24H | SEVENTEEN

९७

Everything was finally... steady. But steady had always been the moment before something broke.

For the first time in years, Rumi's life felt like it was moving without a crisis snapping at her heels. The agency had granted her a long-overdue vacation. Jaemin was stationed back at headquarters where he belonged, Gu Hwa was under probation but alive and breathing, Dongmin survived his first reprimand, barely and even Chief Gwok looked marginally less murderous these days whenever he caught her hovering around Hyun.

And Wonwoo?

Rumi smiled, looking down at the warm tangle of hair nestled against her stomach. Wonwoo had fallen asleep half on top of her, his arm looped around her waist like he was afraid she might vanish. His lashes rested heavy on his cheeks, breath slow, steady. Her fingers slid through his hair, nails lightly scratching his scalp. He made a sleepy sound, burrowing closer like a contented cat.

"Kitten," she whispered fondly, brushing strands away from his eyes, "you're crushing me." He didn't move, just tightened his hold. Rumi's grin grew. "You know, you're getting better at it." His cracked open, making Rumi almost snicker. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know..." She tried her best to hold in her laughter, "you last longe-" Before Rumi could finish her sentence Wonwoo had already found his way, sealing her lips with his. Rumi giggled in between the kisses. "I dare you to say that again, noona." Wonwoo warned narrowing his eyes.  Rumi cupped his cheeks, mocking innocence. "But it's a compliment." Wonwoo rolled his eyes. "Innocence is not a great look on you." He retorted. Rumi chuckled, "Is it now?" She asked, her hand trailing down in between them. "Then which is, Wonwoo-ya..." His breath hitched, shoulders jolting as her fingers brushed him.

"N-noona..." He hummed. "It's morning. You shouldn't tease a man like this." Rumi smirked watching him crumble with every moment. "Who said I was teasing?" She whispered against his lips. Wonwoo had already lost the game, the way his eyes rolled back with low sound leaving his lips. Rumi rolled him onto his back. Her hair fell forward, a dark curtain grazing his face as she hovered above him, breath warm and steady.

Wonwoo blinked up at her, dazed but smiling, surrender in his eyes. A look which Rumi adored. "You say I shouldn't tease you..." She began leaving kisses down his neck slowly trailing downwards. Lips brushing against his pale before they reached the happy trial. "But you keep looking at me with those eyes." She whispered against him. Wonwoo bit his lip, his fingers slipped into her hair, tightening without him realizing. "Noona..." That sound again, Rumi's gripped tightened making arched his neck. "Kitten, it's you who's been hunting this hunter all along." Wonwoo hummed, his toes curling. "P-please noona..."

That plea was raw, shaky, her undoing. Rumi lifted her head just enough to meet his eyes, cat-slow, predatory, smiling. "Begging suits you." Wonwoo's breath caught, fingers flexing in her hair, eyes dark and whatever dignity he planned to salvage clearly gone. He shifted underneath her, his hips lifting when-

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The door-lock panel screamed its melody. Someone punched in the security code. Wonwoo's eyes widened in horror while Rumi's grin grew bigger. "No-no-no-"

"Rumi! Wonwoo! We brought breakfast!" Youngjae's voice boomed through followed by Mingyu's. "Are you guys up?!" Rumi burst into laughter as Wonwoo's face twisted in panic. "Should I tell him that we are...literally?" Wonwoo jerked at her movement, a sound living his mouth. Wonwoo grabbed her wrist and yanked her against him, whispering furiously, "Noona, stop-"

The door swung open.

"HYUNG-oh!" Mingyu froze mid-step, eyes wide, backing up like he saw a ghost. ""Uhhh—breakfast! BYE!" Door slammed shut. "Fuck! Why is it always me?!" They could hear him cursed outside the door. Rumi threw her head back and laughed as Wonwoo covered his face in despair.