Chapter Text
Jaha twirls a wooden staff around him. He's not even using a sword aura, but the force around him is still oppressive.
Seong Tae swallows. Perspiration is dripping down his fallen fringe. Beaded sweat slides down his neck, soaking his robes.
He gathers a deep breath, aligns his feet and charges towards Jaha. Jaha looks bored, avoiding his clumsy blows.
Jaha twists, showing off his flexibility and speed. He moves to strike Seong Tae from behind, but Seong Tae barely manages to parry his staff.
Jaha swings the staff to his knees. Seong Tae jumps up, and tries to imitate Jaha's side-spin. He stumbles, but lands without harm.
Jaha puts the staff beside him, and spreads his arms open with a smirk. Seong Tae growls, and attacks his right side.
Jaha rotates his feet and makes Seong Tae catch him in his arms, pressing his fist to Seong Tae's chest. "I win," Jaha smugly declares, gazing up at Seong Tae.
Seong Tae groans. "Is that meant to be a sword, or am I killed by your fist?"
"Both," says Jaha, and makes to stand. Seong Tae releases him, and is promptly carried. Chest to chest, legs wrapped firmly around Jaha's waist and arms around Jaha's shoulders.
This is a familiar position for both, except-
"We're in public!" Seong Tae shrieks, batting his husband. Jaha smiles. Seong Tae's pats are always gentle(?) to him.
"We're not, this is our backyard," Jaha points out, walking to the inn. "Besides, for someone out in public, you're not fully dressed."
Seong Tae hides his flushing face by nipping Jaha's ear lobe. He is not wearing his outer robes, challenged to sparring practice the moment he woke up.
Jaha carries him up the hidden back staircase to their rooms. He undresses Seong Tae, peeling off his sweat drenched near translucent inner robes.
Seong Tae soaks in the hot bath while Jaha gets breakfast. He dozes off in the bath, a new habit of his since living with Jaha.
Jaha splashes bath water on Seong Tae's face. Seong Tae jumps, wet and startled. Jaha grins unrepentantly, and leaves Seong Tae to grumble to himself as he towels dry.
Seong Tae drops his head back in frustration when he realises that he does not have clothes with him.
Jaha comes back in with clothes on his arm, and watches Seong Tae dress. After breakfast, they settle with Seong Tae in Jaha's lap.
Both had hated this act at first. Seong Tae would bristle, and Jaha would stand stone-faced when either tried being close.
Hong Shin had staged an intervention. "I've seen arguing couples friendlier to each other than you two," the thief complained. "Get your act together, brother," she rolled her eyes at Jaha while giving Seong Tae bottles of expensive alcohol.
Now that they're comfortable with each other, they become known as the clan's stickiest couple.
"Dog food, dog food everyday," laments a drunk Yong Gae. "We should change our name to 'Dog food town' to show what we live through –" Ja Seong surreptitiously slides his drink away from him.
Seong Tae falls asleep on Jaha. Jaha lightly traces his eyebags and sighs. Seong Tae has started working with Manager Byeok to discuss clan matters and finances.
As Jaha seeks to expand the Low Down clan, Seong Tae has to handle the influx of new people, from housing to food. Seong Tae is also studying governance with the town's tutors, balancing his job, training and studies well into the night.
Today is a rare rest day, and Jaha notices how twitchy Seong Tae had been the past week without fighting, as Jaha had called some fighters to other places.
Jaha brushes his lips against Seong Tae's forehead, then cheeks. Seong Tae responds by cupping Jaha's face and kissing him properly, closing his eyes again.
Jaha massages Seong Tae's hands. This action is one Seong Tae accepts without fuss in public, after severe hand cramps that scared Jaha.
Seong Tae does the same, massaging Jaha's hands in private. He also takes care of all their weapons well. He sharpens and polishes every weapon by hand when he has the time.
Watching Seong Tae, Jaha trains harder. Jaha also berates the fighters who do not take good care of their own weapons, punishing them in the centre of town, as the town itself is the headquarters of the Low Down clan.