beloved of grace

Chapter 23 - Silent Dusk

"Excuse me, let us ask you something." The two of you walked through the crowd of Backdoor's crew members, his figure right behind you, just close enough to block any attack aimed at you immediately, "Is someone named James Lee in there?"

"What the hell."

"How dare you get in here?"

"What kind of dickhead are you?"

"Do we know you?"

"Do you fight? We fight a lot."

". . . Excuse me, please let us through." You placed your hands on your chest and they only leered. James scoffed and lifted his white cap off his head, "Hah, I thought I could settle it by talking. . . But it looks like I'll have to use the first-generation's style."

"Here," at once, his cap was on your head, it's visor completely obscuring your vision, and the scent of strawberry candies engulfed your senses, "it'll be quick, like the old days."

The sounds of the low thumps of his kicks came after that. And when you attempted to lift the cap just ever so slightly, there was a hand pushing it back down, "Don't look, it's a bit messy."

And though you had no clue of the rationale behind his actions, you spoke anyways, "Thank you, I appreciate it. But I can fight better now so there's no need for you to fight alone."

When you tried once more, it was promptly pushed back down, "Do me a favour and just keep it like that until I tell you otherwise please."

Perhaps it was because of the earnest, pleading tone that peeked through his words, but you found yourself agreeing after a moment, ". . . Alright."

True to his words, the sounds of his kicks stopped after a minute or two, yet he hadn't spoken a word. Though you could feel his presence nearby, perhaps even right in front of you, there was only silence, "James. . .?"

"Wait a moment." Wordlessly, the idol stood in front of you, and though you heard the faintest sounds and felt a tender touch upon your head, just where the cap made contact with you, ". . . Alright. Whew, I've gone rusty."

The cap was lifted off your face and eyes where blooms blossomed through snowflakes met the unextinguished flames of an old friend. The legend pulled his collar back up to cover his face as he entered the club with you, "Come on, I wonder who's using my name."

'. . . A lip gloss stain.'

You had nearly paused in your tracks, Is something wrong?

Faint traces of clear gloss upon the pristine cap sparkled mutedly under the neon lights, '. . . Worry not, I was only reminded of something.'

— —

Defeating a first-generation king proved to be too much of a challenge for your friends, namely: Daniel, Zack and Vasco, but as you watched them stand their ground against Taesoo Ma and land solid hits and getting him to take them seriously, you wonder how many times you've complimented them.

You know it's not the time to be thinking of thoughts like that, but as your heart warmed— you made a note to yourself to show them all that you did in fact love them dearly. Of course, that said, you would have to do it when they don't look like pure, unapologetic menaces.

"What do you think?" James muttered to you, staring down at them from the broken glass pane. You nodded, smiling down at the three, "They've done well on their own. . . we can interfere now."

"Hold on tight."

And the next thing you knew was that he was holding onto you and jumping off the club's second level through the broken window. Once a menace, always a menace you supposed. Fortunately, as he went to land on Taesoo Ma, you landed on your feet upon the pavement, "Daniel, Zack, Euntae, you all did well but please go after Jiho now."