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Geum Seongje does have a heart.
When he was a teenager, that sentence would be very hard to believe. Impossible even. Back when his days revolved around the union and serving as one of Na Baekjin’s strongest fighters. Back when he used to pick fights with people twice his own size for looking at him a certain way for too long or even just for fun because he was bored. Back when he was labeled ‘Ganghak’s mad dog’. Yeah, back then the idea that Geum Seongje had a heart and was capable of love would be laughable and on par with a practical joke. Something that people who knew him or of him would laugh at, like serious knee slapping shit.
But he actually did have a heart and he was actually capable of love. His heart was held in the hands of one Go Hyuntak.
That would be another laughable statement back then too, at least for those who knew the pair. Enemies on opposing sides, Seongje being one of Baekjin’s most loyal hands and Hyuntak’s unbreakable devotion to Park Humin, Eunjang’s top dog. The only contact and words between the two being strong punches, sharp kicks and venomous insults being hurled back and forth in the heat of the fight. Not to mention, Seongje being one of the main culprits in destroying Hyuntak’s chances of chasing his dreams and advancing in his athletic career. Seongje may not have delivered the final blow but he’d been there. He’d been one to beat him down and film it. He’d done enough damage to share the blame.
But as we know, fate works in twisted and unexpected ways.
Even after the fight that had ended it all, Eunjang vs The Union. The fight which Eunjang had won and as a result, completely disbanded the union, their paths had continued to cross. At first their first few meetings had been mostly accidental, or more of a lucky coincidence on Seongje’s part.
Hyuntak would be passing Seongje in the street or on his way home from Baku’s place and of course, since a good fight is so hard to come by nowadays, Seongje would leap at the chance to antagonise him. Who’s he to pass up the golden opportunity to throw some punches at his favourite playmate? And now without the union around and with Baekjin dead, he was incredibly fucking bored and could do with as much entertainment as possible. There were only so many video games he could play before he got tired of beating them. The world was truly his oyster and it really helped that Hyuntak was as easily riled up and ragebaited as he had always been; it always worked well in his favour.
A few sly digs at Baku, an insult to his strength and ability to hold his own in a fight… maybe one or two words about his knee and he’d fall right into it, biting back like the loyal lapdog Seongje had always called him. But something about these fights felt different. After their first fight Seongje wasn’t so sure, after their second he had a feeling and after their third he knew. Go Hyuntak was fucking enjoying it.
He observed him. Watched him carefully while they fought, his eyes scanning over his face and body movements whilst simultaneously trying to fight back. It was almost impossible to miss but he saw it, the way the corners of Hyuntak’s mouth lifted into a small barely noticeable smile when he’d land a punch, seeing the light in his eyes as he’d raise his arms to block Seongje’s own. He was even sure that he’d heard a small laugh at one point. This was so much different to how they used to be back when the union was around. And Seongje loved it. He loved knowing that Hyuntak loved it. Every second of it.
‘He looks pretty like this’ he’d thought to himself. Seongje always thought Hyuntak was attractive, who wouldn’t? Soft dark hair, an attractive face with pretty puppy-like facial features to match. He was basically a personification of Snoopy with those features. But there was something special to Seongje about seeing him in this light, he’d seen it the first time they fought and every time ever since. There was something about the fire in his eyes, the need that he had to prove himself as the stronger one despite being weaker because of his injury. Something that made a heat pool in Seongje’s gut and flip his insides upside down.
The aftermath of their fights started to change after he’d made this observation. It had started small; Seongje reaching down to pull Hyuntak up off the ground with his hand (the first time it happened, Hyuntak had told him to fuck off but took it regardless). This was soon followed by small laughs of amusement as they dusted off their clothes, quiet nods exchanged between them as if they were saying ‘nice fight’ or ‘you did good’.
They started exchanging words next. It was mostly Seongje at first of course, Hyuntak would try to act like he didn’t care that he was speaking to him, like he wasn’t paying any mind to him— but Seongje knew he was listening and that’s all that mattered to him. Sometimes Hyuntak would reply with sarcasm or a scoff or some sort of insult, but the ever observant Seongje could see that there was never any real malice behind his words, not like before. It felt more playful, like bantering between friends (even though Hyuntak had sworn they weren’t friends). Seongje caught the not-so-discreet smiles and poorly hidden laughs at what he’d say, the way he’d turn his head away from Seongje the minute he saw him smiling right back at him.
And as much as Hyuntak tried to deny listening to him, denied enjoying his presence, he started to bring up things he and Seongje had spoken about like ‘you said last week that you’d ranked up in league?’ or ‘how’d that one assignment that you wouldn’t shut up about go?’. After maybe a month, Hyuntak began to talk to Seongje unprompted himself, bringing up things like a show he was currently into, asking if Seongje had seen it or going on an angry rant about their basketball team had lost a game or how he’d been wrongly fouled for something that another player started.
Seongje laughed at that. Hyuntak threw a punch to his shoulder and told him to shut up.
Soon Seongje found himself walking Hyuntak home. The first time, Hyuntak acted like he wasn’t there, keeping space between them. But that then changed to walking together in a closer proximity, stupid conversations being exchanged between the two. It was their new norm after a fight. And of course, Seongje had noticed more changes in Hyuntak. He noticed that his body wouldn’t be as tense around him, that his guard would lower, how he was becoming more used to and comfortable with Seongje around. How Hyuntak would laugh more when Seongje said something dumb.
Seongje really liked his laugh. Hyuntak said Seongje’s laugh was annoying and loud but he’d noticed how the corners of Hyuntak’s mouth quirked up into a smile when he laughed.
Their meet-ups became more frequent, no longer accidental. Somewhere along the line of their weird non-friendship, they’d exchanged phone numbers… exchanged being Seongje held Hyuntak down on the ground, sitting on his back as he saved his number in the other boy's phone and they’d text to meet up. Seongje would always text first and Hyuntak would say no, but then of course, he’d show up anyway. Sometimes it was to fight, like it was a way for both of them to blow off steam and destress. But sometimes they wouldn’t fight at all. They’d meet, exchange a few snarky words before laughing each other off and heading to the nearest convenience store for food or head to Seongje’s favourite PC Bang and play a few games together. They’d become somewhat more touchy with each other too. Their hands would brush together as they walked side by side or their shoulders would bump together. Seongje had started throwing his arm around Hyuntak’s shoulders and although he fought against it, he could tell there was no real bite to it.
Seongje told Hyuntak he had soft hands. Hyuntak called him a pervert freak and told him to stop touching him while the tips of his ears turned red.
Neither were sure what happened or who exactly had made the first romantic move between them but they’d been in Hyuntak’s kitchen, cleaning up the dishes after they’d had what Hyuntak’s mother had made them before she left for work. Seongje had said something which provoked the other and that resulted in them breaking out into a play fight like they were a pair of kids, splashing water at each other and throwing wash cloths back and forth. Seongje eventually had Hyuntak against the counter, rubbing a cloth over his face while Hyuntak’s arms flailed and tried to counter attack. Seongje dropped the cloth which left them face to face. There had been an awkward pause, a lock of eyes, shy glances down at each other's lips. It was hard to tell who’d actually moved first (Hyuntak swears to this day that it was Seongje) but next thing they knew, their lips were pressed together in a very awkward but soft encounter.
Seongje said Hyuntak had really nice lips. Hyuntak covered his face in embarrassment and told him to leave… then grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and brought their lips right back together.
After that day, neither of them officially said they were dating. One didn’t ask the other to be his boyfriend, there was no grand gesture, no sappy, cringe love confession, no awkward admittance of feelings. They just were. It was as if a new DLC was added to a game; the Dating DLC to the game that is Seongje and Hyuntak’s relationship. They met up as they always did, often arranged by a series of text messages or a quick phone call. But like all game DLCs do, they come with additional features and changes to the original game. They often met with a soft touch to the arm or holding of hands as they made their way to their location. Sometimes they even greeted each other with a small kiss. Their meetups had now unlocked make out sessions; whether it be in the shadows of a public place or in the solitary quiet of their own home, mouths panting and biting at each other, hands roaming the expanse of each other's bodies, dumb smiles and whispers of aft affection being exchanged between the two boys like they hadn’t spent the first half of their time together spitting out one liners filled with venom and spite. Their relationship had changed from one of heated punches and kicks and insults to soft caresses and touches and quiet words of affection and care.
Soon Seongje had told Hyuntak that he loved him. Hyuntak in return called him a ‘soft fucking idiot’... before reluctantly admitting that he hated that he loved him too and dragging him by the collar into a rough kiss, his hands pulling him as close as he could possibly get before scaling every square inch of Seongje’s skin he could reach.
Which brings us to today, both Hyuntak and Seongje now have grown into young adults at the ages of 23 and 24, their relationship being as strong as it was back when it had first begun to change. The two now shared a living space together, on their final year of college; Hyuntak majoring in health science and Seongje in game development (Hyuntak had noticed that during their time together that he was quite the tech wizz and was capable in pursuing a degree in something he was both good at and enjoyed).Their relationship had only grown ever since they were lovesick teens, hence them making the major decision in moving in with each other.
They’d even gone as far as adopting a cat together.
She was a black stray kitten Seongje had found wandering the streets alone, with bright green eyes and a small scar across the bridge of her nose. Seongje had found her limping alone in the rain, meowling for food and in pain… and Seongje was not a heartless monster who left small defenseless injured kittens alone, he was an animal lover first and foremost. So he tucked her into the collar of his windbreaker to keep her warm and brought her back to their apartment, much to Hyuntak’s dismay (at first.)
“But look at her, Hyunnie… she looks just like you, limp and all!” he’d said with a pout, holding her in his arms as if she were a small newborn baby… and Hyuntak, unable to deny his lover's dumb puppy dog begging, had caved. In the end, it was as if he was the one who’d found her, treating her injuries, making sure she was looked after and was well fed, pampering her beyond comprehension. Seongje started calling her Cigarette (Ciggy for short) and although Hyuntak let on that he hated it, the name had stuck with her and that was now her official title.
They were happier now. It’s like all that fight and hatred over the years had completely melted down as they grew close and morphed into something soft and sweet. They still fought on occasion but it was never like it was back then. It was petty arguments over things like who’s turn it was to do the dishes or forgotten groceries and chores. Occasionally Seongje would ragebait Hyuntak for the fun of it, he was always cute when he was mad.
They were currently curled up together on the sofa, Seongje’s arm thrown around Hyuntak’s shoulder holding him close whilst he played a game on his phone, Hyuntak laying against him, his focus going between watching him play and watching whatever shitty drama was on their TV. Cigarette was stretched out on the ground, pawing at one of her toys. It was peaceful, until a knock at the door disturbed that peace.
“Yah Seongje, I think the pizza is here” Hyuntak turned his head to look up at him expectantly, as if he was waiting for Seongje to move– as if he wasn’t clearly in the middle of a game. . Seongje kept his eyes down on his phone, thumbs still moving across the screen– “yeah so, are you gonna go get it?”. Hyuntak let out a sigh that was definitely not overdramatic in the slightest, sprawling out on the sofa more.
“Can’t you? I’m so comfortable, and my knee hurts from when I was at the gym earlier-” Hyuntak whined/ Seongje faltered, his thumbs halting their movement across his phone screen. Hyuntak smiled before whispering “my wallets in my jacket next to the door.”
Seongje sighed and put down his phone. This asshole was so very lucky that hearing his boyfriend whine for him was one of his weaknesses, otherwise he would’ve thrown him off the sofa and made him get it himself. He knows that's exactly why he did it too… smart puppy. “Fine, move your big ass, I’ll go pay.” He didn’t miss the smile that appeared on Hyuntak’s face as he agreed. That stupid pretty smile that he loved so much for some fucking reason. Hyuntak shifted and Seongje pushed himself to his feet, dragging himself to the door. He reached into the blue jacket pocket and pulled out the old battered wallet before opening the door.
“Delivery for-” Seongje opened the wallet quickly, fishing out whatever cash was in there, some coins and pieces of paper falling to the floor as he did so. He didn't even count the amount, just handing him a bunch of crinkled notes, wanting to go back to his boyfriend as soon as possible. He reached out and near enough snatched the boxes from the delivery guy's hands, muttering a quick thanks before slamming the door over, the man on the other side already too stunned to speak, the door being closed over before he actually had a chance to get a single word in. Seongje threw the wallet down on the stand by the door and began to walk back to the sofa until he felt something sticking to the underside of his foot. A heavy sigh left his lips as he turned to put their food down before crouching to remove the stubborn store receipt that was stuck to his foot.
He pulled it off before straightening back up, looking down at the offending piece of scrap paper in his hand, fully prepared to ball it up and throw it at his lazy boyfriend when he returned to him only for his world to come to a sudden halt as he looked at it properly. His eyes widened and his chest tightened as he processed what was currently in his hand. It was in fact not a convenience store receipt at all. In his hands was a photograph. A photograph of Seongje. A photograph he has no memory of being taken at all. He brought the picture closer to his face, examining every detail carefully, a smile starting to tug at the corner of his lips. It was taken a year ago at Suho’s birthday party. He can tell by the decorations and balloons that decorated the scenery behind him. It was him sitting on Sieun’s sofa, one leg crossed over the other and an acoustic guitar in his hands whilst he looked down at it, focused like he was tuning it. Did Hyuntak take this of him? Had Hyuntak had this photo of him in his wallet for over a year and he hadn’t known?
What the fuck?
Seongje was no stranger to such gestures like this but that's because it was something he did, not Hyuntak. He’d always enjoyed photography as a hobby, taking pictures of those he beat up back during his union days, having his camera settings properly adjusted for when he’d ask one of the union lackeys to film himself and whatever unsuspecting victim he’d be beating to a pulp. But that’d all changed when the union disbanded and he’d been very much swept off his feet by Go fucking Hyuntak. He needed a new muse and he’d found that with him. His camera roll on his phone, the memory card of his camera (a gift from Hyuntak himself for their anniversary) were filled with him. He captured every moment he possibly could, pictures of him sleeping, pictures of him curled up on their sofa with their cat, pictures he’d taken of him smiling with his whole face, pictures of him that he didn’t even know existed. He remembers how he’d shown him the photograph he had of him in his wallet. It was one he’d taken of him when they’d first started dating and he’d fallen asleep next to him on the bus, a line of drool running down the side of his mouth. He remembers waving it around like a flag in front of him laughing, Hyuntak desperately trying to snatch it from him and cursing him out for using such an ‘ugly’ picture of him.
“You take that back, it’s not ugly! Look! You look like a cute sleepy puppy!”
“NO THE FUCK I DON’T! TEAR IT UP NOW GEUM SEONGJE BEFORE I KICK YOUR ASS!”
Seongje smiled to himself at the memory but the sound of footsteps approaching behind him brought him right back down to earth. Looks like someone finally had the strength to move their ass after all– and that someone, as nonchalant and ‘I don’t give a fuck’ he may have seemed, kept a picture of him in his wallet. How romantic. Their evening just got a lot more entertaining.
“The fuck is taking you so long, I’m starving- the foods gonna be freezing by the time I get to eat you asshole,” Seongje watched as the eyes on his frustrated boyfriends face dropped to his hands, his eyebrows knitting together and his nose giving the tiniest scrunch as he looked at him curiously. “What’s that you have?”
Seongje smiled wide back at him, his eyes shining with that same glimmer of mischief he had reserved just for his Hyuntak, “oh, you’d love to know what I have wouldn’t you?” He watched as his boyfriends head tilted to the side, looking at him as if he had grown another head before walking right up to him and looking at the photograph. His reaction was immediate. His eyes widened, the skin of his neck and the tips of his ears began to flush and his hand shot out to grab it from him. Not fast enough though, Seongje’s hand that had the photograph shot right up into the air, his other hand holding Hyuntak by the shoulder to stop him from trying to reach up, his arms flailing around “Ah ah! Down puppy!”
“GIVE IT BACK- WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT! SEONGJE LET GO AND GIVE IT TO ME-” he was trying to jump up and grab it and of course failing, Seongje’s hand still on his shoulder to keep him down, him pushing himself up to stand on his tiptoes with a loud cackle.
“Hey now don’t be such a violent pup, I personally think it’s romantic… god you love me so fucking much huh? Keeping a photo of me in your wallet after calling me everything under the sun for doing the same to you- THE FUCK?”
The fucker, his angry dog of a boyfriend had leaned in and bit his shoulder. Actually bit his shoulder. He really was like a puppy. If this whole situation wasn’t so comedic, that would’ve probably made him pop a boner. Seongje’s arm lowered an inch and Hyuntak saw his chance. He jumped up, grabbing the photo from his hands and stuffing it in the pocket of his sweatpants immediately. By this point, almost his entire face was flushed red, his pulse was hammering in his veins and he was panting heavily, having used up so much energy trying to fight Seongje for the picture.
“I can’t believe you- why would you go through my wallet, what the fuck? You’re such an asshole I hate you so fucking much” he complained, hand staying securely in his pocket, as if he was expecting Seongje to reach right over and take it from his pants. Seongje just laughed, stepping towards him. “Hyunnie, you asked me to pay the pizza guy with money from your wallet… and if you hated me you wouldn’t have a pretty picture of me in there would you?”
“Shut the fuck up Seongje!”
Seongje couldn’t help but smile even harder at him. He was still ranting to himself, face red, eyes looking anywhere but at him, stumbling over his words. God his puppy was so fucking cute like this he could kiss him… what the fuck is stopping him? Seongje strode forward, hands landing right on his waist and pulling his boyfriend right to his chest. Seongje ignored his continuous protests, one of his hands snaking up the length of his waist and torso and onto his jaw, pulling his face forward and crashing their lips together, Hyuntak’s complaints being swallowed by Seongje’s mouth, melting into soft moans instead.
‘That was quick to shut him up…’ Seongje smiled against his lips, pulling him impossibly closer. He could feel his lover start to surrender against him, his body loosening up against him and his own arms coming up to wrap around his shoulders. Their mouths moved together slowly, tongues tasting the inside of each other's mouths. It was as if the world around them ceased to exist, the steam coming from the pizza boxes becoming slowly less and less as they continued to get lost in the feel of each other.
“Meow.”
Cigarette stood there in front of them, green eyes wide like she knew they were doing something and that she was ruining it. Hyuntak jumped back immediately, mumbling something about not scarring the cat for life.
Fuck Seongje’s stupid cat dad life, he was enjoying that.
Hyuntak cleared his throat, Seongje smiled at him, teeth, gums and all “Still hate me?” His very flustered lover scoffed, stumbling over to the probably now cold pizza boxes “You’re insufferable and annoying.”
Seongje walked right up behind him, arms wrapping around his waist as he softly pressed his lips to the back of Hyuntak’s neck, nuzzling against it slowly “Mhm that’s not a no puppy.”
“Yah, get off me asshole- the food is gonna be freezing-” Seongje didn’t move an inch (and neither did Hyuntak). He smiled against the skin of his neck before placing another kiss. “Not until you tell me you love me puppy.”
He knew his resolve was weakening. After so many years together, so many times spent in similar positions over different things, he never ever learned and Seongje always came out the victor. Hyuntak was just as weak for him as Seongje was for him, even if he didn’t make it known. He had Hyuntak’s heart just as much as Hyuntak had his own. It’s how they worked so well together, despite their horrendously disastrous beginning back when they were kids. Yeah, fate was really twisted.
“...I love you Seongje.”
“What was that puppy? I couldn’t hear you very well-”
“SHUT UP AND GET THE FUCK OFF ME, I TOLD YOU WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR!”