XIII) Parallel world (1/2)
(Nam Seon Ho settling or not in The Kingdom, and Gon still working through some of his issues...)
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Gon POV:
It's about one hour since they've arrived at the Jo's. Yeong has directly taken the clearly exhausted and still somehow numb Nam Seon Ho upstairs, and Gon has taken over the kitchen and prepared meals for two days with what was at his disposition while Yeong prepared the bedrooms - needing to feel useful, in so far he could.
Yeong comes back downstairs, phone against his ear. He rejoins with Gon in the kitchen right as he hangs up.
"Part of Team 3 is coming to escort you back to The Palace, Pyeha. They'll be here in about 20 minutes."
Gon nods, while closing the last containers.
"It smells awesome, Pyeha. Thank you. I'm starving; and I bet Nam Seon Ho will be too, once he starts eating."
Gon washes his hands and dries them off; then leans against the counter with a sigh, but eyes serious and demanding:
"Let me know if there's anything I can do."
"Of course, Pyeha. And you know I'll keep you informed."
Gon nods once more. He pushes off the counter and gets closer to Yeong, who automatically tilts his head at him in question, right away extra alert as always about any possible incoming request. Gon places a gentle hand on Yeong's shoulder; thumb brushing once for good measure.
"You're all right, right? I didn't want to scare Nam Seon Ho by getting all over you the moment we entered the portal; but you're all right, right?"
Yeong smiles; and not simply in reassurance, but also touched at his core - his precious slow smile:
"I am, Pyeha. We didn't even fight nor shoot."
"Thankfully. But that's not what I'm talking about."
Yeong turns softer - if that's even possible.
"Actually, it was easier than I had expected: he isn't you at all, Pyeha."
And Gon just has to: his hand slides further behind Yeong's neck, and he pulls Yeong against him with his arm before releasing him right away after contact:
"Thank you, Yeongie" - a quick half hug, barely there and gone.
Yeong hadn't expected it, obviously; breath still knocked out, mouth still half open when Gon can see his face again. His eyes turns even warmer when they meet again, though, and Gon can't help but smile, impishly; he is definitely going to make a habit out of this.
Yeong right away recovers, of course. Eyes still glowing brighter; but tone as efficient and business minded as ever.
"And about tomorrow: you should go, Pyeha. And I mean you should actually take the usual 24 hours off with Lt. Jeong Tae Eul - not come back right after having excused yourself for not staying for once. I know you'd rather be able to *do* more yourself to help Nam Seon Ho; but we both know your presence might still be more stressful than welcome. For now, I'm taking care of him for the both of us. So. Let her take care of you; please."
Gon sighs - he's The King; he doesn't need a babysitter. He nods nonetheless.
/
"You look tired", Tae Eul remarks when she takes his hand as he arrives in The Republic. "Let's just stay in."
And Gon doesn't find in him the strength to contradict her. He has for sure done enough travelling through foreign universes as it is lately.
They are buying some take-out food on their way to Tae Eul's. A commercial starts on the radio as they wait; and Tae Eul's chatter stops mid-sentence. Gon realizes why soon enough. The rest of their walk is silent; even though Tae Eul retakes his hand.
They enter her home. Tae Eul turns the light on as they take off their shoes; and she is apparently now ready to address the situation.
"Sorry. I wasn't expecting to be confronted with it. It didn't exist yet. I should have guessed though it would be a matter of time before it got launched. It's nothing. I'm fine. I'm a strong, independant, badass, grown-up adult woman; I am not going to cry over some stupid ice cream. Got it?"
And what can Gon do but soothingly repeat - because Tae Eul so evidently needs the reassurance:
"You are a strong, independant, badass, grown-up adult woman; you are not going to cry over some stupid ice cream."
(They both know it wouldn't be stupid nor over some ice cream if she did after all.)
Tae Eul nods at him, grateful; before suddenly and surprisingly laughing out loud - explaining between giggles:
"You actually said 'badass'."
Gon has to smile, too - Tae Eul's laugh definitely worth the swearing occurence.
"Yeong is *so* going to eviscerate me for being a bad influence."
It is now Gon's turn to feel punched in the guts unexpectedly. He hides it under a joke:
"Your secret is safe with me; as long as mine is safe with you?"
"Deal. Let's eat."
/
They're snuggling on the couch, a blanket around them both, as they watch 'Memento'.
"I don't think you're entirely here. You can just go back and check on whatever is worrying you, you know."
Gon sighs, even though unable to decide whether it's more out of guilt or at having been found out:
"Apologies for being poor company today." He has to clarify: "It has nothing to do with you. You're great. May I stay anyway?"
"You bet I'm great. And of course you can stay."
She snuggles closer; an unsaid 'I'm here if you need to talk'.
Gon breathes her in, thankful for her not fishing around; and tries again to focus on the screen.
/
Later, as they lay side by side, Tae Eul asks Gon if Kang Hyeon Min is still doing fine, and if Luna is still working with him. She can't help but let out a heavy sigh at the confirmation that she still is. Any hint of bubbling jealousy though is right away crushed under Tae Eul's next words:
"I realize I always have to ask; sorry. But you'd tell me, right; if... I just can't trust her. I will never be able to trust her. She poisoned you! She stabbed me! What is she going to do to him? Strangle him in his sleep?"
Apparently, it isn't only Gon who has to deal with problematic dopplegängers and fears and guilts that are not his own but affect him anyway.
"It's all right. I understand." Her eyes get piercing; then grateful as she sees he actually means it. "They don't appear to be that close, as far as I know; but I do keep an eye on him - of course I do."
"Thank you."
And maybe it's Tae Eul's brave honesty, or their somehow shared burden, or the way how no matter how hard he tries Gon's mind always comes back to wondering about how things are going back in The Kingdom - how is Nam Seon Ho doing, how is Yeong doing; but suddenly, Gon just has to ask:
"Am I good to Yeong?"
Her eyes at once narrow again at him - both in shock at the question and in honest worry at Gon's obvious doubts; but the detective in her already searching for clues.
"You still haven't talked."
Gon feels like a coward; but he gladly bites the bone she offered anyway, as he doesn't feel ready to talk to her yet - if ever - about the tyrant king.
"We did. He says I am."
"So why ask me?"
"Because you're not as biased as he might be? I need a second opinion - yours; as an objective outsider with insights and hindsights?"
"Gon..."
She looks softer at him, now. What she understands is nothing but the truth - even if not the complete truth. And so, she can be a fair judge. She straightens up.
"All right. My opinion."
Gon nods, near desperate for her to get on with it.
"Yeong is *insane*."
"Tae Eul!"
"Hear me out, okay; I'm honestly serious."
Tae Eul waits until being sure Gon will not cut her off again before continuing:
"I could see he meant it; you know - when he jumped in front of you, and when he held that gun to his own head. And you looked pleased and proud to boot; and to be honest I wasn't sure how to feel about it - until I realized that you were not as much showing off to me but more like showing *him* off to me; but I digress... The thing is: he'd do literally *anything* for you - he has. And I guess it's not easy, to have to deal with everything he is still after everything that happened. But in the end: it's *his* decision. (a pause) He is a strong, independant, badass, grown-up adult man; all right?"
Tae Eul smiles at her own words recycling; and Gon has to agree and smile back - it truly does make its point. Tae Eul sobers up, then ends more quietly, but very seriously:
"You're not forcing his hand; and you're not responsible for the risks he chooses to take. And yes: he loves you - no doubt. But you love him too. Of course you're good to him. You could never *not* be good to him."
Gon holds her gaze for a while; waiting for it to falter, maybe. It doesn't.
"Thank you."
The air is heavy, with things both said and unsaid; and Gon needs to clear it all before it turns suffocating.
"I'll have you know though that Yeong is bright and perceptive and just as quick on his mind as he is on his feet; he's not insane. (Intense; yes. Insane; no.) So God help you if he ever learns that's what you actually think of him."
They both know he means it, even if he's joking - and it works. Tae Eul chuckles; then brings a caressing hand to his cheek.
"Let's say that's another secret I expect you to keep safe, then?"
Gon leans in, conspiratorially:
"What's in it for me?"
"Yah!" - with a playful hit on his shoulder.
Gon has to kiss the tip of her nose.
"You're in luck. I do intend to keep you safe."
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AN:
This is quite a short chapter, sorry - even after such a long break; but RL is kind of really busy at the moment, and it's a whole on its own. Quick half hug to you all :)
(On a side note: in case anyone might need reassurance, I still solemnly swear that this IS a Gonjo fic. Life is multi-layered and its path is not always clear - so this fic too? I go at the pace THEY tell me to go? Also, they both have strong beliefs and views about what they self must and mustn't be and do in regards to the other, and that tends to cloud things up; and navigating through that imo very uniquely *THEM* dynamic is both a joy - and an exercice in long suffering? God, I LOVE THEM... They just took permanent residence in my head and heart...)
Next chapter will be Yeong & Nam Seon Ho (MY HEART!)
(And as always, thanks for any feedback, it means the Manpasikjeok to me!)