Chapter Text
Here are two facts about Baek Saheon:
He will do nearly anything if there are benefits.
He hates Kim Soleum.
He always thought these things were mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, today his patience is being tested.
A Darkness with the layout of a standard, small house, with amenities already provided. At a first glance, it would look like any other normal home. However, what makes it unusual are the strange happenings that go on inside.
Reported anomalies include items appearing at random, things moving or the layout inexplicably changing, and the feeling of being watched.
In short, it’s a Darkness that seems to seek entertainment and will toy with the participant(s) for the duration of their stay.
Something important to note is that—while the time is randomized—the Darkness will only hold a person for seventy-two hours maximum. That, and it’s never resulted in fatalities. Even cases of injury were caused by the victim and not directly inflicted by the room.
So, all in all?
It really sounded like an easy clear. Quick points.
Saheon is soon proven wrong, as he will have to sacrifice his dignity for said points.
He thought he was going on this mission alone.
Yet, he senses a very heavy, familiar gaze on his back. One that makes him feel like a prey animal being hunted down.
It’s his bastard roommate, he knows immediately.
Of course Daydream found a way to include Kim Soleum. The higher-ups love him, for whatever reason.
Being stuck with him is less than ideal, but, to be fair, Soleum gets out of Darknesses efficiently—so following his lead isn’t usually a bad idea. Even if it tends to be unconventional.
“Sir…”
“?”
“You’re clearing this Darkness as well?” Saheon asks, careful to keep his tone polite. It’s for the best that he avoids conflict in a closed space like this.
Soleum slowly blinks, staring at Saheon for a long moment. It’s more than a little unnerving. Saheon can never quite understand what’s going on in Soleum’s mind.
“I suppose so.”
…His bored agreement doesn’t help anything. What’s that even supposed to mean? Apparently this is what Saheon gets for being stuck with a freak.
“Right.” He says hesitantly, clearing his throat. “So you read the manual?” He tries. He really does—but he trying for his roommate never works in his favor.
“Why would I have?”
Soleum tilts his head to the side like a possessed housecat. Saheon can already feel his sanity slipping. Someone kill this guy before he does it.
Or, better yet, before Saheon kills himself instead. Save him.
“Ah, of course, Supervisor…” He laughs nervously, as if every second in this man’s presence isn’t torture. “You probably already have something in mind then.”
“Hm.” Soleum hums, wholly disinterested in the conversation.
Well, at the very least, knowing Soleum… He probably does have something in mind. He’s infuriatingly reliable for someone with such a terrible personality. Saheon has, regrettably, placed his faith in this psychopath too many times.
“So, should we explore first?” He coughs. As capable as Soleum is, Saheon doesn’t want to look useless either. It’s a balancing act when it comes to him. If only Soleum was normal.
Looking at the hallway, Soleum nods wordlessly. What, is Saheon not worth a proper response? The revered, monstrous rookie can’t even spare a few words, huh…
It’s better than having to talk to Soleum more than necessary, he guesses. But he still feels a little wronged. Everything about Soleum makes him feel wronged.
It’s fine. Everything is fine. Saheon is so very fine, actually.
He just has to get through this Darkness. Easy points. Even with this maniac on his tail, staring him down as he opens cabinets and peeks into rooms.
Saheon turns back to look at him while searching one of the bedside tables. Soleum looks far too tall in comparison to how Saheon is kneeling.
But something else catches his attention before he can open his mouth to speak.
…That creepy doll.
Any time Baek Saheon sees Kim Soleum, he’s either carrying around that pink, plush rabbit—Braun—or has it in his front suit pocket. Which is to say, Saheon comes face-to-face with this thing a lot. Too often for comfort. It freaks him out.
After so long of being tormented by its tiny, black eyes and mockingly innocent smile, Saheon immediately notes the difference.
Is its… tongue out?
…???
“Did nobody tell you it’s rude to stare at your supervisors?” Soleum breaks his line of thought, and Saheon belatedly realizes that gawking at him in silence must have looked suspicious.
“...My apologies, sir.” He says, trying his best to cling onto life. He’s not ready to die yet, or at this lunatic’s hands. “It’s just—I couldn’t help but notice… does your…?”
“My what?” Soleum prompts, much too menacing.
“Braun,” saying its name creeps him out. “Doesn’t it look a little different?”
He watches as Soleum blinks, looking down at his own suit pocket. A faint silence stretches in between them before he meets Saheon’s gaze. “Braun isn’t an ‘it.’”
……
Is he serious?
“Doesn’t he look a little different?” Saheon, begrudgingly, corrects himself.
“Yes.”
Wow. Really helpful. Thanks, man.
“...Why does he look different?”
Soleum stares. Saheon is going to lose it. His mind or his life—either one.
But the more he thinks about it, the more odd it seems.
He didn’t get any notice that he’d be accompanied for this mission, and while Daydream is a shady and untrustworthy company, they’re at least professional. So, not being told the proper details of the assignment—no less having an entire teammate go unmentioned—is decidedly strange.
Soleum himself is off as well. Though, that could just be because Soleum is insane and switches his demeanor at the drop of a hat.
Seriously, Saheon has experienced the most whiplash in his life seeing Soleum act so normally with their other colleagues.
And then, there’s that damn plushie.
Saheon doesn’t know Soleum all that well—nor does he want to. He prefers they keep a reasonable distance from each other at all times if possible, really. But even he’s able to notice subtle discrepancies from the roommate he’s grown familiar with.
“Did you finally figure it out?” Soleum speaks.
…!
Baek Saheon’s heart drops. Couldn’t he be wrong, just this one time?
“Figure out what?” He answers because he’s fully aware of how unstable Soleum is, and he’s not sure if he’ll react kindly to Saheon’s conclusion.
Soleum smiles.
“That I’m not your roommate.”
???
That bastard knew this whole time!?
“More or less…” He averts eye contact.
To put it bluntly, the realization he’s come to is a simple one. This Kim Soleum is not real.
Due to this Darkness’ effects, he’s stuck here with what’s essentially a synthetic copy of his tormenter.
“Well, what do you think then?” Soleum hums, as though he’s observing Saheon under a microscope.
“The record mentioned odd things occurring in this place… such as things appearing at random.” He attempts to explain his thought process in a coherent manner, and he likes to think he’s succeeding. “So you must be an instance of that.”
“Wow. Smart.” is the deadpan reply he receives.
“T-thank you…?”
“I wasn’t being serious.”
“......”
A brief silence stretches on. Saheon feels the need to break it; this is too uncomfortable. Even if he doesn’t enjoy talking to Soleum. At all.
“Um, you knew that you’re not… real?” He asks, and he truly is curious. Soleum’s demeanor this whole time has been just as cryptic and infuriating as the live thing. It’s pretty authentic, all things considered.
“Of course I know.” His roommate says dryly. Even though Soleum is the one who makes no sense, he somehow always manages to make Saheon feel stupid.
He thinks It’s one of his many talents.
Saheon means that derogatorily, by the way.
“And you didn’t think to say anything about it?” His jaw clenches as he slowly rises to his feet.
“It’s your mission. I’m technically not a part of it, so why is it my responsibility to do your job?”
“Are you serious? I’m here trying to get through this damn assignment, and you’re enjoying my struggling—”
Soleum’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Do you think you can speak so informally with me just because I’m not the same supervisor you’re accustomed to?”
In that moment, a cold dread hits him, drowning out the warm irritation in his chest.
Trying to regain his composure, he breathes in, then out.
“I apologize, sir.” He backtracks, giving his best performance. In his opinion, it’s Oscar-worthy. “It’s just, I expected to be doing this alone. Since I thought it would be a quick clear, encountering something unexpected has me on edge.”
He sold his dignity the minute he joined this company.
“As a field agent, you should always be prepared for the inevitable,” Soleum advises, evidently not out of any true place of concern. He just sounds bored.
Saheon clenches his fists at his sides.
As much as he dislikes this guy in all of his forms, one trait all Soleums seem to share is their infuriating intelligence. And Saheon could really use that energy on his side.
“Yes, I understand…” He, unfortunately, relents.
Despite the creepy supervisor looming over his shoulder as he moves from room to room, Saheon manages to check the rest of the house. Even though there’s an unexpected… anomaly, he’s a professional, damn it!
He’s not dying here any time soon—especially not at the hands of his psycho roommate. In fact, one day he’ll be the one witnessing Soleum’s untimely demise. It’s a sweet dream—one he often visits in his fantasies when he’s resisting a particularly bad urge to deck Soleum across the face.
Survival, Saheon. Survival.
He can’t do anything impulsive just because Soleum is annoying. That’s immature.
Besides, Soleum would definitely find a way to come back from the dead and haunt him forever if he did that.
The only thing worse than being sentenced to a workplace with Soleum would be getting sentenced to an entire life with him. Ugh.
Given that he’s in an unfamiliar environment—no matter how helpful the Daydream higher-ups think their manuals are, which often barely give any information that’s actually helpful for staying alive—Saheon follows his instinct and makes sure to do a thorough sweep of the house before dismissing any possible, lurking threats.
Ultimately, the only threat with him is the one he sees on the daily. Figures.
He ends up tripping on his way to the kitchen countertops. Or maybe his legs were trembling a little bit too. Anyway, the hard, tiled floor hurts.
But Saheon isn’t a pussy—he works at a ghost story company. No way in hell. Being a coward in this work environment? That’d be a death sentence. It’s a little funny to imagine, honestly.
So he sucks it up and stifles any sounds of pain. After all, that guy is still watching him, and Soleum practically gets off on watching him suffer. There’s no way Saheon is going to give him the satisfaction.
However, as he’s bracing himself against his elbows, preparing to push up and off of the floor, Saheon sees something white peeking out from under the fridge.
…?
It’s a piece of paper.
Typical horror movie setup, huh. Guy falls and finds a suspicious note in a creepy house. Is it gonna be written in blood too?
Though, what’s on the paper is more baffling than any ‘scary’ clue or warning could be.
Fulfill his wish.
???
Who?
Well, Saheon doubts a Darkness would want to fulfill his own wish, or that it could. Even if it did try to, it would inevitably spin it into something grotesque. So via process of elimination, the only other option is—
……
Oh, fuck him. How can his luck get any worse.
How is he meant to fulfill Kim Soleum’s wish? Should he even? It could go either way.
On one hand, taking orders from a mysterious note in a Darkness could quickly go very wrong. But on the other, many Darknesses are rule-based. He could just as easily be punished for not following through with the conditions.
Which means it’s up to his instincts.
Not only that, but he really doesn’t want to do anything for this bastard.
What could a guy like Soleum’s wish be to begin with? It doesn’t paint a nice picture whatsoever. Regardless, this seems wired to end in Saheon’s suffering—of course.
……
In the end, he can’t come up with anything.
Or, rather, anything he does come up with is immediately shot down by his supervisor. You’d think that Soleum would be a little more helpful, considering this whole thing revolves around his wish—but no. Saheon is roommates with the Devil from the fucking Bible, apparently.
“I don’t know what to do anymore,” Saheon mutters. He regrets admitting when he feels Soleum’s eyes boring into the back of his head.
“Oh?”
“I mean—I don’t know what your wish would be, sir.” Good save. “You wouldn’t happen to have any ideas…?”
“Why would I tell you?”
Save Saheon’s sanity.
“I just want to get out of this in one piece, Supervisor.” It’s finally dawning on him in full that this isn’t his roommate. It’s a version created by a Darkness. A very real Darkness with the potential to be extremely dangerous.
This is an entity that he knows nothing about. But it has Kim Soleum’s face—and that’s fucking with him more than it has any right to.
“Hm.”
“You can relate to that, right?” Everyone has something they want in this company. Soleum is an adrenaline junkie, but he must have a drive. Everyone wants that damn Wish Ticket. Even Baek Saheon.
“Well, I’m not sure either.” As if Saheon’s life isn’t on the line, Soleum takes a seat on the couch, crossing one leg leisurely over the other.
“It’s… it’s your wish, sir. You really have no idea?”
“It’s nothing you could do, at least.” Soleum waves one hand dismissively, looking off to the side with an undecipherable expression.
Saheon feels his patience snap.
He stubbornly joins him where he’s sitting, although with much less relaxed posture.
He leans his head back against the couch, arms crossed. He has many, many choice words for Soleum right now, but all of them would probably get him murdered, so he keeps his mouth firmly shut.
Soleum raises an eyebrow. “Are you pouting?”
“N-no, I’m just thinking,” Saheon startles slightly, “about what we can do. That’s all.”
He sighs. “You’re like a feral cat.”
“...Excuse me?” It’s a bizarre comparison.
“All skittish.” Soleum gestures vaguely towards Saheon as if that’ll help it make any more sense.
“......”
Yeah, no, Saheon has no idea how to take that.
“What I’m saying is that stressing yourself over it won’t make the answer any clearer,” Soleum explains. “We’re already on this lovely couch, so why don’t we take a break?”
As if Soleum was doing any of the work in the first place!
…But, hey, that actually sounded kind of… nice? Coming from Soleum, no less—
“After all, you’ll need your strength if something decides to come out and chase us.” Soleum smiles like the creepy bastard Saheon knows him to be.
Of course, there it is! Saheon can’t allow himself to be fooled—no way that guy’s actually looking out for his wellbeing!
Besides, how is he supposed to relax with this psychopath next to him!?
So much for an easy clear. This was meant to be a quick mission…
But against Saheon’s better judgement, he does feel tired. He hasn’t been sleeping well at the dorm, he supposes. His already fragile sleep schedule isn’t helped by the constant children’s shows Soleum stays up all night watching. Living with a crazy person has been damaging to his health.
And yet… Soleum has never gone back on his word before.
Even if this isn’t really his roommate, it does have the actual Soleum’s actions and mannerisms.
So if it told him to take a break, it probably wouldn’t turn around and double-cross him, right?
It should be fine to close his eyes, just for a little while…
Before he can stop himself, Saheon feels his head tipping to the side—until it hits a soft, yet firm surface.
“...Ah?”
……
“What am I meant to do with you, Baek Saheon…”
A light pressure settles atop his head. Something is brushing through his hair in slow, even strokes, scratching behind his ear gently.
Just before Saheon loses consciousness, he hears a faint ding! ring out in the otherwise silent room.
Saheon comes to slowly. It actually feels like the best he’s slept in a while, despite not only being in a Darkness, but also being in presence of a fake version of his roommate.
Though, falling asleep at all in a Darkness was dangerous and irresponsible. He won’t allow that to happen again.
His relative peace doesn't last—he jolts upright, turning his head.
There’s only one thing scarier than being near Kim Soleum.
Losing sight of him.
And currently? Kim Soleum is nowhere to be seen.
It’s like knowing there’s a spider somewhere in your room, but you look away for one minute and suddenly it’s gone. Just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it’s out of mind.
He nearly tumbles off the couch as a floorboard creaks nearby, stumbling to his feet. His hand instinctively reaches into his pocket in search of any useful items.
But as he looks up, he meets the familiar eyes of his roommate.
Except… younger?
This makes no sense.
Saheon fell asleep recklessly because his stupid fucking supervisor recommended it, and then he… patted him? That was what Saheon felt in his hair, wasn’t it? Kim Soleum’s hand. He was petting him—like some kind of dog!
……
But, thinking back on it, there was a sound afterwards. One that resembled the kind of achievement notification you’d get in a video game.
And now that he’s woken up, he’s met with… another, another version of his roommate?
This Soleum is a few inches shorter than Saheon himself, despite the real Soleum usually being on the taller side. His face is softer and he’s dressed in what looks like a regular school uniform. Only, the logo says…
Sekwang.
…!?
Like that school Darkness? The one where he saw Soleum acting all buddy-buddy with some Bureau agents?
Okay. Well.
“...Sir?” Saheon tries, shifting on his feet. Though it feels strange calling someone younger than him sir, this is still a Darkness, and he needs to tread lightly.
Soleum—small and frail—looks up at him with what can only be described as wary eyes. Wary of him.
That’s new.
Soleum has never shown fear around Saheon. And even if he did, he’d probably get off on it, with his adrenaline-seeking tendencies and whatnot.
But perhaps more than his age has been affected. Rarely are psychopaths made because they’re born that way. Usually, something fucked them up early.
Still, the idea that Soleum was ever normal is strange to think about.
Saheon stares at him, trying to work out the situation. It doesn’t take long, seeing the way Soleum mirrors his defensive posture.
“Do you know me?” He asks, schooling his expression into something less intense. Something gentler. He’s practiced this before—meticulously. Learned how to suck up to seniors and bat his eyelashes just enough to get what he wants. Just enough to get by.
Soleum, or the thing wearing his face—or, a young version of it, that is—blinks up at him. It shakes its head slowly.
Too easy.
“We’re friends,” he smiles, kneeling down to the entity’s eye level. The words itch as he says them. He feels a sense of disgust traveling down his spine, but he intends to get out of here alive. And hopefully with some much needed benefits.
However, he doesn’t get a response.
Damn it, Saheon is putting on the performance of a lifetime right now and this guy—kid?—isn’t even batting an eye at him!
“We work at the same company?” He tries again, hoping to gauge at least some kind of interest in Soleum’s expression.
There’s still nothing. Soleum looks more put off than before, if anything. But starts to move his hands. It takes Saheon a moment to recognize it as Korean sign language.
When he was younger, he learned a bit, but it doesn’t come naturally. Soleum has to repeat it another time for him to get what’s being conveyed.
Ahjussi.
Saheon blinks.
Ahjussi? He’s not old enough for that, is he!?
How is Soleum finding new ways to spite him, even now…!?
He lets out a shaky breath, trying to reign in his temper. He won’t ruin this.
“Listen, I need you to help me with something.” Ahjussi. Seriously. What’s with that guy? “Since we’re friends, can you do your best?”
Soleum tilts his head.
“The place we’re in… to get out, I have to give you a wish,” Saheon explains in the most sane way he’s able to. “Like a storybook.”
The kid narrows his eyes dangerously.
…Hey, what’s with that look?
He’s signing again. Saheon can just barely track the movements enough to understand them.
I’m a high school student. Not five.
Okay, maybe Saheon has been laying his approach on a little thick, but who could blame him? Child or not, he’s dealing with a maniac right now!
He does vaguely wonder about the lack of speech. He’s never seen his roommate use sign, after all. But it’s none of his business, and it doesn’t change anything either.
Despite his annoyance, he holds his hands up in a placating gesture.
“Sorry about that,” he apologizes, swallowing his pride. He hates every second of it. “but I was telling the truth about the wish.”
For whatever reason, Soleum doesn’t seem to question it that much, his face impassive.
“The problem is, I have no idea what your wish would be. So I don’t know how to fulfill it,” It’s the most honest he’s been yet. “So do you think you can help me figure it out?”
Aren’t we friends? Shouldn’t you know?
Saheon glares at Soleum’s hands with muted irritation. Why does everything in his life have to be so difficult…?
“...Well, we’re not that close, so…” he mutters, looking to the side.
Even in this younger form, Soleum’s unimpressed stare is still just as intense..
Then Soleum shrugs. A simple gesture—but one that has Saheon reeling.
What, does he not know either!?
All of that acting was for nothing?! He didn’t even have to suck up to this guy? He threw his dignity out of the window for nothing…
He covers his face with his hands and sighs.
At the feeling of his arm being tapped, he stiffens immediately. When he uncovers his eyes, he sees Soleum pulling his hand back like he’s been burned.
The way he’s looking up at Saheon like a jittery cat would be enough to make anyone else’s heart melt, sure—but Saheon knows the truth behind those eyes, and he refuses to let them make him look like the bad guy!
He sighs.
Okay, if this kid isn’t going to be any help, then Saheon’s really on his own.
He should’ve realized that from the start because Soleum is a freak—even if he’s a surprisingly reliable freak most of the time—but too late.
Saheon needs to start thinking about this logically.
If a sound went off when Soleum petted Saheon’s hair—he shudders thinking of it—and then this happened, then that must be indicative of something. Like moving onto the next level of a video game.
……
“Hey, kid, can I try something?” He manages to smile, though it takes a moment to find it within himself.
Are you trying to sell me drugs?
“Wh—” Saheon sputters. This is an insult to his image. He does not look like a dealer. He refuses to think he looks like a dealer. “No. I’m not. I just want to try something to see if it might work—like the wish I mentioned. Can I?”
Soleum glares.
Teenagers really are the scariest people on the planet. They manage to make Saheon feel judged just by looking at them, somehow.
But then—a brief nod.
At last, a real smile spreads across Saheon’s face. This guy definitely isn’t making things easy on him, but he’s getting somewhere, at least!
Though, his expression must be a little unsettling, as Soleum recoils slightly.
Saheon ignores it, reaching out and setting his hand on Soleum’s head.
…?
Soleum looks up at him, confused. His large eyes are still just as dark, but they’re not quite as dull as the man Saheon has come to know.
I wonder what went wrong, he thinks somewhat bitterly. Maybe if whoever or whatever fucked Soleum up hadn’t, then Saheon wouldn’t have as many issues in his life as he currently does.
Or, he’d have one less issue.
He moves his hand, ruffling Soleum’s black hair. It’s softer than he expected it to be, like silk slipping through his fingertips. He’s never touched Soleum’s side of the hygiene products before—namely because he’s sure he would get murdered—but he vaguely remembers seeing strawberry scented conditioner on the bathroom counter.
Soleum has a nice complexion too, if you ignore the eyebags. He probably does skincare—not that Saheon pays attention. He could care less as long as his roommate stays far away from him.
Lifting his hand, he pats the top of Soleum’s head.
Soleum stiffens at first, but his shoulders soon loosen at the contact.
Just as before, chime-like, notification noise plays, breaking through the relative silence.
Does that mean I did it?
Just as easily as the Soleum in front of him appeared, he disappears again, and he takes the warmth beneath Saheon’s fingertips with him.
His hand is left hovering midair. It takes a second before he lowers it.
He feels a little unnerved.
But he shouldn’t think about that. What matters is he completed the condition, so now he can—
“Hello there.”
…!?
Saheon flinches, caught off guard by the now-adult voice of his co-worker.
I thought I already cleared this one…?
Or, more like Soleum cleared it—given that he’s the one who pet Saheon’s head—but still!
Soleum smiles, all teeth. It sets off alarm bells in his mind immediately.
Soleum doesn’t smile like that.
When he does, it’s polite. A well-maintained mask hiding the true face underneath.
Saheon has no idea why he’s been chosen as Soleum’s unlucky victim, but it’s always a little infuriating seeing how he functions like a normal person around other people.
The Darkness may just be fucking up its impression, but earlier it was so convincing. So Soleum even when Saheon knows it wasn’t him. So why is it wrong now?
His gaze trails up and down Soleum’s lean figure, eye narrowing. He can’t quite figure out the inconsistency that’s bothering him, but he’s acutely aware something’s wrong. Not just in the way a Darkness is wrong inherently.
They say humans have a sixth sense for that kind of thing. The uncanny valley effect, was it?
Soleum is too stiff—rigid—and he’s standing just slightly off-kilter. His pupils are dilated, tie askew.
It’s… off-putting.
The longer he stares at him, the more Saheon’s remaining eye starts to hurt. It stings, vision blurring around the edges.
What the…?
He comes to a conclusion. This Soleum, no matter how similar, isn’t the first one he encountered here.
“See something you like?” Soleum tilts his head, looking down with a subtle grin.
Saheon squares his shoulders in response—a subconscious attempt to look taller than he is.
“You’re not—”
“Not Kim Soleum?” It smiles. “Well, neither of the ones before were either. I’m no different.”
…He’s not wrong, but even if he knows the last two were only manifestations of the Darkness, they were accurate. Closer to what Saheon is used to.
This one, however, just feels like something wearing his supervisor’s skin.
“I see,” Saheon murmurs, noncommittal shifting on his feet. “Um, sir, if you don’t mind—”
Soleum shifts too, mimicking the movement like a twisted reflection. “You’re in a Darkness. You need to fulfill my wish. I get the picture.” Soleum hums, uninterested, as he rolls his shoulder.
How many times is this guy gonna cut me off!?
“...Yes,” he nods, “you knew already? How?”
He might not have been curious in other circumstances, but he does find himself growing a little intrigued at the prospect of useful information, or—God, please—an item. The last two Soleums were useless.
Soleum shoots down that dream before it can even leave the ground. “It doesn’t matter.”
He feels a pang of disappointment.
“While I’m here, why don’t we do something fun?”
“What?” Before he can think to soften his tone, Saheon scoffs, expression twisting into disbelief. “We’re in a Darkness. You said it yourself.”
“So?” Soleum’s eyes flash. Threatening.
Saheon clenches his fists at his sides. “Then we shouldn’t be letting our guards down, sir. Respectfully.”
“It’s not like it affects me.” Soleum shrugs, unconcerned. This selfish prick—of course he’s thinking about himself! He’s always giving Saheon whiplash. He follows up on deals and gives away items one day, and the next he’s antagonizing Saheon for his amusement. “Why should I care?”
“It’d be nice of you…?”
Soleum stares at him blankly.
Nice going, Saheon. That was convincing.
Slowly, a wide grin spreads across Soleum’s face.
…!?
He doesn’t bother dignifying Saheon with a response, already extending a hand towards him. Saheon can feel his mind short-circuiting in the brief moment before they make contact.
Huh? What’s this psycho gonna do to me!?
He shuts his remaining eye tight, already preparing for the worst. After all, with a guy like Soleum, who knows what horrors he could be subjected to! Why else would he be reaching out to touch him? Especially while saying something ominous like ‘let’s do something fun.’ What a total freak!
But… would he be okay with Soleum touching him?
If he’s panicking mentally, shouldn’t he also feel the sensation of terror in his body? And yet, there’s an almost warm sensation spreading through him.
Soleum doesn’t wait for permission. He takes Saheon by the hand with reckless abandon, and for a few seconds, Saheon is left looking down at their interlocked fingers.
Saheon can't suppress a yelp—Soleum's palm is cold, unnaturally so.
……
He won’t be acknowledging that again.
There’s no way he would make a sound like that. Ever.
As Soleum pulls him in, his hand settles on Saheon’s hip. It lands strangely at first—too high—before he adjusts its position.
Saheon jolts, blinking rapidly.
This Soleum is especially frigid, cold as freezing glass.
Suddenly he’s being spun around, eyepatch nearly falling off until he covers it with hand to keep it in place.
Is this…
Is he trying to dance!?
Saheon never learned how, but he at least comprehends the basics. His sister tried to teach him once, but she gave up after he proved himself hopeless.
However, he’s sure Soleum—this one, that is—must know even less than he does.
This guy’s way too eager…!
They’re going too fast for what seems to be an attempt at slow dancing. There’s nothing slow about it, damn it!
He missteps as he tries to maneuver around their legs, almost tripping on one of Soleum’s shoes. It’s like dancing with a fawn who hasn’t yet learnt to walk. He has to hold onto Soleum’s shoulder for balance in spite of himself.
The fact Soleum’s steps all seem to come a little too late—as if he’s attempting to mirror Saheon’s despite being in the lead—only makes it more disastrous. Each movement is just a bit delayed.
“What’re you doing!?” Saheon hisses, grip tightening around the fabric of Soleum’s suit until his knuckles go white.
“Helping you!” They’re both breathless, panting as Soleum twirls him around again, narrowly missing the wall in the process. He’s grinning, teeth too white to be natural and glinting in the light. Translucent.
“How is this helping me!?” Saheon is increasingly lost for words.
“With my wish, obviously,”
“Your wish isn’t dancing,” He scoffs. “That’s stupid.”
“My wish is to do something fun,” Soleum replies. He’s enjoying this too much. “I told you.”
As he spins them around, bringing Saheon with him, the lamp’s lighting catches on his features. It reflects off of his skin strangely, almost holographic, coming in shimmers of too many colors for Saheon to see when he’s being manhandled at this rate.
Saheon sputters, “there are other ‘fun’ things to do than whatever—this is!”
Soleum laughs, melodic and airy, dipping Saheon down.
For a moment, he’s falling, suspended in air, then suddenly—
“I disagree.”
It’s as Saheon is gasping, trying to get his breath back and his heart to calm down, that he realizes their faces are mere inches apart.
“Ah—!”
He shoves Soleum’s chest impulsively, staggering back. It’s in his futile attempt to create distance that the world suddenly tilts on its axis, until he falls, lying flat on the floor.
Soleum only laughs harder, manic. It’s creepy.
Everything about him is creepy.
Saheon ignores it, leaning up on his elbows.
“I was right. That was fun.” Soleum beams, perfectly self-assured. “Thank you for the wonderfully human experience, Baek Saheon-ssi.”
Soleum stands up straight, brushing off his suit jacket and ignoring Saheon’s lingering, baffled gaze.
“Bye bye.” He raises one hand in—is that a peace sign?
Ding!
