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Being a superhero and dating Han Jisung had already been an extraordinary feat in Bang Chan's life. Imagine then being a superhero and marrying the love of your life? He practically deserved a medal. After all, juggling the job of saving the world with a romantic relationship wasn't for just anyone. But thankfully, we're not talking about just anyone; we're talking about Bang Chan, a true expert at making things work—the guy who, in the same afternoon, managed to stop an alien invasion and still make it in time for dinner with the in-laws. If anyone could pull off that feat, it was him, Super Bang.
The celebration for such an achievement had to be fitting: a five-star honeymoon. It was his chance to dedicate himself entirely to his love, who had already put up with countless interrupted dinners and canceled plans by his side. Finding a soulmate in the midst of chaos was rare, and finding one who accepted him completely was a miracle. Such luck couldn't be repaid with a simple "thanks for everything." It had to be celebrated in style.
As for the rest of the world... well, it could survive for a few days while Bang Chan was taking a quick dip in the Australian waters, stretching out on the sand, and making love to his husband. No one would get hurt if he was absent from his "duties" for such a short period. Besides, Changbin would be on standby to cover for him, as they had agreed. Humanity wouldn't be completely defenseless. Of course, he wouldn't be crazy enough to abandon his responsibilities, so he made sure to line up a competent substitute. Because this time, he really needed to be present. It was his honeymoon. And he couldn't drop the ball.
With all the preparations complete, the newlyweds set off for the coast and settled into the idyllic resort they had booked months ago. The luxury suite was comfortable and spacious, with a stunning view of the beach and plenty of room to celebrate their union in all sorts of ways. The scene was set for them, with rose petals scattered about and aphrodisiac chocolates on the bed. Keeping with tradition, Bang Chan made sure to carry Jisung across the threshold.
They popped a bottle of champagne to kick off the celebration, and as they felt the bubbles tickle their throats, they finally relaxed their shoulders. It was real. They were really married, and the rings on their fingers proved it.
The shared smiles soon turned into heated embraces, which in turn became clothes on the floor and muffled moans. When they finished the first of many sessions, Jisung kissed the tip of Chan's nose and murmured in the space between them:
"I can hardly believe I'll have you all to myself for the next seven days."
Chan took his husband's hand and kissed the finger that bore the ring.
"You can bet on it, my love."
◈
Chan's intention was noble when he promised his husband his undivided attention. It wasn't a spoken oath or a signed contract; it was a silent pact, forged in his own heart. For one week, he wanted Jisung to not have to share him with the rest of the world.
He knew all too well how much it hurt Jisung every time he stood him up, left in the middle of the night, or canceled plans because he had to take down some monster. There was an old debt there, one he intended to settle in full during the honeymoon. Therefore, no getting distracted by the well-being of humanity. That could wait.
Chan had just forgotten one crucial detail: evil doesn't take a vacation. The criminals didn't care if Super Bang was "on leave." In fact, they would probably love the news.
Completely ignoring Chan's schedule, there they were, in broad daylight, starting a mugging spree in the square where the couple was having lunch. His hero senses went off before the first scream even sounded, and an electric instinct shot through his body, ordering him to act. But he suppressed it. With a forced calm, he remained seated, handed his money over to the impatient mugger, and watched him flee with his accomplice, pretending to be just another tourist facing a mere inconvenience. Anything to not disturb his honeymoon.
"Chan!" Jisung protested, his voice low and urgent. "Shouldn't you...?"
"Relax, love. It's our honeymoon. I'm not letting anything interrupt us."
"But they're getting away! You can't let that happen!"
"The police will handle them," Chan replied, with a calmness that didn't match the situation.
Jisung's eyebrows furrowed, concern clouding his eyes.
"Han Jisung," Chan began, his tone solemn, taking his hand across the table. "Look at me. This is our honeymoon. No more interruptions. For now, at least, you deserve my full attention."
"But—"
"No 'buts'," he said, gently squeezing his hand. "They'll survive. The good people, I mean. Everything will be fine. Trust me."
Jisung remained restless for the rest of the meal. The weight of a terrible selfishness settled in his chest. How could he claim a hero's attention for himself while others needed him?
"I feel guilty," he admitted as they left the square, hand in hand. "Promise me you'll step in if something like that happens again. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of us."
"You have no reason to feel guilty. Everything's under control, it was an isolated incident."
"Even so. I wouldn't mind if you needed to step away. You know that, don't you?"
Chan stopped and hugged him, taking a deep breath of the scent of his hair. He couldn't promise anything. He couldn't tell him about the silent pact he had made, certain that Jisung would be furious at the idea of being the reason someone might get hurt. So, he just nodded against his shoulder, a vague gesture to reassure him. From that moment on, his mission would be twofold: enjoy the honeymoon and, at the same time, shield his husband from the misadventures of the world.
◈
Keeping the honeymoon safe from evil was proving to be a full-time mission. Being a magnet for trouble, Chan had to operate in a constant state of alert, using his super-senses not to detect missiles, but to steer the couple away from thieves, assassins, and shady characters. In just the first two days, he already felt exhausted. When had this beach gotten so unsafe?
Perhaps the problem was too much exposure. Staying inside the resort, enjoying the pool, seemed like a safer bet. What could go wrong?
A loud bang, followed by a wave of screams, answered his question.
"What happened?" Jisung tried to get out of the water, but Chan's hands held him firmly in place, going against the flow of all the other fleeing guests. "We need to see if anyone got hurt!"
"Calm down, it was probably nothing," he said, trying to sound convincing.
"Babe!" Jisung protested.
"You don't need to worry," Chan said, pulling him into his arms, which were strong enough to stop a train yet as comforting as a safe haven. "They'll handle it."
"'They' who?"
"The police. Civil defense. And I'm sure the local hero will sort it out," he invented, hoping his husband wouldn't notice the irony in his voice.
"Oh, there's a hero here too?" Jisung asked, genuinely curious.
"Of course! How do you think other cities survive without me?"
"Well, in that case..." he conceded, visibly relieved, and wrapped his arms around his husband's neck. "It's nice you don't have to take care of everything all the time."
Chan kissed him, a tender gesture to seal the lie, and guided him to the opposite end of the pool, whispering nonsense in his ear to keep him distracted.
Later, back in the room, Chan intercepted Jisung's hand before it could reach the remote control, stopping him from coming face-to-face with the news report about the collapsed building next door. There were no injuries, but the police were investigating a criminal act due to the presence of dynamite. If Jisung found out, he would surely insist that he help, and that was out of the question.
"How about that seafood restaurant you wanted to try?" he suggested, changing the subject with the agility of someone dodging a lightning bolt.
"Great idea!" Jisung agreed, rushing to get ready.
On the way, however, Chan spotted the cordoned-off area. Debris blocked the street, and traffic was chaos. Civil defense, reporters, curious onlookers... passage was impossible. Luckily, Jisung was distracted by the shop windows, and the hero seized the opportunity to pull him into a chocolate shop.
"What are you doing?" Jisung laughed, caught by surprise.
"Gifting you your favorite treat."
"But I won't be hungry for dinner," he grumbled, though his eyes were already glued to the colorful wrappers.
"You can eat it later," Chan said, already paying for an elegant box. "Let me spoil you. Shouldn't I be trying even harder to deserve you now?"
Jisung, left without an argument, gave a shy look of surrender and kissed him.
By the time they left the shop with bags and half-eaten chocolate popsicles, the dinner plan had been forgotten. The new idea was to return to the resort, order room service, and feast alone.
(Of course, this brilliant suggestion came from our ingenious hero, but he would never let Jisung suspect his true intentions).
◈
With the beach and the pool crossed off the list of safe locations, Chan started the next day with a new plan: to keep Jisung confined to their room. The reasoning was simple: if you couldn't compete with the world of crime, you had to be smarter than it. After all, what place could be safer than these four walls? There, no thug or madman could interrupt them. They would be isolated, shielded from the chaos. The plan couldn't fail.
The operation began at dawn. Chan woke his husband not with an alarm, but with hot kisses and a dedication that took his breath away. During breakfast, he fed him by hand while keeping him in his lap. Unhurriedly, they made love in a fragrant bubble bath, by candlelight, until the water grew cold. The objective was clear: to exhaust Jisung with pure romance.
And it worked. Before lunch had even arrived, Jisung's legs already felt wobbly.
"You woke up with a lot of energy today," he sighed, as he felt his husband embrace him from behind while he was choosing an outfit.
"Don't wear anything. You won't need it," Chan whispered mischievously, kissing his bare shoulder.
"What about our dive to see the coral reefs?"
"We can do that another time."
"Bang Chan!" Jisung laughed, turning to face him. "You were dying to go on this trip before we came."
"It's just that I've found something much more interesting to do here."
"No way. This isn't like you," he said, suspicion dawning in his eyes.
The hero swallowed hard, fearing his strategy was too obvious. It was Jisung's look that saved him.
"Wait... are you still scared of the sea urchins?"
Chan blinked, confused for a split second, before remembering the conversation they'd had about the dangers of Australian wildlife. He had promised to keep an eye on his husband, who, being "all too human" and with his "head in the clouds," could easily get hurt. It was the perfect excuse.
"Oh, yeah, honey! That's it!" he exclaimed, putting on his best look of distress. "What if something happens to you? Our honeymoon would be interrupted!"
"Nothing's going to happen! The place is safe, and you'll be with me. I know you're not the biggest fan of the water because of your powers, but we're not going to face any sea monsters. It's just a tour!"
Don't be so sure about that, Chan thought, quickly pushing away the mental image of something sinister emerging from the depths to ruin their outing.
"And we can't stay cooped up in this room all day," Jisung argued calmly, sealing his husband's lips with his. "You planned everything so carefully, you deserve to enjoy this vacation too."
"But my plan was always to please you. And I know you love lazing around in the room."
"It's different, it's our honeymoon. We've barely taken any pictures at the tourist spots. How are we going to make an album with only pictures from the room?"
"It would be an... intimate album," he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.
"No way!" Jisung laughed, his cheeks blushing.
"Love, you're already tired," Chan insisted, playing his last card. "It's not good to go diving like this."
"I can have an energy drink."
Chan let out a frustrated sigh. He was out of arguments.
"You're not going to convince me to give up!" Jisung declared with a triumphant air, turning back to his clothes. "Come on! And don't even try that puppy-dog face!"
And just like that, the hero watched his elaborate stratagem sink. Another attempt would risk Jisung's trust, and he didn't have the courage to confess the real reason for his apprehension. The only way forward was to give in and ensure that, since they were going, nothing would spoil their day.
"Are you sure you don't want to get in?" Jisung asked later, leaning on the edge of the boat, his body already geared up for the dive. He looked at Chan, who had backed out at the last second.
"I'm sure. You can go. I'll watch you from here and take pictures."
A shadow of disappointment crossed Jisung's face, but he didn't press the issue and followed the instructor's directions. It pained Chan to disappoint him, but he couldn't go back on his decision.
The problem was the water. The moment he activated his powers, his skin would become as dense as osmium, and he would sink like a lead statue. The memory of the last time still haunted him: the crushing weight of his own body, water filling his lungs, and the blurred vision of Changbin hoisting him from the seabed. It was an experience he had no desire to repeat. The aquatic territory was definitively not his jurisdiction. With the stress of protecting Jisung turning the honeymoon into a survival challenge, his powers were already unstable. Risking it was unthinkable.
From the boat, dry and safe, Chan's superhuman vision pierced the sea's surface, allowing him to admire the coral reef. A genuine smile appeared as he saw Jisung gesturing, enchanted by the marine life. Despite everything, he was happy to have provided that memory. And amidst all the anxiety, he allowed himself to dream of the next time they would have moments like this, just for themselves.
He was so engrossed in this new mission—of ensuring Jisung's happiness—that for an instant, he forgot about the world. It was only for a second. A moment of a lowered guard. And then, the sound tore through the air. A roaring engine, screams cutting through the sea breeze. Two jet skis zipped past the boat.
Threat. He didn't think; he just reacted. In a fluid, violent motion, Chan threw himself into the water. His only instinct was to place himself between his husband and the danger. In seconds, he reached Jisung, wrapping him in his body, becoming a human shield as his skin began to harden.
"Chan! You scared me!" Jisung exclaimed, pulling off his mask and coughing on the water that had flooded his mouth.
But Chan didn't hear him. With his eyes scanning the horizon for shooters or bombs, he didn't even feel the extra weight accumulating in his limbs, pulling them down. But Jisung felt it. He felt the protective embrace turn into an anchor, dragging him into the depths.
"Babe! Look at me!" he pleaded, struggling against the steel-like grip. "Chan, it's me! You're sinking us!"
It was the panic in Jisung's voice, the feeling of his body thrashing not for help, but to escape him, that finally broke the trance. A flash of horror shot through his mind. He retracted his osmium layer all at once and, with a powerful thrust, brought them both back to the surface and to the safety of the boat.
"Sorry! Oh my God, I'm so sorry," he pleaded, his voice hoarse, as he helped a gasping Jisung sit up.
It was only when they were back on dry land, wrapped in towels, that they could talk.
"What happened out there, Chan?"
He couldn't face Jisung.
"I don't know. I... panicked. I'm sorry for ruining everything."
"You didn't ruin anything," Jisung said, his voice soft. He held Chan's face, forcing him to look at him. His hands were still trembling slightly. "You just scared me. Are you okay?"
Chan took a deep breath, but the air did little to relieve the weight on his chest. Guilt gnawed at him. He, who had sworn to protect Jisung from the world, had become the danger. The image of his husband drowning in his arms replayed in his mind, a bitter poison. How could he be so haunted by his duty that he'd nearly taken the life of the man he loved?
"I'm fine. And you? Did I hurt you?" he asked, his voice heavy with sadness.
"No. I'm perfectly fine," Jisung answered firmly.
"I feel terrible about it."
"It was an accident. Come on, let's take a walk and forget about it."
They walked along the shore, took silly couple photos, bought street food, and slowly, the sound of Jisung's laughter began to drown out the noise of guilt in Chan's mind.
The calm, however, was short-lived. Half an hour later, the paranoia crept back in. Every sudden movement in the crowd, every child's scream or machine's noise, sounded like an alarm in his head. His eyes scanned the beach for threats that didn't exist.
It was Jisung's soft touch on his arm that anchored him back to reality, silencing the storm of imaginary dangers.
"Why are you so tense?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"Sorry. I didn't..."
"Is something bothering you? We can go back to the hotel."
"No, it's fine. It's me. I'm being paranoid."
"You deal with danger all the time. It's normal for you to feel this way."
"But I didn't want to ruin our honeymoon!" the frustration escaped in his voice. "It was supposed to be a refuge, and instead, I brought all my chaos with me."
He barely realized that, in his eagerness to protect the honeymoon, he was absent from it, lost in his own anxiety.
"Chan, look at me." Jisung pulled him by the hand, forcing him to stop. "You're not ruining anything. Being here with you, exactly like this, is the best moment of my life. I just want you to enjoy it too. Let's leave the rest of the world outside, just for a while, and just be together."
Chan trusted his husband, and the two returned to their room. Eager to dispel the tension, Jisung had Chan take off his shirt and lie on his stomach, starting a relaxing massage.
"This is nice," Chan murmured, his eyes closed.
"What? The massage or the masseur?" Jisung joked, leaving a kiss on his exposed nape.
"Hmm..." Chan turned in a swift movement, capturing Jisung in an embrace. "You, my love."
Jisung's laughter was muffled as his neck was attacked by kisses. The session would have continued all over his body, if not for the knock at the door.
"Room service!"
Room service? But they hadn't ordered anything...
Chan's instinct took over. In a second, he was on his feet, cautious, the skin of his arms already shifting into a silvery metal. He saw the doorknob turn. The door opened a crack, and the barrel of a gun appeared in the opening.
In the same instant, two sounds exploded in his ears: the shattering of the balcony glass and Jisung's terrified scream.
Chan turned just in time to see a nightmare of metal and glass. Mechanical claws tore through the balcony door and closed around Jisung. His scream was cut short by the sound of his body being violently ripped from the room. Chan lunged forward, but the intruder from the door was already inside, blocking his path.
Shots rang out. The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off his now-metallic chest. The masked shooter was just a distraction; he knew it.
"I don't have time to waste on you," Chan growled, and with a single blow, he threw the man across the hallway.
He ran to the destroyed balcony. Below, a gigantic, spider-like machine was moving away, carrying Jisung in its claws. That technology, the grotesque form... it could only be one man.
Doctor Kim.
His number one enemy. The mad scientist who harbored a morbid fascination with his osmium skin since the days they worked together. Kim saw his power not as a gift, but as a technology to be stolen, copied, and sold. And now, after countless battles and horrific contraptions, the villain had finally found his weakness. He hadn't come for Chan. He had come for Jisung, to use him as bait.
With Jisung as a hostage, brute force was out of the question. One miscalculated punch, and he could hurt the person he loved most.
Chan leaped from the balcony, landing with an impact that cracked the pavement. He ran after the arachnid form, which moved slowly down the street, the ground trembling with each heavy step. Upon spotting his approach, the machine opened fire. Laser beams cut through the air, forcing him to zigzag, while short-range missiles were deflected by him toward the sea, away from the buildings.
Liquid metal formed in his palm, solidifying into dense spheres that he hurled with surgical precision at the machine's missile ports. The sound of the impact echoed through the street, followed by muffled explosions within the robot's chassis. The metal creature shuddered, and Chan seized the opening to climb it.
He spotted Jisung, trapped but conscious in one of the claws, and launched himself toward him. A metallic punch to his back stopped him, throwing him back onto the asphalt with brutal force.
"Chan!" Jisung's desperate cry came from above.
He got up, just in time to see the culprit: Doctor Kim himself, atop the spider, holding a bazooka.
"Surrender, Super Bang! Or your husband suffers the consequences!" the villain's voice was imperious and distorted by a megaphone.
"You won't lay a finger on him!" Chan retorted, charging forward again.
Then, the unthinkable happened. With a sadistic move, the claw swung back and hurled Jisung in a deadly arc toward the sea.
There was no choice. There was no hesitation. The instant Jisung cut through the air, Chan's osmium armor dissolved. The hero gave way to the husband, and all that mattered was speed. His muscles burned as he sprinted across the sand. He wouldn't be able to catch him in time, but he hoped the water would cushion the impact.
He dove, the saltwater burning his eyes, just as Jisung's body hit the surface. But the danger came from above. A sharp whistle. Missiles. Instinctively, a metal shield sprouted from his arm, intercepting the blasts that lit up the seabed.
The darkness of the water swallowed him, and the familiar weight began to pull him into the abyss. Panic clawed at his throat, but one face supplanted the fear: Jisung. This was no time to fail. With an effort of will, Chan dispersed every gram of osmium from his skin, becoming light enough to swim powerfully to his husband and pull him to the chaotic surface.
"I hope this night swim isn't part of the package," Chan joked, relief flooding his chest as he saw Jisung cough and spit out water.
"If it is, I want a refund," he replied, his voice hoarse and trembling from the cold. "Go. I'll manage. You have to finish him."
Leaving him there, in the freezing sea, was unthinkable. But before Chan could argue, the arachnid machine reached the edge of the beach, and the next missiles were launched. A wall of water, driven by the explosion, rose above them. The wave crushed them, separating them in a whirlwind of foam and darkness.
Fighting without his armor was like fighting naked. Every wave was a punch, every second a battle against his own weight, and in the midst of it all, there was Jisung, terribly human, in need of protection. Oh, this honeymoon would definitely be one for the books!
Impatient, Chan made metal sprout from his hand, extending it into a solid staff. With a cry of effort, he drove it into a submerged rock, creating an anchor in the midst of the chaos. He pulled Jisung to him, who clung to him with the strength of desperation.
"Can you hold on here?" he asked, though the answer was obvious. The waves were crashing violently against the rock, and without his grip, Jisung would be swept away.
"I need something to hold onto!"
Understanding immediately, Chan touched the rock and, in seconds, a metal structure grew from it, forming a protective cocoon around Jisung, with bars for him to hold onto.
"Hold on tight. I won't be long," he promised, his eyes locked on his husband's, before launching himself back into the churning water.
Chan swam to the shore, using the momentum of the waves to get there faster. The moment his feet touched the sand, his entire body solidified into pure osmium. Every step was a thunderclap. He didn't mock the machine; he ignored it as an irrelevant obstacle. Doctor Kim, in a panic, fired more missiles, but the explosions dissipated harmlessly against his chest. Chan's first punch was an earthquake, ripping off one of the machine's legs and sending the metal giant toppling. The second tore through the front chassis as if it were cardboard. The explosion that followed was the contraption's final gasp.
Doctor Kim tried to flee the wreckage, but Chan was already on him, pinning him to the ground with metal cuffs that sprouted from his hands.
The authorities finally arrived. Ignoring the calls of the police officers, Chan just pointed at the immobilized villain and demanded an inflatable boat. Leaving his enemy to the justice system, he rushed to get Jisung, who was shivering from cold and fear, huddled on the dark rock.
"I'm so sorry, my love," he said, his voice thick with emotion, as he welcomed him into his arms back on dry land. "I tried everything to make this honeymoon perfect, but you married the worst guy in the world."
"Are you kidding?" Jisung looked at him, his eyes shining. "I'd be an idiot not to have married you. You're the best person I've ever met. The best in the whole entire world."
"But I'll always drag this chaos into your life," Chan insisted, the guilt heavy in his words as he carefully wrapped him in a blanket, as if he were the most fragile and precious thing in the universe. "You deserve someone less... complicated."
"But then it wouldn't be you," Jisung claimed, and despite his hair stuck to his forehead and his lips nearly purple from the cold, his gaze was unwavering. "I knew exactly what I was agreeing to. I embraced the chaos the moment I put on this ring." He held up his left hand. "You think I'd trade this for a quiet night in? Never."
Chan laughed, a sound that was half a sob, and hugged him tighter.
"What did I do to deserve you?" he sighed.
"You saved my world, many times," Jisung replied with simplicity, and kissed him. "And now... what's this about you 'trying everything' not to be interrupted? Bang Chan, what have you been up to?"
The hero smiled, a guilty and relieved smile. That was the part of the chaos he could, and would, keep to himself.
"Nothing, love. Just an expression. Shall we go back to the hotel?"
And with one motion, he pulled the blanket over Jisung's head, lifting him over his shoulder to carry him back, no longer as a groom on a honeymoon, but as a hero carrying his safe harbor home.