice dropping lower. “you’re not the only one playing games up here, you know. we’ve all got our roles to play.”

you couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips, even as the tension between you two coiled tighter. “and what role does butting heads with sunghoon fit into?”

his laugh this time was more of a growl, low and dangerous. “sunghoon? that guy knows how to push my buttons. we’re competitive as hell, you know that. it’s about who comes out on top. but trust me, it’s not personal. it's just...”

you leaned in slightly, your voice softening. “just what, jay?”

you could hear his footsteps approaching, slow and deliberate as he finally made his way back to you. his gaze locked onto you with an intensity that made your pulse quicken. he stopped just inches from you, towering over you, his presence swallowing the space between you both.

he sighed, leaning down, his lips brushed against your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. “just two guys who know exactly what we want," he murmured, pulling back just enough to catch your eyes, a confident, lazy smirk spreading across his face. "and it just so happens that we hate sharing. something you might want to keep in mind."

you didn’t need him to spell it out. you knew exactly what he meant.

as he turned to leave, you couldn’t resist, your lips curling into a smirk. “so, are you and sunghoon really going to keep butting heads over me?”

jay paused in the doorway, glancing back at you with a sly grin. “we won't have to, if you'd just make your pick. but i'm sure you don't plan on letting any of us not get a taste.”

his eyes flickered with something dangerous, the weight of his words hanging thick between you. "for someone who doesn’t like sharing," you teased, your voice edged with a challenge, "you guys sure don’t hold back about wanting to fuck me."

jay’s steps were slow but deliberate as he closed the distance between you, his hands reaching out to grip your waist. his fingers tightened, possessive and unyielding, digging into your skin like he had no intention of letting go.

"sure, we don’t like sharing," jay admitted, his breath brushing against your ear, sending a shiver straight through you. "but when it comes to you? none of us are walking away without a piece. we all know it."

his hand slid lower, grazing over your stomach again, teasing but with unmistakable intent. his voice dropped into a low, rough growl, the primal edge of his desire cutting through. "you think you're ready for what i could do to you?"

there was barely any space left between you, the heat of his body searing into your skin, the tension so thick it was hard to breathe. every place he touched burned, your pulse racing under the pressure. still, you kept your voice steady, refusing to show him how much he was getting to you. "i’ve been ready, jay. so what are you waiting for?"

jay’s eyes darkened, his mouth curling into a sly grin. "hmm," he hummed, voice thick with amusement as he leaned in closer, his lips hovering just inches from yours. “what’s with the interrogation, huh? you trying to figure me out? or maybe, just maybe, you’re enjoying how fucking obvious we’ve all been about wanting you.”

you held his gaze, not flinching, even as your heart pounded in your chest. “it’s not about that, jay,” you said, letting the words come slow, deliberate, your lips curling into a smirk. “you make me curious, that’s all.”

you paused, letting the tension stretch before adding, “you remind me so much of my ex. and honestly, not to be a bitch or anything, but i can tell you’d fuck like you really mean it. hard. no games. gets me a little... excited.”

jay’s eyes narrowed, his smile fading as your words hit him, something darker flashing in his gaze. his grip on your waist tightened, fingers digging in, and you could see the restraint slipping as he struggled to keep control.

his eyes darkened, his voice dropping even lower, like he was holding back a storm inside him. really? your fucking ex? did you really have to mention it in front of him.

"i could fuck you right now and give you something to think about," he murmured, his hand sliding up to cup your jaw, his thumb brushing your lips, just enough to make your breath catch. "hard. no games. exactly how you like it."

words hung heavy between you, the intensity of his gaze burning into yours. the heat radiating from him made the room feel smaller, the air thick and suffocating in the most dangerous, tempting way.

"but," he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against your ear, his breath hot on your skin, "i also don’t wanna be swelling up your pretty belly just yet."

jay's fingers dug into your waist harder, his breath hot against your ear as he whispered, “and i'd rather blue ball myself than fuck that tight ass and pussy without being able to pump you full.”

you bit back a moan, your whole body reacting to the rough, filthy promise behind them. he leaned in closer, his lips brushing the side of your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.

"you think i don’t wanna just bend you over and take you right here? believe me, i do. but i want more than that. i wanna feel you clench around me when i’m deep inside, knowing you’re gonna walk out of here dripping with me.”

his hand slid lower, teasingly hovering over the curve of your ass as he continued, voice dark, thick with restraint, “i’m not about to waste that on some quick fuck. i wanna fill you so full you won’t forget it for days. and i know that’s what you really want too, right?”

jay’s eyes glinted with satisfaction as he took in your reaction, the tension crackling between you like a live wire. his hand, now resting dangerously low on your ass, squeezed possessively, drawing a sharp breath from your lips.

"cat got your tongue, baby?" jay mocked, a dark smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth as he watched you fight to hold onto the last shred of composure. "or are you finally realizing what you're asking for?"

he almost groaned, the sound catching in his throat as he took in the sight of you—breathless, lips parted, your usual confident demeanor nowhere to be found. your glossy eyes locked onto his in a haze, like you were already wrecked just from his presence, from the way he could control you without even touching you further. fuck, he could ruin you right now, completely.

his hand tightened against your waist, his body screaming at him to just take you, to give in to the need that was clawing at him, to make you his in the way you both knew you wanted. your soft breaths, the way your body was already responding to him—it was almost too much to resist.

but he had to. fuck, he had to remember the facts.

he swallowed hard, forcing himself to pull back slightly, his grip on you loosening just enough for him to regain some control. the reality of it all settled in like ice in his veins. if he gave in now, it would be dangerous. he could get you pregnant, and that wasn’t something he could risk. no matter how much his body screamed to ignore the consequences, to claim you, he had to hold back.

his jaw clenched, the internal battle raging beneath the surface, and he bit back the groan that threatened to escape. “as much as I’d love to ruin you right now,” he murmured, voice rough, “you know I can’t. not yet.”

on the way back to the dining hall, jay’s presence was heavy behind you, each of his steps deliberate, like he was savoring the tension thickening the air between you. even without turning, you could feel his gaze tracing every curve, lingering like a touch. you knew his game—how to read the shifts in his energy. and right now, jay wasn’t being subtle at all.

“enjoying the view, jay?” you teased over your shoulder, the smirk on your lips unmistakable.

his laugh came out low and dark. “you make it impossible not to.”

just before reaching the door to the dining hall, jay closed the space between you, his hand sliding down your back, fingers grazing the curve of your waist before gripping your ass and giving it a firm, teasing slap. the jolt of it sent a wave of heat through you, and you bit your lip, barely holding back the gasp that threatened to escape.

“can’t wait to fuck that ass.”

his words were almost a whisper, his tone smug as he winked, pressing the button to open the door. jay acted like it was nothing, like he hadn’t just lit a fire in you that left your pulse racing, but you knew better.

as you stepped into the dining hall, the mood shifted instantly. jake, sunghoon, and heeseung were already at the table, their gazes flicking toward you and jay as soon as you walked in. whatever had just passed between the two of you hadn’t gone unnoticed, the tension in the room thick and unmistakable.

you moved deliberately, slow enough for their eyes to track your every step as you slid into your seat. the air still hummed with the tension from earlier, and jay’s little stunt had left you burning, the anticipation coiling low in your belly, your panties uncomfortably damp.

jay sat next to you, closer than before, his knee brushing yours under the table, his presence all-consuming. sunghoon glanced up from his tablet, a smirk playing on his lips, eyes glinting with that familiar mischief.

“you two were gone for a while,” sunghoon drawled, his tone light but with an edge, the glimmer in his eyes daring you to explain.

“everything alright?” jake asked casually, though the curiosity in his gaze as it shifted between you and jay didn’t go unnoticed.

you let the question hang for a moment, stretching out the tension just enough to make them squirm. finally, you answered with a playful smirk. “we fixed it,” your voice low, dripping with suggestion.

jay chuckled beside you, his arm slipping over the back of your chair, his fingers brushing lightly against your shoulder. “nothing we couldn’t handle,” he added smoothly, his voice oozing confidence.

sunghoon’s eyes flicked to jay’s arm, lingering on the casual contact. the tension between the two of them was palpable, simmering just beneath the surface. sunghoon wasn’t one to let something like this slide, especially when it involved jay pushing his limits.

“yeah, i’m sure that’s all it was,” sunghoon muttered, his tone laced with barely-concealed frustration, his gaze lingering on you longer than it should have. the rivalry between him and jay was written all over his face. losing ground to jay wasn’t something sunghoon was going to tolerate easily.

dinner continued, but the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. every glance, every remark carried that same undercurrent of barely contained anticipation, the air crackling with the unspoken competition between them. and even though the plates were cleared, the tension never left.

heeseung finally stood up, his voice steady but with an edge of authority that cut through the air. “alright. jungwon, handle the doses. let’s get this done.”

jungwon’s voice broke through the room, catching everyone off guard. the playful banter disappeared in an instant, replaced by a sudden shift in mood. the others turned to face him, the curiosity in their eyes matching your own.

"we should go over the side effects tomorrow," jungwon said, his tone calm but with a certain weight. "but we need to start administering the doses now."

heeseung raised an eyebrow, leaning back, clearly not satisfied. "why not tell us now? is it that bad?" his voice held a challenge, though it was clear he was intrigued.

jungwon shrugged, his usual laid-back demeanor barely changed. "because, if i tell you now, you might chicken out."

a silence settled over the room, the others exchanging glances. jungwon, however, remained cool, almost playful, like he was enjoying how the conversation was turning. you couldn’t help but notice that, even in these moments, he had this air of control—subtle, but there.

heeseung leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "so, what you’re saying is, it’s better if we don’t know?"

jungwon smiled, that calm, almost teasing smile he always gave. "let’s just say it’ll be easier if you’re not overthinking it."

“i’m not gonna go bald, am i?” jake cut in, his usual sarcasm thinly veiling the hint of worry behind his words.

jungwon’s smile widened slightly, the playful glint in his eyes giving nothing away. “no, jake, your hair’s safe. at least, it’s not one of the listed side effects.”

jake leaned back, sighing in exaggerated relief. “good, because if i lose my hair, i’m done for.”

there was a ripple of laughter, breaking some of the tension, but it didn’t erase the weight of jungwon’s words. his calm, almost too-casual demeanor had a way of leaving everyone a little on edge, like he knew something they didn’t.

sunghoon’s fingers tapped against the table, his eyes sharp as he watched jungwon carefully. “so, what’s the worst that could happen? you’ve been dodging that question.”

jungwon chuckled, light and almost playful. “worst? nausea, dizziness, heightened sensitivity, maybe a little fever. nothing too crazy.” he paused, eyes gleaming with just a touch of mischief. “but, you know, side effects vary.”

“heightened sensitivity?” jay’s eyebrow shot up, a grin spreading across his face. “shit, that doesn’t sound too bad. worth it for a taste of y/n’s pussy.”

jungwon met jay’s gaze, the corner of his mouth lifting into something that resembled a smirk, but there was something darker lurking beneath it. “depends on what you’re sensitive to.”

you shot jungwon a glance, curiosity piqued. there was something in the way he was handling this—so calm, so in control—that made you wonder just how much he was really keeping to himself. "so, after dinner then?" you asked, your tone teasing but laced with intrigue.

jungwon’s eyes flicked toward you, holding your gaze a moment longer than necessary. "yeah."

you leaned back in your chair, a smirk tugging at your lips as you watched him. "guess i’ll see you later, doc."

jungwon didn’t rise to the bait immediately. instead, he gave you one of his usual collected smiles, but there was something darker underneath, something unsettling in its calmness. “oh, you definitely will.”

with that, he stood up, moving away like the conversation hadn’t phased him in the slightest. like this was just another day on the station, but the tension he left behind hung thick in the air.

something about him was different now, a bit subtle but you could see it. as he turned to leave, you felt a shiver of anticipation snake down your spine. there was something there, something darker than the rest of them had noticed. something he hadn’t let slip.

and now, you weren’t sure if you were curious or nervous to find out what it was.

you were seated, gripping the edge of the stool, fighting to keep your composure, but the anticipation was fucking with your head, twisting your gut in ways you hadn’t expected. you’d set everything up like you always did for jungwon—stool, clinical, routine. no big deal, right? like he wasn’t about to inject something into you that would allow them to fuck you and fill you full of their cum. yeah, totally not a big fucking deal.

but the second the door slid open, and he stepped in, syringe in hand, you knew something was off. something was fucking different.

jungwon’s smile was there, like always—easy, familiar, but today, there was something darker lurking behind it. his eyes were sharper, more intense, lingering a little too long, his grip on the syringe a little too tight. when the door slid shut with that soft, inevitable hiss, the room shrank, suffocating under the weight of unspoken tension.

he stepped closer, the air thick between you, stretching the silence to the point of snapping. his eyes flicked down your body, and you could feel it—the weight of his gaze tracing every curve, burning like a physical touch.

“you ready?” his voice was light, friendly even, but there was tightness beneath it, like he was barely holding something back. jungwon wasn’t like the others. he didn’t push, didn’t cross lines. but now, it felt like he was struggling, the cracks in his calm beginning to show.

you nodded, keeping your eyes on him. “yeah,” you replied, trying to sound casual, but your heart was pounding, your pulse betraying you. the tension between you had nothing to do with the injection in his hand.

biting your lip, you stood slowly, feeling his eyes on you, following every movement like a predator stalking prey. you shouldn’t push it—you knew that—but fuck it, you wanted to see where his breaking point was.

you lifted your oversized shirt, letting the fabric slide up, revealing the lace panties you’d chosen just for him. delicate, barely-there, perfectly framing the curve of your ass. you knew exactly what it would do to him.

his smile faltered for just a second before it returned, softer this time, a little too controlled. but his eyes? fuck, they gave him away. something darker, something raw flickered there, barely hidden beneath the surface.

his breath hitched, and his gaze narrowed, tracing the lace hugging your skin. his jaw tightened, and you could see it—the restraint he was clinging to slipping with every passing second. for a moment, you thought he might snap, right then and there.

he stepped closer, his fingers barely grazing your waist—so fucking light it almost pissed you off, because you wanted more. his touch was a tease, a threat, like he wasn’t sure if he should grab you or rip those panties off and take you right there. every muscle in him screamed with tension, and you knew he was holding back by a thread.

jungwon sat down on the stool, the creak of it filling the silence as he prepped the syringe. your ass was practically in his face now, the lace doing nothing to hide how wet you already were. his eyes flicked down again, and fuck, you could feel the war inside him—his hands twitching like he wanted to bury his face between your legs and drown himself in you.

“you good, jungwon?” you taunted, your voice low, dripping with amusement. “looks like you’re about to lose it.”

his eyes snapped up to meet yours, darker, more dangerous, filled with something raw he wasn’t bothering to hide anymore. but he stayed quiet, his hands ghosting over your waist again, fingers trailing lower, brushing dangerously close to your ass. the silence was deafening, goosebumps rising on your skin as his smirk deepened, noticing your reaction.

he was teetering on the edge. you could see it—feel it. his breath hitched, his jaw clenched, and his hands hovered like he was about to lose the last bit of control he had left.

“you know…” your voice dropped lower, daring him, teasing. “hq said no sex… but they didn’t say shit about touching.”

his lips twitched, the warmth in his smile warping into something darker, more dangerous. his eyes flashed with that primal glint, like you’d just given him permission to ruin you right there and then.

his grip on your hips tightened, fingers digging into your skin, making you gasp. the playful warmth that usually lingered around him was completely gone, replaced with an intensity that made your heart race with equal parts fear and desire—but fuck, it was hot.

“let me ask you,” his voice came out rough, low, almost a growl. “what happened when you and jay went to check the arrays?”

there was jealousy dripping from his words, his whole body taut like a coiled spring, just waiting to snap. you hadn’t expected this from him—this overwhelming, suffocating energy. this wasn’t the calm, friendly jungwon you were used to. this was something darker, something possessive, something utterly dominating.

jungwon? jealous of jay? fuck, this just keeps getting better.

you smirked, leaning into the pressure of his grip, relishing the way his fingers pressed harder into your skin. “well, he fixed the arrays, we cleared it out,” you whispered, teasing, taunting. “oh, and he gave me a nice spank. felt fucking amazing, too.”

"really now?" jungwon’s hands twitched, his restraint hanging by a thread, that last shred of control slipping from his grasp. your stomach sank at how his voice shifted, lower, darker, dripping with barely-restrained need.

“you like being spanked?” his voice was rough now, thick with something far more dangerous than anything he’d ever shown you before.

you leaned in close, your lips brushing against his ear. “i can handle pain,” you whispered, daring him, challenging him to show you what he was capable of.

his eyes darkened, and you could see it—the way his pupils blew wide, the tension rippling through his body. he was close, so fucking close to losing control, and the way you stood there, defiant, practically begging him to snap, made him want to ruin you. fuck, he wanted to tie you down and break you, to push you to your limits until you were crying and begging for him to stop—and then beg for more.

it was taking every ounce of his control not to cross that line.

but he held back. barely.

the needle pierced your skin, sharp and quick, making you gasp, the sting sending a jolt through you. and that was when you felt it—his control shattering, piece by piece. his free hand trembled as it slipped into the pocket of his lab coat, fingers curling around the vial he’d been keeping hidden. an aphrodisiac he’d been working on, designed to strip you of every bit of control, to make you lose your fucking mind, make you beg for him.

so fucking tempting.

when he pulled the needle out, your breathing was ragged, your lips parted, your body already wound up tight, a mess just from his hands on you. his cock throbbed painfully in his slacks, and it took every bit of willpower not to shove you down right then and there, to fill you the way he so desperately wanted to.

you stepped closer, deliberately pressing against him, your body brushing up against his hard length, and the way his jaw clenched told you everything you needed to know. you had him on the edge.

“that’s it?” you whispered, your voice dripping with teasing defiance, pushing him further.

jungwon didn’t answer, didn’t even give you the satisfaction of a response. instead, his hand shot out, wrapping around your throat with just enough pressure to make you whimper—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind you exactly who held the power. his other hand slipped around your waist, pulling you flush against him, the heat between your bodies almost unbearable.

before you could react, he yanked you roughly over his lap, bending you with a force that made your breath hitch. you were pinned beneath him, his grip on your throat loosening just enough to keep you gasping for air but never completely letting go.

you gasped, heart pounding as jungwon grabbed the waistband of your lace panties, yanking them up hard, the fabric cutting into your skin, making your thighs burn from the tight, humiliating wedgie. your lips parted with a soft moan, fingers gripping the edge of the stool, his hand now resting on your ass, lingering like he was savoring the way your body shook.

and then, without any warning, his hand came down with a sharp slap, the crack of it echoing in the room. the sting shot through you, blending pain with the heat already pooling between your legs.

"holy fuck," you gasped, breathless, the sharp pain shooting straight to your core, making you arch involuntarily.

he didn’t say anything, just stared at your ass, watching it bounce from the impact, his fingers twitching before gripping your skin harder.

“hurts?” his voice was low, almost amused, as his fingers brushed over the fresh red mark he’d left on you.

you nodded, biting down on your lip, your breath shaky as you tried to steady yourself, even though your body was begging for more.

he clicked his tongue, mocking you. “thought you could handle pain.” his fingers trailed slowly up your back, brushing over the spot where he’d injected you, and then, just as quick, he gave it a sharp pinch, making your hips jerk off the stool.

“want another?” his tone was calm, almost casual, but there was that dangerous edge underneath. he was watching you too closely, waiting for you to give in completely.

you tried to turn your head, needing to meet his eyes, to see just how much he was enjoying this, but before you could move, his hand knotted in your hair, yanking your head back roughly. “i asked you a fucking question,” he growled, voice thick with control. “do you want another?”

“yes,” you whispered, voice shaking, your whole body aching with need.

his hand came down again, harder this time, the sound of it snapping through the room, the shockwave of pain ripping through you. and he didn’t stop. his grip tightened on your ass, squeezing, his eyes rolling back as he watched your skin bounce under his hand, loving the sight of you losing control.

and then, he froze. his fingers slipped down between your legs, brushing against your wetness, and he let out a low groan, completely caught off guard by just how soaked you were. “fuck, you’re dripping,” he muttered, almost to himself, his middle finger sliding between your folds, teasing the slick heat before pulling away.

“lick it clean,” he growled, shoving his fingers into your mouth before you could even respond. your lips closed around them, tongue swirling around his fingers as the taste of yourself coated your tongue, humiliation and heat tangled up, making you burn even more.

jungwon’s eyes darkened as he watched you, a sneer curling his lips. “slut,” he muttered, low and degrading, the word hitting hard.

you gasped, the sound muffled by his fingers still in your mouth, and when he finally pulled away, he stood up, brushing himself off like nothing had happened, leaving you panting, trembling on the stool, completely wrecked.

without another word, he turned and walked out, the door sliding shut behind him.

what the fuck just happened?

you could still feel the sting of his hand on your ass, the taste of your arousal still heavy on your tongue. your heart was racing, body aching, and then you heard it.

a faint beep.

it sliced through the silence like a whisper, one you’d heard countless times before. but this one was wrong. it was past the usual time for the system chime, way past. something was off.

you sat up, skin still tingling from the encounter, and tried to shake off the lingering tension. the beeping was faint but persistent, and your gut told you something was wrong.

but you pushed it aside, trying to focus, calming your breathing. you had bigger things to worry about than some out-of-sync noise.

morning hit the station with the faint, mechanical hum of artificial dawn. the lights inched brighter, the soft beep of panels breaking the silence, but underneath the sterile calm, everything was tense, tight, waiting to snap. you felt it before you even left your room. the enhancements were fucking with everyone, ramping up senses, making everything too sharp, too real. jungwon had warned you, told you how it’d fuck with your body, your mind, but you didn’t expect it to hit this hard. none of you did.

you walked down the hallway, every step echoing, the sound of your boots hitting the cold floor louder than usual. the faint scent of synth-coffee from the galley drifted over, but that wasn’t what had your skin tingling. it was the heat of their stares. they weren’t even trying to hide it anymore. every glance was laced with desire, need, like they were all just waiting for you to give in.

"morning," jake’s voice cut through your thoughts, soft and almost too close. he’d caught up with you just outside the door, his tone sending a wave of warmth through you. you could feel the weight of his eyes on you, the slight shift in his posture as he leaned in, close but not close enough.

"morning," you muttered back, your voice lower than usual, body humming with awareness of how near he was. it was always like this with jake—his presence made everything sharper, like your body was just waiting for him to touch you.

inside, jay glanced up from his seat, his eyes landing on you and staying there longer than they should have. “sleep alright?” he asked, his voice low, the tone holding something beneath the surface, something unspoken.

you shrugged, biting your lip. “weird dreams,” you said, the memory of jungwon’s hands tightening around your throat, the sound of his palm against your skin as he spanked you, still too fresh in your mind. your gaze swept the room, brow furrowing when you didn’t see him.

sunghoon was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes locked on you like he hadn’t blinked since you walked in. his stare was heavy, like he was trying to burn through you. fuck, he was obsessed. everyone knew it, but he didn’t care.

his jaw clenched when he noticed you weren’t looking at him. no, you were looking for someone else. and it fucking ate at him.

his fists tightened at his sides, his whole body itching to grab you, to pull you into him, to remind you that it was him you should be coming to.

the longer jungwon stayed gone, the more sunghoon’s restlessness grew. his eyes darkened, narrowing with suspicion as he watched you, silently piecing together possibilities. had something happened between you two? his mind raced, jealousy gnawing at him, twisting in his gut like a fucking knife. because only jungwon wasn't here.

he couldn’t shake the idea. your glances toward the door, the way your body seemed more tense than usual, it all pointed to one thing: jungwon had gotten to you. the thought clawed at him, feeding the jealousy already simmering under his skin. he shifted against the wall, his jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might crack.

meanwhile, heeseung’s hands moved over the equipment, but his mind was a thousand miles away, caught in a filthy loop he couldn’t shake. his eyes kept drifting to you, that twisted hunger he tried so hard to keep hidden now at the surface.

last night had blown the lid off whatever control he thought he had. he realized, finally, just how deep his obsession with you went, how utterly fucked up it was.

he’d watched every second of it—how you’d waited for jungwon to arrive, how you’d carefully chosen which panties to wear, trying on different ones as if the choice itself was part of the seduction. you teased the mirror, posed, knowing damn well what kind of reaction you’d get.

and fuck, if he had been in jungwon’s place, he wouldn’t have left until you were choking on his cock, tears streaming down your face.

when jungwon had wrapped his hand around your throat, making you lick his hand clean, heeseung lost it. he’d been jerking off in the dim light of the monitors, eyes glued to the screen, watching you fall apart for another man. but that wasn’t even the best part. no, the real fun started after jungwon left. that’s when heeseung got the show of a lifetime.

he’d watched you fuck yourself again, your fingers working over your soaked pussy as you moaned jungwon’s name like the filthy slut you were. watching you come apart like that, knowing you were still hungry for more, had pushed heeseung over the edge. he came so fucking hard, his uniform a mess, sweat beading down his forehead as he sat in the dim glow of the monitors, panting, his mind replaying every filthy detail of the night. and of course, he recorded it. he always did. every night, like clockwork. 9 p.m., that tiny red light blinked on, and heeseung had his front-row seat to whatever you got up to.

his personal show. he’d make sure to have it all backed up in the system, hidden away so no one would ever find it. not that you ever caught on. you were clueless.

why did you think heeseung always volunteered for the late shift? the one no one else wanted to take, the one that left him alone in the command center while the rest of you slept, rotating shifts like normal people? he insisted on picking up extra shifts, taking on more work than was needed, all under the guise of being the responsible commander.

but the truth? you fucking kept him alive, and you had no idea.

every night, he sat there in the dim glow of the monitors, eyes glued to the screen as he watched you. sometimes you were just sleeping, your body still and peaceful, and he’d study the rise and fall of your chest, the way your hair fanned out over the pillow.

other times, though, you weren’t so innocent. you’d toss and turn, the sheets slipping off your body, giving him a perfect view of those lace panties you thought no one would see. and sometimes, if he was lucky, you’d do more than just sleep.

now that he thinks about it, he was probably the most pathetic of them all. sitting there night after night, watching you like a desperate fucking creep, jerking off to the thought of having you—knowing you had no clue.

but that’s what kept him going. that secret, that fucked-up obsession. you were his in ways you couldn’t even imagine. and now, more than ever, he was determined to make that fantasy real.

the command center wasn’t just for monitoring missions anymore—it was his personal voyeur’s dream. the tiny red light in the corner of your room? you’d never noticed. you had no idea he was watching your every move.

and the way he got access? it was completely by accident. during the first week on the station, he’d been bored out of his mind, missing the feel of playing games on a computer. as an avid gamer back on earth, he spent hours clicking and typing around, trying to mimic the experience. just messing with the system, he stumbled across the surveillance feeds. at first, it was a fluke—he didn’t expect anything to come from it. but then he saw you.

just a week in, and there you were, already masturbating when everyone else was asleep. the moment he saw your hand slip beneath your sheets, he knew. you were a fucking freak, and he was hooked. from that night on, he couldn’t stop himself. he kept watching, kept getting deeper and deeper into his obsession with you.

he planned to make his move soon, to get what he wanted from you. now that the enhancements were in play, it was only a matter of time.

jungwon’s voice sliced through the tension in the room as he entered, setting down a holo-pad on the table. his calm demeanor was perfectly in place, but you knew better now. after last night, you had seen the other side of him, the one hidden beneath all that composure. the one that left marks on your skin.

“alright, let’s get started,” he said, the professional tone masking everything that had happened between you two. you leaned back in your seat, your pulse quickening as he continued.

"by now, you’ve all noticed the side effects of the enhancements," jungwon explained, his eyes flicking briefly to you before addressing the others. "they’re designed to sharpen instincts and reactions, but with that comes heightened emotions and physical responses."

jake, leaning against the table, raised an eyebrow, his gaze sliding over to you for a split second before settling back on jungwon. “you mean how everything feels… more intense?” his voice held a hint of curiosity, but his eyes were burning with something else entirely.

jungwon nodded. "exactly. it’s an adjustment period. your bodies and minds will acclimate, but for now, be mindful of your interactions."

jay let out a scoff from where he was sitting, staring into his synth-coffee like it personally offended him. “you seem perfectly fine,” he muttered, his frustration sharp as he glared up at jungwon.

jungwon didn’t even blink. “i’m not.”

jay's jaw tightened, but he let it go, muttering something under his breath as he took another sip of his coffee.

sunghoon, still leaning against the wall, wasn’t buying it. his eyes were narrowed, his voice dripping with skepticism. “and we’re just supposed to handle this shit without any real guidance?”

jungwon didn’t flinch. “the side effects should only last until the drug fully integrates with your systems. you can handle it.”

you ran your fingers through your hair, feeling the weight of their eyes on you, the tension in the room heavy and suffocating. it wasn’t just the enhancements making everything feel too much—it was the way every glance burned through your skin, the heat crawling under your flesh, making it hard to focus. all of them knew the truth now: they had the green light. but what good was it when the rules still kept you apart?

it wasn’t even fun anymore, not when they were all staring at you like this, like they were ready to tear you apart but couldn’t. fuck, it was a joke. they were all stuck in the same hell—desperate, but unable to act.

from across the room, jake wasn’t even bothering to hide it anymore. his eyes were locked on your chest, the tension in his jaw unmistakable as he stared like he could burn a hole through your shirt. his frustration was palpable, and you could feel the weight of it pressing down on you, making your skin prickle with heat.

he wasn’t the only one, though. you could feel sunghoon’s eyes too, still sizing up jungwon, like he was seconds away from calling him out on the bullshit.

jungwon wasn’t any better than the rest of them. despite the calm, clinical mask he wore, his mind was a fucking mess, replaying images of last night over and over. the way you had submitted to him, your lips parting, gasping for air as his hand squeezed your throat, your ass reddened from the spanking he’d given you. the memory of your body under his control—marked, claimed—was burned into his brain.

but he had to focus. had to shove that shit deep down and get back to the mission. his voice was steady as he outlined the tasks for the day, even though his thoughts kept drifting back to the silk restraints tucked away in the med bay. soon, he thought. those restraints would see some use soon enough.

but today wasn’t like yesterday. the teasing, the sly remarks, the underlying excitement of finally dropping the professional act—it was all gone. today, the room was suffocating with tension, everyone hyper-aware of each other, of the drug that was hitting them harder with each passing second. every glance felt loaded, every breath too loud. the enhancements were amplifying everything—desire, frustration, need.

they were all on edge, barely hanging on by the thin thread of self-control that told them they couldn’t act yet. it was a waiting game, and every second was making it worse.

jungwon, being in charge of wellness, kept his professional front up as he continued outlining the day’s mission. but the thoughts still creeped in—thoughts of tying you up in the med bay, using those silk restraints hq had thoughtfully included in the kit. his blood ran hot at the idea of keeping you there, bound and helpless, doing whatever the fuck he wanted. he’d make you beg, make you fight against the restraints, shove whatever he wanted into your pussy and fuck you until you were crying, overstimulated, a trembling mess beneath him.

he had to push those thoughts away, force himself out of the dark fantasies clouding his mind. with a rough exhale, he cleared his throat, his voice coming out steadier this time. “right, let’s focus.”

you noticed the tension still lingering in the tight set of his shoulders, the way his fingers flexed around the syringe before he caught himself, loosening his grip. "first up, we’ve got our group activity from hq. simulation pods. we’re scheduled for our first physical training today."

simulation pods. of course. one of the most intense parts of the training regimen. hq never let up when it came to pushing all of you to the limit. today wouldn’t be any different, and maybe, just maybe, it would be a temporary distraction from whatever was brewing between you and jungwon. though you doubted it’d be enough to stop the tension from creeping back in.

the pods were designed to throw you into high-stress environments, to push your physical and mental endurance, to test your reflexes and emotional control. normally, you could handle it, but today felt off. the room was too charged, the air too thick with something else. you weren’t the only one feeling it either.

jungwon gestured for you all to follow, professionalism clicking back into place as he led you toward the training area. still, you caught the occasional flicker of his eyes as they darted back to you, betraying the calm front he was trying to maintain. you smirked to yourself. today’s simulation wasn’t going to be the only challenge either of you were dealing with.

as the doors to the simulation pods slid open, the cold, sterile air did nothing to ease the tension. instead, it seemed to sharpen it, making everything feel more intense.

click here for part 2. (to be released september 21, 2024 @ 9pm pht)

── .✦⸝⸝ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 @sol3chu @heesminee3 @riribelle @leov3rse @missoxy @mitmit01 @immelissaaa @phebeedee @simbabyj @ivorybabysworld @firesunflames @gnvi-eve @chubbypeach2111 @tsukisbabydino @he115re @enhasrii @kienhawon @dvalitaes @in-somnias-world @jwnghyuns @inishij @jiryunie @lhspeachie @strxwbloody @nshmrarki @leesura @slvtella @jiminie-08 @wonnienyang @dollyyun @seonghwasbbgirl @doublebunv @yuniesluv @gong-fourz @mavlogist @ckwnsgh @love4hee @nyxtwixx @woniefull @deobitifull @isa942572 @eunmoin @giyuutopfan @vi-ri

#ikeucity #keuri #enhypen smut #enhypen imagines #enhypen au #enhypen x reader #enha imagines #enha smau #enha x smut

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