The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 245
The dark room was filled with a sweet, cloying scent that seemed to cling to his lungs. It was enough to drive him mad. The sticky substance pooled on the floor was likely Lee Sa-young’s blood. The outfit he wore, provided by the Pado Guild, seemed to offer minimal protection against toxins— at least it didn’t dissolve, though it was thoroughly soaked. Because of that, Cha Eui-jae could hold the twitching body in his arms without hesitation.
The clinking of chains was loud in his ears. Rough breathing and pained groans tickled the back of his neck. Thankfully, Lee Sa-young seemed to have avoided head injuries. Cha Eui-jae let his fingers trace through the sticky, matted hair.
“When did this start?”
“…A few days ago.”
“All day long?”
“Just for a few hours each day. So far, that’s enough…”
Lee Sa-young’s voice was so hoarse it was nearly a beast’s growl. Cha Eui-jae considered patting his back but lowered his hand, realizing there was something embedded densely there. His back was covered in countless stakes. It was a miracle he wasn’t dead.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine… Apparently, I won’t die from this.”
“…”
“Both the intruder and the guy outside said so… so I guess I won’t.”
“How long does this have to go on?”
“I don’t know… It’s just to buy time.”
Apparently, Lee Sa-young had heard Cha Eui-jae grind his teeth, as the body in his arms shook with laughter. Lee Sa-young’s broken arms reached up to loop around Cha Eui-jae’s shoulders, pulling him close. He bore the weight well enough. Lee Sa-young’s wet lips brushed against Cha Eui-jae’s mask.
“So… how did you get here?”
“You vanished suddenly after leaving some harsh words, so I asked around and found you. Why?”
“Oh, that… Are you still holding onto that?”
“Am I still holding onto it? Are you even listening to yourself?”
The body jerked. Finally, as he tried to catch his breath, Lee Sa-young mumbled in a voice that was barely a whisper.
“Don’t make me laugh… It hurts when I do.”
“Oh, you think this is funny? Saying all that crap about not needing me…”
“Mm… That was my fault. I’m sorry…”
“…”
“I hope you can forgive me…”
What was it about a single word of apology that made all his stored resentment melt away? It didn’t exactly feel good, the way he was swayed by a single sweet word. But still…
Broken nails fumbled over his mask.
“Won’t you… take off the mask?”
“…”
Even though Lee Sa-young could have easily taken it off, he still asked for permission. That dependence every time he was in pain… Cha Eui-jae bit his lip, feeling warmth spread over his cheeks and the back of his neck. He knew it wasn’t mature, but he wished Lee Sa-young would cling just a little longer, crave him a little more, say he needed him.
He wished he was wanted just a bit more.
Cha Eui-jae whispered in a low voice.
“Shall I take it off?”
The head resting on his shoulder gave a slow nod. Cha Eui-jae lightly tousled Lee Sa-young’s hair.
“Answer me out loud.”
“You’re being difficult…”
“You usually are, aren’t you?”
“…”
Wet fingers explored the back of Cha Eui-jae’s neck as Lee Sa-young whispered with his broken voice.
“Take it off.”
A strange satisfaction washed over Cha Eui-jae at that moment. Satisfaction? No… it was something darker. His hands trembled slightly as he removed the mask. Waiting no longer, Lee Sa-young’s wet fingers traced his chin. The slimy touch moved from his jaw, across his cheek, and to his lips. Cha Eui-jae lightly flicked his tongue over Lee Sa-young’s fingertip. The taste of iron and sweetness mingled together.
“…”
The head buried against his neck pulled away, and for a brief moment in the darkness, Cha Eui-jae felt their gazes meet. Reaching out, he cupped Lee Sa-young’s face, pulling him close and pressing his lips to Lee Sa-young’s damp ones.
Lee Sa-young’s mouth opened willingly, welcoming his invading tongue. Pleasure surged up between them through the taste of blood. Lee Sa-young’s wet hands clutched Cha Eui-jae’s shoulders, pushing him down onto the damp floor. Cha Eui-jae didn’t resist, letting himself be laid back against the sticky surface.
Lee Sa-young’s thick tongue filled his mouth, exploring it roughly. Each time it scraped against the roof of his mouth, Cha Eui-jae’s body reacted, shivering. Breathing became difficult. When he tried to breathe through his nose, the cloying scent crushed him again. Lee Sa-young’s knee pressed between his legs. Cha Eui-jae pulled Lee Sa-young’s neck closer. The lips finally parted, and Lee Sa-young dragged his wet mouth across Cha Eui-jae’s cheek.
“Hyung… ah, it feels so good…”
The desperate, panting breaths were intoxicating. Cha Eui-jae nipped at Lee Sa-young’s ear, feeling his cheek moisten as Lee Sa-young licked him. It felt as if he was being crushed by a beast.
‘Maybe this isn’t so bad…’
The thought took hold as Cha Eui-jae stared into the utter darkness, biting the inside of his cheek, and closed his eyes. His body temperature seemed to drop.
‘Ah, fuck…’
A familiar thrill surged through him, spreading to his core. The knee wedged between his legs kept making its presence known. As he listened to the ragged breaths at his ear, Cha Eui-jae massaged the back of Lee Sa-young’s neck, intending to calm him, though it seemed to backfire. Lee Sa-young, like an unhinged beast, nipped and licked his way up Cha Eui-jae’s neck, chin, cheeks, ears, and even his eyes. Each touch made Cha Eui-jae’s body heat spike bit by bit.
No, this won’t do. Not here. Cha Eui-jae tried to lift himself, but at that moment, Lee Sa-young’s hand pressed down firmly on his shoulder. The brief flash of purple in Lee Sa-young’s eyes was wild.
A strained voice murmured.
“Where do you think you’re going…?”
“No, this isn’t… Sa-young, this isn’t right.”
“…What isn’t right?”
The clink of chains and metal rattled louder. Cha Eui-jae’s mind cooled, jolting him back to his senses. What was he thinking, getting entangled with someone who had iron spikes lodged in his back? Was he so lost in that scent? Cha Eui-jae seized the hand crawling down his waist.
“Not… here.”
“…”
‘Did he get it?’
A blackened tongue licked up his neck, nibbling insistently. Cha Eui-jae squeezed his eyes shut.
‘He didn’t get it!’
He had no choice. This wasn’t the place for anything like this. Hong Ye-seong was out there, watching with his Eyes of Appraisal. With no other choice, Cha Eui-jae summoned his strength and sat up. Lee Sa-young growled, clearly displeased.
Before Lee Sa-young’s hands could stray again, Cha Eui-jae seized them. He remembered how Jung Bin had clasped his hands once, saying that no matter how tough things got, talking it out was important. Choosing his words carefully, Cha Eui-jae said each word with as much firmness as he could.
“Later.”
“…”
“Not here, not now, but later. Got it? Not here. Understand?”
“…”
“Hey, hey, answer me. Answer.”
He couldn’t see Lee Sa-young’s expression, but he could sense his displeasure clearly. The hands he held kept twitching, but Cha Eui-jae refused to let go. If he did, who knew what Lee Sa-young might try to pull?
Lee Sa-young muttered in a vexed tone.
“You were the one who kissed me first.”
“…”
“Why’d you lick my fingers?”
The straightforward responses left him speechless. In any case, it was Cha Eui-jae who had started it! Cha Eui-jae tightened his grip on the hands fidgeting in his grasp.
“That was!”
“…”
“I must’ve lost it for a moment.”
“…Lost it?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Oh… so it was a mistake? All that kissing and… licking was just a slip-up?”
Lee Sa-young’s fractured voice now dripped with sarcasm. Damn. Cha Eui-jae couldn’t hit someone with iron stakes in his back. He clenched his eyes shut and shouted.
“No, that’s not it!”
“Not it?”
“I did want it, but!”
“But?”
“I… didn’t want to go any further here.”
“…”
Thunk, thunk, thunk. That was the sound of Cha Eui-jae digging his own grave with a shovel. He’d dug it pretty deep.
And yet he couldn’t stop digging. In any case, they had shared a few kisses already, and none of those moments had been mere mistakes. Lee Sa-young was the precious life he’d rescued, the brother he had searched for all these years, the only family he had. Even though that was the case, Lee Sa-young was his only.
The fingers he held wriggled, lightly scratching his palms. Cha Eui-jae bit his lip, lowering his head. He thought he heard a faint chuckle.
“Ah… I told you, don’t make me laugh.”
“…”
Cha Eui-jae was now ready to lie down in his grave. Just as he was lightly tracing his fingers over Lee Sa-young’s palm, Lee Sa-young leaned in close, suddenly poking his head out.
“Well then. If we’re not finishing things here…”
“…”
“When and where are we finishing, then?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Hmm…”
“The world’s on the verge of collapse… Look, aren’t you doing this to stop the end of the world too?”
“Aha… so you mean, after we stop the end of the world?”
“What?”
How did it turn into that? Cha Eui-jae’s eyes widened in surprise, but Lee Sa-young seemed to have already decided on his own terms. Damp lips touched and then parted from Cha Eui-jae’s briefly.
“I can wait for that long.”
“W-wait, what?”
“Then…”
“…”
“Take me out of here.”
Thud. Lee Sa-young’s body went limp like a puppet with its strings cut, slumping into Cha Eui-jae’s arms. Holding him close, Cha Eui-jae stared blankly into the darkness with just one puzzled remark left to linger.
“…Huh?”
