When Sparks Fly

Realizations and Revelations

The retreat was in full swing. Laughter echoed from all sides as the team bonded over bonfires, drinking, and the kind of camaraderie that only happens when you escape the office. But despite the fun, a different kind of tension had been building between Jeonghan and Seungcheol—something that neither of them could quite shake, no matter how many activities or jokes they threw at each other. It lingered in the space between them, a current they were both too aware of.

It was the second night of the retreat, and as the fire crackled under the open sky, Jeonghan found himself watching Seungcheol from across the flames. Seungcheol was sitting just outside the circle of people, his usual composed demeanor in full effect. But Jeonghan noticed the way his eyes kept darting to him whenever he thought Jeonghan wasn't looking. The small moments—the way Seungcheol's gaze lingered a second too long, the way his jaw tightened when Jeonghan laughed a little too loudly—those moments spoke volumes.

Mingyu, the ever-curious puppy, noticed it too. He leaned in close to Jeonghan, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You two need to stop pretending. It's getting ridiculous."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

"Don't act coy with me. The way you two look at each other—if I didn't know better, I'd say you're about to pounce on him." Mingyu smirked.

Jeonghan's face flushed, and he quickly glanced at Seungcheol, who was still sitting there, somehow looking even more attractive in the firelight, like a magnet Jeonghan couldn't help but be drawn to. His heart skipped a beat at the thought of Mingyu's words. It felt... dangerous. Fun, but dangerous.

"You're imagining things," Jeonghan muttered, but Mingyu wasn't buying it.

"I swear, Jeonghan, it's like you two are playing a game of cat and mouse," Mingyu teased. "Except the cat's about to get caught."

Jeonghan sighed and glanced back at Seungcheol. This time, when their eyes met, the air between them seemed to change. There was a spark in Seungcheol's eyes that Jeonghan hadn't noticed before—something more than the usual coolness, more than just annoyance. There was hunger in his gaze. And it sent a shiver through Jeonghan.

"You're just making it worse by saying things like that," Jeonghan muttered, though he couldn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips.

Mingyu shrugged. "I'm just saying, you're both terrible at hiding it. You should just get it over with. Or, you know, I could help."

Jeonghan shot Mingyu a warning glance. "Please don't. I don't need your... help."

As the night wore on, Jeonghan couldn't shake the feeling that Seungcheol was getting closer. The subtle glances had turned into lingering stares. The moments of brushing past each other during the group activities felt electric. There was no denying it now: something was happening between them. And it was only a matter of time before it exploded.

Finally, when the group began to head back to their cabins, Jeonghan saw his chance. Seungcheol was walking slowly, staying a few steps behind the rest of the group. Without thinking, Jeonghan fell in step beside him, their bodies brushing as they walked.

"What's wrong?" Jeonghan asked softly. "You're not usually this quiet."

Seungcheol glanced over at him, a flash of something unreadable in his eyes. "Just thinking." He paused before adding, "About you."

Jeonghan's pulse quickened at the words. About me? He couldn't keep the smirk from forming on his lips. "You're always thinking about me." He nudged Seungcheol with his elbow. "I didn't know I had such an effect on you."

Seungcheol's lips curved into a half-smile, but there was something darker in his expression now. "You have no idea."

Jeonghan stopped walking, his heart suddenly racing. "What does that mean?" His voice came out breathier than he intended, and the look Seungcheol gave him made his skin prickle.

Seungcheol stopped too, turning to face him fully. The distance between them was minimal, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "It means," Seungcheol started, voice low and slow, "I'm not sure how much longer I can control myself around you."

The words hit Jeonghan like a punch to the gut. The realization that Seungcheol—stoic, composed Seungcheol—was feeling the same way made Jeonghan's mind spin. But there was no time to process, because Seungcheol took a step forward, closing the gap between them.

Before Jeonghan could react, Seungcheol's hand cupped his cheek, pulling him into a kiss that wasn't gentle, wasn't tender. It was raw, intense, desperate. Seungcheol's lips moved against his with an urgency that made Jeonghan's breath hitch in his throat. His hand gripped the front of Seungcheol's shirt, pulling him closer as if he couldn't get enough.

The kiss deepened, and Jeonghan's mind went blank. All he could feel was the heat of Seungcheol's body against his, the weight of Seungcheol's hand in his hair, and the fire that burned between them.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their faces flushed. Jeonghan's hands were trembling, and he could feel the pounding of his heart in his chest.

Seungcheol didn't look away, his eyes dark with want. "I told you," he whispered, his voice rough. "I can't control it anymore."

Jeonghan swallowed hard, his body still buzzing from the kiss. "Then stop pretending you don't want this," he said, his voice low, almost challenging. "Stop pretending you don't want me."

Seungcheol's eyes darkened, his hand sliding down to Jeonghan's waist, pulling him closer again. "I've never been good at pretending."

This time, there was no hesitation. Seungcheol pressed his lips back to Jeonghan's, and the kiss was even more heated than the last. Jeonghan's hands slid down Seungcheol's chest, tugging at his shirt, desperate for more contact. The moment felt like an explosion of raw need—nothing like the teasing banter they'd shared before, but something deeper, something real.

Seungcheol's lips moved to Jeonghan's neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. Jeonghan gasped, his fingers digging into Seungcheol's back, pulling him closer, urging him on. "God," Jeonghan breathed out, "you have no idea what you're doing to me."

Seungcheol chuckled against his skin, the sound low and husky. "Trust me, I know exactly what I'm doing."

The heat between them was undeniable now. They were tangled in each other, lost in the moment, no longer pretending. Jeonghan's heart raced, his mind spinning, as he realized how far they'd come from the teasing, playful tension to this—intense, urgent, and undeniable.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and slightly disheveled, they stood there in the darkness, their foreheads resting against each other, the world outside fading away.

"You're not getting away from me now," Jeonghan whispered, his voice teasing but laced with desire.

Seungcheol smiled, his lips barely brushing against Jeonghan's as he whispered back, "I never wanted to."

And in that moment, as they stood there, connected by more than just a kiss, they both knew: this was just the beginning.