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Agent Grapes was a great addition to Hyunmoo team 1. Maybe… too great. It was to the point where his teammates were envied by their fellow agents.
Even though his outer demeanor immediately struck people as cowardly and unreliable, unfit for a field team agent, his good judgement shone through in darknesses. He was unexpectedly remarkable at resolving supernatural phenomena, although unconventionally. His reputation as Destruction King Rookie was well earned. It made Ryu Jaekwan irrationally proud when others praised Grapes as if he was his mentor.
Most of all, he was radiant. The man didn’t realize it himself, but he was good-looking.
Although his forehead was covered by his messy bangs and his upturned eyes were mainly obscured by his droopy glasses, there was no doubt that he was hiding his good appearance. Though glasses and hair played a role in making him look like a nervous newbie, it was ineffective in hiding his naturally good facial structure.
The gap between his persona and work efficiency was what really drew people to Grapes. More than once, Agent Choi and Agent Bronze had to stop admirers that would wait outside the Hyunmoo team 1 lounge to greet Kim Soleum, maybe give him gifts if they were enraptured, before he arrived at work. First, they left it alone, cheering on their rookie’s love life, but seeing the rookie’s bothered expression as he struggled to turn them down politely triggered some kind of big brotherly instinct.
Choi and Jaekwan nonverbally shared a promise that day. Each admirer of their Agent Grapes would have to go through them first.
Slowly, the admirers of Agent Grapes diminished, daunted by his seniors’ tests and their persistent interrogations. To their relief, agent Grapes was noticeably more carefree, no longer burdened by the affections of countless strangers.
So what the hell was this?!
A man with an eyepatch knelt down before Agent Grapes, tears welling up at his eyes.
“Please… I don’t care anymore, come back you bastard…”
Agent Choi recognized the man. The team had encountered him in their face off in the Mermaid Tomb. His delicate face and droopy gaze filled with suspension that day was now holding drops of tears, threatening to fall at the slightest clench of his facial muscles.
Agent Grapes simply sighed and tried to step away from the sorry man. Seeing this, the man flinched and clung to his legs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jaekwan’s fist clench up.
“Saheon-ssi, stop making a fool of yourself. We’re in public.”
He was right. The three were walking through the city instead of biking this time, since the supernatural phenomena was in the city. It could only be accessed by entering by foot, discarding the use of their bikes. This meant the man was wailing in front of countless passengers. God, some of them were taking out their phones already…
“Grapes-ie, we’ll be waiting for you there.” Choi flicked his head towards a convenience store nearby, offering him privacy. Grapes briefly nodded before turning back to his problem.
Of course, they wouldn’t actually give him privacy.
Agent Choi and Bronze were sneakily watching the exchange in a nearby alleyway where Kim Soleum wouldn’t be able to see them but they’d hear every word he said.
“Get up”. The rookie said pointedly. Agent Choi didn’t think he’d seen the man so unfeeling, ever. Agent Bronze still looked agitated, eyes flicking between Grapes and the man.
Saheon-ssi, as Grapes had referred to him earlier, got up and gripped his suit coat tightly as if the man was the most valuable thing in the world. His face was taut with apprehension as he still refused to let Grapes go.
“I’ll let go. But only if you promise to stay.”
“Baek Saheon, I’ll stay.” Grapes paused. “I promise.”
Baek Saheon shakily let go. “...So you’ve been at the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau all this time. You bastard, I thought you died.”
“Ha, you saw me at the Mermaid Tomb. How could I be dead?”
“T-that’s different! We barely had time to talk like this there.”
Surprisingly, Grapes lifted a hand and ruffled the man’s hair, earning a gasp from Bronze. Slowly and carefully, as if the other man might break underneath his touch, he wiped away the remaining tears by Baek Saheon’s eye with his thumb.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you all this time. I was stuck in a darkness for a month, and things moved from there.”
“You know… I always wished you would be gone. Just disappeared from my life. But when you actually did, it felt like my life was ending.”
Choi suppressed a whistle that would immediately blow away their hiding spot.
Kim Soleum showed an expression of shock that softened. “...I’ve missed you too.”
The two embraced tightly, disregarding the city life around them like they were in some drama.
On their way to the darkness together, Choi glanced at Soleum’s face, which showed no emotional distress. Bronze, on the other hand…
“Grapes-ie, you’re popular huh? Both in your current work place and your old one.”
“I don’t know what you mean, senior.”
The second incident happened when they were celebrating after they saved 11 civilians from a darkness.
The three were in a barbecue restaurant sharing drinks and cooking meat with relish. It wasn’t often that they were able to celebrate so many saved lives, after all. It was more common to see civilians get brutally killed right in front of their eyes.
Grapes looked flushed from all the alcohol but still maintained his rationality. Well… sorta? He kept looking at Jaekwan and Choi, smiling woozily.
It was cute how he tried to keep up with the conversation even though he was clearly affected.
When a team of three walked into the restaurant, his face lit up and called for them.
“Ah, section Chief Lizard and the others. What brings you here?”
A handsome white haired man, a sharp looking woman and a brawny guy received his greeting. They looked shocked to see him acknowledge them, but walked over to their table, glancing at Choi and Jaekwan cautiously.
If Choi was right, they were probably colleagues from when Grapes worked at Daydream. Though, he thought Grapes-ie wanted to keep that part of his life a secret from him… Well, he was under the influence of alcohol.
Agent Bronze, who already knew about his past in the rotten company, was scrutinizing them as if ascertaining their character.
“Roe deer-ssi.”
“Chief Lizard.” Grapes smiled at him with all the joy in the world. It was a wonder how Chief Lizard was still standing there unaffected and not falling over his knees. Instead, he remained still and gazed at him intensely.
Um, a little too intensely.
The woman and the man, Supervisor Falcon and Badger as Kim Soleum had called them, fondly exchanged small talk with Grapes and excused themself.
“We’ll be at that table,” They glanced at Lee Jaheon and Grapes understandingly.
Lee Jaheon continued gazing at Kim Soleum’s face.
Seriously, what was with this atmosphere?
“Chief Lizard, how is work going? Not by yourself in Team D, I hope?”
“Yes. Team D has reassembled.”
Grapes gave a melancholy smile that hurt Choi’s heart.
“Ah, I’d imagine so. The higher-ups wouldn’t let a team be composed of just one person. Though, you are capable enough for that.”
“Thank you very much for the compliment.”
Wow, this guy had no conversational skills, contrary to his impossibly good looks. Choi guessed that his attractiveness came at the heavy cost of his social skills.
Kim Soleum nodded and led the conversation, seemingly used to the man’s briefness. “By the way… Chief Lizard, I picked up a strange plushie that looked like you. It’s a white lizard with red eyes.”
“...! I advise you to keep it on your desk.”
“Really? What does it do?”
“It is an educational model that teaches reptile ecology.”
…
So basically it was a useless doll.
However, Kim Soleum didn’t mind and even agreed. “Yes, it reminds me of you. Somehow it gives me a semblance of security.”
At this, Lee Jaheon smiled, a dazzling sight to witness.
“I’m glad.”
They parted on a good note. Kim Soleum returned to grilling meat, taking the tongs from Jaekwan.
“You must be tired, Bronze-ssi.”
“Ah, yes…”
Bronze looked dazed, no doubt wondering if he should give up if even someone as good-looking as Lee Jaheon was interested in Kim Soleum. Poor Bronze-ie. He was fully supportive of his hoobae’s love life, but even he lacked belief for his prospects with Grapes-ie at this point.
The third incident happened when Agent Choi was accompanying Grapes on a darkness, needlessly worried about their rookie. Grapes was driving the taxi, ignoring the antics of the ghost in the backseat, but failing to keep his hands from trembling. Keep fighting, Grapes-ie…!
A knock at the window pulled his attention outside.
“Excuse me…”
“...”
“Um… is this how you do it… Please take me to the Seoul Station where I can take the express train…”
A slouched over man with unkempt hair in a security uniform asked to board the taxi. Grapes agreed, letting him sit in the backseat.
Over time, the ghost got more and more aggressive. Requesting Grapes to speed up. Getting angry when he refused due to speeding laws. Then…
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud…
Red handprints slammed against the window as if trying to get out the car. Red streaks of blood were dragged streakily across the glass in desperation.
“Grapes-ie, stay close…!”
Before he was able to do anything, a long, black snout with jagged teeth erupted from the scrawny man. A dripping black tongue, eager for prey struck out.
Choi was stunned
—Approaching destination.
“...Ah, we’ve arrived, ma’am.”
The ghost in the backseat was gone. According to the mission details, the ghost disappears without a word if it arrives at its destination.
Now the problem was…
“Hey, what was that?”
Agent Choi looked back from his front seat at the suspicious figure behind him. The man was clearly a human based on his veins that no ghost could replicate, but the monstrosity he showcased was nothing a human would be able to do. He was likely a highly contaminated individual.
Grapes quickly intervened and turned his head. “Agent Choi, this is someone I know from Daydream. He’s not a suspicious person.” So he trusted Choi enough now to tell him this without thinking he’d judge. It was a small gesture from Kim Soleum, but Choi felt warm.
Seeing Kim Soleum’s face for the first time during the car ride, the man’s eyes widened and he perked up like a sad dog seeing its favorite person.
“...So you were alive. What a relief.”
A mix of emotions passed through Grapes-ie’s face. Surprise, gratefulness, and fondness. Ohoho.
“I never thought I’d see you here. You said you’re going to Seoul station right? It’ll take about 40 minutes to get–”
“Ah…It’s fine. I don’t need to go.”
“...Pardon, sir?”
“No reason to go anymore, I guess…?”
As if realizing the implications, Kim Soleum’s mouth fell agape but closed again. Choi could’ve sworn his face was the softest he’d ever seen it.
“Well then, I’ll leave you two to it. It’s nice to see old colleagues again, hm Grapes-ie?”
Agent Choi patted his back, smiling as he left the car. Outside, he saw Agent Bronze leaning against the railing.
“Bronze-ie, you were supposed to knock on the car window as soon as Grapes-ie arrived. What happened?”
“Ah…” Jaekwan looked towards the car. So he must’ve seen the two talking and decided not to intervene in the scene.
His poor hoobae. He pet Jaekwan’s head and lamented how sought after their rookie was.
The next day.
G O O D C H I L D
C O M E B A C K
…
Everyone wanted a piece of Grapes-ie!