Chapter 1: Mistakes were made
Dongsuk made his way down the narrow alleyway, the scent of his last drink still lingering on his tongue. He hadn't planned on going out tonight, but his comrades from the guild had dragged him along when they found out about the newly discovered dungeon. They had spent hours battling monsters and collecting loot, then celebrated their victory by getting blindingly drunk together. Dongsuk felt alive, invigorated even, as he stumbled forward, his muscles still humming with excitement from the fight.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt such a rush - the adrenaline pouring through his veins, igniting every nerve ending like a match to dry kindling. It was intoxicating, addictive almost, and he knew he would do anything to keep chasing that high.
He turned a corner and nearly ran straight into someone, both of them stumbling backwards in surprise. "Fuck!" the stranger swore, rubbing at his elbow where it had hit the ground hard.
Dongsuk quickly apologized, his voice slurred with alcohol. "Sorry, didn't see you there," he muttered, looking at the figure before him. He was surprised to find that it was none other than Jinwoo - one of his teammates from the guild. Though they weren't particularly close, they had trained together often enough to recognize each other's faces in the darkness.
Jinwoo, however, seemed different somehow.
His eyes were glued shut, and he swayed unsteadily on his feet. Dongsuk could smell that he was in heat - a potent scent that hung heavily around him like a cloud. But despite being clearly disoriented, Jinwoo remained stubbornly silent whenever Dongsuk tried to offer help. Eventually, they reached Dongsuk's apartment building, and he half-carried, half-dragged Jinwoo up the stairs to his own floor.
The moment they stepped inside, Jinwoo finally seemed to come to life again.
His eyes snapped open, and he tore away from Dongsuk's grasp, stumbling towards the bathroom. Dongsuk watched him go, feeling a strange mix of amusement and concern in his chest. He knew what it was like to be caught in the throes of heat - how all rational thought seemed to flee, leaving only primal urges behind.
But something about Jinwoo's behavior struck him as off. There was a desperation in the way he moved, as if he were trying to escape something more powerful than himself.
Dongsuk watched him for a moment longer before shrugging off his coat and throwing it onto the couch. He followed Jinwoo into the bathroom just in time to see him sink down onto the edge of the tub, his whole body trembling.
"Are you okay?" Dongsuk asked, grabbing a damp cloth from the counter and pressing it against Jinwoo's forehead.
Jinwoo shook his head violently, tears streaming down his face. "No," he whispered hoarsely. "I need...
. . "I need... I need..." Jinwoo trailed off, his voice breaking on a sob. Dongsuk watched him helplessly, unsure how to respond. He had never seen anyone in quite so much distress before. Finally, he settled on simply holding out his arms and letting Jinwoo curl into him, his head resting on Dongsuk's shoulder.
As they sat there in silence, Dongsuk found himself growing increasingly aware of Jinwoo's body pressed against his own.
He could feel the warmth emanating from him, the steady beat of his heart against Dongsuk's chest. He shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable on the hard tile floor, and found himself accidentally brushing against Jinwoo's thigh. The contact sent shockwaves of desire coursing through his system, leaving him feeling dizzy and lightheaded.
For a brief moment, Dongsuk considered attempting to seduce Jinwoo right then and there.