Chapter Text
Sung Hyunje was used to the gawking stares and the infuriating glares that people directed his way. He was used to not caring what others thought of him, to instead do as he pleased. It was easy, in the way that he simply had to push his feelings to the side. Things changed when he was met with a presence that should have been minuscule, an ant under his shoe, and yet he paused mid-step as the breath was taken from his lungs.
He saw the man from the corner of his eye. Dressed in an oversized dark jacket, a cap that hid his eyes, and a pink disposable mask stuck under his chin and pressed into his nose. It made the stranger look odd, as all the others on the street were in casual wear and didn’t bother to hide their faces. If anything, the look of transparency made the man stick out.
Sung Hyunje would normally not stop as he walked across the street. The crowd he was in maneuvered around him with whispering mocks and heated looks of surprise. He had the sense that something important had occurred just then, mid-step, in the center of the crosswalk. He laid his foot down after a moment of hesitation.
He was mistaken, surely, as nothing had changed these days. It was a repeated, boring cycle that no one else picked up on. They were all pawns, being manipulated as puppets to go through the same tasks, conversations, and events as it happened before. Sung Hyunje was the only one who seemed to know that the days didn’t truly restart. Nothing was new anymore, it was all perceivable.
And yet…
Sung Hyunje walked across the street with faster steps than he acknowledged. His veins thrummed with something akin to hopefulness and excitement for the first time in months— years?
The man in the cap was still there, hidden in the shadow of the next tall building. The unknown variable had never been there before, of that, Sung Hyunje was sure. He strode quietly to the corner of the building as the stranger focused on something in the alley intently. Sung Hyunje managed to step right next to the man’s back, hovering over him to take a peek into the same alley.
Well, it was a letdown, to be honest. In the alley was a simple fight between a couple of annoying scum. Sung Hyunje noted that he could take them out easily, but that would ruin the fun of watching the men pummel one another into pitiful oblivion.
They watched it together. As time went on and the fight became a draw, Sung Hyunje grew bored. He already was aware of this fight— the MKC Guild couldn’t keep their shit together. Their rival factions made it easy to manipulate from the outside with hushed rumors or obvious lies.
He set his hand on the shoulder of the unknown variable. The man didn’t move for a moment, his eyes still transfixed on the alley, before he whispered something along the lines of not now, Myungwoo-ssi before he realized that he did not know who was touching him. The man skidded back, landing against the building with tight shoulders that attempted to hide his fear.
Sung Hyunje greeted the variable, “What are you doing here?” It was, perhaps, not his best line.
“Who are—” The man cut himself off, the cap sprawled off enough from the center of his head to reveal two eyes that Sung Hyunje couldn’t resist looking into.
“Ah.” He didn’t realize he had made the noise. “Han Yoojin.”
The unknown variable — Han Yoojin, older brother to Han Yoohyun — flinched from being named. He raised his hand, his frail fingers inching closer to Sung Hyunje’s face. If they got closer, he could bite them right off. Didn’t Yoojin-gun know how dangerous a man with his power was? Truly, it was so curious that the young master’s brother was the one to cause these boring days to end, if only for a minute.
“Why the fuck are you here?” demanded Han Yoojin, his voice unsteady but clearly upset.
Han Yoojin’s finger shook in the air. No, that wasn't quite right. Han Yoojin’s entire body shook, practically vibrating out of his skin at a low but consistent speed. His face mask fell to be only looped across one ear, allowing Sung Hyunje a view of repeatedly bitten lips.
“I should be asking Yoojin-gun that, no? Your precious dongsaeng wouldn’t be happy to see that you’re sniffing around guilds. An Unawakened young man such as yourself could be harmed without even anyone trying to hurt you.”
Sung Hyunje couldn’t help himself. He reached out, taking the outstretched wrist of Han Yoojin. The other struggled in the hold, but he didn’t seem afraid like others would be in his presence. Sung Hyunje hummed out curiously. A possibility stood before him. Just to test it, he applied some of his Hunter Aura in the air.
He allowed a few seconds to pass. Nothing appeared to happen aside from Han Yoojin scraping at Sung Hyunje’s fingers. It was a poor attempt to remove his hand from Han Yoojin’s wrist, but it was also amusing in a way that other annoyances had never been before.
“I’ll take you home,” offered Sung Hyunje.
The man before him wasn’t affected by Hunter Auras. It was so interesting. Everyone was affected by the pressure that Awakened people gave off, especially S-classes. Was Han Yoojin an anomaly or simply used to being about Han Yoohyun? Was it possible to become used to pressures? Could a fear response be turned off after enough time was spent around a powerful being?
“I can get to my home alone, thank you very much,” gritted out Han Yoojin.
He continued to drag his nails across Sung Hyunje’s skin. The S-class merely watched on, his fondness only growing as Han Yoojin’s nails started to bleed. It wasn’t like Sung Hyunje’s grip was hard or rough on Han Yoojin’s wrist— maybe it would bruise, but that was Han Yoojin’s fault for twisting in place when it was easier to let sleeping dogs lie.
“You’re hurting yourself,” tsked Sung Hyunje. He reached out his other arm, grabbing Han Yoojin’s shoulder to keep the weak thing in place against the building wall. “Your brother would never forgive me if I didn’t take care of his darling hyung.”
Han Yoojin glanced down at the two hands that were on him. The wrist in Sung Hyunje’s hand stopped twisting. As a reward, Sung Hyunje lessened his grip a smidge. Not that Han Yoojin could escape anyway. The hand that was pinning Han Yoojin to the building was applying enough pressure to keep the man from running off.
When Han Yoojin looked up, he had a look of a killer cross his face. Sung Hyunje’s heart skipped a beat. The unknown variable was growing more and more interesting with each passing moment. How could a weak person appear so menacing? It was so charming. Sung Hyunje couldn’t resist, not that he tried.
“I can take you to your humble abode if you’d like.”
Han Yoojin replied steadily, “Not a chance.” He glanced down at Sung Hyunje’s hands before glancing back up. Han Yoojin met the Hunter’s gaze. “Unhand me,” he commanded.
“I don’t believe I want to unhand Yoojin-gun.”
“This is not up for discussion—”
Sung Hyunje smiled as he let go of Han Yoojin’s wrist. The man took a moment to realize what had happened before he moved his arm to hide by his side. Sung Hyunje could see the red imprint of his hand across Han Yoojin’s delicate skin. Why did Han Yoojin struggle so much when they both knew it would end only when Sung Hyunje desired it to?
“You’re feral,” noted Sung Hyunje.
Han Yoojin frowned, an unpleasant look taking over his features. “I don’t need to be domesticated.” He used his hand to push on Sung Hyunje, though it did nothing but make the S-class grow even more fond. “I said let me go—”
Sung Hyunje removed his hand from Han Yoojin’s shoulder. It happened in an instant. Sung Hyunje wasn’t even aware that he had moved until he heard Han Yoojin’s strangled gasp. Han Yoojin rubbed his shoulder, rolling it slowly in its socket as if to check for injuries. Sung Hyunje was surprised by how delicate Unawakened people were. Honestly, how did they expect to survive?
They blinked at one another. Sung Hyunje hid his surprise, but Han Yoojin’s face was easily read. The man didn’t expect Sung Hyunje to listen— and Sung Hyunje didn’t listen, per se, but rather realized that he needed to have answers and not make enemies at the same moment that Han Yoojin asked to be let go.
“What is wrong with you?” demanded Han Yoojin.
He wiped his mouth as if he expected there to be something there, such as blood. Had Yoojin-gun been in fights before? Had he been in a dungeon when no one bothered to pay attention? Sung Hyunje’s veins pumped his blood quickly, the suspense building and building.
“You’re different,” claimed Sung Hyunje. At Han Yoojin’s mystified and judgmental look, Sung Hyunje elaborated, “You weren’t supposed to be at the corner of their building today. You weren’t supposed to witness the fight. You should… Where should you be right now, Yoojin-gun? Home alone, or causing another scandal with the young master?”
“Fuck. You.”
Sung Hyunje hummed. “Please do.”
A wash of disgust appeared on Han Yoojin’s face. Sung Hyunje pretended not to be hurt by it. He knew he was a catch— 197 centimeters tall, with golden eyes, deep pockets, and a limitless list of whims that he was willing to try out before the world ended. He would be up to trying anything if it meant getting rid of the endless boredom he felt.
Han Yoojin’s hand raised again, though he held it closer to his body. Smart. It seemed that even feral creatures could learn quickly. His fingers shook as they spread out, not quite pushing Sung Hyunje away, but the attempt was there. The raised hand was a line of personal space that Sung Hyunje was not supposed to cross.
“Why are you in front of me? You’re supposed to be making a deal right now to get ownership rights over an A-class dungeon.”
Han Yoojin’s brow was furrowed. It was a cute look. If Sung Hyunje had a camera handy, he would snap a photo. But, well, he figured that Han Yoojin would be averse to that. The young man seemed quite upset already. Though, it was curious. How was Han Yoojin aware that Sung Hyunje was originally on his way to meet with Song Taewon to see if he could negotiate to get a gate?
“Yoojin-gun,” he said, more of a whisper than a word, “are you…?”
Han Yoojin’s eyes widened into something that wasn’t fearful. It was from shock or realization, probably the latter. “Are you stuck in the time loop as well?”
Ah. No wonder. A part of his worldview clicked together for the first time in a long while.
“I might be,” admitted Sung Hyunje.
He knew it wasn’t like Han Yoojin's perspective was. Han Yoojin was troubled in a way that Sung Hyunje had never seen or felt before. Sung Hyunje felt as if he was repeating daily events, but he didn’t think it was a time loop. Han Yoojin must have his reasons for naming it such a thing, surely.
“Then you know,” hedged Han Yoojin.
Sung Hyunje blinked innocently. He flickered his eyes multiple times as Han Yoojin cursed bastard under his breath.
“Whatever do you mean?” He batted his lashes a few more times.
Han Yoojin raised his hands, visibly shaking with pure emotion. “You…”
“Yoojin-gun, do you know how this world will end?”
Han Yoojin stopped trembling once Sung Hyunje reached out a hand. He interlocked their fingers together. Han Yoojin was either so shocked by the movement or Sung Hyunje’s words that he stilled, his mind going blank. There were no comebacks or quips or questions.
Sung Hyunje continued, “Do you know that everything collapses with enough pressure?” He squeezed Han Yoojin’s hand with his own hand gently. “A time loop,” he murmured, “that explains a couple of things but not nearly enough.”
“What are you…” Han Yoojin met Sung Hyunje’s gaze. “What are you talking about? I’m just trying to stop my dongsaeng from dying.”
“Han Yoohyun’s death,” surmised Sung Hyunje. He suddenly saw Han Yoojin in a new light. “How much are you paying for the attempt to keep your brother alive?”
“I…”
“Don’t get choked up on me now, Yoojin-gun. You have answers that I’ve been patiently waiting for. Tell me. Tell me how you managed to create a time loop when you’re not only Unawakened but still weak, even without fear?”
Han Yoojin’s gaze was unfocused. Sung Hyunje gripped his hand harder until Han Yoojin snapped out of his daze with a pained yelp. Sung Hyunje lessened his grip as Han Yoojin sent a glare at him. The glare didn’t feel like other glares that Sung Hyunje received. Perhaps he was going insane in the presence of a person that mesmerized him.
“I’m not Unawakened.”
Oh. Sung Hyunje tilted his head. “So you’re an F-ranker.” No other class would be as weak as an Unawakened person. “Did you register with the Association? I feel like I would have heard about it.” Song Taewon would have spilled the beans, surely.
“I’m unregistered,” replied Han Yoojin, his words slow and carefully thought out. “Why does Sesung Guild Leader-nim care?”
“If time bends to your will, then don’t you think that I could find a use for you?”
Han Yoojin recoiled. His back hit the building and he tried to escape their handhold. Sung Hyunje could have let go, since there was no way that Han Yoojin would leave now, but he liked feeling the warmth of Han Yoojin’s skin. He didn’t tend to touch people at all, finding there to be no need for it. He was changing his mind now.
“It’s not something I can control.” Han Yoojin stopped wiggling away, but his anger was simmering on the back burner of an oven, waiting to come to a boil. “It just… happens. Every time I fail, I wake up in the past, always on the same day.”
“Yoojin-gun is troublesome.”
“Sung Hyunje-ssi should keep his pesky thoughts to himself.”
“But I really love saying your name. How ever could I stop now, Yoojin-gun? It rolls off the tongue, does it not? Han Yoojin-ah sounds nice as well. What do you think?”
Han Yoojin squirmed, though it could have been his attempt at wrestling Sung Hyunje off of him. The S-class hummed in amusement as Han Yoojin gave up with a sigh. Sung Hyunje wasn’t going to let the most interesting thing in his life slip away.
“How does your brother die?” Sung Hyunje asked.
Han Yoojin averted his eyes. Guilt pooled in between them. “He dies for me.”
Sung Hyunje noncommittally thought about it. With Han Yoohyun’s ferocious and sometimes outlandish personality, it was hard to imagine him sacrificing his life for someone else's. And yet they were brothers, were they not? The scandals and estranged relationship could have been faked. It was a smart move if everyone knew what they were getting into. Sung Hyunje knew that Han Yoohyun was a stubborn kid, though, so he didn’t have high hopes for Han Yoohyun’s thought process being smart.
Love made a person weak in their new dungeon-riddled society. S-classes could not have weaknesses. They would be exploited without a second thought. Sung Hyunje let go of Han Yoojin’s hand.
“Will you be of any use, Yoojin-gun?”
Han Yoojin’s eyes narrowed. Begrudgingly, he admitted, “I’m a support Hunter.”
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have my very own item…”
“Oi.” Han Yoojin tapped against Sung Hyunje’s chest with a feeble fist. “I’m not an object.”
“I don’t mind you viewing me as a means to an end either, Yoojin-gun.”
Han Yoojin froze, mid-punch. “What do you mean?” His voice was raspy.
“Let’s make a transaction,” suggested Sung Hyunje. Wavering eyes gazed upon him steadily. “I’ll help you stop your brother’s death. In return, you’ll help me clear dungeons with less effort.”
Han Yoojin swallowed thickly. “I don’t think I would like this deal. I don’t…”
“What else are you going to do? Stick around long enough to watch your Yoohyun-ie die again or do something about it? I never figured that a man who dropped out of school to support his brother would give up on a feat such as this.”
“How do you even—”
“It’s old news. Everyone who is somebody knows that you supported Han Yoohyun throughout his life up until he Awakened. It was strange for him to abandon you so publicly, but his plan worked. No one had bothered you until I came along, did they? No one connected to the young master, that is.”
“You are too smug for a man nearing his forties,” said Han Yoojin.
Sung Hyunje felt a small smile, something close to a smirk but warmer, form along his face. “I hope you turn out to be valuable, Yoojin-gun, or else I may blame you for my abysmal life. It’s been dreadful reliving the same events again and again.”
“You’ll be happy with me, I’m sure.” Han Yoojin scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Now let me go. I have places to be.”
“Like what?”
“I need to figure out if MKC disbanding will indirectly cause Yoohyun-ie’s death while you need to make a deal to get a dungeon or else Moon Hyuna will nab it. You don’t like losing, do you?”
Sung Hyunje shrugged. “If it was Haeyun that was interested in it, I’d never lose to them.”
“Do you have something against my brother?”
“Other than him being the reason why life is utterly dull?” Sung Hyunje blinked in thought. “I suppose I hated him before everything. His personality is not nearly as adorable as yours.”
Han Yoojin turned, his shoulder bypassing Sung Hyunje. The S-class thought about stopping him, but there was no need. Han Yoojin paused, his lips pursed.
“Is… Is my dongsaeng happy?”
Sung Hyunje, who rarely saw Han Yoohyun in-person when he wasn’t planning to murder people, stayed silent.
Han Yoojin chuckled lowly, cracking his facade. “I guess I should have expected that. A lousy older brother like me wasn’t worth everything he’s gone through. Even when I tried to repair our relationship, he still pushed me away in hopes of keeping me safe.”
“Are you saying that in every loop, you’ve never been on good terms with him?”
Han Yoojin squinted his eyes, then nodded.
Sung Hyunje gave a small salute to Han Yoojin. He told the F-stat, “I may be able to help you with repairing your relationship.”
Han Yoojin sent him a dubious look. “Oh yeah?”
Sung Hyunje held his chest, pained. “Out of the goodness of my heart, I promise to make you two reconnect. I’ll put my life on the line for it. Scout’s honor.”
“How do you plan to fix a relationship that’s been broken for 5 years—”
Sung Hyunje promptly reached out and knocked Han Yoojin on the head. The F-ranker would have collapsed onto the ground if Sung Hyunje weren’t a gentleman. He arranged Han Yoojin’s limbs and walked out of the alley. He then took out his phone as he called for his driver in broad daylight. Now the question was whether or not he had Han Yoohyun’s number saved.