#dokgo

[enihk-writes]

[someone older]

pairing: older!multi-fandom men x gn!they/them!reader

reader is written to be in their early twenties, under twenty-five and fresh out of uni with their first degree and no corporate work experience.

summary: shorts about old men and a younger beau to-be

content warning: big age-gap relationships // superior-subordinate power imbalance // possible infantilization // some form of saviour-complex // (some unintentional) manipulation

characters: zhongli (genshin impact) // neuvilette (genshin impact) // jing yuan (honkai star rail) // tang gunak (return of the blossoming blade) // dokgo (return of the mad demon) // chongyue (arknights) // shamane (RE:1999) // hiromi higuruma (jujutsu kaisen) // ryū (gokurakugai)

author's note: my lovely oomfs i need yall to look away and pretend im doing okay,,, the demons and the little voices in my head have won and taken over..... i have to make that middle-aged man pregnant so so so so bad it's terminal... (head in hands)... OUGHHHHKKKGSHHH (coughs blood and straight up dies)..... looking at the list here i really have a type huh....

[PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION! I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TRIGGERS CAUSED BEYOND THIS LINE]

ZHONGLI who had lived for long enough to have seen and experienced almost everything one could see, was still taken aback when he felt a familiar throb in his heart as he conversed with the new face of the artisan's alley. a fledgling who had just left their nest and was beginning to make their way into the world — your naivety much unlike your more seasoned neighbours who knew how to set the prices of their goods to gain the maximum profit. you were often tricked and scammed out of selling your wares at their proper price, too scared to stand your ground and disrespect your older customers. the former archon couldn't bear to see a budding talent, such as yourself, sell themselves short out of expected social courtesy. he often found himself buying your highest-priced works even if he had to empty his entire wallet. you were beyond grateful for his patronage, even offering a commission, free of charge. that's just how bad business was before he stepped in. oh you poor thing, now that he knows how easy it was to get you dancing in his palm, how could he let you meet better opportunities? he was your lifeline, the only way you were going to make it in this career you chose. and you better not forget that.

NEUVILETTE knew that he shouldn't be so enamoured with the new hire. really. a being who had been alive for as long as he falling in love with someone thousands of years their junior? he wanted to rip his hair out. the chief justice approached this predicament as he would with almost anything he deemed annoying — avoidance. sending you out on errands that kept you out of the office for the whole day, giving days off to everyone if there was nothing on the agenda, having you go sort out documents in the filing room, and a whole host of other things that made sure you and him wouldn't cross paths. once he had a clearer mind to sit down and think, he is immediately riddled with guilt. weren't his actions akin to that of a black company employer? you on the other hand, could not be happier to hit the jackpot. good pay, regular days off, responsibilities that didn't require you to rack your brain too much. this was everything an energy-saving adult like you could ever want. it must be nice to frolic around and stay blissfully unaware while your boss was in the middle of a mental breakdown alone in his office.

JING YUAN was a calculating man, despite the commonly held belief that he never really took things too seriously. he kept a rather consistent air of nonchalance so impenetrable that it annoyed you whenever you couldn't discern what was on his mind at that moment. your after-hours hobby these days was to drop by the community starchess club and play a few rounds with the people there. and who else was waiting there at your seat every day? your damned boss. the elders who were there swooned over the handsome general, remarking about how you and him made a great pair — much to your chagrin. the man would always send a blinding smile in your way as you got closer, even going so far as to help you settle down. the routine was always the same each night. you would play against him for at least five rounds consecutively, lose against him in almost every single match, play against the other club members, gather your things and go home for the day. the general would also coincidentally be done with his activities. he offered to walk you to your front door, you've learnt from the one time you refused that the general was unusually talented in pulling an extremely sad, pathetic, wet and kicked puppy face. unfortunately, you were too nice to reject him further. ah, but now that he knew of that weakness of yours, you'd better expect that he would be pulling the same trick again soon.

TANG GUNAK felt that he was far too geriatric to be feeling this way. especially when he had adult children of his own. the youngest of whom was only a few years older than you were. a talented person, emerging at the top of your class in the academy meant that the world was your oyster. so why had you decided to come down to sichuan and work as an aide in this family? the patriarch had no clue, and he certainly didn't know how to even bring up the question. at first, he had hoped that perhaps you and one of his children would be wed but as time passed, it became increasingly obvious you were not interested in them at all, rather you had set your sights on the patriarch himself. him? the widower? the poor man who had only felt the touch of his dead wife? he was very scandalised that the young aide of his house was so open about their attraction to him. however, it seemed nobody in the household was on his side. not even his own flesh and blood. though for all that forwardness, he never expected that you would be so hesitant and shy when you were alone with him. it was endearing how you became more diligent whenever that happened, how you would engross yourself in your work just to pretend he wasn't there with you. the next time he looked up from what he was doing, you were passed out on your desk. he moved over to carry you back to your quarters — it was deep into the night right now anyways, so nobody would see him with you in his arms. he tucked you into bed, leaving as quickly as he came. the glimpse of his own flushed face in the reflection of the window never left his mind the rest of that week.

DOKGO had agreed to follow his disciple to town only because said disciple was going to throw a tantrum in his courtyard and the older man was not in the mood to deal with the adult child. the master pretended to not be acquainted with his own disciple when the man began to flirt with the women passing by. he walked on and sat down at a vacant bench in front of a teahouse. his troublesome disciple eventually shook off the girls clinging onto him and joined his master at the table, a string of apologies falling out his mouth when he caught sight of the older man's disapproving glare. only when the younger man offered to pay did the old master's hardened expression fall softer — fine, he said with a grunt. the second headache of the day came in the shape of you, a wandering merchant, or so you said. you slipped in to sit next to the master after the disciple had graciously allowed you to. not like the older man could oppose when there weren't any empty seats in the vicinity. while the conversation was lively as you talked with the disciple about your travels, he could only focus solely on the callouses of your palms, something a merchant who says they are not a martial artist shouldn't have. you had noticed his scrutinising gaze, throwing him a quick grin as you continued the chat with his disciple. oh? he could only wonder what that was about. shame that his dull, blockheaded disciple had let that slip past him. the master wonders if he should up the training regime when they get back.

CHONGYUE was up and early, as he usually does, leading the daily morning exercise with the other operators. the doctor not being there was somewhat expected, but you going missing? that was a first. when the morning exercise was over, he headed up to your room to check on you, finding the door slightly ajar. cautiously, he walked into the dark room, you had a bag of junk near the entry, from the looks of it you were living off cup noodles and soda, again. no wonder you were now curled up in bed all sick. he might have to give you an earful later, but for now, he puts aside your laundry and took out the trash. he goes down to the canteen, ordering some warm chicken porridge and even stopping by the nurse's office to pick up whatever he thinks you might need. this time, you were now somewhat awake. grumbling and muttering complaints under your breath from the disturbance, he helped you sit up. you insisted on feeding yourself, but he would have none of it. you could only comply and open your mouth wide every time he brought the spoon to your lips. you finished the food and even took the medicine obediently, earning praise from the man himself. before he left, he rubbed some medicinal balm on your stomach, layering warm blankets and patted you back to sleep, reciting an abbot's chants as he did so. the nostalgic feeling was comforting. you should thank him when you got better — maybe he might be interested in a popular classic novel from your home country, or should you try your luck with the lacquer pots instead?

SHAMANE spotted a figure hunched over the running stream near his hut as he was out collecting the fresh water he would need for the day. when they didn't answer his calls, he walked over, not too worried about whether the figure was a dangerous critter or not. the snap of a twig had them spin their head in his direction — that's when he met your eyes. you both stared at the other, sizing each other up. when he decided that you were not a threat, he introduced himself with his signature smile. you did the same, albeit quieter, still a little peeved from seeing a large bearded man in the middle of nowhere. friendly as ever, he kept the conversation going. he talked about himself, he asked about you, and so on and so forth until you finally admitted to him that you had gotten lost in the mountains, also you had twisted your ankles. he pointed to his hut and asked if you wanted to rest in there until you got better, how could you say no? the month when you lived under the same roof as him passed by quickly, and soon enough it was time for you to go back down the mountain. when you both parted ways at the entrance of the village, there was an air of reluctance in saying goodbye. you promised to write to him, maybe even visit him. he only laughed you off, not expecting much to come out of that. though when he received his sister's letter not long after, he thought about taking you with him to his hometown. but ah, isn't visiting each other hometowns a thing expectant newlyweds do? well, he could always pretend he didn't know about these things, couldn't he?

HIGURUMA was pretty friendly with the tenants renting out the office space next door. all of whom were fresh design school graduates trying to start a business together. you were the one he's grown the most familiar with, the unofficial boss of the company and the one who was single-handedly juggling your own practice along with other administrative duties. he helped you where he could, the doors to his own law office always open to you — even in the wee hours of the night. you would sit cross-legged on the big swivel chair as both of you engrossed yourselves in your respective work with the boxes of takeout splayed all over his table. when it was late enough that you missed the last train, he drove you back to your apartment. and everytime you sat in the passenger seat, he would reach over to pull the seatbelt on for you. you could have done it yourself but how were you supposed to pass up the chance to have him come this close? enough to even catch a whiff of his cologne? the lawyer himself knew that you were capable enough to do something this simple, but he couldn't help but enjoy the way you tried not to look at him as he did this each time. the ride back was quiet and serene, your tired body sank into the plush of his car seats and soon you were knocked out cold. even when you were both already parked outside your residence, you still wouldn't rouse. he clicks the seatbelt off you, even going so far as to push the seat back so you were lying more comfortably. you've done this enough times where he has a blanket to cover you with as he waited for you to wake up. which you would, and feel so ashamed. he thinks about how cute you were babbling out your apologies and thanks, all while scrambling to pull yourself together and out his car. only to repeat this whole song and dance the very next night.

RYŪ was a bit of a recluse. never really leaving his room unless it was for a really good reason. which was rare, and by rare it was almost never. but a human had to eat, shit and get clean — which was where you came in. as the designated errand runner for the organisation, you were the one that ended up having to take care of that guy's day-to-day needs. you might have hated him at first, with how picky he was with his food, even the brand of his necessities had to be the exact right one. doesn't matter if the stock ran out, you had to go out there and haunt for a place that still has it or else he wouldn't even entertain your presence. the one good thing you had going about you was that you were adaptable, learned things quick and was light on your feet. if things went south, you always had a backup, and a backup for the backup, you get the idea. the man, mayhaps out of the other's insistence, but you liked to think that he had warmed up to you, started to initiate conversations. at some point whenever you brought him his meals, he would make you sit and watch him eat. at first, you didn't know what to talk about, but then you also started bringing your own lunchboxes to eat alongside him, and you talked his ear off about what you made that day. over time, you both fell into a routine and on days when he's kept you a little too long with him, you'd stay over and crash on his couch. and after more time had passed, he's already got some of your clothes together with his in the wardrobe. hell, he even bought a bigger sofa just so you could sleep better whenever you stayed over. give it more time and who knows, you might end up moving in completely, not that this old hack would mind too much.

[lovewhump]

i love reading namu dokgoverse wiki bc i get to read things like 'nobody likes lee jung woo cos hes a mary sue shithead whose power is just bullshit , anyway kang hyuk is cooler and much more handsome'(not the exact words but you get the point)

They really gave many snide remarks at how unpopular jungwoo is(not only his rank in popularity ranking is behind dokgo trio, hes also behind kim min kyu, a side character in Tong series whos also get promoted into main chara for 1st blood rain series), not only that, jungwoo wiki entry is so short compared to hyuk's wiki that at least giving us synopsis for his series.

[frufruflup607]

aka the simplified version of what happened in the red tiger gang arc

[prclns]

Have another shitpost drawing dump until i havd motivation to draw again

[kendelias]

squid game ocs + seasons

" it is june after all & you're young until september. " - ocean vuong

tag list: @rose-of-oz

[fy-sehunoh]

A 'Dokgo Rewind' reunion photo of Oh Sehun, Ahn Bohyun, Shin Wonho, and Jo Byeongkyu at Lee Beomkyu’s wedding! 📸✨

[gyunmireu]

oh my goodness 😭😭😭i wanted to wait until ur exams were done but i kinda forgot after a week LOL 😭😭😭but anyways….

anything involving dokgo jun and maybe braiding that thing he has in his hair 😭?? 🙏🏻my babygirl needs more love….

in your hands | dokgo jun

Fandom: Best Teacher Baek

Pairing: Dokgo Jun x Gender Neutral! Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Genre: Fluff, Open Ending?

Summary: Jun has a headache. You offer to give him a massage.

A/n: I totally get you anon, my memory is super bad too 😂 Jun was a super fun character to write– I'm all about handsome model students, just as much as I like troublemakers hehe~ I also have a weakness for strong hard-workers being vulnerable in front of the ones they like. Such a good trope! So ofc that bled into the fic, haha! I hope you like this and that Jun isn't too ooc >////< ♡

also available on ao3!

The student council room had only one window. Afternoon sunlight spilled into the room from there, just muted enough to not be so bright that it would hurt the eyes. The long table was empty except for two people: Dokgo Jun and you. You had a stack of paperwork in front of you, reports and other documents that you needed to approve and categorise for inventory. At the head of the table, Jun was doing his own work.

A light thud startled you and you looked up to see Jun pressing the heels of his palm into his eyes, elbows on the table.

"You okay, Jun?" You said softly, not wanting to break the tranquil peace of the slow afternoon. Jun looked up at you and gave you a small, pained smile. There was a time when you called him Dokgo-ssi or something equally formal; it took him a few weeks to convince you that he rather preferred you calling him Jun. Now, hearing you say his name gave him a tiny burst of joy each time that he wouldn't admit to anyone. "Something wrong?"

"It's nothing," he reassured you, pressing his fingers into his forehead. "Just a sudden headache."

"Did you eat?" You frowned, keeping your work aside. You only had a few more reports to go through anyway.

"I did," he mumbled, eyes shifting back to his own stack of papers that required the council president's approval. "It might just be all the reading I've had to do these past few days."

It had been a busy week for the council and everyone had been swamped, most of all Jun and Soso. You had been given other work by one of your teachers so you hadn't been able to finish your own council work in time and had come in today while everyone else took the day off to finish it. You hadn't expected Jun to be there too, but he really was a hard worker who insisted on doing his own work himself rather than delegating some of it off. You were pretty sure if there was anyone else in his place, they would have done that long back.

"Hm," you glanced over to his stack, then your own before offering in a moment of bravery, "How about I give you a head massage? It might make you feel better."

"I couldn't impose on you like that," Jun mumbled, eyes flashing downwards. He hoped you wouldn't see the pink of his cheeks; how many people could say their crush cared enough to offer something like that to them?

"You wouldn't be imposing," you assured him, feeling a little embarrassed yourself. You hoped he wouldn't read into it too much, lest he found out how much you actually cared about him. "I've only done it for my family but they say I have magical hands."

You slightly waved your fingers at him with a toothy grin. Jun stared at you for two seconds. He had denied it to be polite but the throbbing in his head really wasn't going away and the offer was far too tempting to deny a second time. Also, you looked adorable grinning like that.

"If you really do not mind…" he trailed off, feeling embarrassed.

You got off your seat and made your way over to Jun. Placing yourself behind his chair, you said quietly, "Keep your papers aside, lean back and close your eyes."

He did as you said, still feeling a bit like he was using you. All his doubts went out the window when he heard you say excitedly, "It's been a while since I've done this, but I'll make you say that I have magic hands too. Your headache will be gone before you even know it!"

Jun smiled and leaned back, eyes fluttering close. You carefully placed your fingers at his forehead and started dragging them with the perfect pressure. You hadn't lied at all– Jun immediately agreed internally that your hands really were magic. It felt really good, like your fingers were taking away the pain under them with every drag.

Jun let out a shaky exhale at a particularly good stroke and you laughed quietly to yourself.

"Enjoying it?" You teased, not pausing in your massage. You could see the way his cheeks coloured up at that and it took all your self-control to not press a kiss on his nose for how adorable he was when he became embarrassed. Jun was, after all, the student council president and you were just a student in the council. You could hardly even say you were friends; outside of classes and council work, you never really met or talked. He probably only sees you as an acquaintance at best.

"Y- You really are q- quite good," he stammered, trying to explain himself and the sound. "I am sorry if I weirded you–"

"Aish, I'm just kidding," you smiled to yourself. "I'm glad it's working. Don't overthink so much, silly."

The two of you settled in a comfortable silence for a while before he murmured, "Thank you. It's almost stopped hurting now. You really…"

He didn't finish his line but it still warmed your heart. You started running your fingers through his hair, untangling the knots gently. That's when you realised that his usual braid was missing; Jun must have loosened it because of the headache, you guessed.

An idea popped into your head. You had always wanted to try braiding it yourself and you had the chance today!

"Stay here," you said, voice so low that Jun probably didn't even hear it. You got out the detangling hairbrush you had with you and bounced back to where Jun was lying still. With deft hands and gentle movements, you brushed his hair. A few minutes later, you kept the brush aside and braided it loosely so that it wouldn't pull on his head in case the headache lingered. "Done!"

You looked down proudly at your handiwork but the lack of response from Jun made you pause. You stepped around to the side of his chair to look at him– he had fallen asleep like that. The sight made you giggle quietly to yourself. He looked so peaceful and relaxed for one. It made your chest squeeze uncomfortably, a warm throbbing inside it.

"You're always working so hard," you whispered softly, not wanting to wake Jun up. "I admire your efforts so much, because I see how much of yourself you put into everything you do. But, you know… I like seeing you like this too."

You reached out to touch him but held back at the last second, eyes flickering all over his softened face. He really was so handsome, like a being carved out by the gods. Your heart thumped loudly in your ears as you leaned down, letting your hair slip past like a curtain. With your heart in your throat, you pressed a light gentle kiss on his forehead before jerking back, face flushed.

Relief and disappointment flooded you when Jun didn't wake up. It was better this way, you told yourself. He had enough on his plate without the awkwardness of being admired and crushed on by one of the students he worked with. With that, you made your way back to your seat and pulled the stack of papers to yourself.

You glanced at his sleeping form one last time and smiled, feeling the warm emotion spreading inside of you.

"Next time," you promised quietly. In the warm afternoon sunlight, Jun's golden hair shone like a halo marking an angel.

"Next time, I'd like to do this when you are awake… and when you'd want it."

°•❀•°

All likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated ♡

[artstationable]

DokGo TAK • "Alchemist_set"

concept artist

artstation

More from «Artstation» here

[adorable-deku]

hey guys meet my new fave char: Pointy Man

his name is dokgo saeng. personality of a slightly rabid dog. pulls up 2 a group fight and goes aight im takin a nap lmk when the opps get here

[jahascouch]

I drew on an aggie with my friend 😔😔😔

[supergluefumes]

ship meme, but semogong

Who clings to the other during scary movies? Ogong is pretty clingy, but Semo is more of a ramrod-straight terrified stiff. Ogong makes sure to sit on Semo's right side, because during jumpscares Semo grabs Ogong's hand and crushes it. That would be the end of Ogong's hand had he sat on the left side. During psychological horror Ogong sometimes crawls onto Semo's lap and cowers into his shoulder. Who asks weird questions in the middle of the night? Semo and Ogong are both night owls, but Semo usually asks the weird questions. Ogong will take him seriously, then they'll have a productive two hour long conversation about how evolution made penguins flightless. Who falls asleep on the other? Both have done it at one time or another. If Ogong pulled an all-nighter on his computer, he'll pass out clean on Semo. If Ogong gives Semo and lap pillow and plays with his hair, Semo usually drifts off pretty fast. Ogong has photos of dozing Semo that he cherishes. Who eats the other’s uneaten pizza crusts? Duri, obviously. But Semo doesn't like/can't stomach certain foods because of the limited diet he was exposed to in his early years and in Limo's home, so Ogong will eat his portion if need be. Who talks smack while playing video games? Ogong starts it, Semo usually ends it with a sick burn. Sometimes Ogong wins with a not serious, goofy orphan joke he borrowed from Duri. Who would throw the other in the pool? One time, when they were both at the pool, Ogong picked up Semo by the waist and threw him into the water. Semo got his revenge by snatching Ogong's ankles and dragging him in. Who is the better carer when the other is sick? Ogong is the better carer because of his experience with Ondal and feeding picky people, but when Ogong is sick he's way more attracted and clingy to Semo. Who cooks normally? Semo has a wide knowledge of recipes regarding ramen and instant stuff you can throw together in fifteen minutes. Ogong is just the better cook, and was horrified by his boyfriend's diet. Who made the first move? Ogong decided to be jokey-flirty for a bit, but then Semo asked Ogong on a date and Ogong turned into a flaming tomato. Who kissed who first? Semo obtained Ogong's very enthusiastic and clear consent before initiating the first kiss. It was during a movie night and Semo just decided to go for it. Probably could've turned into something more, but Semo stopped at a few kisses and Ogong could tell he was uncomfortable with touching. How often do they fight and over what? They don't fight often, but when they do it's big. It's usually about the other's past, controversial opinions about Semo's dad or Ogong's brother, or on differing opinions about a deep subject. Who’s the first one to fix things after a fight? Unless Semo fucked up badly, he'll hold a grudge as long as he needs to. One sincere apology from Ogong usually fixes things. Who talks about the other more without noticing? Ogong ensures that he and Semo spend as much time as possible, and brings Semo up in every single conversation possible. Not in an obnoxious or annoying way, but like "oh I should get this for Semo" and "this reminds me of Semo". Who steals the other’s clothes? Semo has a veritable mountain of Ogong's clothes mixed in with his own, from all the times Ogong gave him a sweater or a jacket because Semo was cold. One time he accidentally wore Ogong's (slightly oversized on Semo) white-and-orange shirt to the beach, and Duri made some, er, suggestive comments about it. Ogong steals some of Semo's clothes; old things, like a shirt that needs mending or a sweater with a stain on it. Ogong will patch them up and make them new again, then discreetly return them to Semo's closet. Which of their friends is over-joyed shipper trash that they are together? Dingyou ships it the most. She got over Semo and is now just happy that she's witnessing a yaoi relationship out of a BL. Duri makes the most suggestive comments/teasing jokes. Hana is strangely silent about Semo and Ogong's relationship…

[ratita-ratata]

dokgo is so gay, i suspected reading the webtoon but i confirmed reading the novel GAY GAY GAY

I loved it.

[love-me-a-lotta-whump]

hello! when you get the chance, could you recommend me some shows that feature a team/ team dynamic where the youngest member gets hurt, like the uncanny counter? or even just any shows with that team/found family dynamic in general! i would really appreciate any and every rec you can think of 🙏🏼

Absolutely I can!

Firstly, I will guide you to my sublist of whump lists I've made with the found family trope but I will highlight some that I, personally, really enjoyed!

Under the cut!

Found Family Sub List >>> {LINK}

Weak Hero Class >>> {MDL}

Now and forever will I recommend this drama. I have a list in the works for it because it is one of my favorite dramas ever, but I'm also in the process of translating the whole thing into English, and I'm doing both at the same time, so it's not going to come out quickly. Because of this, I give you a link to it on MDL. It's on Netflix and Viki.

It's kinda a team dynamic but it's more so aligned with found family.

----

Duel >> {x} - This is a great one, especially if you like a father/son kinda found family trope. This one has EVERYTHING. Literally cannot find this on any streaming service that is not on the 7 seas, so do what you will with that information. - This one is kinda team-y and more found family.

---

Dokgo Rewind >>> {x} - This one is good but don't expect WHC level storytelling or anything like that. This is like if you got WHC from Walmart. Like it's good but it's not the same. - It's on Viki. This is more of a team and found family at the same time.

---

Fuujinshi >>> {x} - Some of y'all know I DO NOT play about this drama. So whumpy and I love it so much. 10/10 - I had to watch this on a ship but now it's on Viki! A team! Dysfunctional family tbh

---

Mad Dog >>> {MDL} - Don't and won't have a list for this one since there's already a few so I have provided an MDL list. HOWEVER, we got a team and found family all in one! This one is great! Multiple team members getting hurt, actually.

I hope you enjoy some or all of these! Hmu if you need anything else!

[frufruflup607]

almost 2 weeks has passed and here are the first 10 daily sketches!!! as always if you want to see sketches each day (+3 additional ones not posted here) check out the account here!

[prclns]

No caption

[shewrotesomething]

Saeyoung - The Day He Realized He Wanted to Marry You

There were 3 moments for him. The first 2 were times when he, out of nowhere, just quoted a meme reference and without missing a beat you responded. 

But there was a moment he vividly remembered. 

It was at a party. They had decided to increase the capacity of the guest list, and though you never expressed it, there was a bit of pressure on your part as the planner. He tried his best to help but he was occupied with work and his brother settling in. 

You took it like a champ, but the nerves really set in on the morning of the party. 

He watched you that day clean, moisturize, and exfoliate every inch of your skin. Saeyoung didn’t dare bother you during the ritual. 

Finally, the party came. Normally, Saeyoung would drive you to the venue, but since his brother wouldn’t be attending, he wanted to make sure everything was in order before he left him. And so, you headed to the venue earlier.

When he arrived, the party was already well underway. 

His eyes searched the crowd for your familiar stature with a half-jesting apology already forming on his lips. 

He spotted you by one of the tables speaking to the owner of a small jewelry business. The woman seemed to enjoy your company. She was inviting you to the new store they opened in the mall. It was their first expansion and you looked just as elated as she did.

A younger woman was beside her. Immediately, your demeanor shifted. You were a bit cheerier, a bit less formal. She was talking to you about a dating sim you both played. You laughed at something she said. Something about tragic backstories and how writers knew how to hurt their readers.

And he found himself pausing at the sight… at the normalcy of the scene.

His midnight thoughts crept up in his moment of hesitation.

Perhaps this is what you really needed. Normalcy. Idle chatter about going to the mall. Playing video games to pass the time. It should be this and not…

Not waiting for hours on end to make sure he comes back home in one piece

Not dealing with sleepless nights because you got woken up by the screaming

And certainly not putting up with… him.

With his skillset, it would be a simple thing to disappear. To retreat into the crowd and wipe the entirety of his existence from your life. 

You got pulled into this life because of him and now that you’re with him…you’re even deeper.

No, you don’t deserve this. You deserve a normal life. A peaceful one. 

His mouth suddenly dried and the half-jesting apology dissipated on his tongue. 

He took one step back. And before he knew it, he was walking away from the scene… from you.

His heart hammered in his chest. Taking hold of his breaths. Thoughts ravaged in his mind.

He’s doing it again. He’s pushing you away. 

No, this is the right thing to do.

Wait, just… he has to calm down. This isn’t the answer.

But it is. The only thing he’s going to give you is trouble.

No, that’s not true. You love him. You’ll always love him.

But he doesn’t deserve that. And you… you don’t deserve all the shit he’s got with him.

No, it’s going to be okay. Just calm down.

No. Disappear. He has to leave right now. Before you fall in deeper.

No. Stay. Just stay.

No. Leave—

Arms snaked around his waist. His fight or flight instinct flared up. He fists clenched but before he could do anything else, a voice halted the torrent of his thoughts.

“Caught you!” you yelled with a giggle. 

He turned his head as you rested your chin on his shoulder. “H-h…hey,” he answered in a low voice. You smiled at him. His heart slowed at the sight of your face. “You look beautiful.”

Your eyes narrowed in a jesting glare. “If you think flattering me will get you out of trouble you’ve got another thing coming, mister. Don’t think I didn’t see you running away while I dealt with Mr. Dokgo. That was seriously cruel.”

His hands reached up to touch the arms holding him in place. “Sorry. I didn’t think you needed me.”

“And where did you get that idea? I’ll always need you and because of that,” your glare became sharper and your voice dropped an octave, “I will always find you.”

Something in those words and the jokingly ominous manner you phrased it unlatched something in his chest. And with it, a warmth washed over his stature and he felt his mouth spread to a grin. Then, catching onto your jest, he faked a sob. “There will be no escape for me. This is my life now. Trapped and helpless.”

“I’m glad you understand your unfortunate circumstances. As punishment, you are sentenced to feeding me honey buddha chips while we watch the best or arguably worst bollywood film I can find.”

He chuckled. “Okay.”

“And… and you have to buy me and Saeran our favorite ice cream flavors.”

“Roger that.”

“We each get one pint.”

“Hm. You’re really milking this aren’t you?”

“Oh! And you’re taking me to a cat cafe as soon as you’re available.”

He nodded with equal parts of sincerity and resignation. “Yes, ma’am.”

The two of you paused when you heard a sigh. In front of you, Zen stood with a bored expression. “I mean, I know you guys are in love but really? In front of the guests?”

A blush coated your cheeks. A real one. Not the kind that your makeup gave you. You released him immediately and the urge to distance himself has all but dissipated.

“It’s time for your speech,” Zen informed.

You gave Zen a mock salute before walking off. “Hey, I’ll catch you later, okay?”

He smiled. Softly. Knowingly. This was his life. It's you and him against everything. And he wants it for the rest of time. So he yields to his fate and answered, “I’ll be waiting.”