Work Text:
If you may ask any citizen of the entirety of the Western continent “What is the most distinguishable characteristic of Young Master Silver Shield?”, the most probable answer you will get is
“His crimson hair”.
It is of no surprise that his hair would go unnoticed. Long crimson locks, as made of bright threads of silk, running down his shoulders as he lets it lose in a half ponytail on a regular basis. Heck the hairstyle has even become a trend.
During special events, the eyes of most nobility and servants are focused on him, or rather the charming hairstyle he may have (the only times he has his hair properly styled). Many wonder which servant is capable of creating such gorgeous hairstyles that attract so much attention. What they don’t know however-
“Cale-nya I told you to tilt your head a bit to the left!”
“My neck is sore…” “Just a bit I’m almost done!”
On proclaimed, as she pulled Cale’s head a bit lower to the left, by the braid she was halfway done with.
That’s right, the mysterious stylist was none other than the young miss On. Only her family members knew that one of her favored hobbies was styling her adoptive father’s hair. ‘It’s fun and calming’ she answered Rosalyn when asked.
And really everyone marveled at her skill. Just look at her current work, a lose french braid intertwined with a ribbon, starting from the left side of Cale’s head, removing a part of his bangs and reaching all the way until the end, dropping the braid on his right shoulder with a loose long ribbon. On was going for simple today.
“Noona what if you add these!” Raon excitedly suggested while presenting a bunch of hairclips and jeweled hair ornaments. ‘Where did he even get those?’ Both Cale and On thought upon seeing them.
“Oh great idea! Our youngest truly is smart! Grandpa Eruhaben gave him those.” Hong answered before they even got a chance to ask.
“Nuh-uh, not happening. I know what you are trying to pull.” On answered with a sharp and accusatory tone.
True enough the two youngest children did have a habit of messing with his hair, Cale thought. They found it rather amusing decorating his head with whatever could stay, flowers, ribbons, hairclips and even head chains they got from who knows where (it was an old accessory of Rosalyn’s that she gave them when they said On wanted it for a hairstyle).
“We’re not trying anything!” Both of then proclaimed defensively, but there was no hiding that mischievous sparkle in their eyes.
“Sure as if I’ll forget last Wednesday.”
Ah yes last Wednesday. Cale remembered waking up and seeing the surprise in Ron’s face causing him to worry, until the butler handed him a mirror to see the work of art done on his head during his slumber: five braids, two at the side of his head, three starting from the top of his head all the way to the bottom, each of them tied in the end with a pink bow. Needless to say everyone knew who the two little culprits were.
The boys were snickering behind the door, marveling at their masterpiece, until their older sister saw said masterpiece.
Cale admits being surprised, that was not a sight one usually sees as soon as they open their eyes, but he doesn’t really mind the kids playing with his hair. All three of them seem to enjoy it and who was he to deprive them of this small past time. He did not really care about his hair that much to get upset or annoyed.
“Noona just pick one please!” The whining of the kids pulled Cale out of his trance, “Just a small clip!”
“Hmm..” On contemplated (No matter how much of an adult she pretended to be, that pout on her face as she thought hard about something always gave away the fact that she was just an 11 year old girl. Something everyone in their family found adorable but never dared tell the girl, lest they wanted her to suppress herself more), but she gave up in the end, “Fine but only a small one to put in the end of the braid. Do you have a green one?”
“Yes here.”
She took the small gem clip and put it at the end of the braid. Then she stepped back and started admiring her work while her dongsaengs quietly applauded her in the back. Cale was just tired at this point.
“Can I go get dressed now?”
“Yep I’m done; Ron is probably waiting so go now.”
Cale stood up and walked towards the door to go get dressed, but not before noticing the hairstyle on a mirror hanged on the wall.
“The braid is really pretty, good job On”
Cale was already walking out of the room, thus he did not notice the way On’s cheeks slightly flushed and her smile grew bigger at his compliment.
….
“Young Master, we seem to be running a bit late so we need to dress in a hurry,” Ron said, as he urged Cale to enter the dressing room and quickly get changed.
Cale simply let ought a tired sigh, prompting the old butler to give him a benign smile which sends shivers down his spine. He took the outfit Ron handed to him and began changing, careful so he doesn’t ruin On’s hairstyle.
When he got out Ron started fixing some Parts of his attire and draped a half cape over his left shoulder. The one where the braid didn’t land. The suit Cale wore was a three piece of emerald color, with silver decorative embroidery, and a black silk shirt, the color that symbolized all his supporters.
“We’re all set to leave young master.”
“Is Choi Han ready?”
“The carriage has been prepared and he’s waiting for you in front of it.”
“Ok than. Tell Hans and Beacrox to put the kids to sleep early even if they protest. The crown prince has informed me that this banquet will go on for a while and I don’t want them to stay up late waiting for me.”
“Certainly Young master.” Said Ron while accompanying Cale towards the carriage.
His puppy like young master never outright expressed how much he cared for the young ones, or his entirely family for that matter, but he didn’t need to, as his very obvious gestures showed it enough. Cale really thinks he’s able to hide his emotions well, never knowing how easy he can be to read.
Even now, he never really showed any outright interest in the young On’s hairstyles, but he probably doesn’t even notice how attentively he’s treating the braid, being careful it doesn’t get loose or caught in his clothes. Really, he’s such a cute puppy Ron just can’t contain a little chuckle.
Cale however, who really had no idea he was behaving that way, felt a shiver go down his spine when he heard that laugh. Did he do something? How creepy.
Thankfully they had already arrived in front of the carriage and Cale made haste to enter it as fast as possible, he really couldn’t handle Ron’s benign smile anymore.
“?” Choi Han, who didn’t even get a chance to greet him looked inside the carriage where Cale was sitting, “What’s wrong with Cale-nim?”
Ron just smiled in his direction without saying anything but Choi Han realized that he was most likely teasing Cale. Choi Han sighed and greeted him while entering the carriage. Soon they left for the Royal Palace.
They had been staying at the Henituse mansion at the capital due to this banquet. Crown Prince Alberu had made their participation mandatory as his sworn brother and royal instructor. For that reason, Choi Han had discarded his usual uniform for the night and instead wore a much more extravagant one: A black military style three piece suit with dark navy blue hues and silver ornaments.
The outfit picked by Cale along with Alberu. “Dark colors suit Choi Han best” had said Cale while he was getting measured (something he didn’t want to experience again, it felt so weird having people touching him all over). “Yes that’s true, instructor-nim really does look best in those, how about this style…” had agreed the Crown Prince while showing Cale different design options through the communication tool.
When he asked why they were tailoring him a suit, the two brothers had said that they were also going to use this banquet to present him more in his position as Royal Instructor and not just a swordmaster, as people were still discriminatory towards his humble origins. They were trying to shut their mouths by showing Choi Han’s connections with nobility and royalty, while also fulfilling their desired tasks since this banquet was to welcome guests from a foreigner kingdom that they would find very profitable to form connections with.
Always scheming these two. Choi Han couldn’t help but sigh as he thought about Cale and Alberu. Seriously these two need to take a break sometimes, it’s not like the kingdom would fall apart if they rested for a day or two.
But all Choi Han could do was ponder that thought and never express it since he knew they wouldn’t really stop and take a break. And that’s why he agreed that his participation on tonight’s banquet was a good idea. If he could strengthen his political power than perhaps he could help the two or lessen their workload. He wanted to protect his family after all and with all honesty, right now, the only “protection” Cale and Alberu needed was a good long nap.
‘Seriously they’re too alike in this aspect sometimes.’
Cale however, had no idea of the thoughts brewing in Choi Han’s mind. He was just enjoying the quiet carriage ride while preparing his glib tongue.
….
“My dear dongsaeng, you’ve finally arrived!”
“Pardon my late arrival your highness, I have no excuse but my tardiness.”
“Nonsense, how could I punish Young Master Silver Shield for just this little when I know how hard you work every day.”
“Thank you hyung-nim, your grace truly knows no bounds. Even right now in this glamorous ballroom, your presence shines brighter than the morning sun.”
“Oh how you flatter me.”
“I say nothing but the truth.”
The two started their usual glib tongue conversations as soon as Cale and Choi Han got out of the carriage. Choi Han just stared at the two, brightly smiling at each other while throwing their arms around their shoulders just like two brothers. Though if you looked closely you could see that they were pinching each other’s shoulders with a lot of force…
Than Alberu turned to greet Choi Han with a more relaxed yet still respectful smile, “Instructor-nim how have you been? I hope I have not hindered you with my invitation?”
“I greet the Shining sun of the Roan kingdom,” Choi Han bowed respectfully towards Alberu, “I am honored to attend today’s banquet as your royal instructor.”
‘Nice job Choi Han!’ Both Cale and Alberu praised him mentally.
Truth to be told, for the past week Choi Han’s been having etiquette classes in preparation for today. They wanted him to look as presentable as possible so the other nobles would have nothing to say about his behavior. Of course they were worried due to Choi Han’s horrendous acting skills, but he’s been doing well so far. In a way, Choi Han thought that, this was just a fancier way to say things you really mean, so that’s why he was fine so far until the greeting and small talk. Though they weren’t going to make him do a lot of the talking just in case.
“You flatter me instructor-nim, please rise. Let us go now my friends.” Responded Alberu as he turned to the entrance. Cale and Choi Han followed behind him and so they entered the ballroom.
….
Truly these two had planned everything down to the T. All night they dragged Choi Han to make small conversations with the nobles (again they didn’t let him do a lot of the talking and intervened when they noticed the conversation was about to take a wrong turn). Meanwhile Alberu and Cale struck up conversations with the delegates from the foreigner kingdom. At some point, Alberu dragged Choi Han for a break after noticing he was getting stuck up in a conversation.
“Pardon us, but I must have a drink with my instructor in private, as it has a long time since we’ve had a proper talk just the two of us. Of course my dongsaeng has no problem with keeping you all entertained for a bit while more, am I right?”
“Certainly not hyung-nim.” Cale showed a bright smile, but truth to be told he was tired of talking already. Though they were good to form those connections so he was going to keep going.
Alberu pulled Choi Han to a private corner reserved for royalty and their guests and handed him a drink.
“Thank you your highness and I’m sorry.”
“No don’t worry about it, you’ve been doing great so far no need to push yourself too hard. Cale can handle the rest.”
“He looked like he wanted to come here too.”
“Yeah he did.” Alberu chuckled as he took a sip of his drink, “By the way nice hairstyle he has today. You should have heard how many people were discussing about that before he appeared.”
“Yeah, On will definitely be delighted when she hears about it.”
“She should be, she has quite the talent. Do you think I could borrow her sometimes to prepare me for a royal event?”
“I don’t mind but she would probably refuse saying something like ‘Your hair is too short to style’” Choi Han laughed.
“Yep she probably would. But I don’t blame her, his hair is surprisingly soft and somehow it soothes you. I’ve even brushed it myself.” Alberu shrugged.
“Oh?” Choi Han was surprised.
“Yeah like once or twice, it’s kind of like a stress relief,” Alberu smiled softly and look down at his drink, “A long time ago, my mother would let me brush her hair occasionally. We would laugh and she would pretend I was pulling her hair too hard and poorly act as if she was in pain. I guess the memory stuck with me. One time, while we were checking some documents in my office, I was getting extremely bothered by some messy tangles in Cale’s hair. I couldn’t handle it anymore and just grabbed a hairbrush and told him I was going to comb it because it was really bothering me. While brushing it, that memory of my mother resurfaced and I told him about it. Surprisingly, combing his hair was extremely calming. I guess he noticed it too, since another day he contemplated it a bit before telling me to brush his hair if it was going to help me calm down a bit.”
Choi Han laughed a bit and smiled warmly, “Yeah he would be like that. Did you know he sometimes lets the wolf kids put flowers in his hair to decorate it? Even I’ve participated a couple times.”
“Really now? How mischievous of you Instructor-nim.” Alberu gave him a smirk.
”You should see Cale-nim when Rosalyn is testing hair dye magic. Once he came into the room with half purple half green hair because he forgot he still had it.”
Alberu let out a hearty laugh, “Please tell me someone has pictures of that, that bastard never told me about this hahaha!”
“I’m certain Eruhaben-nim has a recording device of that moment stashed somewhere.”
“Hahaha he really lets the people close to him to do whatever they want with his hair huh!” Alberu couldn’t stop laughing and was even holding his stomach.
“Yep that’s the certified Cale approval that he trusts you. Once he even let Bud tie his hair in a ponytail.”
“No way.”
“What no way?”
Cale entered the room startling the both of them. But when they saw how he was fixing up the ribbon on On’s braid they couldn’t help but laugh again. Cale just stood there confused.
‘What’s up with them?’
….
The banquet ended on a good note. After parting with Alberu, Cale and Choi Han returned to the mansion. Cale still couldn’t figure out why they both started laughing when he walked in them. He also caught glimpses of them saying something to each other while glancing at him and chuckling. He tried to ask Choi Han on the way back but he just responded with ‘Student – instructor confidentiality, I can’t say.’.
But honestly Cale was too tired to care anymore. After all that conversing, Cale just wanted to lie down on the bed and sleep. Ahh slacker life why do I have to work so hard for you? (You really don’t man)
But before, he had to wash up. While Hans was getting the bath ready, Cale started to remove his suit. Then he stared at the mirror at his braid. On had worked really hard on it and he felt bad just undoing it. Like all her hard work was going to go to waste.
When Hans walked in to inform Cale that the bath was ready, he found him in front of the mirror, still pondering if he should take off the braid or not and just couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“Young master the bath is ready”
“Oh, ok.” said Cale and with a sigh pulled the ribbon on his hair and unraveled the braid.
Hans still kept smiling while staring at his guilty looking face.
“…What is it?”
“Hm? Oh nothing young master don’t mind me.” Hans said as he kept smiling.
Cale really couldn’t figure out what his problem was and just went to take his bath.
When he went into his room after drying his hair, he found the children nuzzled together in his bed. Beacrox had informed him that they ate dinner and struggled only a bit before going to bed.
Cale tried to quietly find a corner he could squeeze in the bed and slip in the covers to not disturb the children. Though, as if they sensed him, as soon as Cale lied down, they nuzzled closer to him. It was the citrusy smell of his shampoo. It made the children feel comfortable and safe.
Cale sighed, feeling cramped. And soon he fell asleep while hugging the two cats and a dragon.
….
Hours later, at the dead of night, when the only sounds heard in the room were the small snores of the people bundled together on the bed, the moonlight shone from the newly opened window.
He approached them quietly, walking without making any sound as if he wasn’t even walking. As if he were a ghost.
Slowly he drew closer to the bed and stared at the man completely crushed under the two cats and one dragon closely snuggling onto him.
And just as quietly as his steps, he reached out his hand towards Cale…
….
Cale woke up with a chill. Shivering a bit, he rose from his pillows and children slowly and sluggishly, noticing that his bedroom window was open. He could have sworn it was closed last night so perhaps the latch wasn’t secured properly and a gust of wind opened the window.
He knew no one had broken in or tried to harm him and the kids. His family members would have sensed it. The children would have sensed it. Cale himself would have sensed it. But he’d sensed nothing, the children were sound asleep and if someone had tried to come in and were taken care by Ron most likely, he’d get a report on it while getting ready for breakfast.
He reached to scratch his head but then paused.
“What the…?”
Cale caught his reflection on the mirror that was brought to his room for the On’s hair styling process and saw his hair tangled up in the most god forsaken, very loose, very poorly done braid. Like it was done that way on purpose. His hair was going to be a pain to detangle.
Immediately he turned to look at the youngest cat and dragon. The children were starting to wake up after noticing his movement and slowly rose from the bed while yawning.
“Good morning huma-“
“Morning nya-“
“Morni-“
All three of them stopped their greeting as soon as they noticed the mess on Cale’s head. That was not the first thing they expected to see in the morning for sure.
Cale continued to stare at the two youngest with and exasperated look, “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Human you look stupid!”
“Noted, thank you.”
“Your hair looks like it exploded nya!”
“A delightful comparison.”
“Cale-nya what is that abomination!”
“Wonderful observations all three of you. And that is what I want to know as well On.”
On herself immediately turned her head at her younger brothers. Caught in between the accusatory stares of both Cale and their older sister, Hong and Raon immediately understood what was being implied.
“No! It wasn’t us this time!”
“We really didn’t do anything!”
“Well who else would it be if not you two?” said On.
Both of them fell silent, until Raon recalled something and his head snapped back up at Cale.
“Human it was Choi Han!”
All three others look at him in disbelief. On spoke on everyone’s behalf.
“Dongsaeng, out of all the people you could think of, Choi Han is least likely to pull something like this.”
“No I’m serious noona, I saw him last night. Or at least it looked like him…” he broke off as he mumbled the last words more to himself.
Cale had a weird feeling, like he was supposed to understand what is going on. It was all becoming too familiar.
“Tell me what you saw last night Raon.” He urged the young dragon.
“Well, it very late at night. I woke up but it was weird, like there was this heavy feeling of sleep weighting over me, not letting me fully awake. And there I saw the Choi Han looking person.”
“He looked very similar to him but thinking back his hair was curlier,” Cale’s breath hitched, “and he was smiling while braiding. He noticed I was awake and turned towards me. It was weird, he didn’t feel threatening at all, that’s why I think it was Choi Han.”
“He said I was very strong for being awake even with his presence there or something. And I asked him what he was doing.”
“What did he say?” Cale was rigid. Goosebumps formed on his skin as he guessed…
“’I’m playing a prank.’ He said your hair is long now so he was playing a prank. And then I fell back aslee- HUMAN!”
Cale didn’t wait for Raon to finish. He immediately dropped off the bed and ran out of his room. His feet took him towards the back yard and he continued running nonstop.
It was Jung Soo.
It was Choi Jung Soo.
Of course it was him, Cale realized that the moment Raon mentioned the word ‘prank’. It was a story from way back, when he was still Kim Rok Soo and his first team was still alive.
…..
Jung Soo was playing with him like usual, messing with his hair while standing behind his chair, as Rok Soo couldn’t be bothered with him anymore.
“Hey dongsaeeeng,” Choi Jung Soo stretched out the last word, “Why don’t you grow out your hair a bit more? You always cut it so short.”
“Can’t be bothered.”
It’s true, it was too much work taking care of longer hair and it could turn into a hassle while in the field. It really was much easier having shorter hair.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He didn’t want to elaborate though, on the memory of his uncle’s hand forcibly bulling the strands of his hair so hard, it felt like he was digging into his scalp and ripping the skin along with the hair, how he used to grab him like that every time Kim Rok Soo annoyed him, when he was drunk off his head.
He didn’t want to mention how the hair he had decided to grow a bit longer right before the apocalypse happened, at times hindered his vision under the rubbles, blocking the bit of sky he could look and trapping him in complete darkness, completely immobilizing him.
And how unless he cut it completely short, those people in the shelter would grab him the same way his uncle did. How sometimes even the feel of his own fingers through his hairs triggered that memory.
He really couldn’t be bothered to grow it. Couldn’t be bothered to sometimes relive those memories despite them happening way before he had Record.
“Hmmmm okay than,” Continued Jung Soo, noticing Kim Rok Soo did not want to elaborate on his answer. He always noticed, “How about you do this? When we retire and you, me and team leader all work on our orchard, you start growing your hair a bit. What do you say?”
“I say why would I ever do that?”
“Come onnnn~! You would look great with longer hair, just look at Team Leader.”
“Don’t involve me in this.” Said Lee Soo Hyuk as he passed by them after getting his coffee at the vending machine.
“It’s just hair Jung Soo.”
“But I wanna mess with your hair! I’ll tell you, the moment your hair gets long enough I’m braiding it. It will be the most hideous braid you’ve ever seen and it will be the first official hair prank you will receive from me.” Jung Soo exclaimed with a smile so bright, Rok Soo had to squint a little while looking at him.
“Now I’m definitely not growing it.”
“Please dongsaeng, you’re my only victim” he pleaded.
“As you pointed out, Team Leader is right there?”
Suddenly all the humor vanished from Choi Jung Soo’s face and he looked at Kim Rok Soo with a very serious expression, “Rok Soo do you think I have a death wish? Do you want to see me die by Team Leader’s hand?”
To that Kim Rok Soo just stared at him and said nothing.
…….
Cale continued running as that record played in his mind (Maybe that was another reason he had let his hair grow long. Maybe if he let it grow long Choi Jung Soo would still want to play with it when they met again. Even if he didn’t become a wanderer they would have met again. Maybe in the afterlife. He wanted to give that one thing to Choi Jung Soo after taking his life).
He had no idea where he was heading, no idea where his feet were taking him. He just ran. And ran. And ra-
“Oof!”
Cale smacked head first with Choi Han’s back. The stop was so abrupt he needed a moment to catch his breath. His lungs felt like they were on fire. His throat burned.
‘I didn’t run that far, why does my throat burn?’
“Cale-nim what’s wrong? Are you ok?” a pause, “What happened to your hair.”
“It- huff- It was Jung- huff- Soo.”
“What?”
Cale sucked in a breath and lifted his head towards Choi Han, “It was Choi Jung Soo.”
Choi Han couldn’t understand what he was saying. He only stared at Cale, shaking and with tears brimming his eyes that kept franticly glancing around.
Cale grabbed Choi Han’s arm with a weak grip and shaky hands and started laughing.
“Haha that bastard! That bastard was here last night!”
“He was here!?”
“See this?” Cale pointed at the sad excuse of braids atop his head, “This work of art here is courtesy of your nephew. Hahaha damn him!”
“Choi Jung Soo broke into the house just to braid your hair?” Choi Han asked once again in disbelief.
“You have no idea the lengths he would go to. He warned me this would happen hahaha!”
Cale couldn’t stop laughing. He seriously couldn’t. He felt like laughing so hard, his entire body was shaking and tears threatened to roll down his face. He wanted to laugh.
“That bastard is so getting it when I see him.”
Choi Han didn’t know what to do. He just stared dumbfounded at Cale who had just told him his nephew was in the same house as him last night. At Cale who had such a pained expression as if he was about to burst into tears.
And from the realm of God of Death Choi Jung Soo stared at them smiling at his uncle and dongsaeng.
“Looking forward to your revenge Cale.”
Rubbing his eye, he cleared his throat and turned away from the screen.
“Time to go see how your switch up buddy is doing before I leave.”
He looked at the screen one more time to witness Cale cussing as he tried to unbraid his hair with Choi Han’s help.
“Pfft- PUHAHAHA! Oh I’m so dead when we meet! See you dongsaeng.”
And he entered the dark portal without looking back.