Title: Young Bae vs. Tae Yang
Rating: PG (Fluff)
Pairing: GDYB
Summary: Sometimes, it surprised Ji Yong just how loved Tae Yang was. Why love Tae Yang when Young Bae was so much better?

Ji Yong frowned thoughtfully as Tae Yang took the stage, the very definition of confidence in his art. Fans screamed at the sight of the muscles that have long since been developing on the artist, showing their support for him by screaming his name, declaring their love, singing the lyrics to his song, some even attempting to perform what dance moves they knew.

Tae Yang was a passionate performer, doing what needed to be done in order to entertain and enrich those who had paid so much simply to see this one performance, hear this one song, see this one artist.

Sometimes, it surprised Ji Yong just how loved Tae Yang was. Why love Tae Yang when Young Bae was so much better?

Young Bae was who he really was, the young man the worked endlessly until his routines, his songs, his very expressions were perfect. Young Bae was the reason Tae Yang was so popular, yet he rarely received due credit, and it irked Ji Yong to no end.

At first, Tae Yang was simply a stage name, then later became a shield for Young Bae, protecting him from the harsh realities of his career choice. Now? Now Tae Yang was a personality, and a dominant one. One that Ji Yong was relatively tired of seeing, one that could never be as brilliant as Young Bae.

Dong Young Bae.

Their schedules had becoming increasingly busy, as had Tae Yang's with his solo work. It was getting harder and harder to see Young Bae, but Ji Yong constantly found himself around Tae Yang.

With a small sigh, he turned away from the stage and wandered over to the young man's dressing room where he would be after the performance, though he was curious as to who he would be meeting. Tae Yang or Young Bae. He certainly preferred the latter of the two.

"Oh," said one of the stagehands as they spotted Big Bang's leader, "Ji Yong-sshi, if you could give this to Tae Yang-sshi when he comes off stage? Thank you." The man handed the rapper something and hurried off.

It didn't matter what it was the person had handed him, what mattered was the fact that the stage hand had referred to Young Bae as 'Tae Yang' while Ji Yong was given the honor of having his given name used. It had become the norm actually. Staff always called Young Bae by his other personality, thus taking away what little recognition Young Bae did get.

Of course, Big Bang still referred to him as Young Bae when they were all together, but on camera, even they were expected to call him Tae Yang.

It just wasn't fair to Young Bae.

And it wasn't fair to Ji Yong either.

It had been Young Bae's shy and uncertain nature that he had fallen in love with. Young Bae's polite responses or blushing cheeks to crude comments and jokes. The bright smile that would brighten his flawless features whenever excited or truly pleased with something, not that overly sexy smirk Tae Yang had used on stage and in  videos.

Who even perfected that smirk so that Tae Yang could use it?

Ji Yong collapsed into a chair in the dressing room and waited. Many times in the past, Ji Yong would wait for his friend, his lover, but end up simply seeing Tae Yang in all his glory.

On those nights, Ji Yong would sleep alone and upset, tossing and turning as he mulled over a single thought throughout the night, 'Where's Young Bae? Where's my Young Bae?' Should the same thing happen on this night, Ji Yong wasn't positive that he would be able to hold onto his sanity for much longer.

* * *
 

"Ji Yong," Young Bae, yes, Young Bae, muttered into Ji Yong's shoulder as the two rode in a van to their apartment.

It was with a small smile of triumph and accomplishment that Ji Yong held the exhausted boy closer, cradling him as much as need be. It had been such a long time since they had been able to do this. Enjoy one another's presence. Enjoying the fact that Young Bae was still ever pressent in Ji Yong's life, that Tae Yang hadn't completely taken over.

Gently pressing his lips to Young Bae's forehead, Ji Yong tightened his embrace on his friend and lover. There would be no passionate love making tonight, and though this could be the last time he would see his Young Bae for a while, Ji Yong was ok with that. The exhausted happiness that surrounded them both would have to be suitable enough.

Though he never really knew when his Young Bae would return to him, he did know that Tae Yang was certainly not enough to keep him away forever.

"I love you, baby," Ji Yong whispered silently to the now sleeping performer. "Young Bae."