Ship/Member: jeongcheol Major Tags: N/A Additional Tags: arcane au, a bit of power imbalance and unhealthy relationships, allusion to a sexual relationship but nothing on-screen Permission to remix: Yes
this basically wrote itself after i read wren’s remix. I hope you enjoy.
***
“There’s something I’ve always been so curious about,” Seungcheol’s voice echoes in the otherwise silent room, and Jeonghan feels his heart drop as he sits on the edge of the bed, twisted bedsheets wrapped around his waist as he reaches for the clothes discarded on the floor.
The thing is, Seungcheol stays as silent as Jeonghan stays still, waiting, gauging his reaction before continuing. So, with a deep breath, Jeonghan hums noncommittally, giving him the sign to go on.
“Why did you bring me topside if you’re going to be resentful over the path you put me on?” Seungcheol asks, and it’s such a Seungcheol thing to never shy away from trying to get Jeonghan to talk.
Jeonghan winces, like the words physically hurt him. His fists clench, the bedsheets twisting further in his hold. With a steadying breath, he turns to look at Seungcheol, propped on his elbow and watching Jeonghan carefully.
Maybe he’s an open book to Seungcheol, just as he is to Jeonghan. A thought he has never entertained before this moment, before seeing the way Seungcheol is looking at him. He feels naked, which is funny considering what they were just doing, vulnerable, and put on the spot to put into words what he vowed never to speak of.
“I needed a new toy,” Jeonghan says, turning to look away because this lie to him is better than the truth, better than all the hopes he had for him before he assumed the role of the perfect toy soldier because Seungcheol doesn’t do anything half-assed. He lets his head hang between his shoulders, his elbows on his knees, and his fingers twisted together. “Isn’t that what topsiders do?”
“I’m not stupid, so don’t lie to me,” Seungcheol says, irritation seeping into his voice. Jeonghan feels backed up into a corner with no way out. He hears rustling from behind him, the sound of the sheets rustling, and he can feel Seungcheol behind him. “What’s the real reason?”
Jeonghan stays silent, staring unseeingly at the wall in front of him as he weighs his options. He can get up, refuse to entertain Seungcheol further, get dressed, and leave knowing that Seungcheol will follow him regardless. He will accept Jeonghan’s silence for what it is and won’t press further.
The thought leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
The alternative is to tell him the truth, risk everything, and come clean. Jeonghan is known for his mind games. People are wary of ever crossing him because he will pay it back in ways they least expect. And Seungcheol was no exception.
“I had hoped you would bring change,” Jeonghan whispers, but he knows Seungcheol heard him clearly by the sharp intake of breath from behind him. “I had hoped that the man I saw in that fighting ring, the man who apologized before decking me, would remain, that he would never raise a hand against his own people, take what he can from the oppressive establishment, and bring change, both in Piltover and Zaun.”
“But in the end, I became the opposite,” Seungcheol says, and suddenly, Jeonghan feels him rest his forehead against his shoulder. He tenses under the touch, expecting Seungcheol to be halfway outside the door after his admission. “I thought this is what you wanted when you asked me to come with you.”
The broken tone of Seungcheol’s voice makes Jeonghan’s breath catch in his lungs; he cannot move, he cannot breathe, and the added weight of Seungcheol against his shoulder makes him feel like he’s drowning rather than the usual grounding effect his touch always brings.
“You should leave,” Jeonghan chokes out. He needs space to think, and he can’t do that with Seungcheol with him. “Please,” he adds after a moment.
The ever-gentle Seungcheol presses a kiss to Jeonghan’s shoulder, and he feels something shatter inside him at the fleeting touch and then at the devastation of its absence, leaving him with one final look that will haunt Jeonghan forever.
[REMIX] the worst of all blessings
Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: arcane au, a bit of power imbalance and unhealthy relationships, allusion to a sexual relationship but nothing on-screen
Permission to remix: Yes
this basically wrote itself after i read wren’s remix. I hope you enjoy.
***
“There’s something I’ve always been so curious about,” Seungcheol’s voice echoes in the otherwise silent room, and Jeonghan feels his heart drop as he sits on the edge of the bed, twisted bedsheets wrapped around his waist as he reaches for the clothes discarded on the floor.
The thing is, Seungcheol stays as silent as Jeonghan stays still, waiting, gauging his reaction before continuing. So, with a deep breath, Jeonghan hums noncommittally, giving him the sign to go on.
“Why did you bring me topside if you’re going to be resentful over the path you put me on?” Seungcheol asks, and it’s such a Seungcheol thing to never shy away from trying to get Jeonghan to talk.
Jeonghan winces, like the words physically hurt him. His fists clench, the bedsheets twisting further in his hold. With a steadying breath, he turns to look at Seungcheol, propped on his elbow and watching Jeonghan carefully.
Maybe he’s an open book to Seungcheol, just as he is to Jeonghan. A thought he has never entertained before this moment, before seeing the way Seungcheol is looking at him. He feels naked, which is funny considering what they were just doing, vulnerable, and put on the spot to put into words what he vowed never to speak of.
“I needed a new toy,” Jeonghan says, turning to look away because this lie to him is better than the truth, better than all the hopes he had for him before he assumed the role of the perfect toy soldier because Seungcheol doesn’t do anything half-assed. He lets his head hang between his shoulders, his elbows on his knees, and his fingers twisted together. “Isn’t that what topsiders do?”
“I’m not stupid, so don’t lie to me,” Seungcheol says, irritation seeping into his voice. Jeonghan feels backed up into a corner with no way out. He hears rustling from behind him, the sound of the sheets rustling, and he can feel Seungcheol behind him. “What’s the real reason?”
Jeonghan stays silent, staring unseeingly at the wall in front of him as he weighs his options. He can get up, refuse to entertain Seungcheol further, get dressed, and leave knowing that Seungcheol will follow him regardless. He will accept Jeonghan’s silence for what it is and won’t press further.
The thought leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.
The alternative is to tell him the truth, risk everything, and come clean. Jeonghan is known for his mind games. People are wary of ever crossing him because he will pay it back in ways they least expect. And Seungcheol was no exception.
“I had hoped you would bring change,” Jeonghan whispers, but he knows Seungcheol heard him clearly by the sharp intake of breath from behind him. “I had hoped that the man I saw in that fighting ring, the man who apologized before decking me, would remain, that he would never raise a hand against his own people, take what he can from the oppressive establishment, and bring change, both in Piltover and Zaun.”
“But in the end, I became the opposite,” Seungcheol says, and suddenly, Jeonghan feels him rest his forehead against his shoulder. He tenses under the touch, expecting Seungcheol to be halfway outside the door after his admission. “I thought this is what you wanted when you asked me to come with you.”
The broken tone of Seungcheol’s voice makes Jeonghan’s breath catch in his lungs; he cannot move, he cannot breathe, and the added weight of Seungcheol against his shoulder makes him feel like he’s drowning rather than the usual grounding effect his touch always brings.
“You should leave,” Jeonghan chokes out. He needs space to think, and he can’t do that with Seungcheol with him. “Please,” he adds after a moment.
The ever-gentle Seungcheol presses a kiss to Jeonghan’s shoulder, and he feels something shatter inside him at the fleeting touch and then at the devastation of its absence, leaving him with one final look that will haunt Jeonghan forever.