#ryu si oh x kang nam soon

[sugarandspiceandeverythingelse]

Ryu Si-Oh/Kang Nam-Soon one-shot

Background: I'm working on a sort-of alternate universe series for Strong Girl Nam-Soon; where the main couple is Ryu Si-Oh and Kang Nam-Soon. For some reason, it's harder for me to start at the beginning and write chronologically so until I figure out how I want things to begin in this AU, I'll just post the cute/fluffy one-shots that pop into my head.

Prompt: Ryu Si-Oh takes Kang Nam-Soon on a date… but she doesn’t realize it’s a date of course.

Nam-Soon uneasily glanced around the dimly lit restaurant, fingering the lining of her well-worn skirt. The restaurant was spacious enough to seat several tables with room to spare, but the shadows, spacing, and building architecture still made it feel cozy somehow. Several windows were slightly opened to allow a gentle breeze that was cool but not chilly, and soft jazz music enveloped their table from all sides. She wasn’t dressed poorly, but certainly not fancy enough for a place like this. She’d tried to protest when the company car had pulled up to the entrance, already clocking how high class it was but Si-Oh insisted that what she wore was perfectly acceptable.

All this for a work dinner, she thought with exasperation. Si-Oh must really want that steak he mentioned on the way here. When she looked at the menu, she was simply overwhelmed by the options listed in gleaming gold font - and the prices.

She must have made a face because Si-Oh asked “Is something wrong?” The man had a way of pinning down exactly what she was feeling, and he seemed just a bit tense at her silence since they sat down.

She shook her head immediately in response, but also rolled her lips in a pensive expression. She decided to go with a half-truth. “There are so many options… I’m just not sure what I would like.”

So-Oh’s semi-concern melted away at that. “Ah, would you like me to make some recommendations?”

“Yes, if you wouldn’t mind.” She sighed in relief, handing the menu to him gratefully.

He scanned it briefly before asking a few exploratory questions - Did she like pasta? What was her favorite meat? Did she prefer soup or salad? Umami or spicy flavor profiles? Once she had answered all food-related inquiries, he made a few suggestions for an appetizer, entree, sides, and desserts, to which she readily agreed.

Once the waiter - who had seemingly materialized out of nowhere - had taken their order and left them to have some privacy, Si-Oh leaned in and fixed his unwavering gaze on her.

She found it slightly more difficult to swallow.

“Tell me about yourself. How are you…” he paused heavily. “… the way that you are?”

Nam-Soon heaved a sigh and leaned her elbow on the table, resting her chin on the open palm of her hand.

“I wish I had an interesting story to tell you, truly. Maybe something with radioactive spiders or laboratory experiments-“ Si-Oh’s shoulders twitched at that; Nam-Soon didn’t notice. ”-but I’m just me. I’ve always been like this, at least as far back as I can remember. Which is around 6 years old. That’s when my parents found me.”

“Found you?” Si-Oh asking curiously.

“Mm.” She nodded. Nam-soon stared at him for a bit longer and Si-Oh waited, obviously expecting her to continue. She still didn’t really know how to talk about this with people she didn’t know well just yet. But she found it easier to just rip the band-aid off and put it out there. “I was found wandering in the Mongolian plains when I was 6 years old, by my mom and dad. They didn’t know who I was or where I came from, and they didn’t speak Korean so it was … a while before we were able to really communicate.”

Si-Oh was listening intently, thoughtfully absorbing everything she said. It struck him viscerally how frightening that must have been and how truly awful it could have ended for her. After all, he knew better than most what kind of people could benefit from coming across an unchaperoned child.

“Your … mom and dad”, he said haltingly, wanting to mirror the language Nam-Soon used to talk about the parents she so obviously adored. “Did they go to the police? Or any state officials?”

“Oh yes,” Nam-Soon rushed to explain on her parents' behalf. “It was more than a day's ride between where they found me and anyone who may have access to information on missing children but my dad made the trip as soon as I was settled. He stayed in town for three days talking to the police and anyone else he could get a hold of, but there was nothing. There was no report, nobody looking for their missing daughter, no one new in the area, nothing. On the fourth day, he gave the police pictures of me and his contact information and came home. They didn’t hear from anyone for weeks, and after making several calls and sending messages that went unanswered for months, they eventually stopped trying. And I can’t blame them for that, really.” She smiled warmly, cheeks flushing a pretty pink, and Si-Oh felt a frisson of electricity streak up his spine at the tender look that crossed her face. “Perhaps I would feel differently if they treated me poorly or if I felt like I was missing out, but I didn’t - I was happy. They treated me as their own and after a while, well, honestly I was theirs. And they were mine.”

Nam-Soon pictured her mom and dad's faces, warmed by the sun, wrinkled with age and laughter. “When I got old enough to get curious about it, they asked me if I wanted them to go looking again. But I said no.” Si-Oh was surprised at that and said as much.

Nam-Soon shrugged her shoulders in response. “I won’t lie and say I didn’t think about it at all, but I was content with the way my life was. I had loving parents, a close community, and good friends. I was afraid that if I did find something, then it would change everything; I would be completely uprooted from my home. And if I found nothing, I might be terribly disappointed that no one had been looking for me, that I hadn’t been missed for nearly an entire decade. So I chose not to. And I haven’t regretted it since.” Nam-Soon declared brightly, nodding in satisfaction with her own logic. "After all, you can't change what's happened in the past. You can only move forward, with purpose."

Si-Oh should have been frustrated at this information; should have been annoyed that the secret to her strength couldn’t be sniffed out easily, but instead, he found himself wanting to know more about her, about her life and her thoughts.

“How was it, then, growing up in Mongolia?” Nam-Soon glowed with pride as she began to talk of her hometown and the people there. And Si-Oh, who had intended to use this dinner as an opportunity to gain more insight into her abilities … was utterly captivated by stories of her childhood.

He barely noticed when the server arrived at their table with their food.

Once their server had once again departed, Nam-Soon took the opportunity to give as good as she got.

“I feel like I’ve been talking about myself the whole time, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

Si-Oh picked up his silverware and began to cut into his steak as he tried to think of an answer that would both satisfy her curiosity and not be an outright lie.

“There’s not much to know about me-“, he began. Nam-Soon’s eyebrows jumped up in incredulity. “I had a normal childhood. I knew from the time I was young that I would go into business, and so every decision I made was to serve that purpose.” He took a bite of bloody steak before glancing at Nam-Soon and paused as he saw her facial expression.

She was staring at him with a tiny wrinkle forming between her brows. Her hands were still at either side of her plate, utensils at the ready.

“That’s … all?” Her voice was soft and low. He enjoyed the sound of it.

He gave a small chuckle before asking, “What else is there?” An emotion he couldn’t label streaked across her face, and she looked down quickly to work at cutting her fish fillet. She took a bite and seemed to be mulling something over as she chewed. When she had finished she looked into his eyes and asked, “Do you do anything outside of work? Have any hobbies?”

He didn't have to think to answer this one. "I work out a lot; I attend many classes that cover several fighting styles, from boxing to Taekwondo. If I'm not working on company business, I'm probably fighting. And if I'm not fighting," his voice deepened as a subtle twist of his mouth, barely noticeable, betrayed a sneer of contempt. "I'm probably asleep ... or dead." In that moment, his expression was as cold and cutting as a bitter winter wind. Nam-Soon was completely taken aback by the barely concealed resentment that seemed to ooze off him like a miasma.

As she had done many times in her life, Nam-Soon spoke before she could think not to.

"That sounds ... really unfulfilling." She wished she could snatch the words back as soon as they tripped from her tongue, but it was too late to backtrack, so she held his gaze and waited for his response.

His reaction was ... surprising, to say the least. The laughter that catapulted from the back of his throat was loud enough to startle the people at two tables near them, as Si-Oh shook his head in confoundment. Nam-Soon bit her lip in consternation.

As his laughter quieted, he reached for his wine, taking a sip of the maroon liquid before locking his dark gaze with hers once again.

"You're honest to a fault, Kang Nam-Soon. I like that about you. I've been around too many liars for far too long." His words were light and unbothered, but she swore she could lighting crackling through the iris of his eyes.

"I don't mean to be insulting," she said sheepishly. "Sometimes I just speak before I can filter. Gets me into trouble sometimes."

Si-Oh shook his head, waving off her unspoken apology. "I'd rather someone be honest and insulting, than dishonest and flattering. Fake compliments, fake smiles, empty promises ... they can be found everywhere in this industry. It's how you do business and learn the trade, climbing off the backs of others that put you there. Eventually, you get so far removed from the people you struggled with at the bottom that you forget the mask you created is for your own protection, as much as theirs. Anyone can tell an easy lie with a smile. It takes real integrity," he lifted his wine glass towards Nam-Soon, tipping it in her direction as some would a toast, "to tell an uncomfortable truth with a straight face."

Nam-Soon felt oddly warmed by his praise and ducked her head in shyness, tucking her hair behind her ear. Another thought occurred to her and she glanced up at Si-Oh, not surprised to find his eyes still trained on her with laser-pointed focus. She was beginning to recognize how the weight of his gaze felt when he was watching her, without seeing him do so. He made her feel examined, and pinned into place, like a butterfly on display in a glass case.

She leaned in closer, emulating the same posture he presented when he wished to convey sincerity.

"When you speak ... it sounds as if you have a feeling of disdain towards the work that you do. So, why do it?"

His head cocked to the side. "Do you only do things that you enjoy? That bring you happiness?"

She smiled and huffed a breath in humor, "No, of course not. I'd lead a pretty privileged life if I only did the things I thought sounded fun. But generally, I do try to avoid things that I think will make me miserable in the long run. I try to make decisions that will put me in a comfortable position. And with the way you talk ..." She trailed off, not wanting to be more blunt than she already had been.

But Si-Oh took it all in stride. He leaned his body backward into his chair, nodding his head in a contemplative manner before leveling her with a frank expression of discernment. "And you don't think that's a privileged position? To be comfortable?"

Her first instinct was to push back against that assertion, to argue that being comfortable was a natural state of being. But the words wouldn't come out, and the longer she thought on it, the more she realized he was right. Some people had no choice but to be uncomfortable, usually by circumstances beyond their own control.

Si-Oh watched the emotions play across her face like an open book. And felt stimulated in a way he hadn't experienced in years.

Eventually, she nodded in his direction, saying only "I concede your point", in response to his question.

Her surrender thrilled him, satisfaction blanketing his body like a warm shawl. So clever. So honest. She was even more mesmerizing to him now than when he had first seen her at the warehouse, leaping into action like an angel of heaven.

The ravenous beast inside him growled in hunger. Miserable bastard that he was, he wanted her. And he would find a way to have her.

[kdrama-movies-more]

[kpopotd2]

October Wrap Up

Hello to all our lovely followers! We are closing in on the end of the year, but have no fear, there are still two months of great releases coming! 

In October, the  first two episodes of our podcast were released, and in November we have two more episodes coming out on the 10th and 24th so keep your eye out for that. 

Also, remember to follow us on @kpopsunbae​ because once this year is done we won’t be posting on here anymore--but no need to worry, it will stay up as an archive!

-JR, Min, and Onyx

NEWS:

October 1989: Hong Seo Bum dropped the first Korean rap song “Kim Sat Gat” (image from Radio Star). 

October 19, 2009: Incheon Bridge opens to the public.

October 1, 2010: A fire takes out a high-rise building in Busan with no casualties. October 9, 2010: The International Fireworks Festival is held in Seoul. October 10, 2010: Hwang Jang-yop, a politician in North Korea who defected to South Korea, passes due to a heart attack. 

October 17, 2014: A vent collapses at Pangyo Techno Valley during a 4Minute concert after 20-30 people climbed onto it to see the performance from a better angle. 

Public Holidays:

October 3: National Foundation Day (개천절) - A celebration of the founding of Gojoseon according to the legend of Dangun. Learn more here!

October 9: Hangul Day (한글날) - A day to celebrate the creation of the Korean language by King Sejeong the Great. Learn more here!

Gaon Album Chart - Album of the Month 2010-2015:

2010 - Hoot by Girls’ Generation

2011 - The Boys by Girls’ Generation

2012 - Catch Me by TVXQ!

2013 - Everybody by SHINee

2014 - This is Love by Super Junior

2015 - I by Taeyeon

DRAMAS:

October 2009: IRIS (The action drama starred Lee Byung Hun, Kim Tae Hee, and BIGBANG’s T.O.P. With a budget of over 30 million dollars, it is one of the most expensive dramas to ever be made. The large budget paid off, bringing in over 30% ratings, as well as giving Lee Byung Hun a daesang on top of many other awards. It eventually got a second season (Iris II), a spin off series (Athena: Goddess of War) and a movie (IRIS: The Movie).) October 2009: Three Brothers (This show stars Ahn Nae Sang and Oh Dae Gyu. It was originally a 50 episode drama, but when the ratings proved to be immense (it was one of the highest rated dramas of the year with over 40% viewership ratings) 20 more episodes were added.) October 2009: You’re Beautiful (This classic stars Jang Geun Seuk, Park Shin Hye, former After School member Uee, CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa, and F.T. Island’s Lee Hong Ki. Miss S, Park Shin Hye, as well as the drama’s group, AN.JELL, and more participated in the OST. This was Hong Ki’s acting comeback and Yong Hwa’s debut role. It got over 10% viewership ratings and won various rewards. Eventually it got a Japanese and Taiwanese remake.) 

October 2010: Queen of Reversals (This drama stars Kim Nam Joo, Jung Joon Ho, and Park Si Hoo. It got over 10% viewership ratings.)  October 2010: God’s Quiz (Stars Ryu Deok Hwan and Yoon Joon Hee. It dealt with many intense diseases and disorders, and has since gone on to have four more seasons.) 

October 2011: A Thousand Day’s Promise (Stars Soo Ae and Kim Rae Won. Baek Ji Young, 8Eight, and more participated in the OSTs. It hit over 15% viewership ratings and won multiple awards.)  October 2011: Deep Rooted Tree (This period drama stars Song Joong Ki, Jang Hyuk, and Shin Se Kyung. It hit 20% viewership ratings, won various awards, and was broadcast in Japan and Taiwan.)  October 2011: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (This drama started off the “flower boy” series which would go on to have three other unrelated instalments: Shut Up, Flower Boy Band!, Flower Boy Next Door, and Dating Agency: Cyrano. It stars Lee Chung Ha, Jung Il Woo, and Lee Ki Woo. It did really well in viewership ratings for a cable show and also had a diverse demographic of viewers.)

October 2012: Full House Take 2 (This is “sequel” to the first Full House starring Rain and Song Kye Hyo. This “sequel” stars Hwang Jung Eum, No Min Woo, and Park Ki Woong.)   October 2012: Childless Comfort (This drama stars Lee Soon Jae, Kim hae Sook, Yoo Dong Geun, and Uhm Ji Won. It broke Reply 1997’s viewership record with 7.995% and ended up with an all-time high rating of over 10%.)

October 2013: Empress Ki (This period drama stars Ha Ji Won, Ji Chang Wook, and Joo Jin Mo. 4men, Wax, Soyou, Junsu, and Ji Chang Wook participated in the OSTs. It hit over 30% viewership ratings and won various awards.) October 2013: The Heirs (This drama was co-produced by now the defunct streaming site DramaFever. It stars Lee Min Ho (IKON’s Jung Chan Woo plays his younger self), Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bin, Kim Ji Won, f(x)’s Krystal, CNBLUE’s Kang Min Hyuk, Kang Ha Neul, and ZE:A’s Park Hyung Sik. It had a lot of cameos including SuJu’s Heechul, VIXX, and BTOB among many others. The ending theme (”I’m Saying”), sung by Park Shin Hye’s friend Lee Hong Ki, has since been used countless times in parody. Boasted a great set of OSTs. It over 15 % viewership ratings domestically, but was popular across Asia.) October 2013: Reply 1994 (The second instalment of the “Reply” series, stars Go Ara, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon Seok, B1A4’s Baro, and BtoB’s Yook Sung Jae. One of the highest rated cable dramas at over 11% viewership ratings. It boasted many cameos, including the main characters from the first season, and many others.)

October 2014: Tomorrow’s Cantabile (This drama stars Joo Won, Shim Eun Kyung, Park Bo Gum, and Baek yoon Shik. This was another co-production with the defunct  streaming platform Dramafever. It hit over the 5% ratings mark. It also aired in Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan. 2014 - Modern Farmer (This comedy stars F.T. Island’s Lee Hong Ki, Park Min Woo, Honey Lee, and Kwak Dong Yeon.) October 2014: Misaeng (This show stars ZE:A’s Im Si Wan, Lee Sung Min, Kang So Ra, and Kang Ha Neul. It is based off of the Webtoon of the same name written by Yoon Tae Ho (the comic sold over 900,000 copies). It became a hit across the nation, eventually winning various awards and ended up getting a Chinese remake.) 

October 2015: Sassy Go Go (This school drama stars Apink’s Jung Eun Ji, Lee Won Geun, VIXX’s N, Ji Soo, and Chae Soo Bin. Jadu, Hanbyul, and former After School member Lizzy participated in the OSTs among others.)  October 2015: Six Flying Dragons (This period dramas stars Yoo Ah In and Shin Se Kyung. It passed over 10% viewership ratings and won various awards.) 

FILMS:

October 22, 2009: Good Morning President (This comedy stars Jang Dong Geun, Lee Soon Jae, and Go Doo Shim. KBS World says “Only a few decades ago, the president was an off-limits subject in Korean cinema. It was almost impossible for the older generation who lived through military dictatorships to parody their president.”)  October 29, 2009: Paju (This movie stars Lee Sun Kyun and Seo Woo. It was the first Korean film to open the International Film Festival Rotterdam as well as The Tribeca Film Festival, as well as participating over 15 other festivals. It received great reviews, and won a few awards.)

October 20, 2011: Always (This melodrama stars So Ji Sub and Han Hyo Joo. It opened the Busan International Film Festival, selling out all 2,000 seats in just 7 seconds. Eventually it received Turkish, a Kannadanen, and Hindu remakes.) October 11, 2012: A Company Man (This movie stars So Ji Sub, Lee Mi Yeon, Kwak Do Won, and ZE:A’s Kim Dong Jun. It got one million theatre admissions in just under two weeks.)  October 31, 2012: A Werewolf Boy (This film stars Park Bo Young and Song Joong Ki. Park Bo Young sang a song for the drama’s soundtrack. It hit one million admissions after just five days and became the top melodrama in Korea of all time.)

October 2, 2013: Hope (This film stars Sol Kyung Gu, Lee Re, and Bang Jun Seok. It is based on the true story of The Case of Na Young. It had over one million admissions in the first week. It went on to win multiple awards.)  October 31, 2013: No Breathing (This movie stars Girls’ Generation Kwon Yuri, Lee Jong Suk, Seo In Guk, and Dal Shabet Member Cho Ah Young. It did fairly well at the box office, coming in at just under 500,000 admissions.) 

October 2, 2014: Whistle Blower (This film stars Park hae Il, Yoo Yeon Seok, and Lee Geung Young. It is loosely based off the story of scientist Hwang Woo Seok and the scientific fraud case that he was involved in-- Ryu Young Joon was the real life whistle blower. It topped the box office upon its release.)    October 23, 2014: The Truth Shall Not Sink With Sewol (This is a documentary about the Sewol tragedy that happened in April of the same year.) 

HAPPY STUFF:

October 2010: Hyuna is added to Nine Muses following Jaekyung’s departure.  October 8, 2013: Jason is added to NU’EST’s Chinese sub-unit NU’EST M. 

SAD STUFF:

October 29, 2009: Soyoung graduates from After School to pursue acting.   October 2010: Jaekyung leaves Nine Muses to pursue modelling.  

October 16, 2013: Dongho departs from U-KISS due to health reasons.  October 24, 2013: Gummy leaves YG Entertainment and signs with C-JeS Ent. October 10, 2014: LuHan files a lawsuit against SM Ent. and leaves EXO.

October 5, 2015: Boy group C-Clown disbands.

October 8, 2013: Soloist Kim Ha Neul (김하늘), better known as Rottyful Sky (로티플스카이), passes away due to a brain tumor at 25. October 27, 2014: Shin Hae Chul (신해철), member of activist rock group N.EX.T, passes away due to medical malpractice at 46.

POST OF THE MONTH:

EXID - Every Night

[sugarandspiceandeverythingelse]

I have other posts in the process but couldn’t resist writing some more scandalous scenes/outtakes for these two 🥵🔥

Si-Oh shuddered as he felt Nam-Soon’s fingertips gliding through the hair at the nape of his neck, his head lolling forward in relaxation even as the rest of his body tightened in reaction.

Her fingers scratched downward lightly before both hands trailed outward, rubbing along each shoulder.

“You hold so much tension in your shoulders,” she said with a note of concern in her sweet voice, before beginning to roll the knuckles of her left hand into the tender knot above his left shoulder blade. He hissed reflexively - making to pull away, but she easily pulled him back, a stern “relax” coming from her mouth as a mutter.

He didn’t expect her to lean down closer, nearly flattening her chest to his back as her right arm reached out to form a band across his chest (still slightly ineffectual due to its shortness in length), while she continued to work his left shoulder in firm, sweeping motions. He grunted as she dug in deeper, appearing to map his musculature with her fingertips.

He hadn’t expected any of this to be entirely honest. Not her concern for his well-being, or her willingness to be so close to him, let alone massage his body.

When he'd stood up from his desk to try to stretch his torso and get the crick out of his neck, Nam-Soon had asked if a massage would help. He’d accepted her off purely out of curiosity, to see what she would do and he already regretted it. Not because he didn’t enjoy it, but because he was enjoying it way too much. Now he sat on a pillow on the floor, bent slightly at the waist as she sat on the couch behind him; first working the tops of his shoulders, then his back and arms.

As a man deprived of almost any human affection, physical or otherwise, Nam-Soon’s easy intimacy felt like dangling a piece of steak in front of a starving mongrel. He was hyper-aware of her chest pressed against his back, part of him grateful for the barrier of his starched business shirt and her cardigan - the other part disappointed by it.

All too soon, he could feel his arm slowly lowering, his arm beginning to hang limply - only Nam-Soon's grasp keeping it from falling to the floor. When she made her way down to his hand she knelt at his side, staring down at his hand intensely as she massaged first his wrist, then his palm, and then each finger. Her expression was determined, and it would have been obvious to anyone who looked that she was dedicating her entire focus to this menial task. When she finished with his hand, she laid it in his lap, only to rise and reclaim her position on the loveseat behind him - and begin the process all over again on his right shoulder.

He didn't think he had ever been this relaxed around anyone before, and part of his subconscious mind reeled at that. Yelling within his own mind that she should back off, that he should push her away and reclaim his space. Re-establish some distance between the two of them ... but ... he simply couldn't.

The slow fire burning beneath his skin was stronger than any narcotic he had ever tried, more intoxicating than any liquor. His eyes fluttered shut and he simply slumped backward, resting fully on her as he leaned back. The change in position didn't seem to bother her, though she did have to pull his right arm farther up now that her legs were pinned and she couldn't adjust to kneel at his side. He didn't care.

When she was finished and she lowered his arm to his lap again, she settled backward again silently, resting her hands on his shoulders. He was still relaxed but knew if he stayed in this position for long his neck would begin to bother him again. He was too long in the torso, the couch too soft and her legs too slight so his neck leaned at an awkward angle for his head to make contact with her thighs. He didn't want to give it up.

He sighed, unknowingly scrunching his brows in disappointment, and then he blinked his eyes open in surprise when he felt a light, barely-there stroke above the bridge of his nose. Brown, inquisitive eyes stared down into his own, sparkling with playfulness; a gentle smile curving delicate lips.

Ryu Si-Oh was used to seeing beautiful women, to having many surrounding him (some even as close as Nam-Soon was now), and yet ... none had ever made his breath catch in his throat, or his heart stumble in his chest like just now.

He would’ve stayed ensnared in that soft, giving gaze - except for the abrupt knock at his office door that made both of them startle. He jerked forward, rising seamlessly from his spot on the floor and striding back towards his desk. He grasped his business jacket from where it had been laid over his chair, swinging it around himself to shrug it back on in one fluid movement. When he had steeled himself against any weakness, he turned nonchalantly to face Nam-Soon as he fastened the buttons at his waist.

Nam-Soon hadn’t moved from her spot on the couch, but she wasn’t looking at him; she stared down at her hands, facing palm up in her lap. Part of him wanted to ask her what she was thinking but he strangled the urge. Instead, he somewhat brusquely called out “Enter!” in a gritty voice.

One of Si-Oh's assistants entered the office and began to babble on about some expenditure report he had requested updates on; Si-Oh spun on his heel and approached his chair, before taking a seat and gesturing for his assistant to continue. He tried to pay attention to what was being said but his gaze was continuously pulled to Nam-Soon. After a few seconds had passed, she silently stood from the couch before quickly pacing to the door and slipping away without notice. He spent the remainder of the impromptu business meeting trying to regain what little focus he could.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nam-Soon quietly slid the office door shut before spinning to slump against the wall beside. Her heart hammered inside her chest, heat rising to her cheeks as she pressed quivering fingertips to her cheekbones.

What on earth...? Her thoughts revolved around dark eyes and plush lips and forearms beneath a fitted suit.

Nam-Soon did not have much experience (try no experience) with emotions like lust or desire, but the sensations careening through her body were unmistakable. She nearly groaned aloud; her job just became so much more difficult.

[sugarandspiceandeverythingelse]

Ryu Si-Oh/Kang Nam-Soon one-shot

Background: I'm working on a sort-of alternate universe series for Strong Girl Nam-Soon; where the main couple is Ryu Si-Oh and Kang Nam-Soon, and it revolves around Nam-Soon's life and Si-Oh's redemption. For some reason, it's harder for me to start at the beginning and write chronologically so until I figure out how I want things to begin in this AU, I'll just post the cute/fluffy one-shots that pop into my head.

Prompt: Nam-Soon wins a bet.

Nam-Soon didn't even try to conceal the teasing grin that stretched across her face as she approached Si-Oh. She began to dance, moving her body joyfully and shimmy-ing her shoulders as she lightly sang the tune of Gangnam Style.

Si-Oh watched her approach with an indulgent curl of his lips, tipping his head back to stare at the blue sky above as she drew closer. Only looking back down when she hopped with both feet to stand at attention in front of him, staring up at him triumphantly.

"Shall we?" He gestured for her to walk in front of him towards the company car, but she stayed stubbornly planted before him.

"Not until I hear you say it." She slyly replied.

Si-Oh sighed, experiencing an odd mixture of both annoyance and affection towards his pint-sized assistant. Normally such insolence would have lit a fire in his gullet, triggering a defensive response that demanded he crush whoever had the arrogance to challenge him. But coming from her, with her sparkling eyes and infectious smile ... he found himself basking in the warmth of her camaraderie.

"Ah, yes. You were correct, I concede defeat."

Her chin lifted proudly, as she reached up with one hand to flip her long hair over her shoulder. "Thank you, thank you. Naturally, I deserve a prize for this display of business prowess. What are you willing to give me as a reward?" Her tone was light and unserious, her face open and happy.

The question from anyone else would have had him tensing in preparation for conflict. From her, he only felt what most people must mean when they refer to getting butterflies. The answer left his lips before he consciously made the decision to reply ...

"Anything."

Nam-Soon's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Anything?" She repeated in question.

Si-Oh nodded definitively, before voicing his confirmation. "Anything."

"Hmm..." She pondered aloud, raising a delicate finger to tap at her chin, and squinting her eyes dramatically. "That is quite the invitation. I'll have to think on it carefully. An opportunity like this shouldn't be wasted, you know." She chirped pertly, before turning on her heel and beginning to stride towards the car. He followed at a more leisurely pace, keeping his strides shorter to match her shorter legs.

"Should I be worried?" He volleyed back, fully knowing he needn't worry at all.

"Oh yes," she said sunnily as the driver opened the side door for her to climb in. She peeked back at Si-Oh from over her shoulder, taunting him in a comedic timbre "Be afraid, be very afraaaiidd..." her voice pealing off into silly laughter as she climbed into the dark vehicle.

Si-Oh found himself smiling once again as he seated himself next to her. It seemed to be happening more often the more time he spent with Nam-Soon. He was both curious and intrigued by the development. He didn't know necessarily what it was about her that drew him, like a moth to a flame. All he knew was that the more time he spent in her presence, the more the cold, dark spaces inside of him seemed to shrink. He wanted more. No. He *craved* more, more than any drug he'd ever used. Being near her was like being injected with pure light, concentrated sunshine. And for a man like him, who had been denied every affection and comfort since he was a child ... he was helpless to resist her.