LOVE BITES -Jeongcheol

20

The forest was quiet, except for the crunch of leaves under their boots and the occasional chirp of crickets in the distance. Mingyu and Wonwoo walked side by side, following the trail that had brought them here. Seungcheol had sent them out on this lead—a promising one about the witch Vixen might have been working with before his death. It had taken weeks of dead ends and false starts, but now, finally, there was a thread to pull, one that might unravel the bigger mystery behind Vixen's gruesome sacrifices.

"It's been a while since we were sent on a mission," Mingyu started, his voice smooth and teasing. "Just the two of us."

Wonwoo didn't spare him a glance, adjusting his glasses with a practiced flick of his fingers. "Yeah. For a reason."

Mingyu smirked, the faint curve of his lips carrying a mix of amusement and challenge. "Do you really hate me that much? You talk to my friends just fine. It's just me, huh?"

Wonwoo's steps faltered for half a second—imperceptible to anyone else, but not to Mingyu, whose sharp gaze caught every detail. The hunter sighed, "Hate is a strong word."

"Ah," Mingyu drawled, leaning slightly closer as they walked, his tall frame casting a shadow over Wonwoo's. "So it's not hate. Interesting."

Wonwoo rolled his eyes, but his pulse betrayed him, quickening in the quiet. "We're here to work, not to chat."

"I'm perfectly capable of multitasking," Mingyu replied, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down Wonwoo's spine. "You know, I've been wondering—Why do I get the cold shoulder when everyone else gets the warm and fuzzy version of Wonwoo?"

Wonwoo shot him a sharp glance. "I don't do warm and fuzzy."

"Not true." Mingyu grinned. "I've seen you laugh at Joshua's bad jokes and tolerate Chan's singing. Me, though? I can't even get a full sentence out of you without an eye roll."

"That's because they know when to shut up," Wonwoo retorted.

Mingyu stopped walking, forcing Wonwoo to do the same. He stepped into Wonwoo's space, close enough that the hunter had to look up slightly to meet his gaze. "You're deflecting."

"And you're annoying."

Mingyu's smirk softened into something quieter, almost sincere. "You don't hate me. So what is it?"

Wonwoo huffed, his grip on the crossbow strap tightening as if anchoring himself. "You're infuriating," he began, his tone sharp and clipped. "You never stop talking, you're cocky, you think you're charming when you're just unbearable."

He gestured wildly, as if searching for more words, his voice picking up speed. "You don't respect personal space, you always have to have the last word, and your stupid smirks—God, they're the worst. Like you know exactly what buttons to push to get under my skin. Just because you are hot doesn't mean you can keep getting away with it. You're arrogant, you're too tall, and you have this habit of acting like you're invincible–"

Wonwoo's words faltered as he realized the way Mingyu was looking at him, his eyes softer this time, tinged with something warmer, more amused.

"So," Mingyu drawled, "you think I'm hot?"

Wonwoo blinked, his mouth opening and closing as if to rebut, but nothing coherent came out. His face flushed crimson, and he let out a frustrated groan, turning sharply on his heel.

"Wait—" Before Mingyu could finish whatever he was going to say, they both froze.

The forest went still, holding its breath, as a rustle of leaves interrupted the quiet. It wasn't a small sound—more like the deliberate, careful movement of someone trying to hide their presence, but not doing a great job of it. Wonwoo tightened his grip on his crossbow, his instincts kicking in. "Two, maybe three, moving slow," he murmured, his voice low.