''~°.HIDE AND SEEK.°~'' | YEONGYU

THE PROMISE

"You okay?"

The words left Yeonjun's mouth softly, laced with warmth. But his mind was anything but calm.

He watched Beomgyu's small nod, barely a twitch, and catalogued every detail. The boy's fingers still trembled, knuckles blanched, his lips pale from biting too hard. His eyes darted like a cornered animal's, never holding contact for more than a heartbeat.

"Trauma response. Classic. He's at his breaking point. Keep your voice soft. Soften posture. Don't crowd him."

Yeonjun's expression didn't shift as he reached out, fingers grazing Beomgyu's sleeve in a careful, grounding touch.

"You did good," he murmured, voice low and even. "Really good."

But in his head, other voices ran like a chorus.

"Soobin leads with open-ended questions. He's testing recall, not seeking facts. Weak. Pen tapping every five seconds. Nervous tick. He's trying too hard to seem calm. Eyes drifted to the windows twice. What was he scanning for? Backup? Witnesses? Voice control: 6/10. Slips into softer tones too late, he's lost rapport already."

Yeonjun's mental tabs snapped open and closed in rapid succession, processing angles, threats, flaws. He could take Soobin apart piece by piece if he wanted...verbally, psychologically.

But he chose not to. He had more important things to focus on...

...like Beomgyu shaking in front of him.

"Hey." Yeonjun lowered himself slightly, bending to meet Beomgyu's downcast eyes. "Look at me."

Hesitation. Then Beomgyu's gaze flicked up, glassy and terrified.

"You're safe. He's gone. I'm here."

The words were practiced but genuine. A careful mix of reassurance and authority. Exactly what Beomgyu needed to hear.

Yeonjun's mind, however, was still a storm.

"Windows wiped but carving remains. Needs full glass replacement. Not yet. I need to keep the neighbors out of this. I can't cause any suspicions. Detective's closing line...intentional? Threat or warning? Analyze tone later."

But then—

A soft shuffle of feet.

Beomgyu was moving...Slow. Hesitant.

Yeonjun froze, not out of fear, but out of calculation. His body tensed, prepared to catch the boy if he collapsed. But Beomgyu didn't collapse.

He just stepped closer.

Until two trembling arms rose hesitantly and wrapped around Yeonjun's neck.

The contact was feather-light at first, like Beomgyu wasn't sure if he was allowed to hold on. Then his grip tightened suddenly, desperately.

Yeonjun felt the small, cracking voice against his shoulder.

"I-I'm s-scared..."

For a heartbeat, all the tabs in Yeonjun's mind slammed shut.

Everything stopped.

There was only the boy in his arms, clinging like he might disappear.

Yeonjun's chest ached...not with cold strategy, for the first time in a while, but with something raw. Something that made his arms circle Beomgyu's trembling frame and pull him closer.