Strings Of hearts

Narin denies it, then stops the denials and goes with the 'even if' defense. Look at their career, and how he's perceived and how Ryu is and it just couldn't work. Annop points out that not only is Narin's cute reputation not the same as Ko's due to his more flirty personality which has resulted in lots of ships, but also he's a bl drama actor now, sure he's only done a couple things with acting. But he's kissing guys on the screen now, including Ryu. They've acted together already. The fans won't revolt at the idea of him having a boyfriend. Even the ones who don't ship Narin with Ryu will eventually understand. It'll be fine. Annop's boyfriend points out that they could explain it with their story. He may not know all the details but from what he does know, it's a slowly building relationship based on years of trust and care, both publically with their acting and music careers, and their private friendship behind the scenes that the public didn't get to see, that helped both of them. That kind of thing is a story an audience will eat up. They can give a few details of how it all happened and why and explain how long it took them and it'll smooth things out. And everything he can see says Ryu is into Narin too. Narin goes quiet and runs out to play with the others. But that night after they started to party and drink and the others were sufficiently distracted, they notice that Ryu isn't around and notice Narin slipping away too. So they quietly follow, just to see.

Narin wanders to look for Ryu only to find him at the edge of the dock, sitting and staring at the stars. "You can't see the stars like this in the city." He sits next to Ryu for a long, quiet moment, barely space for both their hands to be side by side between them. Then he slowly, hesitantly, moves his hand to cover Ryu's.

Ryu doesn't turn, doesn't acknowledge it. Though he feels the shift. There are no fans, no cameras, they're both barely tipsy. They don't have to get into character or blow off steam. This is a real moment between them. His only acknowledgement is to turn his hand so he can hold Narin's. They stay like that, staring at the stars until Narin carefully leans to rest his head against Ryu's shoulder.

Ryu gathers all his courage. Narin's laid on him, rested against him, slept on him or with him before in their years they've known each other. So even though he feels the difference here, it's still frightening to take a familiar moment into new territory. It's a risk, a gamble, but he takes it all the same.

Eryx steeples his ingers as he stares out the window into his garden, his desk chair only partially turned away from Paek, his desk covered in the documents he was reviewing when Paek had stormed in. He'd fallen behind during the search for Paek's boy and was oly now starting to catch up since Paek could easily handle the investigation without Eryx micromanaging the way he might if it was one of the kids or one of their lieutenats. His nieces and Phoenix shifted behind Paek, uncertain as to what Eryx would say and how Paek would react. "So that's how it is." His voice is calm and quiet, maybe a bit disappointed, he'd hoped Paek would get this out of his system and settle down with someone closer to his age, but if this was what it was.

"That's how it is" Paek answer, sharp and harsh and certain.

Eryx nods. "Very well then. I guess I'm left with no choice then." He stands and sees the nervousness enter Mali's frame. The kids have never seen this stillness from him. They've seen him in almost every mood, but this one he'd kept hidden from them, wanting them to see their father and uncle in the best light they could.

Paek nearly growls when Eryx stands, his eyes dark with rage, not at his brother, no never at Eyrx, he understood what Eryx meant. It wasn't the dismissal the kids thought, the threat that others might hear, no it was his brother clarifying that Narise held the same position to Paek that Daran held to him. It was Eryx making sure of exactly how serious he was about his younger lover before deciding how much support from the organization he can offer. So he watches silently as Eryx moves across the room to his bookcase and moves a book to reveal a hidden scanner which opens a small drawer where a pair of old style brass knuckles sat. A pair identical to the ones that currently sat in Paek's pocket, having been put away for nearly twenty years. They hadn't brought these out since The Incident. The night they'd finally had enough and conquered their way to the top of the underworld in one long, bloody night. "What's our first rule Phoenix?" Eryx called as he turns back to the group.

Phoenix answers promptly, they'd drilled these rules into the kids years ago. "Protect the family."

Eryx nods and places a hand on Paek's shoulder. "We protect the family. And the gods can't help those who would hurt the family." He squeezes and Paek reaches up to place his own hand over Eryx's and squeeze in return, the most gratitude he's capable of expressing right now. "It's your wife Paek. Your call. Two things first"

Paek looks at him quizzically. "Go get a certificate"

Paek almost manages a smile at that but he knows it's not just a personal request made out of a desire for his brother's happiness, but a business and political one. They always have to consider the men when doing these things. And it would be much easier for the men to support what they're about to do for a boss's spouse then someone seen as a boss's boytoy. "As soon as he graduates. I already booked the planner and photographer." Eryx nods. "Make sure that gets whispered about soon. The second thing. Bring the kids. It'll be good to harden them to the reality of what has to be done to protect each other and those we care for."

Paek nods, glancing over his shoulder. "The Santasakul's should be at the hospital with Narise by now. Text your brothers, tell them to meet us at the warehouse if they want in, but it'll be bloody. None of you have to come. I won't make you do that." He knows his kids are angry with him, that the relationship with Narise is something they are struggling with. With the exception of 16 year old Jade and 6 year old Sena, they're older than their father/uncle's boyfriend. He knows they aren't really ok with it yet.

Phoenix surprises him with a scoff. "I may not like the little brat. But attacking him was a way to get to you, and that's attacking all of us includinng me. Blood is the only reasonable response."

The response from Bua was more reasoned and measured, her and Kian were so alike. It was a toss up which would make the better leader, though Bua was more ruthless than Kian who had been tempered more by Daran's influence. "If we allow anyone to cross the group and walk away alive, just continue on, then we look weak and put a permanent target on our backs. The other groups expect punishment to be metted out by us, they'll be looking for it. We must be so thorough that not only do the other branches fall in line and the entirety of the black dragons and Delphinium group start behaving again, but we also have to be viscious enough to scare the other groups so no one will try this again."

Mali simply flips a knife she'd pulled from her ankle, one handed, perfectly balanced on her heels. "There's been whispers about why the Huntress came back home. Let's show them why."

Paek nods tight lipped in gratitude to his family. He slides the brass knuckles out of his pocket and slides them onto his fingers. "Let's get this done before Narise wakes. There's only a few hours before I get to bring him home." He turns to the door as Eryx fits his own set on his hands and falls into step beside him instead of in front as they push open the door.

He was always considerate like that. Watching out for Narise, anticipating his needs, keeping his health and comfort in the forefront of whatever they were doing. Even taking Narise to the illegal street race came with a guard assigned to monitor him in case he collapsed and a separate, limited access area with a lounge chair for him to rest. So it was probably just Paek being Paek, but Narise couldn't help how his heart skipped a beat as he looked over at Paek, who was standing and moving, before Narise could move himself, Paek was drawing the chair back and offering a hand to help Narise stand. Maybe he was worried that the Fashion show had been too much? Narise offers a fond smile and a soft squeeze before he releases Paek's hand. "Thank you. I am alright though. I've already promised to let you know if I start feeling faint or unwell. You've been so kind and attentive today. You don't have to go so out of your way to take care of me." Paek nods, "I do not need to, but I wish to." He didn't say more, simply picking up Narise's bag and guiding Narise with a hand on his back again all the way to the beautiful car they'd been driving around in today. He opens the door as he had all day and takes Narise's hand to help him in, but he doesn't move, his hand offering the slightest tug to hold Narise back from climbing in. Narise looks up into his eyes, those banked embers in his voice seemed to have climbed into his darkened eyes, whispering promises Narise wanted but knew would never be. the look lingers, Narise turned to face him, barely inches apart, surrounded by the car and Paek, a place some might find terrifying, but Narise had never felt safer. Yet there was a thrumming through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest as his lips part slightly and he tries to think, but coming up with words seemed impossible, swallowed up by the intensity of Paek's stare. Then slowly, hesitatingly, almost as though he was himself scared, or maybe not certain, or something else entirely, he raises Narise's hand to his lips and presses a long kiss to his knuckles, eyes locked onto Narise, studying every minuet detail of his reaction, the tiny gasp that was barely more than a breath, the way he almost stopped breathing entirely. Whatever he was looking for, he must have found, because he stopped Narise's breath entirely with his next move, stepping forward to press a hand to Narise's cheek, curling around his jaw to tenderly, softly hold his head as he presses a long, lingering, soft kiss to his lips. Narise melts into the kiss months in the making, his glossed lips sliding against Paek as the man presses forward, pinning Narise against the side of the car and deepening the kiss. Narise releases his hand to drape his arm around Paek's shoulders, his other hand coming to rest on Paek's chest, wrapping itself around a small handful of his jacket, as though he could by that small grip keep them in the moment forever. Paek wraps his free arm around Narise, tenderly pulling him closer as the kiss lingered on and slowly gentled before it ended softly, their foreheads pressed together as their breath mingled in the cold air, Paek's coat fluttering around Narise in the slight breeze, the chill no longer noticed by either man.