#AND THE INCLUSION OF SEOK-JU'S NIECE PLS THAT IS SO PERFECT YOU'RE SO RIGHT AND TRUE IT'S

[mythvoiced]

@jeoseungsaja | the GBEP

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Seok-ju isn't even religious, but there was a brief moment just a few seconds ago, when the caffeine and its associated warmth had first sloshed happily down his throat, coating tongue and palate on its way down with the sugary mixture of an unstirred multi-layered coffee, where Seok-ju had found, perhaps, they had achieved absolution in spite of their lack of faith.

That thought isn't even an exaggeration.

Kindness isn't taken for granted. Sure, Seok-ju meets kindness with a nonchalant air, but that's generated from a casual way of presenting themselves to the world, just an officer, a detective, trying to make things a little easier, a little better in the world.

Or generated from the intense self-awareness of there being something entirely far too wrong with him.

Jae-hwan seems to have a similar air about himself. The mention of Seok-ju's sister, even, is categorized as an act of such kindness, enough that Seok-ju's eyes widen minutely, keeping their gaze trained on Jae-hwan's features as if he'd just delivered a line worthy of a historical record of high importance.

The kindness of remembering Seok-ju even has a niece.

Seok-ju mellows out into a pleased chuckle, settling back, arm outstretched with fingers still wrapped around the offered sugar and caffeine bomb. He's spinning the cup slightly, as if that would somehow create enough momentum inside to stir and mix its contents.

"Your wish has been fulfilled," Seok-ju lowers his head in the mock intensity of his dramatics. They sit upright again, blinking in the pretense of overwhelming gratitude. They are grateful, just not genuinely at anime moe level.

"How can I ever repay you?" they can't keep the act up for too long, though. Still an adult, still trying to appear responsible and sensible and normal, kind of like Jae-hwan himself. A bit of a mystery to Seok-ju, who'd never gotten an opportunity to dig through the surface of that pleasant demeanour, a smile worthy of a role model, a standard to live by, in terms of being approachable.

"Seriously, my niece might have my head on a stick if I dedicate everything to you, but let me repay you. As exaggerated as this may sound, I was this close," Seok-ju's free forefinger touches his free thumb, "to losing a few teeth with how hard I was clenching my jaw. This seriously helped."