TS 031

The heat radiating from Han Suryeon’s body was almost unbearable. Yoon Taehwa ran his tongue along the other man’s swollen lips, the taste metallic, a mixture of blood and adrenaline. The more intimate the contact, the easier it was to suppress his abilities.

His ability, classified as ‘special’, differed from that of other Espers in several ways. One of its unique properties was its increased efficacy with prolonged exposure, the more familiar he was with a target, the greater his control. It was this particular trait that allowed him to effortlessly reign in even the most volatile Espers on the Blacklist, despite his tendency to… push their buttons. 

Of course, familiarity, in this context, had nothing to do with emotional connection. It was a matter of physical proximity, of repeatedly exposing them to his ability. 

‘Still…’

This was the first time he’d ever had to resort to kissing another Esper. 

Yoon Taehwa reminded himself that this wasn’t a kiss, but a medical intervention, as he probed Han Suryeon’s mouth with his tongue. The other man, clearly unwilling to cooperate, kept trying to close his lips, forcing Yoon Taehwa to tighten his grip on his jaw. 

His keen hearing picked up a series of crashes, the sounds of trees, uprooted by Han Suryeon’s erratic psychokinesis, falling to the forest floor. 

‘He seems to be calming down…’ 

Yoon Taehwa’s gaze locked with Han Suryeon’s. There was no need for romantic gestures like closed eyes. This was all business. Besides, he needed to monitor Han Suryeon’s pupils, to assess the level of energy coursing through him.

Han Suryeon blinked slowly, as if sensing the intensity of Yoon Taehwa’s gaze. His lashes, long and thick, fluttered like leaves rustling in the wind, revealing glimpses of stormy grey eyes. 

The dungeon, with the core neutralized, had reverted back to a peaceful forest. Sunlight filtered through the trees, birdsong filled the air, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Han Suryeon, lying on the forest floor, his pale skin bathed in sunlight, looked almost ethereal, like a tragic hero fallen in battle. 

A soft chuckle escaped Yoon Taehwa’s lips. All those fairytale references… perhaps Han Suryeon’s ramblings were contagious. 

He tightened his grip, tilting his head, trying to deepen the kiss. Han Suryeon, resisting, kept trying to pull away.

‘How much do I need to…?’

This was uncharted territory. He’d never attempted to suppress an Esper’s abilities through physical contact before. All he knew was that he was pouring a significant amount of his own energy into Han Suryeon. 

He was about to pull away, to assess the situation, when a hand, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, brushed against his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. Yoon Taehwa raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the Esper beneath him. Gone was the unfocused gaze, replaced by those familiar, sharp grey eyes, now gleaming with mischief. 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Han Suryeon’s lips curved into a sly smile, his beauty mark deepening. 

“Trying to get a kiss from my Prince Charming, of course.”

His fingers, toying with Yoon Taehwa’s hair, tightened playfully. Whether it was the alarm bells ringing at the realization that his most vulnerable spot was currently being toyed with by another man, or the sheer frustration at Han Suryeon’s blatant manipulation, Yoon Taehwa felt a surge of anger, a heat that spread through his body, pooling low in his abdomen. 

“You were faking it… weren’t you…?” 

Before he could voice the accusation, the pressure on his hips shifted, and then, suddenly, he was on his back, his injured back slamming against the forest floor, sending a jolt of pain through his body. Han Suryeon was straddling him, his weight pinning him down. Instead of panicking, Yoon Taehwa simply glared at him, his lips twisting into a mocking smile. 

“So, you weren’t rampaging?”

“Nope. You told me to eat a poisoned apple, didn’t you?”

The playful glint in his eyes confirmed it.

“No wonder… I thought you were using your ability excessively…”

The way he didn’t turn around when he called his name and just stood there blankly, and how he blinked vacantly as if in a pre-rampage daze – a hunch struck Yoon Taehwa that it was all an act.

Seeing Han Suryeon sprawled out with an innocent look on his face made his body feel heavy. ‘What am I supposed to do with this bastard?’

In the end, Yoon Taehwa roughly brushed back his messy hair and grabbed Han Suryeon by the collar, pulling him close. HIs harmless, beaming face was now close enough to kiss.

“Who knew the ‘poisoned apple’ our Suryeon was talking about was rampaging?”

“You told me not to lose control while fighting an A-rank monster. But I needed that poisoned apple… I had no other choice.” 

“You lied to me.” 

“It wasn’t a lie, it was… a performance. I’m six years younger than you, Team Leader. Be nice to your junior.”

Even Kang Jaemin, all of twenty years old, wouldn’t have dared to use such a ridiculous excuse. 

“And you were the one who kissed me. You stole my first kiss. Now you’re responsible for me.” 

“It wasn’t a kiss. More like… mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I don’t recall swapping spit with you.” 

“You licked me here, and you’re telling me it wasn’t a kiss…?”

Han Suryeon ran his tongue suggestively along the inside of his cheek, his flushed face making the movement all the more blatant.

“You’re quite the libertine, Team Leader.”

Yoon Taehwa’s lips twitched. Han Suryeon’s deliberate overuse of his ability, the fake rampage, the ridiculous ‘first kiss’ claim, the accusation of promiscuity…  It was all so absurd.

Many Espers, their senses heightened, were prone to emotional volatility, but Team Leaders, those in positions of authority, learned to control their impulses. Field command required a cool head, a level of detachment that stemmed from an inherently calm disposition. 

Yoon Taehwa, whose emotional range rarely fluctuated, was no exception. Which is why this… agitation, this simmering anger that Han Suryeon had somehow managed to ignite within him, was both unexpected and strangely exhilarating.

His hand, which had been gripping Han Suryeon’s collar, moved, his fingers finding their way to the other man’s throat. 

“Suryeon-ah.”

He used Han Suryeon’s name, foregoing the usual mocking honorific, his voice low, almost a growl. Han Suryeon’s eyes narrowed, his gaze searching, his lips parting slightly. Yoon Taehwa, enjoying his confusion, threaded his fingers through his ash-blond hair, tugging him closer. 

“If you want to kiss me so badly…” 

His grip tightened, his voice a low murmur against Han Suryeon’s lips. 

“…open your mouth.”

A hand shot out, gripping his hair, pulling him down. Yoon Taehwa’s tongue, sharp and insistent, parted Han Suryeon’s lips, claiming his mouth. Their eyes met, and a surge of triumph coursed through him as he saw the surprise, the unguarded vulnerability, in Han Suryeon’s eyes. It was the first time he’d seen him… truly flustered. 

“Бля…” 

Han Suryeon muttered a curse under his breath and grabbed Yoon Taehwa’s face, forcing his lips apart.  Their heads tilted, and soon their soft flesh was tangled together in a messy clash. The sounds of teeth clicking mixed with the sight of their gazes, desperately searching each other as if trying to devour one another.

Yoon Taehwa explored Han Suryeon’s mouth with his tongue, deepening the kiss, relishing the other man’s frantic response. His gaze locked with Han Suryeon’s, challenging, demanding, refusing to back down. 

Han Suryeon’s playful facade had vanished, replaced by a raw hunger that made Yoon Taehwa’s blood sing. It was a good look on him.

“Hmm…”

As if sensing Yoon Taehwa’s stray thoughts, Han Suryeon’s eyes narrowed, his hand finding its way to Yoon Taehwa’s waist, pulling him closer. His skin was burning, a clear sign that he was indeed in need of Guiding. Yoon Taehwa, his tongue entwined with Han Suryeon’s, savored the taste, the heat, before abruptly breaking the kiss, pushing him back.

Han Suryeon gasped, his breath coming in ragged bursts. 

“Get off.”

Yoon Taehwa tried to sit up, to put an end to this, but Han Suryeon, refusing to relinquish control, leaned down, capturing his lips again.

“Mmm…” 

Mimicking Yoon Taehwa’s earlier move, he pressed his tongue against the center of Yoon Taehwa’s lower lip, dragging it downwards, tracing the sensitive skin. 

His tongue, moving with a serpentine grace, wrapped around Yoon Taehwa’s, sucking gently before trailing lower, teasing the sensitive skin beneath his jaw. The sounds, sensual and unrestrained, were at odds with the tranquil forest setting: the wet slick of tongues, the soft moans, the unmistakable sound of flesh yielding to teeth.

Yoon Taehwa’s breath hitched as their bodies tangled, his control slipping. He grabbed Han Suryeon’s throat, intending to push him away. But instead of pulling back, Han Suryeon’s lips, inches from his, whispered a dangerous invitation. 

“Choke me. If that’s what you want.”

A hand, slick with Yoon Taehwa’s saliva, brushed against his lips, thumb pressing against his chin, forcing his mouth open.

“I’m going to kiss you, Team Leader.”