Winter Hearts

Today

Leo sat up, wide awake. He looked around the room, and saw Hongbin laying face down on the other bed.

After getting back to the hotel the night before, a calm had settled over him, and he had sat through Kkomae's lecture with his head bowed, his heart at peace. He sensed N standing behind him in the room, his presence oddly peaceful. He had thought that N would be flustered by his sudden actions.

He didn't feel like he had acted violently. But, violence was the only thing anyone would construe of his action. Truthfully, he could barely call it self-defence - he had been ready to strike before Mark had even thought of taking a swing at him. He was just waiting to see if Mark was going to go there - which he had. So, rather than self-defence, Leo could only call it a calculated response, waiting for its cue.

He felt no remorse about it, rather, looked back on it as if he had been having a bout in a sports competition - except Mark wasn't playing any games, and had initiated his offence without really knowing what he was getting into. So, to the onlooker, Leo may have acted legitimately, but he couldn't help feeling he had had an unfair advantage over Mark from the beginning.

As he listened to Kkomae's prating, he went over in his mind how it came to him that he would act that way.

Siana. He couldn't stand the idea that he couldn't come to her defence. He hated that Min was doing all the talking and standing up for her. He hated how Siana had already heard too much from Mark, and how it was obvious what kind of insult would soon come from his mouth if he weren't stopped. And when Mark had reached for her, it was as if a darkness had shut down his reticence, his thoughts.

It felt right to step between them, and to put his whole being into showing Mark where his limits were.

And showing everyone where he stood when it came to Siana.

The moment this became clear to him was a very liberating moment, indeed.

In the back of his mind, he was aware of the weight of responsibility he had to the company, to the boys, and to the fans. But acting purely on his conscience felt so right. He was ready to face any consequences, even if this change of behaviour did not really involve any plans or tactics, or rationale.

With a calm and clear mind, he was acting on his heart's impulse: to protect Siana, who belonged to him and no other.

"Are you listening?" Kkomae asked. Leo leaned back a moment, looking Kkomae in the eye, who understood immediately.

"Huh. Of course not. If Mark presses charges of assault things could get very messy. Mr Park from the embassy is going to try to get an alcohol reading at the hospital, maybe even statements from his two friends. We also have the bouncer's promised statement that Mark was inebriated and attacked first. But we could avoid all the unnecessary spotlight if you would consider an apology-"

"No, I won't apologise," Leo said simply. He heard N gasp behind him.

"Kkomae-ssi, that would be like admitting fault! I agree with Taekwoon, no apology."

"WHY? Why did you have to hit him?! You could have avoided him and let him fall down drunk on his own!"

Leo bowed his head. In his state, Kkomae would not like to hear what he had to say to that.

N tutted, and Leo could imagine him rolling his eyes at Kkomae.

"And let him get away with trying to put his hands on Siana? We all wanted to do something, but it was only Min-ssi who was standing up to that creep. Taekwoonnie did the right thing. What if that guy took a swing at Siana instead? It doesn't matter who or why. All of us should have stopped him right away. We were too polite and considerate of the consequences."