Ft. NCT's Lee Haechan
There were two rules:
1. Never wander the dark streets alone at night.
2. If you see a person wearing a black leather jacket with a golden phoenix on the back, you better turn around and run, and don't even think about looking...
"There wasn't?" Ayeon asked. They all shook their heads.
"No, we used to be able to go out and date whoever we wanted. Until Seolhee." Jiayi said.
"Seolhee was a girl that Jeno fell in love with. We were so young then, this was back when Mark was still there." Donghyuck explained.
"Jeno and Seolhee... thinking about them brings tears to my eyes." Jiayi continued. "They were so perfect for each other, complimenting one another in the best ways."
Donghyuck let out a small chuckle. "It's kind of funny to think about a time when Jeno never did any drugs and smiled all the time. He was so happy with Seolhee."
"What happened then?" Ayeon asked, intrigued.
"Seolhee got kidnapped by a rival gang who wanted to get at Taeyong for ruling the streets of Neo City. Quite smart actually, because Jeno went to get her as soon as he found out, making Taeyong follow."
"But the problem was, the rival gang honestly didn't care about Seolhee so when Taeyong refused to step down and disband the Phoenixes, they didn't hesitate to shoot Seolhee." Jiayi said as Donghyuck clutched tightly to her hand.
Ayeon turned towards him. "You were there, weren't you?" Donghyuck nodded.
"The Phoenixes dealt with the rival gang afterwards, fuelled by Jeno's rage. Jaemin was the medic that night and well... Seolhee didn't make it." Jiayi said with a long sigh.
"I think Jaemin's still scarred from losing his best friend's lover but there was nothing he could have done, the wound was too deep and too close to her heart." Taeil added.
"Taeyong told us all to stop seeing people that aren't Phoenixes from then on." Donghyuck told her.
Winwin crossed his arms over his chest, clearly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. "It's for our own good though. It makes us stronger and rids us from having weaknesses."
"I mean that's true but I can't help it if I fall for someone that's not a Phoenix." Donghyuck said, pulling Ayeon closer to him.
"Well, are any of you hungry because I am. I'm going to make us dinner." Taeil said, getting up and heading towards the kitchen.
"You boys should help him." Jiayi said. Winwin gave his girlfriend a look.
"Me?" Winwin asked, pointing to himself.
"Yes, go with Haechan." Jiayi said, giving Winwin a light shove. Donghyuck chuckled before placing a kiss on top of Ayeon's head.
"I'll be right back." Donghyuck said before heading to the kitchen with Winwin. Jiayi got up, taking a seat beside Ayeon.
"Did you want to talk about something?" Ayeon asked. Jiayi nodded her head.
"Ayeon, you want to stay with Haechan, right?" Jiayi asked.
"Of course. I would do anything just to be with him." Ayeon told her.
"I can understand that. I felt the same way about Sicheng. So when Sicheng told me there was a new rule that he couldn't be with me if I wasn't a phoenix, I knew I had a big decision to make." Jiayi said.
"How did you decide?" Ayeon asked. "Like what made you join the gang?"
Jiayi chuckled. "Love won over, of course. I mean sometimes I question whether I made the right choice, especially when I see Renjun and how dangerous his job can be sometimes, but most of the time, I just embrace the new family I have."
"I see." Ayeon said, fiddling with her fingers. Jiayi gave her a small smile.
"Don't let me affect your decision but I think it's worth considering. Go sleep on it and think about it, okay?" Jiayi instructed.
"Alright." Ayeon said as Jiayi stood up.
"Let's make sure these idiots aren't burning this place down." Jiayi said, making Ayeon laugh as the two girls made their way to the kitchen.
...
Ayeon took a deep breath as she stood in front of the rundown bar, checking the address Donghyuck had sent her.
Motorcycles were littered around the parking lot, along with Taeil and Mark's cars. The place was in a shady corner of the city, yet not a single person was in sight, fully aware of who were inside this building.
Well, this is it, the Emperor's Court.
Ayeon opened the door, making the bell ring. Music was blasting from the speakers and there was a huge rack for motorcycle helmets on her right. Pool tables lined the side of the room, while a bar was in the back corner. Ayeon decided to make her way straight to the pool table in the back, where a group of boys were gathered, laughing, and despite it being the middle of the day, drinking, and smoking.
"Ayeon, what are you doing her?" She heard Renjun ask as she walked by him and his friends who were sitting at the bar. She noticed a huge smirk appear on Donghyuck's face as she ignored Renjun, eyes glued to the pool table in the back.
Ayeon slammed her hands down on the table, shaking it. The people around up stopped to stare at her but she was focused on only one person, Taeyong.
Taeyong put his hand up and the music stopped. He removed the cigarette from his lips, puffing a cloud of smoke into her face before stuffing it in the ash tray.
Ayeon held her breath, trying to remain unfazed as the smoke evaporated around her. She could tell that the group was impressed, a small smile appearing on Taeyong's lips.
"How can I help you, Miss... what was it?" Taeyong asked her.
Ayeon smiled. "It's Ayeon. Yoo Ayeon." She looked around, staring at each and every one of his men before meeting Jiayi's eyes. She gave Ayeon a small nod.
Ayeon turned her attention back to Taeyong.
"And I'd like to become a Phoenix."
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