[ regardless of how permeated jaejin is in whatever he drank, vie presses close and holds him even closer. this much he can do, and it's a reminder that this is what he fights for. this is what he's going to tear sunni down for, and after that, it's what he's building a different future for. he's so lucky to have found this feeling, to have found jaejin. it might put them at odds with the world, but it doesn't matter when they're both still alive and together. it's really all they should care about, in the end. ]

Some part of me was. At least for a while. [ because he hadn't told him immediately, and that, in turn, had hurt his feelings. ] But I understand why. You think you can protect me from everything. We need to protect one another, Jaejin. I would never let anything happen to you.

[ he turns his head then, pressing a kiss to jaejin's temple. ]

There is always a solution. It just takes time to figure out what it is.