When Duty Calls | Kangteuk
When Duty Calls
Kangin/Leeteuk ; pg ; ~ words ; oneshot
Kangin was left with an important task by Leeteuk before he went into the army.
Kangin barely realised how fast time was moving until the day for Leeteuk to leave arrived. Cliche as it was, he felt as if he had only just returned from the army himself. Leeteuk leaving was to quick for him to cope, for he had hardly even gotten to reunite properly before the other had to leave again.
Leeteuk seemed excited however, pleasantly talking about the prospect of being in the army. Could he become the leader of a company? Was the training hard? How's the food? He asked so many questions, Kangin remembered fondly.
Watching Leeteuk leave was like remembering himself that two years ago. When he had to enter the army unplanned because he had made mistakes and shamed both himself, and his brothers. This time, Leeteuk wasn't leaving in embarrassment like he had, he was leaving in representation of their team.
Leeteuk had sat him down in his room the night before he left, claiming to give him a pep-talk. The members that were home threw teasing comments at them, but both knew nothing was going to happen between them. Not now anyway.
"Kangin, I am leaving the care of the kids to you." Leeteuk stated seriously, placing both hands on Kangin's shoulder. "With me gone, the kids need a new rock, they need someone they can depend on, someone they can trust and follow."
The thought of him taking care of the other members was unfamiliar to Kangin. He had never been one for too much emotion, and his hard temper usually drove the members away from trying to talk to him about their personal problems most of the time. "But, hyung, me..?"
Leeteuk nodded in confirmation, "Yes, you. I know SM is giving you a hard time now because of everything that happened last time."
The accidents. The reason why he had to enter the army early, Kangin reprimanded himself.
"But that's past now. You have grown, you have changed. It will take time for the company to realize that, but soon, it will be over. But you will always be the kids' hyung. You always have been. And after I leave for the army, you will be even more of on Youngwoon, the members are all strong people. Similarly to you, we have all gone through so much. But sometimes, they will need someone to help them along. With me gone, I hope that you can fulfill that role of being the invisible leader.
Everyone is so scattered now. We all have out individual activities. It's not like before, where we have comebacks and go on shows together. We are separated. Which means all the more we need a familiar pillar to hold everyone together, to strengthen that bond between us, so that we don't fall apart. And Youngwoon, I think you are perfect for that role."
Slightly overwhelmed by this long speech of Leeteuk's, Kangin backed away. Could he handle such a responsibility? There were 12 of them rowdy members - excluding Kibum, Hangeng and Leeteuk - who he would have to hold in line behind the camera. Yes including Heechul, because even though he was technically supposed to be in service, he could still annoy them all.
They were all people with extremely hard-headed characters. Kangin now understood how daunting it was to lead so many people, without head on clashing with each other due to rubbing personalities. His respect for Leeteuk increased even more at the thought.
"Do you really think I'm suitable for this? Maybe Jongwoon or even Heechul-" He uttered hesitantly, a little afraid.
"If Heechul led us, the group would have dissolved into chaos, scandals would be popping up left and right," Leeteuk chuckled. "I talked to Jongwoon already, he will help you, but he isn't as good as you are compared to emotion You will do fine, Youngwoon-ah. I know you will and I trust you will, that's why I even told you to lead. Because I know you can, even if the management still deem you unworthy of public appearances." Leeteuk tugged Kangin into a big bear hug for reassurance. His hug was warm, and it felt like old times. Before the scandals, before the lawsuits, before the problems, when everyone was together.
"Hyung, I'll miss you." Kangin muttered into the hug, as he tentatively pulled Leeteuk closer to him.
The leader heaved a small sigh before releasing the hug. "I'll miss you too." He smiled at Kangin, before they both left the room for dinner, the smell of Kimchi soup already filling the house. Ryeowook had been cooking.
Everyone was back early that night. Their company had made a small allowance, just so they could have one last group meeting before they have to leave early in the morning. The members were all there, for dinner at least. Even Zhoumi and Henry. Kibum had called but couldn't tear himself from work, Donghae said, so had Hangeng.
They all looked up at them both when they entered, as if anticipating an announcement, but they both sat down on the floor in silence. Kangin allowed his eyes to roam across the heads of the members, thinking of the new responsibility that he had now been given.
Ryeowook set out the food in front of them on wooden mats so the pots wouldn't burn into the floor. The room was noisy with laughter and cheer. Just like old times.
This was what he was supposed to do, Kangin realized, when Leeteuk did a crazy gag while the rest ripples of laughter broke among the members. Leeteuk had always protected the members, held them like a family, kept them as a group, even as some left and some stayed. Now that Leeteuk was going to leave, there needed to be someone else to take up this duty. And Leeteuk had given this job to him.
He would gladly do it, Kangin thought, when there was a sudden squeeze of his right hand. Kangin looked up to see Leeteuk staring at him encouragingly, asking him take part on the festivities.
Yeah he could do it, of course he could. As long as the members were there for him to protect, to care for, he could always do it.
A/n: this is actually supposed to be a christmas present that I owed to friend Ash who unfortunately has no livejournal. Or unless she has one and hasn't told me. Well, at least it's in time to be a new year's present! It's still january. xD
i just really needed an inspiration and this popped into mind so ta. Enjoy!