Chapter Text
“Well, how’s everyone doing?” Sinu asks while sitting at a table. He’s sitting at the head of the table with Jake Kim to his right and Samuel Seo to his left. Next to Jake is his bodyguard/best friend/brother Jerry Kwon. Jason Yoon sits next to Jerry, and Brad Lee sits next to Samuel. Jake shrugs, taking a bite of his food, and Samuel just eyes Jake. Jerry narrows his eyes at Samuel, knowing that glance isn’t innocent.
“Come on guys! Nobody talks to me anymore! Especially since I’ve been getting old,” Sinu whines. He knows that tension has been building between Jake’s team, and Samuel’s team, so he’s trying to break the tension. Jake takes a deep breath before setting his chopsticks down. Before he goes to say anything, Jake’s phone vibrates on the table.
“Really Jakey?” Samuel says mockingly. Jake rolls his eyes.
“Sorry,” He says to Sinu, “I thought my phone was on silent.” Jake looks confused. Jerry is worried because he knows how Jake’s phone is set up, and only one phone number can make the phone vibrate, even in silent mode. Jake takes out his phone and looks at the notification. Shock, confusion, and worry overcome Jake’s face, and Sinu asks.
“What’s wrong?” Jake just puts his phone on the table, the screen down, and turns to Sinu.
“I need to leave. No, Jerry and I need to leave.” Jake says his voice is filled with anxiety, and this causes confusion to fill Jason and Brad. For as long as they’ve known Jake, he’s never sounded like that. Jake’s words confirm what Jerry thinks, something is up with his family. Jerry starts to get up, leaving his food on the table.
“Why? I mean you’re free to leave, but why?” Sinu asks sympathetical and inquisitively. Samuel raises a confused and mocking eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. Yet. Jake looks at his phone, before getting up and grabbing his phone.
“I’d rather not tell. It’s personal,” Jake says, his voice a forced monotone. Jerry grabs his and Jake's coat, getting ready to leave. Samuel stands up in retaliation and says.
“You have your phone on, and you’re leaving without explaining yourself. So disrespectful Jake. I’m disappointed,” Samuel says with mocking and disrespect filling his voice. As much as Jake respects Samuel, probably more than he should, Samuel tends to get under his skin.
“Now boys,” Sinu says, trying to resolve the situation when he sees Jake's fist tighten. Normally Jake would try to keep a level head, but with the very suspicious and cryptic text, along with the worry and anxiety filling him, Jake can’t keep a level head. So as a result of everything stockpiling extremely quickly on Jake, he spits out.
“I have to pick up my namdongsaeng !” Jake takes a few calming breaths, trying to force the anxiety down. Worry overtakes Samuel’s urge to tease Jake. Samuel twitches, the desire to comfort Jake coming out of nowhere, but seeing Jerry move stops him. Jerry places a large soft hand on Jake’s shoulder in comfort. Fear and worry fill Jake as he tries to calm himself, in an attempt to not just run off. With more effort than should be required, Jake slowly uncurls his hands. He’s afraid of why he got such a cryptic text from his hyung. The last time he got a cryptic text like this he found out his father died, so getting this text from his hyung instead of his mother, causes his mind to go to dark places. Jerry squeezes Jake’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort Jake, trying to convey support and positive messages he doesn’t feel himself.
“Then how about I give you a ride?” Sinu says, attempting to boost Jake’s mood. Everyone can see the worry and fear on Jake’s face. Jake doesn’t want his namdongsaeng to be exposed to a gang, he wants to protect him from this kind of life, but Jake also knows that even if he takes Jerry’s bike, which he doesn’t want to ruin, Jake would never make it to his school in time. Jake shares a look with Jerry before nodding.
“Okay, but no fanciness. Just drive us there, and bring us back here,” Jake says sternly. Jake’s nervous about how his namdongsaeng would react to Big Deal, especially since his mother was, supposedly, killed because of gang violence. Sinu springs up, and Jason and Brad follow Sinu.
“Are all of you coming?” Jake asks with a raised eyebrow. His voice is filled with accusation and hostility, but neither Jason nor Brad is offended by it.
“We’ve been with you the longest. If anyone deserves to meet your namdongsaeng, we do. Plus Samuel is most likely coming too!” Jason says excitedly. Jake turns to Samuel and looks at him accusingly.
“Really?” Jake asks. Samuel smirks and says.
“ Why not, I’d love to learn who the namdongsaeng of the Jake Kim is,” Samuel’s tone is teasing, but also upbeat. The corner of Jake’s lips twitch up, and Samuel takes that as a win. Jake rolls his eyes, a habit he picked up from his hyungs, before nodding.
“Fine, let’s go,” Jake says. Jerry sees the worry lessen, and he removes his hand. Sinu perks up and says.
“Great! I’ll go tell the girls, before grabbing the car,” Sinu leaves the room, and Jake drops his eyes again. He takes his phone out again and looks at the text message again.
Most Dangerous Hyung: Pick up our namdongsaeng from school, and please keep him in your sight until 6:45. Then I’ll be able to pick you both up at the street you work at. We need to talk once we get home. All of us.
Jake knows something is off about the text message, but it’s in His style of typing and tone of voice, so Jake doubts it’s a fake. Samuel looks on in worry but doesn’t say anything as he can tell Jake needs his alone time. Until Sinu comes around with the car, the room is filled with an uncomfortable silence, but Jake and Jerry were more worried about their namdongsaeng. When Sinu comes by with the car, he claps his hands.
“Come in! Let’s get going,” Sinu says with false cheerfulness. As they enter the car, it's a little cramped, but Jake doesn't care. Sinu tries to tell jokes and ask questions in an attempt to help Jake and Jerry relax. The atmosphere is tense, so Sinu tries to lessen it, but Jake is barely paying attention to Sinu. Instead Jake looks out the window, his entire body locked up, as Jake thinks about the text. He's caught up on what the text could mean, and the worst scenarios are running through his head. Both Samuel and Jerry notice the worry Jake's in, Jerry because he's Jerry, and Samuel because he's next to Jake, so both of them are filled with the need to comfort Jake. Since Jerry is stuck in the passenger's seat, it's up to Samuel to comfort Jake.
When Sinu attempts to tell another shitty Dad joke, Samuel forces his hand under Jake's fist. With great care, Samuel forces Jake's hand to uncurl, while not grabbing 's attention everyone else's attention. Samuel leans into Jake and whispers something in his ear. Jake takes a deep breath and relaxes it, forcing his body to relax while doing so. However, instead of moving his hand off of Samuel’s, Jake entwines his hand with Samuel’s. Samuel, based on the grip Jake has on his hands, figures that Jake needs support. Jerry smiles appreciatively at the small interaction, and he knows at least one of Jake's hyungs would approve. Sadly, Jerry knows which one of his hyungs would approve of Samuel immediately, and it isn't the eldest. It takes 10 minutes of bad Dad jokes, and subtle flirting between Samuel and Jake to arrive at the school Jerry told Sinu to go drive to. When he parks, Jake and Jerry practically jump out of the car, running towards the school. Everyone else follows with a confused look, but they have enough sense to stay near the entrance.
"Daniel." Jake breathed out in relief, dropped to his knees, and brought him into a tight hug. Daniel, while confused, hugged Jake back. Daniel is a 90-pound, 5 foot 14-year-old with Dark black hair and hints of scars underneath his sleeves. When Jake releases him, Jake stands up straight, and Jerry moves out from behind Jake. Once Daniel notices Jerry, Daniel draws Jerry into a hug. After he realizes Jerry, Daniel asks.
"What are you guys doing here? I thought J-Hyung was picking me up," His voice is soft, but Samuel can detect the small hint of fear in the undertone. Jake shuffles before answering
"He asked me to pick you up. He probably got held up at his work," Jake says, his voice a forced calm. Daniel narrows his eyes at the semi-lie Jake just told him, but Daniel trusts Jake. Daniel grabs Jake's hand.
"Okay," Daniel says, his voice still soft and trusting. It warms Jake's heart knowing that Daniel trusts him, especially after everything he's been through. Jake, slowly, leads Daniel to the entrance where he sees the group Jake came with standing around. The other parents, and kids walking home, avoid the group because they give off a very intimidating aura, but to Jake and Daniel, an intimidating aura is almost comforting. Just add in bickering, threats, and the occasional fistfight, and maybe Jake and Daniel would feel at home.
“Come on. There are a few people I’d like to introduce you to,” Jake says while dragging Daniel. Once they reach the group, Jake lets go of Daniel.
“Everyone, this is my namdongsaeng, Daniel Park,” Jake says to everyone, before turning to Daniel.
“Daniel, this is my boss Sinu Han. That’s Jason Yoon and Brad Lee, I believe I’ve told you about them.” Daniel nods before Jake continues.
“And this is Samuel, Sammy, Seo,” Hearing Jake call Samuel Sammy again, Samuel twitches in anger. There's a weird undertone to Jake’s voice when he says that, and an undertone that Daniel hears. He makes a note to ask his hyungs about that. Daniel bows to them before saying.
“Hello,” Daniel’s voice is soft and quiet. He tries to hide behind Jake and Jerry, while still appearing polite. Sinu resists the urge to coo at Daniel, and Jason and Brad struggle to comprehend that this cutie is the younger brother of the monster known as Jake. Samuel, however, raises an eyebrow. He didn’t know what to expect, but this kid isn’t it. Unlike Jake, Daniel doesn’t appear dangerous, he’s short and meek. The kid doesn’t look like he’d hurt a fly, but with Jerry and Jake as his older brothers, the kid won’t need to fight. Right?
“Wait, Park?” Jason says once he realizes this kid is Jake’s younger brother. He realizes that Jake introduced the kid as Daniel Park, even though Jake’s last name is Kim. A grim look adores both Daniel’s and Jake’s faces. Daniel grabs onto Jake’s pant leg since Daniel is just barely taller than Jake’s waist, and Jerry takes a step closer to Daniel.
“Jake’s Mom took me in after my Mom died,” Daniel says, his voice just above a whisper. Jake reaches down and carefully pries Daniel’s arm off his pant leg, and grasps his hands. Anger fills Jake at seeing the pain take over Daniel again, but he understands that he would probably ask the same thing if he were in Jason's place. Brad elbows Jason for asking the question, but before Jason can apologize, or Jerry can punch Jason in the face for upsetting his namdongsaeng, Daniel says.
“When are we going home, Jake? Are we going home?” Daniel’s voice is soft, heartbroken, and full of pain. Everyone’s heart breaks at hearing the defeat in this 14-year-old’s voice, but Jake notices something else. Jake watches as Daniel starts fidgeting with the sleeves of his shirt, and how quickly Daniel reacted to what Jason said. Jake thinks about what the text message says, before looking at the group in front of him. While he trusts Jerry with his family, he doesn’t trust the others. He can’t trust them, especially since Daniel is being hunted, the eldest in his family could be in danger, and the “middle” hyung is, well, the “middle” hyung is himself. Jake turns to Daniel, kneeling, and says.
“J-Hyung asks that I keep an eye on you till 6:45. Then he’ll pick both of us up, at Big Deal’s street.” Jake, and Samuel, see the fear flash on Daniel’s face for just a second before Daniel nods.
“Okay,” Daniel says. Jake, resisting the urge to comfort Daniel as he knows this isn’t the place, turns to Sinu. While doing so, he notices a problem.
“How are we all going to fit in the car?”