His father wailed, the higher ups pleaded with him, the men bowed at his feet. But Do-Yung stood firm. No more missions for him. At least not those who required him to leave for more than a few hours.
He hated that he had to lie to Na-Kyum, resented it. However he had long realized being at the top of this world was the only way to ensure total safety. How could he protect his love against all the dangers that roamed if he wasn't the worst danger himself. To eat or be eaten. He swallowed those fuckers down.
He'd tell him the truth. Soon. Once, the group finally settled down in legal business and built a nice enough front. That way he'd have a foot in both worlds and then Na-Kyum wouldn't ever have to worry about anything else. Soon, he'd explain and Na-Kyum would understand. He trusted his only family, he knew he'd never give up on him. Na-Kyum was a pure, gentle soul, Do-Yung had to be the darkness that allowed him to keep being that way.
This time he worked on his cover. HIs part-time job was waiter at a café he had bought near Na-Kyum's college. Na-Kyum was still uneasy at first and dropped by by surprise on the days Do-Yung told him he worked but it didn't bother him. Anything to appease his mind. He hated that he had been the one to make him cry like that. Never again.
So three times a week, around lunch hour, the big, scary Do-Yung put an apron on and served drinks and pastries. The thing was he frightened the customers away, but Na-Kyum didn't have to know the few people sitting around were his men and their families. It became a precious part of his routine to greet a beaming, proud Na-Kyum and sit down with him at a table for lunch. The other couple of days he still popped up at his university to eat with him but he found he quite enjoyed providing Na-Kyum with drinks he had made himself. He had even learned to bake for him.
« I don't know what went wrong this time, » Na-Kyum sighed, his head rested on the table and a finger drew doodles on the surface beside it. Do-Yung smiled down at him from where he leaned, head held up by a hand.
A couple of days ago, Na-Kyum had ran home over-excited and loudly announced he had finally found a job. Ah. Do-Yung had pulled an annoyed face but been ignored by the puppy wagging his tail in pride and brightly recounting his interview and first morning at work. He had warned every business in the area to refuse his application. It had worked thus far and Do-Yun was always waiting with arms open to console the disappointed student. Who had disobeyed ?
Do-Yung found out his determined Kyum had started looking an hour away and got hired by a fast-food chain. As if. His Na-Kyum was way too precious to slave away. He sent a few men to take care of the problem.
« Stop worrying about money, » Do-Yung poked his soft cheek.
« I can't let you carry everything on your own, » the other man mumbled, oblivious to the war raging inside Do-Yung.
Na-Kyum was twenty now and so damn pretty it hurt. He ached to touch him and barely restrained from kissing him every time he saw him. He wanted to brand him, show the world who he belonged to. Mark him his. He still contented himself with those stolen moments at night and though it was already amazing, it wasn't enough anymore. He wanted Na-Kyum's eyes open, his name on his tongue when he came.
He saw the signs, knew Na-Kyum was opening himself up to him, had noticed the changes since his last year of high school. He had come many times from the soft whisper of his name on Na-Kyum's lips while the other slept. He knew he had slid under his skin. Na-Kyum didn't just see him as his brother anymore. But he still waited, scared to startle the timid boy. Na-Kyum had to be ready. Because Do-Yung's passion was too great to be contained once the lid was open.
So he waited.
« Yo ! » Jae Young-Rae, one of the two leeches he couldn't get rid off strode in happily but jumped and gulped at the glare Do-Yung sent him.
« Oh, » Na-Kyum lifted his head and smiled at the intruder. « Hello, sunbae. »
Even that was too much. Do-Yung wanted every smile, every look, just for himself. He only held himself back from kicking the jerk out because he noticed how hurt Na-Kyum looked when he did so, the self-conscious look he hid by lowering his head was something he never cared for.
« How is school kiddo ? » The annoying tattooed guy who had dropped out of school and became a legend in the international underground rings, dragged a chair to sit at their table, though he knew better than to get close to his Kyum.
« I'm only two years younger, » Na-Kyum laughed. « How is work ? » He thought Young-Rae managed a gym club with his father.
« My old man got me to train new recruits, » the pest sighed in exhaustion. « They suck. »
He allowed Young-Rae to speak only because Na-Kyum somehow enjoyed the uninteresting stories he vomited for free. The mafia heir waited until Na-Kyum was long gone before slamming the fucker's head on the table.
« Easy ! » Young-Rae groaned in pain but knew better than to struggle against his hold.
« What do you want ? »
« Some russian asshole on steroid is being a pain in my ass… »
« I don't see how that's my problem, » Do-Yung mentioned with his free hand and one of his men who all came out when Na-Kyum left, offered a cigarette.
« We want to ask for help, » his former classmate muttered.
« Sung-Woo didn't say anything about it, » he turned his head toward the lighter in his subordinate's hand.
« Who even go to him anymore ? » Young-Rae chuckled. True. He was the unofficial boss.
« Talk, » he yanked his head up by the hair.
« Could you let go, please ? » The usually arrogant fighter who got men peeing their pants from the sight of him, pleaded.
« Don't waste my time, » Do-Yung tugged harder on the short strands.
« He killed one of my best fighter and crippled three others so my old man won't allow me to go against him, » he growled in defeat.
Do-Yung blew the smoke in his face and thought about it.
« Arrange a fight in the city. You know I don't work on weekends. »
« Sure ! Thank you so much ! Next tuesday is good for you ? Midnight ? » The eager fucker nodded excitedly.
« If I have to remind you one more time that I don't do nights anymore, you lose an ear, » he threatened and slammed his head once more on the table for good measure. « Arrange something between two and five pm. »