Winter Hearts

Salve

Hongbin got out of the lift and padded slowly towards Leo's room. He could hear muffled voices as he approached, and he slowed to listen, not quite being able to make out what was being said.

Kkomae had bundled Leo and N into a taxi and they had come back to the hotel ahead of the others. He had wagged an agitated finger at Ravi, pleading with him to make sure everyone stayed out of trouble. The aide had insisted on seeing Mark and his friends were taken to a hospital for treatment, which Hongbin guessed was a way of covering all the bases. Mark would not be able to claim he was unattended to, even though he was well enough to stand back up and shout at them all in a blustery show of indignation.

He never tried to retaliate though, and Hongbin knew it was because of Leo's formidable demeanour. Although Leo was standing before Kkomae and taking the brunt of Kkomae's angry verbal barrage, as soon as Mark started yelling, he turned and looked at him as if he could eat him alive.

Mark shut up, and was immediately assisted by the aide into a diplomatic vehicle that he had summoned at some unseen moment. He, Min Seok, and Mark and his friends had pulled away in the limo, which moved past them soundlessly.

When Kkomae's taxi left, it was as if there was a vacuum in its wake, and the boys stood looking at each other haplessly for a good few moments. Behind them, the bouncer had resumed his duties as a line began to form.

"Let's go get something to eat," Ken said, herding the four of them together and turning them towards some cafes they had seen on their way here.

As they left, Ravi turned to acknowledge the bouncer, who nodded to him. Ravi bowed his head politely, and Hyuk followed suit.

"Guys, I think I will go back to the hotel," Hongbin said as they sauntered down the street.

"Go ahead, one less person to keep in line. Don't worry, I shall keep these two in check," Ken said in an important voice. Hyuk snorted, his face, as usual, smilingly knowing.

"I thought I was in charge," Ravi pouted.

"I'm the Hyung. I am in charge," Ken said, a little more importantly. He turned to Hongbin and asked him if he needed money. Hongbin smiled.

"I will be fine, hyungie. I brought my wallet."

"Good kid. See ya," Ken said, turning and gathering Hyuk and Ravi to him. "Let's go get Ken some dinner."

Hongbin watched them, wondering if this infantile display was some sort of coping mechanism, or whether it was to inspire confidence in Ravi and Hyuk, or to comfort them after the night's events. He shook his head. Perhaps it was to make himself feel better.

Ken hyung and his ways, Hongbin thought. They seemed childish, but they had the very real effect of warming the soul.

Hongbin split from the group and walked briskly back towards Syntagma Square, from where their hotel was a short block away. He felt an urgent need to see Leo.

Why exactly, he didn't know. He just could see that Leo had finally seemed to clock his own path forward, and Hongbin wanted him to know that he would not be alone on it.

So when he heard the voices quieten inside the hotel room, he knocked immediately.

After a moment, the door swung open, and Hongbin saw N peer at him in surprise.

"Hongbin ah? Now is not a good time-"

"Let him in," Hongbin heard Leo say. N frowned.

"But I think you need to be alon-"

"Let him in." Leo's voice was adamant. N looked at Hongbin for a long moment, then stepped back to allow him in.

He walked in to find Leo sitting in an armchair opposite Kkomae who was on the small sofa in the room. He was bent forward, his elbows on his knees, and his hands interlaced and suspended in the air between his knees. His head hung down as he stared at his fingers.