Mockingbird;

He was pretty smug in that moment. Of course, he was still being mindful of her feelings and making sure she was alright and everything, but fuck Dalpo. That ass had made a big mistake in messing with Brandi, and Dojin’d be sure it wouldn’t happen again. If things were to go the way he hoped they would, Dojin would be certain to not make the same mistakes. He prided himself on being a better person than the man who’d busted up Brandi’s heart not once, but twice. “Right, well, you know where to find me. When you decide to take me up on it, I mean.” He snorted, catching her pen and sliding it behind his ear, standing up and bracing her with his arms, being sure she couldn’t reach it as he held he out away from her. “You’re very welcome,” he said with a grin, ruffling her hair, though still not returning the pen.

She didn’t blame Dalpo. Brandi wasn’t the type. She was sure she had probably done something to make him snap and leave. She’d probably be pretty pissed too if he had got up and left without a word for a week and a half, only to return like nothing was wrong. Dojin could argue all he wanted, but she still felt pretty responsible. She rolled her eyes, rubbing his arm gently. “You’re cute. You’re cute but you’re stupid. Why the hell would you wait on me? What if I take, like, a year to get my shit together?” She growled under her breath, tugging on his arm and pushing her hair back in place. “Give it back,” she muttered, before a wicked gleam appeared in her eyes. “Give it back or I’ll make you!”

He frowned a little, squeezing her a little closer to him, and after a moment of silence, he wrapped his other arm around her. “Right, okay but…when did I say I was joking? I mean it’s a fair assumption to make, I suppose, with my track record of messing with you, but did I ever say I was joking? Because I’m not, not really,” he said quietly. “I mean, I don’t really want to do anything because you’re not over Ass-Face and I don’t want to push anything…but when you’re ready….I wasn’t joking.” He could be an ass, but he wasn’t that kind of guy, who toyed with girls just for the fun of it. He stroked her hair gently, resting his head on hers. “Oh, shush. It’s still not your fault.” He grinned, leaning back in his chair and putting his arms behind his head. “Your writing block really seems to have disappeared, hasn’t it?”

She blushed, hiding her face a little as she curled up into a ball, letting him hold her.  “You....you didn’t,” she admitted, her voice just as quiet. “I just assumed. You’re......you’re not joking then? You..” She trailed off, biting her lip and resting her head against his chest. For the billionth time that day, she was reminded of how she didn’t deserve him at all. “I....--” she took a deep breath “--...I might just take you up on that.....um, eventually....”  Pursing her lips together, she glanced between him and her notebook, giggling a little and throwing her pen at him. “Not really. Sort of. Maybe......Thank you,” she chuckled, getting up to try to retrieve the pen she threw (not her best idea). 

He chuckled a little, adjusting how he was sitting. “Yeah, but I’m not an idol, so that’s less of a chance of a scandal and getting caught than if I was one. Plus, I can step on you ex. Plus, I can help you get over him. Oh, I’m very humble. I’ve gotten awards for humility before, you know. Yah, who said I wasn’t serious?” he asked with an eyeroll. It was all hypothetical, it had started hypothetical of course. Whether there was anything behind it was beyond him. He frowned, taking her notebook away and wrapping an arm around her. “It will if you want it to. This is the life you’ve chosen, but you still can have what you want if you go about it carefully.” He pressed his lips tightly together. “Brandalynn Park, stop it. Stop it right now. I was worried. Lize was worried. Everyone was worried. But he was the only one who was an asshole about it. This isn’t on you.” Dojin couldn’t help but laugh at that one. “Almost. I doubt he’s ever been 100% well behaved.” He nodded in response to her thanks, handing her notebook back with an encouraging smile and a nudge.

She sighed deeply, bowing her head and tucking her hair behind her ear, her nerves making her hands tremble a little. Her voice wavered a little when she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Dojin, I know you’re only joking, but please stop before I stat to think otherwise. You’re sweet and nice and I’m sure it wouldn’t be bad, but if I can keep myself from getting caught up in another stupid unrequited situation, that would be just swell.” His arm around her was nice, but it also made her want to scream. He was making this so hard for her. He was great and a great friend, but she hated people who did this. Guys who pretended they were interested just for kicks. Just to string girls along. She closed her eyes tight, nodding her head. “Whatever you say,” was her quiet reply, as she tried her hardest not to think about how close the two of them were, or how nice it felt. Breaking a little, she groaned, leaning her head on his shoulder and hiding her face in her hands. “It is on me. There’s so much I could have done differently....” She took her notebook back, opening it back up and uncapping her pen, staring at the page for a second, before writing a few lines down. She hesitated for a second, before looking up at him and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, quickly going back to her writing.

He snickered, flinching away and grinning at her. “Would being into me of all people really be all that bad? I’m sweet, I’m attractive, I’m successful. I think it’d just make everything better…” he teased, winking at her, knowing full well he wasn’t making anything easier on her. And, I mean, part of him kind of wanted her to be into him. At least she wasn’t moping anymore. “Fair enough. I’m just saying. When the time does come, you’ve probably got some options. You’ll be okay, I think.” Dojin rolled his eyes. “You went to visit your mother while she was in the hospital. He should have understood. Everyone else did,” Dojin argued. He wasn’t sure why he was so pissed about all of this, but he was. He didn’t know how to get through to her; it wasn’t her fault, and Dalpo had been an asshole about it. “That certainly is. At least he’s better when Jaemi isn’t around though, right?” Dojin thought for a moment. “Well, you don’t necessarily have to release it. Just write it. Get the feelings out of your system before you move on.”

She patted his arm awkwardly, her cheeks threatening to break out into a terrible blush. “It wouldn’t be terrible, but it wouldn’t be good either. What with scandals and me recently getting stepped on and everything. Oh, of course--not to mention how humble you are. Come back when you’re serious and we’ll see,” she teased back, rolling her eyes and sighing. “That’s the thing though, isn’t it,” she muttered, smiling at him sadly. “The time might never come. And I have to be okay with that because it’s the life I’ve chosen.” She shook her head quickly, leaning back on the couch and curling her knees up to her chest. “I still should have said something. He was just worried,” she replied quietly. “Oh, of course. Much better. So much better. He’s almost well behaved when he’s not with Jae.” She nodded. “Right. I could do that. Right.....thank you.”

“It’s fine,” He mused, moving more to the side to give her more room to stand comfortably, “Traffic bad?”

“Traffic?” she repeated, taking a second for what he was asking to connect in her head. “Oh. Sort of. My car wouldn’t start either, taking a good fifteen minutes of my day and throwing them out the window.” Taking a big breath and fanning herself a little, she mumbled, “Remind me to go running or something. My stamina is embarrassing, dear lord. I’m supposed to be a dancer, and I can’t even run from the parking lot to the elevator.”

“Jokes on you–I think you cussing at me in any language is kind of hot so I can’t take it all that seriously,” he teased her, rolling his eyes and nudging her back, hoping she’d loosen up a little, maybe crack a smile for him. “I think I can see Kit being more of a dad then Eliza. Eliza acts like she’s three. Although, if she’s gettin’ with the mom of ACE, maybe she is the dad,” he mused, nodding a little and snoring. “People have caused a lot more trouble over a lot less. If it’s really something you want, then I’m sure when the time comes the company will be accommodating. We’re lucky to have a pretty good CEO. Who is kind of a family man himself.  He was a tool, Brandi. It wasn’t meant to be, but not because you did anything wrong. You went to visit your family and he flipped at you before skipping town,” Dojin muttered, shaking his head a little. “No one is Kyu good. He’s fantastic. He is. He’s a quick learner too, when he’s not messing around.” Dojin shrugged, patting her arm gently. “Write the song about him, maybe? Or somehow find a way to distract yourself from him.”

Her eyes widened and she glared at him. “Yah! Dojin, stop that!” she exclaimed with a blush, pushing at his arm. “Stop teasing me--you’re gonna make me rely on you and get into you and it’s gonna make everything worse.” A smile played at her lips as she scolded him jokingly, though there was an element of truth to what she was saying. She was an emotional person, and fell pretty easily. Especially for people who went out of their way to be kind to her when she didn’t necessarily deserve it. “I...I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about, and it’s nothing that’ll be happening anytime soon. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.” She shook her head quickly, stooping her head. “I should have told him I was going. He was probably worried and fed up with me. It was my fault. That’s the trick, isn’t it? Getting Hasik to stop messing around?” She sighed. “I thought that. And I can do it but like......breakup songs are so cliche. I don’t know it I should.”

Tia laughed a little, “Exciting is one way to put it. I don’t think I learned anything about home economics though,” She finished, shrugging. “I feel like having a mafia background might me interesting, like if someone is an asshole couldn’t you threaten them? You could use this misunderstanding to your advantage,”

“Well...I know how to cook. If you ever want to learn how to cook, I can teach you that. That’s where my expertise starts and ends, though; that’s all I can offer.” Brandi grinned. “You’re right, I could. Do you really think I could pass for mafia, though? I don’t think I have the right look. Or attitude for that matter.”

“It really is ridiculous, but then again, there have been some crazy rumors in the past,” she let out a short laugh, just glad that she had never been a part of one too wild.  “It’s nice to know that your fans are bright enough to not believe it.”  With a slow nod and a smirk, she couldn’t help but agree, “You’re totally right.  Conning is a lot more personal.  It kind of involves you getting to know the person, too. At least when you rob, it can be anyone.  I guess that would make you feel less guilty.  Hey, maybe that’s what you should right about.  Stealing someone’s heart or something.”  Yewon was happy to hear the other agree, bouncing slightly where she sat, “Ah, great!  I need a day off, honestly.  And I never admit to that, so you know it’s necessary.”

“You have to hand it to Dispatch; some of their writers have some pretty great imaginations. It must take a lot of skill to make up a story as far fetched as some of these. I’m thankful--nothing better than having clever, no-nonsense fans, I guess.” Brandi sighed. “I could never con anyone. I’d probably cry. I’m too sensitive for stuff like that, you know. Hmm, that could be a pretty good song. Who knows; maybe it’ll be a hit. If that’s what it ends up being about, I’ll credit you, yeah?” Brandi nodded. “I could use one too. So, what do you want to do on our day off?”

“Hey, no fair. Not switching languages on me. What did you even just call me? He whined, pushing her. “I’ll stop if you tell me what you just said. Good, good. You know, I dunno about a grandma, but you’re definitely their motherly figure. Every group has one. Every group has a fatherly one, too–who’s the SPADES dad, huh? Well, you forget. They’re kind of in love, B. I’m sure she’d do anything for him.” He smiled at her. “You’d be a good mom. Hey, who knows? Maybe in the far future, you’d get pardoned or something? Once SPADES is well established. Hey, shush. He was a tool anyway. You can do so much better, Brandi. So much better.” Dojin nodded. “Yeah, he’s been working with me for the subunit. He’s pretty good. Not…Eliza/Yao/Kyu/Brandon level good….but good all the same.” He shrugged. “Sometimes things don’t work out. You ever think that maybe he’s causing your writers block?”

“Nothing super bad. I only called you a goof in Arabic. That’s all. Nothing terrible. You should feel lucky; I know some doozies in Russian” she teased, nudging him. “I can handle being the maternal one. Um....the dad, huh......Eliza maybe? Lize or Kit. One of them. Hyeri likes being babied too much, and Zumi is a baby. That’s.....fair, yeah. She probably would.” Brandi blushed a little, smiling faintly. “You think so?I hope so........Oh, gosh, I don’t know. That seems like a lot of trouble. Maybe once I’m retired I can adopt or something. No, he was sweet. It...it just wasn’t mean to be, I guess, but whatever...” She smiled. “Is anyone Kyu-good? Kyu’s your star student. I’m not surprised Hasik picked it up, though. He’s more talented than people give him credit for.” She chewed her lip, looking at him with wide eyes. “Oh god, he might be--what the hell do I do?”

“Oh, right. I forgot. Little Miss I-have-an-eidetic-memory-and-also-know-11-languages. I do indeed know my shit. Just, none of you get into drugs, okay? Those ruin careers. Oh, as if. You girls are the only reason Eliza is still afloat. You and Yao, anyway. And she and Zumi are the dream team. You’re not getting rid of her that easily.” He snorted. “Yes, Brandalynn, I am indeed a man. Good observation.” Dojin shrugged. “I’ve never thought hard about it. I mean, I’d like to have kids someday. That would be really nice. But I’d be happy with whatever nature decided to give me. And if me having kids isn’t meant to be, I’ve got tons of grown-up kids to look after for a living.” He patted her back. “With my help you sure will be. Nope, I’m done for the day; my last session was supposed to be with Hasik, but UNION got called onto a variety show last minute, so he had to cancel. I’m all free.” He rolled his eyes, motioning to the lyrics. “What do you think? Since Dalpo left. How have you been holding up?”

“الأبله,” Brandi muttered under her breath in Arabic, glaring at him pointedly and rolling her eyes. “You’re making me sound like some sort of anomaly--stop it. None of us will. Especially if I have a say in it. Well....fair enough, fair enough. I think Yao had more to do with that than anyone, though. I don’t know how he does it, but he knows how to rein her in.” She rolled her eyes again, smacking his arm. “You know what I meant! I....I want to have kids. I don’t think I’ll be able to, though. Not if I’m still an idol. That wouldn’t fly well at all. Plus, I mean....No way of getting knocked up anymore so....maybe that’s a sign,” she snorted self-deprecatingly, sighing. “I didn’t even know Hasik trained with you--you learn something new every day. Good, you can help me finish this, then.” She bit her lip, shrugging. “I dunno. Not as torn up as I probably should be, considering everything that happened for us to get back together and everything. But I’d be lying if I said everything was golden.”

“I’m sure you will. You’re smart girls, all of you. You’re all talented. And you’re signed to a steady label, so you probably won’t face the same problem Jewoo and Tae did. I think you’re in it for the long haul. So what? There’s still a need for more trainers. Besides, you’re an amazing vocalist. Though, writing is kind of your calling–I don’t blame you.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’m an only child, and I never asked my dad id he ever wanted a daughter.” He laughed. “I mean, just as long as you’re aware……” He shrugged, waving her off. He was done with his idol career. He was more focused on making sure his trainees had long ones. Shaking his head quickly, he replied, “No, I can work with that. It’s got a lot of power; it matches Eliza’s style pretty well.” He glanced at the lyrics, quickly scanning them before sighing and pulling her notebook away. “Right, okay, real talk. How have you been holding up?”

“I don’t need you to tell me I’m smart, D; that’s common knowledge at this point. Thank you, though. I mean, you know your shit--I’m sure you’re right. You know, I’d be worried about Lize wanting to break off and do more solo work if it wasn’t Eliza and she wasn’t absolutely terrified of stardom,” Brandi said with a laugh. “Yeah, but you’re a man, are you not? Have you never thought about having kids or what you want your kids to be like if you ever do?” she asked curiously, shrugging a little bit. “Okay, awesome. I’ll leave that section of the song up to you, then. Maybe I will be done by tomorrow, then? With your help? Do you have a lot of trainees in today?” she asked. Making a little noise of protest and grabbing for her book, she glared at him, blushing a little. “The hell are you going on about?”