Borderline

XXX

WARNING: Explicit content ahead

SUNOO

Sunoo stepped out of the bathroom, the faint scent of soap and shampoo clinging to his skin, a welcome change from the sharp tang of oil and rust that had followed him since the oil field. His damp hair clung to his forehead as he adjusted the hem of his oversized t-shirt, ensuring it hung low enough to provide some modesty over his boxer briefs. The shirt was loose, skimming the tops of his thighs. 

When he stepped into the room, Heeseung hadn't moved an inch from his spot by the window. His broad shoulders were silhouetted against the faint glow of the streetlights outside. His hand rested on the windowsill, fingers curled just slightly, the tension radiating from him palpable.

Sunoo hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, breaking the silence. "How are you so sure that he's going to come after us?" His voice was quiet, but the question carried a weight that hung heavy in the room. "As far as he knows, you probably cut me out. He doesn't even know that you know the truth about Minhyuk."

Heeseung didn't look at him, his jaw tightening slightly as his eyes scanned the parking lot below. "He'll figure it out the second he realizes I'm gone," Heeseung murmured. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it, a quiet fury simmering beneath the surface. "San doesn't like it when people leave. And it's Friday night, I've spent weekends with you before. He'll connect the dots. He always does." Heeseung turned his head slightly, his gaze flickering toward Sunoo for a brief second. "And when he does, you'll be a target. He told me to end it with you. If he thinks I didn't...," he trailed off, his hand tightening into a fist against the windowsill.

Sunoo sighed, crossing the room and sitting on the edge of the bed. He tugged at the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it lower instinctively as he crossed his legs, trying to ignore the slight chill of the air against his exposed skin. "So what are we gonna do?" He asked quietly. His voice carried a note of frustration. "You know I have to work on Monday, right? Are you going to follow me there, too?"

"If that's what it takes, yes." Heeseung's response was immediate, his voice clipped and matter-of-fact.

Sunoo stared at him, exasperation flickering in his expression. It was like they had gone back in time, to when they had first met and Heeseung's walls were impenetrable. His words were cold, calculated, and tinged with annoyance, but his actions always betrayed him. Heeseung cared, he just didn't know how to show it in a way that didn't involve shutting everything else out.

A pang of guilt twisted in Sunoo's chest as he watched Heeseung. They wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for him, and he knew it. If he hadn't typed out that story, none of this would be happening. He needed to own up to it.

"Heeseung," Sunoo started hesitantly, his voice soft. "About the article—."

"Don't." Heeseung cut him off sharply, finally turning his head to look at Sunoo. His eyes were dark, guarded, and filled with a quiet storm. "I don't want to hear it."

Sunoo frowned, standing slowly from the bed. "Please," he said, taking a tentative step toward him. "Just listen to me."

Heeseung's gaze locked onto him as he approached, his eyes scanning him with an intensity that made Sunoo's heart race. Heeseung's eyes flickered downward for the briefest moment, lingering near his thighs, before snapping back to his face. The moment was fleeting, but it left Sunoo's breath hitching in his chest. There was something in Heeseung's expression that he couldn't quite place, a mix of frustration, exhaustion, and something deeper, something unspoken.

"I want you to know the truth," Sunoo murmured, his voice trembling slightly. He stopped just a foot away from Heeseung, close enough to feel the heat radiating off him but not close enough to bridge the gap entirely.