One of his troop mates approached from behind with a flashlight, illuminating the stretch of land before them, save the long shadow created by his own standing form. When Hyunseung saw the body lying a mere twenty feet away, he sank to the ground on his knees.

“Was it just that one, you think?”

Instead of answering, he succumbed to the panic he felt, jumping over their camp barrier and running towards the body. “Oh, ,” said the other man. He turned around to the others resting further in the makeshift/temporary camp. “You guys might want to come out here.”

The four others in their troop hurried over, stopping next to Kikwang and watching as their friend searched a dead body.

“I came to see if he needed help when I heard the shot, but then he went crazy on me.”

Not knowing what to do, they stood in silence and confusion. On a chain around the neck, Hyunseung found the nametag which all soldiers wore. Unclasping it, he held the cool metal plate in his palm, not strong enough to check it until he was back with his troop, though he already knew for certain what it would say.

He walked slowly back with determined steps and a guarded expression. Ignoring his friends’ stares, he sat against a tree, knees bent in front of him. Taking a deep breath, he opened his palm and read the engraved name, then placed it on the ground beside him and his head in his hands.

Doojoon stepped forward, picking up the metal piece. “Seung-ri,” he read in a hushed voice. Flashing it at the others, he looked at them in a silent question. They shoot their heads in response. He crouched down and placed a hand on Hyunseung’s back. Hyunseung looked up at all of them, gaze going over each face. In them, he saw the trust they all shared, stronger than any other connection they had experienced. His eyes which met each of theirs were steadier than they had expected. His face dry of tears. He would cry later, but not now.

“That man I killed,” Hyunseung spoke. His voice as well was surprisingly steady. “He had been my friend. Back then, as school companions, we would play pretend as soldiers in war.”

He paused for a moment, reflecting.

“These enemies, they’re not nobodies. We’re killing our friends.”

-

¿Madre, sabes quien maté?

Aquél soldado enemigo

Era mi amigo José

Compañero de la escuela

Con quien tanto yo jugué

De soldados y trincheras

-

Momma, do you know who I killed?

That enemy soldier

Was my friend José

[A] school companion

With whom I always played

Of soldiers and trenches

A/N: I just wrote this short piece this morning based on a song (that's where those lyrics are from). I was thinking of expanding it and making this just one scene of a story because this civil war type theme could be an interesting metaphor for competition in the kpop industry. However, I don't know if I have the time for that. I hadn't been planning to write a beast ficlet, but when I started writing, this came out, so...it's probably because I remembered Hyunseung's connection with YG and Big Bang and also I really like how close Beast members seem.