Dirty Switch

“Ah…”
Like a robot low on oil, Joo Taehyun stalled awkwardly for a moment before shaking his head in a short, jerky motion.
Still, that was significant progress. Back when they were viewing the special exhibition at the National Palace Museum and a similar topic came up, his reaction had been completely different.

“Huh? Why… why are you asking something like that?”
“Is it really that shocking to ask if you're still seeing your boyfriend? You're the one who said you like being fucked by other Alphas, weren’t you?”
Since the special exhibit was just an excuse, the two of them had slowly strolled through the gallery, using the opportunity to talk.

As Baekhan reviewed Taehyun’s drug screening report, he asked if he remembered everyone he’d slept with and who he was currently seeing. From Baekhan’s standpoint, it was something that needed confirming.
“This isn’t about whether or not I marry you. I’m not letting a headline like, ‘Haechi member Joo involved in scandal,’ run under my name. Not a chance.”
“…”

“If it’s awkward to have your secretary run a background check, you can just write down the names of the people you’ve slept with. I’ll verify them myself. I just need to check periodically if you’re spreading around that you’re on the Switch.”
He’d explained it all very clearly, yet Taehyun still stood there frozen, unable to say a word.
Baekhan chose to stay put until he got a response—not to give Taehyun time to think or collect himself, but to make him feel cornered enough that he had to speak.

“I don’t… have anyone I’m dating right now. As for the people I’ve slept with…”
As expected, Taehyun caved. He finally opened his mouth, though when it came to the important part, he hesitated, words caught in his throat.
“Just say it. I don’t care if it was a threesome or a fucking orgy.”

“Huh? No! I’ve never done anything like that.”
“You know it’s way harder to clean up after a scandal you didn’t expect, right?”
“…”

“It’s really fine. You took the Switch. I never expected you to have some innocent, vanilla sex life. I’m not judging you—I just need the facts.”
Whether he choked on his spit or was just looking for an excuse to avoid the conversation, Taehyun coughed for quite a while, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
“I’m not into anything weird. I just…”
He mumbled behind a half-covered mouth that he’d only ever been curious a few times and slept with some security guards. The confession, when it came, was underwhelming and bland.

“I don’t go out much, so I didn’t really have the chance to meet anyone.”
Apparently expecting Baekhan not to believe him, Taehyun launched into a clumsy string of excuses: that he was scared of people, couldn’t trust just anyone, didn’t want to cause problems his parents would have to fix, but also, yeah, he’d been curious about sex…
The kind of boring stuff that made Baekhan yawn just listening to it. Honestly, he would’ve preferred some reckless story just for entertainment.

“Ah, well, he’s busy.”
Taehyun hadn't changed much. Aside from cycling through partners a few times, he still reacted to the topic of relationships with the same kind of dull awkwardness.
“He’s in the same research lab, right?”

“…Yeah. It’s a busy season right now, so… cough… asking him to come all the way to Korea would’ve been too much. And I’m flying back to the States tonight anyway, so what’s the point.”
Taehyun absentmindedly fidgeted with the wedding ring on his left ring finger. As if that ring had any meaning. The mention of his boyfriend must’ve stirred some sudden guilt.
“He’s probably pretty upset, huh? Even if this is just a contract, a marriage is still a marriage. Who wouldn’t be pissed that the guy they were dating suddenly registered with someone else? And now you’re moving back to Korea, so it’s basically a long-distance relationship all of a sudden.”

Baekhan told him to go make it up to the guy, and Taehyun agreed without protest.
From what Baekhan had seen over the past two years, Taehyun didn’t seem like the overly affectionate boyfriend type. He’d seen him shove his phone away when they were together, never texting anyone or making calls. If he hadn’t heard separately that someone from his research lab came to his Washington home regularly and that he bought Switch refills consistently, he would’ve doubted whether Taehyun even had a boyfriend.
“Once again, I’m telling you—whether it’s a boyfriend or a one-night stand, be careful not to leave any photos or records behind.”

“…Okay.”
“You always clam up when we talk about this, so I’m saying it because I’m worried.”
Maybe he was being too overbearing. Baekhan knew he was sounding like a nagging parent. But who would ever believe that someone like Taehyun, with that innocent face, was out there screwing other Alphas with the help of chemical suppressants?

Sure, he handed over whatever documents were requested, and background checks hadn’t turned up anything suspicious. Still, Baekhan figured it wouldn’t hurt to prod him every now and then. Even if Taehyun was still putting on an act in front of him, it was important to keep the pressure on. Letting his guard down might lead to disaster.
Baekhan agreed that the Switch had its uses—but he didn’t have much respect for people who used it the way Taehyun did. There was a big difference between taking the Switch because you loved someone and had no other choice, and taking it because you were addicted to sex.
People chasing dopamine and thrills usually followed the same pattern before they crashed.

Take that Pyongyang transfer for example. Taehyun had taken all the entrance exams on his own and just told people afterward. Total wildcard behavior.
“Don’t forget—if anything happens and you need help, tell me first. Don’t go contacting your family and stressing your parents out.”
“Uh… yeah. But I don’t think I’ll need to bother you, hyung.”

“I’m serious. How many times do I have to tell you? It’s way easier to handle things if we jump on them right away. And in these cases, power works better than money.”
Even at such a casual offer, Taehyun’s gaze lingered on him for quite some time. Baekhan glanced over, thinking he might say something, but Taehyun just shrugged as if it were nothing.
Why? he mouthed.

Just… grateful, Taehyun mouthed back.
“So bland.”
Baekhan reached ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) over and tousled Taehyun’s neatly styled hair.

Straightening his posture so it’d be easier for Baekhan to ruffle him, Taehyun looked like a big dog—if only he shed fur, the resemblance would’ve been perfect. He used to flinch if you so much as nudged him, but now he was comfortable enough to adjust his posture to make it easier for Baekhan.
“Oh, and Taehyun.”
“Yes?”

“Use this as a reference—ah, battery’s dead.”
“What is it?”
“A pheromone neutralizer. I found a good brand earlier… I’ll send it to you later.”

At the word pheromone neutralizer, Taehyun’s eyes went wide. That reaction, by his standards, was pretty extreme.
“Why? Do I smell bad or something?”