Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 10: The Hint of Warmth

The fire had burned down to a quiet smolder, its embers glowing deep orange and red within the pit, casting soft shadows that danced lazily across the clearing. The night air had turned crisp, wrapping around them like a second skin. High above, the sky stretched wide and velvet, pierced by stars. Pine needles rustled faintly with the shifting mountain breeze, and every so often, the trees whispered secrets to each other in a language only the forest understood.

JL sat with his knees drawn up, arms loosely draped around them. He wasn't tense exactly, but something inside him had been buzzing since the others started filtering back into the cabin one by one. Now it was just him and Han. They hadn't planned it, at least, JL didn't think they had. It had simply happened that way.

Han sat a little apart, angled slightly toward the fire with one leg bent, the other extended, his arms resting lazily over his knees. He looked like he belonged to the nighttime scenery around him. It suited him to be there, in the shadowy bough of the trees. The firelight gilded the edges of his profile in warm hues, sharpening his jawline, softening the lines around his mouth, highlighting the curve of his cheekbone and the long slope of his nose. His eyes were fixed on the embers, but he didn't look like he was thinking about the fire.

Neither of them spoke for several long minutes, but it wasn't an awkward silence. It was the kind that wrapped itself around you gently, and made you feel like you didn't have to fill the space with anything other than presence. Eventually, JL turned slightly, his gaze moving from the flickering glow to the outline of Han's profile.

"You haven't said anything for like twenty minutes," he said, voice low.

Han's lips curved, just faintly. "Neither have you."

JL tilted his head, resting his cheek on his arm. "I think I'm scared to talk. Like if I say something too loud, I'll ruin it."

Han glanced at him. "Ruin what?"

"This," JL said softly, nodding toward the fire, the quiet, the space between them. "The peace."

Han didn't respond right away. His eyes remained on the fire, watching the flames fold into one another. When he finally spoke, it was thoughtful. "I think I know what you mean. The peace and the silence, but it's not the kind that makes you feel alone."

The conversation dipped again, but the silence that followed was more intimate now, layered with the sound of wind moving through the trees and the occasional pop from the fire.

JL glanced at him, curious. "Not gonna lie. I didn't expect talking with you to be so...calming."

Han looked over, one eyebrow raised. "Most people say I'm intimidating."

"You are," JL said, grinning. "But once you talk, it's less intimidating. More... mysterious in a good way."

Han rolled his eyes lightly. "I'm not mysterious."

JL leaned his head back to look up at the stars. "You kinda are. But it suits you."

Han chuckled, and they sat like that for a while, side by side, comfortable.

"I think I could start to fit in here more now," JL said, his voice pensive in the night air.

"You didn't use to think so?"

"I wasn't sure when I first arrived, but I do now. The language isn't as huge a barrier as before. The team's insane, but like... the good kind of insane. And everyone's so different, but somehow it works. And this retreat feels like one of those core memories or whatever."

Han hummed. "You fit here, JL."

JL looked at him. "Thanks. I wasn't sure at first. Still not sure most days. But tonight's good."

"You've been good," Han said simply. 

They lapsed into another stretch of silence. Then Han stood and walked toward the blanket bin, picking one out and dropping it lightly around JL's shoulders.

"You looked cold."

"Thanks," JL murmured, fingers curling around the fleece. Han sat down again, this time closer. Close enough that JL could feel the warmth radiating off him.

The fire popped softly. Han reached for the poker and leaned forward, prodding at the embers to stir them back to life. As he leaned in, the firelight spilled across his features in golden contrast, the line of his throat, the way his dark hair fell forward just slightly over his brow, the subtle outline of his collarbone beneath his shirt. JL inhaled without meaning to, and the scent hit him like a memory he hadn't lived yet. It was something clean, like cedarwood and soap. Warm. Masculine. 

For a strange moment, JL's thoughts stumbled.

It wasn't that he hadn't noticed Han's face before. Everyone noticed Han's face. But up close, in this setting, with firelight making everything more vivid and more quiet at the same time... 

Han was beautiful. Not just the aesthetic kind of handsome the fans swooned over, but something else. Something strong and still and utterly compelling.

JL looked away, his face suddenly warm. What was that? Nothing. It's nothing. He's just... really like, symmetrical and proportionate.

Han sat back again, wiping a bit of ash off his hand with a casual grace that only made things worse. JL stared hard into the fire, hoping his ears weren't glowing.

"You okay?" Han asked, amused.

"Yeah," JL said too quickly. "Just... tired."

Han gave a small nod. "We can head in soon."

But neither of them stood up. They remained by the fire, close enough to feel the pull of the other's presence. Close enough that if one leaned in just slightly...

No. They didn't. The tension hung between them like a thread stretched taut.

JL's yawned, not bothering to hide it this time. "I might actually pass out right here."

Han smirked faintly. "I'm not carrying you back."

"You'd do it though," JL teased, smiling against his knees. "You'd complain, but you'd do it."

Han didn't deny it. That alone was answer enough.

They stayed a little longer, just watching the fire breathe, the stars blink.

Nothing dramatic happened. But... a shift. A thread pulled a little tighter. Somewhere in the space between the crackle of flame and the stillness of their breath, they both felt it. 

Gravity, starting to take hold.

[Your comments and votes each chapter mean the world and support this story. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter! ✩✩✩ - Martiné]