Lines We Cross ||Front Man x Reader||

I sat on the edge of my bed, watching him pace around the room like a caged animal. In-ho, who was usually so composed and calculating... was clearly overwhelmed. His shoulders slumped in exhaustion, and every so often he'd stop to run a hand through his hair, as if trying to untangle the mess in his head. I was surprised, to say the least. Seeing him like this—so vulnerable, so damn human—shook me to my core.

I finally witnessed a side of him that I'd never imagined: the side that wasn't always cold, distant, and ruthless. He was a mess—an unpredictable, broken mess. I couldn't help but wonder what had driven him to this point, what guilt and regret he carried with him beneath that infamous mask.

As I sat there, I listened to the soft, uneven rhythm of his footsteps. I wished I could say I felt sorry for him, but the truth was complicated. Part of me wanted to run away, to escape his toxic hold and the chaos of these games, but another part—one I wasn't entirely willing to admit... felt inexplicably drawn to him.

After a long minute, he turned abruptly and walked over to me. I could see the conflict in his eyes as he approached, as if he was battling with his own thoughts while trying to decide what to do next. Without a word, he got on his knees in front of me and reached out, his hand sliding slowly around my thighs. He lowered his head until his hair brushed against my skin. He had layed his head peacefully on my thighs. His touch was gentle yet commanding, an interesting contrast to the brutal violence he was known for.

The unexpected intimacy of that moment nearly brought me to tears. I reached out and caressed his face, marveling at the soft line of his jaw. For a heartbeat, all the hatred, all the anger and betrayal, seemed to melt away.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and earnest. "Y/N, we both have to accept me the way I am. Even if I change, you can never erase my cruel past, and I can't be running away from it either. But I want you. I want all of you, all the goddamn time. I can't live without you, Y/N."

His words hit me hard, awakening emotions that I'd been trying desperately to bury. As he sat there before me. Broken, desperate, almost pleading. I felt something shift inside me. His confession touched a part of me. It was as if the very walls I'd built around my heart were starting to crumble.

But then, doubt crept in. My mind, ever the detective's, started to question everything. What if he was just manipulating me? What if this was another of his twisted games—a way to keep me here, to make me doubt my own need for freedom? The thought was sickening.

I thought about the times I'd sworn I'd never let him control me, how I'd promised myself I'd never fall into his trap. But here I was—conflicted, and inexplicably vulnerable. I cursed under my breath, wondering how many more lines I'd have to cross before I was swallowed whole by this madness.

Then, in a soft, almost hesitant tone, I finally managed to speak, "In-ho, I... I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to lose myself here, but I also can't walk away from you."

He looked at me, his eyes dark and steady, as if trying to read every hidden truth behind my words. "Y/N," he said, almost as if whispering a confession. His eyes flickered. I saw a trace of pain there, quickly masked by his usual arrogance. 

I swallowed, anger and longing warring inside me. "Okay you know what? Cut it out." I challenged, voice trembling with a mix of rage and something else—desperation, perhaps. "I mean, look at me. I'm supposed to finish what I started, but here I am, tangled up with the man I'm supposed to be fighting against."

He reached out, his hand coming to rest on my arm, the touch light and deliberate. "Y/N, you're my world right now. I can't promise I'll ever be the man you want, or the man you deserve. But I can promise that I'll fight every goddamn day to make sure that, in spite of it all, I'm worth it to you."

I stared at him, torn between repulsion and a growing, undeniable pull. His words were dangerous, seductive, and they filled me with a tumult of conflicting feelings. I wanted to scream that I hated him for dragging me into this mess, for making me question everything I'd ever believed. And yet, a part of me—the part that was raw and vulnerable—wanted to believe him.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. "I won't let emotions get in the way, In-ho," I spat out bitterly. "I can't afford to let your bullshit affect me."

A/N~ Little filler chapter, to keep you guys updated. <3 (I'm trying to stay as active as possible)