Tale of TAL: Ch 7

((Because why the fuck not. It's been established I don't own TAL, Kang Im does. WONT STOP ME AND MY SIS FROM KICKING SHIT UP. Warning: we DO spoil shit. Mostly what hasn't been translated yet from the Korean chapters, so there ARE spoilers if you haven't seen the non-translated pages.))

"NOAH WHAT THE FUCK!"

Min Jun stared at first, trying to push through the rage-induced haze their link was currently bathed in. 'WHAT THE HELL!'

'LOST CONTROL I'M SORRY I'M TRYING TO GET HIM BACK-' "YOU SONUVABITCH!" Noah grabbed the elder's collar and forced him against the stone wall. "THEY WERE YOUR KIDS! THEY STILL ARE! THOSE BOYS, YOU RAISED THEM!" Noah was raging, spitting and snarling and roaring, and Chau Yong was just so unprepared for this dainty-looking flirty hornball to suddenly go off on him that the elder did nothing to free himself. "YOU RAISED THEM, THEY LOVED YOU! YOU WERE THEIR FATHER!"

"Noah! Chill!" Min Jun crossed the yard and hooked her arms under his, pulling him off Chau Yong.

He struggled. "I WILL NOT CHILL! HE WAS THEIR PROTECTOR! HE RAISED THEM, HE CARED FOR THEM! THEY WERE HAPPY, AND YOU FUCKED IT ALL UP!" Chau Yong had frozen, staring at the ground in shock. "AND FOR WHAT?! NOTHING YOU EVEN HAVE PROOF FOR! YOU TORE UP YOUR OWN FAMILY FOR A PIECE OF BULLSHIT YOU HAD NO EVIDENCE FOR!"

The TALs were watching in sheer awe as Min Jun dragged a screaming and flailing ragebun away from a shellshocked-looking Chau Yong; there had literally never been anyone who had the stones to stand up to the elder.

Then that awe just turned to horror as Min Jun threw Noah down, and proceeded to kick Chau Yong between the legs. "He is right, though. You're a douche." She snapped, before going back to Noah, who was trying to get up while his limbs shook with fury and exhaustion.

"...Get moving already." Chau Yong staggered to his feet, staring at the two. Noah's gaze was hateful, and Chau Yong visibly flinched. "Get going and save your sons or so help me, I will make you the SECOND scariest Chachaoong, you hear me?!" The Yongma user's voice rose at the end, and Chau Yong, hat askew and cheek red and throbbing, teleported away with a look of shock on his face.

It was a heartbeat of silence before Min Jun punched Noah on the crown of his head.

"OW FUCKING-"

Min Jun proceeded to repeat the action. Several times. On the same spot. "DUMBASS, YOU SPILLED THE BEANS WAY TOO EARLY. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU GONNA EXPLAIN US KNOWING THAT!?"

"I WAS ON EMOTIONAL HIGH I'M SORRY!!"

Yu Jin was in shock, but even with his Hyung stolen, the seal remained strong. "N-Nuna?! Hyung?!" Maru was in a state of shock, looking helplessly at the ground with his hands gripping his throat as if he couldn't breathe, though he was wheezing loud and slowly enough they could be assured he was.

"Long story, King-nim, but we've gotta get things back under control before that flower-fucker reaper does something stupider than what Noah just did." Min Jun groaned as she finally ceased beating up Noah.

The Yongma user twiddled his fingers at that. "Uhm, I, well, he can't be more stupid than me, right?"

"You just accused him of being a horrible father." Ei Mae pointed out.

Yu Jin's chibi looked shocked. "He's a father?! But how?!" As Ei Mae's chibi started 'When two people love each other very much-' Yu Jin socked him in the gut. "WE DID THAT JOKE ALREADY!"

'Jesus, Ei Mae's such a flat character when it comes to that.' Min Jun had a sweatdrop on her head. "We'll let you put two and two together, King-nim. Mu Young-oppa's disappeared and suddenly fuckface showed up, and Noah-oppa called him a horrible father."

"...WHAT?! HYUNG IS CHAU YONG'S SON?!" Yu Jin flailed in surprise.

Ei Mae tilted hi head, clearly not worried about the situation at all as Baek Jeong spoke. "Then that guy whatever his name is, is too?"

"So that was the missing piece to our theory...But how did you two know that?" The masked TAL turned to Noah and Min Jun.

As Noah began to just uselessly scream in his head, Min Jun took control. "It was pretty obvious. Ignatio and Mu Young-oppa are close to identical, and the asshole reaper* knows a lot about both of them." [She's refusing to call him by name] Kang Im 'helpfully' supplied.

"...You're very angry. Any reason why?" The TAL actually prompted, and they all knew he was just being an asshole for the heck of it.

Yu Jin had more pressing concerns. "W-Why did Chau Yong take Hyung then?! What did you mean by 'tore apart' Noah-Hyung?!" Noah only cast a sorrowful look at the ground in silence. How was he to explain this?

"...Noah, you wanna take over?  I'll borrow Usa and try to track them down." Min Jun offered. If she let him anywhere near Chau Yong, it was going to end in hair getting ripped out.  And really, while she was planning on shooting at Chau Yong, she could keep level headed enough to ensure they were 'only' warning shots.

Noah stiffly summoned his Yongma's attention. "Usa." The rabbit trilled, so tiny barely the size of his owner's shoe, and Noah softened a little. "...Be a good baby and find your buddy for Nuna, okay?" The Yongma trilled an affirmative as he opened up a portal for Min Jun to jump into, leaving Noah to explain the sad story. "...It was a long time ago, Baby King..." Usagi managed to extend the first jump to the very outer limit of the city. 'Just remember that the distance is limited. Even if I pushed all my strength into helping you go farther, he'll still need to rest.'

'Don't worry.  I'll take it from here, but I can't guarantee I won't try to snipe the asshole's head off when I see him.'

Good to know they were on the same page. 'Just don't do anything I would.' He managed a joking tone, even as his outer voice cracked as he told the group about Chau Yong finding the twins and raising them.

'No promises.  You're rubbing off on me.'

He really was, because even though she teleported in as Jack was ordering Chau Yong to stand down, the sight of the elder redhead caused her to fire with an itchy finger, the bolt burying into the ground just behind Chau Yong. Jack stared impassively, though really, if one knew him like his loyal follower did, Min Jun might've seen the slightly impressed look he had just before he snapped his fingers.

"WHAT THE HELLFEST?!" Min Jun yelped as she found herself back at Yu Jin's house, Mu Young and Ignatio both unconscious and laying on the outside table. Yu Jin and Maru were checking them over with Ara and Sae Ha helping, the other three TALs staring at Min Jun apprehensively.

'NUNA WHAT DID YOU DO?!' Noah sounded panicked.

She owned up immediately. 'I TRIED TO SHOOT THE ASSHOLE IN THE LEG AND HIS DAD SHOWED UP MOTHER FUCKING /SHIT/'

'I KNOW, SAID DAD IS STARING AT MY BACK AND I CANT TURN AROUND OH GOD I'M GOING TO DIE.' It was then that Min Jun realized that Noah was indeed missing from the group. Usagi as well, as Shadow popped up and circled her in confusion.

The story had changed. 'WAIT SHIT JIN DIDN'T SHOW UP WHILE I WAS THERE!!!'

"Nuna?" Yu Jin in fact was still there, innocent and sunny eyed and all sealed up as he held up Ignatio, Maru holding Mu Young tightly and crying in relief. She flinched as Noah let loose a stream of panicked screaming, Usagi mimicking the connection's signals. 'SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT--THIS WASN'T THE PLAN JIN WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED THIS TIME?!'

Ei Mae was gritting his teeth. "What's going on?!"

[The story needs its elements. A web must stay a web.]

A sudden grinding noise against the wall, and a portal opened up, Noah tumbling through it and face-planting into the ground. Min Jun ran to his side immediately, checking him over. Ashy skin, trembling, dazed, but alive, whole. 'Noah what did you do THIS time?!' She asked as outwardly she fought for his attention to focus on her. He had a haunted look on his face.

"You were wrong, Nuna. Gamun Be wasn't my biggest mistake." Baek Jeong chipped in with small text reading [That bastard?! WHAT?!]

She stared at him. ".....You didn't." He gripped his hair in a frenzied wild manner.

"I KISSED CHAU YONG IN FRONT OF HIS DAD OH GOD I'M DEAD!" All the TALs flinched back in shock, Maru gaping in stunned horror. Yu Jin, however, just looked confused over anything else, 'Chau Yong has a dad too?' in small text next to him.
 
Min Jun felt justified in grabbing Noah's shirt front and shaking him wildly as Usagi trilled in alarm, in the hopes it'd calm her down so she wouldn't kill him herself. "GODDAMMIT YOU FUCKING HORNBALL I AM GOING TO WRITE 'I DIDN'T LISTEN TO NUNA' ON YOUR HEADSTONE WHEN YOU DIE."

"THAT'S OKAY I WONT BE VENGEFUL FOR THAT!" Noah wailed, Usagi quickly losing interest and going to Shadow for cuddling, Shade giving him a stern stare as the twin hovered close by.

Ei Mae was unsympathetic. "...You really don't have much will to live, do you?"

"I REACTED ON INSTINCT!"

Min Jun didn't cease shaking him. "YEAH THE INSTINCT TO MOUNT THE REAPER ASSHAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF FUCKING JACK!!"

"Jack...?" Yu Jin blinked, then finally it sunk in. "AS IN KING JACK?!" Noah was wheezing. "Chau Yong is Jack's son?! Th-Then- IS HYUNG-NIM THE GRANDSON OF THE KING?!"

Noah's wheezing stopped immediately, replaced by a snort. "...Omg no."

"Pff, he wishes. But the fact remains...." She then violently slammed her leg down over Noah's head. "YOU FUCKING DUMBASS."

Noah sobbed loudly, taking the abuse in stride. "NUNA WHAT DO I DOOOOOOOO-" That was when Chau Yong decided to teleport into the yard, and Noah's banshee-like scream of fear woke up both Mu Young and Ignatio.

When Min Jun summoned the biggest crossbow she had ever designed, and loaded it with a glowing bolt aimed at him, the redhead elder held up his hands in surrender. "I don't come meaning harm. Especially not you..." A flash of morose sadness flashed across his face as Noah sprung behind his Nuna and cowered in chibi form. He sighed. "I have a message from Lord Jack."

"...Listening."

Chau Yong folded his arms, keeping a cool face. "I am not to continue directing their lives anymore. Their...unique circumstances bear no ill result for the second's generation. And I..." He paused and glanced at the two confused brothers, biting his lip and chewing it briefly before speaking again. "I am deeply remorseful for what I wrought upon you both..."

"Ah...Chau Yong..." Ignatio immediately beamed brightly, to the point he had a halo of flowers around his chibi. "I forgive Yong! C'mon Lang! What do you say?" He asked as he turned to his twin. Mu Young's response was to punch Ignatio in the nose, Maru immediately grabbing the older gunman's arms and pulling them across his chest like a straightjacket.

The elder redhead's eyebrow twitched as he snapped at them. "Don't beat up your brother after I just said you could live peacefully together again!"

'Glad some things don't change, hehe...' Min Jun snorted as she ceased beating Noah up for the time being. "EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW IS PISSING ME OFF!" Mu Young snarled as his chibi fruitlessly kicked at Ignatio's, who took cover behind Yu Jin.

"Hyung!" Maru suddenly said loud and stern, and when Mu Young jolted and made a confused noise, Maru took the chance to stroke two fingers across the underside of Mu Young's jaw. The reaction was instant, Mu Young's eyes rolling up as he blissfully fell into Maru's lap limply.
 
Yu Jin stared in shock as Igantio's chibi fawned over the scene. "Woah! How'd you know that'd work?!" Maru's chibi was petting Mu Young's back as his small text read 'He told me about his glass jaw', the gunner purring audibly as he clung to Maru.

"Glad he found a smart mate." Chau Yong muttered, a sweatdrop on his head.

He gained a few more as Min Jun growled a reply. "No thanks to you, smartass." She was giving a glare that would make Hiljo proud at that moment, the elder sidling away a few feet. When Noah peered out from behind her, Chau Yong's face went beet red and he 'casually' looked away from them both.

"You two as well. Lord Jack declared I am not to hinder your...'plans', whatever they seem to be."

An exclamation point popped up over them. 'Holy shit did you hear that?!  Jack's not gonna butt in!'

'I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING SKINNED RIGHT NOW REMEMBER?!' Noah shrieked, clinging to her good shoulder as Chau Yong side-eyed him, coughed quietly, then gestured to the other side of the yard.

Noah's chibi gave him a squinting glare. "Do I seriously look that stupid to you?" Min Jun's answer was immediate. 'Well ya shouldn'ta done something so stupid.'

'WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!' He brayed over their link as Chau Yong nervously strolled to the other side of the yard and looked at Noah meaningfully, shuffling his feet. "...Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin-"

She had abandoned him to take Usagi to Yu Jin and assure the crying King that everything was okay now. He uttered 'you traitor' before sighing and resigning himself to his fate, walking over to join Chau Yong and talk. "Nuna, Hyung's saaaaaafe." The chibi was crying as he clung to Maru and Mu Young, both of whom were attempting to cheer Yu Jin up.

"Don't cry little guy, Lang's a little beat up, but I didn't really want to fight him anyway." Ignatio assured, earning Yu Jin switching to hug him as well.

Min Jun lightly patted Yu Jin's fluffy locks. "There was no way I was about to let two brothers fight to the death. Noah-oppa's like a brother to me and I can't imagine fighting him- so I couldn't begin to imagine how bad it'd hurt for real brothers to fight. Even if one of them doesn't remember."

"I really don't." Mu Young chimed in with an irritated look. Maru bopped him on the head before resuming petting Mu Young to calm him.

Ignatio observed this with big chibi eyes. "Lang looks comfy, even though he also looks angry. Is this guy magic?"

"Well, that's what love does. Don't worry, Ignatio, I'm sure you'll find your someone someday." Min Jun smiled. It turned into a mental frown as Noah chimed in. 'Yeah, once we get him a break and a day off that actually lasts a day.'

Ignatio was excited by the prospect. "You really think so Nuna?! Do you think they'll be as cute as Lang's someone?" Maru nonchalantly smothered the angry noise Mu Young attempted to make.

"Possibly!" She giggled "Though, it'd be a challenge to top how cute you are." In her head she had a ruder reply for her 'brother'. 'Bout time you stopped trying to hook me up with our boss.'

Ignatio scratched his chibi cheek. "Does 'cute' really suit a guy like me?"

'I mean there's no rule saying polymory's illegal-'

"Absolutely!  You're completely adorable!  A lot more so than your bad boy of a brother over there." Min Jun teased, Maru small texting that he 'liked bad boys' which made Mu Young's chibi turn completely pink. 'Keep it up and I'll fill your underwear with red peppers.'

'NUNA YOU ARE SO MEAN-' The feeling of shellshock exploded from his side and frantic panic followed with the sensation of flailing limbs. 'IT JUST KEEPS HAPPENING!' 

Ignatio blinked then laughed. "Yong found his someone it looks like!"

Mu Young uttered 'Holy. Shit.' in small text, which prompted Min Jun to finally look over...and witness Chau Yong hugging Noah in a very tight embrace, an arm around Noah''s waist. 'I DIDN'T INITIATE THIS NUNA I SWEAR.'

'....you fucking HORNBALL.' She smirked. "...I'm fairly certain Gamun Be's gonna get jealous."

Noah flailed his arms even harder, beet red in the face with Chau Yong's cheek pressed into his hair. 'I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT TELL HIM I WOULDN'T PUNCH HIM AGAIN' "Nunaaaaaa..." He whimpered, chibi crying.

"You're completely on your own now.  I'm not gonna be associated with that travesty. Oh, hey, Iggy, have you met Usa?" Ignatio's chibi small texted his echo of 'Usa?', then lit up with stars and sparkles all around him as Usagi popped up and cooed at him. 'OH MY GOD!'

'But seriously I think I'm in Hell right now- OKAY OFF THE GROUND WHY WHY WHY-' Chau Yong had lifted Noah into his arms, the Yongma user's legs swinging uselessly as his neck was nuzzled. 'GODDAMN TALL FREAK!!'

Min Jun completely ignored her brother's plight. "This is Usagi. He's Noah-oppa's yongma.  I think he has a crush on Shadow~" As calm as she appeared on the outside, inside was vengeance. 'THIS IS PAYBACK FOR TRYING TO SHIP ME WITH CHO-YI.'

'OHGOD I THINK HES TRYING TO KISS ME- Nope nevermind he is. That's his mouth on my cheek. Am I dead?'

Ignatio grinned as he lifted the velvet soft Yongma into his fingers, unable to do so with his own partner. "Eh, really?! That's so cute!" He then gasped as Shade suddenly headbutted Usagi out of Iggy's lap, fuming. Usagi zipped behind Shadow whining in unease. "Shade don't be so nervous! I'm sure he'll like you too!" He bopped his Yongma in scolding.

'I think you will be if you move.' Min Jun took the time at least to reply to Noah. "Usa likes just about everyone, really. Friendliest yongma ever, if I had to guess." She said as she pet the little bunblob. Usagi chirped and nibbled her fingertips cutely, before flopping on his back and kicking his feet at her hand in play. An explosive cloud of hearts erupted around Yu Jin, Ignatio, and Maru, Mu Young giving the rabbit Yongma a suspicious glare that was ignored.

Meanwhile, Chau Yong finally let go and set down Noah, stroking his cheek with a tender look in his eyes. Noah was understandably screaming internally. "Really the only person he doesn't like is Bi-Gak, but then again, who does?" Min Jun then paused and decided he deserved mercy. "...Oppa do you need some assistance over there?"

"...No need, I shall take my leave..." Chau Yong answered, his nails softly gliding over Noah's cheeks as if he were mesmerized. '...ANY TIME, DICKLORD.' Noah shouted mentally.

Usagi chirped and pounced on Shade, nibbling on the startled Yongma's head now that it was made clear the rabbit meant no harm. "Yong look, Shade made a new friend!" Ignatio squealed in excitement.

"BABY USA COME HELP MOMMY!" Noah finally got his voice working, Baek Jeong and Ha Na Rin both uttering 'Mommy?' in smalltext as the Yongma responded with a confused chirp, but immediately headed to its master's side.

Chau Yong ran his fingers through Noah's hair one last time. "I look forward to our next...hopefully better meeting." He then kissed Noah's hand before teleporting away, Noah slowly turning red as a steaming noise started up.

"...Oh Christ...Oh noooooo..."

Min Jun smirked. "...Maybe that'll get you to stop saying I have the hots for Hiljo and Boss, hmm~?"

"Nuuuuuuuuuuuniiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmm." Noah's chibi was crying as he hugged Usagi.

Ignatio then perked up. "Wait, Nuna, you mentioned Gamun Be-Nim. Does that mean that Rabbit is Gamun Be's Rabbit?????"

Min Jun nodded as Noah sank on his knees in despair. "Yup. Little hornball kissed him. And in case you were wondering, he's also the reason Leon's health had improved when he came back from going after your brother."

"Eh?! Really?! Mano was wondering about that!" Ignatio had a cute round mouth open in surprise, which then turned into an uneasy smile as it sunk in fully. "...Ehhhhheeeehhhhh. Yong isn't the kind who shares, but Gamun Be kind of seems, over that Rabbit...Oh no."

Noah held his Yongma with a seriously grave look. "Usagi, I'm going to die, so I need you to stick with Baby King." The aforementioned redhead immediately yelled in small text 'NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO DIE OVER CRUSHES!' Min Jun face-palmed.

"For the love of god, rabbit, you're not gonna die. If anything I think you've gotten yourself some immunity through all of this because of your reaper."

"I DON'T WANT THAT DAMMIT I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!" 

[You kind of did] 

"SHUT UP ASSLORD!" Noah snarled seemingly at no one.

Ignatio was petting Usagi once more. "Wow, Rabbit's really stressed out."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Once everything had calmed down, they moved inside, Noah flopping down in front of Yu Jin's grandmother's photo. Mu Young kept Maru close, glowering at Ignatio as his twin hid behind Yu Jin, citing he felt Mu Young was going to punch him again.

Min Jun decided to keep the peace as Noah rested; teleporting, especially forcibly, had exhausted him greatly since he'd never teleported that far before. Usagi was staying close to its master, Shadow nuzzling his buddy as Shade peevishly hovered near them. "Hey, Nuna? Is Rabbit okay? He doesn't look that great." Ignatio prompted.

"Dun' worry 'bout 'im." Sae Ha broke in, waving his hand. "Just exhaustion. We ain't had a lotta rest lately, I'm not surprised."

Min Jun sighed. "Plus he healed up your buddy. His skin looked awful when he got back." [Putting it mildly, actually.] She kept herself from responding to Kang Im as she poked Noah's end of the link, getting the sensation of sleepiness and a whimper sounding vaguely like Nuna lemme sleep.

"Ah..." Ignatio looked saddened. "That's right, Leon-Hyung...Lang met him, I'm pretty sure..."

The other gunner Chachaoong scowled. "There's only one new person from my recent memory...That snake looking guy, right?"

"So you did meet him..."

Mu Young went to reply tersely about wanting to shoot the venom user the next time he saw him, but stopped when Maru ribbed him, the blond male pinning his much bigger deadlier looking boyfriend with a narrow glare that made Mu Young back down instantly.

It was at that moment the door slid open, Ella bouncing in cheerfully. "IZZY~!"

"Nuna~!" He echoed her tone in delight, holding up his arms so she could bounce into his grip.

Mu Young had bristled in alarm and clung tightly to Maru, especially when Ella noticed him. Maru smiled in a friendly sheepish way and stroked Mu Young's arm gripping him to soothe his boyfriend, Ella's eyes going wide. "Oh my gosh~! That's so cute! Izzy it's like you if you had a cute boyfriend!"

It was then Maru's turn to hide in Mu Young's grip his ears bright red as the elder gunman rubbed his back and glared at Ella, daring her closer.

"U-Uhm-" Yi Rang poked her head in nervously, Ignatio gleefully hugging her as Sae Ha stared slightly amused by how thick the lighter twin appeared to be. Yu Jin hushed them to quiet down, as he'd seen Noah beginning to twitch and spasm a little and was worried they'd all wake him up.

Min Jun solved that by throwing Noah on her back. "We best be taking off anyway, King-Nim."

"Are you sure Nuna?" Yu Jin was giving her such a simpering look, like a puppy that had no idea how to cheer up its master but was going to damn well try anything. "I mean, I'll try to keep everyone quiet so you and Hyung can rest."

"It's fine. We took a lot off work, anyway, so we need to check in with Boss." Min Jun looked so...at ease, carrying Noah on her back. Like it was just another habit for her, like breathing or kicking someone's front teeth in. "Once we've recovered a bit, we'll drop by, promise. But Usa's not gonna last longer since Oppa's out cold."

The Yongma made a sluggish-sounding coo, Shadow worriedly nudging his buddy with a horn. Ju Ze yipped, nuzzling Usagi as well before the rabbit made its way to Min Jun and began to form a portal under her. She winked and waved goodbye just as she dropped like stone through water, the portal draining inward until it disappeared completely. Usagi dropped her first onto the roof of a building in between the path, then she immediately stepped forward straight into another portal, through the sluggish tarry sea of shadow into Cho-Yi's home.

"Nuna!" Cho-Yi welcomed Min Jun back, his eyes landing on Noah and dilating in panic.

She waved him off. "He's okay, Boss. He's just tired. He...There was a lot that happened."

"Well, I'm not one for long stories." He took Noah off her back, checking her shoulder. "...Do you think you'd be okay joining me on nightshift today? Business was kind of slow so we didn't need a lot of people there today, but..."

Min Jun shook her head. "It's alright, Boss. I think Oppa's not gonna wake up for a while, so he should sleep right now."

Cho-Yi nodded and helped her get Noah to his futon, allowing the Yongma user to cling to her pillow as he dozed with Usagi huddling under his chin. He still hadn't woken up by the time they got home well past two am.

"He's still asleep? I see..." Yu Jin was on the phone with Min Jun in the daytime, the TALs busy with chores as Mu Young and Ignatio 'tried' to get along.

Escaping from Ella and Yi Rang, Mu Young had dragged Ignatio to his home, Maru following behind and happily distracting Mu Young's cat Rex as Ignatio poked at everything his brother had. Eventually Ignatio dropped to sleep on the couch, Maru and Mu Young choosing to watch a movie and unwind and spend some actual time as a couple.

The blond gunner was currently in class for the day. It was for the best, seeing as he didn't need to worry about anything but his grades and occasionally doing incredibly stupid dangerous shit that Mu Young was prone to.

"Do you want to bring him over to see if Sae Ha-Nim can-" The TAL opened one green eye as Yu Jin seemed to be cut off by Min Jun's response. "...I see...Well, okay Nuna. When he does wake up let us know okay?"

Once she'd hung up, Min Jun stowed her cell away and finished her break, Usagi dogging her heels. The old man had grown fond of the Yongma's ability to draw in crowds, especially since crowds meant business. Min Jun was more often a waitress and server at the bar than she was a cook's lending hand, but that suited her fine. Those positions meant she had view of the storefront.

Usagi wrapped around her ankle comfortingly, the Yongma's silken body a tiny living scarf of warmth and purring.

It was a small comfort that let her know things were going to be alright.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

". . . S o .  . . Y o u  a r e  t h e  o n e s  w h o  h a v e  b e e n  c a u s i n g  s u c h  a  r u c k u s ?"

Jack's voice was soft. Very soft more like a young man who knew only of soft breezes and gentle rainfall. But the force and powerful behind the softness was like a misty sheen of droplets disguising a hurricane.

[You're inappropriately poetic, y'know?]

Noah was frozen to the spot he stood in, overlooking the mountains and far below, the bashed up landscape where only a few moments prior Ignatio and Mu Young had been fighting. His mouth was clenched shut from the force of the hurricane behind him, and his breaths through his nostrils came in quick snuffling bursts as he fought to remain calm.

". . . S o  q u i e t . . . T h e  r a b b i t  s u i t s  y o u . . . T h o u g h  I  s e e  i t  w a s  n o t  y o u r s  n a t u r a l l y . . ."

Chau Yong idled into Noah's peripheral.

"..." Noah forced his teeth to unclench, for his throat to gulp in a deep pocket of air that stung icy cold into his lungs. "Pl...Please." His voice cracked, he was scared, but he was going to have some pride. "If I've done wrong, First King, then sentence me. But don't torment me like this if I've done no wrong."

The hurricane slowed a bit. There was a curiousness now, in the tone of Jack's voice, in the presence of the energy that was holding Noah prisoner. ". . . D o n e  w r o n g . . . h a v e  y o u? . . . N o.  Y o u  h a v e  n o t . . . W h a t  h a v e  y o u  d o n e ?"

"Saved children." Noah hissed out as he tried to relax his muscles. His heart was pounding. "Saved lives that don't need to go out without reason or rhyme."

[Yet the story still has those written down.]

"C h i l d . . . W h y  a r e  y o u  a f r a i d ?"

Noah couldn't stop his body from locking up painfully. Jack had taken a step toward him. "...If you judge me guilty for saving those lives, then judge me now or let go me go, First King. I know you aren't the kind who executes on a whim."

More force, and suddenly Chau Yong was by his immediate side, hand reaching for Noah's throat.

That was when his patience and sanity snapped together and he made the second biggest mistake in his life.

"Oppa!"

Noah jerked awake, eyes wide as he stared at the ceiling. Min Jun's face came into view, pale, which meant that it was morning. He blinked a few times to focus and lifted his arm towards her. "...Nunim?"

"About damn time you woke up. It's been a month."

Noah shot up. "WHAT?!" The moment he turned and saw her smirking, he face-palmed. "I hate you for pulling that on me."

"Hate yourself more for falling for it." She grinned as Cho-Yi came in, dressed for work.

He beamed, and Noah was hugged tightly. "HOIF! Boss I'm okay..." Cho-Yi was clinging just a little more tightly than normal 'I'm-glad-you're-okay' hug. "...Okay seriously, how long was I out?"

"A day, actually." Min Jun started brushing Noah's hair.

He let her, groaning in agitation. "The old man-"

"He knows, and you can join us today to make up for the shifts you missed." Cho-Yi assured him. "Hurry and get dressed alright?" He left the room to give Noah privacy.

Noah made to get dressed, pausing at the shiny streaks left over across his arms...

"...Leon..."

Min Jun helped Noah pull on his work shirt. Button ups still weren't easy. 'Are you worried?'

'I gave him as much of my power as I could...Well, that at least explains why I was out cold like that...But it won't last forever.' His mouth was in a thin line. 'Bi Gak will surely notice...Soon, or maybe he has already...'

She frowned deeply as Noah tied the restaurant's ascot under his shirt's collar. 'We might need to sneak in there. But how? You have healing powers, but we'd need a psychic like Ha Na Rin or-' She paused a the same time Noah did, and they turned to face each other with identical grins.

[You two scare me.]

'KANG IM, SUMMON IGGY'S FANGIRLS~!'

.............

'...I take it back. This is the dumbest bullshit you've ever thought of pulling.'

Noah stared flatly at Min Jun as Yi Rang carefully moved about the crystal in her hands. 'What's not concrete about sneaking into Bi Gak's domain to steal a venom filled Chachaoong to save him from dying during the process of becoming a meat puppet?'

[I see nothing wrong with this plan.]

'YOU CAN SHUT THE HELL UP KANG IM.'

[No, I really see nothing wrong with this plan.]

"Uhm...I don't think it'll be very big, but there will be a disturbance soon that draws Bi Gak to the other side of the domain than where Leon-Nim will be." Yi Rang finally reported. "...But I still advise you not to do this. It's very dangerous..."

Noah patted her on the head, smiling. "Don't worry Nuna. We'll be fine. Leon-Hyung needs our help."

The plan itself was 'simple' enough. Using Usagi's 'shadowplane' and his 'Hide-And-Seek' ability, they'd sneak into Bi Gak's lair and snatch up Leon to prevent his death at the hands of Gam Ra and Gam Be. 'EXCEPT FOR THE FACT BIGAK WILL CATCH US AND WE'LL DIE!' Min Jun mentally snapped as they waited for the time Yi Rang had told them.

[I very much like this plan of yours.]

'YOU AREN'T HELPING.'

The 'shadowplane' was exactly as it sounded; a flat dimension that Usagi's form passed them through to teleport. Often, in the vague distance, they'd spot other forms of various Yongma, though the closest they knew were Shade and Shadow. When Usagi would poke his head upward, small 'portals' allowed them to see through into the physical dimension they usually lived in, though no one ever noticed them.

Eventually, right at the time Yi Rang predicted, they located Leon, sitting on the ground with his IV stand next to him, Mano standing nearby looking at a clipboard with his scalpel in his mouth. Noah had to hold in a noise of glee, seeing as any disturbance of noise would cancel out Usagi's 'Hide-And-Seek' ability, disguising their presence from other Yongma and Chachaoongs.

Then they all froze as Bi Gak showed up, Min Jun's shoulder throbbing in memory.

"Well, Leon, I have to say, I was expecting you to suddenly up and give out on us any day now. I'm impressed."

The venom user snorted, looking like he was coiled up in warning. "My health might be crap, but I guess it's not getting any worse for now. Pity, huh?"

"My, my, someone's in a bad mood today." Bi Gak's tone was playful, but the grin on his face showed teeth, which only made the three in hiding more on edge. "Was Mano poking you too much today?"

Leon didn't rise to the bait. "I heard fighting. Your lackies don't have much self control do they?" He hissed a little laugh but went silent as Mano took hold of his IV stand and bonked the pole against his head in scolding.

"You're one to talk, aren't you?"

Bi Gak seemed amused by this. "There was a skirmish, but it was all a misunderstanding." He glanced behind him as someone came walking in. "Gamun Be here put a stop to it for me." Noah cussed over their link and hid his face. "Though I suppose the excitement for the day is over."

"Excitement?" Leon squinted.

Bi Gak grinned. "Just a little...idea I had. But, oh well. Looks like I can't see it through just yet." He then turned his head, Ryu-Guheul standing nearby, impassive and silent as ever. "Guess I'll have to wait. I don't mind."

Gamun Be had narrowed his eyes as well, but before they could speak, a very loud explosion made them all turn their heads.

"...I'll go investigate that." Gamun Be sighed tiredly.

Bi Gak only grinned. "Have fun." He turned back to Mano, and his grin slowly dropped.

"...Mano...Where the fuck is Leon?"

The doctor Chachaong blinked, then looked to his side where he still held the IV stand; Bi Gak was joking right? Nope. Leon was indeed missing now, the IV needles dripping onto the ground and judging the size of the puddle, had been for a good minute now. He took a step back, looked around, then turned to Bi Gak actually stunned, the scalpel dropping into his hand.

"...I don't know."

As a chibi Leon dropped into Noah's arms, Min Jun was twitching. "HOW DID THAT WORK?!" 

[I told you it would. I liked it, after all.]

"Who cares? We got snakeboy now~!" And Leon could only blink awkwardly as Noah nuzzled him without a care, steam wafting off the Yongma user's skin as his Healing ability countered the venom that coated Leon's skin.

The duel-colored eyes focused on Noah. "...Oh, it's you...What did you just-" He stopped and looked around. They were in an alleyway, Usagi's largest form curled around them. He cautiously stood up with Noah's help, looking around. "Bi Gak-" He began, only to be cut off as Noah waved his finger.

"Non~! He can't find you now! Not with UsaUsa's 'Hide-An-Seek' ability!"

Leon blinked, then shifted his gaze to the Yongma, the rabbit beast staring with a soft pink gaze. Leon lifted his hand, but quickly retracted it, not wanting to cause harm to his saviors. "...You made good on your promise. Thank you." The venom user said softly, unsure of accurately expressing himself.

"Of course." Noah smiled. He then stepped forward as Leon faltered in his steps, steam again wafting away as Leon collapsed into Noah's arms. "...I'm sorry...Even if I did it again, it'd only be a few more days again."

Leon clutched his chest. "...I've known for a long time...It's fine." He looked up at Noah. "...Ignatio-"

"He's safe." Min Jun jumped in. "He's safe and sound and he's happily with his brother."

The venom user looked relieved by that. "...I want to see him one last time."