Chapter 1: Shadows of a Fight
The alley stretched before Ju Ha, dim and quiet, the faint scent of rain lingering in the air. The day had been long, a haze of guitar strings, chords, and melodies that were now tangled in his mind. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the stiffness as he walked, his thoughts drifting back to the upcoming performance. He needed time to clear his head, to feel the familiar pull of nightfall wash away his tension.
He barely noticed the figures lurking against the walls until he was almost upon them. Four guys, dressed in worn jackets, smirked as they noticed him. Ju Ha felt a flicker of annoyance. He wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone, least of all a bunch of punks looking for trouble. Still, he kept his gaze forward, hoping they'd move aside.
But the leader stepped forward, blocking his path, a crooked grin on his face. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?" he asked, voice low and mocking.
Ju Ha's gaze flickered over him, unimpressed. "None of your business," he replied flatly, shifting to step around. But the guy sidestepped, arms crossed, his buddies snickering in the background.
"What's wrong? In too much of a rush to say hello?" the leader sneered, clearly enjoying himself.
Ju Ha's patience thinned. "Move." His voice was cold, steady.
The leader's grin widened. "Think you're tough, huh?" Without warning, he swung a fist, catching Ju Ha across the cheek. Pain exploded across his face, but Ju Ha barely flinched. He'd been through worse. The guy's punch only stoked a fire in him, though he kept his expression calm, defiant.
But his silence seemed to provoke them further. One of the other guys moved forward, his fist raised, and Ju Ha braced himself. He wasn't going to back down—never had, never would. But before the thug could throw his punch, a voice cut through the tension, sharp and unyielding.
"Hey! Leave him alone!"
Everyone turned. Standing at the mouth of the alley was Sae Do Yoon, his posture rigid, fists clenched. His eyes were narrowed, his gaze like steel as he took in the scene. Ju Ha felt a flicker of shock. Do Yoon? What was he doing here?
The leader turned to face Do Yoon, his face twisted in amusement. "And who's this?" he sneered. "Your little boyfriend come to save you?"
Do Yoon didn't even blink. He walked closer, positioning himself between Ju Ha and the thugs, his gaze unyielding. His voice was low, but there was a fierce edge to it. "Yeah," he said. "So back the hell off."
The thugs exchanged glances, caught off guard by Do Yoon's audacity. The leader's sneer faltered, and after a tense silence, he scoffed, muttering to his friends. "This isn't worth it. Let's get out of here." With one last glare, he shoved past Do Yoon, and the group melted away into the shadows.
Once they were gone, the alley felt strangely quiet. Do Yoon turned to Ju Ha, his face softening, concern flickering in his eyes. "Hyung... are you okay?"
Ju Ha brushed a hand over his bruised cheek, trying to ignore the heat rising in his face—not from the punch, but from the way Do Yoon looked at him. He scowled, partly to hide his embarrassment. "I didn't need your help, you know."
Do Yoon just gave a slight shrug, his expression calm. "I know. But I wasn't going to just stand by."
Ju Ha opened his mouth to retort but stopped when he saw Do Yoon's hand reaching out. Before he could react, Do Yoon's fingers brushed lightly over his cheek, tilting his chin to get a better look at the bruise. The touch was gentle, surprisingly warm, and Ju Ha's breath caught.
"Does it hurt?" Do Yoon asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ju Ha jerked his head away, cheeks warming. "It's fine," he muttered, crossing his arms in an attempt to regain his composure. He didn't want Do Yoon to see how rattled he was. "I didn't ask you to step in and play hero."
"Hyung, I'm not trying to be a hero," Do Yoon said simply, his voice calm and steady. "I just... couldn't stand seeing them go after you." There was a quiet intensity in his gaze, something that made Ju Ha feel strangely exposed.
Ju Ha turned away, trying to shake off the unfamiliar feeling stirring in his chest. "Whatever," he muttered, hoping the darkness would hide the heat creeping up his neck. He started walking, his steps brisk. But Do Yoon fell into stride beside him, keeping close, as if to make sure Ju Ha was really okay.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the sound of their footsteps mingling with the distant hum of the city. Ju Ha's cheek still ached, but the adrenaline was fading, replaced by a strange warmth he couldn't quite explain. He glanced at Do Yoon from the corner of his eye, taking in the serious expression on his face. There was something different about him tonight—something steady, unyielding, that Ju Ha hadn't noticed before.
Finally, Do Yoon broke the silence, his voice soft but firm. "Hyung," he said, his tone thoughtful. "You don't always have to handle everything on your own, you know."
Ju Ha bristled, shooting him a glare. "I don't need you to tell me that," he said, his voice sharper than he intended. He didn't like the idea of anyone seeing him as weak, even if it was someone like Do Yoon.
But Do Yoon didn't look away. His gaze remained steady, his face softened by a small, almost sad smile. "I know you're strong," he said quietly. "But... if you ever need someone to have your back, I'm here."
Ju Ha felt his heart stutter, caught off guard by the sincerity in Do Yoon's words. He didn't know how to respond, so he just nodded, hoping it conveyed enough. They walked a little longer, the silence stretching out between them, no longer uncomfortable but strangely comforting.
As they reached the end of the street, Do Yoon paused, glancing over at him. "Hyung," he said, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "If you ever... need anything, just let me know."
Ju Ha met his gaze, feeling a rush of emotions he didn't quite understand. For a moment, he wanted to brush him off, to pretend none of this had happened. But something stopped him, something in the quiet determination in Do Yoon's eyes.
"Yeah," he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "I'll... keep that in mind."
A faint smile touched Do Yoon's lips, and he nodded before turning and heading in the opposite direction. Ju Ha watched him go, his chest tight with a strange, lingering warmth.
As he started to walk home alone, Do Yoon's words echoed in his mind: "Back the hell off. He's my boyfriend." The memory brought a faint, reluctant smile to Ju Ha's lips, and he shook his head, trying to push the thought away.
But even as he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them tonight—something he wasn't sure he wanted to understand, but couldn't ignore. And somehow, despite himself, he knew this was only the beginning.
