#wang taeman

Wang Tae-man

always teasing you

→ he’ll poke your cheek in class and whisper, “still paying attention, or am i more interesting?”

lots of handholding

→ grabs your hand in the hallway when he sees you're stressed, squeezing gently while making a dumb joke.

→ links pinkies with you when you walk home, his other hand used to exaggerate his words

only shares food with you

→ slides a cookie across the desk to you mid-lecture without anyone noticing, alongside a wink that makes your cheeks warm

a fan of unserious nicknames

→  calls you silly nicknames that make you laugh and roll your eyes at the same time, like “silly girl / boy / baby” or “snack queen / king / theif”

surprise hugs

→ will wrap his arms around you from behind while you’re waiting in line, talking to a friend, waiting for him at the school gate and whispering, “miss me?”

messy but charming notes

 → leaves little sticky notes in your locker or backpack with jokes, doodles, or “good luck” messages before a big test. → sometimes forgets what he wrote and gets embarrassed when you bring it up, only to laugh it off.

playful teasing in public

 → deliberately bumps shoulders with you in the hallway and whispers, “oops… clumsy me or clumsy you?” with a grin. → or leans over to whisper something absurd in your ear when everyone’s around, just to make you laugh and blush at the same time.

competitive but cute

 → challenges you to small bets (like who can finish homework faster), and the loser has to do something goofy, like wearing a funny hat for a day. when he “loses,” he dramatically falls to the floor or pretends to cry just to make you laugh.

random acts of affection

 → smooths down a stray hair from your face without thinking.

 → casually rests his head on your shoulder during long walks or bus rides, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

cute, over-the-top texts

 → sends random voice messages singing a ridiculous made-up song about you. → texts you emojis in a weird combination that only the two of you understand, like a secret language.

playful protection mode

 → nudges people away if they get too close when you’re around, but immediately apologizes if it looks too serious. → jokingly flexes in front of you after defending you, asking, “impressed yet?”

─────

Jo Jang-soo

secret soft side

 → he frowns when you make a mess but will quietly tidy it up himself when you’re not looking. → insists on rules in public, but when you’re alone, he lets you do silly things — like dancing around the room or eating dessert first — without complaint.

overprotective tendencies

 → checks in constantly when you go out, sending slightly bossy but worried texts like, “make sure you’re home by 10. don’t even think about bending the rules.” → holds your hand a little tighter in crowded places, acting like he’s “enforcing safety regulations.”

awkwardly affectionate

 → adjusts your collar or jacket straight after you’ve left it messy, but doesn’t notice he’s brushing your hair out of place too. he even gives the occasional stiff hug or awkward cheek peck

surprising humor

 → makes very dry, sarcastic remarks in public, but they’re always aimed to make you laugh without him outright showing it. → will occasionally play dumb just to see you scold him—he secretly loves the attention.

rule-bending for you

 → would never break rules… except when it comes to protecting you or making you happy, like skipping curfew to sneak in a late-night ice cream date. → carefully plans “rebellious” surprises such as letting you pick the movie

structured love gestures

 → he’s a classy guy who keeps a small planner just for “dates and special things with you,” complete with neat little stickers and notes. even writes you little reminders like, “don’t forget your lunch” or “call me when you leave school,” in the neatest handwriting imaginable.

jealousy under control

 → doesn’t show it overtly but gets slightly tense if someone flirts with you. → will make a “friendly but firm” comment or pull you close subtly, showing his possessive side without losing composure.

intense but meaningful compliments

 → rarely says “i love you” casually, but when he does, it’s soft, serious, and perfectly timed. → notices the smallest details about you — like how your hair smells, how you concentrate, or how your laughter changes when you’re nervous.

playful contradictions

"i miss my mom."

"me too, and my dad too."

"i miss home."

"me too!"

"i miss the way it was before all of this even happened really."

y/n l/n and wang taeman sat outside the large building that their class had taken refuge underneath. they had practically made it their home with food, patrol duties and just things that they considered to be normal things ever since they had gotten used to the routine.

y/n l/n turned her head to look at taeman as he played with his fingers as the cold night sky danced along his and her facial features.

"i wish i was studying the csat exams instead of shooting aliens."

"nah i'd rather be doing this, extra points!"

taeman jumped up, resembling shooting aliens with his gun as he whipped around random directions. y/n laughed at the sight of him and dug her hands deeper into her pockets to keep the small heat that she could contain. taeman noticed the sight of her shiver and sat back down next to her as he placed his gun down next his foot on the floor.

"are you cold, pretty?"

he questioned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he pulled her in closer to him until y/n's arm made contact with his chest.

"freezing."

"it's okay, your super hot boyfriend is here to help you!"

y/n giggled and squished herself closer towards taeman as both arms started wrapping around her.

"i got you, y/n."

-

"taeman.. wake up- taeman!"

y/n cried out, clutching onto taeman's shirt as she tried pulling him up but his limp and slowly turning cold body made her realise that he wasn't coming back.

"you can't do this to me- please wake up!"

young-soo went batshit fucking crazy (i actyal hate him i cannot rn) and shot everyone in the class. it started with jang-su as he tried to leave to find him in the first place. but he got shot as he fell to the ground and young-soo shot everyone else as a few people tried running out of the class. when young-su started shooting, taeman had ran towards y/n who sat at the back of the class, hugging her and pushing them to the floor as y/n didn't even realise what was going on as the gunshots hollowed out in her head.

young-soo went out the class to shoot the remainders of everyone who had escaped his wrath. y/n's eyes were wide as she tried rolling taeman off of her.

"taeman..?"

no response which made y/n roll him off her. she sat up and pushing him up against the wall.

"taeman, wake up.."

his eyes were closed, as his breathing stilled and her lips trembled, her hands catching his face that nearly fell forward.

"you're just sleeping right?"

"you'll wake up right?"

taeman still hadn't responded, y/n's tears left her eyes as her lashes fluttered shut.

"taeman, please."

"you said we'd go out to eat together after the exams. taeman.."

-

"we should go out to the bbq near our school."

"whole class or just us?"

taeman held her hand tightly, gripping it with his own.

"just us. i want to relax together once exams are over."

y/n smiled sweetly, leaning towards him and pressing her lips against his and taeman smiled in the kiss, separating and kissing her again as he wrapped his arms around her.

"ew lovebirds get a room not in the hallway!"

a few students snickered, exchanging glances that spoke volumes about their shared amusement. someone groaned in mock exasperation, while the teacher narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed with his antics.

you didn’t look up from your notebook, focusing intently on the notes you were trying to take. the last thing you needed was to get caught up in his charm.

“you’re not that beautiful,” you said, your voice steady and unyielding, even as you felt the heat of his gaze. he pressed a hand to his heart in exaggerated fake agony, his eyes widening in mock disbelief. 

“crushed. absolutely crushed. should i go home and rethink my entire existence?” he leaned forward, a playful glint in his eyes, as if he thrived on the banter.

“please do,” the teacher said, pointing to the open textbook. “and take your attitude with you.”

the class laughed, and tae-man grinned — bright, shameless, entirely unbothered. it was what he was known for. the class clown. the walking disaster. the boy who could turn any moment into a performance. but as he straightened his chair, his eyes flickered briefly to you — quick, searching, almost soft.

you pretended not to notice. you usually did.

because tae-man only made a joke louder when he thought you were upset. because he hovered a little too close on days you were tired. because whenever you looked away, you could feel him watching you — like he was checking in without wanting you to know he was checking in.

maybe you knew what it meant. maybe you weren’t ready to admit it.

“yah,” he whispered later, leaning forward between your desks. “you look tired.”

“so do you,” you sighed, your eyes not leaving the board before you.

“yes, but i’m stunning even when tired,” his voice hushed and teasing — only for you.

you rolled your eyes in exasperation. “amazing. truly.”

he chuckled under his breath, softer now, meant for only you. “seriously… you okay?”

that was the problem with tae-man. he joked like he didn’t care about anything, but he noticed everything. before you could answer, a shrill alarm erupted through the school.

the entire room stiffened. the teacher’s expression was calm, but the way her hands tightened around her notebook gave away her anxiety. it wasn’t a drill. it wasn’t even the wrong hour for a drill. this was the kind of alarm no one at your school had ever heard before.

red lights flashed. the ground shivered. tae-man’s expression dropped so fast you barely recognized him.

“get down!” someone yelled, their voice slicing through the chaos.

students dove under desks, their hearts racing, desperately covering their heads with trembling hands, tripping over each other in a frantic scramble. the sirens grew louder, a cacophony of terror, shrill enough to cut straight through your ribs and send chills down your spine.

“what’s happening?” a girl cried, her voice quivering with fear.

but then the ceiling trembled ominously — then cracked with a deafening roar — and something like a burning star, radiant and fierce, punched through the upper hallway windows outside, scattering shards of glass like deadly confetti.

a sphere, pulsating with an otherworldly glow.

you only caught a glimpse of it through the window: gooey-smooth, impossibly bright, humming with a frequency that made your bones vibrate. then more followed, streaking down like falling suns.

“get out of the way!” tae-man shouted, his voice cutting through the panic as he seized your backpack and your wrist in one swift motion. “hurry, hurry — we need to go!”

the hallway exploded into a frenzy. students jostled each other, their faces a mix of fear and confusion, while teachers barked frantic orders that seemed to dissolve into the chaos. the air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the metallic tang of adrenaline, making it hard to breathe.

he dragged you forward, weaving between panicked classmates, trying to get to the lower level — safer, maybe, if any place was safe at all, but at least it had your weapons. 

you didn’t see the second explosion. you only felt the blast. you sensed the shockwave slam into your side, a violent force that knocked the breath from your lungs. you felt yourself hit the ground, the impact jarring your bones and sending a wave of disorientation through your mind. you felt pain — sharp, ripping, immediate — tear up your leg as shrapnel cut through flesh, each fragment a cruel reminder of the surrounding chaos.

for a moment, the world went white around the edges, a blinding flash that swallowed everything else. the ringing in your ears drowned out the screams and shouts, leaving only a haunting silence that felt surreal.

when it sharpened again, you couldn’t breathe, the air thick with smoke and fear, each inhale a struggle against the suffocating atmosphere. your leg was bleeding fast, the warm crimson pooling beneath you, soaking into the fabric of your clothes. too fast, you thought, panic rising in your chest.

“tae-man —” you gasped, your voice barely a whisper, a plea for help amidst the chaos.

but he was already on the ground beside you, sliding onto his knees, eyes wide and terrified in a way you’d never seen. the pain was excruciating, and you couldn’t help but look down at the gaping wound.

“no, no, no — yah — stay with me.” his hands hovered uselessly before he forced himself to act, pressing down hard on your wound. “don’t look at it. look at me.”

you did as you were told, your teeth rattling and skin pale. the world was a bubble of the two of you as you steadied yourself against his broad shoulders, staring at his eyes to avoid glancing down. his face — usually light and ridiculous — looked devastated. his brows were furrowed hard, and he kept repeating himself.

“you’re okay,” he said quickly, voice shaking. “you’re okay, you’re okay —”

you sucked in a breath, feeling the sharp sting as the pressure hit a nerve, a wave of agony coursing through you.

“i know, i know, i’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking on the last word, filled with desperation. “just… don’t pass out on me, okay? stay with me.”

screams echoed deeper in the building, a haunting reminder of the chaos surrounding you. dust rained from the ceiling, particles dancing in the dim light, and somewhere a window shattered, the sound sharp and jarring. he leaned over you, shielding you with his body instinctively, his warmth a small comfort amidst the turmoil, as he focused solely on you, blocking out the chaos that threatened to engulf you both.

“tae-man…” you gasped, attempting to push his hand away, the pain radiating through you like a jagged knife, too much, too sharp. your effort was feeble, your strength ebbing away like sand slipping through fingers.

“don’t,” he urged, leaning closer, his forehead almost brushing against yours, the warmth of his skin a stark contrast to the cold dread enveloping you. “i’ve got you. isn’t that what i always say?”

he didn’t say that. he never said that in moments like this. but he said it now, his voice steady yet laced with an urgency that made your heart race.

your breathing grew uneven, your hands shaking from the effort of holding yourself together. tae-man’s grip tightened — not just on your leg, but on your hand, his thumb brushing wildly against your knuckles as if trying to anchor both of you.

“yah. look at me,” he murmured, his lips moving slow. “i’m right here.”

when your vision stopped spinning, the ruined hallway came into focus — dust hanging in the air, sparks crackling from broken lights, students sobbing through the ringing in their ears. and tae-man. still there. still holding your hand like it was the only solid thing left in the world.

“yah — yah, stay with me,” he whispered, brushing your hair away from your face with shaking fingers. “you’re going to be okay. i promise, alright? just keep your eyes open.”

“over here! she’s bleeding heavily!” a familiar voice called out.

kim yoo-jung, your class president, sprinted toward you, her usually pristine blazer covered in soot. she dropped to her knees by your injured leg, face tightening as she saw the deep gash.

“oh, god. don’t move. just — don’t move.” her voice was steady, but her hands weren’t. heavy boots thundered down the corridor next — sergeant lee, one of the military liaisons assigned to the school since sphere threats began. broad-shouldered, intimidating, but at this moment, all business.

“what’s her status?” he barked, tone tight.

“deep laceration, lots of bleeding,” yoo-jung answered immediately, pushing her hair behind her ear with a shaky breath. “she need stitches — now.”

lee choon-ho dropped beside her, already reaching for the small emergency kit strapped to his vest. “we’re low on anesthetics,” he muttered. “none left for stitches.”

your heart dropped alongside your stomach. you whimpered in horror. tae-man’s grip tightened, distress flashing across his face.

“no pain meds?” tae-man said, voice rising. “there has to be — something —”

choon-ho's expression was filled with regret as he carefully selected a thick, polished wooden stick from the medical kit, its surface gleaming under the dim light. he approached you with a gentle demeanor, placing the stick delicately in your trembling hand.

“bite down hard,” he instructed, his voice steady yet soft. “when the needle pierces, you’ll want something to focus on.”

tae-man's throat tightened as he swallowed, his gaze flickering anxiously between the stick and your injured leg. “i—i’ll help hold her steady. just… guide me on what to do.”

he gave a firm but reassuring nod and replied, “position yourself behind her. support her back and keep her upright. if she starts to thrash, it could lead to more tearing of the wound.”

tae-man immediately slid behind you, pulling you carefully against his chest. his legs braced your sides, arms wrapping around you — not trapping, but grounding. safe. steady. shaking. you unconsciously leaned into him.

“here,” yoo-jung said softly, taking the stick and guiding it to your mouth. “bite hard, okay? it’ll get you through the worst of it.”

you give her a brief look of terror before opening your mouth tentatively. the wood pressed against your teeth as you clamped down. choon-ho threaded the needle.

“ready?” he asked rhetorically.

no. not even a little. but you nodded slowly anyway. the first puncture tore a cry straight from your throat, smothered against the stick. your body jerked instinctively — but tae-man held you immediately, arms tightening around your waist.

“i’ve got you — yah — deep breaths,” he whispered into your ear, voice cracking even as he tried to keep it steady. “i’m right here. you’re doing amazing.”

yoo-jung kept her hands on your thigh, steadying it with surprising strength. “it’s okay. you’re okay. just a few more.”

choon-wo worked quickly, the needle plunging and pulling, tugging the skin together with exact, brutal precision. you whimpered into the stick, tears slipping down your cheeks, the pain a blaring hot scalding. tae-man’s thumb brushed them away, frantic and tender all at once. 

“i know, i know, i’m so sorry — just a little longer, okay? just look at me,” he murmured against your shoulder. but you couldn’t look at anything — the pain was too sharp.

you squeezed his arm until your knuckles went white. he didn’t flinch. across from you, yoo-jung winced every time you did, her jaw tight, eyes burning with determination.

another stitch. another. another. each one sent fire through your leg. each one made you clamp harder on the stick, your breath ragged and broken.

tae-man pressed his forehead to the back of your head, whispering trembly half-words, prayers, anything to keep you from slipping into the pain. finally, finally, choon-wo tied off the last knot and pulled the needle away.

“you’re done,” he said, voice softer now. “the bleeding’s controlled.”

yoo-jung let out a shaky sigh of relief. “thank god.”

your jaw loosened, the stick slipping from your mouth as your whole body sagged back against tae-man’s chest. he immediately shifted to support you, one arm wrapping around your shoulders, the other cupping your cheek.

 “deep breaths. you’re okay now,” he murmured, brushing your hair back again and again, like he needed to keep touching you to believe you were real. “it’s over.”

yoo-jung squeezed your hand. “you were brave,” she said quietly. “like… unbelievably brave.”

lee choon-wo began packing up but paused to look you over. “you held together better than most adults i’ve treated,” he said. but you barely heard him. because tae-man was still holding you. still shaking. still whispering, “i thought — god, i thought i was going to lose you.”

you turned your face slightly, leaning into his touch.

“i’m still here,” you murmured, voice faint. his breath hitched. and he held you even tighter, like he wasn’t ready to let go for a long, long time.

the corridor swirled in and out of clarity — a cacophony of faces, swirling dust motes dancing in the beams of flickering lights, the sharp, metallic tang of blood lingering in the atmosphere like a ghost. each breath felt delicate, as if it could shatter at any moment. your leg pulsed with a deep, relentless ache, a reminder of your fragility, causing your vision to blur at the periphery.

“stay with me,” tae-man whispered, his voice a soft tremor, laced with urgency. “don’t close your eyes yet.”

you fought to lift yourself, to rise above the haze. your body, however, rebelled against your will. your arms gave way, collapsing beneath you, and the world tilted violently, spinning into chaos. tae-man caught you before you hit the ground, one arm around your waist, the other bracing your shoulders. “whoa — okay, okay, that’s enough of that.”

“we need to get her to the barracks,” yoo-jung said firmly, worry tightening her voice. “she’s lost too much blood. she needs food and rest.”

choon-wo nodded. “no more strain on that leg. she shouldn’t walk.”

“walk?” tae-man scoffed. “she can barely blink.”

choon-wo pointed toward the temporary barrack shelters set up beyond the courtyard. “get her there. slowly. keep pressure off the wound.”

“got it.” tae-man shifted his grip on you. “come here, i’ve got you.”

you anticipated him to drape your arm over his shoulder, providing the support you desperately needed. you thought he would help you balance on your uninjured leg, steadying you as you tried to regain your footing. instead, to your surprise, he knelt down, his strong hands wrapping around your legs and lifting you effortlessly off the ground.

“tae-man —!” you exclaimed, a mix of shock and gratitude in your voice as he hoisted you up, positioning you securely on his back in one fluid — albeit slightly awkward — movement. 

“shh,” he murmured, his tone soothing as he adjusted your arms over his shoulders with care. “don’t resist me. i won’t let you take a single step.”

“but—”

“nope.” he tightened his grip on your thighs, careful of your injured one. “you’re not debating your way out of this. hold on.”

you could feel how hard his heart was pounding against your chest. your face flushed warm, and you tightened your grip, locking your fingers behind his neck. yoo-jung watched with a softened look, worry giving way to relief. “i’ll go help the others. take care of her, tae-man.”

“i will.” he didn’t hesitate with an answer. then it was just the two of you — tae-man carrying you through the ruined courtyard, your cheek resting against his shoulder as the world rocked gently with his steps. the adrenaline had faded. the pain had dulled. but the exhaustion hit like a wave.

“are you still with me?” he murmured, gently adjusting your weight, so your head nestled more comfortably against him. his voice had taken on a softer tone again — small, uneven, trembling in the pauses between his words, as if he were afraid of the silence that followed.

“mhmm,” you hummed out, your eyelids fluttering as you nodded weakly, trying to focus on his voice. 

“you really scared me,” he whispered, glancing around as if the shadows might overhear. “i thought… i thought i might lose you. it was terrifying.”

you swallowed softly and told him sincerely, “i’m sorry.”

“don’t be.” he shook his head quickly. “it wasn’t — you didn’t do anything wrong. i just… i keep seeing you on the ground. not moving.” his grip tightened on your legs. “and i keep thinking — i could’ve lost you before i ever…”

you lifted your head slightly, your eyes narrowing. you questioned him lightly. “before you ever what?”

he hesitated, his steps faltering just for a second. then, as if gathering courage, he started walking again, slower this time.

“before i ever told you the truth,” he whispered.

the barrack doors swung open as he pushed them with his shoulder. the room was dim, quiet, empty except for cots and a few lanterns humming with low light. he carried you inside, lowering to his knees beside a cot so gently it made your chest ache.

“tae-man,” you said softly, gripping his shoulder when he tried to let you go. “tell me.”

his breath trembled as he eased you down onto the mattress, his hands lingering at your waist a moment too long — like he didn’t trust the world to hold you as carefully as he did. he sat beside you, swallowing hard.

“do you want the truth?” he asked in a voice that was barely a whisper.

you nodded firmly, your lip pouting in earnest. he inhaled shakily.

“the truth is…” his hands curled into fists on his knees. “i really like you.”

your heart skipped. you unconsciously gripped your hands together to keep from reaching out to him as he continued.

“a lot,” he continued, forcing the words out. “like — more than is smart, more than is convenient, more than what makes sense for someone like me. and i tried not to because i’m an idiot, and you’re — you know — you.” his voice shuddered. “but then today happened. and when i thought you might…”

he shook his head, unable to finish.

“i can’t lose you,” he whispered. “i won’t. i refuse to let you go. not now. not after everything.”

silence settled warm and heavy between you. you reached out, fingers brushing his cheek. he froze from your touch.

“if you don’t want me to go,” you whispered back, “then don’t let me.”

his breath caught — audible, aching. then he leaned in so carefully it felt like a question. you closed the distance first, brushing your lips softly, gently against his.

it wasn’t desperate. it wasn’t rushed. it was fragile and warm, like a secret finally spoken aloud. tae-man inhaled sharply against your mouth, shoulders trembling, his hand rising to cradle your jaw like you were something breakable and infinitely precious.

when you pulled back, he kept his forehead against yours, eyes squeezed shut.

“does that mean…” his voice was barely there. “does that mean you like me too?”

you smiled, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth. “it means i’m not planning on going anywhere anyway.”

tae-man let out a breath that sounded almost like a sob — and then he pulled you into the softest, gentlest embrace you’d ever felt.