Crown

7. Plans for Japan

"They don't belong to you? Then who is it?" Seonghwa furrowed his brows at Hongjoong, disliking the way the smirking man was standing so lax in his grip. He seemed entirely at ease with the current situation, even knowing that strangers were hunting them.

"I actually came to discuss that with you, seeing as it interferes not only with my work but also with yours. Aren't I such a good arch-enemy?" Hongjoong blinked innocently as if they wouldn't shoot each other on sight. Seonghwa pressed him against the rough wall boldly, aligning their bodies with each other. He tried to ignore the way Hongjoong's smaller form felt against him to the best of his ability, but his treacherous mind kept wandering off.

"Do you want me to call you a good boy now?" Seonghwa growled back darkly, trying to hide his irritation behind a defensive facade. Hongjoong shuddered as he breathed in Seonghwa's scent.

Seonghwa knew that this was wrong, that he was involuntarily luring in the omega with his promising scent. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to step back.

"Maybe? But I'm afraid you won't praise me even if I ask nicely. Let's just call it a favour from me," the redhair purred lasciviously, making the tension all the thicker as his eyes dropped to Seonghwa's lips. It was painfully obvious what he was trying to do, and for the first time, Seonghwa was glad not to be able to smell the other man. He might have tricked Seonghwa with that.

"Stop this; I'm not attracted to you." Seonghwa shifted his legs further apart to stand threateningly above Hongjoong. He wanted to clear the table right away and not leave Hongjoong any opportunities to tantalise him further. Their hostility towards each other would not escalate in attraction, no matter how gorgeous Hongjoong was these days.

"Are you sure? The way you look at me doesn't match your words."

"Stop teasing me, I know you're after the artefact. You came to talk, so talk."

Hongjoong gave him an angelic grin that curled the corners of his mouth like those of a cat. Immediately, he stopped trying to break free from Seonghwa's grip on him subtly.

"You got me again. You've grown sharper over the years, Park."

"Yet, it seems like your light has dulled. Aren't you more creative than that?" Suspicious, Seonghwa looked him up and down, shaking his head at the impractical piercings in his ears. One day, Hongjoong would rip his ear off because of them, and Seonghwa would laugh at him. He deserved that.

Still, Hongjoong's face looked far too smug for Seonghwa's liking. His pointy features made him appear like a mischievous imp. Seonghwa suspected he had ulterior motives. He had to, he always did.

"Hm, maybe I just came to confuse you? Who knows. So, what do you know about Takuya Terada, Angry Bird?" Hongjoong leaned back against the wall with a challenging stare.

Seonghwa quickly racked his brain and tried not to think about Hongjoong's firm chest pressing against his too much.

"He's that yakuza," San quickly supplied, and in exchange for that information, Seonghwa ignored the amused tone in his voice. That little brat was enjoying Seonghwa's struggle in his warm chair in England.

"The yakuza?"

Hongjoong gave a grave nod.

"Rather than me, you should worry about him stealing this artefact away. He broke into the university in Waseda to gain another piece a few days ago. Take a wild guess whose men this might be."

Perplexed, Seonghwa lifted his brow at the other man, not quite believing his words. But then again, Hongjoong had never lied to him. He was honest to the point of oversharing.