Deep End | Hyunlix

44

The weight of Hyunjin's words hung heavy between them as they stood in the dark alleyway, the tension palpable. Felix could feel the air between them crackling with unspoken truths, things they had both been dancing around for too long. The night had shifted, and now it felt like they were standing on the edge of something too big to ignore. The distance between them had closed, but the distance in their hearts was wider than ever.

Felix exhaled, steadying his racing heart. He had come to confront Hyunjin, to find answers, and now that they were finally here, the confusion and uncertainty seemed to swirl even more violently.

"Let's leave," Felix said softly, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. He reached for Hyunjin's hand, a gesture that felt unfamiliar but necessary. "You can come over tonight? We can talk, maybe..."

Hyunjin stared at him, his expression unreadable. His heart wanted one thing, but his mind, the voice that had kept him alive all these years, told him something else. Felix's request, his offer, stirred something deep inside him, something he had buried far beneath the layers of his control. He wasn't supposed to want this. He wasn't supposed to want Felix in his life beyond the role he had played.

"I can't..." Hyunjin started, but the words died in his throat before he could finish. He wasn't ready. He had never allowed himself to be ready. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

Felix's brow furrowed as he leaned in closer. "Can't or won't?" His voice was challenging, but there was something else behind it, a plea for honesty, for something real.

Hyunjin hesitated, his gaze flickering between Felix's eyes, his hand, and the space between them. His heart fluttered, caught in the gravity of Felix's presence. There was so much at stake. Hyunjin had never meant for Felix to get this close, to worm his way so deeply under his skin. He was supposed to be a pawn in Hyunjin's game. That was it. That was all he could be. But somehow, somewhere along the way, Felix had become more. Hyunjin wasn't sure when it had happened, but it had. And now, he didn't know how to undo it.

Felix's hand lingered in the air, and Hyunjin, with a glance down, saw their fingers nearly touching. A surge of warmth passed through him, but he quickly pulled his hand back, swallowing the sudden lump in his throat.

He looked at Felix again, the vulnerability he had so carefully kept buried flickering through.

"Okay," Hyunjin said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. His shoulders slumped slightly, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of relief. He couldn't explain why. But something about Felix's persistence, his willingness to reach out despite everything, had broken through the wall Hyunjin had built.

Felix smiled, and his fingers brushed against Hyunjin's in a fleeting, almost shy gesture before he gave his hand a quick squeeze. "I'll see you later," Felix said softly, the words like a promise. "When you're done here."

Hyunjin nodded, still caught in the haze of emotions Felix's presence stirred within him. He turned toward the entrance, his mind reeling with the weight of their unspoken agreement.

As they made their way back inside, Felix scanned the VIP section. Changbin was no longer sitting where he had been, and a wave of unease stirred in Felix's chest. His eyes darted around the room, but Changbin was nowhere in sight.

Felix leaned in closer to Hyunjin, the heavy bass of the music making it hard to hear. He spoke just above a whisper, his words meant only for the older man. "I'll see you later."

Hyunjin nodded, his eyes flicking toward Felix for just a moment before he turned and made his way back to the VIP section. Felix lingered for a few seconds, his mind still processing everything that had just been said and done. But before he could make his way toward the exit, a firm hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him to a stop.

Felix's breath hitched in his chest as he turned to find none other than Seo Changbin standing in front of him.

Up close, Changbin was more imposing than Felix remembered. His sharp eyes and thick frame radiated an air of authority, one that didn't need to be spoken aloud to make an impact. Changbin's grip on Felix's wrist was firm but not painful. Just enough to make a point.

"Leaving so soon?" Changbin's voice was low, almost casual, but there was an unmistakable edge to it, a warning Felix didn't miss.

Felix masked his initial surprise, slipping into his usual indifference. He wasn't about to let Changbin see how much this encounter rattled him. "Yeah. I got what I came for," Felix said coolly, meeting Changbin's gaze with unwavering resolve.

Changbin didn't release his hold. Instead, he tightened his grip just slightly, his eyes scanning Felix's face as if searching for something. Felix held his ground, feeling the weight of the scrutiny.

"That so?" Changbin's voice was laced with amusement, but Felix could feel the deeper undertone of suspicion. "Because from where I was sitting, it looked like you were poking around where you shouldn't be."

Felix's lips twitched into a tight smile. "Maybe I was," he replied, his voice steady, his mind already spinning, trying to figure out why Changbin was still holding onto him.

Changbin's eyes sharpened, and Felix caught the subtle shift in his expression, a recognition, not just of Felix's presence, but of something deeper. Something that made Felix's pulse race.

Felix's mind began to churn. How the hell does Changbin know me? He had spent years hiding behind his badge, staying under the radar, making sure no criminal knew who he really was. He'd been careful. So why did Changbin seem so damn sure of who he was?

Changbin smirked, his grip loosening but his eyes never leaving Felix. "You're a long way from your usual hunting grounds, Detective." The word hit Felix like a blow. Detective.

Felix's breath caught in his throat. His heart raced. Changbin knew. How the hell does Changbin know?

Cold dread trickled down Felix's spine, freezing him in place. He had never been careless. He'd always been two steps ahead. But now, the roles were reversed. Someone had been watching him. Tracking him. And if Changbin knew who he was...

Did Hyunjin?

Felix's throat went dry as Changbin continued to smirk. "You don't get it, do you?"

Felix didn't respond, his thoughts spinning wildly. Was Hyunjin playing me the whole time? Was he aware of Felix's true identity all along?

Changbin leaned in closer, lowering his voice just enough that Felix could feel the words as a whisper against his ear. "You're not the only one who watches, Detective," he murmured, his breath warm against Felix's skin. "We have eyes too."

Felix froze, his body going rigid. He couldn't let his shock show. He couldn't let Changbin see that he was rattled.

Changbin chuckled lowly, his smirk deepening. "I think knowing your weakness is supposed to scare you," he added, his voice light but filled with menace.

Felix clenched his jaw, his stomach churning as Changbin took a small step back, leaving Felix to deal with the weight of his words. The realization crashed over him like a wave. Hyunjin knew. He had to know.

But before Felix could react, Changbin's voice broke the silence again. "Careful, Detective," he said, the playful tone still there but tinged with an unmistakable warning. "You might not like what you find."

Felix stayed silent, his body rigid as he watched Changbin disappear into the crowd, heading back toward the VIP lounge.

It took all of Felix's strength to remain composed as he walked toward the exit, the weight of Changbin's words settling in his gut. Had Hyunjin known from the beginning? Had he been playing me the entire time?

Felix didn't know. But now, more than ever, the line between them was blurrier than it had ever been.

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1350 words