Chapter Text
“Guild Leader. Hunter J is here to see you.”
Oh? Lee Sa-young paused his work and looked at the flashing light waiting for his response. Clicking his tongue he pressed the button that connected to the secretary’s office.
“Let him through.”
Hearing a confirmation he released the button and continued to go through the stack of papers left on his desk It was the guild leader’s first day back in the office for over a month. While it usually fell on Bae Won-woo to make up for his absence there were still things that required the Guild Leader’s approval.
Though, this visit was strange. Lee Sa-young couldn’t think of anything that warranted the number one hunter’s presence. J scarcely visits the guild, and when he does, there is usually a clear purpose or indication in advance.
The black-clad hunter continued his business before hearing soft steps approaching the office. Lee Sa-young paused his movements and waited for the usual polite knock from the older hunter. He was planning to make the older hunter wait a bit before entering but the plan was dashed as the door suddenly opened.
“Excuse me.” Lee Sa-young could hear the soft click of the door closing and a familiar modulated voice filled the silent office.
“Hunter J.” Lee Sa-young drawled out lazily, not allowing this sudden change in script to ruin his fun. Lee Sa-young continued to flip through papers, not looking at the other hunter.
“What does the country’s hero wish to discuss in the middle of the work day? With no appointment either.”
“Hmm? Ah, apologies. I suppose I was just in a hurry.”
“Oh?” That statement made Sa-young look up. He narrowed his eyes and studied the other man. When J was in a hurry that usually meant something big was happening yet the hunter in front of him looked relaxed. Actually, his whole demeanor seemed oddly spirited.
“... and why might that be?”
“I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“And the first thing you do is come in freely as if you own this place.”
Lee Sa-young sat up and tilted his head, giving the offending hunter a look of irritation. As he was in his office alone, he forgone the usual gas mask.
It was true that they hadn’t seen each other in a month. While they don’t speak much, their positions usually mean time spent with each other in passing for work or other functions. However, periods of not seeing each other are not uncommon.
“Is the number one admitting to missing lil ol me?”
“Yes.”
Lee Sa-young wasn’t expecting the quick admission to his teasing question. He was expecting the usual curt dismissal of ‘nonsense’ or ‘shut up’. But for this closed-off man to give an affirmative response…
“Haaaa. Did you hit your head or something while I was gone?”
The man didn’t reply. J just looked at Lee Sa-young as he stood a few feet away from where the poison hunter was sitting. Then the Bureau hunter started to move toward the table in an almost leisurely way.
Hmm?
While J wasn’t one to move away immediately when Sa-young entered a room, he still maintained a respectful distance from him and all the people he interacted with.
He waited, curious as to what the number one hunter was up to. Did he want to fight?
He watched as J lifted a hand and calmly reached for Sa-young's free hand resting on the table surface. Puzzled, the poison hunter didn’t resist as the other man pulled his gloved hand up, holding the fingers of his hand in a loose grip. Just as unhurried as his other movements J lifted Lee Sa-young's hand until he held it to where his mouth would be.
Ha
“What are you doing?”
Lee Sa-young made sure to sound like he was scolding someone caught in a scandal. Something that the number one tends to avoid yet the man in question remained unphased. Instead of jumping back like Lee Sa-young expected, J maintained his hold and tilted his head. Even with a mask, Lee Sa-young could feel an intense gaze from the other man, a gaze he never felt from J before. It made his heart jumpstart.
“As I please.” He feels the grip on his hand grow firmer, but not in a painful way. It was as if he didn’t want Sa-young to escape. Then Lee Sa-young felt his fingers brush against the smooth surface of the hero’s mask.
Huh?
“After all, isn’t that what you think of me? A person who does as they please?”
J presses the back of Sa-young’s gloved fingers firmly to his mouthpiece. The poisonous man swears he could feel J’s soft breath along his hand.
“I am only fulfilling your assumptions.”
Haaaaa
“So you wish to go around sniffing things like a dog?” Lee Sa-young pointedly ignored his rapidly beating heart. He let his mouth run, trying to regain some control or logic in this turn of events.
Though J didn’t seem offended by his words. The man only hummed, as if in consideration.
“I suppose you aren’t entirely wrong.” Then, without releasing Sa-young’s hand J lifted a hand to his face and…
What was he…?
Lee Sa-young watched captivated as J slowly slipped his mask upward. The mask remained on, continuing to obscure the upper parts of the man’s face but bellow it, the black gave way to the lines of a sharp jaw and smooth pale skin. However, what was more striking was the pair of lips curved upward in a playful smile.
What?
“You always smell so sweet, Sa-young.” A foreign voice, low and melodic, cut the silence of the room.
Wait.
J adjusted his grip and suddenly, Lee Sa-young felt the soft brush of lips on his palm. Lee Sa-young felt an unfamiliar heat rise and spread across his cheeks. His heart was hammering against his chest yet when he tried to listen to the other man’s pulse it remained frustratingly calm.
“It makes me wonder…” The feather-light feeling of lips traveled from his palm down to his exposed wrist. “...if you taste just as sweet.”
All thoughts left Lee Sa-young’s mind as he watched J’s teasing lips place a kiss on his bare skin.
At that moment, Lee Sa-young was questioning several things. Was this a hallucination? Was this really happening? What brought this on? Are you under a curse or something? But the only question that escaped his mouth was
“Are you stupid?” Lee Sa-young’s face twisted to a mocking leer which he hoped was still effective despite his heated face.
Did J forget about his S-class poison or did he feel so powerful that he believed he could handle it? A poison that burned even Jung Bin, another S-class hunter.
Lee Sa-young felt a well of sudden disappointment as he felt the lips lift from their place on the inside of his wrists. Though, the disappointment was quickly overtaken by another emotion as he watched those beautiful lips tilt up in amusement for a moment and then start to part.
J’s retort was interrupted by a sharp beeping from J’s earpiece, making both hunters freeze. After a beat, a soft sigh left parted lips. J lifted his free hand and clicked the microphone to answer.
“This is Hunter J.”
“Ah, J-ssi.” It was Jung Bin. “Where did you run off to?”
“I was just taking care of business.”
“I see… Well please hurry back, the Director would like to meet with you.”
“Understood, I’m on my way.” J clicked the microphone off and let his hand fall to his side.
Lee Sa-young observed as the other man’s mood shifted from bubbly to resigned. His mouth formed a subdued smile that made something in Sa-young’s chest twist. He didn’t like that expression.
“Duty calls I’m afraid.” The comforting voice admitted softly. Before Lee Sa-young could respond, J lifted Sa-young’s hand once more and placed a soft kiss on the poison hunter’s open palm.
“I’ll see you soon.” With those parting words, J released Sa-young's hand and disappeared. The only indication of his parting was a breeze and the soft click of the door.
Lee Sa-young just sat there, paperwork forgotten as he tried to make sense of what happened in the last few minutes. Minutes. What?
“Haahaa.” Lee Sa-young released his pen and used his freed hand to run it through his hair. Lifting the hand J held, he stared at it uncomprehendingly.
Was the older man trying to mess with him?
Lee Sa-young decided to table the incident for later when he could shake answers from the number one. Lee Sa-young rubbed his temple before looking back at his hand, heart picking up as he thought of the exchange. Soft lips, a playful smile, a smooth voice.
Before he knew what he was doing, Lee Sa-young lifted his arm and covered his mouth with the palm of his hand. He felt the heat return to his cheeks as his face twisted uncomfortably.
What am I doing?
He ducked his head down so that his lips touched the inside of his wrist. The place where a phantom kiss continued to set his cold skin ablaze.
What a shameless ploy, Lee Sa-young thought as he tried to calm his racing heart.