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Inside Ttosikki Chicken- the hidden diamond of Noryanjin- two part-timers work tirelessly. On one side of the empty restaurant, Gerard Jin lugs craters of soft drinks to the nearly empty cooler. Ttosikki had become a bit of a hot spot these days. Gerard propped a crate up on the table, and began loading the soft drinks into the cooler efficiently. He looked over on the other side of the restaurant, Teddy was aggressively sweeping the floor. The ponytailed guy had a rough shift. Being a mascot was not for the weak. Gerard reached into the back of the cooler, and pulled out a can of cola. He set it aside, and watched Teddy kick a chair in frustration. It must have gotten in his way. He looked a mess: hair sticking up from his ponytail, bangs glued to his forehead, while a loose strand of hair kept flying around on his face. Gerard had long since discarded his apron, but Teddy still had his sloppily knotted. The ponytail guy disappeared to put the broom away. It was then Gerard realized he was doing a lot more observing than working. He shook his head, he’s got work to finish.
Quickly the cooler finally became full again. Gerard kept himself busy, stacking chairs after Teddy wiped tables. They were a pretty good team all things considered. Teddy came back with the mop next, and looked like he was about to stomp Gerard’s toes if he didn’t move his feet fast enough. Teddy seemed very determined to end this day quickly. Gerard noticed he had a mole on the back of neck. And a part of him wanted to see what would happen if he just poked at it a little bit. During that odd thought course Teddy finally turned, and noticed him standing there, doing nothing. His eyebrow twitched a little, and he severely looked as if he was about to chew Gerard out all the way into next week. His eyes definitely said: why am I doing all the work? Gerard put his hands up before Teddy could say a word. The hands said: I serenader. Teddy seemed like he was about to let it go, but his eyes fell on the can of cola on the counter. His eyebrows nearly went to outer space, they were up so high. Gerard looked between Mr neck mole, and the can of cola. He was in trouble wasn’t he? How’d he end up in the doghouse all the sudden?
Gerard lunged for the cola, and held it uselessly for a few seconds. He must have looked a bit silly, because Teddy’s face softened briefly. He was so short comparatively. So how come he was so scary sometimes? Gerard had half the brain to explain himself, but the other half was confused why he even had to to begin with. But really, it was because Gerard had a bit of a struggle using words. Actions were the only way then.
“Do I work here alone-wha??” Teddy’s rant was stuttered to a halt as Gerard touched the can to his face. He blinked up at Gerard with his eyebrows scrunched all together, nose wrinkled, and frowny mouthed.
“What the fu-“ Before that thought could reach the world, Gerard found his voice.
“It’s for you.” He said. Then he remembered to pull the can from Teddy's face. Teddy blinked, his expression smoothed back out, but his eyebrows still twitched together like he was on the cusp of understanding, but the answer made even less sense to him.
“Huh??” Teddys eyes darted all over Gerard’s face. He had the back of his own hand pressed against where the can had touched his face. The can must have been a bit sweaty from sitting on the counter, because he swiped his sleeve across the skin. Gerard looked at the can still in his hand, and he remembered he should probably hand it over, properly.
“I set it aside for you earlier.” Gerard’s voice was a bit sticky, he really didn’t talk that much. Especially with Teddy, he never felt any need to force himself to fill the silence. They were both content with sharing their time quietly. It was nice, maybe even comfortable. Teddy was frozen in front of him now. Gerard was holding the can out to him, but he made no move to grab it. His eyes just kept traveling across Gerard’s face, and then his outstretched arm, then the cola can. Gerard could almost see the gears turning in his head, grinding in separate directions causing him to just stand there. Teddy was unbelievably easy to read, he could see each emotion swirling around like a wheel of fortune. Gerard didn’t think he would be able to land on one solid colour. So he reached for Teddy's arm hanging uselessly at his side, and pulled the sleeve. Without his gears running clearly Teddy’s arm was guided easily. Gerard let go of the sleeve, glad Teddy's arm didn’t just fall right back down. Teddy stared blankly at the sleeve; he seemed very conflicted. Gently, Gerard touched Teddys hand to the bottom of the can with his own. He tried not to think too much about how his hand engulfed the others. He looked at the wheels spinning in Teddys eyes. The ponytail guy blinked up at him, and finally the wheels stopped on something like understanding. They stayed like that for a second like they were both caught on a line. Gerard was not dense to Teddys doubt, to his discomfort, he saw it colour him often. Teddy was as skittish as a stray cat. And right now, Gerard was asking him to accept his attention. Even a gesture as simple as giving him a can of cola, was for the person in front of him meaningful enough to break his brain. Gerard wondered; why even baseline kindness was so uncomfortable for Teddy to accept. Even so Teddy looked at him for a second so softly, Gerard was sure he’d gotten through to him.
“Thanks.” Teddy said, suddenly breaking the spell. Gerard looked down, his hand was still held over Teddy’s at the bottom of the can, the fingers one the other hand still gripping the top. He suddenly felt a little silly, and a lot awkward. He felt Teddy's fingers flex around the can under his hand. Right. He remembered he could let go now. When Gerard pulled his hands away, Teddy nearly dropped the cola can.
“Shit-“ Teddy cursed, scrambling. When he gathered his barings, the tips of his ears were nearly glowing, they were so red. Gerard’s awkwardness melted away, instead he felt a bit hysterical. He laughed so hard he nearly fell over. Teddy scowled at him.
“What are you laughing at?” He bristled. Gerard had never been so proud of himself, he’d made Teddy Jin’s ears as red as a firetruck. The giddiness was pulling tears from his eyes. The pissed off look on Teddy's face was hilarious, like an angry cat. He was sort of cute. Gerard coughed on his own thoughts.
“CRACK!” Gerard looked up, and Teddy was staring him down intensely, holding the now opened cola can in front of his face. Gerard didn’t like soda. It was not appealing to him, but he feared if he rejected the gesture; that new beautiful understanding between them would shatter. He drank it with a scrunch in his nose. Teddy shook his head.
“Idiot.” He said simply, and Gerard did not miss how fond it sounded from his mouth. He searched his eyes like he was looking for treasure. The attention must have been embarrassing because Teddy shifted his eyes away, and smothed a hand at the space right under his own ear.
“I need to take the trash out.” Teddy told him, jerking a thumb behind him. Gerard watched his eyebrows flinch together. He really was expressive when he wasn’t wearing that bored expression of his. Teddy turned to go, and Gerard’s eyes zeroed in on the danm mole on his neck again. It was pretty, and Gerard was sure he was losing his mind. Instinctively he grabbed Teddy's sleeve again; a little harshly on accident. Teddy swished his head around so quickly, and stared at him like he spontaneously grew second, and third head.
“I'm coming with you.” Gerard said, glad he could no longer see that fucking mole. Teddy questioned him silently, Gerard was still pinching his sleeve.
“The trash bags are piled all the way to mars back there.” He said dumbly, like it somehow explained why he’d grabbed his sleeve like a crazy person. The truth was, Gerard had no clue why he’d done that. Teddy blinked at him like he was the most ridiculous guy on earth.
“Okay…” He stared at Gerard’s offending hand. Oh. Gerard let go, scratching the back of his head, and smacking it for good measure. Maybe whatever screw that fell out, will move its ass back into place.
“Let’s just go.” Teddy finally said, clearly giving up on figuring out what the hell was wrong with the giant idiot.
“Jeez you startled the hell out of me, I was about to bite your hand off…” Teddy muttered as they walked into the back. Thankfully, they were walking side by side. Gerard stuck his hands in his pockets. He was about to bite off his own hand if it kept acting on its own. He didn’t say anything, he had lots of cotton in his head.
The pair of them lugged heavy trash bags out the back door. It was propped open with a plastic crate, heavy with jars of “hot dog relish” whatever the hell that was, Gerard truly had no clue. Gerard held two big trash bags on his shoulders. An advantage his broad shoulders gave him. Teddy glared like he wanted to incinerate him on the spot. He whipped his ponytail, and placed two trash bags, on top of eachother, in his arms. The stack was a hangnail from completely obstructing his vision. Then he stomped out the door in front of Gerard. Which was genuinely horrible for the guy behind him. It took all of three seconds for Gerard’s brain to crash. The inside of his head looked like a hoard-house, but instead of collecting recipes, or old newspapers, Gerard was collecting the word “mole” over and over. He was surprised the word wasn’t leaking out of his ears in impact font, fucking typewriter ink bubbling out his nose. He felt like his head was about to suffer a paper jam, from copying the same image of Teddys neck over and over again. He really couldn’t stop staring at the little dot, he wasn’t even sure he was blinking anymore. He watched the usually pale neck heat up at the intense fixation from his eyes. Was it a mole or a freckle? What was the difference again? Right. Moles had texture. And freckles were just flat spots. Maybe if he- Curiosity was a very dangerous thing. Gerard was so glad his hands were full. He must have lost his fucking mind. He wanted to bash his head on the concrete. He shut his eyes for a second, trying to pull his shit together. Even the back of his eyelids projected nothing, but pretty neck spots. He could even see the dark little wisp of hair that fell next to it. He was in the middle of imagining tucking it up with the rest of Teddy's bleach blond hair- little strip of black- when he crashed into something.
Gerard’s eyes shot open. He was so close, he could smell Teddy's conditioner. But before he could get distracted trying to figure out what it smelled precisely like, he noticed the tremble in Teddys shoulders. He was pissed. His entire neck, and ears were burning nearly as red as his hoodie. He aggressively threw the trash bags into the dumpster, and rounded on Gerard, bangs falling into his eyes. He was truly the angriest tomato Gerard had ever seen.
“WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Teddy exploded, trying to keep his yelling hushed. He looked tense like a livewire. It wasn’t even really rage, he looked stressed out enough to smoke a whole pack of cigarettes. He rubbed the back of his neck like ants were crawling all over it. Gerard felt so unbelievably guilty for staring like that. He threw the trash bags into the dumpster, at a complete loss. Then he deflated inwards and outwards. He felt bad, and gross, almost sick. It was worse because he couldn’t understand either what was happening. He didn’t have an excuse, or an answer, nothing but guilt and a sense of wrongness. Teddy grabbed his collar, and yanked him down; eye level.
“You think I can’t feel you staring?” He said accusatory. Gerard just looked at him, helplessly.
“Do you have a problem with me?” He asked, and it really, honestly, never crossed Gerard’s mind at all. He couldn’t find words, so he just shook his head adamantly. He stared at Teddys eyes like he was attempting telepathic communication. He had no problem with Teddy. He didn’t want to fight him. He might have been completely lost, in an abyss of no clue, but that he knew was a fact. He was comfortable with Teddy, and his eyes were so pretty to look at. He felt bad for getting off track again, but it was hard when Teddy had him caught face to face. His eyes looked purple in the alley street lamps. It was striking. Teddy must have found something in his eyes because he let go of his collar. Gerard stumbled half a step back, stood at full height, and put some space between them. Some breathing room, he hadn’t even realized his pulse was hammering the way it was.
“Then why the hell do you keep staring?” He asked genuinely, confusion etched all over his face. Gerard shrugged, he seriously didn’t fucking know. He felt like a loser a little bit. Teddy considered him, and seemed conflicted. Then he softened slowly, like he understood at least a little bit that Gerard was struggling here. So, he threw him a bone.
“Just…go get the other trash bags-there was only two left anyways.” Teddy ordered, he still sounded a little annoyed. Gerard nodded quickly, about to run away. He was nearly through the door.
“Hey slacker!” Teddy called him, and he froze.
“Shit- stop looking at me like a kicked puppy… it doesn’t suit you!” Teddy told him, very loudly. Gerard let out a breath, and nearly laughed. This was so silly.
“Alright.” Gerard conceded. He did feel a bit better, relieved. He really was comfortable with Teddy. He just hoped the other guy could say the same for him, even with his new found staring problem. Gerard swore he’d get it under control.
…
Gerard won’t lie he took his sweet time getting those trash bags. He heard momentary banging from outside. He assumed Teddy was doing his shift ritual of taking all his frustration out on every inanimate object in his path. With two new garbage bags on his shoulder, Gerard stood there, dragging his feet. He needs to go, and throw them away. He needs to do his freaking job. He felt like a stupid tree, rooted in place. Move! He told his feet. They laughed at him as they disobeyed. He just needs to walk through the door; that’s it. But Gerard was lead footed, full of apprehension. This situation was so ridiculous, he couldn’t even comprehend how looney tunes he felt. Here he was hot footed Gerard Jin, tall as a tree, standing with his feet stuck to the floor like he stepped on a comically large glue trap. The longer he stood there, he felt a nagging feeling grow in back of his head. This one he could figure out quite easily at least: it was unease. Maybe it was because of his middle school experience, or maybe it was because of how much a target the people around him tended to be. Either way he really didn’t like leaving Teddy out there by himself. Gerard Jin stood there with two conflicting feelings tugging at him: stay or go? The scales tipped quickly though, when he heard a voice that was not Teddys from outside.
Gerard strode through the door with his garbage bags. First he saw Teddy, standing with a guarded posture, then he saw the ugly guy sitting on the dumpster lids. That banging from earlier must have been the lids closing.
“Hey blondie, be a doll and bring me some soju?” The guy said. Gerard looked at him, he must have been a high schooler too.
“Sorry, we’re closed.” Gerard said, dropping the garbage bags next to the dumpster. The ugly guy acnoleged him.
“I wasn’t talking to you fuckface.” The ugly guy said. Gerard grabbed one of the garbage lids, and yanked.
“Can you please move?” Gerard asked, when the lid nearly smoked the ugly guy in the nose. The guy glared at him, but Gerard was simply looking at the dumpster.
“No problem.” Ugly said, jumping down onto the ground. He kicked the garbage bags, and Gerard sighed. He flipped the lid back open, noisily, and continued his task at hand. The ugly guy walked a little closer to Teddy.
“Your coworker’s a real stick in the mud but I can tell you’re a lot more fun.” He told teddy. Gerard could see the ponytail guy gritting his teeth. Gerard wasn’t sure if the ugly guy was picking on him, or if he saw him as similar scum to himself. Maybe the guy was trying to figure it out too.
“Go to hell.” Teddy spit. Ugly squinted his eyes, and then grinned.
“Don’t be like that, I’m just asking a favor.” The ugly guy grabbed Teddy's shoulder.
“SLAM!” Gerard closed the dumpster lid like he wanted it to never open again. Ugly jumped. Teddy jumped.
“Leave.” Gerard said, simply. He was getting tired of this fast. Ugly glanced at him.
“Mind your own fucking business.” He spat, his grimy hand was still on Teddys shoulder. Gerard couldn't understand why Teddy was holding back. He could, clearly, see how pissed he was by his twiching shoulders.
“Why are you shaking, pretty boy?” Now, he was definitely picking on him. Ugly thought he was scared; Gerard knew better.
“Fuck off.” Teddy grinded through his teeth, his asshole tolerance was getting thin. He struggled uglys hand off his shoulder, and his head lowered.
“Aww.” Ugly said, and he turned to look at Gerard.
“You’re fucked up face must be scaring him.” He was trying to rile Gerard up. He tapped under his own eye.
“Nice sunburn, asshole.” The ugly guy smiled, and Gerard narrowed his eyes, his cheek twitching where the scar was automatically. His eyes swished back over to Teddy, his teeth were gritted together so hard, Gerard thought they might break. His head lowered even more as his nose flared. He lifted his foot and Gerard could see him burning, hands clenched at his sides.
“BOOM!” Teddy exploded, his foot crashing down on uglys foot in a brutal, full body stomp. He let out a breath of relief where his head was lowered, the fists at his sides loosening. Then he pushed the ugly guy over, by the shoulder, with one hand.
“You talk too much.” Then he stepped back, and Gerard realized why he had put up with it. Ugly wasn’t alone.
“I was playing nice because you were cute..” Ugly was saying, but Gerard was just looking at Teddy, raking his eyes across the four of five other scumbags. It was clear the ponytail guy had a bad feeling about this.
“But after that stunt..” Teddy was, resolutely, avoiding Gerard’s eyes.
“It’s time for you to get stomped, pretty boy.” The group was slowly moving forward like vultures. Teddys eyebrows were twitching, he was frustrated and anxious. Gerard didn’t like it, he knocked on the dumpster to get them to turn their attention.
“You talk a lot of shit-“ Gerard started, making his way back behind Teddy, in a couple long strides.
“But you don’t have a danm clue who you’re fucking with.” He loomed behind Teddy to let him know he had his back. He glanced at the pretty mole, and then at the stress written all over his body. Teddy was scared, but Gerard knew a secret. Teddy was still holding back, and he didn’t need to.
“Let me…” Gerard began. This time his hand moved with intention. It felt like slow motion, he reached for Teddys ponytail. Found gentle purchase on the elastic holding it together. He lingered, giving Teddy time to tell him off. In front of him, Teddy's eyes shifted in surprise. Gerard pulled the elastic out of his hair. He watched golden locks swoosh across his shoulders, veiling that demonic mole.
“Introduce-“ Gerard slid the elastic down his own wrist, cracking his thumb as he held up his hand for emphasis.
“-Teddy The Demon.” The words were so, incredibly, vindicating coming from Gerard’s mouth, without judgment. Teddy felt free, the wild cruel part of himself he'd started to hide was accepted. His face darkened. The Mad Dog was standing behind him like a big scary dog, his presence was enormous. Teddy could feel the confidence, and retribution of Gerard Jin. The same guy who now had Teddy's hair elastic hanging around his wrist. The same guy who was asking him to stop holding back. That was more than enough to flip the switch. Teddy was determined.
The group of scumbags across, even with the advantage of numbers, felt a slight chill. It was almost like looking at a two headed monster. Two pairs of leering eyes with the same deadly look. The first head was tall, and looming. They could only see one eye, but it was unnerving, red scar around the scolding eye like a beast that fought its way out from the pits of hell. The second head looked wild like an animal, hair long and free. There was something cruel and unhinged hidden in the harsh angles of the face. And those eyes, staring through the messy strands of hair, were demon dark.
Teddy saw the tidbit of unease in their opponents, and ran with it. Teddy Jin’s number one skill: intimidation via trash talk.
“You guys must be nuts…“ Teddy began, walking a path to the dumpster, and then clambering up like a wild cat.
“That guy over there-“ Teddy jerked his thumb at Gerard, as he crouched on the dumpster lid.
“He’s Gerard Jin : hot footed and the mad dog of Do-eui middle school.” Rowan really must have rubbed off on him a bit. He saw the ruckus his words were causing, the seed of doubt he was sowing. It made him smile, he looked down to appreciate the feeling. Then he whipped his head back up, glad to feel the movement of his hair. He looked at Gerard, and then at the group of bastards.
“So either scram-“ Teddy glowered, eyes tracking the crowd.
“Or…” Teddy stood, and walked across the lid. He took a step off the edge of the dumpster.
“Prepare to eat shit.” Teddy said, as he landed lightly on his feet. It was his final provocation. The mean little gleam in his eye said; he was the cat that caught the mouse.
He watched the unibrowed, bastard in front of him twitch, his left fist clenching. His shoulder flexed and Teddy ducked down.
“BOOM!” The guys fist smashed into the metal of the dumpster. Teddy watched him pull his fist back. That must hurt like a bitch. Teddy saw an opening then and pounced. He pushed off the ground and leapt at the guy, grabbing him around the middle.
“THUMP!” He tackled him to the ground. Teddy had to catch the ground, before he smashed his head. His hair fell around his face wild, and he smiled greedily . He couldn’t help but tug at the guy's ear. The bastard was a real loser. He was about to smack his face with the utmost disrespect, when the back of his sweater was yanked, hard. Teddy felt like he had just been scruffed. He dug his heels into the ground and rocked forward: to keep his balance and not topple backwards. His hood was pulled again, and Teddy turned, ready to scratch out the eyes of whoever the hell it was.
“BASH!” Teddy blinked at the foot that had just shot up, and cracked against the culprit's chin. But before he could get distracted, there was a fist coming towards the face that was connected to that leg. Teddy didn’t think, it was instinctive.
“SMACK!” His palm connected with the punch throwing bastards face, loudly. With the force of his shoulders, he shoved him by the head. The guy stumbled, his fist connecting with nothing but empty air. Teddy’s eyes shifted and connected with Gerard’s. The understanding between them felt tangible, a shared madness: they were holding a single burning match between them. The mad dog dusted off Teddys hood, and they both went in opposite directions. Teddy’s fingers grazing where his elastic sat on Gerard’s wrist as he passed. It gave him comfort. Teddy hooked his elbow around the punch throwing, bastard’s neck; in a headlock.
The thoughts of any opponent of Gerard Jin can usually be summed up easily: this guys freaking tall, it’s pissing me off! The guy standing in front of him with a buzz cut feels no different. All he wanted to do tonight was drink and spit sunflower seeds. Why were these kids so pigheaded? It damn irritated him! So he did what he always did when persistent, idiots got in his way: he kicked. Buzz-cut swung his toe into the shin in front of him. His eyes widened.
“F-fuck!” It felt like stubbing his toes against a steel pole. Was this guy a cyborg or some shit? Thankfully, Flat-Nosed-Tim had gotten up from the ground. That bastard had taken a lot of hits to the face- his nose proved it- so that kick was preschool to him. Still he was pissed. Flat-nose clenched his slugging fist, and swung.
“POW!” It hit Gerard Jin right in back of his head. That tall guys head fell forward and he was clenching his teeth. That was Buzz-cut’s opening. He swung his arm back, open palm, full disrespect, and let it catch the air in its descent forward. Then In a brisk blur knuckles knocked into his Adam’s-apple. The air cut and he blanched.
“A-ARK!” Buzz-cut's hand didn’t make it far as he sputtered, instead he wrapped it around his own throat. He felt like he was gonna die. Across from him, Flat-nose was stomping his muddy shoes against that tall guy's back. He didn’t even move, it was weird as hell. Then, that tall guy kicked his foot forward, nearly scaring him to death. He thought proudly: he missed! Then he saw him bending forward at the waist like some sort of swan. Then his foot WHOOOSHED backwards like a figure skater.
“FUMP!” The entire bottom of his shoe imprinted itself on Flat-nose’s shirt. Then, nearly in slow motion Flat-Nosed-Tim flew back and downwards.
“THUNK!” Like a sandbag, Flat-nose hit the ground. Buzz-cut nearly grew cartoon round eyes. He kicked him like a soccer ball?! This guy is unreal! He couldn’t believe his own eyes, he cut them over the blond half of this duo. He had Possum in a headlock, but at the very least the scareheaded asshole- he couldn’t remember the name of- was wrapped around his back. Square-head hammered down on blondie's arms. He watched the blondie struggle them around in circles, his jaw twitching from biting his teeth together.
“Get the fuck off me.” The blond seethed. Buzz-cut turned his eyes back to the tall guy, wondering if he was gonna step in. That tall guy was simply glaring holes at the unibrow lying, lazily, in the dirt, daring him to try something. Uni-brow seemed quite content where he was, then those glaring eyes turned back to Buzz-cut. Buzz-cut nearly died from fear, his throat still burned. He clenched his fists, feeling cornered.
“Crash!” Teddy bashed his head back into the brick mug behind him. His ears rang.
“You little-“ Both Gerard and Buzz-cut’s eyes snapped over. Square-heads nose shone with blood, eyes red rimmed with rage.
“Hey-“ A shoe swoooshed across the ground, and hit Gerard’s foot. Gerard flicked his foot up, and stepped over his other foot: catching himself with his legs crossed. Uni-brow made eye contact with him, from the ground.
“Focus on yourself hm?” Uni-brow rose his brow, and Gerard picked his foot back up. He had retribution in his eyes, but before his foot could crucify Uni-brow to the ground, he met it first.
“CRAAASH!” Buzz-cut watched that tall bastard meet the ground, hard, and fast. The cause of that guys fall was none other than the ugly mugged, bigwig of Buzz-cut’s crew. He was unhandsome as ever, but Buzz-cut was glad he’d finally got off his ass.
“SMUCK!” The ugly fool even managed to hit that tall guy in the face! The tall guy jerked his arm up, fist closed.
“KNOCK!” He hit ugly in the forehead, and with the noise it made; Buzz-cut wondered if it really was empty in there?
“Unibrow! Get your sorry ass over here!” Ugly-face yelled, receiving a second knock on his forehead from the tall guy, under him.
“Whack!” Teddy knuckle whacked the guy cradled in his other arm, and then, he brought his elbow back.
“Thunk!” A little jolt went through his arm when it met the brick chin behind him. His eyes couldn’t help but swim away. His entire expression crumbled.
“FOR FUCK SAKES!” Buzz-cut heard the blond cursing like he had a megaphone. Beside him Uni-brow finally sat up, while that tall guy and Ugly-face were trading blows. Flat-nosed-Tim was out like a light on the ground. Amidst the chaos, Buzz-cut saw his exit. He wanted no part of this anymore. Buzz-cut made a mad dash, shoulder checking blondie on his way out; His last feat.
“Yewon?!” Possum yelled, but his buzzcut headed friend was already gone, and hell if he was coming back here again. Noryanjin was a place to be avoided!
“Fucking- fallow his lead!” Teddy threw Possum out of his grasp, harshly. Then he spun, and smashed both his hands against Square-head’s brick face. Possum looked between the blond demon, and Square-head smearing blood across his own face. Possum thought concisely- yeah, fuck this. He disappeared from Teddy's sight, fast as can be.
“POSSUM YOU TWO FACED FUCK-” Scare-head’s cursing was promptly squashed by the sharp shoulder Teddy threw at him. He bulled past him, like a steamroller, to get to Gerard. All the blood in his veins was fizzling, positively giddy. He took a running start, and then jumped into the air, barely three feet from where the ugly guy was kicking Gerard’s side. Teddys knees came up to his chest.
“BOOYAH!” Teddy yelled as he firmly whipped his legs forward. Gerard watched him fly in slow motion, his two feet springing against the ugly guys chest. A dropkick. Teddy spun when he sprung back and caught the ground.
“CRASH!” Ugly-face flew away, and eventually smashed across the ground like a paper airplane. Teddy huffed, and puffed a few breaths, attempting to curve the enormous rush. Then he stood, slowly, still catching his breath and his runaway heart. Gerard blinked up at him, like he couldn’t believe he was real. Teddy looked over his head, at the one eyebrow guy holding Gerard’s hands hostage.
“Move.” Teddy told him, simply. Uni-brow promptly obeyed, without argument. He’d just watched this demon dropkick a guy bigger than him. It’s called self preservation! He ran away to make sure Ugly-face was still breathing. Teddy brought his eyes back to Gerard, and offered both hands. Gerard took them gratefully. It took all of Teddy's might to drag tall ass Gerard Jin off the ground. When he finally returned to beanpole status, it was Teddy's turn to tip into freefall. Thankfully, Gerard steadied him just the same. Teddy stared at where their hands were connected, after Gerard pulled him forward from gravity. He had a thought, something silly but earnest. Trust is kinda like a seesaw- that was Teddy's intuition. In that very moment he and Gerard were sitting at the equilibrium- Teddy was sure of it. When their hands parted naturally, they’d also gravitated closer naturally. Gerard’s hand came up, and he moved a piece of hair back behind Teddy's ear. Teddy had no clue what he was doing that for, his hair was a mess. What would one strand accomplish? Even so, Teddy didn’t say anything. Instead he reached towards where Gerard’s hand was now hanging, uselessly in the air. It was the same hand with his hair elastic wrapped around the wrist. Teddy stuck his finger under the band, feeling Gerard’s thuddering pulse. Then he snapped it against the skin; to prove it was real.
“Hey-“ The gravely question died when Teddy took a half a step closer, and violently wiped his sleeve across Gerard’s bloody nose. Gerard wasn’t sure he would ever get used to the wild guys' aggravated affections.
“Idiot.” Teddy told him so, as he gawked from behind Teddy's aggressive cleaning. His voice was fond like Pororo plasters, steady hands, and the scent of Anycure ointment. They got caught on the line again when their eyes met: a perfectly balanced seesaw.
“POW!” Teddy’s head went forward from the blow. He turned his head around and got a glimpse of a Square-head. Motherfucker- Teddy glared at him.
“POW!” In a feverish shock, Teddy received a second blow, right in the mouth. He tasted iron. Teddy swiped his thumb across his bottom lip. He looked at the blood collected there, and then cut his eyes back to Square-head.
“Sorry to interrupt.” The square head apologized, and Teddy finally had enough of this. He turned further in Square-heads direction, and whaled the length of his forearm, forward, into his mouth.
“Then don’t.” Teddys warned. Square-head made a guttural noise, as he swayed, one hand covering the damage. He made some wet mouth noises, before finally spitting out a tooth. Teddy's eyes widened, and he glanced at Gerard, but Gerard wasn’t concerned with missing teeth. Instead, he was more concerned with the fact that Square-head looked absolutely pissed. Gerard just wanted the fight to end. He walked past a confused Teddy, and grabbed Square-heads collar.
“Just pick your friends up from the ground and leave.” Gerard told him. Fuck this guy is tall- thought Square-head. Still, he simply spit blood past Gerard’s shoulder. Gerard sighed, brought his other hand up.
“Or was one tooth not enough?” Gerard pressed his thumb up, on the back of Square-head’s canine tooth. Square-head blanched, and nearly fell over from how fast he cowered backwards. Gerard let go of his collar.
“Fuck- I’ll go- you’re completely nuts.” Square-head threw Flat-nosed-Tim over his shoulder, and quickly he and his crew were gone.
Teddy blinked at the tooth laying in a puddle of red spit, then at Gerard. His eyes shifted, back, and fourth like one of the cat clocks, you hang on the wall. Gerard thought he was gonna get a head spell from it. The gears were crashing again, Teddy Jin sure was easy to read. Gerard pinched his sleeve again, and tugged him, completely, in his direction. He went far too easily. Teddys hair swished, and he was close enough for Gerard to smell his conditioner again. Caught up in Gerard’s orbit, held in his gravity, Teddy’s conditioner smelt precisely of cocoa butter, and coconut oil. Gerard felt the warmth of that, his brain merely a candy melt as he searched for Teddy's eyes. It wasn’t hard from his brain to turn to liquid chocolate. Not when teddy's eyes were a striking grey, that spread easily into blueberry jam when they caught the light. The orbit between them was an ooey gooey pot melt. Teddy must have felt it too, because his index finger hooked under the elastic again. Gerard tugged a little at his sleeve again, pulling him further into the pot. Curiosity flickered back at him and he melted further; feverish.
“We need to finish closing up…” Gerards voice was a helpless whispering. Teddy’s index knuckle thrummed against his pulse point. Gerard’s heart was a staccato bubbling at the bottom of the pot. He wondered if Teddy could feel it under his finger: if it would bubble up and reach the surface of the pot they were caught in.
“It’s late.” His words felt noncommittal, a last breath before he was completely submerged in the pot.
“I’ll need this back then.” Teddy told him, pulling the elastic with the crook of his knuckle. Gerard lingered the slightest bit forward, like Teddy had stolen gravity’s pull. Then, the words took meaning in his melted brain, and his heart bubbled to the surface.
“No.” Gerard said, as he tripped back. His elastic clad hand was raised defensively in the air. Teddy blinked at him, completely lost.
“Uhh- I just need my hair elastic back…” Teddy reiterated, really unable to grasp the issue. Dread filled Gerard, and he shook his head, back and forth, adamantly. Bad idea! He really didn’t want to give it back. Teddy stared at him like he was truly the most ridiculous person alive. Gerard rubbed his nape, feeling a bit silly.
“I mean- it looks cool down, just leave it.” God he sounded so eager, and he nearly tripped on his own feet. Gerard was, seriously, making a fool of himself.
“Thank you?” Teddy squinted at him, but was clearly not relenting.
“But I still need to put it up sometimes. It really gets in the way- Especially at work- it needs to go up.” Teddy explained, still giving Gerard a weird look. Gerard thought concisely: There’s no need! His own sanity felt at a dire stake. He decided desperate times called for desperate measures: the truth.
“There’s an evil mole on your neck. In order to limit its evil power your hair must stay down.” Gerard said it very seriously because to him: It was very serious! Teddy grabbed his head, and closed his eyes. His teeth were gritted, his shoulders were twitching: that guy was about to explode.
“WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU EVEN SAYING?!” Gerard feared their boss would receive noise complaints. Teddy took a deep breath.
“I swear you’re talking even more nonsense than Rowan…” Teddy grumbled, as he made his way to Gerard. He stopped in front of him, and put out his hand.
“Fork it over-you idiot.” That fond tone always accompanying the word “idiot” was doing wonders on him. Gerard looked at Teddy's wild hair: it really did suit him. Terrifying mole fixation aside, really, Gerard just wanted to hold on. It felt like something special seeing Teddy's hair down, and wearing his elastic around his wrist. He finally had a sense of rightness to balance out the wrong. Could you blame him for wanting to linger just a little bit longer? Gerard reached towards Teddy, slowly, and ruffled his hair like an asshole. Teddy glared up at him and his throat felt like a desert, dry with affection, instead of sand.
“Fuck-can you… just leave it for tonight?” Gerard asked, hand still petting through Teddy’s hair to distract himself. Teddy's eyes bounced from one eye to the other, but patiently he let Gerard continue.
“It really suits you-” Gerard explained sincerely. Then he ruffled Teddy's hair again, because the intense look he was getting, almost made his head melt.
“I like it.” The admission is calm and clear. Gerard’s eyes are nearly simmering. He stuck his hands in his pockets. Teddy considered him for a while, eyes spinning through the color wheel.
“I’ll allow it.” Teddy said, softly. He ran a hand through his hair.
“Now quit slacking!” And Gerard ran inside, real quickly after that.
…
Finally, Teddy got rid of his apron, him and Gerard were sitting outside the convenience store. Beside them sat a bag of first aid supplies. Gerard squeezed some ointment on the tip of his finger, he looked focused. Teddy's eyes traced the elastic band on his wrist.
“You’re really not going to give that back are you?” Teddy asked him. Gerard glanced at him, and then at the place Teddy was looking. He sighed and leaned in, towards him.
“Do you really want it back?” Gerard asked him back, as he used his finger, to apply the cool ointment to Teddy's lip. Teddy kept his eyes on him.
“I have lots more at home…” Teddy mended, busying himself with squeezing ointment on his own finger. He rubbed his finger over the little cut below Gerard’s right eye. He opened up a plaster.
“You can keep it.” Teddy told him, as he leaned in and stuck the plaster under his eye. When he pulled back, he looked at the elastic again, orange against Gerard’s skin. Honestly, Teddy didn’t want it back either. He liked it there around Gerard’s wrist. It felt right. He really hoped he’d keep it.
“I will then.” Gerard said, casually, like hadn’t just read Teddy’s mind. Teddy searched his eyes, he was looking all earnest again.
“Idiot.” Teddy shook his head. He smiled real small, like a secret just for himself. He let silence stretch into the air, as they fixed up each other’s wounds. It felt comfortable like that. He was alright with this equilibrium they found together. They simply understood each other. Teddy tapped on the open tab of the cola can from earlier. It was flat by now, but he still took a drink. He felt content. When he met Gerard’s eyes again that night, he knew: there was something special about the seesaw they shared.
—