Fragments of a Soul

The Fight

A/N: Idk how to write fight scenes so bear with me. We didn't see the original James vs Taesoo fight in the webtoon, so I made up whatever.

The fire crackled quietly in the center of the clearing, casting long shadows against the trees and the rocky ground. The night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

Taesoo sat alone, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together as he stared into the flames. The warm light danced across his face, but his expression was cold, distant—his mind a whirl of conflict.

It had been a long time since he'd had a moment to think, to breathe. But here, in the wilderness, away from the chaos of street fights and bloodshed, he was still haunted by the things he had done, the things he couldn't undo.

He never heard the footsteps at first. Not until the shadow loomed over him, darkening the firelight.

James.

Taesoo's muscles tensed, but he didn't look up immediately. The recognition of the presence was enough for him to prepare. He'd known this moment would come—had felt it in the pit of his stomach for days. The quiet pressure of an impending confrontation.

When James spoke, it was softly, almost painfully so.

"Taesoo," James's voice broke through the stillness, filled with a sadness that made Taesoo's chest tighten. "I don't want to do this."

Taesoo finally looked up, his gaze sharp, hardened by the life he had lived. "Then don't." His voice was rough, raw from the constant strain of his own violence. "But you're here anyway. Why?"

James's jaw tightened, his eyes meeting Taesoo's with an intensity that spoke of the weight of the choice he was about to make.

"Charles Choi gave me an order. The bloodshed has to stop, Taesoo. By any means necessary."

Taesoo's lips curled into a bitter smile, though there was no humor in it. "So, this is how it ends, huh? You're just going to stop me by force?"

James's heart twisted, and for a split second, he considered turning away. But the order was clear. Too much was at stake. Too many lives had already been destroyed.

"You leave me no choice," James said quietly, but with a finality that didn't allow for argument.

Without another word, Taesoo stood up, his body coiling with the fluid grace of a fighter. "Then come and take me down."

It happened in an instant.

James lunged first, his movements swift and calculated. He wasn't the kind of fighter who relied on brute strength; he was precision, technique. But Taesoo was a force of nature, a fighter born from the streets, his body trained for destruction. They collided, fists meeting with a sharp crack, the sound of their blows echoing in the quiet night.

The fight was raw, brutal. Taesoo's attacks were wild, driven by frustration and anger, but James was faster, dodging and countering with practiced ease. A punch from Taesoo came too close to his face, but James ducked and twisted his body, delivering a quick knee to Taesoo's side. The hit landed with a grunt of pain, but Taesoo didn't falter. Instead, he pushed forward, swinging a wild hook toward James's jaw.

James barely avoided it, but the force of the strike still grazed his shoulder, sending a sting of pain through his arm. He knew Taesoo was holding back—just enough to not seriously hurt him, but also enough to show that he wasn't going down easily.

Their movements became faster, more frantic, and every strike was a testament to the bond they once shared, to the pain they both carried. Taesoo was desperate—James could see it in his eyes, in the way he fought. Taesoo wasn't just fighting James; he was fighting everything.