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Sung Hyunje wasn’t overly surprised to receive a call from Han Yoohyun. They both had to keep a close eye on Han Yoojin. It only made sense that they would stay in contact, and, well, if they regularly messaged each other about things that did not concern Han Yoojin, then no one needed to know that, either.
However, that didn’t stop the way his eyes widened when he answered the call, only for Han Yoohyun to say instantly, “I need you over here immediately.”
The voice did not sound angry. In fact, Han Yoohyun’s voice almost sounded hurt, or perhaps melancholic was a more precise term. Although, there was also panic in his tone, as if he didn’t know what to do about his situation.
“What seems to be the trouble?” he asked, already standing up from his chair. In his mind, Sung Hyunje had already dismissed any of his future appointments for the day. Kang Soyoung would be sure to take heed as soon as he left for the Haeyeon Guild.
“I need you to help me stop my hyung from killing himself.”
Sung Hyunje’s steps paused. He blinked as if he couldn’t comprehend the sentence. “I’m sorry?”
“There was a dungeon incident and—” Han Yoohyun let out a string of curses, as if he was yelling at someone. He returned with a panting, gasping breath, “I need you to get over here now because there are three Han Yoojin’s and they all despise each other. One of them is already being looked over for his stab wound.”
It was supposed to be a day full of boring meetings and repeated occurrences. Han Yoojin, as always, made things more exciting.
Sung Hyunje clicked off his phone. He ignored anyone who tried to stop him. His partner needed him; he would be there as soon as physically possible. Even faster, if he could.
The Haeyeon Guild was not a bloodbath, as Sung Hyunje was expecting. Instead, there was a cowering Doctor Seok, a thin-lipped Kim Sunghan, and a displeased Park Yerim who looked as if she couldn’t figure out how to help the chaos that was happening in front of them.
Sung Hyunje stayed back, letting Han Yoohyun do as he needed. He wouldn’t interfere quite yet. That wouldn’t do any good, he told himself. He didn’t even know what the true problem was. Clones did not have to be bad. Some could be good. Some could be useful for certain endeavours.
Han Yoohyun did not want Sung Hyunje to arrive only to do nothing, though. His eyes were blazing, a mixture of red and orange flickering his pupils like a dance. He pointed at Sung Hyunje rather rudely, and barked out, “Take one of them!”
Sung Hyunje walked through, bypassing Park Yerim, who took her eyes away from the two squabbling Han Yoojins to give the blond a hard, analytical look.
He patted Han Yoohyun on the shoulder, earning a slight growl. He smiled in return, calm and reserved. Han Yoohyun didn’t roll his eyes, so this problem was slightly more serious than Sung Hyunje thought. Han Yoohyun was stressed enough not to give in to pettiness.
“What do we have here?” he murmured, looking down at a Han Yoojin with interest.
Han Yoojin was marked with a small black star under his right eye. The other Han Yoojin in the room had no such thing, which made Sung Hyunje believe that the Han Yoojin he was near was a clone, while Han Yoohyun was speaking with the actual man.
Sung Hyunje gave the clone a look over. He looked eerily similar to the one he loved. The clone had his hair parted the same way, but as Sung Hyunje placed his hand on the strands, the clone didn’t try to break free. No, this wasn’t his Han Yoojin at all. The hair was softer than normal, too. He rubbed the locks between his fingers with a hum, before turning to see the Han brother pair.
Han Yoohyun took a breath, glad to have backup. It appeared that Han Yoohyun did not trust that Park Yerim, despite being an S-rank, would help. Did a fight break out? Sung Hyunje wondered with a smidge of glee. Han Yoohyun and Park Yerim rarely disagreed on matters related to Han Yoojin's safety. It must have been very serious.
Sung Hyunje glanced over to Han Yoojin, who had blood on his sleeve and a bruise forming on his cheek. He looked beautiful as ever, that stormy look in his eyes causing Sung Hyunje’s heart to skip a beat.
“What is this guy doing here?” Han Yoojin asked, his eyes on Sung Hyunje but his body turned toward his dongsaeng.
Han Yoohyun pinched the brow of his nose. “He’s here to help. Yerim could harm you if she isn’t careful enough, and you’re proven to do harm to yourself, so I needed someone who would be able to control themselves.”
“I didn’t harm myself,” Han Yoojin argued, as if he wasn’t giving the stink-eye to his clone that was standing passively next to Sung Hyunje. “They aren’t me.”
“They’re your clones,” the younger Han argued. His voice sounded strained. They definitely had this talk before.
Sung Hyunje tried to contain his smile. He wasn’t overwhelmed by the events. He was having a good time, overall. How else would he know that Han Yoojin had a mole at the base of his neck, if not for the clone letting him place his hand at his nape? Honestly, this could be a good thing.
“Han Yoojiin-gun should not feel bad about it,” Sung Hyunje argued, even if part of him felt that it was odd that Han Yoojin hated himself enough to be injured from it. “All forms of him are rather lovely.”
The platinum blond lifted his hand to stroke a piece of dark hair behind the clone’s ear. Han Yoojin wouldn’t let him do this unless they were alone, but the clone didn’t swat him away. All the clone did was glare and mutter, “Stupid bastard.”
It was like being presented with a kitten. Sung Hyunje was rather charmed. He continued to watch over the clone as Han Yoojin turned away. Sung Hyunje figured the clones would dissolve soon enough. For now, he would have fun.
He led the clone to a place where they could sit. The clone went with him, but complained. Han Yoojin always complained, but the clone lacked a ruthlessness to it. Sung Hyunje contained a sigh, telling himself that it was better that the clone was easy to detain. Imagine if another Han Yoojin, a true version of him, was here? It would involve more blood, he was sure.
“Do you have any memories?” Sung Hyunje asked.
The clone tilted his head. His eyes were previously focused on Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun, who continued to speak quietly. Every so often, their voices would grow in an explosion of fury, only to taper off again with a hard, pleading look from Park Yerim.
The clone replied belatedly, “Only recent ones. A couple of months' worth.”
“Hmm.” That was interesting. Sung Hyunje expected the clone to detest him since all their meetings were rather recent, but the clone didn’t seem too peeved by him. Sung Hyunje smiled, wondering if the actual Han Yoojin acted put on because he didn’t want to admit he was a softy under it all.
Sung Hyunje leaned back on the couch. He let the clone sit next to him. This clone didn’t seem as violent. He wondered what the clone, who had been injured, was doing. Did it have different memories? He tried to pretend that he was indifferent to the situation, but he was concerned.
Violence. He knew Han Yoojin could be violent. He just didn’t expect the man to have violent tendencies toward himself. He would have to watch over his partner more now that he knew. He would not have Han Yoojin die on him when he was the only thing that brought new light into his days.
Eventually, the Han brothers sat down as well, but on a different couch. Han Yoohyun kept a hand on Han Yoojin’s arm, holding him as if it were a leash. A jailor acting as a brother. Sung Hyunje nodded his head in appreciation. He did not want to see Han Yoojin bleeding anytime soon.
Less than an hour later, the clones dissipated. The one in the infirmary was the first to go, and then Sung Hyunje felt the warmth next to him fade. He missed the presence of the clone, but then he saw Han Yoojin biting his lip, looking away with an icy and tangled look in his eyes.
Sung Hyunje casually folded his arms across his chest, and asked, “Yoojin-gun looks like a mess, shall I lead him to the infirmary?”
Han Yoojin agreed, which made Sung Hyunje’s stomach swirl—he didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. It just was. He took Han Yoojin’s arm, looked at his face, promising to remember it no matter what, and walked the shorter man through Haeyeon.
It was only once they were in the elevator when Han Yoojin said, “Stop being so nervous, bastard, I’m fine.”
Ah, he couldn’t hide anything from his partner, could he?