Work Text:
"Your adopted father passed away? Just weeks ago?" Hong Cha-young's grip on her beer bottle slackened, as she stared at her work partner Vincenzo Cassano.
Why was she now hearing this?
He raised his own beer bottle as if in a toast then took a swig, his eyes not leaving hers. "Are you shocked that I have a family, too?" he finally said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Cha-young shook her head in disbelief. She'd nagged him to accompany her for a drink because when they were leaving the office, he looked lonelier than usual. He was impeccably dressed in a crisp black suit with a matching black shirt and tie but he'd cut a forlorn figure, like a fallen angel. So she'd linked her arm in his, and dragged him to their drinking spot down the block, despite his protests. When they got a table and their beers arrived, she'd joked about his black monochrome outfit, saying that he'd be the best dressed at any funeral.
That's when he dropped the bombshell that he'd actually worn that outfit for his father's funeral.
A mere month ago.
"You do have 78 questions left," Vincenzo said, tracing the condensation on his bottle. "I can give you 2 of those right now."
Cha-young inhaled shakily, pushing her beer away as she motioned for a waitress. "Soju. Two shot glasses."
Vincenzo couldn't help his irritation as Cha-young poured him a shot. Of course, she would've picked up on his mood being different today.
"Thank you," he dipped his head politely as he accepted it.
It was annoying at first, the way she always saw through his many façades but he thought he was getting used to it. He genuinely liked her and her straightforwardness was refreshing, but the way she kept wanting to see the real him was unsettling.
It was as if she wanted them to be actual friends.
She began to pour her own soju, but he took the bottle from her. "Let me." He was familiar with her drinking habits and waited for her to gulp it before pouring her another.
"Thank you," she intoned as he poured. "To your father." She dipped her head and drank again. "Are you okay?"
Vincenzo blinked at the unexpected question. When was the last time anyone ever asked him how he felt?
"I'm fine. Thank you." It was partially true. He didn't feel sad, but he didn't feel much of anything if he were honest. Only anger but he was adept at keeping the flames banked to a simmer, till he allowed his rage to bubble over, burning everything in its path. He prayed that Cha-young would never be in his way when that happened.
She didn't respond. Her brows were furrowed as she focused on him.
"This is the longest you've been quiet," he observed, leaning back in his chair.
She mirrored his movement, leaning back as well. "I feel bad. You've been helping me since my father died and-"
"It's nothing," he interrupted, looking away.
Cha-young studied him for a moment longer. "There' s a new wine bar that opened up if you'd prefer to drink something else."
"No. I'm fine." Vincenzo loosened his tie. Her attention was making him tense. Like a giant spotlight illuminating the scarred and scabbed parts of his soul.
"What do you want?" Cha-young leaned forward. "What can I do for you?"
Vincenzo's heart sped up. She shouldn't be this beautiful. Even with her faded red lipstick, and her hair touseled after a long day's work, and her clothes wrinkled, she was so damned beautiful.
"I want to be happy," he whispered without thinking, his hand clutching his shot glass. "But I don't deserve it." He immediately regretted his words, because Cha-young's eyes glimmered with unshed tears, and he just knew she wouldn't rest till made his wish come true.
They left the bar and Cha-young dragged him to take a taxi. "Let's go to a night market." She wanted to make up for the spicy food they'd eaten with Jang Jun-woo. "Have you ever had kalguksu?"
Vincenzo only had to look down at her small hand tugging on his to know he couldn't resist. "You're buying," he said gruffly, as they entered the cab.
She beamed, squeezing his hand, and turned away to give the destination to their taxi driver. "Namdaemun market, please. Kalguksu alley if you can."
The ride wasn't a very long one, but they remained holding hands whilst Cha-young chattered on about Korean food.
It bothered him that she was her regular effusive self, so as a test, he tugged her hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Thank you for showing me Seoul," he said, watching for her response. He didn't know what to expect, but when she froze, like a deer caught in headlights, and pulled her hand away, he frowned.
"Here we are," the taxi driver said cheerfully, pulling up to the curb. "Have a good night."
Vincenzo reached for his wallet to pay but Cha-young beat him to it. "It's okay. This isn't a date." She quickly paid and jumped out of the taxi, and began power walking towards the entrance of the night market. She hadn't gotten far when Vincenzo caught up with her and grabbed her hand.
"Why are you running away from me?" he asked.
"Why did you kiss my hand?" she shot back.
"Because I like you," he said, pulling her closer.
Cha-young scoffed, breaking her hand away from his hold. "You've liked me since we've met," she jabbed a finger to his chest. "You're avoiding what's bothering you and using me to do it." She jabbed him harder. "I- I like you too. But not like this."
Vincenzo grabbed her hand, resentful that she called him out for using their feelings for each other as a distraction. "Fine. Forget I did anything. If you are okay with us being just friends, that's on you."
"Just friends?' Cha-young raised her voice. "Just friends?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Is being friends something to look down on? Do you know how hard it is to find someone in this harsh world that you can have a drink with and talk about problems?" Her eyes brimmed with tears and she dashed them away with her hands. "I was so happy to be "just friends" because I like being around you. You seem so sad and far away at times."
Shame prodded at Vincenzo's conscience, so he did what he thought was best.
He had to nip it in the bud.
"Did I ask you to psychoanalyze me?" he kept his voice low and clipped. "Did you think I need a friend? Are we children?" He moved in closer knowing just how to hurt her. "And on the topic of who is using who, aren't you using me to make yourself feel better after your father's death?" His voice shook because he knew he was twisting the knife in after stabbing her with his words but he needed a sure kill.
Lust he could compartmentalize and handle. The intimacy that she was offering on the other hand?
That bond would eventually be broken and strangle him, like when his mother abandoned him.
Cha-young's face was ashen and her chin wobbled at his words. "I don't- I'm not-" she choked out. "I'm not using you. I just-"
"Save it," Vincenzo ran his hand through his hair. "I'm getting a taxi home. I'm leaving first." He spun on his heel and strode off, knowing that he didn't just fuck up the night, but their relationship as well.
It was for the best, he told himself. He just needed to get his gold and get the hell out of Korea.
This country wasn't for him.
He had only been walking for a minute before a sobering thought assailed him.
Cha-young would get lost in broad daylight just getting back to Jipuragi, goodness knows what would happen in a night market.
Turning around, he began to make it back to where he'd left her standing.
If there was one wacky thing about herself that Cha-young was proud about, it was that she didn't care what strangers thought. Which was why she was currently sitting at the curb, scrolling through her phone for someone to call. She knew her moods, and she shouldn't be alone.
She sniffled at her dad's number, still on speed dial. His phone was still active as she hadn't the heart to disconnect it yet, so she called it out of habit just to hear his voicemail.
You have reached Hong Yoo-chan of Jipuragi Law Firm. I'm sorry I can't come to the phone but please leave a message and I will get back to you. Have a good day.
It was straightforward and kind, and for a moment she could pretend he was still alive.
"Abeoji," she inhaled her sob. "I miss you. I'm sorry I was a bad daughter when you were here. Give Mom a kiss and tell her I love her." She wiped her eyes and hung up the call, then started scrolling through her contacts.
Mr. Nam was on a date. All her friends were through work and since now she was no longer at Wusang, she no longer had any. She came to Jang Jun-woo's name. He'd been acting strange though she couldn't put her finger on exactly why.
"I'll just call a cab," she decided, standing up. But she almost lost her footing as she bumped into a figure who just appeared.
"Mr. Cassano," she curled her lip in annoyance, stepping away. "You can save your apologies, I won't accept it."
"I don't expect you to," he dipped his head. "I called you a cab." He gestured to where it was waiting on the other side of the road.
And for the second time that night, he turned sharply away and left her alone.
Vincenzo was having a crappy night just like he deserved.
He'd been replaying his conversations with Cha-young, trying to pinpoint what sparked that anger that caused him to explode. He hated being vulnerable and that's how he felt around Cha-young.
But that wasn't her fault, and it wasn't fair to lash out at her.
"I'm such a fool," he muttered. He had a shot at a friend, one that truly cared for him, but he purposefully sabotaged it.
He showered and changed but his guilt kept growing. He was out of line and needed to make amends. Picking up his phone, he called her to apologize, and to his surprise, she answered.
"Ms. Hong?" he reverted to being formal.
"Mr. Cassano?" she copied his politeness. "How can I help?"
She was trying -and failing- to appear cheerful. Vincenzo could hear the raspiness in her voice as if she had been crying. His chest clenched.
"How can I make it better?" he whispered.
"There is nothing for you to make better. Let's just be work colleagues."
"Chayoung-ah," he pleaded. "Tell me what to do. I want to make it better."
There was silence on the line.
"I don't think you can," she finally confessed. "I just- I don't know." She sighed. "You were right. I've been leaning on you. Maybe too much since my father died."
Vincenzo closed his eyes as dread settled in his stomach, that he had fucked up their relationship beyond repair.
"I'm coming over now. I will text you when I'm outside." Vincenzo rushed to get his coat, but then remembered he needed to change out of his nightclothes. "Can you let me in when I arrive?"
"You don't have to feel guilty-"
"Please, Cha-young," he clutched his phone. "Please."
It was the first time she'd ever heard him beg.
"Okay," she said.
He texted her later than she expected.
Her anger had dissipated as fast as it came, but her embarrassment was still there like an oozing wound, that the one person she depended on thought she was a nuisance.
She met him at her front gate, surprised at the bags he was holding.
"I brought some snacks," he explained, bashfully.
Cha-young rolled her eyes. If he thought he could win her over with food and soft looks, he was absolutely right, but he didn't need to know that.
They walked wordlessly into the house and for once Cha-young didn't want to fill the silence. She had a slight headache from crying earlier, and the turmoil from the past few weeks was finally catching up. Truth be told, she wouldn't have survived it without Vincenzo.
Sighing, she poured glasses of water and fetched chopsticks as he unpacked the food. He'd brought her favorite street snacks; tteokbokki, gimbap, and kimchi dumplings.
Her mood perked up slightly.
"Thank you for the food," she said, reaching for the gimbap first. "It's good." She picked up another piece and devoured it before diving into the dumplings.
"Don't eat so fast. You'll get indigestion," he said.
She shot him a dirty look and snagged another dumpling. "I eat a lot when I'm upset."
"I'm sorry," he began, pulling his chair closer to hers.
"I'm upset because I forgot to record my favorite variety show," she waved him off. "Kim Seon Ho is the highlight of my week."
"I really am sorry." He knew what she was doing, being playful to deflect from how she really felt.
"Sorry for what?" Cha-young slammed her hand down on the table so hard that the dishes shook and Vincenzo jumped. "For being honest?"
"For being an asshole. For pushing you away on purpose. For being afraid." He clenched his hands. He wanted her to get angry at him, to splash her glass of water in his face and dash it at his feet, to curse at him for being no good. He wanted her to hate him as much as he hated himself.
"Afraid?" She put her chopsticks down, concern shadowing her face. "What do you have to be afraid of?"
Vincenzo's chest grew tight. This was his Cha-young, always getting to the heart of him. "That when you find out the real me, you won't like me anymore."
Cha-young softened and a soft smile played on her lips. "Who says I like you now?" She picked up her chopsticks and placed a dumpling in his bowl. "Eat while it's still warm."
Vincenzo ignored the food, and instead leaned forward. "You don't understand. I'm not the person you think I am. And it's been bothering me. A lot." He sighed. "It's no excuse, but that's why I got so angry earlier. You're so-" he clenched his fist. "-so good to me."
"It's okay, you were right anyway." Sadness washed over Cha-young and she pushed her food away. "I depend on you too much. I was using you and didn't even realize."
"Cha-young," he reached over and placed his hand on hers. "I am yours to use however you see fit."
Their eyes met under the kitchen light, his solemn ones and hers shining with emotion.
"I don't feel like you are. Not anymore." She blinked away tears. "And I'm doing it again. Making all this about me when your father just passed away."
A lump formed in Vincenzo's throat, and his eyes watered. "My father would have liked you." He cleared his throat and looked away. "I wish you could have met him." He frowned, harshly wiping away the tears that dared spill over. Self-loathing washed over him anew. He didn't even cry when his father died. Instead, he'd plotted murder and arson.
"My father liked you more than his only daughter. He would have adopted you eventually." Cha-young could see that he was embarrassed by his show of emotion. Maybe they both needed to forget earlier and start over. "Why aren't you having anything?" She nudged his foot with hers. "Do you expect me to eat all of this?" His mood kept getting darker and darker and she wasn't sure why. "Oh! I have soju. You have to try it with the tteokbokki."
She sprung up to get to the fridge while Vincenzo looked on.
Was this a friendship?
Was this love?
Being forgiven even though he didn't deserve it?
But could they really be togerher if she didn't know the truth about him?
"I'm not just a lawyer for the Mafia," Vincenzo blurted, standing up so fast, he knocked his chair over. "I've killed before. Many times."
The falling chair crashed to the ground and echoed throughout the house, and his words fluttered in the air, announcing his sin and proclaiming him vile, a reprobate.
A monster.
"You've...killed? she swallowed, shock etched on her face.
"Yes." He inhaled, as his heartbeat sped up, and he wiped his eyes, looking down. His eyes grew wet as shame bloomed as he waited for her censure and condemnation. Finally, Cha-young would see exactly why he was unloveable. He probably should leave, but he needed her to castigate him first, to rail at him for lying to her and pretending to be a good person. He'd only go after he'd paid her price.
She remained silent, but he didn't dare raise his head.
"Vincenzo," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Look at me."
He tried to but tears were falling faster than he could wipe them away. It's only when her finger brushed his cheek that he realized she'd already crossed the room to his side. Her hands were warm and gentle as they wiped his face then pulled him into a hug.
"You're sleeping here," she said stroking the hair at the nape of his neck. "You shouldn't be alone tonight."
He nodded.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, as they laid in Cha-young's bed. He'd initially protested and offered to take the couch or the floor or to even go back to his apartment but she was adamant.
"I was scared about you leaving Korea." She reached out and intertwined her hand with his and closed her eyes. "Now I'm just scared."
"Of me?"
Cha-young opened her eyes and scowled. "No. Of myself. That even though it bothers me you've killed people, I want to stay by your side." She reached over and cupped his cheek. He had the face of an angel but he confessed to being a devil. She smiled faintly. "My moral compass needs fixing."
Vincenzo stroked her hair. The bedroom window was closed, but she'd opened the blinds to let the moonlight in and her skin lit up with a luminous glow. "It would be an honor if you stayed at my side. I will protect you with all my might."
"I just want us to learn to be friends. And how to love each other." Cha-young's face flamed. This wasn't how she thought her confession of love to Vincenzo would go and she resisted the urge to hide her face.
Vincenzo smiled, his first one of the night. "I think we already have that figured out." He tucked her under his arm and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Go to sleep. We have much to talk about in the morning."
Cha-young grumbled a bit but eventually drifted off to sleep, thinking about ways she could compromise Vincenzo out of his clothes while Vincenzo fell asleep thinking about ways to remain in Korea and leave his old life behind.
A thought struck.
He could leave Vincenzo Cassano behind and become Park Joo-hyung.
He always wanted to have his own winery, maybe it was time for a career change.
He snuggled up to Cha-young who was now lightly snoring and he proceeded to get one of the best night's sleep he ever had, and the first of their many, many nights.