Chapter 10:

Wings

The bright military lights shone intensely over the base and Hwoarang shifted on his bed. He rolled, tossed, and turned until his couldn't take it anymore. He sat up and looked down at the dusted military boots he was supposed to polish but didn't care so he didn't do it. For a moment he was dazed. He wasn't doing his duty. What would Jin say?

"Heh, probably something like 'You're obliged to do it. So why don't you?'" Hwoarang chuckled then smiled softly at his own comment. He suddenly jumped to his feet, sirens and red and white searchlights went off. His amber eyes darted around and explosions sounded off. Screams filled his ears before he was grabbed by his general and tossed among the other soldiers rushing for ammunition and weapons. Hwoarang grasped the nearest bayonet and loaded it. It took him less than two minutes to load and get out to the front line.

Hwoarang had not a moment to think before blood and gun flares filled his vision and blurred his mind.

"Kill anything that isn't ours!" That loud, annoying voice of their general shrieked through the loud speakers mounted to the top of the light poles. Hwoarang immediately responded uncharacteristically and pulled in line with the other soldiers. He jumped into the trench and begun to look for targets.

"Dammit!" He heard one of the soldiers next to him hiss, "Why the hell can't we see them?!"

"Dude, I heard there were only twelve."

"Eh?" Hwoarang's mind was taken by the two men's conversation and a stray bullet grazed his head. This served as a wake-up call for the others and they began firing back at the enemy. The South Korean Base has nearly every soldier out on the grounds. Most of them were only firing at passing shadows so slick was their enemy.

Suddenly, all guns ceased fire and everything became deathly silent. Hwoarang's heart pounded in his ears. Blood leaked down the side of his face and the sweet saltiness touched his lips. He blinked and pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. The familiar print of he and Jin at the skate park reminded him of how Jin never noticed Hwoarang's arm around his waist. For a slight moment he smiled before 'Ohh's and slight gasps of screams brought him back to reality. He glanced around and found everyone staring at the night sky. As he looked up towards the heavens, he caught a glimpse of a black figure with large wings before he realized who it really was he whispered softly,

"Let me ride on your wings," And all went dark. The black graceful figure suddenly took a powerful and swift dive straight for the Korean redhead. It quickly and gently snatched him up in its arms and flew off before gunfire even came to the soldiers minds.

Dumbfounded, the soldiers sat or stood, confused as to why the believed 'angel of darkness' chose their unusually unique redheaded ethnic brother.

"Hey! You bunch of numbskulls! Go get 'em, bitches! What the hell are you doing?!" All of the soldiers looked towards the speakers. Hwoarang's three roommates nodded to each other and shot the main speaker cords into shreds. Grinning to each other, the flipped off their general up in his high canter, watching.

"For Hwoarang." One of them said holding up his fist.

"For Hwoarang." The other two said in unison.

"May your dreams come true, brother." The three whispered; took off for the exit, barely escaping their general; and began an adventure of their own.

Hwoarang woke up to a dim room and a warm blanket. He sat up slowly, remembering his injury to the head and looked around at all the familiar faces. His eyes widened,

"You! Y-You guys?!" The twelve men laughed and Xion pat him on the shoulder.

"What? Is it really that surprising that we care?" Hwoarang blinked at the man. He just stared at his gang. The redhead gawked at the black uniforms, face paint, and excellently prepared weaponry.

"My…." Then he realized, 'Someone should be here….' "Where's-"

"Raven?" The guys laughed, "Don't worry; He lived up to his name and yours." Hwoarang got a confused look on his face.

"Ra…" His mind flashed back to the dark figure in the sky, "… ven…" 'Jin… 'Raven'?' The others just grinned at him. The redhead narrowed his honey colored eyes, "Where is he?"

"Hwoarang, we already know." He raised an eyebrow at Xion.

"What do you know?"

"You love him." The redhead nearly fainted and his eyes bulged in surprise. "No need for the venomous looks like you hate him. Just accept it. Ok, so you're bisexual. We're cool with that. Besides, if you love someone you should be with them right?"

"W-Whu-Why-Yo-You-I-I…" Hwoarang's face rivaled his hair and his mind seemed as if it were a jellyfish in the sun. Xion smiled,

"Yo, we could all see it. We were just waiting for you to accept it and move on. It doesn't make you any less of a man." Another member piped up,

"Yeah. Actually, I think it makes you even more of one, cause you know all of us when we lived together with Master, it was horrible! We could hardly stand each other and you want to live with another man. That just means you're willing to go through challenges. And that's what makes you more of a man." Xion took over again,

"Not that being with ladies isn't challenging but you know with two guys it's like a battle for superiority. And besides you being the way you are isn't really that big of a deal. It's just who you are, you know?" And besides you being the way you are isn't really that big of a deal. It's just who you are, you know?"

All of the others nodded. Hwoarang was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe it. His members, his friends, his brothers… Were telling him to go for it and they wouldn't mind!

"Guys…" Hwoarang looked to the floor.

"Dude all we're saying is, we care. No matter how you ARE."

"Heh." Hwoarang blushed, "Stop it. You're embarrassing me." Xion laughed.

"Then how about this. As soon as you're ready, you have a one way ticket to Tokyo." He flashed the blue paper. Hwoarang grinned, snatched the paper and his shirt, and ran out the door. The gang members all began to chuckle.

"Typical Hwoarang," Xion laughed.