Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yeon Sieun reunited with Geum Seongje around six weeks after Suho woke up.

He was in a fight with some of the people from Yeoil High School, who didn’t care about the terms of the fight between Sieun/Baku and Baekjin back when they fought. 

He was also losing.

There were four of them, and Sieun was on his own. First mistake but he was in broad daylight when they caught him, so he thought he was safe. He also had a pen, so he thought he could at least lower the number by getting just one of them.

But they saw it coming, and caught his hand as he was about to stab one of them in the shoulder, just like he did with Yeongbin. They then shattered his wrist with one simple stamp and Sieun’s pain was white hot and it incapacitated him for a second.

That second was all the students needed to throw him on the floor and start beating him senseless, until a deep voice echoed through the alleyway.

“I thought Yeon Sieun was off limits?” It echoed just after someone kicked Sieun in the face, breaking his nose loudly.

“Well it doesn’t matter now, right?” One asked. “Na Baekjin is gone and so’s the Union, so nobody is off limits. Least of all the person who caused those events.”

“Go after Park Humin then?” The voice grew closer, even though Sieun could hardly hear it over the ringing into his ears. “He was just as involved as Yeon Sieun, maybe more so."

Silence.

“Thought so, leave the newbie to me. I’ll deal with this.” The tone suggested that the conversation is over, and the four Yeoil students were sprinting down the alleyway. “Fucking hell, Newbie.”

Sieun almost laughed, as Seongje sat him up.

“Thought you didn’t like being the hero?” Sieun spat. 

“Yeah well I didn’t exactly want you to be beaten to death.” Seingje returned with absolutely no malice at all, almost as if his voice softened.

“Didn’t stop you the day of the fight.” Sieun returned, his voice hollow. 

“Well consider this my penance, now what happened?” Seongje asked, not straying from the tone he held. It almost made Sieun calm down.

Almost…

He kept his silence, which didn’t please Seongje in the slightest but Sieun didn’t care. He was in too much pain. His face, wrist…

“Yeon Sieun, I’m not joking.” Seongje’s tone changed now, back to the hard and unforgiving tone that Sieun was used to. “What. Happened.”

“Chased me.” Sieun breathed out through the pain. “I tried to fight back.”

“Then what?” Seongje’s voice had softened again, holding Sieun up like his life depended on it.

“Stamped on my wrist, then I think you saw the rest.” Sieun could hardly speak, he was in that much pain. 

“Fuck… Okay we’re going to have to get that checked.” Seongje muttered, pulling out his phone. “I’m gonna call someone, okay?” Sieun nodded, against his better judgement, and Seonje made the call. “Hyung, send your boyfriend. I need to get someone to the hospital.”

“Who?” A familiar voice boomed. “Why do I need to send him?”

“Cause it’s Yeon Sieun.” Seongje snapped, shaking Sieun to keep him awake.

“Send me your location.” The voice replied and the call ended, with Seongje sending a text before pocketing his phone.

Seongje looked at Sieun’s face with disclosed worry as Sieun tried to keep himself awake.

“Stay awake.” Seongje warned gently.

“Why do you care?” Sieun snapped.

“I don’t know. You make it very easy though.” Seongje confesses, and Sieun wishes he could’ve pulled away, but something about Seongje drew him to stay. Along with the sharp pain in his face and wrist.

“You’re an asshole.” Sieun mutters. “You get me beat up, then save me from getting my ass kicked. Be linear.” He babbled as Seongje held him.

“But that’d be boring.” Seongje laughs, but Sieun flinches slightly.

“If you’re gonna be an ass then just fuck off.” Sieun snapped, “You can’t talk softly at me and care for me and then speak to me like shit. I can and will stab you again.”

“I’ll let them beat you next time.” Seongje rolled his eyes.

“Still less painful than getting mixed signals from a conversion isn’t it?” Sieun told Seongje, who looked almost pained by what Sieun said. He knew he shouldn’t, Sieun was right after all.

“Well I’ll give you the right signals when you aren’t bleeding all over my school uniform.” Seongje replied and Sieun tried to raise his head to look, but Seongje pushed him straight back down. “Don’t move, your head is fucked.”

“YA! SEONGJE!” Seongje looked up to meet Baku’s eye with a teasing grin.

“Humin!” He grinned. “Get him to the hospital, I need to talk to your boyfriend.” He was pulling Sieun to his feet, and Sieun was looking between the two in confusion.

“Wh-”

“Not now, Sieun-ah.” Baku took him from Seongje’s arms, before looking at the other boy. “Thank you.”

“Text me when he wakes up.” Seongje is gone a second later and Sieun hates to admit that he misses the boy pretty much straight away.

Sieun passes out a second later

-

“You want to rope Yeon Sieun into this?” Baekjin asked from his seat in his apartment.

“Yes.” Seongje nods from the seat across from him. “I do.”

“Will he let you?” Baekjin asked with a comically raised eyebrow.

“Eventually. I plan to win him over.” 

Baekjin chuckled before replying with, “If you win him over, bring him here.”

“Consider it done.” Seongje smiled to himself before his face turned serious. “Now, you got the pictures I sent right?”

“Of the Yeoil students?” Baekjin confirms, before nodding. “I did.”

“Can you name them? I have visits to pay.” Seongje passes him a piece of paper and a pen.

“You’re whipped.” Baekjin chuckles, picking up the pen. 

“Probably not as whipped as you.” Seongje counters with a smile. 

“We’re both whipped. Happy?” Baekjin looked him in the eye.

They’re in the same boat, except Humin and Baekjin were together.

“How did you win him back over?” Seongje asks in curiosity as Baekjin passes him the paper with four names. “Thanks.”

“With a six hour conversation and a lot of pain, grovelling and effort.” Baekjin confessed, “We’re moving very slowly, but it’s perfect for us both.”
“You’re so in love, it’s disgusting.”

“Come back to me when you win Yeon Sieun over.” Baekjin claps back. “Want me to help with them?” He gestures to the piece of paper.

“No thanks, I’ll be able to handle them on my own. But I’ll be back when I’m done, so long as Humin doesn’t text me.” Seongje tells him while putting on his shoes.

“Why would Humin-ah text you?” Baekjin asks.

“To tell me Sieun has woken up.” Seongje yells as he leaves the apartment.

-

“4 students from Yeoil Highschool found beaten close to death”

-

Baekjin’s dog: Sieun has woken up

Asshole: I’ll be 5, can we have a chat before I go in?

Baekjin’s dog: I’ll be waiting outside his room. Hurry up.

-

“What did the doctors say?” Seongje asked as Baku met him outside.

“He has a broken wrist. It was broken in two places and had a minor surgery for it. Broken nose, but that’ll be fine in about two weeks.” Baku listed. “You want me to leave you two alone?”

“If you don’t mind. Baekjin is home if that’s what you’re looking for.” Seongje knowingly smirks.

“Prick, I’m going to see Hyeontak and Juntae first. Baekjin knows that.” Baku tells him.

“Don’t let them come here tonight.” Baku nods as Seongje speaks before leaving and Seongje walks into Sieun’s room to find the younger man wide awake.

“Morning Princess, are you feeling any better?” Seongje asks while sitting in the empty chair.

“Why are you here?” Sieun mutters, sitting up slightly.

“Because I wanted to check on you? Why else?” Seongje asks before recalling what Sieun said earlier. “You told me to be linear, so I’m showing you consistency.”

“Since when did you care?” Sieun asked in confusion.

“You have a face the straightest man couldn’t refuse, Sieun-ah. There’s something drawing me straight to you and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”

“Why?”

“Just let me prove it to you, Yeon Sieun. Please baby.” Seongje asked, leaning forward slightly. “I’ll do anything.”

“I’ll cash that in at some point.” Sieun muttered before Seongje’s lips met Sieun’s.

Sieun didn’t know how to kiss, having never kissed anyone before. Seongje knew this and didn’t put too much force into it, nowhere near as much as he wanted. He kissed Sieun slowly, letting the younger pull away if he wanted to. Except Sieun didn’t do that.

Seongje pulled away after about 30 seconds, letting them both breathe.

“I’ve never… done that before.” Sieun confessed quietly, and Seongje gave him a small smile.

“Well I’ll happily teach you.” Seongje grinned this time.

‘I might need to get my brain checked as well’ Sieun thought as he kissed the older for a second time.

Chapter Text

After a long, difficult chat with Seongje, Baekjin and -to Sieun’s surprise- Baku, Sieun realised that the Union was still around and still a big problem. The three were open with Sieun’s question and he eventually agreed to aid their mission.

But he did realise that by doing all of this, he’d need to put distance between himself and the rest of his friends. Suho still couldn’t fight, he could hardly walk. Juntae was still trying to learn, but no threats meant he wasn’t pressing too hard. Gotak was really hurt last time, the fight did really mess his knee up for a few weeks.

Sieun vowed that those three wouldn’t be hurt by the Union. He was willing to keep distance if it meant saving them.

Until Oh Beomseok returned, a month after Sieun joined the trio.

-

Sieun was on his way to Seongje’s after visiting Suho in the hospital for the morning when the car screeched in front of him. The car was familiar to him but he continued to ignore it in favour of texting Seongje instead, especially once he realised that the car was now following him.

Nerd (Affectionate): A car is following me

Idiot (Affectionate): How far from me are you?

Nerd (Affectionate): Location Sent

Idiot (Affectionate): Fuck..

Idiot (Affectionate): I’ve sent someone. 

Idiot (Affectionate): Keep your location on, I’ll be with you as soon as I can

Nerd (Affectionate): Thank you

Nerd (Affectionate): Who have you sent?

Idiot (Affectionate): Either Baku or Baekjin.

Idiot (Affectionate): Depends who’s closer.

Nerd (Affectionate): Thank you.

Nerd (Affectionate): I was scared

Idiot (Affectionate): Are they still following you?

Nerd (Affectionate): Yes

Idiot (Affectionate): I’m sprinting Princess.

Idiot (Affectionate): One of us will be there soon.

Idiot (Affectionate): Keep your location on and a pen in your hand.

Nerd (Affectionate): I have.

Nerd (Affectionate): Please hurry.

Idiot (Affectionate): I’m 9 minutes away.

Sieun doesn’t want to admit he’s scared, but it slipped out before he could process when he was texting Seongje. The car had followed him for 5 turns now, and Sieun was getting more and more on edge, until the car pulled over and someone exited.

“Excuse me?” The voice yelled, male and familiar. Sieun didn’t humor him, however, and kept on walking. “Hey!” They yelled, and they started running.

Sieun was running before he processed the steps, and the person behind him quickly multiplied into two people.

Baekjin: Sieun, where are you?

Sieun: Beonh chased

Baekjin: Send me your location, me and Baku will be there.

Sieun: Location Sent

Sieun: Hurry

Baekjin: 5 minutes.

Baekjin: Hold on.

Baekjin and Baku were 5 minutes away, and Seongje was frantically texting him from 7 minutes away but Sieun couldn’t stay and wait with the footsteps frantically following him. He just ran, and kept on turning corners until eventually a hand snagged the back of his blazer and yanked him straight down to the floor, Sieun’s unbroken wrist not quite making it to his head in time.

“You could’ve made it a little easier for us Yeon Sieun.” A voice spoke out from behind him as he tried to sit up, but ended up being kicked back down.

“Youngbin?” He muttered, thinking the voice sounded like his old enemy.

“Ahh… you remember me.” He gloated, and Sieun cringed internally. “Remember all of us?”

Sieun sat up slightly, eyes drafting around the alley at all the people surrounding him. Five people, four in his eyeline and one hidden behind them.

“Jungchan. Taehoon.” He pointed to the lackeys he remembered, but they were more muscular than last time. “Wooyoung?”

“Correct!” Youngbin exclaimed. “Remember how you hurt us all? Crippled him? Severely concussed them? Stabbed me?” He exclaimed, as they all inched closer.

“I lost my career because of you, Yeon Sieun. I was hardly involved.” Wooyoung tutted.

“I wasn’t even there.” Youngbin backed. 

“I was.” The fifth person sighed, walking closer to the group. “Couldn’t bring himself to hit me once.” Beomseok emerged from behind them, standing in the centre of the group.

“Ahh, yeah.” Youngbin sighed, “How about we repay it in full?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Wooyoung exclaimed, desperate for revenge. More so than he was when he wanted revenge for Suho. 

“How about no?” Someone yelled, someone Sieun knew.

The five of them spun around and met eyes with two people Sieun knew would be here sooner or later.

“Sieun-ah!” Baku exclaimed, his eyes locked onto Sieun’s as he finally looked away from the five people above him.

“Baku.” Sieun greeted, hand now on the back of his, bleeding, head. “You alright?”

“Depends. Are you?” Baku asked as Baekjin started frantically texting someone.

“Not really.” Sieun sighed. “Head hurts.”

“Okay brother.” Baku sighed before storming towards the group and starting to swing. He took out Taehoon and Jungchan with ease before Wooyoung, Youngbin and Beomseok attacked him as a three, throwing him off slightly.

“He’ll be a minute!” Baekjin shouted to Baku, who nodded and stopped attacking and just worked on defending himself. “Sieun.” He ran over to Sieun and looked at the back of his head.

“Can you stitch this one?” Sieun asked.

“Doesn’t need stitches.” Baekjin alerted him, before continuing. “Seongje’s here.”

“HEY!” Seongje yelled, and all fighting paused as he ran over. “Kang Wooyoung, are my eyes deceiving me?”

“Seongje-hyung?” Wooyoung turned around. “They do not.”

“So what are you doing?” Seongje tutted.

“Well this one attacked us.” He explained, pointing at Baku before gesturing to Sieun. “This guy beat us all up so we were just getting revenge for that. What’s it to you?” He spoke with more respect than Sieun ever remembered him having, which almost made him laugh with how Seongje’s face fell.

“Ahh, see it’s a lot to me… actually.” Seongje walked up to the group now, face concealing the fury that his two friends, and boyfriend, could clearly see. “This is Park Humin, and that’s Na Baekjin. They’re my friends.” He explained. “I’m aware of the fact that you know Yeon Sieun, but he’s…. How do I put it? Mine.”

“As in?” Wooyoung asked with a raised eyebrow,

“Yes. And I don’t take to people hurting my things. Family or not.”

“Family?” Baekjin asked, “I can see it to be fair.”

“You’re Na Baekjin… as in the Union Guy?” Youngbin stuttered.

“Exactly.” Baekjin nodded. “Seongje, go.”

Seongje was a flurry of movements and soon enough all five of them were down and out. He rushed over to Sieun like a concerned parent and was quick to hold him close.

“I wasn’t there. I’m sorry.” He whispered into Sieun’s hair as he kissed the top of his head. “Where are you hurt?”

“Back of my head.” Sieun whispered. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“You’re bleeding, Princess. Because I was too slow.” Seongje cursed, hand on the wound on the back of Sieun’s head.

“You came as quickly as you could, and you sent help.” Sieun smiled, albeit lopsidedly, and clung to Seongje as Baku finally approached.

“You know, despite you two only being together for a month, you act like you’ve been together for 10 years.” Baku laughed.

“You guys’ lovers' quarrel lasted 10 years.” Seongje snapped back, jokingly. “Who’s house are we going to?”

“Mine.” Sieun butted in quickly. “Mom’s on a trip again.”

“Okay.” Seongje nodded. “You two coming?” 

“We’re gonna deal with this.” Baekjin explained. “And you two seem two seconds away from a Public Indecency charge so we’ll leave you two to it.”

“I’m injured, Baekjin-ah!” Sieun gasped, feigning scandalism.

“Act like you haven’t done it yet.” Baku laughed.

“And you two haven’t?” Seongje clapped back as the four stood up. They all laughed before walking out of the alley, leaving the five injured boys behind them -unaware of the brewing plan.

-

“Next time we go after Yeon Sieun, we need to take his phone. Or get him during school, when he doesn’t have his phone.” Youngbin plotted as they all stood back up, wincing and holding injuries.

“That Park Humin is Eunjang too, though.” Wooyoung countered. “He only held back because they knew that Seongje was coming.”

“That’s true.” Youngbin nodded.

“How do you know him?” Beomseok asked.

“Cousins.” Wooyoung explained with no adaptation. “I can send my other cousin in, on my ma’s side. He goes to Eunjang, and can get Yeon Sieun alone.”

“Perfect.” Beomseok nodded. “Monday, yeah?”

“Monday.” They all nodded again.

-

Sieun and Seongje ended up at Sieun’s place 10 minutes later and Sieun was immediately sat down by Seongje.

“Do not move.” Seongje commanded and Sieun laughed as he grabbed some tissue and antibacterial wipes. “You know this won’t be the only time they’re after you, right?”

“I know. I know all five of them, and they’re all persistent.” Sieun sighed. “Can you pass me my phone, I need to tell Suho.”

“Were they-”
“The ones involved in his coma injury.” Sieun winced as Seongje wiped his head, but thanked him as his phone entered his hand. He opened contacts and was quick to call.

“Sieun, you alright?” Suho asked as he picked up.

“He’s back.” Sieun dropped, and silence followed for about 5 seconds.

“Beomseok’s back? How do you know?” Suho quizzed.

“I saw him and his dad earlier. They were on my train.” Sieun lied smoothly, and Seongje nodded in approval. 

“Fuck… okay. Are you okay? Did they see you?” Suho was quick to ask these, almost as if he was in a rush.

“I’m fine, and I don’t think they saw me. Thankfully.” 

“Okay. My doctors are waiting so I’m gonna go, will I be seeing you tomorrow?”

“Yep, afternoon probably.”
“Okay, bye Sieun.”
“Bye Suho.”

Seongje had finished wiping the blood off the back of Sieun’s head just as he hung up and was quick to bundle Sieun close to his chest, on the couch.

“I was fucking terrified, you know?” Seongje whispered into Sieun’s shoulder. “When you said that car was following you. I thought we were going to be too late.”

“But you weren’t.” Sieun reassured him, grabbing Seongje’s hand in his.

“I would’ve killed them. And that doesn’t feel abnormal to say, even if we haven’t been together that long.”

“It doesn’t feel abnormal to hear that from you either. Time doesn’t define anything.” Sieun explained.

“It does when we hated each other like a week before we kissed for the first time.” Seongje laughed. “But then again, Baku and Baekjin hated each other for years.”
“They never really hated each other though, did they?” Sieun asked.

“I guess we’re just weird.” Seongje laughed. “Is that okay with you.”

“Perfectly okay.” Sieun nodded.

“Let’s be weird together then.”