The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 245

The thick, sweet scent clung heavily to Uijae’s lungs, filling the dark space. It was nearly enough to drive him mad. The liquid pooling on the floor was likely Sa-young’s blood. The clothes Uijae wore, provided by the Wave Guild, seemed to offer some protection; they were soaked but not corroding. That allowed him to embrace Sa-young’s trembling body without hesitation.

The clinking of chains echoed loudly. Sa-young’s ragged breathing and groans brushed against Uijae’s neck. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any wounds on his head. Uijae gently threaded his fingers through the tangled, sticky strands of Sa-young’s hair.

“When did you start this?”

“…A few days ago.”

“All day long?”

“Only… a few hours a day. It’s enough for now…”

Sa-young’s voice was so hoarse it was barely human, almost like the growl of an animal. Uijae moved to pat his back but stopped when he realized it was covered in countless stakes. It was a miracle he was still alive.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine… even like this, I won’t die.”

“……”

“The outsider and the guy outside both said I wouldn’t die…”

“How long do you have to keep doing this?”

“I don’t know… it’s just to buy time.”

The sound of Uijae gritting his teeth must have been audible because Sa-young’s body trembled, as if he were laughing. His ruined arms draped over Uijae’s shoulders, and he pulled him into a heavy embrace. Though his weight pressed down on Uijae, he could handle it. Wet lips brushed against his mask.

“How did you get here?”

“You disappeared after throwing some harsh words, so I asked around and found you. Why?”

“Ah, that… You’re still holding onto that?”

“Still holding onto it? What kind of question is that?”

Sa-young’s body shook with a dry laugh. After a moment, he steadied his breath and murmured in a faint voice.

“Don’t make me laugh… It hurts.”

“Do you find this funny? After telling me I wasn’t needed and disappearing…”

“That’s my fault… I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I hope you can forgive me.”

How could he describe the way his long-harbored resentment melted away with just one apology? It didn’t feel good. It felt like he was being swayed too easily by sweet words. But still…

His broken fingernails traced the outline of Uijae’s mask.

“Can’t you take off the mask?”

“……”

Even though he could have taken it off himself, he asked for permission. His actions, clinging to Uijae in pain, were strangely endearing. Uijae bit his lip, feeling heat rise to his face. He knew it wasn’t mature of him to feel this way, but he wanted Sa-young to rely on him just a little more. He wanted him to say he needed him more.

He wanted him to desire him more.

In a low voice, Uijae whispered.

“Should I take it off?”

The head resting against his neck slowly nodded. Uijae teasingly ran his fingers through Sa-young’s hair.

“You need to answer with words.”

“You’re being difficult…”

“You’re the one who's difficult most of the time.”

“……”

His wet fingers trailed along Uijae’s neck. In a voice as hoarse as ever, Sa-young whispered.

“Take it off.”

At that moment, a strange sense of satisfaction washed over Uijae. Satisfaction? No, it was a darker, more insidious feeling. With trembling hands, Uijae removed the mask. As if waiting, Sa-young’s wet fingertips brushed against his chin. His hand trailed from Uijae’s chin, across his cheek, and down to his lips. Uijae instinctively licked Sa-young’s fingers. The taste of blood lingered, both metallic and sweet.

“……”

The head that had been resting on his neck pulled away. Even in the darkness, their eyes seemed to meet. Uijae reached out and touched Sa-young’s face, then grabbed his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

Sa-young’s lips parted eagerly, welcoming Uijae’s tongue. The taste of blood mixed with a slow-building pleasure. Sa-young’s wet hands gripped Uijae’s shoulders and pushed him back. Without resisting, Uijae lay down on the damp floor. It was soaked.

Sa-young’s thick tongue filled Uijae’s mouth, roughly exploring every corner. Every time it brushed against his palate, a strange thrill coursed through him. He found it hard to breathe. Every breath he took through his nose was filled with the sweet, overwhelming scent, and their lips showed no sign of breaking apart. Sa-young’s knee pressed between his legs. Uijae wrapped his arms around Sa-young’s neck as he straddled him. Their lips finally parted, and Sa-young rubbed his wet lips against Uijae’s cheek.

“Hyung… ah, this feels good…”

His panting breaths were music to Uijae’s ears. His desperate clinging felt right. Uijae bit Sa-young’s ear. Sa-young’s wet tongue licked his cheek, making Uijae feel as if he were being pinned down by a beast.

‘Is this… really so bad?’

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Uijae stared into the endless darkness and bit the inside of his cheek. He closed his eyes, feeling his body temperature drop slightly.

‘This is bad…’

He could feel the all-too-familiar excitement consuming him. Sa-young’s knee, wedged between his thighs, constantly reminded him of its presence. As he listened to Sa-young panting in his ear, Uijae rubbed the back of his neck, trying to calm him down. But his efforts seemed to have the opposite effect—Sa-young, now like a wild dog, was biting and licking Uijae’s neck, chin, cheeks, ears, and eyes with reckless abandon. Each time, Uijae’s heat rose a little higher.

This can’t happen here. Not here. Uijae tried to push himself up, but Sa-young pinned him down by the shoulders. The purple gleam in his eyes flickered dangerously.

In a raspy voice, he muttered.

“Where… do you think you’re going?”

“No, this isn’t right. Sa-young, this isn’t right.”

“What isn’t?”

The sound of chains clinking and metal scraping rang out again. Only then did Uijae’s mind clear, and his head cooled. What had he been about to do? How could he be thinking about doing something like this with someone who had metal stakes driven into their back? Had he been intoxicated by the scent? He grabbed Sa-young’s hand, which was sneaking under his waist.

“Not here.”

“……”

‘…Did he understand?’

A black tongue licked up Uijae’s neck and began to nibble. Uijae squeezed his eyes shut.

‘He didn’t understand!’

There was no choice. Whatever happened, this couldn’t happen here. Not with Hong Yeseong’s *Emotion Sensing* keeping watch outside. With no other option, Uijae used his strength to sit up. Sa-young growled in frustration as he rose with him.

Before Sa-young’s wet hands could do any further damage, Uijae grabbed both of them. Right, hadn’t Jung-bin once said to always resolve things with words, no matter how difficult? Uijae spoke as firmly and clearly as possible, putting all his strength into each word.

“Later.”

“……”

“Not here, not now. Later. Got it? Not here, okay?”

“……”

“Hey, answer me. Answer.”

He couldn’t see Sa-young’s expression, but he could feel his displeasure. His captured hands kept squirming, but Uijae refused to let go. He had no idea what Sa-young might do if he did.

Sa-young muttered in frustration.

“You’re the one who kissed me first.”

“……”

“Why’d you lick my fingers?”

His sharp retorts left Uijae speechless. Technically, it *had* been his fault! Uijae tightened his grip on his restless hands.

“That was…”

“……”

“I must’ve been out of my mind.”

“…Out of your mind?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Oh, I see… So you’re saying it was a mistake? That all the kissing and licking was just because you were out of your mind?”

Sa-young’s cracked voice grew increasingly sarcastic. Damn it. He couldn’t hit someone with metal stakes in their back. Uijae clenched his eyes shut and shouted.

“That’s not it!”

“It’s not?”

“It was my decision, but!”

“But?”

“I’m saying I’m not going to… do more here.”

“……”

Thud, thud, thud. That was the sound of Uijae metaphorically digging his own grave. He had dug it pretty deep.

But he couldn’t stop now. He’d kissed Sa-young a few times, and none of it had been a mistake. Even though Lee Sa-young was someone he had saved, someone he had searched for for years, someone he thought of as a sibling, his only family—still, there was that.

Sa-young’s squirming fingers scratched at Uijae’s palm. Uijae bit his lip and bowed his head. A low chuckle escaped.

“I told you not to make me laugh…”

“……”

Uijae was ready to lie in the grave he had dug. Sa-young, who had been tracing circles on Uijae’s palm, suddenly leaned in closer.

“So, if we’re not going to do more here…”

“……”

“Where and when will we finish?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Hmm…”

“The world’s on the brink of collapse… Isn’t that why you’re doing all this in the first place? Trying to stop the apocalypse?”

“Oh, I see… So, we’ll finish after the world ends?”

“W-What?”

Why was it turning into this? Uijae widened his eyes in disbelief. But Sa-young had already decided on his own. His wet lips brushed against Uijae’s, giving him a quick peck before pulling away.

“I can wait for that long…”

“H-Huh?”

“Now, though…”

“……”

“Can you take me out of here?”

With that, Sa-young’s body, which had been heavy and tense, suddenly went limp, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, falling into Uijae’s arms. Uijae reflexively wrapped his arms around Sa-young’s collapsed body, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. He looked into the suffocating darkness, trying to make sense of it all, but all that came out was a confused murmur.

“Huh?”