1. Beginning

It wasn't the first time he'd seen a white man.

Oh no, certainly not. They'd been coming here for many years with increasing frequency, usually passing through his land on the way to China—something about the riches of the Orient, as their reason. Though Yong Soo wouldn't hesitate to argue that his land's culture was the richest and most beautiful to be seen, he still couldn't help but be somewhat wary of the foreigners.

Perhaps even 'weary' would be a better word. For hadn't it been foreigners who had brought him to his current state? Many years of his land being bickered over by more powerful neighbors. A brutal takeover and years of occupation by one of his brothers. Or at least, that is what he had called him once.

But the foreigner in front of him just smiled brightly, his eyes shining behind his glasses. Maybe foreigners with that particular combination of blonde hair and blue eyes would not be as bad? This was all supposed to be a temporary arrangement after all, but Yong Soo couldn't shake the feeling that this would end up being another occupation so soon after he'd been freed from the last. He needed to stand up on his own two feet, find his twin and consult him on their next mode of action. But another light-haired, light-eyed stranger had taken him off instead. Why wasn't he being allowed to speak with North? Yong Soo looked up at the stranger in front of him almost accusingly.

But before he could ask, the foreigner addressed him in English. "Remind me of your name again."

"Yong Soo," the Korean answered after a moment of hesitation, his accent still thick from lack of practice in English. "Im Yong Soo."

"And you're the one, aren't you?"

"The one?"

"The one."

After a moment of confusion, it dawned on him what he was talking about. Though Yong Soo had seen American businessmen—and more recently, military men—visit his country on and off, he still had not had the chance to meet the American nation-spirit himself. "Oh. Yes then, that is me. But you should know, there are two of us."

"The other guy?"

"My twin. He is the North," Yong Soo peered at the American quizzically. "Where is he?"

Something like remorse crept on to the American's face. "Oh. He—he'll be getting his counsel from someone else for the moment."

"Can I see him?"

"Not yet."

Something cold and heavy settled itself down in Yong Soo's chest. As if sensing this, the American reached out to clap a friendly hand on his shoulder. "But hey! We're gonna be great pals, I know it! I know you've been through a lot though, so maybe I can treat you to something to eat first. Would you like that?"

The Korean seemed to relax a little. "That would be nice."

"Good!" America beamed. "There's nothing better than getting to know a guy over a nice hot meal. I can already tell this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Wait," the Korean said suddenly, just as America was turning to lead him off. "You never told me your name."

"Alfred," the American replied. "Alfred F. Jones."

Yong Soo frowned. What an odd, foreign name! "Al-peu-"

"But hey," the American interjected, apparently sympathetic to his efforts to pronounce that stubborn F. "Just call me Al."

Author's Notes:

This is meant to explore the very beginning of the relationship between Yong Soo and Alfred.

At the Potsdam Conference of 1946, the Allies decided to divide Korea (without consulting the Koreans) between North and South, with the North being managed by the Soviets and the South being managed by the Americans. Most Koreans weren't happy about this because they saw it as another occupation when they had just been freed of Japanese rule, so there were many revolts following this decision. This drabble is meant to show a bit of that in Yong Soo's initial attitude towards Alfred.

Also, Korean lacks an 'F' sound, which is why he has trouble saying Alfred's name at first.