Yoojin glanced over the doctor's shoulder at Sung Hyunjae, and the esper smiled to reassure him. The elderly doctor pinched his arm, and he flinched as his guiding ability surged forward. He squeezed and poked Yoojin all around during the examination. The doctor maintained excellent control over Yoojin's powers and made a gruff sound of approval before releasing them.
He didn't know how Sung Hyunjae convinced Korea's leading guide doctor to make a house call. But Yoojin suspected people had a hard time refusing a request from the boss of Jupiter.
Yoojin thought this was unnecessary. He had told Sung Hyunjae multiple times his deficit had passed. It's been a week since the kidnapping, reverse guiding, and murders. He had waited for Sung Hyunjae to reconsider choosing him as his guide. Yet, Sung Hyunjae never budged.
Reckless esper…
The thing that really bothered Yoojin was Sung Hyunjae's lack of concern for himself. Sung Hyunjae had almost rampaged after Boss Choi Sukwon's assassination attempt, and refused to be guided until Yoojin saw a doctor.
Stupid esper…
Then there was the lack of physical contact... Along with refusing guiding, Sung Hyunjae and Yoojin hadn't had sex either. Sung Hyunjae knew Yoojin couldn't control his powers while they were intimate and said it could worsen the deficit.
Stubborn jerk…
It was a good thing, Yoojin told himself. He wanted to distance sex from guiding. But it was frustrating. Sung Hyunjae still made plenty of time to see Yoojin every day, but he missed how he used to be touched.
Yoojin sighed.
The doctor released Yoojin's arm and confirmed the deficit had corrected itself. Sung Hyunjae asked more questions, and Yoojin's lips ticked. God, this esper had been unbearably invasive as of late.
The moment the doctor realized Yoojin was Sung Hyunjae's only guide, his eyes widened. He advised the mob boss to lessen the burden on Yoojin by cycling between other guides.
Yoojin bit his tongue… it wasn't like he could say the real reason he was in a deficit. Sung Hyunjae showed a friendly expression while he accepted the blame and said he would consider it.
Yoojin waited for the doctor to leave before he fell back on the sofa. The brief interaction exhausted him.
"See?" Yoojin called out. "You've been worrying about nothing. Can I guide you now? Your power levels are what's really worrisome."
"The inhibitors have been effective," Sung Hyunjae said, sounding defensive and a little hurt.
Yoojin lifted his head. Was he being serious? The other guides and espers had been keeping their distance from Sung Hyunjae because of his power backlash. Even with Yoojin's guiding shield earrings, he could feel the chaotic, condensed energy inside Sung Hyunjae.
Standing, Yoojin folded his arms. "Mr. Sung, I've been guiding S-Ranks since I was fifteen. I don't need espers or doctors to tell me when I'm out of a deficit."
Sung Hyunjae could smile and portend all he wanted, but he had forgotten that Yoojin had raised Han Yoohyun. His little brother had been the worse about refusing guiding, and it forced Yoojin to learn to judge esper's stabilization levels. That way, he could always verify if his brother was lying about needing guiding or not. Yoojin knew exactly how much pain Sung Hyunjae was in.
Sung Hyunjae stepped closer. "My perfect guide seems upset."
"I am." Yoojin clutched his arms tighter against his chest. "I thought you were going to trust me as a partner, but it doesn't feel like it."
Sung Hyunjae extended his arm, and Yoojin stepped back. Sung Hyunjae's hand fell away, and he sighed. "As my partner, it's my responsibility to look out for you as well. When you overexert yourself, you don't care about your own well-being."
"If I overexert myself, I get sick. If you overexert yourself, you could destroy Korea."
"I don't think a single nation can compare itself to my guide."
Fury rooted in Yoojin's gut and he was nearly shouting, "Don't joke about things like that! Why are you always—"
Sung Hyunjae pulled an envelope out of his coat, and the argument came to a halt. "What's that?"
"Our sync rate results. But if you're too upset to read them now—"
Yoojin snatched at the unopened envelope, but Sung Hyunjae was faster.
"—I can put this away until you're ready." Sung Hyunjae easily kept the distance between them, holding the envelope just out of Yoojin's reach. Yoojin's fingers graze the edge a few times, but the esper had just done that on purpose. Calculating just how much speed he needed to evade one guide.
"Is my guide still angry?"
Yoojin gritted his teeth. "…No."
Sung Hyunjae held the envelope in front of his smug face. "I couldn't hear you."
"You…" There was no way an S-rank couldn't hear him. Yoojin reeled back his irritation. "I'm not angry anymore."
"Are you happy I called a private doctor?"
Son of a bi—
Yoojin rushed forward, but Sung Hyunjae lifted the envelope above his head. "Damn you… Yes! I'm happy you called the doctor for that completely unnecessary check up!"
Yoojin grabbed Sung Hyunjae's arm, but it was like bending iron. Sung Hyunjae waved the envelope over Yoojin's head. "And don't you think I'm handsome?"
Yoojin took his eyes off the envelope and stared at Sung Hyunjae. "What?"
"I asked if my perfect guide thinks I'm handsome."
"What brought this up? Why would I answer that?"
Sung Hyunjae frowned. "You have been so cold to me lately. It feels like you've avoided even looking at me."
But you were the one who wouldn't let me touch you!
Yoojin just wanted to be more professional as a guide. That meant not being swept away by the handsome esper anymore. Now, if only his racing heart would get the message.
Yoojin glanced at the envelope and quickly muttered, "You're handsome, all right?"
"I couldn't hear that, either."
"Come on!" Yoojin shouted in frustration and smacked Sung Hyunjae's chest. The envelope was once more out of his grasp.
Sung Hyunjae laughed, and his golden eyes lit up. "All right, Yoojin-ssi, shall I open it for you?"
"Don't open it! Just give it to me." Yoojin pressed against the taller man and stretched his arm, but Sung Hyunjae held it above his head. "Act your age! Why are you so damn tall?"
"You like how tall I am."
"It's annoying. I'm always craning my neck to see you."
Yoojin jumped, and Sung Hyunjae wrapped his arms around him before falling backwards. Yoojin suppressed a scream, and Sung Hyunjae cushioned him when they hit the floor.
Yoojin lifted his head. Cradled against Sung Hyunjae's chest and inches from his face, he met his gaze.
"Am I close enough now?" Sung Hyunjae asked.
Yoojin pushed himself up. "Too close." He snatched the envelope away. Sung Hyunjae adjusted him over his waist, his hands resting on his thighs so he couldn't get up. Yoojin didn't mind. His mind was racing while he held the envelope.
Sync Rate Results
Esper Sung Hyunjae
Guide Han Yoojin
He looked down at Sung Hyunjae. "How long have you had this?"
"The Association delivered it the day we tested."
Yoojin gasped. "That long ago? Why haven't you opened it?"
"I'm not concerned with the results."
"But I am!"
Sung Hyunjae tilted his head, blond hair spreading over the floor. "Yoojin-ssi, are you worried about us having a low sync rate?"
Yoojin turned his head away. "Ha. I don't need a high sync rate to take care of you, so it doesn't matter what it says."
Sung Hyunjae's smile was deceivingly cheerful. "Then shall I destroy the letter? Since neither of us care about the results."
"No!" Yoojin held the letter away from Sung Hyunjae's grasp.
"My guide seems to care very much what that letter says."
Yoojin's grip crinkled the envelope while he struggled to find something to say. Sung Hyunjae had said he didn't care about finding the perfect guide, but what if their sync rate was too low? It would be an embarrassment for the boss of Jupiter to be at a constant disadvantage with a poor guide.
Yoojin swallowed. He just needed over 40% to be compatible with an S-rank, he told himself. If he was short, the earrings could make up some difference, and he could always get more guiding items.
"Do you need me to open it?" Sung Hyunjae asked after a moment.
Still nervous, Yoojin ripped the top off, letting the shreds of paper fall on Sung Hyunjae. He pulled out a long letter and read through everything, his heart racing and palm sweating. Why was there so much nonsense? Just tell me the rate!
"Eighty-seven," Yoojin said in disbelief. He looked at Sung Hyunjae with tears forming in his eyes. "We got eighty-seven."
Sung Hyunjae watched Yoojin with a small smile. "Didn't you say the results would be low because of how nervous you were that day?"
"Did I say that? I don't remember." Yoojin wiped a few stray tears away. He shouldn't be this happy, but the relief was overwhelming.
Hands slid up Yoojin's thighs and reached under his shirt.
"Hey. Why are you touchy suddenly?" Yoojin asked.
"I remember how nervous you were. Your hand shook in mine. All because you were worried about having a low sync rate. You were so cute that all I could think about was touching you."
Yoojin's cheeks warmed as he tried to keep Sung Hyunjae's hands away. "I think your memory is faulty. It was my first time guiding in front of a member of the Association. It was more like performers' anxiety."
"Was that what it was?"
Sung Hyunjae yanked Yoojin's belt buckle open with a loud snap, and Yoojin wondered if it was broken. He moaned, and he quickly covered his mouth. It had only been a week since they had done it, and Yoojin was shocked by how quickly his body responded.
Yoojin set the letter down and cover Sung Hyunjae's mouth when he raised to kiss him. "Why, all of a sudden?"
Sung Hyunjae let Yoojin push him back against the floor and licked his fingers. The strong sensation between his index and middle finger sent a shiver down his spine.
"We know our sync rate. Let's test it out."
"That's a crappy excuse…" Yoojin's voice trailed off, and his eyes glazed over when Sung Hyunjae's hand slid into his pants.
Yoojin shook his head. No. Now was the perfect time to start distancing sex from guiding.
"Wa..wait…" Yoojin's body arched into the touch. He should focus on his job, but all he could think about was the hand stroking him. Sung Hyunjae licked between Yoojin's fingers, and he whimpered at the erotic sight.
Yoojin didn't want to admit it, he had fought it for some time now, but he thought… maybe… he liked Sung Hyunjae… just a little.
He wished he didn't. It would only complicate their relationship. Yoojin couldn't imagine how many guides had tried to win Sung Hyunjae's favor. The esper was probably sick of it by now and had said multiple times how he disliked other guides for doing similar things.
Yoojin thought about confessing, but didn't think he could handle the rejection. And what would happen after he was turned down? Would Sung Hyunjae think it was too uncomfortable and fire him? Could Yoojin continue to guide him after being heartbroken?
It didn't help that Sung Hyunjae always dragged Yoojin into this kind of situation. Yoojin had to be careful not to misunderstand Sung Hyunjae's intentions.
"No." Yoojin needed to push those emotions away and focus on repaying Sung Hyunjae. For the debt, covering the cost for his license, hiring Yerim and Yoo Myeongwoo, rescuing him from Diarma, and everything else.
"No? Do you want me to stop?" Sung Hyunjae asked.
Yoojin's breath strained. It was unfair. Everything about Sung Hyunjae was unfair. Everything from how good looking he was to how skilled his hands were. Yoojin wondered why he was even a gangster, when he could have been a model.
"Yoojin, do you want me to stop?"
Sung Hyunjae's hands stilled, and Yoojin's head fell. Why did he stop now?
"J-just a little more." His hips jutted forward to create some friction.
Sung Hyunjae smirked and kissed Yoojin's hand. "I won't stop. Even if you beg me."
"Th-that's…fine." He would start regular guiding next time.
"All right." Sung Hyunjae tossed Yoojin over his head, causing him to kneel over his face. Yoojin held his arms out to keep from falling face first on the floor.
"T-this position… Hey!" Yoojin's back arched when Sung Hyunjae lifted his neck to lick the head of Yoojin's cock. Yoojin's voice cracked as Sung Hyunjae took his erection into the warmth of his mouth. His lips trailed up Yoojin's length, and his tongue licked over the slit.
Yoojin's arms trembled, and he shouted in surprise when Sung Hyunjae thrusted his fingers inside him. One hand preparing and spreading Yoojin, while the other one gripped his hip so he couldn't move away.
"Hyunjae, slow down...ah!" Yoojin couldn't hold back his voice while Sung Hyunjae played with him on both sides. He desperately didn't want to come this quickly. He bit his arm to distract himself, but Sung Hyunjae licked the sensitive spot under the tip.
He feared thrusting into Sung Hyunjae's mouth and hurting him. His hips shook with restraint. Hyunjae swallowed around him and took Yoojin further toward the back of his throat. Yoojin turned into a moaning, drooling mess.
"Mph—ah! Mmh."
Sung Hyunjae's fingers avoided the sensitive spot inside Yoojin. Stretching and touching him everywhere, but not the place he needed it the most. Yoojin didn't want to risk thrusting forward, but maybe he could move back and press himself on Sung Hyunjae's hand. The moment he thought about it, Sung Hyunjae's fingers gripped his hip. The quick shock of pain had been a warning. Don't interrupt my fun.
Sung Hyunjae released his grip, and his fingers massaged the tender skin. It reminded him how easily the S-rank esper could break him, and he trembled in response.
Yoojin panted. "Please… wait. Slow down… it's too much. I'm going to come—Hyunjae s-stop or I'll—ahha nmpgh!!"
Sung Hyunjae picked that moment to hook his fingers down on his prostate, dragging his long indents over the sensitive area.
"Hyunjae! Ahhh!" Yoojin shouted, eyes squeezing shut, and nails clawing at the floor. He couldn't hold back anymore and thrusted his hips down as the pleasure erupted.
Yoojin couldn't believe that the S-rank boss of Jupiter swallowed his cum. It caused another spasm of his orgasm to ripple through him.
He panted through the blissful pleasure, fighting for air and thrusting his cock in Sung Hyunjae's mouth. But once he was spent, Sung Hyunjae didn't stop.
"Hyunjae!" He tried to move his hips back but the esper's hold tightened once again. Sung Hyunjae continued to suck him while his fingers worked over this sensitive spot. Yoojin was trapped while the overstimulation made him delirious.
After a few grueling moments of pure, antagonizing pleasure that teetered on pain. Yoojin's moans blurred with a weak sob.
"Gah... Hyunj…mpgh!" Yoojin called his name, and tears stung his eyes. Almost like a last-ditch effort to beg him for mercy.
Sung Hyunjae released his prostate and let him pull out of his mouth. Yoojin's bones melted, and he slid to the floor, exhausted and out of breath.
He couldn't move as Sung Hyunjae rustled his clothes and rolled him onto his back.
Yoojin held out his hand, pushing in vain on the esper's chest. "H-hold on. I need a break."
Sung Hyunjae removed Yoojin's clothes, ripping them off when he got too impatient. He pressed both of Yoojin's thighs apart, exposing him.
"I warned you." Sung Hyunjae said in a low, daunting voice. His cock pressed against Yoojin.
"W-what—wait!"
Yoojin moaned and bit his lips as the tip squeezed inside him. No matter how many times they did it, Sung Hyunjae's size always stunned him. He did better if he had a moment to mentally prepare, but often they got too excited.
Sung Hyunjae soothed Yoojin. "You're doing so well. My perfect guide. You need to relax. You're too tight and holding your breath."
"Y-you're—you're the o-one who's too big!"
Sung Hyunjae kissed his exposed neck, still sliding in. "You seem to like it."
Yoojin's own cock was already hardening anew, slick from Sung Hyunjae's saliva and darkened from sensitivity.
Sung Hyunjae sighed once he was fully inserted. Yoojin's eyes watered and his body trembled from how deep he could feel Sung Hyunjae. He could almost taste it in the back of his throat.
"Do you see me?" Sung Hyunjae's voice was deep as his fingers brushed over the bulge on Yoojin's stomach. "Right here. How can you be so small?"
Yoojin wanted to shout, 'your size is the problem!' But all that came out when he saw the bump in his stomach was an anguished cry. His body reacted by clenching down on Sung Hyunjae and clouding his head.
Sung Hyunjae kiss the side of Yoojin's face and pressed his palm down on Yoojin's stomach. "My perfect guide."
"D-don't, don't uhh touch there! Nngh!" Yoojin's cock swayed and pre-cum leaked onto his belly.
"I'll take very good care of my perfect guide."
Sung Hyunjae moved his hips, and the bulge in his stomach fell. Yoojin's breath rushed out. He braced for Sung Hyunjae to slam into him, but the next thrust was slow.
Sung Hyunjae kept that pace. The whole time, Yoojin's insides trembled and slowly adjusted to Sung Hyunjae's size. His own cock twitched madly as his body quickly approached the threshold again.
"Please." Yoojin pleaded, wrapping his fingers in Hyunjae's hair. "More. You're driving me crazy like this."
"Slow, Yoojin." Sung Hyunjae answered in a breathy voice. Yoojin could feel the restraint in the esper's arms as he held himself back. He kissed the edge of Yoojin's ear. "I want to make love to you tonight. This is a special day."
Yoojin had to swallow before continuing, "What's special—ahh."
His cock swelled, but Sung Hyunjae's maddening pace kept him on the edge. Yoojin raised his hips and tried moving, but that only caused little tremors to dance through his stomach muscles.
"The day I claimed my perfect guide," Sung Hyunjae answered in a breathy voice.
Yoojin's head fell back. He couldn't stop from moaning Hyunjae's name. He hadn't even thought about guiding. But once Sung Hyunjae called him his guide, Yoojin noticed his powers reaching into the deepest parts of Sung Hyunjae. It was so strong that once he was aware, it crashed down on him.
He felt Sung Hyunjae's joy, pleasure, and exhilaration. How it felt to have a guide care so much about him, he was willing to guide him during a deficit. How sweet Yoojin sounded when he moaned his name. How high their sync rate was. And how happy Yoojin was to match with Sung Hyunjae that he almost cried.
Yoojin took all of it. It possessed him and filled him until it was all he felt. It vibrated through him and every part of him shouted as he found his release.
He came so hard he wasn't sure if he was in his own head or Sung Hyunjae's. Yoojin was weak, brimming with satisfaction, and his body tingled down to his fingers.
When he opened his eyes, he realized Sung Hyunjae had stopped moving. He stared down at him with fascinated, caring golden eyes that faintly glowed with power. He loved Sung Hyunjae's eyes and the way he looked at him, like he was trying to capture Yoojin to memory.
Yoojin groaned. There was no mistaking the warm feeling of cum inside him.
Condoms… They forgot condoms again.
"Yoojin." Sung Hyunjae was already hardening again. The feeling stirred his own flaccid cock. He swore he could feel the lust inside Sung Hyunjae like it was his own, and his exhausted body responded with need.
With great effort, Yoojin wrapped his arms around Sung Hyunjae's neck and brought him down for a kiss.
Sung Hyunjae moaned into Yoojin's mouth before deepening the kiss and pulling his hips back. Yoojin whine at the empty feeling inside him, but he wasn't prepared for how hard Sung Hyunjae thrusted into him. Yoojin broke the kiss, head falling back in a silent scream.
Each thrust rocked him and all he could do was hold on. It was exactly what he had wanted since they first started, but he didn't know how much his quivering body could take. Yet Yoojin still gripped him tighter and pulled him closer. Sung Hyunjae reclaimed his lips.
I love you, Yoojin.
Yoojin wasn't sure what he heard. Their mouths were still connected. He quickly forgot as the heated kiss left him breathless and the hard thrust made him only think about pleasure. Sung Hyunjae only gave Yoojin a break when he transferred him to the bedroom, but it was a very short break.
Yoojin woke up in the middle of the night, curled up against Sung Hyunjae's chest. He had missed this.
Yoojin had forgotten how vigorous Sung Hyunjae was. He could barely pry his eyes apart. His body was worn out, but felt amazing. His muscles hadn't stiffened yet, his insides were still tingling, and his head was swimming. He wondered how many more times he could do this until he switched Sung Hyunjae over to a non-intimate guiding routine.
Sung Hyunjae wasn't asleep, instead he was reading a book. It was dark in the bed with all the lights off, but the esper didn't need a lot of light to see. Yoojin saw the title and if he had any strength, he would have groaned.
Five Easy Steps to Understanding Your Guiding Powers and You, by Doctor Uhjish Mon and Professor Jinn Guthuir.
Another guiding book? Why was Sung Hyunjae acting so weird lately?
Sung Hyunjae is Acting Strange
Yoojin sipped the ice coffee Sung Hyunjae bought him while he checked his phone. Kang Soyoung sent him updates and pictures while she babysat Peace. Yoojin smiled and saved the images.
Sung Hyunjae drove them to Haeyeon, his little brother's syndicate.
He was so happy to see Yoohyun in person. They had talked on the phone, but both Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae refused to allow Yoojin to travel while he was recovering. Yoojin didn't like how close Sung Hyunjae and his brother had gotten. They seemed to fuel each other's idea that Yoojin needed to be locked up to stay safe.
Yoojin didn't know where he had gone wrong raising his brother, but there was no excuse for Sung Hyunjae.
It took Yoojin some time to get ready this morning after the long night they had together. Sung Hyunjae said if Yoojin didn't feel like traveling, he could stay in bed and they could visit Yoohyun another day. But Yoojin wasn't going to miss visiting his brother!
Yoojin glanced at Sung Hyunjae and sighed. It wasn't fair how handsome he looked. Sung Hyunjae had dressed up, and he looked so good it hurt.
Yoojin took another swallow of coffee and reminded himself to act professional around Sung Hyunjae. That included not staring at him anymore. "I don't see why I can't visit Yoo Myeongwoo. I've talked to him on the phone, and he's doing much better."
"You can't guide him." Sung Hyunjae kept his gaze on the road. "It's a public setting and you still don't have your license."
"Couldn't I just make up an excuse like how you told the Association we were lovers—" Yoojin's words were cut off by Sung Hyunjae's sharp glare.
"My guide can take care of other espers, but not call himself someone else's lover."
The look actually gave Yoojin a chill.
Sung Hyunjae turned back to the road. "You should be more cautious around other espers. They'll get the wrong idea."
"But we're talking about Yoo Myeongwoo."
Sung Hyunjae's brow ticked. "You seem close to your old chef."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"His awakening was caused by the kidnapping. His powers are unstable and he's dangerous. The guides I sent over are still stabilizing him."
Yoojin rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee. How could Sung Hyunjae call Yoo Myeongwoo too dangerous for him, but send his own guides over? Besides, Yoo Myeongwoo was a sweetheart. He wouldn't hurt anyone.
Without looking away from the road, Sung Hyunjae pulled out a small business card and passed it to Yoojin.
He took it without thinking and read it. His mood plummeted. "Isn't this the same doctor you told me about? Why do you keep bringing this up?"
"It's not the same. This is a support group exclusive for guides. I've heard good things."
"Stop looking into so many guide groups," Yoojin said. "It's weird. You're going to end up scaring some poor guide if you keep messing around them. They have a list for people like you who stalk guides."
"This one is an online service, unlike the last one. And as far as I know, no one has ever accused me of 'stalking' guides."
Yoojin raised a brow. If Sung Hyunjae didn't consider what he did to Yoojin as stalking, then was he oblivious? Or was this the arrogance of espers?
Sung Hyunjae offered him a smile. "I rescheduled your appointment as well."
Yoojin turned away to gaze out the window while he sipped his coffee, but it tasted like ash. Yoojin thought Sung Hyunjae would drop this after Yoojin skipped his first two appointments. The esper seemed to be an unrelenting source for guiding support groups, doctors, and experts.
"I'm fine. I don't need a shrink," Yoojin muttered. Especially not one who specialized in guides. Sung Hyunjae had found one of the most esteemed doctors who worked solely with guides. It felt demoralizing. Did Sung Hyunjae not trust him as a guide?
"You've never spent time with other guides. It would be beneficial to talk to other people like you."
"Other guides don't have the same abilities."
"But there are other guides who have been in similar situations."
He wished Sung Hyunjae would drop this. What was he supposed to say to a shrink? He was kidnapped? That he was a murderer? He used reverse guiding and killed two S-ranks? That it scared him to use his own abilities because he wasn't sure if he could control them?
Even if psychiatrist were sworn to client confidentiality, they had to report certain things to the police and the Association. Goodbye, Yoojin's chance at getting his license, and hello prison sentence.
Sung Hyunjae said he made sure no one would report him and that he had done nothing wrong. But he still didn't want to talk about it, and Sung Hyunjae didn't understand that. He didn't force Yoojin to attend the doctor's appointments. He would just remind him when he missed one and tell him it was rescheduled.
And now he was finding support groups?
Yoojin read the card Sung Hyunjae handed him. 'Who guides a guide? Reaching out to support guides.'
Yoojin scoffed and put the card away. They had arrived at his brother's syndicate. Yoojin saw the gigantic building and mouthed, "Wow." Much larger than the first little room they rented together.
Yoojin couldn't help but smile. It looked like his little brother was doing great.
Before Yoojin could unbuckle his seatbelt, Sung Hyunjae caught him, pulled him around, and kissed him. His eyes widened and quickly his heart rate shot up as Sung Hyunjae claimed his lips and firmly pressed against him.
Sung Hyunjae released Yoojin once he was out of breath.
"Do you mind?" Yoojin asked, trying to push him away. "Why are you always so touchy?"
"I saw my perfect guide smile so cutely. I couldn't keep my hands off him."
Yoojin's heart thudded, and he pushed Sung Hyunjae away. This time the esper passively moved.
"Stop calling me that. And please behave while we're here. I don't want my brother to get any funny ideas."
Sung Hyunjae's smile widened, and his head tilted in a teasing manner. He seemed to have thought of something amusing.
"Sung Hyunjae?"
In lieu of a response, his eyes filled with mischief.
"Hey! Don't do anything weird in front of my brother! Hey! Answer me!"
Sung Hyunjae stepped out of the car and opened the door for Yoojin. He didn't have time to make sure Sung Hyunjae understood before he saw his brother. Yoohyun stood outside his syndicate like he had been waiting for a while and glaring at Sung Hyunjae. When Yoojin got out of the car, Yoohyun smiled.
"Hyung."
My Little Brother is Acting Strange
"Do you like the view?" Yoohyun asked. He gave a tour of the syndicate and everything was wonderful. The tall building had large windows that looked over the city. Yoojin thought he could see Jupiter from this height.
Yoojin smile when he turned toward his brother and patted his head. "Yes. Your organization is great. You've done amazing work all on your own to come this far."
Yoohyun beamed under the praise, grinning like a kid, but Sung Hyunjae's expression fell.
"What?" Yoojin asked him.
"I created Jupiter on my own, too," Sung Hyunjae said.
Yoojin and Yoohyun both stared at him. Why did he bring that up? Anyway, Yoojin turned back to his brother and told him how proud he was of him again.
Yoohyun continued the tour. Yoojin noticed every area they headed into was empty, but he saw people at the end of the corridors or out of the corner of his eye. It was understandable people would want to check this out.
Most people remembered Yoojin, or at least heard of him. So, it would seem weird that he would be back. Plus, Sung Hyunjae was here. One of the top five mob bosses casually receiving a tour of a different syndicate was something to draw attention.
"Yoohyun, are you sure it's alright to be giving a tour to us?" Yoojin asked. Mostly asking it wasn't normal for mob bosses to share secrets like this.
Yoohyun quickly picked up on his meaning. "It's alright, Hyung. We have an agreement, so everything's fine."
"Agreement?" Yoojin asked, eyeing Sung Hyunjae.
Sung Hyunjae nodded. "My guide isn't my only new partner."
"He's not your guide," Yoohyun said in annoyance.
"Of course, my mistake," Sung Hyunjae said. "He's my perfect guide."
Yoohyun's eyes narrowed as he stepped toward Sung Hyunjae. Yoojin moved between them. "Hey, hey, hey. Let's not start anything in my little brother's building." Just a week ago, they destroyed Sung Hyunjae's office, and the renovations had just finished. How were they partners when every time Yoojin saw them, they were fighting?
Yoojin turned to Yoohyun. "What's that room?"
Yoohyun immediately took Yoojin to see what had interested him. The rest of the tour went well. Only a few more snags between Sung Hyunjae and Yoohyun.
Yoojin smiled at the two of them, but it faded when he noticed more people watching from down a hallway. Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae must be used to it. They were both S-ranks mob bosses, strong, and attractive. It was hard not to stare.
But that's not why they stared at Yoojin. He could only pretend not to see the hostile looks of disgust, jealousy, and annoyance for so long.
There were people like that at Jupiter as well, but Yoojin had learned a routine to avoid the worse people. But it just reminded him that people didn't think he was fit to be a guide. He didn't even have a license, so why were two S-ranks doting on him?
Yoohyun said something spiteful to Sung Hyunjae and took Yoojin's hand. At the same moment, Sung Hyunjae's arm wrapped around Yoojin's waist. He had been so focused elsewhere he hadn't noticed how heated their conversation had gotten.
He almost laughed while trapped between them. He repeated the promise he had made to himself. He would work hard to be a guide worthy of staying next to Sung Hyunjae, and he would do the same for his brother as well. He would be a perfect guide to both of them and show the rest of the world he belonged here.
Once the three of them where alone, Sung Hyunjae put a noise canceling device on the table they sat at. Yoojin took Yoohyun's hand to guide him. He had been waiting to do this the whole time.
Sung Hyunjae's eyes flicked to their hands, but he said nothing. Yoojin was the first to speak. He wanted to know what Sung Hyunjae meant when he said he had another partner. Sung Hyunjae's eyes stayed glued to their hands.
"It's a minor deal," Sung Hyunjae said. "Haeyeon and Jupiter have formed a mutual partnership."
Yoojin looked at Yoohyun, worried. He trusted Sung Hyunjae… but they were talking about his little brother. Mob bosses always betrayed each other.
"What else? And what did you ask for in exchange?"
Sung Hyunjae rested his chin on his hand. "He gets the benefits of my organization and he doesn't fight me over keeping you. Think of it like a dowery for marrying off an older brother."
Yoojin cringed, hearing him say that in front of his brother.
Yoohyun's hand tightened. "Don't say weird things to my hyung. As soon as Choi Sukwon is found, he's coming back with me."
Sung Hyunjae's gaze slid to Yoohyun, and the intolerable look made Yoojin want to step between them again.
"Explain it more!" Yoojin said. "This is because of Choi Sukwon. Not me."
Sung Hyunjae looked much calmer when he faced Yoojin. "It started with Choi Sukwon. With Jupiter's contracts with the Association, we can protect your brother no matter what he might get into."
"Nothing illegal." Yoojin asked, looking between them. "Right?"
Sung Hyunjae answered with a teasing smile. "How can it be illegal if the Association sanctions it?"
Yoojin nodded, feeling more reassured about their agreement. "Thank you for helping my brother."
Yoohyun muttered that he could have handled it on his own, but Yoojin was glad it had turned out well. Half of all organizations were wiped out within their first year, and seventy percent within the first five years.
"Praise isn't necessary," Sung Hyunjae said. "I procured my perfect guide through the arrangements, so I benefited the most."
Yoohyun's hand flinched in Yoojin's hold.
Yoojin scowled at him. "The boss of Jupiter seems desperate for a guide. I would have thought with your looks or wealth, at least one guide could tolerate you. But then I remember your personality."
Sung Hyunjae smiled. "My guide isn't impressed by such vanities. I had to work hard to sway your heart."
"No one is swayed," Yoojin said to the appalling comment.
"Then I shall work harder."
"You do anything else, and I will run away. I'm already in my brother's building, and I know he'll take me in."
Sung Hyunjae winked. "Remember what I said about running away?"
Yoojin's eyes widened. How could he forget the mob boss's promise to catch him, drag him back to his bed, and punish him with something perverted?
Sung Hyunjae raised a brow as if to ask, want to try?
"You seem much closer than I thought…" Yoohyun muttered.
Yoojin blinked and squeezed his brother's hand. "It's not like that, Yoohyun. But I have been staying with him for almost two weeks so it might look like it."
"You can stay here with me," Yoohyun said softly. It turned Yoojin's heart, but he noticed Sung Hyunjae's expression darkening again. "Unless… you're still mad at me."
"Yoohyun… it's not that." How did Yoojin tell his brother about the debt he had with Sung Hyunjae?
But if he was being honest with himself, it was more than that. He glanced at Sung Hyunjae. If he stayed with his brother, would he ever see Sung Hyunjae again?
If Yoojin truly cared for Sung Hyunjae, he would help him look for his next guide, instead of trying to keep him to himself. He felt like a manipulative guide. It might be better to come back to his brother.
Yoohyun sighed and reached into his pocket. "Well, at least let me give this to you. I don't want you to worry about money."
Yoohyun held out a credit card. Oh, it even had Yoojin's name on it.
"No, thanks, I have this." Yoojin showed his brother the card Sung Hyunjae had given him, red with the Jupiter logo on it.
Yoohyun's expression fell, and his eyes darted to the other man. Sung Hyunjae smiled smugly. Shouldn't Yoohyun be happy he didn't have to worry about Yoojin's finances? His baby brother could save his money and let one of the top five mob bosses cover Yoojin's cost of living.
"Hyung, I think you should come back. I don't like how close you're getting. Espers only have bad intentions for guides."
Yoojin spent a long time convincing his brother it was okay. He didn't want Yoohyun to realize the only legal way Yoojin could guide someone was by claiming they were lovers. He wasn't ready for that talk. He didn't think he would ever be.
They finally faced the real reason for the conversation. They wanted to ask Yoohyun about his experience with Yoojin's negative guiding. Yoohyun has confessed that when Yoojin was sick in a deficit, he would let him use negative guiding on him. So he was the only one with knowledge about Yoojin's skill.
Yoohyun's fingers tightened while he heard the details of the kidnapping. Even Sung Hyunjae admitted he'd never seen a guide able to use their ability to that effect.
The comment hurt Yoojin. Surely, he wasn't the only one who could do something that awful.
Yoohyun looked down, deep in thought. "I always heard negative guiding was a guide stealing an esper's powers. I thought when I let you use it on me, I was helping you recover from your deficit. Was I hurting you instead?"
Yoojin patted his brother's hand. "It increases my basic strength for a short time," Yoojin answered.
"Then why was your deficit so bad?"
Yoojin bit his lip. He had to be honest with his brother. They promised no more secrets.
"A guide's body isn't able to handle the powers of an esper. Even the energy I absorb through negative guiding is different and hard to break down. Every time I use it, the effects have drained me into a deficit."
Yoohyun's head shot up. "Every time? This was your first time, right? When else have you had to use it?"
"Umm, I meant... ugh, that was a slip of tongue, Yoohyun-ie. This was my first time."
Yoohyun looked down at their connected hands. Yoojin's guiding easily cleared up his brother's condensed energy. "What's the point of you being able to negative guide? Why is it so much worse when you do it?"
Yoojin didn't have an answer.
"Maybe it's a defense."
Both Yoojin and Yoohyun looked at Sung Hyunjae, who had been so quiet until this point.
Sung Hyunjae shrugged. "It's not that hard to believe. Yoojin-ssi rescued himself with his own abilities. Perhaps this is the beginning of guides being able to protect themselves."
Yoojin frowned. "That's horrible." Had Sung Hyunjae not seen what he did to Diarma and Yoon Kyeongsoo? How could Yoojin call that defense when he killed them in such a horrible way?
"Hmm," Yoohyun murmured. "That's not a bad idea. If Hyung has a method for defending himself, maybe this skill isn't bad."
AH! Look what you started, Sung Hyunjae!
Yoojin shook his head. "I can't control it. How can I use it for protection if I don't even know how to use it?"
"Practice is needed," Sung Hyunjae said.
Yoojin's jaw dropped. What was this psychopath suggesting?
"That's a good idea," Yoohyun agreed.
Yoojin wasn't sure who to look at right now. What was he hearing? There was no way his baby brother would agree with this.
"No," Yoojin put his foot down and pointed at Sung Hyunjae. "Did you not see what I did to those espers? I will not do that again."
"If you don't want to use it on other esper's you can try it on me." Sung Hyunjae offered his hand. Yoojin saw the solemnity in his eyes. He was serious.
"We can practice, Hyung."
"Is there something wrong with both of you?" Yoojin shouted. Why was this the only thing they agreed on?
Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae looked at each other. "I'm sure you have someone we can bring in."
"I can have several people ready today."
Yoojin glared at them, feeling the air knocked out of him. He yanked his hand out of his brother's and stormed out of the room. Already aware of the two crazy gangsters following him.
He shoved opened the door and came face to face with Seok Simyung and Song Taewon.