#seongka

“As opposed to now leading an aboveground criminal organization?” Saeko asked drily, she dug into her purse for her own cigarette and frowned when she couldn’t find her lighter.

“Here.” Seonhee leaned over, flicking her own lighter on and offering it to Saeko.

She quickly lit her cigarette and leaned back, resting against the wall of the alley across from Seonhee.

“And I wouldn’t call it aboveground that much. Though the Yokohama Liumang are a little louder for my taste.”

Now that she was facing her Saeko couldn’t help but notice Seonhee looked just a little disheveled. She was willing to bet the guys hadn’t picked up on, except for Joongi of course. He probably noticed the second Seonhee stepped through the door.

“Needed a night off then?” Saeko tilted her head towards the bar. “I didn’t think karaoke was your style.” Idly she wondered what Seonhee sounded like while singing, what song she’d pick and which parts she’d really get in to.

The idea was…almost cute. Saeko bit the bottom of her lip so she didn’t smile, she had feeling Seonhee would catch that and get the wrong idea.

“Joongi invited me,” Seonhee admitted and dropped her cigarette to stamp it out with her high heels. She dragged a hand through her hair, pushing it back and showing off the paleness of her neck in the process.

Saeko darted her eyes away when Seonhee looked at her again.

“It sounded like fun.” Seonhee added, the hint of a smile on her face. “Your boys do things make lively.”

Saeko sighed. “They do. Don’t get me wrong they’re great and I love them but they can be…”

A cheer came from the bar as Ichiban finished his song.

“Well.” Saeko said with a smile, “That. Did you know I bunked with them briefly? Adachi is awful at cleaning up after himself.”

“I did know that. Surveillance remember?” Seonhee wasn’t quite smirking at her but only just.

“I try not to remember that. Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for that much.”

“But you’ve forgiven me a little?” Seonhee asked, she shifted on her feet making the hair she’d just pushed back fall against her face again in waves.

“Only a little.” Saeko emphasized. She took a drag of her forgotten cigarette and held up her other hand to push her thumb and forefinger together so they were almost touching. “About that much.” It was a lie of course. She’d stopped being mad at Seonhee ages ago.

It was hard to be mad at someone who would give up their pride to save their people. Even harder when they looked as good as Seonhee did.

Saeko had always prided herself in how well she put herself together but Seonhee just had a different type of composure to her. It was one that made you look and admire and felt untouchable. Saeko was half tempted to lean over and touch her now just to prove that wasn’t true.

“Guess I still have to make it up to you then.” Seonhee said, her voice teasing. “Any ideas?” She leaned back against the wall of Survive, her head tilted up and gaze meeting Saeko’s easily.

“Hm,” Saeko hummed and tapped at her cigarette, letting the ash fall. Really it was a waste she wasn’t even smoking it but it had given her an excuse to stay out here with Seonhee. “Let me think…” Not that she needed to but she was playing for time. She looked over at Survive and then back at Seonhee playfully. “A song might be a good start.”

To her surprise Seonhee huffed in that quiet laughter she did, usually whenever Ichiban was being silly. Saeko wondered what it would take to get her to freely laugh, if Seonhee ever even felt that comfortable around someone.

“Looks like I’m not getting out of this then.” Seonhee said and crossed her arms, it drew attention to her low cut shirt and just how form fitting it actually was. “But if a song is all it takes…”

“Oh I didn’t say that was all.” Saeko grinned with a little more teeth than necessary. “Just that it was a start.”

“My mistake then. Are the rest of my apologies going to be so public or will you accept something a little more private?”

It was tempting to say that they would be, to push Seonhee the way she pushed Saeko when they first met. But there was only so far a persons pride could go and Saeko was intimately familiar with it.

She was also familiar with the way Seonhee was angling herself and the tone she’d taken. Saeko herself had taught some of her girls that trick.

Rather than look away Saeko gave her a slow once over. When she finally locked eyes with Seonhee again she’d raised an eyebrow at Saeko, a quiet invitation.

“Well.” Saeko took one last drag of her cigarette and dropped it like Seonhee had to snuff out. “Show me what you’ve got then.”

Without another glance she turned to walk into Survive and didn’t need to look back to know Seonhee was watching.

She opened the door and called out to everyone in a greeting and slid up to Adachi who had the karaoke book.

“Let me see that.” She demanded. “I need a show.” She said and smirked over at the door as Seonhee entered.

Adachi looked between them and held up his hands, stepping back and away from the book.

“Have fun.” He shot as a parting, whistling as he walked away to no doubt gossip with the others.

“Oh I will.” Saeko muttered to herself. She pushed the book towards Seonhee and rested her elbow on the bar, dropping her chin in her hand. “Maybe I won’t even be alone.” She added loud enough for Seonhee to hear.

She didn’t get a verbal response but judging by the way Seonhee’s lips twitched she knew she’d gotten her answer.

~~

“So we gonna talk about this.” Nanba asked the next day when Saeko came into the bar and redid her makeup.

Seonhee was a biter, who would have guessed.

“Talk about what?” Saeko asked as innocently as she could.

Nanba narrowed his eyes. “Can you not sleep with the woman who nearly had my brother killed and tried to kill us?”

“Grow up Nanba. Besides.” Saeko shrugged. “I’ve forgiven her.”

At least after last night she had.

“Do not.” Saeko said with a point of a finger. “Tell her that.” She turned in her seat. “Especially you.” She told Joongi who had just come in.

“I don’t need to. She knows.” Joongi shrugged and Saeko huffed at him.

“Of course she does.” Saeko sighed.

Ichiban flopped in the seat next to Nanba and across from her and grinned.

“You good Sa-chan?” He asked, stretching out his foot and nudging her.

From the corner of her eye Saeko saw Seonhee enter; looking perfectly put up as always. Only now she knew what Seonhee looked like when she wasn’t.

Seonhee nodded at the others and took the seat next to Saeko, somehow smoothly sliding her arm across the back of Saeko’s seat. Her gloved fingers brushed the edges of Saeko’s hair, making Saeko wish she’d forgone the gloves. But the night was young.