One

A small and content smile dared to spread across his face as he marched his boot clad feet across the asphalt. He could see the exit ahead and a small crowd had gathered. He knew though who was waiting for him on the other side of those iron gates. His mother and his sisters also awaited him, proud of what he’d accomplished as a private in the military. The angels who dealt patiently with his hiatus would also be there. Journalist, yes, managers also of course would be there.

But also, his brothers, not by blood but by sweat, they would great him and really C.A.P felt it was a long time coming.

It was like debut day all over again. After nearly two years of not being able to meet with s or fans C.A.P couldn’t help but be jittery with nerves and excitement. His senses were heightened. The sun seemed to be brighter, the breeze stronger and the smell and taste of his morning meal seemed to still linger. The coffee seemed less bitter; the fruit seemed much sweeter.

Everything was going to be all right. The summer was going to be OK and the world was ready for the return of teen top.

Crossing the threshold, there was so much noise as the crowd cheered for him. He was embraced first by his mother, who he also hugged back tightly. Each time he held her she seemed more and more fragile. The time would come eventually when he’d step up to care for her.

She let go and he was mildly aware of the journalists’ camera’s flash as he looked past his mother where two boys – men he corrected himself; they were all men now—stood with linked hands.

One was tall, the other short, but both wore matching grins. He didn’t even have a chance to say a single word before he found himself locked in an embrace that almost knocked the wind out of him. He laughed, shaking the two off and was content to take a picture for the media. The three of them standing in a line as C.A.P gave a salute.

It was good to be back.

-----

It wasn’t until they 3 Teen Top members are situated in the back of the car when they properly speak.

“Let’s get meat!” Changjo suggested as he buckled his seatbelt.

Ricky was busy waving out of the passenger side window as if he were the one having been discharged and C.A.P couldn’t help but be amused by that. He glanced at Changjo and shrugged.

“We can’t just celebrate with just the three of us,” Ricky pointed out.

“It’s not just the three of us! Manager hyung will be there and not to mention Byunghun hyung,” Changjo reasoned with the other.

C.A.P just listened. He didn’t and never did have to give much if any input. It was like old times again. He couldn’t help but to enjoy himself as he settled back into the familiar routine. Always known as the leader who need not speak so much, he let the maknaes chatter on. He watched their animated faces and somehow felt 18 again. It was nice but of course there were places his mind would naturally wonder to so it came as no surprise to anyone the question C.A.P uttered when he finally spoke.

“Where’s Daniel?”

Just two words, it wasn’t anything much and for any normal person it held no weight. However, C.A.P was C.A.P and Niel and Niel and between them both there was an entire universe of things.

Changjo seemed unfazed by it though and slammed his fist into his hand as if remembering something.

“Oh, yeah that’s right! Where did he go again?” he glanced at Ricky.

The visual maknae was more handsome now than cute but his mannerisms stayed the same answered quickly.

“Mokpo,” Ricky had the audacity to look sheepish about it. “With Minwoo.”

Changjo rolled his eyes.

“Changhyun you don’t have to be so shy about it. Niel and hyung broke up a million years ago,” Changjo laughed and looked back at C.A.P. “Long story short, Minwoo and Daniel hooked up while you were in the military. Jeez, you’d think they went behind your back with the way Changhyun’s acting.”

“Minwoo, huh?” C.A.P said voice level.

“Yeah, they’ve been together almost a year and a half now. Something like that. It was after you went away,” explained the maknae.

C.A.P couldn’t help but feel surprised by the news. But it was true, even if Minwoo and Niel got together after he enlisted, he and Niel’s relationship had already ended well before that, the two agreeing it was best to stay as friends and teammates. They still had feeling for each other at the time, it was true, but the relationship wasn’t stable and couldn’t become stable either, as long as the two were dealing with their separate issues.

Love was nice and beautiful but their case was toxic. They brought out the worst in each other and C.A.P through therapy learned about the various types of abuse both physical and emotional and how it was all about power and control. If they were going to continue their relationship they vowed to do it with a clean slate, and to be honest, C.A.P, the more he reached in and understood both himself and what he had done, was content with being separated.

He never once missed the dynamic they had. He was fine the way that he was. C.A.P also personally had no desire for a relationship be it with Niel or anyone else for that matter. He was content with himself and with his friends, family and members as is. He was satisfied.

If Niel wanted to try love again, and was ready emotionally, C.A.P definitely could respect that. C.A.P felt he made a lot of progress with his one-on-one and sometimes even group therapy sessions but he had to stop attending after enlisting in the military. He could only imagine the great progress Niel must have made in the two years C.A.P was unable to see his therapist.

If anything C.A.P could say he was proud, really, and happy for his ex and Minwoo despite the part the 100% member played in their past as the other man. Despite all that happened he always considered Niel one of his best friends and he was sure he’d feel that way forever.

“Good for them,” C.A.P finally said. “I think that hyung’s liked Daniel for a long time.”

“I think so too,” agreed Changjo and changed the subject again to meat.

Ricky joined in but C.A.P noticed the way the younger male’s eyes lingered upon him a little longer to make sure he was OK, which he was.

He totally was.

---

“To C.A.P hyung!” Ricky said, lifting his bottle of beer in the air.

“To C.A.P hyung!” came the chorus of cheer from the other occupants of the room.

It was a very small gathers: C.A.P, Ricky, Changjo, Siho manager and as predicted even L.Joe.

The five men knocked their bottles together before taking big gulps of their beverage.

As soon as they finished Ricky slammed his bottle to the table.

“Who’s up for some soju?” he asked, smile big and infectious.

All hands rose in a simultaneous gesture and they laughed as the manager went to order them a round. It was a private room in the back of one of their favorite BBQ places that they had secured for their impromptu celebration.

“Welcome back, hyung,” L.Joe congratulated from where he sat beside the other. He clapped the leader on his back. “It’s been dull in the dorm without you.”

“Even with those three maknaes?” C.A.P asked a bit incredulously.

“Even so,” L.Joe lamented. “They all have schedules most of the time anywhere so I’m just stuck all by my lonesome.”

Changjo countered, “Isn’t that normal?”

“Just one more month, hyung! You can do it! Then we’ll come back and it’ll be awesome!” Ricky said, making a gesture to show he was cheering the other on, always a positive force.

“I’m looking forward to the comeback, yes, but I’m sure people will be more excited over C.A.P hyung and Chanhee’s return than mine,” L.Joe replied a little glumly.

C.A.P knitted his brows in question, unsure why the other seemed a bit down.

“Whatever. Netizens are so fickle. As soon as we release our teaser everyone will forget all about ‘Public Service Joe’,” Changjo assured the other. “You know how fickle the public can be. And Angels for sure don’t care. They’re proud of all of you.”

Ah, so that’s what it was. C.A.P knew that L.Joe was, unlike himself and Chunji, serving in the public service sector due to his weak body. He hadn’t known however that the small member had gotten an idiotic nickname from the public. “Public Service Joe”? They could at least be a bit more creative.

C.A.P chuckled a bit at it. He wasn’t worried. He was inclined to believe Changjo in this case and really nothing could put a damper on his mood. All day the back of his mind buzzed with excitement about their impending comeback. All they had to do was wait for Chunji’s discharge the next week and L.Joe’s a month after that.

They made a promise and it didn’t even cross his mind for it to not to be kept. The way Andy proposed they fulfill their military service made sense after all. The hyung line would enlist around the same time, and upon discharge the 6 would promote for a year all together.

It was how they all decided. It was going to be so.

It was going to be beautiful.

-to be continued-

AN: I really hate the beginning of this chapter. Like... a lot. I kept staring at it not knowing what to do about it. Maybe I'll fix it later. The discharge scene just falls flat andit's actually quite ugly. I just had to get this up because it was bothering me that the forward is up with no first chapter! LOL it was just nagging at me!

As for C.A.P... I really look forward to writing him because he looks all tough but really he's super sensitive on the inside! So... I want to write it! Also, C.A.P doesn't know the role Minwoo played in Niel's past. He only knows that Niel cheated on him but doesn't know the other stuff. If he did i highly doubt he'd approve of the match. haha. but there's plenty of time for that later!

Enjoy C.A.P's journey as he falls in love all over again. prepares for teentop comeback!

oh yeah! before i forget, in public service you can live and commutefrom home after your basic training so ljoe lives half in the dorm half at his mom's place.

thanks everyone for the comments and subs! why this AN so long