Crimson Threads || Soonhoon

Doce

The alley was quiet, the dim streetlights casting long shadows against the wet pavement as Jihoon made his way toward his car. His mind raced with thoughts from the meeting earlier that night-he still had pieces to put together, and time wasn't on his side.

As he reached for the door of his car, he heard footsteps behind him. Instincts flared, but before he could react, a familiar voice broke through the silence.

"Now where are we going?"

Jihoon's breath caught for a split second, and his heartbeat skipped before he regained his composure. Turning slowly, he saw Soonyoung-Hoshi-sauntering toward him with a bright, almost mischievous smile plastered on his face. But it wasn't the grin that threw Jihoon off. No, it was the way Soonyoung looked tonight. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his hair slicked back in a way that made him look dangerously sharp. For a fleeting moment, Jihoon's usually controlled heart betrayed him. The sight of Soonyoung, his lean body accentuated by the suit, was... well, distracting.

But Jihoon quickly shook it off. There was no time for distractions.

"Get lost," Jihoon muttered, turning his back on Soonyoung, trying to ignore the sudden heat in his chest.

Instead of getting the message, Soonyoung's voice rang out cheerfully. "Ooh, someone's grumpy tonight. Must be because you didn't have dinner." His tone was teasing, carefree as if he wasn't a powerful mafia leader. As if Jihoon wasn't the mastermind pulling strings behind every shadow in the city.

Jihoon ignored him, yanking the car door open. But before he could slip inside, he noticed Soonyoung was already pulling something out of his pocket. A chocolate bar. Of course. The idiot was munching on a chocolate bar like it was a casual night stroll and not a covert operation. Jihoon narrowed his eyes, deciding he didn't have the energy to deal with this.

He slid into the driver's seat, but just as he was about to close the door, Soonyoung effortlessly slid into the passenger seat beside him, the scent of expensive cologne and chocolate filling the car.

"Are we going to your house?" Soonyoung asked, his voice full of curiosity and mischief, his chocolate-stained fingers fiddling with the wrapper as he settled in like he owned the place.

Jihoon gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles whitening as he felt the last strands of his patience snap. "What do you want, Soonyoung?" His voice was a low growl, but of course, Soonyoung barely noticed.

Soonyoung held out the half-eaten chocolate bar with an innocent grin. "Want a chocolate bar?"

Jihoon stared at him for a long second, contemplating every single life choice that had led him to this moment. He ignored the offer, started the car, and pulled out of the alley. Maybe if he didn't engage, Soonyoung would take the hint and shut up.

But of course, silence was never an option with Soonyoung.

"So, y'know that guy from the club? The one you scared off with that little trick of yours-oh man, his face! Priceless." Soonyoung laughed, his voice filling the small space of the car. Jihoon could already feel his brain starting to fry. "And, speaking of clubs, why do they always play that one annoying song? You know the one. Something like 'dum-dum-dum' or whatever. Who even listens to that? Anyway-"

"Soonyoung," Jihoon gritted out, his fingers twitching against the wheel. "Shut up."

But Soonyoung continued, completely unfazed by Jihoon's warning. "Oh, and did you see the new snacks they're selling at the market? There's this new flavor of skittles-like spicy or something. You'd probably like it. Y'know why? Because you're like the red skittle."

Jihoon blinked, trying to follow whatever nonsense Soonyoung was saying. "What?"

"Yeah, you remind me of the red skittle," Soonyoung said, crunching loudly on the candy. "Small, sweet, but also hot. And kinda scary." He punctuated his words with a casual bite into another skittle, his cheek bulging as he munched like a hamster.

Jihoon pressed his lips into a thin line, his jaw tensing. Soonyoung wasn't just talking nonsense-he was enjoying it, testing Jihoon's limits with every word. It was as if the dangerous mafia leader had transformed into a hyperactive child the moment he stepped into the car.

"Did I ever tell you about that one time I ran into a guy who tried to sell me fake diamonds? I knew they were fake, but I played along for fun. Man, the look on his face when I caught him-"

Jihoon had enough.

With a swift, sharp motion, Jihoon slapped the back of Soonyoung's head, the sound echoing through the car. Soonyoung yelped, dropping his skittles packet and rubbing his head with an exaggerated pout.

"Why did you hit me?!" Soonyoung asked, eyes wide like a scolded toddler.

"Shut up before I throw you outside," Jihoon warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Soonyoung's lips parted, about to retort, but one look at Jihoon's glare made him think twice. He quickly pressed his lips together, placing a finger over them as if to physically keep himself from speaking. The sight would have been amusing-this terrifying mafia boss reduced to a pouty child-if Jihoon wasn't so close to losing his mind.

Silence fell over the car. Blessed, sweet silence. Except for the occasional sound of Soonyoung munching on chocolate like a hamster, staring out the window with wide, innocent eyes.

Jihoon could barely believe it-this was the same Soonyoung who could single-handedly strike fear into anyone with just a look. And yet here he was, sitting next to Jihoon, sulking like a reprimanded kid, stuffing his face with candy as if nothing else mattered.

Jihoon sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. He didn't know what was worse-Soonyoung's incessant talking or the fact that he actually missed it when it stopped.

"Next time," Jihoon muttered, glancing sideways at Soonyoung, "I'm locking you out of the car."

Soonyoung, despite his silence, nodded vigorously with a grin, already pulling out another chocolate bar from somewhere. It seemed like there was no end to the amount of junk food he carried.

Jihoon sighed again. Soonyoung might've been an infuriating distraction, but he was still Jihoon's distraction. And no matter how much he grumbled, Jihoon knew he'd let Soonyoung get in the car again.

---
-Rix
Hola everyone!
Long time no see!