Caesar let out a light scoff, shaking his head. "I don't kill everyone that comes my way." He placed a hand on his chest, tilting his head in mock offense. "It's self-defense, honey."
Eun-jae arched a brow, taking another slow sip. "Self-defense?" He repeated dryly. "Right. And I guess setting people on fire is just 'keeping warm.'"
Caesar grinned, his eyes dark with amusement. "Exactly."
Eun-jae let out a short laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're actually insane."
Caesar shrugged, completely unbothered. "Maybe. But at least I own it."
Eun-jae sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "And here I thought I had problems." He gave Caesar a pointed look. "You're out here treating murder like a hobby."
Caesar smirked, raising his glass slightly in a mock toast. "To doing what we're good at."
Eun-jae scoffed, clinking his glass against Caesar's before downing the rest of his drink in one go. He exhaled, shaking his head again.
Eun-jae exhaled slowly, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his glass as he watched Caesar. The man was lounging comfortably, an amused smirk playing on his lips, the dim light casting sharp shadows over his sharp features. He looked like he belonged in a painting—effortlessly elegant, yet dangerously unpredictable.
Eun-jae shook his head slightly and let out a dry chuckle. "You really are something else."
Caesar tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "Wow. I never knew you were this interested in me," he drawled, tapping his fingers against the table in an almost lazy rhythm.
Eun-jae rolled his eyes. "Tsk. Don't flatter yourself, Caesar." He let his head rest against the headboard, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before shifting his gaze back to him. "I just don't understand you."
And that was the truth. Caesar was a puzzle that didn't quite fit into any category Eun-jae had encountered before. He carried himself with the ease of someone who had never truly suffered, yet he willingly stepped into chaos as if it were second nature to him. There was no hesitation in the way he moved, no fear in his eyes when he spoke of danger. Instead, there was something else—something almost... exhilarated.
Eun-jae narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to decipher him. "I'm still trying to figure you out. You're well-off, clearly have connections, probably never had to work a day in your life, but instead of enjoying that privilege, you choose to throw yourself into the middle of all this shit. Why?"
Caesar didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned back, one arm resting casually over the back of his chair, the other lifting his glass to his lips. He took a slow sip, letting the alcohol linger on his tongue before swallowing. His icy blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he finally spoke.
"Like I said, I'm only doing this for the blueprints."
Eun-jae arched a brow, unimpressed. "Right. The 'blueprints.'" His tone dripped with sarcasm, as if he was tired of hearing that excuse.
Caesar merely chuckled. "And besides," he continued, "this is fun."
There it was again. That thrill in his voice, the barely concealed excitement.
"I love dangerous stuff," he admitted, his lips curving into a grin. "It makes the mission more entertaining."
Eun-jae stared at him, unblinking. There was something deeply unsettling about the way Caesar spoke about danger. He wasn't like the others who tolerated risk because their jobs required it. No, Caesar enjoyed it. It wasn't just a means to an end for him—it was the end itself.
A slow smirk spread across Eun-jae's lips as he tilted his head slightly. "Are you a sadist?"
Caesar let out a low chuckle, his fingers idly tapping against the table. "Why do you ask?"
Eun-jae shrugged, lifting his glass to his lips before responding. "Because you talk about danger like it's your personal aphrodisiac." He took a sip, the burn of alcohol sliding down his throat, before setting the glass down with a quiet clink. "The way you chase after it... It's like you're just waiting for something to go horribly wrong so you can enjoy the ride."
Caesar's smirk didn't fade. If anything, it grew wider, like he was amused by Eun-jae's words rather than offended by them.
The lack of denial made Eun-jae scoff. "Yeah. That's what I thought."
He leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him as he studied Caesar with the same fascination one might have for a wild animal—dangerous, untamed, and impossible to predict. "You're a goddamn lunatic."
Caesar simply grinned, lifting his own drink in a mock toast. "To being lunatics, then."
Eun-jae rolled his eyes but clinked his glass against Caesar's anyway, the sound of glass meeting glass echoing softly between them.
He didn't trust this man—not even for a second.
Eun-jae let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You really are something else."
Eun-jae swirled the remaining liquid in his glass, watching the amber liquid slosh against the sides before tilting his head to regard Caesar. His hazel eyes gleamed with something between mischief and mild skepticism. The air in the room was already thick with smoke and the lingering scent of alcohol, their conversation slipping into that easy, reckless territory that only strong drinks could lead people into.
With a slow smirk, Eun-jae lazily raised a brow. "Can you hold your liquor?"
It wasn't just a question. It was a challenge. A bait wrapped up in casual curiosity, waiting for Caesar to bite. Eun-jae had met plenty of men who talked big about their drinking tolerance, only to end up slurring their words and hugging the toilet after a few rounds.
Caesar, however, didn't even blink. Instead, he leaned back effortlessly, his long fingers drumming against the glass in his hand as his lips curled into that ever-present smirk—the one that said he was both amused and entirely unbothered.
"Hmm... yes."
His voice was smooth, filled with quiet confidence, as if the mere idea of getting drunk was laughable to him. Like he had danced with liquor so many times that it could never claim victory over him.
Eun-jae let out a small scoff, tilting his head as he observed him. "Oh? Is that so?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning forward with his elbow propped on his knee, resting his chin against his knuckles. His gaze raked over Caesar with thinly veiled amusement, like a cat toying with a particularly arrogant mouse. "You said that a little too fast. Usually, the ones who brag about their drinking skills are the first to hit the floor."
Caesar merely chuckled, exhaling a slow breath of smoke through his nose. "I don't 'brag,' sweetheart. I simply state facts." He took a slow sip of his drink, his movements deliberate and composed, like he was some aristocrat enjoying an expensive wine instead of cheap alcohol in a dimly lit room.
Eun-jae clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Tsk. You're so damn smug."
He poured himself another glass, letting the liquid fill up to the brim before knocking it back without hesitation. The burn was familiar, warm, settling deep in his stomach before spreading through his veins. He let out a small exhale, licking his lips before flashing a challenging grin.
"Alright, big guy. Since you claim to be such a heavyweight, let's see how many rounds you can last."
Caesar's smirk didn't falter. If anything, his eyes gleamed with something almost predatory—like he welcomed the challenge. "Careful, Eun-jae. You're going to regret this."
Eun-jae laughed, the sound light but laced with confidence. "Pfft, please. I was practically raised on soju. You think some overpriced whiskey is gonna take me down?"
He reached for the bottle, pouring another glass for himself before sliding it toward Caesar, his eyes never leaving the taller man's face.
Caesar picked up the glass with that same lazy ease, swirling it once before lifting it to his lips. The way he drank was controlled, unhurried, like he had done this a million times before and had never once lost.
Eun-jae tapped his fingers against the table. "Hmph. You better not pass out before me. I don't wanna be the one dragging your unconscious ass to bed."
Caesar chuckled, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "Don't worry. If anyone's carrying anyone to bed tonight, it won't be you."
Eun-jae blinked, his smirk faltering for just a fraction of a second before he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Ugh, you just had to make it sound dirty."
Caesar merely grinned, tilting his head. "I didn't say anything dirty. You were the one who took it that way."
Eun-jae groaned, rubbing his temples. "I swear, talking to you is exhausting."
Caesar laughed, low and rich, before lifting his glass again. "Then drink more. Maybe you'll finally loosen up."
Eun-jae clicked his tongue but raised his own glass nonetheless, locking eyes with Caesar as he smirked.
"Alright, Mr. 'I Can Hold My Liquor.' Let's see if you're all talk or if you can actually back it up."
And with that, he downed another glass.
The room had fallen into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the faint clink of glasses, the occasional shift of fabric as they adjusted their positions, and the subtle hum of the night beyond the walls. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and the lingering trace of cigarette smoke, curling lazily around them like an unspoken secret.
Eun-jae exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he nursed his drink, the liquid burning pleasantly down his throat. His mind was buzzing, not enough to be drunk, but just enough to feel loose—light, even. A rare moment where he wasn't burdened by the weight of his past, his responsibilities, or the expectations that clung to him like a second skin.
But then—that stare.
He felt it before he even looked up. That heavy, lingering gaze drilling into him with an intensity that was both unsettling and annoying.
Eun-jae's brow twitched, his fingers tightening around the rim of his glass as irritation prickled at the edges of his calm. He slowly turned his head, locking eyes with the culprit.
Caesar.
The man was staring at him—again. Not in an absentminded way, not like someone who just happened to glance over. No. This was deliberate. Focused. Unwavering. Like he was studying him. Peeling him apart layer by layer with nothing but his gaze.
"Aish… shibal." Eun-jae muttered under his breath, setting his glass down with a dull clink before shifting in his seat. His annoyance flared, sharp and unfiltered. His lips curled into a scowl as he finally snapped, his voice laced with exasperation.
"Wae geureoke nareul barabwa? Machi nun-euro nareul beotgineun geotcheoreom."
His tone was sharp, the Korean spilling effortlessly from his lips as he glared at Caesar.
The reaction was immediate.
Caesar blinked, his smirk faltering just slightly as confusion flickered across his face. "Huh?" His head tilted, a single brow lifting as he stared at Eun-jae like he had just spoken in ancient tongues.
Eun-jae clicked his tongue, already regretting the slip into his native language. Right. Of course this arrogant blond didn't understand. Rolling his eyes, he huffed dramatically before translating with an exaggerated wave of his hand.
"I said, stop undressing me with your eyes. It's fucking creepy."
Caesar's lips twitched—whether in amusement or mischief, Eun-jae wasn't sure. But the glint in his eyes told him he had just made a terrible mistake.
Eun-jae knew that look.
It was the look of someone who had just found the perfect way to tease, to provoke, to annoy.
And he hated it.
Caesar leaned back, tilting his head slightly as if considering his words. Then, ever so casually, he let his lips stretch into a slow, knowing smirk.
"Hmm… is that what you think I was doing?"
Eun-jae's scowl deepened. "No, that's what I know you were doing, you perv."
Caesar let out a soft chuckle, swirling the drink in his hand before taking another slow sip. The way he did everything—his movements, his words, his expressions—it was all so deliberate. Calculated. Like he enjoyed getting under Eun-jae's skin.
"Can't blame me." Caesar finally said, setting his glass down as he rested his chin against his hand. "You're kind of fun to look at."