Demon and the Mage (Jeongcheol)

Jeonghan

It took me a second to process what had happened.

But when Seungcheol collapsed at my feet, blood gushing from a deep gash over his throat, I didn't think.

I reacted.

Fury doused every other emotion. I took a running leap, knocking Joshua to the floor. His head cracked back against the concrete, his eyes widening in surprise. Snarls fell from my lips as I hit him again.

And again.

And again.

I couldn't even see Joshua's face, only Seungcheol's. His mouth parted in shock. His beautiful eyes empty and unseeing.

"He's going to be fine," Joshua choked out between hits. "He's only temporarily dead!"

"It doesn't matter," I snarled, my knuckles splitting on his chin. The rage was burning so brightly it was almost blinding. "You hurt him."

Joshua took hit after hit with a slight smirk on his face, not even raising his hands to block them. It threw fuel on the fire of my rage.

Big hands wrapped around my middle, tugging me away.

"Come on, Hannie," a voice said with warm amusement. "Leave him now. I think he's learned his lesson."

Seungcheol.

His words were like a bucket of ice water over me. My hands fell loose, and I let him drag me away.

Joshua dragged himself to his feet, his bruises and cuts already healing. I glared at him from the safety of Seungcheol's arms, still pissed.

Joshua held up his hands sheepishly. "Truce?"

"Touch him again, and next time, I'll drain your blood before making you choke on it."

Joshua clapped his hands, looking bizarrely pleased about the whole situation. "Aw, Seungcheol! You've got yourself a protective one. He's so cute."

Seungcheol shifted until he was beside me, his arm keeping me tight to his side. "That's right."

Something fiery ignited in my chest as I gaped at Seungcheol. "What?"

His eyes darted between his brother and me. "Let's go somewhere quieter and talk. Without nosy fuckers listening in."

"Spoilsport," Joshua muttered, smoothing out his outfit.

Seokmin came into the room, still blushing slightly, a stack of towels in his arms. He took in my bloody knuckles, Seungcheol's arm keeping me still, and Joshua's face. He hummed, putting the towels down before turning to Joshua with his hands on his hips. "What did you do?"

"Me?" Joshua asked dramatically, his eyes going so wide he looked like a cartoon deer. "Why would you think it was me?"

Seokmin raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Fine," Joshua said, throwing up his hands. "I might've killed Seungcheol for embarrassing you."

"Which I'm really sorry about," Seungcheol added gruffly. "I honestly didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"It's no problem," Seokmin said, shifting on his feet. He gestured to Joshua and me, his eyebrow still raised. "You guys good now?"

"Yeah," I muttered. "Sorry, Joshua."

"Water under the bridge," Joshua said, waving it off with a massive grin. "Besides, you didn't actually hurt me. And I'm glad Seungcheol's got someone at his back."

Now it was my turn to blush as Seungcheol squeezed me tighter. I couldn't think of what to say, so I simply nodded.

"Any time you wanna get in the ring with me, just say the word." Joshua's grin turned devilish. "Fair warning, next time, I'll fight back."