#idk might hc that han is very stubborn about pronouncing her whole name every time lmao

[trixibebe]

OC Stuff: *Insert insane training's montage here while Eye of the Tiger plays in the background*

Under the cut is a kind of drabble/ scene I originally wrote for LYLMM but ultimately couldn't fit in so I'm yeeting it out now after revisiting.

A/N: You know, Kori is based on the reader insert of LYLMM which basically follows the events of Y7. This was supposed to be set after visiting Sotenbori and before going to Kamurocho.

As Kori placed down her bags and was busy with putting up her hair, she watched Zhao carefully take off each of his rings, his glasses, taking out his earrings... She was so caught up observing his hands work that hers forgot to move. In on itself the action wasn’t anything extraordinary but for her this was a rare sight. Her partner with no accessories whatsoever.

Of course he would notice her staring eventually. A half-smile formed on his lips as he turned to her:

“What is it?” She blinked once to get out of her trance, shrugging nonchalantly:

“I don’t know. Nothing...” Kori started off, smiling back at him and trying to give some explanation. “I’ve just never seen you without your jewelry. You seem more naked like this than…” but she felt like she said too much, heat creeping up her face. Not missing the opportunity she saw him take on a challenging grin, intending to coax an answer out of her:

“Than…?” So much for behaving when others are around too. she thought, glancing over to Joon-gi Han for a brief moment.

“When you’re actually naked…” she finished the notion half-heartedly with a burning face, making Zhao laugh. She quickly wanted to change the subject so she turned to the strategist, who just finished getting ready himself, sporting wide black shorts and a gray, loose sleeveless shirt accentuating his muscular arms.

“Anyway, you are in good shape too, Han. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much of your skin…” When she realized how that must have sounded like she just let out a defeated sigh.

“I should just shut my mouth.” The situation reminded her when she had one of her first conversations with the two in Survive. Somehow everything she said came out wrong.

The silver haired man didn’t let himself get thrown off by her wording, letting out a quiet laugh himself before answering calmly:

“My attire changed quite much since coming to Ijincho. You could say that during my stay in Kamurocho I dressed even more revealing. It was a big hit with our customers.” he stated confidently. Customers? She wanted to ask him about his previous occupation upon hearing the new information but Zhao was quicker, putting a hand on his hip, saying with a frown:

“Sheesh, I’m sure glad you two didn’t meet back in the day.” Is that a hint of jealousy? she thought amused and shrugged again:

“Considering he was part of the mafia that had beef with the Tojo Clan I think it’s for the best. I would probably be dead had we ever met.” Han crossed his arms, giving Kori a relaxed answer:

“Not if you didn’t get involved... Had Majima-san anything to do with the altercations?” The woman contemplated about it for a second, recalling what she could about the events surrounding the fire in Little Asia.

“Hm, I didn’t know much about what he did or didn’t do business-wise. But I don’t think he really had his fingers in this specific mess. Especially after he got arrested.” she finished thoughtfully before Zhao chimed in again:

“We saw where guys with a revealing fit can land you. So it’s for the best you were staying away.” he tried to play it off but his tone had a certain edge to it. His dislike towards the patriarch was more than justified but she couldn’t help pulling his leg a little. It wasn’t common for him to be annoyed about something like this and it was not like he had anything to beware.

“We got together indirectly because of him, didn’t we?” she gave back with crossing her arms over her chest, raising a brow. He just ever so slightly narrowed his eyes at her.

“Don’t give him too much credit.” His patience seemed to run out so she let it be.

“Fair.”

“How about we get started?” Han inquired in his usual undisturbed tone and she was quite relieved that he ended the conversational topic.

Kori was up against the Geomijul strategist in the first round of sparring so the two of them got onto the mat with Zhao staying on the side to observe and wait for his turn.

“This feels almost nostalgic, wouldn’t you say, Kornélia-san?” the silver-haired man announced with a perked up tone and the former leader was also more than happy to take the conversation somewhere else.

“Oh, you two practiced before?” he asked curiously to which she shook her head, answering slightly reproachfully:

“No, I think he means the night we were supposed to get that video evidence of Mabuchi, right?” She couldn’t hold it against either of them how that night played out but it still wasn’t the most fun evenings to remember.

“Yes, I certainly underestimated the group.” Han admitted with a little smile.

“I mean it was four against one… Though, you had two guns so it was kinda balanced now that I think about it. But I don’t think I could do much against you as it currently stands, even without your gun being shoved into my face.” the translator pointed out awkwardly. It wasn’t like she expected to have a chance against him one-on-one in the first place but standing in front of him as he wore his training outfit, he felt almost more intimidating than in his raincoat.

Though, the sparring had to wait for another moment as the ex-leader asked from the sidelines:

“Wait, four? Weren’t you five people? What happened?” Her answer came in a matter-of-fact tone:

“Nanba-san had the pleasure of experiencing a taser from up close; he was incapacitated before he eventually was able to flee.” Zhao snickered at the retold events, his tone practically saying I told you so on its own:

“Told you the Geomijul don’t fuck around.” Han nodded to this statement, adding:

“He was lucky Seong-hui didn’t shoot him right away.”

“Yeah, I’m not missing the guns much.” Kori gave back with a shrug, recalling the first night she fought with the gang together before the strategist took on a stance ready to start.

“Just hand-to-hand combat. You also can’t rely on your tanto all the time.”

“I know I can’t. When we beat up Captain Takabe’s guys I didn’t use my tanto either. Didn’t want to provoke them into firing their guns. Kept their guards lower." she paused and ultimately gave her partner a sly grin:

“One crazy guy blasting his gun on the scene was enough.” Zhao wasn't thrown off by the remark, mirroring the girl's facial expression as if he had just received a compliment.