Archive of Our Own

It’s a slow Wednesday evening as it usually is at Survive. Manning the counter alone isn’t a hassle when Ichiban and the gang are taking up the karaoke machine and more focused on cheering than ordering food and drink. Paying to sing at the machine still costs money so it’s not like those kinds of customers would get under the Boss’s skin. Polishing glasses behind the counter you take notice of the fact that Joon-gi doesn’t cheer. He seems to enjoy listening but you don’t dare try to seem like you’re staring just to get a view of his expressions alone. Shockingly, in recollection you realize you’ve never actually seen him sing. The songs available would be updated every so often and it wasn’t like there was a hurting for choices. Although, most people only seemed to stick to a couple. The amount of times Bakamitai had been sung in the bar alone could have made for a pretty solid cover album. Presently unclear who would actually think recordings of their own singing would be worth paying for. Back when money was tighter though Ichiban had been seen busking with a loaned guitar from the man that ran Ebisu Pawn. If you helped out the locals, it wasn’t difficult to get a few friends and some return favors for helping them in their times of need. Eventually, everyone was bound to order something to drink at some time so you were standing on call.

Filling up glasses of tea, soda, and warm milk (okay Nanba?) you swing from behind the counter and bring everyone’s orders to them at the booths. Ichiban wanted Coca-Cola, Adachi ordered sweetened tea, Nanba wanted milk. Being able to order milk at a bar is an unusual choice but honestly there really is no rules for the regulars, if it’s something that can be provided reasonably it will be. Not to mention that milk for tea was a sensible enough pairing that if someone wanted to swing in at lunchtime then the atmosphere was cozy enough to sit down and enjoy a sandwich with a relaxing glass of milky rose hip tea. Zhao and Joon-gi were sat at the booth behind them. The open seat next to Ichiban was for Saeko who was currently up at the jukebox belting out to Harukaze. It almost seemed like the group had assigned seats even if the seating was a force of habit, you felt there was some conscious effort from Adachi and Nanba to try and give Ichiban an open seat next to Saeko when it was available. Zhao and Joon-gi being two late additions to the party meant that they were either able to sit up at the actual bar counter, take up the other booth, or sit at the tables meant for two. They didn’t always sit together as there would be times Joon-gi seemed to want to sit in silence unless the conversations being had required his involvement. Zhao couldn’t care any less than he already did about what the others thought of him but he respected that maybe two dudes sitting together at a table expressly meant for two would not be an opportunity for light ribbing from someone. The booths though were a different story and so Joon-gi eventually came to spending more time sitting with Zhao at Survive even if they still didn’t speak to one another often as Zhao attempted to open him up more. Being in Ichiban’s crew was a time which allowed for the most personal growth and character development Joon-gi has ever had since the original Han passed away. Taking his place at Stardust as a host left him actively playing the role of the original Han and there wasn’t room for deviation in his mind. It didn’t help matters than Joon-gi or rather Yeonsu – the man underneath was a perfectionist.

Yeonsu Kim no longer existed when the body double for Joon-gi Han was born. There would be times where he wondered what life would be like under different circumstances but admiring the real Joon-gi Han and becoming his understudy was what gave his life meaning. If there was no real Joon-gi Han and the boy – Yeonsu Kim was dead, nothing existed underneath. He was nothing. Becoming a puppet in a sea of faces – imitating what once was and carrying out the wills of Seonhee for the Geomijul was what gave him a newfound reason to live once the original had passed on and there was no room for any desire or trace of vengeance to form since the killer too had already died in Onomichi. What a failure to be someone’s body double and not even be able to carry the honor vengeance could give. Seonhee was as admirable as the real Joon-gi-han. She was still distant and cold but in all the years he spent working under her, the two were in a way like siblings. Neither would ever voice these feelings to the other but he was almost sure he seen a look of fear on her face when she found him struggling underneath a 45kg barbell during one of his training sessions back when he was still a weaker man and recovering from the shock that Joon-gi’s killing left him in. Her touch as she rubbed various pain-relieving ointments and bruising treatments on his skin made him feel like he was still a child being looked after. When she told him to never put himself in danger like that again during his training sessions all he could do was nod and murmur “Yes. Seonhee.”

Those rare moments of warmth and touch were ones that never became called back upon. The real Joon-gi Han would never find himself in such a position. The real Joon-gi Han would never need someone else to take care of him. Seonhee’s own past was something that was hardly discussed but for her to take power and reign as the head of the Geomijul with Joon-gi being about as open as a face of an underworld organization could be without opening Seonhee up to unnecessary danger – she had to be strong in her own right. Being a woman in a criminal organization and in a role of leadership, no less put her in a unique position than other bosses. She could carry herself in a fight but for appearances’ sake she had to always remain composed and always had to convey an air of allure, mystery, and intrigue. Her charms could grease palms without the exchange of money if there was a potential for something “more”. Having a bodyguard with her – a strong man as beautiful as Joon-gi Han was a status symbol in itself. She was not one to be messed with and having him around only added to her allure over weaker and lesser men. The real Joon-gi Han would never concern himself in such a way with women but for all intents and purposes – the current Joon-Gi Han would not exist without Seonhee. His debts to the original felt like they doubled up and passed into her hands. If the Geomijul was his place to exist on from until the end of their time or his life – then so be it. Seonhee secretly hoped that being able to operate outside of the organization would allow him to come back into his own self a little bit even if he had to be Joon-gi Han to the rest of the world.

Yeonsu didn’t want to be Yeonsu Kim. Yeonsu Kim was poor and weak. Yeonsu Kim would never be enough. Joon-gi Han was the opposite of that. He had everything he didn’t and everything he at the time wished he could be. Hanging around Ichiban and becoming closer with Tianyou Zhao was making him long just a bit for a different life. One where he could hang around with friends and not have to think as much as he had to be as of late about how the real Joon-gi Han would do things. Killing bodies and hiding the corpses was easier. Gaining romantic feelings for Zhao and repressing them down until private discussions with Zhao opened up the possibility of there being an unconventional romantic structure between you, him, and Tianyou. He began to care for your warmth and your general ease with him and the others. You didn’t see him just for his looks and something about you made him want to let you in. If there was ever a doorkicker to his heart, Zhao and you were already there busting down the hinges. Entering into a romantic relationship was not something on his bucket list but since that one fateful night where both him and Zhao wound up confessing their feelings only solidified that he felt romantic love and he would just have to explore the uncharted waters with both of you. Zhao seemed like he had the most experience and he let him lead the way but at the very least he knew his time at host gave him an idea of what all the right things to say could be. He had scripts upon scripts of lines to use on customers but they all seemed to be nowhere whenever he actually wanted to impress either of you. How either of you found him charming was a mystery if it wasn’t for his face and body – if it was just that then things would be different. He wouldn’t’ be having nights falling asleep in your room above the bar with you and Zhao splayed over his body like kittens just to sleep the night away before you would send them off on their getaway jumping off the roof. It was its own ritual even on days where the Boss would be coming in late and they likely wouldn’t run into him if they left like normal people. The possibility remained of course but it could likely be explained away without suspicion if it didn’t seem like they were coming down from your room having spent the night in the same clothes. Well, at least Joon-gi’s trademark black rain jacket made it easier. Zhao would stick out with the same shirt but if he zipped up his jacket he might be able to get away with it. Were the three of you acting like shitty teenagers in love? Joon-gi didn’t have enough of a knowledge of rom-coms to really say. Zhao took it in stride though. “It is what it is”

“Call it making up for lost time Han-chan~” – the phrase that lived rent-free in his mind. It would be repeated often enough that he could hear it even when he was alone. It made him feel easier about trying new things that the real Joon-gi Han probably already had or what others with more normal developments would have went through. None of you of course had a “normal” development. Zhao was maybe the closest one but even then he was brought up and groomed to be the successor of the Yokohama Liumang. He never knew his father at his prime but Zhao didn’t seem to have too much good to say about him. Zhao’s father died of old age and the torch had to be passed – that was just how things were meant to be. Handing control over to Seonhee was a relief for Zhao – he didn’t seem to have the heart in him to be ruthless and lead like his father did. Maybe having too much heart would be the better phrase. It wouldn’t be Zhao’s downfall though and if there was ever a time that could be so – Joon-gi Han of today would handle it. If anyone so much as seemed to have it out for you and Zhao – they would be dead before the word “Go” could be uttered. The body would be unrecognizable if it were to ever be discovered. The traces of such an existence should be burned and scattered like ashes – family or not.

“Hey, hey [Reader]-kun you’ve been watching us sing why don’t you take space at the mic?” he asked as you sat down his bottle of Asahi Dry and Joon-gi’s glass of unsweet tea with a few slices of extra lemon. You didn’t think anything of the lemon slices but it wasn’t often that he really seemed interested in having lemon slices with his tea. Zhao’s voice made Joon-gi turn his attention away from his thoughts that were beginning to become of the murderous variety. Was it showing on his countenance? Hopefully not.

“[Reader] singing? Can’t be any worse than the gal on the mic right nowww-OW” Adachi quipped – Ichiban stepping on his shoe

“Oh, come on like you’re any better than the rest of us.” Nanba was often the straight man in what could only be dubbed the Stoplight manzai comedy trio. Ichiban’s suit made him the red light, Nanba’s green jacket of course made him the green light. Adachi didn’t quite fit the mold but it wasn’t often you seen them without the others. If they were – that meant the missing ones had to be somewhere not too far behind. He used to be a traffic cop or something so technically it still works.

“The more the merrier! We’ll all be cheering you on!” Ichiban would probably cheer on the worst singer in the world so it wasn’t like you had anything to lose.

You chuckled and as Saeko finished up – she tossed the mic to you as you made your way over to the karaoke machine. You really hadn’t sung in front of people in a long while, the last time you did karaoke was after recalibrating its settings when it updated while the Boss was cleaning the bar. If he didn’t seem to be wincing at your voice, you would probably be in the clear. Taking a deep breath and debating whether to go for a random song or an old favorite you settle on going for one of the newer songs added in the latest update.

“Alrighty! Tonight I will be singing, one of the newest additions to our beloved karaoke machine – Honolulu City Lights – please remain seated and keep away any mobile recording devices” – imitating the messages often heard before concert performances – not that those in the crowd would listen but you didn’t exactly want any of your friends to record you singing either. There was a strong enough trust you believed that they wouldn’t anyways but joking around before you had to actually start the song kept the air light. Of course, Zhao and Joon-gi actually put their phones face down and both had the same idea of recording it as a voice memo just to keep the memory; even if the audio quality would be terrible it was worth a shot.

****

The song was the one you tested the machine on before so you already knew the words. It was a catchy song and it was a bit refreshing to have some song that wasn’t about a place like Kamurocho. Not that there was anything wrong with the city – you’ve been there before and owe a lot to it considering the people you got to meet. Boss being one but that was a longer-gone story from being a younger wanderer. If someone had a song about your literal home-town that was any good and one that would actually be in the karaoke machine – hell probably would have frozen over first.

The crowd was going wild – everyone listened intently and it was clear you were doing just fine up on the stage. What a relief! Of course, you still noticed Joon-gi-han wasn’t cheering but he seemed to be moving along with the melody. It would be unusual if he was just cheering for you in particular maybe? It wasn’t like anyone else knew the three of you were dating. They would just have to find out on their own time. Of course, it had come up in discussions before but no one was really sure how to break the news if it even needed to be. Zhao was always down for going with the flow but he didn’t mind with going with whatever would result in the funniest option. He was well-aware there was murmurs of him and Joon-gi being a thing and of course he played into that jokingly with there still being enough deniability to keep everyone on their toes. His feelings would be an enigma. Friends or something more, who’s to say? He would nickname everyone even worse than what Ichiban’s natural propensity was and it would be rare for him to say your name without adding a “-kun” or “-chan” to it. They would be swapped up on whatever he thought sounded better for the day pretty much. Not everyone was on a first-name basis when it came to speaking to one another whether out of habit or whatever hierarchy existed. Some peoples’ last names just flowed better. Of course, Zhao was perfectly comfortable being referred to as Zhao, getting Joon-gi to stop calling him “Zhao-san” was a load of effort on its own that getting Joon-gi to call him Tianyou in private was an easier switch to flip. If Joon-gi could do anything, he could compartmentalize his actions better when things were separated out. Joon-gi could be Yeonsu in private but there was still respect in the fact that he still was the most comfortable with being Joon-gi Han. Not that he didn’t like hearing his own name, it was just a complicated situation and if he still had to face the public as Joon-gi Han – then there was nothing wrong with sporting two names.

“Go go [name]!” Everyone but Joon-gi was calling. You were on fire! Finishing out the song, the result machine displayed a perfect “100”. Taking your place up on the leaderboard above a “Baleful Tom” and a “Json” they could go kick rocks. You were the king of the machine. Slightly out of breath you bowed and Ichiban patted you on the shoulder as you started to swing by the booths to collect empty glasses. It was about closing time so any refills would be the last if anyone wanted to hang around longer. “Great job [Name] why don’t you make a band with us?” Ichiban jokes circling Adachi and Nanba

“They have pipes but I don’t think anyone wants to put money on a couple of old geezers like us”

“Oh? Suit yourself, maybe I would be an idol if someone wanted to put money down on it”

“Yeah right, do you have it in you Nanba? They’re going to sing with me. They could show the girls at my club a thing or two about how it’s done” Saeko joked but it seemed like just maybe she was crushing some dreams here. Poor Nanba. You laugh “Maybe maybe. I don’t think I should be taking any gigs anytime soon.” – Saeko sighs but laughs and gathers her things in her purse to get ready to go.

“Thank you for having us anyways, I have to speak to some new hires bright and early tomorrow before I can do anything else so I need to start heading home” you nod as she leaves money for her drinks and Ichiban sets down money for his seeming to follow her to the door.

“Look at Ichi go, think he’s going to manage to walk her home this time?” Nanba asks turning towards Adachi

“Beats me, I wouldn’t count on it but maybe he’ll be lucky enough. He gets like a lovesick puppy sometimes”

Ohh? This development is a bit new to you but you can see it. It’s not like Ichiban is ever seen hanging out often with anyone who isn’t from the crew. Would you bet on him landing a girl though? Probably not. He had his heart in the right place but being naïve can only get you so far. Although, maybe you weren’t one to talk.

“Any bets you want to put down [name]?”

“I would rather stick out of this one, you can’t get out of your tab that easy Adachi-san” he sighs “Nothin’ slips past you does it” cracking open his wallet he puts down enough yen to cover all of the drinks he ordered this week.

“Really is money that tight for you? I would have thought you were doing better what with all the errands you’ve been running” Nanba asks – he does have a point though – still going on “adventures” and getting up in stomping out old wannabe yakuza that claimed to be for Bleach Japan managed to result in some money flow. They weren’t the only ones as some services included rescuing lost stolen pets and setting con-artists straight. Getting into fights wasn’t exactly lucrative but it did result in pocket money. Maybe Adachi and Nanba just didn’t have the kind of experience you did when going outside. Getting into fights with hooligans and ruffians though was more of an experience that was associated with you and Ichiban for better or for worse: punchable faces? Not reserved enough to be quiet if someone else is being shaken down? Unlucky enough to come across such instances perhaps.”

“Can it, four eyes. Alimony doesn’t pay itself” Nanba rolls his eyes but chuckles “Yeah, yeah, I’ll do you a favor and cover a cab if you need it to get home” – the two head out of the bar leaving just you, Zhao, and Joon-gi Han.

“Aww look at our own Angel-chan, a voice from the heavens!” – Zhao stands to put an arm around you and brings you closer to him in a side-hug and pulls out his phone – turning you in the direction of Joon-gi who is smirking as he goes to snap a group photo. He manages to set it on a quick timer just enough that the shot comes out good enough while still holding the phone and putting a peace sign behind your head.

“I wouldn’t sell yourself short Tian-tian” you joke back – he had a distinctive singing voice that was very nice to listen to. Even if he only seemed to go for Hell’s Stew, the song was fitting for him. “Too bad we’ve yet to hear our resident thief of hearts sing for us haven’t we?” you say looking at Joon-gi Han who flushes and averts his eyes away.

“My voice isn’t particularly anything to write home about” – you and Zhao would have pushed him more if his voice didn’t seem to be hoarse and slightly creaky. Something was up and no one was sure what. Tonight, would not be the night you two would get him to sing but he wouldn’t get off scott free. The karaoke machine calls for new singers all the time. Well, not really but it’s funny to imagine it blowing up on the poor souls who do bad enough to score less than a 10. The lowest you had ever seen personally was in the 70’s so the reality seemed implausible but if you’ve never seen it happen – you can’t be wrong for imagining it.

“Cat got your tongue Han-chan? Maybe you need a warm cup of tea?” Zhao is taking up the role of a concerned detective. You take Zhao’s empty beer can and basketball throw it into the trash can with a small air cheer. Carefully taking the remaining glass you go back behind the counter and begin to warm up some of the tea from earlier so it’s hot and get out both honey and lemon to add to it.

“The kettle needs some time to heat but it shouldn’t take no longer than 10 minutes to get ready – do you two want to go sit upstairs while I close up shop?”

“That would be perfect babe” – Zhao’s affinity with calling both of you babe was unreal. It was probably up there in the shortlist of top 3 pet-names. It wasn’t you or Joon-gi really seemed fond of but neither could say you minded. He gets to be the holder of the special “babe” pass. Joon-gi could have it too – but he was more of a “love” guy. Maybe even “sweetheart” and “honey”? If he spoke of love and affection it was usually in a more serious sense as he would always take the long way to try and express how he felt when words were to be used. Hell, even you sometimes had to pull a dictionary just because you could understand the sentiment but not the language he was using. Zhao would laugh and have to explain it in simpler words or get Joon-gi to restate what he said – which while embarrassing was a favorite goldmine for him. Trading words of love and affection in different languages was a learning experience for everyone and it made you not feel like the odd one out for the occasional communication difficulties. Getting you in on watching Japanese romantic dramas and comedies could be one way Zhao also ropes Joon-gi in on whatever he missed from the world of cinema. He would’ve thought being a host meant staying up on pop culture but that was only a half-truth. Trying to be a keen listener for customers and directing them to talk about their own lives was a cheat-code for actual conversation that required you to be a person.

Joon-gi attempts to get up from the booth but his movements are a little slow and shaky. Both you and Zhao already know he needs to get some rest but for the moment Zhao escorting him upstairs with a supportive hand behind his back is the best option available. If sleeping in your room is an option, then at the very least there’s a chance he’ll be well enough to get a cab home alone or walk with Zhao next to him if it’s late in the night. Joon-gi has a room at Geomijul’s encampment but to get there is already a bit of a winding labyrinth in itself surprisingly enough. Zhao wouldn’t mind walking all the way through if Joon-gi was well enough to fully support himself but he knew that showing up with a Joon-gi that couldn’t hold his head straight up seemed like a one-way ticket to an interrogation session with Seonhee. Zhao may not care about what everyone else thinks but she and Boss are pretty much the exceptions to the rule. Even if the issues were little and surely everyone is under the weather from time to time, if trouble can be avoided – the easy way makes itself clear.

Finishing up warming the tea and adding all the fix-ins with a prayer that Joon-gi feels better soon you make your way upstairs. The lights were left off when you headed down in the morning to help with shop opening duties and since everyone met up over lunch to discuss a side-quest that involved paying a visit to some third-rate family rejects that were causing trouble for residents underground. The plan was to sweep in the next day with today being a preparation day while getting anything else that could be done handled. You and Ichiban found yourselves pulling kittens from trees for 5 different old ladies. Why today was the day all the cats of Ijincho decided to get stuck in trees? Who knows. It was something to laugh over though as everyone who decided to join in on the “city patrol” got to look on in bemusement. Zhao got to laugh at the photos Joon-gi Han was snapping secretly in between preparing meals at You Tian. A bit unfortunate he couldn’t see the sight of you two scaling trees to rescue cats either but at the same time he was glad that you never fell out. Zhao probably would have been voluntold into helping himself if he was there and didn’t offer himself up as a helper in the first place. He had been called a “frightening” acrobat for his own fighting styles before.

Zhao turned on the floor lantern that had been sitting near the item box that was in the main area of the space upstairs leaving there to be some dim lighting so you could see where everything is. You had went shopping with Saeko and Eri at Don Quixote the last sale they had and wound up picking up a few packs of glow in the dark star strand lights and couldn’t resist the prices. 500 yen for three packs of string lights? A good deal! They would flicker on in a faint green hue if there wasn’t enough light detected and would dim as light would until they eventually turned off. The star lights shined from your room enough that you could see more than just what the darkening night allowed for as the moon took on its duties. The two men are sat on the floor with Zhao by the floor lantern and Joon-gi plopped down in front of him leaning against the wall.

“Great decorating, babe. Nice touch with what you have going on here. Beats the staleness of traditional tatami and that beat-up shitty ass stove no one is ever getting rid of” Zhao has a point no one is getting rid of that stove.

“Excuse you, Stove-kun has feelings and he can hear you, you know? He’s a guardian spirit. Old but not useless”. Joking back Zhao snickers as you set the tea on the counter and take a hand like you’re gently petting one of the coil burners.

He joins his hands in a praying clasp and begins to speak “Ohh stove of the ancients – thank you for watching over one of the loves of my life. May your burners spark forever hot but not to where they burn this place down. Save me from your wrath for speaking so lowly of the Great One”. Yep – the poor old stove has its own place in your heart now. A new running joke between the three of you would always be welcomed.

Sliding over the item box next to Joon-gi you kneel down and put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention – “Hey, this tea is for you. Drink it up slowly now.. it shouldn’t be too hot. Take these just in case too” sitting down some cold medicine pills as well. He seems to snap to attention a bit but you both watch him slowly start to sip and relax as he takes each one. It’s hard to tell if it’s painful for him to drink or not. Colds can do that sometimes. No one here was a doctor but you would probably be the most qualified for medical attention if Nanba wasn’t running medic. You could too so the two of you were always the patch-up crew. Ichiban was the supportive words guy.

It wasn’t the greatest idea to play cards or darts upstairs tonight so Zhao made the suggestion of just turning on some of his old favorite cooking documentaries. It was easy enough for you to find them and download them onto your laptop from his earlier recommendations. You picked up a mini-USB projector on one of your shopping excursions having become tired at not being able to watch things on a screen larger than your laptop. It made movie nights possible between the three of you and it also came in handy when needing to show relevant captured camera footage if the situation called for it when Ichiban and co. were forced into being ragtag detectives. Joon-gi having finished his tea and not saying much but quiet and low apologies both of you told him were nothing to worry about – you and Zhao brought out all of the blankets you could. Making the usual spread for all three of you to lay down in the tatami bedroom you excuse yourself to step into the hallway that leads into the rooftop access. Bringing out some folding chairs you smirk “Thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Pillow forts? Wow we really are no better than children. Here hand one over babe” Zhao was quick on the uptake and he seemed just as happy with the idea as you were. He helped begin to start the set-up so it would almost be like the three of you were tented in with enough room to still not have to crane your necks too hard to watch the documentary being shown. “ I’ve never made a pillow fort.” Joon-gi says having broken his silence after being told off for apologizing earlier.

“We could figure as much babygirl, we gotta catch you up on wasted time Han-.. Kim-chan~” he corrects using Yeonsu’s real name – you think you can tell Yeonsu’s blushing just a little bit. The “babygirl” pass is another Zhao exclusive. It’s funny to use in text but if you said it out loud yourself – you would likely want to crawl in a hole after.

“No time like the present. The youth is wasted on the young or something like that” – older sayings weren’t your strong suit but you figured you knew enough to have it be used for a fitting point. No one is ever too old for experiencing the whimsies of life. Finishing the set-up – up you and Zhao made a good team. The pillow fort was more of a blanket fort but it was about as perfect as it could be. There was as tall enough as a “roof” for anyone to get up if needed during the night but there was also enough “walls” to it that it could enclose some sleepyheads. Not enough from being seen if someone were to open your sliding room door with all three of you in there but enough space. Praising Zhao for a good job that he waves off as being nothing to make his babes happy he takes his spot on the outside of the sleeping mats and cuddles up on Joon-gi’s left. You get to sleep on his right in your usual position closest to the window. Feeling Joon-gi’s head with your palm as a means of trying to take his temperature, he doesn’t seem to be running a discernable fever – if he was you didn’t think the medicine would have acted quick enough to do anything about it.

Asking Joon-gi if he’s warm enough you are ready to grab another blanket from the storage closet behind you three but he says the warmth from you two is enough for him. This is another unusual behavior as he’s usually the man with the most blankets of them all. His lifestyle you two have theorized probably doesn’t help him in terms of thermal regulation. Not eating enough as often as he should and pushing himself too hard weren’t conducive to self-regulating temperatures even if he was just naturally someone who got cold easy. Although, it’s still sweet in the sentiment, he has the small smile that Zhao and you would do anything to earn. If being together with him in this way is enough to earn it – co-sleeping 24/7 would be a dream. Still trying to keep an eye on the projecting documentary ahead your head is placed a little awkwardly against his shoulder and his chest. Zhao and Joon-gi are about the same height but Zhao has enough room he can still adjust himself in a way that he can still rest against his shoulder or upper/lower torso if he tries. Being an active sleeper at times can land in him waking up with his head more on Joon-gi’s stomach but it doesn’t happen always.

****

Joon-gi can barely keep his eyes open at this point. The Joon-Gi Han – no, Yeonsu Kim is getting sick and there is nothing that can be done about it except rest. He would feel worser about it if he hadn’t had a few rare instances in which he was required to take the living one’s role while also playing nurse to him off the clock so to speak. He secretly wished for more times like those because they made him feel needed. He had the all-important job of being Joon-gi Han and then the additional job of being at his beck and call when the older man couldn’t drag himself out of bed. Those memories hadn’t come back to him in a long time. He never seemed to get sick much himself personally, but there was always a first. Vague recollections of a doting mother from his childhood were all he had – he wouldn’t have called himself a sickly child but it wasn’t like his own father would have cared after his mother passed even if he was. That span of time in his life was another part he never thought about often and would rather just block it out. The tea one of his loves ever so carefully fixed for him made his heart grow warm. How could someone like him still be so lucky to have those two in his life? He didn’t deserve it. If he thought more on it, someone as pathetic as him might start to feel the waterworks turn on. Distracting himself from that and knowing he’s not expected to say much he takes a hand and strokes your hair. He reaches out and does the same with Zhao. “Goodnight Jagi, Jagiya” he whispers and he closes his eyes appreciating the warmth you two emanate off on him. In this moment, he is both Yeonsu Kim and Joon-gi Han. Yeonsu Kim is needed by his lovers. Joon-gi Han has lovers. The real one would never have needed them but having them doesn’t hurt him. Hell, being in an out relationship with Zhao could be it’s own convoluted “political” move if Seonhee accepted them.

[Reader] would be a bit harder to explain but if she liked them there was maybe at least a shot in it. Having two lovely people – one for each arm is its own status symbol. You never really dressed fancy but he was sure you would be magnificent if the situation called for a fancy dinner. Not that either him and Zhao wanted to get you in on too much of what their “lines of work” entailed as you could very easily be a target yourself. Regardless of how well you thought you could carry yourself in a fight, no one was immune to a well-placed knife into the ribs and guns weren’t out of the question either. If it just seemed like you were a “favorite” host club worker who sat in to be seen and hang over his shoulder – odds are there wouldn’t be much thought put into it but that still didn’t settle well into his soul. He would rather you be draped over his shoulder in a dinner date that didn’t require such a charade to be put on. Zhao still had his own reputation to uphold but at least with Zhao – Zhao could still go about his presence the same way Seonhee did at meetings. If Zhao wanted him to be the one draping himself over his shoulder he would in a heartbeat. Progressive times hadn’t translated the same way into the criminal underworld but taking advantage of any possible shock could be disarming enough. Zhao was known for being a wildcard who didn’t go by the conventional rules and standards anyways. Having someone disconnected from the underworld could be a source of respite when the time called for it – both would just have to be careful enough and ready to have their lives on the line to defend such a blessed dream. If he was allowed to have a wish on a shooting star out of the sky that brought the three of you together – he would wish for such a future if he couldn’t get himself out of the criminal underworld entirely. Of course, such a feat was rare to begin with when you’re as notable as the either of them but Zhao was just about as cleanly cut as he could be if he didn’t care enough about the men he left behind to leave the question open of taking up leadership once more if he were to be ready. Times can change and while the more honorable ones among the criminal underground had either faded out or been killed, some of them still remained. For all anyone knew there could be a more “ethical” way of being a criminal whatever that meant. It wasn’t like the Geomijul went after their targets for no reason. The Liumang also really only operated in expressing dominating control over smaller criminal groups and territory control. The cops would either look the other way or were plants. Nothing more and nothing less. Getting in on politics could open up a door for better policies and actual care for those that often operated and struggled to live within the shades of gray the world would rather forget. Thinking harder about that is not something which is coming to Joon-gi’s mind at the moment – Seonhee would know the way if politics were to become involved.

Bringing his hands down to his sides and folding over his stomach after having enough of a fill practically in silent worship of the softness of the hair on both of your heads his hands quickly fill warmer again. The chills he felt coming on dissipate. Resting one of your hands over his, Zhao puts his closest one over top so the three of you are still connected. Yeonsu Kim could die like this. Being in love with the two of you was among the greatest things to ever happen to him. He forgot to mention he thought those little green star lights were cute.. he’ll have to do it later. Apologize to Zhao for not watching more of his cooking documentary, they’ll have to get [Reader] to start it over once it gets turned on again. The incoming sleep makes his body heavier.

His breathing slows into a gentle rhythm. You and Zhao are lulled by it while still wondering if anything more can be done for the man who looks the most angelic of it all beneath the two of you. Curling up on him was welcomed before and it in a way replaced the need for pillows but if he was sick, the premise still seemed like a bad idea. Joon-gi wanted both of your warmths though and it seemed like if he had any issue with it – he would at least say something out loud or even say something. Worst case scenario he could wake up during the night and have to get himself a blanket or wake someone up in an attempt to reposition himself. Neither were big deals. You sign up for having people move around in co-sleeping. At least there’s the general courtesy of not browsing on one’s respective phone out of courtesy for those who were awake or at least with a bright screen anyways. Zhao’s tinted glasses made him keep his phone on a brighter setting than both of yours. You kept yours dim to save battery but it was a mystery how Joon-gi could see his screen without any extra light with as dark as he kept it.

Having the alarm for tomorrow set, there’s really not much that can be done. The documentary provides soft background noise although you hadn’t been focused on whatever dishes the chef was trying to cook and explain the history of. Zhao already watched the documentary and he could tell you all about whatever dishes were shown and their history from his own mouth. Still trying to get settled you hear a soft whisper “Don’t worry about it babe, we’ll figure it out in the morning. Get some sleep yeah?” You have to agree with Zhao and lightly bring up some of the fingers that his hand is resting over top of as a way to show you got it. Trying to keep your eyes closed you don’t have to be looking at one another to know what facial expression the other is making. Sleep takes the both of you fairly quickly.

BEEEP BBIIBIBBIIIBEEP BIBIIIIIBEEEP – the alarm clock goes off at 8:15. Boss will likely be over between 9 and 9:30 to get ready for the day. You’re not expected to have to join as immediately as he comes in and free to act however you like – but, there’s still a better result in Zhao and Joon-gi leaving without anyone being the wiser if they leave early. Zhao is already stirring and sliding on his glasses and rings that he took off earlier. You turn the alarm clock off – pulling yourself off Joon-gi’s still sleeping form and into a big stretch and yawn. Joon-gi usually is among the first to wake-up… it’s definitely not normal that he’s still asleep.

Zhao leans over him to press a kiss on your cheek, “Good morning babe”, “Come on lovely sleeping beauty, we gotta bounce” gently shaking Joon Gi’s shoulder and taking his fingers to drum a rhythm which you swear looks to be almost Morse Code the way he is doing short and long presses on his shoulder. 5 short taps, 2 short taps and 3 long presses, 5 long presses? Numbers? 520… an interesting pattern but that’s the least of your focus at the moment.

You join in on attempting to get Joon-gi to wake up but he’s still sleeping and only vaguely seems to be reactive to either person’s attempts. Putting your hand over his forehead you can tell he’s burning up with a fever and have Zhao check for himself.

“Well shit, our sleeping beauty loverboy is sick. Can he sleep in any longer? Would hate to have to try and put him on my back to get him home but if it’s a necessity I’ll be at your service.”

“Nonono, don’t put yourself through all that much trouble, if he’s sick – he’s sick”. Adjusting the blankets from the two of you with the pillow fort still up so Joon Gi’s form is more covered he’s not as immediately visible if someone else were to enter the room if that were to be the concern. The door to the upstairs locks from the side all of you are on but if you were to be locked out – it’s not hard to undo the lock with a pin since the knob has a hole on the other side. Doors like that are really easy to get open if you find yourself locked out once you know the trick to doing it. There was definitely a few times where you had to use it growing up.

“The two of us will just have to figure out how he can leave once he wakes up. It may not be the easiest thing in the world but I’m sure either of us will manage. Go get what you gotta get to at You Tian before everyone else is supposed to meet up for today Tian-Tian”. Your pet-name for Zhao is pretty much exclusively for you to use if Joon-gi won’t use it. Zhao finds it cute so he wouldn’t object to it, a small price of the nicknames and petnames he gets to use for you and Joon-gi. Carefully exiting the tatami room the two of you have a kiss good-bye as you watch him exit from the rooftop. It’s still just as dashing the first time you watched them leave. A funny way to leave that would probably belong in a movie but if you were living a rom-com this would probably be the greatest one – at least in your opinion. Returning back to Joon-gi’s side you try to wake him up again.

“Come on Yeonsu, can you wake up? Are you okay? Do you need anything Yeonsu?” gently shaking him you can see his face change into a more relaxed one like he would whenever in sleep and you or Zhao are next to him. He’s out like a lightbulb. It’s unclear just how bad Joon-gi could be on sleep debt so you honestly wouldn’t put it past him to be running on the most criminal levels of sleep permissible if it was something he had to do. It wasn’t always easy for him to fall asleep on his own even outside of the unusual hours of his work. He wasn’t just a machine meant to generate capital and protect secrets though and needed to have an off-day sometime. This off-day would just have to be in your room. Not frustrated with him but still sighing with the plan coming together in your head you just have to resolve to going about daily business without him joining up on gang busting later. The crew can fight without him – he’s still a key person in it but everyone has the space to be their own person outside of it. Joon-gi or Yeonsu just has to learn what it means to be his own person outside of that. Everyone still loves him in their own ways and care for him as a person but there’s a lot of deep-seated traumas and separation issues that would only have to be addressed with time and the patience to stick by. Counseling as it stood was a bit out of the question considering it’s extremely difficult to screen for who could even begin to unpack what happened while still remaining a confidential person. Those who lived their lives in the gray zones had to look out for one another. Looking at the star string-lights that have since went out in your room an idea pops up in your head. Rubbing Joon-gi’s forehead and caressing his hair you speak “Alright moon boy, you getcha some rest and work on feeling better okay? I have to hop in the shower and get to work but we can figure out what you need later. Alrighty? Hang in there. You’re more than welcome to shower if you can hear me later.” Perhaps Tian-tian would be the sun and you could be the stars while Yeonsu gets to be the moon. His hair is about as close as you can get without going full stark white. He does pull it off pretty well though.

Joon-gi is not fully awake but he’s not fully asleep either. He could hear you and Zhao attempting to get him up earlier and feel the drumming of Zhao’s fingers on his shoulders in some sort of repeating pattern. Unsure of what it meant though if he could pull himself awake he would have by now. It’s reassuring to him though that if what he could feel and hear in the lines between sleep and reality are real that neither of you two seemed to be upset and still showed enough care and gentleness in your own respective ways trying to get him to come back to the land outside of dreams. He just has more to apologize for later when he can fully speak again. His body is heavy and he had started shivering even with the extra blankets you put on him to recreate his usual set-up. Adding an extra one or two wouldn’t help him either, he probably would still be chilly even if both of you could spend all day splayed over him like cats. That would be a perfect lazy day in. “Moon boy” was something he thought he heard when you were speaking to him and the nickname seemed funny. If he could muster up enough strength to sit up and laugh he would – he still has to tell you he thinks the star lights are cute. You’re cuter of course but that’s just another thing that will have to go on his list of things to do. All he can do besides shivering that is out of his control is think in what capacity he can and resign himself to falling back asleep or just laying there unable to open his eyes. He can tell when you left his side to go get ready for the day ahead and that makes him remember that Ichiban and the crew had plans with him tagging along today. This would be one of the times where saying “Fuck” would be worth it. He didn’t curse often but he found himself relaxing more and using it when the time called for it. Well-placed curses always carried their weight. Falling back into sleep he isn’t given the chance to spiral into if the crew would still need him.

****

Having gotten ready for the day and in a mock uniform (Survive didn’t exactly have an official one) – the best thing that came close was a white long-sleeve top with a pocketed black vest. The pants didn’t really matter nor did the shoes. Boss could have cared less so black pants and comfy shoes did the job. You could do whatever else but keeping basic clothes on hand worked – carrying around a backpack or two of fancier clothes just asked for trouble. Living in bags that would offer less vertical space than larger wheeled suitcases you didn’t want to go for clothes that would suffer extremely from being rolled up and packed away. Heavier jackets would be purchased as needed unless you had someone or somewhere that could hold onto it for you long-term. If you ever found yourself back in Kamurocho or Onomichi maybe there would still be the jackets you owned before at the bars you found yourself at. Given the uncertainty though as it was never a guaranteed nor would it be guaranteed that anyone you helped in the past was still alive outside of rare social media posts – extremely rare. There wasn’t much confirmation they existed. Maybe if they were to be on the news which would generally most likely be a bad sign. Of course, being reported as being jailed or dead was never a guarantee they weren’t walking around somewhere it wasn’t like that had much to do with anything. If you weren’t so concerned with imposing on full houses you would have probably had a spot at an orphanage and still managed a room if you put up money for helping with the others in Okinawa. Nah, they got their hands full. Sending money as donations from time to time as allowed though was what you did – anything at all was surely helpful and it wasn’t like you couldn’t fend for yourself in other cities. More “work” that way too even if the work was just odd-jobs – making others happy where you could and helping those in need was its own sense of purpose. No big long-term game plans, just one day from the next. If you made it long enough that would just be a problem for the future you – maybe a friend or two at that point could at least keep you from dying to sun or cold exposure if you were too sick to manage something on your own. Connections were pretty much everything refusing to slave away as a company worker. Trying to keep whatever phone-numbers that worked of the connections you had was probably a good idea though, losing them often made them hard to get back.

Making your own bed and lying in it or so the saying is a bit different when you always swapped places to crash but for now this is the most stable you’ve ever been. If your past got you to here, there wasn’t much to complain about. Thinking too hard on the past and trying to plan for the future of course were not what was required of today. Checking back in on Joon-gi who still laid seemingly asleep having moved some but not much he was still running a fever. Returning to the little bathroom, you took a small plastic box that was often used to hold water for soaking and carried it back with a wet washcloth in hand over top. If it spilled on the tatami, oh well. Not the best thing for it but rugs that can’t handle a little water or other beverages sucked. Folding the washcloth up and making it into a cool compress you laid it over Joon-gi’s forehead and caressed his cheek. “Feel better soon, we’re just a phone call away alright? All you have’ta do is focus on you”. It wasn’t like you could keep a change of clothes for either of them on hand all the time so even if Joon-gi showered he would be forced into wearing his old clothes. Doubtful any of the jeans you had would be what he needed but folding up a pair of gray sweatpants maybe they would be stretchy enough he could wear them? The laundry was pretty much self-explanatory and you were in no danger of running out of detergent. Figuring that was all you could do at this point before throwing yourself into the day ahead – saying a final “See you later, alright?” you could have sworn you heard the faint mumblings of “Cute….” Is he dreaming about something? You lock the door from the entry-side just in case with a few bobby pins laying in the bottom of your vest pocket.

****

Setting up shop and tending to actual customers during morning runs and some early lunchers: it wasn’t long before the day slowed down as the crew’s time to meet-up came up. Of course, both you and Zhao knew Joon-gi wouldn’t be coming but if someone else dropped off the plan for the day – he wouldn’t be the odd one out. Surely though it would stick out either way. You had enough time once tending to the last lunch customer to text Zhao and let him know that Joon-gi was still sleeping away upstairs but that figuring out what to do about him could be later in the evening if he’s not feeling better or able to leave. It’s not the most ideal situation but it can’t be helped.

Ichiban almost practically burst through the door with Adachi and Nanba in tow hearing them shouting for him to slow-down from the streets. You and Boss chuckle, with a bow though you swing out from behind the counter and sit on a barstool waiting for everyone else to trickle in. There’s another bar, a snack bar with a very kind Mama in the Bar District where Ichiban has been staying. You aren’t 100% sure but think that maybe most of the crew have essentially had sleepovers there when “crime-fighting” essentially? Having that many people in a sleepover among friends sounds like a fun-time but maybe not the comfiest. Having loosened boundaries with Zhao and Joon-gi though could maybe make it easier although thinking of the others having their own things to say if someone seen Joon-gi asleep with his head on Zhao’s chest could be interesting. The differences in co-sleeping between friends and romantic partners is fairly slim but it was probably the kind of thing you felt like you knew when you could see it.

Adachi and Nanba finally catch up to Ichiban and meet him in the doorway so the Stoplight Trio finally reunited make their way to their usual booth. Greeting them you go ahead and check if anyone wants to order any food or drinks before heading out to go handle that group that was causing trouble. Why lately of all things, “dungeons” in sewers was the place to hide was another of the world’s mysteries. Living life like it was an RPG though was fun in its own respects even if trying to voice that makes you seem on the crazier end. Ichiban had a point when he talked about how the people you all managed to across in fights looked different than usual. He said something about Sujimon? Maybe an interesting Pokemon knock-off, but not something you asked further into before being interrupted by other things. Fighting giant robot vacuum cleaners or helping wrangle loose circus animals were more pressing matters. The dungeons as they were called were often filled with people looking for fights and it wasn’t like there was any harm in meeting such a request if it could even be called that. Handling them alone was easy but it was practically a cakewalk with friends.

“YEAH! LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD” Ichiban’s lack of volume control made it a good thing stealth wasn’t the biggest requirement for today’s mission

“Your shouting is going to alert the whole city if you keep it up Icchan” Bless Nanba, the voice of reason.

“No no let him keep shouting if he tires himself out he isn’t going to embarrass himself later” – and that’s a cold remark coming from Adachi. Maybe he had a point.

“Oi oi, can you three keep it down – there’s people on the other side of the globe trying to sleep!” Zhao casually strolls in with his hands in his pockets. He’s mastered the art of managing to look smug while he walks – if he were anyone else it might be insufferable. Though for better and for worse he’s currently yours so it’s a part of the package deal. Saeko is the last one to arrive for the mission on the docket, the moment she showed up you felt like Ichiban was sitting up straighter. Poor dude must’ve not worked up the courage to walk her home yesterday. That was probably what Adachi and Nanba were laughing about earlier amongst each other if you had to wager a guess.

Saeko usually being the last one to show up though noticed Joon-gi wasn’t around and asked “Hey, has anyone heard anything from Old White Hair McHandsome face?” the Stoplight Trio look at each other quizzically but all Nanba and Adachi can do is shrug. Ichiban of course also knows nothing. Though he and Joon-gi do sometimes talk about random things unrelated to matters at hand.

“Hancchi? Maybe he got sick? Some of the regular workers at You Tian had to call out today so I took up for’em – comes with the business.” - Hancchi was a new nickname but if Ichiban got to be Itchii and Icchan then it tracks. It’s a clever way to be close to half of the truth without being too much of a dead give-away.

“Joon-gi didn’t seem to be talking much when everyone was here yesterday. Maybe he really is sick?” you mused going along with Zhao’s suggestion, it wasn’t like he was known for being talkative but he surely must’ve seemed slightly out of it to the others.

“Hmmm… I guess he wouldn’t want anyone else to see him red-face and sniveling. Would break his precious image, wouldn’t it” Saeko, was going along with it very well – Yes! No problems so far.

“Joon-gi sick? That sounds like a new one but I guess everyone gets sick sometimes. Even him”

“Yeah right Nanba, maybe he’s mastering the art of sneezing beautifully – guess even that was something he didn’t know. He would’ve been here if he could.” Adachi’s quip was funny enough that Zhao laughed a bit. The art of sneezing beautifully sounded up his alley at least he would probably try his hardest to for the sake of his public face. A bit of a sad reality if he absolutely feels the need to present himself that way in hindsight, but the truth hurts.

“Well, if he’s out sick – we can’t do much about it. There’s no point in waiting another day with all of our plans set out for today, right guys? What if those guys steal another puppy?” Ichiban again has a point, aside from saving cats yesterday – there was also a high-speed chase-down of some thug with a Shiba Inu puppy named Mamoru-kun. He had been snatched from a child walking by Hamakita Park and having no room for such an injustice Ichiban and crew were on the case. There was no need for private detectives in Ijincho when people like y’all were around. Taking details from those who happened to be around – getting an idea of what the guy looked like and tracking him all the way down to Restaurant Row while time-consuming went off without a hitch. You and Ichiban ran up running through the crowds as everyone else took up spots to ambush. Zhao was hiding in a tree on the tail end of Restaurant Row ready to cut him off if Ichiban couldn’t tackle him to the ground – he had the opportunity to take a break long enough to be able to be on standby. Getting crane dropped surely made that guy regret his actions more over than being tackled to the ground by Ichiban did. Of course, you safely got the puppy into your arms and out of the guy’s hands before he did. No dogs were harmed in the catching of a criminal. It wasn’t hard to ensure he was connected to the group to be gone after today. Being pretty much surrounded and in tackling range of someone built like Adachi or swinging range of Saeko’s purse didn’t leave him much room to run. As rude as it would be to insinuate, Nanba’s chronically bad breath could make him a strong interrogator. Learning to deal with halitosis sooner rather than later isn’t a skill required of everyone but if you happen to hang around people who can’t do much about it – the ease into overlooking it and not holding it against them comes at its own pace.

THUD - a soft but audible sound seems to come from the floorboards upstairs

“Oh! That must be the washing machine, sorry guys let me go check it. Sometimes it “walks” if it gets off-center. Excuse me!” – quickly excusing yourself, not taking the time to wait for anyone else to say anything you fiddle with a pin to let yourself back into the main sitting area upstairs. The upstairs access hallway door is open and you can see a definitive black ball laying curled up in front of the bathroom door. Joon-gi managed to get up to take a shower as evidenced by the smell of your soap and shampoo. You can see the steam that formed on the mirror and the towels not entirely haphazardly thrown to the side. They were folded and unevenly lopsided. He must’ve tried to dry off the best he could and switched back into his street clothes. While understandable – this wasn’t exactly the best time for being stuck in wet clothes – the other hand says there was either courtesy and or a shyness in not being seen in a state of undress. Bodies are bodies – there’s not a point in attributing any higher meaning to it if the context doesn’t require it. In this scenario, there is a sick man who if he didn’t want to be in wet clothes – by all rights should be able to just bundle up in blankets and let the matter be handled by someone like you who is more than willing to do a quick load of laundry.

“Yeonsu, Yeonsu, hey hey it’s alright here…” getting him out of the near fetal position curl and to where you can support him you aid him back into your tatami room. He’s still conscious but his soft apologizing is air he doesn’t have to waste. His hair is still a bit wet but the old wives tale about going to bed with a wet head never really came true as far as you knew. “It’s okay, it’s okay, just get back to sleep – you’re still running a fever. You can sleep in as long as you need. Tiantian and I have to go out with Ichiban and the gang but we’ll be able ta come and sit with you this evening as long as ya need okay? There’s no need ta rush. No one else can come up here but us.”

“Let me wash your rain-jacket okay? Can I do that?” he seems to slowly nod and you keep a hand softly but squarely on his chest so he doesn’t make the attempt to struggle to lift himself back up. Working the zipper down you gently lift up his arms, it’s easy work regardless of if the person in the jacket is moving. “It’s nothing ta worry about okay? I got you – go back to sleep babe, I love you” and “babe” has come out of your mouth. If Joon-gi was more lucid than he currently was maybe you would consider faceplanting on the ground outside but at this point knowing he’s sick and there’s people waiting on you downstairs being hung up on such a trivial thing is the least of your worries. Maybe TianTian is rubbing off on you. He doesn’t have a shirt on underneath so you figure that it must actually have been missed in the bathroom earlier. It could have blended in with the bathroom mats. If it was white probably so. Would someone else feel embarrassed and maybe be surprised because suddenly there’s a guy with six-pack abs in your room and no shirt? Maybe so, but it beats wearing old clothes in this case and the more you think you can wash the better. Handling his clothes is still germ exposure but getting sick is something future you can deal with too. At this point even thinking about that is a moot point. Helping him get wrapped all up in blankets in the attempt to alleviate the chills that have set in again his expression softens and you know he appreciates what you’re doing. He attempted to mouth something but you ssssh’d him before the sound could come out. “Tiantian and I will be back as soon as we can okay? Rest up Moon-y”, kissing him on the forehead you move out of the tatami room and find the shirt you were looking for right where you thought it would be. Actually running the washing machine on a quick cycle makes it seem like the idea of you taking the day to wash up all of your blankets and bedspreads was believable. Locking back up and heading downstairs you call, “Sorry about that one guys – itsa heavy bedding wash day”.

Boss tending to cooking a pot of noodles and cooking curry sauce for later asks “You doin’ alright on laundry detergent [Name] I can get some more when I have to go buy ingredients later. Don’t want you going out late at night if you can help it”.

“No no, save your money sir! I have enough to last me a good while. Honest!”, if there was a dad to be in your life he might be the closest thing to one. If you said you needed some he would probably buy it without hesitation regardless of if he actually needed ingredients or not. You didn’t have any clue if he was being truthful in that matter since he usually brought what he was going to cook with from his home anyways. Looking out for each other in little ways it was almost like the two of you were trying to one-up the other even if he was providing for the roof over your head now at the moment, you didn’t want to overstep and didn’t want the other shoe to drop either. If you thought something was needed in terms of cleaning supplies for the bar you would jump over backwards to try and cover it out of your own pocket. You were out-witted when he started putting an envelope under your door each week with a small stipend labeled “Cleaning Supplies” over the top. He wouldn’t take any of the leftover money back. Have you patched him up from the brink of death before? Does that mean he has some sort of life-long debt he should be repaying to you? In your books, the answer is “NO” written in striking red ink but the past can’t be easily forgotten. The value of human life is not something you can easily discount and hand-wave away if you have enough sense. At times you had less sense than yen.

“Well, alright you kids be safe out there you hear?” – he lets you go so the crew can begin heading on their merry way. Knowing that no one suspects anything, not even the boss you relax from your tensed state a smidgen and get to breathe a bit easier. Joon-gi will just have to hang in there until you and Zhao can get back.

“Hey hey [Name] what kind of washing machine walks?” Ichiban asks as all of you begin walking in the direction of the sewer entry.

“Are you being serious Icchan?”

“Oh come on, it has to happen to everyone at least once. Do you think they let the inmates run the washing machines the same way someone at home does in prison?” Saeko starts to explain, “If you overload certain machines and they do happen to get off-center, they’ll rumble off balance and the next thing you know it’s up against the other side of the wall.”

“You sound like you have a lot of experience with that Saeko. That’s about ta truth though ain’t it? ” probing further to try and drag attention off you. “Yeah, whenever my sister’s turn for laundry day came up in high school, she never bothered to separate the lights and the darks. On top of that she didn’t even separate jeans and sheets and everyone else’s clothes. Do you know how much of my clothes wound up shrinking over those years? Not to mention how many white clothes got ruined either.. seriously that girl..”

“You sure that’s not the only reas..owwwowowow” Ichiban was not about to let Adachi finish that sentence – if he did Adachi’s fate would likely be worse. He might not have even been able to get down the ladder leading from the outside to the sewers. Ichiban may not always have the right thing to say or always seem to be the most socially aware but he’s pretty quick on the uptake. Rest in pieces to Adachi’s toes. They will likely be stepped on many more times in the future if that’s what it takes for him to learn when to keep his mouth shut.

“Hey, DachDachi, maybe we shouldn’t make those kinds of jokes – ever.” Zhao has his arm around his neck pulling him down into almost a half-noogie. Ichiban has since let off of Adachi’s foot and is more than willing to resign Adachi to whatever his fate will be. Nanba can help him if he wants. Saeko blissfully unaware of what Adachi was about to say turns back around to see you, Ichiban, and Nanba leaving Adachi and Zhao in the dust. She starts to laugh and ask what’s going on but all three of you slowly shake your head and continue walking. In unison, “Beats us.”

******

The sewer adventure of the day went off without a hitch. You did get distracted with your mind drifting back to what Joon-gi Han could be doing or if he was feeling better. There was a mini trash-can in your room if he needed to throw-up at the very least. Throwing-up would be better if you had someone at your side to rub your back and hold your hair back – okay maybe he doesn’t have enough hair to hold it back but bedside manner is bedside manner. Your hits landed but if you seemed too off-attention, Zhao seemed to direct more energy into action cries that brought you out of your thoughts. His perception skills and care really shined through in battle in ways the others couldn’t tell. Zhao was friendly with everyone to an extent but it seemed like yet no one had put their thumb on the two of you dating. If someone managed to guess all three of you were dating then either all three of you really suck at hiding things or someone is a master detective.

The remnants of whatever third-rate rejected Omi clan family that found themselves terrorizing the streets of Ijincho weren’t anything to worry about anymore. The safety of all pets, large and small had been secured. Their master strategy was to run scams in taking advantage of people with missing pet posters and additionally try and see if they could extort money out of targeted families in return for the “safe exchange” of their pet. All of the attempted pet thieveries had been thwarted but someone needed to set them straight.

Lining up to the sewer ladder, you were the last one in the line. The air was rich with the damp smell of mold and sewer water wasn’t the most pleasant scent of them all. It’s enough to make someone long for just a pocket of fresh air. If you went deep enough there would be maintenance points that acted as a form of safe haven but when you’re exiting – you get to do without such comforts until you get to taste the sweet sweet fresh air up street-side. Stifling a cough as everyone went up you were behind Zhao. This still wasn’t a good opportunity to talk or say much privately so the best you could do was focus on not hacking up a lung and get up the ladder without falling off.

Climbing up, you’re greeted with the breath-taking sight of the orange sunset. It’s almost like crystalized amber when you’re seeing the sky from the right angles looking directly up from the manhole cover. These were the kinds of views that made life worth living. You couldn’t forgive the crimes of the people you just knocked six ways to next Sunday but you could look past them trying to make the sewers their base of operations. Your arms can only handle so much though if you were to try and hold yourself in place at this point to really take in the view. Not to mention, being the last one out still means you’re holding everyone up.

“Last one catch, coming right up!” Zhao crouches down and extends a hand to you as you approach the last junction of the ladder. He grips your hand tightly and ensures you’re safely pulled up to the street above. If you were going out alone, it would be more like a scramble of pulling yourself up off the ground. Not everyone would take the time to help the person behind get up – usually the focus is taking a breath of deep air and recovering from whatever physical activity was previously exerted. Zhao is just being polite; they don’t need any special relationship to do that for someone right? No one starts to joke about it so once everyone has the time to recollect, the road back home begins. You get lightly jabbed at for being a sentimental type as you attempt to take decent phone photos of the day’s sunset but Ichiban joins in so with the de-facto leader pretty much joining you – everyone else has the choice of hanging around or breaking away for the day.

The walk home, besides that, is relatively uneventful. Everyone agrees to part ways before heading back to Survive and no one else’s toes needed to be stepped on so by the time you’re halfway through the Bar District it’s just you and Zhao. Your phone buzzes and it’s from the Boss : “Hey kiddo, hopefully you’re about done busting some heads out there, I locked the door so you’ll need your key to get back in. Early night tonight, mahjong – stay safe”

“The old man would play mahjong, wouldn’t he? That’s probably how he makes his living. Wouldn’t be surprised if the bar is just his pet project..” Zhao muses, your opposite hand is concealed with his jacket pocket. You can feel the jingling of the bangle around his wrist and the rings on his fingers moving ever so slightly with each step you two take. Overgrown shitty “teenagers” making up for lost time, indeed. “Well, we all got to make a livin’ somehow right? He would have all of us beat for sure tough”

“Pftt, can you even play Mahjong? That’s like throwing a baby deer to some wolves for kicks. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Shut your trap, I’m learning as much as I can online!” – you really were trying to learn Mahjong but for all intents and purposes, the game was beyond you. All mahjong tiles belong to a certain “suit” and there’s certain tiles that can make special hands with the easiest hands being dubbed, ‘All Simples’, which is a low-point hand that one can make from having a hand of all tiles consisting between 2-8. 1 and 9 were honor tiles. You think the whole hand to be concealed so you couldn’t take from another player’s discard pile but if that was the case or not was escaping you. The general idea of the game made sense but you were lost in putting the mechanics into practice. It seemed to require both luck and skill. More skill than luck could probably make do but if you couldn’t remember all the hands – you were screwed.

“Easy, baby, easy we’ll find the time to teach you some day. Maybe when Joon-gi isn’t so under the weather we can make a date out of making him a practice player. I don’t know for certain he isn’t a secret pro though” Joon-gi being a secret pro wouldn’t be too far out of the realm of possibility. He could knock most people flat at count’em up darts and knew his way around the pool table. Gambling games were more of a mystery but from previous card games, you figured he was no opponent to sneeze at in Poker. Koi-koi isn’t gambling in the traditional sense to you but its presence at the hidden gambling den is a nice comfort. You always have more than enough wooden tags to ensure a easy Gold or Platinum plate so an easy lunch after a trip to the pawn shop is about guaranteed. The seasons in hanafuda cards make more sense to you than the hands in mahjong…. for now. Come hell or high water, if you devoted enough time to it – maybe you would just earn your living from playing koi-koi all day for a bit out of the month and budget the rest. Although, you wouldn’t want for it to become boring and suck all the fun out of the satisfaction that came knowing the dealer has been blocked out of the special Viewing hands or Boar, Deer, Butterfly set.

“It sounds like you’re making a promise then! Better keep your end of it, I won’t go easy on you. By the time the round is over you won’t know your left from your right!”

“I’ll be waiting with popcorn. The gourmet fancy kind too, but I’ll share even if I win. Would you rather it be savory or sweet?” Your nails dig into his palm as he chuckles speeding up his pace forcing you to follow suit.

******

Making your way upstairs with Zhao following behind you, you gesture for him to wait a few paces back. Undoing the lock you set again he remarks, “Wow, our lovely [name] is a lockpicker. I know who to call the next time a chucklehead gets stuck outside.”

“Yeah, I have your number second on emergency contacts. It will ring no matter what the settings are on.” And for a moment Zhao had been struck speechless. He wasn’t anticipating you actually admitting to something like that. It would be understandable you expect him to care about your continued existence. Of course, he does. He wouldn’t even need to be asked twice to be by your side if it was required. One call or text would be all it would take. He would ask who was first and if there was a third but he already pretty much had an idea in his head. All the two of you needed to do was focusing on the Joon-gi Han that has been left to sleep the day away – away from the watchful eyes of the rest of the world.

Going to throw Joon-gi’s rain-jacket and shirt out in the dryer, Zhao is able to go and take a seat by his sleeping form first. If Joon-gi moved any muscles today, aside from the shower incident he only did so in sleep. This was a better result than the prayer that if he was going to be sick enough to vomit there could be someone next to him. A bit of a selfish hope really, you doubt that even if he got sick there was someone by his side to help him through it. That can change: effective immediately. Zhao moved the cold compress from his forehead and held his hand gently taking his temperature.

“Patient update, Tian-Tian?”

“Hold still, let me compare” taking his other hand and pressing it against yours, you stifle a laugh. “Well, our lovely patient here seems to be running a mild fever, it’s not as hot as it was this morning. Our main doctor’s prescription of bed rest did him a lot of good. This nurse is out of their realm – any expert additional input that could be provided would be much appreciated.” There really wasn’t much else the two of you could do until Joon-gi woke up. It’s hard to give someone pills to swallow when they’re asleep. At least by the time he did finally seem to be waking up his t-shirt and jacket were ready to be pulled from the dryer. You had thrown the towels he used in with the the collapsible bin that held the rest of the ones you used.

“I’m sorry you two had to go out without me, I’m sorry [Name] had to take care of me, I’m sorry I” Joon-gi waking up and sitting up on his own unsupported only to start apologizing has you walking in with the freshly laundered clothes of his to see Zhao with a hand clasped over Joon-Gi’s mouth.

“It’s nothing, I would do the same again, and I’m sure you would do the same for me.” “If you start apologizing more, I’ll find reasons to apologize even harder, babe, you’re sick. Taking care of each other is what we do – instead of apologizing why don’t you tell our favorite guardian angel, thank you?” he moves his hand from over Joon-gi’s mouth and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. Joon-gi’s system is visibly rebooting as he makes eye-contact with you. Sitting down in front of him with the fresh bundle of clothes, “Thank you my darling, for taking care of – taking care of me.” He has successfully recorrected himself from defeatist language. A big step in hopefully the right direction for the United Nation of Joon-gi Han supporters. Population ??? 3? Maybe it was 7 or 8 if he really thought harder about it. His chest was warm and fuzzy but not from sickness. You two really did care about him.

“Do you need any help getting up or getting your shirt back on?” It’s an innocent question but Joon-gi quickly averts his gaze with the vague recollection of you helping him get his rain jacket off earlier after he collapsed having expended what all energy he had getting dry and out of the bathroom successfully. That mission may have been a semi-success but it’s still embarrassing, nonetheless. “Would you rather Tian-Tian do it?”

“Wow, how forward of our lovable doctor.” “You know I found him collapsed out in the hallway out there in a ball! You would do the same if you were in my shoes. Do you want me to let you lay in wet dirty clothes?”

“Sorry sorry, bad timing. Yes, I would do the same and no please don’t let me start growing my own personal mold farm. I would rather grow funghi.” Zhao while joking was still sincere enough in his apology. Out of context, the situation would sound unusual but it’s not something you would want to be used solely as just a joke. Joon-gi was still sick and would need some time to recover, most likely. “Just let me do it, I don’t want either of you to have to do something that simple”

“Nope~ Life is all about balance, baby~ Let me see that” Zhao takes the shirt you have in your hands before you can say anything “Come on, lift up your arms just a bit for me.”

“Are we really doing this Tianyou?” Joon-gi has definitely improved since this morning, he has enough energy to be exasperated with Zhao.

“You’re sick and we’re helping – unless you would rather leave without a T-shirt, I’m not complaining. Either way, it’s your choice”. Joon-gi rolls his eyes but for a moment you think you can almost see the beginnings of a smirk. Zhao carefully slides the shirt over Joon-Gi’s head and takes the opportunity to place another kiss on his cheek. Being concerned about getting germs is out of the question at this point. Zhao has money on having a strong immune system. The two of you hadn’t been sick in a long-time. Zhao himself rarely missed a day of school much to his chagrin growing up, although, his parents probably wouldn’t have let him skip even if he needed to be treated for appendicitis at a hospital. Taking the jacket from you, he gets the arm on his side on and has you do the other.

“I could have done this myself, but maybe, I see why you two insisted.” Joon-gi still blushing seems to be carefully thinking his words as he tries to find a way to stare in a direction that isn’t at you or at Zhao. “The star lights you bought are actually very pretty. Not as much as you of course, but they’re just your style. Cute like you.” – it was late enough that the star lights were indeed starting to glow dimly. It was already sunset by the time you and Zhao got back. Turning the paper lantern on in the main entry way outside gave a bit of extra light but it still wouldn’t keep the light detectors in the string lights from fully preventing the green glow they had from sparking to life.

“See someone likes them just as much as I do!” Laughing and wrapping Joon-gi in a brief hug with a reassuring hand rubbing his shoulder as you pull away trying to not be too overbearing.. albeit far from it. Joon-gi would never actually complain with full intention of either of you annoying him. He was pretty much touch-starved in regular life for God knows how many years. Even in host clubs, it wasn’t often. There wasn’t much enjoyment in drunk patrons laying all over him either. Such behavior would be discouraged in regular circumstances but the real Joon-gi Han leadership was more concerned for profits than being the most “ethical” host club of the bunch. They had a fight-club operating in it. Of course, “lesser” rules would have gone out the window. What man in the industry would be turning down easy money? In such scenarios, he often found himself being ushered into another fight with a poor soul of a host that stuck around long enough to go against him in the boxing ring. The crazy ones were the ones that stuck around after a sound beating. If the real Joon-Gi could show mercy, maybe Joon-gi Han would have been known to show more mercy and take a hit for once.

“I never said they were terrible babe. I’ll get the best string lights the two of you ever seen and have them all strung up in my house when you two come over. Only the best for my honeys~” Zhao was indeed you two’s favorite occasionally insufferable man. Being one-upped over a simple decorating choice would be a bit much but in all honesty the idea sounded like a wonderful one. The three of you spent another hour and a half enjoying each other’s company. Taking frozen leftovers Zhao had cooked for you and brought over earlier from the freezer of your personal fridge, you warmed everything up the best you could and brought it back upstairs so the three of you could enjoy a nice dinner together.

“Hey hey cutie doctor, do we need to feed the patient too?”

“Tianyou… I’m feeling bette- cough cough”

“SHHHHshshshhhhhhhhhhhhh see?”

“That does sound like a bit of an over-kill, Tian-Tian..”

“No, no it’s not, I cooked the food myself. Look watch say “Ahh.” Come on do it, it’s the best way certified by me to have pineapple pork. “I wouldn’t do that with soup if you were worried about spills”. Rolling your eyes with a sigh you do as he asking. He’s built a compelling argument. While embarrassing, this is pretty much something couples would do right out of a textbook. If such a textbook existed, you hadn’t read it but it just sounds right.

“Does that mean you tested it?” Joon-gi looks slightly confused

“Shut up – you’re thinking too much into it babe don’t go ruining the moment. That goes for you too [Name]” You laugh even though you would have asked the same thing if you weren’t still chewing your food and sipping on your glass of water. He really did know the two of you well.

It made dinner longer but everything tasted better if everyone was taking turn’s trying to feed it to the other. Of course, the only exception was soup. Hot and sour soup was precious enough to not want to waste a droplet. Eating with forks made the reheated stir-fry and the pineapple pork more manageable. No big disasters regardless, just a happy trio in love with full stomachs.

“Alright, while leaving always sucks – why don’t we get this patient to a proper bed? Nothing wrong with your set-up [Name], hope you understand.” – Sleeping on the floor even with all the sleeping mats and on a futon wasn’t like sleeping on a traditional western style of bed. There wasn’t any point in even playfully trying to argue about it.

“Yeah, yeah I trust our favorite nurse can do the job. Let me see you two to the actual door this time, I can wash the dishes and clean everything up before anyone says “boo”. Just let me know when you both get home” – That much wouldn’t have needed to have been said but it was still good to say. Nothing could beat knowing someone wanted to know if you got in the door safely or not.

Joon-gi could stand and walk on his own just fine but it was still reassuring to know Zhao would make sure he could get home. Zhao had already ordered a cab through the phone app and took some black disposable masks from you. Good practice for going out all things considered. The two of them would be stopping by the pharmacy and then right to bed with the patient.

*******

(In the middle of Smile Pharmacy)

“I guess there is value in having medicine on hand for times like these.” Joon-gi seems to be quietly marveling at the wide selection of the various over-the-counter medicines. If he was ever in a pharmacy it was more for wound-treating purposes and not the actual medicines themselves. He never ever concerned himself with painkillers either. It wasn’t like there was no medication back at Geomijul, he just never took any of it. In the early days he took any supplement he could get his hands on. It didn’t have the best results and over time he refined his intake down to select minerals and multi-vitamins that wreaked no havoc on his internals to put it lightly. This information would never be waterboarded out of him though.

“It’s better to have it on hand then need it and not have it, babe. You have enough space to hold these kinds of things don’t you? They might have a carrying case if we go through another aisle.”

“No,, no I have bedside drawers I can put things in. There’s a lot of space I don’t use. I appreciate your concern Tianyou.”

“A healthy babygirl leads to a happy life”

“My stomach is churning”

“There you go, you’re getting better already babe. They don’t sell that kind of medicine over the counter”

“Why do you insist on being the way you are?”

“You love me despite it. Who can come close? If your buttons weren’t as easy to push maybe I would have to work harder.”

While Joon-gi sighs, Zhao has already made his selection which results in an armful of medications. “Come on, we need to go grab a basket to carry the rest of what we’re getting.”

“This reminds me. I never did say I appreciated that you and [name] cared enough to use my real,, birth name.”

“It’s who you are. You can be two things. You can be more, there’s no rules saying you can’t. It’s not like rules are our bread and butter in this industry. Anyways, isn’t it a little late to be saying that now? You should say something to [name] yourself too. They pretended they had a load of laundry going when everyone heard you collapse earlier, just sayin’. Clever as can be.”

“You two – you two carry my heart.” Making a pun out of the situation actually had Joon-gi smiling just a bit behind his mask. If Zhao was looking at his eyes, maybe he could see the smile behind them.

“Well shit, I can’t compete with that one. Should have figured you could be smooth.”

Another victory for Joon-gi Han the present and Yeonsu Kim.

*******

Zhao ordered another taxi to save on walking time. Carrying three bags of medicine seemed like it would be much for a cold but he wanted to be sure that Joon-gi had enough to take back with him while also being sure that he could keep enough on hand if anyone else he knew needed them.

“You know, life would be a little easier if one of you had an apartment nearby….”

“I’ve considered it, but there’s not been a point before. I guess now it would make more sense to start looking.”

Zhao was taking Joon-gi back to his home away from home, the workers at You Tian never questioned what Zhao did. They couldn’t care any less, he kept them paid well and their families never went without. Anyone else could pay them peanuts and they would still be expected to bow in gratitude to the heavens. Hell, Joon-gi could show up in the alley behind needing a space to be let in and clean up after “work”. Zhao would never turn him away and previously just didn’t have the gall to probe further on if the two meant anything more to the other.

There was a night in particular that Joon-gi needed somewhere to lay low until the morning and he made himself at home – falling asleep on the floor. No blankets, no pillows, just the cold embrace of the wood floor. Such an existence was alien to Zhao. He could sleep on the floor, hardwood floor too. He would much prefer to have a blanket and a pillow or two at the very least. It would be easier on his back. He took the effort in stretching and resting his joints as much as he could when it was possible. Being a “frightening acrobat” wasn’t something you could just do without any level of thought. He just didn’t go as hard as Joon-gi did in terms of training and severity.

Going to his actual house was a rarity when more involved with the Liumang. It was only 20-30 minutes of a drive extra in terms of distance but it wasn’t one you could walk to. He always took a taxi most of the distance and walked himself back home, he had a license and knew how to drive. Last time he drove, it was someone else’s car stolen with the key inside during a warehouse shoot-out. His men lived to tell the tale and they also managed to get by on real road without raising any suspicion, Zhao wasn’t even supposed to be there.

His father’s old convertible just went unused in the family garage. It would probably need some tune-ups and an extra battery considering how long it had went unused. Parking could be more hassle than it was worth. Maybe getting a motorcycle license and two side-cars for it would be cooler? If it was just one, then you and Joon-gi could take turns sitting behind him. Nah. Cars would be safer. Maybe having one just to ride around the neighborhood though would be worth it eventually. All options were worth considering…

The most important objective of the night was just making sure Yeonsu got to sleep safely again. It wasn’t like people at Geomijul counted on him coming home every day. Another day away couldn’t hurt anything. Sending good night texts back and forth, both Zhao and Yeonsu were eventually chastised into turning their phones off and going to sleep. Looking out for one another came in many different forms. If they were anything, they were true to their word. It was a tighter squeeze than being on the floor but Yeonsu didn’t complain when Zhao’s legs were intertwined with his. His head resting on his shoulder as the blankets shielded most of their bodies, Yeonsu and the present Joon-gi Han, have hit a new record for positive human contact.

Would the original Han look down upon him? Surely not, if he knew what it would be like to be him in this very moment. Joon-gi Han could be bordering on accepting a life-shattering and life-building epiphany that could free him from some of the self-imposed shackles that still clung tightly around him – yet to fully be shaken off. He would still have to be both, but he is the one who says what the real Joon-gi does at the end of the day. There will be a time in which Yeonsu Kim in the role of Joon-gi Han is older than him. Surely, no one would expect a man to act the same 10 to 15 years from now into the future. Sleep comes quickly once more but both Zhao and Joon-gi could have spent the whole night struggling to enter dreamland next to one another.

*******

BIBIBBEEEP BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBIIIIBEEEP BEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEP BIIIIIII *kachunk* Your alarm goes off and is eventually silenced with a harsher drop than usual of your hand.

‘Just 10 more minutes’

ACHOOO ACHOOO ACH----

In terms of the duel for the better immune system, Zhao Tianyou was the victor. Joon-gi would recovery quickly as his second day of recovery dragged on but you on the other hand now have take the time to rest and recover. Boss could make a mean chicken noodle soup…

*******