"So the legendary rare blood... turns out it's you."

In the darkness, a deep voice echoed, sending chills down Dunk's spine like he was being frozen alive.

"J-Joong..."

"You recognize my voice?"

Joong stepped closer from behind. Somehow, his eyes gleamed so brightly that he could see Dunk clearly even in the pitch-black room. His large arms wrapped tightly around Dunk's waist from behind, and the hot breath on the back of his neck made Dunk's legs go weak.

"You smell so good, Dunk."

Joong nuzzled into the curve of Dunk's neck, inhaling like a predator savoring its prey...

"J...Joong, please... please don't take me... I'm begging you..."

"Shhh, quiet now."

"Joong... hic please... put me down... Joong... hic"

Lifting Dunk off the ground, Joong walked swiftly through the darkness. Dunk cried uncontrollably, thrashing about, but no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free.

"Stop crying. Do you even know where I'm taking you? Look around."

Dunk stopped fighting and cracked open his eyes.

"...My... my room."

"Of course it's your room. Who else's would it be?"

"Joong... hic please don't sell me..."

"Why would I sell you?"

"...t-to make money."

"Hahaha. And what would I get from selling you?"

"M-money."

"Haha. Who told you that?"

"My mom... she said hunters sell people like me... for lots of money."

"She's not wrong."

He sat Dunk down on his lap, on the large bed, his arms still tightly around Dunk's waist.

"So if I sold you... how much do you think I'd get, Dunk?"

Dunk looked at him, unable to answer such a difficult question.

"I... I don't know..."

"Let me tell you. If I sold you, I'd have enough money to live out the rest of my life comfortably."

"..."

Joong wasn't wrong. The market price for someone with platinum hair alone was enough to live for a whole year. But Dunk was even rarer than that...his uniqueness was hidden beneath his skin and blood. If the market ever found out, they'd bid sky-high prices, maybe even beyond reason...

With teary eyes, Dunk looked at Joong, unsure of what to say. His fingers fidgeted nervously. Each breath was growing heavier, laced with fear.

"What is it?"

"..."

"I'm not selling you, okay? Who in their right mind would sell something so precious?"

"...You're lying... you're just saying that to fool me..."

"Why would I lie? If I were going to sell you, I wouldn't have brought you back here, would I?"

"Maybe... maybe you're tricking me... so I'll let my guard down."

Dunk could say anything when he was scared. He was completely overwhelmed.

"Sigh... I said I'm not selling you, alright? But you need to be careful. That morning we went back to your hometown, you forgot to apply the cream on your skin, didn't you?"

"..."

"You can't hide that from me. I trust my instincts. From the start, I knew who—and what—you were."

"Then... then why didn't you capture me?"

Begging when someone catches you is one thing... but asking why they didn't? That was just like Dunk...always a bit odd.

"Because I like you. That's all."

"What if... one day... you don't like me anymore?"

"Then I'll sell you."

"Haha. Just kidding. How could I ever stop liking you? But you have to listen to me, okay? I don't want you ending up in the hands of other hunters. I won't be able to save you then."

Joong held Dunk close, guiding his head to rest against his chest. He placed a gentle kiss on Dunk's crown.

"I care about you. Please don't make me worry, alright?"

"...But... my mom..."

"Tomorrow I'll take you home and talk to her."

Dunk jerked away from him.

"Don't hurt her. If you're going to hurt someone, hurt me instead."

"Again with that? I told you, I'm not going to hurt anyone, silly."

"Then... what do you mean talk to her about?"

"About marrying you."

Was the man standing in front of Dunk being serious, or was he just saying all this to make Dunk fall for him? Dunk couldn't tell anymore... everything felt so blurry.

"Once you're mine, you'll be safer... but you still have to be careful."

With his platinum skin, under sunlight Dunk shimmered like a rare jewel. People like him had a special cream to apply daily, which suppressed the light-reflecting nature of the platinum tone. But Dunk was forgetful. If the weather was nice and cool, he'd skip the routine. That day, Joong had spotted the shimmer from far away, even before they'd arrived at the village.

"Joong... don't sell me."

"Sigh... Maybe your parents won't believe me, but you have to. You belong to me—no buying, no selling. Got it?"

Joong gently cupped Dunk's cheek, pressing a kiss to his little red nose, still flushed from crying.

"Come back home with me tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay... hic"

"No more crying. If you keep crying, I really will take you away."

"..."

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Sapo🇻🇳 (12:10/ 260525)