Work Text:
“E-excuse me!”
Taewon turned around to see a bunch of 12-13 years old nervous kids. They looked very small compared to the six feet s-class. It seemed that it took a great deal of courage for them to approach him.
“Ca-can we get a picture?” one of them finally asked.
“Yes, why not.” Taewon gave them a light smile. They group seemed to lighten up and smiled back at him brightly.
“Can you take the picture?” one of them handed him a phone.
“Of course” Taewon knelt down and snapped a picture of them all.
“Thank you!”
“Thanks, Taewon-ssi!”
“Thank you for always working hard for us!!”
The kids happily walked away after thanking him. It wasn't much of a work to him, but it looked like it meant the world to those kids.
A great number of people have been approaching him lately. Some for pictures, some wanted autographs, some simply thanked him for his service. It’d be a lie to say it didn't take Taewon by surprise. It'd also be a lie to say it didn't make him feel happy internally. Though he isn't really sure if he deserved all that love and appreciation, he still keeps responding to them.
“Isn't it the Chief Song?” an old lady grabbed his arm.
“Yes, mam. I'm Song Taewon.”
“Aha, my grandchildren are such a huge fan of yours dear.” the lady pulled some candy out of her cardigan's pocket, “Thanks for your hard work, dear.” she said as she buried the candies in his hand. Taewon was taken by surprise so he nodded. The old lady smiled and walked away.
Taewon blankly stared at the logence given by the old lady. He doesn't eat candies. What would he do with these? Maybe he'll give them to the next kid that approaches him. Or maybe he could try one. He's a full grown adult, eating candy in public felt a bit embarrassing. He buried them in his pocket, he’ll decide later.
People these days don't seem to be intimidated by s-classes. Yoojin suspected it might be related to resisting ruins. Though the reason is not known, Taewon likes it. Maybe he cannot go back to being a normal human, but at least being treated as one is the closest thing to it he’d get. It’s a little normalancy he can have now. He savors every bit of it.
Though Han Yoohyun definitely doesn't like it. He never liked interactions, now it has become inevitable for him. He was very frustrated with the fact that he couldn't scare his fans away anymore.
And though Sung Hyunjae did not complain about it, he had to sit through scolding of his guild members for his disappearance. It was such an amusing thing to witness. Taewon did have some fun watching the man get scolded. A smirk played on his lips as he recalled the memory.
Hyuna Moon didn't seem to be bothered by it as she was always open with everyone. Noah also seemed to be okay with the change.
Taewon reached the association on time, greeted by his coworkers on the way to his office. There was a pile of files as always. But it wasn't as hectic as before. He felt pretty relaxed these days.
The other day his subordinate came running to report that Hyuna Moon and Sung Hyunjae were fighting and he just said, ‘let them’. That man was so concerned.
Taewon made himself a cup of coffee before dealing with the papers. Coffee doesn’t really work on s-classes but he likes the taste.
Paperworks are without a doubt boring. After an hour Taewon took a walk outside. And stopped on the balcony. As he put his hands into his pocket something touched his hands. The candies from the old lady.
…
After staring at them for a second he ate a candy. It was strawberry flavored.
Not bad, he thought, candies aren't so bad.
He thought as he ate another.
“Sir-” a subordinate peeked through the door.
“...”
“...”
“Sir, you like candy?” Yeong's face brightened up as if he discovered important information.
Taewon felt a bit embarrassed, but he did not show it, “Not really. An old lady gave them to me this morning. You want some.” he extended his hand, holding the rest of the candies out to the other.
Yeong's face brightened up even more. Taewon wished he had a sunglass.
“Thank you, sir!” He thanked him before carefully taking a candy from Taewon's hand.
“So what brought you here?” Taewon asked him.
“Oh, nothing important. I'll leave the file on your desk. Thank you for the candy!” Yeong said before disappearing behind the door.
The next day Taewon found a bunch of candies on his table.
Taewon used to frequently skip lunch before, but these days he doesn't. More like he can't, even if he wanted to. The reason? Well.
“Sir?” Jinwoo peeked into the room.
“Yes?” Taewon looked up at him. He wasn't alone, Taewon knew it. There were at least three more people behind that man.
“Won't you come to the cafeteria?”
“Yeah.”
“It's getting late.”
“I'm coming.”
Jinwoo stared at him for a moment before disappearing. Taewon sighed, he should get going. He doesn't want to see what new way his co-workers try to keep him from skipping lunch.
“Taewon-ssi, let's go grab lunch” this time ot was Minhoo.
Here comes the second wave, Taewon thought as he was organizing the loose papers.
“Yeah, coming.”
The door closed.
“Chief Song-”
Taewon sighed as the door opened for the third time in 5 minutes. He put a file over the rest and just walked out. This time he found Jisoo who followed him to the cafeteria where everyone else was. The room somehow seemed to brighten.
Taewon took a lunch box and sat at an empty table. Well, somehow, the table became almost full within minutes.
His phone buzzed, it was a text from Han Yoojin.
[Would you like to stop by today?]
He suspects this man is up to giving him a pet again. This time it isn't a lamb. Maybe a dog? Taewon doesn't know, but he definitely prefers dog over lamb. He put the phone back in his pocket, he'll reply later.
“So, Taewon-ssi…” Jinwoo finally spoke as he put his phone down, “...we were planning to grab a drink together. Would you like to join?”
“...”
“Come on, Taewon-ssi! Let's go together.” Minho said before he could reply.
“Yeah, it'll be fun!” Yeong joined him.
“We have never done anything together outside of work.” Jisoo complained.
“...when?” Taewon asked quietly. Others exchanged looks while Jinwoo replied,
“Today?”
“Alright.”
“Yee!” others cheered.
It looks like Yoojin’s plan of handing him a pet has to wait. Taewon thought as he messaged Yoojin he can't make it today.
Alcohol doesn’t have any effect on s-classes, so Taewon had to send everyone home as he was the most sober one. And he was the first person to be present the next day.
“Why does alcohol have no effect on s-classes? This isn't fair.” Yeong complained about it for the third time.
Taewon shrugged or nodded in response. He heard Hyuna and Yoojin had a type of alcohol that has an effect on s-classes. He doesn't want to inform these people about it though. Who knows they might bring some from Yoojin. Knowing Han Yoojin and Hyuna Moon, they might also start plotting something together.
“Hey, look! Isn't that Song Taewon?” Taewon heard a girl excitedly whisper to another as he was heading home.
“It is!” the other whispered back just as excitedly.
“Do you think he'll mind if I ask for his autograph?”
“I don't think so. Let's go!”
He heard a pair of footsteps drawing closer.
“Excuse me.” Taewon looked down at the two girls.
“Ca-can I get an autograph??” one asked nervously clutching a pen and a small notebook in her hand.
“Of course” Taewon gave a small smile which seemed to reassure the two teens. He took the pen and the notebook. The notebook had a lot of pages filled with scribbles, he found one plane and put down his autograph. The girls’ faces lightened up.
“Thank you, sir! I have been asking my parents to buy me your merch, but they are not convinced yet. I'll get them though, I want to support you more!” one felt brave enough to say.
“My merch…?” Taewon was confused.
“Yeah, she got one” the girl indicated to her friend who pulled out a t-shirt from her bag, it had his picture printed on the front. Taewon's jaw almost dropped.
“Where did you get this?”
Both the girls seem to catch on that he most likely didn't know about these.
“Erm, Association's selling them.” they replied uncomfortably.
“Oh, I see. Okay. Bye.” he smiled. What the heck is going through association's head. Taewon looked back, the girls were whispering among themselves. Oh, please, don't spread rumor association makes merch of their hunters without their permission.
Once away from them, Taewon called his assistant.
“Hello?”
[Good evening, Taewon-ssi! What makes you call?]
“What is up with the merch association is selling?”
[Oh, it was brought up couple of weeks ago. You remember? In the meeting? It lauched yesterday.]
Taewon vaguely remembered something about it. Maybe it was brought up.
“But they said nothing about printing my face on shirts!”
[Haha, sir, you said ‘whatever’ when designing committee tried to discuss with you. So they did ‘whatever’.]
Taewon sighed.
[Don't worry, sir. It's selling very well]
Taewon facepalmed. What the hell is wrong with his coworkers.
“Hey, hey, Taewon-ssi. How's life going?” Hyuna Moon asked as she took another glass of fine wine.
Taewon analyzed the room. Yoojin sat down beside Hyuna on the floor, Peace comfortably curled up on the other side of Yoojin. Blue and Comet were playing together. Chrippie and velare were sitting still, more like velare was sitting still in fear of Chrippie. Taewon always found it weird that tiny ball of fur managed to scare a snake.
Taewon sat down opposite to Yoojin.
“They made your merch, Taewon-ssi. Did you see?” Yoojin asked. By his tone it seemed already suspected Taewon did not know about it. Or even if he did, he wasn't completely aware of what's going on.
“Yeah…”
“They made a plushie version of you.” Hyuna laughed, “It's super cute though!’
Taewon felt a bit embarrassed.
“Yeah, Yerim liked it too.” Yoojin commented with a chuckle.
“You bought one?” Taewon asked with disbelief.
“Why not?”
“Yeah, Taewon-ssi, why not. I bought one too.”
Taewon, a bit confusedly glanced in between Yoojin and Hyuna. He hadn't thought these two would have an interest in his merch. Well, s-classes are weird and Yoojin… he is in a level all by himself. Taewon shouldn't be surprised.
Hyuna pulled out a small plushie from her bag that was lazily lying around.
“Look. Who would not buy this thing?”
“Pfft-” Taewon could not help but to chuckle. Was that really him? It did not resemble him at all. But yeah, it was cute.
“That doesn't look like me,” he commented.
Hyuna and Yoojin exchanged looks, then looked at the plushie and him.
“What?”
“It does.” Hyuna said.
“I'd say very much.” Yoojin added, “Mine looks even more like you.” Yoojin went to grab his one from another room.
“Look, it even has dark circles!”
“Omg!” Hyuna cracked up, “I want that one too!”
“It was a special edition!”
Taewon was sure it didn't look like him either but he didn't interrupt the other two’s sheer excitement, which he didn't understand.
“Get me one of these, Taewon-ssi!” Hyuna turned to him.
“Why are you telling me?”
“They'll surely have one in stock for you!”
Taewon did not lengthen the conversation.
“Have you bought one yet?” Yoojin asked.
“No.” Taewon shook his head, “Why would I buy my own merch?”
“Well… just asking,” Yoojin shrugged.
“Where is your brother?” Taewon changed the subject.
“In the guild. Hasn't come back yet.” Yoojin replied.
Han Yoohyun was a concerning matter through the years. Now that Yoojin is back, Yoohyun looks very much stable and much more human. Taewon remembers the chaos that ensued and how Han Yoohyun broke down completely as Yoojin was nowhere. It was such an uncomfortable scene. Someone so powerful turned into a weak human for the one he loved and cared for. He looks much more fresh now too.
“I see. Others?”
Usually other faces join them, but today it was just the three of them.
“Myeongwoo's in his smithy. Noah… right he said something like training with Yoohyun..” “I hope he's okay” Yoojin mumbled. “And Yerim still isn't back.”
There was one more person that sometimes crashed in, of course uninvitedly, Sung Hyunjae. Taewon doesn't really want him to, especially today. He doesn't want to hear that man comment on the plushies. He silently prayed Sung Hyunjae stays busy today.
Fortunately Sung Hyunjae did not show up that day. It was probably the first and last time Hyuna was disappointed he didn't. She wanted to hear that ‘bastard's opinion on the plushie. Taewon went back come soon, before Hyuna could actually call Hyunaje and ask about the merchs.
Well, Taewon was not able to finish the day completely Hyunjae-free as his phone rang once he was done taking a bath.
[Sesong guild leader] the screen read. Taewon's face filled with annoyance, but he received the call.
[Hello~ dear chief]
Was this man really 41? Taewon once again doubted it. Did someone mess up with the digits and he's actually just 14?
“Why are you calling?”
[Don't be so cold. You released such a nice merch without telling me. Wasn't that cold enough?]
Taewon's eye twitched. If anyone knew it before him, it's definitely Hyunjae. Taewon would suspect he is the one that got this idea in Association's head in the first place.
“Don't feel alone, I found out just a couple of hours ago.”
Taewon was sure Hyunjae's lips curved into a smirk.
[How absurd. Did the association just ignore your consent?] he sounded as if he was cracking up.
“It's on me, I did not pay attention.”
[You did not? That actually happens?]
Taewon could see Hyunjae's face half-amused, half-surprised. He was sure the other was not actually surprised but feigned it. He sighed, “Yeah, that does.”
[I have to say they did it justice..]
How come they did it justice? It doesn't even look like him.
[..I got the whole collection, wanna see?]
And why the fuck would Sesong guild leader buy the whole collection? Was it the start of a new way to annoy him?
“Please, keep that to yourself.”
[Why? You haven't seen them all yet, have you? I was generously thinking of giving you a guide through it.]
“There is no need.” Taewon replied with his deadpan voice.
[Cold as ever, huh? Why is it okay for Han Yoojin and Hyuna Moon to show off their ones, but not for me?] Hyunjae feigned being hurt.
Someone seriously needs to remind this man of his age, Taewon thought.
“How do you know what they did?” Taewon raised an eyebrow.
[Does that mean I was right?]
Was that a trap or did this man spy on Yoojin? Or was it both? Should he be concerned?
“Whatever. I'll hang up now since it looks like you don't have anything important to discuss.”
[Aww, come on, isn't it important? Have you got yourself something?]
Why would he?
“No. Good night.”
[Don't you plan on-]
Taewon hung up. Again, why would he?
Later that night,
Association store about to be closed-
Customer: Hello, can I get a plushie?
Salesman: ...
Salesman: Taewon-ssi?
Taewon in a very poor disguise, especially with his height: No. Taewon, who? *sweats nervously*
Extra(in between chapter 4 and 5):
Taewon's phone rang, it was Sesong guild leader. Taewon was tired, he didn't want to pick it up. Did the man already get the word that he did go to buy a plushie? Taewon sighed. He has connections everywhere. He threw the phone on his bed. And laid down. The mattress due to his weight.
Finally some sleep, he thought.
His phone buzzed twice. Taewon picked it up. They were texts from Hyunjae. Taewon's eyes thinned. What could he want now?
Taewon clicked the notification. It revealed a link, below it was a small text: “lol”
Taewon's eyes thinned as he clicked the link.
There was a big picture of a kid, 8-10 years old, a carbon copy of Sung Hyunjae except for the pinkish hair. All he missed was a three-piece suit. Han Gyeol. Taewon knew him. But what surprised and concerned him was the news title: “Sesong guild leader's secret love child!?”
Taewon did not know whether he should laugh or cry. As absurd as the news is, it'd be a real pain on cover up. It was already going viral and people were losing their mind over it.
Sung Hyunjae's love child.
That man thinks it's funny, huh?
Damn it. It also means no sleep for him. He mentally cursed Hyunjae. Is this why he called him? Taewon didn't want to deal with him but this leaves him no choice. He dialed Hyunjae's number.
[Wow, such a fast response.] the man on the other side said, amused.
“What the hell, is that news true?”
[Haha what does it look like? Han Gayeol got caught in the street.]
Taewon sighed, his brows furrowed.
“You think its funny?”
He sure does, he answered himself.
[Does it not appear to be to you?]
“By all means, no. Please do something about it. It's your reputation going to ruins.”
Hyunaje chuckle, [Tired, huh?]
Taewon would very much like to say yes. Lately work load was not as much as before or as draining as before. Taewon does not want to deal with draining things anymore.
“...”
[Rest up, it'll die down]
Taewon hung up. He is sure it will not ‘die down’. Sung Hyunjae is not any odinary man and neither is a scandal about his secret love child any odinary scandal. Sung Hyunjae, with his popularity is an s-class who is probably more important to public than even the president or prime minister. This is gonna break the internet and that man will probably not even do anything to stop it cause he finds it amusing. Taewon sighed again and sat up to call his coworkers. Seems like rest has wait a bit.
Then they solve the Gyeol incident and Taewon gets his well deserved rest and they live happily.