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The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Hyme paced the living room barefoot, wearing one of San's oversized hoodies that hung past his thighs, his tail swishing behind him in agitation. The photo. The message. His brother.
Lys.
That name tasted like ash in his mouth.
San watched him from the kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand, brow furrowed.
"He's provoking you," San said. "He wants you to act rashly."
"I know," Hyme muttered. "But he's not just poking at me anymore. He's threatening you."
San sighed. "I can handle myself."
Hyme spun around. "You shouldn't have to. This is my mess."
"Hyme—"
"I'm serious." Hyme marched over, eyes locked with San's. "Lys won't stop until he humiliates me publicly. That's why he's coming to the conference. To make sure everyone knows I'm just some pampered 'halfbreed'—and you're nothing more than a toy."
San's jaw tightened. "Then we give him a show he won't forget."
Hyme blinked.
"…What?"
San put down his coffee and stepped closer. "We go to that conference together. Proudly. You speak. I support. We don't hide."
Hyme stared at him. "You… you'd walk into a room full of supernaturals who look down on humans… just for me?"
San smirked. "Did you forget? I'm broke. I have nowhere else to go but with my spoiled catboy."
Hyme's ears flushed red.
"You're lucky you're hot," he muttered.
"I know," San said smugly.
But then, Hyme softened. "San… I'm scared."
San's smile faded. He reached out and pulled Hyme close, cradling his head against his shoulder.
"You're not alone."
A moment passed like that, warm and quiet.
Then San added, "Also, I had Wooyoung pull some strings. You're going to look like a damn prince at that conference."
Hyme looked up, his eyes gleaming. "Really?"
"Tailored suit. Velvet. Even your ears will match the cufflinks."
"I knew there was a reason I kept you around," Hyme said, grinning.
"I thought it was my abs."
"That too."
They spent the rest of the day prepping. Outfits were chosen. Invitations confirmed. Wooyoung texted with sarcastic advice. Kai sent a thumbs-up selfie with the caption: "Team SanHyme all the way."
But beneath all that, the tension hummed—quiet and cold.
Lys was coming.
And the game had only just begun.