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Chapter Text

Nam-gyu is a tattoo artist who also works weekends at Club Pentagon for some extra cash. He's close friends with Se-mi and they share a small apartment together. His parents are minyeo and deoksu and his sisters are jiyeong and youngmi but they don't reach out much.

Se-mi works as a server at Club Pentagon with Nam-gyu. She's close to both Nam-gyu and Min-su!

Thanos is a famous rapper! He performs at Club Pentagon from time to time, and live with Gyeong-su and Min-su.

Min-su is Thanos's social media manager. He controls what Thanos says and posts (thank god), since Thanos used to get canceled like once a month.

Gyeong-su is Thanos's personal assistant. He got the job after Thanos got exposed for flirting with his old assistant (🤦🏾‍♀️).

[this one isn't important, she's made up character for plot!] Yu-ri is more of a background character added only for the story line. Her dad owns the tattoo shop she works at with Nam-gyu, which means she's around a lot. She has the biggest, most painfully obvious crush on him,even though he's rejected her like five times bruh

[ they are ALL in there early ealry 20s with a like a few background characters in there teens and by teens I mean legal teen not under 18 ]
____________________________________
Story
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Nam-gyu groaned, barely prying his eyes open. Everything around him was spinning like a cheap carnival ride. His head throbbed, and even the sunlight slipping through the blinds felt personal. With a sigh, he reached blindly for his glasses, smudged and sitting crooked on the nightstand.

Before he could fully process being awake, Se-mi burst into the room, toothbrush in her mouth, foamy toothpaste dribbling from the corners of her lips.

"GET UP! WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!" she shrieked, voice muffled by mint and urgency, before disappearing into the bathroom with a dramatic door slam.

Still dazed, Nam-gyu rolled out of bed and hit the floor with a heavy thud. Groaning into the carpet, he reached under his bed for a small ziplock bag. Just as his fingers grazed it—

"AHHHH! NAM-GYU, HELP!" Se-mi screamed like she was in a horror movie.

Adrenaline kicked in. Nam-gyu scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over himself as he sprinted to the bathroom. He yanked open the door, heart pounding. "What? What happened?!"

Se-mi stood on top of her nightstand, wild-eyed, clutching a shoe like a weapon. "RAT. It has RABIES. Get it before it TOUCHES ME!"

He blinked. Looked at her. Looked at the rat. And burst out laughing.

"You're a bitch," Se-mi snapped, hurling the shoe at his chest with zero hesitation.

"Oof—what the hell!?" Nam-gyu wheezed, rubbing his chest. "You're insane."

"Just get me outta here, dumbass!"

With an eye-roll, Nam-gyu scooped her up bridal-style and carried her out of the room like a half-hearted prince. He dumped her on the couch and stormed back to his room, mumbling something about rabid rodents and insane roommates.

He yanked on a hoodie and some baggy jeans. His phone buzzed.

why are u late again :( i'm missing u! 😔
Yu-ri again. The same coworker who had confessed, been rejected, and still texted him like he owed her a rom-com ending.

Nam-gyu sighed, ignored the text, tied his shoes, and walked into the kitchen where Se-mi was leaning on the counter.

"You good? You look high," she asked, waving her hand in front of his face.

"I'm fine," he muttered, brushing her hand away. "Let's just go."

"Wow, rude. No door for me? No 'good morning'? What kind of friend are you?"

"The kind that's not a doormat."

Se-mi smacked the passenger door closed and flicked his forehead. Nam-gyu didn't even flinch. He started the car, eyes locked on the road, ignoring her babbling until they pulled up in front of Club Pentagon.

She got out, flipped him off, and disappeared inside.

"Stupid girl," he mumbled as he peeled off toward the tattoo shop, already dreading the shift.

He clocked in and instantly saw Yu-ri skipping toward him like it was Valentine's Day.

"HIIII you're finally here!" she sang, wrapping him in a too-long hug and planting a fake kiss near his cheek.

"Yup. Sure am." He slid behind the register before she could cling again.

The shop was dead silent today, the kind of quiet that felt wrong. He started spinning a keychain between his fingers, letting the silence swallow him—until the door creaked open.

A tall guy stepped in with messy purple hair shaped like devil horns, tatted arms, flashy rings, and painted nails. He looked straight out of a music video.

"Yo. Can you get this design on my back?" His voice was low, careless, like nothing fazed him.

Nam-gyu blinked. "Uh... cash or card?"

"Card," the guy said, catching Nam-gyu staring at his hands. He grinned. "They're nice, huh? My parents hated them."

"They're dope, honestly. When'd you get them?"

"Not long ago—but I'm on a schedule, so..."

Before Nam-gyu could respond, Yu-ri let out a scream.

"Oh my GOD, Thanos!? THE rapper?! Can I get a picture?!"

Nam-gyu's jaw hit the floor. Wait. What.
He had been casually talking to an actual celebrity.

Yu-ri practically tackled Thanos, snapping selfies and fangirling hard. "Thank you! I'm, like, in love with you, ahaaa!"

Thanos winked. "Anything for you, señorita." He kissed her cheek, making her squeal like a teenager.

Nam-gyu tried not to gag.

Thanos turned back to him, cool as ever. "So... that tattoo?"

Still stunned, Nam-gyu led him to the station. Thanos peeled off his shirt and lay on his stomach, exposing inked-up skin.

Nam-gyu prepped his tools. "Heads up, my hands are cold."

"Bruh, it's freezing in here," Thanos muttered, shivering.

They chatted quietly while Nam-gyu worked. His attention drifted to Thanos' chain—a sleek, black metal necklace.

"That's sick," Nam-gyu said, pointing.

Thanos smirked. "It's not just a necklace, if you know, you know."

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow.

"I'll show you when we're done."

Sure enough, once the tattoo was finished, Thanos sat up and opened the necklace. Inside? Pills. Sleek, shiny, aligned like diamonds.

Nam-gyu laughed under his breath. "You dirty dog."

Thanos didn't budge. He took one pill, locked eyes with Nam-gyu, and slowly placed it on his tongue. His mouth opened like it was a dare.

Nam-gyu stared back, hand subtly sliding to the chain. He slipped a pill into his pocket and smirked.

Thanos didn't notice a thing.

Then Thanos stepped closer, placing a warm hand on Nam-gyu's cheek. "Open up."

Nam-gyu didn't even flinch. He stuck his tongue out, letting Thanos place another pill there with surprising care.

"You're funny," Thanos laughed, backing away. "I like you."

Nam-gyu said something under his breath.

"What was that?" Thanos leaned in.

Nam-gyu didn't answer. Thanos just flashed a phone gesture and whispered, "Call me," before strutting out like he owned the world.

Nam-gyu's smirk disappeared. He wiped his mouth and rolled his eyes.

Of course he knew what was in the necklace. And of course he played flirty and clueless to get one. Those pills were expensive, rare. And Nam-gyu? He was an addict.

He slouched at the register, only to find Yu-ri staring at him dreamily.

"Oh my gosh," she whispered. "Did you SEE the way he kissed me?! I think he likes me. He sooo likes me."

"He flirts with everyone," Nam-gyu muttered. "He's gross. Don't fall for it."

"You're just jealous!" she giggled, scooting closer.

Nam-gyu groaned, texting Se-mi.

N: send help my coworker's at it again 💔🥀
N: she fake kissed me again
N: I'm trying so hard not to cuss her out

S: HAHAHAHAHAAAAA

N: also I tatted up Thanos 💜😈🤪🍾
S: WTF ARE THOSE EMOJIS
S: ALSO THANOS???

N: yeah... he kissed Yu-ri 🤢
S: EW?? doesn't he have a girlfriend???

N: ...
S: Igtg, serving an old man table send help
N: 😭😭😭😢😢😢😖😖😖

S: QUIT WITH THE EMOJIS

By nightfall, Nam-gyu was cleaning up when Yu-ri tapped his shoulder. "Thanks for today!" she beamed—and then hugged him tight.

"Yu-ri, quit it." He pushed her off. But she leaned in too close—and their lips met. Accidentally.

It was a soft, sticky kiss. Gloss smeared across his mouth. Nam-gyu stood frozen, eyes wide, turning red.

Yu-ri panicked. "OHMYGOD I'M SO SORRY IT WAS A MISTAKE I'LL STOP LIKING YOU I SWEAR—" She ran out the door like she'd just committed a crime.

Nam-gyu sat in his car and laughed. Like, hard. Then he pulled out the stolen pill.

He couldn't ID what kind it was, but he didn't care. It calmed him, like the world had turned to static.

Later, he picked up Se-mi. She climbed into the car, mid-rant, but stopped mid-sentence.

"Umm... what's on your face?"

Nam-gyu deadpanned: "My coworker kissed me."

She laughed for ten whole minutes. No breath, no mercy, full tears. "You had the worst day," she cackled as they entered the apartment.

Nam-gyu flopped onto the couch. "I didn't even yell at her..."

"You WHAT?!" Se-mi shrieked, hurling a pillow at him. "ARE YOU ON DRUGS AGAIN?!"

He didn't deny it.

She stormed into his room and started collecting. Pills, syringes, bags—everything. Two handfuls.

"Noooo!" Nam-gyu screamed, but it was too late.

She tossed them in the trash and took it outside. When she came back, he looked like a he had seen a ghost.

They fought. Like, wrestled. Screaming. He called her everything he could think of—until he remembered it was the weekend tomorrow.

He showered, brushed up, and flopped into bed.

But his mind kept drifting back to those pills he had took.

Why?

Whatever it was... he couldn't stop thinking about it.

He closed his eyes. Warmth washed over him.

Then—darkness.

He stood in a room with no windows, no doors. Just void. A puddle shimmered beneath him.

Nam-gyu reached into it, hand plunging deeper. He felt something. A chain. Cold. Rough.

He yanked it out.

Thanos' necklace.

Covered in rust, but familiar.

Inside?

Seven pills.

Perfectly aligned.

He smiled.

And swallowed one.

Chapter Text

A ringing echoed deep in Nam-gyu's head, sharp and endless like an alarm he couldn't find the snooze button for. His eyelids felt like sandbags, heavy and rough,and everything around him spun just enough to make him nauseous. He groaned quietly, lifting a shaky hand to push his messy hair back, tucking a few strands behind his ear.

He dragged himself out of bed, legs wobbly, and stood there for a second, rubbing his eyes and fidgeting with his fingers. Then he stumbled to his nightstand, blindly reaching around for his vape.

Nothing.

Nam-gyu groaned again, this time louder. The memory of last night with Se-mi came crashing back like a headache. He grabbed a hoodie off the floor and stepped into some worn-out jeans, not bothering to check if they were clean. His shoes weren't exactly fresh either, but they'd do. He shuffled over to the bathroom, brushed his hair out, and shoved his glasses on, the world finally clicking into focus.

That's when Se-mi popped into the doorway.

"Nam-HUUU, hurry up! I wanna stop by the coffee shop first!" Her voice was chipper, way too chipper for this early in the day.

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, brushing past her and bumping her shoulder as he walked to the counter, grabbing his keys from where he'd tossed them the night before.

"Wow, so nonchalant, huh?" Se-mi laughed at herself as she opened the door.

"Bitch," he muttered under his breath.

The car ride was tense. Silent, except for the occasional click of the turn signal. Se-mi kept glancing at him like she wanted to say something, then finally broke the quiet.

"Are you mad because of last night?"

His jaw clenched. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, eyes locked on the road.

"Oh my god, you're actually mad?" She huffed. "I did it for your own good, you know that, right?"

Still nothing.

"You're so dramatic," she mumbled, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.

When they arrived at Club Pentagon, the usual lights lit up their faces the moment they stepped inside. Nam-gyu went straight for the bar. He leaned against the counter, watching Se-mi clock in and start taking orders with that fake customer-service smile. He sighed, already tired.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted their boss on the phone. The guy's face turned pale, like he'd just seen a ghost. He barked something into his walkie-talkie and bolted toward the stage, frantically moving things around.

Nam-gyu squinted, confused, then glanced over at Se-mi. She noticed it too. They exchanged a silent wtf? look before Nam-gyu tried covering his laugh.

Their boss paced around, barking orders while a crew rushed into the club—guys with mics, cameras, papers, all sorts of gear. They swarmed the performance area like ants.

Se-mi walked back over, leaning in. "He acts like that when a performance's about to happen. He probably got a last-minute notice or something," she giggled, pointing at their boss with a sly smirk.

Nam-gyu chuckled, forgetting he was mad at her for a second.

"Hey! You two! Quit messing around!" the boss yelled, snapping them both out of it.

Se-mi groaned. Nam-gyu just kept laughing.

By 11 p.m., the place was packed. Security was struggling, and the whole building buzzed with anticipation. People poured in, searching for friends, crowding the bar, and overwhelming the staff.

Nam-gyu was swamped with orders. His coworker was fumbling drinks, messing up left and right, causing a scene. Nam-gyu just kept to himself, brushing his hair back and focusing on his own side of the bar.

Eventually, the crowd started thinning around the booths and funneled toward the stage. Nam-gyu let out a breath of relief and joked around with his coworker.

Then the countdown began.

"Three! Two! One!"

The club exploded with screams as the lights dimmed. Nam-gyu edged closer to the crowd, squinting to see who was on stage. His coworker was already screaming and snapping pics.

And there he was.

Thanos.

The same Thanos who'd been at Nam-gyu's tattoo shop last night.

Nam-gyu laughed in disbelief and looked around for Se-mi.

Gone.

He panicked, eyes scanning the crowd, asking anyone nearby if they'd seen her. No one knew anything.

He pulled out his phone.

⸻

N: where are you
N: se-mi
N: ???
N: answer my calls
N: hello???
N: SE-MI

S: omg wtf do u want chill out??

N: wya??
N: i been looking for u!

S: I'm talking to a friend

N: u have friends???

S: shut up

N: wya I'm bored tho 🤣🤣🔫👈

S: backstage

N: wtf why are u backstage??

S: just don't come atp

N: hahahimgonnakmshahah 🖤🥀⛓️‍💥

⸻

Nam-gyu shoved his phone back into his pocket and focused on the lyrics.

I used to have hoop dreams
Until I found there were other ways to score
If you wanna be my bitch
You have to be obedient, you cannot be a whore.

His jaw dropped. "People actually like this guy's music?" His voice was thick with disgust.

"You're just old," his coworker joked, laughing.

"I'm in my early twenties!" Nam-gyu snapped, pushing him. He instantly regretted it—he had promised himself he'd stay out of trouble tonight.

But his coworker just walked away, mumbling something smug under his breath.

Nam-gyu, annoyed, poured himself a free drink and sat down. But before he could take a sip, his chair was yanked out from under him.

He hit the floor hard, his drink spilling all over his face and shirt. His glasses shattered, and one of the glass shards sliced across his wrist.

Everything went silent.

Nam-gyu groaned and tried to stand, slipping again. The crowd watched, stunned.

"Yo, you good?" Thanos laughed into the mic. "Try not to break the chair while you're at it."

The whole club burst into laughter.

Nam-gyu's blood boiled. He got up, grabbed his coworker by the collar.

"Do that again and I'll rip you apart, you little bitch."

The guy backed off. Nam-gyu, still fuming, threw a drink at him. Then a chair.

It smashed into him.

Everyone stared.

"Dude, seriously?" Thanos snickered. "I said not to break the chair."

Nam-gyu cursed under his breath. He was ready to storm off, but Thanos pointed at him.

"Yo, come up here. You're funny."

Nam-gyu hesitated. Without his glasses, he was half-blind, but he walked up anyway, trying not to trip.

"Yo! Wait—you're the guy who tattooed me, right? That's wild!" Thanos grinned.

Nam-gyu nodded, completely out of place.

Thanos turned to the crowd. "Guys, meet my new friend—what was it? Nam-su?"

Nam-gyu's face dropped. "It's Nam-GYU."

"Oops," Thanos chuckled. "My bad, my boy. Nam-Gyu."

But Nam-gyu was over it. He grabbed the mic.

"NAM-GYU. Not whatever the hell you just said."

Thanos blinked. "Damn, no need to be aggressive."

Nam-gyu tried walking off, but Thanos stopped him with a hand on the shoulder.

"Go backstage. Tell my manager to add you on Twitter."

Nam-gyu grumbled, pushed backstage, still half-blind and annoyed. He remembered Se-mi and pulled out his phone again.

⸻

N: u still backstage?

S: bro that was the funniest thing i've ever seen in my life

N: shut up

S: yeah i'm still here, take a right

⸻

Nam-gyu stumbled around until he found Se-mi sitting with some guy who looked like he hadn't been outside in years.

"Uh... hey," Nam-gyu mumbled, sitting beside her.

"Meet Min-su. He works for Thanos," she said, pointing.

"Hi Min-su," Nam-gyu waved.

"Hey," Min-su replied awkwardly.

Se-mi leaned in and whispered to him, "His Twitter's @namgyu."

Nam-gyu's eyes widened. "No no, he was joking. He was joking," he laughed nervously.

His phone buzzed again.

Clock-out notification.

He stood up.

"Where you going?" Se-mi asked.

"Home. I'm tired."

He left the club, walking right into the glass door on his way out. Thanos saw it and smirked from across the stage.

Once in his car, Nam-gyu sighed, relieved. He couldn't see for shit, but somehow made it home in one piece.

His phone buzzed.

Se-mi: "I'm staying over at Min-su's house, k?"

He laughed and texted back:

Nam-gyu: "Awwww my lovebirds 🥰🥰🥺😘❤️🕊️"

Then he tossed his phone aside, got ready for bed, and passed out cold.

WITH THANOS

Thanos stood at center stage, breathing heavy as the final bass of his song pulsed through the club. Sweat glistened on his chest under the lights, his mic hanging loose in his hand as the crowd screamed, reaching toward him like he was some kind of god. The energy in the room was wild—electric, glowing, messy in the best way.

Then an idea sparked.

He scanned the crowd and spotted a girl near the front—cute, decked out in glitter, jumping up and down like her life depended on it. Her hands were stretched high, lips screaming his name.

"You," he pointed, smirking. "C'mere, pretty girl."

The crowd erupted as security helped boost her onto the stage. Her jaw dropped. She was literally shaking with excitement, her mouth hanging open as she clutched the mic Thanos handed her.

"Aight," he said, voice smooth. "If you can rap a verse from my song, I'll give you a hug. But if you kill it? I might just bless you with a kiss. From me. Thanos."

The crowd went feral.

The girl sucked in a deep breath. She held the mic tight, steadying her voice before she started rapping. And she actually... wasn't bad. Her flow was a little shaky at first, but she picked up rhythm, her voice growing louder as the crowd got behind her. By the time she hit the punchline, the audience was cheering like she just won a Grammy.

Thanos tilted his head, impressed. "Damn, okay," he laughed, nodding at her as she handed back the mic.

He stepped closer, brushing hair from her face with a warm hand. His palm lingered on her cheek—soft skin, rapid breath, starry-eyed girl staring right at him.

Then he leaned in.

A soft kiss. Just lips brushing lips. Gentle. Brief. The lights made her highlighter glow like fairy dust under the stage beams.

But she kissed back.

She leaned in too, pressing into him. The second she did, it caught Thanos off guard. Their lips moved again—closer, slower—and the world kind of paused.

Screams. Gasps. Phones clicking. The whole club was losing its mind.

Thanos quickly pulled away, blinking like he'd just snapped back to reality. That was not supposed to last that long.

"Alright, alright!" he laughed, flustered as he guided her off the stage with a wave. "You wildin' now."

He turned and darted off stage, slipping behind the curtains like the kiss had never happened.

"DUDE, what the hell was that?" Gyeong-su snapped, eyes wide as he stormed up to him backstage.

Thanos was still catching his breath. "She didn't let go, bro. Not that deep," he shrugged, running a hand through his hair and checking his reflection in a nearby mirror like nothing had happened.

Across the room, Se-mi and Min-su were slouched on the main couch. Se-mi's jaw had dropped when Thanos ran out of the stage. She definitely hadn't expected to be this close to him tonight.

Thanos turned to her with a smirk. "Señorita, you with Min-su now or what?"

Se-mi blinked, caught off guard, then nodded slowly and looked at Min-su with a raised brow.

Gyeong-su snorted. "You're so dumb, dude."

"Hey," Thanos said, changing the subject. "What was up with that guy earlier—Nam-su or whatever?"

Se-mi and Min-su both looked at each other and started giggling before looking away.

"Man, that guy was hilarious," Thanos said, still laughing. "Did y'all see the way he fell? Damn, I feel bad now but that was straight outta a comedy skit."

Min-su snorted while Se-mi covered his mouth, already covering her own to stop from laughing.

Gyeong-su chuckled too, shaking his head. "You're evil."

Thanos was holding his stomach now, practically sobbing with laughter. "Let's just get outta here, man."

They slipped out the back, trying to dodge the chaos of flashing cameras and fans screaming near the front.

Thanos and Gyeong-su jumped into his car, but Min-su hesitated, walking toward his own with Se-mi beside him.

"Yo! You and your girl can ride with us," Thanos shouted. "I'll get someone to drive your car."

Min-su's face turned red. "She's not my girlfriend," he mumbled, opening the passenger side door.

Se-mi laughed under her breath, sliding in.

The ride was quiet. Tense in that awkward, post-teasing kind of way. Min-su clearly still recovering from embarrassment, and Se-mi couldn't help stealing glances at him.

Soon, they pulled up to the mansion.

Se-mi's eyes widened like saucers. The place looked unreal—modern, sleek, glowing under moonlight with fancy lights in the garden and a water feature that looked like it belonged in a magazine.

"Wait... this is where you live?" she whispered, turning to Min-su.

He just grinned and nodded as he led her inside.

Thanos and Gyeong-su followed, both mimicking her shocked expression in a dramatic over-the-top way.

Min-su saw it and flipped them off playfully.

He led Se-mi down the hall, stopping at a guest room. But before she could enter, he blocked the door.

"What are you doing?" she said, pushing at the door.

He wouldn't budge.

They bickered for a moment, Se-mi finally shoving it open. What they saw had them frozen in place—then bursting into laughter.

The bed was a wreck. Stains, crumpled sheets, open condom wrappers scattered on the floor.

Both of them doubled over laughing, trying not to scream.

Thanos, hearing the chaos, walked over and peeked inside.

His face instantly turned red. "Shit—I forgot about that."

That only made them laugh harder. Se-mi leaned against the wall for support as Thanos ran away, disappearing like he was trying to escape the memory.

Mi-su glanced at se-mi and they both snickered and walked towards mi-sus room.

"You can sleep there," he mumbled. "I'll take the floor."

"No no u can take the bed" she statted. "Fuck it lets both share the bef it's big enough anyways.."

Later that night, while everyone was passed out in bed, Thanos lay on his bed, with his phone lighting up his face.

He was scrolling through Nam-gyu's Twitter.

Pictures. Stupid tweets. A dumb video of someone kicking a trash can.

"This dude is weird," he mumbled, staring at the screen.

Weird. Confusing. Kind of... interesting?

He tossed the phone beside him and sighed, closing his eyes.

Maybe tomorrow would be weirder.??

Chapter Text

The sound of banging jolted Thanos awake.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

His eyes shot open, and for a second, he just lay there—frozen, breath caught in his throat, unsure if the knocking was real or some leftover echo from his dreams. His head throbbed like someone had slammed it with a bass speaker. His chest felt hollow, like something important had been scooped out overnight and forgotten.

Groggy, he grabbed his phone from under the pillow. The screen lit up, and the brightness stung.

26 unread messages from Mi-na.

He didn't even open them. Just sighed. Loud. Heavy. Like his lungs were weighed down with concrete.

The knocking came again, harder this time.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Dragging himself out of bed, he shuffled to the front door in sweats and a half-twisted shirt. His hand trembled slightly as he twisted the lock.

There she was.

Mi-na.

Makeup ruined. Eyes bloodshot. Her shoulders quivered as she looked up at him, lips pressed into a trembling line like she was holding herself together with threads. Without saying a word, she lunged into his arms, burying her face into his chest, soaking his shirt with a mess of tears, mascara, and snot.

Thanos blinked. His hands hovered in the air for a second before wrapping gently around her. Not tight. Not protective. Just... there.

Like he didn't know what else to do.

He guided her inside, quiet as ever, and led her upstairs. She stormed into his room like it still belonged to her, kicked off her heels, and flung them at him. One grazed his shoulder, the other bounced off the wall and hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Ow," he muttered, rubbing his shoulder, but it wasn't even angry. Just... tired.

Mi-na stood there crying, her arms folded across her stomach like she was trying to hold herself together. She looked like a ghost of the girl he used to know. Smudged. Fragile. Shaking.

He stared, speechless. Words stuck in his throat. His mouth opened a few times like he was about to say something, but nothing came out.

He was no good with words, especially not with her.

He couldn't tell her that he was sorry in a way that didn't sound fake. He couldn't explain that he still loved her in a language she'd believe. And he didn't want to hurt her more with clumsy excuses that sounded like lies.

So instead, he just looked down.

She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled tissues from her purse, dabbing her face in a panic. It didn't help. The black lines streaked further. She hid her face, ashamed, her shoulders trembling harder now.

"I disgust you, don't I?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "You don't want me anymore."

His head snapped up. "What?"

"If I was enough, you wouldn't want other girls. You wouldn't kiss fans. You wouldn't make me feel like I'm a replaceable toy."

That made him move. He walked over, slowly, and sat beside her. Hesitantly, he reached out, brushing the side of her face with the back of his hand. Her skin was cold and damp from tears.

He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. It was barely a whisper. He wasn't even sure she heard it.

But she did.

Mi-na pushed him off and stood up fast, like his touch burned. Her eyes were different now—hard, glassy, furious.

"Now you want to love me? Now? When I've cried myself dry and begged for months? You only show up when you're scared to lose me."

Thanos clenched his jaw. "So what then? You're breaking up with me? For real?"

She nodded, her arms trembling at her sides. "Yeah. This time, it's not a break. It's not a 'cool-off.' It's done. I'm done."

He grabbed her wrist. Not rough, but desperate. "You're bluffing."

She yanked it free. "You always say that."

Silence filled the room.

Mi-na stepped back, fixing her heels. Her hands still shook as she straightened her dress, lips quivering again—but now with something colder. Bitterness.

"Also... I'm talking to someone else."

His heart stopped.

"Who?" he demanded. "Who is it? What's his name?"

Mi-na just gave him one last look—one full of regret and pain—and walked out.

SLAM.

The door rattled in its frame as Thanos stood frozen. The air felt thick, heavy. The silence now was louder than her screaming.

He turned back into his room like a ghost, numb, and collapsed into bed.

It was real.

This was the end of them.

No more fights. No more making up. No more late-night calls where she'd cry into the phone while he stayed quiet. No more morning kisses that tasted like regret.

He blinked hard.

No tears.

He didn't want to cry.

Instead, he reached for the little orange bottle on his desk and popped a pill into his mouth.

Ding.

His phone lit up. It wasn't her.

Just Gyeong-su.

"Yo, you good? Come to the studio when you can. We need to finish up the album."

Thanos exhaled and threw on whatever was closest. He didn't even bother brushing his hair. The world didn't feel real anyway.

⸻

Later — Club Pentagon

Nam-gyu was at the bar, back behind the counter. He and Se-mi were wiping down shot glasses and trying not to laugh at their phones.

"I cannot believe he posted this," Nam-gyu wheezed, holding up a screenshot of Thanos' tweet.

Se-mi covered her mouth, nearly dropping a glass. "You're evil."

Their boss barked at them from across the club floor, snapping them out of it.

Nam-gyu tucked his phone away, smirking. But a vibration buzzed in his pocket again. He peeked at the screen.

T: 😡😡😡😡

N: huh?

T: why'd u like Mi-na's post. she's the opp🙄😳

N: so

T: don't like her message. me and u are friends so u can't like the opp boy 😡😡😡😡

N: my fault??

T: wanna smoke at mine pls i'm gonna kms 😳

N: wtf that's disgusting
N: yeah send me the addy tho

Nam-gyu sighed.

He didn't even like Thanos like that. The guy was exhausting, loud, annoying as hell. But... drugs were drugs. And he wasn't about to turn down free weed after the day he'd had.

Se-mi spotted him walking slower than usual and grabbed him by the collar.

"ARE YOU ON DRUGS AGAIN?"

"NO!" he snapped, brushing her off. "Thanos invited me over to... hang out."

"Ohhh." She laughed, teasing. "You and your lil best friend forever."

"Shut up."

Se-mi offered to drive just to mess with him, speeding toward Thanos' mansion while Nam-gyu grumbled the whole way.

When they got there, Nam-gyu froze.

"...This is a house?"

"No," Se-mi said. "This is a kingdom."

Min-su answered the door, soft smile on his face. "Hey... Se-mi! And... uh. You must be Nam-gyu?"

"Sure," Nam-gyu muttered.

"Here for Thanos?"

Before he could answer, Thanos rushed down and immediately grabbed nam-gyus wrist and pulled him over to him. "Nam-su my boy how u been?"

Nam-gyu flinched. "It's Nam-gyu."

Thanos wrapped an arm around him and dragged him to the balcony before he could protest.

The balcony door creaked open behind them, sliding on its track like it hadn't been used in weeks.

The night air was crisp, salty from the distant sea, and heavy with silence. Nam-gyu stepped out first, hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his oversized hoodie, his eyes scanning the view like it was the only thing worth engaging with.

Thanos followed, quieter now, the usual hype drained from his face. His shoulders sagged, not dramatically, but just enough to make him look tired in a way that had nothing to do with lack of sleep.

He exhaled a slow breath, the kind that weighed heavy in his chest, then lit the blunt between his fingers like it was routine.

The ocean glimmered in the distance, waves rolling in and crashing like it was humming a lullaby just for him. For a second, everything was quiet.

Then—Thanos blew smoke right into his face.

Nam-gyu coughed, laughing a little despite himself. "You're a dick."

"You want one?"

Nam-gyu snatched the cigarette. "Duh."

Their hands brushed.

Thanos blinked. He didn't say anything, just passed over the lighter.

The cigarette lit. The ocean sang. And for a second, they didn't talk.

Two strangers, too broken to be alone, too stubborn to be friends, sitting in silence together above a world they couldn't make sense of.

Nam-gyu stood at the edge of the balcony, elbows leaning against the railing. Below them, the backyard stretched wide and wild — half-forgotten garden chairs, a deflated pool float, an empty bottle lying in the grass. But beyond all that mess, the ocean shimmered like melted silver. Distant, but clear. The waves came in soft and steady, and for a moment, Nam-gyu just watched them, letting the sound drown everything else out.

Thanos took a hit and held it in. "You smoke a lot?" he asked casually, voice hoarse.

Nam-gyu shrugged, not looking at him. "I smoke when I don't feel like thinking."

Thanos let out a dry laugh, not mocking, just tired. "Same."

The silence between them wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't hostile either. It just hung there, like a curtain neither of them felt like pulling aside. Thanos offered the blunt. Nam-gyu took it without a word, their fingers brushing briefly — Thanos' hand was warm, but Nam-gyu's was colder than expected. He brought the blunt to his lips and took a long pull, letting the burn settle in his lungs before handing it back.

"You got a nice view," Nam-gyu said, voice quiet.

Thanos nodded, staring out at the sea like it held answers. "I never look at it," he said. "I forget it's even there."

Nam-gyu glanced at him sideways. "How do you forget the ocean?"

Thanos shrugged. "You stop seeing shit when your brain's on fire all the time."

Nam-gyu didn't answer. He just took the blunt again and inhaled. The wind picked up, ruffling both their hair. Thanos closed his eyes for a second and tilted his head back, like he was trying to let the breeze carry his thoughts away.

Nam-gyu leaned his chin against his arms on the railing. "So," he muttered, "your girl really left, huh?"

Thanos blinked and looked at him, surprised on how he knew. He quickly remembered the tweet mi-na and him had made for there break up.

Then he chuckled under his breath. "Yeah. For real this time. She said she's seeing someone else. Said she's done."

Nam-gyu didn't say anything. He just handed back the blunt again.

Thanos took it, stared at it for a moment before taking another hit. He blew the smoke out slow, like he could control time with it.

"It's whatever," Thanos mumbled. "I've been over it. Probably should've been over it a long time ago."

Nam-gyu looked over at him. "You don't seem over it."

Thanos side-eyed him, lips twitching like he almost smiled. "You always this honest?"

Nam-gyu shrugged. "You always this dramatic?"

That made Thanos actually laugh, a short, sharp sound that caught in his throat. He nodded, acknowledging the hit. "Fair enough."

They fell into silence again. The blunt was getting low. Nam-gyu watched the orange tip glow in Thanos' hand as he took the last few blows,then stubbed it out in a cracked ashtray sitting on a dusty table beside them.

"You can head out if you want," Thanos said, voice softer now. "I just needed the smoke. You didn't have to stay."

Nam-gyu didn't move. He stared out at the ocean again, watching the waves roll like they were trying to reach something far beyond the shore.

"I didn't stay for you," he said flatly. "I stayed for the quiet."

Thanos looked at him, eyes lingering a second too long, like he was trying to read something between the lines. Then he nodded again, and for once, didn't say anything.

The silence wasn't awkward anymore.

Just two people, standing on a balcony, high and hollow.

Strangers.

But not alone.

Chapter Text

Nam-gyu and Thanos were slumped on the couch, their bodies sunken deep into the cushions like they'd been there forever.They finished the scary subway movie and were looking for a other movie.The room was dimly lit by the soft blue glow of the TV as Thanos flipped through an endless scroll of movies, pausing every so often to ask, "This one?" only to be met with Nam-gyu's dry, unimpressed shake of the head.

Thanos sighed dramatically. "You're so picky, bro. We're probably not even going to pay attention"

He paused at a pastel-colored movie poster. He teasingly asked if he wanted to watch the pink shy movie.

Nam-gyu looked over with a blank stare and eyebrows raised. "If you're gay just say that," he muttered, his tone laced with pure judgment as he subtly scooted further away from Thanos.

Thanos turned to the screen, squinted, and burst into laughter when he realized it wasn't some girly pink movie he thought, it was a gay K-drama. He threw his head back, and was clutching his stomach.

"BROOO, I didn't even realize! The one on the left looked like a girl!"

He tried pulling nam-gyu back next him while laughing

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and let out a small laugh, but mostly just sat there waiting for Thanos to finish his little laugh attack.

"You good?" Nam-gyu muttered as Thanos started wheezing. "You're laughing like u haven't laughed in years"

"That's because I haven't," Thanos coughed, wiping tears from his eyes as he tried to calm down. "Leave me alone u ugly hater" a giggle came out then more, Thanos couldn't stop laughing

Nam-gyu snatched the remote while Thanos he was still wheezing and quickly found something tolerable, a boring old shark movie from the early 2000s.

Thanos blinked. "Seriously?"

Nam-gyu shrugged. "It's better than your gross gay love stories."

They started watching but themovie was bad,like really bad,but in that nostalgic, so-bad-it's-good way.

The shark CGI looked like it was rendered on a tablet But it kept their attention, mostly because they were passing the vape between them and occasionally fighting over the tiny, blanket covered over both their laps.

They made small comments about the movie here and there, sarcastic jokes and dumb observations, but mostly they sat in comfortable, sleepy silence. The room felt warm, hazy with smoke and low light.

Eventually, Nam-gyu began to melt into the couch. His eyes fluttered. His lips parted slightly. His entire body melted into the cushions like a puddle. One second he was muttering about how fake the blood looked, and the next,he was out cold.

Thanos turned his head and saw him knocked out with his hair a mess, strands falling into his face, lips slightly parted. His brows were still furrowed like he'd passed out mid-annoyed.

Thanos immediately grabbed his phone, switching to 0.5x camera mode. He held back a laugh, giggling silently as he snapped a few pictures. Then a funny idea popped into his head, and he froze for a moment—grinning like a gremlin.

He tiptoed to the kitchen, trying not to trip in the dark. He rummaged through a drawer until he found what he was looking for, a slightly dried-out black marker. He held it up in the dim light, giggling,and made his way back to the couch.

Nam-gyu was still fast asleep, lips parted, arms loosely crossed. Thanos climbed over the couch and got onto Nam-gyu's lap. The marker cap came off with his teeth, and he snorted softly as he started doodling.

A little happy face. A lightning bolt. Then bold and proud, a giant dick on his cheek, a thick cartoon mustache, and a big unibrow right across both eyebrows. He pulled Nam-gyu's chin up gently to admire his masterpiece and started giggling uncontrollably.

But just as he leaned in for one last touch-up, Nam-gyu's eyes fluttered open.

Thanos froze, still holding his chin.

Nam-gyu blinked once. Then twice. Then looked at Thanos's face. Then at his phone. Then down at his own lap.

He sat up with a jolt. "WHAT THE FUCK"

He grabbed his phone and flipped the camera,jaw dropping when he saw his face. "BRO WHAT DID YOU DO!?" He launched the phone at Thanos, hitting his shoulder.

"OW—Dude, you're so aggressive—"

Nam-gyu didn't let him finish. He dove forward, snatching the marker out of Thanos's hand and tackled him to the couch.

"You wanna play games? I'll draw you a new face, clown."

Thanos shrieked. "NO NO NO IM TOO SEXY FOR THAT!-"

It was too late. Nam-gyu was scribbling furiously. Swirls, X's, a massive "C U N T" across his forehead, devil horns, and what looked like a mustache but ended up turning into a whole goatee.

Thanos tried fighting back, grabbing at Nam-gyu's wrist,he let out a welp AA he pulled his wrist back in pain.

He started to Jab the marker onto his arms in revenge.

He didn't let go until Thanos finally shoved him off—and accidentally sent them both tumbling off the couch in a heap.

The blanket flew off, pillows hit the ground, and they landed on the floor in a mess of limbs and loud laughter.

Thanos groaned and lifted his arm to show the angry red streaks from being drawn on too hard. "You're literally insane."

Nam-gyu smirked and jabbed the marker trail with his finger. "Lol. Not that deep."

Thanos winced. "I'm suing??"

"I'd represent myself and win," Nam-gyu muttered, getting up and heading toward the bathroom to wash his face.

Thanos lay on the floor for a second, staring at the ceiling.

His face stung. His stomach hurt from laughing. And for the first time in a while, his heart felt something that didn't involve pain. He got up anyways and followed I to the bathroom

The light in the bathroom flickered as they looked at there faces,once clean, now had faint streaks of black marker smudged on their faces. Both Nam-gyu and Thanos stood side by side at the sink, their faces covered in doodles like two preschool art projects gone horribly wrong.

Nam-gyu squinted at his reflection, his lips twitching in disbelief. "Bro... what even is this? Why do I have-" he sighed "it's like tattooed on my face as if I was a gay dude??"

Thanos snorted, already splashing cold water onto his own face. "First of all, you're welcome. Second, you're lucky I didn't write Ugly bitch on your forehead. I showed respect."

Nam-gyu grabbed a towel off the rack and dabbed at the ink, but it barely came off. He turned to Thanos with murder in his eyes. "This is literally not washable. Are you brain-dead?"

"Relax, art critic. It adds character," Thanos said, leaning over the sink as water dripped from his nose. "Honestly, it improved your face."

Nam-gyu scoffed. "Bold coming from someone whos a rejected SoundCloud rapper and smells like expired cologne and vape juice."

"Ouch," Thanos grinned, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "You must flirt like this with everyone."

"I don't flirt with people who draw penises on my cheeck??" Nam-gyu muttered, scrubbing aggressively. "And why does this marker smell like such strong chemicals? Did it go bad or something?!"

Thanos tilted his head and shrugged. "Probably. It's my mom's old stash drawer. Or my dad's. Or mine. Who knows."

Nam-gyu stared at him in the mirror for a second too long. "You say that like it's normal."

Thanos didn't respond for a second. Then he smiled tightly and turned on the tap harder, letting the sound of running water fill the awkward silence.

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and elbowed him. "Anyway, move. You're hogging the sink and your giant ego is fogging up the mirror."

Thanos stepped aside with exaggerated grace. "Oh, my apologies, your highness. Didn't realize you needed the whole sink to fix your clown face."

Nam-gyu shot him a glare and He leaned in, pointing at his eyebrows. "You really gave me a unibrow. You couldn't have just drawn like... hearts or something?" He scoffed and kept washing.

"You think I'm gonna put hearts on your face?" Thanos snorted. "Please. That's girlfriend privilege. You got the I hate u treatment"

Nam-gyu splashed more water and flicked some toward Thanos on purpose. "You're so annoying."

Thanos wiped the water off his cheek, clearly unfazed. "And you're so aggressive?Damn. I doodled on you, not Stabu with the marker like u did to me??"

"Whatever," Nam-gyu grumbled. He was leaning closer to the mirror now, trying to get every last stain off, brows furrowed as he kept mumbling.

Thanos watched him from the corner of his eye. There was something kinda funny about the way Nam-gyu cared so much about getting it all off. Something... weirdly satisfying.

"Yo, I think there's some makeup remover under the sink," Thanos offered, opening the cabinet and tossing a bottle onto the counter. "Here. It's Mi-na's. I didn't throw her stuff out yet. I'm so sweet I know."

Nam-gyu paused. "Oh... cool." He picked up the bottle, silently reading the label.

For a moment, the only sound was the faucet running and their quiet sniffling from all the cold water hitting their faces.

Then Nam-gyu muttered, "She upgraded from you fast, huh?"

Thanos smirked without humor. "Mhm. Must've realized I wasn't built for boyfriend duty. Too emotionally unstable or something idk?"

Nam-gyu side-eyed him. "You think?"

Thanos turned to him, hand on heart. "Wow. Thank you for your support, Nam-gyu. Really warms my soul."

Nam-gyu threw a clean towel at his face. "Shut up."

Thanos peeled the towel off slowly. "I'm about to slice my wrist. Gosh ur annoying"

"Promise?" Nam-gyu said flatly, wiping the last of the marker from his cheek.

They stood there for a second—faces finally clean, skin damp, shirts speckled with little water drops—before Thanos huffed dramatically and tossed his towel onto the counter.

"You know what, I think I need to lie down after this emotionally traumatic betrayal," he announced.

Nam-gyu dried his hands and followed. "You need to shut up for like five minutes. That's what you need."

Thanos turned off the bathroom light with a little bow. "After you, my king."

"Eat glass."

"See, I knew you liked me."

Chapter Text

Thanos was in the living room alone now, dragging his feet around as he picked up the pillows scattered across the floor. He tossed them back onto the couch, fluffing one only to slap it down again like it offended him. The blanket that had once cocooned Nam-gyu was now a rumpled mess on the floor—he picked it up, folded it sloppily, and draped it across the couch like he was trying to pretend he cared.

He sighed as he sunk into the cushions, his body slouching deep, the weight of the night clinging to his shoulders. His eyelids began to flutter shut—just a second of rest, just a second to turn his brain off—but before he could fully melt into sleep, he heard the bathroom door creak open.

Nam-gyu stepped out, finally cleaned up from the war Thanos had doodled onto his face, though a few faint red trails still clung to his skin like stubborn reminders of their stupid little marker battle. His hoodie hung loose over his frame, the sleeves tugged down past his wrists like he was shielding himself from the cold.

Nam-gyu tilted his head and smirked. "Nice marker stabs! Wonder how that happened..."

Thanos didn't respond. Nam-gyu just strolled past the coffee table, leaned over the couch, and playfully but roughly grabbed Thanos by the hair.

He yanked his head back and forth like he was shaking a soda bottle, then shoved his face away with the heel of his palm. "Don't test me, marker boy."

Thanos jolted up so fast it made Nam-gyu flinch. He grabbed the front of Nam-gyu's hoodie and pulled him in close, eyes narrowing. "You really wanna go there?" His voice dropped just slightly, the corner of his jaw tightening as they locked eyes.

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow, scoffing. "What are you doing??"

The stare-down dragged on for a beat too long. Thanos' grip on the fabric didn't loosen, and even though Nam-gyu was putting up a fight, his heartbeat betrayed him. Thanos was stronger than he expected—and worse, he knew it. That stupid smug energy oozed off him like cheap cologne.

Nam-gyu blinked first.

Thanos smirked. That was all he needed. He finally released Nam-gyu's collar and gave him a lazy shove backwards like he was dismissing."

Nam-gyu was silent as he flopped onto the far end of the couch, arms crossed and attitude louder than words. Thanos mirrored him, plopping down on the other end with his own blanket

The movie they'd started earlier was still playing—some 2000s killer shark, it was trashy and barely scary, but interesting enough to keep on.

Nam-gyus phone rang.

[Young Mi]
Nam-gyu! When do you have the chance to come over to the house? Mom really wants to see you lol

She sighed while replying

N- I'm not sure
Y-mom and dad arguing again gtg🤧

He tossed his phone and looked over at Thanos.

They didn't talk, but it wasn't awkward. It was just... still. Not peaceful, not tense. Just still.

At least, until a loud jumpscare made Nam-gyu physically jolt. His legs twitched, his eyes went wide, and a faint gasp slipped out before he immediately clutched the blanket and pulled it over his face like a coward.

Thanos turned to him so fast it nearly gave him whiplash. He exploded into laughter, full-body shaking, face turning red. "BRO—no way! I heard that! I saw you jump back!"

"Shut up," Nam-gyu mumbled under the blanket.

Thanos crawled over with zero shame, yanked the blanket off, and collapsed onto Nam-gyu like a human bowling ball. "Don't hide! Own it!"

"Ugh—get off me, freak!" Nam-gyu groaned, trying to shove him away, but Thanos was dead weight and completely unbothered.

"Why won't you leave me alone?" he huffed, shoving again, but his energy fizzled out fast. He just gave up and slumped back. "You're so annoying."

"Thank you," Thanos whispered dramatically, still laying across him. The movie droned on, but neither of them were watching anymore. Their eyes occasionally met—quick, awkward glances that they didn't mean to hold, but somehow couldn't avoid.

When the credits finally rolled, neither of them had moved. Nam-gyu thought maybe Thanos had fallen asleep on top of him. But when he shifted slightly, Thanos didn't budge.

He wasn't asleep. He just... stayed there.

And the weirdest part?

Nam-gyu didn't hate it. Hes was terrified of it.

The room was freezing. The air from the cracked window kissed their skin like ice, but with Thanos' warmth against him, it didn't matter. The sound of the ocean faintly rolled in from outside. They didn't speak.

Namgyu was cursing Thanos under his breathe as he moved away and fell asleep on the other side of the couch.

Soon enough it was boring and birds were chirping.

Thanos woke up and stretched. His face twitched from the breeze and he instinctively reached for the warmth next to him—only to find empty cushions.

His eyes snapped open. The space where Nam-gyu had been was cold.

Gone.

Thanos sat up, blinked hard, and rubbed at his face like that would reset reality. He stood, glanced around the room, then jogged upstairs to ask gyeong su and min-su if they seen Nam-gyu

He went to min-su first, he slammed open his door.

"YO—" he was cut off

And froze.

His mouth dropped, hand flying over it in pure shock. Min-su and Se-mi were tangled up in bed, limbs twisted, arms wrapped tight. Completely passed out. Cozy. Cuddling.

Thanos whipped out his phone and snapped a photo instantly like the menace he was. He shut the door without a sound, eyes wide like he'd seen a ghost.

He ran down the hall and into Gyeong-su's room like a tornado. "BRO LOOK AT THIS."

Gyeong-su, half asleep and drooling, blinked at the phone screen. Then his eyes went fully wide. "YOU'RE LYING."

He sprinted down the hall, peeked into Min-su's room, and saw it for himself. He tiptoed back and exclaimed with a hand over his mouth "I DIDN'T KNOW MIN-SU HAD RIZZ LIKE THAT?"

The two of them collapsed in the hallway, laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Thanos wheezed as he slapped Gyeong-su's shoulder. "Bro we're never letting them live this down."

"Deadass," Gyeong-su gasped between laughs. "Okay but get out, I need to work."

Thanos pouted. "Wait I was gonna—"

SLAM.

Door closed in his face.

"Wow," Thanos muttered. "What an evil fake friend u are?"

He remembered about Nam-gyu and decided to text him.No new notifications. Then he remembered he had Nam-gyus number.

T: My boy wya 😎🙌
N: work?? where else..
T: bro I forort
N: ??? forgot?
T: what
N: .
N: leave me alone ur annoying me
T: wow what if I harmed myself over that message then would go to jail
N: huh? Whatever..
N: bro  honestly u smelled horrible.
T: what is that supposed to mean????
N: 🤷🤷
T: i hate u
T: u really are mean, leaving me on seen as if you were the celebrity🙄😡
T: wow
T: can I come over when u get off work??☹️
T: stop leaving me on seen
T: i'll bring my drugs
N: alr
T: 😎
T: also i caught my hb and ur friend getting their freak on
N: WHAT!????
T: nah jk they were just cuddling
N: HUH
N: WHOS UR HB?
N: RIGHT NOW??
N: ANSWER
N:UR LYING??
N: UR SO ANNOYING
N: I HATE U

Thanos giggled to himself like he was the funniest man alive. He shoved his phone in his hoodie pocket and grabbed his keys.

Time to hit Club Pentagon.

If Nam-gyu was going to hang out with him later, he'd need to bring the stuff he promised.

And maybe—just maybe—he could get another laugh out of him.

The outside Club Pentagon was thick with humidity and neon—the kind that made everything feel a little more alive, a little more fake.

Thanos stepped out of his Uber with his hood pulled halfway over his head, lit blunt in his mouth, and that fake confidence he'd been wearing like armor lately. His eyes were low, his mouth a lazy smirk, and his hands jammed into his jacket pockets like he had zero reasons to care about anything—even though he did.

The bouncer gave him a nod and waved him through. Celebrity privilege.

Inside, the club was already packed. Fog machines and LED lights were working overtime, blue and purple lights strobing over the dance floor like chaotic lightning. Music vibrated up throughout the whole club, the air thick with sweat, perfume, and bad decisions.

He didn't pause to enjoy the scene.

He moved fast—shoulders brushing past bodies, ignoring greetings from people he didn't care about. He had one reason for being here. Seok-jin, his dealer.

The guy always hung near the back lounge, tucked in the VIP shadows like some kind of sketchy creep. Thanos spotted him easily—buzzcut, black shades indoors, cigarette dangling from his lips even though he wasn't supposed to smoke inside.

"Yo," Thanos said, sliding into the booth across from him.

Seok-jin gave him a look. "Didn't think I'd see your face tonight."

"Need a refill," Thanos said, tapping the table. "And maybe something stronger. I'm feelin' bored."

Seok-jin pulled out a couple of options.Thanos stared at them, deciding what to get. His eyes caught a few pills he'd probably regret in the morning.

Perfect.

He was just reaching for the pouch to put into his necklace, when something,or someone,caught his eye.

His hand froze.

Just across the club, near the bar under a blinding pink spotlight, was Mi-na. Her hair was tied up in that effortless messy bun she always wore when she was tipsy. Her lips were glossy, her laughter visible even from across the room.

And right next to her—way too close—was a guy.

The "boy best friend." The one she swore was just a friend when they were together. The one she told him not to worry about. The one who had conveniently started showing up in all her posts the second they broke up.

Thanos didn't move.

He just watched. Frozen. Like someone had paused the music in his head.

The guy leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

Mi-na laughed. Loud, tilting her head back in a way Thanos remembered all too well. Her hand reached out, casually curling around the guy's arm like it was second nature.

Thanos' jaw clenched so hard he swore he heard it crack.

"You good?" Seok-jin asked, raising a brow. "You look like you just saw your ex move on in real time."

"I did," Thanos muttered, his voice dry.

Seok-jin followed his gaze, then let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's cold."

Thanos looked away, grabbing the pouch off the table and shoving it into his jacket. "Yeah. Whatever."

He stood up too quickly, knocking the table slightly. His hands were twitching, but his face stayed calm. Detached. He was so good at pretending.

He turned and started walking toward the bar—not toward her, but close enough. Close enough that she'd see him. That she'd know he was here. That she'd remember what she threw away.

He ordered a drink. Something strong. Didn't even taste it.

He didn't look directly at her—but he felt her eyes. He knew she saw him.

For a second, the music felt quieter. Like the whole club was holding its breath.

And then—her laughter again. Louder this time.

She tilted her head onto her "friend's" shoulder.

Thanos downed his drink in one swallow.

The burn wasn't enough.

He reached into his jacket and fingered the pouch. Maybe he'd take something now. Just enough to blur the edges.

Just enough to stop feeling like a ghost watching his own life.

The lights at Club Pentagon pulsed in rhythm with the music, casting flashes of colors over the floor. From behind his glass, Thanos watched as Mi-na swayed a little to the beat, her drink in hand, her glossy lips tugging into a small smile that she kept tossing toward the guy next to her.

Her "best friend."

Thanos didn't blink. He just kept sipping his drink, pretending he wasn't watching.

But he was.

The guy leaned down, said something in her ear. Mi-na giggled and nodded, then threw a soft smile. He gave her a playful wink before turning and heading toward the bathrooms.

Thanos didn't even hesitate.

He set his glass down, shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, and made his way through the crowd with that same lazy hoodie he always wore.

She hadn't seen him walking towards her yet.

Not until he stopped directly beside her.

"Yo," Thanos said, voice low. Almost bored.

Mi-na blinked, startled, then looked up at him.

The smile disappeared from her face immediately.

"Oh," she said, flat. "It's you."

He gave her a slow, sarcastic grin. "What, not happy to see me? Thought we were still friends."

Mi-na tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Didn't know 'friends' meant ghosting someone the second they leave?"

"Didn't know 'boy best friend' meant upgrade," he shot back.

That got her.

Her jaw twitched, and she turned away, taking a sip of her drink. Her hand was shaking a little. Not much, but Thanos saw it.

"Relax," she muttered. "Not everything's about you."

"You posted him twenty-four hours after we broke up," Thanos said. "Forgive me if I'm not buying the 'just friends' tagline."

She looked at him now, fully. "Are you really stalking my socials and crying over my story, or are you just bitter you lost something you didn't know how to keep?"

Thanos blinked, caught off guard for half a second. Then he smirked. "Damn. You've been waiting to say that one, huh?"

Mi-na didn't answer. She just looked away, like she regretted even engaging.

He leaned in closer—not in a flirty way. Just enough to make sure she heard him.

"I see you replaced me," he said, voice soft but sharp. "Hope he likes picking up the mess I left behind."

Mi-na turned to him slowly, her eyes glinting under the flashing lights. "Better a mess than a lie."

Thanos didn't respond. He couldn't—not without saying something he'd regret.

So instead, he looked her up and down, then raised his brows with a lazy smile. "You look good tonight."

Mi-na's expression twisted—half-flattered, half-disgusted. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like you're chill. You're not. You're spiraling. I can see it all over your face."

Thanos laughed—one quick, breathy sound. "If I'm spiraling, at least I don't need a prop boyfriend to pretend I'm okay."

Mi-na scoffed, setting her drink down with a sharp clink. "You don't get to play the victim, Thanos."

"And you don't get to play healed when you're still out here wearing the perfume I bought you."

She froze.

Just for a second.

Thanos saw her hands twitch—saw the truth flash in her eyes before she looked away again, biting her lip.

The silence between them was deafening.

And then—

"Mi-na?" a voice called out.

The boy best friend was back, walking through the crowd, clueless.

Thanos stepped back immediately, hands raised as if to say, Not my problem.

Mi-na didn't say anything.

Didn't look at him again.

As the guy returned to her side and slid an arm casually around her waist, Thanos gave her one last look.

No smile.

Just that hollow flicker of pain behind his eyes.

Then he turned, pushed back into the crowd, and disappeared under the lights.he walked towards a seat at slumped down, regretting everything hes ever done.

 

"Tequila," he muttered to the bartender, slapping a bill onto the counter.

His hands were shaking.

The cold from Mi-na's voice still clung to his neck like a chain.

The bartender shoved the drink Infront of him and he knocked the shot back and didn't flinch. Not because he was fine—because he couldn't afford not to be.

She moved on. She moved on. She. Moved. On. You're replaceable. You're replaceable. You're replaceable.

Another shot. And another.

He wasn't counting anymore.

The crowd blurred at the edges, lights bleeding into each other. Every laugh sounded like her. Every perfume reminded him of when she used to lean into his chest and whisper his name like it was something worth saying.

He hated her for it. Hated himself more.

Then he saw her again—Mi-na. Still with the boy best friend. Still acting like Thanos didn't exist.

That did it.

He didn't even think.

He turned around, eyes scanning for the first girl who looked at him like he wasn't seconds from breaking.

And there she was—leaning against the railing on the second floor, red lipstick, long lashes, a bored look in her eye.

Thanos moved.

"Hey," he said, a crooked grin plastered on like war paint. "You're cute."

She raised a brow. "You're drunk."

"Yeah. So?"

She smirked. "Alright, rockstar. Let's see if you're as fun as you pretend to be."

The next ten minutes were a blur. Flirty banter. Fast hands. Teeth on lips. Her nails clawing at his neck as they pressed into a dark corner of the VIP lounge. Her laugh in his ear.

Thanos was trying. Trying so hard not to think about Mi-na. About how cold she'd gone. About how fast she replaced him. About how empty he felt and how maybe if someone touched him hard enough it would feel like love again.

They weren't even sitting anymore.

The girl pushed him up against the velvet wall, her thigh sliding between his legs, her tongue teasing the corner of his mouth.

He tilted his head back and laughed, not because it was funny, but because if he didn't laugh, he'd scream.

And that's when it happened.

Mi-na turned the corner.

Her drink in hand. The boy best friend trailing behind her, still mid-sentence. She wasn't even looking—

Until she was.

And she saw them.

Saw Thanos, drunk and disheveled, his shirt collar half-untucked, with some girl wrapped around him like a necklace. Lipstick already smeared across his jaw.

His head turned.

Eyes met.

And for a second—just one cruel, frozen second—they both stopped breathing.

Mi-na's lips parted, like she might say something. But she didn't.

She just stared.

And Thanos?

He stared right back, eyes glazed and teeth clenched like he was daring her to react.

But she didn't. Not really.

She just turned. Quietly. Like she didn't care.

But Thanos saw the way her jaw tightened. The way her shoulders stiffened. The way she handed her drink to her boy best friend without a word and walked off, fast.

And then she was gone.

Thanos slumped back against the wall, the girl still pawing at his chest, completely oblivious.

His fingers trembled as he reached into his pocket and popped a pill into his mouth.

One more wouldn't hurt.

The girl leaned in again, whispering something he didn't hear. His head buzzed. His eyes blurred.

But it didn't matter.

Because Mi-na saw.

And maybe that meant something.

Or maybe it meant absolutely nothing at all.

The girl's fingers dragged lightly down Thanos' chest, still giggling against his neck, completely unaware that he'd mentally left the conversation ten minutes ago. Her perfume was thick and sugary, choking him more than comforting him now.

Thanos let out a half-laugh, but his eyes were already drifting elsewhere — to his phone, buzzing low against his thigh.

He pulled it out lazily, thumb clumsy from the liquor.

N- I'm off.

His eyes snapped back into focus.

Nam-gyu.
Just two words and a period. Cold. Disinterested. Perfectly him.

Thanos blinked.

Something in him shifted.

He felt everything come back.

He didn't say goodbye to the girl. Didn't offer an excuse. He just pushed her off gently like she was just a jacket he didn't need anymore.

She barely noticed until he was already walking away, shoving his phone into his pocket, his face unreadable.

He moved fast. Out of the lounge. Past the bar. Through the crowd that pulsed and blurred like a heartbeat.

He was almost to the exit,almost gone,
when a voice stopped him cold.

"Running away again?"

Thanos froze mid-step.

He turned.

There she was.

Mi-na.

Alone now. Standing right outside the women's bathroom in the hallway. Her arms crossed, her eyes hard, glittering under the dim hallway light like glass about to shatter.

She looked... unreal.

Her hair was silky, her eyes shining, her lips a pretty pink, and mi-nas face?

Breathe taking.

But he knew better.

"What?" Thanos mumbled, blinking slow.

Mi-na stepped forward, the click of her heels like gunshots in the silence between them.

"I saw you." she said, quiet but sharp. "You wanted me to."

He smirked. Bitter. Lazy. "Yeah? Well, it worked."

She scoffed, voice rising a notch. "You think I care about you flirting with some airhead in VIP?"

"You looked like you did." He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, trying to seem unbothered. But his jaw was tight.

"I didn't," she lied. "I just think it's funny. You're already clinging to someone else—what, because I took a picture with my friend?"

"You mean your new little boyfriend you got under 24 hours?" he snapped.

Mi-na smiled like it hurt. "Why do you care?"

Thanos didn't answer. He looked away, biting the inside of his cheek. His heart was pounding. Not with love. With shame. With something uglier.

Mi-na stepped closer again.

"Why are you really leaving, Thanos?" she asked, tone quieter now. "Don't tell me it's because of me."

He paused.

"I'm meeting someone," he said flatly.

"Oh?" Her eyes narrowed. "Another girl?"

He looked back at her.
His mouth twitched.

"No," he said. "A guy."

"Your gay?"

Thanos was caught off guard,his eyebrow raising

"What the fuck No??"

She blinked, confused for a second.

"Right," she said. "The weird little bartender. The one who clearly can't stand you?"

Thanos said nothing. His tongue sat heavy in his mouth.

"You know he's only using you, right?" Mi-na said. Her voice wasn't cruel, not really. It was raw. "He doesn't care about you. Just like you didn't care about me. It's so obvious"

He flinched.

That was it. That was the knife.

She didn't wait for him to respond. She just walked past him, perfume lingering like memory, like regret.

He stared at the hallway long after she was gone.

Then he turned and walked out the front door.

The cold hit his face like a slap.

And he texted back

T- omw

Chapter Text

He didn't care. He told himself that over and over.

His fingers were twitching. He'd only taken a small amount of whatever his dealer gave him, just enough to keep the edge off, but it was wearing thin.

He parked and leaned his head against the steering wheel for a second, dragging a deep breath through his nose. Nam-gyu had texted ten minutes ago—"off work"—as if it were just another Thursday night and Thanos wasn't halfway to losing his mind.

Still, it made him smile. Stupidly. Softly. Even though he hated himself for it.

The front door creaked as he opened it, stepping into Nam-gyu's dim little apartment like a wet dog dragging rain behind him.

Nam-gyu was already on the couch, different color socks, hoodie balled up beside him, and his face illuminated by the TV light. He looked up for a second.

"You look like shit."

Thanos let the door close behind him with a soft click and stared at him blankly. "Thanks. I put effort into that."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and went back to whatever trashy late-night cartoon he was watching, slouched so deep into the cushions he looked like he might merge with the couch. "You high?"

"Not really."

Nam-gyu squinted. "You're blinking like ur about to cry. And you smell like club lighting and desperation."

Thanos dropped onto the other side of the couch with a thud, scrubbing his hand through his hair. "I ran into Mi-na."

Nam-gyu didn't react immediately, but his eyes flicked toward him. "And?"

"She was with some guy. Said he was a friend. He probably likes her or something "

"Okay... and?"

Thanos tilted his head toward him, giving him a dry glare. "You could pretend to care. Just for a second. Like—fake it. I know you can do that."

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow. "Why would I? You're the one that keeps putting yourself in situations that spiral, then dragging your zombie-looking self into my space like I'm supposed to fix it."

Thanos barked a laugh, bitter and sharp. "I'm not asking you to fix anything. You think I came here for therapy?"

Nam-gyu threw a throw pillow at him. "No, you came here because you can't handle being alone with your thoughts for more than five minutes. And because you have no other friends who will willingly let u rant about whatever you rant about."

Thanos caught the pillow with one hand but didn't throw it back. He just stared at Nam-gyu for a moment. His smile faded a little.

"That's not true," he said softly.

Nam-gyu shrugged. "Whatever. You want to sit here and rot with me, go ahead. But don't act like I invited you."

Thanos let the words sit in the air for a beat. Then he slouched down next to him, thigh brushing his briefly before Nam-gyu shifted away with a grumble. Thanos pulled out a vape and took a long, slow drag, exhaling upward toward the ceiling.

There was a long silence. The kind that buzzed slightly with unspoken things.

Nam-gyu finally broke it. "You want ramen?"

"Only if you make it."

Nam-gyu shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "You're so lazy."

"You love it," Thanos replied under his breath, just low enough that Nam-gyu could pretend not to hear it.

He got up anyway and walked into the kitchen.

Thanos watched him from the couch, eyes following every casual movement—his tired gait, the way he ran a hand through his messy hair, the irritated way he shoved open the ramen cabinet. He looked alive in the mundane. Real. So different from the smoke-and-light illusion of Club Pentagon.

For a moment, Thanos wondered what the hell he was doing. Why he kept ending up here with someone who didn't even like him. Why it still felt like the safest place he'd ever been.

Thanos sat on the edge of the couch, legs bouncing, head tilted just enough to hear the faint bubbling from the kitchen. Nam-gyu was tossing in flavor packets like he was mad at them, muttering under his breath about "freeloaders" and "ungrateful celebrities."

Thanos pulled out his phone, checking a few unread notifications. A couple Instagram tags, a text from min-su he ignored, and—

His phone started vibrating violently in his hand.

[Incoming call: Ji woo my producer 😎]

Thanos blinked and answered, standing up slowly. "Yo, what's up?"

There was a long pause on the other end before Ji-woo sighed so loudly it felt like it blew through the receiver.

"Thanos. I'm out."

He blinked again. "Out where?"

"No—out. I'm quitting. I can't do this anymore. I'm literally coughing up blood and I have a fever. I need to step away before I die."

Thanos's body tensed. "Wait... what? Ji-woo, we're in the middle of album production."

"I know. And I'm sorry. But I can't be chasing you around, begging you to record verses while you're high at clubs with influencers, and managing your meltdown texts at 3 AM. My doctor said if I don't rest, I'm gonna end up hospitalized."

Thanos rubbed his hand down his face. "Dude, come on, we've worked together for two years."

"I know. But I have to tap out. You'll figure it out. You're Thanos."

The call ended.

Thanos stood frozen for a moment, phone still in hand, heart pounding. His head felt fuzzy again—not from the weed, not from the lingering club adrenaline—but from panic.

He turned toward the kitchen like a ghost and just stared.

Nam-gyu was plating the ramen into two bowls with that usual bored, slightly pissed-off look on his face, and when he noticed Thanos just standing there like a mannequin, he blinked.

"...What."

"I'm screwed."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, picking up a bowl. "You're always screwed. Come eat."

"No, like—actually. Ji-woo just quit. He was my producer."

Nam-gyu looked at him, unimpressed. "So? Get a new one."

Thanos rushed across the living room, bowl forgotten, eyes wide like a puppy about to cry. "No one knows me like he does. No one gets my process. I can't work with some random guy in a turtleneck who makes tiktok phonk. I'm gonna die."

Nam-gyu sipped his ramen slowly. "Can't wait."

Thanos ignored that. He was pacing now. His mind was spinning, hands waving as he ranted. "I've got a deadline. They're expecting a full album in like a month. Mi-na will definitely clown me for this. Gyeong-su will explode.Mi-su will have a panic attack from the media. And my rapping career will be over. I'm not gonna survive this."

Nam-gyu stared at him with blank eyes, chewing loudly on a noodle. "Sounds like a you problem."

Then—

Thanos stopped.

He turned his head.

Slowly.

Eyes landing on Nam-gyu with a strange look. Like he had just spotted treasure.

"...Wait."

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes. "No."

"You produced a few times right?" Thanos said, pointing like he had just discovered gold. You do weird remix shit all the time. You literally made a beat out of cat meowing."

"That was one time and it was ironically good.wait I posted that on twitter before I met you-"

"You're talented. You're rude. You don't let me slack. You already know how I work."

Nam-gyu took another bite, annoyed. "Absolutely not."

"I'll pay you. Like, real money. Rich people money. Name your price."

"No."

"All you have to do is make some beats and boss me around. It's your dream."

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow. "You'd listen to me?"

"...Emotionally? No. Musically? Yes."

Nam-gyu let out an exasperated sigh, setting his bowl down. "This is insane. You're literally just panicking and dragging me into it."

Thanos suddenly darted forward and hugged him. Arms tight, chin digging into Nam-gyu's shoulder. "Please. Please. Please. You're the only person I trust to do this. I need you."

Nam-gyu squirmed. "You're sweaty. And high."

"I'm passionate."

"Get off me—"

"Not until you say yes."

Nam-gyu groaned loudly, trying to shove him off. "You're clingy.What are you, twelve?"

Thanos didn't move. He just buried his face into the side of Nam-gyu's neck with a dramatic sigh. "If you say no, I'm going to collapse onto this floor and let depression take me. You'll have to explain to my fans why I vanished."

"...Ugh. Fine! Fine. I'll try. For now."

Thanos gasped and grinned so wide it almost hurt his cheeks. "YOU SAID YES."

"Try, I said try. If you're annoying ill kill you."

Thanos hugged him tighter, practically jumping up and down in place. "I won't be annoying. I'll be angelic. I'll bring snacks to our sessions. I'll name a song after you. 'Nam-Su's Revenge' or something."

Nam-gyu shoved him again but couldn't help but smile slightly.

"You're insane."

"You love it."

Nam-gyu sighed, loud and exaggerated. "You better not make me regret this."

"You will, but I'll gaslight you into thinking it was worth it."

They stood there like that for a minute. Thanos still hugging him like a koala while Nam-gyu gave in, arms loosely around his back. The apartment was quiet except for the soft noise of cartoons still playing on the TV.

For once, Thanos didn't feel like spiraling.

He felt better.

Messy. But still better.

[Instagram Post @thvnxs (Thanos)]

[grainy studio pic, shirt wrinkled,messy hair, mic hanging, Thanos arm around namgyu while working on a new beat]
Caption:
"Lost one, found better. New producer, look at his boring ahh working lololo #NewEra"

—
Mi-na was mid-scroll, curled up on her pristine white bed with her new boy best friend passed out beside her, when the post flashed across her feed.

She blinked.

Paused.

Stared.

Her heart thudded once. Then again. Then harder.

She clicked on the image. Zoomed in.

Her eyes narrowed.

The studio lights. That hoodie in the background. That hair. His face blurred out but u can still make out some parts.

Her lips parted. "No way."

She scrolled through the comments, mostly filled with fans thirsting, crying, or screaming about "who the mystery producer was." But Mi-na knew.

That wasn't just any random dude.

That was Nam-gyu.

She zoomed in again, just to be sure. The attitude was there, clear as day—even through the blur. The way he sat back like he didn't care, like he was too cool for all this, like he was just there for the check but still somehow running the whole damn show.

Her stomach twisted.

She set her phone down like it had personally betrayed her.

The boy beside her, slightly half asleep,looked up. "What's wrong?"

Mi-na didn't answer right away. She just let her head fall back onto the pillow and stared up at the ceiling, blinking slowly. "Nothing."

But her mind was racing.

Thanos... working with Nam-gyu? That sarcastic, disinterested, doesn't-give-a-shit tattoo guy? That's who he picked?

She chewed her nail, not because she cared—obviously—but because it was just so... weird.

Thanos didn't let people in easily. He was chaotic and dramatic and needed constant validation. And Nam-gyu? He probably gave him nothing but attitude and judgment. So why was Thanos smiling in that photo? Why did he look happy? Why is he smiling like he means it?

Mi-na rolled over and grabbed her phone again.

She didn't like this. Not because she missed Thanos. Obviously not. She was over that. She had moved on. She was living her life, going on cute beach dates, posting aesthetic stories.

But still...

That caption sat heavy in her chest.

"Lost one, found better."

Who the hell did he think he was talking about?

She opened his DMs.

Typed.

Paused.

Deleted.

Typed again.

Mi-na:
new producer huh?
that fast?

She stared at it. Then deleted it again.

No. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

She wasn't gonna spiral. She wasn't gonna let it get to her. She was calm. She was unbothered. She was peaceful and glowing and—

She pulled up Nam-gyu's account.

Private.

She rolled her eyes.

Of course.

She clicked back to Thanos's story. There it was again—another behind-the-scenes post. No caption this time, just a boomerang of Thanos nodding his head to the beat while Nam-gyu sat on the other side of the desk, arms crossed, clearly judging him.

Her stomach twisted again.

That used to be her spot.

And now it was his.

She locked her phone and let it drop beside her, flopping back onto the bed with a deep exhale.

Maybe she didn't miss him.

Maybe she missed being needed.

 

Meanwhile..

The studio lights were dim, a lazy golden hue glowing from the side lamps as soft smoke curled at the edges of the room. Nam-gyu sat hunched in front of the soundboard, clicking through samples, dragging synths, adjusting levels like it was second nature. His lips were pressed into a tight, unimpressed line.

Thanos?

Thanos was not helping.

He sat curled up beside him on the chair next to him, half laying on his side like this was a sleepover, not a session. One leg dangled off the chair. His phone was abandoned. His eyes were fixed on Nam-gyu like he was studying a painting that personally made for him.

"Dude," Nam-gyu muttered, not looking up, "stop staring at me like that. It's weird."

"I'm not staring," Thanos lied, resting his chin on Nam-gyu's shoulder.

Nam-gyu flinched and immediately shrugged him off. "Bro. Seriously."

Thanos just giggled, full and loud. "Why are you so jumpy? You're so dramatic when you're focused, it's cute."

Nam-gyu groaned and hit the spacebar. The beat stopped. "I swear to god if you don't back up—"

"I am backing up," Thanos replied, backing up exactly one centimeter. Then, a second later, he reached over and poked the side of Nam-gyu's face.

Nam-gyu swatted his hand away like a fly. "Can you go flirt with a wall or something? I'm literally trying to EQ this bass."

"you're so serious," Thanos said, stretching like a cat. "It's fun to mess with you, you get all intense."

"You're annoying."

"You're hot when you're annoyed."

Nam-gyu shot him a glare so sharp it could've sliced through the microphone cable. "I will kill you gosh what a weirdo you are!"

Thanos grinned, full of teeth and chaos. "Fine, okay. I'll shut up." He threw his hands up in mock surrender and slid back on the chair,but not without swaying his legs so his leg bumped Nam-gyu's thigh. "Sorry, producer nam-suuuu"

"It's gyu not su ive told u multiple times??"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and tried to focus, but it was impossible to ignore the presence beside him—Thanos's soft humming to the melody, the warm weight of his feet tapping against his leg, the occasional sighs and shoulder bumping that kept happening whenever Nam-gyu leaned forward. Thanos basically melting onto nam-gyu.

Ten minutes in, he'd had enough.

"Do you want me to actually finish this beat, or do you just want to play cuddle buddy with u all day?? Quit leaning on me!" Nam-gyu snapped, finally turning to face him.

Thanos blinked, lips twitching. "Can't I want both? It's genuinely freezing and ur so warm!"

"No."

Thanos laughed and fell over dramatically, his head landing right on Nam-gyu's lap.

Nam-gyu immediately stiffened. "Get. Off."

"But you're comfy," Thanos said, closing his eyes.

"Get off before I elbow you in the face."

Thanos cracked one eye open and grinned. "Wouldn't be the worst thing that's happened to me this week."

Nam-gyu sighed through his nose and shoved him off, and Thanos finally sat up—only to immediately loop an arm around Nam-gyu's shoulder from behind.

"You're like a damn koala," Nam-gyu muttered, dragging the his cursor around.

"And you're like a cactus," Thanos replied, "but like... a really mean cactus."

Nam-gyu didn't reply. Just kept working, jaw tense, eyes sharp.

Thanos watched him for a moment, something quieter flickering under the sarcasm.

His voice softened, just a touch. "You're really good at this, y'know."

Nam-gyu paused.

His fingers hovered above the keyboard. Not a full freeze. Just a flicker of hesitation.

Then he kept going, not looking up. "Yeah. I know."

Thanos smirked, leaned in, and rested his chin on Nam-gyu's shoulder again—but this time, the other boy didn't shove him off.

At least not yet.

Thanos was sprawled out like a cat that forgot how to sit properly—half on the chair, half leaning into Nam-gyu's space, one foot dragging along the edge of the chair.

The beat was looping through the speakers for the fifth time, and Nam-gyu was tweaking the EQ like he was solving a math problem. His lips pressed together, annoyed. Focused. Avoiding Thanos' hand that had somehow migrated to his arm.

"Bro. Move, ur so clingy it's annoying."

Nam-gyu muttered, elbowing Thanos off him without looking up.

Thanos let out a fake gasp like he'd been mortally wounded. "Damn. Not even a 'thanks for giving me a high paying job' so rude, also the beat sounds too sad."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and shoved a slider up. "Shut up. You said you wanted this to sound like something that makes people cry at 3 a.m. I'm making people cry at 2:57. You're welcome."

"You're actually amazing at this though."Thanos flopped dramatically over the back of Nam-gyu's chair.

"You know that? Like, you could've been a depressed barista or some boring dude who tattos people but no You're here. In my studio. Making music."

Nam-gyu clicked something harder than necessary. "Do you ever stop talking?"

"I would, but then how would you know how much I love you?" Thanos blinked at him, lips curled into a sarcastic pout, eyes half-lidded with fake sincerity.

Nam-gyu shot him a sidelong glare. "If you say something stupid while I'm trying to make this beat, I swear-"

"Honestly, I should start paying you in hugs."

"You already are. That's the problem."

Thanos grinned, not even pretending to be sorry. He leaned in closer, chin brushing against Nam-gyu's shoulder. "So how much longer till we drop the best track of the century and win seventeen million Grammys?"

"I dunno. I might quit. Go work at Subway. At least the tomatoes don't talk."

"Oh come on." Thanos reached forward and poked a key on the MIDI controller. "What if we do like—boom boom,and layer it with a whisper track that just says 'Thanos world'

Nam-gyu whipped around with a death stare. "You are the most annoying client I've ever had. You do realize I haven't even gotten paid yet, right?"

"I pay you in vibes." Thanos leaned even closer, resting his chin on Nam-gyu's hoodie-clad shoulder like he lived there.

"I hate your vibes."

"I love you too, man."

"Get. Off. You freak!"

Thanos groaned dramatically but didn't budge. His gaze shifted from the monitor to Nam-gyu's face. He watched how his brows furrowed, how his bottom lip poked out when he was focused. He didn't say anything for a moment, just looked. Maybe a little too long.

Nam-gyu caught the stare out of the corner of his eye. "What?"

"Nothing," Thanos said, voice low and weirdly genuine. "You just... look cool when you're focused."

Nam-gyu blinked, caught off guard for a microsecond, then scoffed. "Stop being weird."

Before Thanos could offer another compliment disguised as a joke, his phone buzzed violently on the table beside them.

He looked down and saw the name: Mi-na 🙏

He hesitated. Nam-gyu noticed it.

"You gonna answer that or let it explode?" Nam-gyu asked blankly,not looking at him.

Thanos paused. "Yeah. Yeah, I'll answer. It's just—she probably wants to yell about something."

"Well, that sounds like a you problem."

Thanos tapped his screen and swiped up to answer, holding the phone between shoulder and ear.

Nam-gyu snatched the phone and put it on speaker with no effort, Thanos doesn't care about what nam-gyu does

"Yo," he said, trying to sound casual. "What's up?"

Mi-na's voice came through, sharp and slightly tinny over speaker. "Oh. So you're alive now?"

Thanos winced. "Kinda. Why, what's up?"

"I just saw your little story post," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "New producer? Already replacing the guy who's worked with you for some years?"

Nam-gyu didn't say a word. He just kept working, lips pressed tight.

"Oh, yeah..." Thanos scratched the back of his neck. "Hes sick. Like, for real. Said he's done. So I asked Nam-gyu to step in."

There was a pause on the other end. Then Mi-na let out a cold, dry laugh.

"Wow. Nam-gyu? That tattooed burnout you met at the club?"

Thanos froze. He slowly turned his head up to see Nam-gyu, who had completely stopped working, hand hovering over the mouse. His face was blank—but his eyes were sharp.

"Mi-na," Thanos said carefully. "He's literally right here next to me."

"Your acting as if I'm on speaker?" Mi-na replied, breezy but biting. "Sorry if I'm not impressed. I didn't realize you were hiring based on being boring now."

"Okay, that's not fair," Thanos muttered, like if he was trying to walk the tightrope. "He's actually- uh he's good. Like, really good."

"Sure. Whatever. Just don't expect me to pretend he's not your latest little project."

Nam-gyu exhaled slowly, pushed his chair back, and stood up without saying a word. He walked out of the room.

Thanos stood too. "Mi-na, what the hell? Why are you being like this?"

"I'm being honest, Thanos. You don't need some broke ugly guy around you, you need people who give a shit."

"Yeah, well, he does give a shit," Thanos snapped. "More than you lately."

Mi-na was quiet for a beat.

"...Whatever. Do what you want."

The line clicked. She hung up.

Thanos just stood there, heart pounding, screen still glowing in his hand.

From the hallway, he heard the soft thunk of the door slamming.

Nam-gyu was outside leaning against the wall, arms folded tightly across his chest. He hears Thanos' footsteps before he sees him

Thanos stepped into the room, voice quiet. "Hey."

Nam-gyu didn't move. "I'm not your project."

"I know."

"You didn't defend me."

"I did."

Nam-gyu turned his head, eyes cold. "Sure you did"

"I didn't know she'd say that," Thanos said, stepping closer. "I didn't expect her to—"

"You didn't stop her."

There was a beat of silence.

Thanos looked at the floor. Then looked at Nam-gyu again.

"I'm sorry."

Nam-gyu just nodded his head and grabbed a bottle of water. He left outside and opened it, took a sip with a clearly anxious face

A flicker of relief passed through Thanos. "So... you're still down to finish the session?"

Thanos wrapped his arm around Nam-gyu and made there way back toward the studio.

Nam-gyu sat down, and held onto the headphones.

Thanos watched him for a second, then sat beside him, clueless.

He leaned onto Nam-gyu's shoulder and started acting as if nothing happened.

"Are you just gonna sit there and pretend that didn't happen?" Nam-gyu said suddenly, not looking at him.

Thanos blinked. "What?"

"That call. Her voice. What she said."

"I told you—"

"You let her talk about me like I'm trash." Nam-gyu's voice sharpened, hard as glass. "Right in front of me. And you just... sat there. Like it was fine."

"It wasn't fine—"

"But you let it happen. And now you're sitting here like we're just gonna go back to work and vibe and laugh like nothing happened."

Thanos finally stood up, hands raised. "Okay, okay. I get it. You're mad. I get it."

"No, you don't," Nam-gyu snapped, spinning in his chair to face him. "Because this is just a game to you. You pick people up when you're bored or lonely or sad and make them into a project just like what mi-ma said!"

Thanos blinked like he'd been slapped.

"I'm not some bandage you get to wrap around your trauma and throw out when you feel better," Nam-gyu went on. "I'm not your producer and I'm not some random broke side character you get to play with so you feel good about yourself."

"I never said you were—"

"You didn't have to. You let her say it for you."

Thanos took a shaky breath. "I didn't—Nam-gyu, I didn't mean to make you feel like that."

"Well, you did."

Silence again. Thick and ugly.

Thanos stood still for a few seconds, then paced a little, like his body was trying to outrun the tension.

"I mess everything up," he mumbled, mostly to himself. "I always do this. Every time I get close to someone, I ruin it."

Nam-gyu gave him a dirty look. "Don't make this about you, bro."

"I'm not! I just—" Thanos stopped mid-step. He looked up. His voice broke. "I don't wanna lose you too."

Nam-gyu's brows furrowed slightly. "We're not even friends, Thanos. I'm here for the money and the weed. That's it! Quit trying to act like we're close friends because we're not!"

Thanos flinched.

"I know that," he said, quieter now. "I know you don't care about me. But I do.I truly do see you as my friend!"

Nam-gyu scoffed, stood up. "Well then don't. I'm done. With you. And with this dumb producer idea u made up just so u can drag me down with you!"

"No, listen—" Thanos moved toward him too fast, panicked, messy. "I'm not good at this stuff. I say the wrong things. I let people down and I make everything worse, and I know you're gonna walk out that door and never come back, and I can't—I can't handle that right now."

Nam-gyu stepped back. "Thanos look-"

Thanos grabbed his wrist.

Nam-gyu froze.

"I'm sorry," Thanos said, eyes wide, voice cracking like glass. "I didn't stand up for you. I didn't say what I should've. I let her make you feel small, and I let myself pretend it didn't matter. But it does."

He moved closer and wrapped his arms around Nam-gyu like he was afraid he'd disappear.

"I don't want you to go dude." Thanos whispered, breath shaky against his hoodie. "Don't go. I'll do better. I swear."

Nam-gyu just stood there, frozen in the hug, heart pounding. From the day they met he knew it was wrong. Him being around Thanos was wrong.

"Thanos..."

"I'll block her if I have to. I'll make a post right now. I'll tell the whole damn world how good you are. Just... don't leave."

Nam-gyu sighed, jaw tight, trying to hold on to his anger—but something about the way Thanos was holding him... It felt manipulative. But It wasn't fake. It felt like desperation.

"You're lucky I hate my jobs dude." Nam-gyu muttered.

Thanos squeezed tighter. "So that's a yes?"

"No," Nam-gyu said. "But it's not a no."

Thanos pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes hopeful. "So you're staying?"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes. "I'll stay. But only because I like the beat. And the weed. And because someone clearly has to save your sorry ass."

Thanos broke into a messy, relieved smile. "Fair enough."

Nam-gyu smacked him lightly on the chest. "Now get off me. You're sweating and I'm not tryna catch your emotional breakdown germs."

"Sorry, sorry," Thanos said, wiping his face dramatically. "I'm just... really glad you're not walking out.you got me suicidal or something.."

Nam-gyu walked back to the chair and sat down. "Don't push it."

Thanos plopped back on the couch, watching him with slightly tired eyss but a stupid smile.

The beat kept looping. They got back to work.

But something shifted between them—unspoken.

And neither of them wanted to be the first to ruin it.

The studio air had gotten heavy.

Nam-gyu sat slouched in front of a messy desk with a laptop on top. fidgeting with the beat Thanos had wanted to rework. His hand tapped aimlessly on the keys, eyes glassy, jaw tight. The vibe had died a long time ago, and the beat he'd been layering for the past hour sounded like absolute trash—Just... pure garbage. Messy. Off rhythm. Kinda like him.

"You good?" Thanos's voice floated from the couch, soft but annoyingly upbeat, like he couldn't tell Nam-gyu was about two seconds away from snapping a key off the board and throwing it at his head.

Nam-gyu didn't look at him. "Always."

Thanos tilted his head, watching him for a beat too long. His eyes flicked down to Nam-gyu's hunched shoulders, the vein starting to throb near his temple. Then without a word, Thanos stood up and shuffled out the room, muttering something about "getting chips."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Nam-gyu exhaled—loud, annoyed, like he'd been holding it in for too long. He muttered under his breath and turned back to the screen.

And then he noticed it.

Thanos's phone. Left wide open, screen facing up on the couch like a trap.

It lit up once.
Then again.
Then again.

Mi-na 🙏: "I KNOW you're with him."
Mi-na 🙏: "He's always around now. Like a damn roach."
Mi-na 🙏: "He's a leech, baby. He's not even talented. Just sad and pathetic ."
Mi-na 🙏: "You're letting him replace me?? That junkie loser?
Mi-na 🙏: When he ruins your name, don't come crying to me. You will never be respected with him around.

Nam-gyu's hand stopped mid-click.

The breath left his chest so fast he had to blink a few times just to feel like he hadn't imagined it.

Another text popped up.
Mi-na 🙏: "Wait OMG! Ur using him for fame? A project huh? I knew it! U could never genuinely replace me if ur life depended on it"

His jaw clenched.

He sat completely still, staring at the screen until the light dimmed out and left the room quiet again. The soft beat that namgyu was making was the only thing breaking the silence, but even that felt irritating now.

His fingers shook as he reached back,only to slam the spacebar, stopping everything. Static silence.

The door creaked open behind him.

"I got Cheetos. That's your favorite, right?" Thanos peeked in, a dumb hopeful smile on his face, like he'd just returned from a noble quest.

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

Thanos stepped in, walking past his phone like nothing was wrong. "I figured we could take five and then—"

"Why'd you leave your phone out?"

Thanos froze.

Nam-gyu slowly spined around in the chair, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp, a little glassy.

Thanos blinked. "What?"

"You always keep it on you. Always. But today you forgot?" Nam-gyu tilted his head, sarcastic. "Right when she starts blowing you up?"

Thanos's throat bobbed as he swallowed. "I wasn't—okay, I didn't mean for you to see that."

Nam-gyu stood up. "But you left it. So I could. Didn't you?"

Thanos stepped forward. "No. No, Nam-gyu, that's not what—she's just mad. She always says stupid stuff when she's mad."

"She called me a roach." His voice was flat. He didn't yell. He didn't scream. But the ache in it was louder than anything he could've said.

Thanos looked down at his water bottle like it held answers.

"I don't care what she says." He took a slow step forward, lowering his voice. "She's not even—she's not part of this anymore."

Nam-gyu scoffed, pacing now. "U didn't even defend me last time. And now you're leaving ur phone out for me to see!"

"Stop it."

"No," he snapped. "You stop it."

Thanos flinched at the tone.

Nam-gyu stepped closer, now toe-to-toe with him. "You keep acting like this is some fun little hangout. Like I'm just here for us to chill. But I see what this is now. You're not picking me. You're just—" his voice cracked, "you're just using me!"

Thanos's mouth opened like he was about to argue, but nothing came out. Just silence. His arms dropped to his sides.

Nam-gyu turned back toward the desk, aggressively clicking through the beat project again like it was a distraction from the burn behind his eyes.

And then—

He hit the wrong key.

The beat collapsed into chaos. Off-tempo clashing drums. A weird bass echo. Utter disaster.

"Shit," he hissed, dragging a hand down his face.

Thanos finally moved, rushing over. "You're stressed."

"I said I'm fine."

"You're not."

Thanos backed away, clearly panicking. "Okay, wait. Wait. Just—gimme a sec." He scrambled to the mini fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, this time practically sprinting back.

But Nam-gyu didn't even look at him. His fingers were shaking. He clicked and dragged tracks around like he was trying to fix the mess, but the beat sounded worse. And worse.

Thanos set the bottle down and stared at him, guilt swallowing him whole.

Then—his phone vibrated again.

Nam-gyu didn't flinch this time. He just kept working. Brokenly. Messily.

Thanos walked over slowly, picked up the phone.

More texts.

More venom.

Mi-na 💋: "if u aren't, don't forget who you are. Don't let that trash ruin your career."

Thanos stared at the screen. Then turned it off completely.

He turned to Nam-gyu. Quiet. Serious. Scared.

"I'm sorry."

Nam-gyu didn't respond.

"I should've defended you. I should've blocked her a long time ago. I just—I get scared." His voice cracked.

Nam-gyu finally looked at him, eyes sharp. "So this is about you?"

"No!" Thanos stepped closer, heart racing. "It's not. I mean—it is, but it's more than that. I care about you, Nam-gyu. Like, actually. You piss me off, and you talk too little,and you make the worst coffee, and you hate my favorite hoodie, but I—" he laughed nervously, "I like you here. I like you with me."

Nam-gyu looked away. His face was stone.

Thanos panicked again.

He lunged forward and pulled Nam-gyu into a hug.

"Plus you said you wouldn't leave last time."

Nam-gyu stiffened and rolled his eyes.

he didn't hug back nor did he pull back. They stayed there for a few seconds before Nam-gyu broke the silence

"Why do u think I'm leaving all the time!?just get off me and get me a sprite."

Thanos pulled back and nodded.

Nam-gyu sat frozen in the chair, back rigid, eyes locked on the glowing screen in front of him—but he wasn't seeing anything. The beat sat half-finished in the DAW, blinking like it was waiting for him to breathe life into it.

But his hands wouldn't move. Not properly.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard, stiff and jittery, twitching like something short-circuited in his brain. He clenched them into fists for a second, then released. His knuckles had turned a faint white.

Across the room, Thanos watched. Quiet.

He leaned against the wall near the mini fridge, arms crossed, lip between his teeth.

The energy had shifted. It was no longer that playful, clingy studio vibe from earlier where he teased Nam-gyu and tried to rest his head on his shoulder. Now, everything felt like glass. Fragile. One wrong word and it'd all shatter.

Thanos tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing at the tremble in Nam-gyu's right hand. His thumb twitched against the spacebar. He clicked something he didn't mean to, then muttered under his breath and undid it.

Thanos pushed himself off the wall and walked closer, sprite in hand, he was slow like if he was approaching a stray animal.

He kept his voice light. "You okay?" And placed the sprite beat him

Nam-gyu didn't look at him. He clicked another button. Then another. Still wrong. His jaw tightened. "Yeah."

Thanos raised a brow. "You don't look okay."

Nam-gyu gave a dry laugh—sharp, humorless. "Sorry I didn't know u were a mood reader"

Thanos frowned. "Okay. That's fair." He took another step closer. "But your hands are shaking."

Nam-gyu finally looked at him. His stare was flat, but his mouth twitched like he was seconds from snapping.

"Cold fingers," he said blankly.

"It's not cold in here."

Nam-gyu clicked his tongue. "Then maybe I'm anxious. Or maybe I'm pissed. Or maybe I'm just fucking tired of people watching me like I'm a time bomb."

That hit.

Thanos stepped back slightly, blinking. "I didn't mean it like that—"

"Then stop acting like I'm about to explode."

"I'm not—"

"Then stop hovering."

The silence that followed was heavy. The only sound came from nam-gyus ear buds, a low static from an unfinished loop waiting to be completed.

Thanos sighed, gently ran a hand through his curls, and tried again. "I just wanted to help."

"I don't want help. I want a break."

His voice was quieter now, but sharp. Exhausted.

Nam-gyu stood up suddenly, the wheels of the studio chair creaking behind him. He grabbed his lighter and slipped his hand into Thanos pocket, stealing his cigarettes.

"Dude what are you doing-"

"I'm gonna smoke," he muttered.

Thanos moved like he was going to follow—something instinctive—but stopped himself.

Nam-gyu walked toward the door, tension still radiating off his shoulders like heat. Before he opened it, he turned around for a second—not looking at Thanos, just sort of scanning the floor like he wanted to say something else. Then he gave up on the thought and slipped out quietly, closing the door behind him.

It wasn't a slam. Just a click. But it echoed.

Inside, Thanos stood there alone. Hands at his sides, feeling colder now than he had all day.

He looked at the blank project screen, the messed-up tempo, the raw file Nam-gyu had been working on—crooked and jagged from the last five minutes of trembling hands and frustration.

Then he sat down slowly in Nam-gyu's empty chair.

Ran his fingers over the keyboard like he could feel the tension left behind.

Thanos got up from the chair and pushed the door open and stepped outside, the cool night air hitting him like a slap. The sudden cold made his breath fog up in front of him.the cold seeped through his thin shirt

Nam-gyu was already there, leaning against the rough brick wall of the studio building, lighter flicking between his fingers as he lit a cigarette. The small orange glow briefly illuminated the sharp lines of his tired face.

Thanos took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself, the cold biting at his skin and his nerves. He exhaled a thin cloud of smoke that vanished too quickly into the night.

"Fuck, it's colder than I thought," Thanos muttered, rubbing his hands together like it might somehow generate warmth.

Nam-gyu glanced at him briefly, eyes narrowed. "You look like a cat covered in water"

Thanos grinned despite the cold, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks for the support, dude."

Nam-gyu smirked but didn't say anything. Instead, he shifted his weight and took a long drag from his cigarette.

Thanos stayed silent for a beat, then finally tried to break the ice. "Hey... what's really going on? I mean... you're not just pissed, are you?"

Nam-gyu blew out a slow plume of smoke, eyes darkening. "Does it look like I'm fine?"

Thanos shrugged, exhaling another shaky breath. "No, but you're good at hiding it."

Nam-gyu snorted, flicking ash onto the concrete. "Yeah, well, maybe I'm tired of pretending I'm also okay"

Thanos took a step closer, but the cold seemed to keep a gap between them, both physically and emotionally.

"You don't have to do that with me," Thanos said softly, voice low, almost a whisper lost in the breeze.

Nam-gyu looked at him , deciding to whether to shove him away or finally let someone in.

Thanos noticed the subtle tremble in Nam-gyu's fingers again, how his jaw clenched like he was holding back something deeper than frustration.

Thanos was shaking all around. And Nam-gyu had noticed.

Without thinking much, he pulled off his worm out jacket and held it out.

"Here," he said gruffly, voice cracked but steady. "Take it."

Thanos hesitated a moment, shock flickering over his face before he accepted it, slipping his arms into the jacket like it was a shield.

The denim smelled faintly of smoke and Nam-guys cologne which for some reason reminded him of froot loops. But it was warm.

"Thanks," Thanos muttered, a rare softness creeping into his tone.

Nam-gyu shrugged, looking anywhere but at him. "Don't make me regret it."

Thanos let out a dry laugh, the sound vibrating in the cold night air. "Yeah, yeah,whatever."

They stood there a little longer, side by side but not quite touching, sharing the quiet as the night deepened around them.

Thanos glanced over, catching Nam-gyu's eyes meeting his for the briefest second before darting away.

No words were needed.

Some things,like cold nights and shaky hands,were better shared in silence.

The cold was biting sharper now, the night wrapped around them like a thick, unforgiving blanket. Nam-gyu plopped down onto the rough pavement, the concrete scraping through the thin fabric of his jeans. He made a face but didn't move.

Thanos, after a long pause, finally followed and lowered himself next to Nam-gyu, sitting with his back against the brick wall. The weight of the night pressed down on them both—somewhere between exhaustion and that strange comfort of shared warmth.

They sat in silence for a moment, watching their breaths puff out in tiny clouds, dissipating in the cool air.

"So," Nam-gyu finally said, voice rough, "how the hell do you want this beat to go??"

Thanos snorted, blowing out a shaky stream of smoke. "Make it Emo or something?. Maybe throw in some sad screaming that'll do it"

"Dude. Stop being childish and tell me what you want," Nam-gyu shot back, arching an eyebrow. "I still have no idea on how to make the beat."

Thanos smirked, flicking ash on the ground. "I just told u, make it super depressing."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes but laughed. "Whatever."

They sat there and talked about the album Thanos was dropping.

They made jokes, argued here and there and just laughed the whole time. Somehow, the cold didn't feel as harsh with the warmth of their voices filling the space between them.

"What do you mean?"Nam-gyu asked, stretching his arms out and staring up at the sky, where the night time stars shined.

Thanos scratched his head, looking genuinely thoughtful for a second. "Hmm... let it simmer. Build the tension. Like when you're waiting for that someone you know you shouldn't care about."

Nam-gyu snorted. "So your love life with mi-ma?"

"Not necessarily her.." he muttered under his breath, low enough for nam-gyu not to hear.

The distant roar of an engine cut through the quiet, and soon headlights splashed against the dark studio. Min-su,and Gyeong-su pulled up in a beat-up car, windows fogged from the cold.

"I forgot about theses two coming."

"About damn time," Min-su called as he hopped out, pulling on his jacket.

Gyeong-su smirked, shaking his head. "What are you two doing out here? Freezing your asses off?"

Nam-gyu stretched and stood, brushing dirt off his jeans. "Discussing the meaning of life."

Thanos groaned, but got up too, pulling his jacket tighter around him.

"We've got a deadline," Gyeong-su reminded them, clapping Thanos on the shoulder. "We really can't waste time or else you'll be making me have the punishment you know."

Nam-gyu smirked at Thanos and whispered . " Excited to pretend we know what we're doing?"

Thanos laughed, nudging him. "Always."

the four of them made their way back inside and the warmth of the studio felt comforting to the touch.
_____

The beat was looping steady in Nam-gyu's headphones. His eyes scanned the soundwave on the screen, cursor hovering over a section that still didn't sound right. He was deep in it—head tilted, jaw tense, hands dancing across the keyboard like they were part of the music themselves.

Behind him, Min-su and Gyeong-su were practically screaming at each other in laughter while still trying to work.

"Bro, bro, wait—wait—look at ur face in that video," Min-su howled, shoving his phone at Gyeong-su.

Gyeong-su let out a snort. "Delete that. That's blackmail material! Wait does this look right? He asked Pulling up a paper he was signing

Meanwhile, Thanos was sitting next to Nam-gyu

Still wearing Nam-gyus jacket with the sleeves rolled over his palms. He'd been quiet for a bit, sipping his water and scrolling through his phone

He looked around casually then secretly slipped something small and white under his tongue and let it dissolve without a word.

Few moments later,It kicked in fast. Maybe too fast.

he felt cold, like freezing cold and was slightly shivering.

Nam-gyu didn't notice at first—until Thanos slowly leaned in and pressed his cheek against Nam-gyu's arm like it was a pillow. Nam-gyu flinched slightly, turning his head.

"What are you doing."

Thanos sighed contentedly. "Your arm's really warm. I like it." Nam-gyu was the only thing keeping him warm.

"Yeah well I don't. I'm working." Nam-gyu tried to shake him off, but Thanos only melted in further, both hands wrapping loosely around his arm like he was a stuffed animal .

Nam-gyu froze. "Are you high? Get off me!" He was slightly panicking,he didn't want anyone to see and he didn't want to feel anything towards Thanos.

Thanos blinked up at him. "Maybe. A little. Why?"

Nam-gyu groaned. "Ur eyes give it away."

"Well I don't care." Thanos mumbled, now resting his chin on Nam-gyu's shoulder. "You're just mean."

"I should be. You're clinging like a leech."

Their legs shifted under the desk, brushing once—then again—and then somehow, some way, Thanos leg had slid down slightly and ended up tangled against Nam-guys legs.

Thanos's leg was stuck in between Namgyus. And their legs kept brushing past each other.

Nam-gyu squirmed, trying to pull back without kicking him.

"I swear Thanos." Nam-gyu muttered, "you're gonna get elbowed in the jaw if you don't stop touching me!"

But the warmth radiating off of Thanos was... distracting. VERY distracting

It was unwelcome, but oddly comforting. Nam-gyu's hands, which had been fidgeting with the cursour , started to still. His breathing slowed. He hated how comfortable it made him feel.

And Thanos? Still higher than the sky noticed. "See?" Thanos whispered. "Not so bad." He pushed himself closer

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes. "Shut up."

Nam-gyu was trying to keep working. He really was. But Thanos would not let go.

The grip on his arm had gotten tighter. At first, it was kind of lazy—casual, clingy, soft.But the more Nam-gyu moved, the firmer it became. He nudged Thanos's head once. Nothing. He tried to pull his arm back with a sharp tug. Nothing. The second his hand flexed to detach the leech, Thanos complained and tightened his hold like some koala on emotional steroids.

"I said stop," Nam-gyu snapped under his breath.

Thanos, face smushed into his hoodie sleeve, barely lifted his head. "Why?"

"Because this is weird. You're being weird. I'm not your emotional support blanket."

"You're warm," Thanos mumbled, refusing to loosen his grip. "And soft. Just let me be!"

Nam-gyu gave him a withering glare. "I'm literally made of bones and skin.."

"You're shaped like comfort," Thanos whispered tiredly. "Don't fight it."

"I am fighting it," Nam-gyu hissed. "You just won't let go—get off me!"

He twisted harder, even tried pushing Thanos away with his other hand. But every time he moved, Thanos latched on tighter. Like a weighted blanket that breathed and clung and smelled faintly like cigarettes.

"Thanos. I'm warning you—"

"Dude" Thanos nuzzled closer, squeezing his eyes shut. "Just five more minutes I'm freezing."

Nam-gyu wanted to scream. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, arms stiff, jaw clenched. This was a hostage situation. He was the hostage. And his captor was snoring lightly into his shoulder.

God. His shoulder.

The heat started spreading up the side of his neck. His body tensed, resistant. Then slowly... it didn't.

His shoulders slackened.

His eyes blinked heavier.

The looped beat kept playing through his headphones, but it was soft now. Background noise. A metronome to his exhaustion.

He tried not to relax. He really did.

But Thanos was warm. And the weight of him felt safe, for reasons Nam-gyu couldn't explain. So when his own head dropped a little,chin brushing Thanos' messy hair,he didn't fight it.

Didn't even notice the way his body shifted in his sleep.

Somewhere in that blurry edge of consciousness, Nam-gyu turned just slightly, and his arm moved without him thinking. Wrapped around Thanos' back. A slow, subconscious pull. Close. Closer.

Thanos murmured something like a sigh, and Nam-gyu's hand settled at the base of his hoodie.

He was fast asleep.

He didn't notice the way he pressed his face into Thanos' hair, or how his fingers lightly curled in the fabric like he didn't want to let go either.

He didn't even mean to fall asleep.

On the other side of the room, Min-su and Gyeong-su were still laughing, now sprawled out with snacks between them, completely unaware of what had just unfolded ten feet away.

"Dude," Min-su laughed, "imagine if fans knew we finished the album in this dumpster of a studio, with like, one working mic and three functional brain cells between us."

Gyeong-su nodded solemnly. "It builds character."

Neither of them turned around.

Neither of them noticed Nam-gyu asleep at the desk with Thanos curled into his side, mouth slightly open, hoodie over his bob like hair.

And if Thanos smiled just a little in his sleep, mumbling something insane as he shifted closer—well, no one saw that either...

______

Nam-gyu stirred, eyes fluttering open to the dim blue light of the laptop screen still blinking with an unfinished project file. The beat he'd been working on looped softly through the headphones dangling off one ear. His back ached, his mouth was dry, and his head felt heavy, like it had been filled with bricks overnight.

But that wasn't what made his entire body freeze.

No.

That would be the fact that he had forgot that Thanos was literally melted onto him—head tucked firmly into Nam-gyu's chest, arms loosely wrapped around his waist like a koala. His breath was warm against Nam-gyu's shirt. He was practically sitting on him, slumped across his lap like they were long-time lovers in a K-drama after the tragic confession scene.

Nam-gyu blinked once. Twice.

What. The. Hell.

He turned his head stiffly, scanning the room with the careful paranoia of someone trapped in a nightmare.

Gyeong-su was passed out on the studio couch, mouth open slightly, one sock on, one sock off, clearly knocked out cold.

Min-su was even worse. He was on the floor, half-curled like a shrimp, with one arm outstretched dramatically toward Thanos' phone, still open on Instagram like he died mid-scroll. A small trail of drool sparkled on the wood floor beneath his cheek.

Nam-gyu's eye twitched.

He very, very slowly looked down at the man sprawled on him. Thanos made a soft, content noise in his sleep, nuzzling in deeper.

"Bro," Nam-gyu whispered, horrified. "Bro. What the f—"

He tried to move just an inch, but Thanos' grip instinctively tightened. A sleepy sigh puffed against Nam-gyu's chest.

NOPE.

Absolutely not.

He held his breath and stared into the void. This wasn't happening. This could not be real life. He was just tired. He'd accidentally downed one of Thanos' edibles. He was hallucinating.

Except... no. The weight was real. The snoring was real.

And worst of all—something deep down wanted to stay.

Nam-gyu nearly kicked him off.

He slowly began to peel Thanos off like a sticker. Every centimeter was a battle. He twisted his torso, sucked in his stomach, and scooted back inch by painful inch like a raccoon trying to escape a trap.

Thanos mumbled something that sounded like "mrmph... stay..." and tightened his grip again.

Nam-gyu froze. His heart was hammering. He could feel Thanos' breath through the fabric of his shirt. Their knees were tangled. It was intimate in a way that made his brain completely short circuit.

"Nope, no, mm-mm," he muttered under his breath. "I did not sign up for this. I came here for a job and money, not cuddles."

With one last desperate twist, Nam-gyu wriggled out from under Thanos' arm. The sudden shift made Thanos slide sideways with a soft fwump onto the chair cushion. Nam-gyu held his breath, staring, watching for a sign of any of them waking up.

Nothing.

Thanos just mumbled something unintelligible, drooled slightly, and kept sleeping.

Nam-gyu took two quiet steps back, then three more. He tiptoed around Min-su like he was navigating a minefield, nearly tripping on a bag of chips. When he finally reached the door, he looked back one last time.

Thanos, still curled up like a sleepy cat. Gyeong-su snoring on the couch. Min-su's dead hand still reaching for that Instagram post like it owed him money.

Nam-gyu pressed his palm to his face, groaning silently. He quickly slipped out the door like a thief in the night.

"I'm never coming back here again," he whispered to himself.

He was lying.

And he knew it.

Nam-gyu stood outside the studio, the chill biting into his jacket like punishment. His phone shook in his hands as he spammed Se-mi's contact—again and again.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Come on, come on, come on—"

The call finally connected.

"Dude," Se-mi answered groggily. "It's—what time even is it?"

"H-he was on me," Nam-gyu blurted, pacing back and forth in the parking lot like a man on trial. "Like literally on me, Se-mi, he was like—he was attached to my body like some damn—damn animal with rabies—"

"What?" Her voice sharpened immediately. "Wait, Nam-gyu, slow down. Who was on you? Did it happened again!?" her voice was shaky
"Where are you!"

"I woke up—okay—and I couldn't move because this dumbass was just—he was melted into my chest! Like fully laying on me! I think I held him?! Like with my arm? I don't even know how that happened I swear to God, Se-mi—"

"NAM-GYU."

"I WAS THE BIG SPOON, SE-MI."

"Wait. Who was the big spoon- what??"

"ME!" Nam-gyu shouted, practically yanking his long hair out. "And he was just... he was just lying there! Like some clingy dog and I couldn't breathe—"

"Okay who the hell are we talking about?" she asked, sitting upright now. "Is this about that girl again how did she find you?! "

"NO WHAT-!" His voice was shaky as he tried to speak "IT WAS THANOS and I didn't mean to, okay?! He wouldn't let go and then I think—I think I like fell asleep and now my life is ruined and I—Se-mi I think Minsu and gyeong-su let it happen or—"

"Oh my God." Se-mi was silent for a moment. "Are you high?"

"I WISH I WAS."

"Okay. You need to come home. Right now," she said firmly, putting down whatever snack she was holding. "You're clearly spiraling and I can't understand a word of this over the phone."

"I'm not spiraling—!"

"You're spiraling. Drive. Now."

Nam-gyu didn't even argue. He just turned, bolted toward his beat-up old car, and jumped inside with the speed of a man running from a murder scene. He started the engine, hands still trembling. The wheel felt cold under his fingers.

His heart was racing. His brain was chaos.

Why the hell did he fall asleep like that? Why the hell did it feel nice?

No nam-gyu

NO.

He shook his head violently and hit the gas, tires screeching a little too loudly in the quiet morning hours . He needed to get to his apartment now.

Because he had no idea what was happening to him.

But she was the only person who might.

Nam-gyu's breath was fogging up his car windows as he sped through the city streets like the world was ending. His left leg bounced aggressively, one hand clenched so tightly on the steering wheel that his knuckles turned white.

He'd tried to piece together what happened in the studio, but every time he thought about waking up to Thanos pressed up against him—soft breathing on his neck, one arm around Nam-gyu's waist like some lovesick idiot—his brain short-circuited.

I held him. I HELD HIM BACK.

He smacked his forehead against the steering wheel at a red light, groaning into the leather. "This is how it starts. This is how people die of shame."

His phone buzzed again on the seat next to him. A blurry photo min-su probably posted half awake.

It was very blurry and dim, Gyeong-su was asleep on the couch, Minsu's hand covering his face as he laughed at gyeong su drooling the lens, and right in the corner—

"Oh my God."

Nam-gyu threw the phone down like it had physically attacked him. You couldn't even see his face. It looked like Thanos cuddled some random girl, except that "random girl" was him. His hoodie hood was covering his face and his hair was on his shoulder,making him look like a girl with very short hair . He looked so carefree..

"THAT IS MISLEADING CONTENT!" he yelled in the car, as if the laws of the universe would suddenly right themselves out of sheer volume.

He swerved into the parking lot of Se-mi's apartment complex like a man possessed, practically leapt out of the car, and sprinted up the stairs.

He didn't knock.

He burst through her door and slammed it shut behind him.

Se-mi was sitting cross-legged on the couch in a tank top and baggy pajama pants, holding a massive bowl of cereal and was mid-bite when he exploded in.

"Oh my God," she said flatly. "Did someone die?"

"I cuddled Thanos- no HE FORCED US TO CUDDLE!"

Crunch.

"...You what?"

Nam-gyu dropped his keys and jacket on the floor, running to her and pacing frantically in front of her. "I didn't mean to! I was working on the beat and he took something—some pill, probably—and then he just started melting into me like butter on toast! And I was like, 'Get off me, freak,' but he would not move, Se-mi!"

She blinked, chewing slowly. "Like, physically wouldn't move? Or emotionally wouldn't move?"

"Both!" he yelled. "I shoved him, Se-mi! But every time I tried to untangle his weird clingy limbs, he just squeezed tighter. I think—God—I think he fell asleep like that!"

"Okay but like... why didn't you just get up?"

"Because he was on my lap! And my arm was asleep! And my soul was LEAVING MY BODY, SE-MI."

Nam-gyu threw himself onto her other couch and let out a scream muffled by a pillow.

She lowered her spoon. "Did you... like it?"

"NO," he yelled into the pillow, then paused and turned over to her with a blank face,mumbled something then immediately frowned and screamed into the pillow again.

"NAM-GYU?." Her jaw was dropped "I always knew you were a little twinky.." she muttered.

"I mean no! Not in the way you're thinking!" he shot up. "It's just—I don't like him! I just like when people are warm and not awful to me. And he was... soft. Like a weird dog."

Se-mi tilted her head. "So... you like that he was like a weird emotional therapy dog."

"No!" he paused and looked to the side.

She snorted. "You sound insane."

"I feel insane! He was on me for like hours! What if I—what if I drooled? What if I held him in my sleep and said something weird?? I've slept-tweeted before, Se-mi. What if I confessed to him in my dreams?!"

"Wow, imagine." She took another huge spoonful of cereal and shook her head. "You'd have to marry him."

"Shut up!" he hissed, curling up in the corner of the couch like a shrimp "And he didn't even say anything! I'm pretty sure he just got up and just acted normal, like it didn't happen! I have no new texts from him!"he pulled his phone out and shoved it into se-mis face.

Se-mi gasped. "The audacity!"

"Right?? Like he wasn't just using my arm as a pillow!"

She eyed him for a moment, then slowly said, "wait. Nam-gyu are you... mad because he ignored it or are you mad because you don't want to like him..?"

He froze.

Her spoon hovered mid-air.

"I—I'm not mad at anything."

"You're mad at both aren't you!"

"I'm mad that he's famous and I'm just some tattoo guy and he snuggled me like I'm his emotional support animal!"

She raised her eyebrows. "Wow. He's kind of winning, though."

Ring!

His phones screen flashed. He shot up and grabbed his home.

1 new message from Yu-ri

He sighed, flipping it over.

[Yu-ri]
hey!! how've you been?? you haven't shown up to the shop in like a week lol did you quit or something?? ☹️

His entire body deflated.

"Ugh. Yu-ri," he muttered.

Se-mi looked up from where she was lying sideways on the couch, spoon deep in her cereal again. "Oh my God. Yu-ri Yu-ri? The work-crush Yu-ri?"

"I never had a crush on her u have it reversed!"Nam-gyu snapped defensively.

She smirked. "Right. Open it!"

"No."

She pushed her shoulder pressuring him into responding.

Nam-gyu groaned dramatically and opened the message.

 

N- Been busy lol didn't quit just not around rn

Y-ohh okay!! just checking in u kinda ghosted Me.. thought maybe u forgot i existed haha
hope ur okay tho! :)

Nam-gyu read it in silence, thumb hovering over the keyboard.

Se-mi leaned in from across the couch. "Are you gonna leave her on read? That's so mean."

"She'll survive."

"She literally checked in on your unemployed, mentally spiraling little gremlin self."

"I'm not unemployed—" he paused. "...I'm in between situations.."

Se-mi rolled her eyes and stole his phone.

"Hey!" he lunged at her, but she held it up.

"I'm helping!" she started typing something before tossing the phone back at him.

He looked down in horror.

N- lol nah I didn't forget. just been drowning in a weird music project but I'm not dead 👍

"You texted her like a ROBOT!" he hissed.

"You're welcome," she said proudly.

His phone buzzed again.

Y- ohhh that sounds kinda cool actually! you're making music now?? we should catch up soon if ur free!!! coffee or smth idk 😚

Nam-gyu stared at it.

Se-mi sat up. "Oh my GOD she wants to see you! See way better then Thanos" she smiled stupidly

"She wants to talk to me. In person. She's an obsessed psychopath.IM SCARED OF HER!"

"You have to go. You need normal people in your life. People who don't crawl onto your lap and whisper compliments while you're trying to edit kick drums."

Nam-gyu blinked at her. "...Was that shade at Thanos?"

"Absolutely."

He groaned again, slumping backward like the couch might eat him and make the whole situation disappear. "What do I even say?? What do I do?? What if she brings up—that time she kissed me."

"Then you lie. And tell her you totally forgot about it"

"I can't lie! I'm already lying to myself!"

"Okay," Se-mi said, patting his head mockingly, "go scream that in a pillow after you agree to the hangout."

He scowled at her, typing slowly.

N- yea sure we can meet up. u pick the place

It took two seconds.maybe even less

Y-yayyy okay!! what about that cafe next to the bookstore?? like tmrw afternoon?

He groaned again. "I hate that cafe. It smells like coffee and sweat"

"You're going," Se-mi said cheerfully, getting up to refill her cereal. "I'll even help you pick an outfit so you don't look like a sleep-deprived rat."

"I am a sleep-deprived rat."

"Yeah, but you're favorite my sleep-deprived rat."

Nam-gyu let his head fall against the couch.

Yu-ri wanted to meet. Se-mi was now emotionally invested. Thanos was probably awake by this time wondering where Nam-gyu was.

And Nam-gyu was absolutely going to spiral into a secondhand embarrassment at this café tomorrow.

Nam-gyu sat on the edge of their small kitchen chair, legs bouncing trying to forget about everything . His hair was a mess, his eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, and his finger were sore from nervous fidgeting.

He sighed dramatically and called into the kitchen:
"Can you please make me cereal too? I'm emotionally crippled and hungry."

Se-mi, who was already pouring milk into her obnoxiously sparkly pink cereal bowl, groaned. "You have legs. And trauma. Use both."

Nam-gyu threw himself backward into the chair like he'd just been mortally wounded. "You said you'd support me during this mental crisis."

"I am supporting you. Emotionally. Not nutritionally."

Still, she sighed and dragged out another bowl with a face. "What kind?"

"Whatever isn't expired and won't make me throw up"

"Cool, so... nothing."

Just as she opened a box of sad, off-brand cereal. Nam-gyu's phone buzzed again. He flinched like it had electrocuted him.

[thanos]
Nam-su u left ur charger at the studio so I'm using it right now also u smelled really nice

Nam-gyu stared at the screen like it had slapped him. "Oh my god. He's texting me again. He's being gross and he's flirting. He's disgusting!"

Se-mi peeked out from behind the fridge. "That was fast. He's being flirty and y'all have never once kissed.."

Nam-gyu's whole body stiffened. "Don't say that word around me—kissed. Ew. No. Never. He's weird, gets my name wrong and thinks sarcasm is a love language."

"Maybe it is his love language. What's yours? Ghosting people and pretending you don't care while slowly spiraling in secret."

He opened his mouth to respond, but then his phone buzzed again. He whimpered.

[thanos]
fr tho come back and finish it i can't stop thinking abt how good it sounded and ur the only one who can make it make sense. pls. i'll buy u snacks. and shut up. maybe.

Nam-gyu's soul left his body.

"OH MY GOD," he screamed, standing up and pacing the tiny kitchen like a cat. "HE'S BEGGING. HE'S TRYING TO BE NICE. HE WANTS ME BACK THERE. ABSOLUTELY NOT."

Se-mi slowly abandoned the cereal bowl and ran over, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Okay. Breathe. You're literally vibrating."

"he thinks I'm some kind of musical genius and he's being weirdly...nice.. I DONT LIKE IT!"

Se-mi blinked. "Nam-gyu. You cuddled him in your sleep like a damn body pillow so don't act like u don't like him back"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO. I was drugged by warmth and I DONT LIKE HIM!"

He unlocked his phone again. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard, frozen with fear. "What do I say? Do I say yes? Do I go back? What if he tries to touch me again? What if I cuddle him on accident again and then die from secondhand shame?!"

"Okay, you need to calm down before you start shaking so much you drill a hole in the ground"

Nam-gyu started pacing harder.

"He said please. He never says please. What if he's being genuine? What if he actually wants me to finish the beat because he thinks I'm good and not because I'm just like, conveniently near his lap??"

Se-mi rubbed her temples. "I swear to God if you have a full emotional breakdown over a guy begging you to make music with him while complimenting your work, I'm gonna drag you there myself and lock you in the studio."

"I'm spiraling!" he cried, clutching his phone to his chest. "I'm panicking I need therapy! Or weed! Definitely weed!"

Se-mi sighed, holding the cereal bowl in one hand and nudging him with her foot. "Text him back that you're on your way."

"NO! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS ARE YOU INSANE"

"You will, or I'll FaceTime him myself and tell him you're sobbing in my kitchen because you're in denial about liking him back"

Nam-gyu stared at her with wide, panic-filled eyes.

Then he groaned and typed out one sentence.

N-be there in 20. don't be weird dude..

Thanos replied instantly.

T- no promises. hurry up tho i miss ur annoying face.

Nam-gyu let out a strangled sound.

Se-mi gave him the cereal.

He didn't eat it.

Nam-gyu shoved the cereal aside like it had personally offended him. "I need to go in there and finish that stupid beat before he writes another paragraph in my texts and starts crying in my DMs."

Se-mi's spoon clinked against her bowl as she immediately dropped it, eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Say less."

"What—no. You're not coming."

"Oh, absolutely I'm coming. You think I'm gonna miss out on seeing my friend be romantically tense NEVER!"

Nam-gyu groaned and dragged a hand over his face. "I'm not romantically tense! I'm just emotionally unstable! There's a difference!"

But it was too late. Se-mi was already grabbing her hoodie, slipping on her sneakers, and stuffing a protein bar in her pocket.

He opens the door and walked over to his beat down car

"You're not even dressed for drama," he muttered as she hopped beside him to the door.

"I am emotionally. That's what matters."

The drive to the studio was mostly Nam-gyu white-knuckling the steering wheel while muttering to himself like a man on the edge. His eyes flicked between the road and his phone where Thanos had sent one more final text:

[thanos]
if u don't show up soon i'm gonna make a diss about u dude

Nam-gyu slapped his phone face down. "I hate him."

"You don't," Se-mi said through a bite of her protein bar. "You want to hate him. But you cant. Your in denial"

"I do though. Well im trying. But he keeps saying annoying things like 'please' and acting like my music means something."

She patted his arm. "How dare he be nice" she said it in a mocking way

Nam-gyu pulled into the studio lot and parked like he was storming a battlefield. He glanced at Se-mi and whispered, "Don't leave me. I need u!Just stay next to me the entire time. Please dude!"

Se-mi gave a smile"I will stay by your side like your side like a gaurd dog trust meeee"

The door swung open.

Immediately, a voice shouted from the far corner of the studio: "SE-MIIIIIIIIII!"

Her eyes widen. "MIN-SUUUUUUUU!"

Nam-gyu's soul left his body.

The two of them bolted toward each other like long-lost siblings completely ignoring the growing look of panic on Nam-gyu's face. Minsu practically ran across the studio to get to her.

"NO—WAIT—HEY—YOU SAID YOU'D STAY NEAR—"

"I'LL BE RIGHT OVER THEEEREEEE," Se-mi yelled mid-run, already giggling as she reached Minsu and immediately threw herself onto him hugging him like he would disappear if she let go.

They ran together and basically jumped into the couch already catching up on everything.

Nam-gyu stood frozen in the middle of the room like a forgotten side character.

And then—of course—he felt it.

That presence.

That warm, too-close kind of presence. The kind that made his spine tingle and his brain scream.

don't turn around.

A breath hovered near his neck. "Hey. You came."

Nam-gyu squeezed his eyes shut.

Be normal. Be cool. Don't punch him.

"Obviously," he muttered, refusing to turn. "I have a job. I'm professional. I finish things."

"Sure you do, sleepy cuddler."

Nam-gyu spun around with ready to push him away "I swear-"

Thanos just stood there. Hoodie half-zipped. Dark circles under his eyes. Looking like he hadn't slept in days.

And smiling. That was the worst part

"Relax," he said, tone infuriatingly soft. "You made it. That's all I care about."

Nam-gyu faltered. His rage deflated slightly, like a balloon slowly hissing.

Behind them, Se-mi and Minsu burst into laughter about something. Probably something stupid. Probably something like "Do you think Nam-gyu will kill him if Thanos breathes too close again?"

Nam-gyu sighed and trudged to the desk, sitting down hard in the chair and cracking his knuckles over the keyboard. "Let's just get this over with."

Thanos flopped into the seat beside him, way too close. Their knees touched. Thanos didn't move.

And in the corner of the room, Se-mi turned to Minsu and whispered, "Do you think we're watching a love movie" letting out a giggle

Minsu whispered back, "No, I think we're watching a scary movie. With a love plot obviously.

Nam-gyu leaned over the laptop, eyes darting between the soundboard and the screen as he adjusted the layers for the fifteenth time.

"Okay..." he muttered, brows furrowed. "If I layer this kick under the drop, then maybe—"

A head flopped onto his shoulder.

Nam-gyu froze. He didn't even need to look. He already knew who the hell it was.

"Thanos."

"Mm?"

"You're literally on me."

"Yeah."

Nam-gyu turned his head and glared. Thanos was smiling—smiling—like this was a casual Tuesday cuddle session and not a violation of Nam-gyu's soul. He had a whole cheek pressed to Nam-gyu's shoulder like it was a pillow. And to make matters worse, his hand was already slowly creeping around Nam-gyu's arm like some clingy little rat.

Nam-gyu exhaled sharply. "Why are you like this? Genuinely."

"You're warm," Thanos murmured. "And the beat sounds so good when I listen to it right next to your heartbeat."

"WHAT does that even mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean"

"I'm going to vomit."

"You smell like fruit loops."

"THANOS, I SWEAR TO—"

Nam-gyu shoved at him, very dramatically. But Thanos only clung tighter, arms winding around Nam-gyu like he was some kind of pillow. His grip tightened every time Nam-gyu squirmed or shifted.

"Let go."

"No."

"Let. Go."

"Mmm... no. You're comfy."

Se-mi, across the room, whispered to Minsu, "This is like watching a stray kitten being carried by someone."

Minsu, chewing on gummy worms, while nodding. "And the kittens starting to like it."

Nam-gyu threw a deadly look across the room, mouthing "I can hear you two."

Se-mi just grinned mouthing "don't mind us."

Nam-gyu turned back to Thanos. "Can you please stop touching me while I'm working?"

Thanos pouted. "But you only get serious about beats when you're mad. I like it when you're intense."

"I'm gonna be intense with punching u win the face if u don't get off me."

yet... he didn't push him off. Not really. Because Thanos was warm. And despite every nerve in his body screaming RUN, there was something about the weight of him. His warmth crawled through Nam-gyu's hoodie and into his bones. His breathing was slow. Calm. And before Nam-gyu could stop himself, his muscles started to relax.

Just a little.

Just... enough to keep going.

Fifteen minutes later, Nam-gyu was still working, still pretending Thanos wasn't half-draped across him, and absolutely ignoring the way their legs kept brushing.

His fingers twitched on the trackpad.

Thanos tightened his grip again.

Nam-gyu twitched harder.

Thanos nuzzled his shoulder.

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"I do you You're annoying and touchy and you always smell like club pentagon"

"You're projecting."

Nam-gyu turned to snap back—only to realize Thanos' eyes were half-lidded. He was slipping. Drowsy. Closer and closer to sleep.

Nam-gyu's heart thudded.

"Don't fall asleep on me. Don't—Thanos. Get off. Wake up."

Nothing.

Just a sleepy hum and a content sigh.

Nam-gyu groaned softly, shoving at him again—but this time it wasn't angry. Just... tired.

He let his hand rest on Thanos' arm for a second.

Only a second.

But it was warm. Steady. And soft.

His shoulders dropped. His jaw unclenched.

And against his better judgment, he let out the quietest sigh and—without thinking—wrapped an arm around Thanos.

Just lightly. Just enough to let his body relax.

"I swear to god," Nam-gyu whispered, "If someone takes a photo of this, I'll throw myself into the Han River."

Across the room, Minsu lifted his phone with a slow, devious smirk.

Se-mi tackled him. "AS MUCH AS I WANT TO TAKE A PIC TOO WE CANT. NOT YET I FEAR"

The studio was quiet, almost peaceful.

The bassline looped in the background as Nam-gyu sat stiffly at the desk, eyes glued to the laptop screen but not really seeing anything. His fingers hovered above the keys. Frozen. Barely twitching.

Thanos was still curled up next to him—half-asleep, half-melted into Nam-gyu's side like a weighted blanket in human form. His cheek was on Nam-gyu's arm. His breath tickled the fabric of Nam-gyu's hoodie. Warm. Slow. Soft.

And Nam-gyu hated it.

No. Not hated it.

Feared it.

The way his shoulders weren't tense anymore. The way his heartbeat had slowed down just because Thanos was near. The way his brain—chaotic and sharp and mean—had been quiet for a second, lulled by the rhythm of someone else breathing.

He felt it coming like a storm cloud rolling in fast.

The panic.

The overthinking.

The sudden need to run.

He stared at the beat he was working on—his own kick pattern looping and looping—and his chest tightened.

Why are you letting him touch you like this?
Why does this feel okay?
You know who he is.
You KNOW what how he is

Mi-na's voice came screaming into the back of his mind.

"Are u using him for fame?"

He could hear her giggles and smile even through the text. It what made his heart dropped.

He remembered all the stories Thanos told him when they were on the balcony

How said she was drowning in tears right in front of Gyeong-su. Red-faced and shaking and drunk on a rooftop while Thanos was already out with another girl.

Nam-gyu's throat burned.

He remembered him saying how horrible he treated mi-ma.

"she would be cracking her knuckles while sobbing, and when she would leave her hands would be so sore she couldn't drive properly."

Oh.

"I remembered holding her while she listed every time he cheated, and dude it went on for like minutes"

Predictable.

I would also accidentally forget her birthday and she would cry so much asking if she's enough."

Right.

"Sometimes i posted Instagram storys trying to look single. Then Mi-ma would come crying all the timeee"

And you're cuddling him now?

His stomach twisted. Shame burned under his skin.

He was nothing like Mi-na. He didn't have long hair, he wasn't famous, he didn't have bright skin, and worst of all he wasn't a girl.

And yet—

Here he was, letting Thanos fall asleep on his shoulder like some boyfriend.

No. Nope. No.
This is not who you are.

Nam-gyu shoved his chair back with a sharp screech against the studio floor, making Gyeong-su flinch mid-typing. The beat he'd been working on still echoed through the earbuds, a perfect loop of something raw and heavy, but Nam-gyu's face was blank. Or trying to be.

Thanos blinked awake, groggy, his cheek still pressed to the spot Nam-gyu's shoulder used to be.

"What...?" His voice was slow, soft. Still waking up.

Nam-gyu didn't look at him. He kept his eyes on the screen, clicking the spacebar to pause the beat. His hands were slightly trembling again, but he clenched them into fists and hid them under the desk.

Semi glanced up from where she sat tangled up in conversation with Min-su. Her smile faded.

Thanos sat up straighter, stretching a little. "Did I snore or something?" he tried to joke, voice groggy and crooked with a smile. "You look like I drooled on you."

"You didn't." Nam-gyu's voice was dry. "Just... move."

Thanos froze for a second. Then blinked at him again, more awake now. "Move where?"

"Anywhere that isn't right next to me," Nam-gyu muttered, finally turning to face him—and the second their eyes met, Thanos' smirk vanished.

Because Nam-gyu looked scared.

Not terrified like he'd seen a ghost—like he'd seen something odd or something like that.

Thanos sat up a little straighter, expression shifting. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Nothing," Nam-gyu said too quickly, voice cracking.

Min-su and Semi stopped whispering. Gyeong-su still had his headphones on, oblivious.

"You're mad," Thanos said, quieter now.

Nam-gyu laughed once, bitter. "Mad? No. I'm just not an idiot."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Get off."

Se-mi, leaning on minsu with a bag of chips, paused mid-chew. Minsu's eyes widened and turned to se-mi and was pretending he was trying to higher up the volume on a tv remote.

Gyeong-su had heard and thought it was just one of there small arguments and continued writing emails and making Thanos schedules.

"Woah," Se-mi whispered.

Nam-gyu didn't look at anyone. He scooted back toward the laptop, turned up the volume on the beat, and clenched his jaw

"Don't fall asleep on me while I'm working," he muttered coldly.

Thanos blinked. "I—okay... sorry."

His voice cracked slightly. Nam-gyu didn't respond. He just turned the audio down , pretending to be focused, even as his fingers shook slightly on the mouse.

Thanos sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Did I do something?"

"No."

"You're mad."

"No."

"You're—"

"I said no. Just drop it."

Se-mi looked between them, then slowly turned to Minsu. "That was... weird."

"I feel like I just watched a breakup that wasn't even a relationship," Minsu whispered back.

Se-mi nodded. "Nam-gyu's going through it. His internal monologue right now is probably, 'I'm falling in love with a manwhore and I hate myself for it.'"

Minsu fake-gasped. "You're so right Se-mi!He's spiraling."

"He's absolutely spiraling."

Nam-gyu shot them both a glare over his shoulder mouthing "If you don't shut up, I'll delete the whole session file."

Se-mi held up her hands and mouthed back "Sorry, sorry! Just supporting you from a distance, emotionally."

Minsu whispered, "Ive never been more invested.."

Meanwhile, Thanos stared at Nam-gyu with a frown, his arms pulled in against his chest. For the first time that night, he looked... small. Hesitant.

Nam-gyu didn't look back.

Because if he did—he might soften again.

And he couldn't.

He couldn't let himself be someone who got close to people like Thanos. Not again. Not when he already knew how it ended.

He needed to finish the beat.

He needed to stay angry.

He needed to stay alone.

Thanks brows furrowed as he watched namgyu act nonchalant.

He had barely said anything after pushing his chair away, after making it clear he was done being whatever the hell this was with Thanos.

But of course, Thanos wasn't gonna let that slide.

He grabbed his wrist making namgyu whimper in pain as he tried to pull back

Se-mi and min-su weren't paying to them after there little argument and were too busy talking to each to notice.

Gyeong-su was drowning in work and had earbuds in.

Thanos kept pulling him and finally pulled him outside the studio room.

The door shut close behind him.

"Argue outside, right?" Thanos's voice cut through the air like a slap, rough and raw. "You wanna make a dramatic scene?? Fine. Let's do this out here."

Nam-gyu didn't even turn. "I'm not in the mood for—"

Thanos's fingers were suddenly wrapped around his collar, yanking him back before he could finish. It wasn't hard enough to hurt — just hard enough to make Nam-gyu freeze, breath caught somewhere in his throat.

"What the hell is your problem?" Thanos snapped. "One second you're half asleep on me, the next you're pushing me around like I'm your biggest enemy?"

Nam-gyu yanked his arm, but Thanos didn't let go.

"Whats up with you."

"Let it go!"

Thanos pulled him front wards then back into the wall. Nam-gyu's spine had bumped the rough surface of the brick wall behind the studio. Thanos other hand landed on the wall beside Nam-gyu's head, trapping him there.

Thanos's breath was hot and angry. "Why are you acting like I'm some guy you don't know? Like I'm a stranger?"

Nam-gyu's throat felt tight. "Because you don't know how to leave people alone."

"I don't leave people alone?" Thanos snapped. "You're the one who keeps coming back."

Nam-gyu shoved at his chest, but Thanos's hand only slid down to his wrist again, gripping tighter as if panicking.

"You said you needed a producer. That's all I was supposed to be."

"Yeah, well now you're more than that," Thanos said low, almost like it hurt him. "Don't act like you didn't know."

Nam-gyu's heartbeat was pounding in his ears. The proximity, the pressure of Thanos's hand, the way his body heat curled around him despite the cold night air — it was all too much.

"I'm not Mi-na," Nam-gyu hissed. "I'm not gonna stick around just so you can distract yourself."

That hit hard. Thanos flinched — just slightly — but he didn't move. Instead, he said quietly, "You think that's all this is?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer. He couldn't. His chest was tight and his legs felt like stone. All he wanted to do was run.

But Thanos was still holding him — and not letting go. Thanos's grip tightened.

Nam-gyu tried to twist his wrist free again, but it was no use — Thanos wasn't letting go. His body was still tense, his breath still ragged, his eyes locked on Nam-gyu's like he was searching for answers that weren't there. Or maybe ones he was too scared to hear out loud.

Nam-gyu's voice came out sharp and shaking. "Let go of me."

"No," Thanos said again, lower this time, like a threat. "Not until you stop running your mouth and actually talk to me."

Nam-gyu laughed bitterly, eyes flashing. "Talk to you? You don't listen. You just touch, and cling, and get in people's heads and pretend like that counts as caring."

Thanos's jaw clenched. "That's not what I'm doing."

"Oh, really?" Nam-gyu snapped, yanking his arm harder this time, though Thanos still didn't budge. "Because all of this? The clinging, the flirting, the sleeping on top of me like a damn pillow?You think that's normal?"

Thanos stepped closer, voice rising with every word. "I don't care if it's normal—maybe I'm not normal! Maybe I've been trying so fucking hard to not mess this up—"

"Well, you did!" Nam-gyu snapped, eyes wide, heart slamming against his ribs. "I don't trust you, Thanos! And I sure as hell don't want to wake up to you all over me when I didn't ask for it—"

"I didn't know you'd freak out!" Thanos yelled. "You fell asleep with your arm around me! You—you held me! What the hell was I supposed to think?!"

Nam-gyu blinked like he'd been slapped. "That doesn't mean anything!

"To me it did! And ur telling me it meant nothing to u?!" Thanos roared, slamming his other hand against the wall beside Nam-gyu's head. The brick vibrated behind him. "That's bullshit and you know it!" His voice louder with each passing moment.

"U wished it meant something to me." His tone was sarcastic and rude.

He cut Thanos off, his chest heaving and beating rapidly.

Thanos eyes widen.his jaw clenched and his grip tightened harder then ever

A whimper came out from the pain around his wris.Nam-gyu stared at him, throat dry. "You're just using me to get over Mi-na. I'm not an idiot!"

"I'm not using you."

Nam-gyu scoffed. "You're still in love with her,even tho you practically hated her while dating! I don't trust any word you say to me."

Thanos face twisted, torn between rage and something too raw to name. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"You cheated on her."

Thanos's eyes snapped to his. "I know I did!"

Nam-gyu kept going, venom in his voice. "You lied to her. And now you're doing the same shit to me—you get close, you act like it's innocent, but you don't think about what it does to people. I'm not some safety net you can sob into until you feel better."

Thanos's voice broke. "I never thought of you like that."

"Then what do you think of me, huh?" Nam-gyu shouted. "Some pathetic guy who happened to be in the right place when your life fell apart? Your smoking buddy?Your sad little plushie you can hug whenever?!"his heart felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. "I'm just your producer. Never anything else."

Thanos stared at him, silent.

And then something snapped. "You think I don't see you spiraling every time I touch you?" he growled. "You think I don't notice how your hands shake and twitch. when I get close? You pretend like you don't care but your whole body gives you away."

Nam-gyu froze, blinking too fast.

Thanos leaned in, inches from his face. "You're scared of me, Nam-gyu. But you're even more scared of what this might mean. And you know it."

"I'm scared," Nam-gyu said through gritted teeth, "because people like you burn everything they touch."

The wind blew between them, sharp and icy.

Thanos swallowed hard. His voice dropped to a whisper. "So what, then? You want me to disappear? To stop caring? Just tell me, and I will."

Nam-gyu opened his mouth — and nothing came out.

Thanos took a shaky step back, finally letting go of his wrist. "That's what I thought."

He turned away, jaw tight, and his eyss glassy.

Nam-gyu stood frozen against the brick wall, heart hammering. For once, he had no idea what to say.

And that terrified him most of all.

Nam-gyu opened his mouth to argue back—something sneaky , something snarky, anything to make himself feel like he still had control—but the words didn't come. His throat felt tight. His chest heaved. His hands were trembling so badly it was like they weren't even attached to his body.

Thanos noticed. Of course he did.

He scoffed, bitter and cold. "Right. That's what I thought. You talk all that shit but crumble the second someone pushes back. Typical."

Nam-gyu's head snapped up. "Don't you fucking talk to me like that."

"Oh, what are you gonna do? Cry about it?"

And that was it. Something in Nam-gyu cracked.

he snapped, stepping forward, eyes wild now. "You're pathetic. You're desperate for attention and you'll cling to anyone who gives you five minutes of it."

The fury that flashed across Thanos's face was instant.

Before Nam-gyu could take a breath, Thanos shoved him.

Hard.

Nam-gyu slammed back against the brick wall with a loud thud, a loud whimper came out,his breath knocked right out of his lungs. His palms hit the wall behind him as he tried to steady himself, but it was no use—his legs were shaking now, his entire body frozen in shock.

Thanos was right there again, towering, furious. His hands were gripping onto his collar again ,he tried to pull his collar up closer to thanos face but against a grown man that just made Nam-gyu's stomach show.

Nam-gyu's voice came out small. "W-What the hell is wrong with you?"

He meant for it to sound fierce. It didn't.

His whole body screamed with alarm, heart pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears. He couldn't breathe. His arms had gone cold.

Thanos didn't say a word. The way Nam-gyu sounded made him feel an ache in his chest.His jaw was locked tight. His eyes burned, but there was something unstable behind them. Something too raw. Too dangerous.

"THANOS!" a voice shrieked from behind.

Semi.

She sprinted across the pavement, hair bouncing, cereal still stuck to her hoodie like she'd barely finished eating before charging out here. "Get away from him!"

Thanos flinched like he'd been slapped, but didn't move right away.

"Move!" Semi yelled again, grabbing Nam-gyu's wrist and yanking him away from the wall. She spun to face Thanos,still helping Nam-gyu balance. She looked furious. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

Behind them, the door to the studio swung open.

Minsu stood there frozen, eyes wide. Gyeong-su stood just behind him, earbuds half-hanging from his ears, utterly stunned as he looked between the three of them.

"What... what the hell is going on?" Minsu asked, voice barely above a whisper.

No one answered.

Thanos was still frozen. His fists were clenched. His chest rose and fell in sharp, shallow breaths. For the first time, he looked like he didn't know what to do.

Nam-gyu stood behind Semi, hands curled tight into his sleeves, face pale, throat dry, blinking too fast.

Semi turned to him, hands on his shoulders. "Hey. You okay?"

Nam-gyu didn't speak.

He just gave the tiniest nod. His mouth was open like he might say something—but nothing came.

Behind them, Thanos took one step back, eyes still locked on Nam-gyu.

Then another.

Then he turned and walked back toward the studio without a word.

The door slammed shut behind him.

And Nam-gyu... just stood there.

Hands shaking more then ever

Chapter Text

Thanos flinched like he'd been slapped, but didn't move right away.

"Move!" Semi yelled again, grabbing Nam-gyu's wrist and yanking him away from the wall. She spun to face Thanos,still helping Nam-gyu balance. She looked furious. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

Behind them, the door to the studio swung open.

Minsu stood there frozen, eyes wide. Gyeong-su stood just behind him, earbuds half-hanging from his ears, utterly stunned as he looked between the three of them.

"What... what the hell is going on?" Minsu asked, voice barely above a whisper.

No one answered.

Thanos was still frozen. His fists were clenched. His chest rose and fell in sharp, shallow breaths. For the first time, he looked like he didn't know what to do.

Nam-gyu stood behind Semi, hands curled tight into his sleeves, face pale, throat dry, blinking too fast.

Semi turned to him, hands on his shoulders. "Hey. You okay?"

Nam-gyu didn't speak.

He just gave the tiniest nod. His mouth was open like he might say something—but nothing came.

Behind them, Thanos took one step back, eyes still locked on Nam-gyu.

Then another.

Then he turned and walked back toward the studio without a word.

The door slammed shut behind him.

And Nam-gyu... just stood there.

His hands shaking more than before. Nam-gyu had nearly tripped backward when Thanos had shoved him, his back hitting the wall harder than it should've. It wasn't the physical impact that rattled him the most—it was the look on Thanos' face. For a second, just one second, Nam-gyu had seen something dark flicker behind those eyes. Not anger. Not frustration.

Something desperate. Dangerous.

But then it was gone. The second se-mi had screamed.

Nam-gyu's chest was heaving, not from the impact—but from the way his hands were trembling uncontrollably at his sides. He hadn't realized it until Semi grabbed his arms and tried to steady him. He flinched instinctively, like he was still preparing for another push, another blow, another second of that chaos.

"Hey, hey—" she said gently, but firm, her hands tightening around his shoulders. "You're okay. You're okay. You're here. What the hell just happened?!"

Nam-gyu opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His throat was dry, locked up. His eyes darted to the studio door where Thanos had disappeared back into like a storm retreating into its cloud.

Inside, the silence had cracked.

Gyeong-su, like always, took Thanos side without explanation and had followed after Thanos with tense shoulders and a look Nam-gyu couldn't quite read. Maybe it was worry. Maybe it was fury. Maybe both.

Min-su, on the other hand, was still standing a few feet away like someone who had just watched a building collapse and wasn't sure if it was safe to approach the rubble.

"Was he seriously—did he shove you?" Semi asked, her voice dropping lower, angrier. Her eyes didn't blink. "Nam-gyu, tell me the truth."

Nam-gyu finally swallowed hard, blinking fast like he was just waking up.

"He—he lost it," he muttered, voice thin. "He just snapped. Started yelling. I didn't even—" His breath hitched. "I didn't even do anything. I was just trying to back off. That's it."

Semi's hand tightened on his shoulder.

"That's not okay. You know that, right?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer. He looked over at the pavement like it could tell him what the hell he was supposed to do next. His fingers were still trembling. Everything about his posture screamed discomfort—like he wanted to run and disappear or melt into the sidewalk.

Inside the studio, muffled voices started to rise—Thanos and Gyeong-su.

Min-su took a hesitant step forward. "I... I didn't think he'd actually—" he cut himself off. "Should I go in there?"

"No," Semi snapped. "Let Gyeong-su talk to him. He's the only one who might actually knock some sense into that idiot."

Nam-gyu leaned back against the wall, trying to breathe. The world was spinning, not literally, but in that awful emotional way. He wasn't just shaken—he was humiliated. In front of everyone.

Of course this is happening. Of course he's like this. Of course he let himself get pulled in again like some idiot. Like if hes not disposable. Like hes not just a stand-in until Thanos feels better about Mi-na.

Semi turned her attention back to Nam-gyu and said quietly, "I should have made u go. Gosh I'm so guilty"

But Nam-gyu didn't answer. His jaw was clenched, eyes flicking to the door again. He could still hear their muffled arguing.

Thanos' voice, hoarse and erratic. Gyeong-su's low and steady, like he was trying to control a wildfire with a garden hose.

"I—I need a second," Nam-gyu said finally, voice shaking. "I need to think."

And for once, Semi didn't argue.

Semi helped Nam-gyu sit down on the curb outside the studio, brushing off his jacket like a protective older sister. She crouched beside him, one hand still gripping his shoulder like she was grounding him to the earth.

He sat hunched forward, elbows on his thighs, face buried in his hands.

"I think he's gonna kill me," he muttered through his fingers. "Or worse, like—make me finish that fucking beat."

Semi barked out a laugh but it was tight, unsure. "You're never going back in there. And I'll make sure of it.

Nam-gyu peeked up at her, eyes glassy, voice barely a whisper. "I think I should go in."

"You shouldn't?!" she snapped. "He slammed you against a wall, Nam-gyu."

"He didn't—" He paused. "...Okay. Maybe. But it wasn't—like that."

Semi stared at him, unimpressed. "Oh, sorry, was it a friendly assault?"

"No, it was—" He hesitated. "It wasn't what it looked like."

She sat back on her heels, arms crossing. "Girl. He literally dragged you outside and basically tried to kill you. I don't care what that looked like to you, it looked insane to everyone else."

Nam-gyu winced. "He was mad..."

"And you were terrified."

Silence.

She looked at him for a long moment, the wind brushing through both of their hair. Her voice softened again.

"Why are you defending him?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer. Because he didn't know. Maybe because of how Thanos had looked when he grabbed him—like he was holding onto something he was scared of losing. Maybe because no one had ever looked at Nam-gyu like that before, not even the girls he'd ever dated.

But none of that made it okay.

"...I'm not defending him," he finally whispered. "I just... I don't think he meant to hurt me."

Semi stared at him, completely quiet, her eyes narrowing.

"Okay," she said, carefully. "But what if next time, he does?" She signed. "You're not thinking straight."

Just then, the door behind them creaked open. Both of them whipped around like they'd been caught gossiping.

Min-su stepped out slowly, still wide-eyed, holding the studio door open behind him. "Uh... Semi?"

She stood up instantly. "What?"

"...Gyeong-su wants you inside. I think Thanos just... I dunno. He said something about not feeling good and went into the back. Gyeong-su's kind of pacing."

"Omg." Semi muttered, her body torn halfway between the door and Nam-gyu on the curb. "Are you okay out here alone?"

Nam-gyu waved her off. "Yeah. I need a minute alone anyways.

She gave him one last look. "Okay. Don't go back inside unless your sure you're fine. And call me if that asshole even breathes too hard in your direction again."

Nam-gyu managed a small, crooked smile. "Got it."

Semi disappeared back into the studio, her boots echoing against the floor. Min-su trailed behind her, still whispering, "I thought they were gonna kiss or kill each other. Whatever it was, it was terrifying."

And then Nam-gyu was alone.

Alone with his heartbeat still racing.

Alone with the sound of Thanos' voice still echoing in his head.

Alone with the ache in his chest that had nothing to do with being shoved and everything to do with how badly he wanted to forget the way Thanos had looked at him—angry, desperate, and almost... afraid.

Semi shut the door behind her and immediately locked eyes with Gyeong-su—who looked like he had just seen a crime scene and was now left cleaning up the bloodstains. He stood by the mic stand with his arms folded tight and jaw clenched, pacing slow back-and-forth like he was trying to come up on what to say.

Min-su stood nearby too, watching everything unfold with the expression of someone who had definitely not signed up for this much drama when he left the house in his oversized hoodie.

"What happened?" Semi asked, voice sharp and quick.

Gyeong-su exhaled hard, barely glancing up at her. "He stormed in after dragging Nam-gyu outside. Slammed the door. Said something like, 'I knew it. I knew he'd act like that. And some other stuff. Then he walked straight to the back room."

"'Act like that'?" she repeated, crossing her arms. "Like what?"

Gyeong-su shook his head. "I don't know, Semi. He looked pissed. Like—really pissed. But not... not just at Nam-gyu. It was like he was mad at himself, too."

Min-su nodded. "Yeah. It was really weird.

Semi gave him a long look

She turned back to Gyeong-su. "Did he say anything else?"

He stopped pacing. "Kinda? He just... he said Nam-gyu always pushes people away and how Nam-gyu always 'looks at him like a monster.' Then he grabbed some water and went to the back."

"Oh my god," Semi muttered, dragging her hands down her face. "Okay. So, what—he blows up, throws Nam-gyu around, gets upset he's not forgiven immediately, and now he's having a sad meltdown in the corner?"

Min-su bit his lip. "I mean... sounds like Thanos." He then let out a slight giggle on accident.

Gyeong-su frowned. "Yeah, but I've never seen him that worked up before. I've known the guy forever. He gets dramatic, but not like that."

Semi stepped back, glancing toward the door that led to the back. "I think something's going on with him."

"Obviously," Min-su whispered. "It's so obvious Whats going on between him and Nam-gyu. Or just me..."

"Do you think he'd actually hurt Nam-gyu?" Gyeong-su asked quietly.

The question hung heavy in the air. Semi looked toward the door again.

"No," she said finally, voice soft but certain. "I don't think he'd hurt him. Not on purpose. I think Thanos is too messed up over Mi-na and scared of being alone, and now he's clinging to Nam-gyu like he's a safety net, and Nam-gyu's not... ready for that. At all."

Min-su nodded slowly. "Finally someone said it! it's two emotionally repressed idiots playing tag with their feelings."

"...Exactly," Semi said.

Min-su then whispered "I knew it all along.."

A moment of silence passed. Then Gyeong-su sighed, brushing his hair back.

"What do we do?"

Semi gave him a look. "We let them chill out.Then I talk to Nam-gyu and you—or maybe Min-su, if he doesn't say something dumb—talk to Thanos. Because if they try to be in the same room again right now, it'll so.. weird."

Min- su threw a hand up. "How rude.."

 

The air outside was cooler now, a soft breeze brushing across Nam-gyu's face as he sat on the edge of the curb, hunched over his phone with one knee bouncing like it was trying to play the beat he never got to finish"

"...Yeah. Tomorrow. I'll text you when I'm on the way," he mumbled into the phone, voice low, like he didn't want anyone to hear. "No, I'm... I'm fine. Just a weird day."

The door behind him creaked open and Semi stepped out, slow and quiet. The second she saw him crouched there like some sad little abandoned dog on a leash, her expression softened—but then her eyebrows lifted the moment she caught the tone of his voice.

The soft giggle he let out?

The slight upward curl of his lip?

Oh yeah. Something was up.

She walked closer, arms crossed, and sat down next to him ready to be be nosey.

"...Who's that?" she asked, casually.

Nam-gyu flinched, glancing sideways at her like a kid caught doing something shady. "No one."

Semi gave him a look.

He sighed. "Yu-ri."

"Yu-ri?" she repeated, voice already loading up with spicy commentary. "As in, haven't-seen-her-in-weeks-and-still-never-formally-quit-the-job Yu-ri?"

"She texted me and asked to call," Nam-gyu mumbled, locking his phone. "Nothing weird quit!"

Semi blinked at him. "Wait so are you two officially going to meet up tomorrow?

Yeah."he muttered, fiddling with the sleeve of his hoodie. "Just to talk."

A long silence fell between them, only interrupted by the distant sound of traffic and the buzz of neon lights from the sign above the studio door.

Then—

"Kinda weird, I thought you would have canceled ," Semi fiddling with her fingers"Just... you sure that's a good idea? With everything going on?"

Nam-gyu shrugged, pretending to be way more chill than he was. "It's not like that. She just wants to catch up."

Semi tilted her head, studying him. "Uh-huh. So why'd you smile like that during the call?"

"I didn't smile?!"

"You did."

"I didn't."

"You looked like someone told you good news or something."

Nam-gyu let out a huff of a laugh and dropped his head into his hands. "God. I don't even know why I said yes. She's terrifying!"

Semi leaned back on her hands, staring up at the darkening sky.

"Maybe because it's easier to revisit people you already disappointed than let someone new in."

He turned his head, slow, staring at her like she had just read his soul out loud and charged a consultation fee.

"...how poetic"

"Love you too," she said with a smirk.

Out back behind the studio, the night was darker—like even the moon didn't wanna be involved in whatever the heck just happened.

Thanos was pacing. Hands in his hair. Jaw locked. His chain glinting in the sliver of light spilling from the studio door.

"Okay," Min-su said, arms crossed, eyes bouncing between Thanos and Gyeong-su like he was watching two ticking bombs. "So what happened?.." his tone was mixed with nervousness and frustration.

Thanos didn't answer.

Gyeong-su, looking visibly drained and absolutely done with being dragged into everyone's emotional side quests, ran a hand down his face and exhaled.

"You slammed Nam-gyu into a wall, stormed out, and now you're out here, probably planing a diss track.."

Thanos stopped pacing but didn't look at either of them.

"I wasn't gonna hurt him," he muttered finally. "I just... I lost it."

"You think?" Min-su said, voice slightly sharp. As if he was trying to be loud but was held back"You looked panicked and Nam-gyu was shaking. Like, shaking. What did he say to-"

"I don't know!" Thanos snapped, finally turning to face them, voice too loud for comfort. Minsu flinching and giving up on being tough. "He just kept talking like I was stupid .Like he thinks I'm nothing but a dumb rapper!"

"You literally pinned him to a wall," Gyeong-su deadpanned, arms crossed now too, watching Thanos like he was observing a wild animal that might suddenly charge. "That's not something you do to someone who barely knows you . That's something you do to someone who's got too close."

Thanos's jaw clenched again, tighter this time. He didn't deny it.

Min-su stepped forward, voice gentler. "Is this about Mi-na?"

That made Thanos flinch. Just a little.

He looked away. "It's not about her."

"Then what is it?" Gyeong-su pushed, his patience thinning by the second. "You're off your shit. You've been touchy with Nam-gyu for weeks, literally clinging to him like he's a damn emotional support hoodie, and now you're dragging him outside and snapping? You're not even trying to hide it anymore."

"I don't know what it is!" Thanos finally yelled, throwing his arms out. "He makes me feel like—like I'm still alive. Like I'm not just walking around pretending to be fine."

They both went quiet.

Only the buzz of a flickering light above them filled the space.

"Then why'd you push him away like that?" Min-su asked, almost softly now. "If you think of him like that?"

Thanos scoffed, laughed, bitter and dry. "Because he hates me. Because he's scared of me. Because he saw the worst of me tonight and I don't blame him if he never comes back."

Gyeong-su exchanged a glance with Min-su, then sighed. "Well. You better figure your shit out before he does come back. Because if he walks through that door and you're still acting like this, I swear im quitting."

Thanos didn't say anything.

Didn't move.

Just stood there.

Wondering if he should go back inside.

The air inside the studio felt lighter now—or maybe everyone was just pretending it was. Gyeong-su had already collapsed onto the beanbag in the corner, laughing at something dumb Min-su was saying about the album cover looking like a shampoo ad. They were both giggling too hard for how serious things had just gotten, but no one dared to say anything.

Semi stood near the couch, stuffing her charger and lip gloss into her giant purse, her brows still slightly furrowed as she glanced over at Nam-gyu. He was moving slower than usual, distracted—gathering his things up.

He zipped up his hoodie halfway and looked up .Thanos had left to threw trash out and re-entered the room from the front. His steps were slower, more careful. His eyes swept over the room.But when they landed on Nam-gyu, they paused.

Nam-gyu felt it instantly. That magnetic heat again, low in his spine.

Their eyes locked.

It wasn't intense. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't anything specific—just... loaded. A glance that held more than either of them could say right now. Like they were both waiting for the other to do something but neither had the guts.

Semi nudged him with her elbow. "You gonna keep staring or are we leaving?"

Nam-gyu blinked hard. "I wasn't staring."

"Sure." She threw her purse over her shoulder with a smirk. "You were just admiring the air in front of his face."

He rolled his eyes and pulled his hoodie up over his head to hide the warm flush spreading across his cheeks. "Let's go."

They moved toward the door. Thanos shifted slightly to the side to let them pass. Semi brushed by him like nothing happened. But Nam-gyu—he slowed. Just a little.

Just enough for their arms to graze. Just enough for their glances to meet again.

Thanos didn't say anything. Just gave a tiny, tired smile.

Nam-gyu's throat tightened. He wanted to say something. Anything.

But instead, he nodded—barely.

And then walked out.

Behind them, Gyeong-su groaned from the beanbag. "Okay, but like weren't they just at each others throats? They need to either kiss or kill eachother I can't take this anymore."

Min-su cackled. "Put your money on both."

Se-mi and Nam-gyu walk towards their beat up car.

The inside of the car was dim, lit only by the occasional streetlight slicing through the windshield as Semi drove.

Music played quietly random songs she had liked but Nam-gyu wasn't listening to the lyrics. He was curled against the window, arms crossed, staring out into nothing with a look on his face like the day had punched him in the ribs.

"You okay?" Semi finally asked, voice gentle.

He didn't answer right away. Just blinked slowly. "No."

She hummed like she already knew that. "That was... a lot."

"No shit."

Semi glanced at him. "Are you mad at me or just the world?"

Nam-gyu sighed. "Just the world."

He slumped deeper into the seat. His hoodie was bunched around his neck and he didn't fix it. "I don't get what his problem is. He gets mad, yells, then acts like I'm the one who made him panic."

"Thanos doesn't know how to deal with stuff without blowing it up," Semi said. "He's like... a grenade."

"I didn't do anything," Nam-gyu muttered. "He literally leaned on me, again, and I'm the one getting slammed into brick walls."

Semi reached over, one hand still on the wheel, and flicked him gently in the side of the head. "You did a little leaning back, though."

"That was an accident," Nam-gyu snapped. "My body gave up. That's not the same."

"Sure, sure." She bit back a smile. "Body gave up. Totally unrelated to how he makes you blush like a little Victorian wife."

"Shut up," he groaned, curling up tighter in the passenger seat like a cat being bullied.

Semi didn't push more. She let the silence stretch for a while, only the hum of the car filling the space.

Then—casually—she asked, "So... you and Yu-ri?"

Nam-gyu groaned again, deeper this time. "Oh my gosh."

"What?" she teased. "You were smiling like a little schoolgirl when you were talking to her earlier."

"I was not smiling?"

"You so were. I don't get which one you like sometimes. Yu-ri or Thanos?.."

Nam-gyu leaned his head against the window. "She just texted me what I was doing. Then she called me, nothing weird."

Semi raised her eyebrows. "Are you still gonna?"

He didn't answer right away. "I told her I would."

"...huh."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing," she said, smiling. "I'm just glad you're talking to someone normal."

"Shut. Up."

They pulled into the lot of their apartment complex and parked. Nam-gyu got out slower than usual, dragging his limbs like they were full of concrete. When they got to the door, he didn't say anything—just walked into his room, let his bag fall off his shoulder, and collapsed face-first into his bed.

Shoes still on. Hoodie still zipped. Hair a mess.

He didn't move.

Semi peeked her head into the room. "You want water?"

"Mmph."

"That's not an answer."

He flopped a hand in the air dramatically, face still buried in the sheets. "I want death."

She snorted and backed out. "I'll get the water."

And with that, Nam-gyu let his whole body go limp, the weight of the day finally winning. His head was spinning with too much—Thanos, yelling, guilt, Yu-ri—but for now, he buried himself under it all and let the bed swallow him.

 

The apartment was quiet. The kind of stillness that settles deep into the walls, where not even the fridge dares to hum too loud.

Nam-gyu was passed out cold, face smushed into his pillow, one arm dangling off the bed and hoodie half-riding up his back. His phone was buried somewhere in the mess of sheets beside him—forgotten after a day that felt like a full-on war.

And then it buzzed.

A tiny sound, almost nothing... but enough to jolt his exhausted brain back to life.

Buzz-buzz.

He groaned, blindly fumbling in the dark until his hand closed around it. The screen lit up, burning his tired eyes. 1:47 AM.

1 new message.
Thanos

Nam-gyu blinked. Rubbed his eyes. Stared.

"U asleep?"

He sat up too fast. Blanket falling off his lap. He squinted at the text like it had just insulted his whole bloodline.

"What do u want??"

He didn't mean to respond. His thumb just moved, like his body didn't consult him.

Three dots appeared.

"Couldn't sleep, then u came up to mind"

Nam-gyu's mouth opened in shock.
"What the—"

Another text. No time to process.

T- ahh jokes
T- just wanted to say sorry
T- I felt kinda bad

N-cry about it

T-I did😢🥺

N-stop texting me.
N- aren't you tired of being annoying?
N- go write a sad song and cry about it in the booth.

T- why are u so mean to the guy YOU cuddled

He sent a picture gyeong-su and min-su took that day.

Nam-gyu's hands were all over Thanos side. Sleeping peacefully.

His stomach flipped.

"that was NOT—" he started to type.

He stopped. Paused.

"I was cold. U were a heater. Don't get attached."

Thanos replied almost instantly

"It's kinda too late but Alr"

Nam-gyu threw his phone across the bed and flopped onto his pillow, covering his face with both hands.

Why was it always him?

Why did Thanos of all people have this ability to crawl into his skin and live there rent free??

The worst part? His chest didn't feel tight anymore. It felt... lighter.

Stupid. So stupid.

From the other room, Semi's voice floated sleepily:

"Nam-gyu... who's texting you? I can hear the notifications!"

"Nobody!" he called back, voice cracking.

He face-planted back into the mattress and groaned.

 

Morning came slow, golden light sliding through the blinds like it had all the time in the world. Birds were chirping. The city was already alive.

Nam-gyu? Dead to the world.

That was until—

"...Who's 'u asleep?'" Semi's voice rang out, slicing through his sleep like a blade.

Nam-gyu shot up, hair sticking up in every direction, hoodie collar twisted like he fought a demon in his dreams.

"GIVE ME THAT!" he yelped, scrambling toward her.

But Semi was already halfway across the room, clutching his phone like it was an old artifact, her eyes lit up and full of expression.

"Why are theses entire messages just you pretending to hate him while secretly enjoying it ?" she teased, dramatically scrolling.

Nam-gyu tackled her—well, more like flopped on top of her arm and snatched the phone with a thug. "You're violating my privacy!"

"Oh please. You violated my peace by making me watch you flirt with passive-aggressive insults."

"I wasn't flirting," he grumbled, already checking to make sure she didn't screenshot anything. "I was—being bullied, or is it cyber bullying."

Semi raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, well, for someone being bullied you sure kept texting back."

He stood, wiping sleep from his eyes. "I need a coffee, actually scratch that a lobotomy."

"Oh! And a little good morning kiss from Thanos?" she called after him, snickering like a kid.

Nam-gyu flipped her off behind her back and stomped toward the bathroom.

Buzz-buzz.

He paused mid-step.

Incoming call: Yu-ri

His chest dropped a little. Not in a bad way—just... sharply aware.

He answered it fast, voice still a little rough from sleep. "Hey."

Yu-ri's voice was soft, sweet. "Morning, sleepyhead!" She giggled softly behind the screen. "You still down to meet up today?"

Nam-gyu nodded, then realized she couldn't see him. "Yeah. Yeah, for sure."

Semi poked her head around the corner like a demon. "Is that Yu-ri?"

He shooed her off like she was a fly. "Stop listening!"

"I'm not listening!" she called out. "Just casually eavesdropping."

He sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.

Yu-ri chuckled quietly on the other end. "Still living with Semi?"

"Unfortunately," he said with a weak grin. "But yeah. I'll come by around noon?"

"Perfect. I'll text you the cafes location!"

They hung up and Nam-gyu just stood there for a second. Phone pressed to his chest.

Disappointed in himself.

Semi walked past him with a smirk. "Yu-ri, huh?"

He stared at her. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything!" she sang. "Just watching my bestie fall inloveee."

Nam-gyu sighed again, dramatically. "U need therapy."

"You need a camera crew," Semi replied.

Nam-gyu stared at himself in the mirror like he owed himself an apology. His hoodie was clean for once, hair messy in a casual way (not the "just cried in a parking lot" way), and under his breath he whispered, "I already know this is going to suck."

Semi, behind the door, shouted, "You look cute! For once!"

"Shut up," he muttered, grabbing his keys and his pride.

He headed toward the door, only for Semi to suddenly sprint up behind him with her socks half-on. "WAIT I'm coming too!"

Nam-gyu turned slowly, in shock. "You're not invited!"

"I don't care," she grinned. "I ship you two and I wanna stalk you in the wild."

Without missing a beat, Nam-gyu slammed the door in her face.

Clack.

He didn't even feel guilty.

Semi screamed behind the door like a wounded dog, then immediately texted

1 new message : Semi
ur so lucky that I'm not pressing charges

He ignored it. He was halfway across the parking lot to his car when his phone buzzed again.

Incoming call: Thanos

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes. "What."

Thanos's voice was low and annoyingly smug. "Where are you?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

"Out meaning not at the studio," Nam-gyu snapped, unlocking his car. "I've got plans."

There was a pause. "Plans."

"Yeah."

Another pause. Longer this time.

"You're ditching the beat for 'plans.' You never have plans, your too lonely"

Nam-gyu's tone sharpened. "Maybe I do now."

"Who is it?"

Nam-gyu stopped, hand on the car door, heart doing something stupid. "None of your business."

"Oh. So it's like that," Thanos said—voice still lazy but with an edge now. "Must be special if you're skipping out mid-project for it."

"Don't act like you care," Nam-gyu bit back, getting into the car.

"I don't," Thanos replied, way too fast.

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes, starting the engine. "Then why'd you call?"

Another pause.

Then: "Because I do care about the music. You were this close to finishing. Now you're running off to—what? A date?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

Thanos's voice dropped an octave, laced with something sharp. "I bet you barely even know her."

"And you barely know me," Nam-gyu said. "So stop acting like you get to say anything."

That one landed.

There was silence on the line. Just static and tension and a thousand things unsaid.

Then Thanos exhaled, low and bitter. "Whatever. Go. Hope she's worth ruining a song over."

Click.

The line went dead.

Nam-gyu stared at his phone for a second. The air in the car suddenly felt heavier. It wasn't even a date, he'd never seen her like that.He set the phone down and leaned his head back against the seat with a groan.

Then the passenger door opened.

Semi plopped into the seat with a smug grin. "Surprise, loser."

Nam-gyu glared at her. "I hate you."

"I know," she sipped. "Now spill the tea. Who was that?"

Thanos leaned back in the chair, arms crossed, one leg bouncing too fast for someone claiming to be "totally fine." The studio light buzzed softly, and the faint instrumental of the half-finished beat looped endlessly from the monitors—taunting him.

He didn't say anything at first.

Didn't need to. His glare at the screen, his silence, the way he kept unlocking and locking his phone every thirty seconds like it owed him a reply—spoke volumes.

Minsu sat on the edge of the couch behind him, spinning a pencil in his fingers, while Gyeong-su drank a Red Bull like it was water.

Finally, Thanos exhaled sharply and said, "He couldn't even give me an early notice or something?"

Minsu didn't look up. "Uh-huh."

"He could've just said it. 'Hey, I'm going out with a girl.' Like, cool. Fine."

Gyeong-su popped the tab on his second can. "Totally. Super fine. That's why you've been pacing since he hung up."

"I'm not pacing."

"You were," Minsu said, grinning. "You looked like ur waiting on a college acceptance letter.."

Thanos whipped around, eyes sharp. "Okay, first of all—"

"—Relax," Gyeong-su said, throwing a pen at him. "We know you're spiraling. Just do it out loud."

Thanos turned back to the screen, jaw tight. "I'm not spiraling."

"Sure, sure," Minsu said. "That's why you opened the same text twenty-two times. I counted."

"Twenty-five," Gyeong-su corrected. "Don't rob him."

Thanos didn't answer. He just opened his phone again and stared at Nam-gyu's name at the top of their chat. No new messages.

"Like—" he snapped suddenly, "—it's not even about her. I don't care. I don't. But he was literally about to finish the beat. And now he's off to go flirt and act like we didn't just—"

He stopped.

Dead silence.

Minsu raised an eyebrow. "Didn't just what?"

Thanos blinked. "Forget it."

Gyeong-su leaned forward. "Thanos. Ur inlove aren't you?.."

"I was on meds."

"You were basically purring."

Minsu cracked up. "Bro literally burrowed into his hoodie like a little cat."

Thanos flushed. "Okay. Shut up. I was high."

"You were high and happy," Gyeong-su said, serious now. "And maybe that's what's bothering you."

"I'm not—bothered."

"No, you're right," Minsu said. "You're just casually checking ur phone for a new message every 5 seconds."

Thanos groaned and tossed a pillow at him.

The room settled for a moment. Thanos looked down at his phone again. The screen still dark. No message. No anything.

"I just..." he muttered, barely audible. "I don't get why he didn't say anything."

Neither of the other two said anything for a second.

Then Minsu leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Maybe he thought it'd be easier if you didn't know."

Thanos frowned.

"Or maybe he didn't wanna think about you while he was with her," Gyeong-su added bluntly. "Which says a lot."

Thanos didn't respond. Just stared at the screen. The silence this time was heavier.

Then he stood up so suddenly the chair rolled back.

"Where are you going?" Minsu asked.

"Nowhere," Thanos muttered. "Just gonna be in my car.."

And with that, he grabbed his hoodie and walked out of the studio.

Minsu looked at Gyeong-su.

Gyeong-su shrugged. "He's in love."

"Yup."

Nam-gyu sat near the window, fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie, even though the café was barely half full. His leg wouldn't stop bouncing, and every time someone walked past the glass, he half-jumped like it might be Thanos barging in to drag him back to the studio.

He checked his phone again.

Nothing.

Then—

"Nam-gyu!" A cheerful voice sang out.

Yu-ri walked in, glossy lips, and a soft smile that didn't quite hide the fact she was definitely checking him out. Her shoes clicked across the floor as she made her way to his table like she was on a runway.

Nam-gyu stood up halfway, awkwardly pulling his hood down. "Hey. Uh. You—look the same."

Yu-ri laughed. "What a compliment." She sat across from him, brushing her hair back over one shoulder. "You look different. Like... grown. Moody. Maybe even tortured."

He gave her a blank look.

"See? Tortured," she said, grinning as she flagged down a waiter.

one table over, behind a comically large fake plant—Semi had already been seated for ten minutes, sipping on an iced matcha and pretending to scroll through her phone while watching like a hawk. Her sunglasses were on. Her AirPods were out. She was watching everything.

Back at the table, Yu-ri leaned forward slightly. "So. You've been ghosting the place, huh?"

Nam-gyu groaned. "Please don't start."

"Hey, I'm not judging." Her tone dipped just enough to sound flirtatious. "I've missed you around, is all. The studio's boring without someone fighting for their life every time a new customer comes in!"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes but couldn't help a slight smile. "You're annoying."

"You love it."

From behind the plant, Semi snorted. "Girl, you WISH."

Yu-ri tilted her head. "So... wanna catch me up? What's been going on in Nam-gyu world?"

He scratched his neck. "Nothing, really. Just... stuff."

"Stuff?"

"Complicated stuff."

She leaned her chin into her hand, batting her lashes. "Want me to uncomplicate it?"

His mouth opened, then closed. He reached for his iced coffee he ordered not too long ago like it might save him.

"Okay, slow down omg?"Semi whispered from her corner, taking off her sunglasses like she was watching a movie.

Yu-ri smiled sweetly. "You still look cute when you're nervous!"

"I'm not—" he blinked, lowering his drink. "I'm not nervous."

"You're stuttering."

"I always stutter," he mumbled.

Yu-ri reached over, flicking the edge of his sleeve. "Well, I'm glad you texted me back. I missed talking to you."

From the other table, Semi nearly dropped her straw. "Missed talking—girl it's been a WEEK."

Nam-gyu looked up, cheeks faintly red. "Yeah. I guess I missed you too."

Yu-ri's grin softened. "So... after this would u wanna hang out again soon? Like, just us?"

Nam-gyu hesitated. For a split second, his brain conjured Thanos' face for no reason at all—smug, sarcastic, close. Too close.

He shoved the thought away.

"Yeah," he said finally. "That'd be... cool."

Yu-ri beamed.

"AMAZING!"

And Semi, watching all of this unfold, leaned back in her chair and muttered, "so loud and annoying.."

"So..." Yu-ri said as she stirred her iced vanilla latte with a straw, eyes twinkling. "Tell me everything. I feel like I missed five seasons of your life.."

Nam-gyu shrugged, drumming his fingers on the edge of the table. "It's... been weird. I've mostly just been doing projects and albums."

Yu-ri leaned in, like he was telling her a secret. "Ooooh, fancy. So you're, like, a full-time tortured producer now?"

He gave her a flat look. "don't say it like that." Letting out a giggle.

"What?" She giggled. "It's sexy. You're mysterious now-"

"Gosh". He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. Barely. "You've gotten worse."

She gasped, putting a hand to her chest. "I've gotten better, excuse you! I'm hilarious now. I went on a few dates with this comedian, and I think it rubbed off."

"Oh my god."

"Anyway," she continued, sipping dramatically through her straw, "you're not the only one with career glow-up energy. I got promoted."

"Wait, actually?"

"Yup," she said with a proud little smirk. "Manager!I run the floor now!"

Nam-gyu blinked. "You? Organizing people?"

"Rude!" she laughed. "I'm good at it!"

He tilted his head skeptically. "You once thought the tattoo was a real gun."

"That was ONE time," she said, wagging her straw at him. "And I wasn't sober. But now I've got, like, a whole clipboard. I use highlighters and everything."

He snorted. "That's horrifying."

"It's called personal growth." She grinned. "You should try it sometime."

Nam-gyu snickered under his breath and leaned back in his seat. "Right. So you're a boss now. Guess I should start calling you ma'am."

"Oh my god," she said, laughing. "Do that again but with eye contact."

"Yu-ri—"

"I'm serious! You'd be scary hot if you used your 'serious voice' more often."

He gave her a wide-eyed glare. "I don't have a serious voice."

"Yes, you do," she said, voice going mock low. "The one you use when you're annoyed and doing ten things at once and say stuff like, 'No, don't touch that,' or 'I have the gun watch it! It's so scary!"

Nam-gyu looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. "I literally sound like I'm dying 90% of the time."

"Hot," she whispered.

He choked on his drink.

From behind the plant, Semi had both hands over her mouth and was silently SCREAMING. "Oh my GOD—SHE'S GAGGING FOR HIM! I wish minsu was here with meee!"

Yu-ri leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand. "So what's your next move? Are you staying at the same place? Or new job?"

Nam-gyu hesitated. His thumb brushed the edge of his phone. "I... started working with someone new. Kinda by accident."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, um." He scratched his jaw. "He's... a rapper I guess. Kind of a big deal, but super annoying."

Yu-ri raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious rapper!Got it. Is he hot?"

Nam-gyu choked again. "What?!"

"I mean, you called him annoying, so I assume he's hot."

"That's not how that works."

"Oh, babe, yes it is," she laughed. "The hotter they are, the more annoying they act. I should know—I dated a model for a few months who couldn't boil an egg."

Nam-gyu snorted. "Well... this guy definitely knows how to boil an egg. He just chooses violence instead."

"I need to meet him," Yu-ri said dramatically. "Immediately."

"You really don't."

Yu-ri leaned back, her grin still wide. "Fine. I'll let you keep your mysterious angsty rapper guy. But only if you agree to see me again sometime soon."

Nam-gyu blinked at her, cheeks going a little pink.

"...Yeah," he said. "I'd like that."

From the other table, Semi whispered to herself, "oh?"

She pulled out her phone obviously texting Mi-su everything.

MEANWHILE!! Thanos sat hunched at the desk, staring at the project file on screen like it personally insulted his family. Gyeong-su was perched on the edge of a swivel chair beside him, sipping an energy drink and waiting for Thanos to say something, anything, it was pretty much silent.

But instead of venting or complaining like a normal person, Thanos was in full silent. Clicking. Clicking again. Muting a track. Unmuting it. Clicking again.

"...You good?" Gyeong-su finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Hm?" Thanos didn't look up.

"You've adjusted the same setting like... six times."

"I'm checking something."

"You're still thinking about it??"

"I'm working."

Gyeong-su raised an eyebrow. "Right."

Meanwhile, on the big corduroy couch in the back of the studio, Min-su lay dramatically on his back, feet dangling off the armrest, phone held high above his face. He giggled loudly.

Thanos glanced over, annoyed. "What is that sound."

"Me being in love." Min-su replied sweetly. "Semi's texting me again!"

"Block her," Thanos muttered.

"I'd rather block you," Min-su chirped, then gasped and sat upright. "WAIT."

"What."

"You wanna see what she just sent me?! Look at this dumb—wait, wait, hold on, she just reposted a story from—OH MY GOD."

"What?" Thanos snapped, annoyed but clearly intrigued.

Min-su spun the phone around like it was the Holy Grail. "Check this."

It was a quick Boomerang posted by Semi—a short clip of Nam-gyu and Yu-ri sitting at a cafe far from her, laughing together. She'd added the caption "why am I giving stalker omg.."

Nam-gyu's face was caught mid-laugh. Yu-ri's hand was on his arm.

Thanos stared for 0.3 seconds too long.

"Don't do whatever your about to do dude.."Gyeong-su warned.

"I'm not doing anything."

"You're doing that thing where your jaw is all tight and you pretend not to care but your face gives it all away."

"I don't care."

"He so cares," Min-su added from the couch, now lying upside down. "His jaw's clenching."

"I always clench my jaw," Thanos said sharply.

Gyeong-su sipped his drink calmly. "You only do that when you're mad or depressed. Which is it?"

Thanos whipped around. "EXCUSE ME—"

"Not judging. Just curious."

Min-su push's his phone out his way. "I'm just saying, it's always the quiet messy ones who get picked up first. You can't be mad. He's definitely a lot of girls types."

Thanos blinked like he was buffering. "...What?!"

"You know," Min-su said, shrugging. "Messy hair, dark circles, emotionally unavailable. Some girls rlly dig that."

"I'm not mad," Thanos gritted.

Gyeong-su tilted his head. "Then why are you looking at the story like it owes you money?"

Thanos turned back to the computer and clicked something aggressively. "Because I'm wondering how he has time to go on dates when he still hasn't sent me the final beat."

Min-su and Gyeong-su exchanged looks.

"Totally," Gyeong-su said dryly. "Definitely about the beat."

Thanos scowled. "He was supposed to finish that today."

"He probably needed a break," Gyeong-su offered. "You did kinda pin him to a wall yesterday. I would be terrified to come back"

Thanos groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Don't say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm a... a lunatic."

"You are a lunatic," Min-su said from the couch, still upside down.

Gyeong-su stood up and placed a hand on Thanos' shoulder. "It's okay, man. Just admit it—you're mad."

"I am NOT—"

Before he could finish, his phone lit up with a new notification. Another story.

This time, Yu-ri had posted a cute selfie of her and Nam-gyu—she had a hand over her mouth like she was laughing too hard, and he was looking off to the side, pretending not to smile. Caption: "he hasn't changed at ALL O M G!!" The worst part is was that they looked like a couple.

Thanos stared. Just stared.

Gyeong-su leaned over to look at the phone.

"...wait are they dating?.."

 

Nam-gyu sat slouched in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, fingers nervously flicking at the straw in his drink as Yu-ri talked.

She was radiant, in her usual bubbly way—cheeks a little pink from laughing, hair falling in soft curls around her face, and eyes locked on Nam-gyu like he was the most interesting thing she'd seen all week.

"And then she slapped him with the churro!" Yu-ri cackled. "Like full-swing! I swear, the girl nearly passed out."

Nam-gyu cracked a tired smile. "Why is that exactly the kind of story you'd tell me after not seeing me for months."

"Because you love my drama," she teased, nudging his arm. "Anyway..."

Suddenly, she perked up, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Wanna go live?"

Nam-gyu blinked. "What?"

"Live. Instagram. You, me, chaos. Come on—it'll be fun."

"Yu-ri, no."

"Yu-ri, yes."

Before he could protest again, she was already leaning in, sliding over to sit beside him on the chair like they were hosts of a talk show. She whipped her phone out, adjusted her hair with no hesitations said, "Smile, loser," and hit the button.

ON IG LIVE:

The screen flickered to life with Yu-ri's cheerful voice: "Heyyyy, guys!! Guess who I found living under a rock?"

She turned the camera to Nam-gyu, who stared at it like it was a death laser.

"Say hi, Nam-gyu," she chirped.

"...No," he muttered, eyes darting away.

"HE MISSED YOU GUYS!!" she yelled over him, beaming.

(They would go live during work at times so her friends and some followers know him)

The chat exploded almost immediately:
_____________
HI YURI I MISSED YOUUU
HEYYYY🙈
LOL NAMGYU??
IS THAT UR BF?
HI NAMGYUUU
____________
Nam-gyu groaned. "This is a hate crime."

Yu-ri just laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "He's shy. Anyway—ask us anything! We're bored!"

Thanos was sitting at the computer, pretending to work but mostly glaring at the same track over and over. Gyeong-su was perched on the couch, scrolling, while Min-su lay upside down over a beanbag, hair flopped back like a cartoon character.

Min-su suddenly gasped. "Oh. Ohhh my gosh."

"What?" Thanos snapped.

"They went live."

Thanos turned. "Who?"

"Your boyfriend and his maybe girlfriend"Min-su said sweetly, showing his screen.

Min-su turned the volume up, and the sound of Yu-ri's voice rang through the studio: "Guys look at him and tell me hes not the funkiest thing u have ever seen!"

"Kill me," Nam-gyu's voice replied.

Thanos stared at the screen. Slowly. Silently.

Then, without saying a word, he reached into his pocket, unlocked his phone, and opened a secret alt account: @ghost_browsr88.

Gyeong-su saw it immediately. "You're using your burner?"

"It's for research," Thanos mumbled.

"Research into what, exactly?"

"Whether or not they're dating."

Min-su snorted. "she's giggling and touching him. They're dating for sure.."

Thanos ignored them and tapped into the live.

On-screen, Yu-ri squealed with laughter. "No, tell them about the time you fell asleep during your own tattoo appointment—"

"Yu-ri, stop," Nam-gyu groaned.

The comments were flying in:

WAIT ARE YOU DATINGG??
Fav singers???
Whos creeping on y'all in the back?..
WHERES UR LIP COMBO FROM!!
NAMGYU LOOKS SO DEPRESSED 🙈🙈🙈

Thanos sat very still. His jaw clenched.

"You're gripping the phone like it insulted your mother," Gyeong-su said gently.

Min-su giggled. "Can I comment from my real account and say 'he's taken 😤'?"

Thanos stood up.

"Oh god," Gyeong-su muttered. "He's gonna do something stupid watch."

"I'm not."Thanos said flatly.

"You're spiraling so hard I'm getting dizzy watching you."

Thanos marched off into the hallway, muttering, "I'm gonna call him."

"Bad idea!" Min-su yelled after him.

Thanos ignored it. He was already dialing.

Thanos storms toward the hallway like a man on a mission, fists clenched, jaw tight, heart thundering somewhere between rage and something that dangerously resembled jealousy.

But just as he's about to press "Call,"—

BAM.

Two bodies crash into him like a pair of messy toddlers at recess.

"GET HIM!!"

"NOW!!"

Gyeong-su lunges from behind, wrapping his arms around Thanos' torso in a full-on tackle, while Min-su dives for the phone like it's a live grenade.

Thanos crashes to the ground with a grunt, eyes wide, phone slipping from his fingers.

"WHAT THE FU—" he snarls, trying to roll over, but Min-su has it now, already sprinting across the room like a stupid gremlin. Gyeong-su gets off of him and drags him back,breathing hard, hair sticking up in every direction.

"You were gonna do something stupid!" Gyeong-su huffed.

"I wasn't!"

"You were about to call him and either confess your weird crush or start a fight. Either way—stupid."

"I don't have a crush," Thanos growled.

"Uh huh," Min-su snorted from the corner. "Says the man stalking the IG Live of his situationship with a burner."

"Give me my phone."

"No," Min-su said, clutching it to his chest. "Not until you sit your dramatic little ass down and watch the chaos unfold like a normal person."

Thanos glared. "You two are demons."

"Correct," Gyeong-su said. "Now. Sit."

They dragged him toward the couch like a prisoner. Min-su plopped down, unlocked Thanos' burner, and reopened the livestream.

Yu-ri and Nam-gyu were still live.

Onscreen, Yu-ri was putting a butterfly clip in Nam-gyu's hair as he sat with the exhausted expression of a man who'd given up on life ten minutes ago.

"There," Yu-ri grinned, adjusting the camera. "Now you're pretty."

Nam-gyu looked directly into the lens GENUINELY pleading "Please. Call the police."

The comments were eating it up, ignoring his pleds
____________
Am I delulu or do I see blush
CUTIEEEEEEEEE
LOLO SCREAMING
blink twice if u need help lmao
PRETTY PRINCESS!!
____________

"OH MY GOD," Thanos muttered, dragging a hand down his face.

Gyeong-su leaned forward. "Now. We're gonna have a little talk. Ready?"

"No."

"Too bad."

Min-su cleared his throat dramatically. "You like him. That's fine. But you're being psychotic. That is not fine."

"I don't—"

"SHHHHH." Gyeong-su waved. "Let us finish."

"You're jealous, you're spiraling, and now you're planning a messy outburst instead of just talking to him like a human. Which, to be fair, is on rare for you."

Thanos glared. "You're both the worst."

"And yet you're still here," Min-su grinned. "So. Either sulk and pretend it's about the beat again—or admit you're mad that your boy crush is getting his hair clipped by a G-I-R-L."

Thanos looked back at the screen.

Yu-ri had now pulled out glitter lip gloss.

"Don't touch me with that!" Nam-gyu warned.

"Too late," Yu-ri said sweetly. "Pucker up."

He was about to throw something when Gyeong-su shoved his phone back in his hand.

"Fine," Thanos muttered. "You want me to watch? I'll watch."

He stared at the screen for a long second.

Then—like something in his brain just snapped—he tapped into the chat bar.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Min-su leaned in.

"Oh no," Gyeong-su whispered.

With a tight jaw and evil precision, Thanos typed:

@ghost_browsr88: tell your makeup artist I think she missed a spot 😒

The moment it hit the screen, the chat went insane:
__________
Help why is that so shady omg??
RANDOMMMM
New Gen omg..
LEAVE THEN??
The bitterness is crazy...
___________

Yu-ri leaned closer, squinting. "Huh?"

Nam-gyu frowned. "What?"

"Some account just said I missed a spot. WHO EVEN IS THAT??"

"Like EXCUSE me??" she says into the phone, zooming in on herself like she's an influencer under attack. "Is it a hater?"

Nam-gyu blinks. "Looks like it."

Yu-ri's eyes narrow playfully. "Is that... an ex?"

Nam-gyu forces a laugh, shrugging, playing it cool, way too cool.

"Yeah," he says. "Probably."

But inside?

He knows that snarky little ghost account. That dry-ass passive-aggressive tone? That's Thanos.

The burner.

He can practically see the studio lighting and all three huddled up giggling in the background.

Yu-ri's still scrolling. "She's mad mad. Jealous, even."

Nam-gyu snorts. "Yup."

Yu-ri's voice turns cutesy, sliding into full brat mode. "Oh my god, am I your secret girlfriend now! You agreed with me!"

Nam-gyu groans. "Please don't start, like actually."

She tosses her hair and leans closer, brushing glitter from his cheek with one perfectly manicured finger.

"Too late. I've already named the ship. NamYu."

"I'm gonna vomit all over you get away."

The chat's losing it:
__________

HAHAHAH NAMYU!!
WHAT ABOUT YUGYU??
COUPLE GOALS
WHY IS HE LETTING HER TOUCH HIS FACE THOUGH??
HEHEE
__________

Nam-gyu keeps his face steady, calm, unmoving—like if he so much as twitched, he'd scream "IT'S HIM!! IT'S THAT JEALOUS PURPLE-HAIRED FREAK!!"

Yu-ri doesn't stop there. She loops an arm around his, leans her head on his shoulder, and whispers just loud enough for the mic to catch:

"If your jealous little ex is watching... tell her to suck it."

Nam-gyu would normally pushed her away by now but he wondered this made Thanos jealous so he let it be.

Thanos screams and grabs a pillow, immediately smashing it over his face.

"OH MY GOD," he groans into it. "SHE'S TALKING ABOUT ME. SHE THINKS I'M A GIRL."

Gyeong-su's wheezing. "Your fault for hating like a fake account."

Min-su records everything. "Say hi!"

"DELETE THAT."

"Jealous jealous jealous girllll"

Thanos sits up, flustered, fists clenched. "That little—she's doing this on purpose."

"She doesn't even know it's you!" Gyeong-su says.

"She's brushing his face and leaning on him and SMIRKING INTO THE CAMERA—SHE KNOWS," Thanos yells, pacing like he's about to die"

Min-su scrolls through the comments again. "Oop. She's even named their ship name.. I'm sorry but gross.."

"THE WHAT?!"

"NamYu," Min-su smirks.

"I'm gonna block them both," Thanos snaps. "I'm gonna hack the live, I'll ruin their signal, I swear-"

"Dude," Gyeong-su says, grabbing his shoulders. "Please breathe."

Min-su taps the screen again. "She's asking the chat if they should kiss."

Thanos nearly breaks his burner.

Yu-ri grins wildly, waving at the camera.

"Should we kiss to make the ex mad?"

Nam-gyu turns to her, voice dry and unimpressed. "If u even get near me with those lips I'll get uo and leave right here right now."

Yu-ri just cackles, laying her head back down against his shoulder.

"You're no fun."

Nam-gyu lets out a long sigh, staring directly into the camera looking for any signs of thanos

Meanwhile, somewhere off-screen, chaos is still erupting sadly.

"THAT'S IT. I'M COMMENTING AGAIN."

Gyeong-su groans. "DON'T—"

Too late. Thanos types:

@ghost_browsr88: some people don't know what privacy means huh..

And hits send.

Yu-ri stops.

Nam-gyu sees it at the same time, mid-sip of his drink. He pauses. The straw is still between his lips.

Yu-ri slowly turns to him, her glossy eyes wide and curious.

"...Was that for us?"

Nam-gyu slowly lowers the cup. "Probably."

Yu-ri narrows her eyes. "Why's that account mad all of a sudden? You think they're watching this whole time?"

Nam-gyu swallows and tries to keep his face straight.

"Dunno. People are weird."

But the way he grips his drink like it just called him a slur says everything.

Yu-ri, of course, is having the time of her life. "Ohhh, my gosh! She's pressed. That's a pressed person comment. Who even says stuff like that unless they're stalking? Be honest. You know who it is, don't you?"

Nam-gyu shifts in his seat. "Maybe."

Yu-ri gasps, leaning forward like she just solved a murder. "IS IT THE EX??"

Nam-gyu nods slightly, then immediately regrets it.

"Oh my GOD." Yu-ri claps her hands. "She's watching us LIVE?! Does she not have, like, a life?"

Nam-gyu closes his eyes. He feels it in his soul.

" 'she' has a studio," he mumbles

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

Thanos is gripping the phone so tight, Gyeong-su's afraid the screen's about to shatter.

"She," Thanos hisses, "SHE???"

"Technically she's not wrong," Min-su says, already dying of laughter on the floor.

"'SHE'??? I'M A FULL GROWN MAN!!"

"Not on that burner account you're not," Gyeong-su mutters.

Thanos turns to the couch basically foaming like a dog with rabies. "I WILL COMMENT AGAIN."

"Don't you dare."

"I SWEAR I'LL POST A PICTURE OF HIM AT THE STUDIO LOOKING LIKE A DEPRESSED CHICKEN."

"Give me the phone" Min-su says, reaching for it.

Thanos jerks it away, types furiously, and hits send.

Yu-ri's still giggling at the chat, basking in joy, her hand now lightly resting on Nam-gyu's arm as she watches the screen.

Then it hits.

@ghost_browsr88: Girl wipe that smile off ur face ain't nothing gonna be funny when I pull up😭😭

Yu-ri's face drops. Nam-gyu freezes.

The chat explodes:

__________
NAHHHH
ghost boy is being weird ngl
HELP WHAT THE??
I would end the live
This is genuinely insane
LMAO CAN I SEE
__________

Yu-ri blinks at the comment. Once. Twice. Her whole vibe switches.

"The HELL does that mean?" she says, frowning at the screen. "Shes threatening me?? What's next, her acting all that do u need that or what??.."

She opens her mouth to keep going—but the viewer count dips. And right at the top of the chat

@ghost_browsr88: left the live stream

Coward," she mutters, ending the live and slamming the phone screen down on the table. "Absolute clown behavior."

Nam-gyu finally laughs.

Like actually laughs. A tired, breathless, borderline hysterical kind of laugh. His shoulders shake. His hand covers his mouth.

Yu-ri narrows her eyes. "Are you laughing?? That girl just threatened me through a screen."

Nam-gyu shrugs, still smiling. "You kinda asked for it."

"You liked it."

"I did not!"

"You did," she insists, pointing. "You smiled like it turned you on a little."

Nam-gyu immediately stands. "Okay. Time for me to go."

Yu-ri pouts, but stands too. "You're leaving me for her? That? Whoever that person was or is?"

Nam-gyu just raises an eyebrow."no I just genuinely need to go."

Yu-ri sighs dramatically, throws her arms around him in a warm hug. "Whatever. I hope she falls when she sees you."

He snorts. "See you."

He turns, pushing through the café doors, and walks to his car. The air is humid, soft with summer, the pavement still warm from earlier strong sun.

He opens the door—and finds Semi curled up in the backseat, passed out, her cheek smooshed against the seatbelt strap and a single airpod dangling from her ear.

"Bro," he mutters, "this is not an Uber."

He climbs in, gently closing the door behind him and starting the engine.

His phone buzzes in the cupholder.

Unknown Caller.

No—he knows that number. His stomach clenches before it even rings a second time.

He picks it up.

"...What?"

"Where are you."

His voice is sharp. Low. Tired. Like he's been pacing.

Nam-gyu stares ahead, one hand on the wheel, the other gripping the phone.

"On my way home."

A pause. Then—

"You looked real comfortable back there."

Nam-gyu clenches his jaw. "Don't start."

"Don't start what? Saying what everyone else saw? You practically let her sit in your lap."

Nam-gyu glances at the rearview mirror. Semi's still knocked out cold.

He keeps his voice low. "I clearly pushed her multiple times. as if that's not your business."

Thanos scoffs. "You went live with her."

"And you commented from a burner."

"You knew it was me."

"I hoped it wasn't," Nam-gyu snaps. "Because if it was—god, Thanos, if it was—that means you're just as petty as everyone thinks."

Silence.

Nam-gyu exhales, eyes closing briefly.

"...Why'd you call?"

Thanos's voice comes through, quieter this time.

"I didn't like the way she touched you."

Nam-gyu goes still.

Thanos continues. "I didn't like the way you smiled. Like she was your escape plan. Like I wasn't ever gonna matter after today."

Nam-gyu looks out the windshield, voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you?"

"...What?"

"Do I genuinely matter?" he says, voice cracking despite how quiet he tries to keep it. "Do i matter to you, or am I just someone you miss when you're high and alone?"

Thanos doesn't answer right away.

Finally—

"Come to the studio," he says. "Just you. Come now."

Nam-gyu hesitates. "And if I don't?"

"...I'll come find you."

Thanos's voice lingers heavy in the air like heat off the asphalt. It's not exactly a threat. But it's definitely a promise.

Nam-gyu swallows. "You always say dramatic crap like that."

"You like it."

"I don't."

"You do," Thanos says, voice curling into something smug and dangerous. "You like when I chase you. When I get a little unhinged."

Nam-gyu laughs under his breath, trying to fight the warmth creeping up his neck. "No, I like normal people. Who don't blow up my livestream with threatening comments like they're Batman."

"I could be Batman," Thanos says smoothly.

Nam-gyu chokes. "Don't ever say that again."

"You blushed."

"I did not—"

"You're doing that thing with your voice," Thanos says, "where it goes all tight like you're trying not to sound flustered."

Nam-gyu shifts in his seat, gripping the phone tighter. "God, you're annoying."

"But I sound good in your ear, don't I?"

Nam-gyu lets the silence sit too long.

Then, suddenly—"Shut up."

Thanos laughs, soft and cocky. "So that's a yes."

Nam-gyu runs a hand through his hair, eyes fluttering shut for a second. "Why do you want me there, really?"

"Because..." Thanos pauses. His voice drops lower. "I don't want you ending your night with her."

Nam-gyu's heart flips. He hates how fast it reacts—how easily it forgets everything just to chase that voice again.

"I'm not ending it with her," he says quietly. "I'm... ending it with you."

"...So come finish it."

Nam-gyu doesn't answer.

Thanos tries again, this time quieter, more careful. "Come to the studio. I'll have something rolled. You don't even have to talk to me. Just... sit in the booth."

Nam-gyu exhales, eyes fluttering closed again. "Fine. Just for a little."

"Just for a little," Thanos repeats. And this time, his voice is soft. "Stay on the phone. While you drive."

"...Why."

"Just want to hear you breathe."

Nam-gyu's hand twitches. "God, you're so—"

But he doesn't finish, because at that exact moment:

Semi groans awake in the back seat.

"Ugh... I drooled," she mutters, rubbing her cheek. Then sits up and immediately squints at the phone in Nam-gyu's hand. "Wait... are you still on the phone??"

Nam-gyu jolts like he's been caught cheating. "go back to sleep." And more then immediately tries the end the call in embarrassment.

Semi leans forward between the seats, peeking at the screen. "Who are u on call with? "She gasps loudly "Are you serious right now?"

Nam-gyu covers his face and hisses, "Shut up!"

Semi's jaw drops. "YOU'RE GOING OVER THERE, AREN'T YOU?!"

"I wasn't!—I mean I am—but it's not like that—!"

Thanos' voice echoes faintly from the phone speaker. He had miss clicked the end button.
"Is that Semi? Tell her to stay in her lane lolll"

Semi SNATCHES the phone out of his hand.
"BOY, YOU stay in your lane!This conversation is DONE. OVER. FINISHED." And ends the call.

Nam-gyu yells, "GIVE IT BACK—!"

Semi tosses the phone into his lap and climbs out of the car, marching around to the driver's side. pushing him into the passenger seat."We're going home."

The city lights flash across Nam-gyu's face as he stares out the window, arms crossed, lips twitching with irritation. His leg won't stop bouncing. His jaw is tight. And his phone keeps lighting up.

Semi's hands grip the steering wheel casually, but her voice? It's sharp.

"Don't even try to sneak out when we get home."

Nam-gyu scoffs, not looking at her. "Why are you acting like my parole officer?"

"I should be. Because clearly your taste in- uh whatever is horrible."

Nam-gyu snaps his head toward her, wide-eyed. "Excuse me?!"

"You heard me." She points her finger towards his face. "You were just hoping he would go on his deathbed. Now you're one text away from crawling back into his lap? Nam-gyu. Be serious."

"It's not like that." Nam-gyu mutters.

"You were about to drive across town at midnight in your sad little hoodie—don't even lie to me, I see the pattern."

Nam-gyu throws his head back dramatically, groaning. "just let me go."

"No."

"Why not?!"

"Because I care about you, dumbass!"

Nam-gyu clenches his fists in his lap. His voice comes out quieter now, more tense. "You don't get it...Ur thinking it weird."

Semi's eyes flick to him for a second before returning to the road. "No, you're right. I don't get what it's like to fall for the same disgusting clingy, manipulative man-child.But I've watched it happen to you enough to fill a documentary."

Nam-gyu presses his lips together. His phone vibrates again.

THANOS:
"U still coming?"

Nam-gyu's eyes harden. The message hits like a punch to the gut, because Thanos already knew the answer to it.

He slams the phone into his lap and clenches his fists.

Semi glances over. "He texted didn't he."

Nam-gyu doesn't answer.

Semi hums. "And your mad that I won't let you go running back to him?"

"...Yes!" he snaps, eyes wide.

"Why? So he can act sorry for five minutes, lay on your chest like a needy house cat, then gaslight you about it tomorrow?"

Nam-gyu glares at her. "You're so annoying."

"You're welcome."

The car turns down their street. Nam-gyu's phone buzzes again. His hand twitches to grab it but he forces himself not to.

Semi sighs. "I'm not trying to be mean. I'm trying to keep you from spiraling. He gets in your head, and then you stop sleeping, stop eating, start isolating—"

"I said you don't get it," Nam-gyu snaps. "You think it's just him making me like this? I'm the one who keeps going back. That's on me. So let me go be pathetic if I want to."

Semi pulls the car into their driveway and slams it into park.

There's a heavy silence.

Then she finally says, "Fine. Be pathetic. But do it at home with ice cream, not at his stupid studio."

Nam-gyu scoffs again, opening the car door.

As he gets out, his phone buzzes.

THANOS:
"Guess not then. Cool."

Nam-gyu stares at the message for a long, long second.

His blood boils.

His stomach sinks.

And in that moment—he felt all the emotions he tried so hard to keep back.

And worst of all? The craving.

He texts back without thinking.

NAM-GYU:
"Go cry about it."

And slams the door shut behind him.

Nam-gyu storms in like a tornado in, kicks his shoes off aggressively—one flying into the wall—and throws himself face-first into the bed with a dramatic groan.

fwump

Pillows scatter. His blanket tangles around his waist. His phone buzzes from his pocket.

THANOS:
"Why so mad😭😭"

Nam-gyu rolls over, hair a mess, thumb already typing furiously.

N- I'm not??

T-I bet u miss me

Nam-gyu almost throws the phone across the room. Almost. Instead, he types faster:

N-no i miss not knowing u existed.

T-yikes 😭 anyway ur the one crying bc u can't come see me

He stares at the screen in disbelief. He literally growls.

N- no one is crying tf 😐

T- whatever u say still cute tho😎

"OH MY GOD," Nam-gyu yells into his pillow.

T-I wanna see how u look like so bad

N-??? stop saying stuff like that wtf

T-say what?? that ur attractive? I'll stop for now Ig 😒
T- even tho u are
T-No homo

Nam-gyu stares at the message, face burning, fingers frozen. His legs twitch under the blankets like he's about to kick someone. He lets out a strangled groan and sinks further into the mattress.

T- if u show up rn i'll let u pick the next song on my album. and i'll even give u a lil forehead kiss as a treat dunno lol

Nam-gyu slams the phone down on the bed, rolls over dramatically, and screams into his pillow again.

Semi, from outside the door: "QUIT TEXTING HIM I HEAR EVERYTHING!"

He screams louder.

Buzz.

He groans and grabs his phone again.

T- I rlly miss u. Mostly ur idiot face the most

His fingers hover over the keyboard.

He types.

He erases.

He types again.

Finally, he settles

N-ur the idiot

T- I'm fine with being ur idiot dude

"UGH." He rolls so hard he falls off the bed.

T- come to the studio dude

N-no

T-WHY I'll drive you I swear

N-genuinely?

T-yeah I'll go rn
T-matter of fact I am going rn and you better come outside

Nam-gyu lay on his bed dramatically, staring at the ceiling like a he was in a tragic film. Hair messy. Eyes wide open. His phone buzzed on his chest, lighting up.

THANOS:
"i'm bored and lonely and min-su's snoring like a dying walrus and gyeong su left a long time ago"

Buzz.

THANOS:
"I'm sooooo lonely 😞😞😞😞"

Buzz.

THANOS:
"Go outside 🙏 i'll even shut up for once"

Buzz.

THANOS:
"ok i lied i won't shut up but still COME"

Nam-gyu clenched his jaw, dramatically flipped his blanket off, and sat up. His phone buzzed again.

THANOS:
"You said you would finish the day with me"

"Dude seriously" Nam-gyu muttered, dragging his feet across the floor.

He looked toward the bedroom door.

Quiet.

Semi was probably scrolling in the other room. Probably about food and chaos.

He turned back to his desk, ripped a notebook sheet, and scribbled

"Gone. If I'm dead it was the purple head freak. "

He placed it neatly on the bed like it was his final will and testament.

Then... he cracked the window open.

Thanos' car sat parked on the curb, headlights off, engine humming low. Inside, Thanos sat shirt half-buttoned, hair slightly messy, texting again "

THANOS:
"imma throw rocks at ur window dude."

He pushed his leg out. Then the other leg. Then the rest of him. He had barely crawled out the window before se-mi could notice"

Thanos was laughing as Nam-gyu jumped out the window and walked to the car.

Nam-gyu yanked the car door open and slid in the slumping down into the seat.

"Drive. And don't say a single word," he hissed.

Thanos turned, grinning ear to ear. "You look cute when you sneak out."

Nam-gyu stared ahead. "I swear"

Thanos drove down the street, trying not to laugh. But the way Nam-gyu crossed his arms and refused to look at him? Yeah. Worth every text.

The door creaked open as Thanos and Nam-gyu stepped inside, the dim glow from a laptop screen casting long shadows across the cluttered room. The studio smelled faintly of smoke, energy drinks, and something slightly burnt. A speaker light blinked in the corner, forgotten and tired.

Min-su was slumped in a rolling chair near a pile of scribbled paper and half-open laptop. A pen dangled from his fingers, his cheek smushed against the keyboard. He was dead to the world.

Nam-gyu barely looked twice.He walked in and basically threw himself face first onto the studio couch. The cushions practically wheezed beneath him.

Thanos followed close behind, shutting the door quietly. Then, wordlessly, he climbed onto the couch beside Nam-gyu—except, instead of laying down like a normal person, he sort of melted next to him. He layed down sideways, one leg on Nam-gyu, arm wrapped around him, and his head tilted.

Nam-gyu grunted, face still buried in the cushion. "Dude we just got here. Don't start."

"Start what?" Thanos replied, voice low, smug. "I'm literally just existing. That illegal now?"

"You're also breathing too loud."

"That's rich coming from someone who sleeps like a possessed cat" he shot back.

Nam-gyu peeked at him, face unimpressed. "Keep talking and I'll smother you with a soundproof foam tile."

Thanos grinned. "Kinky."

Nam-gyu slapped his arm without even looking.

They layed there for a moment in the dimly lit stillness—studio walls swallowing up the silence, hum of the ceiling fan and soft sleep-breathing from Min-su keeping the atmosphere alive.

Thanos shifted, now leaning more onto Nam-gyu's casually. Boldly. Like this wasn't the very thing that made them almost kill each other."

Nam-gyu sighed. "You're lucky I'm too tired to kill you."

"I know," Thanos whispered, annoyingly close to his ear.

Nam-gyu pushed him off. "Get a grip."

Thanos laughed softly, then leaned back, arms stretched across the couch. "Fine. Let's make something. You came all the way here. You gonna show me what that weird little brain's been cooking or what?"

Nam-gyu sat up and rubbed his eyes, then stood, walking over to the desk. "Fine, but u need to learn to keep ur hands to urself."

"I'll behave," Thanos said, crossing his heart like a child. "Promise."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes but loaded up the project file on the laptop.

As he started working on the beat, Thanos stood and walked over—hovering behind him, arms folded behind his back like he was pretending to be innocent. Nam-gyu genuinely was focused, till Thanos leaned in again, resting his chin lightly on Nam-gyu's shoulder.

 

(Namgyu is sitting down on a desk and Thanos is giving him a backwards hug if it makes sense..)

Nam-gyu stiffened. "What did I say about that. You do this every time."

"I said I'd behave. I never said I'd be normal."

His arms slowly wrapped around Nam-gyu's waist.

"I should have never came." Nam-gyu warned, voice low.

"I missed you."

"You saw me yesterday??"

"Feels like a year"

Nam-gyu exhaled through his nose, sharp and fast. "You're on something again, aren't you?"

"Only a little," Thanos admitted, cheek resting against his shoulder. "I just needed you here."

Nam-gyu's fingers hovered over the keyboard, twitching slightly.

"You're gonna make this hard," he muttered.

"I already am."

Nam-gyu turned so fast Thanos almost toppled. "Get away from me—go cuddle Min-su if you're so desperate." pushing his head away.

"but he looks like a passed out dad after a divorce."

Nam-gyu tried to shove him away but Thanos' grip only tightened. "Bro. Seriously. Again?"

Thanos looked at him, smiling faintly. "Seriously. I needed you."

The beat looped in the background—soft,but not gentle, the base still unfinished. A kind of aching sound, echoing low like a heartbeat.

Thanos nuzzled into his shoulder.

Nam-gyu sighed and let his head drop forward.

"...Fine. But you let me go when I'm done with this"

"Deal."

"And if you try anything else, I'm calling the cops."

"Fair."

The beat looped again. Soft, haunting, low, and gentle.

Nam-gyu was hunched at the laptop, clicking around with faintly twitching fingers, his eyes half-lidded from exhaustion—but still focused. Barely.

Thanos hadn't moved. If anything, he was even more attached. His arms were locked around Nam-gyu's ,his chin digging gently into Nam-gyu's shoulder like it belonged there. Occasionally, his grip would tighten—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind Nam-gyu he was still there. Still warm. Still touching.

Nam-gyu wasn't saying anything. Mostly because if he opened his mouth, he'd either curse Thanos out or accidentally fall asleep.

His body had given up on resistance. But his mind was still spiraling.

And then—ring ring ring.

Nam-gyu flinched at the sudden sound. His phone screen lit up on the desk beside the keyboard

Yu-ri calling.

He blinked once. Then again. Then—without thinking—he picked it up.

"Hello?" His voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat. "Yu-ri?"

"Nam-gyu!" Her voice was bright, sweet, familiar. "Hey—sorry, just wanted to know what ur up to?"

Thanos didn't even flinch.

In fact, he squeezed Nam-gyu tighter. Arms wrapped fully around him now, almost possessively. His chest pressing into Nam-gyu's back. And his cheek—smushed right into Nam-gyu's shoulder again.

Nam-gyu sat up straighter, squirming slightly in his seat.

"Oh well im not doing much," he said into the phone, shifting uncomfortably. "Just—working late."

"Ohh," she cooed. "Still making that song with mystery rapper?"

Nam-gyu glanced sideways at the man currently smothering him.

"...Yeah."

"Oh, wow. That's so cool. You guys must be getting close, huh?"

Nam-gyu opened his mouth to respond, but then Thanos tilted his head up and nuzzled his neck—just slightly. Not playful. Not joking.

It was like to say 'I'm still here'

Nam-gyu nearly dropped the phone.

He elbowed Thanos in the side. "Quit it," he hissed under his breath, his mic thankfully muted.

Thanos smirked. "Matter of fact she sounds cute," he whispered with a sly grin, mouthing the words mockingly. "Don't let me take her"

Nam-gyu gave him a look of pure death—but his cheeks were red.

On the other end of the line, Yu-ri was still talking. "Anyway, Ive haven't been doing much anyways.. and tattooing people has been real boring since you left."

"Oh well" Nam-gyu tried to speak normally while Thanos was literally tightening his hold like a jealous boa constrictor. "Sorry. Didn't mean to ghost you like that."

Thanos started humming against his skin. Actually humming. Like this was a lullaby and he wasn't being a gremlin of chaos.

Nam-gyu gripped the phone harder. His fingers were tense. But his voice stayed even. "I just found something else."

Yu-ri chirped. "It's totally fine! We still met up and talk that's all that matter. And Nam-gyu?

He blinked. "Yeah?"

"I've really missed you."

There was a long pause.

Nam-gyu's throat went dry.

And right then, Thanos lips slightly brushed his throat. It wasn't a kiss just a touch.

Soft. Barely there. But not deniable.

Nam-gyu slammed his laptop shut and stood up so fast Thanos nearly fell off the chair.

"I-I'll text you, Yu-ri. Bye," he blurted—and hung up before she could respond.

He turned, furious. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Thanos raised his eyebrows, lounging in the chair with zero shame. "What? I'm cuddly. Sue me."

"You're—" Nam-gyu exhaled through his nose, hands balled into fists. "You're so immature."

Thanos stood too now, smirking. "You're not mad because I was immature. You're mad because you liked it."

Nam-gyu's jaw clenched. "I didn't."

Thanos stepped closer. "You didn't stop me."

"I was on the phone."

Nam-gyu shoved him—just lightly. "Don't flatter yourself with lies."

Thanos laughed under his breath. "You're cute when you lie."

Nam-gyu turned his back, walking toward the couch again. "Go take a shower or something."

Thanos watched him from behind. "You're still going to call her back to reply to that 'I missed you'"

Nam-gyu froze for a second.

Then—"What's it to you?"

Thanos shrugged, smiling, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Nothing. I just think she's in for a rough time trying to compete."

Nam-gyu sat down at the coach and pulled a blanket over himself.

"Compete with what?" he mumbled.

Thanos tilted his head.

"...Me."

Nam-gyu didn't respond.

But his heart was pounding.

The room was quiet

Then suddenly—

Thanos laughed.

Like, full chest, nose-scrunch,laugh. It was deep, and maybe a little too loud for the room. And weirdly...expected

Namgyu blinked and followed with a short, dry laugh—one of those awkward kind of laughs. His eyes flicked away quickly. the laugh was somewhat fake and unreadable,

"You're so weird," he muttered, trying to focus on the laptop again.

"You take everything way too seriously." Thanos replied, leaning back in his chair, arms behind his head like the annoying brat he was.

Namgyu didn't respond.

Because if he opened his mouth right now, the truth might spill out and he was not prepared for that today.

BRRRRRRRRRRT—

Gyeong-su's name flashed across the screen as a face time.

Thanos groaned and picked up, holding the phone between them as Namgyu leaned just close enough to see.

Gyeong-su's face appeared, disheveled, stressed, and absolutely unamused.

"I swear are if you two aren't close to done, I'm going to set this studio on fire."

Picked his head up, wiped drool and tiredly chimed in faintly from the background. "Come get me."

Gyeong-su ran a hand through his hair. "Thanos. Album drops in like days. You're missing two full tracks. The beat for the title song isn't exported. I haven't gotten your final vocals. And I'm getting whooped by work."

Namgyu flinched. "Wait—the album is this week?"

"Yes."  Gyeong-su said flatly. "This week. As in days from now. As in none of you are sleeping until this is done and if I see another one of your little arguments instead of actual progress, Im quitting ! No scratch that I will jump off the studio-"

Thanos held his hands up. "Okay okay okay! We're working on it. Chill."

"'We're working on it,'" Gyeong-su mimicked, voice high-pitched and sarcastic. "I just watched a story of yours not too long ago and u posted a video of you partying in club pentagon"

Namgyu nearly choked. "You what??"

Thanos' eyes widened. "That wasn't me it was Min-su!"

"what!?" Min-su called from across the room

Namgyu smacked Thanos in the arm.

"Ow—!" Thanos yelped, rubbing the spot.

Gyeong-su rolled his eyes so hard they might've fallen out. "Just finish the beat. Please. I beg you. I can't push the release again or the fans will jump me or something!"

Namgyu nodded. "We'll get it done, trust"

"Thanks" Gyeong-su said. "And Thanos?"

"What?"

Gyeong-su leaned in the phone microphone and yelled out something but was instantly cut off by Thanos ending the call before he could finish.

He glanced at Namgyu. "How sweet of him."

Namgyu side-eyed him. "You deserve to be yelled out."

Thanos grinned. "Why? Because-"

Namgyu covered his mouth. "Because we don't want a bloody gyeong-su on the floor Infront of the studio because we never finished it do we?"

He shook his head and crossed his arms.

The sky outside the studio was dimming, soft streaks of blue and purple fading into night as the day slipped away. Inside, the room buzzed with the low hum of half-done tracks. A low beat looped in the background,waiting for someone to bring it to life.

Min-su was hunched over the corner desk, his pen moving at lightning speed over a final stack of paperwork.

Namgyu sat at the laptop, face blank, fingers flying across the keyboard as he tried to clean up the beat's final layering. Thanos was flopped sideways across a beanbag chair, scrolling through his phone like he wasn't the main artist on a deadline.

"Okay," Min-su exhaled, finally standing and stretching so hard his back cracked like bubble wrap. "I finished this stupid thing already.

He grabbed his car keys "Im leaving."

Thanos smirked. "Tell Semi I said hi."

"Tell her yourself next time," Min-su muttered, grabbing his jacket.He paused by the door, giving Thanos and Namgyu a pointed look. "Don't do anything stupid please."

"Define stupid," Thanos said, deadpan.

Min-su didn't even reply — just let the door shut behind him.

That left Namgyu and Thanos in the dim-lit studio, blue lighting buzzing softly overhead and the scent of cold air and expensive cologne lingering in the air.

Namgyu was curled over the desk, tapping on the beat. Focused, annoyed, jaw clenched. The couch behind him had Thanos lounging across it, legs kicked up, spinning his phone in one hand until it buzzed.

He glanced at the screen and lifted a brow. "Lyrics are in," he muttered.

Namgyu didn't look up. "Great. Go record."

"You sound so excited, Nam-su"

Namgyu's eye twitched. "It's gyu. Don't call me that."

Thanos just smirked and shoved himself off the couch with that annoying, lazy confidence. He grabbed the headphones, adjusted his shirt, and sauntered into the booth like he owned the building.

Namgyu sighed hard and hit a few buttons, dragging the beat in. "You better not suck."

Thanos' voice crackled through the mic. "You should know I'm amazing at this."

Namgyu rolled his eyes. "Debatable."

Then the beat dropped — low, hypnotic, slightly aggressive. The room filled with the pulse of bass and static tension. Namgyu stared at the screen, trying not to pay attention. But he always did.

Thanos gripped the mic with one hand, phone in the other, and leaned in.

His voice came through the speakers — smooth, smug, and annoying.

(Guys I'm sorry idk how to make rap or anything..)

"You smoke too much yet talk to little but one glare from me and your denial while pretending I don't phase you."

Namgyu's mouth dropped open. "Wait a second. Is that-"

Thanos gave a sly little grin through the glass.

Namgyu slammed the volume down. "THANOS SERIOUSLY?"

"You said I should be creative," he called back, still grinning like an idiot."

"That's not creative, that's harassment."

Thanos leaned casually against the booth wall, not even pretending to be innocent.

Namgyu crossed his arms and glared into the glass, fuming. "You wanna diss me? On my beat? While I'm the one mixing your trash vocals?"

"I said you had cold hands, not that you were talentless," Thanos shrugged.

Namgyu hissed under his breath, face burning. "You're so annoying."

"Funny," Thanos smirked, slipping the headphones down. "You always say that before you lean on me."

He scoffed "you have it mixed it up!"

"Yeah sure I do."

Namgyu's entire soul short-circuited.

He smacked the mute button on the booth mic and spun around in his chair, muttering curses. His heart was thundering in his chest, face bright red, fingers twitching like they were trying to escape his body.

Thanos, behind the glass, pointed to the mic, mouthing: "Ready for the next verse?"

Namgyu turned around slowly, lowered the volume back up, and pressed the button with the most bitter sigh on earth. "Yeah do whatever you please."

Thanos winked. "Will do"

Thanos adjusted his mic again, one hand still on his phone, grin growing wider as he scrolled to the second verse. Namgyu sat behind the mixing board, arms crossed, jaw clenched so tight it could slice glass.

The beat came back on.

Then came Thanos' voice, smooth as ever, but now sharper.

"How come you say I'm annoying,loud,too much yet flinch when I lose touch."

Namgyu's eyes twitched. "No.

Namgyu slammed the volume knob off and stormed toward the booth.

The booth door swung open, hard. "WHO MADE THESE LYRICS?!"

Thanos blinked innocently. "I was just—rhyming truths."

Namgyu shoved him. "Truths?! You're delusional."

Thanos stumbled back a step, chuckling. "You're really pressed for someone who 'doesn't care.'"

Namgyu shoved him again, harder. "SHUT UP."

Thanos reached out instinctively and grabbed Namgyu's wrist. "Nam-su chill-"

"LET GO!"

Namgyu twisted, trying to yank his arm back, but Thanos held on. His struggle turned chaotic fast, his shoes squeaked on the padded floor, a loose headphone wire wrapped around someone's foot and before either could process it, they both lost balance

THUD.

They hit the ground.

Thanos fell flat on his back.

Namgyu laying right on Thanos' chest,his legs lose on the floor.Their faces way too close.

Thanos's hands were still gripping Namgyu's wrists, slightly raised between them.

"...You done?" Thanos asked, out of breath and grinning.

Namgyu sat up, still sitting right on Thanos lower stomach, both knee wedged between Thanos' ribs and the floor.

Namgyu tried to pull back.

Tried.

But Thanos had other plans.

Still flat on the floor, that smug smile fading into something unreadable, Thanos tightened his grip around Namgyu's wrists—and then
quickly pulled Namgyu's arms down to the side of his head

Namgyu froze. "What the hell—"

"What my arms hurt." Thanos murmured, voice suddenly softer, almost a warning. "Cant a guy rest his arms."

Namgyu's mouth parted, but no sound came out. His knees were still pressing against Thanos. He looked nervous and his breathing heavy.

"I swear, let go." Namgyu hissed, but the way they were positioned, his voice wasn't as confident anymore.

Thanos' grip only got firmer. "You've never looked this nervous before. It's funny."

"I said—"

RIIING. RIIING.

Both of them froze.

Thanos' phone buzzed loud on the floor beside them.

Semi.

Thanos glanced to the side, still not letting go.

Buzz. Buzz.

"Don't answer that," Namgyu mumbled.

"Why? You scared of witnesses?" Thanos teased.

Another buzz.

With a sigh and one final look into Namgyu's eyes, Thanos let go of his wrists... finally.

Namgyu didn't move.he was still sitting there unfazed.

Thanos picked up the phone.

Namgyu was still sitting on his lower stomach.

Yes. Still. Like a deer caught in headlights, and he couldn't even breathe right.

Because if he moved even a little, he'd be acknowledging it. And if he acknowledged it, he'd have to accept that he was fine sitting on top of Thanos in a way that should most definitely be illegal in at least three different countries.

Thanos, was completely unfazed.

He leaned his head back casually, phone pressed to his ear, grinning evilly.

"Hello?"

Namgyu's eyes snapped to the phone in disbelief. "You're not seriously answering that right now—"

"Hey Semi," Thanos said sweetly, ignoring him. And pressing his hand on his mouth. "Oh Nam-gyu? His phone is dead that's why he isn't answering." His hand moved towards Nam-gyus face.

Namgyu slapped his hand away and groaned. "I hate you."

Thanos wiggled his hips slightly, making Namgyu nearly fall over.

"Oh? What's that? The sound?" Thanos said into the phone, voice pure innocence. "It's probably the floor creaking. No, yeah. We're totally just... working."

Namgyu's entire soul left his body. "You're the worst person I've ever met."

Thanos looked up at him and whispered, "Stop wiggling around."

Nam-gyu whispered back "I will kill you."

"Oh nothing," Thanos said into the phone, still smirking, "Namgyu's just being dramatic."

Then—with the SMUGGEST LOOK EVER—he reached up with his free hand and poked Namgyu in the side.

Namgyu flinched so hard he almost slid right off him. "Quit!"

"you were so comfortable a second ago" Thanos said sweetly, dragging his hands onto his waist

Semi was still talking on the other line, probably talking about random stuff she's been wanting to let out. But he wasn't paying attention to any of it.

He was way too busy watching Namgyu wiggle around nervously.

Eventually Namgyu reached down, yanked the phone out of Thanos' hand, and snapped, "Hey Semi. We gotta go. Thanos has a concussion."

And hung up.

Thanos burst out laughing. "A concussion?!"

his head tipped back, mouth wide, dimples deep.

Namgyu... hadn't moved.

Still sitting there.

Still on top of him.

Frozen.

His hands suspended awkwardly on Thanos stomach as if unsure where they were legally allowed to move.

"Why are you so quiet" Thanos chuckled, catching his breath. "Dude, are you good?"

Namgyu blinked slowly, his face unreadable... except for the bright red blush crawling up his neck.

"Shut up," he mumbled, gaze fixed at a very interesting spot on the wall.

Thanos grinned like he'd just unlocked a rare achievement. "Your like extremely red" his hand still stapled on his waist

Namgyu fidgeted. Then shifted a little. Unsure whether or not he should stand up.

Thanos lost it again.

"NAM-SU." he howled. "You're moving like a worm or something."

Namgyu went completely still.

"ITS GYU!," he hissed, slapping his chest.His entire soul now exploding with secondhand embarrassment. "Don't you have lyrics to sing or something."

"Oh, so now you care about the song," Thanos teased, raising an eyebrow. "But five minutes ago you were perfectly fine siting on my-"

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP," Namgyu smacked his shoulder.

Thanos, still laughing.

"Im cool if you want to stay like this really."

Namgyu squinted down at him like he was about to choke the life out of him. "You think I want to be here?"

"I mean..." Thanos muttered. "Your still here?"

Namgyu's entire body shuddered with disbelief. "I'll kill you!"

"Do it, coward."

But he didn't move. He stayed.

Because Thanos was warm. And his chest was rising and falling beneath Namgyu's legs like a heated pillow. His hoodie was soft, and his eyes were sleepy from laughing too hard. And Namgyu's heart was doing this dumb thing in his chest.

So he stayed.

Miserable.

Embarrassed.

Unwilling to give up the warmth.

Thanos eventually stopped laughing, his grin softening just a little. "You're really not gonna move, huh?"

Namgyu sighed. "My legs are numb."

"How numb."

"Shut up."

Thanos closed his eyes and rested his one free hands behind his head while the other stayed on Nam-gyus waist. "You know... I could get used to this."

Namgyu smacked his shoulder again, but this time it was weak.

Because maybe he could, too.

The studio floor was warm under Nam-gyu's legs, though that might've been because of the way Thanos was laid out beneath him—arms tossed wide, expression smug, and entirely too satisfied with himself.

While Nam-gyu was pretending like the whole thing wasn't happening.

"Are you good?" Thanos asked, voice thick with amusement. "Because you've been very quiet while sitting on me."

Nam-gyu shot him a glare. "You're the one who dragged me down here."

"And you're the one still sitting here," Thanos grinned, wiggling his hips slightly beneath him. "I'm starting to think your use to this position."

Nam-gyu stiffened.

"Don't."

"Don't what? Tease you?"

Nam-gyu's eye twitched. "Breathe. Don't breathe so hard."

Thanos dramatically inhaled. "Too bad. Still breathing."

Nam-gyu didn't move. The silence started stretching again, long and weird and full of things Nam-gyu didn't want to name. His hands rested on his own thighs, fingers twitching every so often. He could feel every slight rise and fall of Thanos' stomach under him. It was distracting. It was teasing.

"Why are you so tense?" Thanos said softly now, the teasing melting into something gentler.

"I'm not."

"Liar."

Nam-gyu clenched his jaw.

Thanos reached up with one hand, slow and non-threatening, and poked Nam-gyu's knee. "You're literally sitting like you're being punished."

"I am," Nam-gyu snapped. "I'm being punished for coming here. I should've stayed home."

Thanos burst out laughing, and that just made things worse.

Because now Nam-gyu was sitting on top of a laughing Thanos, and his whole body moved with each rise and fall of Thanos' chest, and it felt intimate in a way that made his face burn. So he froze. Even more.

Thanos wiped the corner of his eye with a grin. "Okay, for real though," he said, softer. "Should we stay like this or move. I don't want you uncomfortable."

Nam-gyu opened his mouth to say something,
but Thanos' other hand suddenly came up to gently touch his side. Just a slight touch, but enough to make Nam-gyu flinch.

And not because it hurt.

But because it didn't.

Nam-gyu blinked down at him, alarmed.

Thanos' thumb dragged lightly along the hem of his shirt. "You okay?"

Nam-gyu should've climbed off. He should've yelled or pushed or anything. But he didn't.

He sat there, hands trembling slightly now, the weight of the moment pressing down harder than Thanos' body beneath him.

"I don't like this," Nam-gyu said quickly.

"Yeah?" Thanos' voice was low. "Then why aren't you moving?"

Nam-gyu didn't have an answer. His breath caught. His whole body felt like static.

Thanos tilted his head, still lying flat. "Why aren't you answering me." he said, genuinely this time. "Hey—look at me."

Nam-gyu didn't.

He couldn't.

Then Thanos' voice dropped to a whisper.

"...Nam-gyu"

He said his name correctly.

That made Nam-gyu flinch again, but this time it wasn't fear. It was something sharper. Something more complicated.

He finally looked down.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Being nice to me and breathing so hard."

That made Thanos pause.

The tension swelled like a breath that couldn't quite be let out.

Then, breaking the moment like glass, Thanos grinned.

"Okay. I'll be mean then and I'll stop breathing."

Before Nam-gyu could even respond, Thanos sat up a little—just enough to pull his vape out of his hoodie pocket. Still lying mostly flat, just propped enough for Nam-gyu to shift awkwardly on his lower stomach.

"You wanna hit it?" Thanos asked, holding it up between two fingers.

Nam-gyu looked like he was about to explode. "Is this your way of calming me down or seducing me?"

Thanos shrugged. "Same thing."

Nam-gyu groaned. "You are unbelievable."

"And yet," Thanos said smugly, "you're still on top of me."

They stared at each other for a second.

And neither of them moved.

Thanos tilted the vape toward his mouth, still grinning as Nam-gyu sat stiffly on his lower stomach like an irritated cat refusing to move.

A soft inhale.

Then—fwoooosh.

He exhaled the smoke right in Nam-gyu's direction, slow and lazy like it was personal. The haze curled toward Nam-gyu's face, and he jerked back with an annoyed scoff, waving the smoke away.

"Are you five?"

"No," Thanos smirked. "I'm fun."

"You're ridiculous."

"You're still on top of me."

Nam-gyu's face twitched. He reached for the vape. "Give me that."

Thanos held it back. "Say please."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes so hard it could've got stuck. "No."

"Well then," Thanos said, settling further into the floor, "guess you're not getting it."

Nam-gyu lunged for it again, and this time Thanos laughed—loud, unfiltered, and smug before grabbing his wrist mid-reach and saying, "Fine. Baby wants a puff? Baby gets a puff."

"Ewww don't ever say that again that's so cringy of you."

Thanos already had position the vape in front of Nam-gyu's lips. He held it for him—literally hand-fed the vape to him.

Nam-gyu gave him the filthiest glare known to mankind. Then, slowly, carefully, leaned forward and took a puff.

His lips brushed the edge of Thanos' fingers.

Thanos' eyes did not miss that.

Nam-gyu exhaled to the side, still seated on him, and muttered, "I hate you."

Thanos smiled, lazy and cocky. "Yeah, but not enough to move."

Nam-gyu tried to hold the glare but faltered. "Shut up."

"You shut up."

"You shut up first."

"No, you—"

"Thanos."

"Nam-su"

They stared at each other again.

Then—laugh.

A stupid, unexpected one from Nam-gyu's lips,
It slipped out on accident and surprised him.

Thanos looked like he'd just won a trophy.

"Oh my god," Nam-gyu groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I'm losing brain cells just breathing the same air as you."

"But you're breathing it," Thanos said, smug. "Deeply."

"Shut up."

They passed the vape a few more times, silence growing softer, less charged. Thanos' hand drifted to Nam-gyu's knee absentmindedly as he exhaled another cloud, fingers tracing small circles that made Nam-gyu's entire nervous system lock up.

"I used to do this with Mi-na," Thanos said suddenly, voice quieter now.

Nam-gyu blinked, his heart dropped at the sound of her name. "What?"

"The whole... hiding in a studio, vaping on the floor, being stupid," Thanos shrugged, fingers still on his knee. "She was always mad about something though."

"Okay."

Thanos glanced up at him, amused. "You're mad."

"I'm annoyed."

"Same thing."

Nam-gyu took another puff, and this time didn't even bother pretending he's not mad. He held the smoke a little longer than usual, then exhaled into Thanos' face just to be petty.

Thanos grinned. "Now who's five?"

"You still are. I'm six."

"Oh? Older than me now?"

Nam-gyu lifted thanos chin dramatically. "Wiser."

Thanos' fingers squeezed his knee gently, and the teasing slipped just a bit. His gaze was steady now. Not so playful.

"You are," he said. "Wiser."

Nam-gyu blinked. "Don't get all weird and soft on me now."

Thanos smiled, a little slower. "Can't promise anything."

The silence hung again, this time comfortable. Smoke in the air, Nam-gyu still warm on top of him, everything buzzing with weird unspoken energy.

Then Thanos shifted slightly, letting the back of his fingers brush against Nam-gyu's thigh in a way that wasn't exactly innocent.

Nam-gyu froze.

Thanos tilted his head. "What?"

"...Nothing."

"You sure?"

"No."

Another pause.

"...Wanna do a verse together later?" Thanos asked casually, like he hadn't just touched his thigh on purpose.

Nam-gyu blinked like he'd forgotten they were even making music. "I uh yeah. Maybe."

"You write, I rap," Thanos grinned. "And then we'll sit like this again."

Nam-gyu opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then smacked Thanos lightly on the forehead. "No."

"You're still on me."

"I'm recharging."

"With my body?"

"It's warm."

Thanos smiled up at him.

Nam-gyu tried not to return it.

He failed.

They were still on the floor. Thanos half-lounging like he owned the world, and Namgyu—still sitting right on top of him like he wasn't actively losing his mind.

The vape passed between them again, warm from both their hands.

"Why are your legs so bony?" Thanos muttered suddenly, looking dead serious.

Namgyu blinked. "What?"

"I said what I said. I'm getting bruised down here."

"Shut up. Your annoying you know that?"

"And yet... you haven't moved." Thanos took the vape again and hit it like a smug little brat.

Namgyu scoffed and tried to roll his eyes—tried, because the way Thanos was looking at him again... it made his chest ache. That look wasn't casual anymore. Not teasing. Just soft. Quiet.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" Namgyu asked, voice lower now.

"Because you're hot when you're mean."

"You're such a weirdo!"

"Yeah, but I'm your weirdo"

Namgyu's mouth dropped open like he wanted to snap back—but nothing came out. Just a breath. Just a full-on spiral behind his eyes.

Thanos chuckled. His hand slid up to Namgyu's waist—just resting there at first. Then it shifted. Pressed. His thumb circled gently just under Namgyu's ribs.

"You gonna punch me?" he asked softly.

"Maybe," Namgyu muttered.

"Then hurry up. I like when you get mad. You're cute when you're mad."

Namgyu opened his mouth again—but Thanos leaned in closer, his other hand sliding along Namgyu's thigh like it belonged there.

"You're seriously pushing it," Namgyu said, trying to keep his voice steady. He tried to push Thanos' hand away again—but this time it took more effort.

Thanos didn't flinch.

"You didn't say stop," he said. "You just said I'm pushing it."

"Same difference."

"Mmm... you'd tell me to stop if you really meant it."

Namgyu pushed his hand off one more time—his own pulse racing now.

"Okay," he muttered. "Let's talk about literally anything else before I choke you to death."

Thanos laughed, and it wasn't helping. Not the way his breath was warm against Namgyu's neck, or how their legs were still tangled, or how the stupid vape was now sitting idly between them like a witness to this disaster.

"Fine," Thanos said, dragging the vape to his lips again. "New topic. If we made a music video for the album, would you play my love interest?"

Namgyu froze.

"...The heck is wrong with you?" he said, half choking on air.

Thanos grinned. "So that's a maybe?"

"That's a no. A hard no. A hard, restraining-order-level no."

Thanos chuckled again and leaned back into the floor with a lazy sigh. "You're so dramatic."

"You're so—touchy."

"You love it."

"I hate it."

"You're still on me."

Namgyu growled and grabbed the vape. "Shut up."

But he didn't move. Not really.

And neither did Thanos.

Their arms brushed again. Their knees bumped. Their legs stayed tangled like they had every right to be. Namgyu was trying not to look directly at him, his eyes glued to the ceiling like the peeling paint up there was going to save him.

But then—Thanos spoke again.

"Just say it."

"Say what."

"That you don't hate me."

"I'll say it when I'm dead."

"So next week?"

Namgyu snorted, caught off guard. He tried to hold it back, but a real, full laugh slipped through—and Thanos looked absolutely dazed.

"You're the worst," Namgyu mumbled.

"I know."

"You're clingy."

"Yup."

"You're annoying."

"I'm still your favorite."

Namgyu opened his mouth—and then shut it. His eyes flicked toward the door, his hands still lightly pushing at Thanos' chest, though he wasn't really trying to get away anymore.

"You're impossible," he said under his breath.

Thanos smirked, voice quieter now. "So why haven't you moved?"

Namgyu didn't have an answer for that.

He didn't need one.

Namgyu was still sitting on Thanos' lower stomach, stiff as a statue, arms crossed like he was protecting his soul from being destroyed But Thanos?

he was thriving underneath him—grinning like he'd just won something.

"Hey Nam-su." Thanos said, cocking a brow. "Comfortable?"

Namgyu narrowed his eyes. "Whatever."

"Yet you're here."

"Yeah. Keeping you pinned so you don't start acting stupid."

Thanos let out a slow, dramatic exhale. "Mmm. You know you're doing a horrible job at that, right?"

He pulled his vape up then exhaled toward Namgyu's face again with a crooked grin.

Namgyu swatted the smoke away. "Dude?"

"you're still sitting there."

"Whats up with that look ur still giving me?" Namgyu said flatly.

"You've got pretty lips."

Namgyu choked on leftover smoke. "Shut up."

"I'm serious like they're dying to kiss me or punch me. I'd take either."

Namgyu shoved his shoulder. "You're such a creep! Get away!"

Thanos laughed, the kind that made his whole chest move under Namgyu's palms. Because yeah—Namgyu's hands had somehow ended up resting there, pressed lightly against him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Thanos noticed. Of course he did.

And he leaned forward just a little—enough that Namgyu could feel the heat of his breath again, this time softer, like it might trail somewhere.

"By now how use are you to this."

"I hate this."

"Yeah?"

Thanos took another hit, and this time he didn't even ask—he just gently held Namgyu's chin, thumb brushing the edge of his jaw as he fed him the vape again, eyes locked like it was some kind of dare.

Namgyu inhaled. Slowly.

The touch lingered a little too long.

So did his eyes.

"Still hate it?" Thanos whispered.

Namgyu didn't answer. His heart was pounding too hard.

Every time Namgyu tried to shift, Thanos's hand would return to his waist, firmer than before. Grounding him.

"You're kinda heavy, you know," Thanos murmured eventually, his voice dipping just slightly.

"Then maybe move me."

"You'd like that, huh?" His fingers slid up from Namgyu's hip to his side. "Me picking you up."

Namgyu slapped his hand away, cheeks pink. "You're disgusting."

"You're still on top of me."

Namgyu opened his mouth to fire back—but Thanos had already lifted his hand again, brushing a knuckle along Namgyu's jaw. It was gentle. Thoughtless. Like he wasn't even trying to flirt—just couldn't help touching him.

And Namgyu didn't move away.

"You're awfully comfortable up there," Thanos murmured, voice dipped so low it rumbled through Nam-gyu's thighs.

Nam-gyu scoffed, too tense to move. "You're literally the one lying down like a mattress."

Thanos chuckled. "If I'm a mattress, you're the weighted blanket. Real warm."

Nam-gyu blinked hard, malfunctioning.

"Am not," he muttered, twitching like he might get up—only for Thanos' hands to gently settle on his waist. Firm. Warm. Way too familiar.

"Stay," Thanos said softly, eyes lidded. "You're kinda driving me crazy."

Nam-gyu sucked in a breath.

The contact—his hands. The way he said it. The look in his eyes.
His body was overstimulated in all the wrong ways.

"Don't say stuff like that," Nam-gyu exclaimed slightly stuttering trying to sound annoyed but his voice came out a little too breathy.

Thanos raised a brow. "Why not? You're funny when you squirm."

Nam-gyu twitched again—flinched, almost. "I'm not squirming."

"You're twitching. Blushing. Your knees keep pressing into my sides. You're definitely squirming."

Nam-gyu swallowed hard, his face hot.

Thanos' hands slid a little lower, fingertips pressing gently along Nam-gyu's hips, then curling around the back of his thighs. It was possessive. Way too intimate. Like he didn't care they were still on a studio floor with fluorescent lights humming above them.

"You always act tough," Thanos murmured, tugging Nam-gyu just a little closer. "But your body doesn't lie."

Nam-gyu gasped softly, lips parting. His breath shook. His fingers twitched against Thanos' chest.

"...You're such a creep." he whispered, breathless.

Thanos smirked. "Takes one to sit on one."

Nam-gyu let out a nervous, almost panicked laugh—too high-pitched. "You're so annoying—"

Then Thanos reached up, hand cupping his jaw, thumb brushing right under his bottom lip.

Nam-gyu went completely still.

"You wanna kiss me?" Thanos whispered.

Nam-gyu blinked. His hands clenched. He was trembling, nervous, his heart in his throat. His legs were hot, his chest tighter than ever.

He didn't answer—but he didn't move away either.

And so Thanos leaned up, slow, careful...

His breath grazed Nam-gyu's cheek. Their lips were inches apart. Fingers touching. Knees locked.

Then—

Nam-gyu breathed out, hands grabbing onto Thanos' wrists.

"I..." he whispered, trembling, "I can't..."

"Tell me to stop," Thanos said low.

Namgyu should've said it. Should've pushed him, rolled off, left the room entirely.

But instead, he whispered, "quit being cocky."

"Too late."

Thanos leaned in closer. Their foreheads nearly touched. His other hand slid along Namgyu's back, resting there lazily—but still possessive. The kind of hold that made Namgyu's breath stutter.

"Don't look at me like that," Namgyu muttered.

"Like what?"

"Like you're gonna kiss me."

"Do you want me to?"

The vibe in the room shifted like it was holding its breath.

Namgyu didn't reply. His body betrayed him, leaning into the touch slightly—just enough to draw them closer, just enough for the air to start shifting again.

Thanos tilted his head.

Namgyu didn't move.

They were inches apart, breathing the same air, hearts trying to out-panic each other. One more inch and they'd—

Buzz.

Namgyu blinked.

Thanos hadn't noticed

Nam-gyu glanced down.

Thanos' phone, glowing next to them.

A message.

From Mi-na.

Namgyu's stomach plummeted.

Mi-na
Missing ur face rn🙈

Namgyu went stone still.

His hands froze. His shoulders tensed. His entire body turned cold.

Thanos hadn't even seen it yet—he was too focused on Namgyu, still tracing light circles on his hip like he didn't feel the sudden shift.

Namgyu tried to hide his face. To relax his spine. To not let it show. But he could feel the blood draining from his fingers. His mind spiraled—he was still in contact with her? She's blocked. Or was supposed to be. Why is she texting him that?

"You okay?" Thanos asked, brows pinching a little in concern. "You just froze up."

"I'm fine," Namgyu lied.

Thanos reached up again, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. "You sure? You looked like you saw a ghost."

Namgyu shook his head. "Just remembered something."

Thanos chuckled softly, thumb still on his cheek. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Then he leaned in again.

Slower this time. Softer. Like it meant something. Like he wasn't just trying to win some twisted game. Like he actually cared.

Namgyu panicked.

The heat of Thanos' lips hovered close to his.

Namgyu's breath caught—he wanted to lean in so badly it hurt—but the image of that text flashed again behind his eyes.

Mi-na.

Everything Thanos did to her.

How fast he'd moved on.

And now this?

"No," Namgyu whispered suddenly, voice shaky.

Thanos blinked. "What?"

Namgyu pushed his chest gently but firmly. "Don't. I can't. Stop."

Thanos sat up slightly, hands still on Namgyu's sides. "What's wrong?"

Namgyu shook his head again, backing off him slowly. "Nothing. Just... don't."

He stood up like the floor had betrayed him, brushing imaginary dust off his pants, pretending the burn in his chest wasn't there. Thanos sat up slowly, confused, maybe even hurt—but trying not to show it.

Namgyu refused to meet his eyes.

"I need air," he muttered and walked off, leaving Thanos alone on the floor.

Behind him, Thanos picked up his phone.

Then he saw the message.

His face dropped.

His grip tightened.

"Mi-na," he whispered bitterly under his breath, heart crashing down with the realization:

Namgyu saw it. And he pulled away.

The one person he didn't want to push away.

The studio door slammed behind Nam-gyu as he stormed out, hoodie tugged over his head like armor. The cold night air slapped his face, but he didn't slow down. His chest felt like it was going to explode. What was he even doing there again? What was the point of all this?

"Nam-gyu—wait!"

Of course.

Thanos's voice chased him down like a warning.

Nam-gyu didn't stop walking. "Quit."

"Please just listen." Thanos said, rushing to catch up, grabbing the sleeve of his hoodie. "That message—Mi-na wasn't supposed to—It's not like that."

Nam-gyu yanked his arm back like it burned. "You said you blocked her."

"I did!"

"Clearly not good enough."

Nam-gyu turned sharply to face him, jaw clenched, arms crossed. "I'm not doing this. I'm not getting pulled into something just because you're bored or lonely. I'm not gonna be what u use to get over Mi-na!

Thanos looked stricken, eyes wide. "Is that what you think this is?"

Nam-gyu backed up a step, face twisting. "What am I supposed to think, huh? You flirt, you touch, you stare at me like you mean it—and then boom, you go back for Mi-na!"

"I didn't respond—"

"Yet."

The silence between them stretched tight. Thanos looked like he was unraveling right there on the sidewalk.

Nam-gyu shook his head, voice softer now. "I can't do this again. I can't let myself get used. Not by you. Not by anyone."

He turned to walk away, footsteps fast and uneven, but Thanos grabbed his wrist from behind.

"Wait—don't go, Nam-su!"

"Let go—"

But Nam-gyu twisted too hard—trying to break free from the grip, from him—and in that one second, they both lost balance.

Nam-gyu's foot landed sideways on the edge of the curb. There was a sharp crunch—pain exploded through his ankle—and before he could even process it, they were both crashing to the ground. Thanos and Nam-gyu both collapsed backwards, with a loud, clumsy thud.

"Shit!" Nam-gyu winced, curling up instinctively. "Fuck,my foot!"

Thanos scrambled up. "What happened?Are you good?"

"No!" Nam-gyu hissed, grabbing at his ankle, panic rising in his throat. "I think—I think I sprained it—"

"don't move,stop moving," Thanos said, hands fluttering like he didn't know where to touch without making it worse. "Fuck,fuck,fuck!"

Nam-gyu snapped, eyes wild. "Would you quit!?"

"You're literally in pain!"

Nam-gyu shook his head again, tears prickling in his eyes from frustration more than pain. "You shouldn't have followed me!"

"I wasn't going to let you walk away like that!" Thanos was breathless, eyes glassy now too. "I don't care if you hate me right now—I'm not letting you go thinking I never cared."

Nam-gyu looked away. "I'm not your Mi-na replacement."

Thanos's voice cracked. "You're not."

The silence hovered again. The air was freezing now. Thanos shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Nam-gyu without even asking. Then, without a word, he moved beside him and carefully pulled Nam-gyu's arm over his shoulders.

"Let me carry you back in."

Nam-gyu didn't argue this time. His ankle was throbbing, his breath short. He hated this. He hated how warm Thanos felt under his arm. He hated how his heart still skipped a little—even through the pain.

But most of all—

He hated how safe he felt in that moment.

Even now.

Even after everything.

Thanos held the studio door open with one hand and supported Nam-gyu with the other, his arm still hooked tightly around his waist. Nam-gyu limped in, face flushed—not from embarrassment, but from the sharp, pulsing pain shooting up his ankle like electricity.

The inside was quiet.

Thanos helped Nam-gyu onto the little beat-up couch and disappeared into the kitchenette without saying a word.

Nam-gyu groaned and leaned back, tossing his head against the cushion. "Fucking fantastic."

His ankle throbbed. He winced as he slowly lifted his foot onto the low table and stared at it—slightly swollen, red. He muttered something under his breath, something bitter and frustrated, then hissed again when the pain surged.

Thanos returned a few seconds later, crouched in front of him, and held up a towel-wrapped ice pack.

Nam-gyu eyed him.

"What?" Thanos said gently. "I Googled it. I'm not just winging it."

"You wing everything."

"Fair," Thanos said, lips twitching slightly—but his voice was quiet, careful. "Can I?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer. He just gave the tiniest nod, eyes darting away.

Thanos gently pressed the cold pack against Nam-gyu's ankle, both of them flinching at the same time—Nam-gyu from pain, Thanos from guilt.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, crouching low still, his eyes glued to Nam-gyu's foot. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Nam-gyu didn't reply. His jaw clenched as he kept his gaze fixed on some random sticker on the wall. Anything but Thanos.

The cold seeped into his skin, dulling the pain just slightly. The silence between them grew unbearable.

Thanos finally sat back on his heels and sighed. "You don't gotta talk-"

Nam-gyu snorted quietly. "Then stop talking."

"Wow." Thanos muttered with a weak smile.

Nam-gyu gave him a side-eye. His expression was tight and guarded, but his lips twitched for half a second. Just a second.

Thanos caught it, of course, and said nothing.

He leaned back on his palms, sitting beside the couch now instead of crouching. His shoulders were slouched, eyes tired. He didn't move an inch closer—just stayed next to him. Like a dog that knew it messed up and was just... waiting to be forgiven.

Nam-gyu glanced at him, then back at his foot.

"I'm still mad," he said quietly.

"I know."

"You shouldn't have grabbed me like that."

"I know."

Nam-gyu adjusted the ice pack slightly. "And you should have had Mi-na blocked a long time ago."

"I really know."

They sat there in that stretched-out tension. Thanos wasn't trying to flirt. Wasn't trying to touch him or make a joke. He was just... there. Steady. Watching him like he was afraid to blink.

It made Nam-gyu feel worse somehow.

A weird kind of ache bloomed in his chest, heavier than the one in his foot.

"I don't trust you, not now, not ever." he said suddenly, still not looking at him.

"I know," Thanos replied, just as quietly. "But I trust you."

Nam-gyu turned toward him, startled—but Thanos didn't look at him. He just stared ahead, legs crossed, lips in a soft frown. It didn't sound like a line. It didn't even sound like hope.

It just sounded like the truth.

Nam-gyu looked back down at his ice pack.

"...Stupid."

Thanos smiled at that.

"Welp" he whispered.

They say in silence for a while.

Then Thanos didn't ask if he could take Nam-gyu home. He just scooped him up bridal-style the second they stepped out of the studio.

"What the hell are you doing?" Nam-gyu snapped, trying to wriggle out of his grip but immediately wincing when his foot throbbed in protest.

"Carrying you," Thanos muttered, jaw tight. "You can barely walk, dumbass."

"I can hop. Put me down."

"No."

"Put me down, you purple mistake."

"Still no."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle he didn't sprain a retina too. His arms stayed crossed over his chest like a pissed-off cat being forcibly removed.

Meanwhile, Thanos carried him with an absurd level of ease—like he wasn't hauling around a whole angry human who was muttering death threats under his breath.

Thanos placed him gently into the passenger seat of his car, buckled him in like a toddler, and only then walked around to the driver's side and started the engine. Nam-gyu glared out the window, arms still crossed, looking like he was ready to murder a tree if it even looked at him wrong.

The drive was quiet.

Painfully quiet.

Nam-gyu radiated furious silence. The kind of silence that felt heavy, like it filled the car and made the air thicker. He refused to look at Thanos. His jaw was tight. His leg, propped up on a rolled jacket, throbbed in rhythm with every bump on the road.

Thanos glanced at him once. Twice. Said nothing.

Nam-gyu muttered, "You drive like you're trying to hit every pothole on purpose."

"Thanks," Thanos replied.

"Shut up would you?!"

Thanos bit back a smile. "Yes, sir."

That earned a scowl.

Once they got to Nam-gyu's apartment, Thanos was already around the car before Nam-gyu could unbuckle. And—before Nam-gyu could even begin to protest—Thanos opened the door and lifted him again.

"Oh my gosh, put me down!" Nam-gyu shouted, half kicking.

"Do you want your ankle to get worse?" Thanos grunted, carrying him up the steps like a man on a hike. Or do you want to win this argument so bad you'll crawl inside like a raccoon?"

"I would crawl. In peace. With dignity."

"You don't have dignity."

"Then put me down so I can go find it you-"

"Too late."

Thanos shoved the door open with his shoulder and walked straight in like he owned the place. Nam-gyu's mouth opened to yell at him for that too—but the moment his foot shifted, he winced and bit back a hiss. Thanos noticed. Of course he did.

He carried Nam-gyu into his bedroom and laid him down carefully on the bed. Then disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a new ice pack—way colder, fresh from the freezer—and a towel.

Nam-gyu glared at it suspiciously as Thanos crouched again in front of him.

"Let me see."

Nam-gyu didn't move.

"C'mon," Thanos said quietly.

Nam-gyu exhaled sharply through his nose, eyes narrowed, and stuck out his ankle. Thanos gently took it in both hands and wrapped the towel around it before pressing the ice against the red, swollen skin.

HSSSSSHH— Nam-gyu hissed like a feral cat and flopped back against the bed, fists tightening.

"Why is it FREEZING." he growled.

Thanos held the pack steady. "Cold's good. Swelling'll go down."

"You're not a doctor."

"You're not helpful."

Nam-gyu didn't respond. His hands clutched the sheets at his sides as he breathed through the sharp sting. His jaw was tight again, teeth grinding as he refused to look at Thanos, who sat quietly at the foot of the bed, watching his every twitch.

The silence returned—but this time, it wasn't heavy with anger. It was quieter. A bit more... exhausted.

After a moment, Thanos muttered, "I really didn't mean to hurt you."

Nam-gyu opened one eye. "Yeah we'll look at my foot!"

"I know."

Nam-gyu studied him for a beat. Thanos wasn't even trying to defend himself anymore—wasn't throwing jokes or flirty comments to get out of trouble. He just sat there with his knees pulled up, palms flat on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on the ice pack in his hand like it was the only thing keeping him from spiraling.

Nam-gyu clicked his tongue. "You're so annoying.."

"I know."

"Like, super duper annoying."

Thanos almost smiled. "That's my love language."

"Ew shut up!"

And then—for just a second—Nam-gyu's expression softened.

Just barely.

His fingers relaxed slightly against the bed sheets. His glare wasn't as sharp anymore. And Thanos? He didn't say another word.

He just stayed next to him.

Holding the ice pack in place.

As if that's all he wanted to do.

The room had gone quiet.

The kind of quiet where you could hear the soft hum of the fridge all the way in the kitchen, the subtle buzz of the city outside Nam-gyu's window, the ticking of the cheap clock above the bed. Nam-gyu hadn't spoken in a while, and Thanos could see why.

He was fading.

His eyes fluttered open and closed in slow, lazy intervals. His head lolled slightly to the side, sinking deeper into the pillow. His body, curled slightly toward the wall, had stopped shifting around in discomfort. The pain in his ankle must've dulled just enough to let him relax. He looked... softer now. Still grumpy, obviously—his brows were stubbornly furrowed even in half-sleep—but softer.

Thanos sat there on the edge of the bed, unmoving, one hand still loosely holding the towel-wrapped ice pack against Nam-gyu's ankle.

He didn't know what he was waiting for. Maybe for Nam-gyu to pass out. Maybe for himself to stop caring so much.

But then, his phone vibrated on the nightstand.

He flinched slightly. Glanced over.

Gyeong-su: "Bro where r u? Call me back NOW"

Thanos sighed under his breath and reached to grab it.

The moment he shifted, something tugged weakly at his wrist.

"Where you going," Nam-gyu mumbled, barely audible, words slurred with sleep.

Thanos blinked, frozen in place. "Gotta go. Studio stuff."

"No?.."

Thanos stared.

Nam-gyu's fingers—barely curled, heavy with exhaustion—tightened weakly around the sleeve of his hoodie. He was still mostly asleep, eyes only half-open, lashes fluttering, but his voice came again, quieter this time.

"Stay."

Thanos' breath hitched.

He hesitated.

He really shouldn't. There were things to do. Calls to return. Boundaries to maintain. He wasn't even sure where the two of them stood right now. But the way Nam-gyu was holding onto him—like he didn't even realize he was doing it—something about that tugged a little too hard at his chest.

"Nam-gyu..."

"Shut up and stay." came the whisper, soft and vulnerable in a way he never was when fully awake. "Don't go."

Thanos swallowed thickly. Closed his eyes for a second.

Then sighed.

"you're such a brat."

Nam-gyu didn't respond. Just tugged again, weaker this time.

Thanos kicked off his shoes.

Crawled over the covers.

And carefully, carefully, slid under them, trying not to jostle the bed too much. He didn't even mean to face him at first—but Nam-gyu shifted instinctively toward him, brow still faintly furrowed, exhaling through his nose as if annoyed by how cold the bed had been without Thanos in it.

The ice pack thudded to the floor, forgotten.

Thanos didn't move to pick it up.

He just lay there, a little stiff at first, unsure how close was too close—until Nam-gyu curled slightly toward him, his knee brushing Thanos' thigh, and his head resting just barely near Thanos' chest.

Thanos blinked at the ceiling.

Oh my gosh,he thought, what the hell am I doing.

Nam-gyu's breathing slowed.

He'd already fallen asleep.

And Thanos?

He closed his eyes and stayed.

Because deep down, even with everything in him screaming that this was a bad idea—he couldn't bring himself to leave.

Nam-gyu stirred with a groggy hum, eyes scrunching against the soft morning light bleeding through the curtains. He blinked slowly, still caught in the hazy fog of half-sleep, until—

Wait.

Why was his face pressed into something warm?

And...why was something wrapped tightly around his waist?

His eyes flew open.

Thanos.

Arms locked snugly around him, chest flush to Nam-gyu's back, one leg tangled over his like he had any right to be that comfortable. The heat of him, the way he'd practically melted into him overnight—it made Nam-gyu's brain short-circuit. His breath caught in his throat.

What the actual hell.

He froze. Then very carefully—very carefully—started to shift away.

But the moment he moved, Thanos' grip tightened.

Like clockwork.

Nam-gyu's eye twitched. "You've gotta be kidding me..."

Thanos, still very much asleep, just burrowed closer, his nose brushing against the side of Nam-gyu's neck like a sleepy animal refusing to be disturbed. A soft, sleepy breath fanned against Nam-gyu's skin.

And then—pain.

A sharp bolt shot through his ankle as his leg shifted.

"Ugh,fuck." he groaned, voice cracking, fingers gripping the sheets.

That did it.

Thanos stirred.

Still groggy, he blinked a few times, squinting down at Nam-gyu. "Mmm... what..."

Nam-gyu glared, already flushed. "Get. The. Fuck. Off."

"What're you yelling for?" Thanos mumbled, his voice low and thick with sleep. He barely even opened his eyes as he shifted and snuggled back into Nam-gyu's shoulder. "You're warm."

"I'm disabled."

"Mmm. Sexy."

Nam-gyu smacked him across the face.

"Get away."

That made Thanos pause.

He blinked again, and finally leaned back, eyes dropping down to Nam-gyu's ankle "Oh,shit. Sorry. I forgot."

Nam-gyu tried to sit up, but the stiffness in his body and maybe the fact that Thanos was still kind of holding him lmade it hard to move.

Thanos looked sheepish, now more awake. "You, uh... want another ice pack?"

Nam-gyu scowled. "No, I want you out of my bed."

Thanos didn't budge. He smirked. "You didn't seem to mind it last night."

Nam-gyu's entire soul combusted. "I DONT EVEN REMEMBER THAT?"

"You were snuggling," Thanos said smugly.

"I WAS UNCONSCIOUS, YOU FREAK."

"You literally asked me to stay."

Nam-gyu, red-faced and flustered, grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at his face. "GO GET THE DAMN ICE PACK."

Thanos caught it with a laugh.

"Okay okay." he said, finally sliding off the bed.

Nam-gyu groaned and flopped back, staring up at the ceiling like the universe was personally bullying him.

And honestly? It probably was.

Thanos pushed the door open with his elbow, balancing a too-cold ice pack in one hand and a mug of half-warm tea in the other, whispering to himself,

He crept inside like a raccoon with a conscience—trying not to wake Nam-gyu in case he had miraculously fallen back asleep.

Except Nam-gyu was already awake, sitting up with the blanket halfway off, face scrunched in annoyance and pain. "Took you long enough. Did you stop for brunch or—?"

"Calm down," Thanos said with a smirk, holding up the ice pack like a peace offering. "Cold enough to make you forget your name."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes but didn't protest when Thanos came over and gently pressed the ice against his ankle.

He hissed, eyebrows knitting together. "That's—actually freezing."

"Would you prefer fire?"

Nam-gyu swatted at him lazily, but Thanos didn't move away—he crouched by the bed, watching Nam-gyu carefully, eyes softer now. "You okay?"

"Im fine."

Thanos gave a small laugh. "You're lucky I didn't kick you-"

Nam-gyu threw the pillow at him again in anger.

Just as Thanos caught it, they both heard it.

Voices.

From the kitchen.

And one of them?

Very clearly female.

Thanos blinked. "Who—?"

Nam-gyu responded. "Oh. Right. Forgot to mention."

Thanos narrowed his eyes. "What."

"Uh... my sister's here."

"Your what now?"

"Yeah—Young-mi. She dropped off some random gift for Semi. They're talking. They been friends for a while somehow."

"You have a sister?!"

"Calm down.."

He whipped the blanket off himself. "Help me up!"

"What—why?! You can't even walk!"

"Help me up or I'm crawling out!"

Thanos sighed and hooked an arm around his waist, pulling him up slowly, carefully, while Nam-gyu winced the whole way.

As soon as he was steady, Nam-gyu leaned on Thanos and limped toward the door.

He cracked it open just an inch—peeked.

His eyes locked on two girls in the kitchen. One of them—definitely Young-mi—was laughing about something, a bright pink gift bag on the counter. Semi had a spoon in her mouth and was nodding dramatically

Nam-gyu shut the door.

He turned to Thanos with wild eyes. "How are u supposed to leave?"

"Shes kinda hot."

Nam-gyu blinked "...Don't fucking say that about my sister! Then shoved him. "You're so weird."

Thanos grinned. "Are you jealous?"

"No? I'm not weird like you! Just give me the tea and leave me to die in peace!"

"NAM-GYU!" Semi's voice rang through the hallway like a war cry. "COME SAY HI TO UR SISTER, RIGHT NOW!!"

Nam-gyu's soul left his body.

He turned to Thanos with a full panic stare. "I swear I'll kill my self right here."

Thanos blinked, equally startled. "Why does she sound like a mom calling her kid to come greet guests at a family cookout.."

Namgyu and thanos  looked at the floor, then looked at the bed.

"Go"

Thanos dropped to his knees and shoved himself under the bed like a teenage raccoon avoiding confrontation.

"WAIT HOWD YOU FIT?," Nam-gyu whisper-screamed, staring at the mattress shifting from Thanos's movement. "You're not even small! How are you—?!"

"I sucked in my dignity and my stomach," Thanos grunted from under the frame. "Go! Limp like a pro!"

Nam-gyu could barely breathe from nerves and from embarrassment.

With one final sigh, he swung the door open—and started limping into the hallway like a poorly animated character."

He braced himself, expecting everyone to notice the awkwardness, the limp, the guilt plastered on his face.

"Hi Nam-gyu!" Young-mi practically gasped, stepping forward with wide eyes and a smile that could power a small city.

Nam-gyu blinked. "Uh... yeah. Hi?"

And before he could do anything else—she hugged him.

Full on arms around neck hug.

He nearly stumbled backward in shock, awkwardly patting her back while trying not to wince from his sore ankle.

"I missed you so much!," she said, pulling away, grinning. " I heard u went on a date with Yu-ri!"

"What!? It not like that!"

"Yeah sureeee." She winked and turned to grab something from the table.

Nam-gyu turned to Semi with pure betrayal in his eyes. Semi just sipped her drink and mouthed, "You're welcome."

Meanwhile—back in the room—Thanos lay under the bed, absolutely suffering in silence.

His phone buzzed beside him.

Gyeong-su
"Why didn't u call me back?? Are you at Nam-gyus?? Dude I'm omww!!" and you better explain EVERYTHING!"

Thanos covered his mouth with a pillow and screamed silently into it.

Nam-gyu hobbled down the hallway, cradling his sore ankle with every step like it personally betrayed him. The gift from his sister was still tucked under his arm—a box of something that smelled like chocolates and guilt.

His bedroom door was half-cracked open.

He frowned.

Why was it never closed? Why did people in this apartment act like doors were just suggestions?

He pushed it open fully—and froze.

Gyeong-su and Thanos were inside.

Standing.

Facing each other.

Arguing.

But not loud—quiet arguing.

The kind where their jaws were clenched, and their hands were twitching at their sides like they both wanted to scream but couldn't risk it.

"Dude tomorrow at night is the deadline! And you broke his foot!" Gyeong-su muttered, eyes sharp.

"He sprained it not broke. Do you think I planned it?" Thanos hissed under his breath. "You think Im not trying to hurry it up!"

Gyeong-su shot him a look like he was absolutely not buying the dramatics.

That's when Nam-gyu stepped in with a slow, suspicious blink.

The tension in the room evaporated like a fire alarm going off.

Gyeong-su's mouth clamped shut instantly. Thanos took a full step back like he'd been caught stealing from a church.

"Um..." Thanos cleared his throat, looking at literally anything but Nam-gyu. "So hey.."

"Hi Nam-gyu Gyeong-su added, voice strained. "..how are you?."

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow and slowly put the gift box down on his desk, not saying a word.

He stared between the two of them.

Gyeong-su looked like he was trying not to snap a pencil in half.

Thanos looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.

"Why are you here?.." Nam-gyu finally said, voice flat.

"Uhm.."Gyeong-su replied immediately.

Thanos nodded way too fast. "He's actually leaving right now so.."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, sighing as he limped past them and dropped onto the edge of the bed. "You guys are genuinely so annoying."

They both froze like guilty kids.

Nam-gyu looked up at them again, his expression unreadable.

"Gyeong-su you out." he said dryly, "you too Thanos."

Thanos opened his mouth.

Paused.

Closed it.

Then looked at Gyeong-su.

As soon as Gyeong-su realized Nam-gyu was not buying their excuse, and Thanos was one second away from emotionally combusting, he did what any emotionally mature adult man would do in this situation:

He fled.

"Water," he muttered, slipping out the door like it was a burning building. "Getting water. Thirsty. So thirsty."

He didn't even wait for a reply.

The hallway was quiet—cool, a little too bright. His jaw was still clenched from the argument, and his thoughts were stuck on Nam-gyu's ankle,and their deadline, and how he might actually lose his job if they didn't finish this album.

He turned the corner too fast.

And slammed into someone.

"Ah!—!"

Something dropped—he caught it instinctively. A small wrapped box—probably the gift from earlier.

He blinked.

She blinked back.

Short brown hair, light gray hoodie. Soft cheeks, wide eyes, and a extremely shy face,It was—

"Sorry..." she said quietly,reaching out to steady him. "...wasn't watching where I was going" nervously looking around.

Gyeong-su just... stood there.

Holding her gift.

Staring at her.

This was not the expression he wore around most people. Usually it was tired, stressed all hidden with a smile and vaguely annoyed

But now?

He was nervous and shy

"You're... uh..." he stammered.

"My names Young-mi" she softy smiled, offering her hand.

"Gyeong-su," he replied, taking it like a confused kid.

Her hands was warm.

And the second he let go, he missed it.

"Nice to meet you, Gyeong-su," she said, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You're... in the studio team, right? Producer or something?"

"Yeah I'm an assistant. Like I do schedules. and the deadlines." He cleared his throat. "I'd say I'm pretty good at it.."

"Oh," she said, eyes twinkling. "That's hard isn't it?"

He looked like he just short-circuited.

Young-mi fidgeted.

Gyeong-su looked like he was about to explode in nervousness

"I should uh return this," he muttered, holding out her gift box. "You dropped it."

"Thanks," she said brushing his hand when she grabbed it. "I like your name."

He stared. "Thank you. Your name is cute as well."

She laughed.

And before he could say another word—Thanos yelled from the room, "GYEONG-SU!"

Gyeong-su flinched.

Young-mi laughed again. "Im gussing you have to go?"

He nodded stiffly, eyes still locked on her like she just rewired his brain.

"Maybe I'll see you again?" she said, already walking past him toward the kitchen.

He turned slowly.

Watched her go.

Mumbled to himself, "Please."

Nam-gyu was halfway lying on the bed, still icing his ankle, arms crossed, completely ignoring Thanos who was pretending not to stare at him every five seconds. Tension? Oh, it was thriving in this room. The silence was awkward and thick.

Then—

The door swings open.

And in walks Gyeong-su.

Giggling.

Not chuckling.

GIGGLING.

His usual expression? Gone. That 'work alcoholic' look? Vanished. Replaced with the softest smile and that type of head-tilted, slow-blink expression

Nam-gyu blinked. "...Are you okay?"

Thanos raised an eyebrow. "Who drugged you my boy??"

Gyeong-su strolled in like he wasn't floating on cloud nine and sat on the chair by the desk, practically glowing.

"Nothing," he mumbled through another giddy laugh. "Just ran into someone."

Thanos squinted suspiciously. "What someone?"

"Nothing serious," Gyeong-su said too quickly, sipping water like it was wine and he was in love with the glass.

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes. "...What's her name."

Gyeong-su didn't say anything. But his mouth twitched.

"OH MY GOSH." Nam-gyu sat straight up, flinching at the pain in his ankle. "NO. NO. GYEONG-SU TELL ME YOU DIDN'T—"

Thanos tilted his head. "Wait—who'd you see—?"

"MY SISTER," Nam-gyu screeched.

Gyeong-su blinked. "She bumped into me first."

"DUDE NO??"

Thanos choked on his spit.

"Young-mi???" he gasped.

Nam-gyu grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it. "THIS IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS IS A LITERAL NIGHTMARE. WAKE ME UP. I REFUSE—"

"She's so very nice," Gyeong-su said softly, eyes dreamy.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Nam-gyu yelled, throwing the pillow at him. "YOU'RE A BURNT-OUT WORKAHOLIC!"

"And she's sunshine," Gyeong-su whispered like he was writing poetry.

Nam-gyu stared at him, horrified. "I'm gonna pass out. THATS MY LITTLE SISTER? SHES LIKE 2 YEARS YOUNGER THEN YOU!"

Thanos, fully amused at this, sat back with a smirk. "This is the best thing that's ever happened."

"Shut up,I should have killed you yesterday when I had the chance after that stunt you pulled!" Nam-gyu snapped.

Gyeong-su blinked. "Wait—what happened last night?"

Nam-gyu and Thanos both froze.

"NOTHING." they shouted in unison.

Gyeong-su narrowed his eyes. "Did-"

"GYEONG-SU STAY AWAY FROM MY LITTLE SISTER!!!" Nam-gyu shrieked, deflecting like his life depended on it.

Thanos burst out laughing so hard he fell backward on the bed.

"How about we go to the studio.." trying to change the subject

Thanos and Nam-gyu groan in sync
________

The studio lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting soft golden halos on the mixing boards and cables snaking across the floor. The room smelled like coffee, vape smoke, and the undeniable scent of deadlines.

Gyeong-su entered first with a sigh that sounded older than his soul. "I better see completed work."

"Yeah yeah whatever." Thanos muttered as he walked in behind him.

Nam-gyu stepped in last, silent. Hoodie over his head. Expression unreadable. One headphone in. His usual corner desk was calling to him, and he walked to it without a word. His ankle still ached faintly, but he ignored it—like everything else.

Thanos watched him go, hesitating.

Gyeong-su glanced between them. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"Nope," Thanos muttered, already walking toward Nam-gyu's setup. "Everything's fine hes just pissed from his leg."

He reached for the chair next to Nam-gyu's usual seat—the one he always took, where he'd lean close and give annoying feedback or sneakily lean on him. But the moment Thanos touched the back of the chair, Nam-gyu immediately turned.

He shoved the chair away. Hard.

It screeched against the floor.

The whole room fell quiet.

Even Gyeong-su stopped mid paper organizing.

Thanos blinked. "...Really?"

Nam-gyu didn't even look at him.

"Sit somewhere else."

His tone was flat, emotionless—but under it, there was a sharp edge.

Thanos opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Gyeong-su raised a brow from the other side of the room, mouthing 'oh damn' to himself before pretending to busy himself.

Minsu finally burst in, laptop under his arm,phone in the other, like he didn't feel the tension in the air slap him across the face." did group chat really to have my picture as the-"

He stopped. Looked at Thanos. Looked at Nam-gyu. Looked at his ankle. Looked at the aggressively shoved chair.

"...I missed something, didn't I..."

Nam-gyu didn't even respond. He was already pulling up the beat file, his fingers twitching on the keyboard. Focused.

Thanos stood there for a beat longer, staring at Nam-gyu like he was trying to read a foreign language. He finally scoffed under his breath and sat somewhere else, far enough not to breathe the same air, but close enough to watch him.

He didn't understand what flipped so hard. Was it there little touchy moment? The text from Mi-na? His foot?

Gyeong-su leaned in toward Thanos. "Do I get to know what happened?"

Thanos didn't answer. He was too busy watching Nam-gyu's stiff shoulders, the way his jaw clenched with every click of the mouse, the way his fingers looked a little more tense than usual—like he was trying too hard to not feel anything at all.

Nam-gyu, of course, didn't look back once. Didn't speak. Didn't even twitch when Thanos cleared his throat a few times as if to say 'hey.'

He wasn't just pissed.
He was annoyed.

And that silence said more than words ever could.

The studio lights were dim. Not moody, romantic dim—just the sad, tired kind, where no one had the energy to fix the flickering overhead. The air was thick with unspoken things, and the faint ticking only made it worse.

They hadn't said a single word to each other since they walked in.

It was like they'd never shared a bed. Never almost kissed. Never been touchy. Never fallen asleep with their legs tangled together and bruised feelings pressing into their skin.

It was like they'd never even met.

Thanos pulled out his phone and opened their chat. His thumb hovered for a second before typing.

T-you're really gonna ignore me the whole time?

He watched the top of Nam-gyu's head from across the room. No reaction. No flicker of attention.

Then, finally—his phone lit up.

N-what

Thanos blinked. It was short. Cold. Clean. Like Nam-gyu had taken a blade to everything that ever meant anything between them.

His phone light up again

N-you have a deadline. Let's just get it done.

Chapter Text

Nam-gyu sat hunched in the farthest corner of the studio, one leg crossed over the other, hoodie strings tangled in his fingers as he glared at his

T- u mad or what

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes so hard it almost gave him a headache.

N-tf you want?

T-I dunno

N-one more message and i'm unplugging your laptop

Across the room, Thanos snorted quietly and stretched in his chair, fingers flying back across the screen. Nam-gyu didn't look up, but he felt the weight of his stare like it was hands on his skin.

T- u threatening me?

N-ask ur self that

T- U just tryna be scary now bc ur mad

N- get over yourself? I regret even getting close to u

N- funny. u were close enough to sit on me the other night u sure u regret it.

Nam-gyu slammed his phone face-down and stared hard at the soundboard like it was gonna save him from this purple haired bitch. His knee bounced, fingers twitching in his lap.

Thanos sent another.

T- look up. just once. i dare u

Nam-gyu didn't.

But his face burned.

"WHAT THE?!"

Everyone's heads whipped toward Min-su. Nam-gyu jumped in his seat, practically dropping his phone. Thanos didn't even look up — yet.

Minsu was clutching his phone like it held the secrets of the universe.

"Oh my gosh." he gasped, eyes wide and locked on the screen. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh-"

"What?" Gyeong-su rushed over, nearly tripping over a tangle of cords. "Dude, what?! DID WE MISS THE DEADLINE-"

"No, worse," Minsu breathed, and then turned the phone toward the group. "Mi-na."

Nam-gyu blinked. "What about her—?"

And then he saw it.

There she was. Mi-na. Fresh makeup, hair done up, the soft filter glowing over her skin. A story post, looping every few seconds. But it wasn't just that. It was what was playing behind her.

It was Thanos' song.

And not just any track — it was a un released track

She was lip syncing, all slow and flirty. mouthing every word like she wrote it herself. Her eyes winked into the camera, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

And Thanos?

Thanos finally looked up.

His brows pulled together as he saw the screen. Everyone in the room stared — even Nam-gyu, despite the storm boiling in his chest.

"You sent her a song?" Nam-gyu said, low and sharp. Obviously pissed.

Thanos blinked slowly. "No."

"She got it somehow," Gyeong-su muttered. "It's the demo we did like... what three nights ago."

Minsu,observing the video "What is she trying to do?"

Nam-gyu's jaw clenched. "Shes annoying."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Thanos sat back in his chair, eyes glued to the screen, lips slightly parted. There was a flicker in his expression — confusion, maybe. Longing. Regret. Something ugly and buried deep.

And Nam-gyu saw it.

He saw all of it.

And it burned.

"So what," Nam-gyu said, anger in his voice now, "you miss her or something?"

Thanos finally looked at him. That stupid unreadable face.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

"Guys—" Minsu started.

"I said I didn't send it," Thanos replied, sharper now. "Why would I send her a demo? She's blocked."

Nam-gyu laughed bitterly. "Yeah. Super blocked."

"Okay, let's chill—" Gyeong-su tried.

But Nam-gyu stood up, shoving his chair back, heart pounding in his throat. "You know what? I hope she sings the whole damn album. Maybe she'll make it sound better."

"Whats going on between u two?" Minsu muttered, eyes darting nervously between the two.

Thanos stood too now, slow but deliberate. His voice dropped to something almost dangerous. "You done?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

At least not yet.

"I knew it ," he scoffed, voice sharp, "your were never over her."

Thanos clenched his jaw, that smug mask of his twitching ever so slightly. "Don't start with me right now."

"Oh? Why not?" Nam-gyu stepped forward. "Because your ex is out here lip-syncing to your unreleased song while you're pretending not to be foaming at the mouth to go back to her?"

"I'm not—"

Ding.

The room fell still.

A single buzz from Thanos's phone vibrated against the desk, face down. It was like fate timed it perfectly — dramatic pause, dramatic silence, dramatic text.

Everyone turned.

Thanos blinked, glanced down, then turned his phone over with slow fingers.

And there it was like always.

Mi-na.

Her name.

Clear as day.

Big bold letters staring up at him from the screen.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"You just said she was blocked?" Gyeong-su said, stunned.

"She is." Thanos stared at the screen like it just stabbed him in the chest. "She must've used another number."

Minsu leaned in. "What did she say?"

Thanos didn't answer.

He read the message once. Then again.

Nam-gyu's heart dropped — because suddenly, Thanos wasn't looking as distressed anymore. He was just...quiet.

Mi-na: "your voice is real nice why don't u come over sl I can hear it in person?"

Nam-gyu saw it. Saw the way Thanos's thumb hovered over the keyboard. The way his lips twitched like he didn't know whether to smile or scream. The way his mind suddenly wasn't here anymore.

Nam-gyu exploded.

"Wow. You gonna reply?"

Thanos glanced up, caught off guard. "What?"

"Go ahead," Nam-gyu said, backing up, hands trembling at his sides. "Text her back. Tell her you'll be there in five.Don't leave her on seen."

Thanos stood up. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I do," Nam-gyu snapped. "You're not over her. You've never been over her."

"That's not true."

"You saw that message and tried not to smile."

"Because it was a surprise!" Thanos shouted. "Not because I want her back!"

"Then why do you look like that!" His voice breaking.

Thanos froze.

Nam-gyu's voice cracked now. "You said she was out of your life. You said she was blocked. Why does she still have this much power over you, huh? Why are you still giving her this much space when—"

He caught himself.

Too late.

Thanos blinked. "When what?"

Nam-gyu's throat closed.

Gyeong-su took a slow step back. Minsu bit his lip like he was watching a VERY interesting scene in a movie. No one dared say a word.

Nam-gyu looked away, blinking hard.

"I'm done," he muttered, grabbing his phone and coat. "I'm not doing this."

Thanos followed him toward the door. "Wait—"

"No."

"Nam-gyu quit!"

"No."

He yanked the door open.

But before stepping out, he turned back.

"Block her. For real this time. Or don't. I don't care anymore."

And then he was gone.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Thanos standing in the quiet, fingers still curled around his phone, with Mi-na's message glowing on the screen like a ghost.

Nam-gyu didn't even remember how he got there. One minute he was storming out, heart racing, throat tight. The next, he was a few feet down the street, knees tucked to his chest, back pressed against a lamppost as cold wind whipped around him.

And then he broke.

He didn't even try to stop it.

He buried his face in his hands and cried—really cried. Not the angry, sharp kind of tears. Not the ones that boiled with rage. These were the silent, suffocating sobs that dragged out of him like they'd been waiting for months. Years, maybe.

His shoulders shook. His fingers curled into his hair. His breathing came out in wheezing hiccups as tears slid down his cheeks and soaked into his sleeves.

"What's wrong with me..." he whispered, voice cracking like glass. "What did I do wrong?"

He thought about Mi-na. About her stupid perfect hair. Her perfect voice. Her perfect timing—always showing up in the exact moment Nam-gyu felt close to something real. Close to Thanos.

And then it was gone.

Gone again.

"Why her?" he choked. "Why is it always her?"

She didn't even like the kind of music Thanos made. She used to talk trash about it behind his back. She didn't care about the studio or their long nights. She didn't see him—not the way Nam-gyu did.

Nam-gyu knew the real Thanos. The sad one. The annoying one. The one who made up dumb lyrics while brushing his teeth and left half-empty coffee cups everywhere. The one who laughed too hard and flirted like an idiot.

So why couldn't he be enough?

Why couldn't Thanos choose him?

Why couldn't he just block her?

"Am I that easy to forget?" he whispered, tears spilling faster now. "Am I just... someone to pass time with? Until she shows up again?"

His hands trembled violently as he tried to wipe his face, but more tears followed.

A wave of shame crashed over him.

He hated this.

He hated that he let himself care. That he'd fallen so far for someone who still couldn't choose him.

And worst of all, he hated that no matter how mad he got, or how badly he wanted to run, the moment Thanos touched him, he melted.

But maybe that was the problem.

Maybe Thanos only wanted the version of him that was easy. Quiet. Touchable.

Not the real Nam-gyu.

Not the one with walls. With trauma. With fear.

"God, I'm so stupid," he muttered, curling further into himself. "I'm so fucking stupid."

A car drove by slowly, headlights washing over him like a spotlight on the most humiliating night of his life. He didn't look up. He didn't move.

He just sat there.

In the cold.

Alone.

And for the first time in a long time... he let himself break.

While Nam-gyu sat there on the pavement, rain beginning to drizzle like the sky itself had been watching the whole thing.

His hair slowly clung to his cheeks, already soaked with tears. His hoodie darkened, fabric growing heavier as the water poured down harder, as if the universe couldn't handle his sadness either and had to let it out somehow.

And that's when he broke more.

He wiped his cheeks furiously and muttered through his sobs, "Fine... fine... if you want her so bad..."

He remembered about her dumb perfect photos with her pouty lips and shiny hair and soft, dewy skin,he cried harder with rage and heartbreak colliding in his chest.

Then he reached out a shiny piece of metal from pavement and desperately tried to fix himself while using the piece as a mirror.

He ran a trembling hand through his wet hair, smoothing it down like Mi-nas hair. He even tried to make his lips soft with the rain. He didn't do this on purpose.

Just felt like the right choice to do.

He whispered to himself, broken and soaked, "Is this what you want, Thanos? Do you want me to be her or something."

Another sob escaped him, loud and pathetic.

"..I'd rather be me."

The rain poured harder now, thunder rumbling somewhere in the distance. He tried to stand up and get to shelter, using the lamppost to lift himself—

But the second he put pressure on his injured foot, it gave out.

He slipped, hit the concrete with a dull thud, and let out a sharp cry of pain.

"Fuck—!" he whimpered, curling up again.

The ache in his ankle was unbearable a now. It pulsed with each beat of his frantic heart. His hands gripped at the wet ground, his knees scraping against the pavement. Every breath he took came out ragged, rattled, and full of self-loathing.

He lay there, fully defeated, chest heaving and tears mixing with the rain as if he couldn't tell which was which anymore.

And then he gave up.

He didn't even try to get up again.

He just sat there, soaked, shaking, curled into himself like a forgotten child. The pain in his foot was nothing compared to the one in his heart.

"I hate you..." he whispered to the storm. He didn't know if he meant Thanos. Or Mi-na. Or himself.

Probably all of them.

"I fucking hate you..."

The streetlights flickered in the storm. Somewhere far off, music from the studio still leaked through faint cracks in the wall.

But out here—it was just Nam-gyu.

Cold.

Alone.

And drowning in a storm no one even knew he was in.

Well that's at least what Nam-gyu thought.

He buried his face into his arms, curling tighter into himself like he could vanish if he tried hard enough. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and his body trembled—not just from the cold, but from the exhaustion of being vulnerable for so long.

Suddenly a shadow casted on him and the rain stopped pouring.

He lifted his head, squinting through the blur of rain and tears. And there she was.

Yu-ri.

Standing over him with a soft yellow umbrella, her lips parted slightly, unsure what to say. Her eyes were wide, shocked, a little scared, but kind. She didn't say "What happened?" or "Are you okay?"—she just crouched down slowly, careful not to slip.

Her hand was warm on his back.

"...Yu-ri?" Nam-gyu's voice cracked. It was barely more than a whisper.

"Shh," she murmured, so gentle it nearly shattered him. "Don't talk yet. Just breathe."

He did.

Barely.

She slid an arm under his shoulders and helped him up without another word. He stumbled forward, and her arm tightened around his waist without hesitation. The umbrella tilted, shielding both their heads as they limped together toward a nearby bench under a dim awning.

Nam-gyu sat with a heavy thud, head down, hair dripping onto his lap.

Yu-ri peeled off her own hoodie and wrapped it around his shoulders.

Still no questions. Just her soft kindness.

She crouched again, this time in front of him, and wiped the rain from his cheeks with her sleeves—though more tears kept falling anyway.

He didn't have to explain himself. She wasn't asking him to.

And just a few steps away, across the street, behind a black building stood Thanos.

A single bead of rain slid down his cheek—not that he noticed.

His umbrella was clutched tightly in one hand, the jacket for Nam-gyu held in the other. His knuckles were white, his jaw locked, his eyes locked on them.

Yu-ri's fingers brushed Nam-gyu's cheek. Nam-gyu leaned into the touch like he was touched starved.

And Thanos stood frozen. Like someone had punched the wind out of his chest.

He was too late.

The jacket wouldn't matter now.

He took a step back, eyes still fixed on them, and that was when Nam-gyu almost looked up. But he didn't.

So Thanos turned.

Slowly.

The umbrella dipped. The rain returned.

And the jacket meant for Nam-gyu remained in his hand, useless.

They sat on the bench under the awning, raindrops tapping rhythmically against the umbrella now closed and resting at Yu-ri's side. The storm had calmed—but Nam-gyu hadn't.

He was clutching her hoodie tighter around his shoulders, shivering even though she'd wrapped him up like a gift, their knees touching.

Yu-ri looked over. "...Do you wanna talk about it now?"

He stayed quiet for a second, then gave a small, pitiful laugh.

"It's so stupid."

"No, it's not."

Nam-gyu's bottom lip trembled. "You don't even know what it is yet."

Yu-ri just waited, not pushing, not expecting. That was the worst part—it made him want to actually tell her.

He exhaled shakily. "I-it's just—someone I trusted. Someone I thought was..." He paused, eyes unfocused. "Never mind."

Yu-ri didn't speak. Just let the silence sit with him.

Nam-gyu looked at her, wet lashes blinking hard. "I liked him," he whispered. "The mystery rapper, his name is Thanos.

Yu-ri's expression froze.

Nam-gyu flinched at his own honesty like he'd confessed a crime. "I mean—not that it matters. It wasn't even—like that. He doesn't like me back. It was probably a joke to him. Or something casual. Or maybe he just used me to feel better about his ex Mi-na." His voice cracked. "that's so pathetic."

Yu-ri's mouth parted slightly, her breath catching. "You... and Thanos? As in the rapper? As in MY Nam-gyu?"

He nodded, eyes red, voice fragile. "I was stupid, right?"

She didn't say anything.

His fingers clenched around the hem of the hoodie. "He was... holding me. And I was okay with it. I thought he was staying because of me. I thought he cared. But then she texted. And it's like—she's supposed to be blocked.Its like she's just waiting for him to take her back."

"Mi-na?The influencer?"

Nam-gyu nodded. "She always wins."

The silence grew, heavier this time. He forced a weak smile. "Bet you didn't expect that."

Yu-ri blinked hard, then looked back at him "No. I didn't."

Nam-gyu's shoulders tensed. "I'm sorry."

"No." She turned to him. "Don't apologize. Just..." Her voice softened. "Just tell me this—are you okay?"

His lip quivered again, eyes glistening. "No."

Yu-ri reached over, gently took his hand. "Thank you for telling me. That must've been really hard."

He looked at her, unsure. "Aren't you... mad?"

She gave a sad smile. "Maybe a little." Then her eyes welled up slightly. "I'm heartbroken for you. You didn't deserve that. And I'm still your friend, I'd personally preferred girl Infront of it,but I don't care."

Nam-gyu sniffled. Then, finally, a real tearful laugh. "You're... kind of annoying for being so nice."

She smiled wider, nudging his shoulder. "And you're kind of dramatic for destroying your self for him."

Nam-gyu looked down. "...I thought it was him."

Yu-ri squeezed his hand tighter. "Trust me. I understand everything."

"Would it be alright with u if I excuse myself to call Se-mi," she said softly, brushing rainwater from her sleeves. "She should know what's going on, and she needs to get u out of here."

Nam-gyu nodded without looking up.

Yu-ri hesitated for a moment before stepping away from the bench, crossing under the awning and toward the street to make the call.

The moment she was gone, silence returned.

Nam-gyu sat hunched, fingers still shaky,knuckles white against his lap. But now... the ache was lighter. The pain still stung, sure—his heart still felt bruised and stupid—but it wasn't crushing his chest anymore.

Telling someone. That changed things.

He looked up at the sky, the soft gray clouds parting slightly as the rain calmed into nothing but the occasional drip from a tree leaf. His hair was still damp, the collar of Yu-ri's hoodie still sticking to the side of his neck, but the world felt... quieter.

Less lonely.

He sighed.

When Yu-ri returned, she was already slipping her phone into her pocket, her brows furrowed but her expression gentle. "Semi's on her way," she said. "Like... probably already speeding."

Nam-gyu smiled a little. "I figured she would."

Yu-ri gave a small laugh, then glanced behind her toward the street. "I should go. My brother's waiting for me."

Nam-gyu nodded slowly. "Thanks for... everything."

She paused—then stepped forward and hugged him.

Tight.

Not a brief, polite hug—but a full, grounding, kind of hug.

"You're not as alone as you think,im always here for you. None of this is ur fault." she whispered near his ear. "Okay?"

He clutched her back for a second, then pulled away, eyes glassy again.

Yu-ri smiled, already backing up. "Be nice to Se-mui she was screaming over the phone. When I was explaining."

Nam-gyu gave a shaky chuckle. "Of course she was."

And with one last wave, Yu-ri turned and walked away, hoodie sleeves flapping with the wind, her figure disappearing down the road just as headlights approached—

Semi's car.

The car door hadn't even fully closed before Semi snapped, "Who do I need to punch in the face first? Thanos or that disgusting ex of his?"

Namgyu let out a tired laugh, his body slumping into the passenger seat like he was finally letting himself relax. "Can we just—"

"NO. No, we cannot," Semi yelled, aggressively shifting the car into drive. "You sat in the rain looking like a drowned sad CAT while that nasty constipated, purple-haired dumbass flirted with his ex like it was cute or something?! NO, I WILL NOT BE CALM." She slammed the horn.

The tires squealed as she peeled away from the curb, nearly running a red light.

"Okay—but can you drive like—"

"I HAVE A LICENSE, barely, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT," she screamed. "Do you know what it feels like to get a call from Yu-ri saying my best friend was sobbing in the street with a sprained ankle in the rain because a man couldn't block his ex or be careful with u. DO YOU. DO YOU??"

She punched the horn again for no reason.

Namgyu flinched, trying not to laugh and cry at the same time.

She reached into the backseat without even looking and hurled a half-melted ice pack at his lap. "PUT THAT ON YOUR FOOT, BITCH."

"Ow—! It's cold!"

"IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COLD. LIKE THANOS'
MOLDY FILLED HEART."

Namgyu burst into laughter, even as he winced from the pressure on his ankle.

"Who does he think he is?" Semi continued, eyes wild, hands gripping the wheel like she was in a car race. "Making u his Mi-ma replacement , making you feel special, cuddling with you, FLIRTING, and then letting Mi-na show up."

Namgyu stayed quiet, looking out the window with red eyes, still processing it all.

Semi noticed. Her voice softened.

"...You deserve someone who doesn't make you cry like that."

"yeah," Namgyu said quietly, voice rough.

She hit the gas harder and ran over a stop sign with the most dramatic, crunchy CRACKKKKKKKK you've ever heard.

"I SWEAR!" she yelled. "If I ever see him again—"

"I kinda don't feel like looking at you through a glass window-"

"No promises. THANOS NEEDS TO DIE NOW."

"I swear if Thanos breathes near you again, I'm gonna tear his purple scalp off with my bare hands."

She swerved violently around a corner, completely ignoring the blinking turn signal she forgot was still on. Namgyu, clutching the door handle for dear life, then yelped as the car hit a bump and nearly took flight.

"SEMI, THE ROAD!"

"What road?! Im the road now bitch!"

And with that, she ran over a full trash bin.

CRASH! BANG!

The bin exploded like it was made of tissue paper and dreams. A dented soda can flew through the air like a missile and hit the windshield with a sad clunk.

"FUCK." she muttered. "That never happened okay?.."

Namgyu stared at her in horror. "You just—"

"WAIT MY SHOE!-" she screamed,scrambling to put her shoe back on.

Namgyu's eyes went wide. "Semi. Semi no. THERES A RED LIGH!"

"A WHAT LIGHT?" she yelled.

A chorus of horns screamed after them. Somewhere, a random cursed at her in Korean. Semi flipped them off with both hands.

"SEMI!! YOU'RE DRIVING!!!"

"Oh right—one hand," she corrected, grabbing the wheel again just in time to not crash into a mailbox. Barely.

And yet... somehow, they pulled into their apartment complex driveway in one piece.

Not emotionally intact. Not legally intact. But alive.

She slammed the car into park with dramatic flair. "See? We're fine."

Namgyu was pale, gripping the dashboard "Your NEVER aloud to drive again."

"I think I committed five crimes," she said with confusion, unbuckling her seatbelt.

Then she turned to him, much calmer now. "Let's get you upstairs. And then I'm ordering door dash, and then we can plan Thanos down fall."

The room was stale with leftover fries and tired ambition. Gyeong-su was hunched over his laptop, fingers moving. Minsu was fully horizontal on the old vinyl couch, hoodie over his face, moaning every few minutes like a dying cat. Thanos was in the booth, shirt slightly untucked, hair messy, voice raw from the last few hours.

His verse was building up—his voice fierce, each word slicing through the beat.

Silence.

The beat vanished.
The track flatlined.

Thanos blinked.

"...hello?"

He pulled off his headphones slowly, turning toward the booth window like it had personally betrayed him. "Did the system crash?" he asked.

Gyeong-su leaned closer to the monitor, scrolling. "Nope... it's just... done. That's the full file."

Minsu sat up from the couch. "Wait... that's not right. Isn't this the track Namgyu was working on?"

Gyeong-su clicked around, double-checked the layers, and froze. "This was the unfinished project from two weeks ago. He never came back to finish it. It literally stops mid-bar."

The realization hit Thanos like a brick wall.

He backed up from the booth mic slowly, eyes wide in disbelief. "...You mean to tell me... we're at the finish line—this close to the end—and Namgyu left the whole outro section blank?"

Gyeong-su grimaced. "He probably meant to come back to it. You know, before he... spiraled. Outside. In the rain."

Minsu made a noise between a laugh and a groan. "Bro I'm done with this."

Thanos dragged his hands down his face. "I mean, yeah, but—God. Why didn't I check? I've been too—too busy, I didn't even open the file. I just assumed."

Gyeong-su rubbed his temples. "To be fair, we all assumed. But it's okay. We still have time. He can finish it—"

"No, he can't!" Thanos snapped, voice cracking. "He won't even look at me. I'm pretty sure he wants to body slam me off a balcony right now!"

Minsu stood up, stretching. "Well, to be fair, you flirted with him, ghost him, then let your ex send you flirty messages at the worst possible moment—"

Thanos pointed at him. "That's ENOUGH from you. KEEP IT SHUT MIN-SU."

Minsu immediately stoped speaking.

Thanos sat heavily in a chair, head thrown back. "I messed this up."

Gyeong-su leaned on the desk. "We can salvage it. You just... have to talk to him.Not argue. Just... talk."

"And say what?" Thanos asked bitterly. "Hey, sorry for breaking your heart and your foot while almost making out with you while still being emotionally tangled with my ex. But also, can you fix the beat real quick so I can meet my label deadline?"

Minsu crossed his arms. "Yeah. Say that. But nicer."

Thanos sighed, tapping his foot. He glanced at the empty track again—the dead silence after the verse like a slap in the face.

He whispered, "This album's supposed to end on his sound. Not mine."

Gyeong-su and Minsu exchanged a look.

"Then go get him," Min-su exclaimed.
"Before the silence ruins everything," Gyeong-su added.

Thanos stared at the screen. The empty beat blinked back at him.

Then spun slowly in the studio chair, arms crossed, hoodie pulled over half his face. The silence on the unfinished beat was unbearable now. Gyeong-su had his phone out, headphones around his neck, texting someone with a casual hum. Minsu was halfway through a bag of chips, barely awake.

And yet... the tension? Immense.

"Okay," Thanos muttered. "I'm not asking him. But someone has to. We need that outro. And I am not about to release an album with a cliffhanger ending like it's a show on Netflix."

Pointing a finger towards Min-su.

Minsu blinked. "So you want me to ask him?"

"Yes. No—yes. BUT—not directly. Ask Semi to ask him. You know, like... casually."

Minsu gave him a look. "You want me to get Semi—who literally just texted me saying she wanted to 'accidentally' hit you with her car to do you a favor?"

Thanos squinted. "You think if you butter her up first, she'd chill?"

"She once threw a water bottle at her sisters face and that was out of love."

"...Right."

Minsu sighed dramatically, flopping back on the couch like he was sacrificing himself. He grabbed his phone and called Semi.

Semi answered in 0.5 seconds.

"Heyyy"

"Hi amazing semi nice Se-mi" Minsu grinned "You sound radiant as always."

"I will block you."

He laughed. "Okay okay, listen—can you ask Namgyu something?"

"Does it involve Thanos?"

"......Maybe?"

"Then no."

Click.

Minsu stared at his phone.

"Damn. That was fast."

Thanos sat up, hands raised. "Wait—what did she say?!"

"She hung up, dude. She didn't even wait to hear the question. Your name is banned in her household."

Thanos groaned into his hands. "This is karma. This is me paying for every time I flirted and ran."

Gyeong-su looked up. "Why don't you just call Namgyu yourself?"

Thanos snapped his head around. "Because he'll block me. Or worse—he'll kill me over the phone somehow."

Minsu stood and stretched. "Well, good luck. Cause if you're not talking to him, and Semi's not talking to you, and Namgyu's probably picking out a knife for you... who's finishing this beat?"

The three of them stared at each other.

Silence.

Thanos whispered, "...do I have to"

Phone in hand, teeth lightly grazing his lip as he stared at Namgyu's contact. The screen blinked back at him like it was mocking his pride.

He sighed and finally typed

T-We need that last beat. Deadlines coming up. Think u can come in?

He stared at it. Delated it. Rewrote it with less emotion.

T-Studio needs you. The outro is incompleted.

Still too desperate. He exhaled through his nose and finally just hit send.

The three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

Disappeared.

Then finally

N-I don't want to talk to u

Thanos clenched his jaw.

T- well how do u expect to finish this album.

N-I'll do it from home.

That's it.

Short. Cold. Final.

Thanos leaned back, phone resting on his stomach as he stared blankly at the ceiling. Minsu and Gyeong-su were silently watching him from the other side of the room like cats sensing tension.

"He said no, huh?" Gyeong-su mumbled, pretending to scroll.

Thanos just nodded, eyes still locked on the ceiling. "He's gonna work on it from home."

Minsu laughed under his breath. "At least he didn't quit."

"He's still mad..." Thanos muttered.

"Well, duh.," Minsu said. "You AND Mi-na both killed him."

Thanos rolled his eyes and sat up. "I didn't even text her back! She sent one message—"

"But you didn't block her," Gyeong-su cut in.

Thanos rubbed his face with both hands. "Guys just shut up."

Silence again.

Then his phone buzzed once more.

N- I'll send the file later today. Dont text me again.

Thanos stared at the message. His hands lowered, but he didn't reply.

He couldn't.

Because for the first time in a while, he didn't know what to say.

Thanos hadn't moved in while. Just sat there in that damn swivel chair, hoodie hooded, head down, staring blankly at the beat timeline on his laptop.

Minsu was upside down, half-asleep on the bean bag, and Gyeong-su had gone quiet too—until finally he clapped his hands together, way too loud for the stillness.

"Okay, no offense, but you morning is getting old." Gyeong-su said, stretching. "This is boring."

Thanos didn't even look up.

"What did Nam-gyu do to him to make him so sad.," Minsu muttered with a yawn.

"You guys are being—" Thanos started.

"You're dying." Gyeong-su cut in. "Just look at urself."

Thanos didn't laugh, didn't speak.

Gyeong-su raised a brow.

"...You wanna go to Club Pentagon?" he said suddenly. "Get your mind off the studio stuff."

Thanos looked up slowly. "Seriously?"

"Dead serious," Gyeong-su grinned. "We'll drink. Maybe get in a fight. Maybe YOU will cry in the bathroom. Who knows. It'll be healing."

Minsu got up from the beanbag. "I guess we could."

Thanos hesitated... then finally sighed and stood up, dragging his hoodie down.

"Fine."

Streetlights buzzed, cars hissed by, and the cold air bit at their skin.

They climbed into Gyeong-su's car.

Thanos in the passenger seat, hood up and arms crossed, eyes half-lidded in defeat.

Min-su laying upside AGAIN in the backseat, fiddling and chewing on his hoodie strings.

"What if I told y'all I cheated on learning my driving lessons," Gyeong-su announced, starting the car.

"Seriously?" Thanos muttered.

They drove off into the city lights—towards flashing lasers, heavy bass, and the possibility of forgetting just for one night.

But deep down, as the streetlights blurred past his window, Thanos already knew:

No matter how loud the music got tonight...

...he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it.

The bass was relentless. The walls practically breathed with the beat. Purple strobe lights slashed through the dark, fog curled around moving legs, and the air reeked of sweat, cheap perfume, and expensive bad decisions.

"WOOOOOO!" Gyeong-su yelled, nearly tripping over someone's platform boots. "LOOK!"

Thanos was already two shots in, his hoodie ditched somewhere between the entrance and the bar. His hair was messy, cheeks flushed, eyes wild.

"BROOO THIS SONG??" Minsu screamed, drink in his hand. "WHO PRODUCED IT???"

"Namgyu," Thanos muttered, before blinking and catching himself. "I mean—never mind. Shot?"

"SHOT!"

The three of them lined up at the bar, slamming back something blue and probably toxic. Thanos hissed at the taste, licking his lips and laughing with his whole chest, his head falling back.

"This is so stupid," he grinned, slapping the bar.

"Yeah," Gyeong-su yelled. "But you're not crying!"

"I KNOW!" Thanos shouted.

The music switched to a remix of something nostalgic—something loud, fast, and angry. Gyeong-su grabbed Thanos and dragged him to the center of the dance floor.

And suddenly they were dancing. Laughing, spinning, shouting lyrics they only half-knew. Minsu started filming Gyeong-su badly attempting dances. Thanos was laughing and interlocking arms with Min-su.

Girls passed by and flirted. Guys stared. Someone offered him another drink, and Thanos took it without asking.

For the first time in forever, Thanos forgot.

Forgot about the studio. Forgot about the beat. Forgot about the text from Mi-na. Forgot about Namgyu's eyes, his voice, his hand always pushing him away.

Right now it was just this.

Loud, blurry, numbing.

And did it feel good.

Even if it wouldn't last.

Club Pentagon was alive in that overwhelming way.

The kind of loud that made your bones vibrate, the kind of hot that made your skin stick to anything it touched. Sweat, perfume, smoke. Lights pulsing like heartbeats.

Thanos was one sleeve rolled up, drink in hand. Gyeong-su was right there beside him, laughing with his whole chest, his arm slung around Min-su's shoulders like he needed something to hold onto to stay upright—which, honestly, he probably did.

Min-su was tipsy, but sharp. Still steady. He looked around the crowd then spoke. "There so many people today. " he muttered, "how come."

Gyeong-su froze in the middle of a stupid dance he was doing. his eyes wide.

"Oh no."

Min-su turned. "What—"

"I'm gonna be sick."

"Seriously? Now?!"

Thanos blinked mid-laugh. "Wait, what?"

Gyeong-su was already clutching his stomach like he'd been shot. "Bathroom," he groaned.

Thanos pulled on his arm. "Hurry up then." he said, grabbing Gyeong-su's other arm while Min-su scoffed and muttered curses under his breath.

Together they hauled Gyeong-su through the dancing crowd, bumping into limbs and elbows and one guy who shouted, "Watch it!" as Min-su flipped him off without looking back.

The hallway outside the bathroom was cooler, dimly lit in blue and red. It still buzzed with the beat from the club, but everything felt muted, like the air was exhaling.

"Move," Thanos said, pushing open the door to the men's room with his foot. They dragged Gyeong-su into a stall just in time for him to collapse dramatically to his knees.

Min-su didn't even bother pretending to help anymore. "Disgusting," he muttered, stepping back. "You didn't even drink that much."

"I had... like... six," Gyeong-su mumbled between words.

"Six what?" Min-su asked. "Six sips? Six shots? Six glasses of death punch from that weird bartender?"

Thanos grimaced as Gyeong-su let out a noise that sounded like a dying goat. "I think it was the punch."

"Seriously." Min-su looked at Thanos. "Your staying with him?"

Thanos nodded, already pushing Gyeong-su's hair back like it wasn't the grossest job on Earth.

Min-su walked out, muttering something about buying a drink.

Thanos crouched for a second beside Gyeong-su. "You good?"

Gyeong-su gave him a weak thumbs-up.

"Cool." He patted his back once, then stood up and walked out.

The hallway was a relief. Quiet, dark, and way less humid. Thanos leaned against the brick wall, pulled out his vape, and took a long drag. The blue light from the club barely reached him here, just catching the edge of his jaw.

He exhaled slow. The smoke curled around his lips like he was breathing out ghosts.

Inside, he could still hear Gyeong-su gagging. Somewhere down the hall, a couple was arguing about Uber rides. Someone's phone buzzed against the wall.

But Thanos just stood there, staring into the void of the hallway like it might stare back.

Everything always slowed down in these pockets of the night. Right between the noise and the come-down. The party was still going strong inside, but out here—it was like the world paused.

And honestly, it felt good to be unseen for once.

He took another drag, holding it longer this time.

"Damn this light is bright." he mumbled. His voice echoed just a little against the walls.

He closed his eyes, let his head rest back against the wall, and listened to the bass, the city, the way the night always held a kind of sadness that didn't ask questions.

Then—

"Wow," came a voice "Didn't think I'd run into you again."

His eyes opened.

She was standing just a few feet away, framed by the flickering neon EXIT sign. Skin glowing, dress hugging her in all the places he remembered touching. Hair curled just enough to look effortless. Lip gloss catching the light.

Mi-na.

"Oh," Thanos said, blinking stupidly. "Hey."

She tilted her head, smirking. "That's all I get? Hey?"

He laughed, kind of breathless. "Well, I'd say more, but I'm like... pretty sure I'm still drunk."

She stepped closer.

Thanos didn't move.

Mi-na ran a finger down his chest—not playfully. "You look good," she said.

"I always look good," he muttered.

She laughed. It was low and smug and full of that dangerous confidence that used to make him feel wanted and powerful and seen. Now it just made him feel off-balance.

But it didn't stop him.

"You're here alone?" she asked.

Thanos shrugged. "With some friends. Gyeong-su's vomiting his soul out in the bathroom, and Min-su abandoned him for tequila."

Mi-na raised a brow. "That sounds... about right." She took another step. Now she was in his space, her perfume winding around him like smoke. Sweet, familiar, a little suffocating.

He didn't back away.

"Miss me?" she asked softly, her voice barely above the pulse of the music leaking through the wall.

Thanos looked at her face—really looked. The same sharp smile. The same lips that used to kiss him like she was trying to bite something out of his mouth. The same eyes that used to cry when he left, and glare when he came back.

His heart did something weird.

He was drunk.

He was so stupid.

"I mean..." he muttered, "maybe a little."

She grinned.

And then she kissed him.

It happened fast. Lips crashing, fingers in his hair, back pressed hard against the wall. Her mouth tasted like vodka and minty gum. Thanos kissed her back like it was muscle memory, hands gripping her hips, breath catching. It was messy, way too eager, way too much. But it felt good. Familiar. Safe, in that dangerous, toxic, addicting way.

"Gosh." she whispered between kisses, "I missed this."

Thanos didn't say anything.

He couldn't think.

Her mouth moved down his neck and he tilted his head back with a half-laugh, half-groan. Somewhere deep down, a voice screamed, Don't do this.

But louder than that was the music.

Louder than that was his heartbeat.

Louder than that was her.

Mi-na was still kissing him like she was trying to remind his body who it belonged to. Thanos' back hit the wall with a soft thud, and he barely noticed—too far gone, too drunk, too deep into old mistakes wrapped in lipstick and perfume.

Her hands slid under his shirt.

His head spun.

And then—

The bathroom door creaked open.

"Bro..." came a slow, pathetic groan. "Brooo I'm gonna die."

Thanos froze.

Mi-na pulled back just enough to whisper, "What the hell was that?"

And then they both turned—

To see Gyeong-su emerge from the bathroom. His hair was stuck to his forehead. His shirt was wrinkled. His expression?

Pure confusion.

He blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then his eyes locked on Thanos... and Mi-na... basically eating each other against a hallway wall.

There was a moment of complete silence.

Even the club seemed to hush in the background, like the bass itself paused to watch this disaster unfold.

Gyeong-su tilted his head. "...Yooo..." he mumbled. "Is that Mi-na?"

Thanos' mouth opened. "Gyeong—"

But Gyeong-su just stared at them, completely dazed.

Then he slowly—very slowly—started lowering himself to the ground like his knees were giving out.

"Gonna... just... sit down for a sec," he said, halfway collapsing, halfway folding like a dying puppet. He landed on the cold tile with a tiny oof, leaned against the wall, and pulled out his phone with trembling fingers. His thumb missed the screen three times.

Mi-na stepped back from Thanos, clearly shaken. "Is he—?"

Thanos muttered, "He's fine."

Gyeong-su looked up at them from the floor. "Y'all doin' okay? You makin' out? Is that what's happening?"

Thanos didn't respond.

Mi-na crossed her arms, annoyed now. "You should've picked a better location."

Gyeong-su snorted from the floor. "You should've picked a better man," he slurred.

Thanos ran a hand through his hair, exhaling hard. "Okay, Gyeong-su—"

But Gyeong-su was already on his phone, squinting hard at the screen. "I'm texting Min-su. I need... water. An Uber. A hand. All of the above."

"Tell him to bring me a drink too," Thanos muttered, still trying to shake the daze of what just happened.

Gyeong-su replied flatly, "fine."

Mi-na was clearly waiting for Thanos to say something—anything—after that little disaster. But Thanos just stared at her. Still buzzing. Still out of it. And apparently, still not done making the dumbest choice of the night.

Because he leaned in.

And kissed her again.

Harder this time.

Mi-na didn't even hesitate. Her hands slid right back into his hair like they hadn't just been caught by a man collapsing out of a bathroom stall. Their lips crashed like it was urgent, like they were trying to forget something and remember everything all at once. His hands moved down her waist, gripping like he needed something to anchor him, something solid in the fog of drinks and vape and loneliness.

She moaned softly against his mouth.

And right next to them, sitting slumped against the wall, Gyeong-su was alive. Barely.

Still scrolling.

Thumb swiping lazily on his phone screen.

His knees were bent. His shirt was half untucked. A faint smear of something stained his sleeve. His eyes flicked up for one second—saw Thanos and Mi-na still going at it—and then dropped back down with no care in the world.

He texted Min-su.

G-hey
G-this is not what i came to the club for.
G-i can hear kissing sounds. im gonna go blind.
G-minsu bring me sprite.
G-okay

Then he dropped his head back against the wall with a soft thunk and sighed like a war veteran.

Thanos, still making out with his ex, pulled away just enough to breathe—

Click click click.

Gyeong-su. Typing away.

Thanos glanced down.

"You good, man?"

From the floor: "Yeah. Just texting.. miss su?"

Mi-na snorted. "He's fine."

"Yes " Gyeong-su still confused still without looking up. "Wait no."

Mi-na rolled her eyes, sliding her hand up Thanos' chest again. "Ignore him."

Gyeong-su let out a long, exhausted sigh and began typing again.

G-Min-su
G-there eating eachother
G- im scared Haya
G-Minsu
G-sprite
G- I want my sprite

Thanos didn't even know if he was laughing or crying anymore. He let Mi-na kiss down his jaw again, but something in his brain had started to flicker. A small, pathetic voice that whispered

This isn't gonna feel good tomorrow.

He looked down at Gyeong-su on the floor, thumbs moving.

"Bro," Thanos said, breathless, "do you want us to stop?"

Gyeong-su squinted up at him.

"Would it even matter if I said yes?"

A beat.

"...No," Thanos admitted.

Gyeong-su waved him off. "Then shut up and keep kissing.I'm trying to order sprite to miss u"

Thanos barely noticed the hallway light shift.

He was still pressed up against the wall, Mi-na's lip gloss smeared across his mouth, her fingers curled in his shirt like she owned him. The world was spinning in this comfortable, reckless blur—his body warm, his brain fuzzy, his judgment completely drowned in vodka, vape clouds, and bad decisions.

And then—

STOMP STOMP

"OH HECK NO."

The voice shattered through the hallway like a car crash in a church.

Mi-na broke the kiss. Thanos blinked. They both turned in unison.

Standing in the doorway was Min-su, wild-eyed, His jaw was dropped. His soul was leaving his body.

He looked from Thanos—

To Mi-na—

To Thanos' hands on Mi-na's hips—

To Gyeong-su sitting on the floor, looking like a Victorian kid, blinking up at him with the eyes of a man who'd seen too much.

Min-su didn't speak for a full second.

"Thanos what the fuck is going on."

Thanos opened his mouth to explain. Nothing came out.

Mi-na smiled, smug. "Hi, Min-su! Ur funny."

"Don't," Min-su said immediately, holding his hands up "Don't even start. Not tonight."

He stormed over, threw a Sprite into Gyeong-su's hand without looking, and grabbed Thanos by the collar like a furious mom yanking her son.

"Get. Off. The wall," Min-su snapped.

Thanos blinked. "What—?"

"You're literally making out with your ex while your Gyeong-su is DYING on a bathroom floor and I've been gone for what THREE MINUTES!"

Thanos mumbled, "I was just—"

"You're drunk," Min-su hissed.

Mi-na rolled her eyes. "You're being dramatic."

Min-su pointed at her without looking. "You. Not now. Go haunt someone else."

He pulled Thanos away from the wall completely, dragging him away from Mi-na.

Thanos wobbled.

Behind them, Gyeong-su took a long sip of Sprite and whispered, "This slaps."

Min-su turned, leaned down, and scooped him up off the floor like someone who had done this a thousand times before.

"Come." he muttered, lifting Gyeong-su to his feet with one hand while keeping other hand on Thanos somehow perfectly balanced.

"Am I dead?" Gyeong-su asked softly, blinking at him.

"No. But I wish I was."

They started stumbling back toward the main floor—Thanos still dazed, Gyeong-su sipping like he just discovered water for the first time.

Mi-na called after them, her voice honeyed and smug: "You're gonna regret this later."

Min-su didn't even turn around. "Yeah, well. At least he won't regret it with his pants off."

The drive home was like hell.

Thanos sat in the passenger seat like a statue, arms crossed, face unreadable—but barely holding together. His shirt was rumpled, his lip still swollen from kissing Mi-na, and he hadn't said a single word since Min-su pulled him off the wall.

Gyeong-su was in the back seat, still drunk, wrapped in someone's jacket (probably stolen), sipping his Sprite like it was water.

The silence was heavy—until Gyeong-su opened his mouth.

"I just think," he said,slurring every other syllable, "that, like, you know-"

Min-su stared at the road. "Don't start."

"No, no, no," Gyeong-su said, leaning forward dramatically, arm slung over the front seat "Hear me out-"

Min-su blinked. "You threw up in a urinal."

"Fair, but Thanos made out with Mi-na, so who's really suffering here?"

Thanos flinched.

Gyeong-su sipped. Loudly. "Mmm. Tastes like regret."

Min-su's hands tightened on the wheel. "U guys are so stupid."

Thanos stared out the window like it might offer him saving. His face was blank, but his knee was bouncing. Fast. Like his whole body was trying to outrun the moment.

Then—

His phone buzzed in his lap.

He didn't want to look.

He looked.

Mi-na: Ur so fine
Mi-na: btw that kiss.still mine.

He turned the phone face down immediately, jaw locking. He couldn't breathe. His heart was pounding, and not in a good way. Not like it had when her hands were on him. No—now it felt like he regretted ev

Gyeong-su leaned between the seats again. "Who was that?"

"No one," Thanos muttered.

"Oh no," Min-su said sharply, "do not start lying to us right now."

Thanos laughed once—dry and bitter. " I look like an idiot right now."

"You are an idiot," Min-su said calmly. "But you're our idiot."

"That's not comforting."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

Gyeong-su added, "hey I'll die for u if u need me to lol." Backing up and facing towards the door.

Min-su immediately adding child lock onto it.

Thanos let out a breath, almost a laugh—but not quite.

Then he whispered, "I can't believe I did that. I thought I was over her. I was over her."

Min-su pulled over.

Dead silent.

The car parked under some dim, flickering streetlight on the side of a quiet street. He turned off the ignition.

Thanos blinked. "Why are we—?"

"Because heading u spiral is gonna make me wanna swerve into a ditch."

He turned in his seat to face Thanos full-on.

"You're drunk. You're sad. You're lonely. She knows that. She banked on it. She wanted to feel powerful again, and you let her."

Thanos didn't respond.

Min-su leaned in. "But you know what? That doesn't make you weak. That makes you human. You made a dumb choice—now you move on. But you do not go texting her back, you hear me?"

Gyeong-su popped his head between the seats again. "Yeah. She's like herpes. Goes away, then comes back worse." Hiccuping mid sentence.

Min-su sighed. "Beautifully put."

Thanos laughed. A real one this time. Shaky, soft. "Why do you guys even put up with me?"

"Because I love you," Gyeong-su said, wiping Sprite off his chin with someone shirt on the ground. "And you're uh cool."

Min-su smiled a little. "And because you're family, dumbass."

Thanos looked down at his phone again.

Mi-ma left a voice mail

He stared at it.

Then—

Put the phone in the glove compartment.

And shut it.

"Okay," he whispered, voice cracking.

Gyeong-su beamed in the back seat, eyes glassy. "Proud of you super.. what it's called?"

Thanos looked over at Min-su.

"Can we go home now?"

Min-su smirked. "I've been trying to since 7:20
It's 8:59."

He started the car again.

Gyeong-su immediately passed out.

Thanos leaned his head against the window.

And for the first time that night, even with the taste of mistakes still lingering on his lips, he felt a little less alone.

They pulled into the driveway, quiet, tired, and half-dead from emotional and physical exhaustion.

The street was still. Not a single light on. No music, no traffic, no more glittering lights or drunk strangers. Just the silence of coming home after a mistake you can't joke about anymore.

They got out of the car wordlessly.

Thanos stumbling over to the door.

Minsu carrying passed out Gyeong su.

They climbed the steps to the front door alone, shoved it open, and disappeared inside the house.

Thanos Room

It was dark, cold, and painfully quiet.

No flashing lights. No kisses. No noise to drown out the spinning in his head.

Thanos kicked off his shoes, pulled off his shirt, and collapsed face-first into his bed—still reeking of alcohol, sweat, and whatever the hell Mi-na's perfume was. Some sugar-floral chokehold of a scent that clung to him like guilt.

He lay there flat for a minute. Staring at nothing. Just breathing.

The ceiling fan creaked softly above him.

Then—he reached over and grabbed his phone.

The screen was cracked. Grease-smudged. Still glowing faintly with the last of his battery. He opened his voicemail.

There it was.

Voicemail from Mi-na.

He stared at it.

His finger hovered above the play button.

He shouldn't.

But he did.

" thanos can u call me back."

Her voice played through the speaker, soft, breathy, and dangerous, like she knew exactly what she was doing. The sound filled the room.

"I miss you, I'm so lonely in my mansion."

He swallowed.

"You looked good tonight. You always do. And maybe I'm selfish for saying this, but... I don't care. I want you. Even if it's messy."

"Call me back. Or don't. I'll probably regret this in the morning. But I meant it."

Message over.

Thanos stared at the screen. The play button now grayed out. The silence felt like it was pressing down on his chest.

He turned over slowly, lying on his back now, one hand behind his head.

His throat felt tight. His eyes burned. Not tears—just the kind of pain you feel when you almost cry but don't. The kind that hides in your ribs.

He wanted to call her back.

Gosh,he wanted to.

Her voice still echoed in his head, like a ghost he didn't exorcise properly the first time.

He clicked her contact.

Just hovered his thumb over the call button.

Waited.

Stared.

His thumb twitched.

But then—

He locked the screen.

And dropped the phone beside him like it weighed too much.

He exhaled through his nose, eyes fixed on the ceiling fan. It kept spinning.

Just like his head.

He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes, knowing sleep wouldn't come easy.

The sun had no business being this bright.

It crept in through the half-closed blinds like it knew something, spilling onto the floor in long, accusing stripes. His room was still a mess. Shirt half-off. Phone on the floor next to a crumpled vape pen. A faint headache pulsed behind his eyes—less from the alcohol, more from the kiss.

Thanos groaned, rolled onto his back, and dragged the pillow over his face.

He didn't want to be awake.

But of course, his phone buzzed.

Twice.

Then again.

He reached down blindly and grabbed it, squinting at the screen as it unlocked.

Two new messages.

[Nam-gyu 1 new message]

[Mi-na 2 new messages]

He sat up.

His mouth felt dry. His brain felt loud. Wondering who to answer first, his finger hovered over Nam-gyu's chat for a second, just long enough to feel the wave of shame wash over him.

Then he scrolled.

Tapped Mi-na's name.

he picked her first over Nam-gyu.

Always.

He stared at the screen.

M- still thinking about you. U remember yesterday?

There was something about the way she always knew what to say. The timing. The way she could crawl back in without knocking. He hated it.

He hated how much he wanted it.

His thumbs moved before he could stop them.

Thanos:
im awake.
i remember everything.

He hovered over the next message.

Backspaced.

Typed again.

Thanos:
should i regret it?

Sent.

He dropped the phone onto the sheets and rubbed both hands over his face like it might push the night out of his skin. He felt disgusting. Confused. Cold.

His phone buzzed again a moment later.

But he didn't check it yet.

He just sat there on the edge of his bed, shirtless, hungover, half-dead—and wondered how the hell he got here.

His phone buzzing beside him like a mosquito. He stared at it. Still buzzing.

His heart fluttered—stupidly, blindly, so dumb—and he picked it up, already imagining Mi-na's soft, sultry voice sliding through the speaker like melted sugar.

He brought it to his ear, lazy smile creeping in. "Hey Mi-na..."

Silence.

Then:

"Oh my gosh." came a voice sharp enough to slice concrete. " You're actually so stupid."

Thanos flinched.

"...Nam-gyu?"

"Wow," Nam-gyu drawled, thick with judgement, "you sound like you just rolled out of bed. Also did you moan into the phone hoping for a second round?"

Thanos groaned and flopped back onto the mattress, rubbing a hand over his face. "What do you want."

"What do I want?" Nam-gyu repeated, mock offended. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe to ask why you decided to make out with ur ex last night."

Thanos sighed. "Can you not right now."

"No, I can't," Nam-gyu snapped. "You made out with Mi-na. In Club Pentagon. In front of like, thirty people. Gyeong-su told me he had to watch u do while he was dying."

"...he's fine," Thanos muttered weakly.

"Are u being for real?," Nam-gyu hissed. "He saw you shove ur tongue down her throat."

Thanos sat up again. "Okay, well—maybe I was drunk. Maybe I didn't know what I was doing."

"Oh no, you knew. You knew exactly what you were doing," Nam-gyu said, and this time his voice dipped lower. Sharper. A little bitter. A little too personal.
"You wanted to feel wanted again. So you let her eat your face."

Thanos blinked, heart stinging. "Why do you care so much?"

There was a pause on the other end.

Then

"...I don't."

Lie.

"I just think it's pathetic."

Bigger lie.

Thanos let the silence hang.

"Okay," he said, voice soft now. "Then hang up."

Nam-gyu didn't.

"You think she actually cares?" he said quietly. Mean, but shaky underneath.
"She saw you sad and vulnerable and she pounced onto you. And you fell for it."

"You're being dramatic ," Thanos mumbled, even though he did.
He leapt.

"You always fall," Nam-gyu said bitterly. "You fall for anyone who looks at you like you're worth something."

That shut Thanos up.

The silence was ugly now. Raw.

Thanos sat there on the bed, staring at the floor, heartbeat louder than the quiet.

"Why are you even calling me?" he whispered.

Another pause.

Then

His voice low and slighty cracking. "Because I knew you'd answer if you thought i was her."

And with that—

Nam-gyu hung up.

His heart hadn't stopped racing since Nam-gyu hung up. Every word still echoed in his head like a damn slap. You fall for anyone who looks at you like you're worth something. That line hadn't just cut—it had carved something out of him.

He sat frozen, chest tight.

Then the screen lit up again.

Instagram.
Notification from Nam-gyu.

A DM.

No message. Just a single video.

Thanos stared at it for a second.

Already dreading it.

But he clicked anyway.

The Instagram reel loaded.

Loud club music.

Purple flashing lights.

And there—front and center—was him.

And Mi-na.

Up against the wall, hands in each other's hair, full makeout, full-body contact, absolutely no shame. The camera zoomed a little as the fan squealed on the audio, saying something like "OH MY GOSH, IS THAT THANOS?" and "They're so back together!!"

It was only ten seconds long.

But it felt like a gunshot to the face.

Thanos stared at the screen, throat dry. His stomach twisted so violently it hurt.

He could see his own hand gripping Mi-na's waist.

He could see how into it he looked.

And underneath the shaky camera and bad audio, he caught the faintest, blurry glimpse of

Gyeong-su.

In the corner.
Sitting on the floor, holding his phone like he had no care in the world.

The comments were worse

"WAIT ARE THEY BACK TOGETHER?"
"Hes drunk asf😭"
"gyeong su blink twice if u need help😶"
"this man got NO self respect omg?"
"Queen got him back in 1 kiss IM SCREAMING."
"Someone check on Gyeong su🙏"
"MINA MOVE ITS MY TURN!"
"This is ai look at the movements 😒"
"Thanos MOVE MY TURN!"

Thanos locked his phone.

Stared at the ceiling.

Then unlocked it again and stared at the message from Nam-gyu. Still no message. Just the video. The silence of it was somehow worse.

He almost texted back.

He almost said something.

But he didn't even know where to begin.

Instead, he just whispered:

"...I'm so fucking stupid."

Nam-gyus room was dim, but the glow from the laptop screen lit up Nam-gyu's face.

He sat slumped on his threadbare couch, phone forgotten on the armrest, hands clenched into fists on his knees.

The video played again.

And again.

And again.

The sound of muffled club music filled the room, but Nam-gyu barely heard it anymore.

All he saw was Thanos.

Pressing into Mi-na like it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

Hands tangled in hair.

Lips crashing like they were trying to erase months of silence and pain.

And with every replay, the sharp, hollow ache in Nam-gyu's chest deepened.

His jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

His eyes burned.

He hated the way Thanos looked in that video—like he belonged there, like he was wanted, like he was hers.

And Nam-gyu wasn't.

A bitter rage bubbled beneath the surface—hot and raw and relentless.

Not just at Mi-na.

Not just at Thanos.

But at himself.

At every stupid thing he hadn't said.

Every moment he let slip by.

Every time he told himself he didn't care.

Because the truth was—

He did care.

More than he wanted to admit.

More than he was ready to face.

The video played again.

And again.

Nam-gyu's knuckles whitened as he clenched the edge of the couch.

The rage. The heartbreak. The desperate, aching wish.

He wasn't just jealous.

He was broken.

He shut his laptop and walked to his room.

Nam-gyu's room was silent.

Not peaceful.

Just... quiet in that heavy, aching way that made the walls feel like they were closing in.

He walked in without turning on the light. Just the soft glow from his window spilling across his desk. He kept remembering over and over again. A loop he couldn't unsee.

He tried to shake it off.

Tried to breathe.

Tried to do something, anything, that didn't feel like drowning in jealousy, guilt, and stupid feelings he never signed up for.

So he sat down at his desk. Pulled his sketchbook into his lap.
And started doodling.

Random stuff.

Little clouds. Stars. Shoes. A badly-drawn lizard.
He wasn't thinking. He didn't want to think.

But the ache in his chest kept rising like a tide, and his fingers felt tight on the pencil. He pressed harder. Dragged it against the page with more force than necessary.

The tip snapped.

A small, dry sound in the quiet.

Nam-gyu froze. Blinked down at it.

Then reached across the desk, fingers brushing through the clutter until he found his old pencil sharpener. The cheap plastic kind from high school. Blue. A little cracked. He hadn't used it in months.

He stuck the pencil in.

Turned it slowly.

Shavings curled out in spirals.

But his eyes weren't on the pencil anymore.

They drifted.

To the little glint of silver inside.

The tiny razor embedded in plastic.

Just a sliver of metal.
So ordinary.
So small.

But when the light hit it—it shone.

He tilted the sharpener slightly, watching how it caught the window glow. The razor looked clean. Sharp. Quiet.

His breath caught for a second.

Something low in his chest stirred. Not loud. Not screaming. Just... present.

He set the pencil down.

Turned the sharpener in his fingers. Slowly.
Watching.
Thinking.
Not really thinking.
Just feeling.

Everything from the past 24 hours clung to him like oil.
Thanos kissing Mi-na.
Thanos not answering.
Thanos only picking up when he thought it was her.

Nam-gyu blinked hard. His throat tightened.

The sharpener sat in his palm, light bouncing off the blade like it had a heartbeat.

He didn't do anything.

He just stared.

And stared.

And stared.

Until—

A sudden vibration snapped through the desk.

His phone.

The sound startled him like a slap. His head jerked up. Breath sucked in.

He grabbed it without thinking.
A message from Min-su.

Min-su:
you alive? you seen the video too huh.
u wanna talk?

Nam-gyu stared at it.
Then down at his hand.

Still holding the sharpener.

His fingers curled.

And carefully, slowly, he set it aside.

Nam-gyu stared at Min-su's message.

The screen lit his face for a second longer.

He blinked at it.
And then typed.

N-lol yeah i saw it.
N-not surprised tbh. he's always that dumb.
N-im okay lol. thx tho

And before Min-su could reply, he swiped the phone into Do Not Disturb mode and dropped it face-down on the desk like it disgusted him.

He leaned back.

Exhaled.

Then grabbed his pencil again. Freshly sharpened. His sketchbook flipped open to a blank page.

He pressed it down.

Started drawing.

Shaky lines. Jagged shapes. Little angry spirals and broken boxes.

But no matter what he tried to draw—

He saw it.

Them.

Thanos with his hands on Mi-na's waist.
Mi-na kissing him like she never left.
Thanos looking like he meant it.

Like it wasn't a mistake.

Nam-gyu's hand started trembling.

He pressed the pencil harder.

Tried to draw something else—a dog, a bike, a stupid tree—but the image of Mi-na's lips on Thanos kept flashing behind his eyes like a glitch.

He drew a crooked mouth. Two silhouettes. A hand.

He snapped the pencil in half.

"FUCK—"

His voice cracked mid-yell. Raw. Disgusted.

The rage tore up his throat and hit the air like fire. His hand shot out and shoved the sketchbook off the desk. Pages flew. Pencils clattered. Everything hit the ground in an explosion of motion.

He slammed both palms on the desk.

He couldn't breathe.

His chest was tight.

His jaw clenched so hard it ached.

And then—

He collapsed forward.

Head hitting the desk with a soft, dead thud.

The room went still.

No music. No phone. No distractions.

Just him.
Face down.
Breathing uneven.
Hands trembling in his lap.
The ache in his chest not going away. Not fading. Not quieting down.

He didn't cry.

Didn't move.

Just sat there.

Pressed into the wooden desk like if he held still long enough, the pain might leave.

But it didn't.

It stayed.
Right there with him.
Heavy. Sharp. Ugly.

The room was still.

Nam-gyu's forehead rested against the desk, breath slow, uneven. The kind of quiet crying that doesn't make noise—just stings behind the eyes and sinks into the bones.

He thought he'd stop shaking.
But he didn't.

His hand brushed the floor blindly, trying to gather the mess he'd made.

Pencil shavings. Broken graphite. Loose paper.

And then—

His fingers found it.

The sharpener.

Or—what was left of it.

The plastic had cracked down the middle when it hit the floor. It lay split open, the tiny silver blade dislodged, half tucked into the jagged edge.

It caught the light.

Shined.

Something in his chest twitched.

He sat up slowly, eyes red and tired. Blinked. Wiped his cheek with the back of his hand like it didn't matter. His breath hitched when he looked at the razor.

So small.

So ordinary.

So quiet.

He reached down.

Picked it up.

The metal felt cold between his fingers. Weightless. Harmless. Until it wasn't.

He stared.

Thoughts slipped in like shadows. Ugly, sticky, old.

You were clean.

Why ruin it now.

You're dramatic. Attention-seeking. No one would even notice.

His thumb rubbed over the dull edge.

His hand trembled.

He didn't want to mean it. He didn't want to want this. But the thoughts didn't care. They slithered in. Fast. Familiar.

He brought the blade close. Tested it on the inside of his arm.

A tiny line.

One cut.

Barely anything.

It didn't even hurt.

But the moment it bloomed red, the floodgates opened.

Nam-gyu gasped like he'd been holding his breath for days.

And then the tears came.

Fast. Brutal. Loud.

Not from pain.
Not from the cut.

But from everything else.

The shame. The jealousy. The exhaustion.
Watching Thanos kiss her.
Being the one who wasn't picked.
Always feeling too much and saying too little.
Calling him. Screaming at him.
Wanting him.
And knowing he never wanted him back.

He curled forward on the chair, blade falling from his fingers and clattering softly onto the desk. His hands pressed into his face. His body shook. A choked, shattered sob escaped his throat and filled the room like a confession he'd been too proud to speak.

He didn't know how long he cried.

But he didn't stop.

Not until he was empty.

But the pain hadn't left.

Nam-gyu sat there in the dim silence, shirt rumpled, cheeks wet, the sharpener blade still glinting faintly on the desk beneath him.

His breath was shallow.
Eyes swollen.
Heart aching.

And then—
something snapped.

It was small. Internal. A spark flaring against all that soaked, heavy grief.

He wasn't crying anymore.

He was just angry.

Suddenly, violently.

Angry at everything.

At Mi-na for showing up.
At Thanos for letting her in.
At himself for still caring.
At the world for making it hurt this much.

He reached down before he could even think.

Fingers curled around the blade again.

His hand shook, but this time it wasn't from fear.
It was fury.

And without thinking—without wanting to, really—

He pressed it against his skin again.

Harder.

More than before.

His teeth clenched. His face twisted. Not from pain.
But from how right it felt in that second.

Like punishment.

Like a scream that didn't have to come out of his mouth.

The lines came quicker this time.

Messy. Uneven. Red.

Not deep. But deliberate.

His breath hitched.
He stared at the marks.
Felt his heartbeat pounding under his skin like it was mocking him.

It wasn't about dying.

It was about feeling something else.

Anything else.

He dropped the blade again.

Hands gripping his hair, chest heaving as more tears crept up—not soft ones this time. Not grief. Not shame.

Just rage.

A raw, sick kind of fury that made his throat ache and his body tremble.

He wasn't even sure what he wanted anymore.

To scream?
To sleep for a year?
To disappear?
To be held?

Everything. All of it. None of it.

He let his head fall back against the chair, breathing hard. Looking up at the ceiling like maybe it could swallow him whole.

He didn't feel better.

He didn't feel worse.

He just... felt?

The house was still.

Nam-gyu stood in the middle of his room, staring at the mess.

The papers on the floor.
The snapped pencil.
The faint blood on his wrist.
The blood splatter.
The sharpener blade.

He took a slow, shaky breath.
Then another.

He didn't cry anymore.

He just felt... numb.
And disgusted.

With himself.
With what he'd done.
With how easy it had been to do it again.

He stumbled to the bathroom quietly, the floorboards creaking under his sprained foot. His limbs felt heavy, like they didn't fully belong to him. Like he was moving underwater.

The light in the bathroom was too bright.

He squinted. Blinked down at his arms.
The lines were red and fresh, but shallow. Some already drying.
Ugly.

"Stupid," he muttered under his breath.

He turned the faucet on.

The water was cold. It stung. But he didn't flinch.

He grabbed the soap.
Scrubbed gently.
Then harder.
Then too hard.

He wanted the red off his skin.
He wanted the shame off.

But it didn't come off.

Not really.

He wrapped the cuts in medical tape and gauze from the cabinet—leftover from a twisted ankle months ago. Hands trembling slightly as he worked.

When it was done, he just stared at himself in the mirror.

Eyes red.
Skin pale.
Expression blank.

He hated how quiet he looked.
Like nothing had happened.

But inside?
He was still screaming.

He stumbled back to his room.

Put on the black hoodie he always wore.

Tugged the sleeves down.

Covered the bandages.

Then he crouched down and picked everything up.

The sketchbook.
The pencils.
The broken sharpener.
The blade.

He paused, holding it for a long moment.

Then shoved it deep into the trash.

Out of sight.

He wiped the desk down with his sleeve. Folded the sketchbook shut.

And sat down on his bed like nothing had happened.

Like it was just another morning.

He picked up his phone and swiped off Do Not Disturb.

One buzz.

1 new message.

Not Thanos.

Not even a missed call.

Just Min-su.

He sighed through his nose, already knowing what it'd say.

Min-su:
Fine but just in case ur lying I'm truly here for u

No period on the last message. That's how Nam-gyu knew Min-su meant it.

He didn't answer.

Not yet.

He swiped to his Instagram messages.

Yuri had sent three new reels.

Nam-gyu clicked out without watching it.

His stomach churned, empty and tight.
He hadn't eaten since... yesterday? Maybe longer.

He sat there for a moment, just breathing.
Then let out a low, tired sigh.

Pushed himself up off the bed.

His body ached—not from the cuts. From everything else.
From being alive.

He walked to the kitchen slowly.

Each step felt like dragging himself back into a world he didn't want to be in.

But he opened the fridge anyway.

The cold air hit his face.
It helped. A little.

He grabbed a leftover rice container and a half-drank bottle of Sprite.
Not because he was hungry.

Just because eating felt like something he should do.

He sat at the table, hoodie sleeves tugged down to his knuckles, spoon clinking softly against the bowl.

Each bite tasted like cardboard.

But he kept eating.

Because it was the one thing he could do.

Nam-gyu picked at cold rice, hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands, eyes dull.

He wasn't really eating.

Just... forcing it into his mouth

And then—
the front door flew open like a tornado had kicked it in.

"YAH—NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND—SHE SAID THAT TO HER FACE!"

Semi.

Loud. Laughing. Phone pressed to her ear. Wearing those ridiculous furry slippers and a hoodie three sizes too big. She kicked the door shut behind her with a thud, talking a mile a minute to whoever was on the other end.

"No, no—listen. LISTEN. I literally dropped my dumpling I was so SHOCKED—hang on—"

She spotted Nam-gyu.

Beamed.

And without missing a beat, she marched over and dropped herself onto the couch beside him, legs flopping across his lap.

Nam-gyu flinched just slightly. But he didn't stop her.

He gave her the smallest glance, then looked away again. Neutral. Calm.
Or at least, pretending to be.

"I gotta go," Semi told the phone. "Yup. Okay. Bye, skank." Click.

She tossed the phone onto the coffee table and spun toward Nam-gyu, excitement lighting her face.

"Okay. So." She leaned in, eyes wide. "You are NOT gonna believe what I just found out."

Nam-gyu gave a half-smile. Hollow.

"Can't wait."

Semi launched into it—some story about a girl from her acting class who was caught cheating with her scene partner, while her actual boyfriend was the one recording the whole thing without knowing who was in the video. She told it with voices, hand gestures, sound effects. Classic Semi.

And for a moment—

Nam-gyu almost relaxed.

The noise helped. The distraction. Her warmth.

Until—

She laughed.

Hard.

And reached over to grab his arm.

The wrapped one.

"NAMGYU—LOOK AT ME—" she squealed, shaking him gently by the forearm.

And everything stopped.

Nam-gyu went stiff.

Like a statue.

He didn't yank away.

Didn't flinch.

Just—froze.

Her fingers were warm. Too warm. Too close.

They pressed into the bandages under his sleeve.

And suddenly, the shame was back.
The sting.
The memory.
That split second where her grip made the skin throb again.

Semi didn't notice. Not at first.

She was still laughing, head thrown back, unaware.

Nam-gyu's heart was racing.

He swallowed.

His voice, when it came, was quiet. Too quiet.

"...Don't."

Semi blinked.

"Huh?"

He gently—so gently—moved her hand off his arm.

"Don't grab me like that," he said, not looking at her.

Her smile faltered.

"Oh. Sorry—did I hurt you?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

He just stared down at his food.

Spoon unmoving.

His shoulders were tight again. His mouth drawn.

Semi studied him for a second. Really studied him.

And something in her face softened.

"..Nam-gyu."

Still no answer.

She leaned forward, voice quieter this time. A different tone.

"You okay?"

Nam-gyu nodded.

Too quickly.

"Yeah," he said. "Just tired."

But his eyes didn't match his voice.

And his hoodie sleeves were tugged down too far.
And his food was untouched.
And his hand was trembling—barely, but enough.

Semi didn't press.

Not yet.

But she didn't lean back either.

She just sat there with him, the drama forgotten, legs still slung across his lap like she could anchor him down without asking questions.

Semi's laugh had faded.

The silence between them wasn't comfortable anymore.

She watched him.

The way his shoulders hunched. The way his eyes stayed low. The way he hadn't touched his food in minutes. The way his fingers had trembled when she grabbed his arm.

It wasn't just tired.

It wasn't just moodiness.

This was something else.

And she knew him.
She'd known him since they were too young to pretend.

So she smiled—softly, playfully.

"Okay," she said. "I'll back off."

She leaned back into the couch. Picked up her phone. Pretended to scroll.

Nam-gyu relaxed—barely. Shoulders lowering a notch.

And then—

Quickly—

She dropped the phone, reached out, and yanked his hoodie sleeve up.

"Wait—SEMI—"

He jolted like she slapped him.

The bandages were visible for maybe half a second.

But that was enough.

Semi's face dropped.

Completely.

Her breath hitched.

"...No," she whispered, her voice cracked and small.
"Nam-gyu... what the fuck—?"

But he was already grabbing at his sleeve again, shoving it down with panic in his eyes.

"It's nothing—" he muttered, standing too fast.

She grabbed his wrist, trying to stop him, but he pulled away like she burned him.

"Let go," he snapped. His voice was louder than he meant. Shaky.

"Where are you going?" she asked, standing too.

"Room," he said quickly. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine."

"I said I'm fine."

"You're bleeding under a hoodie, Nam-gyu—"

"JUST DROP IT."

He tried to walk past her. His hand was on the hallway wall. Almost at the door.

And then—

Her hand caught the back of his hoodie.
Pulled.

Hard.

He stumbled back a step—and suddenly he wasn't running anymore. He wasn't escaping. He was just there, standing in the middle of the living room with his hoodie sleeves down and his heart in his throat.

Semi's voice was shaking.

Not angry.

Not even yelling.

Just... breaking.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Nam-gyu looked anywhere but at her.

He swallowed.

His jaw tightened. His eyes were wet now, but he blinked it all back.

"It's not a big deal," he said flatly.

"It is," she whispered. "It is a big deal. You said you were clean."

"I said drop it—"

"Do you think I wouldn't notice?" she said, stepping closer. "Do you think I haven't seen you like this before? You think I don't know you?"

He didn't answer.

She reached for his sleeve again, slower this time.

But he stepped back, flinching.

"I just wanted it to stop," he whispered.

That broke her.

She walked straight up to him, didn't wait for permission, and wrapped her arms around him.

Tight.

Not soft. Not fragile. Tight.

He didn't move at first.

Just stood there.

Frozen.

Then his shoulders started shaking.

And finally—

He leaned into her.

Head on her shoulder.

Fingers clutching her hoodie.

Like he didn't know how to say sorry, or help, or fix anything—so he just let himself be held.

They stood in the middle of the living room.

Nam-gyu's head buried in her shoulder.
His breath hitching.
His fingers clinging to her sleeve like it was the only thing keeping him from disappearing.

Her voice a whisper against his hair.

"Can I see?"

He didn't respond right away.

His breath came shallow.

Then—slowly—he nodded.

She led him to the couch.
Sat him down gently like he was made of glass.
Knee to knee. Hand in hand.

She reached for his sleeve, and this time?

He didn't pull away.

She tugged the fabric back, slow and careful.

The bandages underneath were hasty. Uneven. Stained in places.

Semi's face crumpled as she saw it.

No gasp.
No dramatics.

Just heartbreak.

Real and quiet.

"I'm gonna clean it properly, okay?" she whispered.

Nam-gyu gave the tiniest nod, barely holding it together.

She disappeared for a minute—into the bathroom, then the kitchen.

Came back with warm water, cotton pads, antiseptic.

She sat on the floor in front of him, gently unwrapping the bandages with soft fingers.

Each one made his stomach twist.

Not from pain.

But from the shame.

She dabbed around the cuts with clean water.
Then antiseptic.
He winced.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"It's fine," he whispered.

She didn't ask what he used.

She didn't need to.

When she was done, she rewrapped them properly—clean, snug, and secure.

Then she looked up at him.

Eyes glistening.

"...Why'd you do it?"

He looked away.

Fingers curled in his lap.

"I don't know," he lied. His voice was hoarse.

She didn't let up.

"Nam-gyu..."

He squeezed his eyes shut.

"I just..." his breath hitched, and then—

He broke.

"Because I saw them kiss, okay?" he said, the words spilling out too fast, too loud, like they'd been locked in a vault with no air. "Thanos and Mi-na. I saw it. Some fan posted it, and he didn't even tell me—he didn't say anything—he just let it happen, like it meant nothing, like—like—"

He choked.

Semi's eyes widened.

But she didn't speak.

He kept going. Voice trembling. Raw.

"I wanted to be the one he kissed like that, not her—me. And I hate that. I hate that I even wanted that. I don't even like him, not really, but I do, and I don't know why, and it's stupid, and he ignored me, and I called him and he thought I was her, and when I heard his voice I just—"

He gasped for air.

"I couldn't stop hearing it. Seeing it. Her hands in his hair. Him looking at her like she never left. Like she's the only one he ever wanted."

Semi's heart shattered.

Nam-gyu's voice broke completely.

"I felt disgusting. Like I was a joke. Like if I disappeared, he wouldn't even notice. I just wanted it to stop. Just for a second. I didn't mean to—"

His words dissolved into sobs.

Semi launched forward and wrapped her arms around him again, tighter than before.

"No," she whispered, voice trembling now too. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."

Nam-gyu collapsed into her.

Tears soaking her hoodie. Body shaking with everything he hadn't told anyone.

And she held him.

Like she wasn't going anywhere.

Like he was worth staying for.

Namgyu pushes back and excuse himself to the bathroom.

The light in the bathroom was soft.

Nam-gyu stood at the sink, fingers gripping the porcelain edge, head bowed.

His face was blotchy, eyes red, lips dry. His hoodie still hung off him like a shield. He'd splashed water on his face, wiped it with a towel. Tried to smooth his hair. Fix something. Anything.

But he still looked like someone who'd been crying for hours.

He sighed.

Turned toward the mirror.

Stared.

He didn't know who was looking back.

His phone buzzed on the edge of the sink.

The screen lit up.

Thanos.

He froze.

For a moment, he didn't move.

Just stared at the name on the screen like it might vanish.

He didn't want to open it.

Didn't want to see what kind of careless, empty words were waiting.

But his thumb moved anyway.

Thanos:
yo do u still have my charger?
nvm lol
wait actually i think i left it by your bed

Nam-gyu blinked.

His heart thudded once. Loud in his chest.

That was it?

No "hey."
No "sorry."
No "are you okay?"
Not even "what's up."

Just... a charger.

An excuse. A stupid, clumsy, obvious excuse.

Nam-gyu stared at the message. Long and hard. His hand hovered, unsure.

His brain whispered:

He's trying to talk to you.

He could've just ignored you forever.

But his heart answered louder:

He kissed her.

He didn't care then.

Why now?

His eyes burned again. But no tears came this time.

Just tiredness.

And that same question circling his head like smoke—

Should I answer?

Should he pretend nothing happened?
Should he ignore it, like Thanos ignored him?
Should he snap and say exactly what he feels?

He set the phone down gently on the counter.

Backlit screen still glowing.

Unread reply still waiting.

And Nam-gyu just stood there, arms crossed, heart heavy, gaze locked on his reflection.

Not sure what would hurt more—

Answering?

Or not?

Chapter Text

The message still sat there, waiting.

Thanos:
yo do u still have my charger?
nvm lol
wait actually i think i left it by your bed.

Nam-gyu stood in silence for a long time.

Then, slowly—like gravity had finally won—he slid down the wall.

His back hit the tile.

He curled in a little, knees pulled up, hoodie sleeves swallowing his hands.

The bathroom was quiet.

Just the distant hum of the light. The faint drip of the sink.

He stared at the phone in his lap.

So many things he wanted to say.

Why now?
Do you even remember what you did?
Did she taste better than I would have?

But none of that came out.

Instead—

His fingers moved. Softly. Hesitantly.

He typed.

Nam-gyu:
yeah. it's here.

He hovered over the send button. His thumb shook.

Why was his heart racing like this?

Like he was about to confess something instead of just talking about a charger.

He hit send.

Waited.

Waited.

His screen didn't light up again.

No reply. No typing bubbles. Just silence.

Nam-gyu let the phone fall to his chest.

Leaned his head back against the cold wall.

His voice barely a whisper.

"...I'm so stupid."

Nam-gyu sat in the corner of the bathroom, phone resting on his chest, breath soft and uneven.

He'd answered.

Just one line.

And now his chest was tight, like he'd set something in motion that he couldn't stop.

The door burst open without warning.

"I KNEW IT."

Nam-gyu jumped so hard he nearly dropped his phone.

Semi stood in the doorway—wild-eyed, hands on hips, hoodie sleeves pushed up like she was ready to fight someone's dad.

"I heard the typing," she hissed, marching in. "I heard it, Nam-gyu. You think I can't tell the difference between 'scrolling ' silence and 'texting someone ' silence??"

Nam-gyu blinked up at her like a kid caught sneaking cookies before dinner.

"I wasn't—"

"Give it."

"No."

"Give me the phone."

"Semi—"

Too late.

She lunged, snatched it right out of his hand before he could even react.

She looked down at the screen.

Reading the text.

The turned slowly toward him.

Her voice dropped.

"...You texted Thanos."

Nam-gyu winced.

"It wasn't—"

"You texted Thanos. After everything you just told me. After that mental breakdown where I wrapped your arm like a war medic. THAT was your next move???"

He looked down at the tile, cheeks red. "It was just about his charger..."

"Oh, really?" she said, voice laced with heartbreak and judgment in equal measure. "Don't do this to yourself. Don't do that thing where you pretend it's casual. It's never casual between you two."

"I know."

"And he's not texting you because of a charger. That boy has like, five. He just wanted an excuse."

"I know."

"And you still answered him??"

He groaned and hid his face in his sleeve. "Please leave me alone."

She sat on the floor next to him with a sigh.

"Not a chance."

Nam-gyu rested his head on his knees. "I just wanted to feel like he still cared."

Semi didn't say anything right away.

Then she handed the phone back gently, her voice quieter now.

"...I get that. I do. But you don't have to chase scraps to prove you're worth more than this."

Nam-gyu didn't answer. He just sat there. Letting her words sink in.

Semi leaned her head on his shoulder. Her voice was soft now.

"I'm not gonna take your phone again. But if you text him anything else tonight, I swear."

"...You already stole all my ' addictions ' stuff"

"And I was right to do it."

They sat there in silence.

Just two tired souls on a bathroom floor.

One broken.
One holding the glue.

Semi finally stood from the bathroom floor with a soft sigh.

She didn't say much—just looked at Nam-gyu one more time with eyes full of worry, then pressed a kiss to the top of his head and quietly walked out.

The door clicked shut behind her.

And then—

Silence.

Nam-gyu sat alone again.

The soft hum of the bathroom light.

The faint tick of a pipe in the wall.

His own heartbeat—too loud. Too tired.

He stared at the floor for a while.

Legs curled up. Hoodie sleeves tugged past his knuckles.

His phone sat beside him, screen dark.

He leaned his head back against the wall, let out a slow, empty breath.

And then—

Oh.
The file.

His eyes widened slightly. Barely.

He'd almost forgotten.

The one thing he actually owed Thanos.

Not the messages. Not the emotional labor.

Just the project file.

The reason they even got close.

Nam-gyu stood up slowly. His knees ached. His body felt like someone else's.

He walked down the hall.

Each step quiet. Soft. Like he was afraid the floor might crack beneath him. Or his sprained foot was give up on him.

His room was dim.

He didn't turn the light on.

Just crossed to his desk and opened his laptop.

The screen glowed cold blue.

He found the folder. Opened it.

Clicked the file.
Attached it.
No message.
No emojis.
No explanation.

Just the file.

He hovered over the send button for a second.

His cursor blinked at him.

Then—

Send.

The little whoosh sound rang out, light and final.

He closed the laptop.

And sat there.

Staring at the closed screen.

Still as ever.

Thanos lay back on his couch, one leg draped over the armrest, hoodie bunched around his neck, thumb lazily dragging up his phone screen.

His room was a mess.

Ashtray full. Chips spilled. Hoodie on inside out.

Lo-fi beats played from his speaker, low and muffled under the sound of his own chewing. He wasn't even hungry. Just bored.

Instagram. Twitter.
Back to Instagram.

Another scroll.
Another swipe.
And then—

Ping.

His email lit up.

1 new message: [File] 09.04.mix.final2 – From Nam-gyu

"Oh," he muttered.

He blinked, sat up slightly, and opened it.

It loaded.

He barely looked at it.

No message.

No text.

Just the file.

"Huh," he said out loud to no one.

He sat there for a second longer.

Then—

He forwarded it.

Thanos → Gyeong-su:
file's in

No other words.

He dropped the phone onto his chest and sighed.

Then reached for the blunt on the nightstand.

Lit it.

Took a long drag.

Blew smoke toward the ceiling like nothing happened.

No thoughts.
No concern.
Just the feeling of the high kicking back in.

"Finally," he muttered, eyes closed.

Nam-gyu sat on his bed, hoodie sleeves still tugged down over his palms, laptop dark beside him.

He stared at the ceiling.

Blank.

Empty.

The kind of tired that went beyond sleep.

Then—
ding.

His phone buzzed softly on the blanket beside him.

He blinked once.

Slow.

Picked it up.

New email.
Subject: Fwd: 09.04.mix.final2
From: Thanos
To: Gyeong-su

No body text.

No message.

Just a cold, automatic forward.

Nam-gyu's chest tightened.

He stared at it. Jaw clenched.

That was it?

After everything?

No "hey."
No "thanks."
Not even a "👍🏼."

Just a file drop. Like he was a random intern who existed to serve and disappear.

He let the phone drop onto the mattress beside him.

His mouth pressed into a thin, silent line.

His eyes stung—but no tears came.

He was past that now.

He turned over slowly, back facing the phone, curled up on his side.

The room felt colder than before.

Not because of the air.

Because of him.

Because of Thanos.

Because no matter how much he gave... it never seemed to matter.

Nam-gyu didn't move for a while.

Just laid there on his side, knees curled in, hoodie bunched around his hands, the faint glow of his phone still lighting the edge of his sheets.

He didn't bother opening it again.

Didn't check if Thanos had replied.
Didn't check if anyone cared.

He reached over and grabbed the old earbuds off his nightstand.
Untangled them slowly, mindlessly.
Plugged them in.

One in. Then the other.

He scrolled through his playlist.

Paused on one.

( he's listening to IFHY by Tyler the creator👍)

He hit play.

Laid back.

Let it fill the silence.

The music washed over him gently, wrapping around the bruised parts of his heart.

He let his eyes close.

He didn't cry.

He didn't think.

He just existed.

Half-floating in that strange space between sleep and not-sleep, where everything feels slow and far away.

Maybe tomorrow would be different.
Maybe he'd wake up and it wouldn't hurt as much.
Maybe he'd feel something other than this... ache.

Maybe.

But for now—

He let the music pull him under.

And finally, in the dim stillness of his room, Nam-gyu fell asleep.

Thanos was scrolling on his phone, hoodie halfway off, legs tangled in his blankets, one sock missing, hair a tragic monument to sleep and hair gel abuse.

BAM.

The door slammed open.

"ALBUM DAY, BITCHHHH!"
"GET YOUR UGLY ASS UP!!!"

Thanos didn't even have time to get up before two full-grown men came flying onto his bed.

Gyeong-su launched himself first—sideways like a human missile—shouting "HAPPY RELEASE DAAAYYYY" and elbowing Thanos in the ribs like it was his birthright.

Then Min-su jumped in after him, giggling like a maniac, hoodie sleeves pulled over his fists, and tackled them both.

Thanos wheezed under the weight of two idiots and groaned into his pillow.

"Why are you like this."

Gyeong-su sat on his legs like a throne. "Because you dropped the album of the century today and we're your beautiful little cheerleaders."

Min-su, upside-down across Thanos' stomach, kicked his feet in the air. "He's lying, we just wanted an excuse to ruin your morning."

Thanos rolled onto his back and slapped a pillow over his face. "I hate all of you."

"You love us," Gyeong-su said, snatching the pillow away. "And you're gonna love us more when we tell you that the pre-save count passed forty-two thousand."

Thanos sat up.

"Wait—seriously?"

"Swear on my fake Gucci slides," Gyeong-su said proudly, showing the stats on his phone. "Also, the teaser Min-su posted last night is at 700k views already."

Min-su made a fake crying face. "My son is thriving."

Thanos rubbed his eyes, trying to blink away the sleep and the weed fog. "Damn."

"You're acting calm but I know you're losing your mind inside," Gyeong-su grinned. "Admit it. You wanna scream."

Thanos smirked slowly. "I do wanna scream."

"DO IT," they both yelled.

Thanos screamed into his hands, flopping back dramatically onto the mattress.

They all burst into absolute giggles, kicking and yelling and wrestling like it was a slumber party and not a professional release day for a major album.

The energy was stupid. Loud. Happy.

Exactly the kind of morning that should've felt perfect.

"Okay okay," Min-su said, out of breath, "we have seven hours until it drops, and I swear to God if you're not showered and dressed I'm telling everyone your real name."

Thanos groaned. "You wouldn't."

"I would."

Gyeong-su grinned. "And I'll leak your middle school rap."

"...You're both monsters."

"Now get UP, princess," Min-su said, slapping his knee. "The world's about to hear your heartbreak album. AT LEAST look emotionally stable."

"Impossible," Gyeong-su whispered.

Thanos threw a pillow at him.

Nam-gyu phone buzzed twice.

Then a third time.

He blinked awake, still in his hoodie, earbuds tangled around his neck, the faint drone of music still playing.

Groggy. Dry-eyed. Numb.

He grabbed the phone, half-expecting another message from Thanos—but it was a video call.

Incoming: Gyeong-su

He stared at it for a second.

Let it ring.

Then picked up.

Gyeong-su's voice exploded through the speaker before the screen even loaded.

"Genius man!!!"

"Beautiful producer man !!!" Min-su added, leaning in close, upside-down on the couch for some reason.

"We need your face in the studio today!"

"Final listen before the album drops. Quality control. Come save us."

Nam-gyu blinked at the screen, eyes puffy, voice scratchy.

"Okay..but can Se-mi come."

Gyeong-su leaned closer to the camera. "Wait, what?"

"I'll go," Nam-gyu said. "If Semi comes with me."

Silence.

Just a moment.

Gyeong-su squinted at the screen, like he could see something deeper through the pixels.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but I want Se-mi to go." Nam-gyu lied too fast.

Gyeong-su opened his mouth to say something else—but Min-su elbowed him.

"No problem," Min-su said excitedly. "I'm actually glad u said that I miss Se-mi, let me talk to her! Don't hog her when she's there!"

Nam-gyu nodded once.

Didn't say thank you.
Didn't explain.

"Text me when you're ready," he muttered. "I'll come with her."

And just like that, the screen went dark as he ended the call.

Gyeong-su stared at his phone.

"...He sounded weird, right?"

Min-su nodded, lips pursed. "Uh kinda.."

"Maybe hes sad about something?"

They looked at each other.

Thanos, from across the room, laughed at something on his phone, still in pajama pants.

Neither of them said it out loud.

But they both knew exactly why he was acting weird.

Semi leaned against his doorframe, arms crossed.

She hadn't said anything since the call ended.

Nam-gyu sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, phone still warm in his hand.

He could feel her hesitation without even looking up.

"...You sure you wanna go?" she finally asked, voice softer than usual. "You don't have to, you know. I can say your stomach exploded. Or that you joined a cult."

He smiled faintly at that. But didn't laugh.

His eyes stayed on the floor.

"I should go," he murmured. "It'd be worse if I didn't."

Semi stepped in a little closer. "Even if he's there?"

Nam-gyu's stomach twisted.

He nodded slowly. "Even then."

There was a pause.

Then he looked up.

Eyes tired, but clear.

"It's just work. That's all it is. If I don't go, it'll feel like he won. Like he still gets to control whether I show up for myself."

Semi blinked at him.

Then grinned—soft and proud.

"Look at you being emotionally evolved."

He rolled his eyes, but his mouth twitched into a smile.

She walked over, ruffled his hair.

"Let's get you ready."

Semi drove with the windows cracked, music low, her hand drumming against the steering wheel to some retro pop beat that didn't quite match the mood—but somehow helped anyway.

Nam-gyu sat in the passenger seat, hoodie sleeves tugged past his wrists, earbuds hanging from his fingers, untouched.

He wasn't smiling.

But he wasn't sinking either.

His fingers tapped his thigh.

He was thinking.

Preparing.

Semi glanced at him at a red light.

"You okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

Another beat.

"Liar."

He gave her a side-eye. "A little okay."

She smiled. "Good enough for now."

They drove the rest of the way in a calm, buzzing silence.

The studio wasn't far.

But every mile felt like peeling back a layer of fear and forcing courage to take its place.

Semi parked.

Turned to him before unlocking the doors.

"Last chance to fake your death."

Nam-gyu exhaled through his nose, hand on the door handle.

"I'm good."

"Fine."

The room was quiet when they entered—soft padded walls, hum of fluorescent lights, and that faint scent of coffee and old wires.

Semi walked ahead, while Nam-gyu stayed a step behind her, hoodie sleeves clenched in his fists.

His heart beat too fast. He wasn't sure why.

Maybe he was sure.

He saw them before they saw him.

Min-su, lounging on the couch in a graphic tee, legs crossed like royalty.
Gyeong-su by the mixing board, sipping iced coffee through a tiny straw.
And—

Thanos.

Back turned.

Sitting in the swivel chair.
One leg bouncing.
Hair a little messy. Hoodie sleeves pushed up.
Leaning forward toward the monitors, laughing at something Gyeong-su just said.

His voice—

Gosh.

Nam-gyu hadn't realized how much he'd missed hearing it.

He stopped in the doorway, just for a second.

Heart thudding.

Eyes locking on the curve of Thanos' jaw. The line of his shoulders.

And then—

"SEMI!!!" Min-su screamed, leaping up and wrapping her in a bear hug like it'd been years.

"MIN-SU!," Semi grinned, hugging him back. "Is that my shirt?"

"Maybe."

Gyeong-su turned, saw Nam-gyu, and broke into a warm grin. "Hey Nam-gyu!"

Nam-gyu smiled politely.

Gyeong-su pulled him into a one-armed hug. Let the words wash over him.

"Glad you came. Everything's basically perfect, but we wanted your ears on it, just in case."

"Yeah," Nam-gyu said. "No problem."

He sounded calm.

Cool.

Totally collected.

But behind his eyes—

They kept flicking back.

Just a glance.

Just to check if Thanos had turned around yet.

And he had.

Slowly.

Mid-laugh, mid-comment—his head tilted, and their eyes met across the room.

Nam-gyu's stomach twisted.

It was only a second.
Two, maybe.

But it hit.

Thanos froze. His expression didn't change—but something behind it shifted.

Nam-gyu dropped his eyes immediately.

Looked at the ground.
At Gyeong-su's drink.
Anywhere else.

Why was it so hard to breathe in here?
Nam-gyu sat beside Gyeong-su at the mixing console, staring at the screen while the final tracks played through the studio monitors.

Bass clean.
Levels tight.
Vocals crisp.

Everything was technically perfect.

And yet—
He couldn't stop glancing sideways.

Just brief little looks.

Tiny, flickering peeks in Thanos' direction.

He was sitting on the couch now, scrolling through something on his phone, one leg bouncing nervously.

Every few minutes he'd laugh at something Min-su said, or toss in a joke that made Gyeong-su snort.

Nam-gyu kept his face neutral.

Kept nodding at the beat drops, taking mental notes.
Pretending.

Trying not to hear that laugh.
Trying not to remember how it used to be directed at him.

He focused in.

Track 7.

His favorite. The one they argued about for three days but finally got right.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, brows furrowed.

The sound dipped—smooth, then surged again with a warm synth swell.

"Damn," Gyeong-su muttered. "Still hits."

Nam-gyu nodded faintly. Eyes still locked on the screen.

He didn't hear anyone approach.

Didn't feel it coming.

Until—

A warm hand gripped his shoulder.

Not harsh.
Not playful.

Just... steady. Quiet. There.

Nam-gyu froze.

His whole body went still. His breath hitched.

The music kept playing. The bass thumped low in the background.

But all he could hear was the voice, soft and too close.

"Hey..."

He didn't have to turn around.

He knew that voice.

"Everything going okay?" Thanos asked, voice low—casual. Like nothing had happened. Like it was normal.

Nam-gyu blinked slowly.

Swallowed hard.

Then—
He nodded once.

"Yeah."

His voice was thin. Dry.

He didn't look at him.

Didn't turn around.

Thanos' hand lingered a second longer.

Then slipped away.

Nam-gyu exhaled like he'd been underwater.

Gyeong-su side-eyed him but didn't say a word.

Nam-gyu sat stiffly beside Gyeong-su, trying to focus. The studio felt a little too warm, the air buzzing with quiet excitement from everyone around him—but not from him.

The album was playing, each track slipping through the high-end monitors like silk, polished and crisp. He had helped fine-tune so many of these. He knew the sounds like the back of his hand. And still, it felt like he was hearing them for the first time through a cracked window.

Gyeong-su leaned in, grinning softly. "You did your big one on this one" he whispered.

Nam-gyu nodded and forced a smile, but his eyes flicked sideways.

There.

Across the room.

Thanos, leaning back lazily on the couch, hoodie pulled halfway over his face, headphones slung around his neck. He looked relaxed—maybe too relaxed. Like someone trying to act like everything was fine. Like someone who knew they were being watched.

Nam-gyu looked away again.

The next song rolled in. One he remembered producing the base for. A track they'd all argued about, adjusted fifty times, layered with synth and subtle strings. It had been a pain to make. It had also been the last time he and Thanos had laughed together.

Then came the line.

"Did you mean it? Or were you just high again."

Nam-gyu's breath caught.

He remembered that line. Thanos had added it at the last minute. No one argued. Everyone thought it hit hard.

He blinked hard and stared at the screen.

As the final track faded out, the room fell into a warm lull, like the calm after a storm—or the exhale after something you didn't realize you were holding in.

Then Min-su suddenly stood up, stretching with a loud yawn. "Okay. Can we go on lunch break before I die?"

Se-mi was already halfway to the door before anyone could answer. "You had me at lunch," she said, flipping her phone out and tapping fast. "I'm ordering. I don't trust any of you. Y'all eat like toddlers."

Everyone chuckled, the tension loosening just enough to breathe again.

Gyeong-su grinned and flopped onto the studio couch, pulling out his phone. "Alright, you better not get anything with mushrooms."

"U you were being dramatic."," Se-mi said, not looking up. "It was delicious."

"I didn't know an allergy meant being dramatic." ," he mumbled.

Thanos leaned back in the armchair across from them, hoodie still up, his eyes a little distant now. He hadn't said anything since checking in with Nam-gyu, and now he just scrolled aimlessly through his phone like it owed him answers. His knee bounced. His jaw flexed.

Nam-gyu hadn't moved from his seat by the desk. He just sat there, his arms crossed. His eyes were down, but he was clearly still listening—especially to one voice in the room.

Min-su plopped down on the couch next to Gyeong-su and peeked over Se-mi's shoulder as she scrolled through food options.

"Wait that looks so good," he spoke softy.

"I'm getting fries. That's basically therapy," Se-mi muttered, tapping her screen. "Also, Nam-gyu, if you don't speak now, you're getting whatever I feel like giving you."

Nam-gyu blinked like he'd been pulled from underwater. He hesitated, then mumbled, "Get me fries too."

"See? That wasn't so hard," she said, pleased.

The room slipped into a quiet rhythm. No music, just the low murmur of phones and the faint hum of equipment. The kind of silence that isn't awkward, but definitely loaded.

Thanos glanced up, his eyes flicking to Nam-gyu for the briefest second. Nam-gyu didn't look back.

And Se-mi? Se-mi noticed everything.

The food was ordered. The tension had thinned into something softer, almost... normal.

Se-mi, sighed after securing everyone's order, let her phone drop to her lap and leaned lazily against Min-su's shoulder with a satisfied sigh. "bulgogi, kimchi stew, and fries. Everyone lives."

Min-su blinked down at her but didn't complain, just tilted his head to rest lightly on hers, scrolling casually with one hand like they hadn't just turned the studio into a rom-com set.

Gyeong-su side-eyed them from the couch and immediately made a face. "Okay, can you two not merge into one organism right in front of me? You two aren't even dating to be doing all that."

Se-mi didn't move. "Just say you're lonely at this point."

"Fair." Gyeong-su muttered dramatically, slouching farther down the couch like he was being emotionally suffocated.

Nam-gyu, who had quietly gotten up and flopped onto the beanbag chair in the corner, let out a snort without looking up from his phone. "Relax. It's not like they're making out. Yet."

Min-su mocked him by doing that little making out motion. Then let out a small laugh.

Nam-gyu stuck out his tongue. "Try it. I'll throw soon to be here Sprite at you."

Across the room, Thanos glanced up with a crooked grin.

"You people act like you're not the most weirdest friend group I've ever met," he said, finally joining the conversation.

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes without lifting his head. "Says the guy who makes out with his ex in public and then ghosts everyone for twelve hours."

"Allegedly," Thanos shot back with a smirk.

"Nope. I saw the video," Nam-gyu said, and even he couldn't tell if he was joking.

The air went still for a second.

Then Gyeong-su burst into a laugh, slapping his knee. "Damn. Y'all need to air this out already. Maybe we need a group therapist."

Min-su, still comfy under Se-mi's weight, raised a hand. "The first session can be about why Thanos is the way he is."

"I'll bring snacks," Se-mi added.

Thanos pretended to be offended. "You're all just jealous of my existence."

Nam-gyu shook his head but didn't argue. He was smiling, faintly. Just a little. The kind you try to hide behind your phone.

And Thanos noticed.

Then..

Se-mi suddenly screamed.

Like blood curdling, heart shattering, someone died kinda of scream.

Everyone in the room froze.

Nam-gyu's phone nearly flew out of his hand. Gyeong-su choked on air. Thanos actually sat up straighter.

"What the hell—" Nam-gyu started, wide-eyed.

"It's READY!!" Se-mi shouted, holding her phone like it was a gift. Her eyes sparkled with chaotic glee.

Min-su blinked slowly from where he sat, too comfortable for this. "Okay?"

Se-mi's jaw dropped. "Get up man child!"

"MAN CHILD-?" Min-su chocked, already being yanked by the collar of his hoodie.

"You're my passenger princess! HURRY!"

Before anyone could intervene, she was dragging him toward the door, hoodie bunched in one hand, determination in the other. Min-su stumbled behind her like a confused cat."

The studio door slammed behind them.

Dead silence.

"...Did she just kidnap him?" Gyeong-su asked flatly.

"Against his will?" Nam-gyu added, blinking.

Thanos leaned back on the couch, eyes still on the door. "That's her love, I guess."

"I hope the food survives the trip back," Gyeong-su muttered.

Nam-gyu shook his head, letting out a small laugh under his breath. "There so weird."

The laughter faded slowly, and with Se-mi and Min-su gone, the room fell into a soft quiet again. Not awkward—just... mellow. Still. Like all the chaos had walked out and left them with air to breathe.

Nam-gyu went back to scrolling, but his attention kept drifting—to the couch. To Thanos. To the empty spot beside him.

Thanos hadn't looked away.

And for the briefest moment, they just sat there—three dumb boys in a quiet studio.

Even here.

The gentle hum of the AC. The light tapping of Nam-gyu's thumb on his screen. The faint thud of Thanos bouncing his foot in the air.

And then—giggles.

Little, muffled, suspicious giggles.

Nam-gyu slowly turned his head.

Gyeong-su was sat in the corner of the couch, hood up like he was hiding, grinning down at his phone. His feet? Literally swaying softly like a teenage girl.

"...You good?" Nam-gyu asked, eyebrow raised.

"Hmm?" Gyeong-su didn't even look up, just turned a little more so the screen was harder to see.

Nam-gyu squinted.

Thanos caught it too and leaned forward lazily, peering at Gyeong-su like he was spotting wildlife in its natural habitat. "Why you giggling like that? You sexting?"

Gyeong-su choked. "NO??"

Thanos held his hands up in surrender, laughing. "Then why you look like a girl crushing on someone."

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes. And when Gyeong-su leaned his phone away again, it gave him just the right angle to catch a glimpse of the contact name lighting up the screen.

"YOUNG MI"

Nam-gyu's eyes went wide.

He whipped his head toward Thanos, who blinked at him.

"What?" Thanos whispered, confused.

Nam-gyu mouthed "Young-mi"

Thanos stared blankly for a second. Then—"GYEONG SU YOUR TEXTING YOUNG-MI-"

"SHHHHHHHH!!" Gyeong-su lunged over the back of the couch to slap Thanos on the chest. "Don't say it out loud, she'll feel it spiritually!"

Nam-gyu buried his face in his hands "QUIT TEXTING MY SISTER!"

"Bro, are you seriously texting Young Mi right now?" Thanos whispered dramatically, eyes sparkling with pure gossip-fueled joy.

"Like, just now now?" Nam-gyu added. "Like right now as we speak?"

Gyeong-su's cheeks were bright pink. He groaned and flopped backward dramatically, phone pressed to his chest. "You are the ones making it weird"

Thanos wheezed. "You're literally kicking your feet and giggling! HOW ARE WE MAKING IT WEIRD"

"I KNOW," Gyeong-su said helplessly.

Nam-gyu leaned closer, voice dropping low "block her."

"Never."

Thanos nodded seriously. "Play the long game. Say she's funny first."

Gyeong-su waved his phone. "Already did. Twice. She said I make her laugh."

Nam-gyu disappointed,falling back onto the bean bag. "Hes gonna be married before Thanos actually makes good lyrics."

Thanos scoffed, tossing a throw pillow at him. "Shut up. He's gonna get married before you stop being dramatic over me and Mi-na kissing."

That wiped the smile right off Nam-gyu's face.

Even Gyeong-su paused then let his head fall hiding his giggles

Thanos blinked, realization hitting just a little too late.

Nam-gyu sat up slowly, lips pressed together in a flat line. "Cool. Thanks for that."

"I didn't—" Thanos started, sitting forward, voice quieter. "I didn't mean it like—"

Nam-gyu waved him off, eyes back on his phone like it didn't just slice a little. "It's fine. Forget it."

Gyeong-su picked his head up looked between them, suddenly very aware that he was not the only one having feelings in this room.

Silence crept back in again.

Except now it was heavier.

Awkward.

Still.

Like something had shattered that wasn't supposed to.

Gyeong-su cleared his throat and went back to texting, quietly kicking his feet again.

The tension in the air barely had time to settle

When Gyeong-su suddenly screamed like someone just told him his lottery numbers hit.

"SHE SENT A SELFIEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Thanos jumped.

Nam-gyu looked up so fast his neck cracked.

Gyeong-su was staring at his phone with the dumbest, brightest smile humanly possible.

"She said 'just took this for fun' but she looks so cute! BRO I'M GONNA DIE."

Nam-gyu's eyes narrowed like a hawk. "Hold on—what kind of picture."

"It's innocent!" Gyeong-su squeaked, clutching the phone to his chest. "She's literally just smiling and holding a peach!"

"A PEACH???" Nam-gyu hissed. "GIVE ME THE PHONE."

"NO!!!"

Nam-gyu launched himself off the bean bag like it owed him money.

Gyeong-su screamed again, scrambling off the couch and running a circle around the coffee table. "SHE TRUSTED ME WITH IT!!"

"YOU'RE TWENTY THREE AND DELUSIONAL—
THATS MY LITTLER SISTER!"

"STOP GATEKEEPING MY LOVE LIFE!!"

Thanos fell backward on the couch, howling with laughter as he watched the two idiots full-on wrestle in the middle of the studio floor.

Nam-gyu tackled Gyeong-su onto the carpet, trying to pry the phone out of his hands.

Gyeong-su kicked his legs, holding it above his head like. "I'M A GROWN MAN,LET ME LIVE—"

"YOUR A GROWN MAN THATS MY BABY SISTER YOU DONT GET TO LIVE!"

(Gyeong-su and Young-mi are 4 years apart)

Thanos was crying now. "Bro you're fighting like two cats,Gyeong-su Kick him in the balls!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS, THANOS!!" Nam-gyu yelled mid-struggle, while Gyeong-su tried to roll him off him.

Nam-gyu finally got his fingers on the phone and snatched it.

Gyeong-su gasped like someone ripped out his soul. "NOOOO—"

Nam-gyu held the phone high above his head and unlocked it with Gyeong-su's face. "I just wanna SEE what she sent!"

He stared at It for a couple seconds.

"...ehh it's barely flirty."

"Oh my gosh" Gyeong-su groaned, dragging a hand down his face in pure secondhand embarrassment. "That's what I said!!"

Nam-gyu gave the phone back like it was made of lava. "Whatever. But if you keep flirting with and then break her heart I'll kill you."

"Oh!"

They both lay there on the floor for a second, breathing hard from the dramatic display.

Thanos, barely holding it together, stood up and tossed a pillow at both of them. "That was the most unnecessary wrestling match I've ever seen in my life."

Nam-gyu rolled over and flipped him off.

Gyeong-su was still clutching his phone like a holy relic, smiling like a dumb puppy.

"I'm gonna send her a voice note," he said dreamily. "Wait I don't sound weird when I'm out of breath, right?"

Nam-gyu groaned and rolled back onto the bean bag. "I hate this you."

Thanos flopped back onto the couch again. "Nah, this is peak.I'm thriving."

Gyeong-su giggling and goes back to texting

While Thanos was lounging across the studio couch like a bored cat, thumb lazily scrolling through his phone while Nam-gyu lay in a bean bag nearby.

Then—suddenly—his face lit up like someone flipped a light switch in his brain.

He glanced at Gyeong-su across the room.

Text.

Sent.

"Remember that vidoe I sent u with the broom? Let's do that to Namgyu🤫"

Gyeong-su's phone buzzed. He glanced down.

Paused.

Then grinned.

He looked up slowly, trying to stifle his giggles.

"Nam-gyu," he said sweetly, standing up and grabbing the broom from the corner of the room. "Hey, can I test something on you real quick?"

Nam-gyu squinted suspiciously. "...Why do you have that smile. That's your evil smile."

"It's for posture!" Gyeong-su chirped. "You slide a broomstick through someone's sleeves behind their back and if they can't move, it means their posture sucks."

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow. "That sounds horrible."

Thanos was dying trying not to laugh from the couch. "C'mon, it's science."

"No it's not. It's bullying in disguise," Nam-gyu muttered, but Gyeong-su was already beside him, nudging him up.

"Just try it!! Two seconds. Be a team player!"

"I am the team," Nam-gyu grumbled "You guys are trying to make me even more crippled."

Gyeong-su guided the broom through the long sleeves of his hoodie, threading it behind his back, between his arms—locking them in place.

"Okay," Gyeong-su said, grinning. "Now try to move."

Nam-gyu tugged—his arms didn't budge.

"Okay.. now take this off."

And that's when Thanos pounced.

"GOTCHA, LOSER!!!"

"Wait. WHAT"

Nam-gyu barely had time to blink before Thanos,like a toddler, relentlessly tickling his ribs and sides, laughing with glee.

Nam-gyu let out the loudest  scream of betrayal. "WHAT THE FUCK."

In one violent jerk, Nam-gyu managed to rip his arms free and launched himself directly onto Thanos.

"OH SHIT!"

Thanos yelped as Nam-gyu tackled him into the couch, the breath knocking out of both of them as they hit the cushions. The broom clattered somewhere off to the side.

Nam-gyu was already climbing over him, eyes wild, one hand pinning Thanos' wrist, the other ruthlessly digging into Thanos' side.

"NAMGYU STOP I'M TICKLISH"

"YOU STARTED THIS"

"OKAY OKAY I'M SORRY—WAIT—NOT MY RIBS"

They were a mess. Limbs tangled, laughing uncontrollably, shirts riding up, hair a wreck—Nam-gyu straddled across Thanos' lap, jabbing fingers into every ticklish spot he could find while Thanos writhed under him, gasping and red in the face.

They couldn't stop laughing.

It was the kind of laughing that hurt your ribs and made your throat burn, the kind that felt like a high. Loud and chaotic and so warm.

Thanos twisted under him, trying to grab Nam-gyu's wrists, but Nam-gyu just pinned him harder, their faces suddenly a little too close.

"Say my name." Nam-gyu grinned, breathless.

Thanos stared up at him, cheeks pink, chest rising and falling, still catching his breath.

"...You look ridiculous."

Nam-gyu smirked. "You look red."

"I'm not red," Thanos said, voice cracking slightly.

"You're beet red."

"Get off me," he mumbled, still laughing, weakly pushing at Nam-gyu's chest.

But Nam-gyu didn't budge.

He stayed there.

And for a second... neither of them moved.

Just heavy breathing. Lingering laughter. A strange silence hanging in the air between them.

Until—

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"

Both of them froze.

Gyeong-su. Phone in hand. Mouth wide open. Staring in absolute horror.

"DO YOU TWO FORGET I WAS HERE."

Nam-gyu launched off Thanos like he'd been set on fire, scrambling to sit on the opposite end of the couch. "What are you talking about.."

Thanos coughed, face somehow even redder now, trying to adjust his shirt. "You being weird you know?"

"YOU WERE ON HIS LAP." Gyeong-su shouted, voice cracking. "AND YOU WERE—WHAT WAS THAT???"

Nam-gyu covered his mouth with a hand while giggling. "Delete the video."

"NO—I'M SCARED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I THINK YOU WERE ABOUT TO KISS."

"WE WEREN'T!" Thanos choked.

Nam-gyu threw a pillow at Gyeong-su still giggling. "DELETE IT! BEFORE SEMI COMES BACK."

"SEMI WOULD LITERALLY COMBUST IF SHE SAW THIS."

"I KNOW, THAT'S WHY—DELETE IT—!!"

Thanos was giggling under his breath, trying to act normal.

Nam-gyu checks were red, kicking the couch cushion on the floor. "You guys are unhinged. All of you."

"Says the man who was on top-" Thanos muttered.

"THANOS."

"I'm just saying—!"

"OH MY GOSH?"

Gyeong-su backed toward the door like a war survivor. "I'm going to go... burn my eyes out. Be normal for 5 minutes. Please?"

He disappeared down the hall.

Silence.

Nam-gyu and Thanos sat there, not looking at each other.

Nam-gyu folded his arms, huffed, and muttered under his breath, "...You tickle like a maniac."

Thanos laughed quietly.

And softly replied, "Yeah, but you laugh like a kid. It's cute."

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

But his ears turned just a little redder.

Nam-gyu turned his head away, his cheeks practically glowing pink. He hoped Thanos didn't notice.

Unfortunately... Thanos noticed everything.

And he was smug about it.

With a crooked grin, Thanos leaned a little closer and poked Nam-gyu in the side.

"Your red." he whispered, voice warm with teasing, poking his side.

Nam-gyu giggled and immediately smacked his hand away. "Don't—!"

Thanos grinned wider. "Too late."

Before Nam-gyu could fully react—

Thanos lunged.

"NO—NO—WAIT—" Nam-gyu shrieked, already laughing.

Too late.

Thanos was on top of him this time, tickling him with zero mercy. Fingers dug under his ribs, at his sides, under his arms—Nam-gyu thrashed like a dying fish, kicking and grabbing wildly for anything to shove him off.

"THANOS—THANOS I'M GONNA KILL YOU—"

"Sure you are!"

"GET OFF!"

In pure desperation, Nam-gyu latched his teeth into Thanos' arm and bit down.

"OW—OW—WHAT THE HELL?!"

"YOU STARTED IT—"

"You bit me like a rabid dog!"

"GET OFF ME THEN—!"

"I CAN'T, YOU'RE LAUGHING TOO CUTE—"

"I'LL KILL YOU."

"Promise?"

Nam-gyu let out the ugliest, squeakiest laugh and tried shoving him off again, fists weak from laughing too hard.

Thanos didn't budge. If anything, he collapsed sideways, dragging Nam-gyu with him until they were both laying on the couch, tangled together like overgrown kids, both of them breathless and flushed.

The room was still spinning from laughter.

Their chests heaved.

Nam-gyu was tucked halfway into Thanos' side, arms still half-up in surrender, his hair sticking up, his hoodie twisted weirdly. He blinked slowly.

"...Did I really bite you?"

Thanos was grinning. "Yeah. Right here."

He tilted his arm toward Nam-gyu, where a faint little red mark had formed.

Nam-gyu squinted at it. "...Good."

Thanos chuckled again, arm still lazily draped around him.

"You're crazy." Nam-gyu muttered.

"You like it," Thanos said.

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes—but didn't move away.

And they stayed there for a moment.

Breathing. Close. Warm.

The tension was different now.

Soft, but charged. Like they were both aware of something new sitting between them. Neither of them said it, but both of them felt it.

Then—

The door swung open.

"FOOD'S HERE—" Se-mi shouted.

They both JUMPED apart like they got electrocuted.

Thanos rolled onto the floor with a thud. Nam-gyu nearly launched himself behind the couch.

Se-mi blinked. "Why do y'all look like you just committed a crime?"

Nam-gyu, red-faced "NOTHING!"

Thanos, flat on his back: "I was assaulted."

"By who?"

"...a cat."

"Are you okay??"

Nam-gyu whispered "He started it."

Thanos whispered back "You bit me."

Se-mi blinked between them. "What type of Kink is this??"

They all settled around the table like they'd done a thousand times before—food containers rustling,drinks being passed around. The studio's little lounge was dimly lit and comfortable, warm with the smell of bulgogi, kimchi stew, and fries.

Se-mi was hunched over her food like she hadn't eaten in a week. Min-su was stealing her fries. Again. She smacked his hand without looking up.

"You're literally a grown man. Get your own."

"Yours taste better," he said with a grin, holding up a stolen fry.

Gyeong-su was scrolling through his phone between bites, showing them funny TikToks and old baby photos of Nam-gyu that he insisted were "leaked by accident."

Everyone was laughing.

Mean while Nam-gyu said l me was eating, kind of. Picking at his rice. Dipping a piece of meat into sauce like he was deep in thought.

Across from him, Thanos nudged his foot under the table.

Nam-gyu blinked.

Did he just—

There it was again.

This time a slow, deliberate slide of sneaker against sneaker under the table.

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes across the table. Thanos was sipping his drink, looking way too casual. His lips twitched.

Oh. So it was like that.

Nam-gyu kicked him.

Softly. A warning shot.

Thanos, grinning behind his cup, kicked back.

Gyeong-su glanced up.

Then looked between them.

Nam-gyu kicked again, this time harder. A real kick. Thanos flinched and muttered "ow," and nudged back harder.

Kick.

Nam-gyu was biting back a grin. Thanos had one eyebrow raised like he was daring him to go further. The air between them buzzed with something unspoken, something stupid and soft and way too flirty for people who were literally fighting with their feet under the table like kindergarteners in love.

Gyeong-su blinked slowly.

He looked at the floor. Then at their faces.

Then at the floor again.

"...Are you two seriously foot-fighting?"

Nam-gyu choked. "No?"

Thanos coughed. "What—no."

"I literally see your legs moving," Gyeong-su deadpanned.

Se-mi looked up mid-chew. "Huh?"

"Nothing," Gyeong-su muttered. "Just Thanos and Nam-gyu acting like weirdos."

"So nothing new?"

WE'RE NOT—"

"We're literally eating."

Kick.

Nam-gyu glared at him. Hard.

Thanos raised a brow, sipping his soda like he hadn't just a mini war that would end in heartbreak or marriage.

Gyeong-su leaned back in the chair and sighed like an exhausted mother.

"I'm so tired of being the only sane one in this house."

The table buzzed with conversation—Min-su and Se-mi were in their own chaotic universe, talking about a girl they saw at the gas station who had one lash on.

Nam-gyu sat in his chair, half listening, half scrolling through his phone, legs lazily dangling under the table.

Across from him, Thanos tapped his foot against Nam-gyu's again. Not hard. Just enough to get his attention.

Nam-gyu looked up, met his eyes.

Thanos mouthed

"Gimme your soda."

Nam-gyu blinked, raised the half-empty can. Then mouthed back,

"I already drank from it."

Thanos shrugged. So?

Before Nam-gyu could react, Thanos reached over and took it, bold as hell, and took a sip. Longer than necessary.

Nam-gyu froze. Eyes wide. The man had no shame.

But it didn't stop there.

As he handed it back, Thanos leaned just a little closer and said under his breath, "You have the worst taste of soda.."

And then—like it was the most casual thing in the world—

He reached out, plucked the fry from Nam-gyu's mouth—literally mid-bite—and tossed it into his own, chewing with the tiniest smug smirk.

Nam-gyu short-circuited.

He just blinked at him. Speechless. Face heating. He wanted to punch him. Or kiss him. He didn't even know anymore.

Across the table...

Gyeong-su was staring in horror.

Like he had just witnessed death.

He looked around frantically, like someone else had to be seeing this. But Min-su and Se-mi were still deep in conversation land, laughing about whatever.

So Gyeong-su just sat there. Alone. Watching Thanos and Nam-gyu mouth silent things to each other, exchange spit with soda and fries, and giggle like idiots.

He placed a hand on his chest.

Nam-gyu tried to act like it was no big deal. He casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve and mumbled, "You're disgusting."

Thanos just grinned. "You're so picky."

"Thanos, I will throw hands."

"Sure you will."

Nam-gyu chucked a napkin at him. Thanos laughed.

Gyeong-su looked like he aged five years.

The room was still buzzing with laughter Se-mi was wiping tears from her eyes over some dumb TikTok, and Min-su laughing at her attempt when Gyeong-su's phone lit up with a soft "ding."

He glanced down, blinked, and gasped.

"OH MY GOSH!"

Everyone froze.

Se-mi: "WHAT?!"

He held up the screen dramatically.
"THREE HOURS UNTIL THE ALBUM DROPS!"

Thanos's head perked up like a dog hearing a treat bag open.
"NO WAY. THREE?!"

"YES!!" Gyeong-su squealed, bouncing in his seat.

Min-su hugged Se-mi in excitement.

Thanos sat up like he just had a vision.
"Okay. No. We're not just sitting here when it happens. We need to be huddled up somewhere better.."

Se-mi lit up. "Wait, are you saying—"

"Album drop party at my place." Thanos declared, already scrolling through his contacts.

Nam-gyu blinked from his beanbag, still recovering from the soda/fry drama. "Wait—your place?"

Thanos looked at him with a smug little grin. "Yeah. Unless you're scared of fun?"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, trying not to let the flush return. "I'm allergic to parties."

Gyeong-su clapped. "I'm in. I'll drive. We can take my car! It's the biggest!"

"Shotgun," Min-su shouted immediately, raising his hand.

"Not you calling shotgun when I'm the one organizing this whole thing," Thanos groaned.

"Not you trying to throw a party when we have, like, two hours to prepare," Nam-gyu mumbled under his breath.

Thanos caught it. "You're still coming, though."

Nam-gyu didn't answer, but the twitch in his mouth gave him away.

A few minutes later, they were packing up what was left of their food, dumping fries into to-go bags and trying to figure out who was going where.

Gyeong-su was already texting people with reckless speed. Thanos was picking music. Se-mi and Min-su were arm-in-arm skipping ahead out the door, debating whether to stop for boba or soda.

Nam-gyu trailed behind the group, earbuds in his pocket, hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands. He wasn't sure how he felt.

The album dropping.
The stupid party.
Seeing Thanos again in that soft hoodie and smug smile like nothing had happened.

Part of him wanted to leave.

Part of him didn't want this day to end.

Thanos held the door open for him and whispered as he passed,
"For u my aggressive friend."

Nam-gyu bit back a laugh. "Delusional."

The car was already filled with noise before they even made it halfway down the street.

Gyeong-su and Min-su were in the front, blasting some random K-pop song at full volume, harmonizing with a level of confidence that only came from years of delusion and denial. They screamed every lyric like they were on a world tour, windows down, the wind wrecking their hair.

"MY GROWING HEART B-B-BEAT ITS GETTING FASTER!"

"Shut. UP," Se-mi groaned from the middle row, sprawled out like a corpse with her hoodie over her head, dramatically scrolling through her phone. "One of you is off-key and I'm too scared to find out which."

"Off-key? Se-mi, we are amazing singers what do you mean" Min-su said with a grin, not even trying to lower his volume.

"It's not okay to be delusional." she muttered, eyes still glued to her phone. "You're not in a choir. This is a moving vehicle."

Meanwhile, in the back seat—far from the chaos—Nam-gyu sat with his head tilted slightly, earbuds in playing music.

He had one leg pulled up on the seat and his body leaned subtly toward the window, but not so far that it stopped Thanos' knee from pressing gently into his. Just barely. Just enough to be felt.

"You always get quiet when they start being loud," Thanos said beside him, voice low, calm, easy.

Nam-gyu glanced over. "It doesn't matter."

Thanos smiled, lazy and soft. "Yes it does."

Nam-gyu scoffed through a quiet laugh. "What are you, a therapist now?"

"Maybe," Thanos murmured, his fingers grazing his own thigh before slowly shifting to brush against Nam-gyu's. "You'd be my first client."

Nam-gyu didn't reply at first, just shook his head with a barely-there grin. The car hit a bump in the road, and their legs bumped again—this time staying close. Not touching aggressively. Not quite on purpose. Just there.

Thanos leaned his head back against the window and stared ahead for a moment. His voice softened. "Are you okay though? Like...really okay?"

Nam-gyu turned to him slowly. He blinked. His mouth opened like he was gonna say something sarcastic, then closed again. He swallowed.

"...Yeah," he said quietly, looking down at their legs.

Thanos nodded once. Then, gently, he nudged his shoulder against Nam-gyu's. "You don't have to try so dense around me."

Nam-gyu looked up at him again—and for a second, the noise in the car dulled, like none of the screaming in the front or the sarcastic grumbling in the middle row could reach the back seat.

"I'm not," Nam-gyu murmured.

The air between them stilled for a moment. Thanos didn't push it. He just leaned a little closer, arms crossed but loose, casual—like if Nam-gyu wanted to lean against him, he wouldn't move away.

Nam-gyu didn't. But he didn't pull away either. He just sat there. Quiet. Warm. Close.

And then—

"UNTIL THE MOMENT ITS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER CRAZY!"

Se-mi screeched from the middle row, throwing her phone toward the front but missing by a mile.

Nam-gyu chuckled under his breath. Thanos turned his head slightly, smiling at him.

"See? This is better than therapy."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, but the grin on his face didn't fade. "Shut up."

Their knees were still touching.

Se-mi scrolling on his phone

Min-su and Gyeong-su singing their hearts out.

Meanwhile.

Nam-gyu laughed mid-sentence, voice half-cracking from how stupid whatever Thanos just said was. Something about bees being government spies and honey being a surveillance tool.

"That's literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Nam-gyu snorted, swatting at him without looking. "How do you say this shit with a straight face?"

"Beacuse it's not a joke," Thanos replied proudly.

Nam-gyu shook his head, laughing as he leaned slightly forward to adjust his hoodie, still half-grinning—

Then the car suddenly hit a bump.

A sharp thud followed. His injured foot, the one he'd been babying all week, slammed against the floor of the car. Not too hard—but hard enough to send a lightning bolt of pain shooting up his leg.

Nam-gyu let out a gasp—half-choked, half-squeaked—and immediately folded forward, his hands gripping the edge of the seat.

Thanos' entire body stiffened beside him. "Whoa—hey. What happened?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer right away. His brows scrunched, lips pressed tight as he tried not to groan too loud. He sucked in a sharp breath and tilted his head down, muttering a shaky, "Fuck—my foot, it hit the ground..."

Without a word, he leaned down, gently lifting Nam-gyu's injured foot off the floor and bringing it onto his lap. His movements were careful, firm but soft.

"I got you. Hold still, alright?" he murmured, brows furrowed in concern.

Nam-gyu winced again, leaning back against the seat, blinking hard like he was trying to stop his eyes from watering. "It's fine. It's not, fuck, it's not broken or anything."

"I didn't say it was," Thanos replied quietly, pushing his jeans up and slipping one hand under Nam-gyu's heel and the other lightly brushing over the top of his foot, checking for swelling.

Nam-gyu let out a breathy whine, his lips twitching down. "I knew this ride was a mistake."

"Don't be dramatic," Thanos whispered, his fingers now slowly, soothingly gliding along the arch of Nam-gyu's foot. "We still have like fifteen more minutes of hell before we arrive."

Nam-gyu groaned into his sleeve. "You're the worst person ever. Leave me alone." blinking hard, trying to stop his eyes from watering.

But he didn't pull his foot away. In fact... he settled deeper into the seat, one arm tucked around his stomach, the other draped across his face to hide the redness in his cheeks. His leg stayed firmly in Thanos' lap.

Thanos leaned back a little, one hand resting over Nam-gyu's ankle, his thumb slowly rubbing gentle circles near the joint. His voice dropped low, soft enough that only Nam-gyu could hear.

"Let me know if it starts hurting more. I'll make Gyeong-su stop and u and Se-mi can switch seats and lay down."

"I'm not switching seats," Nam-gyu mumbled with a finger in his mouth

Thanos smirked. "Aww. You like sitting next to me that much?"

Nam-gyu didn't answer. But he did nudge Thanos' thigh lightly with hand.

Thanos chuckled quietly and kept rubbing soothing circles over the sprain.

Meanwhile—up front, chaos.

"TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME YOU WANT ME WANT ME WANT ME TOO!

"YOUR VOICES SUCK!" Se-mi groaned from the middle row, still sprawled like a grumpy cat.

"You're just mad because Min-su did the dance better than you!" Gyeong-su laughed.

"Min-su didn't do the dance, he had a seizure!"

Thanos glanced up at the disaster unfolding in the front, then leaned down slightly, voice warm against Nam-gyu's ear. "They have no idea what's going on back here."

Nam-gyu peeked from under his arm, his expression still a little tense but his lips twitching into a tiny smile.

"...Good."

And just like that, Nam-gyu let his head tilt slightly toward Thanos' shoulder—just enough to rest for a moment. Just enough to forget the pain.

They weren't talking. They didn't need to.

Thanos was just... looking at him now.

God, he was so screwed.

Nam-gyu's eyes were closed, lashes brushing against his cheeks, and the corner of his mouth curled up just the tiniest bit like he was smiling to himself.

His brows were relaxed, hair falling over his forehead in soft tufts, and his body usually so guarded, he looked warm. Peaceful.

His arms were tucked loosely around his chest, his head on Thanos shoulder, hoodie riding up just a little, and his whole expression was... soft.

Thanos swallowed hard.

His cheeks burned.

Oh no.

No no no no no.

He looked away for a second, out the window, biting the inside of his cheek — but it didn't help. Because Nam-gyu was still there, right next to him, leg against his, foot in his lap, hoodie sleeves brushing against his own wrist every time the car bumped a little.

His heart was doing that stupid fluttery thing again. same way it did when he first saw Nam-gyu on the ground.

That crush he thought he'd buried?

Yeah, it was back. And worse than ever.

Because Nam-gyu some how trusted him now.

And somehow... that was the most dangerous part.

Thanos glanced back down — and his fingers moved before he could stop them.

He reached up, gently brushing a piece of hair out of Nam-gyu's face.

Nam-gyu cracked one eye open, just barely.

"...What are you doing?" he mumbled, voice tired from nearly dozing off.

Thanos froze. "Nothing," he said quickly. "Just... your hair was in your face."

Nam-gyu blinked once.

Then — and this was what killed Thanos,he tilted his head slightly, just enough to nudge into Thanos' hand.

Like an unspoken keep going.

Thanos' stomach did a somersault.

He brushed his fingers through the messy long strands again, slower this time. His other hand still rested gently on Nam-gyu's ankle, keeping him anchored like he might float away. Nam-gyu's hoodie shifted slightly with the movement, his head leaning a bit more toward Thanos' shoulder.

"Your hands are cold," Nam-gyu murmured.

Thanos blinked. "Shit sorry."

"No," Nam-gyu said quietly, eyes closed again. "It's fine."

Thanos actually had to close his own eyes for a second to survive that comment.

He  back to playing with Nam-gyu's hair, this time letting his fingers trace down to the soft curve of his ear, then up again to his temple, like it was something sacred.

His cheeks were pink. His chest felt full. He didn't even know what song was playing in the front anymore.

He didn't care.

Because right here — right now — he had Nam-gyu completely relaxed in his lap, letting him touch his hair, his leg, his skin. Letting him stay close. Letting him look at him like this.

He felt like a teenage girl with a hopeless crush.

And Nam-gyu? Well...

Nam-gyu just let him.

He didn't pull away. Didn't roll his eyes. Didn't mutter anything sarcastic.

He just pressed his head gently against Thanos's shoulder, sighed like he was perfectly content, and mumbled

"Wake me when we get there."

Thanos smiled.

"I will."

And for the rest of the ride... he didn't stop playing with his hair.

The car finally rolled to a slow stop outside the mansion, headlights sweeping over the familiar driveway as Gyeong-su fumbled to put the gear in park, still giggling at some dumb inside joke with Min-su in the front seat.

"WE'RE HEEEERE!" Min-su yelled.

The doors swung open one by one.

Se-mi groaned and rolled out first, still glued to her phone.

Gyeong-su practically leapt out, stretching like he'd been trapped for hours.

But in the back?

Nam-gyu hadn't moved.

Still asleep, hoodie up, foot in Thanos's lap. His breathing was soft, lips slightly parted, and the ends of his hair were a little messy from Thanos running his fingers through it the entire ride.

Thanos stared for a second, just... looking.

Then he smiled.

"Nam-gyu," he whispered, nudging him gently. "Hey. We're here."

Nam-gyu groaned under his breath, eyes fluttering open like it physically pained him to wake up.

"Mmph... what?" he muttered, voice hoarse.

"We're at my place," Thanos said, softer now. "C'mon, before Gyeong-su starts yelling."

Nam-gyu blinked a few times, still half-asleep, clearly trying to fall back asleep, then tried to sit up, only to wince as his foot shifted.

"Fuck." he hissed, hand shooting down to grab it.

"Hey—hey, don't move yet," Thanos said quickly, already leaning in. "Let me help you."

Nam-gyu groaned again but didn't argue.

Thanos slid his arm around Nam-gyu's back, bracing his other hand beneath Nam-gyu's thigh like he'd done this a thousand times, helping lift him gently out of the seat.

Nam-gyu didn't even protest.

Didn't shove him away or tell him to back off.

He just leaned into him — arms hooked lazily around Thanos' shoulders as they walked out of the car together.

The night air hit them in a warm breeze, crickets chirping somewhere in the dark hedges around the mansion, porch lights glowing soft and gold across the long driveway.

Thanos didn't say a word. Just kept one steady arm around Nam-gyu's waist, guiding him gently toward the front steps.

Nam-gyu walked with a limp, but slowly,steadily and with Thanos right beside him, it looked almost easy.

"I can walk, you know," Nam-gyu mumbled under his breath, eyes still heavy.

Thanos smiled to himself. "Uh huh. That's why you just winced trying to sit up."

Nam-gyu shot him a look. "Shut up."

But he didn't pull away.

Didn't let go.

If anything... he leaned in a little more.

Thanos glanced down — and for one quick second, their eyes met in the dim porch light. And in that moment, Nam-gyu looked so soft. So real. Hoodie bunched up around his jaw, cheeks flushed from sleep, lips parted like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should.

Thanos' heart thudded stupidly hard.

"You good?" he asked, quieter now.

Nam-gyu hesitated.

Then nodded. "Yeah. Thanks."

They reached the door, and Thanos paused, hand on the doorknob — not unlocking it yet. Just... standing there for a moment. Letting the silence fill up around them. Letting the night stay soft for just a little longer.

Nam-gyu looked at him, head tilted slightly.

"What?" he asked.

Thanos blinked. "Nothing. Just... you looked comfortable."

Nam-gyu narrowed his eyes. "Are you about to say something dumb?"

Thanos grinned. "Maybe."

But then — he didn't.

He just opened the door slowly, wide enough for both of them to step inside, and helped guide Nam-gyu over the threshold.

Warm light spilled out from the entrance.

Music already echoing faintly from inside.

Gyeong-su's voice somewhere yelling, "WHERE'S THE REMOTE!? WHO TOOK THE REMOTE!??"

But Thanos didn't care about any of that.

Because Nam-gyu was here.

Nam-gyu was walking beside him.

And Thanos had never felt happier to come home.

Gyeong-su was running around with a mission,Bluetooth speakers in both hands, phone between his teeth, yelling something, while nearly tripping over his own feet.

Se-mi was in the kitchen corner with Min-su, organizing drinks like it was their wedding reception heheh.

She kept lining up cans and bottles in rainbow color order, while Min-su kept stealing drinks and trying to sneak in extra Red Bulls.

Meanwhile...

Thanos was standing near the front door with his phone out, inviting everyone he'd ever had a conversation with in his life.

"No, yeah, totally pull up," he said into the phone. "Bring whoever. No, I don't care if they're vegan. Oh, and bring Soo-bin! And her hot cousin. No, the one with the nose ring."

Nam-gyu stood next to him with a horrified expression.

"You invited Soo-bin?" he muttered under his breath. "Bro. She tried to fight the DJ at Pentagon last time."

Thanos shrugged. "That's what makes her fun."

Nam-gyu blinked. "You're clinically insane."

"Thank you," Thanos said brightly. Then shouted across the room, "Gyeong-su! DIM THE LIGHTS!"

Nam-gyu sighed so hard his soul nearly left his body.

He was already regretting this.

Why had he agreed to stay? Why hadn't he faked an injury? Wait... he already had one. Damn it. He should've exaggerated more.

Thanos turned to him mid-text. "You okay?"

Nam-gyu gave him a look. "No."

Thanos grinned then laughed.

"I hate you."

"You're standing very close to me for someone who says that."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes and tried to step back — but Thanos caught his hoodie string, tugging him back in place like it was muscle memory.

Nam-gyu froze.

Thanos kept typing with one hand, holding Nam-gyu in place with the other, smiling like he didn't just activate Nam-gyu's nervous system.

"You're not allowed to stand more than three feet away from me tonight," Thanos said casually. "You're my emotional support animal."

"Get therapy."

"I tried. They said I talk too much."

Nam-gyu snorted despite himself, shoulders slumping as he gave in and leaned against the wall beside Thanos — close enough that their arms brushed every now and then.

More people were replying to Thanos' texts now. The phone kept lighting up.

"Nam-su," Thanos murmured, glancing at his screen. "You're ready for this?"

Nam-gyu groaned. "Gyu. And no. But if I hide in the bathroom, tell people I died."

"Can I say you died in my arms?"

"No."

"In a tragic fire?"

"Fine."

Thanos grinned.

Nam-gyu sighed and tugged his hoodie up a little more, half-hiding behind it like he was preparing for war. "I'm gonna need ten blunts to survive this."

Thanos bumped his shoulder gently. "Don't worry. I'll stay close."

Nam-gyu peeked at him through the hoodie. "That makes it worse."

"I know." Thanos grinned wider. "You're welcome."

From the other side of the house, Se-mi screamed, "IF ONE MORE CAN FALLS OFF THIS COUNTER—"

And then a loud crash.

Thanos turned back to Nam-gyu, blinking.

"...So. Maybe we hide in my room first?"

Nam-gyu eyes lid up and immediately nodded.

He just limped behind Thanos, hoodie still half-covering his face, ignoring the chaos behind them—the crashing cans, the thump of bass from the speakers Gyeong-su hadn't even tested yet, and Min-su shouting something.

As the bedroom door shut behind them with a soft click, everything hushed.

The outside world stayed loud, but here... it was like they stepped underwater. The lights were warm, golden, low. Thanos had left a few candles burning by the window—not for vibes, but because he kept forgetting to buy new air freshener. Still, it smelled like vanilla and something vaguely citrusy, soft enough that Nam-gyu could breathe without getting a headache.

Thanos tossed his phone onto the nightstand and flopped backwards onto the bed, arms spread like he'd just won a war. "I'm so tireddd."

Nam-gyu stood there silently, blinking at him.

"I'm not leaving this room," Thanos mumbled into the blanket.

Nam-gyu walked in slowly, staring at him. "You're the one that invited fifty people."

"You didn't stop me."

"You invited Soo-bin."

"Again, you didn't stop me."

Nam-gyu sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling his foot up slightly. It was throbbing. Again.

Thanos noticed.

He sat up immediately, scooting over. "Is it hurting more?"

Nam-gyu shrugged. "I just walked more than I should've."

Thanos didn't answer. He reached out gently, fingers brushing under Nam-gyu's ankle. Then, slowly, he pulled his foot onto his lap again like he had in the car.

Nam-gyu watched him silently, hoodie sleeves tugged over his hands. "You don't have to baby me."

"I want to baby you," Thanos mumbled, thumb stroking over the bruise . "You're not stopping me."

Nam-gyu didn't. Couldn't.

The silence between them was comfortable.

Warm.

Thanos kept rubbing soft circles, then glanced up at him. "I can't believe you let me tickle you earlier."

Nam-gyu groaned. "What? I pushed you?"

"You bit me."

"I said shut up."

"I think there's still teeth marks on my arm."

"You're so annoying—"

And that's when Nam-gyu bit him. Hard. On the shoulder.

"AUGH—why do you keep doing that?!"

Nam-gyu didn't even look guilty. He just muttered through gritted teeth, "You asked for it."

Thanos collapsed onto the bed, groaning, holding his shoulder.

"I have actual bite marks now. You're feral.

You're like a tiny demon."

Nam-gyu shrugged. "Stop giving me reasons to bite you."

Thanos looked up at him, hand still dramatically clutched to his shirt.

"You like biting me."

Nam-gyu gave him a long, unamused stare.

Thanos grinned again. "You're literally smiling."

"I'm smiling because I'm about to punch you."

"You're smiling because it's your weird kink-"

Nam-gyu bit him again.

"You're annoying."

Thanos smiled. "You always this grumpy before parties?"

Nam-gyu shrugged. "I don't like people."

There was a beat.

Then Thanos, softer: "You like me, though."

Nam-gyu froze.

His phone screen dimmed.

He finally looked at him, expression unreadable. "I tolerate you."

"Ohhh." Thanos smirked, but there was something slightly nervous in the way he played with his hoodie strings. "So honored."

Another silence. The air felt warmer.

Thanos reached out suddenly—like he wasn't even thinking—and tugged the edge of Nam-gyu's sleeve.

"You still mad at me?"

Nam-gyu blinked. "For what."

"I dunno. Something. You're always mad about something."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, but he didn't pull his arm back. Thanos was still holding his sleeve gently, like he was testing how far he could go without getting bit again.

He did, however, get bit again.

Right on the back of his hand.

"OW— okay! Okay!" Thanos yanked his hand back, laughing.

"You're such a freak," Nam-gyu muttered, covering his face.

"You're the one biting people like a—like a possessed hamster."

Nam-gyu cracked a tired smile into his hoodie sleeve.

But then the laughter faded. And the silence came back.

Their eyes met for a second too long.

Nam-gyu cleared his throat. "You should get ready. People are coming soon."

Thanos nodded, suddenly too aware of how close they were. "Right. Yeah."

They didn't move.

Not yet.

They just sat there for another minute, both pretending they weren't wondering why it was so hard to look away.

Thanos sat up slowly, knees bent on the bed, gaze drifting over to Nam-gyu like he'd forgotten anyone else existed. For a moment, he just stared—at the way Nam-gyu's hair fell over his face, the way his cheeks were still a little pink from earlier.

Then—without thinking—he reached out and brushed Nam-gyu's hair behind his ear.

"Stop," Nam-gyu muttered, shrinking back slightly.

But he didn't move far. Not really.

Thanos smiled under his breath, hand still hovering.

"You've got hair all in your face," he said softly, like that explained anything. "You should let people see you."

"I don't want people to see me."

"I do."

Nam-gyu looked at him, stunned for a beat. Like he didn't know if it was a joke or not. Thanos didn't clarify.

He was still staring at him—but not at his face now. His eyes flicked down, narrowing slightly.

"What's that?"

Nam-gyu blinked.

"What's what—?"

But before he could pull back, Thanos's fingers moved to his sleeve. A soft tug—curious, not aggressive—and the fabric gave way.

Bandages.

Wrapped around his forearm. Neatly, tightly.

Nam-gyu froze. Just for a second.

Then he shoved Thanos's hand away, scrambling back with a sharp glare. "Don't touch me."

Thanos raised both hands like he was calming a wild animal. "Hey—I didn't mean—"

"You saw nothing," Nam-gyu snapped, voice a little too shaky for how angry he wanted to sound. He was gripping his sleeve now, yanking it down like it could undo what just happened.

Thanos stared at him. The playfulness was gone.

"Nam-gyu..."

"I said you saw nothing, alright?"

His voice cracked at the end. Just barely.

And Thanos— he wanted to say something. Something kind. Something stupid. But his throat felt tight. Too tight. Because whatever he thought he was doing here—flirting, joking, falling slowly—he wasn't prepared for this.

"...When?" he asked quietly.

Nam-gyu wouldn't look at him.

There was a long, painful pause. Then Nam-gyu stood up, brushing imaginary dust off his pants like he could walk away from the moment.

"I'm gonna go help set up," he muttered.

"Nam-gyu—"

"Don't."

He didn't raise his voice. But the word landed like a slap anyway.

He walked out without turning back, hoodie sleeve tugged firmly over his wrist.

And Thanos sat there on the bed, still staring at where the bandages had been, heart in his throat.

Nam-gyu stepped out of the hallway and was immediately hit with it—

The noise.

Music thumping loud enough to shake the floorboards. Lights flickering in soft purples and blues. Crowds of people packed wall to wall, dancing, yelling, drinking from red cups like it was the end of the world. Someone tripped over the speaker wire. Another person was trying to climb on the counter. It smelled like cologne, sweat, and tequila.

Nam-gyu blinked once.

"Absolutely not," he whispered, turning on his heel—

and stumbling directly into someone's shoulder. His foot, still sore, gave out beneath him a little, and he hissed quietly, trying to get his balance.

He spotted her across the room.

Se-mi.

Sitting on the edge of the armrest, drink in hand, chatting with Min-su about whatever.

Without a second thought, Nam-gyu rushed through the crowd, pushing between strangers, ducking beneath an elbow, until—

"SEMI—!"

She turned just as he practically collapsed into her, arms wrapping around her middle like she was a damn life raft.

"NAM-GYU!" Se-mi screamed,nearly spilling her drink. "Where were you"

"I think someone licked my neck." His voice was muffled against her shoulder. "I'm going to die here."

Se-mi blinked down at him.

"You're so dramatic."

"I don't know anyone here expect like 4 people." he mumbled dramatically, still clinging.

She sighed through a smile and ran her hand gently through his hair. "It's literally your party."

"Thanos' party," he corrected. "I'm just the tragic little guest star."

Min-su cackled nearby, sipping his drink. "Tragic and clingy."

Nam-gyu raised his head just enough to glare at him, still hanging onto Se-mi like a sad child at a mall.

Se-mi finally gave in, setting her drink down and pulling him into the seat next to her."

"Just sit here."

"I'm not safe."

"You're like a kid."

Then-

"GUYS!!" Gyeong-su ran towards them, breathless and already grinning. "They set up a beer pong table outside. I need teammates. Come on—come on."

Se-mi raised a brow. "Actually?"

Gyeong-su ignored her. "Min-su, bro, you're short! That means aim. You're with me."

Min-su blinked, confused. "What??"

Gyeong-su spun dramatically to Se-mi. "You're coming too, obviously. I need emotional support."

Se-mi stood up with a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But I'm not playing unless there's a glitter ball."

"Deal," Gyeong-su beamed, not even processing the sarcasm.

He turned to Nam-gyu, still planted on the couch like a a sad kid. "You! Come now"

Nam-gyu groaned. "Dude my foots killing me. I'd rather eat glass."

"Bro. I will personally wheel you to the table. I need you to distract people with your sarcasm."

Nam-gyu smirked a little. "...You need me to heckle?"

"Exactly."

Nam-gyu exhaled and dragged himself up, groaning like an old man. "Fine."

Gyeong-su was already fist-pumping as he led the group outside, skipping like a menace.

Nam-gyu found himself walking to the backyard chaos, back in the warm circle of people, half-annoyed, half-amused.

Se-mi stuck close to his side to make sure he didn't trip. Min-su offered him his shoulder. Gyeong-su ran ahead screaming something.

And for the first time all night, Nam-gyu forgot about the crowd, the noise, even the dread.

He was exactly where he was supposed to be.

The backyard glowed with fairy lights, bass vibrating through the wooden deck as the speakers blasted an obnoxiously overhyped party remix of some old ballad. The beer pong table was already set—plastic cups lined up in neat pyramids, half-filled with cheap beer, and a small crowd loosely gathering, eager for chaos.

"Okay, okay, teams," Gyeong-su declared. "Me and Min-su against Se-mi and Nam-gyu."

Nam-gyu raised a brow. "You have no idea who ur going against."

Se-mi snapped her gum. "You'd be lucky to have me, you injured twig."

Min-su, meanwhile, was stretching. "Let's just... have fun?" he offered weakly.

Beer pong balls were passed around, and the first shot was made—by Gyeong-su, naturally, who missed entirely and hit someone's shoe.

"NOOOO" he yelled before anyone could say anything. "Practice shot?.."

"Nope," Se-mi said, grabbing the ball from the floor.

Nam-gyu stepped up next, squinting dramatically.

"I'm gonna ruin your life with this," he muttered toward Gyeong-su, tossing the ball.

It landed perfectly. Straight in.

"BOOM," Nam-gyu grinned, limping slightly as he walked back. "Don't ever doubt me."

Gyeong-su looked offended. "That was witchcraft."

From the balcony above, Thanos leaned over the railing, watching it all unfold—chin in his hand, beer in the other, pink cheeks lit softly under the glow of the outdoor lights and friends and other random people surrounding him. Yet he was smiling again. That warm, dopey, stupid kind of smile.

Se-mi hit the next shot. Min-su missed but made everyone laugh by accidentally launching it halfway into the grass. They all cheered when Gyeong-su made a miraculous redemption shot that sent him flying into Min-su's arms like he just won the lottery.

"ME AND MIN-SU WILL WIN!" he screamed.

"Relax," Nam-gyu deadpanned. "It's plastic cups. Not the World Cup."

"Plastic cups that HOLD OUR DIGNITY!"

Nam-gyu—despite his limp, despite his usual disinterest—was laughing. Out loud. Head tossed back, cheeks flushed. When he landed another shot, Gyeong-su pretended to faint. Se-mi hit the final cup and laughed.

They collapsed into a chaotic hug-pile near the table, giggling and drunk on the moment.

when Thanos finally came down the steps.

"You guys look sweaty," he said, sipping from his drink. "Need a real challenge?"

Nam-gyu looked up, eyes locking with his.

"Yeah?" he said, smirking. "You any good, or just good-looking?"

Thanos raised a brow. "Why not both?"

The crowd had shifted. Se-mi and Min-su had wandered back inside—probably to snack or do chaos or flirt maybe even all three—and now Nam-gyu found himself standing at the beer pong table again, shoulder to shoulder with Gyeong-su and Thanos.

Nam-gyu snorted. "Let's just win and go inside. My foot's getting cold."

Thanos leaned in toward him and whispered, "I'll keep you warm later."

Nam-gyu gave him a side-eye so sharp it could slice fruit. "How drunk are you?"

Their opponents were a group of half-drunk, overconfident partygoers who clearly thought they'd breeze through it.

Thanos steps up first and sinks it on the first try.

"BOOM," Gyeong-su yells, already jumping up and down in excitement.

The other team gets lucky with a double shot, but Nam-gyu just sighs, rolls up his sleeves, and sinks one.

"Okay, what was that," someone gasped.

"He's built different," Thanos says proudly.

"I'm built tired," Nam-gyu says. "Can we hurry this up?"

Gyeong-su steps up, tongue between his teeth like he's defusing a bomb.

"I got this," he whispers.

He does not got this. The ball bounces off a cup and smacks someone in the forehead.

"What the heck??" Gyeong-su throws his hands up.

Thanos is crying. Nam-gyu has to lean on the table to keep from falling over.

"Seriously?," Nam-gyu wheezes.

"SHUT UP," Gyeong-su laughs, throwing an arm around both of them. "We still winning."

The game continues—messy, loud, way too competitive for a party game. Thanos somehow hits two cups in a row and dances with Nam-gyu by force. Nam-gyu fights back by purposely holding onto the ball too long, letting Thanos whine about it dramatically while Gyeong-su instigates from the side like the little gremlin he is.

At some point, Nam-gyu has to sit for a minute—his foot flaring up again.

Gyeong-su take the shots for him and somehow doesn't mess up.

"WE WON!" Gyeong-su roars, arms in the air.

Everyone cheers.

Thanos helps Nam-gyu stand, still holding onto his hand a little longer than necessary. Nam-gyu doesn't let go.

"We're never gonna hear the end of this, are we?" he mutters.

"Nope," Thanos grins. "But you smiled. That's my real prize."

Nam-gyu scoff blushing—and lightly elbows him in the ribs.

"Shut up."

The house was packed. The music thumped through the walls, the song so loud Nam-gyu could feel it under his ribs.

People danced, laughed, shouted over the music, but none of it registered. He was pushing through the crowd, following Thanos and Gyeong-su in search of Se-mi and Min-su, eyes slightly narrowed.

"Did they even say where they went?" Nam-gyu called out, annoyed, but Gyeong-su had already disappeared somewhere deeper into the chaos.

Thanos didn't respond.

Instead, he stopped walking.

Nam-gyu barely had time to react before Thanos suddenly spun around and grabbed his wrist—not hard, but fast enough to make Nam-gyu flinch.

"Hey—" Nam-gyu started, confused, "What the hell are you—"

But Thanos was pulling him.

Not through the crowd now. Away from it.

Down a small hallway, dimly lit and empty, the sound of the party muffled by the closing door behind them.

"Thanos," Nam-gyu said cautiously, tugging his hand back, "What's your problem—?"

Thanos didn't speak. His eyes flickered down. His fingers slid up Nam-gyu's sleeve before Nam-gyu could pull away fast enough.

"...Don't."

But it was too late.

The bandages peeked through.

His wrist.

His forearm.

His skin—pale under the wrap, too thin, too telling.

Thanos's expression shifted. Gone was the playful glint in his eyes, the smirk he always wore like armor. His face went blank—then serious. His jaw clenched.

"Nam-gyu..."

Nam-gyu ripped his arm away and took a step back, heart suddenly loud in his chest in a way the music never could be.

"I said don't," he snapped, voice sharp but trembling at the edges.

Thanos stepped forward, slowly. "Can you tell me..."

"It's none of your business."

"You're hurt."

"I said it's none of your business."

Nam-gyu moved to push past him, but Thanos blocked him with one arm, planting his hand on the wall beside Nam-gyu's head.

Nam-gyu froze.

He couldn't meet his eyes. His breath caught in his throat. This wasn't supposed to happen—not here, not now. He was supposed to have fun tonight, pretend everything was fine, laugh, flirt, drink, forget. But now—

"Nam-gyu," Thanos said, low. "Talk to me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to!"

The air between them crackled.

Thanos didn't move. He didn't grab him again. He didn't yell. He just stood there, gaze searching Nam-gyu's face like he was trying to solve a puzzle no one else had ever been able to finish.

Nam-gyu's hands balled into fists at his sides. He felt... cornered. Not just physically—but emotionally. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to run. Everything was bare. Too real. Too raw.

He looked away. Tried to laugh it off.

"I thought we were supposed to be looking for Se-mi," he said, voice flat.

"Nam-gyu."

His name sounded different when Thanos said it.

Softer.

Like a secret.

Nam-gyu's throat tightened. "Let me go."

Thanos hesitated.

Then dropped his arm.

Nam-gyu didn't move right away. His body stayed pressed against the wall like he didn't trust his knees. Like he was still trying to breathe normally. Like part of him wanted to cry or scream or kiss Thanos or disappear entirely.

Thanos took a step back.

"I'm not trying to scare you," he said, quieter now. "I just— I saw the bandages and... I care. That's all."

Nam-gyu stared at the floor.

Then at his own arm.

Then finally at Thanos.

His voice came out small.

"Don't... don't make me talk about it."

Thanos nodded slowly. "Okay."

A beat passed.

"I won't push anymore..," he added. "But I'm not gonna pretend I didn't see it either."

Nam-gyu bit the inside of his cheek and looked away.

The hallway suddenly felt colder. Too quiet. Too close. The party still raged on behind them, but in here, it was just the two of them—standing in the wreckage of something unspoken.

"...Let's just go," Nam-gyu mumbled.

"Okay."

Thanos opened the door.

The music swallowed them again.

Nam-gyu pushed ahead through the blur of flashing lights and sweaty bodies, shoving past people dancing, laughing, spilling drinks without care. His jaw was clenched, breath shaky, shoulders stiff as hell—but his wrist still buzzed with the ghost of Thanos's touch.

He didn't want to think about that. Or the hallway. Or the bandages. Or the way his chest tightened every time Thanos looked at him like he meant it.

The crowd was thick, chaotic. Music pounded. Someone bumped into him, and he barely kept himself from snapping. He just kept walking, jaw clenched, avoiding everyone's eyes.

Thanos followed closely behind, a few steps back. He didn't say anything, just quietly moved with him, never far.

Finally, Nam-gyu stopped.

They were near the living room now. Bodies danced around them. The air reeked of cheap alcohol, weed, and too much cologne. The lights were flickering red and blue like the place couldn't make up its mind. But for a second—it all blurred into background noise.

Nam-gyu turned around to face him.

His eyes stayed low, flicking up for only a second before glancing away. His throat bobbed like he was swallowing words that wouldn't come out.

"...Hey," he mumbled, voice low.

Thanos tilted his head slightly, trying to read his face.

Nam-gyu took a breath. "about earlier, I didn't... I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

His fingers curled around the hem of his sleeve, tugging at it nervously. "I just got overwhelmed. It wasn't about you, I just... I suck at that stuff, and it was dumb, and I—"

His voice cracked a little.

He paused.

"I wasn't mad at you."

Thanos didn't let him finish.

He stepped forward and pulled Nam-gyu into a hug.

Just like that.

Both arms around his shoulders, warm and close and wordless.

Nam-gyu tensed at first—caught off guard—but then... slowly, gradually, he let himself lean into it. His forehead dropped lightly against Thanos's shoulder. He didn't wrap his arms around him, but he didn't push away either.

"...It's okay," Thanos said softly, his voice right by his ear.

Nam-gyu blinked, eyes fluttering shut for a second. His cheeks burned.

"You don't have to explain anything to me," Thanos murmured, holding him just tight enough to make the music feel distant. "We're good. Promise."

Nam-gyu stayed there a second longer, biting the inside of his cheek.

Then Thanos stepped back and smiled at him—softly, warmly, like nothing had changed.

"Now," Thanos grinned, "Let's go find Se-mi and Min-su before they destroy the place."

Nam-gyu let out the tiniest laugh, still flustered but slightly more at ease.

He nodded.

And they melted back into the party crowd, side by side again—this time a little closer.

Thanos and Nam-gyu pushed through the kitchen doors again, now on their third loop around the house.

"Okay," Nam-gyu said, annoyed and winded, "they are literally nowhere. What—did they evaporate?"

"Maybe they went into another dimension to flirt in peace," Thanos muttered, still holding the soda can he'd taken from Nam-gyu earlier

They wandered down a hallway they hadn't checked yet. The bass was quieter here, replaced by drunken laughter and a bunch of people crowded around a closed door—some crouching, some filming, all whispering and giggling like they were in on something wild.

Nam-gyu raised an eyebrow. "What is this, a cult?"

Before Thanos could answer, someone in the group yelled, "THREE... TWO... ONE—OPEN IT!!"

The door flung open—

And an explosion of screams and laughter echoed through the hallway.

From the dim, narrow closet, two figures stumbled out—disheveled, dazed, blinking at the sudden light like they'd just emerged from the underworld.

It was Se-mi and Min-su.

Hair tousled. Shirts wrinkled. Min-su's necklace caught on Se-mi's sleeve somehow. Her lipgloss smeared. His face pink.

Nam-gyu's soul left his body.

Thanos actually choked on his drink.

Se-mi blinked. Realized where she was. Realized who was watching.

Then she screamed.

"SHUT UP!!!" she yelped, grabbing Min-su by the arm and swatting at everyone filming. "DON'T LOOK AT US!!!"

"SEVEN MINUTES, BAAABYYYY!!" someone screamed in celebration from the crowd.

"Y'all were in there for nine," another corrected, waving their phone.

Nam-gyu stared, frozen. Just staring at them like they'd committed war crimes. "...You were playing seven minutes in heaven at a music release party?"

Min-su, still dizzy, gave a stupid grin. "We—uh. We won."

"I feel like I need bleach in my eyes," Nam-gyu muttered, already turning around.

Thanos grabbed his arm, wheezing with laughter. "No wait—WAIT, THIS IS ICONIC. I NEED A PICTURE OF THIS—"

"No you don't!!" Se-mi shouted, throwing her shoe at him.

Thanos dodged it. Barely.

The crowd started clapping and laughing while Se-mi dragged Min-su away like a criminal being escorted offstage, her face red as a tomato. She was muttering curses the whole way down the hall.

Nam-gyu stood there, utterly shellshocked.

Thanos leaned in, voice low with a smirk. "Okay, but they're kind of power couple coded."

"Shut. Up."

Thanos just laughed and slung an arm over Nam-gyu's shoulder as they made their way back toward the chaos of the main room.

Nam-gyu didn't even push it off this time.

"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT!!! You two aren't leaving either!!"

Thanos froze mid-step. Nam-gyu stopped. Both turned slowly.

Gyeong-su jogged over, panting, his phone already out.

"I'm bored," he said again, locking eyes with Thanos like this was life or death. "You two. Go do one round and see if it lands on one of you guys. ILL PLAY MONEY TO SEE YOU GUYS DYING."

Nam-gyu stared.

Thanos blinked. "...Are you being serious right now?"

Gyeong-su held up his phone with his Venmo open. "I'll send it right now. Just go in. One round. The odds of it landing on any of you are low."

"NO," Nam-gyu snapped, already turning red. "Are you insane?"

"It's just for fun," Gyeong-su begged. "People are SCREAMING for a new round. Do it for the plot. Do it for me."

"I'm not locking myself in a closet with some random?"  Nam-gyu hissed

"Seventy-five," Gyeong-su said without hesitation.

Thanos tilted his head, mouth twitching with a grin. "You're raising the price fast. You must really want to see one of us suffer."

"Exactly," Gyeong-su said proudly.

"Eighty," Nam-gyu muttered, arms crossed.

"Done."

"WHAT—" Thanos choked. "You said you weren't gonna—"

"What?"," Nam-gyu said. "Money is money and like he said, odd are lowww."

Everyone was sitting in a circle on the floor, drinks in hand, screaming every time the bottle landed on someone unfortunate. The lights in the room were dim, pulsing with pink and blue from the LED strips someone slapped on the ceiling, and there were far too many shoes and coats piled in the corner for anyone to feel safe.

Nam-gyu sat cross-legged next to Thanos, sipping on his drink.

Thanos leaned in a little, close enough for their shoulders to brush. "You think they'll make that blondie and that tall guy kiss again?"

Nam-gyu choked on his drink. "Please. She almost threw up last time."

"They're really committing to the chaos."

"Must be something in the beer pong," Nam-gyu muttered, glancing at Gyeong-su—who was already two sips away from ascending to a different plane of existence.

The bottle spun again—hard—scraping loudly against the floor.

The circle went silent, everyone holding their breath like this was a game of Russian roulette. It spun past Thanos, past Nam-gyu, and then—

"OH MY GOSH!" someone screamed. "It's pointing at SUNG-MIN AND HANA!!!"

their face turned bright red. The other looked embarrassed.

Thanos snorted into his drink.

Nam-gyu leaned back on his hands, grinning. "Why is this actually entertaining?"

"Because we're watching people unravel emotionally for free," Thanos said. "It's peak."

"Feels illegal."

"Throw me in jail then."

Sung-min and Hana reluctantly disappeared into the hallway closet, the crowd counting down loudly—"3! 2! 1!"—before the door slammed shut and everyone screamed like middle schoolers.

Thanos nudged Nam-gyu with his knee. "Wanna bet they just talk about something dumb the whole time?"

"I'll bet you ten bucks they cry."

"You're on."

Nam-gyu didn't even realize how close they'd gotten until Thanos's arm brushed his again, this time staying there. It was warm—solid. Comforting in a way that annoyed him.

He didn't pull away.

The two people came out and ran away.

Another spin. Another couple dragged into the abyss of Seven Minutes in Closet.

More laughter. More chaos. And somewhere in the middle of it all, Thanos leaned in and whispered

"Still think you're safe?"

Nam-gyu glanced at the bottle slowly turning again.

"...Don't tempt fate."

Another couple was dragged off like a dramatic sacrifice, the circle of drunk, screaming people howling like it was a football game. The bottle pointed at some guy named Taeyang and a girl who introduced herself three times and still no one remembered her name.

They stumbled up with nervous laughter and disappeared into the closet while everyone counted, cheered, and someone in the back tried to start a slow clap.

Nam-gyu blinked, already zoned out.

"Do you think birds get tired of flying?" he muttered, sipping his drink.

Thanos didn't even hesitate. "Absolutely. Pigeons especially. You ever seen them walk? They look like they've given up on life."

Nam-gyu snorted. "They walk like dudes who got rejected once in high school and never recovered."

"Exactly," Thanos grinned, turning a little toward him. "Like, 'Yeah I could fly, but...what's the point.'"

They both started laughing quietly, heads leaned just slightly too close together.

Thanos sipped his drink, legs stretched out like he lived here, eyes flicking over Nam-gyu's face with this soft, dopey little smile. "You ever wish you were a bird?"

"I am a bird," Nam-gyu said dryly. "A sad little gray bird who doesn't know where home is."

"What the?," Thanos wheezed. "That's so specific."

"And yet accurate."

"You're like one of those dumb crows"

Nam-gyu looked offended. "Crows are smart."

"Exactly. You're dramatic and clever. It's your brand."

Nam-gyu hid his smile behind his drink.

Meanwhile, the game continued. Another bottle spin. Another chaotic pairing. More screaming.

And the two of them?

Still zoned out in their own little conversation bubble like they weren't in a circle of twenty people yelling "KISS! KISS! KISS!" at strangers. Thanos was now poking Nam-gyu's knee like a fidget toy and Nam-gyu was swatting him away without really swatting him away.

The game was spiraling out of control. Somewhere between the third round and someone trying to french kiss the wrong person's boyfriend, the circle had descended into sweaty, tipsy chaos.

Laughter echoed off the walls, someone spilled a drink on the carpet,

Nam-gyu sat crisscross on the floor, half-drunk, face flushed, laughing at something Thanos had just whispered into his ear.

"Bro," Nam-gyu said between giggles, "you're actually so dumb"

"But it's true!" Thanos laughed, mouth wide.

"No it isn't I refuse to believe that."

Thanos just raised an eyebrow.

Nam-gyu shoved him lightly in the shoulder, still grinning then looked down.

The bottle was already mid-spin. Everyone's eyes locked on it.

Slowed—

Slowed—

And landed on Nam-gyu.

The room erupted.

"OOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"LET'S GOOOOOO!!"
"HE'S IN!!!"
"SPIN IT!"

Nam-gyu stared down at it like it killed his entire family. His palms got sweaty. His face flushed violently pink.

"No. Nope. No way. I'm not—" he started to get up.

"NOOOO STAY DOWN," Gyeong-su had ran into the room and shrieked, pushing him back by the shoulders. "I PAYED MONEY."

"I was joking u can have it back!"

Before he could fully spiral, someone spun the bottle again. The room hushed. Nam-gyu turned to Thanos in a silent panic, but Thanos just sat there with a weird, quiet smile on his face.

The bottle spun.

Round and round.

Nam-gyu held his breath.

Then it slowed—

Slowed—

Slowed—

And stopped on Thanos.

The room exploded like a damn firework.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!"
"!!!"
"OH MY GOSHHHH!!!!"
"GET IN THE CLOSET!!! GET IN THE CLOSET!!!"

Nam-gyu's soul left his body.

Thanos blinked. Then smiled like someone had just handed him a puppy.

Nam-gyu turned to him, face frozen. "You—You rigged that."

"I didn't touch the bottle."

"I hate you."

Thanos grinned wider. "I know."

Someone grabbed their arms. Gyeong-su was already filming. They were being dragged toward the closet like human sacrifices to the altar of chaos.

Nam-gyu, full on panicking, turned to Thanos. "this is dumb—we should leave already-"

But Thanos just laughed like everything was a joke.

And somehow, that made it worse.

They stumbled into the closet. The door slammed.

"SEVEN MINUTES START NOW!"

Nam-gyu stood frozen in the dark.

Thanos leaned casually against the wall. "You okay?"

Nam-gyu muttered, "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Maybe."

A beat of silence.

Then Nam-gyu, still flushed, still drunk, still full of gay panic, hissed:

"...If you breathe near me I'll bite you again."

Thanos grinned in the dark.
"Wouldn't be the first time."

The closet was smaller than Nam-gyu expected.

And darker. And colder.

He stood stiffly, back pressed against one side, arms crossed over his chest. Somewhere behind the door, someone had screamed "MAKE OUT OR GET OUT!!" which only made the silence between them even more unbearable.

Thanos hadn't said anything since they stepped in. He was sitting now, knees bent up against the opposite wall, head tilted back, eyes half-closed like this was a nap and not a punishment by public vote.

Nam-gyu shivered.

The cold had crept up his arms, worming under his thin hoodie and through his jeans.He clenched his teeth to stop them from chattering, hugging himself tighter, trying not to let it show—

But it did.

Of course it did.

Thanos cracked an eye open, watching him.

Nam-gyu didn't meet his gaze. He stared at the ground, stubborn and quiet. After a second, he glanced up, shivering again—and reached out without thinking, fingers brushing the edge of Thanos' jacket sleeve.

"Give me," he muttered, low and embarrassed.

Thanos blinked, surprised.

Then—without a word—he reached out, grabbed Nam-gyu by the waist, and pulled him down into his lap. Nam-gyu yelped, limbs flailing a little as he fell into Thanos' chest.

"W-What the hell are you doing?!" Nam-gyu squirmed, trying to wriggle free. "I said jacket—jacket, not cuddle therapy—!"

"You looked cold," Thanos said simply, adjusting his arms around Nam-gyu like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I'm warm. Deal with it."

Nam-gyu opened his mouth to protest.

And then shut it again.

Because... he was warm.

Annoyingly warm. Infuriatingly warm. Like a walking, talking human space heater with strong arms and a dumb heartbeat right under Nam-gyu's ear.

He huffed and tried to shove himself upright again, but Thanos didn't move. Just rested his chin gently on Nam-gyu's shoulder and let out the softest, most satisfied little sigh.

"...I hate this," Nam-gyu grumbled, giving up, tucking his frozen hands inside the folds of the jacket like a traitor. "I hate you."

"You keep saying that," Thanos murmured, fingers lazily brushing through the ends of Nam-gyu's hair, "but you never mean it."

"Shut up."

"Okay."

Nam-gyu closed his eyes.

The closet went quiet again.

Somewhere outside, people laughed and screamed and the party raged on, but inside here—it was just warmth, the quiet thump of Thanos' heart, and Nam-gyu's breath slowly evening out, nose buried in a collar that smelled vaguely like laundry detergent and cigarettes.

It felt too good.

Too easy.

He should move.

He didn't.

Nam-gyu should've known Thanos wouldn't shut up for long.

The silence had lasted maybe a minute—maybe two—before Thanos shifted beneath him, legs stretching a bit, arms adjusting like he was getting comfortable.

Too comfortable.

"Y'know," Thanos murmured near his ear, voice low, teasing, "for someone who 'hates' me, you sure are clingy right now."

Nam-gyu didn't open his eyes. "You dragged me into your lap. I should sue."

"But you're staying," Thanos smirked. "And you're literally inside my jacket."

"I'm cold."

"Oh, right. Of course. Totally not because I'm warm and handsome and smell incredible."

Nam-gyu groaned. "You smell like cheap weed and Axe body spray."

"And yet you're still snuggled up on top of me," Thanos whispered, letting his hand drift slowly up Nam-gyu's spine. "Interesting."

Nam-gyu sat up a little—half in protest, half to escape—and that was a mistake.

Because Thanos was looking at him now. Really looking. In the dark, their faces were only inches apart. His hands were still around Nam-gyu's waist, fingers grazing exposed skin where his shirt had ridden up. Nam-gyu's breath hitched, half from the chill, half from how his brain stopped working when Thanos tilted his head like that.

"W-What," Nam-gyu said, quietly. "Why are you—looking at me like that?"

"Because you're cute when you're mad," Thanos said simply. "And even cuter when you're cold and blushing and pretending you're not enjoying this."

Nam-gyu went red instantly. "I am not—"

Thanos leaned closer, enough to nudge his nose against Nam-gyu's cheek. "You're freezing. Come here."

"No—"

Thanos ignored that, tugging him closer again, this time with one arm around his back and one hand sliding over his hip. Nam-gyu tensed, trying to fight it, to push away, to not melt into the heat of it—but the cold was bone-deep, and Thanos was so warm it was unfair.

"I hate you," Nam-gyu whispered again, quieter now.

"I know," Thanos said, pressing his face into Nam-gyu's neck. "You're so mean to me. Keep doing it."

"Ugh—you're disgusting—"

"You're literally in my lap."

"Shut up."

Their bodies settled into each other naturally, like puzzle pieces they both pretended didn't fit. Nam-gyu's hands curled against Thanos' chest, and Thanos slid his fingers under the hem of Nam-gyu's shirt to warm his freezing skin. Every little touch was flirt disguised as charity. Every inch closer they got was "just to stay warm."

But it wasn't. And they both knew it.

Nam-gyu swallowed hard. Thanos let out a small, soft laugh into his shoulder.

"I can feel your heartbeat," Thanos said lowly, teasing. "You nervous or something?"

"Shut the hell up."

"Make me."

"Thanos—"

The door banged behind them, followed by loud cackling and shouting—"TWO MINUTES LEFT! GET TO KISSING OR GET OUT!!" someone howled, banging again before running off.

Nam-gyu jumped. "Nope—nope—we're done. I'm not doing this."

Thanos just laughed. "No one said we were."

He didn't let go though.

Just as Nam-gyu shifted to get up—clearly about to crawl off Thanos and pretend this never happened—a piercing scream echoed from outside the closet.

A girl's voice. Loud. Dramatic. The kind of scream that meant either a drunk fight or someone spilled a drink on a Gucci bag.

Then came the chaos.

"OH MY GOD—"
"WAIT MOVE!"
"WHERES MY PHONE!!"
"AHHH COME!!"
"WHERE?"

And just like that, the closet crowd exploded into chaos. Laughing. Yelling. Running out like it was some kind of fire drill.

Nam-gyu blinked. Thanos sat up slightly, brows raised. Then—

SLAM.

The door shut.

Silence.

Nam-gyu's face fell. "...Wait."

Thanos tilted his head. "...No way."

Nam-gyu scrambled off his lap, lunging at the door. He jiggled the knob. Slammed it once with his palm.

"Hey! HEY! HELLO??"

Nothing.

Thanos dragged a hand down his face. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"They locked us in?!"

Thanos snorted. "It's like they did this on purpose."

"This isn't funny!" Nam-gyu snapped, turning around—only to realize how close Thanos still was, even now that he was no longer curled under him.

The air felt tight.

Nam-gyu crossed his arms. " f you try to flirt with me right now I will bite you again."

Thanos raised an eyebrow. "...You say that like it's a threat."

Nam-gyu flushed. "Quit!"

Thanos put both hands up. "Okay, okay. Fine. I'll leave you alone for now." A pause. "But I will say-"

"Shut up, Thanos."

"...So mean"

Nam-gyu turned away, his ears pink. "This is gonna be a long night."

Thanos grinned, already sitting back down and patting the floor beside him. "Might as well get comfortable, We're not getting out until someone remembers we exist."

And reluctantly, with a dramatic sigh and heavy feet, Nam-gyu sat down beside him again—just close enough that their knees touched.

He didn't say a word.

But he didn't move away either.

They sat there in silence for a minute. Maybe two.

Well. Nam-gyu sat in silence.

Thanos was very obviously watching him through the dark. Head tilted. Hands fidgeting. A smirk curling up his stupid mouth like he was trying very hard not to say something dumb.

Nam-gyu pretended not to notice. "Stop looking at me."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Can't help it," Thanos shrugged, voice low and lazy. "It's dark in here and you're the only thing I can see."

Nam-gyu shot him a look. "That's the worst line I've ever heard."

"Yeah? You still blushed though."

"I didn't."

"You did."

Nam-gyu shoved his shoulder. "Shut up."

But Thanos only laughed—one of those soft, amused little chuckles that bounced off the walls and wrapped around Nam-gyu like static. And then...

Then his hand landed on Nam-gyu's thigh.

It started casual. Like, oh no, it's just a balance thing. A little brush of fingers. A palm settling. But it stayed there.

Nam-gyu froze. "...What are you doing."

"Keeping you warm," Thanos murmured, absolutely not moving his hand. "You were shivering, remember?"

Nam-gyu scoffed. "That was like ten minutes ago."

Thanos leaned in, voice all soft teasing warmth, lips so close to Nam-gyu's ear it sent a shiver straight down his spine.
"Still cold?"

Nam-gyu's throat clicked. "...no."

"You sure?"
Thanos' hand slid just a little higher. Barely. But it was enough.

Nam-gyu practically squeaked, slapping his hand away. "Okay, pervert—"

Thanos just laughed. "You're so jumpy. It's funny."

"Touch me again and I'll bite you."

"Oh, don't threaten me with a good time."

Nam-gyu's jaw dropped. "You're actually insane."

"And you're actually enjoying this."

"I'm not!"

Thanos smirked, shifting so their knees bumped again—closer this time. "Then why haven't you moved away?"

Nam-gyu opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked down at their touching knees and panicked.
"I physically can't?"

And Thanos only grinned. "You're too fun to mess with."

Nam-gyu glared into the darkness. "I hope someone comes and lets us out just so I can get away from you."

"Mmh. Then maybe I'll just keep quiet so no one finds us."

"What?!"

Thanos leaned in even closer—forehead nearly brushing Nam-gyu's. "I like having you all to myself."

Nam-gyu's breath hitched.
His heart betrayed him.

And for a second—just a second—he didn't pull away.

The air was thick. Not from heat, not from the lack of space—though they were definitely too close for comfort—but from the tension.

And it was Nam-gyu now who made the next move.

Thanos had just leaned in, that smirk on his lips, fingers back on his leg again like he owned it—and Nam-gyu just... tilted his head, slow and lazy, and smiled.

Not the usual annoyed glare. Not the sarcastic scoff.
An actual smile. Mischievous. Sweet. Dangerous.

"You know," Nam-gyu murmured, voice soft, "you talk a lot."

Thanos blinked. "Yeah?"

Nam-gyu leaned a little closer, eyes glinting in the dark.
"Yeah. But you never shut up unless I bite you."

And before Thanos could even process, Nam-gyu bit him.

Right on the shoulder. Through his hoodie.

"Ow—!" Thanos gasped, half laughing. "You psycho—"

Nam-gyu pulled back smug, eyes wide and fake innocent.
"I warned you."

"Oh my god, you've crazy."

"Maybe." Nam-gyu shrugged, still smiling. "But at least I'm warm now."

And before Thanos could come up with a dumb comeback, Nam-gyu slid fully into his lap.

Like it was nothing.

Thanos was frozen, wide-eyed, pink-cheeked, and very visibly fighting for his life.
"Uh."

"Cold floor," Nam-gyu muttered, shrugging like it was just a matter of survival. "Also. You said you wanted me all to yourself, didn't you?"

Thanos nodded. Slowly. Like he was afraid to speak.

Nam-gyu smiled sweetly. Devilishly.
"Then shut up and let me be warm."

And Thanos? Thanos just melted.

"...You're bipolar. And crazy."  ," he whispered.

Nam-gyu rested his head on his shoulder and sighed, pretending not to notice how fast Thanos's heart was beating beneath him.
"Yeah. You like it though."

Thanos swallowed.
"...Unfortunately."

They sat there for a beat. Hands somewhere. Legs tangled. Hearts playing hopscotch.

And Nam-gyu?

He reached up.
Ran his fingers through Thanos's hair.

Smirked against his neck.
And whispered, "You're not gonna survive this party, are you?"

And Thanos, utterly defeated, just let his head fall back against the wall and groaned.

"Nope."

For a moment, there was just silence.

Not the awkward kind. Not the kind filled with regret or tension.

But the kind that builds. Like thunder before the storm. Like a deep breath before something ruins you.

Nam-gyu smiled slighty that playful glint still in his eyes, hands resting lazily on Thanos's chest—pretending this was all just a joke, that he hadn't just climbed into his lap.

And Thanos?

He wasn't laughing anymore.

He just stared. Quiet. Intense. Almost gentle.

Like he was seeing something he wasn't supposed to.

Something he wanted too badly.

"...What? You keep looking at me." Nam-gyu asked, voice quiet.

"You're so fucking pretty," Thanos muttered.

And Nam-gyu didn't have time to react.

Because that's when Thanos kissed him.

Just leaned forward and did it.

A slow, firm press of lips. A split-second decision that felt lik. Warm, rough hands sliding around his waist. Pulling him closer. Like he'd wanted this for so long he didn't even care if he was dreaming.

Nam-gyu froze.

His eyes widened.

Heart stopped.

Then—

He pulled back, breathless, blinking like he'd just woken up from a coma.

"Wait—wait, I'm not—" he whispered, stumbling over his words. "I'm not ready for— I didn't think—"

Thanos's hands dropped immediately.

"Shit. Sorry. I shouldn't've—" His voice cracked a little. "You're right. I just... I thought..."

Nam-gyu looked at him. Face flushed. Chest heaving. Voice unsteady. But his eyes?

They were soft.

"...You're an idiot," he mumbled.

And before Thanos could respond—

Nam-gyu grabbed his face and kissed him back.

Hard.

Desperate.

Messy.

Like he was ready. Like he didn't want to think anymore. Like his brain was screaming no, but his body whispered please.

Thanos gasped, hands snapping right back to his waist as Nam-gyu leaned in, mouths moving like they meant it now. No hesitation. No cute little moments. Just want.

Fingers tugging at hoodies. Lips hot and fast. The closet wall digging into Thanos's back and neither of them caring at all.

Nam-gyu pulled away for a second to breathe and Thanos chased after him. Kissed the corner of his mouth. His jaw. His neck. Nam-gyu whimpered, softly, then grabbed a fistful of his hoodie and pulled him back in.

"Y-You're so annoying," Nam-gyu muttered against his lips.

"I know," Thanos whispered. "I'll shut up."

"You won't."

"Nope."

And then they were kissing again.

More careful this time.

But still a little dizzy.

Still a little dangerous.

And still so obviously not thinking about the entire house party happening outside the door.

Because right now?

It was just them.

Breathless. Blushing. Dizzy with feelings they weren't ready to say out loud.

Locked in a closet.

And falling stupidly, dangerously in love.

Nam-gyu's legs were practically wrapped around Thanos's waist now, the both of them slumped back against the wall of the closet, all tangled limbs and muffled breathing. Thanos's hoodie had ridden halfway up, and Nam-gyu's hands kept slipping beneath it—curious fingers brushing his skin like he wasn't even aware of what he was doing anymore.

Thanos pulled back with a dazed laugh, lips swollen, eyes glassy. "Are we—are we seriously doing this in a closet right now?"

"Shut up," Nam-gyu mumbled, face flushed and hair falling messily into his eyes. "You talk too much."

"I literally haven't said anything for like—"

Nam-gyu didn't even let him finish.

He kissed him again, messy and rough, teeth clashing a little—and Thanos moaned, one hand fisting the back of Nam-gyu's shirt like he was going to float away.

"Okay, okay," Thanos gasped, breathless. "You're—seriously aggressive—"

Then it happened.

Nam-gyu bit him.

Right on the jaw.

Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make Thanos jolt like someone had shocked him.

"AH—what the fuck?" he yelped, pushing Nam-gyu back slightly, grinning through the chaos. "Did you just—did you just BITE ME?"

Nam-gyu blinked.

Face completely red.

But deadpan.

"Yeah."

"...Why?"

"Felt like it."

"...Okay."

Thanos was silent for two seconds.

Then he burst out laughing.

Like full-body, head-thrown-back, stupid giggling. Hands grabbing Nam-gyu's hips to keep him from slipping off his lap entirely while Nam-gyu looked utterly unbothered—like he hadn't just chomped on this man like he was a snack.

"You're insane," Thanos grinned.

"And you're in love with me," Nam-gyu shrugged.

"Am not—"

"Are too."

Thanos looked up at him. His laughter slowed. That warm, stupid smile lingered on his lips as his hands stayed on Nam-gyu's waist.

"...Okay, maybe I am," he whispered.

Nam-gyu didn't respond. Not out loud.

But the blush on his cheeks and the way he curled slightly into Thanos's chest said more than he ever could.

He buried his face against Thanos's neck.

"Stop looking at me like that," he muttered.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"You bit me. I get to stare."

"Shut up."

And Thanos just laughed again—soft, quiet, so hopelessly in love. He rubbed his thumb along Nam-gyu's side, leaned his head back against the wall, and let the silence melt around them.

They didn't say anything else for a while.

Just breathing.

Hearts pounding.

Hands tangled together.

And neither of them ready to deal with what just happened.

But both of them knowing it ruined everything.

And gosh,neither of them wanted to take it back.

"You know what's crazy?" he said, grinning against Nam-gyu's neck. "Our first kiss is technically during Seven Minutes in Heav—"

CHOMP.

Nam-gyu didn't even warn him this time.

Straight to the neck.

Thanos yelled—more from surprise than pain.

"WHAT THE FU—?!"

But Nam-gyu had already grabbed him by the jaw, pulled him forward, and kissed him like he was mad. Like he was trying to shut him up permanently.

And it worked.

Thanos instantly melted, like his brain short-circuited the second their mouths touched. His hands went to Nam-gyu's thighs, gripping like he was trying to ground himself. Their lips moved together in messy rhythm, deep and too much and so stupidly warm.

Thanos groaned into it, smiling like an idiot, one hand sneaking under Nam-gyu's hoodie now. "You're—you're actually insane," he mumbled between kisses.

Nam-gyu didn't answer.

He just bit his lip this time.

Gentler. Playful.

But still enough to make Thanos whimper.

"Okay. Fine. I deserved that one," Thanos admitted, breathless, face flushed to his ears. "But like just to be clear,you're into biting aren't you?"

Nam-gyu deadpan blinked. "Do you want to get bit again?"

Thanos stared.

Paused.

Then leaned in with a grin. "Kinda."

And just like that—again.

More kissing.

More biting.

Nam-gyu shoved him back against the wall, straddling him like he had something to prove. Thanos couldn't stop laughing, couldn't stop kissing him, couldn't stop that fluttery, stomach-churning, heart-on-fire kind of high that made him forget where he was.

They weren't even pretending to be friends anymore.

They weren't even pretending to care.

It was just them. Locked in a closet. Pink cheeks. Bruised lips. And all the rules they used to follow getting thrown out the window one bite at a time.

Thanos had both hands cradling Nam-gyu's face now, thumbs grazing over his cheeks like he was trying to memorize the shape of him. Nam-gyu was breathing hard, eyes half-lidded, fingers curled tight in the fabric of Thanos' hoodie. Every kiss landed softer than the last, like they were easing into something real, something warm, something terrifying.

Then—

 

Nam-gyu suddenly pulled back, eyes wide.

"Wait."

Thanos leaned in again, still dazed. "Mm?"

"Shut up."

Nam-gyu slapped a hand over his mouth.

Footsteps.

Loud ones. Getting closer.

They both froze.

Mouths swollen. Clothes wrinkled. Hair an absolute crime.

Panic hit them like a train. They scrambled away from each other so fast it was a miracle no one got concussed. Nam-gyu ended up on the far corner of the closet, curled up with his knees against his chest like he hadn't just been sucking Thanos' soul out of his body three seconds ago.

Thanos sat stiff as a statue, pulling his hoodie down to cover his shame—and his absurdly obvious blushing.

Then—

SLAM!

The closet door flew open with a dramatic bang that nearly knocked it off the hinges.

Light spilled in like a divine punishment.

And standing in the doorway, silhouettes outlined in neon hallway glow...

Were Se-mi, Min-su, and Gyeong-su.

Se-mi's eyes went straight to Nam-gyu.

Min-su's jaw dropped to the floor.

Gyeong-su just stood there, blinking.

Then—

"...Did you guys die in there or something?" Gyeong-su asked, peering in with mild concern and full nosiness. "You missed so much."

Min-su sniffed the air like a dog. "Smells like regret in here."

Se-mi raised an eyebrow, noticing the flushed faces and uneven breathing. "Did Thanos try anything dumb? Because I still need that fade. I never forgot about yesterday..."

Thanos opened his mouth to lie. Something smooth. Something believable.

Nam-gyu beat him to it.

"Nothing happened.."

The trio just... stared.

For an uncomfortably long time.

Nam-gyu, flushed and breathless, was still hugging his knees like a wet cat. Thanos looked like a kid caught stealing snacks—hands in his lap, blinking like huh? who me?

Gyeong-su squinted. "So y'all went kissing?.."

Nam-gyu shook his head way too hard. "Nope. No. What? That's insane. Absolutely not. We were—cold. Just cold. Shivering. Suffering. Like war victims."

Min-su tilted her head. "So you sat on top of each other."

"Body heat," Nam-gyu said quickly.

Thanos opened his mouth to say something dumb—again—but Nam-gyu shot him a look and he immediately shut it, lips twitching with the urge to laugh.

Gyeong-su blinked like he was buffering. "...Damn. Okay. That checks out I guess."

Se-mi groaned "I need an excuse to hit him. Why do you forgive him so easily. I NEED HIM DEAD."

Nam-gyu was ready to sigh in relief until—

Gyeong-su added, "Anyway, y'all got like five minutes left. Everyone's screaming out there."

And then it was chaos.

Min-su gasped and turned on her heel. "WE GOTTA GO, IT'S COUNTDOWN TIME!"

Se-mi was already halfway down the hall. "ACTUALLY?"

Gyeong-su grabbed Thanos by the wrist, yanking him up. "Come on, we're missing the good part!"

Nam-gyu, still seated, wheezed, "What part of me having a sprained foot is so hard to remember—"

But before he could finish, Thanos scooped him up effortlessly, bridal-style, like it was the most casual thing ever.

"Thanos, don't—" Nam-gyu started, horrified.

"Too late," Thanos said, already walking.

"Put me down!!"

"You're slow and injured and I'm bored."

"if anyone sees us like this—"

"Too late again."

As they reached the hallway, they could already hear everyone screaming.

Nam-gyu clung to his hoodie, face buried in his shoulder in complete shame while Thanos strolled into the main room.

The crowd was massive. Lights flashing. People everywhere. Beer pong tables upturned. Glow sticks on the floor. Music thumping.

Min-su and Se-mi were already waiting near the couch, arms around each other, screaming at the top of their lungs.

Nam-gyu peeked up just in time to see everyone's faces.

The whole room exploded into cheers, screaming, people jumping, confetti flying from somewhere—and in the middle of it all, Thanos set Nam-gyu gently down on the arm of the couch.

He smiled at him, wild party lights flickering across his cheeks.

Nam-gyu blinked up, stunned and slightly dizzy.

"...Happy..album drop?," Nam-gyu said, low and soft.

Nam-gyu couldn't say anything back.

Thanos just laughed.

And maybe for now—just for this moment—they could pretend that the closet never happened.

Or that it meant nothing.

Even if both of them knew it did.

The crowd went feral.

"OH MY GOSHHH—THANOSSSSS!!"
"YOU DID ITTTTT!"
"THE ALBUMMM IS OUTTTT!!"
"MY GENIUSSS!!! MY STAR!!!"

People were screaming—jumping—someone was weeping. Flashlights were on. Phones were up. Suddenly it felt like Thanos had just won an Olympic gold medal, a Grammy, something? The way people were yelling.

Gyeong-su launched himself across the room like a flying squirrel and tackled Thanos into a hug.

"BRO!!! YOU DROPPED IT!! IT'S OUT!! I'M GONNA CRY—YOU ACTUALLY DID IT!!"

Thanos wheezed, "Thanks dude," as Min-su clung onto his back like a backpack.

Se-mi just glared at him.

She really doesn't like Thanos.

Especially because Nam-gyu forgives him instantly.

Thanos was laughing. Glowing. Face flushed from both embarrassment and joy.

Nam-gyu, meanwhile, just stood there at the edge of the crowd, arms folded, blinking slowly.

He muttered under his breath, "He literally just uploaded it. Calm down."

Someone next to him was crying. A stranger. Like—sobbing. Actual tears.

"Oh my gosh," Nam-gyu muttered. "It's not that serious. It's just music. Half of it's auto-tuned anyway."

"THATS WHAT I SAID?" Se-mi yelled from across the room.

Nam-gyu giggled "someone here agrees with me."

Thanos caught his eye. For a second, it was like the room disappeared. Music, lights, noise—gone. Just that look they exchanged.

Thanos grinned.

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes but the corner of his mouth twitched, just barely.

Then Min-su grabbed Nam-gyu and started jumping around him. "HE DID IT!!! OUR BOY'S A WHOLE CELEBRITY!!"

"He already was," Nam-gyu said dryly.

Gyeong-su pulled out his phone and started yelling about which track was the best. People were airdropping the album link around like it was contraband. Someone turned the volume all the way up on a speaker and the first song BLASTED through the room.

It was Thanos' voice.

Low. Smooth. Confident.

And Nam-gyu just stood there... watching him smile with his whole face, laugh like a kid, flushed and shining under string lights and glow sticks—this wasn't the quiet, sarcastic boy from the studio. This was Thanos in his element.

A star.

And Nam-gyu didn't say anything.

He just... kept looking.

And maybe, just maybe...

He was proud too.

But he'd rather DIE than say it out loud.

Chapter Text

The kitchen smelled faintly of beer and something smoke from the party. A half-empty six-pack sat on the counter, condensation dripping onto the wood. Thanos leaned against it, shirt slightly rumpled, cheeks flushed not just from the alcohol, but from the amount of it.

Nam-gyu stood by the table, arms crossed. His foot still throbbed under the bandage, but the ache was nothing compared to the quiet twist in his chest.

"My boy." Thanos grinned, voice slurred, eyes glassy. He held up a bottle like it was a trophy. "Beer?"

Nam-gyu shook his head and moved to the kitchen table. "No thanks. Haven't you had enough."

Thanos popped the cap anyway, foam hissing out as he took a long, careless swig. "Enough doesn't exist tonight."

Nam-gyu's eyes followed the way Thanos tilted his head back to drink, Adam's apple shifting with each gulp.

"You're gonna be sick," Nam-gyu muttered.

"Good," Thanos replied, cracking open another.

"Seriously," Nam-gyu said more firmly, leaning forward, elbows on the table. "Stop."

Thanos looked at him over the bottle, smirking faintly. "Why? You gonna take care of me if I don't?"

The words hung between them, sharp and sweet at the same time.

Nam-gyu's lips pressed into a thin line. "No? I'm not here to babysit you."

"Then just... sit there," Thanos said, drinking again. "And talk to me. That's all I want."

Nam-gyu sat on the edge of the kitchen table, arms crossed, watching him down another. "Thanos stop." he muttered.

Thanos laughed quietly, almost bitter, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You're bossy when you're high."

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, ready to fire back, but then Thanos took a slow, unsteady step forward.

Before Nam-gyu could process it, warm hands were on either side of his face.

The smell of beer and something sharp maybe the cologne Thanos had worn earlier hit him first. Then the weight of those palms, rough and steady despite the alcohol. Thanos's thumbs brushed the edge of Nam-gyu's jaw, almost like he was memorizing it.

Nam-gyu's breath caught. His brain scrambled for what this meant, why Thanos was looking at him like that, why he was so close. Is he trying to kiss me again?

"Thanos..." he said carefully, his voice barely above a whisper.

Thanos didn't answer right away just stood there with his hands framing Nam-gyu's face, his thumbs unconsciously rubbing along the edges of his jaw like he was trying to keep him in place, like he was afraid he'd disappear if he let go.

Nam-gyu's chest was tight. "What are you doing?" he asked, trying to sound annoyed, but his voice came out softer than he wanted.

Thanos exhaled through his nose, slow and heavy, eyes flicking between Nam-gyu's. "I don't know," he said finally, the words rough with alcohol and something else.

Nam-gyu's froze, unsure whether to push him away or lean into the touch. His mind was a mess half screaming at him to get out, half whispering that he didn't want to move at all.

Then Thanos's expression shifted gone was the half-smile, gone was the drunken teasing. His voice dropped lower.

"Forget it," he said, shaking his head like he was angry at himself. "Forget all of it."

Nam-gyu's blinked, his heart thudding in his throat. "What?"

"The kiss," Thanos said, his thumbs still against Nam-gyu's skin. "The closet. The touch. The cuddling. The... whatever this is." His gaze hardened, but it wasn't cold—it was pained. "Forget everything, Namgyu."

Nam-gyu's lips parted, but no words came out. All he could do was stare, feeling the heat of Thanos's palms and the sharp sting in his chest as the words sank in.

Thanos let his hands fall away, breaking the contact like it burned him, and stumbled back toward the counter for another drink.

"Are you serious right now?" Nam-gyu's voice was sharper than he expected, cutting through the air.

Thanos froze mid-pour but didn't turn around. "Just... let it go."

"No," Nam-gyu snapped, sliding off the seat and planting his feet on the floor despite the ache in his ankle. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to" He waved his hand between them, frustration crackling in every movement. "do all of this, make me think you actually care, then tell me to pretend it never happened."

Thanos finally looked at him, eyes darker than before. "Nam-gyu—"

"No! Don't 'Nam-gyu' me." His voice cracked, raw with hurt. "You keep pulling me in and then shoving me away like I'm some joke you're playing on yourself. You—" His words faltered, but he pushed through. "You mess with my head, Thanos. My feelings. And then you tell me to erase it like it's nothing? Like I'm nothing?"

Thanos opened his mouth but said nothing, his jaw tightening as his grip on the bottle trembled.

Nam-gyu shook his head, his chest rising and falling fast. "If you want me gone, just say it. But don't touch me like that again and pretend it doesn't mean anything."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Thanos didn't move. Didn't speak.

And Nam-gyu, feeling his throat burn, finally turned and walked out of the kitchen half wanting Thanos to follow, half praying he wouldn't.

Behind him, footsteps stumbled after him. "Nam-gyu—"

"Don't." He didn't turn around. "Don't you dare say another word."

But Thanos didn't stop. His hand caught Nam-gyu's wrist, spinning him halfway around. "You're twisting this dude."

Nam-gyu yanked his arm back, his eyes already glassy. "Twisting it? You're the one who cups my face one second and tells me to erase everything the next. Do you even hear yourself?"

Thanos' jaw clenched. "It's not that simple—"

"No, it's exactly that simple!" Namgyu's voice cracked, more hurt than angry now. "You don't get to mess with me, make me feel—" He broke off, biting the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood. "You don't get to make me feel something and then treat it like it's nothing."

Thanos ran a hand through his hair, his breathing uneven. "I'm trying to protect us—protect you—"

"From what? From feeling something real?" Namgyu's laugh was sharp, bitter. "From the fact that maybe I don't want to forget everything?"

Thanos' voice rose, frustration spilling over. "You don't know what you're talking about! You think this is some fairytale? You think people won't—"

Namgyu stepped closer, cutting him off. "I don't care what people think!"

Thanos' hands curled into fists at his sides. His eyes darted away, like the truth was clawing to get out but he couldn't bear to meet it. Finally, he spoke, low and harsh: "It's wrong, Namgyu. Disgusting. Filthy even. You and me two guys—it's ..." He trailed off, swallowing hard, but the damage was already done.

Namgyu froze. "Disgusting?"

Thanos' gaze finally locked on his, and for a moment it looked like he regretted saying it. But instead of taking it back, he exhaled shakily and whispered, "I wish you were a girl."

The words landed like a physical blow.

Namgyu's breath hitched, his lips parting but no sound coming out at first. "So that's it," he finally said, voice breaking. "U only care about yourself."

Thanos flinched. "That's not—"

"It is," Namgyu cut in, his eyes shining with tears he refused to let fall. "You'd be fine if I was wrapped in some pretty little dress and makeup. But me? Like this? That's the problem."

The air between them felt suffocating.

Namgyu shook his head, the laugh that escaped trembling and hollow. "You know what? You didn't have to say it out loud. You could've kept lying. At least then I wouldn't have to stand here wishing I never met you."

He turned and walked away, his shoulders shaking. Thanos didn't follow this time.

He just stood there, watching Namgyu disappear down the hall, the whisper still echoing in his head—I wish you were a girl—and realizing it might be the last thing he ever got to say to him.

Namgyu shoved the door open and bolted outside, the cool night air slapping against his face. He barely registered the row of steps in front of him before his foot caught on one, sending him tumbling forward.

Pain shot up his ankle, sharp and hot. He winced, gripping his foot, trying to catch his breath.

For a split second pure instinct he turned back toward the door. His hand even lifted, ready to grab the one person who'd always seemed to catch him when he fell.

But Thanos wasn't there.

The doorway was empty.

That realization hit harder than the fall. His hand slowly dropped, fingers curling in on themselves. A choked sound escaped his throat half laugh, half sob and before he could stop it, the tears came.

They didn't come quiet. His shoulders shook violently, breath hitching as he sat there on the cold steps, cradling his foot, feeling every bit of that stupid, crushing loneliness.

He swiped at his face, smearing the wetness away, but the crying didn't stop. He forced himself to stand, the pain in his foot making every step uneven. Still, he kept moving, limping down the side of the house until he slipped through the gate into Thanos' backyard.

The breeze hit him immediately—cold, damp, and sharp.

Namgyu headed straight for the small path that led to the beach behind the house, the sound of waves pulling at him like a voice he couldn't ignore. His foot throbbed with every step, but the ache in his chest was worse.

When he finally stepped onto the sand, the world felt wider, emptier. The moon lit the water in silver streaks, and the tide kept rushing in and out like it didn't care if he was breaking apart right there on the shore.

Namgyu sank into the cold sand, letting the grains slip between his fingers as if they could somehow carry away the heaviness pressing against his chest. His fingers trembled, moving almost on their own, smoothing his hair, adjusting the way his shoulders slumped, the way his body curved trying to make himself look like someone else, someone softer, someone unrecognizable.

The moonlight spilled over the wet sand, casting long, cold shadows that mirrored the tension in his chest. He stared at it blankly, not noticing that his tears had mixed with the grit on his palms.

And then the memories came, uninvited and relentless. Storming out of Thanos' studio, stomping down the hallway in anger, heart racing, blood boiling, only to feel the sting of shame the moment he was alone. The sharp words he'd thrown, the sarcasm he'd wielded like a weapon—every moment replayed in a cruel loop. He could feel the weight of how ridiculous he'd seemed, how small and petty. And yet... every flashback was tangled with something else, something he couldn't quite name but couldn't let go of.

Thanos' face flickered in his mind—sharp eyes, that sarcastic smirk he pretended was nothing but playfulness. Namgyu's chest tightened; he hated how much that smirk could haunt him. He remembered the way Thanos' voice had carried, the faint teasing that somehow pierced through all of Namgyu's defenses. He hated it. He hated him. But he hated himself even more for caring, for letting it matter.

He pressed his palms to his eyes and tried to stop it, tried to push it all away, but the memories clung like saltwater. The time he had shouted and stormed outside, leaving Thanos behind, leaving the air thick with unspoken words—he could feel the echo of Thanos' disappointment, the way his silence had cut sharper than anything else. And every time he thought about it, the knot in his stomach twisted tighter, as if reminding him that he wasn't just angry or hurt—he was stupid. Foolish.

He cleaned his face roughly with the back of his hand, smearing the salt and sand across his cheeks. Sitting back on the sand, he drew his knees to his chest, hugging them tightly as if they could keep him together. The moon shone down, indifferent, but steady a cold, unwavering presence. He let himself breathe, slow and uneven, feeling the waves lap gently at the edge of the beach, each crash a quiet punctuation to his storm of thoughts.

And through it all, his mind kept wandering back to Thanos. He thought of the small moments he couldn't forget the careless way Thanos had thrown him a cigarette and smiled, the quiet laugh that had somehow broken through Namgyu's walls, the way his presence filled a room without even trying. He hated how those moments could hurt him so much now, how they were tied to everything he felt guilty about.

He imagined Thanos there, maybe pacing, maybe irritated, maybe worried, and something inside him ached with longing he couldn't name. He hated that he wanted Thanos to be close, wanted to hear the sarcasm mixed with concern, he hated himself for wanting that small touch that could make the chaos in his chest quiet, even for a heartbeat.

He let out a shaky breath, curling more tightly into himself. The moon reflected on the sand, on the small figure he had made of himself, and for a moment, just a fragile moment, he allowed the longing, the guilt, and the ache to exist without pretending. The beach, the night, the moon they didn't judge. They just were, constant and cold, and maybe that was enough for now.

He stayed like that, watching the moon and thinking about Thanos, letting memories come and go like the tide, feeling small, raw, and painfully, achingly human.

Then

Namgyu stared at his phone, the glowing screen reflecting the moonlight off the sand. He hesitated, thumb hovering over his contacts, but the thought of calling anyone made his chest tighten. Se-mi, Gyeong-su, Min-su... still at the party, too wrapped up in their noise to care. Family? Distant. Sleepy. Too far, too complicated. Yuri? She's..weird. He didn't want to drag anyone into this, not tonight, not while he felt this raw and unraveled.

He exhaled slowly, letting the salty night air fill his lungs, and made a quiet, firm decision. Forget calls, forget waiting. He would go home.

He tapped the phone, fingers trembling as he scrolled to the taxi app, entered his location, and summoned a ride. Each step of the process felt surreal, the small beeps and taps echoing against the emptiness around him. The confirmation pinged, and he felt a strange mix of relief and lingering loneliness.

The distant hum of approaching tires on wet pavement reached his ears. He stood, brushing sand off his clothes, the night pressing in around him like it wanted to hold him there forever. He climbed into the taxi when it arrived, doors closing with a soft thud that felt like the faintest barrier between him and the night.

As the car pulled away, the sand and the moon receded behind him. His hands rested in his lap, gripping his knees slightly, the city lights flickering over his face. He let himself relax just a fraction, though the ache in his chest remained, a stubborn reminder of everything he had left unresolved.

He sat back in the taxi, staring out the window as the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and silver. His fingers hovered over his phone, memories of Thanos' words pressing against his chest "Forget everything." He thought about the ache in his chest, the heat that had burned during their way more than seven minutes in the closet , the tangled mess of emotions he'd tried to bury in the sand.

Yeah... he wanted to forget. He wanted to make it all go away, the flashes of longing, the guilt, the stupid little sparks that refused to die. He opened a new message to Thanos, fingers trembling, and typed out a single, carefully restrained line:

"I agree let's forget everything. Still friends though, right?"

He stared at the screen, thumb hovering over send. And then he did.

Nothing.

The silence stretched, heavy and deafening. He waited for a reply, some acknowledgment, maybe a teasing remark, maybe a sarcastic "yeah, sure," anything. But the screen remained stubbornly blank, a reflection of the emptiness he felt inside.

With a shaky exhale, Namgyu shoved the phone into his pocket. He didn't want to see it anymore, didn't want to wait for anything. Slowly, deliberately, he pressed the power button and shut it off, the small click echoing like a punctuation to the night.

He leaned his forehead against the cold glass of the taxi window, letting the movement of the city pass him by. The streets blurred with streaks of light, the hum of the engine a dull lullaby. His heart still throbbed, stubborn and relentless, but he forced himself to look away from the memories, to look outward instead of inward.

For tonight, he decided, forgetting wasn't about erasing everything—it was about surviving it. Letting it recede into the night, hidden behind fake emotions.

And so he stared out, letting the world move around him, trying fragilely, stubbornly to obey Thanos' words, even as the echo of his feelings pulsed quietly beneath the surface.

The taxi door closed with a soft thud, the city noise fading behind him. Namgyu struggled up the stairs to his apartment, each step heavier than the last, but he managed it, teeth gritted, body tense. By the time he reached his door, his legs felt like lead, his chest tight from exhaustion and the weight of everything he'd tried to forget.

He stepped inside, the apartment eerily quiet, the faint hum of the city below barely reaching him. No one was home. Just him. And the storm of thoughts he'd been carrying all night.

He walked straight to his room, shutting the door behind him, and collapsed onto his bed. The sheets were soft beneath him, but comfort felt distant, unreachable. His eyes caught a glint on the floor.

The metal blade in the trash, catching the faint glow of the ceiling light.

For a moment, he stared at it, the corners of his mind whispering dangerous ideas. A few cuts... a few marks... maybe it would ease the ache, even just a little. His chest tightened, and a strange mix of fear, shame, and numb longing coiled inside him.

But the room was empty. And the silence was deafening. His thoughts circled relentlessly, dragging him toward something he didn't really want but felt powerless to resist. He pressed his fingers to his forehead, closing his eyes, trying to will the storm away, trying to make the longing, the guilt, the hurt vanish.

Just a few cuts... maybe nobody would notice. But even in the shadow of that thought, a small part of him hesitated. The memory of Thanos, the ache he couldn't forget, the small ember of hope he'd felt in the taxi they lingered, fragile and stubborn, like a warning flicker in the darkness.

Namgyu lay there, tense and trembling, staring at the blade, caught between the urge to give in and the faintest trace of reason telling him to stop. The night stretched endlessly around him, the apartment cold and empty, and he had nothing but himself and the dangerous, restless thoughts he wanted to erase.

The music thumped through the apartment, bass rattling the floor, and Thanos found himself mid-spin, arms flailing just enough to look like he knew what he was doing. Gyeong-su mirrored him, equally ridiculous, their random dance moves a mix of pride and pure chaos. The two of them laughed so hard they nearly tripped over the couch.

Meanwhile, in the background, Semi and Min-su in the couch both clearly drunk, giggling, teeth-baring flirtiness in full swing. The sounds of muffled kisses and whispered teasing filled the room, punctuated by occasional squeals whenever one of them knocked something over.

A group of girls suddenly approached the living room, their eyes bright and playful. They leaned close, laughing and brushing hair back, clearly flirting with the dancing duo. Thanos raised an eyebrow, matching their energy with a cheeky grin. Gyeong-su winked, spinning around, attempting a ridiculous gesture that made one of the girls laugh. Their banter was light, teasing, flirty, a sparkling distraction from everything else happening in the place.

And then—CRASH!

The sound came from the side of the room, sharp and jarring. Gyeong-su's head whipped around, eyes wide. Semi and Min-su had knocked over a lamp, the shade rolling across the floor like it was alive.

"Shit!" Gyeong-su barked, leaping toward them. "Stop! Stop! Stop breaking everything u freaks!"

Thanos turned his head, just in time to see Gyeong-su darting toward the chaos, leaving him alone in the living room with the girls. The flirty attention didn't vanish, but suddenly it felt like a different kind of chaos. He waved a hand, trying to play it cool, but the twinge of annoyance or maybe amusement was clear.

Meanwhile, Gyeong-su was frantically trying to prevent further disaster in the place, arms flailing, Semi and Min-su laughing hysterically as they stumbled around, still caught in their own world. Every attempt to grab the lamp ended in a near miss or another minor crash.

Thanos sighed, shaking his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. Alone, surrounded by playful flirtation, he couldn't help but feel... abandoned. For a few seconds, he let himself just watch, the ridiculousness of the scene hitting him as both annoying and entertaining.

The night was messy. Loud. Chaotic. And somewhere beneath it all, Thanos couldn't quite stop a tiny laugh from escaping, even as Gyeong-su wrestled with the disaster that was Semi and Min-su.

Thanos' phone buzzed against the table, the screen lighting up with a single, simple message. He squinted at it. Namgyu. Agreeing to forget everything.

A faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He read it once, let the words settle, and then... tossed the phone aside like it weighed nothing at all. No reply. Not even a thought.

Instead, he turned back to the girls hovering nearby, their laughter bright and flirtatious. Without missing a beat, Thanos leaned in, brushing a hand against one of their cheeks, and kissed her. Slow. Confident. Playful. Like nothing else in the world existed except the two of them in that ridiculous, loud, chaotic living room.

Gyeong-su froze mid-step, eyes wide, jaw slack. His brain struggled to reconcile the scene in front of him with what he'd witnessed earlier. Thanos and Namgyu, the tension, the teasing glances, the... flirtation.

And now this. Thanos, the same guy who had shared stolen smiles and moments with Namgyu, was making out with some girl like he had zero memory of anything else. Gyeong-su's hands hung in the air, caught between wanting to intervene and knowing he couldn't, his mind spinning in disbelief.

For a moment, the music, the laughter, even the crashing lamps in the bedroom faded into the background. All Gyeong-su could see was Thanos, impossibly smooth and infuriatingly indifferent, while his phone sat untouched, the message from Namgyu unread.

And somewhere deep down, in a corner of the chaos, Thanos' smirk hinted at something unspoken a tiny, secret amusement that perhaps, just perhaps, this was exactly the chaos he wanted.

Moments later..

Thanos finally tugged his phone back toward him, the girl still clinging playfully to his arm, laughing at some joke he didn't even hear. He squinted at the screen, a few notifications blinking like tiny reminders of the world outside the party chaos.

His thumb hovered over Namgyu's message for a moment.

With a slow, almost deliberate flick, he typed back

"Okay. Forget everything. Yes we're still friends. Act normal."

He hit send, the words simple, careful enough to acknowledge Namgyu without dragging anything deeper into the night. The message left the phone and hung there, quietly resolving what needed to be resolved, while Thanos' smirk returned, small and mischievous.

Without a pause, he leaned back toward the girl, laughter and flirtation spilling into the room again. Smooth. Confident. Untouchable. Like the text had been a small, private moment, and now the party, the chaos, and the flirtation were his to dive into completely.

Namgyu's body against the cold bathroom tiles, the metallic tang of blood thick in the air. One arm rested limply by his side, a thin trickle of red staining the floor. In his other hand, he still clutched the blade, fingers trembling, the weight of it feeling both familiar and horrifying.

His breathing was shallow, each inhale shaky and jagged, chest rising and falling like a fragile whisper of life. The room felt impossibly quiet, the hum of the apartment faded into a dull, distant hum, leaving only the echo of his thoughts and the relentless ache coiling in his chest.

His eyelids drooped, heavy with exhaustion and despair. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to slip toward the darkness, to give in to the pain and numbness that had been clawing at him all night. The world blurred around the edges, and the weight of loneliness pressed down harder than he could bear.

And then his phone vibrated. A faint, insistent tremor against the tiles.

Namgyu's eyes fluttered open, slow and unwilling at first, heavy lids revealing the glowing screen. The notification shimmered in the dim light a simple message from Thanos.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. The blade felt impossibly heavy in his hand, the blood on his arm burning hot, but for the first time all night, Namgyu's mind found a fragile tether to something beyond the despair.

Thanos had reached out. Even with chaos and distance, even with the weight of everything unsaid, he had reached out. And somehow, impossibly, that tiny gesture made the world feel a little less like it was closing in.

Namgyu's eyes lingered on the screen, wide, unblinking, as the cold tiles beneath him pressed against his back, and for the first time tonight, the ache in his chest carried a faint glimmer of... not safety, not comfort... but the fragile pulse of hope.

Then..

His body shook violently as he tried to push himself up from the cold bathroom floor. Warm blood pooled beneath him, sticky and suffocating, his arm throbbed with a relentless, pulsating pain. Each movement made him dizzy, the room tilting around him like the walls themselves were spinning.

He forced himself to reach for his phone, fingers slick with blood, leaving streaks across the screen. Each tap was a struggle, each movement sending searing pain through his arm, but he couldn't stop.

His eyes fell on Se-mi's name in his contacts. She was at the party, sure—but she was someone he trusted, someone who could... maybe help him. His hand shook uncontrollably as he pressed the call button, the phone trembling against his bloodied fingers.

The dial tone rang in his ears, each second stretching into an eternity. His chest heaved, shallow breaths sharp and desperate. Vision blurring, he pressed the phone closer to his ear, willing it to connect, willing her to answer, willing someone anyone to pull him back from the edge.

"Se-mi... please..." His voice was barely a whisper, raspy and soaked with pain, but it carried everything—desperation, fear, and the faintest, fragile plea for help.

The ringing continued. His strength faltered; his knees buckled beneath him. Warmth spread through his body, the metallic tang of blood thick in the air. His fingers slipped, dropping the phone briefly, but he clutched it again, trembling, refusing to let go.

And then—

"SHH!! ahem. Helloooooo?" Se-mi's voice came through, drunk, stupid and confused.

Namgyu's voice came out weak, raspy, barely carrying over the ringing in his ears. "come home..."

But the party was a wall of sound. Music pounding, laughter spilling through the apartment, crashing from the bedroom somewhere beyond him. Each word he tried to force out was swallowed by the chaos around him.

Se-mi's voice was distant, frustrated, barely audible over the noise. "Namgyu? I can't... I can't hear you—"

He gritted his teeth, blood dripping onto the tiles, fingers slipping from the phone as he tried to steady it. "Semi.. come home?" His words came in broken fragments, each one soaked in desperation, panic, and pain.

The line crackled. Se-mi's sigh carried through faintly, tinged with helplessness. "Ill call u back later—"

Then the click of the call ending.

Namgyu's chest tightened. The screen went dark, the connection gone. His trembling fingers fell to the floor, leaving bloody smudges behind. He pressed harder on the wound, trying futilely to slow the bleeding, but the weight of the silence pressed down like a physical force, heavy and suffocating.

The apartment was deafening in its emptiness now—every echo of the distant party bouncing against the walls, every faint creak of the building reminding him that he was alone. He sank further into the cold tiles, vision blurring, each heartbeat a ragged drum against the walls of his skull.

He couldn't call anyone else. The world felt impossibly far away, and the only thing left in the room was the relentless, quiet agony of being trapped in his own pain, still bleeding, still waiting, still utterly alone.

Namgyu leaned against the edge of the bathtub, trembling, body slick with sweat and sticky blood. The tiles were cold beneath him, the bathroom a harsh, sterile witness to the night's chaos. His fingers shook as he pressed at the wound again, doing his best to clean himself with whatever cloth he could find. The metallic tang of blood lingered, thick and sharp in the air, but slowly, painstakingly, he managed to blot away the worst of it.

Bandages wrapped around his arm, now soaked and streaked with dark red, did little to hide the evidence of what had happened. Yet somehow, looking at himself in the mirror, Namgyu felt... different.

A small, unexpected warmth bloomed in his chest, fragile but undeniable. For the first time in hours maybe days he felt something other than longing, other than ache, other than the gnawing, hollow yearning that had dominated him for so long. It wasn't happiness in the pure sense. Not joy, not relief. It was darker, sharper, a strange blend of exhaustion and release, like letting go of some part of himself that had been trapped too long.

He let out a shaky breath, watching the reflection of his bloodied fingers, the red-stained bandages, and the tired eyes staring back at him. Somehow, in this grotesque, raw way, he felt... alive. The familiar ache of yearning was still there, lingering faintly at the edges, but it had been interrupted. Replaced if only for a moment—by something real, something tangible.

Namgyu sank to the floor again, back against the cold tiles, and let himself breathe. The blood was still there, the wound still throbbed, but beneath it all was a fragile thread of satisfaction, dark and twisted, yet undeniably comforting.

For once, he didn't just feel the emptiness. He felt himself?..

He stumbled toward his bed, every step heavy, limbs aching, bandaged arm throbbing with every heartbeat. The apartment was quiet now, the distant sounds of the city muted through the closed windows. He barely noticed as he collapsed onto the sheets, the cool fabric pressing against his bloodied skin.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the silence wash over him. His chest rose and fell unevenly, the pain a dull, persistent thrum beneath the edge of exhaustion. The adrenaline, the panic, the desperation they all began to fade, leaving behind a strange, fragile calm.

He rolled onto his side, curling up slightly, the bandaged arm pressed against his chest. Thoughts of Thanos, of the messages, of the chaos of the night, lingered faintly at the edges of his mind. But for now, they were just whispers, distant echoes?

Slowly, inevitably, his eyelids grew heavy. Each breath became deeper, steadier, the tension in his body melting little by little. The ache in his chest softened, replaced by a strange, bittersweet sense of completion he had faced the night, faced his own desperation, and survived it.

And finally, in the quiet darkness of his room, Namgyu drifted into sleep, fragile but real, the first rest he'd had in hours or maybe days carrying with it the faintest glimmer of hope.

Sunlight filtered softly through the blinds, Namgyu stirred beneath the sheets, a dull ache tugging at his body with every movement. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and iron blood, still lingering from last night.

His eyes fluttered open, heavy and sluggish, scanning the room. The apartment was quiet, peaceful in contrast to the chaos of the night before. For a moment, he couldn't remember how he'd gotten here, how the bleeding had stopped, how he'd even sleep.

Then it all came rushing back the panic, the pain, the desperation. He hissed softly, wincing as he shifted slightly, feeling the tender ache along his bandaged arm. It throbbed in rhythm with his pulse, a dull reminder that he had been too close to the edge.

He pressed a hand to his face, still sticky with dried blood, and let out a shaky breath. Yet... despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, despite the shadows still lingering in his chest, there was a strange warmth, a flicker of something fragile and undeniable.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, Thanos' message flickered like a small light, a thread connecting him to the world outside his lonely apartment.

Namgyu sank further into the pillows, letting the morning sun wash over him, every breath slower and steadier than the last. The night's chaos had passed. The ache was still there, but it no longer consumed him entirely.

For some reason. He reaches over for his phone and scrolled through. His thumb still shaky from the ache in his arm.

nothing interesting-

Wait.

Thanos called multiple times. Around 2 am, and left a voicemail.

His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment, hesitant.

The little red dot next to "Voicemail" blinked almost accusingly, and his stomach twisted. He tapped it.

A faint click, then static. The muffled thump of bass in the distance, voices laughing somewhere far away. Thanos' voice came in, uneven, like he'd moved away from the party just to call.

"...Namgyu." A pause, heavy enough to make the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "I... don't even know why I'm calling right now." A shaky laugh followed, short and bitter. "I told you to forget everything. And I meant it. I did. But... I keep thinking about you walking out like that. And now I—"

The sound of someone calling Thanos' name in the background cut him off. He muttered something under his breath—Namgyu couldn't catch it.

Then quieter, almost like he didn't want anyone else to hear
"I hope you're home. I hope you're not... doing anything stupid. Just—"
Another pause, sharper this time.
"...Just call me when you get this. Please."

The voicemail ended abruptly, replaced by the sterile silence of the call log. Namgyu stared at his phone, heart pounding, unsure if the heat in his chest was anger, confusion, or something else entirely.

He pressed the next one.

This one picked up with no music—only the sound of Thanos breathing like he'd been walking fast. His voice was tighter, more agitated.

"Namgyu why aren't you picking up?" he muttered. "You could've just... I don't know, said something. Anything." There was a scrape, maybe him pacing or leaning against a wall. "You're probably sleeping, right? Yeah. Right." His voice cracked, barely audible. "I hope you are."

A long silence followed. Then
"Just forget everything Namgyu.."

The line clicked dead.

Then the next one.

It started mid-breath, like he hit call without thinking. This time, his voice was raw, unfiltered, no careful pauses.

"Namgyu, pick up the damn phone. I'm serious. I don't care what time it is." He exhaled hard, the sound shaking. "If you're mad, fine. If you hate me, fine. But just—" His words stumbled, tone breaking in a way Namgyu had never heard. "...Answer me."

In the background, someone asked if he was coming back inside. Thanos didn't answer.

"Namgyu.. Call me back."

The voicemail ended, and the screen went black in Namgyu's hand. His throat felt tight, but whether from the loss of blood or something heavier, he couldn't tell.

Namgyu sat at the edge of his bed, the bandages on his arm still faintly damp, phone resting cold in his palm. The sunlight leaking through his blinds felt too warm for the kind of morning he was having.

Three voicemails from Thanos. Three different tones. The first one the hesitant way he'd said Namgyu, dragging out the syllables like he didn't want to hang up. The second more frustrated, almost demanding. And the last... desperation disguised as anger.

Namgyu replayed that first one again, eyes narrowing at the sound of it. That voice. The faint quiver. The stutter before he spoke.

It was intoxicating.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips.

For weeks, Namgyu had been feeling like the smaller one, like Thanos was always towering over him not just physically, but emotionally, always holding the upper hand with his teasing and that cocky smile. But that voicemail flipped something inside him. Now he knew Thanos could be rattled, could be desperate.

He could use that.

His thumb hovered over the call button. Then the message icon. Then back to the call. He imagined Thanos' face if he picked up right now—pretending to be unaffected, but his voice betraying relief. Too easy. No... that would give him satisfaction too soon.

Namgyu leaned back into the pillows, letting the phone drop to his chest.
If Thanos wanted to play push and pull, Namgyu would just... pull harder. Make him trip over his own balance. Give him nothing, then yank him closer just when he thought he could step away.

He unlocked his phone again, typed out a short, almost careless text—something light, nothing that acknowledged the voicemails, nothing that would ease whatever was twisting in Thanos' stomach right now.

Then he erased it, he locked his phone and set it aside without sending a thing.

Then-

Namgyu's stomach gave a low, impatient growl that almost made him laugh at how pathetic it sounded in the quiet apartment. He pushed himself up from bed, the faint pull of the bandages reminding him of last night but he didn't let the thought stick. He was supposed to forgot everything that reminded him of Thanos anyways.

The apartment felt empty in that way it only did when Se-mi wasn't home. No faint perfume in the air, no sound of her music playing from her room. Just silence and the hum of the fridge when he stepped into the kitchen.

He opened it without much expectation, eyes scanning over half-empty containers and random drinks. His hand landed on something without thinking, a leftover container of fried rice from... who knows when and he didn't bother heating it. He grabbed a fork and wandered back toward the living room.

Flopping down on the couch, he set his laptop on the coffee table and opened it. The screen lit up his face as he scrolled through his watchlist without really deciding on anything, eventually clicking on the first movie that caught his eye. Some cheesy action movie with bad dialogue and too many explosions. Perfect background noise.

His eyes drifted to his phone sitting next to the laptop, screen dark, still holding those voicemails. He ignored it.

For now, it was just him, the bland taste of cold fried rice, and the flicker of the movie on the screen.

Thanos woke to the pounding in his skull before he even opened his eyes. The sunlight leaking through the blinds was far too bright, far too sharp for the state he was in. He groaned, rolling over only to be met with a strange, heavy weight pinning his ankle down.

Blinking the blur out of his eyes, he looked down to see Gyeong-su sprawled across the end of the bed like a dead body, one arm dangling to the floor. His head rested neatly on Thanos's foot like it was the world's least comfortable pillow.

"Great..." Thanos muttered, voice hoarse.

He shifted carefully, freeing himself, and stumbled toward his own room. His head felt heavy, every movement delayed, the aftertaste of last night's drinks still sour on his tongue.

Collapsing into the chair by his desk, he grabbed his phone. For a while, he just scrolled aimlessly through his feed clips from shows, memes he didn't have the energy to laugh at, and random strangers' posts he couldn't care less about. Then one video on his FYP made him stop.

A black cat, fur sleek and eyes sharp, swiping aggressively at its owner's hand. The owner just laughed, reached down to pet it and the cat immediately melted, curling in close and purring like it hadn't just been trying to kill them.

Thanos stared. A slow, reluctant smirk tugged at his mouth. It reminded him of Namgyu—snapping one second, soft the next, pretending not to care but... he did.

And then the smirk faded. His brain, still fuzzy from the hangover, started running through last night. The argument. His own words 'Forget it' The girls. The fake laughter.

He remembered being in the bathroom later, head leaning back against the cold tile, hands still shaking from too much alcohol. And in that moment, drunk and miserable, the only person he'd wanted in the room with him wasn't any of those girls. It was Namgyu.

But Namgyu wasn't there. And Thanos had made sure of that.

Thanos finally gave in and opened his messages. He scrolled to Namgyu's name too fast, like he'd been looking for it the whole time and tapped.

Nothing.

No reply to the last thing he'd sent. No read receipt. No little typing bubble teasing him.

He went to the call log. The sight made his stomach twist. Multiple outgoing calls from the middle of the night, all unanswered. He hadn't even remembered making them, but seeing the timestamps minutes apart, like he'd been stubbornly hoping the next one would go through was worse than the hangover itself.

He opened the voicemails. Listened to his own voice, raw and slurred, breaking halfway through Namgyu's name. He didn't even sound like himself desperate, unsteady, practically begging for him to pick up.

It made him want to shut the whole phone off.

But instead, guilt burning low in his chest, he hit Call again. Pressed the phone to his ear and listened to the dial tone.

One ring. Two. Three.

He didn't know what he'd even say if Namgyu answered. He just knew the silence was worse.

Namgyu was halfway through shoving another bite of fried rice into his mouth when his phone buzzed across the couch cushion.

The name on the screen made his whole body lock up.

Thanos.

His first reaction wasn't even a thought it was that cold, jolting pause, like the universe hit "mute" for a second. The sound from the movie kept going in the background, but it felt far away now, muffled under the sudden rush in his ears.

Why now? Why after that night? After the message, after the silence?

A dozen bitter thoughts fired off in his head—about being ignored, about being told to "forget everything," about those stupid girls at the party but there was also that voicemail from hours ago, Thanos saying his name like he meant it.

Namgyu's thumb hovered over Decline.

He didn't press it.

Slowly, almost like his own body was acting without permission, he slid the call to answer. The phone was against his ear, but he didn't speak. He wanted him to.

There was a pause on the other end—just the faint sound of breathing. Not rushed, not calm either. Like someone was trying to decide if they had the right to speak.

Then, Thanos' voice broke through, low and cautious.
"...Namgyu?"

No answer.

A tiny, shaky laugh followed, the kind people give when they're nervous but trying to hide it.
"Okay... you're there. I wasn't sure if you'd... you know. Hang up."

Namgyu kept silent, sinking deeper into the couch, eyes fixed on the laptop screen but not registering a single thing playing. The movie's bright colors flickered across his blank face.

Thanos cleared his throat.
"Look, I—" He stopped, muttered something under his breath, then started again, his voice softer this time. "About last night... I was drunk. And... I said some crap I didn't mean."

Namgyu's lips twitched, but still no reply.

The quiet stretched long enough for Thanos to fill it with more words.
"I don't want you to think I was just... playing with you. I mean... maybe I was an idiot for saying forget it. I didn't—" He sighed, the sound frustrated but tired. "I didn't mean it like that."

Namgyu's fingers drummed against the couch arm. He liked this hearing Thanos scramble for the right words. There was something about that little edge of desperation in his tone, like he was the one unsure now.

"...You're really not gonna say anything?" Thanos asked finally, a mix of disbelief. "You're just gonna let me talk like an idiot?"

Namgyu stayed silent.

On the other end, Thanos gave a short laugh, obviously pissed.
"Fine then asshole."

Namgyu exhaled sharply and dragged himself up. The air inside felt suffocating, like every wall was closing in on him. Without thinking too much, he grabbed his earbuds, shoved them on, and stepped outside.

The morning was cool, the streets quiet except for the occasional hum of passing cars. Namgyu shoved his hands deep into his hoodie pocket, eyes fixed on the cracked pavement as he walked. Music poured through his ears, the bass matching the dull rhythm of his footsteps, trying to drown out everything else.

By the time he reached the park, the world felt a little softer. The trees swayed gently with the breeze. He let the music carry him, weaving aimlessly through the trails, hoping the walk would untangle the storm in his head.

Then it happened.

He wasn't watching where he was going and collided with someone. Both of them stumbled, and the stranger fell back with a small gasp.

"Oh! Sorry, I wasn't paying—" Namgyu blurted out, yanking his earbuds down and crouching immediately. He reached out to help her up, his hand brushing against hers.

The girl lifted her head, and Namgyu froze.

Big dark eyes. Pale skin. That familiar softness in her face.

"...Yuri?"

His voice cracked on her name, disbelief written across his face.

Her eyes widened just the same, lips parting in shock.

"Namgyu?" she whispered back, like she couldn't believe it either.

For a moment, they both just stood there, his hand still lightly holding hers, the weight of everything crashing down in the silence between them.

(Im sorryish..)

Namgyu's chest was still tight, words caught in his throat, when Yuri suddenly stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.

The hug was warm, grounding, but Namgyu stiffened. His body leaned into it for half a second, then he pushed her back slightly, shaking his head.

"What are you doing here, Yuri?" His voice was rough, almost hoarse, like he hadn't spoken in hours.

She smiled gently, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I had the day off so I went walking around to cure my boredom." Her eyes lingered on his face, catching the redness in his eyes, the heaviness in his expression. But instead of pressing right away, she kept her tone light. "Didn't think I'd bump into you of all people."

Namgyu sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah...." He tried to sound nonchalant, but it came out strained.

After a small pause, Yuri dropped down onto the pavement right there. She tilted her head at him and patted the ground beside her.

"Sit," she said softly.

Namgyu hesitated, glancing around at the empty park, then let out a quiet chuckle and sank down beside her. For the first time all night, he felt the smallest flicker of ease.

Without warning, Yuri pulled out her phone, leaned close, and snapped a picture. The camera clicked before he could react.

Namgyu blinked. "Uhm—what was that for?"

She grinned, holding up the screen so he could see their faces side by side. "Proof. That I actually saw you. My friends don't believe me."

He shook his head, trying not to laugh, and looked away.

But just as the quiet settled in, something rustled in the bushes nearby. Both of them turned their heads—

A duck waddled out, completely unbothered, flapping its wings once before strutting right past them like it owned the park.

Yuri let out a surprised laugh, clapping her hands. "No way! Aww look at him Namgyu!"

Namgyu blinked at the bird, then at Yuri's delighted face, and for the first time that night, he laughed. A real, unguarded laugh that bubbled up before he could stop it.

Yuri bent forward, her face lit up with childlike joy as she reached her hand out. The duck stopped, tilted its head, then let her stroke its feathers. She giggled softly, whispering, "Awww It's so cute!"

Namgyu sat back, arms crossed, still slightly laughing. "It's just a duck."

But the duck, clearly ignoring his disinterest, left Yuri's lap and waddled straight toward him. Namgyu's eyes widened slightly as the bird quacked and pecked at the ground near his shoes.

"Yeah no, no, no," Namgyu muttered, leaning away, lifting his legs as if the duck were some kind of threat. "Go back to her."

Instead, it pressed closer, its little webbed feet padding right into his personal space. Yuri laughed, holding her phone up like she might take another picture.

Which she did.

Namgyu shook his head, but something about the persistence of it made his lips twitch with reluctant amusement. The duck didn't care if he leaned away, didn't care if he frowned or sighed it stayed close anyway.

Almost like... Thanos.

That thought hit him harder than expected. The way Thanos had always been there—showing up at the worst times, leaning too close, taking up space even when Namgyu swore he didn't want it. No matter how much he tried to shove him away, Thanos always found a way back into his orbit.

Namgyu exhaled slowly, glancing down at the duck.

Stupid duck.

Yuri's laughter faded as she noticed it—the shift in Namgyu's face. Just seconds ago, he'd almost smiled at the duck, but now his eyes had that distant look again, like his thoughts had gone somewhere else entirely. Somewhere heavier.

She carefully scooped the duck into her arms, holding. Tilting her head, she asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Namgyu blinked, pulled back to the present. "Nothing," he muttered, brushing it off with the same tired tone he always used when people got too close. He reached out and petted the duck.

Yuri watched him, her gaze softer now, less playful. She didn't press the question again—instead, she let her head rest gently against his shoulder, the duck nestled between them.

(IM SO SORRU THANGYU 4EVER THEY ARE JUST FRIENDS PLS DONT THINK IT WEIRD!)

Namgyu tensed. The weight of her leaning on him made his chest tighten with discomfort. He didn't want it, didn't want the closeness, not from her. He shifted slightly, his shoulder nudging to push her away.

But, of course, Yuri didn't move. She only sank closer, smiling faintly like she'd already won.

Namgyu sighed through his nose, half-annoyed, half-resigned. He stayed put, not because he wanted to, but because he knew how Yuri was, once she decided something, she got her way. Always.

The duck quacked softly, while Namgyu stared straight ahead. The whole moment felt too long.

He didn't want Yuri there, leaning against him. But he didn't move her.

Just like with Thanos.

Expect he actually enjoyed Thanos lean.

Yuri's phone suddenly rang, breaking the quiet. She glanced at the screen and lit up. "Oo! it's my friend,let me take this real quick!" she said quickly, then answered without hesitation. Her voice turned lighter, more animated, as she spoke, her words were too fast for Namgyu to even follow.

So Namgyu just pulled out his own phone. The screen lit his face, he looked through his notifications and saw someone had tagged him. He tapped it lazily.

Yuri had posted a photo.

It was them sitting side by side on the pavement with the duck in Namgyus space as she laughed. The caption was something dumb, but Namgyu barely looked at it. His thumb hovered, then... he sighed, almost laughing at the absurdity of it all, and reposted it to his story.

He let his phone fall to his lap and leaned back, staring up at the empty morning sky.

Yuri finished her call, slipping the phone into her pocket. She stood up with the duck still in her arms, brushing the dust off her jeans. She looked down at him, smiling like nothing in the world was wrong.

She reached out her free hand and tugged at Namgyu's sleeve. "Come on," she said brightly. "Wanna help me put the duck back in the lake? Or will you be boring and say no?"

Namgyu let out a low sigh, but he didn't fight her. Maybe it was easier this way—just following along. "Yeah... fine," he muttered, pushing himself up. His foot ached a little as he stood, but he ignored it, letting Yuri guide him.

They walked side by side toward the lake, the cool night air brushing past them. Yuri carried the duck like it was precious, cradling it against her chest as it squirmed softly in her arms. Namgyu shoved his hands into his pockets, trailing half a step behind, his eyes catching on the rippling water ahead.

When they reached the edge, Yuri crouched down and carefully lowered the little creature to the ground. "Okay, ducky," she whispered, grinning, "time to go home."

The duck waddled a few steps, then dipped straight into the lake, sending ripples across the surface. Namgyu couldn't help it—he chuckled under his breath at how clumsy it looked. Yuri's face lit up at the sound, like she'd been waiting all night for that laugh.

They both stood there for a moment, watching the duck glide away into the darkness.

Then suddenly Yuri gasped, clapping her hands together when a baby duck waddled right up to the edge, its fluffy little body bobbing side to side. "Oh my gosh! it's so cute!" she squealed, crouching down, her voice softening as she stretched out a hand. The duck blinked at her, unbothered, and she giggled. "Namgyu, come on, you have to pet it. Look at its little cute little face!"

Namgyu groaned, hands still shoved in his pockets. "Why do I have to touch every animal you throw at me?" But something about the way Yuri frowned had him crouching anyway, his knees cracking slightly as he lowered himself beside her.

The baby duck shifted its tiny feet in the grass. He reached out, trying to brush his fingers across its soft feathers. But the duck took a waddling step back.

"Tch. Stay still, you fat chicken wing," Namgyu muttered, leaning in closer.

Yuri snorted behind him. "Don't be mean! He's so fluffy—"

PWSHHHH.

In one clumsy motion, Namgyu lost his balance, his hand overreaching, foot sliding in the mud—then his whole body went forward with a splash, breaking through the still water.

Yuri's scream cracked into laughter before she even covered her mouth. "NAMGYU!!" she shouted, standing and flailing her arms uselessly like she could somehow rescue him from land. The baby duck, unfazed, waddled away with a tiny quack.

Namgyu emerged with his hair dripping into his eyes, shirt clinging to him, and a scowl sharp enough to cut glass. He spit water out, glaring up at Yuri.

"So funny." he deadpanned, pushing his wet hair back.

Yuri could barely get her words out through her giggles. "You—you look like a wet cat!"

He groaned, dragging himself out of the lake, soaked and heavy. "I hate cats," he murmured.

Yuri crouched right in front of him, both her hands coming up to cup his cold, soaked face.

Her grin was shameless. "Namgyu im telling you!" she burst out between laughs, tilting his head side to side like she was inspecting some tragic piece of art. "You're a wet cat! A very angry wet cat."

Namgyu swatted weakly at her wrists but she didn't let go, her laughter only spilling harder. "Yuri," he groaned, his voice thick with irritation, "leave me alone."

"You're so cute!" she chirped, finally standing and tugging him up by his arm. "Come on, before you catch hypothermia!"

He stumbled a little as she dragged him, his sneakers squeaking against the pavement with every squelchy step. His wet clothes clung to him uncomfortably, and he muttered the entire way, but Yuri was already unlocking her car with determined speed.

"Sit," she ordered, opening the passenger side door.

Namgyu hesitated, wringing water from his shirt like it mattered. "You're gonna ruin your seats—"

"I said sit!" she cut him off, diving into the trunk. A moment later she pulled out a towel, pink with little faded stars along the edge. She shoved it at him with a grin. "Here. Emergency towel. Don't ask why I have it."

Namgyu took it slowly, raising a brow. "This looks like a kid's towel!"

"Shut up and dry off stupid," she said, laughing as she shoved him lightly into the seat.

Namgyu sighed, dragging the towel over his dripping hair. The warmth of it surprised him, and despite himself, a small, tired smirk tugged at his lips.

Yuri slid into the driver's seat, tossing her phone into the cup holder and starting the engine. The heater clicked on, filling the small car with a low hum and warm air that felt like heaven against Namgyu's soaked clothes. He rubbed the towel against his head, glaring at the way his jeans clung to his legs.

"Cheer up," Yuri teased, sneaking a glance at him as she pulled out of the park. "You made that duck's day. It looked really happy watching you fall in."

Namgyu groaned, leaning back against the seat. "I swear if you bring up me falling in the water, I'm walking home like this."

"Walking home wet and pathetic? No way. You'd just scare kids on the street," she said, biting back a laugh.

He shot her a dirty look "You think you're funny."

"And you are?" she replied with a grin, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as they rolled down a quiet street lined with dim streetlamps.

Namgyu huffed but couldn't help the corner of his mouth twitching upward. Silence filled the car for a moment, broken only by the low hum of the radio and the soft squeak of his damp sneakers when he shifted.

Then Yuri asked quietly, "So... what were you doing out there by yourself anyway?"

Namgyu shrugged, staring out the window at the blurred glow of neon signs passing by. "Just needed to clear my head."

Yuri tilted her head slightly, though her eyes stayed on the road. "From what?"

"Everything," Namgyu muttered. It was vague, but his voice carried weight. He didn't want to open up, but he also didn't want her to push—yet.

"Mhmm" she hummed softly, accepting his answer for now. "Well, whatever it is... you've got me. And apparently a duck army. You're not as alone as you think."

Namgyu scoffed under his breath, though something in his chest softened at her words. "Great. That's just what I need. Backup from a bunch of birds."

"Hey, don't disrespect my duck squad," Yuri said, pretending to sound offended. "They'd fight for you, you know. Even if you don't believe it."

Namgyu glanced at her, towel still draped over his shoulders. For once, he didn't say anything sarcastic back. He just... let the words sit with him.

By the time they pulled up in front of Yuri's small house, it had turned more brighter outside. She parked, turned to him with a grin, and said, "Alright. Let's get you inside before you die."

The moment they stepped inside, Yuri flicked on the lights, revealing a small but warm house. The air smelled faintly of vanilla candles, and the living room was scattered with little wrappers and books stacked half-open on the coffee table. Namgyu's damp shoes squeaked against the hardwood floor, leaving faint marks behind him.

Yuri wrinkled her nose, glancing back at him. "You're dripping all over my floor."

Namgyu shot her a glare but stayed quiet, tugging the towel tighter around his shoulders. She only giggled, kicking her shoes off by the door before motioning for him to follow.

They went down a narrow hallway until Yuri pushed open a door to reveal her room. Soft fairy lights glowed against pale walls, her bed unmade with a pile of pillows shoved to one side. A desk sat in the corner, cluttered with pens, sketchbooks, and a mug.

"Welcome to my amazing room," Yuri said dramatically, tossing her bag onto the bed. She opened her closet and pulled out her oversized hoodie and a pair of sweatpants that looked like they'd swallow Yuri whole. Turning, she thrust them into his arms. "Here. My most precious clothes. You should feel honored."

Namgyu looked down at the clothes, then back at her, one eyebrow raised. "These look depressing."

"Perfect, then," she said with a cheeky smile. "It fits your personality well."

Namgyu rolled his eyes but muttered a low "thanks" under his breath, clutching the soft fabric.

Yuri pointed toward a door beside her dresser. "Bathroom's right there. Towels are on the rack."

Namgyu muttered something unintelligible and walked toward the bathroom, still damp. Yuri flopped onto her bed with a sigh, grabbing her phone. She was sprawled on her bed, one leg dangling off the side as she scrolled aimlessly through her phone.

The fairy lights cast a warm glow across her face, highlighting the little smirk tugging at her lips as she flicked through Namgyu's story, still laughing at the duck picture she took.

Then—ringggg.

Namgyu's phone buzzed against the nightstand where he had tossed it before heading to the bathroom. The name lit up bright and clear across the screen

"Thanos😐"

Yuri froze, her head tilting. "Thanos?" she whispered to herself, giggling softly. The name sounded stupid, like an inside joke. She figured it was probably some friend from their circle, maybe someone she knew too. Without a second thought, she snatched up the phone.

"Hello?" she answered in a playful tone, expecting a familiar voice on the other end.

But the sound that came back wasn't playful at all. It was low, ragged, and laced with something heavy.

"What the fuck was that?"

Yuri's smile faltered instantly. The warmth drained from her face, leaving her sitting frozen in place. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. The silence stretched.

The man on the other end laughed. "No way that was you."

Yuri's fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles whitening. Whatever she had expected, it definitely wasn't this.

Thanos' voice spoke through the speaker.

"Is this Namgyu or not?"

Yuri shifted on the bed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "No..My names Yuri." she said simply, her tone calm but curious.

For a long pause, Thanos said nothing. His mind spun the second her name registered.

Why is he with her?

His voice came back heavier, edged with something he tried to smother but couldn't.

"Yuri?" He repeated it like he had to make sure. Then sharper "Is Namgyu with you? At your place?"

She hesitated, not knowing how to answer that so she didn't.

Whatever was going through his head, Thanos cut himself off with an exhale, like he was forcing himself to drop it. "Never mind. Just tell that fucker to call me back later. It's important."

Yuri blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone, but nodded even though he couldn't see it. "Okay. I'll tell him."

The line went dead.

Yuri stared at the phone for a moment before placing it carefully back down.

Then a voice came from the bathroom. "Yuri! Can u get my wet clothes?"

She hopped off the bed. Still shocked about what just happened.

Steam clung to the air when Yuri cracked the bathroom door.

Namgyu's voice floated over the hiss of the shower, a little muffled but impatient.

"Can you wash those for me?"

"I got them," Yuri said quickly, stepping inside just enough to grab the pile from the counter. The warmth of the room wrapped around her, and for a second she just stood there, biting the inside of her cheek. She wasn't sure if she should even bring it up—but The rapper said it was important so..

"Uh... Namgyu," she started hesitantly, twisting the clothes in her hands.

"What?" His voice was casual and distracted.

Yuri swallowed, then blurted, "Someone named.. Thanos called you."

There was a beat of silence. Then the water stopped.

The sudden quiet pressed in hard. She looked down at the tiles, suddenly wishing she hadn't said anything at all.

"Thanos?.." Namgyu's voice came, lower now, almost unreadable. "Did you answer.."

Yuri clutched the clothes tighter. "Yeah...he told me to tell you to call him back later. He said it was important."

The silence on the other side of the door felt endless. She could hear only the soft drip of water.

Then, slowly, the bathroom curtain cracked open. He poked his head out, steam rolling past his bare shoulders. His damp hair clung to his forehead and neck, darkened to near-black by the water, and droplets slid down the sharp line of his jaw.

"Did you tell him who you were." he asked flatly.

Yuri' nodded. "...Yeah"

A short, bitter laugh escaped him. "Of course you did." He dragged a hand through his wet hair and stepped back, shutting the curtain in her face again.

She stared down at the wet clothes in her arms, hugging them closer. She wanted to knock, to explain, to tell him it wasn't that serious but something about his tone had carved the air sharp. She knew better than to poke at it.

All she could do was quietly carry his wet clothes away, leaving him alone.

A few moments passed before she heard the faint rustle of movement inside, the shuffle of his footsteps. Finally, the bathroom door opened. Namgyu emerged, he kept his head low, eyes flickering away from hers, jaw tight.

"Here," Yuri said quickly, forcing brightness into her voice as she held out the towel. "Dry your hair before you get sick."

He took it without a word and sat on the edge of her bed, rubbing at his head slowly. His phone lay on the nightstand where she'd left it, screen dark and still.

Yuri shifted from foot to foot before finally blurting out, "...Are you going to call him back?"

The towel stilled in Namgyu's hands. He didn't look at her. Didn't even breathe for a second.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hoarse. "No."

"Uh? Why." she whispered, but he didn't let her finish.

"I said no." His tone snapped, brittle and defensive. He dropped the towel into his lap, elbows resting on his knees, and pressed his palms against his face.

Yuri stood still, her lips parting but no words coming out.

Yuri instead just flopped down beside him, phone still in her hand, scrolling aimlessly like nothing heavy had just happened. Namgyu didn't say a word. He just shifted, laying flat on his back, arms stretched above his head for a moment before pulling one down to grab his phone off the nightstand.

He held it over his face. His thumb swiped lazily through his notifications, but he wasn't really reading. He knew what he'd find.

And there it was.

Thanos did call.

He stared at it longer than he wanted to. The name on his screen glared back at him, brighter than the room itself. His chest rose slowly, then fell, and for a split second, Yuri turned her head to peek at him, but he angled the phone away before she could catch too much.

He didn't want her to see that flicker in his expression, the one that gave him away.

With an exhale that was almost a scoff, Namgyu pressed the phone down on his chest like it weighed too much to hold. He let it sit there for a beat, his eyes tracing cracks in Yuri's ceiling.

Then, he picked it back up and opened his messages.

Not to text Thanos.

Instead, his thumb hovered a second before typing out to someone else.

N- u get home?
S- yuhhh your so boring why did u leave so early??
N- tired
S- type the letter M
N- why?
S- just do it
N- M
S- Minsu says good girllll
N- wtf??

Namgyu's lips twitched into something like a smirk. Typical. Stupid Min-su.

"Who are you texting?" Yuri asked suddenly, peeking again, curiosity in her tone like she couldn't help herself.

He locked his phone immediately, dropping it back on his chest with a small thud. "No one chill. " he muttered, closing his eyes as if that ended the conversation.

Yuri giggled under her breath, like she didn't buy it for a second. But she didn't push she just rolled onto her side, resting her chin in her palm.

Meanwhile, Namgyu stayed on his back, jaw tight, eyes closed... but his thumb tapped against the side of his phone.

The tap was the rhyme to one of Thanos song.

What the fuck.

Namgyu sat up suddenly, like the mattress was suffocating him. He rubbed his face with both hands and muttered, "I think I'm gonna go already." His voice was low, tired, almost flat.

Yuri blinked at him, then let out this bubbly giggle that immediately grated at his nerves. "Go where? I drove you here, dummy!"

He froze, shoulders stiff. Then, with the heaviest sigh in the world, he flopped back down onto the bed like he'd been defeated. This time he buried his face straight into her pillow, muffling a groan.

The mattress dipped again as Yuri shifted closer. She hummed a little tune under her breath, the sound annoyingly light. Without warning, her fingers slipped into his hair, combing it back in a way that was way too familiar for his liking.

Thanos use to mess with his hair.

"Yuri, what are you doing now?" he started, voice muffled against the pillow.

"Shhh shut up," she cut in, and before he could move, she climbed onto his back like he was a piece of furniture, settling her weight there with a satisfied sigh. "Stay still stupid."

Namgyu groaned again, but she didn't care. Her fingers twisted and tugged, separating strands. "Perfect hair for this," she mused out loud, almost to herself, as if he wasn't practically suffocating under her.

He shifted his face to the side so he could breathe, glaring at the wall. "Are you putting gum in my hair again?"

"No gum!" she interrupted, laughing as she worked. A few moments later, she made two uneven pigtails that stuck out at odd angles. She clapped her hands together like she'd just created a masterpiece. "There. Cute!"

Namgyu stayed still, face smushed into the pillow again, deciding that arguing would only make her more annoying.

Yuri leaned down, her cheek almost brushing his as she tried to snap a quick selfie of her creation.

Namgyu groaned louder. "Your not funny stop."

"Mmhm," Yuri sang, ignoring him completely.

The studio lights were dim, the only glow coming from the giant monitor in front of Gyeong-su and the faint neon strips along the ceiling. The air smelled faintly of burnt coffee and cables, that mix of exhaustion and work.

Thanos was sprawled on the leather couch like it was his throne, one leg stretched out, phone in hand. His thumb scrolled lazily, eyes glued to the screen, looking both bored and entirely absorbed at the same time.

Across the room, Gyeong-su sat hunched at the desk, typing furiously. His jaw clenched as another email draft popped open. "You know..." he started, voice sharp, "for someone who makes me answer a hundred damn emails a day, you sure don't look very busy."

Thanos didn't even glance up. He just hummed in acknowledgment, lips tugging slightly at the corner as if he found Gyeong-su's suffering mildly entertaining.

Gyeong-su groaned louder, dragging his palms down his face. "Seriously, hyung, it sucks to work for you. I don't even know why I'm still here??"

"Shut up." Thanos finally lifted a finger, not looking away from his phone. His voice was calm, low, the kind that made it clear he wasn't listening at all. "You're ruining my concentration dude."

"Concentration?!" Gyeong-su whirled in his chair, glaring. "Being on your phone is not concentration!"

Thanos didn't respond. His eyes narrowed slightly at the screen instead, thumb slowing down. Something he saw made his chest tighten, but his expression didn't change—just that subtle stillness in his movements.

Gyeong-su noticed the pause. "What? What now?"

Thanos exhaled through his nose, leaning back into the couch. His jaw flexed, phone still in his hand. He didn't answer.

In his phone.

Namgyu.

His hair was pulled into two messy pigtails, strands sticking out awkwardly, the corners of his mouth tugging down in pure annoyance. The kind of look he gave when someone pissed him off.

Yuri's giggles echoed faintly through the background, but Thanos didn't care about her voice—his eyes stayed locked on Namgyu.

Something twisted in his chest. Hard.

That was his thing. He'd been the one to tug playfully at Namgyu's hair, to twist it between his fingers, to mess it up just to see that exact look on his face. The little frown. The sharp glare. The muttered "Quit it"

Seeing Yuri's hands there instead? Playing with something that had quietly become theirs—

Thanos' jaw clenched.

Without realizing it, he pinched the screen and zoomed in. Namgyu's pout filled the frame, his lashes heavy against his cheeks, eyes tilted slightly to the side like he hated the world in that moment. Thanos' chest gave a sudden, traitorous flutter.

Cute.

His reaction to him pulling Namgyu's hair would be cuter.

His pout and stare. The way his hand would explore his. Just like they did in the closet. The nosies he would make. His warmth against his.

His breath caught in his throat. His cheeks burned, an unwelcome heat rising under his skin. He actually felt it—blushing. His thumb lingered against the screen, sliding over Namgyu's pixelated frown, and before he could stop himself, a tiny laugh escaped his lips. It was almost fond.

The sound startled him.

He froze, staring at Namgyu's blown-up face on his phone. What the hell was he doing? Why was he smiling at this? Why did he even care?

A heavy guilt hit him all at once, pressing against his ribs. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to think Namgyu looked cute, not like that. He wasn't supposed to feel anything.

That's fucking weird

What would the fans think

He isn't gay

Just bored

Right?

With a sharp breath, Thanos dropped the phone onto the couch beside him like it burned. He pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes, groaning low under his breath.

"Damn it..."

The word came out quieter than he meant it to.

Across the room, Gyeong-su looked up suspiciously. "Im quiting I can't do therapist work right now hold it in till tomorrow."

Thanos leaned forward on the couch, rubbing at his temples like he could physically push the thoughts out of his head. He needed a distraction—fast. With a sigh, he grabbed his phone again, ignoring Gyeong-su's suspicious side-eye, and got up.

He wandered over and dropped into the chair next to Gyeong-su, pulling it closer with a scrape across the floor. The assistant didn't even look up from the laptop.

"What u doing?" Gyeong-su muttered, fingers clacking against the keys.

Thanos ignored him, pretending to scroll casually through his notifications. Anything to act normal. Anything to bury the heat still lingering on his face.

That's when he saw it.

A photo.

Young-mi... wrapped around Gyeong-su?

Her lips pressed to his cheek, her manicured hand clinging to his shirt while he smirked into the camera.

Thanos sat there, phone in hand, blinking at the picture again before turning his gaze slowly to Gyeong-su. A grin spread across his face—one of those dangerous smiles

"...So," Thanos started casually, leaning back in his chair. "When were you gonna tell me?"

Gyeong-su froze mid-type. "Tell you what?"

"Oh, nothing serious." Thanos swiveled the chair toward him, tapping his phone like a secret weapon. "Just that you're dating Young-mi."

The way Gyeong-su's entire body stiffened was enough to make Thanos burst out laughing. "Don't even deny it. I saw a photo. Damn, my little assistant finally got himself a girlfriend."

Gyeong-su dragged a hand down his face, groaning. "You weren't supposed to see that yet."

"Oh, I saw it," Thanos leaned forward, eyes glinting. "And let me tell you, I am so proud. Honestly my boy"

"Shut up," Gyeong-su muttered, but the corners of his mouth twitched, embarrassed.

Thanos' grin only grew. "But hey—" he wagged a finger, suddenly adopting a mock-serious tone, "you better watch yourself, man. That's Namgyu's little sister."

The color drained from Gyeong-su's face. "Dude I forgot."

"Actually?" Thanos started cackling. "Young-mi is Namgyu's BABY sister. Wait until he finds out. He's gonna-" Thanos mimed a gun shot to the head with his hands.

(By baby I mean youngest! She's of age so don't take it the wrong way."

"Stop—" Gyeong-su buried his face in his hands, half laughing, half horrified. "I'm dead. I'm actually dead."

Thanos leaned back, smug as ever. "Relax. I won't tell him." He winked. "But you owe me for keeping this little secret."

Gyeong-su groaned louder, "Tell someone and I'll kill you before Namgyu kills me."

Thanos squinted at him, still grinning. "Okay, okay, but since when? Don't tell me this has been going on behind my back for months."

Gyeong-su shook his head quickly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yesterday."

"...Yesterday?!" Thanos' eyes widened, the smile already twitching into a laugh.

"Yeah," Gyeong-su sighed, chuckling at himself. "During the party when we were... uh... drunk. Like, very drunk. I guess I called her and" he groaned, covering his face with both hands, "confessed everything. Just spilled it all."

There was a beat of silence. Then Thanos absolutely lost it.

He burst out laughing so hard he doubled over in the chair, clutching his stomach. "You—" he wheezed, pointing at Gyeong-su, "you drunk called her?! Oh my gosh, that is the lamest thing I've ever heard—"

He laughed so hard he slipped right out of the chair and hit the floor with a heavy thud. Acting as if he didn't drunk called Namgyu as well.

"OW—fuck!" he barked, but he was still cackling, rolling on the floor.

That broke Gyeong-su. He threw his head back and laughed too, unable to hold it in anymore. "Shut up, man! You're making it worse!"

Thanos slapped the floor, wheezing between fits of laughter. "No, no, you don't get it—imagine her, just sitting there, getting this slurred confession like, 'Young-mi, I loooove youu!'"

"DUDE!" Gyeong-su nearly fell out of his own chair, tears forming in his eyes from laughing too hard.

Thanos sat up finally, face red, grinning ear to ear. "Bro. You're an idiot."

Namgyu slammed the door shut with his heel, the sound echoing in the apartment. He ran a hand down his tired face.

He stopped dead in the doorway of the living room.

Semi and Min-su were curled up like a cheesy couple, both sunk into the couch cushions. Semi's legs draped lazily over Min-su's lap, her phone in one hand, the other fiddling absently with Min-su's hoodie strings. Min-su sat there calm as ever, scrolling on his own phone, but the corner of his mouth tilted up like he was the happiest guy alive.

Semi looked up when she noticed Namgyu frozen in place. She smiled—only briefly—before casually lifting her hand to wave. "Hey"

Min-su mirrored her with a small polite wave.

Namgyu just stared, his face scrunching like he'd swallowed something bitter. "...You've got to be kidding me."

He stomped closer, throwing his arms in the air. "This is illegal! In my living room?!"

Semi blinked at him in mock confusion. "What, sitting on the couch?"

"No!—this!" He gestured wildly at the both of them, his hand shaking like the sight physically hurt him. "You, two, being all" he gagged dramatically, clutching his chest like he was about to faint, "cuddly! Just say you like each other! Pissing me off."

Semi rolled her eyes and flipped him off so lazily.

Namgyu gasped. "So ungrateful I basically pay all the bills and you're treating me like this?"

Min-su chuckled softly, hiding half his face behind his phone. That little smile of his made Namgyu snap his head toward him. "I'll should just rip that shit eating face off you."

That made Semi laugh for real, leaning further into Min-su's side. "You're just mad because nobody's cuddling you."

Namgyu scrunched his face. "You're so annoying."

He dramatically dropped onto the far end of the couch. He flopped down face first into a pillow, groaning. "Ughhhh, kill me. Just take a fork, stab me, end my suffering."

Semi smirked, eyes flicking back to her phone. "Don't tempt me."

Min-su finally lowered his phone, chuckling softly. "You could just.. sit? Couch's big enough."

Namgyu's head snapped up like Min-su had just suggested the most cursed thing imaginable. "What?! What are you, insane? I'm not third wheeling your disgusting love fest."

Semi grinned, leaning forward to mess up his hair just to annoy him. "You're so dramatic."

Namgyu swatted at her hand and sat up, glaring at the both of them with narrowed eyes. "I hate you guys. Both of you."

Semi just laughed and leaned back into Min-su's shoulder again, flipping through her phone like Namgyu's dramatics were background noise. Min-su shook his head, still smiling that quiet smile of his, while Namgyu sulked and hugged a pillow to his chest like the tragic hero of his own story.

The apartment felt warm, too warm, and though he would never admit it out loud, Namgyu couldn't help but notice the tiniest pinch of something in his chest.

Jealousy? Loneliness? He shoved it down instantly, burying his face back in the pillow. "I despise seeing people in love. So disgusting."

Namgyu couldn't take it anymore. He needed distance from these people!

He shoved himself up off the couch, muttering something and stormed off down the hall. His footsteps were loud on purpose, the kind that begged for attention, and when he reached his bedroom he made sure to slam the door hard. Maybe Semi and Min-su would hear it, maybe they'd laugh, maybe they wouldn't care—but at least they'd know he was done with... whatever that cuddle thing there doing?!?

His room greeted him in silence. Some clutter on the floor, his bed unmade and messy closet . He turned toward the window, and the sunlight poured in like it was mocking him. So bright.

With a sharp sigh, he walked over and grabbed at the blinds. He meant to yank them down, but his eyes caught the view instead. The drop. From his room, the ground looked so far away, like it didn't even belong to the same world.

How long would it take for him to reach the floor and die?

2 seconds? Maybe 3?

Not like he ever would attempt it...

Just a thought.

He unlocked the window and shoved it up. The cool air rushed in.

A little too tempting.

He sat on the sill, legs bent, half inside, half out, the quiet hum of the city filling his ears.

It wasn't the first time he'd sat there.

He remembered it vividly—the night he'd sneaked out this exact way, careful not to wake Semi, not to leave a trace behind.

His heart pounding with the reckless thrill of it.

The way his palms had sweated gripping the window frame, the nervous laugh in his throat when his feet reached the ground.

He'd swung one leg over, then the other, jumped onto the insanely tall near by tree, climbed down. And practically ran to Thanos.

Now, sitting there again, staring down at that same drop, he could almost hear the echo of his own footsteps running off into the night.

He pulled his knees closer to his chest, resting his chin on them, the blinds swaying gently behind his back.

The apartment was too loud with laughter down the hall. But outside...outside was just memory. The sweetest tourture.

The wind had a way of reminding him of things he tried to bury. It pushed against his skin in sharp little bursts, carrying the kind of chill that felt almost personal, almost deliberate. His hair swayed, strands brushing across his forehead, tickling his face until he shoved them away with an annoyed hand. But it didn't stop
the air just kept pressing, heavier and colder, as if the world outside his window knew exactly where to hurt him.

Then he heard it.

A car, low and smooth, rolling down the street in the same rhythm. The same direction. The same way Thanos had when he came to pick him up.

Namgyu froze, body tense against the frame of the window, knuckles whitening where he gripped the sill. The sound cut through him, ripping a memory wide open.

He could see it so clearly—Thanos' car headlights spilling across the pavement, that lazy hand wave from behind the windshield, the cocky smile that used to irritate him and comfort him all at once.

It hit harder than he expected. His throat closed, eyes stinging before he could stop them. The tears formed without permission, slipping into the corners of his lashes. He blinked fast, trying to catch his breath, but every inhale dragged more of it out of him—the ache, the pull, the missing.

Gosh, he missed him.

Missed the late-night drives, the stupid conversations that went nowhere, the smell of weed clinging to his clothes after leaving Thanos' place. Even the sarcastic remarks, the way Thanos could push and push until Namgyu snapped, only to smirk like that was the whole point.

But no matter how badly his chest tightened at the thought, no matter how much the silence of his room screamed for Thanos' voice—he couldn't. He wouldn't.

Namgyu wiped at his eyes with the back of his sleeve, shaking his head like that could scatter the thoughts. He refused to speak to him. Not now. Not after everything. The weight in his chest was too heavy, too raw. He couldn't bring himself to face Thanos, not when every word would betray how much he actually cared.

So he just sat there, on the sill, in the thickening night air, letting the wind drag the tears off his face as if it could erase them.

He swayed his legs back and forth like a kid, the soft kick of his shoes against the wall keeping some kind of rhythm. Anything to keep his mind distracted, anything to stop himself from sinking too deep into the ache crawling up his chest.

He tugged at the ends of his hair, twisting strands between his fingers until they pulled tight and slipped free again. It was stupid, but it gave his hands something to do. His breath came out in uneven puffs, pale against the night air, and the longer he sat there, the colder it got.

The wind wasn't gentle anymore. It bit at his skin, sharp and steady, crawling through the thin fabric of his shirt like it wanted him to shiver. He hugged his arms closer to himself, huffing, and finally glanced down at the drop beneath him.

It stretched below, harsh and final, a distance that seemed both impossibly far and far too easy at the same time. His stomach twisted as he stared at it—heavy, silent, daring him to think too long.

He lingered there for a second, caught between the weight of the fall and the weight inside his chest. Then, with a deep inhale, Namgyu pulled himself back through the window.

His feet touched the floor and he stood there, staring one last time at the open frame, the outside. He shut it firmly, fingers tight on the lock, not letting himself hesitate. The blinds rattled faintly as he pulled them closed, sealing the day out and all the thoughts that came with it.

The room was silent again, but at least it was warmer, safer. Namgyu leaned his forehead against the wall beside the window and exhaled, long and shaky, before finally pulling himself away.

Namgyu dragged himself to his bed, collapsing face first into the blanket before rolling onto his back. His body felt heavy, his chest heavier, but his eyes stayed wide, locked on the ceiling above him. He traced the faint cracks in the plaster with his gaze, following them like they were maps to somewhere else, anywhere else but here.

The silence didn't last. Through the thin walls came muffled voices, soft and easy, broken by bursts of laughter. Se-mi's giggle, warm and high, tangled with Min-su's deeper laugh, the kind of laugh that sounded effortless. They weren't even trying to be quiet. Why would they?

The whole world bent for people like them. They were normal and the world only accepted normal. Nothing else.

Namgyu's jaw tensed, his face scrunching as the sound dug into him. It wasn't just noise. it was a reminder. They sounded happy, really happy, and it burned. He wanted to throw a pillow at the wall, wanted them to shut up, wanted their stupid love to stop spilling into his space like it was mocking him.

His throat tightened. Why couldn't it have been him? Why couldn't he and Thanos laugh like that, light and stupid and easy? Why did it always end up complicated, heavy, cruel? He replayed it all in his head—the way Thanos looked at him, the way he made Namgyu feel seen and raw and adored all at once. But instead of an ending that felt warm, Namgyu was left here, alone, staring at a ceiling and trying not to choke on the unfairness of it all.

It wasn't fair. Those two losers got their happy ending, while his own ending kept slamming doors in his face.

His ending was sharp, cruel, bitter, the kind that gnawed at him long after the moment was gone.

Namgyu let out a shaky breath, one hand pressed over his eyes. The laughter outside his room only grew softer, happier, as if they were drifting further into each other. And he stayed here, in the dark, trying not to drown in the sound of everything he use have.

Namgyu rolled onto his side, eyes burning. He stared at his phone on the nightstand, its screen dark, the reflection of his own face faintly staring back. His hand twitched before he could stop himself. Pathetic or not, he reached for it.

The weight of it in his palm made his heart race. He didn't even unlock it—his thumb hovered over the screen, nerves trembling through his hand. Just the thought of seeing Thanos' name lit up in his contacts, the thought of typing something—anything—made his stomach twist. He wanted to scream into the silence, wanted to demand why it had to be him stuck with this ache.

But before he even swiped, he dropped it. The phone landed with a dull thud on the mattress beside him. Namgyu curled his shaking hands into fists and pressed them against his forehead, squeezing his eyes shut until it hurt. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't give Thanos that satisfaction. Reaching out now would be like admitting how badly he needed him, and Namgyu refused to be that pathetic.

Still, the silence pressed in on him. Every muffled laugh from the living room, every echo of Thanos in his head, every memory of what almost was—it all piled up until it broke him down. His chest shuddered, breath catching, and before he knew it, tears were slipping out, hot and steady. He bit his lip hard, trying to stay quiet, but the sobs came anyway, muffled into the pillow he dragged over his face.

The tears wouldn't stop. They poured out of him in messy waves until the weight of exhaustion finally dragged him under. His body shook once more, then went still. Phone abandoned at his side, Namgyu cried himself into sleep, his breath hitching even as dreams pulled him away.

The room stayed quiet after that, the only sound the faint laughter of Se-mi and Min-su bleeding through the walls—too far away, yet sharp enough to cut him even in his sleep.

Namgyu blinked rapidly, heart stuttering in his chest.

The golden light of a sunset washed over the field he was standing in , turning every flower into a burning ember swaying with the breeze.

The air carried a sweetness that felt unreal, like honey melting on the tongue.

Everything felt so.

Warm.

He was calm, but the moment he turned his head to look around the place his gaze met those dark, alive eyes, all peace shattered.

Thanos.

He stood there, fingers laced with Namgyu's as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Since when was he here?

And since when were they..holding hands??

Thanos cheeks were tinged pink, soft against the fiery backdrop, and his lips—gosh, his lips looked so gentle, so painfully kissable that Namgyu's chest tightened.

His instinct kicked in.

He staggered back, trying to pull his hand free, but Thanos' grip only tightened, not harsh, but steady, warm, grounding.

"Why are you—" Namgyu's voice cracked. He tried again, shaking his head. "Why are you here?"

Thanos didn't answer right away. He just looked at him, really looked, like every piece of Namgyu mattered. His smile wasn't the cocky grin Namgyu was used to seeing, not the smirk that masked pain with sarcasm.

No—this was soft. Open. Real.

"You always run," Thanos finally murmured, his voice low, carried on the breeze. "Even here."

Namgyu froze, throat tightening. He wanted to snap back, to tell him to shut up, to turn away before his legs betrayed him and dragged him closer.

But then Thanos' thumb brushed over the back of his hand, such a small, careful touch and Namgyu swore his heart stopped.

"Don't," Namgyu whispered, finally yanking his hand back and clutching it to his chest. He hated how empty it felt instantly, like the warmth had been stolen from him.

"Don't look at me like that. Don't..." His voice trailed off, breaking against the weight of the moment.

"I'll wait here tomorrow for you Namgyu."

The field swayed as if holding its breath.

Namgyu shook his head, backing up step after step, the flowers brushing against his legs as if trying to hold him still.

His chest felt heavy, his eyes blurring as tears gathered. "This isnt real," he whispered, though his voice came out broken, barely carried by the sweet air.

Thanos followed—slow, steady, not rushing, just closing the space between them until he stood right in front of Namgyu. His gaze never wavered. His eyes were soft, alive, almost glowing against the golden sunset.

Namgyu wanted to scream, to shove him away, but his legs betrayed him. He stood frozen, trembling.

Thanos reached out.

His hand was warm when it cupped Namgyu's face, thumb brushing away a tear before it could fall. Namgyu's lips quivered, his lashes damp. He hated this—how much he needed it, how much it hurt.

Then, without a word, Thanos leaned forward and pressed the gentlest kiss to Namgyu's forehead. It was so careful it nearly undid him. Namgyu gasped, a small sound escaping as if the touch had cracked something inside.

Another kiss followed, this time against his cheek. Softer than air, but lingering. Namgyu's tears finally slipped, rolling down his face as he let out a shaky breath.

And then Thanos pulled him in. Arms wrapping around him, steady and firm, holding Namgyu against his chest like he was something precious. Namgyu's body tensed at first, every muscle screaming to resist, but the warmth was overwhelming. It seeped into his skin, into his bones.

Namgyu's hands hovered in the air, trembling, before finally falling against Thanos' chest. He didn't hug him back fully, but he didn't pull away either. His cheek pressed into the warmth of Thanos' shoulder, and for a terrifying, blissful second, it felt like home.

The flowers bent with the breeze. The world was quiet, except for the sound of Namgyu's uneven breathing and Thanos' heartbeat against his ear.

"Why..." Namgyu choked, his voice breaking. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Thanos only held him tighter.

Namgyu tilted his head up, and the moment his eyes locked onto Thanos' face, he betrayed himself.

He leaned in.

It wasn't careful or hesitant—just desperate, raw. His lips pressed against Thanos', soft but trembling, tasting like salt from his own tears. For a heartbeat, he was terrified Thanos would push him away, laugh, vanish.

But Thanos kissed him back.

Warmth surged through him, stealing the air from his lungs. Thanos' hand slid up, thumb brushing his jaw, then his cheek. His fingers traced lazy, soothing circles on Namgyu's skin, grounding him even as Namgyu's whole body shook. The kiss broke, but the closeness lingered—foreheads nearly touching, breaths colliding.

Thanos' eyes were so alive, glowing in the orange light, lips curving into the faintest, most heartbreaking smile. "Namgyu..." he whispered, his voice tender, unguarded. "I love—"

The sky shattered.

The orange bled to black, faster than Namgyu could blink. The field warped, flowers folding into ash, air turning cold and heavy. Thanos' face twisted, distorted, his once-soft eyes hollowing out into something unrecognizable. His voice cut off, strangled, like the world itself refused to let him finish.

Namgyu stumbled back, panic rising, but before he could reach for him, everything crumbled—like glass breaking, like a dream tearing itself apart.

He woke up.

Gasping.

His sheets damp from tears he hadn't realized fell in his sleep. His chest heaved as he sat upright, hands clutching his face, trying to hold himself together. The silence of his room pressed in on him, cruel and empty, and the ghost of Thanos' touch still burned against his cheek.

He grabs his phone with trembling hands.

What time is it??

The screen glowing brightly in the dim room.

Three missed calls from Thanos. Three. His chest tightens, and his stomach drops, twisting in on itself.

Why did he call me?

His heart beats quickly.

Trying to ingore it he looks up at the time.

5!?

He had fallen asleep at two, and now it's already five.

He throws himself onto the bed, burying his face in the pillow and screaming, a raw, loud sound that rattles the walls. The pillow muffles it, but it doesn't help, doesn't take away the gnawing frustration of everything.

His hands clutch at the sheets, knuckles white, fingers digging deep.

He rolls onto his side, hair sticking to his sweaty forehead, and stares at the ceiling. The ceiling doesn't answer. It doesn't tell him what to do or what to say..

Nam-gyu stares at the phone like it's a bomb, thumbs shaking as he presses the call button. His chest hammers, mind screaming, and part of him wants to hang up immediately.

The phone rings. Once. Twice. Three times. Each chime guilt hits him harder and harder.

Don't be pathetic.
Don't be pathetic.
Don't be pathetic.
Don't be pathetic.

And then... click. The line connects.

"Finally." Thanos' voice cut sharp, almost a growl. "Do you ignore my calls for fun or something? What the hell, Namgyu?"

Namgyu swallowed "...I was asleep." His tone came out flat, clipped, like it wasn't worth explaining.

Thanos scoffed, irritated. "You're unbelievable. Anyway, listen—" His voice dropped into a more calm voice. Still a hint of harsh. "I've got a concert coming up in two days. Two. I've been trying to get ahold of you."

Namgyu shifted in bed, legs restless, fingers tugging at the loose thread of his blanket. His stomach twisted. "Okay." he muttered.

That single word—"Okay."—made Thanos' anger flare again. "Seriously? That's all you've got? Do you even realize how much work goes into this? Do you even care dude?"

Namgyu bit the inside of his cheek, refusing to give more. His answers stayed short, dry, lifeless. "Okay! I heard you the first time dude." He fiddled with his hair, pulling at the long strands , anything to keep himself from yelling out of frustration.

The silence on the other end stretched until Thanos sighed harshly. "You're a bitch, you know that? I was pretty excited about telling you just for you to act like this."

Click.

The line went dead.

Namgyu stared at his dark screen, chest heavy. He wanted to throw the phone across the room, wanted to call again, wanted to scream, wanted—

he didn't even know what. All he felt was that echo of Thanos' voice, angry and close, like it was still in his ear.

Namgyu sat there with the phone still in his hand, the call already long over, but his chest wouldn't stop tightening. His eyes drifted to the ceiling, unfocused, and like a cruel tourture, the dream replayed itself in his mind.

That field. That golden light. Thanos' hand warm and real in his. The forehead kiss. The cheek. The hug that had felt so... safe.

And then—his lips. Soft, alive. Namgyu had kissed him. He had let himself.

But what haunted him wasn't the kiss. It was the way Thanos had pulled back, thumb brushing his face like he was something fragile, and had started to speak. His voice still echoed in Namgyu's head, gentle, steady, sure.

"I love..."

Then black. Distorted. Torn away.

Namgyu's fists clenched around the blanket. Why couldn't he finish? Why did it have to end there? Was he going to say it—I love you? Or was that just Namgyu's own stupid heart filling in the words?

He pressed his palms against his face, dragging down slowly. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, voice shaking. He hated that he even cared, hated that he wanted the dream to continue. If he wanted to hear those words so badly, he'd have to hear them in real life. But that wasn't going to happen. Not anymore.

So why... why did the dream feel truer than anything else?

Fuck.

Namgyu slammed his palm against the mattress with a sharp thud, his whole body jerking with the motion. His breath came out shaky, uneven, and his hand trembled as it sank back into the blankets. His throat burned. He felt pathetic.

Stupid. So, so stupid.

Why was he like this? Why did every thought begin and end with Thanos? He hated the way his chest leapt when the phone lit up with his name, hated how his knees went weak whenever Thanos snapped at him, hated how much control the man seemed to have over him without even trying.

It was humiliating. Like he was some kind of obedient dog, waiting for scraps of attention, desperate for approval. And yet he couldn't stop himself. Every time, he caved. Every time, he came crawling back.

Namgyu started tugging hard on the ends of his hair. The frustration swelling inside him until he thought he'd scream.

Then—

"Namgyu!" Semi's voice rang from the other room, muffled but clear.

He froze, staring at the door. His pulse still racing.

Semi called again, a little louder this time, dragging him back down to reality. With a heavy exhale, Namgyu shoved himself up from the bed. His legs felt like jello, his body sluggish with the weight of everything he didn't want to feel.

He dragged himself down the hallway, his footsteps heavy, and pushed open her door.

"What," he muttered flatly, standing in the doorway, trying to keep his face blank.

Semi was sprawled across her bed with her phone held above her face, legs lazily kicking in the air. The moment Namgyu appeared in the doorway, she sat up with a dramatic gasp, like she'd been waiting hours for him.

"Finally!" she huffed, tossing her phone onto the blanket. "Okay, hear me out. If I gave myself highlights and a belly piercing do you think I'll still pull??"

Namgyu blinked at her, absolutely floored. His chest was still tight from earlier, his hands faintly trembling at his sides, and this... this was what she called him for?

"Are you—" his voice cracked with disbelief, "—serious right now?"

Semi folded her arms, glaring. "Dead serious. Min-su says it'll look weird, but he's literally terrible at fashion. I need a real opinion lil bro."

Namgyu dragged a hand down his face and groaned. "Semi... I thought you were dying or something."

She smirked, unbothered. "Well, technically I'd be dying—my hair."

"Gosh," Namgyu muttered, turning to leave, but Semi threw a pillow at him, hitting him square in the back of the head.

"Don't ignore me!" she snapped playfully. "Yes or no? Be honest."

Namgyu spun around, grabbing the pillow and tossing it back onto her bed. His mouth curved in a humorless grin. "Honestly? You'd look like a Emo bitch."

Semi gasped, clutching her chest as if he'd wounded her pride. "Wow. Harsh."

"Harsh? You dragged me in here for this," Namgyu said, shaking his head as he walked toward the door again.

But despite himself, a tiny, reluctant smile tugged at his lips. Semi's ridiculousness was irritating—yet it had tugged him out of that dark spiral, even if just for a second.

Namgyu walked out the room but his stomach rumbled.

"Someone's hungry," she sang out from her room, peeking her head into the hall with a smug grin. "Take out?"

Namgyu froze mid-step. He wanted to say no, wanted to claim he wasn't hungry, because honestly? His chest was still full of knots, his brain still stuck on Thanos and that stupid dream, and food sounded like cardboard in his mouth right now. But then his stomach betrayed him again with another loud growl.

Semi smirked. "That's a yes."

"I'm not even hungry," Namgyu muttered, rubbing at his face.

"Uh-huh. Your stomach is literally screaming for food," she shot back, already skipping down the hall.

Before Namgyu could protest again, Semi darted into the living room, grabbing Min-su's hand like some overexcited kid. "C'mon, we're going!" she chirped, tugging him toward the door. Min-su looked up from his phone, startled, then just laughed and went along with it, letting her pull him.

Namgyu trailed after them, hands shoved into his hoodie, his mood still heavy. Semi was practically filed with energy. while Min-su just kept shaking his head at her antics with that dopey little smile that made Namgyu fake gag earlier.

The worst part? As annoying as they were, Namgyu found himself following along anyway. Because really, what else was there to do? Sit alone in his room and think about Thanos until his head exploded? At least with them, there was noise—noise loud enough to drown out his own thoughts.

They ended up at the kitchen table, plastic takeout bags scattered across it, and the sweet smell of food filling the whole apartment.

Semi and Min-su, as expected, sat practically fused together, hips glued, shoulders touching, whispering inside jokes to each other between bites.

Namgyu rolled his eyes so hard it hurt, but he didn't say anything this time.

Semi leaned her chin on her palm, eyes glittering with mischief. "You know what I just remembered. In 7th grade, Namgyu had asked this girl out for prom and got rejected Infront of everyone!"

Namgyu's chopsticks froze midair. "Don't."

She grinned, nudging Min-su. "He brought like a small chocolate to that girl, what was her name? Mia? And right there in front of everyone, she goes, 'I rather die."

Semi slapped a hand over her mouth, laughing."The girls friends were laughing behind her and it was so silent omg."

Min-su nearly choked on his dumpling, covering his mouth but still laughing.

"Wait wait she said that in front of everyone?!"

Namgyu's face burned. "Shut up, it wasn't that funny."

"It was! And Namgyu had came crying to me about it afterschool!"

Namgyu slammed his chopsticks down. "Says you! You fell backwards on an orange infront of your little crush!"

Semi's face immediately changed. "That...that doesn't count!"

"Yeah, it does," Namgyu shot back with a smirk. "You laid there and he walked away! And I had to get u up because you were to embarrassed to!"

Min-su's started laughing so hard he slid halfway out of his chair. Semi groaned.

Namgyu leaned forward. "Oh, and you wanna know what else happened! He ghosted her and semi tried talking to him and guess what he did!"

Semi's face twisted. "Namgyu! Quit exposing my past!"

"He called her ugly!"

Namgyu laughed, then leaned back in his chair. "Straight to her face."

Semi let out a loud groan and slapped her palms over her cheeks. "Ugh, I hate you."

Minsu was giggling so hard he nearly tipped his drink over. "No way! Semi did he actually?"

Semi only squealed louder into her hands. "Don't remind me that was so embarrassing!"

Minsu tilted his head, still laughing, but gentler now. "C'mon, don't hide." He tugged at her wrists, trying to pull them away which he eventually did.

He pried her hands down and cupped her face firmly between his palms.

Semi eyes flung opened and stared, her hands instinctively grabbing his wrists as if to push him away, except she didn't.

They just stayed like that for a moment, eyes locked, the laughter fading into a charged silence.

Namgyu sat back, watching the scene unfold, suddenly feeling like the third wheel at HIS OWN kitchen table...

Minsu's voice dropped, softer but steady, though his cheeks turned a shade pinker the longer he held her face. "That guy was an idiot... calling you ugly. Honestly, he must've been blind."

Semi blinked at him, caught off guard. "What?.."

"You're..." his eyes flickered down for a second, then back to hers, "you're so pretty."

Semi's lips curved into a small, soft smile—nothing like her usual playful grin. It was quieter, warmer, like it came straight from somewhere she didn't show often. Her hand lifted almost hesitantly, brushing against his cheek, her thumb pressing lightly into his skin as if she wanted to remember the shape of it.

Namgyu, who had been slouched back in his chair with his arms crossed, felt his throat tighten.

What the fuck???

He didn't move. Didn't say anything. Just watched.

In horror..

Semi leaned forward slowly, her hand still against Minsu's cheek. His breath hitched, eyes darting to her lips before he instinctively closed the gap.

"OH MY—EW! WHAT THE HELL?!" he screamed, his face twisted in pure horror. He grabbed the nearest napkin off the table and launched it at them like it was a weapon.

Semi instantly pulled away from Minsu, flipping Namgyu off with both hands. "Mind your business, virgin loser!"

Namgyu clutched his chest dramatically, gagging loud enough for the neighbors to hear. "YOU TWO ARE FREAKS!!"

Minsu, still pink-faced from the kiss, tried to hold back a laugh but failed miserably.

Before either of them could say more, Namgyu stormed off, muttering under his breath, and slammed his bedroom door.

"Ugh, those nasty freaks," he spat to himself. He flopped onto his mattress, but the second his stomach hit the sheets, it twisted.

(Withdraws)

A sharp cramp shot through him, curling his insides into a knot. He didn't even hit the bed hard, so why did it feel like his whole gut had just revolted? His hand instinctively clutched at his stomach, his expression shifting from annoyed to faintly alarmed.

"Seriously? What the fuck?" His voice cracked with irritation.

Nam-gyu still curled on the mattress, his arm folded tight over his stomach

The sharp pain bit him in his stomach, then an other ache that made his insides feel like they were eating themselves.

His skin prickled hot, then cold, then hot again, sweat blooming across his hairline even though the room wasn't hot.

He kicked a pillow off in frustration, glaring at the ceiling like it had personally wronged him. "This is so stupid," he muttered, voice thin with discomfort.

He tried to sit up, dizzy, his hands trembling slightly as he ran them through his hair. His mouth felt dry, his skin clammy. With no explanation on why his body ached.

Almost by instinct, he staggered over to his desk drawer, yanking it open with a kind of desperate hope.

His hands shuffled through crumpled papers, broken pens, random trash, nothing. He checked under his pillow next, flipping it like maybe something had magically slipped beneath it. Still nothing.

"Dude what??" he whispered, moving to his bag, digging through every pocket like animal. The panic in his chest started clawing higher when he came up empty handed again.

Then it hit him.

He froze, his lips parting as the memory replayed in his head, Se-mi, with that stupid little frown of hers, standing there with the bag of his stash.

The harsh sound of her voice when she'd said she was throwing it all away. And then actually doing it.

"No, no, no..." Nam-gyu's voice cracked as he sat back on the floor, his hands gripping at his hair. "No way I forgot..." He cut himself off with a groan, pressing his forehead to his knees. His stomach twisted again, sharper this time, and a cold sweat ran down the back of his neck.

He wanted to scream. He wanted to break something. He wanted, more than anything, to just smoke—to get rid of the gnawing, the spinning, the awful crawling in his bones. But all he could do was sit there, empty-handed, his body slowly turning against him.

When was the last time he hit a vape??

Or snort something or even take something??

How did he forget about his own addiction??

He groaned and sat down on the floor, his forehead pressed against his knees, breathing ragged. His hands gripped so hard at his legs that his knuckles turned pale.

The pain sharpened.

His throat felt tight, his mouth pooling with that awful, metallic taste.

"Shit—" he hissed, barely getting the word out before his nausea surged up fast.

He tried to get up to his feet, stumbling, nearly knocking over his chair in his rush.

His hands slammed against the wall for balance as he stumbled down the hall toward the bathroom, his vision getting blurry.

Each step felt heavier, his knees threatening to give way.

By the time he shoved the bathroom door open, his body gave up. He dropped to his knees in front of the toilet, clutching the edges of it as his stomach lurched violently.

His eyes watered, his face burning with sweat, strands of hair plastered to his forehead. He gasped between, coughing, his hands shaking as they stayed against the toilet.

When he finally threw up the last one, he slumped sideways, cheek pressing against the cold tile floor. His chest rose and fell in ragged bursts, sweat dripping down his temple. He felt empty, hollow, like someone had wrung every ounce of strength out of him.

He let out a shaky groan and forced himself upright, gripping the sink for balance. He splashed cold water on his face, wiping it with the back of his trembling hand, but it didn't make him feel any less sick.

What he needed wasn't water or anything.

He needed his phone.

He pushed off the sink and stumbled out of the bathroom, his knees weak, every step uneven.

The hallway blurred at the edges, but he pushed through, dragging himself into his room.

The moment he stepped inside, another wave of pain slammed into his gut.

He hissed through his teeth, clutching his stomach as he half fell onto the side of his bed.

His hand scrambled across the sheets, knocking his pillow aside until his fingers closed around his phone.

With shaky hands, he unlocked it, his vision swimming. He opened his messages and typed.

"yo i need smth."

His chest tightened as he hit send, the seconds stretching painfully long as he stared at the screen.

His leg bounced anxiously, his breath shallow. Finally, a reply came in.

"dont got anything anymore. im out for good rn man"

Nam-gyu blinked at the words, reading them once, then twice, like maybe he was hallucinating.

He sat up straighter, panic flaring sharp in his chest, and started typing again.

"nah man come on. dont do this to me. just a little. anything."

Three dots appeared for a second, then vanished. No reply followed.

He pressed his palm over his eyes, biting down hard on his lip to stop the frustrated sound clawing its way out of his throat.

Who else can have something??

His mind raced through names, each one scratched out almost as fast as it appeared. Nobody he trusted. Nobody who'd actually have something. Nobody who'd actually answer.

Until one name stuck.

Thanos.

The second it crossed his mind, his stomach dropped harder than any ache.

He almost laughed at himself, except his throat was too dry. The guy was the last person he wanted to talk to, the last person he wanted to admit weakness in front of. But his body was screaming at him, his insides twisting, his skin clammy, and every other door had slammed shut.

He stared at his phone, thumb hovering over the screen. "Don't be stupid," he muttered. Then another cramp rolled through his gut, and he groaned, curling forward until his forehead nearly touched his knees.

Desperation definitely won.

His hands shook as he typed, the words plain and clipped because his pride couldn't handle begging.

"u got anything on u rn?"

He hit send and instantly regretted it, his pulse hammering in his throat. Seconds dragged, stretching long enough that he almost tossed the phone away out of pure embarrassment. Then, the screen lit up.

"Only texting me for that?.."

He tightened his grip on the phone, glaring at the teasing words as if Thanos could feel it through the screen.

Another message came through almost immediately.

"That's so fake wtf really hurt my feelings dude.."

Nam-gyu's chest tightened. He hated how unserious Thanos was, how smug the tone felt even in text. His pride screamed at him to throw the phone across the room. His body screamed louder.

Then an other message.

"It's wtv tho 😒 u can come thru whenever I got some."

Nam-gyu just stared at the words, the relief washing over him so fast.

His chest loosened, but the nervousness crept in just as quickly because seriously.

Thanos?

Still—pain won out.

He shoved the phone into his pocket, pushing himself up from the bed. His knees almost gave up under him, but he caught himself on the wall with a shaky hand. He muttered a curse and forced himself forward, each step a clumsy stumble.

By the time he made it down to the parking lot, the air slapped against his clammy skin. It didn't help. He fumbled for his keys, hands shaky, then slid into the driver's seat of his car. The leather felt too cold, the wheel heavy in his grip.

For a moment, he sat there with his head against the steering wheel, breathing shallow and quick, his stomach still twisting.

Then he forced the engine on, knuckles white on the wheel, his mind racing between two things—how humiliating this was going to be, and how badly he needed it anyway.

Finally he starts the car.

But he drives slow, painfully slow, his eyes flicking between the road and the blurry glow of the dashboard.

He muttered curses under his breath the whole way.

He parked outside his place and just sat there, both hands still gripping the wheel. His chest rose and fell unevenly, every inhale shallow.

Finally, he leaned back in his seat, pressing his head against the rest, and shut his eyes. Just a minute. Just a moment to get himself together. He tried breathing slow, in through his nose, out through his mouth, like maybe he could trick his body into acting normal.

Normal.

That was the goal. He couldn't let Thanos open the door and see him in this state.

The thought of it made his stomach clench all over again, but he forced his breathing to even out, wiping at his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

He whispered to himself. "Breathe."

His whole body felt stiff as he pushed the door open and stepped out.

The cool air hit him, but it didn't soothe much the pain in his stomach gnawed harder, his hands trembled faintly at his sides.

He dug his phone out of his pocket, flipping the camera to check his reflection.

Pale, yeah, but not as bad as he'd expected. He rubbed at his cheeks quickly, ran his fingers through his hair, tilted his chin a little. Somehow, against all odds, he looked... normal.

"Okay.." he muttered. His fingers twitched against the phone case before he shoved it back into his pocket..

Straightening his shoulders, he walked up to the door, each step feeling heavier than it should.

He reached Thanos' door, lifted his shaky hand, and knocked.

Three short knocks.

The sound felt louder than it was. His stomach twisted again, but he clenched his jaw and stood there, waiting, forcing himself to keep that practiced look on his face—like nothing was wrong at all.

The door creaked open, and there he was—Thanos, leaning casually against the frame sumg as ever.

His grin was too wide, his eyes glinting with some kind of amusement that made Nam-gyu want to turn around and leave.

"Look who showed up," Thanos drawled, stepping aside with a flourish of his hand. "Come in the Thanos world."

Nam-gyu swallowed hard, forcing his expression flat. He stepped past him, the smell of Thanos' cologne hitting sharp in the air. A second later, he felt the weight of a hand press warmly over his shoulder.

The touch almost knocked the air out of him—not because of the contact itself, but because right then his nausea spiked, curling his insides so hard he thought he throw up right there.

But he kept his face carefully blank, jaw tight, eyes forward. No way was he going to embarrass himself in front of Thanos.

"Dude you're so akward it genuinely pisses me off," Thanos chuckled, guiding him down the hall with that hand still on his shoulder.

They stepped into Thanos' room, dim light spilling across the floor, posters and clothes cluttered in the corners.

Thanos made his way straight to the bed and sat down. He reached beneath his shirt, tugged out the necklace around his neck, and dangled it lazily in the air.

Nam-gyu's eyes locked on it.

Thanos smirked, fiddled with the charm, then popped it open with a click. Inside, neatly, were a few small pills. He held the necklace out casually, like it was nothing. "You want it?"

Nam-gyu's nodded slighty, fidgeting with his fingers.He lowered himself onto the bed, carefully.

The sheets dipped beneath his weight.

His eyes were locked on the necklace swinging from Thanos' chain, the dim light catching on the pills tucked inside.

His hand moved before he thought, fingers twitching forward.

But Thanos snapped his wrist back, pulling the necklace just out of reach. His grin spread wide across his face. "Whoa, whoa, hold up my boy. Not even a 'hello' or 'how are you'"

Nam-gyu's lip curled, his voice low and flat. "I don't care about that."

Thanos chuckled. "You look like you would strangle me for one."

Nam-gyu's chest tightened, not just with anger but with the burning twist of his stomach.

He reached again, quicker this time, but Thanos raised his arm and the necklace slipped out of reach again.

"Wow." Thanos laugh came out warm and cruel all at once. "Didn't even ask me for one."

Namgyu's patience cracked. His eyes narrowed, sharp with frustration, and for a second his pride pushed him to spit something back, something harsh.

But before he could, the pain returned sharper this time, violent.

His stomach felt like it was clawing itself apart from the inside.

The pain ripped through him so harsh he nearly fell backwards.

His hand pressed hard against his stomach, knuckles white, his breath catching on a hiss. His head dipped low, his gaze fixed on the floor because if he looked at Thanos right now, he'd probably burt out crying from the pain and frustration.

Thanos barked out another laugh and leaned closer, smirking as he let the chain dangle between them, just above Nam-gyu's reach. "Say it. Say please. Then maybe I'll let you have one dude."

Nam-gyu couldn't answer. His teeth were gritted so hard his jaw ached, sweat rolling down the side of his face.

His whole focus was on not throwing up right here, not letting his body expose him.

"Just fucking say please dude."

Nam-gyu lifted his head just enough to glare at him. His pride hated the thought of begging. But the pain was louder, chewing through his insides, making his hands tremble.

So he nodded slighty to Thanos request.

"Okay...say it."

He closed his eyes, drew in a shaky breath, and let the word fall out, low and strained.

"...please."

Thanos' grin only widened.

He leaned in closer.

"Didn't hear you. Say it again for me?" He teased.

Nam-gyu's teeth ground together, his frustration killing him, but another cramp ripped through him and tore the last bit of pride away.

He eyes flew open and he shouted, voice cracking under the weight of desperation.

"PLEASE!"

The word shook the air, raw and furious, his chest heaving as if the sound had ripped him apart on its way out.

Thanos' laugh filled the room, deep and entertained, but softer this time, touched with satisfaction.

"Wasn't so hard was it," Thanos murmured. Finally, finally, he popped the necklace open, plucking out one of the tiny pills.

Nam-gyu's shoulders sagged, exhaustion pouring through him as the relief drew near. His eyes half-closed, his breathing shaky but lighter. For the first time today, his body felt like it might let him breathe again.

Thanos, of course, didn't just hand it over. His hand reached up, fingers curling firm under Nam-gyu's chin. He tilted his head upward, slow and deliberate, forcing Nam-gyu's lips to part under the pressure of his thumb.

"You arnt getting these so easy my boy," Thanos said smoothly, his tone mocking but strangely gentle.

Nam-gyu's mouth fell open, his pride long gone and his body too weak to resist. Thanos placed the pill carefully on his tongue, then pressed his chin upward, making his jaw shut with a smug little push.

"There you go," Thanos said, smirking down at him.

Relief wasn't instant, but the promise of it was enough to let his body sag.

His eyelids lowered, his jaw tight as he sat there, caught between humiliation and embarrassment.

His breaths came quieter now, no longer sharp gasps but tired exhales. Relief, yes—but the shame clung heavier than the nausea had. His own voice replayed in his head, cracked and furious, begging.

The word "please" echoed.

He hated it. Hated how desperate he'd sounded, how much power Thanos had dangled in front of him like a cruel game. He clenched his jaw, eyes cast down, not daring to meet Thanos' smug grin again.

But before he could spiral deeper into that bitter humiliation, a sudden weight dropped across his lap.

"Oi—" Nam-gyu grunted, startled, but his words cut off as Thanos flopped across him without hesitation, stretching like he owned the space.

Thanos grinned up at him from his lazy sprawl, holding something out like it was the most natural thing in the world.

A controller.

Nam-gyu blinked, frozen, his brain still catching up. "...you're joking."

Thanos shoved it into his hand anyway.

"C'mon I'm bored and I wanna play."

For a second, Nam-gyu wanted to throw the controller across the room. But instead, he just muttered under his breath, too tired to argue, and tightened his hold on it.

"You're an asshole," he said quietly, though his lips almost—almost—threatened to twitch into a smile.

The screen lit up, colors flickering across Thanos' room, and the sounds of the game filled the silence that had been hanging thick between them.

Thanos started swaying his legs back and forth then tilted his head just enough to look at him with a sly grin.

"Your playing against the legend Thanos sl try not to embarrass yourself like always." Thanos said, tapping away at his own controller.

Nam-gyu scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah yeah whatever."

The game started—and within minutes Thanos was yelling at the screen, while Nam-gyu's laughter bubbled up unexpectedly. Not even a few minutes after, Thanos character died.

Nam-gyu froze for a second, staring at the screen. Then he burst out laughing, his whole body shaking, so hard that Thanos bounced slightly where he lay sprawled across his lap.

"No way—" Nam-gyu couldn't even finish, doubled over as he laughed. He jabbed a finger at the screen, then at Thanos, his voice breaking between cackles.

"You lasted what? Two minutes? And you were talking all that shit?"

Thanos tilted his head, jaw dropping in disbelief before breaking into his own laughter.

"That doesn't count! I was distracted—you were distracting me!"

"Distracting you?!" Nam-gyu gasped, his laughter only growing harder. "You're just bad! Admit it!"

They played a other round

Nam-gyu was already grinning, thumb flicking across the buttons, while Thanos muttered under his breath.

"Watch this," Thanos spoke. Clearly filled with confidence.

"Uh-huh," Nam-gyu drawled, not even looking at him, eyes locked on the screen.

And then—barely a few minutes in—Thanos died again.

There was a beat of silence. Nam-gyu's mouth twitched, his shoulders shook—and then he broke.

"SU BONG," he shouted, howling with laughter. "You're actually shit at this! Oh my gosh—twice in a row?" He leaned over Thanos, cackling right in his face.

Thanos groaned loudly, tossing his controller onto the bed with enough force to make the sheets bounce. "Shut up!"

But Nam-gyu only laughed harder, and before Thanos could defend himself, Nam-gyu's hand was already in his hair, ruffling it violently. "Look at you! Fucking loser!"

"Quit—!" Thanos barked. He lunged without warning, tackling Nam-gyu sideways.

The two of them crashed onto the bed in a tangle of limbs. Thanos had both hands in Nam-gyu's hair now, mussing it up worse than he ever could've imagined, while Nam-gyu kicked and shoved, trying to push him off.

"Get off me, you freak!" Nam-gyu yelled, shoving at Thanos shoulder.

"Not until you take it back!" Thanos shot back, grinning wide, his weight pressing into him.

"Quit—stop! I'm gonna kill you!" Nam-gyu shouted, though his voice cracked.

Thanos only laughed louder, shaking his head as he ground his knuckles into Nam-gyu's scalp. "Say you're sorry!"

"I'm not sorry for shit!" Nam-gyu shoved at his chest, legs kicking against the bed, but Thanos didn't budge. Without thinking, Nam-gyu twisted his head and bit down on Thanos' arm.

"AH—!" Thanos yelped, jerking back instantly, his laughter cutting into a strangled groan. "You fucking insane!" He clutched at his arm, face strunched.

The bite made them finally break apart, breathless and flushed, the mattress a complete disaster under them.

Namgyu used the back of his hand to wipe his mouth. "You're the insane one you fucking bitch." He spat out.

"You actually bit me," he said flatly, looking at Nam-gyu like he'd just see a ghost. "Do you have rabies or something??"

Nam-gyu flopped back onto the bed, chest heaving, hair an absolute mess. "Cry about it," he muttered, glaring at the ceiling. "Better than me yanking half your scalp out."

Thanos leaned closer, inspecting the mark. "I'm done with your biting—"

"Oh, shut up." Nam-gyu's annoyance boiled over instantly. Without warning, he lunged forward again, fueled by pure irritation.

Thanos barely had time to react before Nam-gyu sank his teeth into his shoulder this time, harder than before.

"DUDE—!" Thanos yelled, smacking at Nam-gyu's shoulder. "You little fuck! What is wrong with you?!"

Nam-gyu pulled back with a sharp laugh, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. "That's what you get for complaining so much."

Thanos scowling "You're insane. Actually insane."

Nam-gyu just smirked, wiping his mouth like, while Thanos sat there, still rubbing at his shoulder, muttering dramatically about bite marks, when his grin softened into something else.

"You know what's been keeping me sane through all this?" Thanos asked suddenly, his voice lower, still touched with leftover laugh.

Nam-gyu side-eyed him, skeptical. "What? More pills?"

Thanos snorted. "My concert, idiot. It's in TWO days!" His eyes lit up as he said it, that glow of excitement slipping through.

Nam-gyu blinked, he'd forgotten about his concert, "Congrats, I guess. Must be nice to actually do something with your life."

Thanos only smirked then he reached forward and pulled him into a hug.

"I'm so excited man!" He spoke, voice filled with thrill.

Nam-gyu stiffened instantly, his whole body locking up.

"This fucker just told me to forgot his touch and now your hugging me like your in love with me??? wtf!!" His mind screamed.

Thanos' arms wrapped snugly around his waist, firm but not crushing, the kind of hold that left no room to slip away.

Nam-gyu's stomach did a weird flip—different from the cramps earlier—and for a second, he didn't move.

Then, awkwardly, reluctantly, he lifted his arms and hooked them around Thanos' neck, pulling him in just enough so it wouldn't feel one-sided.

"It's okay to hug?? Bros hug each other all the time right." He questioned himself.

His face burned, though he tried to bury it in the mess of Thanos' stupid purple hair.

It lasted only a few seconds before Thanos let go, leaning back with that smug grin like he hadn't just made Nam-gyu's brain short-circuit.

"You're coming with me," Thanos said simply.

Nam-gyu blinked, his arms falling back to his lap. "...What?"

Thanos' grin widened. "To the concert. You're coming."

Nam-gyu stared at him in shock, his jaw practically hitting the floor. "The hell do you mean I'm coming?"

"I'll cover everything. Ticket, ride, whatever. You'll be front row."

"You—you're joking."

"Nope." Thanos tilted his head, grin stretching wider at the look on Nam-gyu's face.

How he loved making Namgyu look stupid.

"It'll be no fun if theres no one humbling me down."

He scoffed, shaking his head, heat creeping up his neck. "You're fucking unbelievable."

Thanos chuckled, clearly enjoying every bit of his reaction. "C'mon, admit it—it'll be fun."

Seriously whats wrong him

"Fun?" Nam-gyu barked out a laugh, then shoved Thanos hard in the shoulder, enough to make him rock sideways on the bed. "There's no fun in that."

Thanos just leaned back, unaffected, still wearing that irritating grin. "You're coming. End of discussion."

The room had quieted down after, the controllers lying forgotten on the bed.

Nam-gyu was still catching his breath, hair sticking to his forehead, chest rising and falling unevenly. Thanos leaned back on the headboard, elbows propped up, staring at the ceiling.

"Nam-gyu..." he started, voice softer than usual, almost hesitant. Nam-gyu's head snapped toward him. "What?" he muttered.

Thanos shrugged, eyes still fixed on the ceiling. "This concert—i know it's weird—to say it changes me but things have been really hard for me lately. So this concert coming up, it's a big deal and jm so overwhelmed sometimes."

"Things been hard for you? FOR YOU?" He thought. Furry growing as he glanced at his arms.

What a joke.

He decided to just brush it off.

"Really?" He spoke, voice soft. Masking his emotion.

Thanos chuckled lightly, a little bitter, a little sad. "Yeah. People see me on stage and think im having the time of my life. I mean yeah I do enjoy it sometimes. But most of the time It's all pressure. Expectations. And honestly, it scares the hell out of me."

Nam-gyu stayed quiet, leaning back slightly, waiting for Thanos to continue.

"I guess I just don't want to do it alone— it's sounds stupid but I guess it's the truth."

Nam-gyu's chest tightened, there was an honesty in Thanos' voice that his stomach flip in ways he didn't want to admit.

Thanos glanced at him, eyes catching Nam-gyu's in a way that made him almost forget to breathe.

"You're coming with me, right? I mean it. I want you there. Even if you just roll your eyes the whole time."

Nam-gyu blinked, mind spinning. He wanted to protest, to say he couldn't, or he didn't care—but something about the way Thanos said it, so simple, so genuine, made it impossible. He nodded slowly, his voice quiet.

"...Yeah. Fine," he said. "I'll go. Just don't expect me to enjoy being there dude."

Thanos laughed, leaning back again with a small sigh. "Fine with me."

Nam-gyu huffed, trying to hide the faint tug at his chest. "You're ridiculous."

After a few small moment of silence.

Thanos pulled his phone out, swiping it lazily with one hand. Nam-gyu's eyes flicked to the screen, curious. "What are you looking at?" he asked, voice quiet, careful.

"Nothing interesting," Thanos spoke without looking at him. But he scrolled a little slower now, letting Nam-gyu glance over his shoulder. "Just... random."

Nam-gyu tilted his head, brushing a few stray strands of hair from his face. His body relaxed against Thanos', the weight of him steady, grounding.

He peeked at the screen, smirking faintly at some ridiculous post. "Dude what is your fyp."

"I dunno." Thanos chuckled.

Namgyu started laughing. "So weird."

The room settled into a quiet rhythm, the occasional laughter or muttered comment breaking the silence. Nam-gyu let himself sink closer, letting the warmth settle on him.

The soft, constant presence of Thanos beside him was... enough.

For once, Nam-gyu felt like he could just breathe.

Nam-gyu's eyes fluttered open.

He must have fell asleep somehow.

The room was washed in the dull gray of morning light. His body felt warm, covered in the leftover heat of the blankets. For a moment, he stayed still, staring up at the ceiling, strangely calm. Then it hit him—he was alone in the bed.

Thanos must have woken up already.

A soft, sleepy smile tugged at his lips as his thoughts wandered. He pictured Thanos in the living room, maybe he was in the kitchen humming his rap songs.

The memory of falling asleep pressed against him, sharing that easy closeness, almost made Nam-gyu giggle under his breath. The idea that they'd slept together—like it was the most natural thing in the world—warmed something deep in his chest.

He wanted that touch back. The weight of Thanos' arm, the solidness of his presence, the teasing comfort of it all. Nam-gyu stretched slowly, almost shyly, before pushing himself upright with the idea of getting out of bed and maybe finding him.

But then he stopped.

His eyes landed on the floor.

Thanos wasn't gone. He was there, sprawled on the hardwood, arm tucked under his head. His chest rose and fell in steady breaths, his face relaxed in sleep, but there was no mistaking it—he had chosen the floor.

The realization sank heavy in Nam-gyu's stomach, heavier than any withdrawal could.

His smile faltered instantly, cracking at the edges until it was gone completely.

He'd pushed Nam-gyu away.

A specific night before came rushing back, uninvited. Thanos' drunk words—sharp, careless, and almost cruel—telling him to forget everything.

Forget the possibility of something.

And here was the proof of it. A clear, quiet line drawn between them.

Nam-gyu sat frozen on the bed, staring at Thanos sleeping with ease.

His throat ached, and for a second he hated himself for even missing the warmth, for letting that yearning claw at him so much.

It wasn't supposed to mean anything. Thanos had made that perfectly clear.

And yet—why did it feel like something was breaking inside him anyway?

Nam-gyu sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at Thanos sprawled across the floor.

Carefully, he swung one leg over, testing the space. The gap between the mattress and Thanos' body was...big. He'd have to practically leap to avoid hitting him.

The other side was against the wall so jumping over Thanos was his only way off the bed.

"Stupid," Nam-gyu muttered under his breath.

He shifted his weight, easing toward the edge, holding his breath like that would somehow make him lighter. His foot brushed the floor.

Success!

But then, just as he bent forward to stand, Thanos' eyes fluttered open.

"Mm... what are you doing?" Thanos' groggy voice cut through the silence.

It startled Nam-gyu so hard he lost his balance. "Shit—!" His foot slipped and in the next second he toppled forward with zero, crashing down directly on top of Thanos
chest.

The air whooshed out of Thanos in a loud grunt.

Thanos blinked up at him, half-asleep and confused. "...ah uh good morning?"

Nam-gyu scoffed. "You scared me—"

"How?" Thanos spoke, genuinely confused

Nam-gyu groaned, shoving weakly at his chest. "You randomly woke up!"

He sat up quickly, brushing invisible dust off his clothes like the floor was dirty. Thanos, still sprawled out dramatically, stretched like a cat, yawning so loud for no readon

"Ugh... my back," Thanos groaned, rolling his shoulders. "This floor is trying to kill me."

"Then why did you sleep on it?" Nam-gyu spat out, lending a hand out.

Thanos smirked up at him, taking the hand and letting himself be pulled to his feet. "..So we aren't sleeping on the same bed? Duh."

"Right..," Nam-gyu mumble, though his grip lingered for a second too long before he dropped it.

Thanos stretched again, arms raised over his head until his shirt rode up just slightly. He finished the motion by slinging one arm casually over Nam-gyu's shoulder, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Nam-gyu stiffened, but letting the weight stay there.

Without removing his arm, Thanos fished his phone out of his pocket and flicked through it, squinting at his schedule.

"Ah. Crap. I've gotta be at the studio in an hour for rehearsal." He tilted the screen toward Nam-gyu. "You coming? You're my producer so u should."

Nam-gyu hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah... "

Thanos laughed, patting his shoulder before finally dropping his arm.

"Alright then. I'll drop you off first. You probably want to shower."

Namgyu nodded slighty.

Thanos smiled at him—then motioned toward the door. "Come on, then."

They headed downstairs together, the faint smell of coffee drifting from somewhere in the house.

Probably Gyeong su.

Nam-gyu followed silently, hands shoved in his pockets, listening to the sound of Thanos' humming under his breath.

Out front, Thanos unlocked his car with a beep and gestured toward the passenger side. "Your seat awaits."

Nam-gyu slid in without a word, slouching into the seat as Thanos climbed in beside him.

The car ride was silent. No music, no teasing, not even a hum from Thanos. Just the faint sound of the tires against the road and the occasional turn signal.

Nam-gyu kept his eyes out the window, watching buildings blur by, but the silence pressed against his chest like a weight. When the car finally pulled up outside his apartment, Thanos gave a small wave, casual and almost distracted.

"See you in a bit," he said. Then he was gone, the taillights fading into the distance until the street was empty again.

Nam-gyu stood at the curb for a moment, his keys cold in his hand. He couldn't explain it, but a strange chill washed over him—uneasy, heavy, as though something unseen lingered just behind him.

He forced himself up the stairs, each step echoing louder than it should. His door creaked when it opened, and the silence that greeted him on the other side was thicker than usual.

Inside, everything looked the same, but it didn't feel the same. The air was too still, too heavy, as though the walls were holding their breath.

He pushed the thought aside, kicking off his shoes, moving down the hallway. His room was strangely dark, the curtains pulled in a way he didn't remember leaving them. He flicked the switch, but the bulb only gave off a dim, sickly glow that barely touched the corners of the room.

A frown tugged at his face as he stepped into the bathroom. The light there wasn't much better—yellowed, humming faintly, like it might go out at any moment. The mirror reflected his tired expression, pale and drawn, eyes sharp with something he couldn't quite name.

He undressed and turned the water on and stepped into the shower. The warmth hit him immediately, almost warm, almost suffocating, but he didn't move. He just stood there, letting it run over him, the sound filling the room like static.

Still, the unease didn't leave. It crawled along his spine, settled in his stomach. Even as he reached for the towel afterward—rougher than usual, scratching against his skin—the feeling only deepened.

It was all so normal. Normal bed. Normal shower. Normal towel.
But somehow... everything was wrong.

Nam-gyu sat at the edge of his bed, hair damp, staring into the dimness of his room. His chest was tight, his mind loud with silence.

Something was coming. He didn't know what. But he could feel it.

Thanos ran the comb one last time through his
damp, freshly washed hair, the strands sticking and then falling neatly against his forehead.

He leaned close to the mirror, eyes narrowing, mouthing a few lines of his music.

Nervous, but a buzz of excitement tightened in his chest. The concert was close, too close, and his mind wouldn't let him forget it for even a second.

After pulling a clean shirt over his head and sliding into jeans, he checked himself once more—tilting his head left, then right. He grabbed his phone from the dresser and padded down the stairs.

The smell of old coffee hit him before he even entered the kitchen. Gyeong-su was hunched at the table, earbuds in, head bobbing lightly to whatever song he had on. He held his mug lazily with both hands, eyes half-closed like he was soaking in every note.

Thanos stepped into the doorway, grinning like a kid. He tiptoed closer, barely holding back a chuckle, then leaned in—

"Boo."

Gyeong-su nearly dropped his cup, jolting upright with wide eyes. He yanked an earbud out, slapping his hand over his chest.
"Ah—! What the hell, Thanos?!"

Thanos bent over laughing, clutching his stomach, his voice cracking between cackles. "Your face—your face looks so stupid!" He mimicked Gyeong-su's wide-eyed expression, doubling over again.

Gyeong-su groaned, setting his mug down with a thud. "Aren't you supposed to be at the studio already??"

Thanos was caught his breath, still grinning as he grabbed a chair and spun it around to sit backward.

"Ah shucks your right." He pulled his phone out from his pocket. His thumb hovered over Nam-gyu's contact before he pressed it.
"You ready yet " he typed into the text box, attaching a stupid emoji before sending it off.

Nam-gyu was walking down the street with earbuds shoved deep in his ears, music drowning out the world.

Being outside in the cool wind was his way of letting things go.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he didn't check. Probably spam again, he told himself.

As he stepped off the curb, he noticed a woman ahead fumbling with her handbag. It slipped from her arm, spilling contents across the sidewalk—lipstick, a cracked mirror, an old cigarette pack. She let out a mutter that was half-growl, half-sigh.

Nam-gyu, despite himself, bent down and gathered the things up, stacking them carefully back into the faded leather bag. "Here," he said flatly, handing it over.

She lifted her head slowly, and when her eyes met his, she smiled. Not a warm smile, not grateful—something crooked and sly, like she knew a secret he didn't.

Her lipstick curled unevenly as she murmured,
"You locked yourself into a trap you cannot escape. Your agreement will haunt you and keep you pinned." she spoke. Her voice dangerous.

Then, without missing a beat, her tone sharpened, sing-song and low. "Your hearts foolish desires... they'll lead you straight to your death. Mark it."

Nam-gyu froze, his hand halfway pulling back. He blinked at her, unsure he'd heard right under the muffled bass of his music. "...What?"

Her head tilted, eyes glittering in the dim light. "The things you crave," she whispered, leaning in as if sharing a secret meant only for him.

"They'll poison you. You'll die with your heart clutched onto something you cannot have. Your death will be meaningless, your lungs will suffocate with water and your soul will stay submerged with its selfish yearn for something already taken long ago."

His stomach turned. He tugged one earbud out, his brows furrowing. "What—stop being creppy.."

But she only smiled wider, showing too many teeth, her cracked lipstick bleeding into the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth.

Her hand pointed towards a bridge. "Don't you understand. You'll drown playing this game you cannot win."

"You'll be saved only if that something can change. And that change will only hurt you deeper, nevertheless your desire will be meet. Only the gods of the heaven and the earth will declare that change."

Nam-gyu's pulse hammered against his neck. He took a quick step back. "Alright. Yeah. Nice talking to you." he muttered, voice tight with unease.

He turned on his heel, eager to put as much distance as possible between himself and that eerie grin.

But even as he walked faster, the back of his neck prickled. He didn't dare look behind him, afraid he'd see her still standing there—still smiling.

He pulled out his phone, hoping to distract himself from—whatever that was..

Thanos: u ready?

Nam-gyu sighed in relief, thumb hovering for a second before he hit call instead of texting. The ring barely lasted before Thanos picked up.

"You're alive," Thanos' voice came through, annoyingly smug. "Soooo you ready or what?"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes. "Yes im ready. Come get me." He paused, chewing the inside of his cheek. "But—uh—something weird just happened."

"Oh? Did you learn what socialism is or—"

Nam-gyu's voice dropped, irritation bubbling. "I'm serious, idiot. Some old lady stopped me and started talking like—like some fortune teller. Saying creepy crap about me like I have selfish desires or—something man idk??"

There was a beat of silence before Thanos snorted. Then he burst into laughter. "Pfft—selfish desires? Yooo Nam gyu what have u being doing for her to say that!"

Nam-gyu's face burned. "Nothing you asshole. She was just—" He cut himself off, clenching his jaw. "Forget it. It was just weird."

"Wait, wait—hold on," Thanos wheezed, still laughing. "What else did she say omg did—"

Click.

Nam-gyu stabbed the red button, shoving the phone back into his pocket. His ears rang with irritation.

He muttered under his breath, "Jackass," and started walking toward the parking lot to wait.

Nam-gyu sat on the curb, elbows on his knees, phone glowing in his hands.

He scrolled without really seeing—selfies, food pics, vacation shots. So boring.. he thought.

A photo of his sister popped up—caption screaming about her new job.

"Must be nice," he mumbled, bitterness curling in his chest. "Having a job you actually like..."

He sighed, about to scroll, when—

BEEP!!

The sharp honk cracked through the quiet street. Nam-gyu's whole body jerked, his phone nearly slipping from his hand. He looked up from his phone and saw Thanos' car crawling up beside him, headlights glaring like eyes.

"Stupid bitch!" Nam-gyu shouted, clutching his phone. "You trying to kill me or something?"

The driver's window rolled down to reveal Thanos grinning behind the wheel, clearly entertained. "Relax whimp!"

Nam-gyu's face heated instantly. He shoved his phone into his pocket, stood up way too fast, and stomped to the car. He yanked the passenger door open with more force than necessary. "Idiot," he muttered, sliding in and slamming it shut, trying not to look as embarrassed as he felt.

Thanos chuckled low in his throat, giving him a sidelong glance as he pulled back into the street. "Whats with the frown!"

Nam-gyu groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "I hate you."

"Sure you do," Thanos said, smirk never leaving his face.

The car hummed low as Thanos drove onto the main road. Nam-gyu leaned back, arms crossed, still sulking from the honk. He kept his gaze fixed out the window, pretending the world was more interesting than the smug grin on the driver's face.

"So," Thanos started, drawing out the word, "about your little encounter."

Nam-gyu groaned instantly. "Ugh don't start."

"What!? Im making conversation instead of driving in silence!" Thanos' grin widened. "Also I'm curious what did she say?"

"Shut up," Nam-gyu snapped, turning to glare at him. "She wasn't... normal. SHE wasn't normal." His voice faltered at the memory, the woman's grin flashing in his mind. "It was strange."

Thanos tilted his head, pretending to think. "Mhm. Maybe she thought you were pathetic and wanted to scare you."

Nam-gyu whipped around in his seat. "Are you serious right now?"

Thanos chuckled, eyes flicking between the road and Nam-gyu's annoyed expression. "Dead serious."

Nam-gyu huffed, sinking back into the seat, his arms tightening across his chest. "You're annoying."

Thanos drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. "But what did she say? That's what I really want to know."

Nam-gyu hesitated, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "She said that...my desire will—poison me? And I'll die meaningless or something. She kept talking about my death and it freaked me out."

There was a beat of quiet—just the soft hum of the car and the low bass from the speakers. Then Thanos broke it with a sharp laugh. "Pfft—no way you got freaked out by a random stranger speaking nonsense."

Nam-gyu turned to him, offended. "What the hell does that mean?"

Thanos smirked. "Come on, she's probably just lonely so she's scaring people to ease her own loneliness."

Nam-gyu's scoffed and frowned. "Okay well it still freaked me out."

Thanos shot him a side glance, playful. "Don't pout, besides—" he tapped the wheel with a flourish—"you're not dying because of whatever she was talking about."

Nam-gyu shook his head, muttering under his breath. "You're not helping."

"Yeah," Thanos said, grinning, "Just forget about it I dunno."

The car rolled into the lot, headlights cutting across the familiar building. Thanos parked with a smooth turn of the wheel and killed the engine. Nam-gyu shoved his hands into his pockets, still thinking about the creepy conversation, but before he could brood too long, he spotted two familiar figures leaning by the entrance.

Gyeong-su had earbuds dangling from his neck, scrolling on his phone, while Min-su was showing him something.

As soon as Thanos and Nam-gyu stepped out of the car, Min-su lit up and ran over. "Hey—finally! I need specifically your opinion. A hater's been spamming ur account all morning, and I don't know what to do."

Before Thanos could even process, Min-su shoved the phone into his hands.

Thanos squinted at the screen, reading the insult with his lip curled. "I'm a big problem? Step on a scale and we'll see who's the BIGGER problem seriously who do they are!"

Min-su's eyes widened. "Wait, no, don't tweet anything!"

Thanos thumbs flew across the screen, tapping out a tweet that would definitely get them canceled.

"Your running your mouth when you should be running them miles cus trust me those numbers on the scales aren't going down on their self..."

Min-su snatched the phone back, eyes bulging. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" His voice cracked in horror. "You just fat shamed them!"

Thanos doubled over, laughing so hard his stomach hurt. "You asked what to say!"

Min-su groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I should've never—never—asked you."

Nam-gyu, watching from the side, had his arms crossed and a grin tugging at his lips. "Honestly that was funny."

Thanos wiped his eyes, still snickering. "See? He gets it."

Min-su muttered under his breath, already trying to delete the tweet, while Gyeong-su shook his head from a distance like a disappointed parent.

The four of them walked inside the studio, the cool air of the place hit them instantly.

Thanos tossed his stuff on a chair and rolled his shoulders. The playful grin he wore outside sharpened into focus, and Nam-gyu caught the shift instantly.

This wasn't the Thanos who teased him in the car—this was the performer, the one people bought tickets to see.

The music played and just like that, Thanos was alive in a different way.

Gyeong-su was nodding along in awe, while Min-su listened.

Nam-gyu was adjusting sound levels, but all he could focus on was how naturally Thanos owned the room.

When the track ended, the studio rang with silence, broken only by Thanos' sharp exhale. He pushed his mic aside, chest rising and falling, then flashed a grin at the others. "Not bad for a warm-up, right?"

Nam-gyu rolled his eyes, but he couldn't deny it—Thanos was good.

Scary good.

In all ways.

"Bro, that was so good! The crowd's gonna love it!" His voice carried pure admiration, eyes wide like he was watching his favorite idol instead of his friend.

Min-su, less enthusiastic, nodded firmly. "Yeah it was really good."

Thanos gave them both a mock bow, grinning, soaking up the praise with ease.

Nam-gyu stayed quiet, arms crossed loosely. A small smile tugged at his lips—subtle, but there. He didn't clap, just... smiled.

Thanos noticed.

Of course he did.

Without warning, he walked to him and grabbed Nam-gyu by the wrist, tugging him up from his the seat. Nam-gyu stumbled forward, annoyed, his voice sharp. "What the hell—"

"Well?" Thanos cut him off, his smirk challenging. "How was it?"

Nam-gyu hesitated, his eyes flicking away. "...It was good," he muttered, almost too low to hear. "Really good, actually."

Thanos froze for a beat—then burst out laughing, tossing his head back. "Never would have thought you would be nice at all!"

Gyeong-su snickered. Min-su smirked.

Nam-gyu groaned, pulling his wrist free. "I take it back." But his faint smile didn't disappear.

[ TIME SKIP BECAUSE IDK HOW TO WRITE REHEARSALS.. ]

The rehearsal wrapped with the speakers finally clicking off.

Thanos, sweat still clinging to his neck, made a beeline for Nam-gyu and without warning dropped down onto his lap stretching his back and laying comfortably

Nam-gyu stiffened instantly. "What the—"

"Shut the fuck up. Make it weird and I'll strangle you until theres no air left in your lungs." Thanos spat out already pulling out his phone with a lazy grin.

Across the room, Gyeong-su was RAMBLING about how good Thanos was. "Seriously, Thanos, your music is so flawless I'm so stunned about how amzing it is I bet you 599$ bucks no one else is better my dearly beloved Su bong! I listen to your music before I got to bed and dream about your rapping. Don't even get me started on merch. Consider all it bought lil bro I need you to rap again and again—" he was rambling and rambling..

Thanos hummed lazily in response, half-listening, while Nam-gyu sat in utter confusion.

Meanwhile, Min-su was curled up on another chair, giggling to himself at his phone. His thumbs moved fast, screen glowing with messages. Every few seconds he'd choke back a laugh, cheeks turning redder.

Nam-gyu leaned his head slightly, peering over. "Who the hell are you texting? Why is everyone here in a romance except me??"

Before Min-su could answer, a sudden scream ripped through the room.

"YOOO!"

Nam-gyu flinched so hard he nearly shoved Thanos off him, his heart leaping into his throat. Gyeong-su stoped speaking. Min-su dropped his phone, startled.

The whole room froze in silence, staring at Thanos—who sat upright on Nam-gyu's lap, completely unbothered, and slung a casual arm over his shoulder.

"Alright," Thanos announced cheerfully, like nothing had happened. "Let's go get food. On me!"

Nam-gyu shoved at his side, scowling. "You're insane. Don't just scream like that!"

Gyeong-su pressed a hand to his chest. "Seriously! I thought you died or something?"

Min-su burst into gigglings.

Not laughter.

GIGGLES.

Thanos just smirked, patting Nam-gyu's shoulder. "Relax. I just got hungry."

Nam-gyu groaned.

Thanos hopped up from the couch with sudden energy, tugging Nam-gyu's wrist until he stumbled to his feet too. "Come on, let's move before I starve to death or something."

The four of them walked out of the studio, the night air cool against their skin. Thanos unlocked his car with a grin, leading the way.

Nam-gyu slid into the passenger seat with a sulky sigh, pulling the door shut while Gyeong-su and Min-su sat together in the backseat.

"Yo what y'all want to eat anyways." Thanos called, starting the engine.

"Uh I'm fine with whatever." Min-su muttered.

Gyeong su nodded to Minsu stamment, Nam-gyu followed after.

"Okay then omg making ME seem fat." Thanos scoffed.

The line at the drive-through was short, and Thanos leaned his arm lazily out the window when it was their turn. "Can I get one order tteokbokki. EXTRA spicy."

Nam-gyu groaned, turning toward him. "Extra spicy? Are you trying to kill me or something."

"You'll live," Thanos said with a smirk. "Maybe."

When they finally got the food, Thanos pulled into an empty corner of the parking lot and stopped the engine. The car instantly filled with the smell of food.

"Alright, share, don't be greedy GYEONG SU." Thanos said, popping open the container and shoving a plastic fork into Nam-gyu's hand. He passed the others to the backseat.

Within seconds, Gyeong-su disobeyed, stealing food off Minsus fork while he watched in horror. Thanos was eating with no complain because it was 'not spicy enough.' Namgyu was dying within every bite and truly thought today would be the last day he'd live.

He chewed slowly, glaring at his fork. "Bro why would you order extra spicy I think I'm dying."

"Then go and drink water," Thanos teased, smiling.

"You didn't even bring water!"

"Details, details. I said go."

"Fuck you."

Thanos snickered as Nam-gyu pushed the car door open and walked into the glowing lights of the store attached to the lot.

Inside, the air was cold, filled with noises of people talking. Nam-gyu shuffled to the counter, ordered a bottle of water, and the cashier slid it across to him. He twisted the cap immediately, chugging half the bottle in one go.

But as he stepped back outside, that relief vanished.

Someone was there.

SHE was there

The one from earlier—the sly grin, the creepy words about his death.

She was standing near the curb, hand bag in hand. Nam-gyu froze mid-step, his grip tightening around the water bottle. Slowly, he took a step back, his mind racing with a single thought.

If I'm quiet she won't notice me

But of course, she noticed.

Her head tilted, and her lips stretched into that same creppy smile. Her eyes locked onto him like hooks.

"Ahh," she cooed, stepping toward him with deliberate, slow movements. "The boy who is cling onto his own lead to death."

Nam-gyu's chest tightened. He glanced at the car where Thanos and the others were still laughing and eating, oblivious. His stomach twisted.

He muttered under his breath, "Nice seeing u—uh gotta go!" and turned to leave fast.

But her voice followed him, silky and poisonous.

"You running won't do no good when your lungs are flooded with the rivers water.." she spoke with danger in her voice. "The river will comfort you in death when the crave couldn't."

Nam-gyu froze mid-step, his spine stiff. He didn't want to turn back—but his body betrayed him. Slowly, his eyes flicked to her again.

She was smiling wider now.

Closer.

Nam-gyu's throat was dry even though he was still clutching the bottle of water. He forced his voice out, shaky but sharp.

"Why the hell are you saying stuff like that? Are you that lonely." He spat out.

The woman didn't flinch. She tilted her head, her eyes with little to no life in them. Then she chuckled, the sound low, scratchy, like paper tearing.

"Oh, boy..." she said softly. "It isn't me that's haunting you. You find comfort in the lies you tell yourself. You believe you'll win this fight. I'm delivering the truth and you're stuck denial. Your death. It's near."

Nam-gyu blinked, his brows furrowing. His chest tightened. "What—what are you even talking about?"

Her smile curved, patient, like she was enjoying his confusion. She leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper that felt like it crawled across his skin.

"Your crave is a storm. Loud, restless, filthy with want. And storms don't end peacefully—they destroy. The crave will destroy you. And when it does only the god and heaven will only choose if the rainbow after rain will come after it not."

Nam-gyu's grip on the bottle tightened, the plastic crinkling in his hand. His head shook furiously. "You're insane. You don't even know me."

But she only gave a small laugh, almost pitying. "Your soul. You don't understand yet. But when the river reaches your lungs you will. And death will meet you in the eyes."

Nam-gyu's stomach twisted. He wanted to yell, to shove past her, to end this—but her words had already wormed their way under his skin, leaving him unsure what to feel.

"You decision will determine if your heart beats. Pick now."

"Leave me the fuck alone. Okay?" He spat out, Turing on his heel and leaving. He didn't even look back at the woman again.

"Ah, finally," Gyeong-su's exclaimed. He reached out before Nam-gyu could even react, snatching the bottle clean out of his grip. "You take forever just to get water."

Nam-gyu blinked, startled. Then, against his own nerves, he laughed a little, forcing the sound.

Gyeong-su tilted the bottle back and chugged it like it was his, not even catching how pale Nam-gyu's face had gotten.

Nam-gyu didn't say a word about what just happened. He didn't mention the woman's voice echoing in his ears, the way every word made his stomach twist. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and tried to keep his expression neutral.

But when he glanced at the mirror.

Just for a second—he saw her reflection. She made a motion of drowning. Her grin widened as if she knew only he could see it.

Nam-gyu froze, heart leaping into his throat. He blinked hard and when he looked again, the woman was gone.

The others were still laughing in the car. Minsu was talking about something dumb, Thanos laughing with him.

He couldn't shake the image in the mirror—her smile curdled into something that promised only one thing.

Death.

And it was meant for him.