Winter Hearts

Checking In

Kkomae plodded into the apartment, his back aching from sitting down almost all day, despite their busy schedule. He was keen to get tidied up so that he could go help the others make space for Mr Mikhalis and his brother, for their football get-together later in the evening.

Behind him, Ravi, Hyuk and Ken spilled in through the doorway and offloaded the overcoats and jackets they were holding, piling them relatively neatly on the first armchair they found.

Ken disappeared down the hall into his room, Ravi following after him. Hyuk flopped into another armchair and watched Kkomae sit and pull out his laptop and phone and set them up on the lounge table.

"It's dark here, Hyung, wouldn't you rather be out on that huge balcony, or in the kitchen with a proper table?" Hyuk asked.

"Noone likes it here, which is why this is my spot. Ken and Min Seok are always eating or watching the tv in the kitchen. There's no room to spread out."

"You working? We have to be upstairs in an hour."

"Just sending off the pictures and doing some emailing. I also want to check in on the Leo situation with N when he comes down."

Hyuk pursed his lips, nodding. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through it as Kkomae set up his laptop and began sending files.

"Leo Hyung made the right choice, didn't he?"

Kkomae looked up.

"You have doubts?"

Hyuk shrugged.

"He's now taken, that changes everything for a lot of people," he murmured noncommittally.

Kkomae sighed abruptly and flopped back in his armchair.

"Hyuk-ssi, if there is one thing I have learned from being a glamourised lackey to you kids, is that all those annoying, messy, loud, lewd and frankly, scary fansite master-nims have one thing in common - they are protective to a fault."

Hyuk looked at Kkomae with surprise.

"Scary, Kkomae-ssi? Did you say... scary? Those sweet ladies with their telescopic camera lenses?"

"Sweet... Hmmm. Determined, driven, yes. Single-minded, yes. Not necessarily sweet."

Kkomae sat up again, eyes back to his computer.

"So I wouldn't worry too much about people not being happy for your precious Hyung. Oh, why do I suddenly have gas?" Kkomae frowned, clutching at his heart.

"Looks like your love for Leo still hurts. He will never have eyes for you, Hyung."

"Go away. Now."

"But seriously, we must examine your fear of Starlights more closely-"

"Please leave."

Hyuk giggled. He looked down at his phone, thinking for a moment.

"I'm going to get ready. I hope you will wear your Tottoro onesie-"

"Of course not! It's back home."

"-meantime, I am going to send you something I made. Just in case."

Kkomae eyed Hyuk suspiciously as he got up, his eyes on his phone, and made his way out of the apartment.

He looked at the screen and saw it would take another half an hour to fully send off the files to HQ, so he got up to go wash up. As he got to his room, he heard his phone ping. He pulled off all his outer layers, really feeling the effects of a busy day spent seated, his muscles surprisingly weary from the stiffness. As he bunched his clothes into the laundry basket, he tapped on his emails to check what had come in. Hyuk had sent a video, which he tapped to play, a familiar feeling of dread overcoming him whenever he received missives from that baby giant.