Archive of Our Own

✦ Ⅰ ✦

“I've spent all of the love I saved

We were always a losing game

Small town boy 

in a big arcade

I got addicted to a losing game”

"You lost."

At the bold words, the young man next to him clenched his fist. James grinned smugly, bringing the red lollipop to his lips. He had come to Ansan for a school competition and was using his little break to play games at a nearby arcade. There were no arcades in his shabby little town; this place was incredibly fun, but even more fun was ripping off others and taking their medals.

No one had defeated him before and his last opponent was no exception.

James Lee glanced at his watch; it was time to return before the teacher noticed his disappearance.

"I want a rematch," He heard the older boy, who was at least a head taller than him, say. He was wearing a gray school uniform with white stripes on the sleeves, relatively long hair falling across his forehead. Combined with his height and muscles showing beneath the white shirt, the haircut gave him a bold look. He seemed like a rowdy kid, one who spoke with his fists instead of words.

"Another time," James Lee replied, pulling the hood of his black jumper over his head, "I have to go,” but not without the medals. He didn't have a lot of money, but betting and challenging others had greatly increased his yield. Plus, he still had to choose a price before going back. 

Grumbling but without a fight, the guy finally handed him his medals. To be honest, James was expecting more resistance, but the guy was true to his word.

"Next time we’ll have a rematch," James said, winking at his opponent with a grin, lollipop in his mouth. The taste of fake strawberries overcame his taste buds as he moved the candy with his tongue. 

"I'll take your word for it, punk."

James just grinned.

There would be no next time. He would never see this guy again.

"It was a good fight. Maybe you can beat me when the time comes."

With that, James left the arcade, not knowing that he would be wrong. In his memory, their first meeting was just a faint, brief moment in an arcade - drowned out by the loud noises of the other teenagers, the sound of the video games and overshadowed by the exciting, colorful lights of Ansan.

✦ ⅠⅠ ✦

“I don't need your games, game over

Get me off this rollercoaster”

Taesoo Ma, king of his high school, never expected to see the punk from the arcade again, in Notte World at that.

"Lost?" Taesoo asked, skillfully ignoring the fact that he'd also lost track of his friends and class after using the restroom.

The punk just nodded and stroked his black hair back from his forehead,  “Kinda lost. Seoul is big, but this amusement park doesn't seem any less small. It's so crowded."

Country bumpkin, thought Taesoo, not sure why he was even talking to that annoying punk. This situation was awkward.

Taesoo looked around, but he couldn't see anyone in the same summer uniform. Was he traveling alone? Didn't he have any friends? Had he been separated from his class?

The punk's summer uniform was not very flashy - it consisted only of a white shirt, the top buttons unbuttoned to show the collarbones, and simple pants. The boy with curly black hair waved his hand to cool himself down. Standing in the blazing sun, Taesoo felt sorry for the younger one.

Although he was wearing his gray uniform too, he’d gotten rid of his shirt and he didn't care about the confused or disturbed looks of the other guests. No one dared to mess with him - besides, he was still wearing his gray uniform jacket over his bare chest. The fabric of the summer uniform was pleasantly smooth and cool, even if it didn't look any different from his lined winter uniform.

Taesoo rubbed the back of his neck, not sure why he was dwelling on the punk; he had to find his class too. 

His gaze fell on a nice spot, in the shadow of a building. A few arcade machines sat in front of it, some visitors trying them out, "How about a rematch?"

The other high schooler raised an eyebrow, an amused grin crossing his face. For a moment, his eyes seemed to light up with anticipation, "I don't think it compares to the video game machines, but show me what you can do."

They walked over and watched as another young man hit one of the machines with a hammer. The score showed 578 before he gave his girlfriend the prize, a pink Jigglypuff, with a big grin. The pair laughed and giggled, making way for the two young men.

"The loser can start," The punk said with a grin, stroking his neck and visibly enjoying the shade. Taesoo only snorted, but he left the hammer next to the machine. This earned him a puzzled look, but Taesoo knew what he was doing. He just had to control his power to avoid destroying the device. When his steeled fist hit the machine the colorful lights came on, the words ‘New Record’ lighting up.

"1000 points," The young man murmured next to him, eyes wide, peering curiously at Taesoo's fist, “That's my defeat. I doubt I can top that."

The clerk keeping an eye on the games looked between the two teenagers, the game and Taesoo's hand, shocked, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. Still, his professionalism won out and he hurriedly asked Taesoo to choose a price. 

The tall teenager's gaze swept over the stand in search of anything useful, but it was all junk. Toys, flowers, and T-shirts with idiotic slogans and pictures that wouldn't suit him anyway. For a moment, he considered giving up his prize, but then he noticed how his companion stood on tiptoe next to him, wide-eyed with wonder.

On impulse, Taesoo acted.

The punk liked video games, so... "I want the Vulpix plushie."

With a polite smile, like he couldn't wait to get rid of the teenagers, the sweaty clerk presented Taesoo with the prize.

“Really? That's your taste?” The punk's teasing tone of voice and smirk faded as Taesoo pressed the stuffed Pokémon to his chest.

"Take it."

Surprised, the younger put his arms around the plushie, pressing it tightly to his chest. A gentle blush colored his cheeks as he looked up at Taesoo, "What? Why?"

"It's common to give the prize to someone else."

Full lips parted to protest or make a know-it-all comment, but, to Taesoo's astonishment, the other closed his mouth and grinned, clutching the gift to his chest, “Vulpix is one of my favorite Pokémon. Thanks."

Grunting, Taesoo turned away and rubbed the back of his neck. That was weird. They needed a change of subject, urgently.

Taesoo cracked his knuckles, grinning down at the smaller teenager as he tried to cover his embarrassment. At least, he tried, "What do I get for my victory?"

"It's a tie now," The other replied, "And we didn't bet on anything this time, but..."

Suddenly, he pointed to a shop nearby that sold headbands and other souvenirs, “:.. I could buy you something. Under 5000 won. How about a shirt?"

"Brat," Taesoo grumbled, but he couldn't suppress a grin. The two teenagers ended up in the gift shop without their friends and classes in sight, rummaging through the items.

If Taesoo was being honest, he didn't find any of it appealing. It was all meaningless junk, cheesy and sickeningly cute. Still, the little punk seemed to like it. He was standing in front of a shelf filled with colorful headbands. The sign above the shelf indicated that the offer was a special edition.

"I've always wanted to wear a headpiece in Notte World."

"Don't you think that's a bit childish?" Taesoo turned away with a snort. However, when he looked back at the punk, he was wearing a headband, red fox ears sticking out of his wild black hair.

It was cute and almost fitting. Fox ears suited him, with that wide, cheeky grin.

“But it's part of Notte World. Even the adults wear it,” With that, he suddenly stepped closer to Taesoo, his movements so fast that Taesoo was surprised. He felt a touch on his hair, a warm hand brushing his face, and the next moment Taesoo was turned to a mirror.

Taesoo's reflection looked back in amazement, a black hairband with rounded bear ears on his head, while the other was grinning over his shoulder, standing on tiptoe. As the punk smiled, a small fang was shown, making him appear all the more fox-like.

"We look great."

Annoyed, Taesoo grabbed the stupid headband to take it off and threw it back on the shelf, "This stuff is for girls-"

With a gentle smile, the fox grabbed Taesoo's hand and held it tight. For the first time, Taesoo noticed how small and delicate it seemed compared to his. Those elegant, delicate fingers were soft and unmarked by training, unlike his own right hand, covered with calluses. The other carefully pulled Taesoo's hand away from his face, stroking his temple instead.

“You look handsome”, said the sly fox, “I can see your face better thanks to the headband; you have very manly features. Oh, and isn't it nicer when your hair doesn't fall in your face all the time?"

The surprising comment made Taesoo freeze. A wave of heat washed over him, and his ears burned, before grumbling and giving up, "You pay."

"Of course."

For the rest of the day, Taesoo didn't miss his friends or classmates, nor did he look out for the school uniform of his surprising companion. The first thing he learned was that the fox had a fondness for sweets. They kept stopping at candy stores and food stalls as the punk tried all sorts of treats and shared them with Taesoo. He tried what he didn't know, but most of the time he refused. He would have preferred a burger or some other real food - preferably with lots of meat - but the heat suppressed his appetite. Instead, they tried out different attractions like the Atlantis roller-coaster and the drop tower, enjoying the adrenaline and excitement as the hours flew by.

Eventually, Taesoo found himself in a photo booth. As a reminder of their time in Notte World, the fox had suggested, and Taesoo was in such a good mood that he had let himself be drawn into the photo booth. For him, the king of his school, taking pictures like silly, childish teenagers was ridiculous. Still, that was exactly what happened. 

He grumbled as the other laughed at the camera, teasingly tugging Taesoo's cheek to elicit a reaction.

"Stop that," Taesoo hissed, still wearing the headband with the bear ears, but the cheeky fox just tugged Taesoo’s cheek once more to make him grin. 

The twinkle in the boy’s eye was cheeky and daring. Nobody else at his school dared behave like that towards him - but they were strangers enjoying a day together and nobody would see them in the photo booth. The camera triggered and printed out the images a few seconds later. Laughing, the fox looked at the series of photos with satisfaction.

“This is for me, as a keepsake. Let's make some more - this time for you."

Taesoo felt like he couldn't refuse, but something inside him didn't want to either, "As long as you stop this nonsense and we take proper photos."

Taesoo inserted money again and stared stubbornly at the camera. The fox leaned closer, face a little too calm and serious. The countdown started slowly and when it reached three, the fox suddenly grabbed his chin and leaned closer. At the same time, Taesoo flinched as the other suddenly approached him.

It went wrong.

Soft lips touched Taesoo's - actually, it was just the corner of his mouth and face. The kiss had clearly been meant for his cheek. Harmless and silly, but the surprise had made Taesoo move. So, the prank transformed into something else.

The boy's narrow eyes widened, pulling his head back, startled. Then, in a panic, he grabbed his photos and the Vulpix plushie that was lying on the floor, raising it in front of his face like a shield. Taesoo's mouth fell open in shock, but before he could even think to utter a sentence, the fox fled.

That had been Taesoo's first kiss, and it had been an accident.

The sound of the printer roused him from his shock, and, as he took the photos in a trance, he saw what had happened in the last few seconds. The punk's cheeky grin as he leaned forward. The kiss. Their astonished and embarrassed faces.

Taesoo's first kiss had been stolen by a little fox, and he didn't even know that guy's name.

✦ Ⅲ ✦

“Oh

All I know, all I know

Loving you is a losing game”

Their third, unlikely, meeting took place in an unexpected, unassuming place: the library in Ansan. James was there for a school project, and, while the two-hour train ride to Ansan was boring, it at least allowed him some freedom and an opportunity to get out of his small town.

He was leafing through one of the thick books (which came from the archives of the city library and couldn’t be borrowed) when suddenly a large hand was pressed down on the open page. When James looked up, he saw none other than the guy he'd spent his first visit to Notte World with.

The older one looked out of place, in part due to his clothing. Like James, he wasn't wearing his school uniform but casual clothes, but where James wore a soft, warm turtleneck, his counterpart looked tough and intimidating, donning black and dark gray. The look was complimented by a black leather Prada jacket.

"Long time no see, punk," said the young man. His voice seemed even deeper and more pleasant - James had almost missed this tone of voice. 

"Your hair got even longer," James countered, hiding a grin behind his hand as he noticed the dark hair was held back by a black hairband. He was smart enough not to say anything.

"What are you doing here?"

"That's an odd question," James pointed to the books, "School stuff."

"You aren't even from Ansan," James was surprised at those words. Sure, he didn't have a special accent, but the other sounded, as sure as if he'd searched all over Ansan for him. But that couldn't be...unless the guy was planning to kick James’ ass because of their accidental little kiss.

Yet, despite his impressive and intimidating demeanor, James sensed no hostility from the older teenager.

The other snorted and sat down next to him. James registered the math book and a notebook in the other's left hand, “You here to study?"

"Exams," The other groaned, rubbing his face in exhaustion, "And I'll fail math. I know it. I'm fucked."

James took the book and notebook without asking permission- mostly because he was curious. The topic and the older teens' level of knowledge came second to James. There was something that had been bothering him for a long time and finally, he had his answer.

Inside the notebook, he found the guy's name:

Taesoo Ma.

His smile froze. Oh. That was a name James had heard of.

Still, something inside him didn't want to stop. James should have taken his books and notes and left, but instead, James said:

“I can give you tips if you have questions. I'm good at math," James smirked; he was the best student in his school, a veritable prodigy in many areas.

"For real?"

"I've tutored before."

From that point on, they met every Saturday and Sunday for two months. James worked on his project in the morning while teaching, answering questions and practicing with Taesoo from noon into the evening. Taesoo was a quick learner and he wasn't bad at math, but he implied that he'd missed classes and neglected to study because of … 'extracurricular activities'. Before and after tutoring, they would usually go out for a meal - Taesoo paid and James didn't say no when it came to free meals. They had both decided that the meal was payment for the tutoring. From time to time, Taesoo would also bring sweets, but James quickly noticed, amused, that Taesoo didn't touch them. They were only for James.

"Want to eat hotpot?" Taesoo asked as they exited the library. The sun hadn't set yet but was already quite low. Warm light broke through the red and gold canopy of the trees that lined the path to the library; the leaves rustled softly when a fresh wind came up. James shuddered and zipped up his jacket. Beside him, Taesoo stared at his smartphone. They usually went out to eat alone, but James could tell he was texting someone in a group chat.

His instincts warned him that Taesoo was planning to take him to a meeting with his friends. He felt like Taesoo wanted to introduce him to his inner circle, but they were just a tutor and a student; they weren't friends, nor were they a couple.

"Ah, sorry, I have to catch the earlier train today."

Taesoo immediately looked up, frowning as he eyed James,  "You always back off as soon as there are more people involved."

Sometimes Taesoo Ma was smarter than James would’ve liked.

"Don't be so rude, punk," Taesoo put a hand on his back and pushed him further down the path towards the bus station, “If you have to, you can sleep at my place. My circle is cool. If you don't act like a know-all, they’ll like you. My people are curious about you."

Every single word only increased Jame's urge to flee. He couldn't. He had already crossed a line with Taesoo that he shouldn't have crossed. A distraction was needed.

He deftly escaped from Taesoo's grasp and stood in front of him. The older teen stopped, stunned, staring down at him as James ran his fingers along the collar of Taesoo's leather jacket, "Mhm, you should try a leather jacket with a fur collar," His fingers slid higher, brushing Taesoo's neck and hair, which tickled his fingers, "I think it would go well with your style."

Taesoo swallowed, his eyes on the shorter teenager, lips parted slightly as he swallowed, clearing his throat. It was cute how easy it was to fluster the oh-so-mighty fighter, "What? I mean... what color are you thinking of?"

James' gaze darted briefly to the sea of leaves above them, almost glowing in the evening sun.

"Gold," James replied as the dusk light caressed and warmed both of them. The rays danced in James' eyes, making them seem even more alive, and, for a moment, he grinned mischievously. His stomach tingled, but his fingers stayed on Taesoo's collar, “Golden brown. I think fur would look good on you. It would underline your wild, masculine charm."

Then, a little bolder, James stood on tiptoe and came closer. His cheek brushed Taesoo's, whispering in his ear and enjoying the tremble of the other's strong body.

“Gold would accentuate the color of your eyes. I think … you have beautiful eyes.”

With that, he left a shocked Taesoo Ma, running to the nearest bus station. Still, no matter what he tried to tell himself on the two-hour ride home, James' heart would not stop beating wildly whenever he thought of Taesoo's surprised, red face. 

It was a problem.

When Taesoo came to the library the next weekend, he was beyond excited. He and James had studied together after his exam so that Taesoo could catch up in class, but he had written the math exam a week before James' little stunt under the autumn trees. 

The grades for the exam were already here.

To everyone's amazement, Taesoo ended up with the top mark in his class and he couldn't wait to tell James about it. With a big grin, he stormed into the study spaces of the library, ignoring the startled looks and hurried to the window seat; they studied there every weekend. Each time Taesoo had arrived, countless books had already been laid out, often still open because James had spent the morning researching. The seat had always been free for them, and, even after their meal breaks, nobody dared to take their usual seat thanks to Taesoo's bad reputation as a gangster.

Taesoo stopped in front of the table.

It was empty, save for a book James had been working on last week, and beneath it was a message with Taesoo's name on it. Confused, he pulled the letter from under the book, written words scrawled in neat handwriting. 

He couldn't believe it.

Was that all, after all the time they'd spent together? James just took off? 

He thought they'd become friends, but if James could just walk away like that … Taesoo snorted. He shouldn't be surprised. The bastard hadn't even told him his last name, nor did he know where James was from or what school he went to. He didn't even have James' number; they had always met each other at the library at their regular time. 

Asshole.

Clenching his fist, he wanted to crumple up the paper and throw it in the nearest garbage can, but then he noticed the arrow after the last word. He turned the paper over and every angry thought died out just as quickly as they’d come to his mind.

It was a pencil drawing.

Of him.

The drawing was incredibly good, almost as realistic as a photograph, but it seemed so much gentler and softer as if the artist had poured his emotions into his work while drawing. Taesoo Ma didn't know much about art, but even he could feel that this picture had meaning.

He had never been painted before. It was kind of flattering.

The drawing showed Taesoo Ma resting his chin on his hand, a small, gentle smile played around his lips. He had a single headphone in his ear, listening to the music James had shown him. He recalled the moment and James' happy smile as he praised the unknown singer and the music.

Was that how James saw him?

Taesoo's face felt warm.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one who had a little crush.

That evening he hung the drawing on the wall in his bedroom, along with the photos from Notte World. Every time Taesoo saw it, he had to smile. He might never see James again, but he knew his first crush had returned his feelings.

✦ Ⅳ ✦

“Do you love me, love me not?

Giving pieces from my heart

Tomorrow's coming and has gone

Still I carried, I carried, I carried on”

It was war. 

There was no place for sentimental feelings. There were no friends, no allies, no lovers. 

They were nothing.

Just enemies.

Still, Taesoo was surprised when he met James again, in the middle of the Generation of Violence and War. The nerd had no place here and yet his name had become a symbol of fear and destruction. Taesoo never expected that behind the name James Lee was his James.

But now that he was on the ground, unable to move, he knew that his James and the man his generation was already calling a legend had nothing in common. They were two different people.

James' hair was now red, like the fire around them, but his eyes were blank and cold, calculating and expressionless. Nothing of the cheeky shimmer and life had remained in them. He looked like he had gone through war - his body may have stayed without scars but his soul surely hadn’t.

Both were now in their second year of high school and nearly a year had passed since their last meeting.

Taesoo wasn't even sure if James recognized him. James needed to know who he was, but there was no mercy, no recognition, no gentleness or kindness in his attacks. He was merciless, so similar to the flames around them, and yet so different. There was no more warmth in his gaze, only cold.

"Taesoo Ma."

That wasn't possible. He had lost. For the first time.

"If I leave you like this, you won't change ... and you'll have another fight with others. So I'm thinking..."

James kneeled over him. He grabbed Taesoo's right hand, eyeing Taesoo's ring finger. His words were cruel but his tone of voice sounded nearly bored, "... I'll cut your finger off so that you can't do that anymore."

"No," was all the King of Ansan could say, a mess of different emotions.

He had questions, but he couldn't ask. His heart beat faster, barely able to look at James, but he forced himself to endure those sad, cold eyes.

Don't you remember?

Taesoo couldn't lose his strong fist, not after everything he had done and given up for it.

Empty and exhausted, he looked up at James Lee, a man who had mutilated all his victims. The king knew he would be no exception - but he needed to know, he had to know just how far James would go.

Was there ever anything between us at all?

"Take my eye instead."

His eyelids were heavy and he felt his consciousness fading. Still, he had to see it, he had to know.

James Lee hesitated, briefly biting down on the lollipop in his mouth. Taesoo heard a crack as the sugar splintered.

"You have beautiful eyes."

"Take your eye rather than your finger?" James Lee asked, his voice lower than before. Or perhaps that was just because Taesoo was about to faint?

"Yes," Was the last thing the King of Ansan could say as James Lee grabbed a piece of metal, the tip heated by the blaze around them. Fire and pain singed Taesoo's skin and flesh.

The pain was like nothing he'd ever felt before, but the sensation of having his heart ripped out as James Lee cut the delicate bond between them was a pain that would haunt him for years to come.

✦ Ⅴ ✦

“A broken heart is all that's left

I'm still fixing all the cracks

Lost a couple of pieces when

I carried it, carried it, carried it home”

After Taesoo left the hospital, he was a different person. The picture and the photos that had otherwise filled him with happiness and excitement were no longer bearable. In a fit of anger, he had broken the glass and frame, throwing the remains of the picture under the bed. He had forgotten it there, but the painful memories could hardly be suppressed.

The anger and hatred were all-consuming.

He was ruthless, he wanted revenge, but Jame Lee was gone

So, life went on. Taesoo trained, built his business, and even took on a persistent but worthy student.

Hudson snapped him out of his hate and obsession for the first time. It did Taesoo good to take care of someone instead of solely embarking on his revenge and useless search for his rival.

Taesoo took another step forward, finding a new passion.

During his senior year of high school, Taesoo discovered a young trainee at PTJ who quickly rose to popularity and fame. Shortly thereafter, the same trainee made his debut. His first song, Strawberry Milkshake, filled with vitality and joy, became a summer hit. For the first time in a long time, music brought joy to Taesoo. But the song that made him a fan of this idol was a love song. So beautiful, so tragic that it touched Taesoo's frozen heart. The first time he heard Arcade, the music and lyrics moved every part of his soul. He cried, hard and ugly, remembering his first heartbreak. 

Instead of James' drawing, Diego Kang's posters and photo cards decorated his walls for a while.

(He also had some merchandise, including cute and very big DG plushies. Some of them were very huggable, but that was the kind of information nobody else was allowed to know. As a teenager, Taesoo had loved the adorable plushies of the cool idol and he had been pretty proud of his limited edition pieces, but not even Seokdu had been allowed to see his collection.)

Being a fanboy was his guilty pleasure. Taesoo never went to a concert and the only thing he hated about it was the fandom's name. DG's fans were called his Legends, rekindling bad memories whenever he heard that word, but over time he got used to it, managing to call himself a Legend like the other fans. It took a while, but in the end, he was even able to convince Seokdu Wang with his enthusiasm and make him a fan. Personally, Taesoo would have preferred Strawberry Milkers as a fandom name, but that had only earned him a worried look from the King of Suwon, as if Taesoo were some sort of pervert. Only later did he realize how … thirsty the name sounded. But no wonder, DG's fans were considered particularly thirsty; the pink-haired idol was a walking thirst trap.

Of course, not for Taesoo Ma. He was a king. He had class. 

And he had no fucking chance to even look at the famous idol live.

At least, he thought so until Hudson and his boys bought him a concert ticket for his 23rd birthday. It was even a VIP ticket with a fansign, and it certainly cost a lot of money.

But the reason Taesoo never went to a concert wasn't because of the money, he had more than enough of that. His time as king had paid off, but as a man with his looks among the other Legends ... the thought was odd. He had no place at a concert and it was enough for him to see the videos and lives that DG made. Sometimes, he even joined the chat to ask questions, especially when he feared the perfectionist idol was overworking himself.

DG was his first celebrity crush, as well as his second crush in general, but he didn't live under any illusions. He only went to the concert because the boys had spent a huge sum on the VIP ticket and it was non-transferrable.

The concert itself was a strange but beautiful experience. It wasn't his first concert, but the atmosphere in the audience was incredible. The performance itself was legendary and DG's stage presence was incredibly captivating, his voice live was even better than Taesoo had imagined. Sure, his presence among the mostly young women got him a few strange looks, but he wasn't quite as noticeable in his seat as he would have been in the crowd in front of the stage. Instead, he enjoyed the concert, and when DG even sang Arcade alongside his latest songs, Taesoo had to wipe away a few tears. The song was still close to his heart after all these years.

When it came time for the fansign after the concert, Taesoo actually wanted to leave. The thought of going to DG's fansign was too embarrassing for him. He was a man. It just seemed strange. But then he remembered the price of the ticket, he gritted his teeth and stood in the waiting room for his chance. At first, he got strange looks, people mistook him for a bodyguard and security spoke to him for a moment, but after some time the other people got used to him. In the end, he traded his waiting number for the last number to give him more time to think about the situation. He felt more comfortable, but Taesoo's presence was soon overshadowed by DG's appearance and the other fans had eyes only for their idol.

Meanwhile, Taesoo was struggling with himself and the thought of leaving.

For a little more peace and privacy, the Legends waited in the anteroom, which was surprisingly cozy. There were food, drinks, and chairs; music videos and advertisements were playing on screens around the room showing the PTJ agency's groups and other concerts. The staff kept calling numbers, taking fans to the next room, where the idol waited to talk to each Legend for about a minute and give his signature.

The young women seemed nervous and excited as they disappeared into the adjoining room, post-meeting reactions ranged from excited squeals to dreamy, dazed looks, as if they were waking up from a dream. Under other circumstances, Taesoo would have been annoyed or amused...but right now, he was just incredibly nervous.

Then, as the room emptied and the staff shooed the fans who’d already seen their idol out of the room, it was Taesoo Ma's turn. He had to gather all his courage to enter the room, hoping that he wouldn’t experience the biggest embarrassment of his life.

This room was smaller than the previous one, but it felt classy and surprisingly comfortable. A table was set up with the pink-haired idol sitting behind it, drinking water, his face turned away from the door. Behind DG stood staff and bodyguards who monitored the fan interactions, as well as taking care of the rest.

Finally, Taesoo stopped in front of the table and sat down on the stool. His presence immediately caught the idol's attention, who capped the water bottle and set it aside, "Oh sorry. My throat is dry, how are you-”, DG said in his warm, friendly and dark voice that made Taesoo's heart beat faster.

But hardly a moment after DG turned to him and looked at Taesoo's scarred face, the friendly smile froze and his eyes widened. Normally Taesoo didn't mind being feared, in fact, he enjoyed it, but seeing him startle the idol ... it hurt. Not that he hadn't expected it. He was a bear of a man, huge, with broad shoulders and wild long hair; dressed all in black, neatly in an Armani shirt and black trousers, while the pink VIP pass dangled from his broad chest.

Fuck. He had known it - it had been a dumb idea to come to the fansign.

Meanwhile, DG recovered and his face turned professional once more. He smiled politely as Taesoo's shoulders stiffened. The king didn't even know how to start the conversation, nor how he should behave.

"Don't be shy", DG interrupted his brooding, "I don't often have male fans at my concerts. I'm glad you're here."

This reaction surprised him, but then he remembered that he was dealing with a professional entertainer. Of course, the idol was polite and did his job. The king just didn't know if he should be relieved or if he felt even worse than before.

"What's your name?" The idol asked, sharp eyes examining him. Oddly enough, they seemed... familiar.

Taesoo cleared his throat. Of course, he knew those eyes and that face, he'd been a fan since high school. "Taesoo Ma. Thank you, it's my first concert and my first fansign. It's ... weird."

"I know - I mean, I would remember a man like you on my fansigns ... Taesoo Ma."

When DG said his name, his tone darkened, and each syllable accented, as if he were enjoying speaking his name.

DG smiled, "If it's your first concert, how long have you been one of my Legends?"

"Since your time as a trainee," Taesoo put his hands on the table and leaned in a little closer, his posture relaxing. It was a surprise how easy it was to converse with DG, almost like talking to an old friend, "My favorite song is Arcade. It's sad and beautiful - a true heartbreak song."

The small, polite smile froze again, as if Taesoo had said something wrong. DG's shoulders tensed before he looked away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be impolite," Taesoo cleared his throat and stood up, even though his time wasn't probably up yet, "I made you uncomfortable. I'll-"

Suddenly DG's hands closed around his right hand, holding it tight. The idol looked startled for a second before glancing up at him from lowered eyelids.

"Please stay." DG cleared his throat while Taesoo sat back down, too surprised to say anything, "Your time is not up yet."

DG didn't let go of his hand, instead, soft fingers caressed his knuckles and calluses, as if he were touching something precious, "Is there something you want me to sign?"

Taesoo nodded, taking something from the inside of his jacket. It wasn't DG's new album Secret , but it was the album Pink Birds of Paradise . It was Taesoo's favorite album, as it was the first of DG's albums he’d ever bought. When DG saw the familiar cover, he chuckled, releasing Taesoo's hand to sign the album. The signature ended up inside the album next to a photo of DG, wearing white and pink angel wings, as well as a beautiful white garment and gold accessories. He even left a small dedication, but Taesoo was too nervous to read it. He would do it later in peace.

"Thank you," Taesoo lowered his voice, "Your music helped me through a difficult time. It … saved my life."

DG paused before setting the pen aside and grasping the large hand once more. This time, he stroked Taesoo's ring finger.

"I'm glad that my music could help you," The idol smiled, almost sadly, eyebrows furrowed, "Your hand is so big. And beautiful."

Taesoo's pulse quickened.

Did the DG just flirt with him? That couldn't be. DG didn't date, nor had he ever been in a relationship before. He had even said in an interview that he wasn't over his first love that had ended in a tragedy. 

DG was just playing with him, that was part of the fan service.

"Sir," A young woman, who acted like an assistant, cleared her throat,"It's been ten minutes. The gentleman is the last one, but we have to go. You have an appointment with the Chairman of HNH Group."

"Oh right."

The idol gave him one last look before saying goodbye.

DG left and Taesoo was escorted out, feeling like he was still dreaming. It wasn't until he was back in his hotel room that he remembered the dedication. Curious, he opened the album. The words, written in a delicate hand, were unusual and didn't make much sense.

"I met my first love in an arcade in Ansan. I hope we will play games again one day."

For a moment, Taesoo wondered if he had mentioned his hometown, but he couldn't remember.

✦ Ⅵ ✦

“I'm afraid of all I am

My mind feels like a foreign land

Silence ringing inside my head

Please carry me, carry me, carry me home”

It had been disappointing.

To say that DG was sad would be an understatement.

However, the fight against Taesoo had been over before he could have enjoyed it. Their level was still worlds apart. However, what really destroyed James Lee's good mood was that Taesoo had betrayed himself and lost his self-belief. It made him sad to see the once strong-willed and proud man like this.

However, who was DG to judge?

He had destroyed the King of Ansan once again. DG turned away from the man, who laid prone on the ground, the tiles around him splintered and spattered with blood. His foot brushed the heavy leather coat. DG registered the golden fur collar and for a tiny moment, he paused and stared at the clothing.

Then, he broke away from the sight to pull the white mask back over the lower half of his face. He turned to disappear into the night, but suddenly he felt an iron grip on his ankle.

For a second he hadn't been paying attention, and, in the next moment, he regretted it. 

His body hit the bloody tiles, pain ripping through his side and arm. DG wanted to get back up and back away quickly, but a much larger and heavier body, packed with muscle and strength, pinned him to the ground. Legs pressed against DG’s thighs, denying him a chance to flee or to defend himself with kicks.

A touch of fear washed over him as he hit Taesoo's face and torso with a rapid series of well-aimed, lightning-fast punches to shake the king off - but alongside his speed, DG's power came primarily from his kicks and agility. However, the legend could no longer avoid attacks or escape. The King of Ansan did not flinch, steeling his body to withstand the blows, despite the damage he had taken earlier.

James Lee was the ‘Peak of Speed’, but his options were limited and he was now within Taesoo's reach. The king grabbed him with both hands, holding DG's wrists with his right hand, pressing them against the splintered tiles over DG's head.

DG's eyes widened, sheer fear and horror on his face as he looked up at Taesoo. The king slowly bent down to him, blood and tears running down his face, his right eye closed and a dark fire of anger burned in the other.

He grabbed DG's chin with his free hand, fingers digging painfully into his skin.

"Don't you fucking dare to leave," The king growled, and, for a moment, DG wondered where the man got his strength from.

He struggled to free himself and shake off Taesoo, but the king outnumbered him in strength, bulk, and size. It was impossible to overpower Taesoo without his legs free. With every second DG lost, his panic increased. No matter how much he hoped that Taesoo could defeat him and end it all, in the face of his agonizing death, his survival instincts kicked in. His breathing quickened, heart pounding in his chest. Fear numbed him - he saw Taesoo's bloody lips move, but not a word got through to the legend.

DG was afraid. 

Taesoo would kill him. Taesoo would pay him back. He would-

A hot mouth was pressed against DG's lips. His whole body froze.

A tongue opened his lips before it worked its way into his mouth, smothering any protest. The metallic-sweet taste of blood filled DG's mouth, robbing him of all clarity of thought, as all strength left his body. Something broke inside him; long suppressed but never extinguished feelings overwhelmed him before his body reacted - regardless of all logic and reality.

DG slowly returned the burning, demanding kiss. His lips moved against his opponent's warm, cracked lips. Saliva mixed with tears and blood, running down his chin only to soil his white, flawless clothing.

When Taesoo finally broke the kiss to gasp loudly, DG was lying beneath him, lips slightly parted and swollen. His eyes were half closed and he could feel tears stinging his eyes, but he refused to cry or give Taesoo that satisfaction. 

Was this how he would die? Humiliated by his former rival, his first love, whose existence he had strived to erase? Should he fight back or endure it - didn't he deserve all the pain Taesoo was going to put him through?

"Punk," Taesoo murmured against his lips, his grip on DG's wrists tightening, painful, "I won't let you go until you tell me what your fucking problem is."

DG blinked, his broken gaze turning into a puzzled frown, "What?"

"We will talk and you will tell me what's going on. You owe me an explanation, James Lee."

Still stunned, DG stared up at the one-eyed, badly injured king. Even with all that knowledge and intelligence, the genius suddenly felt like an idiot, unable to understand what was going on. So, he said the first thing he could think of, hoping Taesoo could give him an explanation for his strange behavior, "You kissed me. Why?"

"Why?" The King of Ansan snorted, looking down at his captive. Then, almost imperceptibly, the corner of his mouth twitched, "We're even now. You stole a kiss, I stole a kiss. It's long overdue that we talk about us, don't you think, James Lee?"

The memory hit him like a bolt of lightning. DG's face turned crimson before he shyly turned his face to the side, only to see Taesoo's black coat, the golden fur so close it almost touched his face.

Against his will, a sob broke out from James' chest. He bit his lower lip, attempting to control his emotions and maintain his cold mask. He might be the Legend of the First Generation, but he was a prisoner, a caged bird, unable to spread his wings and escape Charles Choi, who had bound and blackmailed him.

All the things he had done to Taesoo, and yet Taesoo still seemed to feel something for him that wasn't just hate and anger. DG wasn't worth such mercy.

Almost cautiously, Taesoo turned DG's face back and forced the younger to look at him, "Let's go inside. Let's drink and eat as we did in the past. I have a lot of questions and I need answers."

"I can't," DG swallowed, even though he wanted to. He wanted to tell someone. He wanted to tell a friend, anyone, what was going on. It had always been easy to talk to Taesoo. With Taesoo, James had been himself, but now they were enemies.

"Why?"

“I have a flight in less than 4 hours. I have a concert in America."

Taesoo blinked, releasing DG's chin with an annoyed groan, followed by a chuckle. Shaking his head, he sat further back so his weight rested more on DG's hips, but he didn't let go.

"You're killing me, you damn punk," Taesoo wiped his face with his free hand. He looked tired, but less because of the fight and more because of the whole situation. DG could understand him, he was suddenly tired too.

“I can give you my number,” DG whispered, “You should go to a hospital and take care of your junior."

Remembering the blond second-generation fighter, who just laid some meters away from them, Taesoo froze. Shocked, he looked in the direction of the boy, who had been beaten up by Daniel, before his face turned crimson, then white as a sheet. Taesoo's embarrassed face was still cute.

"I will come back." At those words, Taesoo finally let go of him, but still sat on him, staring down at the legend. DG felt a new strength surge through his body, grabbing Taesoo's collar and pulling him down. Their lips met halfway, DG's torso semi-upright,  "And then I’ll tell you everything."

Next time he wouldn't run away.

He owed Taesoo Ma at least an explanation, an excuse.

But James knew that he wasn't worth Taesoo's forgiveness.

✦ Ⅶ ✦

“Oh

All I know, all I know

Loving you is a losing game”

DG slowly lowered the smartphone as his gaze darted across Seoul. His tired face reflected in the glass of the window, while the collar of the fluffy bathrobe slipped slightly down his shoulder. A new reflection appeared behind DG's before big hands straightened the collar. 

Sighing, the pink-haired man leaned back until he was leaning against a broad and strong chest. Arms were wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer as warm breath slid down the back of his neck and a beard tickled his skin.

"Who’d you call?"

“A boy I keep an eye on. He's like a cute puppy, but is always in trouble," DG sighed and tilted his head back.

"But that's not what worries you. You smiled when you hung up," Taesoo murmured, "But when you finally got here, the first thing you did was to take a shower. You were pretty angry, too."

"Sometimes you're frighteningly perceptive," DG replied, feeling tired, “Some little twink put me on a new leash and dared to touch me. It was disgusting."

Taesoo frowned, "Did that have anything to do with the things you wanted to talk to me about?"

He nodded almost imperceptibly, but he wasn't ready to talk about it yet. 

Suddenly, he was picked up by Taesoo and carried across the room, a bit amused, DG started to smile. Dressed in the white bathrobe, while Taesoo was still wearing his black suit shirt and pants, reminiscent of a newly wed couple enjoying their wedding night or honeymoon. The thought was hilarious, making him chuckle.     

"Let's talk about that later. You work too much and you need a break."

DG saw no reason to say no. The next moment he felt the soft hotel bed beneath him, and, when he looked up, he saw the satisfied, smiling face of the first-generation king. This peaceful moment felt like a dream. 

There were more enemies waiting for him outside, but for now, that didn't seem to matter. Nobody knew where he was. Nobody knew about the new ally he had. For the first time in his life, he would not face the threat alone.

This time DG would stay, as long as he could.

Here is a little cookie (They had a lot of fun at Notte World:)