the seraphim paradox

Eun-jae's fingers twitched against the table, his jaw tightening just a fraction.

Then he exhaled through his nose, fixing Caesar with a cool, detached look.

'Because it's none of your business.'

And there it was. The wall.

The way Eun-jae shut down completely, the way he so effortlessly pushed away anything that even remotely touched his past—it was frustratingly efficient.

'Besides,' Eun-jae continued, his voice clipped and professional, 'we have a mission to accomplish.'

Ah. There it was. The perfect excuse to avoid talking about anything personal. The go-to escape route whenever things got too real.

Caesar huffed a short laugh, shaking his head. 'Come on, we have all the time in the world. We can still chat.'

Eun-jae shot him a dry look. 'Well, I'm not interested in telling you my family affairs.'

There was no room for argument in his tone.

Still, Caesar—because he was Caesar—wasn't quite ready to let it go. But before he could try another angle, Eun-jae reached into his bag and pulled out a book, tossing it onto the table in front of him.

'Here. If you're so desperate for entertainment, I got these books from a library downtown. You can have one and read.'

Caesar blinked at the book like it had personally offended him.

'A book?' He deadpanned. 'Seriously?'

Eun-jae crossed his arms, looking smug. 'What? Too advanced for you? Want me to find one with pictures instead? Maybe a coloring book?'

Caesar scoffed, shoving the book back across the table. 'Yeah, no thanks. I'll pass.'

Eun-jae lifted an eyebrow. 'Oh? And what are you gonna do instead? Sit here and annoy me until I snap and strangle you?'

Caesar grinned, leaning closer. 'Tempting. But no. I think I'll go find another person to play with.'

And just like that, he stood up, completely unbothered, shoving his hands into his pockets as he sauntered towards the exit.

Eun-jae rolled his eyes so hard, he almost gave himself a headache.

Of course. Typical.

'Whatever. It's none of my business,' Eun-jae muttered under his breath, slumping back in his seat.

Still, as much as he told himself he didn't care, as much as he wanted to be completely indifferent, he found himself watching Caesar's retreating figure with a lingering scowl.

Why the hell did the bastard always have to get under his skin?

A sudden crackle of static filled the train car, followed by a voice over the intercom, smooth yet slightly distorted through the old speakers.

"Уважаемые пассажиры, говорит ваш проводник." (Dear passengers, this is your conductor speaking.)

Eun-jae barely spared it a glance, still staring at the spot where Caesar had disappeared.

"Мы прибудем на следующую станцию, Улан-Удэ вокзал, примерно через пятнадцать минут. Пожалуйста, убедитесь, что у вас есть все личные вещи перед выходом." (We will be arriving at our next stop, Ulan-Ude Station, in approximately fifteen minutes. Please ensure you have all personal belongings with you before disembarking.)

There was a slight pause, then the voice returned—this time, a little lower, more deliberate.

"Дополнительно напоминаем пассажирам воздержаться от скопления в проходах. Сотрудники службы безопасности проведут плановый патруль. О подозрительных личностях следует немедленно сообщать." (Additionally, we kindly remind passengers to refrain from loitering in the aisles. Security personnel will be conducting a routine patrol. Any suspicious individuals should be reported immediately.)

The atmosphere in the room was quiet, almost deceptively so. Eun-jae lay stretched out on the lower bunk, book in hand, flipping lazily through the pages. The rhythmic sound of Caesar's fingers tapping against his phone screen filled the silence, the glow from the screen casting a faint blue hue across his sharp features.

It had been a long day. Too long. Eun-jae just wanted to finish at least one damn chapter before passing out. But, of course, peace was never an option.

A sudden knock on the door shattered the moment.

Both men stilled, their bodies instinctively tensing.

Eun-jae's fingers tightened around his book, his mind already shifting into defensive mode. Caesar, however, didn't seem particularly fazed—he merely glanced at the door with his usual lazy indifference before tossing his phone onto the mattress beside him.

A voice followed, low and authoritative. Russian.

"Откройте. Проверка безопасности." (Open up. Security inspection.)

Eun-jae exchanged a brief glance with Caesar before moving towards the door, forcing himself to appear calm, unbothered. He unlocked it with a quiet click, and immediately, two uniformed security personnel stepped in, their sharp eyes sweeping over the small compartment.

"Sir, your passport, please."

The lead officer extended his hand, his expression unreadable.

Eun-jae kept his face neutral as he handed over his forged passport. He had triple-checked it before the mission—it was flawless. Still, that didn't stop the tight coil of unease from twisting in his gut as the man examined it.

Meanwhile, the second officer busied himself with their luggage, flipping through their belongings with methodical precision.

'If he finds the gun, we're fucked.'

Eun-jae's mind raced as he kept his posture relaxed, even as his pulse pounded. His weapon was expertly hidden—stitched into the lining of his duffel bag—but that didn't mean these bastards wouldn't find it if they were thorough enough.

Seconds felt like hours as the officer finally handed his passport back.

"Alright. Thank you for your cooperation, sirs."

Eun-jae barely resisted the urge to exhale in relief.

But just as he thought they were in the clear—

"Wait."

The single word froze Eun-jae in place.

His grip on the book tightened. He glanced at Caesar, whose expression remained utterly bored, as if none of this concerned him. Typical.

"Sirs, please stand against the wall."

The second officer's gaze was locked onto Eun-jae with an unsettling intensity.

Something was off.

Eun-jae didn't move at first. He just stared, jaw tightening ever so slightly.

"Is there a problem?" His voice was smooth, controlled, but there was a dangerous edge lurking beneath.

"No problem," the man replied, his lips curving into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Just a routine inspection."

Eun-jae clicked his tongue but obeyed, pushing himself off the bed and moving to stand against the wall. He hated this.

The officer stepped closer.

First, he patted down his legs—quick, professional. Eun-jae clenched his jaw but allowed it.

Then, the hands traveled up.

Higher.

Eun-jae's fingers twitched at his sides.

Still, he held himself back. He could tolerate this much.

But then—

A hand pressed against his ass.

Eun-jae's body went rigid, his entire frame tensing. His breath hitched, but he forced himself to stay still.

'Let it go. Let it go. He's just testing for weapons.'

And then—

The man's hand lingered.

His fingers slid up, slowly, deliberately, before cupping Eun-jae's chest.

And then he squeezed.

That was the last fucking straw.

In a blur of motion, Eun-jae snapped.

His hand shot up like lightning, fingers wrapping tight around the man's throat.

There was a sickening gagging sound as the officer's air supply was abruptly cut off. His eyes widened in shock, his hands instinctively clawing at Eun-jae's wrist.

Eun-jae didn't give a damn.

His pulse was thundering in his ears, pure rage coursing through his veins like wildfire.

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF ME, YOU FUCKING PERV!"

His voice was a sharp, venomous snarl, filled with pure, unfiltered fury.

The officer's feet struggled against the floor, his body jerking as he gasped for breath.

Caesar, who had been watching in amusement the entire time, finally let out a low whistle.

"Shit," he muttered, tilting his head. "Should've brought popcorn."

The other security officer immediately moved to intervene, hand flying towards his holster.

Eun-jae's grip tightened, his muscles coiled, ready to end this bastard—

But before he could, Caesar finally stood up.

His voice was calm, almost lazy, but beneath it was an undeniable warning.

"Now, now, gentlemen," he said smoothly. "How about we all take a deep breath before this gets messy?"

His sharp blue eyes flickered toward the standing officer, a silent challenge lurking beneath his smirk.

For a moment, there was only tension.

A standstill.

Then—

"Fine."

Eun-jae shoved the bastard away, letting go of his throat. The man stumbled back, gasping, his hands flying to his neck as he coughed violently.

"You're lucky I didn't break your fucking face," Eun-jae spat. His voice was still laced with anger, his heart hammering in his chest.

The officer, now red-faced and humiliated, shot him a hateful glare but said nothing.

The other officer placed a warning hand on his colleague's shoulder before turning back to Eun-jae and Caesar.

"Inspection complete," he said gruffly, his tone clipped. "Enjoy the rest of your journey."

And with that, they left.

As soon as the door slammed shut, Eun-jae exhaled sharply, his hands clenching into fists before forcing himself to relax.

Caesar simply grinned, leaning against the wall, thoroughly entertained.

"You're fun when you're angry," he mused.

Eun-jae shot him a glare so cold, it could've frozen the entire train.

"Shut the fuck up, Caesar if you dont want me to break your face next."

Caesar just chuckled. "Kinky."

Eun-jae let out a slow, shaky breath as he sank back onto the bed, his fingers gripping the edges of his book—but he wasn't really reading. His eyes traced the words on the page, but his mind wasn't absorbing a single damn thing. Not after what just happened.

The phantom sensation of that bastard officer's hands still lingered on his skin, and the rage that had burned in his veins hadn't entirely cooled down. His muscles were still tense, his body still on high alert, like a predator pacing inside a cage.

Filthy hands. Fucking disgusting.

Eun-jae clenched his jaw, pushing the thought away. No point in dwelling on it. The bastard ran off with his tail between his legs, and that's all that mattered.

He let out a sigh, trying—really trying—to relax.

Then—Caesar's phone rang.

The sharp sound cut through the silence of the room like a knife.

Eun-jae didn't look up at first, but he heard the shift of movement. He could practically feel Caesar's reaction. The faintest pause before answering. The way his head tilted slightly when he glanced at the screen. The barely-there crease of his brows before he got up and walked out of the room.

Huh. Weird.

Not that Caesar wasn't always acting suspicious—because he was—but this was different. Usually, the guy was all nonchalant about his calls, taking them right in front of Eun-jae like he had nothing to hide. But this time? This time, he left the room without a word, shutting the door softly behind him.

Eun-jae stared at the closed door for a long moment.

His fingers drummed against the book cover absentmindedly.

What the hell was that about?

Caesar was secretive by nature, but Eun-jae could read him better than most people. The guy wasn't just taking some random call. There was something else.

A gut feeling twisted in Eun-jae's stomach.

What is he even hiding? If it's not about the mission, and it's not his private life, then what?

His eyes flickered toward the door again.

Eun-jae hated snooping. He wasn't the type to stick his nose where it didn't belong. But this situation? This was different. This wasn't just curiosity—this was instinct.

And his instincts were screaming at him.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Eun-jae got up, moving silent and smooth. He crept toward the door and cracked it open just enough to peer through.

Down the dimly lit corridor, he spotted Caesar standing with his back partially turned, phone pressed to his ear.

The air around him was different—coiled. Tense.

Eun-jae narrowed his eyes, watching.

Caesar's posture was deceptively casual, but Eun-jae could see the micro expressions, the subtle shifts that most people wouldn't even catch. The stiffness in his shoulders. The way his fingers curled slightly when he spoke. The faint flick of his gaze, checking his surroundings.

Oh, yeah. He's up to something.

Eun-jae strained his ears, trying to catch snippets of the conversation, but he was too far away. All he could hear was the low murmur of Caesar's voice—smooth, calm, unreadable.

That only made it worse.

The fact that Caesar was keeping his voice so level, so controlled, meant that whatever he was talking about was important.

And then—Caesar turned.

Their eyes met.

For a single heartbeat, Eun-jae saw something flicker across Caesar's face.

Surprise.

It was quick—barely noticeable—but Eun-jae caught it. The subtle widening of his eyes, the fraction of a second where his guard slipped.

Then, just as fast as it appeared, it was gone.

Replaced by a smirk.

Smug. Mocking. Infuriating.

Eun-jae's stomach twisted.

Oh, fuck you.

He immediately shut the door, turning on his heel and stalking back toward the bed, his face blank, his mind racing.

He hadn't even been snooping that hard. He had just looked, barely out the door. But the fact that Caesar noticed him that fast? And the fact that he wasn't even mad about it?

I don't like this.

Eun-jae forced himself to sit down, gripping his book again as if he were still interested in reading. I wasn't spying. I just happened to look. That's all.

But even as he tried to brush it off, a nagging irritation itched at the back of his mind.

Minutes later, the door creaked open again.

Caesar stepped back inside—still smirking.

Eun-jae could feel his gaze without even looking.

He stubbornly kept his eyes on the book, pretending to be fully engrossed in whatever nonsense was on the page. But his grip was too tight, his breathing too even—like he was forcing himself to act normal.

And Caesar? He just stood there. Watching.

Saying nothing.

Why isn't he even asking why I spied on him?

If it were the other way around, if Eun-jae had been the one sneaking off to take a mysterious call, Caesar would've immediately grilled him for answers. Teased him. Made some snarky remark.

But this bastard?

Not a single word.

Just that damn smirk, like he knew something Eun-jae didn't. Like he had already won some invisible game that Eun-jae wasn't even aware they were playing.

A cold sensation slithered down his spine.

I don't like this.

Eun-jae finally turned to look at him, and their eyes locked—Caesar's still filled with that infuriating amusement, his smirk curving like he was having the time of his life.

Eun-jae's jaw tightened.

Why do I feel like I'm being played with?

Like he was nothing more than a piece on a chessboard, and Caesar was already ten moves ahead, watching with mild amusement as Eun-jae scrambled to keep up.

His fingers twitched against the book cover.

Caesar's smirk deepened.

I swear to God, if he keeps looking at me like that for one more second, I'm going to wipe that smug expression right off his face.

Eun-jae sat stiffly on the bed, arms crossed, eyes closed, doing his best to pretend he was anywhere but here.

This mission was already an ordeal, but Caesar? Caesar was his own personal circle of hell.

It's been two days. Just two goddamn days, and Hyunji had barely left his cabin. Which was fine—it meant less work for them. Thanks to Caesar's little James Bond stunt, sneaking into Hyunji's room and installing hidden cameras, they didn't even need to move around much to keep an eye on him. Easy work. Simple. Relaxing, even.

At least, it should have been.

But no. No, of course not.

Because this bastard, this disgusting, unhinged, men-are-embarrassing-to-humanity, absolute dog of a man—Caesar—was currently balls deep inside the second-class cabin attendant, right in front of Eun-jae's innocent, hardworking, mission-focused eyes.

And Eun-jae? Eun-jae was suffering.

"Nghhh… haahh…" The woman's moans filled the room, blending seamlessly with the rhythmic creaking of the bed and the occasional slap of skin.

Eun-jae cracked an eye open and immediately regretted it.

There he was. Caesar.

Completely unbothered, sweaty, his blond hair slightly damp, looking like some arrogant playboy prince out of a trashy romance novel. He had that lazy, infuriating smirk on his lips—because of course, he did. And he was still going at it, his toned back flexing with each thrust as the woman beneath him writhed like she was auditioning for a low-budget porno.

Kill me. Just kill me.

Eun-jae shut his eyes again, took a deep breath, and forced himself to focus on anything else.