Title: Trials and Tribulations of (Jeongsu) a Bean Seed

A/N: For the Passing Records zine! This was a harder one to write, I'm mostly manhwa-only, so I had to skim the flashback chapters for these guys…hopefully they don't come off as too off for that. Though reading all that made me so sad for all his dead friends TT_TT

Summary: Jeongsu was worried about Roksu's future plans, namely that there weren't any. If the slacker didn't have anything to fight for, to live for, then Jeongsu would just have to make sure he had something.

Now he just had to make sure Suhyeok stopped laughing long enough to help.

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Jeongsu was worried about Roksu.

This wasn't new—Roksu always gave him something to worry about, one way or another. The bastard was a slacker with a sharp tongue, attracting trouble like honey did flies. If it wasn't monsters, then it was other bastards who were pissed off by Roksu shooting off his mouth and writing cheques he couldn't possibly cash in. The man never ate enough, never exercised enough, and all of his wits were directed at annoying everyone else instead of something more useful.

However, those were all short-term concerns.

It was the long-term that had Jeongsu worried today. After watching his teammate for weeks, a new concern had bubbled up: did Roksu have any plans for after?

"Slack off," Suhyeok said bluntly, chewing his bulgogi sandwich absentmindedly as he read the teams' reports. With the increased fights, it was hard to keep up with all the monster sightings. He licked his thumb, spreading crumbs on the paper as he flipped a page. "The punk said as much."

"That's not a plan!" Jeongsu grumbled. His own sandwich squashed in his hands as he struggled to keep calm. No one was taking this seriously enough.

"No, but I don't think he had any plans even before all of this." Suhyeok waved at the window vaguely. It was hard to miss the crumbling buildings outside, the small explosions in the distance as teams fought off monsters. "Maybe he was always going to slack off."

Jeongsu grimaced. He couldn't argue against that. From the start, Roksu had been reluctant to take on more work, going with the flow more than anything else. At first, he'd thought it was a by-product of the three days Roksu had spent trapped in a building, but the more he'd come to know his lazy coworker, the more he'd realized that this was one thing that he couldn't blame the apocalypse on.

Roksu was a slacker. He had always been a slacker. Even the end of the world couldn't change that.

"Still…it's not right." Jeongsu aggressively bit his sandwich and angrily chewed.

Suhyeok snorted as he traced a line on the page, not bothering to look up. "Does it matter?"

Jeongsu almost choked. Gulping down water, he forced the food down before snapping back, "Of course it matters! What are we doing all of this for, if not the after?"

Suhyeok raised a brow. "We might not make it to that after."

Might was putting it lightly. Jeongsu sometimes worried that no one would make it to after. Death wasn't a stranger to him in the least and between his long-lost family and his job, he was intimately aware of how close he toed the line every day.

"That only makes it more important that we plan for the after. Gives us something to fight for." Jeongsu bit his cheek, a new worry rising up. "Don't tell me you don't have anything planned either."

"Hmm…" Suhyeok set down the papers and rubbed his chin. The crumbs spread even further; his team leader wasn't the neatest man. "Not sure…maybe I'll run a farm. Always wanted to watch things grow."

Jeongsu grinned; he knew that feeling too well. "That's funny, I was thinking of having an orchard. Peach, maybe? I used to have one back home."

"Not surprised, you seem good with your hands." Suhyeok picked up his papers once more, taking another bite from his sandwich as he combed through them. "Maybe I'll use your green thumb."

"Don't think it's that green," Jeongsu laughed, remembering just how many of his mother's pots he'd killed as a child. Even now, he'd swear plants wilted at the sight of him.

"Better than nothing," Suhyeok disagreed. He ran a hand through his hair, raking it as he frowned. Flipping back and forth between two different reports, he sighed. "I don't like how the sightings have changed. Something feels off."

"You always say that." Jeongsu sighed, staring at his sandwich. There was no real rhyme or reason to these monsters. Nor was there any reason to think too hard about it. Either way, they'd have to go and fight the things, why waste their off-time worrying about things they couldn't change?

Though, he knew others could say the same about his worries for Roksu.

Maybe he should stop worrying about that bastard's future. Suhyeok could have a farm next to his orchard, they could succeed or fail together, and—

He sat up straight. "That's it!"

"Huh?" Suhyeok's brow quirked as he looked up from his papers. His sandwich sat on the side, cooling and forgotten. "What's it?"

Jeongsu smirked. "I know just what the bastard can do."

If Roksu didn't have any plans, he'd just have to drag him into his.

-x-

There was only one flaw to Jeongsu's otherwise brilliant plan: Roksu could barely keep himself alive, let alone an orchard or a farm. The man didn't sleep properly, sometimes forgot to eat, and more often than not was in a daze whenever they were deployed.

If he could ignore his own body crying out for help, then a voiceless plant wouldn't fare any better.

But that was fine. Jeongsu was used to taking care of kids, adult or otherwise. And there was one easy way to teach a kid responsibility, a tried-hard experience that made kids into adults: taking care of another life.

Smirking, he sat in the changeroom and watched as Roksu languidly opened his locker only to reveal a small pot inside. There was utter silence as his dark eyes focused on the plant, his jaw tightening as he tried to comprehend just what he'd found.

Jeongsu snickered.

Roksu stiffened. Pivoting, he yanked the pot out and thrust it into Jeongsu's face. "What's this?" he all but growled.

"A pot," Jeongsu replied innocently.

"I can see that." Roksu clicked his tongue. The dark circles under his eyes were prominent, his pale skin looking even paler under the fluorescent light. Really, what was this punk doing to care for himself? "Why's it here?"

"So you can take care of it." Jeongsu took Roksu's free hand and slid it gently under the clay pot. It wouldn't do for the thing to break because of poor grip. "You've done this before, right?"

Roksu gave him a blank look. "Done what?"

"Taken care of a plant." Jeongsu rolled his eyes; wasn't it obvious? He patted the soil gently. "Remember that school project? You just gotta get the bean to grow."

"No," Roksu said flatly, trying to push the pot back into Jeongsu's hands.

"What do you mean no? Even kids can do this!" Jeongsu argued, pushing the pot firmly into Roksu's hand. This was the only reason he had any confidence his friend could handle this in the first place. Sure, it was a far cry from farming, but eight-year-olds could do this. Even the bastard couldn't fuck this up.

Roksu frowned and turned to the nearby trash can. "I'm tossing it—"

"Wait!" Jeongsu grabbed Roksu's hand before he could hurl the innocent pot. "I'll give you another one."

"…what?"

The only way to win was to use Roksu's laziness against him. The only thing he hated more than being forced into things was being pestered. And Jeongsu had that down to an art. "I'll keep giving you pots."

Roksu ground his teeth and glared. "You can't be serious."

"A hundred percent," Jeongsu replied, his eyes never leaving Roksu's. He continued slowly, emphasising each word. "Every day. Until you are swimming in pots."

Irritation, then reluctant acceptance flickered across his face. With a huff, Roksu yanked his hands free from Jeongsu's grip, though he still held the pot carefully. "Fine. I just have to water it, right?"

-x-

What had Jeongsu thought before? Even a kid could do it so the bastard couldn't fuck it up?

He'd been wrong.

The bastard had fucked it up.

Jeongsu stared at the pot sitting on Roksu's desk, looking identical to how it had on day one. The seed hadn't even sprouted. He'd seen deserts with more life. Stretched out languidly on the team couch, Roksu didn't so much as flinch when Jeongsu shot him a glare. The bastard didn't even feel guilty for what he'd done!

"It didn't sprout," Roksu offered, a feeble excuse. He shrugged as he settled into the cushions, ready for an afternoon nap. The man was more cat than human. "It happens."

He wasn't wrong, but he wasn't right either. Jeongsu had a feeling this was more than just the usual 'the seed wasn't viable'. Scrutinizing the pot, he pressed a finger on the dry soil: it was as hard as a rock. One didn't have to be a farmer to guess what had happened. "Did you water it?"

"Yes," Roksu drawled, yawning as he stretched his arms behind him. His dark hair splayed on the cushions as he shifted into a more comfortable position.

Did he really think Jeongsu was going to let him off the hook that easily? "More than once?"

This time, the response was slower. Roksu closed his eyes. "…yes."

Nothing about his tone was instilling any confidence. Jeongsu stomped over and leaned over, staring down at the murderer. "Regularly?"

Roksu's eyes flickered open, meeting Jeongsu's. They stared at each other, a silent confrontation, before he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "It's dead," he said blithely, not even bothering to cover up his crime anymore.

"It's dead because you didn't take care of it!" Jeongsu snapped back, resisting the urge to turn the pot upside down and dump it on Roksu. With the soil as hard as a rock, it might count as a lethal weapon. The only downside was that it would stain the couch with blood and dirt.

It was hard to find decent furniture these days.

"Look, I said I'd water it. I did." Roksu rolled his eyes, not realizing how close he'd come to averting death. "Isn't that good enough?"

There had to be another sofa out there somewhere. Jeongsu tightened his fists and ground his teeth. There was no way he was letting Roksu wiggle his way out of this. "I'll get you another one."

"You don't—"

Jeongsu dropped the pot on Roksu. The resulting groan was satisfying. "And it better see the sunrise."

-x-

Jeongsu could only stare at the pot-sized swamp on the windowsill. Behind him, Roksu and Suhyeok carefully took apart their guns, laying them on a white cloth as they cleaned and inspected the weapons. It was a Saturday morning ritual, a way to calm down and refocus after dealing with monsters and mayhem all week.

He did not feel relaxed.

He did not feel relaxed at all.

Jeongsu gingerly tapped the pot, watching as the water gently rippled in response. Algae grew on the top. How was there algae? Somehow, he wouldn't be surprised if there were tiny fish or tadpoles in the water. The only thing not growing in the pot was the actual seed and one didn't need to be a gardener to know why.

"Roksu," Jeongsu croaked out, forcing himself to tear his eyes away from the miniature disaster. "How…"

Suhyeok chuckled as he looked over at the pot. "I think we found a hidden talent."

He glared at his team leader. "Not helping!"

"What?" Roksu glanced at him, then at the pot. He averted his gaze immediately, turning back to the barrel he was rubbing. A guilty man, in all looks and appearances. "It saw the sun."

"Putting a pot on the windowsill is not making it see the sun, you bastard!" Jeongsu snapped, unable to help himself. He gestured at the pot. "Are you trying to drown it?"

Roksu pursed his lips. Jeongsu knew immediately he wasn't going to like the response. "You told me to water it."

He was right. He hated the response.

Even worse, though, was Suhyeok's laughter. "He's got you there."

-x-

Attempt number three did not go much better. There was a pot, there was a seed, and there was a small bottle so Roksu could precisely measure and feed the plant. Jeongsu had even set aside fertilizer. At this point, he might as well care for the pot himself.

"Just do it and say that I did," Roksu suggested lazily, taking a drag from his cigarette as he leaned out the window. His sharp eyes scanned the distance; despite his laidback demeanor, he always kept an eye out for any monster sightings.

A way of saving energy in the future, he'd claimed, but Jeongsu suspected the punk was just hiding his real feelings.

"Don't try to put this onto me, you slacker," Jeongsu growled. Leaning against the desk, he eyed the pot on the sill. It looked like it was in good condition: moist soil, plenty of air, and enough sunlight for when it sprouted. Suhyeok had even added a small little wooden trellis so the bean could climb in the future.

"Why wouldn't I?" Roksu snarked. He watched a wisp of smoke dissipate in the air before grumbling, "You forced me to take care of this thing."

Jeongsu jabbed a finger at the pot. "That thing is your future, you punk."

Roksu snorted. His grip on the cigarette loosened as he rolled his eyes and laughed. "A bean is my future."

He had walked right into that one. Jeongsu raked his hair. "No, not the bean, but what the bean is—" He stopped as the tiny tendrils of smoke grew bigger and a burning smell filled the air. "Fire. Fire!"

"Fire?" Roksu glanced at his now empty fingers, then at the pot. The tress was on fire, the cigarette lying guilty on the dirt. "Oh. Whoops."

-x-

There were many, many ways to kill a plant, far more than Jeongsu had realized. Pouring boiling water, dropping the pot out the window, accidentally freezing it—the list went on and on. At this point, instead of a green thumb, he was convinced Roksu had a red one. Maybe he was just talented at plant murder.

They were on the tenth pot by now. Jeongsu had stopped keeping track of the seeds, including the most recent one. Roksu held out the pot, not even looking the slightest bit guilty or ashamed. With a shrug, he said, "Whoops."

"Whoops?" Jeongsu bit his cheek, forcing his anger down. Ruffling his own hair roughly, he breathed out sharply, releasing all of his tension. "It's fine, just toss it."

Roksu stared at him in surprise. "What?"

"You win, you're a plant killer, we'll stop now," Jeongsu said, dismissing it all with a wave. Sighing, he lay down on the couch. At this rate, they'd be out of business before they even started the farm.

"Just like that?" Roksu plodded over, the pot still in his hands. Doubtful, he peered down at the couch. "You're done?"

"Yeah." Jeongsu rubbed his neck, exhausted.

Roksu pressed his lips. "…good."

Without a trace of hesitation, he dropped the pot in the trash. Jeongsu winced. Roksu had hated this more than he'd expected. What if he hated farming in general after this?

"So…what was with the bean?" Roksu broke the silence.

"Just…you know." Jeongsu sat up, crossing his arms on the sofa's back as he leaned forward to watch Roksu. His partner was already back at his desk, papers in hand. "You don't have any plans for after, right?"

"I do," Roksu corrected as he set down a page and picked up a pen. "Sleeping."

Jeongsu burst into laughter. Just the answer he should have expected. "C'mon, be serious."

"I am," Roksu stated flatly, leaving no room for doubt.

"Really? Nothing else?" Jeongsu gripped the couch tightly. "After the monsters are gone and everything's normal, you're just gonna sleep?"

"Yeah?" Roksu raised a brow. "What else? I'm losing enough of it as is because of you."

"Had a feeling you'd say that." Jeongsu sighed, resting his chin on the couch back. Suhyeok had said the same thing. Was he the only one who cared? "It's just…you know. Survival's good and all, but it's not the same as living. You need something more. To pull you through. Suhyeok's gonna get a farm and I'll get an orchard and well…thought it might be fun to have you with us."

Roksu didn't say anything, just stared.

"Oh, but don't think this means you're free yet." Jeongsu smirked, forcing a light-heartedness he didn't quite feel. "You're still coming with us. There's gotta be something else you can do."

-x-

There was a pot on his desk.

It had been a week since Jeongsu had given up on it all and now there was a pot on the desk. The same pot that Roksu had tossed in the garbage. And while any other time he would have ragged on Roksu for it, it was hard to when he was staring at the small, green sprout emerging from the soil. His jaw dropped. "What…"

He glanced at Suhyeok questioningly. His team leader merely shook his head. "Wasn't me."

"Then…" Still stunned in disbelief, Jeongsu glanced at the couch, where Roksu was reading a paper. "Did you…?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Roksu looked at the pot, then at Jeongsu. With a dismissive wave, he went back to his paper. "You said I just had to get it to sprout."

Suhyeok chuckled. "Just how many plants did you kill again?"

Almost a dozen, but that didn't matter anymore. Not when there was this tiny seedling, this singular proof that Roksu could do that. That there was a point to Jeongsu's efforts. He didn't know if he wanted to hug Roksu or kill him. "You bastard. You were able to do it all this time?"

"It wasn't that hard." Roksu shrugged as Suhyeok burst into laughter.

Well, that settled the question, Jeongsu would just have to kill him.