"Was that... uhm... forced, then?"
                          
"Do you think I'm overthrown easily?" Seungjun muttered through gritted teeth, startling Jaeyoung.
                          
"Then are you two—"
                          
With the loud closing of a book, the question was cut off and Seungjun stood up. "We're nothing and I'd like to not pursue this topic further."
                          
A few large strides got him out of the living room area, where he almost bumped into a maid when passing through the door frame. As he walked the hall, he could hear Changyun arrive back from some meeting Seungjun hadn't caught the reason for, but he assumed it was something investment related. He paid it no further mind and continued to the large office, accompanied by a maid to keep him from scouring through Changyun's possessions randomly. He placed the book back where he found it and looked for a new one but nothing seemed interesting, or at least something he could get through in his current state.
                          
"Ah, General," Changyun greeted when entering the room, "you never get tired of reading, do you?" he continued and dismissed the maid with a gentle nod.
                          
"Good evening," Seungjun answered, keeping his eyes on the lettered backs. "There isn't much more for me to do here."
                          
"We can play chess," the suggestion sounded with a slightly careful waver.
                          
Seungjun could hear the other walk up to him so he turned around. "I'm sure you're tired, so no need."
                          
A hint of concern began decorating Changyun's face. "Are you... alright?"
                          
"I am."
                          
"You're being a little strange."
                          
Seungjun knew what he meant by it and wasn't going to play ignorant, but neither did he want to elaborate on his behaviour as he wasn't sure of its purpose either. It just felt like the only thing to do. Nothing drove him forward anymore. If he continued fighting, he would be battling against one of his own, or he'd need to hand Jaeyoung over. So he just felt stuck, more stuck than he already was. Not only a hostage to the resistance, but also a hostage of his own morals.
                          
He averted his eyes to the door and set a step forward but was blocked.
                          
"Are you really alright?" Changyun wondered gently. "It must've been quite a shock—"
                          
"I don't need your sympathy," Seungjun snapped the second he felt his heart try to soften. He had years of training, years of learning to close himself off in the most stressful situations. Yet Changyun phased through that barrier as if it was nothing. Something granted him full access and Seungjun hated not being the one in control. In bitterness he tried to stomp on every last butterfly that dared open his gate.
                          
"It's not sympathy," Changyun hushed and moved to lay a hand on Seungjun's upper arm. It was instantly pushed away and Seungjun unknowingly let his anger underline his words.
                          
"Then why do you want to know? Aren't I just a hostage?"
                          
Changyun briefly glanced to the side and his cheeks grew a colour Seungjun wished he couldn't fathom a reason for. "Y—You're not just—"
                          
"As if," Seungjun scoffed while crossing his arms. "As if you've ever actually taken me seriously."
                          
Changyun frowned and set a step back. "What?"
                          
Seungjun tried to remain the eye in the storm but was already taken up in the whirlwind. "You've been doing this and that while knowing you were betraying me, whilst knowing my closest friend was going against me with you."
                          
"I never did anything disingenuously," Changyun defended but it didn't reach Seungjun.
                          
"You know I want to end this war, and you know I'm not proud of my method. You told me nothing, so why should I say anything to you?"