In Chains and Shadows || Heehoon

Jay - "dude you got Stockholm-" stop!

Sunghoon had no idea how he'd ended up here. It was another ordinary morning in the mansion when Heeseung had dropped the bombshell on him. The offer had been casual, like it was no big deal.

"I'm taking you somewhere today," Heeseung had said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Get dressed."

Sunghoon had blinked at him. "Where?"

"You'll see."

And now, here they were, driving through the streets of the city, Sunghoon leaning against the car window, watching the world pass by, his heart fluttering. He didn't know what was going on. Heeseung had been acting strangely considerate lately, giving him more space, but also, pushing him closer in ways Sunghoon couldn't quite explain. It was... confusing. Yet, exciting in a strange way.

They didn't talk much during the drive. Heeseung had kept his eyes on the road, the usual intensity in his gaze, while Sunghoon tried not to overthink everything. He didn't know what Heeseung was playing at, but if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was that the world outside this mansion still seemed far away to him, and it wasn't until Heeseung parked the car in front of a familiar building that it hit him.

It was the dance studio.

His dance studio.

Heeseung's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Thought you might want to get back to it."

Sunghoon's eyes widened. "Wait. What?" He stepped out of the car, his pulse quickening as he looked up at the building. He hadn't been here in months—hadn't even thought about it in weeks. He'd been too wrapped up in his own frustrations, in being stuck here, confined to Heeseung's mansion. And yet, here it was. His sanctuary. His old escape.

"You said you missed dancing," Heeseung said, reading Sunghoon's confusion. "So, I thought I'd bring you back to where you belong."

Sunghoon felt his heart race. "But... why would you do that?"

Heeseung raised an eyebrow. "Because I can. Because I'm not some monster you think I am." His tone was teasing, but there was a strange undercurrent of sincerity that made Sunghoon hesitate.

For a brief moment, Sunghoon just stood there, unsure of how to react. Heeseung hadn't once let him leave the mansion for the past month—let alone step foot outside to a place that held so many memories for Sunghoon. And now, here he was, making a gesture that could only be interpreted as... kind?

"Come on," Heeseung said, clearly growing impatient. "You wanted to dance, right?"

Sunghoon bit his lip. He didn't know why, but something in him relented. "Fine." He sighed dramatically. "Let's go."

---

The studio was quiet, still, and smelled faintly of wood and polish. Sunghoon ran his fingers over the familiar hardwood floor, the sense of nostalgia flooding him immediately. Everything was still the same: the barre along the wall, the mirrors stretching across one side of the room, the polished floors that had supported so many of his practices over the years.

Heeseung stepped aside, letting Sunghoon take it all in. "I thought you'd appreciate it."

Before Sunghoon could respond, the door to the studio creaked open. And then he heard the voice he had missed—the one he could never forget.

"Hoon, you better not be getting too comfortable in here!"

Sunghoon whipped around, his eyes going wide as he saw his best friend standing in the doorway, hands on his hips, face wearing a mischievous grin.

"Jay?" Sunghoon's heart skipped a beat. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jay raised an eyebrow. "You think I'd let you get away without seeing you for two months? I've been texting you, trying to call you. Where the hell have you been?"

Sunghoon's face flushed as he looked between Jay and Heeseung. "I—uh... I've been a little tied up," he mumbled awkwardly.

Jay narrowed his eyes at Heeseung, his expression quickly morphing into something between concern and disbelief. "What, tied up by this guy? I swear, Hoony, what is it with you and dangerous men?"

Sunghoon opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could, Jay shot him a pointed look. "I know everything , you know. I get it, okay? You've got Stockholm syndrome now."

Jay's bluntness didn't surprise Sunghoon; it was exactly what he expected from his best friend. But the mention of Stockholm syndrome hit a nerve. Heeseung's gaze hardened at the accusation, though he said nothing, merely watching the interaction with a bemused smirk.

"Don't be ridiculous," Sunghoon snapped, irritated by Jay's words. "I'm not suffering from anything."

Jay crossed his arms. "Yeah, sure, Hoon. You're just living it up in this mansion, being treated like royalty by your *kidnapper*, right?"

Sunghoon's mouth went dry. "I wasn't—"

Jay continued, oblivious. "I mean, if that's what you want to call it, fine. But don't try to tell me this guy hasn't got you wrapped around his finger. I saw it the moment I walked in." He shot a pointed look at Heeseung. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Just because you're some mafia bigshot now doesn't mean I'm scared of you, Heeseung."

The tension in the room thickened, and Sunghoon's stomach churned. Jay was being ridiculous, as always, but there was truth in his words that he didn't want to admit. He hadn't expected Jay to see it that way, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized there was a part of him that wasn't entirely free. That he *had* gotten used to Heeseung's presence. That he *did* feel a strange connection to the man he thought he hated.

Heeseung, meanwhile, was leaning against the doorframe with his usual lazy confidence. "Cute," he said, breaking the silence with a soft chuckle. "But I'm not worried, Jay. Your threats don't scare me. What's it going to take to get you off Hoon's back, though?"

Jay wasn't backing down. "Let's just make one thing clear," he said, pointing a finger at Heeseung. "If you so much as hurt him, I will come after you. And I don't care how many men you've got. You can't hide from me."

Heeseung's smirk widened as he raised an eyebrow. "I don't plan on hurting him. Not anymore, anyway."

Sunghoon felt his cheeks heat up, and he shot a glare at Heeseung. "Shut up," he muttered, feeling embarrassed by the situation.

Jay just snorted, clearly amused. "You guys are really something, huh?" He paused, giving Sunghoon a sidelong glance. "But seriously, Hoony, if you're okay here, I'm fine with it. But don't expect me to stay quiet when I think things are off."

Sunghoon sighed in exasperation, but the warmth in his chest was undeniable. Jay was here, and for once, he was happy to see his best friend, even if the situation was awkward.

Heeseung, meanwhile, stood there, clearly enjoying the playful tension between them. He had known bringing Jay into the picture would stir up a mix of emotions for Sunghoon. And frankly, he liked seeing Sunghoon so conflicted, though he would never admit it.

The tension between Jay and Heeseung continued to simmer, but for Sunghoon, the feeling of being around his best friend again—despite everything—was a small comfort. He wasn't sure where this strange path with Heeseung was leading him, but for now, he would take it one step at a time.

---

As the afternoon went on, the three of them found themselves slipping into an easy rhythm. Jay kept up his teasing banter, but it was clear that he didn't *really* hate Heeseung. There was just a lot of skepticism wrapped in concern.

And in that moment, as Sunghoon glanced between the two men—one his best friend, the other his captor-turned-guardian—he realized just how much had changed in such a short amount of time.

Things weren't simple. But maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to navigate it.