Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja shivers, eyes shifting warrily over the ominous forest before, as his gut twisting with anxiety. He wraps his jacket tighter around his body, desperately trying to comfort himself. Thirty minutes into this forsaken forest and he already wants to go home. 

Abnormally large trees loom over him, casting an eerie shadow on the forest floor. A dense fog surrounds them and it’s making it very difficult to discern his surroundings. 

Dokja can’t seem to shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong with this forest, and it’s putting him on edge. Not a single thing moves, every branch and leaf appearing as if it were frozen in time. The silence itself is unnerving, the forest so quiet, their footsteps seem to echo. 

It’s not natural, whatever the hell is going on, and the sooner they leave, the better. 

It certainly doesn’t help that the forest is filled with sequitur oaks —one of the only species of tree capable of completely nullifying magic. In simple terms, they disrupt the flow of mana which makes any form of incantation or spell impossible. Though Dokja is no sorcerer himself, the small bit of magic he does know has saved his skin more than once, and not having it as a fail safe is only adding to his growing anxiety. 

Their objective itself isn’t too difficult, merely a d-ranked search and rescue mission. As far as missions themselves go, d-ranks are the easiest in difficulty with a mediocre reward to reflect that. So such a mission would be but a walk in the park for his overpowered companions.

Or at least that’s how it should be, but Dokja has an itching feeling it will end up being far more than they bargained for, especially if this godforsaken forest is any indication. 

Apparently a mage guild had sent a group of apprentices to the forest to complete an initiation test. Since the trees made any use of magic impossible, it would require the apprentices to focus on their other skills to survive and prove their worth. 

Though tricky, it isn’t meant to be difficult, just a lesson to teach them not to rely solely on their powers. The forest itself is supposedly harmless, which is why they were left unattended. 

That in itself makes no sense to Dokja, as after one look at the forest he could tell that it’s bad news.

Apparently the guild has a cottage in the middle of the woods, far enough away from the sequiturs to allow their magic to work again. Plus it’s surrounded by a powerful protection barrier, so all things considered, nothing should have gone wrong, and yet, three days in, the guild lost contact with the apprentices.

Though concerning, this mission is not something Dokja’s guild would have bothered taking, leaving it for the smaller guilds to take care of. Their skills often far outweighed the rewards of such low level missions, especially this one that basically had no reward to speak of.

The mage guild itself is not too well off, so anyone who’d actually take it would receive nothing from it. Unfortunately for them, one of Han Sooyoung’s old colleague’s, who happened to be a member of said guild, chose this time to call in a favor, so  ultimately, they were forced to take it. 

True to her shitty personality, however, Sooyoung promptly shoved the mission onto the rest of them and left them to suffer in her stead. Dokja doubts she’s taken responsibility for a damn thing in her life. 

From there it had been a battle of wills to determine who would go, one of which Dokja promptly lost, much to his chagrin. Thankfully, the mission was too fishy to just send one of them, so Heewon, Hyunsung, and Joonghyuk ended up joining him as well. 

In terms of sheer combative strength, Dokja couldn’t have asked for a better team, so at least when it inevitably went south, they’d be fine. 

Dokja shifts his attention to his teammates, taking comfort in the fact they’re equally as unnerved as he is. The four of them form a rather tight circle with mere feet between them. Normally they’d be significantly more spread out than that, as such close quarters makes fighting rather difficult, but they ultimately decided staying close together was the best decision, especially in such an foriegn and off-putting forest like this.

Not that Dokja would object to it anyways, the added defense of such a position is a comfort he’s all too grateful for right now.

At the head is Heewon, confidently leading them through the dense fog despite her clear anxiety. She holds the tracking stone in front of her, letting it guide them towards their destination. 

Honestly, it’s a rather convenient piece of technology. 

It’s a small white box, with a magic stone in the center. Said stone is bonded to a crystal, and acts as a compass, leading you directly to that crystal. The stone will change colors to indicate how close you are to the crystal. It fluctuates through the colors of the rainbow and until it finally turns white, indicating the stone and crystal have been reunited.

Dokja’s thankful the tracking stone at least works, as he had been unsure as to whether or not the sequiturs would affect it too. Honestly, he doesn’t know how they’d navigate the forest otherwise. Their surroundings have stayed the same since they entered, and if it weren’t for the stone, Dokja would have assumed they were walking in circles. 

On the left is Hyunsung, his entire body tight with apprehension. He seems to be taking it the worst out of all of them, his skin steadily turning paler the further they walk into the forest. His wide eyes nervously shift across the western side of the forest, as if waiting for something to attack him. Not that he has any reason to worry, Dokja thinks bitterly. If anyone is getting attacked, it certainly isn’t him.

Carrying the right side is Joonghyuk, his expression dark and murderous as always. His eyebrows are drawn together in a harsh frown, palpable disdain maring his features. Joonghyuk has never been fond of new places, as all the new and unknown smells are overwhelming for his heightened senses, but he looks particularly bothered now. 

Joonghyuk’s jaw is clenched, his entire body tensed and ready to attack at a moment's notice. His hand hasn’t left his sword once, his grip so tight his knuckles are white. If he had fur, Dokja is certain it would be standing straight up right now.

It’s moments like these when Joonghyuk doesn’t look any different from the rest of them. The man isn’t entirely human, more demon than man, but right now you wouldn’t be able to tell. Dokja feels a bit bad looking at how uncomfortable Joonghyuk is with their current situation. 

He has a strong urge to comfort him, for some reason, to hold the man close until the tension eases from his face. Dokja’s startles, realizing the thought he just had. He barely resists the urge to groan, gripping at his face as he mentally berates himself. 

Comfort him? Comfort him!? How? By letting the Joonghyuk kill him? Dokja thinks incredulously. That would probably be the only thing Dokja could do to comfort him. Knowing him, that might actually bring a smile to Joonghyuk’s face, which is a rarity in itself. 

This stupid crush of his is getting out of hand . Damn that sadistic bastard . Dokja laments in his mind. He really must be sick in the head to harbor affection for such a shitty bastard.

Fates help him, these stupid feelings are going to get him killed. Joonghyuk can hardly resist the urge to murder him when they’re in the same proximity. If Dokja were to actually touch him, he doubts he’d live to tell the tale.

“Hyunsung, darling, you realize anything in this forest is more scared of you than you are of it.” Heewon calls back.

Dokja is thankful for the sudden break in the silence, pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind. He’d have time to wallow in self loathing later. So he forces a slight smile, eyes drifting to Hyunsung. 

Heewon isn’t wrong, his sheer size is enough to intimidate even the bravest of man, if only he weren’t the human equivalent of a dog. The joke, however, does little to console Hyunsung, the man only growing paler as he gulps. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Just because we can’t see anything, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

“Aish, grow up you big baby.” Heewon waves off, turning her attention to Dokja. “Dokja, you’ve been awfully quiet. Something bothering you?” 

“Oh really what gave it away,” He grumbles sarcastically. He finds it funny that she’s saying something, when she’s hardly better than he is. He could see how tense she is and Dokja’s sure that if a leaf were to fall on her head she’d jump out of her skin with how strung up she is.

Heewon just laughs, shooting him a grin over her shoulder. “Well you’ve been so quiet back there, I thought for a moment you’d been taken.” She croons. 

Dokja glares at her, entirely unamused. “Don’t joke about things like that, you know out of all of us I’d be the first one to go. Damn my parents for making me look so pathetic, I couldn’t scare a child if I tried.”

Hyunsung places a hand on his shoulder, “I think you can be quite intimidating when you want to be, Dokja-ssi.” He offers, giving Dokja an encouraging look despite how sacred he is.

It’s oddly comforting, and just Dokja opens his mouth to thank him, a fearsome snarl rips from Joonghyuk’s chest. The words die in his throat as Dokja jerks his head towards Joonghyuk. Dokja doesn’t notice the arrow that rips through the forest straight towards his head until Joonghyuk’s hand suddenly jerks out and catches it. It crunches pathetically in his grasp and he tosses it aside.

Dokja realizes he would have died had Joonghyuk not caught that. Honestly, he’s not sure if he’s more disturbed by the fact he almost died or that Joonghyuk had just saved him.

Without missing a beat, Joonghyuk grabs a knife from his belt and launches it in the direction the arrow came from. It meets its target with sickening squelch, and a pained screech bellows from the fog, trailing off into a choked gurgle until the forest is silent once more

Well, whatever it was, it’s certainly dead now. 

They don’t take any chances though, and everyone draws their weapons, standing back to back as they take a defensive position. A tense moment of silence falls upon them as they wait with bated breath. Dokja anxiously scans their surroundings, but not even a leaf is out of place. It was as if nothing ever happened in the first place. 

Of course, that was just wishful thinking. The brief reprieve was but the calm before the storm, and serves as the only warning they get before essentially all hell breaks loose. Enraged cries suddenly erupt from the forest, the sound loud and overwhelming as it echoes around. 

Well that is definitely not good. 

A slight twinge of fear rips through Dokja’s body as dread settles in his stomach. He doesn’t recognize the creatures making such dreadful cires, but whatever they are, they outnumbered the four of them significantly. In an unfamiliar terrain, no magic, and no way of telling what they’re up against, Dokja suddenly isn’t liking their odds. 

“Shit, everyone take cover!” Heewon suddenly yells. 

A slew of arrows suddenly break through the haze of the fog, flying directly towards them. It forces them out of their defensive position, everyone breaking for cover. Dokja barely has time to jump out of the way, narrowly avoiding the three arrows that are embedded where he just stood.

He sprints for cover, his instincts screaming at him to run as he barely dodges the various arrows aimed for his head. Thankfully he makes it unscathed, sliding behind the tree.

Dokja lets out a curse, breathing heavily as his back slams into the tree. His heart roars in his ears, chest heaving with his labored breaths. Dokja places a hand on his chest, urging his body to calm down. If he doesn’t manage to calm down, this anxiety will get him killed. 

“Come out and fight me you fuckers,” Heewon yells, dodging the slew of arrows aimed at her as she tries to find cover. 

Hyunsung is hiding behind the tree next to him, his sword and shield drawn. Three arrows are sticking out of his shield, but otherwise he looks unharmed. 

He’s probably regretting his decision to take his shield to the blacksmith, the wooden replacement not all cut out for this type of battle. Not that Dokja can fault him for it, it was supposed to be an easy mission after all. 

Hyunsung catches Dokja’s gaze, shooting him an exasperated look, “Why can’t our missions be easy for once.”

Dokja lets out a breathless laugh, now wouldn’t that be a sight for sore eyes. At this point it’s more likely for their missions to go to hell than work out how they’re supposed to. 

Heewon slides behind a tree next to them, pure fury evident on her face, but thankfully  unscathed. “Those fuckers hiding behind their stupid trees.” She seethes, “They should come out and fight me and see what happens when they can’t hide.”

One look at Heewon and Dokja honestly can’t blame them for hiding in the trees. He wouldn’t want to face Heewon either.

Joonghyuk roars in the distance, pained squeals following after it. Dokja had lost him in the chaos, assuming he had taken cover like the rest of them. Judging by the fearful screams echoing behind them though, he must have gone looking for the creatures instead, and by the sound of it, he’d found them. 

Damn that crazy bastard. 

Dokja has no time to celebrate though, as suddenly a round object falls from the tree tops. It lands mere feet in front of them and explodes into a cloud of green smoke. 

One whiff of it and he scrambles to get away from it. “Shit everyone get away from that, don’t breathe it in.”

He’d recognize the smell of that herb anywhere, his heart surging to life in his chest. It’s different though, clearly mixed with other substances. That herb alone is enough to cause serious damage, and Dokja didn’t want to find out what it would do mixed with who knows what else. 

Dokja doesn’t move fast enough though, and the gas quickly settles around him. Dokja doubles over in pain, a coughing fit erupting from his chest. His body burns as the gas assaults his senses, suffocating him from the inside.

Putrid fear overcomes him as Dokja realizes he can’t breathe. He grips his neck desperately grasping for air as his throat convulses in response to the gas.

His body suddenly collapses, limbs wracking in violent spasms. He can feel his consciousness fading, and he’s helpless to stop it. Distantly he can hear the clashing of weapons, Heewon’s voice carrying over it chaos, but he can’t understand any of it. 

His vision fades in and out, until the last thing he sees is a blurry mass of green creatures approaching him, their beady red eyes burning into soul.

Then everything fades to black.

When Dokja finally wakes up, it isn’t a pleasant experience. 

He’s lying on a rather hard and smooth surface, a rock of some sort. A dull ache throbs throughout his body, his limbs heavy and sore. If Dokja didn’t know any better he’d say he was hit by a carriage. 

His skull pounds painfully as he tries to open his eyes, but they refuse to move. A cough rips its way from his chest, irritating the dry and coarse state of his throat. It’s painful, and his body shudders from the intensity of it. 

Something shifts next to him, a gentle hand pressing against his forehead. “Woah there, Dokja, take it easy, we don’t need you dying on us.” The voice soothes.

Dokja flinches at the touch, but his brain catches up to him moments later, calming him when it recognizes Heewon’s voice. He lets out a coarse sigh of relief. 

At least she’s okay. 

Weakly he manages to push himself up, Heewon’s hand stabilizing him. She guides him to her side, letting Dokja’s head fall limp on her shoulder.

“Take it easy.” She soothes, her hand gently carding through his hair, “It takes a while for the gas to wear off, and you certainly took the brunt of it.”

With a bit of effort, Dokja manages to peel his eyes open. The sudden exposure causes his eyes to water, dry and irritated from the gas. It’s painful, but he tries to blink through the pain. Just in front of him, he can faintly make out Hyunsung’s concerned face before he’s forced to shut his eyes again.

Dokja opens his mouth, but his words die in his throat, coming out as a pathetic wheeze. If he weren’t so out of it, he’d be embarrassed by the sound of it. 

A rim of a flask prods at his lips. “Here,” Hyunsung’s voice speaks up, “Drink this, it’ll help.” 

Weakly, Dokja opens his mouth, letting Hyunsung pour the water into it. Dokja drinks it eagerly, relishing the taste of it. The relief is immediate, the cool water soothing the rawness of his throat. 

“Thanks,” Dokja manages to croak out, “but what the fuck happened?”

“We got captured and they threw us into this shitty excuse for a cage.” Heewon mutters bitterly, “Those underhanded bastards, when I get my hands on them I’ll let them taste my wrath.”

“We woke up in this cage maybe an hour or so before you. We breathed in less of the gas than you did, so it wore off rather quickly.” Hyunsung adds.

Dokja just grunts. It takes a bit of effort, but he finally manages to peel his eyes open again. They still burn, tears pooling in his eyes once more, but he manages to blink through the pain, gritting his teeth. 

This time his eyes stay open, and pain eventually subsides. Gradually his surroundings come into focus and he can clearly make out Hyunsung in front of him. 

Dokja groans, pissed at the sheer effort it takes to keep his eyes open.“Shit, do you guys feel like you got hit by a carriage too?”

Heewon laughs, “That’s a good way of putting it. Hyunsung was just comparing it to how he felt when he woke up after Joonghyuk knocked him out.”

Hyunsung nods grimly, “It was not a pleasant experience, but at the very least this is bearable.”

Dokja finds himself chuckling too, imagining how painful such an experience would be. Joonghyuk is too powerful for his own good, and Dokja doubts he could survive a direct attack from him. 

He lets his eyes wander, taking in the rest of their cage, finding it odd Joonghyuk hasn’t said anything yet. Much to his dismay, he suddenly realizes Joonghyuk isn’t there with them at all. 

Shit . Dokja feels a twinge of anxiety curling in his gut. “Where’s Joonghyuk?” 

“No clue,” Heewon says bitterly, “I didn’t see him after he took off into the forest to hunt those creatures down.”

Dokja swallows uncomfortably, trying to ignore the unease eating away at him. That really isn’t good, if they were here, fates know what they did to Joonghyuk. 

Dokja tries to think more rationally, focusing on their surroundings. They’re still outside, now in a less dense part of the forest and in the middle of some kind of clearing. The cage rests atop a rock-like structure, several feet above the forest floor. The cage itself is made up of some kind of wood, heavy and thick. 

There aren't any of those goblin-like creatures to be found which Dokja finds odd, shouldn’t they at least be guarding their prisoners. 

Hyunsung notices his confusion and points above them. Dokja follows his finger, now noticing the village built into the canopies of the trees. Small wooden huts rest atop the branches with long, winding bridges connecting them. It’s oddly homely, and if they weren’t so blatantly hostile, Dokja would have liked to visit such a place. 

“From what I can tell, they stay clear of the forest floor.” Hyunsung says, eyeing the huts pensively.

“I have a hunch there’s a damn good reason for that, and it’s probably why they left us down here, the damn cowards.” Heewon spits bitterly.

Dokja shudders at the thought. They definitely need to get out of here, sooner rather than later.

He pats himself down, searching for anything they may be of use to them. Much to his dismay, it’s all gone, even the weapons he had sown into the fabric of his coat for situations like this.

Not only are they incredibly hostile, it appears they’re intelligent too. Just great. Dokja thinks bitterly. This will not be an easy fight. 

Heewon kicks at the bars of the cage, watching as the whole structure rattles at the force of it. “We’ve been trying to come out with a way to escape, but we wanted to wait until you were awake before we tried anything.”

Dokja hums, eyeing how the cage was built. The wood seems to be built into the surface of the rock, sealed with some kind of glue.

The structural integrity is impressive, Heewon’s strength nothing to scoff at. However, Dokja has a feeling if they were to all push at it, they could probably force it open. 

“The only issue is they have some kind of weight on top of the cage, we already tried to force it open. It’s too heavy, so if we tried to force it off, we’d be crushed before we could escape.” Heewon says, seeming to follow Dokja’s train of thought. 

Dokja grimaces, cursing internally. Well that certainly complicated things . 

“Now that you’re awake though, I have an idea. They may have taken all of our stuff, but they left our clothing mostly intact.” Heewon says, oddly smug

Dokja looks at her dubiously, not at all tracking what she’s getting at. How do their clothes have anything to do with this?

Noticing Dokja’s clear confusion, she purses her lips. “Ugh come on, Dokja, play with me a bit here.” She urges.

Dokja’s eye twitches in irritation. “Heewon, I have little patience for your jokes,” He grinds out, “Just spit it out already.”

Heewon just sighs, rolling her eyes. “You really are no fun, but this is what I meant.” She shifts slightly, pulling apart the fabric of her jacket. 

Dokja stares at her tunic dumbly, and is about to question her sanity to strip in such a situation before a glint of silver catches his eye. It clicks in an instant, and Dokja’s eyes widen comically, a smile curling onto his face. “You son of a bitch, how the hell did you get away with that.”

Heewon laughs, “I honestly don’t know, they probably didn’t realize what it is.”

It’s a fatal lapse of judgement for sure, one Dokja’s sure those green devils are going to regret. Wrapped snugly around her waist is the belt Dokja had gifted Heewon as a birthday present. Though it’s a rather shoddy belt, if you ask him, the spaced out blocks of silver are far from attractive. Not that it bothers him though, as it wasn’t made with the intent of fashion. No, its true purpose is something much more useful indeed, especially in Heewon’s hands.

The belt like appearance is merely a ruse, as the belt is actually a full fledged sword. When engaged, the silver blocks forge together into a rather fearsome blade.

It’s still rather thin though, and Dokja had originally worried that its integrity would prove to be a weakness in battle. He was quickly proved wrong however. Heewon had tested it out in a duel against Hyunsung, and the blade was able to withstand the strength of his blows without any issues.

She unhooks it from her waist, flicking it in front of her like a whip. With an audible ring, the blocks of silver pull together until a rather formidable blade takes their place.

Not wasting another second, Dokja reaches to grab one of the bars with both hands. This would allow him to hold the bar steady while Heewon saws away at it. He’s unsure of the structural integrity of the cage, so the last thing he wants is for the bar to cave in and cause the cage to collapse on top of them. 

Hyunsung stands, placing his hands on the roof of the cage to ensure the frame won’t move until they have a chance to escape. Though Dokja finds it rather unfair how unnaturally strong the man is, it’s times like these when he’s grateful fate decided to pick favorites. 

Dokja watches Heewon work, smiling faintly as he watches her cut away at the wood. Even though they’ve all been together for years, it still amazes him how easily they communicate with each other. They didn’t even discuss their escape plan and still fell into seamless teamwork. 

A distant roar startles them, causing Heewon’s blade to still. Dokja’s heart skips a beat, recognizing the sound immediately. Oh that’s Joonghyuk alright, and by the sound of it, those unlucky fuckers managed to thoroughly piss him off. 

Though he doesn’t sound like he’s in pain, Dokja can’t subdue the worry clenching in his chest. Joonghyuk is an overpowered bastard, but the thought that he’s out there fighting by himself bothers Dokja to no end.

The huts above them suddenly erupt into chaos, enraged cries echoing throughout the forest. They’re in complete disarray from what Dokja can tell, and he has a feeling Joonghyuk is the cause of it. 

They all share a look, Heewon and Hyunsung looking as worried as he feels. Heewon’s expression darkens, her brows drawn tight together. “We need to hurry.” 

With trained efficiently, Heewon makes quick work of the rest of the bars. Dokja feels his anxiety rising with every passing moment, the state of the village growing more chaotic. They needed to find Joonghyuk before something terrible happened.

Finally, the last bar gave way, and Hyunsung slowly removes his hands from the top of the cage. They all hold their breath as the cage wobbles, but thankfully it doesn’t fall, and they let out a sigh of relief.

Heewon disengages her blade and wraps it around her waist once more. With a quick nod, they all launch at the side of the cage. 

Dokja flies out, and promptly falls to the forest floor below. He manages to roll out of it, but still lands squarely on his back. He groans at the force of it, not for the first time wishing he possessed the agility of his teammates, but nonetheless thankful he made it out unscathed.

He can hear the cage finally give way, snapping viciously underneath the weight of the boulder on top of it. Even from the small height, the boulder slams into the rock below it with an earth shattering sound, signifying just how heavy it was.

Dokja winces. That definitely would have crushed them, and he’s all too grateful that they managed to make it out in time. That would have been an unpleasant way to die.

The creatures above them are now in a frenzy, crying out in a high pitched language Dokja doesn’t recognize. 

Heewon’s face appears above him, offering him a hand. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.” She says, her expression grim. 

With a nod, Dokja takes her hand and they take off into the woods into the direction they heard Joonghyuk’s roar. Heewon takes the lead with Hyunsung and Dokja on her heels. 

The forest left them too exposed, they needed to get up into the village somehow. “We need to find a way to get up there, look for anything that looks like a ladder or some kind of staircase.” Dokja calls, his eyes scanning the trees. 

A deafening roar echoes through the forest then, causing them to skid to a stop. Dokja’s heart skips a beat as dread settles in his stomach. 

Hyunsung groans, “Someone please tell me that was Joonghyuk.” 

They all know it’s not though, their expressions grim. 

Bone chilling screams and shouts follow closely after it, the sound of blood clearly being shed. Whatever it is, Dokja doubts they want anything to do with it. 

Unfortunately for him, fate seems to be perfectly content with fucking with him today. Thundering footsteps erupt from the forest in front of them, the trees shaking violently as the source of the roar comes hurtling towards them. 

Dokja feels very faint all of a sudden, his breath catching in his throat. They barely have time to jump out of the way before a giant mass of limbs and sharp teeth comes barreling towards them. 

It slams into the tree behind them, hitting it hard enough to cause the whole forest to shudder. Thankfully, it’s enough to disorient the beast, and they take full advantage of the distraction.

Dokja doesn’t think anymore, he just runs, sprinting in the opposite direction. He hopes that Hyunsung and Heewon are following suit, but he’s too scared to look behind him. 

Thankfully, the pair catches up to him quickly, and they all take off into the forest. The beast is quick to shake off its disorientation, though, much to Dokja’s dismay, and barrels towards them once more.

Anything that stands in its way is crushed. For its size, it’s rather quick, closing the distance between them faster than Dokja thought possible. 

“Shit, shit, shit.” Dokja curses, his eyes furiously scanning his surroundings for anything they can use for cover. 

A hallowed trunk suddenly catches his attention, and Dokja lets his instincts take over. He knows that his companions were already thinking of some way to fight the damned beast, but with no magic and only Heewon’s belt for a weapon, Dokja doesn’t really like their odds. 

So he jerks his hands out, grasping at their clothes and pulling them with him as he dives towards the hollowed out trunk. They tumble into it in a mass of limbs, poor Hyunsung taking the full brunt of it as Heewon and Dokja fall on top of him.

It’s painful, Heewon’s elbow digging into his gut from where he lies on top of her, but at least they’re alive.

A disbelieving laugh bubbles from Dokja’s throat despite himself, not quite believing that had actually worked. Heewon’s unamused face glares down at him. “I really hate you and your stupid plans.”

He shoots her a shit eating grin, “I’ll take that as a thank you,” 

“Dammit Dokja, a little warning would be nice next time.” Heewon grunts out, promptly shoving Dokja off of her.

Dokja rolls onto the floor and recovers quickly. He winks at her, “I’ll be sure to consider it next time.” 

She just rolls her eyes, and smacks the back of his head. “Cheeky bastard.”

Dokja winces slightly. He definitely deserved that. Rubbing his head, he takes in their surroundings. There’s a winding staircase built into the trunk, more than likely leading up into the village. 

The beast roars dangerously close to them, reminding them of the direness of their situation. 

Dokja groans. Why can’t anything be easy for once. 

Not too keen on becoming the beast’s next meal, they scramble up the stairs. They barely make it up halfway before the beast suddenly slams into the tree, nearly sending Dokja rolling back down the stairs. Heewon thankfully catches him by the hem of his jacket and roughly pulls him back to his feet. 

He grunts out a quick thanks, barely gripping onto the trunk as the beast begins to thrash violently. Dokja’s hardly hanging on at the point, the sweatiness of his hands making a steady grip nearly impossible. 

The beast lets out a blood curdling screech, the sound so loud and high pitched Dokja’s head pulses painfully. He can already feel his headache settling in. 

Damn this stupid forest and the shitty creatures that inhabit it . Once they finally get out of here, he’s taking a extended vacation and finding the nearest witch to curse Sooyoung’s ass for the rest of her stupid life. 

Thankfully, they manage to make it to the top, despite the beast’s clear intentions of tearing it down. Dokja’s knees collapse underneath him as he steps over the last step, his body slumping to the floor. He lays there utterly defeated, his limbs sprawled out around him limply.

Heewon lets out an exasperated huff next to him. “Holy shit, what is up with this stupid forest and everything trying to kill us.” 

Dokja just groans, sharing the sentiment. They needed to get the hell out of here.

With heavy reluctance, Dokja pushes himself back to his feet, grunting at the sheer effort it took. He really is getting too old for this shit . 

“You going to be okay there, old man?” Heewon teases, holding out a hand.

Dokja flips her off, shoving her out of the way and stands up on his own. She just laughs, shooting him a wink before joining Hyunsung as he scans the perimeter.  

Dokja really should as well, but his curiosity gets the better of him. Cautiously he walks over to the edge, looking down at the forest below. 

Dokja shudders at the sight of the fearsome beast, now getting a clear view of it. 

The beast reminds him of an overgrown and monstrous version of a lizard. Its scaly body is long and narrow, hanging close to the ground with long and pointed spikes running down its back. Sharp claws stick out viciously from its six limbs, glinting menacingly under the sun.

It seems to have lost interest in the tree though, and disappears back into the dense forest. Dokja shallows uncomfortably, vivid images of what would have happened if they’d been caught by that thing flashing through his mind. 

Pushing the gruesome thought from his mind, he turns his attention back to the village before them and takes in their new surroundings. They seem to be at an entrance of sorts, a rather impressive gate standing before him. It seems oddly vacant though, not a single creature in sight. Surely there would be some form of guard here at the very least. 

“Why did they leave the village undefended,” Hyunsung wonders out loud.

Heewon huffs, sounding equally confused. “I don’t know, that’s awfully stupid of them. We could easily go wreaking havoc in there and they’d be helpless to stop us.” Dokja can see the carnal glint in her eyes, and he can’t help but sigh. He forgets how vengeful she can be. 

“Something tells me, they had other things to worry about.” Dokja says, his mind drifting back to Joonghyuk’s enraged roar. If anyone is wreaking havoc right now, it would be him.

The enraged screeches suddenly pick up again, echoing faintly in the distance. Common sense would tell them to go in the opposite direction, but like the suicidal maniacs they are, they wordlessly take off into the direction on the cries.

Dokja can’t help but mutter about how terrible this idea is, but it’s not like there’s much else they can do. The sooner they find Joonghyuk, the sooner they can leave this shitty place.

They steer clear of the bridges, keeping to the shadowy edges of the village. The branches are close enough together they can cross them easily, steadily getting closer to the origin of the cries.

Joonghyuk’s roars carry over the chaotic screams. Judging by the sound of it, the creatures are definitely losing. 

Sporadically, groups of the creatures will swing past them, hopping across the branches with practiced ease. They seem to only be focused on joining the fight though, making it really easy to go unnoticed. 

The further they run through the village, the denser the trees get. The amount of huts is steadily increasing, but they aren’t vacant like Dokja had originally thought. 

Every so often they’ll come across a hut with their young or elderly huddled inside, but that’s it. Every other able bodied creature seems to be heading towards the chaos directly ahead of them. 

For some reason, Dokja gets the sudden urge to look at the ground. As his eyes shift over the forest, his feet suddenly stilling at the sight below him. Joonghyuk sprints along the forest floor, a rather angry group of creatures chasing after him. 

Dokja looks up, Heewon nowhere in sight, but Hyunsung is stopped a few paces ahead of him, looking back at him with concern.

Dokja points at the forest below, “I found Joonghyuk,” He calls.

Hyunsung’s eyes light with understanding and worry, and he runs back to join him.

“Where’s Heewon-” Dokja starts before trailing off.

Suddenly Heewon bursts from one of the huts, sprinting towards them like hell itself is on her heels, her eyes wide with fear. She has their weapons and gear draped over her, but she runs without faltering.

Dokja rolls his eyes. Of course that’s where she went. Does she ever not think about fighting?

“Don’t just stand there,” She suddenly yells, voice frantic, “Run you dumbasses!” 

Dokja’s a little confused by her panic, only to zero in on the mass of green just behind her. 

Oh that is definitely not good . Dokja thinks, a sinking feeling in his chest. It’s really one clusterfuck after another isn’t it.

Dokja barely manages out a curse before Hyunsung grabs his arm and yanks him back the way they came. He’s all too grateful for Hyunsung’s quick thinking as a slew of arrows imbed in the area they were just standing. 

Heewon catches up to them quickly, tossing them their weapons. They catch them and they take off into the village. Arrows and spears fly past them with deadly accuracy, and Dokja is only surviving by shear dumb luck at this point. He certainly does not possess Joonghyuk natural instincts nor can he even hold a candle to Heewon and Hyunsung’s battle experience, but he isn’t going to question it. 

He’s just thankful to be alive at this point.

They sprint across the rickety bridge, the poorly fashioned wood and rope shuddering at their weight. Dokja honestly doesn’t know how it’s lasted this long.

He feels absolutely no remorse as Heewon swiftly cuts the ropes of the bridge. The remaining ropes snap at the sheer weight of the bridge, and the whole thing collapses into a pathetic pile on the forest floor.

Enraged screeches echo behind them, and Dokja can’t help but laugh.

Heewon casts a vulgar gesture behind them. “Eat shit you cowardly bastards.”

With the creatures no longer tailing them, they make it to the edge of the village with no problems. Unfortunately there’s no handy staircase built into one of the trees, so they have to resort to a less ideal method to get down.

Dokja watches dumbfounded as Hyunsung confidently jumps across the edge and grabs onto a vine, sliding to the forest floor with trained ease.

Dokja grimaces at it. Fate really does pick favorites .

Heewon shoots him an unimpressed look, entirely unsympathetic to his fear. 

“Either you jump out and grab one, or I push you off and you hope you survive the fall. I don’t have time to deal with your bullshit.” She spits out, her voice leaving no room for argument. 

It’s times like these when Dokja really questions his choice in companions. However, he’s not willing to test the limits of Heewon’s patience, and with how pissed off she is, he wouldn’t put it past her. And he also isn’t willing to push his luck on whether or not Hyunsung would be able to catch him in time. 

So he just mutters bitterly to himself, cursing Heewon all the while, and grabs onto a vine. It’s an unpleasant experience the whole way down, his hands burning from the friction as he barely resists the urge to scream. Somehow, he manages to land on his feet. 

Heewon slides down next to him seconds later, all too smug. “See that wasn’t so bad.”

Dokja just flips her off. 

They keep running in the same direction, their surroundings slowly growing more familiar. A sense of dread begins to collect in his chest. They were getting closer and closer to where their cage had been, which just so happens to be the same direction that lizard from hell had taken.

Suddenly the whole lack of a plan is starting to bother him.

Something roars dangerously close behind them, pushing them to run even faster. Dokja’s eyes widen, fear mixing with the dread and adrenaline pumping through his veins. 

It takes everything in him to keep running, his lungs burning in his chest. Dokja can no longer feel his legs, and he knows that when this is all over he’d be sore for at least a week. He is not built for this kind of physical exertion, and if this goes on any longer he’s definitely going to die, be it by the hands of the beast or his frail body giving up on him. 

They finally break through the thicket of trees, coming into a large clearing. A rather large mountain looms in front of them, forcing them to stop. There was nowhere else to run. 

“Shit,” Dokja curses as he wracks his brain for some semblance of a plan. 

He doesn’t have any time to think of anything, however, before the beast comes thrashing in from the forest. It slams to the ground in front of them, letting out another blood curdling screech.

Amidst its violent thrashing, Dokja can make out the distinct figure of Joonghyuk on its back, eyes glowing gold with pure fury. A conflicting mix of feelings erupt in his chest, equally relieved and worried to see the man. Dokja’s heart stutters in his chest, but his worry is soon found unnecessary. 

The closer he looks at the beast, the more its truly pathetic state becomes apparent. Joonghyuk has the clear advantage at this point, having heavily wounded the beast. Various wounds are spread throughout its body, but the one that catches his attention is the vicious gash on its side. Blue blood gushes from it violently, and Dokja doubts it's going to last much longer. 

So he stands there, completely frozen, watching with sick curiosity as Joonghyuk savagely rips the beast apart.

The beast isn’t dead yet though, and it manages to fling Joonghyuk from his back. His body slams into a tree, and Dokja winces, fear prickling in his chest. Joonghyuk is entirely unaffected though, and quickly rolls to his feet and charges at the beast with an enraged roar.

Dokja’s eyes zero in on the claws that now hang from Joonghyuk’s fingers. Now those certainly aren’t normal. What the fuck happened to him?

Joonghyuk lands a vicious attack on the beast's stomach, his claws cutting through it with deadly accuracy. The beast lets out an enraged bellow, swiping Joonghyuk to the side with a mighty strike of its tail.

Dokja holds his breath as Joonghyuk goes flying, but he lands on his feet, crouching with his teeth bared as he snarls at the beast.

“Should we help him or….” Hyunsung trails off, casting an anxious look at Joonghyuk and the beast.

Heewon eyes Joonghyuk warily. “I’m going to say he’s got this one.”

Dokja nods in agreement. He doubts they’d be any help anyways, Joonghyuk’s savage movements would be too hard to follow.

It’s a little surprising to watch, now that he thinks about it, seeing Joonghyuk in such a feral and uncontrolled state. Though Joonghyuk has always possessed a foul temper, he never loses control, and in all the years Dokja’s known him, not once has he let his Daemon slide slip so viciously.

Whatever standoff the two were having breaks then, the beast howling as it charges at Joonghyuk. Joonghyuk slides out of the way, easily dodging the beast’s attack and counters, landing a vicious strike on the beast’s face. His claws swipe right through the beast’s eyes, easily ripping out three of them. 

Dokja grimaces at the gruesome sight, the creature roaring in agony. Joonghyuk looms over it, blue blood dripping from his claws. The beast thrashes violently, but Joonghyuk dodges the sporadic attacks with ease and jumps onto the beast’s back, landing another deadly strike.

The beast manages to swipe Joonghyuk off though, sending him flying back once more. It tries to flee then, but Joonghyuk recovers quickly. He runs up the beast’s tail and scales its body with ease. 

It’s all over then, Joonghyuk’s claws slicing into the vulnerable skin of the beast’s neck. The beast dies instantly, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud, but Joonghyuk isn’t done yet. He lets out a vicious snarl and rips out its throat with a vicious swipe of his claws. 

Blood sprays from the wound, flooding all over the forest floor. It splatters over Joonghyuk, but he doesn’t seem to care, his shoulders shuddering violently as he looms over the dead body of the beast. 

Dokja shivers at the sight of him, fear prickling in his chest. If that isn’t a sight to haunt Dokja in his nightmares, he doesn’t know what is. It’s terrifying. He’s never seen Joonghyuk so deranged and out of control. 

He looks more animal than human, as if he had lost all sense of reason. 

Dokja rips his eyes from Joonghyuk, turning his attention back to the rest of his companions. He’s surprised to find they were no longer next to him, and wonders when they had moved. Dokja was so entranced by Joonghyuk’s fight, he hadn’t noticed them leave.

They’re a small distance ahead of him, examining the side of the mountain. 

Dokja is about to join them, when a bone chilling snarl echoes behind. He stops dead in his tracks, body frozen in fear as panic shudders through him. 

Heewon and Hyunsung jerk their heads towards him, eyes widening in fear as they look behind him. 

Gulping, Dokja slowly turns his head, praying to anyone who would listen that it isn’t what he thought it was. 

Golden and murderous eyes are glaring back at him. Joonghyuk’s deranged form looms before him, teeth bared and hackles raised, and Dokja immediately knows he’s done for. With no rationality to hold him back, of course Joonghyuk will take the opportunity to end his life. He knew that bastard always had it out for him.

Thankfully, survival instincts click in for him then, no longer frozen in fear. Joonghyuk’s eyes narrow, letting out a menacing snarl when he realizes what Dokja is about to do.

Dokja doesn’t think, he just moves. He doesn’t even bother to draw his sword, knowing full well fighting Joonghyuk is pointless. Fear swirling in his chest, he stumbles back, desperately trying to get away. He misjudges the slickness of the ground and he slips pathetically onto his stomach.

Oh fuck oh fuck . 

Dokja scrambles to get on his feet, every fiber of his being screaming at him to run, but he can’t gain any footing. Dokja panics, frantic as he desperately crawls on his hands and knees in an attempt to escape his impending doom. 

Unfortunately for him, Joonghyuk is physically superior to him in every aspect, and any such attempts are futile. Distantly he can make out Heewon and Hyunsung sprinting towards him. They’re yelling something, but he can’t make it out over the pounding in his ears. 

He chances a look behind him, the surrounding world seeming to slow down, fading until all he can see is Joonghyuk. With a choked sob, Dokja accepts it. Better to die at the hands of the man he loves than the green satan’s spawn. 

So he closes his eyes and gives up, tears streaming down his face as his body shudders in fear. He covers his face, and curls pathetically onto the ground, braces himself for Joonghyuk’s attack.

To complete and utter confusion, no such thing happens. His heart stutters to a stop as he finds himself wrapped in a firm, but gentle embrace.

Well that was unexpected. Dokja thinks dumbly, mind completely numb. 

Dokja doesn’t know how long he lies there, utterly frozen as his brain tries to rationalize what exactly just happened. He’s completely dumbfounded. He should be dead right now, or at least in the process of it, Joonghyuk ripping his pathetic body limb to limb. 

A gentle whine resonates from above him, startling Dokja’s thoughts to a halt, pushing him to open his eyes.

Joonghyuk is kneeling next to him, Dokja’s upper body close to his chest. His face pinched in heavy concern, not a trace of the golden eyed monster that was just threatening to rip him apart. 

What the actual fuck ? Dokja’s confused, so so confused. His brain unable to comprehend this unexpected turn of events.

He flinches as Joonghyuk’s clawed hand reaches towards his face, eyes closing as he braces himself. Much to shock, his fingers gently caress the skin of his cheek, tenderly wiping away the tears from his eyes.

Dokja is even more confused, and when the hand leaves his face, he peers his eyes open, eyeing Joonghyuk fearfully. The concerned expression is still present on his face, and it looks so wrong to Dokja. He honestly hadn’t realized Joonghyuk was capable of expressing anything other than varying levels of disdain. 

It’s so startling that against Dokja’s better judgement, he finds his hand reaching up to touch Joonghyuk’s face, trying to verify whether or not what he’s seeing is real. 

Dokja realizes his mistake a moment too late, Joonghyuk’s face flinching when Dokja’s fingers graze his skin. Panic settles in again, and Dokja assumes his death is now sealed.

And yet again, no such thing happens.  

To make things even more confusing, Joonghyuk just leans into his touch, eyes closing into a serene expression. He lets out a pleased rumble, the sound vibrating deeply in his chest. 

Dokja freezes, completely dumbfounded of what he should do. His hand just hangs there, Joonghyuk nuzzling into it contentedly. 

Suddenly remembering that they weren’t alone, Dokja looks over Joonghyuk’s shoulder towards Heewon and Hyunsung. They’re frozen in place just a little ways in front of him, looking equally surprised as he is that Dokja is still alive. 

Under different circumstances, Dokja would have found the wide eyed and dumbfounded expressions on their faces amusing. Right now, however, he’s incapable of feeling anything other than confusion. 

“Dokja,” Heewon says carefully, “What the fuck is going on?” 

“Do you really think I know? I thought this crazy bastard was going to kill me, and now he’s nuzzling into my hand like a pleased puppy.” Dokja's voice squeaks out.

“I guess that answers whether or not he’ll try to kill us then.” Hyunsung says, but he doesn’t sound all too confident, eyeing Joonghyuk apprehensively. 

Heewon shoots Hyunsung a dubious expression. “Somehow I doubt that, but I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

She takes a tentative step forwards, attempting to look as unthreatening as possible.

Dokja watches Joonghyuk carefully, looking for any sign of aggression or any other changes in demeanor. His expression remains unchanged though, just rumbling happily as Dokja caresses his face. If Dokja didn’t know any better, he’d say the bastard is purring, much to his mortification. 

Dokja catches Heewon’s gaze and just shrugs. Taking it as a sign to continue, Heewon starts walking, slightly more confident this time. 

A branch snaps underneath her foot, and Dokja’s heart stills in his chest. Joonghyuk’s eyes snap open, flashing gold as he jerks his head towards the sound. He lets out a menacing growl, eyes narrowing dangerously at Heewon. 

Heewon flinches at the sound of it, freezing before annoyance bleeds into her expression. “Did you really just growl at me, you ill-tempered bastard.” She spits out.

Joonghyuk leaps to his feet, taking a defensive stance in front of Dokja as he bares his teeth in response, as if daring her to take another step. 

“Oh you’ll pay for that you shitty bastard,” Heewon snaps, “I did not just get chased through this entire forest just for you to growl at me like an ill-tempered dog.”

Dokja watches in mute horror as she draws her sword, the metallic shing echoing through the forest. What the actual fuck is wrong with her ?

Joonghyuk reacts as well as one would expect, an enraged snarl ripping from his throat. His entire body tenses, muscles flexing as he prepares to lunge at the perceived threat. 

“Oh shit,” Dokja curses, desperately scrambling to his feet. With speed he didn’t realize he was capable of, Dokja manages to grab Joonghyuk’s wrist. 

He’s not sure if it’s the best idea, considering Joonghyuk could literally send him flying, but Dokja didn’t have many options. A fight between a feral Joonghyuk and a pissed off Heewon is the last thing he wants to happen. It would be catastrophic. 

Thankfully, it’s enough to catch his attention, and Joonghyuk stops in his tracks. He whips his head around to glare at Dokja, a rather terrifying expression on his face. 

Dokja swallows back his fear, heart pounding in his chest. “Don’t glare at me bastard, I just saved your life.” He manages to spit out. 

Dokja’s brain is having a hard time making sense of what’s going on. Why would he try to attack them, didn’t he recognize them as their friends? Dokja’s hasn’t seen him this hostile since they happened across him all those years ago. 

The fury seems to melt from Joonghyuk’s face, as he seems to recognize Dokja. Dokja lets out a shaky sigh of relief, “Joonghyuk?” He asks softly, “What’s wrong? What happened to you?”

Joonghyuk doesn’t respond, cocking his head as he stares at Dokja intently. 

Dokja swallows, dread sinking in his chest. Well that’s fantastic, not only is Joonghyuk incredibly hostile, but he doesn’t seem able to comprehend his words. 

Well, they’re fucked .

Dokja reaches for Joonghyuk’s face again, hand resting on his temple as he checks for a hint of a fever or any other indication of what could be wrong with Joonghyuk. It’s warm, but not enough to be concerning, Joonghyuk always ran rather hot anyways. 

Dokja still startles at the way Joonghyuk responds to his touch, the man leaning into it with a please rumble.

Verifying that Joonghyuk is now distracted with his hand, Dokja shifts his attention over to Heewon and Hyunsung. The latter has thankfully wrestled the sword from Heewon’s grasp, much to Dokja’s relief. 

Heewon looks entirely unamused by the situation, her arms crossed as she glares at Joonghyuk with barely contained rage. “What the fuck is wrong with him.” She hisses.

Dokja internally curses her as he watches Joonghyuk flinch at the sound. His lip curls menacingly, a growl rumbling in his chest as his head jerks towards Heewon. Dokja clutches Joonghyuk’s wrist tighter, forcing his attention back to him.

Joonghyuk could certainly resist it, but surprisingly enough he lets Dokja pull him closer. With his attention back on Dokja again, he lets out a sigh of relief. 

Dokja shoots Heewon a glare, eyes screaming at her to stop antagonizing him. She meets his glare, clearly pissed off, but doesn’t say anything more. 

For some reason Joonghyuk doesn’t perceive Dokja as a threat, and for some reason he can’t help but feel like Joonghyuk’s acting so hostile towards their friends is to protect Dokja rather than himself. 

The thought alone sends dangerous feelings through his mind, making his heart stutter in his chest. Dokja pushes the thoughts back, swallowing the uncomfortable lump in his throat.

“They aren’t a threat,” Dokja says despite himself, knowing full well the bastard won’t understand him. “You’re safe. I…I’m safe”

Dokja’s voice seems to appease him though and Joonghyuk just lets out a quiet rumble. He leans forward, completely invading Dokja’s space as he wraps his strong arms around Dokja’s waist and pulls his body flush against his chest. His face nuzzles into Dokja’s neck, rubbing his nose against the delicate skin. 

The action properly flusters Dokja, his brain completely fried. 

Heewon is completely dumbfounded, brows furrowed together as she stares at them with disbelief. Hyunsung is equally confused, shooting Dokja a look of concern. 

Dokja flushes painfully, embarrassment burning at his skin. 

“There’s something wrong with him,” Dokja sputters out, his voice cracking as Joonghyuk’s teeth graze at the skin of his neck. What the fuck is he doing? “He…He’s not acting like himself.

He really hopes Joonghyuk’s wide shoulders are enough to conceal what he’s doing. If Heewon and subsequently Sooyoung and Uriel catch wind of this, he’ll never hear the end of it.

Hyunsung raises an eyebrow, looking at them dubiously. “Clearly.”

A squeak escapes Dokja’s mouth when Joonghyuk’s tongue starts tracing over his skin, his skin burning with embarrassment. Once glance at his companions and Dokja promptly wants to die as mortification takes over. They’re definitely seeing everything at this point. 

Hyunsung’s cheeks are slightly flushed, suddenly looking away from them as he tries to give them privacy. Heewon, on the other hand, does no such thing and suddenly doubles over in a burst of obnoxious laughter, clearly entertained by his misery.

Dokja finds himself wishing she’ll choke on her spit and die, the heartless bitch. Truly what did he do to deserve to be treated like this?

Joonghyuk is completely ignorant of the torture he’s putting Dokja through, practically purring with content as his tongue laves over Dokja’s neck. 

Dokja would smack him if he didn’t think the bastard would bite his hand off. 

Heewon lets out a gasp, trying to catch her breath. She wipes an imaginary tear from her eye, casting him a shit eating grin. “At least we know he won’t attack you… though I have a feeling he might just eat you.”

Dokja flips her off, not glorifying her with an actual response.

“It’s like he’s feral,” Hyunsung says suddenly, his expression more somber as he watches Joonghyuk. 

Heewon gets serious at that, nodding to herself. “I was thinking the same thing, I’ve never seen him so out of control like that. Frankly, it was a little terrifying, it’s like he lost all sense of reason.”

“What changed though? He was fine when we entered the forest?” Hyunsung asks no one in particular, “I mean he was moody and temperamental as always, but nothing like this.” 

Heewon hums, eyeing Joonghyuk warily. “I don’t know, he’s e ntirelynot human, so who knows what would make him lose his shit like that.”

Dokja shrugs, not entirely sure himself. “Maybe it was the gas?”

Heewon scoffs, “That shit just knocked us out, you don’t see us prowling around like an out of control beast.”

“No I think he’s got a point,” Hyunsung offers, “Like you said, Joonghyuk isn’t human like us, so who knows how it impacted him. He was particularly hostile when we first found him.”

Heewon sighs, looking as tired as Dokja feels. “If that’s the case then we’re screwed. Fates know what was in that.” She kicks at a branch in frustration. “Can’t one thing go right for once!”

Joonghyuk flinches at that, the content rumble darkening into a agitated growl. Dokja’s quick to wrap his arms around Joonghyuk’s shoulder, rubbing his back in an attempt to soothe him.

It works well enough, and Dokja feels the tension quickly leave Joonghyuk’s back, the man promptly shoving his face back into Dokja’s neck.

As mortifying as it is, Dokja will take this over the alternative. He knows if Joonghyuk really wants to he could easily rip them apart. 

Heewon shoots Joonghyuk a sour look. “Shove the protective bullshit, I’m too tired for this.” Before turning her attention to Dokja, “I swear if he growls at me again I might actually lose my shit.”

Dokja finds himself growing agitated, if it weren’t for her ill-temperament, Joonghyuk wouldn’t act out like that. All he’s doing is trying to protect Dokja from her, but he keeps his thoughts to himself, as he has a feeling his agitation would only spur Joonghyuk on. 

“At least he seems to take kindly to Dokja, so he hasn’t lost all reason.” Hyunsung points out.

Somehow Dokja has a feeling that’s far from the truth. Joonghyuk would never act like this. 

“Regardless of how favorable he is towards Dokja, clearly he’s not in the right mind and that makes him dangerous.” Heewon spits out, pinching her brow in frustration, “Holy shit you guys saw what he did to that overgrown lizard, he’s a ruthless killing machine.” 

Dokja suddenly doesn’t like where this conversation is going. “Where are you going with that, Heewon.” He says carefully.

Heewon shoots him an unimpressed look. “Don’t you start on the protective bullshit too. All I’m saying is that we can’t treat him like our Joonghyuk, he’s like a ticking time bomb just waiting to blow and rip us all to shred.”

Dokja just sighs, exhaustion quickly catching up to him. “I know, but what are we supposed to do?”

Heewon shrugs, “I don’t know, but we clearly can’t take him anywhere near people until whatever is wrong with him wears off.” 

Hyunsung nods in agreement. “If the two of us just being near him is enough to make him lash out so aggressively, taking him back to the guild would be disastrous.”

Dokja shivers at the thought, there would be carnage. 

“Okay, but we can’t leave him alone either.” Dokja objects. 

“If we take another step towards him, he’s going to try to bite our heads off, Dokja.” Heewon says, looking as exhausted as he feels, “I think us being here is just going to make him worse.”

She’s got a point, and Dokja can’t fault her for that. “It doesn’t have to be you guys though, I could just stay.” He’s not too entirely sure why he is offering himself up for that, but the idea of leaving Joonghyuk alone like this makes his heart clench painfully. 

Heewon raises an eyebrow, seeming just as surprised as he is that he volunteered for it as he is. “Just because he’s okay with you now, doesn’t mean he will continue to be that way. What if he gets even more unstable and tries to attack you too?”

Hyunsung nods in agreement. “I’m sorry, Dokja-ssi, but I agree with her. We can’t guarantee that his condition will worsen, and if you’re in the near vicinity when that happens, you’ll be in danger. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone with him, especially here.”

“Yeah, stop being a self-sacrificing bastard for one second and think about this rationally.” Heewon seethes.

Dokja bristles with steadily growing annoyance. “While I appreciate your concern, it’s a risk we have to take. He’s even more dangerous if we leave him unattended. What if he runs into more of those creatures and gets hit with more gas?”

Heewon just groans, gripping at her face in frustration. “I’m so going to kill Sooyoung when we finally get back, this mission is just one big clusterfuck after another.” 

“We’re far enough from the sequitur trees we should be able to communicate with the guild, I feel like an outside perspective would be beneficial in this situation. I feel like we’re all too wound up to discuss this rationally.” Hyunsung says calmly. 

Dokja sighs, grateful that there’s at least one leveled head person in his shit hole. He didn’t doubt they’d be at his throats if they were to continue. A tense silence falls on him then, Heewon and Hyunsung focusing on drawing the magic circle to communicate with the guild. 

It’s then, however, that Dokja’s legs decide to give out as his adrenaline promptly leaves his system.

Thankfully Joonghyuk’s reflexes are quick, and the man catches him with ease. Joonghyuk looks at him with concern, eyes shifting aggressively over Dokja’s body as he looks for any signs of hurt. 

“I’m fine, Joonghyuk-ah, just a little tired.” Dokja murmurs out, gently patting Joonghyuk’s chest.

Joonghyuk just grunts, clearly unconvinced and promptly sits on the ground, pulling Dokja along with him. Dokja doesn’t fight it, too exhausted to be embarrassed at this point, and lets himself be pulled into Joonghyuk’s lap. 

Joonghyuk’s arms wrap around him tightly, pulling Dokja’s back flush to his strong chest. Joonghyuk returns his attention back to Dokja’s neck, gently nuzzling into tender skin. Dokja finds himself relaxing against Joonghyuk’s hold, letting his head rest against Joonghyuk’s shoulder. 

He lets out a sigh of relief, his body easing off of its fight or flight response. His newfound peace is abruptly disturbed however, as a quiet snort echoes from above him. Dokja feels a vein twitch on his forehead. “Not a word, Heewon, or I will kick your ass.”

Heewon smothers her laugh. “Yes of course, I was just going to let you know that we finished the magic circle and Hyunsung is connecting it with the communication crystal. We’re just trying to get a clean connection now. But you seem kind of busy.”

The crackling sound of the circle connecting saves him from responding, thankfully, the hazy form of Han Sooyoung shimmers to life from the crystal. “What the fuck guys, we’ve been trying to contact you for hours—- Oh you look like utter shit, what the fuck happened? Did shit hit the fan or something?”

“Your deduction skills are top notch as always, Han Sooyoung,” Heewon bites sarcastically, a scowl present on her face. “Yes, shit hit the fan as you so eloquently put it, now let me talk to Sangah or Uriel before you give me another reason to kill you.”

Sooyoung sputters, “So rude after everything I’ve done for you and-“

“You know exactly what you did,” Heewon interrupts, voice dripping with venom, “Everything went to hell on this stupid mission, and I am blaming you for it.”

Sooyoung just rolls her eyes, “Story of my life, when do our missions not go to complete shit?” She says with a tired sigh, “I’ll let you curse me out later, give me the rundown.”

So Heewon bitterly recounts the hellish hours they had endured, Hyunsung chiming in every once and a while. 

Dokja tunes them out after a couple minutes, focusing more on Joonghyuk. Thankfully, the man seems perfectly at peace, purring contentedly as he nuzzles at Dokja’s neck. It’s as if having Dokja in his arms is all he needs, and while Dokja certainly doesn’t understand it, he’s not willing to challenge it. 

If nuzzling at his neck like a lovesick fool kept Joonghyuk from going on a murdering spree, then Dokja would let him smother him to his heart’s content.

It’s totally not because of a more self-serving reason, aligning itself with the fact his crush whom he thought despised his entire existence is smothering him with affection. Yeah, definitely not that. 

Dokja really doesn’t know what to make of it. Joonghyuk has always been a mystery to him, but now Dokja’s even more at a loss.

It was five or so years ago when they found Joonghyuk, during probably one of the worst missions Dokja has ever been a part of. 

It was supposed to be a quick recon mission, and he had taken it with Sooyoung as a way to pass the time until more fun missions were released. Unfortunately, true to their shitty luck, it quickly turned out to be much more than they had bargained for. 

While exploring the abandoned village, they ended up uncovering a complex tunnel system hidden directly beneath it. Apparently, it served as a base for a secret organization, but had at some point been completely abandoned. Judging by the disarrayed state it was in, Dokja guessed they had left quite suddenly. 

They found Joonghyuk not too long after, chained to a wall in the middle of an ancient sealing circle. The sight of him is still burned into Dokja’s brain, often showing up in his nightmares. 

Though his face and overall physical body were human, they could tell he was far from it. Black tattoos swirled across his tanned and muscular skin, menacing black claws hanging from his fingertips. There were two long and sharp horns on his head, and a pair of massive black wings hanging limply from his back. 

Dokja had never seen something like him before, and his heart had stuttered at the devastating beauty of the creature in front of him. He looked like a demon fresh from the depths of hell, and yet had the face of an angel. Even still Dokja had a shaking feeling they didn’t want to disturb him. 

Gathering the papers the organization had left lying around vicariously, Dokja and Sooyoung were able to piece together exactly what had happened there. Much to their horror, it was far worse than what they had imagined. 

Apparently this secret organization had completely devoted themselves to demonic worship. Somehow they had managed to uncover archaic texts of demonic worshipers, ones that should have been destroyed eons ago. The texts were filled to the brim with horrific and inhumane rituals, all dedicated to worship some unnamed devil. 

The organization was obsessed with the idea of creating a superior race, one capable of dominating the world, and they believed the way to do it was by reviving  an ancient race of demons.

Eons ago, various species of demons had freely roamed the land, but one race in particular had stood above the rest. Their physical capabilities and immunity to magic far outmatched that of all other demons or any other race for that matter. While their official name was lost in the passage of time, the organization referred to them as Daemon’s.

A rather stupid and unoriginal name if you were to ask Dokja. 

The Daemon’s had dominated the world, and nothing dared to challenge them. Unfortunately for them, their race lacked intelligence and mental fortitude, so their emotions were too volatile and they would often lose themselves to bloodlust. Ultimately, they eventually killed themselves off until they were nothing more than fables in history. 

Somehow though, the organization managed to uncover a sample of Daemon blood and intended to use it to bring the species back. However, they needed a way to overcome the mental defects of the race or their actions would be pointless.

In terms of natural intelligence and mental fortitude, humans remain unmatched across all species, so they believed that humans were the answer to their blights. They believed that by fusing a human host with the blood of a Daemon, they’d be able to create an unstoppable hybrid.

Their experiments to test such a theory, however, were so cruel and inhumane, it makes Dokja’s blood boil just thinking about them. Unsurprisingly, the Daemon blood was completely incompatible with the human body, so they used magic to essentially tear apart and rebuild every fiber of the test subject's being as they tried to force them to bond with the blood. 

They were relentless, completely disregarding all sense of humanity as they wrought indescribable agony on each of their subjects. No matter what they did though, the ending was still the same. Every host ultimately rejected the blood and met a violent and bloody end. 

Joonghyuk, for some reason, was the only one to survive it though. How? Dokja has absolutely no idea. All things considered, he should have died like the rest of them. 

Though successful, the organization quickly realized they had absolutely no way to control to Joonghyuk. And if the blood splatters throughout the tunnels were anything to go by, Joonghyuk went on a rampage. 

They managed to subdue him, somehow knocking him out so his natural immunity towards magic was rendered incapacitated. With powerful magical barriers and heavy chains, they left him there, keeping him in a deep slumber until they found another solution. 

That had been two years prior to when Dokja and Sooyoung found him, and if the state of their lair was anything to go by, it looked like they hadn’t been back since. 

It took some time, but they managed to uncover the personal notes about Joonghyuk’s life prior to the experiments. Though it wasn’t much, they at least found his name. Apparently his parents had sold him to the organization for money when he was hardly even ten years old. 

Dokja was beyond livid at that point, and personally burnt everything to the ground, watching with carnal satisfaction as the horrific research crumbled to ashes. 

When they woke him up, Joonghyuk was incredibly hostile. He knocked Sooyoung to the side and held Dokja up by his neck, growling at him menacingly. Dokja ended up passing out after that, but somehow Sooyoung managed to subdue him. 

Dokja woke up the next day in the guild infirmary, completely confused as to how he was still alive. To this day, Dokja still doesn’t know why the man hadn’t killed him, and quite frankly he’s still too scared to ask, but he has a feeling Sooyoung played a key role in that. 

Somehow Sooyoung managed to convince Joonghyuk to come back to the guild, despite his feral state. In the beginning, Joonghyuk made his blatant hatred and distrust towards them quite apparent, lashing out violently whenever they got too close. One false move, and they’d either lose their life or at the very least a limb. 

No one could blame him for it though, and so they were patient with him. After all that he had been through, he deserved some genuine kindness. 

It was a painstaking process, but eventually they got through to him and he grew more comfortable around them. His Daemon features faded back to more human ones, until they disappeared altogether. If it weren’t for the eerie way his eyes flashed gold whenever he was particularly pissed off, you could easily mistake him for one.

Originally their goal had been to just get him to the point where he could function in society and live a quiet life, but much to their surprise, Joonghyuk wanted none of that. Though he quite clearly hated the monster he had become, he was quite adamant in wanting to use the powers he despised so much to help others and who were they to deny him. 

Joonghyuk proved to be quite useful, his skills saving their asses more times then Dokja can count. Though it hurts him to admit it, the experiment truly was a success, nothing stood a chance against Joonghyuk. 

It didn’t matter who or what it was, he was superior to them in every way, faster, stronger, and with his resistance towards magic, he was unstoppable. 

Though his shitty and overpowered abilities annoyed Dokja to no end, he couldn’t escape the fond feeling that grew in his chest the more time he spent with the man. He tried to push it away, but the feelings would only come back stronger, until it was to a point that Dokja couldn’t even deny that he had fallen helplessly in love with Joonghyuk.

Even after all the hardship he endured, experiencing first hand horrific things humans were capable of, Joonghyuk still fought fiercely to protect it. Dokja knows that had their positions been switched, he probably would have lost himself to his rage and sought to destroy humanity, and yet, Joonghyuk did no such thing.

Though he was merciless in eradicating evil, he still held a distinct fondness towards humanity. His heart remained strong, and not once did he sacrifice his morals. Even when Dokja and the rest of them had given up, Joonghyuk never did. He fought relentlessly to protect the lives of the innocent, even at the cost of his own life.

That is the same man who oh so clearly despised him and would probably kill Dokja if given the chance, so he never once humored the idea that his affections would ever be requited. But now, with Joonghyuk holding him tenderly, practically smothering him with affection, Dokja feels doubt prickling in his chest. 

“Hmmm, well that's definitely a problem.” Sooyoung says, “How long exactly did it take for that gas to wear off of you guys. 

“I’d say about an hour or so, at least after we woke up. I’m not really sure the timeframe of when we were captured and when we woke up though.” Heewon answers, idly flipping a knife in her hand.

Sooyoung hums, clearly deep in thought. “Okay, and how far has his shift gone, is he completely reverted?” 

“He doesn’t have his wings or horns, but his teeth are definitely sharper and he has claws again.” Hyunsung says. 

Sooyoung sighs, “That could be a good or a bad thing. Are his tattoos present?”

Heewon and Hyunsung shrug, turning and looking at him expectantly. Dokja sees mirth spark in Heewon’s eyes as she watches Joonghyuk nuzzles into his neck.

Dokja sighs in defeat, he’ll definitely never hear the end of this, and gently grabs Joonghyuk’s arm and pushes back his sleeve, revealing a black swirl curling around his wrist.

Dokja swallows uncomfortably, vivid images of the rest of the tattoos spanning across his body flashing through his mind. A flash of arousal curls in his gut against his will, why did this damn bastard have to be so damn hot. 

Heewon barely smothers her grin, all too aware of Dokja’s suffering, and schools her expression as she turns her attention back to Sooyoung. “Yeah, his tattoos are there,” She affirms. 

“Well shit, that means he’s only one minor inconvenience away from a full shift. Whatever was in that gas is clearly screwing with him more so than it did any of you.” Sooyoung says with a groan, “Which for one thing I find rather odd considering how hardy that bastard is. They must have hit him with a ton of that stuff to even get a reaction from him.”

Heewon hums, “Now that you mention it, when I went to grab our weapons they were practically drowning him in it. It only served to piss him off more though, the overpowered bastard, if that was us I bet we’d be dead.”

“Of course they did, fates know how his body reacted to that shit.” Sooyoung mumbles, brow furrowing, and Dokja feels dread settling in his chest. 

They know absolutely nothing about Joonghyuk and how his body works, so this could be bad news if Joonghyuk isn’t able to burn it off himself. 

“How far are we from the guild at this point?” Hyunsung asks.

“Pretty damn far off I’d say,” Sooyoung says, “I’m having Sangah mess with the portal right now, she’s trying to see if we can get a strong enough connection to transport you all here directly.”

Sooyoung disappears from view, Uriel’s bubbly figure taking her place. 

“Where’s Dokja?” She asks, looking slightly concerned, “Why isn’t he with you guys?”

“Oh he’s perfectly fine,” Heewon says, a carnal grin curling on her lips, “He’s just a bit… preoccupied right now.” She shoots him a wink over her shoulder and Dokja just flips her off. 

“Too preoccupied to talk to his best friend? Yeah right, point me in his direction, I wanna talk to that rat bastard.”

Dokja shoots Heewon a desperate look, pleading with her not to.

Heewon just grins mischievously, shrugging her shoulders, “Sorry Dokja, you can’t hide it forever.” And with it a shred of sympathy, she directs the communication crystal directly towards them, giving Uriel a clear picture of Dokja’s current predicament. 

The concern immediately drops from her expression as a shit eating grin curls onto her face. A strangled cackle rips out from behind her, as Sooyoung promptly loses her shit somewhere out of their sight.

Uriel is looking at him with an unreadable glint in her eyes, and Dokja really doesn’t like the look of it. “Well well, isn’t this a surprising turn of events.”

Dokja’s too exhausted to do anything, looking at her with disdain. “I really hate you right now.”

“Love you too, you rat bastard. I told you you were stupid for thinking Joonghyuk actually hated you. That doesn’t look like hate to me.” She says all too smugly.

“Wipe that shit eating grin off your face, Uriel. That has absolutely nothing to do with this.” He spits out, trying to fight out the blush bleeding into his cheeks, “He might have just imprinted on me or something.”

They all shoot him an exasperated look, and even Hyunsung doesn’t look like he believes him. To be fair, Dokja doesn’t believe himself at this point. 

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Uriel coos, that grin ever present on her face. 

Dokja flushes painfully. “Uriel shut the fuck up if you know what’s good for you.”

“Sorry sorry, my bad.” She says, completely unapologetic. 

“The connection is finally stabilizing,” Sangah’s voice suddenly interrupts. “We should be able to get you guys out of there in about ten minutes or so.”

Sooyoung promptly appears in front of them again, shooting a shit eating grin at Dokja. “Well you heard the lovely lady, time to get a move on. I need a blood sample pronto if we’re going to figure out what’s going on with Joonghyuk.”

“Sounds like a lovely idea, force a feral Joonghyuk into an enclosed area and then stab him with a needle.” Heewon says sarcastically, “He tries to rip our heads off if we even look in his direction.”

Sooyoung sighs, “Well I don’t know what you want from me here, I need a blood sample in order to figure out what’s going on with him.” 

“I think it’ll just be best for Joonghyuk and I to stay here,” Dokja pipes up, “It’s too much of a risk to move him like that. Plus there’s still the mission we need to carry out.”

Objections shoot out almost immediately, even Uriel expressing her concern from somewhere behind Sooyoung.

Heewon shoots him an unimpressed look. “Like you really give a damn about the mission right now, you damn self-sacrificing bastard. I told you if you tried to pull this shit again, I’d kick your ass.”

Dokja sputters, “It’s not that I don’t, and I’m not trying to sacrifice myself. This is our best option, at the very least the tracking stone will lead us towards that guild’s cottage. It should be far enough away from any sort of threat and allow Joonghyuk to chill out a bit.”

“And if the so-called shelter has gone to shit like every other part of this cursed mission?” Heewon pushes, clearly not fond of his idea. 

“It’s a risk we’re just going to have to take.” Dokja says simply, “Like I said this is our best option.”

Heewon glares at him intently, but Dokja refuses to back down, meeting her glare with one of his own. 

Finally, Heewon‘s expression softens and she lets out a heavy sigh. “Aw what the hell, I give up. Just do whatever the hell you want, you selfish bastard.”

“I vote we never take a mission like this again.” Hyunsung says with a groan, clearly not okay with their plan, but accepting it nonetheless. 

Dokja sighs in agreement. 

“Fine, but still Dokja, are you sure you’ll be fine by yourself?” Sooyoung asks, concern clear in her eyes.

Dokja nods. “I’ve been through worse, plus I have Joonghyuk so I’m not alone. We’ll be fine.”

Sooyoung groans, “Why does it sound so sappy when you say that, regardless I still need that blood sample.”

“I got an syringe in my bag, but it’s not going to pierce into Joonghyuk’s skin.” Heewon says.

“It will, you just have to know where to inject it. Try his inner wrist.” Sooyoung says simply. 

Heewon shoots Sooyoung an unimpressed glare. “You say that like it’s so easy, why don’t you poof over here and do it yourself, you damn harpy.”

“Hey cool it, asshole, I’m just trying to help.” Sooyoung spits back.

They argue back and forth for a bit, and Dokja finds himself growing more exhausted by the minute. Truly what did he deserve to earn such shitty and ill-tempered friends.

Thankfully, Hyunsung interrupts their little spat, “Maybe Joonghyuk will let Dokja do it,” He says carefully.

Dokja sighs, he really doesn’t want to risk it, but they don’t have much of a choice at this point. “Only one way to find out.”  

He pushes the ground, carefully trying to pull himself from Joonghyuk’s grasp. Joonghyuk’s entire body flinches, a growl ripping from his throat as he tightens his grip on Dokja’s waist. 

“Well,” Dokja sighs, letting himself be pulled back into Joonghyuk’s lap, “That failed.”

Heewon groans, smacking her forehead. “This overprotective bullshit really needs to go. Fine, I’ll just put it back into my bag and throw it to you guys, you’ll need it more than we do anyways.”

“But will you be able to catch it though,” Hyunsung asks, “I doubt Joonghyuk will take too kindly to a foreign object being hurled at you.”

“I really hope so.” Dokja mutters, attempting to prepare himself. Heewon doesn’t waste any time and throws the bag, tossing it in a rather impressive arc directly towards them.

Joonghyuk tenses behind him, a growl spilling from his lips, but Dokja manages to jerk out his hand and catch it by the strap, pulling it into his chest.

Sooyoung whistles. “Nice catch, didn’t think you had it in you.”

Dokja really wants to tell her to go to hell, but the Joonghyuk is still growling behind them. He’s growing increasingly more agitated, golden eyes glaring at Heewon in clear anger, but Dokja reacts quickly. He gently sets the bag down, and turns around, shifting his body so he now straddles Joonghyuk’s lap.

Heewon whistles from behind him, and Dokja gets the sudden urge to let Joonghyuk go wild. Vivid images of Joonghyuk chasing her around bring a slight smile to his face, but he resists it. Hyunsung would enviably get caught in the crossfire and that gentle giant certainly didn’t deserve that.

So he breathes deeply, pushing the thought aside as he returns his attention back to Joonghyuk. Golden eyes meet his own, and Dokja flushes at the intensity of his gaze. 

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he cups Joonghyuk’s face gently in both hands, letting his thumbs rub over Joonghyuk’s cheeks. “It’s okay, you moody bastard, they aren’t going to hurt you.” He says softly, hoping the gentleness of his voice would help calm him down. 

Joonghyuk lip curls, nosing scrunching in clear displeasure, but there’s no real bite to it. He looks more like a disgruntled puppy than anything truly terrifying. Dokja takes it as permission to continue.

He grabs Joonghyuk’s arm, keeping a close eye on his reaction. Joonghyuk makes no move to stop him, merely cocking his head in question. 

Dokja lets out a sigh of relief, and uses his free hand to dig for the syringe in the bag. Thankfully, Heewon was smart enough to put it in the front pocket, so he finds it rather quickly. 

He uses his teeth to rip open the package and pulls it out. Looking at it now, Dokja feels a bit bad. The needle is quite daunting, long and sharp. If it were him, Dokja would raise hell if someone tried to stick him with it. 

Joonghyuk, however, is blissfully ignorant of the situation, and merely watches Dokja with owlish eyes. Dojka’s really confused at how trusting Joonghyuk is currently, but he doesn’t question it. Fates know what would have happened if Joonghyuk had been hostile towards him too and Dokja is adamantly refusing to entertain the thought.

With a steadying breath, Dokja brings the syringe to the delicate skin of Joonghyuk’s wrist. He’s all too thankful to the countless hours he spent with Lee Seolhwa in the infirmary, otherwise this would not be going as smoothly as it is. 

He finds the vein rather quickly, Joonghyuk’s veins popping out of his skin from the sheer density of his muscles. It shouldn’t be as attractive as it is, but he feels a slight twinge of arousal in his chest. 

He pointedly ignores and focuses on the syringe in his hand, completely ignorant of the way Joonghyuk's eyes darken at the obvious change in his scent. After double checking he had found the right place, Dokja presses the needle to the skin. It takes a bit more force than Dokja’s used to, but eventually it goes in. 

His eyes shift nervously between the needle and Joonghyuk’s face, trying gauge his reaction. He holds his breath as Joonghyuk breathes in sharply, nostrils flaring as his jaw clenches, but he doesn’t move, and Dokja finishes quickly. He quickly puts the syringe back in its package and hides it from view. 

Joonghyuk is a bit more agitated now, a clear air of distrust around him as he eyes Dokja warily. Dokja is quick to comfort him though, gently running his hand through Jonghyuk’s hair, basically petting him.

Joonghyuk’s brow furrows, but makes no move to stop him. It takes a bit, but he eventually deems that Dokja is no longer a threat, and promptly leans into his touch, a gentle rumble escaping from his chest. The serene expression returns to his face, and Joonghyuk relaxes once more.

Dokja finally lets himself breathe, tension fading from his body. 

“I’m going to leave it over here, so you can pick it up once we leave.” He says, refusing to turn around, only imagining the stupid expression on Heewon and Sooyoung’s faces. 

“Whatever you say, lover boy.” Heewon croons, the grin evident in her voice. 

For a moment Dokja once again humors the idea of letting Joonghyuk loose on her, but he resists it for Hyunsung’s sake. 

“I’m going to assume the tracking stone is in here,” He says instead.

Heewon hums in affirmation. “Yeah, we’re pretty far off course now, it’s back to yellow.”

Dokja internally groans. Fuck that. That means they have at least several hours of walking before they’d reach their destination. Something Dokja isn’t too entirely fond of considering how tired he is. 

Regardless, Dokja mentally prepares himself, the sooner he gets this done the better. So with a groan, he pulls away from Joonghyuk. The bastard’s eyes flashing gold, lips curling in a silent snarl, but Dokja ignores it. He’s way too tired to deal with this bullshit right now and grabs Joonghyuk’s wrist and pulls him up with him

Joonghyuk lets him, but doesn’t seem too happy about it, a scowl deepening on his face. He refuses to let Dokja leave his side, his arm securing itself around Dokja’s waist as he eyes their friends warily.

With Joonghyuk looming over him like this, Dokja is reminded of just how large and powerful the man truly is. He has at least a head on Dokja, Joonghyuk’s stature practically dwarfing his own. His shoulders are broad, and strong, thick muscles cover his entire body. 

Dokja feels so small, but projected in strong arms. He flushes at the thought, and pointedly avoids Joonghyuk’s intent gaze on him, shifting his attention towards his friends. “We’re going to go now. Be safe.”

“You too, and don’t do anything stupid. You both better come back in one piece or I’ll curse your ass.” Sooyoung calls.

“Make sure you take care of yourself, Dokja. I want you to return with Joonghyuk safely.” Hyunsung says. 

“Yeah, you try anything and I’ll hunt you down myself you self-sacrificing bastard.” Heewon adds, glaring at him pointedly.

“Yeah yeah, love you guys too. I’ll try to contact guys once we reach the cottage.” He says, warmth curling in his chest. Maybe his friends weren’t all that bad.

With that Dokja gently pulls himself from Joonghyuk’s grasp, and grabs Joonghyuk’s wrist to pull him along with him. Joonghyuk stares down at their hands with slight confusion, but lets Dokja lead him.

Dokja tries to ignore the anxiety growing in his gut as he leaves the safety of their companions. He can still hear Heewon and Sooyoung bickering behind him. 

“Also, it’d be really helpful if you were to bring one of the canisters of gas back with you, that way I could-“

“The more you open your shitty mouth, the more I want to kick your ass.” Heewon spits back. 

Dokja can’t help but snicker, despite himself. Yeah, his friends would be fine and so would he.

They had each other, and Dokja had Joonghyuk. While he’s uncertain of what the looming forest in front of him holds, he knows they’ll be alright. Joonghyuk seems to be stuck on a rather mean protective streak, so Dokja doubts anything will be able to get within near proximity of him, let alone harm him.

True to Dokja’s thoughts, he feels Joonghyuk’s arm wrapping securely around his waist. The man looks down at Dokja, an unreadable expression on his face and Dokja finds himself smiling. 

“We’re going to be just fine, huh, Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja murmurs, looking at Joonghyuk with a small smile.

Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to understand him, but leans down to gently nuzzle Dokja’s hair, somehow sensing Dokja’s discomfort.

Dokja pets the hybrid's hair appreciatively, letting himself relax into the comfort of Joonghyuk’s arms. 

Yeah . Dokja can’t help but think. They’re going to be just fine.

Chapter Text

Dokja groans, grimacing as wipes the sweat from his brow. If there’s one thing Dokja hates, it’s being hot and sweaty. 

The humidity of the forest is relentless, and with trees offering no shade, the sun beats down on his back with vengeance. Dokja’s entire body aches, still feeling the after effects of the gas, and his feet throb with every step. This is easily becoming the worst day of his life and Dokja wants to scream. 

Not for the first time he considers having Joonghyuk to carry him the rest of the way. Dokja doubts the man would refuse, but somehow he has a feeling if he were to do that he’d be opening the door to things far worse than his aching feet, so Dokja keeps his thoughts to himself. 

Plus if his guild mates somehow caught wind of that, they’d hold it over his head until he died. Knowing them they’d probably even go so far as to engrave it on his tombstone, damn jackasses. 

The heat has given him a pounding headache, steadily worsening as he grows more dehydrated the further they walk into the forest. They had been walking for several hours now, but they were still several miles away from their destination. 

At this point he just wanted to keel over and die. 

Joonghyuk seems entirely unaffected by the heat though, confidently navigating the forest with long strides. The only inkling Dokja got that the heat actually bothered him was a couple hours ago. Joonghyuk had a small episode when he attempted to rip off his jacket, only for it to fail because the fabric is made of dragon scales. 

He didn’t seem to grasp the concept of a zipper, and Dokja had watched him struggle for a few minutes, laughing so hard tears fell from his eyes. Joonghyuk grew exponentially more frustrated and began thrashing around quite violently, letting out a vicious snarl as he tried to rip the fabric from his chest. 

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Dokja figured it was time to step in and help him take it off before he actually managed to destroy it. Though the fabric is quite sturdy, it’s not indestructible, and Joonghyuk was well on his way to figuring out how to destroy it.

Dokja knows Joonghyuk paid a pretty penny for it, so he doubts he’d be pleased to hear Dokja had let him destroy it. Knowing the bastard, he'd just use it as an excuse to kick Dokja’s ass. 

Joonghyuk had calmed immediately when Dokja walked to him, seeming to sense Dokja’s intentions. He held out his arms expectantly, a heavy frown on his face, basically begging Dokja to free him of the cursed fabric. 

Dokja had laughed —the sight all too similar to a toddler wanting to be held— and unzipped it for him, and Joonghyuk had promptly ripped it off. Dokja barely had enough time to shove the coat into Heewon’s bag before he found himself wrapped up in Joonghyuk’s arms. The man was quite grateful, and promptly smothered Dokja with affection. 

Dokja wasn’t able to push him off and was stuck there for several minutes while Joonghyuk happily nuzzled his face. Thankfully, that episode was the only setback on their trek, and they were walking through the forest several minutes later. 

Joonghyuk is keeping a steady pace now, just a few steps in front of Dokja. Dokja’s well aware that Joonghyuk could go much faster, but he seems to be acutely aware of Dokja’s physical state and intentionally keeps a pace that Dokja can handle. He’ll even slow down when he notices Dokja lagging too far behind.

Dokja doesn’t know whether he should be more grateful or pissed off by the gesture, but appreciates it nonetheless.  

Even with gentle pace, however, Dokja still trudges behind him wearily, barely staying on his feel. He’s completely exhausted, and could very well collapse at any moment now. 

He’s honestly surprised at how accurately Joonghyuk follows the path to the cottage, not once drifting off course. Dokja checks the tracking stone every once and awhile, but it remains unchanged, pointing in the direction Joonghyuk leads him. 

Joonghyuk’s instincts really are nothing to scoff at.

They haven’t come across any other signs of life in hours, and it’s making Dokja a bit anxious. He can’t shake the feeling that there’s another unseen threat just waiting to attack them, and it’s the only thing keeping him standing at this point.

Which leads him to his current dilemma.

As much as Dokja doesn’t want to think about it, Joonghyuk is unstable. One false move, and his condition could worsen and he’ll lose all sense of sanity. The thought is eating away at him, and Dokja finds himself completely terrified at the fact he could Joonghyuk forever and he’d be helpless to stop it. 

A concerned whine suddenly startles Dokja from his thoughts. He jerks his head up, only to find Joonghyuk standing directly beside him. He looms over Dokja, making him feel small as Joonghyuk’s eyes staring down at him intently. He looks concerned and Dokja can’t help but feel guilty. 

Dokja swallows uncomfortably, shooting Joonghyuk a weak smile. “Sorry Joonghyuk-ah, I’m okay. I just got lost in thought.”

Joonghyuk’s head cocks to the side, Dokja’s words falling of deaf ears. It doesn’t really bother him though, he knew Joonghyuk wouldn’t be able to understand him anyway. He honestly said it more so to convince himself really.

Even still, for as much as Joonghyuk can’t understand his words, he’s acutely aware of Dokja’s body language. Somehow he senses Dokja’s unease and his brow pinches, grunting with displeasure. 

Joonghyuk’s arms suddenly wrap around him and pull Dokja to his chest. He gently nuzzles at his hair, letting out a gentle rumble. It’s clearly meant to comfort him, and Dokja hates how well it’s working.

Man he really has it down bad, doesn’t he…

It should be gross and uncomfortable, Joonghyuk’s body is hot and sweaty like his own, and yet Dokja finds himself relaxing in Joonghyuk’s embrace. With a pleasant sigh he leans his head back against Joonghyuk’s shoulder, “Thank you, Joonghyuk-ah.” He murmurs appreciatively. 

Dokja realizes a bit too late what he had just done, as common sense catches up to him. He flushes painfully, absolutely mortified that he had just barred his throat without a second thought. 

Joonghyuk, on the other hand, seems positively delighted by the action, rumbling happily as he promptly shoves his face into Dokja’s neck. His nose gently drags across the side of his neck, pointed teeth ghosting over his skin. 

A few hours ago Dokja had noticed Joonghyuk’s scent coming from his shirt and his brain promptly short circuited. Now realizing that Joonghyuk is scenting him, makes the experience that much more overwhelming. Even in Joonghyuk’s feral state, such an action is incredibly intimate and it has an underlying meaning Dokja is pointedly avoiding thinking about. 

Regardless, he can’t quite complain, it’s oddly comforting especially with how tenderly Joonghyuk holds him to his chest. All of Dokja’s worries seem to drift away as Joonghyuk’s strong scent washes over him, and Dokja finds himself relaxing in Joonghyuk’s arms. 

Dokja really shouldn’t let Joonghyuk use him like this, but he’s exhausted, and Dokja is a weak and selfish man. He couldn’t resist Yoo Joonghyuk even if he wanted to. 

Dokja’s not quite sure how long they stay like that, but it’s long enough for him to drift off, a blissful haze clouding his mind. Eventually though, Joonghyuk pulls away, much to Dokja’s chagrin. He has to resist the urge to follow after him, already missing the comfort of Joonghyuk’s embrace.

Dokja really hates how weak he is for this stupid bastard. 

Joonghyuk doesn’t go too far though, and instead moves to stand in front of him. He stares at Dokja intently, and Dokja can’t help but shy away at the intensity of his gaze. The forest floor is suddenly much more interesting than it had been moments before. 

He can feel Joonghyuk’s eyes roaming up his body, and even though Dokja knows that’s not what Joonghyuk’s doing, Dokja’s cheeks flush at the thought of Joonghyuk checking him out. 

He is truly a despicable man indeed. 

If Dokja had to guess, Joonghyuk is probably reading his body language in order to discern if Dokja’s mood had improved. Whatever Joonghyuk finds he seems content with, a satisfied rumble emitting from his chest. He leans down to gently nuzzle Dokja’s face, their noses brushing together. Dokja flinches slightly at the action, his heart stuttering as he stares at Joonghyuk with wide eyes. 

Joonghyuk is blissfully ignorant of the chaos he’s wrecking on Dokja’s sanity, and presses a gentle kiss to Dokja’s nose before leaning back. He reaches out to grab Dokja’s hand, and interlaces their fingers. 

With a soft tug, he gently pulls Dokja forward and leads them through the forest once more. Dokja stumbles helplessly after him, his brain scrambling to make sense of what had just happened.

Dokja swallows uncomfortably at the conflicting feelings bubbling from his chest. Joonghyuk’s behavior is so foreign and confusing, and yet it brings him such undeniable happiness. At this point, Dokja doesn’t know what to think anymore.

The more Dokja thinks about it, the more Joonghyuk’s current state reminds him of when they first found him. 

Joonghyuk’s a bit more vicious this time though, seeming not at all hesitant to kill anything or anyone he deems as at threat. At least back then he had to feel pretty threatened to lash out, but now he seems to be in a constant state of paranoia, distrusting everything that moves.

Well, everything except Dokja for some odd reason, which that in itself makes absolutely no sense. It’s not like he was ever particularly fond of Dokja to begin with, in any sense of the word. Dokja was honestly under the impression that the man despised his very existence. 

Or at least that’s what Dokja had told himself, and he still thinks it’s a pretty reasonable conclusion to come to. However, Joonghyuk’s actions and blatant favoritism towards him is starting to make him doubt. Dokja humors the thought of there being even the slightest chance of Joonghyuk returning his feelings before he pushes the thoughts away bitterly.

Even if Joonghyuk doesn’t actually hate him, there’s no way someone like him would ever want someone like Dokja. Joonghyuk could have anyone he wanted, so why would he settle for Dokja of all people? That thought in itself is so incredulous Dokja almost laughs.

He looks at Joonghyuk’s profile, admiring the unfairly handsome man beside him. 

Joonghyuk’s just not in his right mind right now, Dokja tells himself. Joonghyuk must have just imprinted on him for some reason, and that’s why he’s behaving so strangely. The second rationality returns to him, they’ll go back to how things used to be. While Dokja desperately wants that to happen, the thought of Joonghyuk hating him again makes his heart clench painfully, his throat burning with budding emotion. 

Dokja forces his feelings back down, pushing them away so he can deal with them later. He lets out an unsteady breath, trying to refocus on the issue at hand, blatantly ignoring the way his heart shatters in his chest. 

He’s being selfish, getting Joonghyuk back to normal is the most important thing right now. His feelings are but a worthless distraction, and Dokja hates how much they’re distracting them.

Dokja focuses back on the forest in front of him, trudging forward with a newfound sense of determination. He resolves to do everything in his power to fix Joonghyuk as soon as possible, his own feelings be damned. 

Unconsciously though, Dokja tightens his grip on Joonghyuk’s hand, walking just a little bit closer to him. He might as well enjoy this while it lasts, for it’ll be the only time he’s ever treated like this. 

What a truly pathetic person I am, huh? He thinks bitterly. I must be something truly worthless if the only time I experience such affection is when the other person is in a feral state.  

Dokja almost laughs at a thought. He’s truly a pathetic person indeed. 

This forest is going to be the death of him, Dokja concludes, grumbling bitterly to himself. 

The trees span on endlessly, and their surroundings have hardly changed for the last hour they had trudged through it. If it weren’t for the tracking stone, Dokja would have assumed they were lost.

Seriously, if he never sees another tree again, he’d die a happy man. 

Thankfully, they’re in the final stretch of their journey, and not a moment too soon as the sun is steadily setting behind them. They hadn’t come across another living being at any point in their journey, but Dokja has an itching feeling that they didn’t want to be out here in the dark. 

Joonghyuk’s hand in his own is a comfort Dokja hadn’t realized he needed. He had assumed Joonghyuk would let go after a while, but the man hasn’t left his side once and Dokja hated the way his heart soars at the action. 

The forest is becoming less dense now, and Dokja can feel the excitement thrumming beneath his skin at how close they were to the cottage. Just a few more minutes and this hellish journey would be over and Dokja could die in peace, or at the very least sleep for a week. 

However, he can’t shake the fear of not knowing what awaits them. The guild had lost contact with the apprentices, so fates know what could have happened to them. The cottage could be completely destroyed for all he knew, and if that happened, they’d be shit out of luck. The thought of having to sleep on the ground after the hellish day he’s had makes him want to cry. 

He forces the thought from his mind though, negativity would do nothing for him now. 

In no time at all, a large clearing comes into view. It spans on beyond what Dokja’s eye can see, but right in the middle of it is a bright, golden barrier. The mage guild had forewarned them of the magical barrier beforehand, but Dokja isn’t particularly worried about it. As long as you didn’t possess the intent to harm the guild, you would be able to pass through the barrier with no problems. 

Dokja lets out a sigh of relief, tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he looks at it. Never in his life has he been so excited to see barrier magic, and he doubts he ever will be again. They’re usually a pain in the ass anyways. 

A burst of excitement overcomes him then, and all traces of exhaustion leave him as a rush of energy pulses through him. 

With an excited whoop, he slips from Joonghyuk’s grasp and takes off sprinting towards the barrier. Joonghyuk lets out a disgruntled growl from behind him, but Dokja doesn’t stop. Joonghyuk catches up with him instantly and they run to the clearing together. 

Dokja skids to a halt just in front of the barrier, barely resisting the urge to break out into song at the sight of it. Joonghyuk, on the other hand, does not share the sentiment.

Before Dokja can even react, Joonghyuk is shoving him behind his back, growling fiercely at the barrier. Dokja’s a little started by the action, and is about to voice his compliants before he remembers that Joonghyuk has never been too fond of magic. Now in his feral state, Dokja’s sure those feelings have only increased.

“It’s okay, Joonghyuk,” Dokja murmurs, gently rubbing the man’s back, “It’s just a barrier, it won’t hurt us.”

It soothes him slightly, but Joonghyuk is still clearly agitated. Dokja’s unsure of how to reassure Joonghyuk that the barrier isn’t a threat to them, the fact that they can’t communicate all too bothersome.

Dokja ponders it for a moment only to draw a complete blank and ultimately decides all he can do is show Joonghyuk that the barrier isn’t a threat to them. Dokja’s not all too keen to test it out though, as he has a shaking feeling that it’ll piss Joonghyuk off even more. 

Ultimately, he throws caution to the wind and steps out from behind Joonghyuk’s back and promptly shoves his arm into the barrier before Joonghyuk can stop him. Joonghyuk’s eyes practically bulge from his skull as bone chilling snarl rips from his lips. 

Joonghyuk’s hand jerks out and grabs Dokja by the wrist, and yanks him away from the barrier. He quickly pulls Dokja into his chest, and leaps back, putting a decent amount of distance between them and the barrier. Joonghyuk’s grip is bone crushingly tight, and while Dokja certainly appreciates his face being smashed into Joonghyuk’s muscular chest, he can’t really breathe.

“Joonghyuk I can’t breathe.” He grunts out, pushing against the man’s shoulder. Joonghyuk thankfully gets the memo and loosens his grip. He still keeps a firm hold on Dokja’s waist, but it’s enough to let him breathe again, so he can’t complain. 

Joonghyuk’s whole body is shaking in agitation, glaring at Dokja incredulously. It’s an oddly human expression, one Dokja has seen thrown at him plenty of times when the man was in normal state. He noticeably upset and Dokja can’t help but feel a bit guilty, but it’s not like he had much of a choice. 

With a bit of maneuvering, he manages to free his arm from Joonghyuk’s grasp, and holds it in front of Joonghyuk’s face. “See I’m perfectly fine you big baby. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Joonghyuk’s hand jerks out to grip it tightly, golden eyes scanning it intently as he looks for any indication the barrier had harmed him. When he doesn’t find any, he relaxes, letting out an gruff sigh of relief. He tightens his grip on Dokja’s waist, pulls him back into his chest. He nuzzles into Dokja’s neck, frantically scenting him. Joonghyuk whines against his neck, still clearly upset that something could have happened to Dokja.

Dokja lets out a tired sigh, but figures he might as well take responsibility for scaring him so badly. He lets Joonghyuk scent him to his heart’s content, and attempts to soothe him, gently carding a hand through Joonghyuk’s hair while the other rubs his back.

It takes a bit of time, but eventually Joonghyuk calms back down, the agitation slowly leaving his body. Joonghyuk let's Dokja slip from his arms, but he doesn’t allow him go far, keeping a firm hand on Dokja’s wrist. He looks at Dokja intently, baring his teeth as if he were daring Dokja to try that again. 

If Joonghyuk were in the right mind, he would have known challenging Dokja is never the right course of action. If anything, such things only spur him on, but Dokja resists the urge, he doubts he’ll like the consequences of angering Joonghyuk even further. 

With careful steps, Dokja leads him to the barrier. Joonghyuk grows more agitated the closer they get, but Dokja is quick to soothe him, gently rubbing his chest. The process is painstaking, but Dokja manages to bring Joonghyuk to the barrier. Though he has to admit it is very difficult to stay focused, not even in his wildest dreams did he think he’d be able to touch Joonghyuk’s strong and muscular chest so intimately, and Dokja is screaming on the inside. 

Joonghyuk finally forces him to a stop when they’re mere feet in front of it. Dokja tugs at Joonghyuk’s arm, but the man refuses to move, eyeing the barrier with blatant distrust, his lips curled in a silent snarl.

Dokja lets out an exaggerated sigh, gripping at the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Fine be that way. I’m going in, with or without you.”

Joonghyuk just looks at him warily, eyeing shifting nervously between him and the barrier. He seems to sense Dokja’s intentions, growling in clear warning. 

Dokja grumbles to himself, barely resisting the urge to smack Joonghyuk upside the head. This whole protective steak is getting a little annoying at this point. He’s trying his best to be patient and understanding, but Joonghyuk is not making it easy for him. 

He just wants to sleep dammit. 

So he promptly rips Joonghyuk’s grip from his arms, and rushes into the barrier before the man has the chance to stop him. An enraged snarl rips out behind him, but Dokja doesn’t stop, and practically leaps through the barrier. 

He lands on the other side, and almost collapses in relief at the sight before him. 

It’s like finding an oasis after trekking through a desert, and Dokja has never felt this happy in his life.

Just a small distance in front of him lies the cottage, perfectly intact as far as Dokja can tell. Though to call it a cottage is a bit of a stretch, it’s definitely a shack at best. Dokja’s no carpenter, but even he can tell it was put together haphazardly. He’s honestly surprised it’s still standing judging by the old and decayed condition of the exterior. Thankfully, other than the worn state of the wood, there’s no signs of serious damage. 

It’s clearly meant to serve as a temporary shelter rather than anything of real value.

The surroundings certainly make up for it though. Various exotic plants and flowers bloom all around the shack. They look very well maintained, and if Sooyoung were here, Dokja’s sure the witch would have a field day. 

Dokja doesn’t get much time to truly take it in before a very hard and muscular body suddenly slams into his back. It knocks the wind out of him, and had it not been for the strong arms wrapping around his waist, he would have fallen flat on his face. 

Joonghyuk jerks him around, turning him so they were face to face. He’s positively livid, eyes glowing gold as he glares at Dokja with murderous rage. Dokja’s not sure if it’s fear or arousal that twists in his gut, but his heart flutters pathetically in his chest.

Joonghyuk’s eyes rake over him with a crazed intensity, frantically searching for any signs of injury. His free hand grips at Dokja’s hair, forcing his head to either side as he thoroughly inspects him.

Dokja winces at the crushing grip on his hair. “I’m fine, you damn overprotective bastard.” He spits out, but it falls on deaf ears.

Joonghyuk just bares his teeth at him and promptly crushes him into his chest. Dokja lets out a pathetic wheeze at the force of it. Dokja tries to escape, pushing weakly against Joonghyuk’s chest, but Joonghyuk doesn’t budge.

Dokja gives up rather quickly, and slumps into Joonghyuk’s arms with a frustrated huff. Damn this overpowered asshole.

Joonghyuk shoves his face into Dokja’s neck, roughly rubbing his cheek all over Dokja’s throat, intent on covering every inch of skin with his scent. Joonghyuk’s scent is overpowering, much heavier than it had been, seeming to match Joonghyuk’s mood. The sheer intensity of it makes Dokja a bit light headed. 

Joonghyuk’s lips latch onto his throat, teeth grazing over it as he sucks harshly. 

Dokja goes deathly still, his heart surging to life in his chest. He feels like he’s going to go crazy, heat starting to pool into his gut. He has to bite his lip to stop the moan threatening to spill from his throat. Dokja’s grips onto Joonghyuk’s back, desperately trying to ground himself.

He needs to push Joonghyuk away, stop this before it gets too out of hand, but he can’t seem to think clearly. 

Joonghyuk’s skin is so hot against his own, his scent overriding Dokja’s senses until all he can feel is Joonghyuk. His actions are so rough and possessive, and Dokja is slowly losing himself to it. This is wrong, so wrong, and yet Dokja doesn’t want it to stop. Dokja just squeezes his eyes shut, his body trembling as he tightens his grip on Joonghyuk’s jacket. 

Joonghyuk laves over the mark with his tongue, a please rumble emits from his chest. He seems satisfied by it, noticeably less agitated now as he returns to gently scenting Dokja’s neck. 

Dokja takes it as his chance, weakly pushing Joonghyuk away as he tries to put some space between them. Joonghyuk doesn’t let him go far, his hands still firmly placed on Dokja’s hips, but it’s enough to feel like he can breathe again. 

Dokja feels so hot and lightheaded, panting as he tries to regain his wits. He can’t think straight, his mind incomplete disarray as he fights off the arousal pooling into his gut. Joonghyuk stares down at him intently, eyes glowing gold as he looks at him with carnal satisfaction. Dokja can only imagine how debauched he looks right now, and the fact that Joonghyuk is pleased by it is not something Dokja has the mental capacity to to understand.

Joonghyuk’s grip on his hips is tight, and part of him takes great pleasure in the fact that there’d be bruises, that Joonghyuk had marked him as his own. 

The thought is enough to bring him to his senses, his pleasure altered brain coming to a screeching halt. What the fuck is he doing ?

Dokja pushes against Joonghyuk’s chest again, this time a bit too hard and it sends Dokja stumbling back. Thankfully Joonghyuk doesn’t chase after him, and it allows Dokja to put some much needed distance between them. Joonghyuk stares back at him, looking confused, but at least the raw desire is fading from his eyes.

He takes a step towards Dokja, which makes Dokja flinch, taking several steps back. 

Joonghyuk stills, letting out a displeased rumble as he looks at Dokja with annoyance. 

“Don’t growl at me,” Dokja spits back, trying to keep his voice level, “You need to learn to keep your hands to yourself, you damn animal. Are you trying to eat me?”

Joonghyuk bares his teeth at him, looking not too pleased that Dokja is so far away from him. He could easily close that distance and Dokja would be helpless to stop him, but Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to want to force anything on him, and it’s clearly agitating the poor man. 

Dokja feels a bit bad, he’s well aware how in tune Joonghyuk is with his body— his arousal had more than likely encouraged him— but Dokja needs to be strong. Joonghyuk is not in his right mind right now, so he needed to have enough restraint for both of them. That thought alone is concerning, Dokja’s self-control is nonexistent. 

It’s official, they’re both fucked. 

Dokja curses himself for being so sexually deprived. To think a hickey is enough to get him hot and bothered, Heewon would have an absolute field day if she caught wind of this. 

He looks at Joonghyuk cautiously, verifying the hybrid won’t try to jump him again, before he lets out a sigh, letting his body relax. Dokja can already tell this situation is going to be a test of will and Dokja has already failed spectacularly. 

Pointedly ignoring Joonghyuk’s intense gaze following him, Dokja turns his attention to the shack. The sun is steadily setting behind him, and so the sooner they get this done the better. Dokja still needs to bathe before he goes to sleep, and he has no interest in doing so in the dark. There’s a lake just behind the shack, and he fully intends on making good use of it. 

Dokja walks up the stone path to the shack, admiring the various plant life growing around him. Joonghyuk is tight on his heels, but he’s far enough away Dokja doubts he’ll try jumping him anytime soon. 

He steps onto the covered porch, the wood groaning painfully underneath his weight. Dokja winces at the noise. That can’t be good. He looks down, the wood is grey and rotted, clear signs of water damage.  Regardless, it seems oddly sturdy, even with the worrisome sound, the wood doesn’t bend in the slightest. 

Thankfully the porch seems to have taken the majority of the damage, and the shack itself is in much better condition. While the wood is certainly old and decayed, there’s no signs of water damage. Dokja knocks at the wood, surprised at the quality. He doesn’t recognize the wood, but it’s quite thick and sturdy. It’s probably the only reason the shack is still standing despite its shoddy design. 

Dokja stops in front of the wooden door, grimacing as he watches a spider race across it. He’s suddenly a bit worried at what will be waiting for him on the inside. What if it’s infested creatures and not suitable to sleep in?

That thought alone is devastating. He’d really have to sleep outside if that’s the case. Dokja is way too squeamish to feel comfortable sleeping in a spider infested bed. He’d sooner die than wake up with a spider scurrying across his face.

He swallows thickly, praying to anyone who would listen that such horrors wouldn’t come to pass. He just wants to sleep in a bed, dammit, is that too much to ask?

With a deep inhale, he mentally braces himself for the worst. Dokja reaches for the door handle, his hand shaking from nerves. If the shack isn’t livable he might actually cry.

His hand grasps around the door knob, only to freeze when Joonghyuk lets out a snarl. Annoyance burns hot in his chest, barely resisting the urge to snarl himself as he shoots a seething glare at Joonghyuk over his shoulder.  

“You really need to get your shit together bastard. If you growl at me one more time I’m making you sleep outside.”

Suddenly emboldened by his annoyance, Dokja rips the door open. It takes a bit more effort than he was expecting, and he flushes a bit in embarassmnet, but with a forceful shove he manages to pry it open. Joonghyuk makes a displeased sound behind him, but makes no attempt to stop him.

With a shuddering groan, the door creaks open, revealing the dimly lit interior. Dokja lets out a sigh of relief, equally relieved and underwhelmed at the sight before him. 

It’s in decent condition, clear signs of past inhabitants strewn throughout it. Dokja doubts anyone would bother to stay here if it were infested, so he takes heart in that fact. It is a bit small though, and while that’s a given considering the size of the actual shack, he’s not all too keen in being in such close quarters with Joonghyuk.

He feels a bit claustrophobic just looking at it. The entire interior is smaller than Dokja’s room at the guild. It’s all one room, a living area in the front with the beds in the back. There is a door to the right, but Dokja doubts it’s anything more than a storage closet. 

Joonghyuk suddenly shoves past him, nearly tripping Dokja in the process. Dokja lets out an offended noise, but Joonghyuk ignores him, his whole body tense as he begins carefully examining every inch of the interior. 

Dokja rolls his eyes, glaring at the back of Joonghyuk’s head. Stupid bastard, who the hell does he think he is? The urge to smack him is steadily reaching the point Dokja’s survival instincts won’t be able to stop him. 

So Dokja just sighs, pinching his brow as he smothers his growing annoyance and focuses on the interior before him. 

The living area has a small round table surrounded by four chairs. Various papers and scrolls are strewn across it haphazardly, probably the research from the three apprentices. 

Dokja walks over to it, briefly skimming over the documents. He’s correct on his early assumption. It appears they were researching the effects of a herb that’s native to this forest. Judging by their findings, they made somewhat of a breakthrough. 

Dokja hums, he’ll have to look at these more intently later, they’d probably provide some insight to help him figure out what had happened. 

Looking up he sees Joonghyuk intently examining the beds, looking under every available surface in search of a non-existent threat. Dokja rolls his eyes, this man really is too much. 

In the back of his mind, Dokja can’t help but wonder if the excessive paranoia is due to the gas. Joonghyuk had always been an annoyingly cautious person, but never to this extent. With his heightened senses, he should have been able to tell whether or not there were any potential threats well before they even entered the house. 

He leaves Joonghyuk to his devices, and walks over to the beds. There’s two in total, placed on either corner of the back wall. The one on the left is a bunk bed while the other is a single. The one on the right is a bit bigger than the bunk bed, but even then it’s still a bit small. 

The beds are clearly meant for one person. You may be able to squeeze too people onto the single, but it’d be a tight fit. They’d practically have to be on top of each other, and Dokja doubts it’d be comfortable.

Dokja’s mind betrays him then, vivid images of sharing such a bed with Joonghyuk flashing through his mind. With Joonghyuk’s size Dokja would either end up laying on Joonghyuk’s chest, or spooned into his side. His cheeks flush at the thought, and groans as he grips his face in frustration. Now was not the time to be thinking of such things. 

There’s a small closet at the foot of the bunk bed. The door is slightly ajar, open from when Joonghyuk had inspected it. Dokja pulls it open, feeling a bit bad for snooping through someone else’s stuff, but not enough to feel guilty. Somehow Dokja doubts that the owners weren’t in a position to care about a stranger snooping through their stuff. That’s assuming they were even still alive in the first place. 

There’s a couple days worth of clothes hanging in it, judging by the size they’d be a bit big for him, but enough to fit. Three maroon towels are folded on the top shelf, bars of soap resting next to them. 

Dokja’s heart soars at the sight, he wouldn’t be going to bed dirty tonight. However, the more he inspects the clothes, the more he realizes he may not be able to find some in Joonghyuk’s size. Not only is the man tall, he’s quite broad and muscular, so finding him clothes that fit might be a bit of a struggle. 

While he’d hate to force Joonghyuk to wear his dirty clothes, the thought of Joonghyuk walking around naked to any degree is not a sight Dokja thinks he can handle. 

Dokja grabs some random clothes from the closet and drapes them over his shoulder, now turning his attention to the other bed. At the foot of the single bed is a chest, and Dokja has a brief flash of hope that he might find some more clothes in there. Like the closet it’s already wide open, the originally folded clothes now a rumpled mess from where Joonghyuk had sifted through them.

Thankfully, this apprentice must have been bigger than the other two, as his clothes are much larger. Dokja sighs in relief, while they would still probably be a bit tight, they’d cover enough to spare Dokja’s dignity. 

He grabs a baggy shirt and a pair of pants from the chest, then walks back over to the closet to grab two of the towels and a bar of soap. While he doubts Joonghyuk will even bother to use it, he might as well try. He sets them down on the table and turns his attention to Joonghyuk.

His earlier assumption about the door leading to a storage closet was correct. With one glance he could tell there was nothing of value in there, just old research and other random supplies, but Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to think that way. The man seems intent on inspecting every inch of it from the bottom up and Dokja doubts he’ll leave until he’s satisfied. 

Deciding it’s a perfect opportunity for a break, Dokja sets the supplies down on the table and walks over to the bunk bed, collapsing onto the bottom bunk. He sprawls out with a heavy sigh, his limbs crying out in relief. The bed is quite comfortable, all things considered, and Dokja finally lets himself relax. 

The more he thinks about it though, the more this shack reminds him of his childhood home. Or well, the replacement to it. 

He has a very vague memory of his childhood, the trauma making that entire thing rather hazy, but he could remember some details. 

Dokja grew up in a decently well-off family, his father was a merchant while his mother was a seamstress. They weren’t rich by any means, but they had enough to live comfortably. Not that Dokja would have been able to tell though, as he barely had scraps for food and wore literal rags instead of clothes.

Which is sadly ironic considering the fact his mother was a seamstress. 

His parents never loved him, that much was apparent from the moment he was born. Or at least his father didn’t. Dokja’s not too entirely sure about his mother. She wouldn’t allow him to live under the same roof as them, and instead forced him to rough it out in the shack behind their house. The layout of it is quite similar to this one, but significantly smaller. 

To this day he still doesn’t know if her neglect was to keep him away from his father or just because she just hated the sight of him too. However, she did slip him books every so often, so Dokja really wants to believe it’s the former. 

His father was incredibly abusive, both to him and his mother. It was mostly verbal, but whenever he drank he got rather violent too. It was a hard time for him, and he still has scars littered across his body from it. From a young age, Dokja had to learn how to survive on his own in a house without love, and it didn’t bode well for him. 

School itself was literal hell for him, the kids picking on him for his ragged clothes and reserved nature. When you look like a beggar in a school full of merchant’s kids, you stand out quite painfully. So he spent most of his time in the school library, avoiding everyone else.

The bullying usually stayed in the school, but as they got older they started targeting him outside of school as well. Dokja could ignore the laughs and mean jokes, but it’s when they got violent that he ran into trouble.

Dokja was already pathetically weak from malnourishment and the neglect of his parents, so he couldn’t fight them back when they decided to beat him up. Plus, they always seemed to pick the days after his father had beaten him to attack him, so Dokja really was out of luck.

No one ever offered to help him, and Dokja learned at a young age just how cold and hateful the world could be. However, there was one distinct time he could remember someone had spoken up on his behalf and chased the bullies off. 

Their face has long since faded from his memory, but he’s pretty sure it was a traveling mercenary. He remembers how strong they looked to him, the fierceness in their eyes. He remembers the way his weak heart had surged life looking into the person’s eyes. He couldn’t help but want to be that person, and it gave him the motivation to keep going.

That faceless hero ended up being the entire reason why Dokja became a mercenary in the first place, as he too wanted to become someone to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. There’s a part of him that regrets how vague his memories of his childhood were, he would have liked to find the mercenary and thank them.

If he thinks hard enough, Dokja believes he can remember a time when he made a friend as well, but that part of his memory is quite volatile. He doesn’t remember much about them, their face lost, but he remembers their companionship fondly. He’s pretty sure they ended up abandoning him too, but again Dokja doesn’t really trust this memory. 

However, the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that they were imaginary. He was a terribly lonely child after all, and considering all the books he read, he honestly isn’t surprised he managed to create a fictional friend as well. Despite how sad it is, at least it brought a bit of peace to his childhood, so he can’t really fault himself for doing it. 

Regardless, fate ended up taking pity on him, and eventually his terrible childhood improved. 

His mother had finally had enough of his father’s abuse and ended up killing him. She was promptly thrown into jail and Dokja was put into an orphanage. None of his relatives wanted anything to do with him, not that he cared for them anyways.

He had heard horror stories about the orphanage from other kids on the streets, but Dokja found it was much better in comparison to the life he lived at home. He got two meals a day and was able to sleep in a warm bed. To him, that was heaven in itself. 

Dokja would often sneak out during the night, for reasons he doesn’t quite remember, and venture around the streets. It was during one of these late night walks he stumbled into a wealthy couple, and from there the rest is history.

For some reason the pair ended up being quite smitten with him and ended up adopting him. That’s how he met his real parents, Hades and Persephone, and through their gentle love and guidance, Dokja was slowly able to overcome his trauma and grow into a decent adult. 

It was a difficult and grueling process, but his parents were ever patient. Dokja was incredibly small despite his age, his body littered with various scars from the physical abuse he had suffered. Dokja had assumed he’d be lame for the rest of his life, but his parents refused to give up on him. 

They’re the duke and duchess of the northern territories, so they had more than enough money to spare.With the best medicine magic had to offer, they were able to overcome the trauma wrought on his body, and he made a full recovery within a few years. Magic is truly a godsend. 

His parents ended up spoiling him rotten, giving into his every whim without complaint. Dokja had everything he could have wanted, but the material stuff didn’t really matter to him. He had two parents who loved and cherished him, and that was more than enough for him. 

Once he was stable and healthy enough, they ended up enrolling him in a local school to feed his growing curiosity. He had spent most of the early years at his parent’s manor reading whatever book he could find, and when he ran out of material his parents approached him about attending a school. 

Well aware of the bullying from his past, they offered to hire him private tutors so he wouldn’t have to attend an actual school, but Dokja really didn’t want his traumatic past to define him for his entire life. So he ended up meeting with the private tutors for about a year to prepare him to attend a real school. Under their dedicated tutelage, Dokja ended up passing the entrance exam with top marks and was accepted into one of the finest academy’s in the country. 

It was hard at first, but Dokja eventually adapted to it. He was still pretty reclusive and kept to himself, so the first couple years were rather uneventful. No one dared to mess with him due to his parents reputation, so Dokja found his experience at school to be quite nice. It wasn’t until his last year took a turn, and to this day he still can’t decide if it was for better or worse. 

Through a series of unlikely and incredibly unlucky events, Dokja ended up becoming acquainted with Han Sooyoung. Dokja already knew about her, as she was quite notorious for her callous tongue and shitty pranks. The only reason why she hadn’t been expelled was because she was one of the top students and her parents were very influential nobles to the royal family. 

Dokja took one look at her during the first year orientation and decided that he needed to avoid her like the plague, and he managed to do so up until his final year. Unfortunately, he ended up getting caught in the crossfire of one of her more chaotic pranks and was ruled to be an accomplice rather than a victim. 

From the following week he was forced to attend detention and it was by far the worst week Dokja had at the academy at that point. Sooyoung was insufferable, making every minute of detention painstaking and Dokja had never wanted to drop out more in his life. The only reason she was even interested in him in the first place was because despite her high status, he never gave her the time of day. Apparently that was a huge blow to her ego, and despite hating literally everyone in the school she was determined to force him to be her friend. 

He tried valiantly to maintain his reclusive nature, but she was determined to break him. Despite being incredibly annoying, she ended up growing on him like an insufferable fungus, and from that moment on Dokja literally couldn’t get rid of her. 

They became fast friends, and Dokja found she was kindred soul when it came to books. He even found that she was quite fond of writing herself, and he ended up becoming her over glorified editor. That final year was honestly the best for him, and he knows he has Han Sooyoung to thank for it. 

Though most days Dokja can’t decide whether he wants to hug her or punch her face in, he honestly doesn’t know what he’d do without her. They ended up going separate ways after graduation, as he wanted to become a mercenary and she wanted to study alchemy, but they stayed in touch and met up every couple of months.

A gentle prod to his side draws Dokja from his thoughts, now noticing Joonghyuk’s concerned face looming over him.

Dokja smiles, reaching out ruffle Joonghyuk’s hair. “I’m alright, Joonghyuk-ah. Just lost in thought.”

With a heavy grunt, Dokja pushes himself back to his feet. His weak body isn’t prepared to hold him up and he stumbles a bit. Joonghyuk reacts quickly, his arm snaking around Dokja’s waist to hold him steady.

Dokja pats Joonghyuk’s chest appreciatively. “Thanks, I guess I’m a bit more tired than I thought.” He says with a laugh. 

Joonghyuk just stares at him intently. Dokja finds himself staring back, unable to look away. Joonghyuk’s eyes reveal nothing, but it feels as though they were looking into his very soul.

Dokja had always admired Joonghyuk’s eyes, the dark almost black color filled with far more emotion than one would think. They may appear dull, but underneath the light of the sun, they almost seem to sparkle, revealing the flicks of amber hidden in them. 

Dokja swallows thickly, realizing he had zoned out staring into Joonghyuk’s eyes. He forces his eyes away from Joonghyuk’s gaze, shaking his head as he tries to ward off the haze in his mind. 

With a shaky sigh, Dokja steps away from Joonghyuk and walks over to the table, painfully aware of the way Joonghyuk’s eyes follow him. He lays the towels over his arm and grabs the bar of soap. 

He takes a steadying breath, mentally preparing himself to look at Joonghyuk again. Dokja forces a smile onto his face, casting a quick look a Joonghyuk over his shoulder. “Alright, Joonghyuk-ah. Let’s get cleaned up.” He says, barely managing to keep his voice steady.

Joonghyuk clearly didn’t understand a word he said, but dutifully followed after him.

Dokja stops a few feet away from the lake, setting the towels down on the shore. He feels the slight twinge of nerves pricking up his spine, painfully aware of Joonghyuk’s eyes watching his every move.

He does his best to ignore them and manages to strip down to his underwear, leaving the rest of his clothes in a messy pile by the towels. He doesn’t even get the chance to step into the water before Joonghyuk snarls, and yanks Dokja away from it. 

Dokja yelps, his feet slipping on the muddy shore causing his body to crash into Joonghyuk’s chest. 

He shoots Joonghyuk a heated glare. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Dokja snaps, roughly pushing himself off of Joonghyuk’s chest to regain his footing.

Joonghyuk just bares his teeth at him, pointedly refusing to let go as he yanks Dokja further away from the water. Just as Dokja is about to start cursing him out, Joonghyuk starts taking his own clothes off, and the intent behind Joonghyuk’s actions clicks.

Ah, he just hadn’t wanted Dokja to go in first.

The anger burns away to a more exasperated annoyance. He really wants to be angry with the man, but it’s really hard to be. Especially now watching the man fail at taking his own clothes off.

Dokja snorts at the sight, Joonghyuk growing more frustrated as he fails to take off his shirt. Just as Dokja is about to offer to help him, Joonghyuk growls and unceremoniously rips it off. 

Dokja is completely unprepared for the sudden exposure of his chest, and it nearly knocks the wind out of him. Joonghyuk’s tanned and muscular skin shines under the setting sun. Black tattoos swirl all around his body, accentuating the delicious curves of his muscles. 

Dokja’s mouth promptly waters at the sight, blood rushing south as inappropriate thoughts flash through his mind. Joonghyuk reaches to take off his pants and Dokja pointedly looks away, suddenly very interested in the forest before him. 

Joonghyuk’s body brushes past him, and Dokja’s eyes instinctively flicker back towards him. Dokja heart stutters into his chest, a painful flush rising on his face. Much to Dokja’s dismay, Joonghyuk hadn’t bothered to keep his underwear on like he had, and is completely naked now. And true to his sick nature, Dokja is incapable of looking away. 

Joonghyuk’s strong legs carry him forward, back muscles shifting as he moves. Dokja pointedly ignores the strong curve of his ass, forcing himself to focus on Joonghyuk’s back. There’s a few bruises scattered across his body, but other than that he’s completely unharmed. Not that Dokja is surprised though, the bastard is not only very hard to injure, but also heals rather quickly. 

Though Dokja tries to avoid it, his eyes focus on the jagged scars etched all across his back. They’re deep and nasty, the discolored scars contrasting heavily with Joonghyuk’s tanned skin. Dokja’s chest constricts at the sight of them, anger pooling into his gut. 

It’s hard to tell exactly what happened just by the scars, but even Dokja can tell they aren’t natural and were inflicted in inhumane and brutal ways. Dokja can only imagine how painful it must have been for it to have wounded Joonghyuk so heavily. 

Dokja clenches his fist, breaths unsteady as he tries to subside his growing anger. That damned organization better count themselves lucky they disappeared off the face of the world, otherwise Dokja would have rained the fear of death upon them. 

Joonghyuk takes a cautious step into the lake, teeth bared as he slowly wades into the water. He jerks his head around, intently scanning over the lake. His whole body is tense and ready to attack. Dokja feels nervous just looking at him. 

It isn’t until the water is up to his waist that the tension finally leaves his body. Joonghyuk turns to face Dokja, his expression noticeably brighter. With a jerk of his head he gestures that it’s safe for him to enter the water.

Dokja feels a vein twitch in his forehead. Who does this bastard think he is ? 

He scoffs, mentally cursing Joonghyuk in his head because he does not need him to tell him what he can and can’t do, but follows after Joonghyuk anyway. With quick efficiency he slides off his underwear, immediately sinking into the water before Joonghyuk could get an eyeful. 

Joonghyuk wasn’t even paying attention to him though. Dokja watches with growing amusement as Joonghyuk splashes happily in the water. He looks positively delighted, his eyes bright with excitement as he jumps in and out of the water. The sight is so unlike the broody man he knows, so Dokja can’t help but laugh, watching him play in the water like an excited child.

Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon would probably faint at the sight of their beloved master behaving in such an unrefined and childish way. 

Dokja shakes his head and lets Joonghyuk have his fun, sinking into the water to wash himself. He comes back up moments later, using his free hand to slick his hair back. 

Dokja lathers the bar in his hands, collecting a significant amount of bubbles in them. Once he has enough, he lets it drop into the water, all too happy that it floats.

He washes his hair rather quickly, roughly scrubbing the soap into his hair. Once he’s done, he picks the bar back up and gently lathers it all over his body. He takes a bit more time with this, intent on cleaning every square inch of his body. 

When he finishes, he finds his eyes drifting towards Joonghyuk, the hybrid having gone suspiciously quiet. Dokja nearly leaps out of his skin when he realizes that the man is a mere foot behind him, dark eyes watching him intently. 

Dokja puts a hand on his chest, urging his pounding heart to calm. “Holy shit, Joonghyuk. You just scared the hell out of me, I need to get you a bell or something.” He heaves out.

Joonghyuk just cocks his head, eyes shifting between him and the bar of soap. 

Dokja raises an eyebrow, but after a bit of thought he understands the intent. He offers the soap to him, “You want to wash too?”

Joonghyuk looks at it closely, nose twitching as he inspects it. A moment passes and he seems to deem it and takes it from Dokja’s hand. Dokja hates the way his body shivers when Joonghyuk’s fingers brush against his skin, heart fluttering in his chest. 

To Dokja’s surprise, he mimics Dokja’s previous actions rather well and begins to rub the bar over his body. Dokja is all too thankful the man isn’t a complete idiot, Dokja would have hated having to stay in such close quarters if he wasn’t clean. There was no way in hell he’d do it himself, Dokja is determined to leave this mission with at least some of his dignity intact. 

Dokja can’t seem to look away as Joonghyuk bathes himself though, completely enraptured by the sight. Joonghyuk’s beauty is without equally, transcending far beyond what any human should look like, and Dokja drinks in the sight of him greedily. His tanned and tattooed skin practically glows underneath the light of the setting sun. 

Joonghyuk roughly rubs the bar over his skin, the muscles tensing beneath his touch and Dokja’s mouth practically waters at the sight. He finds his eyes trailing down the column of Joonghyuk’s neck, admiring the strong incline of his shoulders. His shoulders were far broader than Dokja’s own, and he finds himself delighted at the fact Joonghyuk’s stature would swallow his own. 

Dokja feels his face flush as he focuses on the delicious curve of his chest, his pecs protruding out. Dokja’s always been a bit of a breast man himself, and Joonghyuk’s chest is unmatched in his eyes. Despite how muscular they were, Dokja already knew first hand just how soft they were. 

He would die a happy man being suffocated in that chest. 

Common sense catches up to him then and his thoughts come to a screeching halt. Dokja smacks his forehead, groaning heavily as he forces himself to look away from Joonghyuk. If this were to continue any longer, he’d throw all caution to the wind and that is the last thing that should happen. 

Joonghyuk suddenly moves closer, forcing Dokja to look at him again. He roughly pushes the bar into Dokja’s chest, an odd expression on his face. 

Dokja grabs it and turns to walk out of the lake. The sooner he leaves the better. He doesn’t get very far though, as Joonghyuk’s arm suddenly jerks out to stop him, fingers wrapping tightly around his wrist.

Dokja looks at him confused. “What do you want?”

Joonghyuk just looks at him earnestly, refusing to let go of his wrist. 

Dokja shoots him an unimpressed look. “I’m going to need more than a look to figure out what you want.”

Joonghyuk lets out a slight whine, clearly frustrated at the fact Dokja isn’t understanding him. 

Well that makes two of us, you damn caveman. 

It’s then Dokja notices the way Joonghyuk’s eyes are shifting between Dokja and the soap, and it clicks. Joonghyuk’s hair is wet, but he never bothered to wash it himself. Dokja has an itching feeling that it was intentionally forgotten.

Dokja lets out a tired sigh. “You’re awfully needy, you know that? You’re really giving me so much ammunition to hold over your head when this is over.”

Despite his words, Dokja immediately gives in. Joonghyuk looks all too pleased when Dokja starts lathering the soap over his hands, a happy rumble leaving his chest. He gets a bit too excited, hands grabbing his waist and promptly shoving Dokja into his chest. 

An undignified squeak rips from his lips as Joonghyuk’s cock brushes against his hip, a painful flush erupting all over his body. So much for leaving the forest with his dignity intact.

Dokja figured the man would be well endowed, but that is too much. The fates really had to bless this damn bastard with everything. 

Urging himself to stay calm, Dokja shifts himself back ever so slightly and creates some space between them. 

Thankfully, Joonghyuk doesn’t push it, and simply leans down, offering Dokja his head. With a heavy sigh Dokja reaches up and begins washing his hair. He gently massages his fingers into Joonghyuk’s scalp, thoroughly covering his hair in bubbles in an attempt to distract himself from how close they were.

His mortification only grows as a Joonghyuk starts purring, nuzzling into Dokja’s hand like a pleased cat. Not for the first time Dokja’s thankful it’s just the two of them, otherwise he’d never hear the end of this. 

He lets fingers trail down, massaging closer to Joonghyuk’s ears only to stop when the purr turns into a deeper rumble, Joonghyuk’s cock twitching in interest and Dokja wants to cry. 

“You damn degenerate, why the hell are you getting turned on by this.” He manages to spit out, voice pained. He needs to get out of here, Joonghyuk’s way to damn attractive and being this close to him is steadily wearing away at Dokja’s nonexistent self control. He can feel his blood racing in his veins, his body temperature rising painfully. 

He’s trapped though. If he struggles, Joonghyuk will only pull him closer and Dokja does not have the mental capacity to recover from that. So he rubs harder into Joonghyuk’s hair, pointedly ignoring the half hard cock brushing against his thigh.

He lightly pats Joonghyuk’s chest, “There I finished. Please let me leave so I can save the last shred of dignity that I have.” He tries to keep his voice level, but Dokja’s body is going haywire. 

Joonghyuk of course does no such thing, lifting his head up now that Dokja had finished. He looks down at Dokja intently, and Dokja hates the way his heart is stuttering in his chest. 

Arousal is starting to pool in his chest, and he watches in horror as Joonghyuk’s nose flares, gold steadily bleeding in his eyes. Damn this stupid bastard and his superhuman senses, Dokja is really screwed. 

He gathers the last remaining shreds of control, and shoves Joonghyuk back. Dokja manages to surprise him and the hybrid stumbles back from the sudden push.

Dokja doesn’t give himself time to regret the action and promptly hurries out of the lake. He practically rips the towel from the ground, haphazardly wrapping it around his waist, and grabs his soiled clothes in his free hand. 

Joonghyuk is close on his heels, and as much as Dokja wants to run away from him, he has a sinking feeling that it would only insight the man further, so he instead briskly walks back to the shack.

He can feel an intense gaze burning holes into the back of his head, and against his better judgment Dokja risks a glance behind his shoulder. Joonghyuk’s dark eyes meet his own, his face pinched in clear frustration, rumbling with displeasure. 

Dokja’s heart skips at the intensity of his gaze, and he quickly whips his head back around, focusing on the shack before him. Joonghyuk is not happy, but thankfully he keeps his distance, seeming to notice Dokja’s unease. He still looms behind him like an overgrown shadow, but Dokja isn’t going to count his blessings. 

He’s also relieved Joonghyuk actually used the towel, wrapping it haphazardly around his waist. He’ll never take them for granted ever again. If Dokja had turned around to a stark naked Joonghyuk, he has a feeling he’d spontaneously combust. He’s managed to avoid seeing Joonghyuk’s dick up up until this point, and he fully intends to keep that way.

He doubts he’d ever be able to look at Joonghyuk the same if that happened. 

Dokja slams the door open, not wasting a second as he promptly grabs the spare clothes off the table and shoves them into Joonghyuk’s arms. “You wear this.” He demands. 

Joonghyuk looks between him and the clothes with distaste, baring his teeth. Dokja glares at him. “Don’t growl at me jackass, you’ll wear some damn clothes or you’ll be sleeping outside.” He seethes. 

He doesn’t give him any time to resist, and grabs the other pile and storms into the storage closet, slamming the door in Joonghyuk’s face.

Joonghyuk lets out a displease growl, but doesn’t force his way in. 

With a much needed barrier between him and Joonghyuk, Dokja rests his back against the door, finally letting himself relax. He lets out a tired sigh, gripping at his face. 

Limply he slides to the floor, banging his head against the door in frustration. Internally he’s screaming, his heart still pounding in his chest. His mind is in complete disarray. Joonghyuk is seriously going to be the death of him. 

He stays in there a bit longer than necessary, providing Joonghyuk ample time to change and himself enough to calm down. When he finally feels like he won’t combust from the sight of Joonghyuk, he finally forces himself to his feet. 

Cautiously he opens the door, anxiously peering out at the room. 

Joonghyuk stands impassively a few feet in front of him, clearly unhappy, but thankfully dressed, a pair of pants hanging loosely around his waist. His strong arms are crossed across his chest, a dark expression on his face as he glares at Dokja. He looks pissed that Dokja had slammed the door in his face, but Dokja doesn’t care, and just sticks his tongue out at him. 

Childish? Yes. But Dokja will take what he can get. 

He brushes past Joonghyuk, intent on hanging the towel so it can dry, but Joonghyuk’s arm jerks out to grab Dokja’s wrist, stopping him in his tracks. 

Dokja breathes in sharply, annoyance growing tenfold. He rips his arm from Joonghyuk’s grip, harshly turning around to face him. He’s about to tear Joonghyuk a new one when he recognizes the scary expression on Joonghyuk’s face, and his words die pathetically in his throat. 

Dokja freezes, survival instincts surging to life at the murderous expression on Joonghyuk’s face. He glares at Dokja with barely concealed animosity, a dangerous growl rumbling to life in his chest. Dokja’s heart stops when he sees Joonghyuk’s eyes flash gold, teeth baring dangerously. 

That’s definitely not a good sign.

Every fiber of Dokja’s body is on high alert as Joonghyuk slowly stalks towards him. He really doesn’t know what’s going on, but he really doesn’t like the way Joonghyuk is looking at him. 

If Dokja didn’t know any better, Dokja would say he looks like he wants to kill him. Which is certainly not ideal, he’s hopelessly outmatched in every way. Suddenly, Dokja is regretting not heeding the warning of his friends. He can hear Heewon’s voice nagging in the back of his mind.

Dokja’s sure if he were to die here, they’d find a way to bring him back and rub the fact they were right in his face, and then kill him again. 

Joonghyuk stops mere inches away from him, his eyes still glowing gold as he glares at him. Dokja stands painfully still, refusing to move an inch in case it agitated him more. It’s then he notices that Joonghyuk’s attention wasn’t on him, or at least not directly. While his eyes are clearly trained on him, Joonghyuk isn’t looking at his face, it’s lower.

Is it the shirt?

Cautiously, Dokja reaches up to grab his shirt and Joonghyuk’s responding snarl is all the answer he needs. 

Dokja lets out a aggressive sigh, the fear bleeding into anger. He smacks the back of Joonghyuk’s head, shooting him a seething glare. “Don’t scare me like that you shitty bastard. I thought you wanted to kill me! I get you don’t like clothes, but that does not mean you get to act like that.”

Joonghyuk doesn’t seem at all affected by Dokja’s hit, still glaring at Dokja’s shirt.

With a growl of his own, Dokja practically rips it off and shoves it into Joonghyuk’s chest. “I don’t have time for this. Just take it you asshole.”

Joonghyuk rips it out of his hand, his face twisting in disgust as he smells it. 

However, rather than destroying it like he thought, Dokja watches with confusion as Joonghyuk roughly rubs it all over his neck.

Dokja is completely dumbfounded. What the actual fuck? What is he doing?

Joonghyuk does this for several seconds and then brings it up to his face to smell it once more. He must like whatever he finds because his expression noticeably brightens, and lets out a pleased huff as he turns his attention back to Dokja. He holds it out to Dokja. 

Dokja stays put, looking suspiciously at the shirt. “You’re one dumb bastard if you think I’m going to wear that after you rubbed it all over yourself.”

Joonghyuk seems to notice that Dokja has no intention of taking it back, baring his teeth as he shakes it insistently. 

Dokja ignores him, crossing his arms. “No, wear it yourself.”

Joonghyuk lets out a displeased growl, and promptly shoves it into Dokja’s chest. The force of it makes Dokja stumble back, and he shoots Joonghyuk a glare. 

Joonghyuk meets his glare with a glare of his own. There’s no room for opposition in his eyes, and Dokja wouldn’t put it past the bastard to force it on him. He seems to enjoy manhandling Dokja, and Dokja would rather put it on himself then go through that. 

With an exaggerated sigh, he gives in. “Fine, fine. I’ll wear it you damn jackass.” Dokja rips it from his hand and roughly shoves it over his head, and glares back at Joonghyuk defiantly. “There, you happy?”

Joonghyuk is more than happy, actually, a pleased expression on his face. Dokja really wants to smack the smug look from his face. He doesn’t understand why the bastard looks so happy to just see him wear a damn shirt.

It’s then he catches Joonghyuk’s scent oozing from the shirt, and Dokja annoyance flares to life in his chest, the vein in his forehand threatening to burst. He groans, smacking his forehead. 

Damn this overprotective bastard.

“You did not just get pissed because you smelled someone else on me did you?” Dokja asks incredulously, shooting him a glare. 

Joonghyuk just rumbles happily, and closes the distance between them, wrapping Dokja in his arms. Dokja sighs, too exhausted to put up a fight, and pats his back awkwardly. 

“I hope you know when all this is over, I’m forcing you to pay reparations for the mental strain you caused me and I’m charging interest for every day we’re stuck here.” He says, the annoyance slowly fading away. 

He’s finding staying mad at Joonghyuk is nearly impossible, especially when he acts like this. Dokja should have known his touch starved tendencies would get him into trouble in this situation. 

Plus he can’t deny the way his heart skipped when he realized why Joonghyuk had taken the shirt. To think Joonghyuk would be so fiercely protective of him that he despised the thought of another scent being on him is a dream Dokja never thought would come true.

Dokja can’t deny he has had plenty of dreams starring Joonghyuk, and his more Daemon-like tendencies usually played a key role in many of his fantasies. Dokja had long tried to determine exactly what kinks he must have to find Joonghyuk so attractive, but he had quickly determined that Joonghyuk himself is his kink. 

He’s beginning to realizing that reality isn’t so far from his fantasies, and he hates the way he’s slowly giving into it. 

Joonghyuk leans back some time later, his arms still holding Dokja’s waist. He looks at Dokja expectantly, his eyes shifting between the beds as if to ask him where they were sleeping.

Dokja’s cheeks flush, and he promptly shoves himself from Joonghyuk’s arms. “Yeah, nice try there, Casanova, but we are not sharing the same bed. Ever. ”

Joonghyuk cocks his head in confusion, and tries to close the distance between them again. 

Dokja immediately sticks his hand out, trying to ignore the way Joonghyuk’s bare chest feels underneath his hand. The urge to squeeze it is quite strong, but Dokja resists. He might need to force a shirt onto Joonghyuk before this is all said and done, he’s always been rather weak to muscles, especially Joonghyuk’s.

Joonghyuk lets out a disgruntled rumble at Dokja stopping him, but makes no move to force his way past, narrowed eyes glaring at Dokja intently. 

Dokja refuses to back down. “No, he says firmly, pointing at the other bed. “You’re sleeping over there.”

Joonghyuk follows his finger, his brow furrowing as he looks at the other bed. 

Dokja doesn’t give him the chance to protest, and promptly flops onto the bottom bunk, intentionally spreading out all of his limbs so he takes up the entire bed. 

Joonghyuk looms over him, clearly displeased. Dokja just shoves him back, pointing at the bed again. “No, you damn bastard. Your bed's over there, sleep there or sleep outside. You are not sleeping with me.” He says firmly. 

He defiantly closes his eyes, pointedly ignoring him. Joonghyuk lets out a displeased huff, and Dokja lets himself relax, assuming that meant the hybrid had given up. 

Unfortunately Joonghyuk has other plans, and Dokja promptly finds himself scooped up into Joonghyuk’s arms. Dokja lets out a strangled yelp. “You damn bastard, let me go.” He sputters, pushing against Joonghyuk’s chest in an attempt to escape.

Joonghyuk doesn’t budge, and Dokja gives up rather quickly, slumping into Joonghyuk’s arms. “I really hate you,” Dokja mutters with no real heat behind it, letting his head sink into Joonghyuk’s shoulder. At least he has plausible deniability when Joonghyuk inevitably tried to kill him for this later. 

Joonghyuk hums, seeming pleased Dokja had stopped struggling. He gently lays Dokja on the bed and slides in next to him. Strong arms ease Dokja to his side, pulling his back flush to his chest.

Joonghyuk nuzzles the back of his neck, a happy rumble vibrating in his chest. 

The gentle warmth of Joonghyuk’s body is slowly luring him to sleep. Dokja doesn’t even bother to resist the way his body relaxes in Joonghyuk’s arms. He’s too exhausted and Dokja is a greedy man, if Joonghyuk is this determined to smother him, then who is Dokja to deny him.

Joonghyuk’s strong scent washes over him like a blanket, and Dokja can feel himself drifting off. His eyes flutter shut, a content sigh leaving his lips as he subconsciously snuggles closer into Joonghyuk seeking his warmth. 

Even when he’s exhausted, sleep isn’t usually something that comes easy to him. The trauma of his past may not lie so heavily on his mind anymore, but it still took him a long time to relax enough to fall asleep.

Wrapped in Joonghyuk’s arms though, all of his problems fade away as if they never existed. Dokja feels at peace, so warm and protected wrapped in Joonghyuk’s arms. Distantly he can’t help but wonder if this is what it feels like to be loved. 

Sleep comes all too easy, and Dokja loses himself to the gentle rumbling of Joonghyuk’s chest. 

Chapter Text

With a heavy groan, Dokja arouses from his slumber. It’s a painstaking process, sleep still heavy on his brain. He quite frankly feels a bit hungover from how well he slept last night, thoroughly disoriented as he tries to regain the use of his senses.

It’s a losing battle though, and he quickly gives up, snuggling into his pillow to chase after the wonderful night’s sleep he just had. Dokja can’t remember a single time in his recent memory that he slept the entire night without waking up once, at least not without the use of medicine.

Dokja supposes he has Joonghyuk to thank for that, the man was like Dokja’s own personal heater. Distantly Dokja realizes he does feel a bit cold, had he moved away from Joonghyuk in his sleep?

Too tired to care, Dokja shifts back, searching for the warmth of Joonghyuk’s body. Only to find that the other side of the bed is much colder than his own. Well that can’t be right. 

Brows furrowed, Dokja reaches out blindly trying to locate where Joonghyuk could have gone, only to grasp at empty sheets. Dokja hates the way his heart clenches at the fact he had woken up alone.

Grumbling to himself, Dokja peers his eyes open, trying to blink the bleariness from his eyes. With a heavy yawn he forces himself to sit up. It takes a bit of effort, his mind still groggy and disoriented, but he manages.

Blurry-eyed, Dokja peers over the room. There’s no sign of Joonghyuk, but the door is slightly ajar, so Dokja assumes he must have left and judging by how cold his side of the bed is, he had been gone for a while. 

A sudden flash of pain grips through his stomach, making Dokja keel over at the intensity. Dokja groans, he had forgotten he hadn’t eaten much yesterday, so now his hunger is hitting him with a vengeance. 

He forces himself to his feet, deciding to scavenge for some food. He’s not really sure what he’ll find, but maybe there’s some edible plants in the garden. 

With a tired yawn, he walks to the door, pulling it open the rest of the way. Dokja squints, his eyes watering from the sudden exposure to light. He rubs at his eyes, stepping onto the porch, the old wood groaning beneath his feet. 

Dokja’s eyes still haven’t quite adjusted to the light of the sun, so he squints, lazily scanning his surroundings. Other than the gutted carcass of a deer lying in front of the steps, everything appears to be the same, no sign of Joonghyuk though.

Clarity kicks in as he realizes that the gutted corpse of a deer is in fact not a normal sight. With a strangled yelp, Dokja nearly leaps out of his skin, his heart surging to life in his chest. 

Why the hell is that there?

Dokja puts a hand over his heart, chest heaving as he urges his roaring pulse to calm. He lets out a weary sigh, well he certainly hadn’t expected to see that first thing in the morning.

From the corner of his eye, he can see Joonghyuk’s large figure appear from behind the shack. Blood is splattered all over his bare chest, and it makes Dokja grimace, but at least he knew where the carcass came from then. 

Joonghyuk had obviously been running, his face slightly flushed and sweat matting his brow. 

Dokja rolls his eyes, what a messy guy. “Did you seriously have to leave it right in front of the porch?” He scolds, “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Joonghyuk ignores him, quickly invading his space and wraps an arm around Dokja’s waist. He pulls him into his side, gently nuzzling the top of Dokja’s head in greeting. 

Dokja grimaces, tilting his body to avoid the dried blood, but doesn’t attempt to push him away. He lets out an exasperated sigh, leaning into Joonghyuk’s shoulder. “Good morning to you too, jackass.” 

Joonghyuk guides him towards the carcass, gesturing at it animatedly. 

Dokja looks between him and the carcass, face pinching in disgust. “That’s for me?” He asks, pointing at his chest. 

Joonghyuk just looks at Dokja earnestly, eyes shifting between him and the carcass. 

Dokja lets out a fond sigh, ruffling Joonghyuk’s hair. “Thank you, Joonghyuk-ah.” He says appreciatively. Joonghyuk preens at the attention, a please rumble emitting from his chest as he leans into Dokja’s hand. He’s blissfully unaware of the havoc he’s wrecking on Dokja’s sanity. 

There’s a part of Dokja that’s telling him that should he accept this, he’s going to be crossing into a very dangerous territory. He knows nothing about Daemon's courting habits, but Dokja can guess that the deer goes beyond providing food. 

However, Dokja is starving, and at this point, accepting Joonghyuk’s courting advances would be the least of his concerns once they leave. 

So he kneels down next to it, grimacing at the putrid smell emanating off of it. It’s an impressive kill, probably one of the largest deer Dokja’s ever seen. How Joonghyuk managed to find it, Dokja isn’t sure, but knowing his heightened senses, Dokja doubts he had any trouble. 

At a glance it appears that Joonghyuk had already done most of the dirty work for him, all that’s left is to skin in and take out the meat. 

However, Joonghyuk looks like he’s one step away from wrapping Dokja up in his arms, slowly inching towards him. Dokja, however, has absolutely no desire to be covered in animal blood. 

He still has not recovered from the previous bathing incident, so he decides to take the safer route. Dokja walks back into the shack and grabs a bucket and two rags from the storage closet. 

Joonghyuk is still standing by the carcass when he walks out, head cocked in confusion at the supplies in Dokja’s arms. 

Dokja ignores him and walks towards the lake. He’s mildly surprised Joonghyuk doesn’t follow him, but Dokja assumes he hadn’t wanted to leave the carcass unattended. Though Dokja can still feel his eyes following him every step of the way though.

Just behind the shack is a small fire pit, an impressive stack of wood set against the house. Dokja internally cheers at the sight of it, roasting the deer won’t be so difficult after all. 

The fire pit isn’t the only thing he notices though. A little ways away there’s a barn hidden in the trees. He hadn’t noticed it last night, but judging by the size of it, it must be the Alchemy lab the mage guild had spoken of. According to them, that’s where they conduct all of their experiments and store their research. If there was any hint of where the apprentices may have ended up, that would be a great place to start.

He makes a mental note to check it out later, he really wants to eat before he starts looking for the apprentices. He has an itching feeling that it won’t be a pleasant experience. 

After scooping some water into the bucket, he walks back to the shack. Joonghyuk is right where he left him, dutifully guarding the carcass. The serious expression on his face is kinda cute. To anyone else it’d probably be a rather terrifying look, but all Dokja can see is Joonghyuk splashing around in the water, so it’s a little hard to take him seriously right now. 

When he’s close enough Joonghyuk jogs up to greet him, owlish eyes glancing over him while he tries to figure out why Dokja left in the first place. Dokja doesn’t bother to explain it to him and grabs him by the wrist, tugging him to the porch. 

With a heavy push on his shoulder, Dokja manages to force Joonghyuk to sit down on the edge of the porch. Joonghyuk’s face is pinched in confusion, but doesn’t try to stop him.

Dokja sets the bucket down next to him, and grabs one of the rags from his pocket, dipping it in the bucket. After a few moments, he pulls it back out, twisting it slightly to get rid of the excess water. 

Dokja shifts his hand over to Joonghyuk only to freeze inches above his chest. A sudden burst of embarrassment thrums through him, his cheeks turning hot. 

He really doesn’t know why he’s getting so flustered all of a sudden, this doesn’t even compare to yesterday. However, he had been exhausted, so it had dulled his mind a bit. Now fully rested, it feels like he’s seeing Joonghyuk for the first time. 

The fact he’s about to wipe down Joonghyuk’s very muscular and perfect chest is rather daunting. Maybe this wasn’t the safest option …

He swallows thickly, unable to resist the urge to drink in the sight of Joonghyuk’s very naked chest. Dokja had managed to suppress it yesterday, but now with it displayed so blatantly in front of him, he can’t help but stare. 

He pays close attention to the well defined abs on Joonghyuk’s torso, the black tattoos swirling around them beautifully. Not for the first time Dokja imagines what it would be like to trace his tongue over them, how Joonghyuk would taste. Would Joonghyuk’s muscles twitch beneath him? 

His body truly must have been sculpted by the fates themselves to look this perfect. There isn’t a trace of fat to be found, nothing but pure and strong muscle. This level of perfection should not be achievable by a mere human. Not that Joonghyuk is entirely human anyways, but still, it shouldn’t be possible.

The obscene thoughts are becoming more vivid the longer he stares at him, causing heat to pool in his gut. Internally Dokja groans, Joonghyuk is really going to be the death of him. Breathing in deeply, Dokja shakes the thoughts away. 

He really hopes his budding arousal hadn’t caught Joonghyuk’s attention. 

Dokja risks a glance at Joonghyuk’s face, his mortification doubling at the sight of him. Joonghyuk’s eyes are narrowed, staring at him with heavy intensity. His pupils are blown wide, nostrils flaring.

Busted . 

Dokja gulps, quickly looking away and slaps the rag onto Joonghyuk’s chest. Joonghyuk lets out a surprised grunt, and the heavy tension breaks. Dokja still refuses to look at him though, focusing on cleaning the blood from his chest. 

It’s all mostly dried so it comes off rather easily, but Joonghyuk is not making the job any easier. He’s more or less purring right now, puffing out his chest to encourage Dokja to clean it further. 

Dokja really wants to smack him. 

Dokja tries to avoid any sensitive spots, but it’s rather difficult considering the blood is splattered all over Joonghyuk. He must have ruptured some kind of artery or something because the amount of blood is quite impressive. 

Dokja gently rubs the rag over Joonghyuk’s collarbones, admiring the way they protruded from his skin. He really wants to bite them and trace his tongue across bone until he reaches the center of Joonhyuk's chest. Had he the chance he’d leave hickies all over it, marking this fine man as his own. 

Dokja smacks his forehead, rubbing Joonghyuk’s skin more harshly in an attempt to distract himself. He really needs to get his head out of the gutter, without the heavy cloud of exhaustion to keep him distracted, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to hide his desire. 

Dokja stills when he reaches Joonghyuk’s neck, a little uncertain as to whether or not he should touch him there. Joonghyuk may have let him wash his hair yesterday, but the throat is the most protected part of a beast, and it’s something anyone would submit willingly. 

Joonghyuk, on the other hand, doesn't seem to get that memo, and tilts his head to the side, completely barring his throat to Dokja. 

Dokja watches with sick fascination at the way such an indomitable man bares his neck to him without a second thought. Joonghyuk’s adam’s apple bobs tantalizingly, and Dokja’s throat goes dry. The fates are really testing Dokja’s resolve. 

Dokja grits his teeth, ignoring the way his cock is twitching in interest, and clenches the rag tightly in his hand. Barely keeping it together, Dokja quickly finishes the job, making sure to clean the blood from Joonghyuk’s hand as well. Or at least he tries to, the droplets of water trailing down Joonghyuk’s chest proved to be a far more formidable distraction than he expected. 

It brings Dokja’s attention to Joonghyuk’s nipples, a tantalizing sight Dokja has been desperately trying to avoid. He leans in subconsciously, the urge to bite them making his heart pound in his chest. Dokja licks his lips, wondering how sensitive they would be. Could make Joonghyuk moan and quiver beneath him just by playing with them?

Swallowing thickly, he watches with budding arousal as a droplet slowly trails down Joonghyuk’s torso until it disappears beneath the waistline of his pants. He can feel his mouth water as he stares at the barely concealed bulge in front of him. 

Dokja clenches his fist, desperately trying to combat his growing desire. He can feel the blood rushing downward, his cock hardening. Dokja has never wanted something more in his life. His mouth is dry, and Dokja wants to reach out and touch him so bad. 

He gnaws at his lip, biting it hard enough he draws blood. It makes him wince but the flash of pain is enough of a distraction to allow him to gain some semblance of control. 

Joonghyuk lets out a deep rumble, almost like a growl. Dokja’s body goes painfully still, his eyes looking up cautiously at Joonghyuk. There’s a heavy scowl marring his face, nostrils flaring.

His hand jerks out to grab Dokja’s jaw and Dokja’s heart flounders in his chest, alarms going off in his mind. Joonghyuk’s thumb traces over Dokja’s bottom lip, eyes glinting dangerously when he catches sight of the blood

Dokja doesn’t even get the chance to react before the grip on his jaw forces him forward, and he practically falls into Joonghyuk’s chest. He places his hands on Joonghyuk’s shoulders, trying to stabilize himself, and any words of protest die in his throat as Joonghyuk suddenly smashes their lips together. 

Joonghyuk’s attacks his mouth with voracious need, his lips sucking harshly against Dokja’s own. His tongue traces against Dokja’s bottom lip, and Dokja lets out a startled gasp, but it’s lost in Joonghyuk’s mouth, the man taking the opportunity to shove his tongue in. 

Dokja’s fingernails dig into Joonghyuk’s shoulders, his body overwhelmed and desperate as Joonghyuk devours him. His mouth is so hot and rough against Dokja’s own, and Dokja is steadily losing himself to the desire thrumming in his body.

He knows he should stop this, force Joonghyuk away before it goes too far, but Dokja, quite frankly, doesn't want to. His fantasies pale in comparison to the actual beast Joonghyuk is. 

He can hardly keep up with Joonghyuk, the man as vicious as he is hot, and Dokja lets him take what he wants. Joonghyuk burns his claim into Dokja’s mouth, so hot and possessive, and Dokja wants nothing more than to be owned by him. 

Any semblance of control Dokja may have had snaps then, and he wraps his arms around Joonghyuk’s neck, deepening the kiss. His tongue slides against Joonghyuk‘s as he maps out the inside of Joonghyuk’s mouth. He can’t get enough, his taste so tantalizing Dokja already knows he’s addicted, greedily sucking into Joonghyuk’s mouth. 

Joonghyuk’s hands trail down his body, his touch burning against Dokja’s skin. Joonghyuk’s hands find his ass, fingers kneading possessively into the flesh, so hard Dokja knows there will be bruises. That alone sends heat rushing down to his cock, the thought of being marked by Joonghyuk all too pleasing to his more carnal desires. 

He wanted Joonghyuk to mark him everywhere, claim him so viciously that everyone would know who he belonged to. 

Joonghyuk lifts Dokja up, forcing him to straddle his lap, and pulls him flush against his chest. Dokja lets out a needy moan as their cocks brush together, Joonghyuk swallows it greedily, his tongue continuing to ravishing Dokja’s mouth. 

Joonghyuk’s only half hard, but Dokja can feel how big he is. He’d fill Dokja up so well, and Dokja wants nothing more than to be fucked open by him and filled with his cum. 

Dokja’s too hot and needy, desperately pulling Joonghyuk closer. He’s completely lost himself to his desire, his cock hard and aching in his pants. He grinds mindlessly against Joonghyuk’s cock, chasing after the pleasure the friction brings. 

Joonghyuk growls into his mouth, tightly groping Dokja’s ass as he shoves their cocks closer together. His grip is so tight Dokja can’t move his hips, and he whines pathetically, his hips trembling as he desperately seeks relief. 

Joonghyuk doesn’t keep him waiting, and grinds his cock harshly into Dokja’s own, pulling Dokja forward in tandem with his thrusts. Dokja’s pants are sticky with precum, but he can’t find it in himself to care, desperately chasing his release. 

Something frantic is building up inside of him, his chest growing taunt as his pleasure builds. All he can imagine his Joonghyuk’s thick cock spearing him open, what it would feel like to be completely devoured and owned by the gorgeous man in front of him. 

He moans into Joonghyuk’s mouth, losing all sense of rationality as he grinds frantically into Joonghyuk’s cock. Joonghyuk grows more aggressive, chasing after his own release. With a final jerk of his hips, Dokja finally breaks. He comes with a cry, his back arching as thick spurts of cum soak through his pants. Joonghyuk follows soon after, cumming with a deep and guttural moan, his hips stuttering to a stop. 

Dokja’s cock pulses, the organsm washing over him. For a moment he feels like he’s floating, pleasuring tingling all over his body. He collapses into Joonghyuk’s chest, his body lax from the after effects of his release. Dokja’s chest heaves, panting as tears stream from his eyes.

Joonghyuk’s chest shudders beneath him, the man breathing in deeply as he tightens his grip on Dokja. In the back of his mind Dokja knows he should be putting some distance between them, but it’s quite frankly the last thing on his mind right now.

Joonghyuk rumbles softly, gently nuzzling against Dokja’s neck. He scents him tenderly, his actions a complete contrast to the aggressive way he handled him before. 

Still a bit lightheaded, Dokja pushes back slightly, wincing as his tender cock brushes against his cum filled pants. Joonghyuk’s heavy eyes stare up at him intently, riddled with an emotion Dokja can’t quite put his finger on. 

Dokja lets out a shaky breath, his hand reaching up to pet Joonghyuk’s hair. Joonghyuk purrs, leaning into Dokja’s touch. Despite himself, Dokja can’t help but smile. He feels so sated and blissed out, he really doesn’t know what to do with himself. His brain is too foggy to truly comprehend the consequences of his actions.

They stay like that for a while, Dokja gently running his fingers through Joonghyuk’s hair while the hybrid continues to scent him. Joonghyuk places feather light kisses against his skin, tongue tracing gently over his neck. 

Dokja lets out a pleased sigh, body going lax as Joonghyuk’s scent washes over him. 

The growling of Dokja’s stomach shatters the moment though, and embarassment promply shoves away the post-ograsmic bliss. Joonghyuk’s head jerks from his neck, eyes wide with concern. Dokja blushes, shying away from Joonghyuk’s gaze. 

With his brain slowly starting to work again, he realizes just how much he needs to put some distance between him and Joonghyuk, otherwise his dignity might actually never recover. 

Oh fuck him, he’s never going to be able to look Joonghyuk in the eye ever again. 

He pushes lightly against Joonghyuk’s chest, hoping that he will let him go. Joonghyuk rumbles unhappily, but ultimately lets Dokja slip from his grasp. 

Dokja’s legs tremble like a newborn fawn, his body still recovering from what they had just done, but he manages to keep his balance. Dokja grimaces as his cum stained pants brush against his skin, he definitely needed to change before he did anything. 

He looks at Joonghyuk, the man’s brow furrowed in clear annoyance. Dokja laughs at the sight, hand reaching out to ruffle his hair. If he didn’t know any better he’d say the man was pouting. 

“You’re awfully needy, you know that?” He says, amusement bleeding in his tone. There’s a hint of fondness as well, but Dokja elects to ignore it. 

Joonghyuk just huffs, eyes glinting as he seems to debate whether or not he could sweep Dokja back into his arms. 

Dokja doesn’t give him the chance to decide though, and tugs him up by his wrist. “Come on, let's get out of these soiled clothes and go get some food. I’ve certainly worked up an appetite.” 

He leads Joonghyuk back into the shack, and grabs a new pair of pants for both of them. He holds out the bigger pair to Joonghyuk. The man scowls at the pants, his lip curling in distaste. 

Dokja rolls his eyes, shoving it into his chest. “Just wear the damn pants, they won’t kill you.”

Joonghyuk avoids his hand, casting a pleading look to Dokja. Internally Dokja coos at the sight, he had not realized such a vicious man was capable of making such a cute expression. He really wants to pinch his cheeks. 

However, Dokja resists, forcing his expression to remain impassive as shoots Joonghyuk an unimpressed look. “Nice try, but goo goo eyes won’t work on me. You’re going to wear them whether you want to or not. ”

Seeming to sense that Dokja wasn’t going to budge on the issue, Joonghyuk lets out a disgruntled huff, grumbling indiscernibly to himself as he yanks the pants from Dokja’s hand. 

Dokja smiles brightly, internally cheering at his victory. 

Joonghyuk is oddly well behaved, all things considered. In such a feral state Dokja would have assumed he wouldn’t be so keen on taking orders from others. Normally he’d tell anyone that tried to boss him around to piss off or just kick their ass just for annoying him. Dokja certainly couldn’t force him to do anything he really doesn’t want to do, so he’s really curious as to why Joonghyuk listens to him despite not understanding what he’s saying. 

Joonghyuk reaches down to take off his pants, and Dokja quickly turns around, a slight flush on his face. It’s pointless, having just rutted against the man like a bitch in heat mere moments ago, but Dokja does not need to add anymore fuel to the fire. Just feeling Joonghyuk’s cock is enough to get him hot and bothered, if he were to actually see it, Dokja might actually jump him. 

Which Dokja is not all too comfortable with considering Joonghyuk does not have the mental capacity to consent to such actions right now. The sudden flash of morality sends a crushing wave of guilt and dread through his system. 

Dokja storms into the storage closet, and shuts himself in there. He has a feeling this closet might become a sanctuary for him by the time this is all over. 

He leans against the door with a heavy sigh, letting his body slide to the floor. He rests his face into his hands, screaming internally as he mentally berates himself. The guilt and mortification of what he had just done completely kills the afterglow of his orgasmn. 

He hadn’t even lasted 24 hours alone with Joonghyuk and he had already jumped him. Well it’s more like Joonghyuk jumped him, but still, he had let it happen and he had thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Dokja sinks his face further into his knees, groaning heavily. This whole situation is so fucked up. 

It takes him a considerable amount of time to work through his conflicting emotions, but eventually his hunger forces him out of the safety of the closet. Though his mind is still in disarray, he feels relieved having changed out of his soiled pants. 

Joonghyuk is nowhere to be found, but there’s only one pair of pants on the floor, so Dokja takes that as a sign that the man had put them on. The front door is wide open, and Dokja rolls his eyes. 

Distantly he wonders if it would be possible to teach Joonghyuk how to close a door, but he dismisses the thought away immediately. 

He sifts through Heewon’s bag, hoping she had left her carving knife in here. While he could use his sword to skin the deer, it would be a rather difficult process and Dokja does not have the patience for that right now.

Thankfully he finds it along with a fire stone, and makes a note to thank Heewon for her preparedness. He could have used magic to start a fire, but his body is not very compatible with it, so even a mere fireball spell can give him a headache. That’s why he tries to avoid it unless it’s absolutely necessary. 

Supplies in hand he walks back out, finding Joonghyuk dutifully guarding the corpse of the deer. Joonghyuk perks up when he notices him walking out, expression brightening as he runs up to greet him.

Dokja is quick to push him away. “Not a chance, you are not going to be coming near me anytime soon you damn degenerate.” Dokja spits out. 

Joonghyuk stumbles back, brows furrowed in confusion. He huffs indignantly, gently pushing against Dokja’s hand.

Dokja doesn’t budge, leveling him with an impassive glare. “I said no. We don’t have enough self control to share between the two of us, and I am not letting that happen. Ever again. We can discuss this later after your rationality returns to you.”

Joonghyuk’s shoulders slump, a soft whine escaping his lips. He looks quite similar to a scolded puppy, the palpable hurt and confusion in his eyes makes Dokja’s heart clench painfully. He feels a bit bad rejecting him like this, especially after what they just did, but it’s because of that lapse of judgment he needs to remain strong. 

Dokja doesn’t trust himself to not give in should that situation rise again, and Joonghyuk would certainly be no help in that regard. 

Pointedly ignoring the hurt eyes staring longingly into his back, Dokja walks down the stairs towards the carcass. There’s a fire pit just behind the cabin, so he’d need to get the carcass over there somehow. He also doesn’t want to carve it out right in front of the shack either, it’d be better to carve it over by the fire pit.  .

He pokes at the carcass with his foot, judging how heavy it is. The deer hardly moves, so Dokja doubts he’d be able to pick it up and carry it without drenching himself in blood. 

Dokja turns around to ask Joonghyuk to help him move it, but the hybrid is nowhere to be found. Dokja frowns, hopefully he hadn’t upset him too much.

Well that plan won’t work now. If he angles it right, he could drag it over and still prevent any of the deer’s insides from getting dirty. He will be roasting the meat anyways, so it doesn’t matter too much, but it never hurts to be a bit more careful. 

With a grunt, he lifts it up halfway. It’s not quite as heavy as he was expecting, but it’s still very awkward to carry. It’s a bit difficult, but he manages to drag it over. He’s just glad Joonghyuk wasn’t around to see him struggle. 

Dokja sets it down with a deep sigh, chest heaving. He really hates himself for how much effort it took to drag it over. 

Looks like he needs to be more intentional about training his upper body… 

Now that he’s getting a closer look at it, the fire pit is quite nice. It’s a shallow pit with a metal spit on top, circled in white stone. Multicolored gems are ingrained in the stone, making it sparkle underneath the sun. Dokja leans down to inspect them more closely. He hadn’t ever seen stones like these, and he can’t help but wonder if they possess any magical qualities. 

He should steal one when they leave… The second the thought crosses his mind, Dokja winces. Ah fuck, he really sounds like Sooyoung right now.

Thankfully there’s already wood in the fire pit, so Dokja reaches into his pocket and grabs the fire stone. He sets it underneath the pile of wood and murmurs the activation spell, watching as a small fire bursts to life from it. 

It’s certainly a handy tool, but the flame is rather small. Thankfully the stone continually supplies the fire with energy, so Dokja wouldn’t have to worry about it suffocating. After ensuring the flame stone had been properly activated, he turns his attention back to the deer carcass. It’ll take a while for the wood to catch fire, so he has time to skin the deer.

Inspecting it more closely, he could see that Joonghyuk really had gutted it and removed all the unnecessary organs. Dokja is mildly impressed. The cuts were clean, and showed no signs of ruptures. Gutting a deer is not an easy task and one false move could cover the meat in the deer’s byproducts. 

While it’s not necessarily the end of the world, it’s certainly more of a hassle to clean especially when you’re in the middle of the woods, so he’s all too grateful for Joonghyuk.

Speaking of, Joonghyuk still hadn’t returned, and Dokja feels worry gnawing at his gut. He casts a concerned gaze over his surroundings, hoping Joonghyuk would be there. Unfortunately, he’s completely alone and his stomach drops. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes he may have been too harsh on him, and Dokja hopes he didn’t take it to heart.

Being unable to communicate properly with Joonghyuk is really becoming a headache. 

It’s not like Joonghyuk did anything wrong— he merely responded to Dokja’s own arousal—but Dokja had still taken it out on him like an insensitive asshole. If Joonghyuk really has imprinted on him, rejecting him as harshly as he had before probably had some underlying implications that Dokja doesn’t mean.

Dokja pinches at his brow. Dammit, he really should have responded more delicately.

Considering the intimate act they had performed together not even ten minutes before, if Dokja’s partner would have rejected him like that afterwards he wouldn’t have taken it too well either. Sex makes you oddly vulnerable, and Dokja can only imagine what it would be like in a feral state. 

Joonghyuk probably just wanted to care for him. Dokja groans. Fuck, he really is an asshole . He’ll need to make sure he apologizes profusely to Joonghyuk when he returns. 

He decides to distract himself by focusing back on the deer. Thankfully, this isn’t his first time having to skin a deer, and muscle memory quickly takes over. He finds his mind drifting though, oddly nostalgic as he tears open the deer.

Having to rough it out in the woods like this reminds him of when he first became a mercenary. 

Long before their guild was established, Dokja had been traveling the world as a mercenary for hire. It’s a bit more difficult to find steady income as a mercenary when you aren’t affiliated with a guild, so he had to travel to where the jobs were. He also wasn’t a particularly skilled one either so that didn’t help, but he was good enough to keep his pockets full.

There weren’t always inns or townhouses for him to stay in, so he’d often have to sleep outside. It wasn’t particularly ideal, especially since he had gotten used to his lavish lifestyle, but he managed. He had already prepared himself to rough it out in the wild, so it wasn’t too difficult, but it still took a bit for him to truly adapt. 

It was maybe a year or so into his ventures that he first met Heewon and Hyunsung. 

Dokja wasn’t particularly well known at this point, so he was still doing one off jobs to stay afloat. He had been traveling between towns when he came across Heewon. She had been heavily wounded and left to die on the side of the road. Though he would claim he’s not one to stick his nose in other people’s business, he wasn’t the type of person that could just ignore that. 

Had he known she’d end up being such a bitch, he might have just left her there.

Thankfully there was a town not too far from where Dokja found her, and he managed to get her to a healer in time. Turns out she was also mercenary, and had taken a job with her partner, Lee Hyunsung, to investigate an abandoned town. Things quickly went south when they found out that the town was not in fact abandoned, but overrun with bandits who had imprisoned the entire village. 

Neither were prepared for it to be a bandit infestation and they were quickly overwhelmed. Heewon had managed to escape from one of the cells and had gone off in search of help.

It was certainly a messy situation —way more trouble than the reward was worth— but Dokja couldn’t just turn a blind eye. Especially since the bandits intended to sell the villagers into slavery. 

Through a bit of underhanded tactics and sheer dumb luck, Dokja managed to instigate a turf war between the bandits and a rivaling group. By all accounts, it shouldn’t have worked, but the bandits weren’t exactly the smartest people Dokja had come across, so it had been all too easy to get into their heads.

Heewon had told him he was a coward for resulting to such tactics, but she made no move to stop him. They had little choice anyways, Dokja’s own skills in combat were not enough to take down an entire camp of bandits, so he worked with what he had.

The pair had been all too grateful to him, and had not only given him all of the reward money, but had also sworn their allegiance to him, vowing to be his sword and shield until their dying breath. 

Dokja really didn’t see the point, but figured the added companionship would be nice. Heewon and Hyunsung were much more popular than he was, so the jobs came flooding in after that. He had been a bit uncomfortable with the whole swearing their allegiance thing, but accepted it in fear of invoking Heewon’s wrath. The honor of a swordsman is certainly nothing to step on.

Their partnership had been the start of something Dokja never imagined possible, especially in his miserable life. They were the first friends Dokja ever had other than Han Sooyoung and while he’ll deny it till his dying breath, he couldn’t have been more grateful to have found Heewon that day. 

The memory leaves a pleasant warmth in his stomach, a smile curling onto his face despite himself. There’s a part of him that wishes they were here with him —with Heewon and Hyunsung by his side, Dokja feels like he could do anything— but then the memories of the past 24 hours flash through his mind, and he covers his face, groaning into his hands. Yeah, no. He’s definitely glad he’s been alone for this one. 

He finishes up the rest of the deer rather quickly, and begins carving out chunks of meat to cook. 

Joonghyuk appears not too long after, hands behind his back as he cautiously approaches Dokja. Dokja really hates himself for causing the clear discomfort on Joonghyuk’s face. Dokja starts to stand up and greet him, only to have a bouquet of flowers shoved in his face.

Dokja flinches, falling back onto his ass. He sneezes, eyes watering at the sudden shot of pollen shooting through his nose. 

Joonghyuk won’t quite meet his eyes, nervously shifting his feet as he holds out the bouquet. It’s such an odd demeanor for such a large man, entirely unprecedented for Joonghyuk of all people. 

Taking a closer look at the flowers, Dokja can’t help but smile. It’s a small bouquet of white gardenia’s, his favorite in fact. He eyes them with surprise, Dokja hadn’t realized Joonghyuk was aware of what his favorite flower is. Then again the man could have just snagged the first kind that caught his eye. 

However, just the thought that Joonghyuk may have brought them because they are his favorite makes his heart flutter in his chest. 

He takes the flowers from Joonghyuk’s hand, and sets them down gently. Joonghyuk’s head jerks down to look at him, eyes wide in earnest, pleading for Dokja to forgive him.

Dokja offers him a small smile, pushing himself up so he can stand up next to him. Joonghyuk’s entire body is tense, anxiously twitching as he seems unsure as to whether or not he should be so close to him. 

Dokja doesn’t hesitate to close the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Joonghyuk’s chest. Joonghyuk flinches in his arms, but then relaxes, his arms cautiously wrapping around Dokja’s waist. 

Dokja pulls back slightly, heart breaking at the conflicted expression on Joonghyuk’s face. “It’s okay, Joonghyuk-ah.” He says softly, a hand reaching up to cup his face. “You did nothing wrong. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

Joonghyuk leans into his touch, tightening his grip on Dokja’s waist. The relief in his expression is palpable, his eyes shining, making Dokja feel even more like an asshole.

Dokja can see the way his eyes dart between his face and his neck, conflicted on whether or not he should close the distance. Dokja sighs, deciding to take matters into his own hands.

He tilts his head to the side, gently pulling Joonghyuk’s face towards him. He really hates that he can’t use his words to apologize and reassure him that he did nothing wrong, but hopefully this will be enough.

Joonghyuk lets out a small huff in surprise, but cautiously leans into Dokja’s neck. It’s painstakingly slow, as if he were waiting for Dokja to push him away. Dokja is patient though, and just lets his hand trail up Joonghyuk’s face so his fingers were gently carding through his hair. 

Joonghyuk lets out a heavy sigh of relief and promptly slumps into Dokja’s body. Dokja jolts a bit at the sudden weight, but manages to keep his balance. Joonghyuk tightens his grip on Dokja’s waist, scenting him frantically as if he were trying to imprint his very skin. Dokja just keeps carding his fingers through his hair, murmuring soft reassurances. 

Eventually Joonghyuk seems sated, and he gently pulls away from Dokja, a much brighter expression on his face. Dokja takes heart in it, hoping that it was enough to ensure Joonghyuk that he did nothing wrong. 

Dokja didn’t doubt that Joonghyuk had somehow imprinted on him now, so he’d need to be more careful about how he treated him. He certainly needs to avoid such risqué behavior in the future, but that doesn’t mean he should shut him out completely. While it would certainly test the already broken limits of Dokja’s self control, he’d have to tough it out.

With the air significantly lighter between them, Dokja turns his attention back to the deer. He kneels down next to it and continues cutting out a chunk of meat. It’s a bit much than what he’d normally eat, but after starving for countless hours, Dokja has a feeling he won’t have a hard time eating it.

Joonghyuk sits down next to him, watching him with wide eyes as Dokja prepares the meat. He seems confused, but watches Dokja earnestly, as if trying to learn. It’s kinda cute, the serious expression on his face. 

Dokja clears his throat, trying to recenter his thoughts. Distantly he wonders if Joonghyuk would want some too. He figures Joonghyuk would have already eaten, but he might as well offer it to him once it’s done cooking. He’s unsure whether or not the hybrid will be all too pleased with cooked meat, but it’s worth a shot. He can always cook more for himself afterwards.

It takes a bit of effort, but he manages to slide the meat onto the spit. He sets it back onto the fire, and lets it roast over the fire. Dokja clasps his hands together, sighing happily to himself. 

His eyes shift to Joonghyuk, only to find the cute and earnest expression long gone from his face. Whatever Joonghyuk has determined from Dokja’s preparations he must not like. Joonghyuk eyes it with furrowed brows, almost judgemental in his gaze. 

Dokja feels a vein twitch in his forehead, he’d recognize that look anywhere. He’s sure if Joonghyuk were in his right mind there’d be a slew of complaints thrown his way. He had forgotten how much of a stickler this man was when it came to cooking.

Dokja grits his teeth, annoyance prickling in his chest. “Why is it you have no idea what I’m doing but I can still tell that you’re judging me for it?” Dokja snaps, “Wipe that shitty look off your face asshole, not all of us can be perfect at cooking. This would be your job if you hadn’t lost your damn mind.”

Joonghyuk just blinks at him owlishly.

Dokja really wants to smack him across the face, clenching his fist, but he resists, letting out a frustrated huff as he turns his attention back to the roasting meat. He pointedly ignores Joonghyuk’s gaze, keeping his eyes trained on the meat.

The ground rustles next to him, and Dokja quickly finds himself with a lap full of Joonghyuk. Joonghyuk’s long body sprawls out next to him, his arms wrapping around Dokja’s waist as he nuzzles his head into Dokja’s stomach. 

Dokja glances down to glare at him, but the agitation melts at the happy expression on Joonghyuk’s face. It’s comical, how only his head and the tops of his shoulders fit in Dokja’s lap, and Dokja doubts it’s very comfortable, but Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to mind. There’s even the faintest hint of a smile on his face. 

Dokja sighs, but reaches down to gently card his fingers through Joonghyuk’s hair. He finds himself smiling as Joonghyuk begins to rumble happily, the sound not too far off from a purr.

Who would have thought such a serious and cold blooded man could be so needy. Dokja may act annoyed, but secretly he’s enjoying every minute of this. Joonghyuk will certainly try to kill him for it later, but at this point Dokja certainly has enough blackmail. Dokja doubts Joonghyuk wants to be outed as a total softy, and if Sooyoung were to find out the full extent of his behavior, even someone as terrifying as Joonghyuk wouldn’t be safe from her taunts.

The thought of Sooyoung suddenly sends a burst of dread through his spine, his stomach sinking. Oh shit. He’d forgotten to contact the guild last night…

Dokja grips his hair with his free hand, groaning heavily. Well, he’s fucked. 

It’d take some for the meat to cook thoroughly so now would be a good time to contact the guild. Dokja winces at the thought. He can only imagine the verbal lashing that’s waiting for him. 

Thankfully the area is swarming with mana, so much so he doesn’t even need to draw a magic circle to gather it in. It won’t be difficult to contact the guild at least. 

He casts a quick glance at Joonghyuk, wondering if the crystal would bother him. However, Joonghyuk is none the wiser, happily nuzzling into Dokja’s stomach. 

Dokja sighs, rolling his eyes. He really doesn’t know what to do with this man. 

It takes a few moments, but eventually the crystal connects, Uriel’s prim figure flickering into existence in front of him. All it takes is one look at the pissed off expression on her face and Dokja knows he’s done for.

“Hey Uri-“

“It’s about time, you rat bastard.” She interrupts, eyes glaring at him with menace, “You could have at least sent us a message to let us know you made it safe. Everyone has been worried sick.”

“That’s incorrect. I for one hope the shitty bastard gets himself eaten.” Heewon calls from somewhere out of view, her voice pinched in clear agitation.

Uriel rolls her eyes. “Yeah right, you were just planning a raid mission to rescue him two hours ago. The only reason you haven’t left yet is because Hyunsung said no.”

Heewon squawks indignantly. “That is not at all what happened-“

“Anyways,” Uriel interrupts, ignoring the curses Heewon is currently spitting at her, “You better have a good reason for not contacting us.”

Dokja laughs awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck nervously. He really doesn’t have a good excuse at all. He’s fucked . “Sorry, we arrived pretty late and I was too exhausted to do much.” He says dumbly, knowing full and well the excuse would get him nowhere.

Uriel shoots him a dubious expression, clearly not believing him. She opens her mouth to protest, only to perk up and shut her mouth. She suddenly leans into the crystal, staring at Dokja intensely, an unreadable glint in her eye. 

Dokja finds himself leaning back to avoid her gaze. “Uh Uriel, why are you 

staring at me like that?”

Suddenly her eyes widen, a mischievous grin curls onto her face. “Too exhausted you say?” She sing-songs. Dokja really doesn’t like her tone or the expression on her face. 

It takes a second to realize what she had noticed, but when he sees that her gaze firmly set on his neck, mortification quickly washes over him. He slaps a hand over his neck, but it’s too late, the damage is already done.

“I’m sure Joonghyuk kept you really busy, huh?” She croons, not missing a beat.

Dokja stutters, heart floundering in his chest. What can he say? That it’s not what she’s thinking? Well it technically isn’t but they definitely aren’t innocent either. Damn that stupid bastard, did he have to leave a hicky of all things?!

Uriel seems all too pleased with his obvious suffering. “Oh Heewon-ah, you owe me 100 gold pieces, my dear friend.” She calls happily, shooting Dokja a wink.

Dokja really wants the ground to swallow him whole at this point. 

“What?!” Heewon’s yells, “There’s no fucking way. Kim Dokja I swear to the fates above.”

Suddenly Uriel is shoved out of the frame, Heewon’s face swinging into view. 

Dokja can see the veins sticking out from her forehead, as she grits her teeth “Kim. Dokja. You just couldn’t keep it in your pants could you?” She seethes.

Dokja holds his hand out in defense. “Now Heewon, it’s not what you think.” He stutters out.

She looks positively furious. “Not what I think? Oh I’m going to kick your ass once you get back. You just couldn’t keep in your pants for another couple days, could you?”

Dokja is a bit at a loss by her wording. She’s not mad at the fact it happened, but that it had happened this soon? What is that supposed to mean?

“Dammit Dokja, this is all your fault.” She laments, gripping at her hair in frustration. 

Dokja rolls his eyes, he doesn’t know why the dramatics are necessary in this situation, but he had forgotten how much of a drama queen she could be. 

“I told you not to bet against Uriel when it comes to them. Dokja has no self-control and Joonghyuk has nothing to hold him back. It was pretty obvious what would happen.” Sooyoung calls from behind them.

“Well no shit,” Heewon spits, shooting a glare over her shoulder, “That’s not what I’m saying. I figured it would at least take him a couple days to crack.”

“Nah, 20 gold pieces says he got an eyeful of Joonghyuk’s naked chest and he jumped him. Common sense goes out the window for him when he sees a hot man with muscles.” 

Dokja hates how accurate she is. 

Heewon takes one look at the small flush on his cheeks and groans dramatically. “I’m so kicking your ass when you get back, Dokja.” She levels out, clenching her first.

Sooyoung laughs. “As if Joonghyuk’s going to let you get in arms reach of him.” 

“Oh we’ll see about that.” Heewon spits, shooting Dokja a seething glare.

Dokja gulps nervously at the murderous look on her face, a prickle of fear shooting down his spine. 

Joonghyuk suddenly jerks up, growling as he reacts to Dokja’s fear. He bares his teeth at Heewon, blocking Dokja from view. 

Sooyoung’s cackle carries over from a distance. “Case and point.”

Heewon just glares at Joonghyuk, barring her own teeth. “Oh I’ll kick your ass too, you ill-tempered bastard. I’m still pissed at the way you tried to kill me yesterday.”

Dokja sighs, gently pushing Joonghyuk’s head back onto his lap. He really doesn’t have the patience for this. The last thing he needs is Heewon setting Joonghyuk off again. 

Joonghyuk rumbles unhappily, resisting Dokja’s push, but all Dokja has to do is scratch behind his ears and the man falls back into Dokja’s lap, purring happily. 

Heewon whistles, looking entirely unimpressed. “I see you’ve gotten him pretty well tamed,” She deadpans. 

Dokja’s cheeks flush, and he shoots her a glare. “Don’t say it like that, he’s not an animal.”

She laughs humorlessly, “Yeah I’m going to have to disagree with you on that one boss. I’m just calling it like I see it. He went from a feral beast to a sated puppy in a matter of seconds.” 

“Anyways,” Sooyoung starts, promptly shoving Heewon from view. “I’m assuming things are going well then, considering you two have had time to get down and nasty. Any word on the apprentices?”

“We did not have sex,” Dokja protests, though he really doesn’t want to clarify what they actually did. “I just woke up an hour ago, we’re getting ready to eat now and will begin searching for them after.”

“You’re a shitty liar, Kim Dokja,” Sooyoung deadpans, “but that’s not important, I will grill you for the details later. I messed around with the gas and the-“

“We had to go back into the village to find some, so you better be grateful you shitty bastard.” Heewon interrupts, her voice dripping with venom.

Sooyoung rolls her eyes. “Don’t mind her, she’s been in a shitty mood since she got back, especially now since she lost the bet.”

Dokja reels. “Wait a second, you guys bet on whether or not we had sex?”

Sooyoung shoots him an unimpressed look. “I figured that much was obvious from the prior conversation, but I forget how dumb you can be.” She says with a sigh. 

Dokja glares at her. “Why the fuck would you guys bet against something like that? What is wrong with you?” He’s literally out here fighting for his life and they have nothing better to do than to bet on his sex life? Well he’s technically not fighting for his life, but he sure is for his dignity.

“Just Uriel and Heewon bet anything, you’re too much of a wildcard for me to feel comfortable about betting on you. Too many unknown variables.” She says dryly, waving her hand. “Regardless, that’s not important. Like I was saying earlier, I started messing around with the gas…”

Though Dokja is pissed he lets it go in order to hear what Sooyoung may have found. He would find a particularly nasty hex to curse them all with once he got back. 

However an uncomfortable silence falls upon them, and Sooyoung offers no further explanation as she stares at him blankly.

Dokja feels the vein in his forehead twitching. “You started messing around and what?” He seethes, gritting his teeth in an attempt to stay calm.

Sooyoung just blinks at him. “And nothing.” She says simply, “I just figured I’d let you know I started.” Though she’s clearly trying to fight it, a shit eating grin is slowly curling onto her face.

Dokja has never wanted to strangle her more than he does right now. “Are you fucking kidding me.” He spits.

Sooyoung cackles, wiping a nonexistent tear from her eye. “I forget how fun it is to mess with you.”

Dokja clenches his fist, urging his agitation to fade before it spurs Joonghyuk on again. Thankfully the hybrid seems perfectly content in his lap, gently rubbing his nose against Dokja’s shirt.

“I really hate you.” Dokja groans, shooting her a glare.

She grins. “Love you too, bastard. But regardless, it’ll be awhile before I have any news for you. Joonghyuk’s blood is hard to mess with. Plus it’ll also take me some time to break down the gas and figure out exactly what’s in it. They kinda just threw a lot of random shit together. Honestly I’m surprised none of you guys died.”

Dokja sighs, he figures as much, but damn her for getting his hopes up. It hasn’t even been 24 hours and Dokja really wants to go home.

“Ah cheer up, you get to spend alone time with the man of your dreams, shouldn’t you be happy right now?”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look. “Is this the face of someone who’s happy right now?”

Sooyoung shrugs. “Fair point, but you can’t fool me, even if you guys really didn’t have sex, which I doubt, I can tell Joonghyuk is snuggling into your lap right now. So if you’re going to try to lie, don’t make it so obvious.” She says dryly. 

Dokja lets out a heavy groan, gripping his face with his hand.

“But don’t despair, Seolhwa should be returning with the kids later today though, so that’ll help out tremendously.”

That thought alone makes his heart soar. Lee Seolhwa is a very gifted healer, so her knowledge of healing techniques is unmatched.

“Fates be praised. At least I know we won’t be stuck here forever.” Dokja sighs happily.

“Hey,” Sooyoung spits out, “What’s that supposed to mean you shitty bastard.”

Dokja just laughs. 

Sooyoung rolls her eyes and flips him off. “On a more serious note though, how are you doing? You seem rather off for someone who just got laid.” The sudden concern in her voice startles Dokja just a bit.

“What do you mean?” He asks carefully. 

She just raises an eyebrow. “You just seem…conflicted I guess? I’m not really sure without being there with you, but I can tell you’re overthinking the shit out of what just happened.”

Dokja really hates how perceptive she can be sometimes. “I’m not overthinking it, my thinking is quite rational. Joonghyuk is not in his right mind and I took advantage of him, something like that cannot happen again.”

“Ah, so something did happen then,” Sooyoung croons.

“Sooyoung,” Dokja warns, gritting his teeth.

She puts her hands up in defense. “My bad, I’ll stop bringing it up. But that really sounds like you’re overthinking to me. No offense, but there’s no way someone like you could take advantage of Joonghyuk of all people. The most you could do is minorly inconvenience him, noodle arms.”

How is he not supposed to take offense to that? Noodle arms of all things?  “Why is it that every time you say no offense, something offensive always follows suit?” Dokja sighs, pinching his brow. 

Noodle arms?

Sooyoung laughs. “It’s not meant to be offensive, you’re just sensitive.”

Dokja flips her off, which only makes her laugh even harder. “Anyways,” She starts, “I’m being serious, if anything I would be more worried about Joonghyuk taking advantage of you had I not known the gigantic crush you’ve been harboring over him for years.”

“I do not have a ‘gigantic crush’ and I have not been harboring it for years.” Dokja says indignantly, “It’s just a minor attraction.”

Heewon laughs obnoxiously somewhere out of view. “Minor attraction, my ass. You look at him like he placed all the stars in the sky lover boy. You’d think Joonghyuk was your savior or something.”

“Fuck you Heewon, no one asked you.” Dokja spits out, trying to ignore the flush on his face. As much as he hates to admit it, she’s not wrong.

Sooyoung laughs. “Regardless, I still don’t see why you think you’re taking advantage of him.”

“Because, Joonghyuk clearly isn’t in his right mind nor have much control of his actions-“

“Somehow I feel like this is the most control he’s had in a long time.” Uriel interrupts.

Dokja grits his teeth, not wanting to give that comment the dignity of a response. “He doesn’t have control over his actions, and because he somehow imprinted on me he is merely acting on his instincts. He clearly hated me prior to this, so when he regains his sanity he’ll be disgusted by what he did.”

He can hear audible groans behind Sooyoung, Uriel and Heewon gripping out complaints that Dokja chooses to ignore. 

Sooyoung shoots him an unimpressed look. “Kim Dokja, you really are such a fool. Just when I think you can’t be anymore stupid than you already are, you find a way to surprise me once again.” She sighs, pinching her brow in frustration.

Dokja scoffs. “If anything it’s you guys who are the fools. You always argue with me when I say that Joonghyuk wants to kick my ass, but do you have any proof to support your claims?”

“I can guarantee that the things he wants to do with your ass do not involve kicking.” Uriel calls, Heewon cackling in response. 

Dokja groans, wishing the ground would swallow him once again. “Your shamelessness really holds no bounds does it.”

Sooyoung just laughs. “I second that. But seriously Dokja, if anyone doesn’t have any proof to support their claim it’s you. To this day I still do not understand why you think Joonghyuk hates you of all people. Don’t get me wrong he’s an ill tempered bastard, but certainly harbors no ill-intent towards you.”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look, annoyance rising. “Do you have any idea the amount of times this bastard yells at me? Like literally I can’t do anything without him hovering over me and spouting out shit about how much of an idiot I am. Literally he acts like my existence itself is a bane to him.”

Sooyoung groans, “How you somehow connected those two things together is beyond me. We literally all do the same thing to each other, and your ideas are often shitty anyways so I don’t blame him for calling you an idiot.”

Dokja can already tell this conversation is not going to fall in his favor, so he needs to end this quickly while his dignity can still be saved

“You know what, I actually need to let you go. My food is done.” Dokja says. 

Sooyoung rolls her eyes. “Oh would you look at that, Kim Dokja running away like a coward when feelings are involved. What a shocker. ”

Dokja just flips her off and cancels the spell. He has half a mind to chuck the crystal back into the forest, but he will need it later, so he resists, shoving it into his pocket.

Dokja lets out a heavy groan, falling to the ground as he grabs his face in frustration.

This startles Joonghyuk who had apparently drifted off in his lap. His head jerks up, eyes wide with concern as he looks at Dokja’s prone form.

“I’m fine Joonghyuk-ah, just regretting my choice of friends that’s all. They’re all so insufferable.” He sighs, waving his hand.

Joonghyuk huffs, shifting around so he’s now hovering over Dokja, clearly not believing him. Dokja rolls his eyes, reaching up to pat Joonghyuk’s face. “I really am fine, Joonghyuk-ah. You’re worse than my mother.” He tries to sound annoyed, but the fondness slips into his tone. 

With a heavy grunt, Dokja heaves himself back up. Though it had been just an excuse at the time, now that he thought about it the meat should be done by now. 

The smell is mouth watering, especially after not eating for so long. 

He offers it to Joonghyuk, but the hybrid scrunches up his noses and leans away from it. Dokja shrugs his shoulders and takes it back. Must not be a fan of cooked meat then.

Once it cools off a bit, Dokja more or less tears into it. Dokja moans at the taste, the meat is so tender it practically melts in his mouth.

He suddenly becomes all too aware of the way Joonghyuk is watching him, eyes staring at him intently. There’s a dark glint in his eyes that makes Dokja’s stomach twist just a bit, and Dokja finds himself shying away just a bit. 

Though the meat is simply divine, having Joonghyuk watch him so intently makes it one of the most stress inducing meals Dokja has ever been a part of and that’s certainly saying something. He’s a bit worried at what Joonghyuk might do, his gaze almost predatory as he watches Dokja’s every move. Thankfully nothing happens, and Joonghyuk merely watches him until he finishes. 

Dokja lets out a happy sigh, setting the spit back over the fire. He leans back on his hands, stomach full and sated. Even without seasonings, that was by far one of the greatest meals he’s had in a long time.

Joonghyuk grunts, trying to get Dokja’s attention. Dokja shifts his eyes back towards him nervously, a prickle of anxiety in his gut. Joonghyuk gestures towards the deer, looking at Dokja earnestly. 

Dokja sighs, chuckling softly as he shakes his head. It seems he had nothing to worry about. “Oh no, I’ve eaten plenty.” He reassures him. 

Joonghyuk looks at him intently, eyes scanning over him. After he deems Dokja truly didn’t want to eat anymore, he jumps to his feet and walks over to the carcass. He then begins to quite literally tear into the carcass. Dokja grimaces, turning away from the gruesome sight.

Dokja has a pretty solid stomach having seen some pretty awful sights in his time, but watching Joonghyuk eat a deer raw like some crazed animal is enough to make him want to hurl. 

It’s a bit odd though, how frantically Joonghyuk tore into the carcass. It’s as if he’s starving. 

Now that he thought about it, nothing other than the organs were missing from the deer, and Joonghyuk had killed it with a clean slice to the throat. Dokja had just assumed he would have eaten some of it at the very least… How odd.

Had Joonghyuk waited until Dokja finished eating before he had? His heart flutters traitorous in his chest, a warm feeling washing over him. Damn this stupid bastard and the things he’s doing to Dokja’s heart . Dokja groans, violently shaking his head as he tries to fight off the fuzzy feelings in his stomach. Fates above he doesn’t know what to do with himself anymore. 

Who would have thought such a feral man could be so doting. 

If this is what he’s like feral, Dokja can only imagine how he must be normally. Whoever this man picks would be a lucky person indeed. Dokja’s chest falls at the thought.

 That’s right, as soon as Joonghyuk regained his sanity, things would return to normal and whatever screwed up imprint he has on him would disappear. Dokja really hates the way his heart breaks at the thought. He really is too selfish. 

With a tired sigh, Dokja deactivates the fire stone. Joonghyuk suddenly shoves his way into Dokja’s space. Dokja grimaces at the gruesome sight hovering over him, shying away from his blood splattered body. 

Joonghyuk rumbles happily, a bright expression on his face, completely unaware of how terrifying he looks. Joonghyuk is a complete mess, to say the least. Blood is splattered all over his face and upper torso along with chunks of flesh. His hands are completely covered in blood. 

It honestly looked like he had just brutally murdered someone. Dokja’s stomach twists at the sight, bile threatening to crawl up his throat. He swallows it down, grimacing as he tries not to lose his meal. 

Dokja lets out a heavy sigh. Looks like he would need to clean him up again. “I swear, it’s like you’re a child. Do you really have to be so messy?” He scolds.

Joonghyuk just cocks his head to the side, staring back at him with owlish eyes. Dokja rolls his eyes, and heaves himself to his feet with a heavy sigh. “Let's get you cleaned up, you messy bastard.” Dokja says. 

He walks back towards the shack, reaching inside the door to grab one of the towels. Joonghyuk follows behind him dutifully, but keeps enough space between them Dokja doesn’t have to worry about getting covered in blood. Thankfully Joonghyuk’s pants are still clean, so he doesn’t have to worry about grabbing another pair. 

Towel in hand, he shuts the door behind him and grabs Joonghyuk’s wrist, leading him towards the lake. Joonghyuk stops him again at the water’s edge, once again refusing to allow Dokja to enter the water without him checking it first.

Dokja rolls his eyes, but it doesn’t really matter, he has no intention of joining Joonghyuk anyways. 

Joonghyuk reaches down to slide his pants off and Dokja quickly averts his gaze. He may sneak a peek or two as Joonghyuk wades into the water, mouth watering at the sight of Joonghyuk’s magnificent ass, but no one needs to worry about that. 

Once Joonghyuk deems that the water is safe he turns his attention back to Dokja, gesturing to him that it’s safe to enter. Dokja laughs, shaking his head. “You’re the only one that’s dirty, Joonghyuk-ah.” He says, sitting down on the shore.

Joonghyuk seems to realize that Dokja has no intention of coming in the water with him, and shoots him a betrayed look, grumbling unhappily to himself. Thankfully being in the water quickly distracts him, and Dokja watches with amusement as he splashes around happily. 

It’s quite adorable really, and Dokja can’t help but smile. He’ll have to ask Joonghyuk if he really loves the water when he can talk again. One would think a beast wouldn’t take so kindly to water, especially someone as stiff as Joonghyuk. 

After sometime Joonghyuk seems to have had his fill with the water and starts making his way back to the shore, the remains of the carcass completely washed off. Dokja greedily takes in the sight of him, warmth pooling in his chest at the droplets of water dripping down his muscular chest. His tanned skin seems to glow underneath the light of the sun, and Dokja has to force himself to tear his eyes away before Joonghyuk’s hips break out of the water.

Curse the fates for making that overpowered bastard so damn attractive. Dokja really doesn’t know how he’s going to handle any more of this. Hearing Joonghyuk get closer to him, Dokja heaves himself to his feet, keeping his eyes trained on the ground as he holds out Joonghyuk’s towel. 

The man takes it and quickly dries himself off, then drops the towel on the ground. Dokja can feel him try to close the gap between them and Dokja quickly jerks out his other hand, pushing the pants into Joonghyuk’s chest.

Joonghyuk rumbles unhappily, trying to sidestep his hand, but Dokja doesn’t relent. “Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja warns through gritted teeth, “Just put on the damn pants.”

Joonghyuk grumbles at him, but thankfully takes the pants from him. As soon as the pants are on, Dokja finds his hands full with a rather wet but clean Joonghyuk. Joonghyuk wraps his arms around Dokja’s waist pulling him flush against his chest. Dokja grimaces as the water on Joonghyuk’s chest leaks through his shirt. 

Joonghyuk beams down at him, gently nuzzling their noses together. Dokja pats his chest, “Yeah yeah, I’m happy to see you too, you damn bastard. 

Looking up he can see that Joonghyuk’s hair is still dripping wet. Dokja rolls his eyes at him, reaching down to grab the towel so he can dry Joonghyuk’s hair. “You really are too much,” Dokja says with a heavy sigh, unable to hide the fondness in his tone. 

Joonghyuk makes a delighted noise and proceeds to lift Dokja up, wrapping Dokja’s legs around his waist. Dokja yelps, lurching forward to stabilize himself on Joonghyuk’s shoulders. Joonghyuk just beams up at him happily, tilting his head down so Dokja can continue to dry his hair. 

Dokja glares at his head, barely resisting the urge to smack the cheeky bastard up the side of his head. Dokja really doesn’t see why he needed to be lifted up to do this, but judging by the way he periodically squeezes Dokja’s ass, there’s certainly an ulterior motive. What a damn degenerate. 

Dokja hates the way his heart flutters in his chest, forcing himself to focus on drying Joonghyuk’s hair rather than the large hands cupping his ass. Joonghyuk rumbles happily from his ministrations, the gentle vibration tickling Dokja’s chest.

Dokja smiles despite himself, he really is too weak for this man. Once Dokja is sure his hair is completely dry, Dokja pats Joonghyuk’s chest. “Okay, I finished, now put me down.”

Joonghyuk lifts up his head, eyes peering up at Dokja with palpable happiness. What catches Dokja off guard is the wide smile on Joonghyuk’s face, practically beaming up at Dokja. 

Dokja finds himself completely awestruck at the sight, his heart melting in his chest. He can feel tears prickling in his eyes. This is probably the first time in all the years that he’s known him that Dokja has ever truly seen Joonghyuk smile. Especially like this. 

He lets out a shaky laugh, trying to resist the urge to cry. Dokja reaches out to cup his face, gently tracing the line of his smile with his thumb. Joonghyuk truly is the most beautiful man Dokja has ever laid his eyes on.

It’s honestly refreshing, seeing him like this. Though the feral behavior is certainly keeping Dokja on his toes, he can see how unburdened Joonghyuk is. There isn’t a trace of the trauma that weighed down on him, and Dokja can’t help but wonder if this carefree and excited demeanor is how Joonghyuk would have been had his past been better. 

“I really wish you’d smile like this more, bastard.” Dokja murmurs, a smile curling onto his face. 

Joonghyuk leans into Dokja’s hand, eyes not leaving Dokja’s. His eyes glisten with unshed emotion, so raw and intense Dokja’s heart skips a beat. Not for the first Dokja wishes he could know what Joonghyuk was thinking. 

Joonghyuk looks at Dokja as if he were something worthy of being adored and Dokja really doesn’t know how to handle it. If Joonghyuk keeps this up, Dokja might actually start to hope there’s more between them than a mere imprint. The thought alone is prosperous, but Dokja lets himself bask in the moment.

Joonghyuk’s truly a blessing in Dokja’s shitty life, and Dokja is so unbearably fond. Joonghyuk may be a bit rough around the edges, but considering what he went through, Dokja is surprised he has any goodness left in him. 

You’d never guess it by the permanent scowl on his face, but Joonghyuk has a bit of a bleeding heart. He can’t turn his back on the suffering of others, and that’s probably what made Dokja fall for him in the first place. 

Like when he first brought the wounded Jihye and Namwoon back to the guild after one of his solo missions. Looking back, that was probably the first time Dokja had ever seen the collected and confident man so frantic. 

He had barged into the guild hall, basically ripping doors off the hinges, carrying the fatally wounded teenagers in his arms. He desperately begged for Seolhwa to save them, as if it were his own children dying.

It had thrown them all through a loop, especially Seolhwa who would have healed them regardless of Joonghyuk’s pleading. It was the first display of genuine emotion that Joonghyuk had ever shown any of them. At least to that degree. 

He had hovered over the pair until they made a full recovery, to the point Seolhwa had to ban him from the recovery room. Thankfully the pair made a full recovery, and Joonghyuk ended up asking Dokja if he could allow them into the guild.

Dokja is more or less their unofficial guild leader, though he certainly doesn’t perform any duties befitting such a title. So when Joonghyuk had come up to him and pleaded for him to let the pair join the guild, Dokja was a bit at a loss. Though he was a bit demanding, Dokja could see the genuineness in his eyes. That was probably the longest conversation they had shared up until that point, and Dokja still remembers the distinct emotion burning in Joonghyuk’s eyes. 

Now Dokja doesn’t really care who joins the guild. He certainly wouldn’t allow any random person join the guild, but if one of the members vouches for them, he has no problem letting them join. Especially Joonghyuk of all people, someone Dokja didn’t think was capable of complementing anyone. 

Plus he could never deny Joonghyuk of anything even if he tried.

Obviously Dokja allowed them to join, and he was quite intrigued by what followed after. Joonghyuk ended up taking the pair under his wing and trained them. Though his training regime was certainly something birthed from the depths of hell itself, it was clear how much Joonghyuk cared about them.

Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon adored Joonghyuk in return, practically worshiping the ground that he walked on. Though Joonghyuk would protest against it, the two reverently called him master.

They were a great addition to the team, though. They were both quite skilled despite their young age. From what little Dokja knew of their background, they both had a rather rough life. They had been friends since childhood though, and thankfully had each other to lean on despite the hardships life threw at them. Dokja knows what it’s like to go through that kind of shit alone, so he was grateful fate had at least been kind to them in that regard.

Lee Jihye was already an established swordsman, with skill far beyond her years. Other than Joonghyuk or Heewon, Dokja doubts there’d be many people capable of training her. She’s a very passionate and outgoing person, and Dokja enjoys her company. Despite her rough upbringing, she has a very optimistic view on life. 

Kim Namwoon was more or less a demon in battle, completely ruthless to those he deems his enemies. He’s quite adept at close quarters combat, skilled in both hand to hand and fighting with a knife. Dokja certainly avoids getting on his bad side. Though in normal conditions he’s relatively laid back, and rather insightful for his age. He does have a bit of an anger problem, but nothing too worrisome. He mostly takes it out on his enemies anyways. 

All in all, Dokja was grateful Joonghyuk had brought them back, and he knows the rest of the guild feels the same way. The pair fit in perfectly with their dysfunctional family, and Dokja honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus it was rather cute to watch their relationship with each other develop. It was clear they had a crush on each other from the very beginning, but no real defined relationship.

If he remembers correctly, it was Heewon who finally broke the ice, having been long fed up with their constant pinning. It shattered whatever awkward standstill the two were in and they’d been together ever since. 

To this day though Dokja still doesn’t know why Joonghyuk had insisted they stay with the guild. While they were certainly skilled, Joonghyuk wasn’t the type to do that. 

Joonghyuk was rather cryptic in his answers and avoided the topic altogether. Dokja honestly just wanted to know what could have happened to have warranted such a fierce protective instinct in Joonghyuk, but he didn’t push it. 

Neither Jihye or Namwoon could shed much light on it either, so Dokja eventually let it go, much to his displeasure. 

All of that completely pales in comparison to the way he’s looking at Dokja now. It was as if Dokja had placed the very stars in Joonghyuk’s sky, a savior worthy of his adoration and devotion.

He has never wanted to kiss Joonghyuk more than he did at this moment, but he resists. He doubts he’d ever be granted such a breathtaking sight again, so he commits it to his memory as something he could hold close to his heart for the rest of his life.

It pains him to do it, but Dokja pushes gently against Joonghyuk’s chest. It effectively shatters the moment, and the adoration in Joonghyuk’s eyes fades away. He looks unhappy about it, but he relents, gently setting Dokja down.

He doesn’t quite let go though and instead leans down to scent Dokja’s neck. It's quick, but the tenderness is still quite aparatent. Dokja’s heart thumps in his chest, as he clenches his fists, trying to ward off the torrent of emotions building inside of him.

Thankfully Joonghyuk lets him go, and Dokja takes the opportunity to put some space between them, as much as it pains him to do so. Joonghyuk grunts unhappily but makes no move to stop him, narrowed eyes watching Dokja intently.

Figuring he should probably find something to keep him busy before his last shreds of control snapped, Dokja clears his throat, and awkwardly walks back to the shack. Might as well begin the hunt for the apprentices, he doubts there’s much else to do anyways. Joonghyuk doesn’t follow him, so Dokja takes the opportunity to relax.

Internally he’s screaming, Joonghyuk’s smile practically burned into his retinas. Never has he wanted to kiss that man more than he did right now. The fates were truly punishing him at this point. 

He reaches in to grab his sword, and quickly sets off towards the barn hidden outback. Joonghyuk joins him once more, dutifully following behind him. 

The closer he gets to it, however, the more a sense of unease starts to grow in his chest. It’s bigger than the shack, and in much better condition. Considering this is where the guild houses most of their experiments Dokja would be a bit worried if it weren’t in good condition. 

Joonghyuk seems equally on edge, his body tense and teeth barred as his eyes narrow at the barn doors. A low rumble is growing in his chest, steadily turning into a growl the closer they get. 

Dokja reaches out to open the door only for his hand to bounce back, hitting some form of a barrier. Dokja winces, reeling his hand back at the slight burst of pain. 

Joonghyuk lets out a blood curdling snarl behind him, quickly shoving him behind his back in an attempt to protect him. Joonghyuk invades his space, huffing in agitation as he scans Dokja for any sign of injury. 

Dokja lets out an exasperated sigh, trying to keep the smile from curling onto his face. “I’m okay, Joonghyuk-ah, it just startled me a bit.”

Joonghyuk lets out a disgruntled rumble, clearly not believing him. Dokja rolls his eyes and holds up his hand. “See? Nothing happened.” Joonghyuk lifts it up delicately, intently scanning it. 

Once he deems that it is okay, Joonghyuk nuzzles into it gently. His lips trace across the delicate skin almost reverently. Dokja swallows thickly, hating the way his cock twists in interest at Joonghyuk’s ministrations. He is such a such a fucking degenerate. 

Joonghyuk shoots Dokja a chiding look, clearly scolding him for acting so recklessly. Dokja hates how human that expression is and he can almost hear Joonghyuk’s nagging voice in his head calling him a fool. 

Dokja rolls his eyes. “You and my mother would be quite chummy, you know that. So overprotective, I told you I’m fine.” He says dryly. 

Joonghyuk just huffs at him and shakes his head, yet another oddly human gesture. Leave it to Joonghyuk to somehow maintain his judgemental disposition despite losing all sense of rationality. 

It makes Dokja’s heart clench ever so slightly, reminding him just how much he missed Joonghyuk despite him being a mere foot in front of him. What he wouldn’t give to hear his deep and velvety voice, even if it was only berating him.

Joonghyuk turns his attention back to the doors, staring it down with a rather impressive scowl. Dokja can practically feel the murderous contempt radiating off of him. He seems to be quite pissed at the door for harming him, and Dokja just rolls his eyes. Such an overprotective bastard. Dokja thinks fondly. 

He decides to leave Joonghyuk to fight for his honor, racking his brain for a way to enter the barn. The guild hadn’t informed them of a protective barrier blocking the entrance of the barn, so getting it might be a bit difficult.

Dokja finds out his worries are quickly proved pointless as Joonghyuk suddenly lets out a rather fearsome snarl and kicks in the door. The protective barrier shatters instantly, the whole barn groaning at the force of Joonghyuk’s kick.

Thankfully the barn is quite sturdy and remains standing, despite Dokja’s disbelief. Had it been the shack, the whole thing would have collapsed.

Dokja sputters at him, completely dumbfounded. “What the hell was that?”

Joonghyuk completely ignores his rants, huffing happily as he stares down at the broken doors with a smug expression.

However his entire expression suddenly shifts, Joonghyuk’s head jerking up to look into the barn. Joonghyuk’s nose flares violently, hackles raised as he bares his teeth at the open barn. 

Dokja’s a bit confused by the violent reaction until he’s nearly knocked over by the smell of rotted flesh. 

“What the hell,” Dokja curses, bringing his hand up to cover his nose. The rancid smell sears through his nostrils, bringing tears to his eyes. 

Peering into the now dimly lit barn, Dokja can see the mangled bodies of the apprentices, magic remains scattered around the interior in a clear sign that something had gone terribly wrong. 

Well at least he found the apprentices . Dokja thinks grimly. 

Though Dokja is no stranger to death, the gut wrenching smell of it still sickens him to no end. He can only imagine how awful it must be for Joonghyuk considering how heightened his senses are. 

Dokja reels back putting some much needed space between him and the barn. Now far enough away Dokja gasps, sucks in a lungful of the clean air. The urge to throw up is now kindled, thankfully, but it doesn’t ease the dread in his stomach. 

They’d have to remove bodies at some point, Dokja can’t just leave them there to rot. 

Joonghyuk hovers over him, a scowl present on his face. It’s a clear reprimand, as if to say I told you so , but Dokja ignores him. That bastard can go fuck himself for all he cares. 

Though Dokja would prefer Joonghyuk to fuck him instead.

The thought crosses his mind before he has the chance to stop it, and Dokja groans, grabbing his face in his hands. He really needs to get his shit under control. There’s three dead apprentices 20 feet in front of him and he can’t keep his mind out of the gutter. 

Dokja figures he might as well offer them somewhat of a burial, though he feels a bit bad he can’t offer them much more than that. 

Dokja sighs, heaving himself back up to his feet. Looks like he needs to go find a shovel. 

It took some time, a lot more than Dokja had originally estimated. Joonghyuk offered absolutely no help and merely watched as Dokja slaved away digging the graves. The damn bastard.

Thankfully he found Joonghyuk’s fingerless gloves shoved in one of the pockets of his jacket, so Dokja was able to avoid getting any blisters. Otherwise he would have drug Joonghyuk down by his ear and forced him to help. 

By the time he had buried all three of the apprentices the sun had already peaked in the sky. Dokja let out a heavy sigh as he finished, collapsing pathetically onto the ground. 

He feels positively disgusting, sweat drenching his shirt and matting his brow. His muscles ache with vengeance and Dokja wants nothing more than to soak in hot springs at the guild. 

Joonghyuk peers down at him with a confused expression, clearly not understanding why Dokja is so tired. That judgemental look is quite present on his face, and had Dokja not been so tired he would have reached up to smack it off of him.

He’s too tired for that though and just flips him off, letting his arm drape over his eyes. He takes a moment to catch his breath waiting until his heart finally calms down before he forces himself back up.

He should probably update Sooyoung on his findings before he does anything else. The guild would probably appreciate being updated. 

With a heavy sigh he slips the communication crystal from his pocket and murmurs the activation spell. 

This time it’s Yoo Sangah’s face that flickers into view. Which is refreshing indeed, Dokja really doesn’t feel like dealing with Heewon’s boisterous personality or Sooyoung’s attitude. 

She smiles at him warmly. “Good afternoon Dokja, looks like you’ve been hard at work. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sweat that much.”

Dokja laughs, “Yeah, I don’t think I have either.”

“Since you’re contacting us so soon, I assume you’ve made progress on the mission?” She asks.

“Yeah, it wasn’t a pleasant sight.” Dokja says grimly. 

Sangah sighs, pinching her brow. “I feared as much. I’ll have Sooyoung inform the guild. Do you know what happened to them?”

Dokja scratches at his head and shrugs. “I’m not too entirely sure right now, the barn I found them in is completely rampant with the smell of dead bodies. I’m waiting for it to air out before I investigate it more.”

Dokja casts another glance at the barn's interior. “But if I had to guess though, it looks like an experiment of theirs went terribly wrong. There’s magic remains all over the interior of the barn. Their bodies were also quite mangled, it was quite grotesque.”

Sangah scrunches his nose. “I can imagine. Have you done anything with the remains?”

Dokja sighs. “I buried them on the side of the barn, I would have liked to do more, but at least they won’t rot away in the barn.” 

“I’m assuming that's why you’re so bent out of shape then.” She says with a grin.

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look. “Hey, I’m not exactly built for this kind of physical activity, and Joonghyuk was absolutely no help. The damn bastard just judged me the whole time.”

Sangah laughs, the sound light and airy. “I could see him doing that. I’m glad his personality hasn’t changed too much since the accident, gives me hope he might still be in there.”

Dokja groans. “Oh he’s in there all right, you should have seen the way he looked at me when I was cooking. You’d think I committed a cardinal sin or something.”

“Judgemental disposition aside, how is he? Sooyoung spent too much time teasing you and she forgot to check on Joonghyuk’s status. Seolhwa was not too pleased. She asked me to ask you about it whenever you updated us again.” Sangah asks.

Dokja laughs, imagining the interaction in his head. Lee Seolhwa takes her work very seriously in comparison to Sooyoung, so whenever the two were forced to work together it often bred trouble. While they get along fine outside of work, their contrasting personalities are a bit too much in more serious situations.

“I can imagine. Physically he’s perfectly fine. Any minor injuries he received from the fight have since healed themselves. Mentally though, that’s a completely different story.”

Sangah hums, indicating for him to continue. 

Dokja casts Joonghyuk a conflicted look, watching as he intently scans the perimeter of the barn. 

“He’s not himself by any means. Sure there’s moments where I can see him, but most of the time it’s like he’s more beast than man. All his actions are purely instinctual.” He says simply. 

Sangah nods, arm shifting as she seems to be taking notes. “Can you elaborate on that? Like specific behaviors that he’s showing? Seolhwa wants you to be as specific as possible since she can’t diagnose him herself.”

“Well for one thing, he is incredibly paranoid and aggressive. He refuses to let me enter anywhere without him first checking it first. His distaste for magic has increased exponentially, he had quite an aggressive reaction to the magical barrier the guild put up.”

“His behaviors are quite animalistic,” Sangah agrees, “What about the way he interacts with you? Has that changed any?”

Dokja flushes at the question, entirely unsure how to answer that. 

“Don’t go blushing like a teenager who just got caught, I’m well aware of what you two have been up to. Sooyoung hasn’t shut up about it since your call earlier.” She teases, a grin on her face.

Dokja groans, “Of course she’d do that.”

“Jihye and Namwoon wanted me to express their congratulations to you and Joonghyuk for and I quote, finally cementing your union.”

Dokja grimaces at the wording. “Did they actually say that?” He groans. 

Sangah laughs. “They definitely did, got a good laugh out of it too. But we all feel the same way, it was about time you two got your shit together. When Heewon filled me in on what happened I figured this would be a great opportunity for you two to finally get together.” 

Dokja lets out an exasperated sigh. “Just because we got a little frisky does not mean anything. Joonghyuk has no sense of reason and I lost control, it was an accident and by no means an intentional act of love.”

Sangah shoots him an unimpressed look. “Why am I not surprised that’s the conclusion you would come to?”

“Probably because it’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion.” Dokja grumbles.

She rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “Oh Dokja, you’ll never learn will you?”

Dokja barely resists the urge to bare his teeth at her, growing increasingly annoyed as the conversation continues. “Learn what?” He spits.

“Ah nothing.” Sangah says simply, “I’ll explain it to you when you’re older. Anyways, I need more information about Joonghyuk’s behavior around you. Please be as detailed as possible.”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look. This conversation is becoming all too similar to the one he had with Sooyoung prior, much to his dismay.

“Hey don’t look at me like that, I’m just the messenger. The more descriptive you can be, the easier it’ll be for Seolhwa to make a diagnosis and increase the chances of helping Joonghyuk out. Now’s not the time to be so prissy.”

Though Dokja’s forehead twitches in frustration, he knows she’s right. He’ll just omit some of the more intimate details for the sake of his sanity. Fates know Sooyoung is hiding somewhere out of sight just waiting for Dokja to say something she can hold against him for the rest of his life.

“I guess you can say he’s really protective, to the point of possessiveness.” Dokja starts, pausing to think of a more specific example.

“She meant new behaviors, genius. Not the ones the prickly bastard already had.” Sooyoung suddenly calls out from out of view.

Dokja grits his teeth, the vein on his forehead threatening to burst. “Sooyoung if you know what’s good for you, buzz out of this conversation before I come there and kick your ass.”

Sooyoung just cackles, her voice thankfully drifting off as she walks away. 

“As annoying as she is, she’s right Dokja.” Sangah says, eyes glinting with mirth.

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look. “All of you are completely out of your mind, you know that. When has Joonghyuk ever been protective of me? If anything, that bastard has been vying for my death since the moment we met.” 

He’s getting really sick of this repeated argument. 

Sangah rolls his eyes. “Your obliviousness truly holds no bounds Dokja, but I do not want to be the one to have this conversation with you. Especially like this. This is a conversation that should be had in person, not over the communication crystal where you can run away if you don’t like what we’re saying.”

Dokja glares at her. “First of all, I do not run away.” He seethes, “And second of you’re deflecting, that’s a key sign that you’re pulling shit out of your ass.”

Sangah just rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. “I’m so done with you.”

Dokja just sticks his tongue out at her. The feeling is certainly mutual.

“Anyways,” Sangah says, taking a steadying breath, “I need specifics.”

Dokja stays quiet for a bit, trying to remember where they had left off. “I think he’s imprinted on me. He’s rather in tune with my body language, and keeps a keen eye on my mood. He reacts really aggressively any time something happens to me, even if it’s something really small.”

“He’s very touchy and has no sense of personal space. He seldom leaves me alone, and is incapable of keeping his hands to himself. You’d think not touching me causes him great pain or something, the needy bastard.”

Sangah grins at that. “I’m sure it’s very difficult for you to handle, huh.”

Dokja really hates how patronizing she sounds right now. It’s a serious issue. “It really is. He’s making it very hard to keep my urges in check. If I would have known he was going to be this damn needy I would have left him here myself for the sake of my sanity.”

Sangah laughs. “I knew you had no self control, to think you wouldn’t even be able to keep it in your pants for 24 hours.”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed look. For the record he had in fact kept it in his pants, but he feels like correcting her will be just as embarrassing. Dokja bristles, but ultimately stays silent on the matter. 

“Anyways, his actions are quite possessive like I said before. He scents me constantly and avoids leaving my side. He threw a fit when I wore one of the apprentice’s shirts, and forced me to take it off so he could scent it first.”

“He hunted a deer for me and presented it to me like it was a prize. He refused to eat until I finished eating all of it. He even brought back my favorite flowers after he thought he had upset me. He’s quite doting if you ask me, whoever he ends up with will be one lucky motherfucker.”

“Sounds to me like he’s courting you, making you that ‘lucky motherfucker’ Dokja.” Sangah says, a satisfied smirk on her face.

Dokja flushes. “Do not say it like that, he is not doing that. He just imprinted on me and is very in tune with his instincts, that's all.” Dokja absolutely refuses to believe that Joonghyuk’s actions are an attempt at courting, despite his instincts telling him otherwise.

Sangah rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say Dokja.”

“Surprisingly enough, he’s actually quite expressive now, more so than he was normally. I still have no idea what he’s thinking, but I can actually get a general read on his mood now which is nice. Is it sad to say that I can honestly understand Joonghyuk better now than I could before?”

“A bit,” Sangah agrees, “He usually only displayed varying levels of disdain even when he was in a good mood. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that ill tempered prick smile once.”

Joonghyuk’s bright smile flashes through Dokja’s mind once more, and he finds himself oddly at the fact he’s the only one who’s been blessed with such a sight. 

He forces himself to remain passive, nodding in agreement. “Do you need more? Or is that enough?”

Sangah hums. “I feel like this is more than enough to get them started. We’ll contact you if we have any more.”

Dokja hums, internally singing at the fact the conversation is coming to an end, he really doesn’t want to have to endure this for much longer. 

Unfortunately Sangah has other plans, and she merely sets her notebook down and turns her attention back to Dokja. 

“Now Dokja, I want to know how you’re doing.” She says simply, an expectant look on her face.

“What?” Dokja asks dumbly. He certainly hadn’t been expecting that. What is she, his therapist?

“How are you doing, Dokja?” Sangah presses, “Knowing you I can only imagine the mental strain you’re putting yourself through.”

Dokja grimaces, he hates talking about himself, especially like this.

Sangah sighs. “I know it makes you uncomfortable, but you really can’t keep in like that Dokja. You’ll drive yourself mad long before we have a chance to fix Joonghyuk.”

Something in Dokja breaks then, and suddenly he’s blubbering out all the fears and insecurities that had been eating away at him. Yoo Sangah had that effect on him, her kind and welcoming demeanor often cracking Dokja’s well established walls. He doesn’t know how many times they’ve had similar talks like this and he could not be more grateful to her.

So he spills it all. Telling her about the guilt he feels for taking advantage of Joonghyuk. His fear that once this is all over Joonghyuk will go back to hating him. All his insecurities about not being enough. How he oh so desperately wants to give in to Joonghyuk’s every whim, but can’t because Joonghyuk clearly isn’t in his right mind. Everything.

He lays it all bare, surprisingly managing to keep it together despite the tears prickling in his eyes. Though he feels even more exhausted after the confession, he can’t deny the lightness he feels. It was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Sangah looks at him warmly, glints of sympathy in her eyes. “You really are way too hard on yourself, Dokja. You’re thinking about this way too hard.”

“Well one of us has to,” Dokja defends, “It’s not like Joonghyuk is capable of rational thought right now. He’s basically a caveman at this point.”

Sangah just sighs. “Dokja, would it truly be so bad if Joonghyuk shared your feelings?”

Dokja’s heart startles to a stop, suddenly a bit dumbfounded.

Sangah has a slight frown on her face. “To me, it sounds like you’re trying to do everything in your power to convince yourself that Joonghyuk doesn’t like you and you’re placing all the blame on yourself as a distraction.”

Dokja swallows thickly, the tears threatening to fall now. 

“Why are you so afraid of the chance that Joonghyuk might actually like you back, Dokja? Would it truly be so bad? Fates know you’ve been pinning after the man for years.”

Dokja refuses to answer her, pointedly ignoring the emotion starting to well up inside of him.

Sangah lets out a tired sigh, seeming to sense his unease. “Just think about what I said okay, Dokja? I’ll let you go so you can think about it, but please make sure you take care of yourself okay. Regardless of what you make think, I can guarantee Joonghyuk has not once hated you.”

“Will you promise me you’ll think about it?” Sangah insists.

Dokja sniffles, barely holding himself together. He manages a slight nod, trying to ignore the pained look on Sangah’s face.

“Okay, sorry for pressuring you like that, just don’t bottle it up okay. We all care about you, you damn rat bastard. And Joonghyuk for that matter. All we’ve ever wanted was for you two to be happy.”

Sangah casts him one last look before she flickers out of existence, the communication crystal deactivating.

Dokja doesn’t know how long he sits there, his mind reeling at the violent torrent of emotions welling up inside of him. The onslaught is a bit more than he can handle. Eventually though he manages to brush it off, forcing a fake smile on his face as Joonghyuk rejoins him. 

A part of him knew that Sangah was right, but it was drowned out by the roaring insecurities in Dokja’s mind. He’d need some alone time to truly understand what exactly Sangah had said to him, however, that time is not now. 

The rest of the day passes by in a flash. Dokja decides to keep himself busy by studying the reports the apprentices had left on the table. Joonghyuk had stayed with him for a while, but quickly grew bored and disappeared into the forest. Dokja had contemplated following him, but ultimately decided against it. He would have a hard time keeping up with him anyways.

Joonghyuk returned when the sun had just started to set, another deer draped from his shoulder, though this one is significantly smaller. Like the deer, it had also been gutted, and Joonghyuk had placed it proudly at his feet. 

He had ruffled the hybrid's hair appreciatively, gently praising him for his good deed. Dokja is all too grateful for his presence, this would have been a bit more difficult without him.

Though it was clear Joonghyuk had no idea what he was saying, he seemed to understand that he was being praised and it made him quite pleased. Dokja had been all too willing to indulge him and quite enjoyed Joonghyuk’s cute demeanor. It made it much easier to ignore the conflicting emotions welling up in his stomach. 

Similar to how he had prior, Joonghyuk waited until Dokja got his fill before he ate. Dokja intentionally left a bit more for him, despite the hunger gnawing at his gut. Though he would deny it should anyone ask, he wanted to provide for Joonghyuk in his own way as well. 

Thankfully, due to the deer’s smaller size, Joonghyuk was nowhere near as messy as he was before. Dokja still had to use a wet rag to clean the blood from his face and hands, but it wasn’t too bad. 

The rest of the night passed without any other incidents, and Dokja managed to bathe with Joonghyuk without it turning inappropriate, much to his relief. He wasn’t a complete degenerate after all. 

Which led them to this moment. 

Unable to force himself to sleep, Dokja found himself walking back to the lake. The sun had long since set, the full moon shining brightly in the sky. Thousands of stars twinkle around it, reflecting beautifully across the water. He ends up walking to the other side of the lake, over towards the small wooden dock he found hidden behind the reeds. 

Dokja could honestly sit here for hours admiring the sight before him. It was something fresh out of a fairytale, and after the two days from hell he’s had to endure, this is certainly the relief he needed. All the worries and insecurities plaguing his mind seemed to drift away.

Joonghyuk is at the edge of the dock, leaning over it as he watches the fish with piqued interest. His eyes are wide with fascination, head twitching as he follows them in the water. He’s so enraptured by it, he doesn’t even react when Dokja shifts in his spot, eyes still trained on the water.

Dokja finds himself wishing he could be so simple minded. Suddenly a rather devious thought crosses his mind, making a mischievous grin curl on his face. Though it’s a bit underhanded, Dokja believes it’s fitting revenge for the agony Joonghyuk is putting him through.

He carefully pads over to Joonghyuk, the man not even noticing him as he continues to watch the fish. Without warning Dokja places his hands on Joonghyuk’s back and promptly shoves him into the water. 

Much to his delight, the hybrid falls into the water with a disgruntled grunt, landing with a rather impressive splash. 

Joonghyuk’s head bursts out of the water, looking at Dokja with a scandalized look. Dokja promptly loses his shit then, doubling over as boisterous laughter rips from his lips. He laughs so hard his chest hurts, tears prickling in his eyes.

Through his blurry eyes he can see Joonghyuk’s narrowed eyes trained on him, and clarity washes over him, his blood going cold as he realizes what he just did. Joonghyuk’s eyes glint dangerously, and it’s in that moment he knows he’d fucked up. 

He promptly realizes that initiating a fight with a feral Joonghyuk was probably not the smartest thing to do. He doesn’t even get the chance to scramble onto his feet before Joonghyuk’s hand suddenly jerks out to grab his ankle.

Dokja’s head whips around, wide and fearful eyes meeting Joonghyuk’s narrowed ones. Dokja tries to shake it off, but Joonghyuk’s grip stays strong, and he’s promptly dragged off the edge and thrown into the water.

The impact of hitting the water knocks the wind out of him. He resurfaces, sputtering for air as he spits the water from his mouth. He shooting Joonghyuk a scandalized look. “Hey, that’s not fair, that could have killed me.”

The words promptly die in his throat as he finds himself pulled into Joonghyuk’s chest. Joonghyuk’s eyes are intense as always, but a noticeable twinge of mirth dances through him. 

It’s the only warning Dokja gets before he finds himself being hoisted up onto Joonghyuk’s shoulder. He yelps, gripping tightly onto Joonghyuk’s shoulder. “Joonghyuk put me down, you damn bastard.”

Joonghyuk just makes a chuffing noise, the sound oddly close to a laugh and promptly throws Dokja back into the water.

Dokja yelps, sputtering to the surface once more. He glares at Joonghyuk, the hybrid merely looking back at him with a toothy grin. Looks like someone is enjoying themselves.

Dokja scoffs. “Oh so that’s how you want to play, you cheeky bastard.” With a heavy swipe of his hands, he sends a rather impressive wave of water directly at Joonghyuk’s face. 

It does the trick, completely soaking the hybrid and wiping the grin clean off his face. Joonghyuk sputters, violently shaking the water from his face. He shoots Dokja an appalled look, eyes wide with surprise. 

Dokja just knocks his head back and laughs. Through his teary eyes he can see Joonghyuk narrowing his eyes at him, posture shifting into something much more intimidating. 

Suddenly Dokja doesn’t like the dangerous glint in his eyes, and not for the first time, Dokja regrets messing with him, his laughter dying in his throat. Joonghyuk suddenly lunges at him, sending more or less a wave of water crashing into him.

Dokja nearly topples over at the force of it, but he doesn’t back down, taking it as a challenge. It quickly escalates into a full scale water fight, and while Dokja is certainly outmatched, he refuses to give up. 

He gets in a few good moves himself, actually managing to dunk Joonghyuk beneath the water before the hybrid sent him flying. Water went up his nose more than once, but Dokja really couldn’t care less. Especially when he got the opportunity to smack Joonghyuk upside the face with a handful of mud. Now that is a memory Dokja will never let Joonghyuk live down.. 

Joonghyuk is clearly having just as much fun as he has, black eyes sparkling with mirth as he continues to play with him. Dokja knows the hybrid could end it in a second, but the fact that he doesn’t makes it even more enjoyable. He’s having just as much fun as Dokja is.

Dokja has never laughed this much in his life, his heart singing with joy. He loses track of time, completely losing himself in his silly fight with Joonghyuk. 

Eventually the playful mood dies down, and they find themselves at a stand still, mere feet apart. There’s an odd tension between them, an indescribable feeling prickling in Dokja’s stomach. His chest heaves, letting out labored and heavy breathes from their previous excursions. However, he doesn’t feel the slightest sting of exhaustion, his body light and thrumming with energy. 

He’s not really sure who closes the distance first, but Dokja finds himself wrapping his arms around Joonghyuk’s shoulders, body pulled flush against Joonghyuk’s chest. 

Joonghyuk is looking at him with that look again, pupils blown wide as he gazes at Dokja with something akin to adoration. There’s still a faint glint of mirth in his eyes, but it’s barely noticeable now, completely outshone by the other emotions.

Dokja finds himself getting lost in those dark yet expressive eyes. The moonlight reflects in them beautifully, revealing the flecks of amber Dokja has come to adore. Joonghyuk’s so devastatingly beautiful that it hurts, making Dokja’s heart burn with longing. Dokja is so completely enraptured by him. He’s never wanted something more in his life, and he doubts he ever will again. 

Joonghyuk tilts his head down and places a gentle kiss on Dokja’s brow, tenderly caressing his cheek.

People always claim that love is synonymous to the feeling of butterflies, a thrilling spark of anxiety and dizziness that overwhelms you. It’s exhilarating and the rush you feel whenever you see your partner practically consumes you. 

To Dokja, however, love is nothing like that. Even though his heart pounds furiously in his chest, it’s not out of nerves, it’s from the overwhelming torrent of emotions he feels for the gorgeous man in front of him. Despite the raging beat of his heart, Dokja has never felt more at peace, content.   

For him, loving Joonghyuk is like returning home, warm and secure. It’s grounded and devoid of anxiety. Even though Dokja is riddled with anxiety and insecurities, Joonghyuk’s presences alone eases those negative thoughts. If there’s one steady thing in Dokja’s fucked up life, it’s his feelings for Joonghyuk. It’s only his own self sabotaging tendencies that cause his negative feelings, never Joonghyuk. 

The passion he feels for this man goes far beyond mere butterflies. He adores Joonghyuk as he is, be he man or beast. He’s not perfect, far from it in fact, but Dokja couldn’t care less. It’s those very imperfections that make Joonghyuk so breathtaking in his eyes. 

The fact that it’s Joonghyuk is enough for him. It always has been and it always will be. 

Joonghyuk’s lips look so inviting, glistening underneath the light of the moon. They’re a delicacy Dokja wants nothing more than to divulge himself in, already losing himself to the warmth of Joonghyuk’s embrace, but he resists. 

Whatever this moment is goes far beyond the fury of passion they lost themselves in before. No, this moment is far more raw and intimate. And Dokja knows that if he crosses this line, he will never be able to recover. 

Sex is one thing, but this? This is something far greater.

So he tightens his grip on Jonghyuk's shoulders, pulling him closer as he sinks into the gentle warmth the man exudes. For a moment Dokja loses himself in the comfort and safety he feels in Joonghyuk’s arms, foolishly letting himself pretend that whatever this is is real. 

Unfortunately, this moment too shall pass and Dokja is all too aware of the harsh taste of reality that’s waiting for him, but he can’t find it in himself to care. He doubts he will ever indulge in something like this again, so he intends to enjoy it while it lasts, as fleeting as it is. This will be yet another memory he can hold dear long after Joonghyuk enviably rejects him and cures his existence. It’s certainly bittersweet, but Dokja ignores the way his heart breaks at the thought.

However, in a deep and hidden part of Dokja’s mind, unbeknownst to himself, a spark ignites. It’s but a tiny ember, so delicate a whisper could extinguish it, but it’s a spark nonetheless. For even a single ember buried beneath the ashes can turn into the brightest of flames.

And against his better judgment, Dokja begins to hope. 

Chapter Text

With a happy sigh, Dokja snuggles closer into the warmth of Joonghyuk’s chest, breathing in his comforting scent. He’s more or less laying on top of the man right now, which Dokja doubts is very comfortable, but Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to mind. He’s been purring happily for the past 20 minutes, gently caressing Dokja’s back. 

It’s oddly serene, Dokja has to admit, watching the sun rise as he lays in the arms of the man he loves. Maybe it’s because he just woke up, but this moment feels rather intimate, and Dokja can’t remember the last time he felt peace like this. It’s as if the rest of the world had faded away until all that was left was Joonghyuk. 

This is the first time Dokja has been able to spend the morning with Joonghyuk and he is quite enjoying it. Waking up every morning to an empty bed has been particularly aggravating for him, especially since he’s a bit needy in the morning. All he wanted was to spend time cuddling the man he loved until he woke up completely, but the damn impatient bastard always managed to sneak out before Dokja woke up.

His petulance makes him feel a bit like a spoiled child, and Dokja is not too proud of it. He knows full well that Joonghyuk leaves to provide for them, but he just wanted some morning cuddles dammit, food could come later.

Dokja received a golden opportunity today when he managed to wake up before Joonghyuk and he did not waste it. For about an hour or so he bided his time, fighting off the soft caress of sleep until Joonghyuk woke up to hunt. 

Dokja’s still not sure how, but he managed to wrestle the overgrown bastard back into bed, and Dokja has refused to let go of him since, thus why he’s currently laying on top of him. He knows Joonghyuk could easily push him off, but he hasn’t yet, seeming to enjoy the morning cuddles just as much as Dokja does.  

Dokja has fully accepted the fact that he’s grown way too attached at this point, but he can’t find it in himself to care right now. Joonghyuk has managed to worm his way through Dokja’s defenses, and at this point, Dokja is basically putty in his hands. The hybrid seemed to catch on that Dokja is particularly weak for his smile, and has used it to his full advantage. 

If anyone is well tamed, as Heewon so elegantly put it, it’s Dokja.

While Dokja still doubts the real Joonghyuk actually returns his feelings, he no longer thinks that he hates him, at least anymore. Joonghyuk’s actions have brought Dokja to the point in which he’s not entirely sure what to believe anymore. Plus the nagging of his guild mates is slowly starting to take hold in his mind. 

However, he refuses to believe anything until he can have an intelligent conversation with Joonghyuk that doesn’t involve him grunting like a caveman.

Dokja would deny it till his dying breath, but he really is starting to hope. He very well could be setting himself up for a heartbreak well beyond what he can recover from, but Dokja has long passed the point of caring. He more or less said fuck it by the third day and gave up on rejecting Joonghyuk’s advances. His life has been shit anyways, what’s one more heartbreak.

If Dokja had thought Joonghyuk was touchy before, he became an absolute menace once Dokja no longer avoided his advances. It was growing increasingly more difficult to not give in to more carnal desires, and Joonghyuk didn’t seem at all bothered by the hell he is putting Dokja through.

Dokja doesn’t think he’s suffered from a case of sexual frustration this bad in his entire life. 

Despite Joonghyuk’s inability to keep his hands to himself, Dokja has managed to find ways to keep himself busy. However, almost a week has passed now since they first arrived at the shack and Dokja is beginning to grow weary. He’s bored, to put it simply, really fucking bored and it’s slowly eating away at his patience. 

Things were fine for the first couple days. 

The day after Dokja found the apprentices, the barn had finally aired out enough to where it was bearable to enter. The smell was still quite foul, but Dokja endured it. 

He ended up discovering that the apprentices had been practicing some rather archaic and dangerous magic techniques. The spells they were using had been banned centuries, and for good reason. Should the caster be unable to control it, the consequences of such a spell can be devastating. 

Knowing what they had been up to, Dokja could see why they ended up in such a grotesque state. He’s honestly surprised the barn hadn’t blown up along with them.

Dokja is a bit concerned as to how the apprentices were able to get a hold of such techniques in the first place. The only reason he was even aware of their existence is because of the archaic spellbook Sooyoung stole that’s filled to the brim with various outlawed and dangerous spells. That book is so illegal in fact, simply having it is considered an act of treason, and could sentence their entire guild to a fate worse than death should they get caught with it. 

Sooyoung obviously hadn’t cared about that, and stole it just to prove a point because the dealer pissed her off.

So for these young apprentices to have access to those spells leads Dokja to believe that the guild may be involved in some shady business. That fact alone is a bit worrisome considering how small and weak the guild actually is, but desperate people will do desperate things. Dokja only hopes they don’t get caught, otherwise they’ll find a life in poverty is much more desirable in comparison to the hell that would await them.

Dokja had kept the findings to himself, however, despite knowing Sooyoung would have had a field day at the revelation. He figured the less it’s discussed, the smaller the chance the guild could be caught. He just reported it as an accident, claiming the barn was too ruined to find any clear cause. Dokja ultimately burnt down the barn at the request of the guild, thus destroying any incriminating evidence. 

After that Dokja took up reading the research data and various books the guild had left behind. Very little of it was actually valuable information, but it gave Dokja something to do. He actually ended up finding a hammock set up not too far behind the remains of the barn, and so he spent most of his time there now. 

It was quite nice, and Joonghyuk would often join him, so he certainly couldn’t complain. Though it did take Joonghyuk some time to figure out how to get onto the hammock without flipping it, much to Dokja’s amusement.

The first time Joonghyuk had tried to get on, he was just a little too fast and the whole thing spun around and slammed him onto the ground. It was hard enough to knock the wind out of the sturdy bastard, his eyes wide with shock after having his ass handed to him by a piece of fabric, and Dokja had lost his shit. 

It was by far the funniest damn thing Dokja had ever seen. 

Joonghyuk had not been amused by Dokja laughing at his expense, and ended up chasing him around the barrier’s perimeter. It was more so a game than an actual attempt to get back at him, but even when Joonghyuk’s just messing around, his physical abilities far outmatched Dokja’s. 

However, Dokja refused to go down without a fight. A wrestling match of sorts had broken out between them, and while Joonghyuk was clearly holding back, Dokja was still having the time of his life. The physical activity was a much needed change of pace for him, and Joonghyuk seemed to sense that Dokja needed it just as much as he did. 

It became a habit for them after that, and now they train together for an hour or so every day. It is probably the only reason why Dokja hasn’t lost his mind yet. 

He’s been growing increasingly more stir crazy, and he really wants to go out and explore to see if he can uncover some of the findings the guild had written about. However, Dokja isn’t quite willing to press his luck just to appease his boredom, especially after Joonghyuk had gotten ambushed. 

It was on their fourth day of their stay. The day started off normal and Joonghyuk had been gone for about an hour or so in search of food. That alone wasn’t suspicious, the prey seemed to be quite sparse in the woods, so it usually took a while for Joonghyuk to find something.

From what Dokja had gathered from the guild’s research, there was a reason why the animal life seemed so sparse. The animals tended to steer clear of this side of the woods in order to avoid the Rengu. The Rengu, a subspecies of goblin, were the official name of the shitty green gremlins that had attacked them for the first day.

Apparently the Rengu they had run into on the first day weren’t the only ones that inhabited these parts of the woods, as there were a few others of the same kind. There were also many other species of monsters spaced throughout the forest, but none of them seemed dangerous enough to garner any concern. 

Dokja had been inspecting some of the plants when he heard Joonghyuk burst through the barrier and let out a rather alarming cry. Bone chilling dread had washed over him, not once had he ever heard such a terrified sound come from Joonghyuk. Dokja had sprinted to where he had heard him, anxiety pumping through his veins, only to find Joonghyuk bursting from the cabin with a frantic expression. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes had immediately zeroed on him and he was in his space faster than Dokja could react to. Joonghyuk had swept him up in a bone crushing hug, whimpering as he scented him frantically. Dokja had been rather confused and a bit unnerved by Joonghyuk’s reaction, if there’s something capable of startling Joonghyuk that bad, it certainly didn’t bode well for him. 

However, he quickly found out that Joonghyuk had actually been terrified that something had happened to Dokja.

While he was frantically checking Dokja for any signs of injury, Dokja caught sight of the broken spear shaft sticking from Joonghyuk’s back. It was then he also noticed the small splatters of green blood all over Joonghyuk’s body. If Dokja had to guess, Joonghyuk was probably ambushed by the Rengu during his hunt— it would certainly explain his haggard appearance.  

After assuring himself that Dokja was okay, Joonghyuk had let out an enraged roar and set off to take revenge on whatever was stupid enough to attack him. Dokja had barely managed to hold him back long enough to take out the spear before Joonghyuk disappeared. 

While Dokja knew he had no reason to worry, he was also well aware that even Joonghyuk has his limits. If the estimate of numbers by the guild was anything to go by, should a few of the monster clans band together, even someone as powerful as Joonghyuk could be overwhelmed. 

It was certainly the most stressful three hours of his life, but thankfully Joonghyuk returned relatively unscathed. 

Joonghyuk was a complete mess, to say the least, drenched in that disgusting green blood. A few arrows were sticking from his back, but other than that, Joonghyuk showed no signs of injury. 

His emotional state, however, was a different story. 

Joonghyuk was well… deranged for lack of a better word, eyes still glowing gold as his whole body shook in agitation. His borderline feral appearance had Dokja worried he was close to a full shift, but thankfully nothing like that happened. 

Joonghyuk had merely let out a victorious roar, and offered the head —of what Dokja assumed was the monster’s leader— at his feet. Dokja hadn’t really known how to respond to that, but he accepted the gesture nonetheless.

He gave Joonghyuk a rather firm scolding, but Joonghyuk didn’t seem bothered by it. Dokja was also cleaning his wounds and pampering him with affection, so the impact of his scolding was probably lost.

After that Joonghyuk seemed to have a personal vendetta against all the monsters that inhabited the forest, and would disappear for a couple hours during the afternoon to completely massacre them. Every time he’d return absolutely filthy with the head of the leader in his hands, and somehow unscathed. Dokja was all too grateful that nothing bad had happened to him. 

While Dokja certainly didn’t like Joonghyuk putting himself in harm's way everyday, it seemed to help improve Joonghyuk’s mood. His restlessness seemed to be appeased, and while his behavior was still quite feral, it was making improvements.

Sooyoung had told him not to interfere, not that he really could anyways. She had warned him that Joonghyuk was in a very volatile state and the possibility of him shifting completely was quite high. Attacking the monsters would be a perfect opportunity for him to release his aggression, and could help prevent that from happening. 

Could was the key word in that assessment though. To Dokja, it sounded more like a double edge sword. He could certainly see her point about it helping Joonghyuk, but he also couldn’t shake the feeling that Joonghyuk’s actions may have devastating ramifications.

Judging by the different monster heads Joonghyuk brings back everyday, he’s taking down each clan one by one. While the magic guild had no information on the relationship between these clans, Dokja doubts they will stand idly by while Joonghyuk systemically eradicates them. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much Dokja can do to stop Joonghyuk though, so he merely prays that Joonghyuk will continue to be victorious. 

Sooyoung had also warned him to be extremely careful not to cause Joonghyuk any kind of extreme stress. Rather ironic if you ask him, considering it’s Joonghyuk that’s the actual stress inducer in their messy relationship.

Sooyoung hadn’t found his rebuttal very funny though, and had spent the next five minutes berating him for his supposed self-sacrificing tendencies. Heewon had joined in on that one, and he honestly hasn’t heard so many threats to kill him since the time he offered up his life for execution to expunge the charges against the guild. Rather ironic if you ask him. 

He heeded their warnings though. Despite the dubious nature of their relationship normally, Joonghyuk is clearly quite attached to him right now, so if anything were to happen to him, Dokja can’t imagine Joonghyuk would respond well. 

If Joonghyuk shifts completely, the chances of treating him to any degree would be close to zero. Not only does Joonghyuk’s resistance to magic sky rocket when he’s in that form, but they don’t possess the manpower to subdue him without casualties. Even then Dokja doubts the endeavor would be successful. 

The only reason they had survived when they first found him was because Joonghyuk still possessed some rationality of a human. Now, with that side clearly subdued, Dokja can’t honestly think of a peaceful way to be able to treat him. 

Which is why Dokja begrudgingly accepted his house arrest.

However, he’s gradually becoming more stir crazy with every passing day, and if Dokja doesn’t get a change in scenery he might actually lose his mind. 

Dokja’s stomach growls loudly, completely shattering the tender moment between them.

Dokja groans, his cheeks flushing painfully. Why does his stomach have to ruin everything for him? Joonghyuk just chuffs, the sound all too similar to a laugh. 

Joonghyuk tries to sit up then, but Dokja quickly pushes him back down. “No,” Dokja whines, tightening his grip on Joonghyuk’s neck, “I don’t want you to get up. Too comfortable.”

Joonghyuk huffs, not listening to Dokja’s complaints. Dokja yelps as Joonghyuk suddenly stands up, scrambling to wrap his legs around Joonghyuk’s waist so he doesn’t fall.

He shoots a glare up at Joonghyuk,“I said no, bastard.”

Joonghyuk looks down at him with an amused expression, mirth dancing in his eyes. If Dokja weren’t so whipped, he’d reach up and smack the shitty expression from his face.

Joonghyuk carefully detaches Dokja from his body,  despite Dokja fervent attempts to prevent it, and gently sets Dokja back onto the bed. 

Dokja just lets out an exaggerated huff, turning his back to Joonghyuk, and pulls the covers over him. It’s a childish move, he’s well aware, but at this point pouting is his only option. 

Joonghyuk just nuzzles his nose against Dokja’s head, hand gently caressing Dokja’s back in order to soothe him. When Dokja doesn’t respond, he lets out a small whine, pressing more insistently at his side. 

Dokja lets out an exasperated sigh, but gives in. He pokes his head out from the covers, looking at Joonghyuk with a miffed glare, but it loses its heat when he notices the pained expression on Joonghyuk’s face.

Joonghyuk’s brows are furrowed, clearly conflicted as he tries to figure out whether or not he should soothe Dokja or feed him. 

Dokja sighs, feeling a bit bad, he shouldn’t confuse the poor man. He reaches up and pats Joonghyuk’s face, soothing the tension from his brow. 

“Go get us some food, Joonghyuk-ah, I’m fine.” Dokja reassures, despite being not fine. He just wants to cuddle dammit, eating can come later. He keeps those thoughts to himself though

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen at that, letting out a soft sigh of relief as he leans into Dokja’s hand.

He leans down and scents Dokja’s neck, tenderly tracing the skin of Dokja’s neck with his own. Dokja feels a bit embarrassed as Joonghyuk intentionally takes his time, seeming intent on comforting Dokja before he leaves. 

Eventually though, Joonghyuk pulls away and he gently nuzzles their noses together before he stands up again. He casts Dokja one more questioning look, verifying that it really is okay for him to leave. 

Dokja waves his hand. “It’s really fine, Joonghyuk-ah, I was just being a brat.”

Seeming appeased, Joonghyuk lets out a pleased rumble and presses a final kiss to Dokja’s brow and then walks out of the cabin.

Dokja’s brain short circuits a bit after that, heat flooding into his cheeks. He screams into his pillow, butterflies fluttering in his chest. Dokja really is a weak man, to think Joonghyuk could make him swoon with such a simple kiss on his forehead.

He really couldn’t let Dokja live could he.

Dokja lays in bed for a bit longer, too lazy to leave the soft warmth of the covers. Plus with Joonghyuk’s scent surrounding him, he really has no desire to leave. 

Eventually he musters up enough motivation, and drags himself from the bed. The rest of the morning passes with little consequence, and Dokja ends up curling on the hammock to read a book while he waits for Joonghyuk to return.

However, as the sun steadily reaches its peak, an uncomfortable feeling begins to twinge in his stomach. At first he had assumed it was his hunger, so he ignored it, but it only grew in intensity. Eventually it reached a point where even he couldn’t dismiss it anymore, and he realized that it wasn’t hunger, it was dread. 

Joonghyuk had been gone for some time now, far longer than normal. He always returned within an hour or so when he hunted. The only time Joonghyuk disappears for this long is when he’s out massacring the monsters like the harbinger of death he’s become.

Which is why Dokja is a little nervous, considering Joonghyuk never goes out to fight without feeding him first. It’s weird and Dokja by no means enforced such a rule, but Joonghyuk always waited until Dokja had finished eating before he disappeared back into the forest. 

He’s done it every day without fail so far, so it’s a little odd he decided to change things up today. Dokja has a shaking suspicion that it may have not been his intention to do so.

A thousand possibilities race through his head as the dread quickly turns to fear. What if the clans had allied together and ambushed him? What if they managed to overwhelm him? What if he’s hurt? 

What if he’s… dead…

That thought alone sends shivers down Dokja’s spine. 

It’s then he hears Joonghyuk’s anguished roar erupt from the forest. Dokja’s stomach drop as bone chilling fear washes over him. For a moment he thinks he’d been imagining it, so caught up in his worries that his mind is making him hear things.

However the louder and more insistent cry for help sends Dokja flying to his feet, and he takes off into a sprint towards the cabin to grab his sword. The second it’s in his hand, Dokja is out the door, running through the barrier without a second thought. 

He hasn’t felt this kind of fear in quite some time, and it’s pushing Dokja even harder through the forest as he sprints towards the direction he heard Joonghyuk’s roar. 

At the back of his mind, he knows this is a terrible idea. Anything that is capable of overwhelming Joonghyuk is certainly not something he can fight off, but Dokja would be damned if he just sat idly by while Joonghyuk was clearly hurt. 

He’s not too entirely sure how much help he can be, but at the very least he can offer a bit of a distraction so Joonghyuk can get away. It’s a shitty plan, especially for himself, but he’d rather die than let something happen to Joonghyuk. 

However, he’s rather deep in the forest now, but he can’t hear a single thing, Joonghyuk or otherwise. Everything is deathly still, and Dokja can feel the sense of dread deepening in his chest, making him come to a halt.

He looks around the forest anxiously. The forest is eerily quiet like always, the abnormally large trees looming over him like an omen. His hair seems to stand on end as he realizes that he’s being watched. Dokja swallows thickly, and tightens the grip on his sword as the gravity of his actions sinks in. He really shouldn’t have come here.

Dokja can feel the sweat starting to trail down his brow, despite the fact the forest isn’t hot at all. Shivers rack up his body, but it’s not due to the wind, but from something much more sinister. 

Something’s wrong, terribly wrong, and Dokja realizes that he may have just walked straight into a trap. 

He needs to go back. Now. Unfortunately in his rush to find Joonghyuk he hadn’t paid much attention to the way he came. He didn’t possess Heewon’s sense of direction or Joonghyuk’s heightened senses, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to say he’s quite lost right now.

Nervously he scans his eyes over the perimeter, though he still can’t see them, he knows he’s not alone. Forcing himself to breathe, he takes a more defensive stance, holding his blade out in front of him.

“There’s no point in hiding, I know you're there.” He shouts into the silent forest, trying to keep the anxiety from his voice. 

For a painstaking moment nothing changes, Dokja can feel goose bumps race along his skin as every muscle in his body goes painfully tense. His heart stutters pathetically in his chest, but Dokja remains strong, determined not to let his fear show. 

“Your scent betrays you, human.” Something calls from the forest, making Dokja flinch, stomach dropping as his heart surges to life.

The voice is deep and contorted, as if it weren’t suited for the human tongue. The words themselves send shivers down Dokja’s spine. Whatever had just spoken to him is clearly not human, and for a monster to be capable of human speech that means Dokja is in particularly deep shit. 

From the shadows of the forest, a large figure appears out of thin air. The sight of it knocks the air out of Dokja’s chest, dread settling heavy in his chest. 

Oh he really out did himself this time. He’s fucked.

Several feet in front of him is a monster so overwhelmingly powerful, even the strongest hunters were unable to eradicate them completely. They had to resort to banishing them to the far outreaches of the world instead. The banishment curse only makes it impossible for them to leave the place they were exiled to, but nothing more. They are the only monster capable of out-matching the bloodlust of a demon, and they are as cruel as they are indomitable. 

The orc before him stands at an easy 8 feet, its towering and sinister presence enough to make Dokja want to cower in fear. Its skin is a dark shade of green with bulging muscles and blood red tattoos. 

For orcs, tattoos are a sign of strength, displaying how many times they had reigned victorious, and judging by the tattoos spanning all across its body, this one is no mere foot soldier. Various bones and hides drape over its body like makeshift armor, but they’re clearly intended for intimidation rather than actual protection.

Glowing red eyes loom back at him with obvious bloodlust, sharp teeth curled in a sinister smile. The worst part is, Dokja is skilled enough to handle one orc on his own, but orcs never travel alone. They are well known for traveling in packs intent on overwhelming and massacring their prey. 

Even though Dokja can’t see them, he can feel the other red eyes boring into him, their killing intent making his instincts run on overdrive.

“Such futile attempts of bravery, for a mere human.” It croons, the words harsh and contorted. “Even though you tremble like a mouse, you still dare to challenge me?”

“You talk an awful lot for a pea brained monster, I honestly hadn’t realized you were capable of thinking let alone a cohesive sentence.” Dokja taunts, tightening his grip on his sword.

The orc laughs, the sound dark and maniacal. “I would not have expected such defiance from a mere human. It seems your desire for death exceeds your will to live, how interesting. Rest assured, your time will come. However, we unfortunately need you alive for now.” With a wave of its hand, several more orcs appear from the shadows, not quite as large, but terrifying all the same.

Dokja feels cold dread shoot down his spine. He stood no chance against two, let alone six. Without another word one of them charges and Dokja barely has enough time to yank his sword up in order to block the attack.

His entire body tremors at the attack, but he somehow manages to stay on his feet. Everything goes to hell after that, only sheer experience and instincts keeping Dokja alive. The orc snarls at him and then all hell breaks loose. 

He manages to take down two of the smaller ones but eventually he is overpowered and his sword is knocked from his hand as he’s sent flying. Dokja’s back slams into the tree, pain shooting up his spine as the air is punched from his lungs. His body crumbles pathetically onto the ground, and despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Dokja is unable to force himself back onto his feet. 

The orc he saw before finally decides to step it, picking up Dokja’s quivering form by his neck.

Its grip is tight forcing Dokja to stay still unless he wants his neck to be broken. He refuses to give in completely, glaring up at the orc defiantly, despite the overwhelming fear that consumes him. 

The orc stares back at him with lifeless eyes, as if Dokja were a mere bug to crush underneath his feet. “I must say, despite you being a pathetic human I expected more from the mate of such a powerful Daemon. How foolish of him to have given himself such a fatal weakness. It seems their lack of rationality is still their bane.”

Dokja’s eyes widen at that, dread sinking in his chest. So that’s what this is about. 

A sinister smile curls on the orc’s lips, flashing his sharp teeth. “To think you walked so willingly into our hands, you humans truly never change. Your mate is not one who could be so easily subdued by us. He’s far away right now, fighting off my forces. My spies merely recreated his voice in order to get your attention, I did not expect for it to work so easily.”

Dokja squirms violently, ignoring the pain as he viciously tries to pry the orc’s hand from his face. He needs to get away.

They planned on using him as bait for Joonghyuk, Dokja could not let that happen. He’d sooner die than allow it. 

The orc lets out a deep and condescending laugh. “Such attempts are futile, you are no match for me.” He croons, “However I grow annoyed, so do me a favor and be quiet.”

That’s all the warning Dokja gets before a blunt object hits the back of his head, pain spreading throughout his body before his whole world fades to black. 

It’s a harsh slap to his face that has Dokja jolting into consciousness. His cheek throbs at the impact, drawing out a pained wince.

“Wake up, little human, your mate will be here soon. Can’t have you missing the show.” That revolting voice of an orc croons in his ear. 

Dokja groans, light assaulting his eyes as he tries to peer them open. The orc that had taken him stands in front of him, its beady red eyes glaring down at him with a carnal smile. 

They have him chained to a railing sorts, his body dangling limply from his wrists. The metal digs harshly into his skin, blood dripping down his forearms. His shoulders stretch painfully, and Dokja has a feeling if he were to struggle too much they might dislocate.

All in all not the worst situation Dokja has woken up in, but certainly close to it. Unfortunately with the sequitur trees in the near vicinity it also left him without many options to get him out of this mess. 

Dokja definitely fucked himself over with this one. 

Not one to let himself despair, he shoots a lopsided grin at the orc, refusing to let his growing fear show. “Have to say your ugly face is the last thing I want to wake up to, one would think a mother would have enough pity to kill a child with a face like that.” He taunts.

It has the desired effect, rage flashing in the eyes of the orc as the smile falls from his face. The back of his hand smacks against Dokja’s cheek, the sharp pain making tears well up in his eyes. It forces his head to the side, a pained wheeze escaping from his throat.

The orc grabs Dokja’s jaw, forcing him to look at him. “You’d do well to stay quiet, human,” He seethes, “Lest you want my patience to run out.”

While many different comebacks shoot through his head, Dokja ultimately decides to keep his mouth shut. Perhaps taunting a mass killing machine isn’t the greatest of ideas, at least for now.

Seeming to sense Dokja’s submission, the orc releases his hand, a sadistic smile curling on his face. “It seems your sense of survival isn’t completely broken after all.”

If Dokja’s hands weren’t bound above him, he’d flip the shitty bastard off, but right now he has more important things to worry about, like escaping for example. 

Dokja scans over the unfamiliar surroundings, looking for anything that could be of use to him. He’s currently on a ledge of what he assumes is a mountain, resting just above a decent sized ravine. 

It’s high enough up he can’t quite see what’s directly beneath him, but judging by the inhumane screeches and growls reverberating around him, quite a large mass of monsters are gathered below him. They sound quite formidable in number, and Dokja can feel his anxiety starting to grow. There has to be at least a hundred.

The orc seems to notice his unease, letting out a dark and patronizing laugh. “Did he think we would sit idly by and let him destroy us all?” He croons. 

Dokja just glares back at him, barely resisting the urge to bear his teeth at him. Joonghyuk was really starting to rub off on him it seems. They were the ones that attacked Joonghyuk in the first place.

“Had he stopped with the ones who wronged him we would have been able to ignore his actions considering they were the first to strike him. However, the moment he attacked our allies he established himself as our enemy.”

Dokja rolls his eyes. “And yet you still had to resort to such cowardly measures in order to face him. To think such terrifying monsters would be fearful of a mere man.”

The orc’s eyes glow with rage. “That is no mere man, and we are simply ensuring our victory. Petty things like honor mean nothing to us. That is not how wars are won.”

“It doesn’t matter how many forces you collect, you will still be no match for him.” Dokja spits out, refusing to back down. 

The orc’s lips widen, flashing his sharp teeth in a bone chilling smile. “I didn’t think I’d ever witness the day a wretched human would dare to look down on us. I look forward to breaking your spirit.” The orc seethes, and he suddenly forces a piece of cloth into his mouth. 

Dokja spits out curses in protest, but it comes out as a garbled groan around the cloth. He tries to force it from his mouth, but it doesn’t budge. 

The orc lets out a patronizing laugh. “That’s much better, I was growing annoyed by your whiny voice.” He croons, “But now that I think about it, it seems you need to be reminded just how dire the situation you have gotten yourself into.” 

He grabs Dokja by the throat and lifts him up, and carries him to the edge, the chains groaning behind him. Dokja struggles violently against his grip, but it’s futile. 

“Alone we may be no match for him, but we can overwhelm him with our sheer numbers. Especially in the enraged state he will be in having lost his mate, we will certainly crush him.”

Dokja feels the dread sinking in his chest as he looks out at the horrifying sight before him. His heart stutters to a stop as all the air seems to evaporate from his lungs. He could only look out in fear at the legion of monsters in front of them, far more than he had originally estimated. There were hundreds of them, in all shapes and sizes, the were armed head to toe in vicious weapons

The orc lifts him up higher, displaying him like a prize before the monsters below. He yells something out in a tongue Dokja doesn’t recognize, but the resounding war cries are enough for him to guess the meaning. Rage and fear like a torrent in Dokja’s stomach, but there’s nothing he can do.

He drops Dokja to the floor, the impact sending sparks of pain all across his body. Not a moment later the chains begin to crank back, slowly dragging him back onto the railing. 

Dokja fights with all his might, but it does him no good, the strong chains forcing him from the ground once more. This time it pulls him up several feet higher, giving him a full view of the ravine below him. 

Dokja glares at the orc, spitting out a string of profanities, but it comes out as a garbled mess around the gag. The orc merely laughs at him, the sound harsh and patronizing. “So much defiance, but oh well, we shall see how long it lasts once you watch my soldiers beat your mate into submission. Don’t worry, I’m sure he won’t keep us waiting long.”

Dokja honestly didn’t know what to expect when Joonghyuk arrived, but he couldn’t quell the putrid fear raging in his chest. One mistake and Joonghyuk would be in grave danger. Dokja doesn’t even see how Joonghyuk could fight this many people in his right mind, let alone in an enraged and feral state. 

He just prays to whoever listens that Joonghyuk hasn't been consumed by his rage. 

Not too long later, a loud and monstrous roar echoes from the forest around him, so contorted and inhumane, it sends shivers down his spine. That’s Joonghyuk alright, but judging by the crazed state of his roar, Dokja’s worst fears have come to pass. 

A deathly silence falls upon them then, all the monsters preparing for battle as they await Joonghyuk’s arrival. A loud screech breaks the tension, and Dokja jerks his head to the side just in time to see all the archers taken out in one fell swoop. He watches with wide eyes as all twenty of them fall lifelessly into the ravine, their bodies hitting the floor with a sickening crunch. 

The smaller more agile monsters follow next, each taken out with deadly accuracy, slain before anyone could react. 

It’s done with such ruthless precision, Dokja feels hope starting to bud in his stomach. Dokja had assumed that Joonghyuk had lost all sense of reason, and would be attacking them head on, but it’s the opposite. Joonghyuk seems to have already determined the weakness of each of the monsters, and is slowly taking them down group by group. 

It’s savage, the way he massacres them. He’s too fast for Dokja to catch, already moving on to his next victim by the time the first one falls. The monsters are having a hard time keeping up with, having prepared for a frontal assault rather than direct ambush. The legion erupts into chaos, the monsters letting out enraged roars as Joonghyuk continues to demolish them.

Had Joonghyuk been lost to his rage like the orcs had planned, they may have been able to overwhelm him. However, it seems they made a fatal lapse of judgment. Dokja knew Joonghyuk possessed battle instincts that far outmatched any mortal, but seeing them put into action truly left him at a loss for words. With deadly precision he finds every weakness in their battle formations, destroying them before they have a chance to defend themselves. 

Joonghyuk moves so fast no one could track him, and the monsters capable of matching Joonghyuk’s speed were already taken care of before they realized what was happening. Dokja could only watch in awe, tears of relief streaming down his face as Joonghyuk steadily decimated the monster forces. 

Dokja could see the orc steadily growing more furious as his soldiers continue to fall helplessly. The carnal smile has dropped from his ugly face face, now replaced with a dark scowl, his eyes burning with rage. The arms of his throne crushed beneath his hands.

Dokja really wishes his mouth weren’t bound, otherwise he’d be talking some major shit right now. He shouldn’t have been worried in the first place, Daemon’s were the apex predators when they were alive, mere monsters wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

The final orc falls not too long after, his body exploding in a fountain of blood. 

It’s then Dokja gets a clear look at Joonghyuk. However, the relief he had felt was snatched from him, as pure and unadulterated dread sinks in his chest. 

By the way he was attacking Dokja had hoped that maybe some semblance of control had returned to Joonghyuk, but looking at him now, Dokja can see that is far from the truth. 

Joonghyuk had shifted completely, and as his golden eyes stared up at him coldly, Dokja could see there wasn’t a trace of humanity left in them. Joonghyuk had been fully consumed by the beast. He’s something fresh out of a nightmare, surrounded by the massacred bodies of what was once a fearsome legion of monsters. It’s a sight that would even make monsters cower in fear. 

Joonghyuk’s posture is eerily stiff, head cocked slightly to the side. The tattoos now curl up his neck, spanning across his face. Leathery black wings span from his back like a dark halo, the pointed horns spiraling from his head making him look every inch of the demon he was made to be. Blood splatters across his body. One half of his face is completely covered in it, making him look that much more sinister as he looks at him with lifeless eyes. 

Dokja finds a blade suddenly pressed against his neck, the sharpness of the edge cutting into the delicate skin of his throat. He goes deathly still, a fearful noise bubbling from his throat.

The second his blood reaches Joonghyuk’s nose, his head twitches and he suddenly disappears. The orc doesn’t even have the time to spit out his pathetic threat before the blade suddenly leaves Dokja’s throat.

The orc slams into the mountain behind him with a sickening crunch, the heavy stone breaking at the impact. Dokja’s entire body freezes in fear, and despite himself, Dokja slowly turns his head to look behind him. Joonghyuk’s shuddering form stands over the fallen orc like a frenzied killer, his breaths coming out in haggard gasps as his wings twitch violently from his back. 

The stone wall is caved in, gaping cracks trailing up the mountain from the impact. Blood is splattered all over the wall now, the twisted and broken remains of the orc lie in a lifeless pile of flesh and bone.

Dokja’s stomach twists at the sight, bile threatening to crawl up his throat. 

As if noticing Dokja’s gaze, Joonghyuk’s head suddenly jerks up. Dokja’s heart skips a beat as pure unadulterated fear rips through him. Even when they had first found Joonghyuk it had been nothing compared to this.

He looks every bit of the ruthless monstrosity he was designed to be. There isn’t a trace of Joonghyuk in the monster before him, and Dokja realizes with terror that he might actually die. 

Joonghyuk stalks toward him, his golden eyes trained on him with a cruel intensity. There’s no recognition in them, and Dokja feels as if he were no more than prey in his eyes.

Every instinct in him tells him to run, to escape. In this state, Dokja doubts Joonghyuk would spare even him. Dokja struggles violently against the chains holding him, letting out a pathetic cry as they refuse to budge. 

He manages to pry his thin wrists from the shackles, and he finds himself falling to the ground. He lands awkwardly on his knees, pain shooting up his legs. 

Dokja doesn’t take the time to recover though, scrambling to his feet as Joonghyuk looms over him. He runs, desperately trying to put some space between him and Joonghyuk. He’s never been this afraid in his life, and to think it was Joonghyuk that elicited such a response.

He rounds the corner only to find a dead end. Dokja lets out a curse, his breath haggard as fear surges throughout his body. He slams his hand against the wall in frustration, a choked sob ripping from his throat. 

No. No. No. This can’t be happening.

All things considered, Joonghyuk would have been able to catch him the second he tried to leave, but he didn’t. Dokja isn’t entirely sure why, but judging by the way Joonghyuk’s acting, he must enjoy playing with his food. Damn that sadistic bastard. 

Dokja collapses, leaning pathetically against the wall. Any fight to live leaves his body, reality washing over him. His breaths come out as shaky gasps, panic overwhelming his senses.

He watches with crippling fear as Joonghyuk rounds the corner, staring at Dokja with those lifeless, golden eyes. Dokja is unable to look away, his entire body frozen, completely petrified as if he were looking into the eyes of death itself. 

Joonghyuk stalks towards him, painstakingly slow as if he were taunting him. 

Dokja's entire body trembles, shivering in fear as Joonghyuk steadily closes the distance. Dokja watches in mute horror as Joonghyuk stops a mere foot in front of him and kneels down. 

Even on his knees Joonghyuk’s figure is an imposing presence, his wings blocking out the sun as he looms over Dokja like an omen of death. Dokja lets out a pathetic whimper, clenching his eyes shut as he braces for his impending doom. 

He knows he should fight, that he shouldn’t just accept his death, but even survival instincts seem to wither and die in the face of something as terrifying as Joonghyuk. What was the point? Joonghyuk would kill him either way, all resisting would do is piss him off even more. 

Joonghyuk clearly doesn’t see him as a threat, otherwise he’d have been slaughtered long before he tried to run, so Dokja’s probably nothing more than mere prey to him. Plus, Dokja can’t help but think he deserves it, having been the one to put Joonghyuk in this situation in the first place. It was his fault Joonghyuk had to fight these monsters anyway, he should have been more careful. Joonghyuk could have died and it would have been all his fault. 

If Joonghyuk wanted retribution, Dokja wouldn’t bother stopping him. 

Dokja can feel the tip of a claw tracing across his face, it’s painfully sharp but the touch is so light it doesn’t pierce his skin. Dokja flinches violently, a fearful whimper escaping his throat. 

The touch disappears, and Dokja forces himself to get even smaller, body trembling pathetically as he braces himself for Joonghyuk’s attack. 

Every second that passes is torturous, like knives digging into his skin as Dokja prepares for his death. However, nothing happens, and eventually fearful curiosity gets the best of him and Dokja finds himself peeling his eyes open. 

Joonghyuk is still a mere foot in front of him, his clawed hand held out from his body. What catches Dokja by surprise is the genuine look of confusion on his face. It looks so wrong and blatantly human with his Daemon features, but there’s no denying that’s what it was. 

Joonghyuk looks at him with furrowed eyebrows, lips curled into a slight scowl. He looks pained, and Dokja is so confused, he honestly doesn’t know how to take it.

Joonghyuk notices Dokja’s eyes on him and moves his hand closer to Dokja’s face. Dokja flinches again, only to watch as a violent flinch rips across Joonghyuk’s body. He jerks his hand back, cradling it to his chest as if he were burnt. 

Joonghyuk lets out a pained noise, the sound all too similar to a whimper as he looks at Dokja with something akin to hurt in his eyes, as if pleading with him.

Dokja shudders pathetically, his breaths labored as he tries to force his fear-idled brain to make sense of the sight in front of him. Even though he’s absolutely terrified, he can’t ignore the way his heart breaks at Joonghyuk’s pathetic state.

The look is entirely foreign on the face of such a fearsome man. A trickle of hope sparks to life in his chest at the recognition in his eyes, maybe Joonghyuk did actually remember him. It would certainly explain why he hasn’t killed him yet.

Against his better judgment, Dokja uncurls his body, wincing at the way it aggravates the bruises on his body. Joonghyuk watches him with wide eyes, completely frozen in place. Dokja would have mistaken him for a statue if it weren’t for the violent flaring of his nose. 

Dokja forces himself to stay calm, taking steadying breaths in an attempt to calm his raging heart. The adrenaline is steadily fading from his body, leaving him numb and cold. He can feel the dull throb of pain from his wounds, fear no longer dulling their sting. Despite the sudden urge to collapse into a pathetic ball, Dokja manages to right himself until he’s in a sitting position. 

Joonghyuk still hasn’t moved, so Dokja takes that as a sign to continue. Though dulled, every instinct in his body is still going haywire, he shakily reaches out his hand. Joonghyuk makes no move to stop him, watching intently as Dokja slowly comes to cup his face.

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen at the touch, seeming just as surprised as Dokja is that he had touched him. Ever so carefully, Joonghyuk’s clawed hand gently grabs his own. 

Dokja isn’t quite sure what to do, but he has a feeling that ripping his hand from Joonghyuk’s face would only spur him on, so he stays still. He watches with terrified amazement as Joonghyuk slightly tilts his head and leans into Dokja’s hand. 

When Dokja doesn’t flinch away, Joonghyuk shudders, as if relieved, the tension leaving his body. He lets out a pleased rumble, eyes closing as he seems to relish Dokja’s touch. Dokja lets out a shaky sigh of relief, a choked sob escaping from throat. 

Joonghyuk recognized him, thank the fucking fates. He honestly thought he was going to die. 

Without a second thought, Dokja throws himself at Joonghyuk wrapping him in a tight embrace. “You fucking bastard, I thought I had lost you for real this time. Don’t scare me like that.” Dokja cries into his chest, violent sobs wracking his body.

Joonghyuk holds him just as tightly, shoving his face into Dokja’s neck. Dokja can feel the franticness as he scents him, the unease palpable from the tremors in his body. 

Dokja holds him tighter, still a sobbing mess, but tries his best to comfort the man. Joonghyuk seems no better than he is, and if Joonghyuk were capable of crying in this form, Dokja has no doubt he would be.

Dokja pushes him slightly, putting just enough distance between them to get a good look at Joonghyuk’s face. He stares back at him, nostrils flared and golden eyes bright with unreadable emotion. Now with the fear gone, Dokja can see just how haggard the man truly is, and the guilt comes back full swing. 

What had Joonghyuk thought when he found out Dokja was missing?  

The edge of his eyes glisten with unshed tears, and Dokja lets out a shaky sob as he reaches to cup Joonghyuk’s face. He wipes the tears from Joonghyuk’s eyes.

“Don’t cry, Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja chokes out, his throat burning as tears stream down his face, “I’m okay, you saved me.” 

But at what cost?

Even if Joonghyuk seems to recognize him, that didn’t change the fact it would now be nearly impossible to heal him. 

Dokja tenderly caresses his cheek, “I’m sorry, Joonghyuk-ah. It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry.” He cries, as his heart shatters in his chest. He forces himself to look away, eyes focusing on the ground beneath him. He has no right to look at him.

Sooyoung had warned him that Joonghyuk was only one false move away from shifting completely, and in this state, there’s no guarantee he’ll ever be able to revert back. 

Dokja knows how much Joonghyuk hates this form, he sees it in the way Joonghyuk acts whenever he has to use his Daemon abilities in a mission. He grows distant and cold afterwards, disappearing for days. Joonghyuk is probably one of the few people with enough self hatred to match his own, and Dokja had just more or less forced him into the state he hates the most.

Joonghyuk’s hand reaches up to grab Dokja’s cheek, but Dokja refuses to look up at him, keeping his eyes trained on the ground. Joonghyuk wipes the tears from underneath Dokja’s eyes, leaning in to gently brush their nose together in an attempt to comfort him. Even in this form he’s as tender and caring as ever, and it makes Dokja hate himself even more. 

“Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk grunts, his voice deep and rough from misuse.

Dokja freezes, so shocked the tears stop streaming from his eyes. He jerks his eyes up, not quite believing what he had heard in the first place. He knew near death experiences could often cause hallucinations, but he’s never been in such an erratic state to have experienced it. 

Joonghyuk just looks at him, his expression pinched in hurt and confusion. “Kim Dokja.” He says again, his voice a bit clearer, “Don’t cry.” Joonghyuk pleads, repeating Dokja’s prior words. 

Dokja shudders, another violent sob shudders from his throat as he frantically grasps at Joonghyuk’s face. “Say that again,” He begs.

“Dokja.” Joonghyuk says again, this time softer, eyes pinched in concern. Despite the torrent of emotions in Dokja’s chest, a smile curls onto his face. 

A strangled cry rips from his lips, tears falling freely from his face as he wraps his arms around Joonghyuk’s necks. He holds onto him tightly, sobbing into his neck. This time though, Dokja’s crying for an entirely different reason, indescribably relieved. 

Joonghyuk’s still here. He isn’t gone.

“Dokja.” Joonghyuk murmurs in a more comforting tone. He gently cards his hand through Dokja’s hair in an attempt to soothe him. His other arm wraps around Dokja’s waist, holding him close. 

Eventually Dokja’s cries trail off into shaky grasps, relief washing over him in waves. With a shudder, Dokja pulls away, wanting to look at Joonghyuk. 

Though his expression is still quite terrifying, the closer Dokja looks into his golden eyes, the more of Joonghyuk he sees. Perhaps he had judged him too quickly. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Dokja croaks, his voice raw from crying so hard. He reaches up to gently cup Joonghyuk’s face, the man leans into his touch, a deep rumble emanating from his chest. His wings flutter happily, making Dokja wince at the sudden flash of light. 

When his vision clears, he sees the way Joonghyuk’s eyes narrow dangerously as he looks at Dokja’s wrists. Dokja flinches, quickly hiding them behind his back, having forgot they were there.

Joonghyuk was having none of it, letting out a displeased rumble as his clawed fingers gently wrapped around Dokja’s elbow. With very little force he tugs Dokja’s arm back into view. 

Joonghyuk growls at the sight of them, his golden eyes flashing murderously. Dokja winces, he shouldn’t have flashed them so carelessly. 

Suddenly Dokja finds himself pushed down, Joonghyuk’s hand cradling his head as he forces him to lay on the ground. Dokja sputters, but all complaints die in his throat as Joonghyuk looms over him, fuming with rage. 

Joonghyuk’s claws rip through his tunic, exposing Dokja’s naked chest to the world. Dokja winces, if Joonghyuk hadn’t responded well to his wrists, Dokja doubts he will take kindly to his chest either. Budding bruises flit all across Dokja’s abdomen, the aftermath of his previous fight.

Joonghyuk’s lip curls as a bone chilling snarl rips from his throat. Dokja shivers, entirely unsure if it’s fear or arousal twitching in his stomach.

Joonghyuk starts with his wrists, gently tugging them up to his face. His tongue and trails over the expanse of the bruise, thoroughly laving over it. Dokja feels heat starting to pool into his gut.

A flash of warmth tingles in the skin of his wrists, and Dokja watches with fascination as the bruises begin to heal. Of course this shitty bastard could heal with his tongue, the fates couldn’t just let him be unbearably hot and overpowered. 

After ensuring that Dokja’s wrists were fully healed, Joonghyuk lets out a pleased grunt. His eyes shift towards Dokja’s chest, eyes darkening as he looks at the blooming bruises. 

Dokja swallows thickly, feeling a little hot and bothered under the intensity of Joonghyuk’s gaze. Joonghyuk sets his hands down, holding them down with a single hand. Joonghyuk’s large form looms over him, mere inches between their faces. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes slowly drift down his abdomen, his clawed fingers gently mapping every one of his bruises. Dokja whimpers softly, growing increasingly more aroused as Joonghyuk tenderly touches him. 

Joonghyuk leans down to gently nuzzle his face, as if to comfort him, seeming to think he was aggravating Dokja’s bruises. When in reality the only thing he’s aggravating is Dokja’s cock.

Rumbling softly, clear displeasure on his face, Joonghyuk tilts his head down and traces the small cut on Dokja’s collar bone with his tongue. Dokja shivers at the touch, weakly struggling in an attempt to escape Joonghyuk’s hold on his wrists. 

Joonghyuk lets out a soft growl, gently nipping at Dokja’s collarbone as his eyes flick up in warning. Dokja lets out a soft gasp at the intense look, his body going lax. 

Joonghyuk lets out a pleased rumble, gently nuzzling Dokja’s face as if to praise him for behaving. He shifts his attention back to Dokja’s body, eyes simmering with rage. Despite his obvious anger, Joonghyuk is painstakingly tender, gently tracing over every cut and bruise with his tongue. His free hand caresses Dokja’s skin almost reverently, careful not to touch any of his wounds. 

He traces over every cut and bruise with his tongue, unbearably slow. Dokja trembles underneath him, breathes coming out in labored gasps as his cock aches painfully in his pants. He can feel the warm tingles spreading throughout his body as Joonghyuk continues to heal him, and it only makes the arousal in his chest grow. 

Dokja can only imagine how debauched he looks right now. He feels so desperate and needy, but Joonghyuk is touching him everywhere except where Dokja needs him and he hates it.

With a frustrated huff he manages to wrench his hands from Joonghyuk’s grip, jerking them up to grab Joonghyuk’s face. Dokja smashes their lips together in a rather sloppy kiss. It’s all teeth and tongue, but he can’t find it in himself to care, his body hot with need.

He isn’t sure if he wants to devour or be devoured, but the arousal thrumming through his body leaves him unable to care. 

Joonghyuk growls into the kiss, matching Dokja’s need with his own reverent want. Their tongues clash, and Dokja moans at the taste of him. Dokja tries to keep up with him, but Joonghyuk is intent on devouring him. 

With his free hand reaches down to grab the seam of Joonghyuk’s pants, gripping it tightly and shoving hips down into his. Dokja moans at the pressure against his cock, pleasure shooting up his spine. 

Joonghyuk growls into the kiss, arm slipping behind to grab Dokja’s ass, kneading the flesh. He spreads his legs, adjusting his grip so he can better grind into him.

Dokja trembles underneath him, his cock aching painfully in his pants. Joonghyuk doesn’t relent, intent on forcing more moans from Dokja’s throat. 

An enraged squeal suddenly erupts from the ravine below them, making Dokja go still as a cold shock washes over him.

Joonghyuk lets out an enraged growl at the interruption and picks up a rock lying next to him. He whirls around, eyes glowing with fury and sendings it flying at the monster at an indiscernible speed. The monster doesn’t even have time to react, the rock meeting its head with a mighty crunch, and blood splatters everywhere as it falls lifelessly to the floor.

Joonghyuk’s face is furrowed in frustration, teeth bared at the now dead monster as if it had committed a grave atrocity. Dokja laughs, all too fond as he reaches out to ruffle Joonghyuk’s hair. If Dokja didn’t know any better he’d say the man was pouting. 

Joonghyuk huffs still clearly pissed the moment got interrupted, but leans into Dokja’s touch. 

Dokja lets out an exasperated sigh, “You really are something, you know that.”

Joonghyuk’s casts one final look at the dead monster and lets out a satisfied huff, turning his focus back to Dokja. However, the arousal is long gone, reality harsh on Dokja’s mind. Dokja cannot believe he was willing to let Joonghyuk take him here of all places. 

Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to share the sentiment, pushing himself back into Dokja’s space. Dokja quickly shoves him back, putting some space between them. “Yeah absolutely not, I don’t know what you think you’re doing-“

“You.” Joonghyuk interrupts, his voice gruff and all too sexy. He’s looming over him, arms caging Dokja in against the wall. Dokja’s managed to keep his hand on his chest, but it’s doing very little to stop him. 

Dokja sputters. “Okay, not fair, you don’t just say something like that.” Dokja wheezes, trying to push Joonghyuk away. “Regardless of what you want, I refuse to let our first time be here on the floor of all places. It’s gross and unsanitary, and I’m getting old, my back cannot take this.”

“Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk growls, an unamused expression on his face.

Dokja just sticks his tongue out, crossing his arms across his chest. “Yoo Joonghyuk.” He snaps.

Joonghyuk glares at him, eyes flashing dangerously. He leans even closer into Dokja’s space, but Dokja refuses to back down. 

Sensing that Dokja wouldn’t be giving in, Joonghyuk lets out a disgruntled rumble, grumbling petulantly to himself. He wraps Dokja in his arms, pulling him close to his chest, and more or less jumps to his feet. 

Dokja yelps, reaching out to grab Joonghyuk’s neck. “What are you doing, you bastard.” He sputters. 

Joonghyuk just grunts, completely ignoring him. He shifts Dokja awkwardly in his arms, as if Dokja were a bit too heavy for him. Which Dokja knows is far from the truth considering the battered state of the mountain, and the urge to smack the shitty bastard grows exponentially. 

He has no chance to lash out however, as the slight twitch of Joonghyuk’s wings are the only warning Dokja receives before Joonghyuk suddenly takes off into the sky. 

Dokja screams like a little girl, gripping tightly onto Joonghyuk’s neck as he tries desperately not to fall. The air zooms by them at breakneck speed, and Dokja doesn’t have to look down to know that he’s way too high. He can feel his stomach lurching, threatening to explode. 

Oh he’s so going to kill this shitty bastard. 

“You stupid fucking bastard, I hate you so much.” Dokja yells into his neck, heart roaring in his ears.

It’s surprisingly warm, considering how high up they were, Joonghyuk’s large body protecting him from the brunt of the wind. His chest feels so strong and powerful against Dokja’s, as if it were made for this. Even though he carries Dokja with him, his body shows no sign of fatigue, his magnificent wings beating effortlessly behind him. 

If Dokja weren’t so scared out of his mind, he’d be swooning right now.

“You better put me the fuck down before I kick you ass.” Dokja spits out, smacking Joonghyuk’s chest.

Joonghyuk slightly loosens his hold and Dokja slips ever so slightly, making his heart drop in his chest. He lets out a terrified screech, sputtering out curses as he tightens his grip on Joonghyuk’s neck. If it weren’t for Joonghyuk’s tough skin Dokja’s sure he would have choked him or at least drawn blood by now. 

“Not funny, so not funny you stupid bastard. I hate you, I hate you so much.” Dokja cries, chest heaving as his blood roars in his ears. 

Joonghyuk just rumbles, the sound all too similar to a laugh. It’s enough to give Dokja the courage to rip his face up and glare at Joonghyuk’s face, intent on smacking him once he felt safe enough to remove his hand.

All the aggression dies as he meets Joonghyuk’s eyes though, the smile on his face making Dokja’s heart melt. Joonghyuk’s golden eyes flash with amusement, looking down at Dokja with something akin to adoration. 

Dokja feels his cheeks flush, suddenly shy and quickly hides his face back into Joonghyuk’s neck, cursing him for an entirely different reason.

“Look, Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk urges, gently nuzzling his face. 

Dokja really doesn’t want to, but his curiosity gets the better of him. The last time he had been this high was when jumped on to the back of the dragon the guild was trying to slay. He certainly didn’t have the time to appreciate the sight.

Still keeping a tight grip on Joonghyuk’s neck, he cautiously lifts his head from Joonghyuk’s neck and the sight that meets him takes his breath away. 

Magnificent clouds span all around them, the light of the setting sun casting them in a warm glow. Explosions of pink, orange, and yellow dance all across the sky, a sight befitting the sweetest of dreams. 

Dokja gasps in wonder, eyes wide as he takes it all in. Though his stomach is still a bit uneasy at how high they’re off the ground, it’s dulled by the beauty of the clouds surrounding him. 

In his awe he casts a look at Joonghyuk, only to find the man already looking at him. A gentle smile curves across his face, vivid emotion dancing in his golden eyes. He looks so undeniably fond and Dokja’s heart stutters pathetically in his chest. 

Feeling a bit more comfortable, Dokja reaches out to caress his face, somehow more awed by Joonghyuk than anything else. Underneath the light of the setting sun Joonghyuk is simply ethereal, his honied skin seems to glow, the black tattoos sparking. He doesn’t look real and yet, he looks at Dokja as if he were the one that should be admired.

Dokja finds his eyes drifting to the powerful black wings behind him. They’re magnificent, the inky black membranes seeming to sparkle like star light. With every strong beat, the sunlight seems to flash through them, making them glow. 

Dokja is entirely entranced by them, barely resisting the urge to touch them. He wonders what they’d feel like underneath his fingers. If they’d be like a soft leather or harsh and scaly. 

“Where are you taking me?” Dokja wanders out loud, eyes drifting back up to Joonghyuk’s face. 

A pleased expression curls onto Joonghyuk’s face, adoration still glinting in his eyes.  “Home.” He says simply.

Dokja’s sense of time is nonexistent, but he can tell at least an hour had passed by the time Joonghyuk begins his steady descent. Joonghyuk hadn’t offered any further explanation after he said where they were going, and oddly enough, Dokja hadn’t asked. 

Dokja’s heart had fluttered at the word, the way Joonghyuk had looked at him still burned into his mind. It was such a simple word, but the intention behind it left him feeling giddy. It’s as if Joonghyuk were saying that where they’re going is not just his home, but Dokja’s as well. 

Distantly Dokja can’t help but wonder if Joonghyuk is referring to the guild, but something tells him that's not the case. 

The descent is a much more pleasant experience, the man gently following the wind as they glide beneath the clouds. For some reason his fear of heights has lost its edge, and Dokja doesn’t feel any fear as they steadily approach the ground. 

Joonghyuk had drifted below the clouds a while ago, only for them to become positively soaked from apparent rain. Dokja was drenched in seconds, and Joonghyuk had merely laughed, eyes flashing with mirth. Dokja had a feeling he did it on purpose, damn jackass.

Thankfully it helped wash the sweat and grime from both of their bodies, so Joonghyuk no longer looked like he committed mass genocide. Once Joonghyuk flew above the clouds again, they dried off rather quickly. 

In the distance Dokja can make a mountain ridge. Though Dokja is pretty familiar with the layout of the country, he’s never seen these mountains before. In fact none of their surroundings look familiar, and Dokja can’t help but wonder where is this home that they’re heading to. 

Joonghyuk gently guides them over the mountain peaks, but rather than continuing over them like Dokja thought, he instead shifts the direction of his wings and glides into them. For a moment it looked like Joonghyuk was going to slam them into the side of a mountain, but they merely passed through it. 

The illusion magic tickles Dokja's skin, a pleasant warmth tingling in his chest. Ah, that would explain it. The illusion barrier lays heavily around them, covering them in a thick fog. It doesn’t seem to bother Joonghyuk though, and he continues to lead them through it without issue. 

Once they make it through the barrier, Dokja’s jaw drops at the magnificent sight before him. His heart surges in his chest as the breath is stolen from his lungs.

A massive clearing spans out in front of them as far as the eye can see, built into the mountains themselves. At the edge of it is a grand waterfall, the crystalline water falling from the edge of the mountain into a small pond. 

It’s so clear Dokja can see the shimmering rocks at the bottom of it, reflecting bright colors of green and blue. A great willow tree is at the edge of the pond, its soft green vines seeming to glow underneath the light of the moon. 

Throughout the rest of the clearing is a forest of sakura and wisteria trees. It’s a magical sight, the falling petals making the area glow with pink and purple light.

At the center of it all is a grand, wooden cabin, built from beautiful mahogany wood. It’s two stories tall with high arched windows and a wide balcony wrapping around the entire second floor. The wooden logs are fashioned perfectly, overlapping with such precision it’s clear it was the work of a master craftsman. The cabin is built upon marbled stone, the stone expanding far outside the edges of the house like a patio. 

For a moment, Dokja can’t believe his eyes, completely awestruck at the paradise that spans before him. This place is something befitting of a dream, a perfect paradise that could only be possible in one’s imagination. And yet, here Dokja is fully awake.

His younger self often dreamed of a place similar to this, letting his imagination run wild as he tried to escape the cruelty of his childhood. He’d imagine running away to the forests where the fairies are said to live, wondering what it’d be like to live somewhere so full of color and life. 

Joonghyuk lands on the balcony and a pair of ornate doors stand before them. They’re paned with stained glass, the undeniable shape of a gardenia crafted in them. 

Dokja feels his heart stutter in his chest, realizing just how much this place is catered to his tastes. It’s as if the craftsman had peered into Dokja’s heart and recreated his dreams. Was it another illusion? A place capable of taking the form of your deepest desires?

He knows there are breeds of pixies capable of such magic, perhaps this is an abandoned home of theirs. Where in the hell had Joonghyuk found such a place?

“Joonghyuk-ah, where are we,” Dokja murmurs, breathless, eyes wide in shock as he takes everything in.

“Home.” Joonghyuk says simply. 

Dokja opens his mouth to complain at the lack of explanation, but doesn’t get the chance. Rather than setting Dokja down, Joonghyuk walks towards doors and gently pushes them open.

A grand bedroom spans out before him, making Dokja complaints die in his throat. It’s beautiful to say the least, despite how simple it is in design

A large white bed lays right in front of him with a high bed frame, translucent fabric draping over it like a halo. Dokja’s heart flutters at the sight of it, though he’d never admit it, he’d always wanted a bed like that ever since he was a kid. 

It looks so soft and fluffy, Dokja knows it is comfortable just by looking at it. At the foot of the bed is a large mahanony chest, with ornate carvings etched into its sides. He can’t quite make out the designs, but he can tell they were made with great care.

*** 

Dokja doesn’t get much more time to admire the room before he finds his world shifting, stealing the breath from his lungs. With painstaking gentleness, Joonghyuk lays him on the bed. Dokja’s body sinks into the velvet sheets, his sore muscles crying out in relief. 

After the hellish day he’s had, this feeling was something short of heaven.

Even though he was only without a shirt, Dokja felt so naked, sprawled out beneath Joonghyuk’s intense eyes. The full moon shines beautifully through the glass panes of the doors, bathing Dokja in its light. His heart thrums with excitement as Joonghyuk leans over him, his powerful thighs straddling either side of his waist.

“Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk murmurs, so soft and reverent, as if his name alone was a blessing. His hand, now without claws, gently caresses Dokja’s cheek. Joonghyuk’s golden eyes are filled with such pure unadulterated desire, possessiveness bleeds from them. Dokja finds himself unable to look away from Joonghyuk’s eyes, leaning into his touch as if he were in a trance.  

A strong emotion is bubbling up in Dokja’s chest and he’s not entirely sure what it is exactly, but one thing is for sure. He’s so undeniably in love with this man, it physically hurts him.

Dokja wants nothing more than to be consumed by him, to be ravaged until nothing of himself remains. The thought alone makes heat pool into his chest and he watches with slight embarrassment as Joonghyuk’s nostrils flare at his obvious change in scent, smelling his desire. 

Dokja shifts his head to the side, attempting to avoid the intensity of Joonghyuk’s gaze. That proves to be the wrong move, however, as a rather aggressive snarl rips from Joonghyuk’s mouth, shattering the gentleness of the moment. Dokja’s heart skips a beat, watching with a slight twinge of fear as nasty scowl curls onto Joonghyuk’s face. 

With Joonghyuk glaring murderously at his neck, Dokja is suddenly reminded of the way the orc had held him by his neck. Knowing how prone to bruising his skin is, it more than likely left a rather nasty bruise. Especially if Joonghyuk’s reaction is anything to go by. 

Dokja has no time to react though, his thoughts derailing as a high keen escapes his lips. Joonghyuk’s hand grips tightly into his hair forcing his head back so it displays the full column of his neck. 

Joonghyuk’s mouth latches onto his bare throat with vengeance, his hot tongue beginning its assault on the delicate skin of his neck. Shivers race up Dokja’s spine, as a needy whine escapes his lips. 

Joonghyuk’s fingers curl at the base of his head, his nails scratching against the sensitive skin. Dokja’s mind goes blank at that, completely melting into the touch as Joonghyuk continues his assault on his throat.

Joonghyuk’s free hand is trailing down Dokja’s body, burning Dokja’s skin wherever it touches. His fingernails brush ever so gently across Dokja’s nipple and he’s so caught up in the moment he can’t stop the slight moan that escapes his lips. 

Joonghyuk perks up at the sound of it, but doesn’t leave his neck, and instead the bastard fucking pinches his nipple. Dokja jolts at that, arching into the touch as he lets out a heady moan. His eyes squeeze shut, the slight twinge of pain makes his cock twitch in interest.

Dokja hadn’t realized his nipples were this sensitive, and he has a feeling Joonghyuk will be taking full advantage of it. 

“Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja moans, trying to get Joonghyuk’s attention. He pays him no mind, now sucking harshly into the skin of Dokja’s neck, intent on replacing the bruises found there with his own.

Joonghyuk’s hand continues to twist and tug at his nipple, pulling more needy moans from Dokja as pleasure thrums through his body. His cock burns in his pants, straining against the harsh fabric. Dokja can feel himself growing more desperate, digging his fingers into Joonghyuk’s back. 

He cants his hips upward, desperately seeking the friction he oh so desperately needs. Joonghyuk is too far away though and all he meets is air, his back falling pathetically back onto the soft bed.

Dokja lets out a frustrated groan, tightly gripping his hand into Joonghyuk’s hair to rip him away from his throat. Joonghyuk’s lips leave his skin with a sickening pop, the sound going straight to Dokja’s hardening cock. 

Joonghyuk looms over him, his lips puffy and coated in saliva. He looks down with intense eyes, unadulterated desire and possessiveness burning in them.

“Please Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja begs, canting his hips upward, “I-I need you.”

Joonghyuk lets out a pleased growl at that, and uses his hand in Dokja’s hair to smash their lips together. Dokja moans at the taste of him, his tongue tracing over Joonghyuk’s sharp teeth. 

Joonghyuk’s hips grind into his own, sending flashes of pleasure racing through his body. Dokja lets out a needy moan, kiss going sloppy as his brain short circuits. Joonghyuk swallows it greedily, groaning deeply as he continues to grind their cocks together. 

Joonghyuk feels so hard and massive against him, and Dokja can feel his ass clench in anticipation of it entering him. He wants him so bad.

Joonghyuk’s lips separate from Dokja’s own with a sickening smack, a displeased groan leaving his lips. Dokja’s head falls back onto the bed, sprawled out pathetically as he pants underneath Joonghyuk. 

Joonghyuk’s hips stop, leaving Dokja’s cock aching and neglected.

He lets out a needy whine, too dazed to understand why Joonghyuk had stopped. “Please, Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja whines, “I-I need you.”

Joonghyuk’s eyes flash in hunger at that, but he doesn’t give in, and instead reaches down and rips off his pants. 

Dokja’s stomach drops at the sight of him, hot need sparking through his body. Joonghyuk’s cock stands proudly between his thighs, hard and heavy, precum already dripping from its tip. It leaves Dokja breathless, throat suddenly dry as his arousal consumes him. 

Joonghyuk doesn’t stop there, and casts a nasty scowl at Dokja’s own pants. A bit of clarity sparks in Dokja then, his eyes widening in fear as he sputters in an attempt to stop him. Joonghyuk ignores him and rips off his pants, leaving Dokja completely bare.

Dokja flushes painfully, the tips of his ears burning at the sudden. He feels so vulnerable, displayed so shamelessly for Joonghyuk to take in. Joonghyuk’s eyes burn into his skin, drinking in every inch of him. 

Dokja squirms at the attention, searing need igniting in his stomach. He’s too hot and horny for this. 

With a frustrated huff, Dokja cants his hips up, trying to get Joonghyuk’s attention. Joonghyuk’s eyes flash towards him, glinting dangerously. Dokja swallows thickly, but doesn’t shy away, eyebrows raising in a challenge. 

“If you don’t touch me right now, I’m going to leave you and find someone who will.” Dokja threatens. 

Joonghyuk snarls at that, baring his teeth in warning. 

“Mine.” He growls out. He roughly grabs Dokja’s thighs, fingers gripping harshly at the flesh as he hooks them over his own.

“Then prove it to me, bastard.” Dokja snaps, and he shoves their lips together. Joonghyuk shoves their hips together with obvious aggression, ripping a pleased moan from Dokja’s mouth. With the fabric no longer dulling the friction, unadulterated pleasure races up his spine.

Joonghyuk groans against his lips, his tongue hot and possessive against his own. Dokja swallows his pleased sounds, greedily drinking in the luscious taste of him. 

Joonghyuk’s lips separate from his own, trailing down his jaw to his throat. He nips at the skin in tandem with his thrusts, the movements harsher as he grows more urgent. He has Dokja pinned, a hand on his hip and the other keeps Dokja’s hands locked above his head.

Dokja is completely at his mercy, moaning unabashed at the delicious friction of Joonghyuk’s cock against his own. Joonghyuk’s lips latch onto the junction of his neck and shoulder, and gently pierces the skin. Dokja whines at the slight pinch of pain. It’s but a tease of a real bite, but it leaves Dokja wanting more.

He wants Joonghyuk to mark him so that no one could deny who he truly belonged to. 

“Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja gasps out. There’s something frantic building up inside of him, a frenzied urge taking over him as pleasure overwhelms his senses. 

He’s honestly not sure what he’s asking for, but Joonghyuk seems to understand him nonetheless. He lifts his hand from Dokja’s hip and grabs both of their cocks. Dokja lets out a high keen at the sudden pressure, the tension in his stomach growing taunt. 

Joonghyuk seems to be losing himself to his pleasure as well, rutting mindlessly as he chases his own release. Through his heavy lidded eyes, he manages to look at Joonghyuk, those desire filled eyes already trained on him. 

Dokja comes with a cry then, Joonghyuk’s name slipping past his lips in a needy moan. His back arches as cum spurts from his cock, splashing all over his torso. Dokja’s mind goes completely blank, the aftermath of the orgasm making his body go lax. 

Joonghyuk’s grip on his cock feels painful now, but Joonghyuk pays no mind, mindlessly chasing his own release. Dokja whimpers at the overstimulation, in a daze as pleasure and pain hum through his body. 

Joonghyuk cums soon after, a guttural growl ripping from his chest. His release joins the mess on Dokja’s torso, some of it splashing across Dokja’s face. 

Joonghyuk gently releases their cocks, looming over Dokja with a dark and needy expression. One look at him and Dokja knows they’re far from over, but he can’t seem to care. He’s wanted this for so long, he certainly isn’t stopping after one round.

Still a bit in a daze, he manages to hold Joonghyuk’s gaze with half lidded eyes. He saw the way Joonghyuk’s eyes darkened at the sight of his cum on his face, and he plans on taking full advantage of that possessiveness. 

Dokja slowly sticks out his tongue, watching with satisfaction as Joonghyuk’s eyes flick towards it. Tantalizingly slow he stretches it out and licks the cum into his mouth, letting out a pleased moan as he brings it back into his mouth, his eyes not leaving Joonghyuk’s face.

Joonghyuk's golden eyes flash with vicious desire, his teeth baring in a silent snarl. He reaches down to wipe the remaining cum from Dokja’s face, not once breaking eye contact. 

His hand doesn’t leave Dokja’s face though, and instead pushes his cum covered fingers against Dokja’s lips, a silent demand. 

Heat curls in Dokja’s belly then, his cock twitching in interest. He opens his mouth, letting Joonghyuk push his fingers in. Dokja licks filthy at the digits, tongue wrapping around them as he sucks off the cum.

He takes great care to wipe them clean, intentionally making a show out of it. It appears to be working, Joonghyuk watching him with dark eyes. Dokja lets out a needy moan around the fingers, looking up at Joonghyuk with needy eyes. Joonghyuk’s eyes glint dangerously as he watches him, breathing is growing more haggard. 

Dokja can see his cock starting to swell, and Dokja wishes it were in his mouth instead of Joonghyuk’s fingers. Seeming to catch Dokja’s train of thought, Joonghyuk lets out a growl and pushes his fingers in deeper, tickling the back of his throat. 

Dokja’s throat spasms at the sudden intrusion, but he forces himself to breathe through it. If he was going to suck Joonghyuk’s cock —which he has full intentions too — he couldn’t choke on mere fingers. Joonghyuk’s eyes grow darker, and suddenly rips his fingers out.

Dokja doesn’t even have time to whine before Joonghyuk’s head is shifting lower. He begins to lick the cum off of Dokja’s body, making Dokja groan and arch into his touch. He leaves nothing behind, and yet Dokja still feels so hot and sweaty. 

His cock is slowly hardening, panting heavily beneath Joonghyuk. He just wants him to fuck him already, dammit. 

“St-stop messing with me, you damn bastard.” Dokja spits out, wishing that Joonghyuk wasn’t holding his hands down so he could touch him.

Joonghyuk’s eyes jerk up from his torso, the harsh look makes Dokja freeze, a shiver traveling down his spine. Joonghyuk lets out a pleased rumble, licking the cum from his lips. 

He smashes their lips together, the mixture of their releases dancing between their tongues. It’s hot, messy, and rather disgusting but Dokja wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Joonghyuk’s hand trails down Dokja’s body, tenderly mapping out the lines of his skin. He brushes ever so gently passed Dokja’s cock, making Dokja whine against his lips. He’s already half hard, blood rushing down to his cock. 

Joonghyuk continues lower, caressing against the tender skin of his balls. The touch makes Dokja jolt in his arms, a needy whine reverberating in his throat. 

Joonghyuk’s hand comes to a stop at his aching rim, tracing around the rim of his hole. Without so much as a warning, Joonghyuk presses his finger in. His rim burns at the dry intrusion, pain startling his arousal idled brain back to function. 

Dokja lets out a pained gasp, pushing roughly against Joonghyuk’s chest. It forces Joonghyuk’s finger from his hole, their lips separate with an audible pop. Joonghyuk lets out a displeased growl, eyes flashing dangerously. 

“Shut up,” Dokja seethes out, “You can fuck me in just a second, I am not taking you dry.”

Joonghyuk is way too damn big and Dokja hasn’t been fucked in over a year, there’s no fucking way his ass would make it out of that alive. He doubts it will anyways, but at the very least it won’t rip. 

He takes the leftover cum and thoroughly coats his fingers in it. Dokja barely resists the urge to grimace at the sticky texture, this is certainly less than ideal, but it’s certainly better than taking him raw. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes are narrowed, glinting as he watches him like a hawk. Dokja brings his fingers down towards his entrance, making Joonghyuk shift back so he can better see what Dokja is doing. He tightens his grip on Dokja’s thighs, spreading them out and pushing them up towards Dokja’s torso. It leaves him fully exposed, his hole twitching as Joonghyuk looks at him intently. 

Dokja flushes, biting his lip in an attempt to stifle his moan. Joonghyuk’s eyes burn against his skin, and Dokja wants nothing more than for him to devour him.

With a shuddering gasp, he pushes a finger in. He winces slightly at the burn, it has been a long time since he’s taken anything, so it’ll take some time before he’s ready to take Joonghyuk’s formidable cock. 

He forces it in further, pushing it past the second knuckle. It takes a bit, but he slowly accommodates the intrusion, and Dokja pushes in a second finger. It’s a bit dry so he has to grab a bit more cum. 

He quickly finds a rhythm, letting out a needy moan as he finds the right pace. Dokja loses himself to it, letting his fingers stretch in a scissoring motion. He had forgotten how good it felt to fuck himself open, and it only made him hot in anticipation for Joonghyuk’s cock to spear him open. 

He scoops up more cum with his free hand, letting it dribble down his taint. Dokja intends to shove in a third finger when Joonghyuk suddenly lets out a deep growl, his hand jerking out to grab Dokja’s hand. 

Dokja whines at the loss of movement, trying to pry his hand from Joonghyuk’s grip in order to chase his release. Joonghyuk just bares his teeth in warning, and Dokja quickly submits, letting Joonghyuk take his hand out. 

He finds both of his hands placed above his head once more, Joonghyuk’s golden glaring down at him. Dokja lets out a needy moan. “Please Joonghyuk-ah,” He begs, cock aching painfully. 

He doesn’t have to wait for long though, as Joonghyuk shoves three of his fingers in. He fucks them in with no warning, and Dokja’s body jolts, a choked groan ripping from his throat. Dokja can feel the burn, Joonghyuk’s fingers thicker and longer than his own, and his breath is caught in his chest.

He fucks into him much faster than Dokja had, fingers thrusting along Dokja’s prostate. Dokja lets out a high keen as heat spreads throughout his body.

Joonghyuk growls appreciatively, and angles his fingers in that direction, so they continually hit his sweet spot. Dokja’s brain short circuits, reduces to incoherency as his cock aches painfully against his torso. 

Dokja can feel himself growing closer to his release as Joonghyuk continues to assault his prostate, adding in a fourth finger. The obscene squelch of Joonghyuk’s fingers fucking him fills the room, and Dokja wants nothing more than for it to be his cock. 

He’s not quite ready yet, but Dokja is too impatient to care. “Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja moans, looking up at him with lidded eyes. 

Joonghyuk’s nostrils flare, seeming to understand what Dokja wants without him asking for it. His fingers slide out from his hole, making Dokja whine at the loss of pleasure. His cock twitches pathetically as his impending orgasm fades. 

Joonghyuk scoops up some of the remaining cum, and smears it over his cock, letting out a quiet groan. Dokja swallows thickly at the sight, he looks so hot like that. Joonghyuk’s head tilts back ever so slightly, displaying the strong curve of his neck. Joonghyuk’s adam’s apple bobs tantalizingly, his throat quivering as his breath quickens. 

Dokja wonders what it would be like to watch Joonghyuk pleasure himself, to watch him delve into a needy mess as he chases after his own release.

Joonghyuk lets his hand drop then, attention back on Dokja as reaches down to grab Dokja’s hip so he can align his cock with Dokja’s aching hole. 

With one harsh thrust, Joonghyuk sheathes the entirety of himself in, and Dokja feels like the air has been punched from his lungs. He lets out a choked gasp, back arching as a consuming mix of pain and pleasure overwhelming him. His mind goes blank, momentarily stunned at the thick intrusion. 

Joonghyuk is practically splitting him open and Dokja never felt so full in his life. 

Joonghyuk lets out a guttural groan, Dokja’s tight heat squeezing against his cock. He drags his cock back out only to slam it back in with another harsh thrust. He’s grabbing Dokja’s hip so tight, Dokja knows there’s going to be a bruise. 

Dokja lets out a gasp, his chest shuddering at the impact. “Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja sobs, wishing his hands weren’t bound so he could pull Joonghyuk flush against him, “S — so big. Joonghyuk-ah, you f-fill me up so well.”

Joonghyuk lets out a pleased rumble at that, pulling his cock out a bit slower, every thick inch of him dragging deliciously across Dokja’s walls. It’s so slow and tantalizing, and all Dokja can do is whine. He doesn’t know how long he’ll last once Joonghyuk finally lets go, he already feels so full.

The searing drag of Joonghyuk’s cock is taking his breath away, and it’s almost worse. He just wants him to fuck him. 

Joonghyuk keeps going until only the tip is left, and Dokja lets out another whine, eyes finally meeting Joonghyuk’s gaze. Tears begin to well up in his eyes, as frustration prickles in his gut. It’s not enough, he needs more.

“Ah, Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja whimpers, squeezing tightly around Joonghyuk’s cock, “Fuck me, please.”

Joonghyuk’s eyes flash, and that’s all it takes before he’s slamming his cock back in. The pace is brutal, hard and fast as Joonghyuk spears into him. Dokja’s voice stutters, breath punched out of him as Joonghyuk thrusts into him with abandon. 

Their skin slaps together almost obscenely, almost as loud as Dokja’s broken moans. Joonghyuk is growling, the sound loud and aggressive as he lifts Dokja’s hips up to get a better angle.

Dokja sees stars, a needy moan ripping from his throat. Joonghyuk’s thrusts meet Dokja’s prostate with devastating precision. He can feel his insides molding to match the shape of Joonghyuk’s cock, and he wants nothing more than for him to own him, mewling pathetically underneath him. His insides burn oh so wonderfully, and Dokja feels himself falling apart. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes are dark and feral, glinting with such an intensity Dokja can’t look away. His face is so close, but yet so far away, Dokja just wants to touch him. He wants to touch him so much he aches.

Dokja squirms against the hold Joonghyuk’s has on his wrists, tears streaming down his face in frustration. “Please Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja pants, “I wanna— wanna touch you. Need you.”

His words are frantic and breathless, voice broken by Joonghyuk’s harsh thrusts. Thankfully Joonghyuk takes pity on him and the tight grip on his wrists loosens. Dokja immediately rips his hands free, hands jerking up to pull at Joonghyuk’s hair and smash their lips together.

Joonghyuk’s hips stutters ever so slightly, only to find the rhythm again, fucking him even harder. Dokja moans in Joonghyuk’s mouth, sucking sloppily at his tongue. It’s all spit and teeth, but Dokja can’t find it in himself to care. 

Joonghyuk growls, kissing in tandem to his thrusts. Dokja’s cock aches with vengeance, as arousal burns through him in an inferno. Joonghyuk’s hips roll and grind into him with devastating accuracy, and Dokja is losing all sense of reason.

Of course this bastard would be sex god, what wasn’t he good at? Was it experience or just blatant favoritism? Dokja’s no virgin, but either way Joonghyuk is way out of his league. He is a fucking menace. 

Joonghyuk’s thrusts are growing rougher, sweat matting Joonghyuk’s brow as he continues his assault on Dokja’s ass. Dokja lets out blubbering sobs so close to his release he can almost taste it. 

“Please Joonghyuk-ah, ah, please.” His words are an incoherent mess, trailing off into a high keen.

Joonghyuk’s answers him, heaving up his legs so they drape over his shoulder. Dokja lets out a high keen at the new angle. Joonghyuk’s cock goes even deeper, and Dokja can feel him everywhere, molding his insides until all he can do is suck his cock in deeper. 

Dokja’s can feel how sloppy and loose his hole is becoming, and he knows he’s ruined. He’s no size queen, but Joonghyuk has ruined sex for him. No one will ever compare to this, Dokja thinks as he’s fucked stupid. Joonghyuk’s broken him.

Joonghyuk’s breath is hot on his throat, teeth grazing gently across the delicate skin. He sucks harshly into the junction of Dokja’s neck and shoulder, more than likely leaving a nasty hickey. 

Dokja grips Joonghyuk’s hair as he continues to suck at the skin, letting out needy whine as Joonghyuk continues to leave his marks on his neck. The tension in Dokja’s belly grows tight, every muscle in his body growing taunt as his pleasure continues to build.

All it takes is one more harsh thrust against his prostate and Dokja comes with a loud moan. His back arches, nails digging harshly into Joonghyuk’s muscular back. Dokja’s vision swims, eyes rolling into the back of his head as pleasure thrumming across his skin. He comes so hard, his entire body tremors from the aftershocks. 

Dokja’s hole clenches around Joonghyuk’s cock, and Joonghyuk lets out a deep growl, jutting forward with a harsh thrust. Joonghyuk’s close, his hips stuttering erratically. Dokja let’s out a high keen, so fucked out and sensitive to the slightest touch. 

“Ah, too much,” Dokja’s whimpers, “P—please Joonghyuk-ah I… I can’t. 

Joonghyuk lets out a growl, continuing to thrust deeply into Dokja’s hole until he goes very still. Joonghyuk’s groan of pleasure is muffled against the skin of Dokja’s neck. Hot cum shoots into him, Joonghyuk’s cock almost pulsing as it brands Dokja’s insides. 

Dokja lets out a needy moan, Joonghyuk coming in unending waves. It’s more than Dokja would have thought possible, and Dokja can feel his belly start to ache. 

“Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja murmurs, head light as his consciousness threatens to fade. He feels so full, so blissed out and safe in Joonghyuk’s arms.

Joonghyuk’s hand caresses his tear stained cheek, golden eyes shining with unshed emotion. “Beautiful.” He whispers, his voice rough and dry from misuse. 

Dokja feels himself smile, leaning into Joonghyuk’s touch. He can feel gentle kisses being pressed into his skin, warm hands tenderly massaging his sore legs. 

Dokja lets out a pleased sigh, and his world fades to black

Joonghyuk, Dokja discovers, is a fucking menace, and he’s this close to castrating the stupid bastard. 

Dokja thought he was horny, but Joonghyuk made him look like a damn prude. He honestly doesn’t know what atrocities he must have commited in his past life to have ended up with such a damn degenerate, but he must have been a fucking war criminal.

Though if he thinks about it, in some parts of the country he’s definitely considered one, so that’s probably not the best assertion to make.

Joonghyuk’s refractory period is nonexistent, and at this point, Dokja has spent more time on Joonghyuk’s cock than he’s spent off of it. It’s reached the point that time no longer meant anything to him, his sex-idle brain completely fried. He’s all too grateful to Seolhwa for teaching him the simple healing spells, otherwise he’d have died at this point.

Joonghyuk has him against the wall now, cock pounding into his ass like there’s no tomorrow. Of course that’s not enough for Joonghyuk, no, he seems wholly intent on making Dokja suffer. He’s sucking possessive marks into Dokja’s tender neck, his hand pinching at his raw and sensitive nipples.

Once Dokja regains semblacely of thought, he’s going to kick this fuckers ass until he feels the full brunt of the agony he’s putting Dokja through. 

Or at least that’s what he tells himself, but after the years long dry spell Dokja’s been in, these past few days of mindless fucking is well beyond gratifying. For how rough he is with sex, Joonghyuk takes his aftercare quite seriously, and Dokja has probably fallen even more in love with him. If that were even possible.

Though it defeats the purpose if Joonghyuk is fucking into him ten minutes after. Damn horny bastard.

The only good thing about this marathon sex session is that Joonghyuk is slowly regaining his senses. The wings and horns have completely disappeared, and the tattoos have faded from his face. Joonghyuk’s eyes have returned back to their dark brown color, only flashing gold when Joonghyuk gets particularly worked up. 

He’s still grunting out two word sentences like a damn caveman, but his coherency is leaps and bounds over what it was a week ago. 

Though he is a bit sad that Joonghyuk’s wings have disappeared. Dokja had discovered that they are rather sensitive, and left the hybrid a quivering mess when Dokja played with them. 

Joonghyuk nips rather harshly at Dokja’s sensitive neck, ripping him from his thoughts. 

Dokja lets out a garbled curse. “Joonghyuk-ah, my neck is going to look like a fucking mess if you keep doing that.” He pants out in between the thrusts.

“Stop thinking, Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk just grunts out, tongue laving over the bite. 

That’s another thing he does. Despite him slowly regaining his humanity, the possessiveness has somehow gotten worse, much to his chagrin. Heaven forbid Dokja focus on anything other than Joonghyuk, you’d think the world was burning or something with how offended Joonghyuk gets.

Had he known Joonghyuk was so needy he wouldn’t have bothered with his stupid crush. (Dokja’s lying to himself, he secretly adores it)

Joonghyuk’s thrusts grow erratic, his cock beginning to swell. Yet another thing to add onto the ever growing list of reasons why Dokja loves hates the shitty bastard. 

Of course he’d have a fucking knot, why the hell wouldn’t he.

Dokja groans, his head banging against the wall. “Joonghyuk-ah, I’m so going to fucking kill you once this is done.” His ass is so fucking sore, sloppy and loose from Joonghyuk’s non stop fucking. 

Joonghyuk just grunts, grinding his hips when he can’t thrust anymore. He cums with a guttural moan, teeth sinking ever so slightly into the back of Dokja’s neck. Dokja really doesn’t understand the obsession with his neck, but Joonghyuk hasn’t left it alone. He knows it’ll look like he’s been mauled, covered in fates no how many hickies. 

Thick spurts of cum join the hot mess inside of him, so full it spills out from Joonghyuk’s knot. Joonghyuk, apparently, likes it hot and messy. Figures the damn degenerate would have a thing for cream pies. 

Joonghyuk reaches down to Dokja’s cock, continuing to grind against his aching prostate as he tugs at Dokja’s cock. Dokja’s release comes embarrassingly quick, so spent and sensitive. He goes lax into Joonghyuk’s back, knees buckling underneath him. 

Had it not been for Joonghyuk’s strong arms around his hips, he would have collapsed onto the ground. 

“Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja begs, mind in a daze. He can’t finish his sentence, but thankfully Joonghyuk gets the memo, ever aware of Dokja’s needs. He’s thoroughly spent at this point. Joonghyuk hums, twisting his body ever so slightly so he can hold him. 

Dokja hisses as Joonghyuk’s knot brushes against his bruised prostate. 

Joonghyuk lets out a soft rumble, nuzzling into Dokja’s neck in a comforting gesture, and Dokja sinks bonelessly into Joonghyuk’s arms. 

Joonghyuk carries him back to the bed, gently laying on his side to not jostle Dokja. He gently massages the soreness from Dokja’s aching muscles, tender hands tracing over his skin. 

“Beautiful,” Joonghyuk murmurs.

Dokja’s body flushes at the praise, Joonghyuk’s deep voice sending shivers up his spine. Even with his abrupt sentences, he’s more vocal than Dokja had expected. Not that he’s complaining, he’s always had somewhat of a praise kink, or maybe just a voice kink in general. Joonghyuk could call him the most vulgar and derogatory words in existence and he’d still get a hard on. 

Dokja turns his head, looking back at Joonghyuk’s warm eyes. He leans in slightly, letting his face brush against Joonghyuk’s. “You’re so good to me, Joonghyuk-ah.” He whispers.

Joonghyuk’s eyes flash gold at that, his nostrils flaring ever so slightly. Joonghyuk, Dokja has found, also really likes to be praised, if not more so than Dokja. 

They stay like that for a while, holding each other until Joonghyuk’s knot goes down.

Joonghyuk pulls out, making Dokja wince as it brushes against his tender rim. Joonghyuk is quick to soothe him, pressing a tender kiss to his brow, gently carding his hand through his hair. 

***

Ever so gently, Joonghyuk picks him up again, and walks out onto the balcony. His wings materialize from the black tattoos on his back, a fascinating sight Dokja doubts he’ll ever grow tired of.

With powerful beats of his wings, Joonghyuk flies them over to the pond and gently sets Dokja into the water. Dokja lets out a pleased sigh, the warm water pleasant against his aching muscles. 

He’s not entirely sure how the water is so warm, but he’s too blissed out to truly care. 

With delicate and tender hands, Joonghyuk washes the sweat and cum from Dokja’s skin. Dokja leans into his chest, losing himself into the gentle pressure of Joonghyuk’s fingers. 

He hisses when Joonghyuk’s fingers reach down towards his sore rim, but Joonghyuk is quick to soothe him, murmuring soft praises into his hair. Though unpleasant, he feels significantly better having the cum washed from inside of him. 

After deeming Dokja is clean he lifts him up, wrapping Dokja’s legs around his waist. Dokja’s a bit light headed, still in a daze from the afterglow of his orgasm. 

A flash of clarity strikes through him as Joonghyuk moves to take them out of the water. 

“W-wait, Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja sputters out, voice a bit hoarse from misuse. 

Joonghyuk stops, eyes glancing down at him in question. 

“Let—let me take care of you too.” Dokja murmurs.

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen in surprise. “Dokja…” He murmurs, more than likely trying to argue with him.

Dokja silences him with a gentle hand on his cheek. “You took such great care of me, Joonghyuk. I want to do the same for you.”

He watches as Joonghyuk swallows thickly, gold flashing in his eyes. Joonghyuk jerks his head down in an awkward nod, and carries Dokja to the edge of the lake, setting him down on the rock ledge.

“Kneel down for me, Joonghyuk-ah.” Dokja murmurs. His arms would get tired if he had to reach up to wash him, and Dokja really wanted to take his time.

Joonghyuk nods stiffly, and kneels between Dokja’s legs, his large hands resting on Dokja’s thighs. It’s a bit of an intimate pose, making Dokja’s cheeks flush ever so slightly, but for some reason he isn’t at all aroused, despite Joonghyuk’s face being inches from his cock.

Dokja swallows thickly at the beautiful sight before him, Joonghyuk’s skin glowing underneath the light of the sun. Joonghyuk looks up at him with warm eyes, a pleasant expression on his face. Dokja reaches out to caress his cheek, heart fluttering as Joonghyuk leans into his touch. 

Dokja can’t help but smile. “You’re so beautiful, you know that.”

Dokja watches as a slight flush appears on Joonghyuk’s cheeks, his hands clenching Dokja’s thighs. This is another pleasant surprise that came with Joonghyuk slowly regaining his rationality. To think the fearsome Joonghyuk would blush at a mere praise.

Kim Dokja,” Joonghyuk murmurs, his voice thick with unsung emotion. 

Dokja lets his hand fall from Joonghyuk’s face, and reaches to grab the bar of soap Joonghyuk had cast aside earlier. He thoroughly lathers his fingers in it, and then sets it back down. 

He reaches out and gently massages his fingers into Joonghyuk’s scalp. Joonghyuk lets out a deep rumble like that, a serene expression melting onto his face as he seems to lose himself to Dokja’s touch. 

Dokja takes his time, carefully covering every inch of Joonghyuk’s silky hair with the soap. Joonghyuk leans into his touch, a purr budding in his chest. Dokja lets his fingers trail down his scalp, gently massaging into the base of his skull.

Joonghyuk’s eyes roll into the back of his head, body going lax against Dokja’s thighs. Dokja’s eyes widen at that, not expecting such a reaction. He’s not sure whether or not that’s a good sign, so he lets his fingers trail back up Joonghyuk’s head.

Joonghyuk lets out a displeased rumble at that, glaring up at him with half-lidded eyes. 

Dokja laughs a little at that, and lets his fingers trail back down. Joonghyuk lets his eyes drift shut, a pleased expression curling back onto his face. Dokja pays close attention to the knotted muscle at the base of his neck, carefully massaging the tension from it. 

“So needy, Joonghyuk-ah. Who would have thought.” He teases. 

Joonghyuk pays him no mind, purring with content as Dokja gently eases the tension from his body. 

Sometime passes and eventually Joonghyuk shies away from his hands, dropping into the water to wash off the soap. It allows Dokja to finally take a deep breath, not having realized he was holding it in the first place. 

A heavy tension has fallen between them, but it’s not uncomfortable, just very intimate. Thousands of unsaid words seem to float around them, and Dokja honestly doesn’t know what to think anymore. 

Joonghyuk resurfaces moments later, his hand reaching up to slick his wet hair from his face. Dokja swallows thickly as droplets of water run down Joonghyuk’s perfectly tanned skin, tracing over the high arches of his muscles. 

Heat twists in his stomach, making his heart clench painfully. Joonghyuk is so beautiful it hurts and Dokja honestly doesn’t know what to do with himself anymore. 

A peaceful and serene expression is on Joonghyuk’s face, not a trace of tension to be found on his body. Dokja feels satisfaction fluttering through him, oh so pleased that he was the one to cause such an expression.

Joonghyuk inches in closer, pulling them flush together. He looks up at Dokja with such reverence and adoration, one would think Dokja was his savior. 

With Joonghyuk slowly regaining his humanity, Dokja can no longer say that there’s no chance Joonghyuk likes him. If anything, Joonghyuk’s actions have grown more intentional, showing his affections in a way even Dokja can’t deny the intent behind them.

He really wishes he could see into Joonghyuk’s mind, and understand what he’s thinking. 

Joonghyuk rests his head against Dokja’s chest, breathing in deeply. “Kim Dokja,” He murmurs softly, wrapping his arms tightly around Dokja’s waist. 

The way he says his name is so soft and reverent, as if it were a confession of love rather than just his name. Dokja feels tears prickling in his eyes, a strong emotion overcoming him. 

He swallows uncomfortably, trying to quell the torrent of emotions starting to build in his stomach. Dokja holds him just as close, nuzzling his face into Joonghyuk’s hair. For a moment Dokja wishes this would never end, that they could stay in this paradise forever. 

Dokja isn’t ready to face reality just yet, and after spending days wrapped up in Joonghyuk, he really doesn’t want to go back home. Here he can pretend here, avoid those anxieties that are steadily consuming him.

It’s been so easy to forget everything else, to get so lost in Joonghyuk’s tender love, but now, Dokja feels the fear and uncertainty starting to creep in. 

He’s not sure what he’s more afraid of Joonghyuk hating him or actually returning his feelings. Either way, it’s a great threat to the normalcy he’s fought so hard to build. He hates change, especially the uncertainty that came along with it. 

No matter how this ends, nothing will ever be the same, and that thought alone is making Dokja’s stomach drop. He’s so scared, scared that Joonghyuk might hate him, terrified that he might actually return his feelings. 

Thousands of possibilities race through his head, and none of them return his life back to normal.

Joonghyuk’s warm hands on his face draws him from his thoughts. Dark brown eyes bore into his own, the flecks of amber glinting beautifully the light of the sun. 

Joonghyuk’s brow is pinched in concern, his expression almost pained as he looks at Dokja. His thumbs gently brush across the skin of Dokja’s cheeks, wiping away tears Dokja hadn’t realized were falling. 

“Don’t cry,” Joonghyuk pleads, hurt dripping into his voice. 

Dokja shudders, trying to resist the sob starting to crawl up his throat. “I’m sorry, Joonghyuk-ah,” He croaks out, “I don…don’t know what—what’s come over me.”

Joonghyuk whines at that, concern bleeding from his eyes. “Dokja,” He murmurs, his voice cracking. 

Joonghyuk pulls him into his chest then, and all last shreds of control shatter as Dokja sobs into Joonghyuk’s neck. Strangled cries rip his throat, all the fear and anxiety he had been holding back rushing like a tidal wave. 

Joonghyuk scents him frantically, his body trembling with anxiety as he desperately tries to comfort Dokja. It only makes him cry even harder, guilty for causing Joonghyuk such distress. 

He tries to stop, but after holding this in for so long, it’s too much. Dokja just holds Joonghyuk even tighter, weeping into his shoulder. 

Dokja isn’t entirely sure how much time passes, but eventually his sobs die off into choked whimpers. Dokja has probably cried more in the past week than he has in years, and he’s not sure which is more concerning.

Sensing that Dokja has begun to calm down, Joonghyuk gently separates them. Dokja’s tear stained eyes meet Joonghyuk’s own, and he barely resists the urge to cry again. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, heart wrenching hurt present in them and Dokja hates that he was the one to cause it. There isn’t a trace of that once blissful expression, and it’s all Dokja’s fault.

He tries to shy away from Joonghyuk’s gaze, but Joonghyuk won’t let him, keeping a firm grip on his cheeks. 

“Kim Dokja,” He murmurs, his voice harsh and cracked with emotion. 

“I’m okay, Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja reassures, barely keeping his voice stable. He’s really not, but he does feel a bit better after crying.

Joonghyuk doesn’t look like he believes him, face pinching into a scowl. He seems conflicted, wanting to talk to Dokja, but unable to form the words to do so. 

Dokja presses a kiss to Joonghyuk’s hand. “It’s okay, Joonghyuk-ah, we can talk about it later. Right now all I need is you.”

Dokja has every intention of avoiding said conversation if the opportunity should arise, but Joonghyuk doesn’t need to know that.

Joonghyuk raises an eyebrow, seeming to catch Dokja’s train of thought, but he just sighs, and gently pulls Dokja into his arms. This is probably the first time Dokja’s thankful that Joonghyuk isn’t fully aware, otherwise he doubts he would have been able to get away with that. 

Joonghyuk takes him back to the house, gently drying him off before he lays him back down into the bed. Dokja buries himself into Joonghyuk’s side, tightly wrapped his arms. Dokja ends up taking a nap after that, the gentle rumbling of Joonghyuk’s chest lulling him to sleep. 

He wakes up with his head on Joonghyuk’s chest, body pulled flush to his side. Dokja lets out a content sigh, gently nuzzling into Joonghyuk’s neck to breathe in his comforting scent. 

Joonghyuk’s breathing is soft and steady, showing that the hybrid had fallen asleep too. While Dokja wants nothing more than to stay there, he’s quite hungry, and he still isn’t quite sure where any of the food is stored. 

Joonghyuk would just bring it to him between rounds. Dokja would usually be a bit too dazed out, so Joonghyuk would hand feed him. Ever the doting husband, that one.  

“Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja murmurs, reaching up to caress Joonghyuk’s face, “Wake up, I’m hungry.”

He does feel a bit bad for waking him up just so he can eat. He honestly could go find some himself, but after the sex fest they just had he’s feeling a bit sentimental, and the thought of leaving Joonghyuk’s side sounds terrible.

Dokja’s fingers graze across Joonghyuk’s hot skin, but his expression never changes. That’s odd. Joonghyuk is incredibly sensitive, so touching his face is usually a sure fire way to wake him up.

A twinge of unease shoots down his spine. “Joonghyuk.” Dokja says, a little bit louder, gently shaking the man’s shoulders.

His expression remains unchanged, and anxiety is beginning to prick at Dokja’s nerves. He tries two more times, a little louder each time, but not once does Joonghyuk stir.

Dokja can feel fear starting to prickle in his chest, his heart beat starting to grow more erratic. He takes a steadying breath, urging himself to stay calm.

He does a quick check of Joonghyuk’s vitals, but nothing seems to be concerning. Joonghyuk’s pulse is a bit fast for someone who’s asleep, and he’s running a slight fever, but neither are high enough to garner concern. Joonghyuk’s body doesn’t behave as a normal human’s would anyways.

Dokja sighs, urging himself to stay calm. He doesn’t possess the skills needed to handle this, he needs to contact the guild.

He forces himself out of bed, searching through the closet in order to find some clothes to cover himself. Though they’re a bit big, he manages to find a turtleneck, which he is all too grateful for. He doesn’t have to look in the mirror to know he looks like he has gotten mauled.

After a bit of digging around, Dokja finds a communication stone stored in a dresser. It takes a few moments to connect, but then Heewon’s face flickers into view. 

“You shitty mother fucker, where the hell have you been?” She spits out.

Dokja winces, “Sorry, I know I went MIA for a while, but I promise I’ll explain that later. Right now I really need to talk to Seolhwa.”

Heewon huffs, bristling with agitation. “Are you fucking-“

“Please, Heewon,” Dokja begs, a twinge of desperation leaking into his tone, “It’s about Joonghyuk. He isn’t waking up.”

Heewon's eyes widen, noticing the panic of Dokja’s voice. “Okay,” She concedes, “But you’ll be answering to me afterwards, you shitty bastard.”

Dokja lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I promise I’ll explain everything later.” He assures.

Heewon disappears, and Seolhwa is in front of him a few minutes later.

She looks as pristine as ever, a small smile on her face as she greets him. “Dokja-ssi. It’s a relief to see that you’re okay. What’s the problem with Joonghyuk?”

“We fell asleep a couple of hours ago, but when I tried to wake him up he wouldn’t budge.” He explains.

Seolhwa lets out a troubled noise. “That’s odd, considering how much of a light sleeper he is.”

Dokja sighs, pinching at his forehead. “I know, that’s why I’m worried.”

“How are his vitals? Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?” She asks.

“They’re fine, honestly. His heart rate is a bit high and he’s running a bit of a fever, but neither are high enough to be concerning.”

Seolhwa hums, pausing to think for a moment. “That’s interesting. How has his behavior been recently, have you noticed any changes? Positive or otherwise?”

Dokja flushes a bit, swallowing uncomfortably. “He actually fully shifted a couple days ago, that’s part of the reason why I disappeared.”

“HE WHAT.” Sooyoung yells somewhere out of view.

“Dokja I swear to the fates above if you did something-“ Heewon starts. 

“That’s enough.” Seolhwa interrupts, casting a warning glare back at Sooyoung and Heewon. “You can yell at him later, right now I need to figure out what’s wrong with Joonghyuk.”

She turns her attention back to Dokja. “When he fully shifted, how did it impact his behavior? Did it worsen his feral state?”

“No, actually,” Dokja starts, “It improved it. He was able to understand me and could even form basic sentences.”

Seolhwa’s eyes widen at that. “Well that’s certainly unexpected. I wonder if the full shift allowed his body to start burning off the effects of the gas. How did it progress?”

“He continued to gradually improve. Physically he returned back to normal after a couple days, but mentally it stayed about the same. His behavior was still a bit feral, but there were semblances of coherency.”

“Well I’ll be…” Seolhwa says, a pleased smile on her face, “That’s certainly good to hear. If it’s like that, then I’m going to assume his body has put him in a comatose state in order to burn off the rest of the gas. It would certainly explain the fever and high heart rate.”

Dokja lets out a relieved sigh, Seolhwa is truly a blessing. “Fates be praised.”

“Though I can’t be certain. You should bring him back to the guild so I can monitor him. If he’s asleep we’ll be able to place some counter measures if he wakes up and is hostile. Do you have the ability to teleport from where you are? Sooyoung hasn’t been able to narrow down your location for some reason.”

Dokja hums, wondering if the barrier they entered through had anything to do with that. 

“Yeah we do, I’ll be there as soon as I can, it might take me a while to figure out how to carry that bastard though.” Dokja grumbles, casting a look at Joonghyuk’s prone form.

Seolhwa laughs, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I’ll let you go now, see you in a bit, Dokja.”

And with that the white haired healer flickers away, leaving Dokja staring at the mirror once again. Thankfully the teleportation crystal is just outside the hall, so at the very least he won’t have to walk that far. 

Taking a steadying breath, he walks back over to the bed, making sure to grab another pair of pants on his way. Joonghyuk somehow looks significantly bigger now that he’s looking at him. With great difficulty he manages to slide the pants on him, but that alone makes him break a sweat. He is so going to throw out his back trying to do this.

“Joonghyuk, I swear to the fates above, if I pull something trying to carry your fat ass…” 

With far more effort than should have been necessary, he manages to put Joonghyuk on his back and pushes himself off of the bed. Joonghyuk is incredibly heavy, and Dokja can feel his already tired muscles crying out in pain. 

“You know, taking a day off from training wouldn’t kill you, you know.” Dokja pants out, his legs shaking as he wobbles to the crystal.

Somehow Dokja makes it to the teleporting crystal without dropping him, which is a blessing in itself. Dokja really doesn’t think he’d be able to pick him up again if he did.

Dokja casts one last look at Joonghyuk’s face, as he waits for the crystal to activate. Joonghyuk has a peaceful expression, completely oblivious to the torture he’s putting Dokja through. Why’d he have to be so fucking heavy.

He knows the second he walks through this portal everything is going to change, and he’ll be forced to leave the peaceful facade behind. Dokja definitely isn’t ready for it, but he’s forced to take the step anyway, Joonghyuk’s weight steadily becoming more than he can bear. 

Of course Joonghyuk would find a way to prevent Dokja from hiding even while disencumbered, he always was a persistent bastard. With a heavy sigh, Dokja walks through it, leaving his paradise behind. He can’t say for certain what the future will hold, so he can only hope whatever fate awaits him, that at the very least they’ll be for the better. 

Perhaps, just this once, fate will take pity on him. 

Chapter Text

The next 24 hours drag on rather slowly. 

The moment Dokja enters the guild, Joonghyuk is taken from him and he is forced to sit through an hour long lecture where Heewon and Sooyoung thoroughly berate and scold him on his stupidity and inability to stay in contact. Honestly it was nothing he hadn’t heard before, so he hardly paid any attention to it. The only reason it didn’t go on longer was because Sangah eventually took pity on him and helped him escape. 

Which led him to this moment. 

Dokja’s been sitting at Joonghyuk’s bedside for quite sometime now, admiring the serene expression on his sleeping face. Despite having been staring at him the better part of an hour, Dokja still can’t get used to Joonghyuk’s face without a permanent scowl. He’s so beautiful it hurts, and Dokja wants nothing more than to touch him. 

Ultimately, he just settles with holding Joonghyuk’s hand in his own.  

Now without the insistent nagging of his friends to keep him occupied, Dokja’s mind is running a little wild. Hundreds of thoughts swarm in his head, scrambling to determine the possibilities that await him. Regardless of how much Joonghyuk remembers, their relationship is never going to be the same and Dokja has no idea if that change will be for the better. 

Seolhwa had already informed him that the concentration of gas in Joonghyuk’s system had significantly diminished, so the chances of Joonghyuk returning to normal once he woke up were quite high. 

Dokja should be ecstatic, and yet he isn’t. All he can focus on is the overwhelming sense of dread that is threatening to consume him. He’s grown quite attached to Joonghyuk, far more intimately than he ever intended. At this point Dokja has no idea what to expect and the suspense and growing anxiety is starting to kill him.

Dokja lets out a heavy and tired sigh, dragging his hand through his hair as he looks at Joonghyuk wistfully. 

“I really hate you, you know that?” He murmurs, letting his head rest on the mattress, “Do you have any idea the stress you’re putting me through. It’s really rude to go into a coma without warning, you stupid and insensitive bastard.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Dokja flinches violently at that, surging to his feet in shock. In his haste, unfortunately, he bangs his knee against the bedframe and sharp pain shoots up his leg. Dokja hisses, letting out a string of profanities as he nurses his throbbing knee.

A low chuckle rumbles next to him, “Such a vulgar mouth.” The deep voice teases. 

Dokja jerks his head up to look at Joonghyuk, finding a very much awake Joonghyuk gazing at him warmly, his shoulders shaking in a silent laugh.

Dokja’s heart skips a beat, letting out a shaky, but relieved sigh. “Joonghyuk-ah.” He murmurs breathlessly, not quite believing what he sees.

“Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk says in response, pushing against the bed so he can sit up. His voice is a bit rough, and his actions are slightly lethargic, but all in all he seems perfectly fine. 

Dokja can feel tears streaming down his face, and for a moment time seems to stop. A choked sob rips from his throat, and Dokja’s feet move on their own, his body crashing into Joonghyuk’s. 

Joonghyuk grunts slightly at the impact, but manages to stay up. He lets out a deep chuckle, his shoulders shaking as he wraps his arms around Dokja. Dokja has never been so relieved to hear Joonghyuk’s voice, and he can’t stop crying, fingers clenching tightly at Joonghyuk’s shirt as he buries his face into Joonghyuk’s neck.

“One would think I died with the way you’re acting,” Joonghyuk murmurs, mirth present in his tone. Dokja has half a mind to smack him, but he’s much too relieved for that. 

Joonghyuk pulls back ever so slightly, forcing Dokja’s face from his neck. He tenderly wipes the tears from Dokja’s eyes, his brown eyes warm and loving. “I’m fine, Kim  Dokja. You need not cry.”

“You-you asshole.” Dokja sputters out, “You wouldn’t wake up and I-I,”

“Hey, I’m okay. Nothing bad happened.” Joonghyuk interrupts, his voice soothing as he gently caresses Dokja cheeks. 

“I thought… I thought I was going to lose you.” Dokja whimpers, his voice trembling.

Joonghyuk’s brow creases, a pained expression pinching onto his features. “Kim Dokja, I’m perfectly fine,” He presses, voice gentle but firm, “In fact, I’d say I haven’t felt this well rested in a long time. It’s like I went on a vacation. Though I have to say the food could have been better.”

Dokja lets out a choked laugh, “I tried to stop you from eating it raw, but you refused to eat it if it was cooked.” 

Joonghyuk just laughs. “You are talented at many things, Kim Dokja, but cooking is not one of them.”

“Are you—are you serious right now?” Dokja sputters, “All I did was cook it you prickly bastard, I didn’t even-“ Suddenly the words die in his throat, clarity hitting him. Did Joonghyuk have full awareness of what happened?

Dokja’s eyes widen at the realization. “Wait a minute, do you remember everything?” He asks dumbly.

Joonghyuk’s resounding smirk is an answer in its own. “I do.” He says, “Quite intimately , in fact.”

The innuendo is not lost on Dokja, and his cheeks flush painfully. The cocky bastard could at least have some shame. However, all of his thoughts come to a screeching halt as he remembers everything he did. Dokja’s stomach drops, a chilling sense of anxiety washing over him. 

“It’s weird though,” Joonghyuk continues, “I can’t really explain it, they’re my memories, but the way I remember them is different. As if my–”

Joonghyuk keeps talking, but Dokja can’t quite hear him. He suddenly feels like he’s underwater, an unbearable pressure building up in his skull. The air is thick and suffocating in his chest, as his guilt and shame threaten to consume him. It’s unbearable, and Dokja feels like he’s being choked by the torrent of feelings building in his chest. 

He realizes with distinct and harsh clarity that he can’t look Joonghyuk in the eye. He can’t stay here any longer.

Scrambling to gather the shambles of his composure, Dokja manages to regain enough conherency to speak. “I should get Seolhwa,” He suddenly interrupts, more or less throwing himself from the bed. It’s all a bit too much all at once, and Dokja can feel the room slowly starting to cave in around him, his blood roaring in his ears. Dokja needs to get out of here before he breaks down completely.

Joonghyuk’s hand suddenly jerks out to grab his wrist, stopping Dokja in his tracks. The gentle grip sends shivers down his spine, but Dokja keeps his eyes trained on the door, chest heaving uncomfortably as he tries to keep his warring emotions at bay. 

“Kim Dokja, why are you running from me?” Joonghyuk asks warily, voice tinged with concern.

Dokja takes a shuddering breath, fear twinging in his gut as he desperately tries to hold himself together. Joonghyuk really is too observant for his own good. “I’m not running, Yoo Joonghyuk, Seolhwa told me to get her when you woke up.”

Which is true, however, but literally anyone can tell his excuse is complete and utter bullshit, so naturally Joonghyuk isn’t at all convinced. 

Joonghyuk inhales sharply, letting Dokja’s wrist slip from his hand. “Dokja are you… why are you scared of me right now? Did I hurt you? Did I… Did I force myself on you?” The breathless horror in his voice shatters Dokja’s heart. 

Why does he think that… Ah, shit. He had forgotten about Joonghyuk’s heightened senses, he could probably smell how scared Dokja is right now and is clearly assuming the worst. 

Dokja whirls around, suddenly frantic, “Wait no, that’s not it at all.” He sputters, but Joonghyuk doesn’t look convinced, the guilt and horror palpable on his face as he hangs his in shame. 

“Joonghyuk-ah, no no no.” Dokja insists, closing the distance between them as he reaches down to cup Joonghyuk’s face. “You could never, I… I wanted it. I wanted you.”

Joonghyuk flinches, eyes jerking up to look at Dokja. He searches intently for any signs that Dokja may be lying, and when he finds none, Joonghyuk lets out a choked, but relieved sigh. Joonghyuk’s arm suddenly jerks out and Dokja finds himself pulled back onto the bed.

Joonghyuk’s face presses into Dokja's neck, his body shuddering as he scents Dokja frantically. “Fuck, don’t scare me like that.” He croaks, his voice heavy and raw as if he too were trying to fight off sob. 

Dokja swallows thickly, trying to ward off the emotions threatening to explode inside him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make it seem like you did that.” Dokja stammers out, “I just… I thought that since you weren’t in your right mind I had forced myself on you and I-I”

The words die in his throat, a muffled sob crawling from his chest. 

Joonghyuk’s head jerks up from his neck. “Kim Dokja,” He says, hand reaching up to cup Dokja’s face so he’s forced to look at him, “You thought what?”

Dokja shivers at the intense look on Joonghyuk’s face, “I-I thought I forced myself on you, I thought…. I thought you’d hate me for taking advantage of you.”

“Dokja…” Joonghyuk breathes out, his voice so pained, it makes the tears spill from Dokja’s eyes. “I could never hate you.”

“But I-“ Dokja stammers, brain failing him as he tries to form a coherent sentence. 

“I could never hate you.” Joonghyuk interrupts, voice firm, “And you didn’t force yourself onto me nor did you take advantage of me, not once. I may not have been able to understand you, but I was in control. I knew what I was doing.”

Dokja flinches, shock shooting down his spine. “What?” He whispers, his voice quivering. 

“Well it’s hard to explain exactly. I’ll admit it was different, my emotions were quite volatile and I didn’t have the human reason to keep my impulses in check, but I knew what I was doing and I knew what I wanted. I just didn’t have a reason to hold myself back anymore.” Joonghyuk says, voice firm with conviction.

Dokja freezes, heart stuttering pathetically in his chest. Joonghyuk’s odd but intentional wording catches him off guard. The intent behind the words isn’t lost on him, and he knows he shouldn’t ask it, he really does. Not with the crippling anxiety threatening to consume him. He isn’t prepared for Joonhyuk’s answer regardless of what it may be, and yet, his mouth is already opening before he can stop it. 

“And what… what did you want?” Dokja asks, his voice painfully soft. 

An unreadable expression falls onto Joonghyuk’s face, his eyes flashing gold as he stares at Dokja intently. Dokja can feel his chest tighten, a torrent of emotions threatening to explode inside of him. 

“You.” Joonghyuk says firmly, his hand reaching out to cup Dokja’s face, “I wanted you, Kim Dokja. I have always wanted you.” 

Dokja shudders, completely overwhelmed and he can’t help but shy away from Joonghyuk’s touch. It’s too much, and Dokja doesn’t quite know how to handle the onslaught of feelings. His instincts are going haywire, every fiber of his being strung up and ready to run and yet he can’t move, he’s completely frozen.

“Kim Dokja,” Joonghyuk starts, “Look at me. Please.” His voice is so painfully quiet and fragile it makes Dokja’s heart clench. 

But he can’t, because he knows the second he does, he’ll give in, and he isn’t ready for that. 

Despite his eyes being clenched shut, tears are flowing freely, coating his cheeks. Dokja swallows thickly, trying desperately not to lose the last remaining shred of restraint, but the lump in his throat won’t go away. 

Joonghyuk cups Dokja’s cheeks, tenderly wiping the tears from his face. “Please Dokja,” He begs, desperation bleeding into his voice, “Don’t hide from me. Talk to me, please. You don’t have to want me, that’s fine. Just please don’t hide, I can’t bear it.” 

It’s the desperate edge in Joonghyuk’s voice that finally breaks him, every word like a knife to his fragile heart. Dokja forces his eyes up, tears streaming down his face. Even through the wetness of his eyes, he can see the broken expression on Joonghyuk’s face and the tears that stream from his eyes, and Dokja’s heart finally shatters. 

No. This isn’t what he wants. Why is Joonghyuk crying? Why is he saying these things? Shouldn’t he be cursing him? Shouldn’t he be chasing him away?

“Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja whimpers, his voice trembling, “Please don’t cry…” 

Joonghyuk’s face crumbles, so undeniably pained and broken it physically hurts Dokja. “How can I not,” He murmurs, a bitter smile on his face as he tenderly wipes the tears from Dokja’s cheeks, “When the one I love so dearly is falling apart in front of me and I’m the one to blame for it.”

No, no. Why is he saying that? Why does he think it’s his fault?

“That’s not it at all-“

“But isn’t it?” Joonghyuk insists, “I’m the only one here, what else could cause you such grief when you were perfectly fine just moments ago.”

Dokja’s heart hurts, and yet he can’t refute him, not completely. “Joonghyuk-ah, it’s not just you… it’s just a lot and I don’t know how to handle it. I spent all of these years thinking you hated me and that you’d never return my feelings that I-“

“Kim Dokja,” Joonghyuk suddenly interrupts, “What did you just say?” 

For a moment Dokja’s dumbfounded, having his crazed rambling cut off mid sentence has completely derailed his train of thought. “Uh,” He says dumbly, “That it’s a lot and-“

“No,” Joonghyuk interrupts, his eyes flashing as pulls Dokja closer, “After that.”

Dokja blinks at him, trying to discern what exactly Joonghyuk is trying to fish from him. “That I thought you hated me and would never return my feelings?” He tries, his response more a question than an actual answer. 

Now it’s Joonghyuk’s turn to be dumbfounded. “What… Why did you think that?” He sounds so genuinely confused it’s as if Dokja had said something incredibly absurd, which in turn makes him confused.

There’s so many different reasons as to why Dokja can reasonably claim that. For one, Joonghyuk has always been so distant to him, any attempt at conversation was usually cut short. The only time he ever interacted with Dokja was when he was mad at him. Though Joonghyuk is clearly guarded with everyone, it felt as if there was an impenetrable wall between the two of them. Despite all of that, Dokja finds himself completely speechless and unable to form a coherent response. 

“Uh, I don’t know. I feel like it’s a pretty reasonable conclusion to come to considering we haven’t exactly been the closest of friends… like ever.”

Joonghyuk visibly flinches, a glimpse of stark pain flashing through his eyes. His entire expression crumbles, as if Dokja had just broken his heart. “I don’t… I don’t understand. Why would you think that?”

Dokja finds himself completely caught off guard by Joonghyuk’s reaction, it’s so blatantly hurt and confused that Dokja flounders for a moment. “I just… I don’t know Joonghyuk-ah. You always seemed so distant and pushed me away every time I tried to make some form of contact with you. The only time you’d ever really interact with me is when you were pissed off at me and I don’t know… I just figured you just really hated me, but put up with me because we were in the same guild.”

Joonghyuk just stares at him, eyes wide in horror. “So all this time you thought that I…”

It must be oddly comical to view this situation from an outside perspective. Dokja is a complete mess, and Joonghyuk isn’t doing much better. Sooyoung would take one look at them and laugh her ass off, making fun of how emotionally constipated they both are. 

And honestly, Dokja wouldn’t be able to refute her at this point. He’d laugh too if he weren’t in it. 

Dokja can see Joonghyuk is slowly starting to fall apart, and Dokja is panicking. He really doesn’t understand why Joonghyuk is having such an aggressive reaction to this. 

A flash of fear shoots through Dokja then as he realizes he may have misunderstood Joonghyuk this whole time. He has a feeling if this conversation continues he’ll have to face the problems he has been intentionally avoiding all this time, and he’s definitely not ready for that yet. 

He needs to find a way to comfort Joonghyuk and distract him at the same time before Dokja crosses the point of no return. If he hasn’t already…

It’s pure instinct that forces him to act, his hands jerking out to cup Joonghyuk’s face. “But you don’t hate me right? It was all just a big misunderstanding.” He doesn’t believe the words as he says them, but he knows it’d be the quickest way to dispel the conversation.

Joonghyuk swallows thickly, looking up at Dokja with heartbreaking eyes. Tears are falling freely from his face, and Dokja can tell he’s barely holding himself together. “I could never hate you, Kim Dokja.” He croaks, voice so raw and broken, it makes Dokja’s heart ache. 

Dokja lets out a shaky sob, trying separately to reign in the torrent of emotions threatening to consume him.“Then we’re okay, so don’t cry.” He soothes. 

They’re clearly not okay, Dokja knows this and he’s sure Joonghyuk does as well, but thankfully Joonghyuk is willing to let it go for now. Dokja isn’t ready to face reality just yet. Right now he needs to comfort Joonghyuk, the rest can come later and by later he really means never, but Joonghyuk doesn’t need to know that. 

Joonghyuk collapses into Dokja’s chest, tightly wrapping his arms around Dokja’s waist. He lets out a choked sob and completely falls apart in Dokja’s arms.

“Fuck, Kim Dokja,” Joonghyuk cries into his neck, “I love you, I love you so much. I could never hate you. Never.”

Dokja shudders, trying desperately to keep the words from affecting him. He holds Joonghyuk just as tight, a sob threatening to escape from his throat. 

“You’re my salvation, the only light in my dark and hopeless life. Without you I’m nothing, I wouldn’t even be here without you.” 

Joonghyuk’s words fall on deaf ears, however, Dokja is too concerned with comforting Joonghyuk and holding himself together to truly listen to his words. 

Eventually his cries die down, and Dokja finds himself lying on his side, pulled closely  into Joonghyuk’s arms. Joonghyuk’s head is firmly planted into Dokja’s neck, gently scenting him. Dokja cards his hand through Joonghyuk’s hair, murmuring out quiet reassurances. 

Despite having cried, Dokja doesn’t feel any better. The dread and fear circling inside of him are close to strangling him, and Dokja has never wanted to run more in his life. Despite his own growing discomfort, he stays put, putting Joonghyuk’s comfort above his own. 

“You’d think after all the sleeping I just did I wouldn’t be so tired, and yet here I am.” Joonghyuk murmurs, clearly fighting off the urge to sleep. 

“Just sleep Joonghyuk-ah, you need it.” Dokja says simply, silently begging for him to listen. Dokja needs to get out of here, sooner rather than later. 

Joonghyuk’s grip tightens around Dokja’s waist. “I don’t want this to be over, I fear when I wake up it’ll all be a dream.” He confesses quietly, voice thick with unsaid emotion.

Dokja shivers, guilt starting the churn in his stomach. He’s not sure how to respond, so he just continues carding his fingers through Joonghyuk’s hair.

“Promise me, Dokja. Promise me that when I wake up you’ll still be here.” Joonghyuk murmurs, quiet desperation leaking into his tone.

Dokja’s heart clenches at that, and for a second he humors giving in, but his own insecurities win out in the end. He hates to lie to Joonghyuk, but it’s the only way he’ll be able to slip away.

So he just hums, pressing a kiss to Joonghyuk’s brow. “It’ll be alright. Just sleep, Joonghyuk-ah.”

Joonghyuk lets out a soft rumble. “Okay. Just don’t… don’t leave me alone. Please…” He murmurs inaudibly, words slurring together as sleep finally takes him.

If Dokja hadn’t just spent the last twenty minutes crying, tears would be streaming down his face at the crushing guilt eating away at him. However, he’s feeling oddly numb. It’s odd, considering the emotions threatening to consume him. 

He lies there for a while longer, letting himself humor the thought of staying with Joonghyuk. How they’d have a heartfelt confession and whatever misunderstanding that befell them would be completely wiped away, but Dokja isn’t ready for that.

“I’m sorry, Joonghyuk-ah,” Dokja murmurs, pressing a kiss to Joonghyuk’s brow, and even though his heart cries out in agony, he leaves. 

He passes by Seolwha along the way, and intentionally keeps walking. “Joonghyuk woke up a little while ago, he fell back asleep, but he seems perfectly fine.”

“Wait Dokja–” She calls, but Dokja ignores her, and more or less storms out of the guild.

He knows if he’s anywhere near Joonghyuk right now his resolve will break, so Dokja does what he does with all of his problems, he runs away.

Ever a creature of habit, Dokja ends up using a teleportation crystal to hide out in the forest a few miles away from the guild. He had found a clearing in it several years ago, and ever since then it's become a place he often goes to think. It’s far enough away that no one ever bothers him and nature in general is usually calming to him. 

Usually being the key because he still felt a bit of PTSD from just looking at a tree. Why the hell did he think this was a good idea anyways?

Regardless, maybe four hours passed before someone came to find him. Despite having gone out here to clear and make sense of his thoughts, Dokja has made absolutely no progress. If anything he’s just numb, his brain completely detached from the dilemma that had been tearing him apart just hours ago. 

It’s as frustrating as it is relieving. Though it helps him cope, it makes it really difficult for Dokja to gain any real headway to solving anything. He picked up this habit when he was a child as a way to separate himself from his trauma so it wouldn’t weigh on him so heavily. Back then it was a blessing, now it’s just more of a curse.

He’s managed to step away from that habit, but there are still moments when things are just a bit too much and this is what his body defaults to. 

So he just sits there, mind eerily blank as he looks up into the clear sky. 

Intentionally loud and awkward footsteps pad towards him, disrupting the gentle peace that had befallen on him. Dokja’s eye twitches, but he refuses to look back, already knowing who it is. 

“Why did I know that I’d find you here.” Sooyoung calls from behind him. 

“Because I’m terribly predictable and a creature of habit.” Dokja drones. 

Sooyoung lets out a humorless laugh. “Ah yes, that typical sarcastic quip to a rhetorical question, I wouldn’t have expected any less.”

Dokja just shrugs. “I aim to please.” 

Dokja doesn’t have to look at her to know Sooyoung rolls her eyes, but surprisingly enough she doesn’t comment on it. 

She plops down next to him, leaning back on her arms as she lets out a tired sigh. A comfortable silence falls between them, only the whistling of the wind to be heard.

“Why are you here?” Dokja finally asks, “Couldn’t you have at least sent Sangah or even Uriel? I’d much rather listen to them than your shitty bitching.”

Sooyoung reaches out and smacks the back of his head. “Hey I’m here to help you, cut it with the shitty attitude.”

Dokja winces, rubbing the back of his throbbing head. “How? By beating me?” He grunts. 

A shrug is offered in response. “Well, coddling has done very little good up until this point, so I figured a change of pace may prove to be more fruitful.” She says simply.  

Dokja rolls his eyes. “You would think that.”

“What can I say, I’ve always been a bit more on the physical side.”

She certainly has, but Dokja can tell what she’s doing, and he refuses to give in. If she wants to talk about the glaring elephant in the room, she can bring it up herself. 

Another peaceful moment passes before Sooyoung finally lets out an exasperated sigh. “Okay I’m just going to come out and say it.”

Dokja huffs, “I surprised it took you this long, usually you’d be the first to be riding my-“

Sooyoung cuts him off with another harsh smack to the back of his head. “Can it, you rat bastard.”

Dokja just casts her a seething glare, nursing the throbbing back of his head, but keeps quiet.

Sooyoung smirks a little, taking obvious pleasure in his pain. Sadistic bitch. “Anyways,” She starts, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Blunt and to the point like always, Dokja expected as much. He just sighs. “Many things, but that’s an oddly subjective question, Han Sooyoung. It honestly depends on who you ask.” Dokja says sagely. 

Sooyoung casts him an unimpressed glare, “That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it. Why are you hiding from Joonghyuk right now.” She presses. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not hiding from anyone. It’s a beautiful day, it would be a shame to spend it inside.” He says, gesturing out at the forest, lying through his teeth. 

Sooyoung lets out a long suffering sigh. “You shitty bastard, I did not walk all the way over here just for you to lie to me.”

“You did not walk all the way over here, stop bitching. And I’m not lying to you, it is a nice day.” He insists. Which it is, but after roughing it out in the wilderness for the last week, being outside is the last place Dokja wants to be and they both know it.

Sooyoung glares at him blankly, and Dokja just stares back, refusing to back down. She’s the first to break, letting out a rather deep and aggravated groan, the sound not all dissimilar from an actual growl. 

Sooyoung grips at the bridge of her nose in frustration. “You’re a fucking dumbass, you know that?” She says finally. 

Dokja nods, humming in agreement. “I’m well aware.”

“And like a grade A piece of shit.”

“That’s a good way of putting it.” Dokja concedes, he did run away after Joonghyuk basically just confessed his love for him and asked him not to leave. Once the numbness wears off Dokja will definitely hate himself for it. 

Sooyoung shoots him an unimpressed glare. “I really hate you sometimes.”

Dokja laughs humorlessly. “You and me both.”

Sooyoung lets out a frustrated groan, smacking her hand on the ground. “Ugh, I just can’t with you right now, you’re so fucking frustrating.”

“Then why are you here?” Dokja asks, and it’s not out of spite, it’s honestly a genuine question. He figured it’d be Uriel who’d be the one to interrogate him, considering she’s more invested in Joonghyuk and his nonexistent relationship than either of them were. Or maybe Heewon because she could never mind her own damn business. 

Sooyoung shoots him an incredulous look, as if he had said something astronomically stupid. “Because you shitty bastard.” She seethes out, “I care about you and that overpowered bastard, and I want you both to be happy, even though you seem deadest on doing the opposite. 

He hates how right she is. “I am not,” Dokja defends instead, “I’m just trying to be realistic.”

“Cut the shit, Kim Dokja. The last thing you’re being right now is realistic. You’re acting like a fucking coward and I’ve never wanted to kick your ass more than I do right now.”

Honestly, Dokja can’t blame her. Had the situation been reversed, he’d feel the same. Unfortunately, he’s mentally checked out at this point, which makes it really hard for him to respond normally in this kind of situation, thus why he ran away instead of leaping for joy when the man of his dreams confessed his love for him.

“Do you realize how much you hurt him? You’d think you stabbed him in the back with the way he’s acting, moping around like a wounded puppy. But you know what, even though he has every right to want to kick your insensitive ass, he just begged us to go and check on you and make sure you’re alright.” She scolds, the expression on her face akin to a disappointed mother. 

Dokja winces. Why did Joonghyuk have to be so good, it’d make it so much easier to run away from him if he weren’t. “I never wanted to hurt him, I just…” He trails off. 

Sooyoung just glares at him. “Well you’re doing a really damn good job at it, dumbass. You need to grow up and start facing your problems. Joonghyuk doesn’t deserve it and neither do you.”

“I do face my problems,” Dokja lies through his teeth, “I just got a little overwhelmed and didn’t know how to respond.” 

Sooyoung just rolls her eyes, griping at the bridge of her nose in frustration. “See, this is what I mean by you being an asshole. He literally confessed his feelings to you and you ran away like fucking coward. Speaking of, why did you do that exactly? You’ve literally been pathetically in love with this man for years now, one would think even someone as emotionally constipated as you would be overjoyed at that.

Dokja really doesn’t know the answer to that either. “I panicked?” He says weakly, the response more of a question than an actual answer. 

Sooyoung shoots him a withering look. “You panicked? About what Dokja? That for the first time you might actually be able to be happy?”

Dokja can already tell where she’s going, and he’s not liking it one bit. He needs to stop this before it gets out of hand. “Sooyoung,” Dokja warns, clenching his fist to keep his growing emotions at bay. 

“No, don’t Sooyoung me, asshole.” She seethes, “You have a golden opportunity to be happy and you just hate yourself too much to let that happen —“

“Sooyoung stop it.” He presses, voice rising in agitation.

“—-Why do you feel the need to do this? Every fucking time something good happens in your life you do everything in your power to stop it—”

“Shut up.”

“—It doesn’t fucking matter what it is. You always find a way to avoid it or destroy it—.”

“Shut. Up.” He presses.

“And why is that Kim Dokja? Huh? Do you even know?”

Dokja inhales sharply, gritting his teeth. “Sooyoung if you don’t fucking —“

“Well you want to know what I think? I think —-“

The last shreds of his restraint are starting to crumble, “Sooyoung I’m warning you…”

“—I think that you hate yourself so fucking much that any time you have even the slightest chance of being happy, you sabatoge it because you don’t think you fucking deserve it.”

“JUST SHUT UP.” Dokja shouts, blood roaring in his ears as his anger overwhelms him. 

Sooyoung just glares up at him, her face flushed in agitation. “No I fucking won’t because we’ve coddled you for too damn long and it’s time for you realize what you’re doing.”

“Realize what, Sooyoung?!” Dokja shouts, “You don’t think I’m aware of what I’m doing, you think I don’t hate that I’m so fucking damaged that I can’t let myself be happy?“

He should just stop there, but he can’t, the dam is already broken. 

“Do you think I want to be like this? I fucking hate that I’m like this, and that I can’t do much to fight it. I hate that I have to hurt Joonghyuk because I’m too scared to let myself become vulnerable. I hate that I know that I love him and that he loves me, but I still can’t let myself take it further. All I can see is us becoming like my biological parents and it terrifies me. I hate that I spent several years convincing myself that Joonghyuk hated me even when I knew he didn’t. Because it’s easier to think that he hates me than to think he actually returns my feelings.”

Tears are streaming down his face and his heart aches with the emotion tearing it up, and yet Dokja can’t stop. “I want to be normal, I want to be able to form connections and have stable and trusting relationships without my own trauma and insecurities wearing down on me like I’m one false step away from losing everything. I want to be able to trust him like that, and the worst part is I do. It’s just myself that I don’t trust and I hate it. I want to love him and do all that sappy bullshit with him.”

“I want him, Sooyoung, I want him so much that it literally hurts me and yet when I get the chance I just get scared. I don’t know what it is about him, but he just makes me feel safe, he makes me feel vulnerable like I can’t hide with him, and honestly I don’t want to. It’s not even because I love him, it’s always been like that. He’s always been different for me and it terrifies me because he makes me feel things I thought I wasn’t capable of feeling. So in order to protect myself, I subconsciously convinced myself that he hated me because it was easier than accepting the fact he might love me in return.” 

“I just want to be able to love him freely, Sooyoung. Why—why is it so hard…” 

Dokja ends his rant in a choked sobbed, chest heaving as he gasps for air. It’s all too much at once, the torrent of emotions he had been holding back for years overwhelming him like a tidal wave. They threaten to consume him, well past the point of return. 

Sooyoung just pulls him in, letting him rest his head on her shoulder as he finally breaks. 

Sooyoung just looks up at him, “Fates, why is it like pulling teeth every time I have to get you to admit something? You’re so fucking extra, Kim Dokja, it’s exhausting.” Despite the annoyance in her tone, her gaze is far from it. 

The pain in her eyes reflects the broken state of his heart. “I love you, you fucking bastard. You’re my best friend and I hate the fact that you are so dead set on making yourself suffer. If anyone deserves the world, it’s you Kim Dokja. And it breaks me to see you like this. It breaks us all, especially Joonghyuk.”

Dokja just shudders, crying into Sooyoung’s shoulder as the weight of the world seems to press on his shoulders.

“Kim Dokja, when will you stop surviving, and finally let yourself live? You aren’t in that house anymore, they can’t harm you anymore. You can let yourself be happy, you don’t have to protect yourself anymore. Joonghyuk loves you Dokja, he would give you the stars if you asked it of him. He doesn’t care about your past, Dokja, he just wants you.”

Every word she says is simultaneously his salvation and a knife to his heart. He knows she’s right, he’s always known, but believing and accepting are two completely different things and Dokja doesn’t think he’s quite ready for the latter. 

They just sit there for a moment, a comfortable silence falling on them as Dokja lets everything go, crying himself hoarse. Sooyoung just sits there, holding him close as she murmurs soft assurances. 

Fates… what would he do without her… without any of the wonderful people he’s been blessed to call his companions…

Eventually his cries die down, trailing off into shaky breaths. He takes some extra time to gather himself before gently pushing himself from Sooyoung’s arms. 

Sooyoung looks at him warmly, tears glimmering in her eyes. “Feel better now?”

“Yeah,” He croaks, his voice harsh and broken from misuse. 

Sooyoung rolls her eyes fondly, and with a wave of her hand a canister appears in her lap. She offers it to him with a gentle smile. “Here, it sounds like you could use this.”

Dokja lets out a choked laugh, and takes it from her. Dokja drinks it greedily, the cool and crisp water like heaven on his coarse throat. “Thanks.”

“You really need to stop doing this Dokja, holding all that shit in is terrible for you.” She remarks. 

Dokja clears his throat. “You’re telling me, it’s not entirely intentional.”

Sooyoung just sighs. “What am I going to do with you, Kim Dokja?”

“Love and cherish me like I deserve.” He coughs out, his throat still a little dry.

Sooyoung knocks her head back at that, a loud laugh escaping her lips. “Oh no, that’s what Joonghyuk is for. Don’t forget I’m still pissed at you.”

“Come on, we just had a moment, are you really still mad?” He whines.

Sooyoung shoots him an unimpressed glare. “The only thing stopping me from beating the shit out of you is the fear of Joonghyuk’s retaliation.”

Dokja lets out an affronted gasp. “Are you serious right now? It’s not the fact you pity me or even that we’ve been friends for at least a decade now?” 

Sooyoung scoffs. “For someone so insecure you seriously think highly of yourself. It’s because I’ve been friends with you for over a decade that I want to beat the shit of you.”

Dokja just rolls his eyes. “Well the feeling’s mutual, you annoying bitch.”

A tense moment of silence falls upon them as they just glare at each other, but eventually the dam breaks and they both start laughing. 

Dokja feels oddly lighter after the exchange, and is all too grateful for Sooyoung. Despite her abrasive and bitchy personality, she truly does care and she knows Dokja better than anyone. 

Sooyoung wipes the tears from her eyes, shooting him a fond look. “Anyways, there’s another reason why I came here, but since it seems you’re more self aware then we gave you credit for, it might not be as necessary. But I think you should see it regardless, that way you can see how much of an insensitive asshole you really are.”

Dokja looks at her incredulously. “Aren’t you supposed to be comforting me right now?”

Sooyoung clicks her tongue. “In your dreams, if you wanted to be coddled you shouldn’t have run away from Joonghyuk.”

Dokja winces at that. “That was a low blow.” He mutters. 

Sooyoung just shrugs. “Perhaps, but you know I’m right.”

Oh he knows alright, that’s why it hurts. “What is it you wanted to show me?” He asks instead.

“Well, it’s more so a gift than anything.”

Dokja grimaces. Anytime Sooyoung says she has a ‘gift’ it seldom bodes well for him. 

“This one won’t curse me, will it?” He asks warrily, tone full of distrust. 

Sooyoung shoots him an unimpressed glare. “That was one time, Kim Dokja, can’t you get over it already?”

Dokja lets out an affronted scoff. “One time? More like one time on accident, all the other times you intentionally cursed me just to test out your shitty theories.”

She just rolls her eyes. “Those weren’t curses, they were hexes. That’s completely different.” 

This fucking bitch… 

“Are you serious right now?! Who cares if it was a hex or a curse, I still suffered from weird side effects for weeks. You realize I can literally never show my face in public in literally half of this country because of the embarrassing shit you put me through?” He seethes.

“Stop being such a baby, Kim Dokja. It’s unbecoming of your age.” She says with a tired sigh.

Oh if Dokja hadn’t wanted to kill her before he certainly wants to now. 

“Oh you motherfu—-“

“Anyways,” Sooyoung happily interrupts, a shit eating grin on her face. “It’s a gift from all of us, not just me, so don’t get your panties in a twist.” 

She fishes into her pocket and pulls something out, offering it to him in her outstretched palm. Dokja looks down at it warily, only to find himself a bit dumbfounded. Of all the things he expected her to give him, a rock certainly wasn’t one of them.

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed glare. “Are you seriously offering me a rock right now?” He asks incredulously.  

Sooyoung just reaches up and smacks his head. Dokja winces at the impact, shooting her a glare as he nurses the back of his head. 

“It’s not a rock, it’s a fucking memory stone you dumbass.” She snaps. 

He casts another glance at the rock, and unlike memory stones which are usually bright colored gems, this one is just a dull brown. It literally looks like she just picked a random rock out from the ground. Is this seriously another one of her shitty pranks?

Dokja shoots her a dubious look. “You’re full of shit. There’s no way that’s a memory stone.”

“You annoying little shit, I told you it’s a…” Her words awkwardly trail off as she looks at the rock in her hand. Her eyes widen comically. “Oh, yeah that is definitely a rock.” Rather than apologizing for hitting and berating him, she just shrugs her shoulders and tosses it to the side. 

Dokja scoffs at that. He really needs to rethink his choice of friends…

She shoves her hand back into her pocket, fishing around in it for a moment before her eyes light up. She pulls her hand back out and offers it to him. 

Now that’s a memory stone alright, the iridescent blue color sparkling with mana. Dokja shoots her a withering look. “You’re a terrible person, you know that.”

“Oh I’m well aware, it keeps me up at night. Anyways, we figured all of us coming at once wouldn’t go over well and just scare you away, so we figured this would be a better approach.” 

What do they think he is, a skittish animal?

“You know I’m not a —“

“Cut the bullshit excuses, Kim Dokja, I don’t have the patience for it.” Sooyoung interrupts, “You literally ran away when Joonghyuk confessed his love to you.”

Ah right. “Fair point,” He concedes. 

“Anyways, like I was saying. There’s a lot we’ve been keeping from you because Joonghyuk asked us to and out of respect for him we stayed silent. Honestly I assumed he would tell you himself, but seeing how he’s just as emotionally constipated as you, I’m honestly not surprised he didn’t.”

Now that certainly catches Dokja off guard. 

“Joonghyuk loves you, Dokja. He has for an unbearably long time and despite his rough exterior, he’s been taking care of you the entire time. Like honestly it’s disgusting how doting he is, I have literally wanted to gouge my eyes out on several instances.”

Dokja is a bit dumbfounded by her confession. What on earth is she talking about? While Dokja will concede he was wrong about Joonghyuk hating him, there’s no time in his recent memory as to when Joonghyuk ever took care of him. In fact, had it not been for their time in the forest, Dokja would honestly think that Sooyoung was full of shit. 

“I know it’s hard to believe, but you’ve been so caught up in your head he’s been able to get away with it for all these years without you noticing. Not that it’s any real achievement really, you’ve always been a dense and oblivious idiot.”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed glare.“You’re really enjoying insulting the shit out of me aren’t you?” 

Sooyoung hums in agreement. “Oh yes, it’s the most fun I’ve had in my life. Anyways, we all came to an agreement it was time to come clean and let you know now. Thinking about it, if we had told you in the first place maybe all this shit wouldn’t have happened, but knowing you and Joonghyuk, it probably would have just made it worse.” 

Dokja opens his mouth to protest, but is quickly shot down by Sooyoung’s warning glare, and promptly shuts it again. 

“So each of us prepared a memory for you —well all of us but Kim Namwoon because he thinks this is stupid. He thinks you should stop being a dumbass and just talk to Joonghyuk instead, and while I agree, you’re an idiot and things could never be that simple with you. At least this way you can actually see what Joonghyuk is like, and hopefully it’ll help you understand him better. So do us all a favor and watch them so you guys can get together and be disgustingly in love and not pinning dumbasses.”

With that she slaps the stone into his palm and eases to her feet. “I’ll give you some alone time to watch them,” And without so much as another word, she walks off into the forest. 

Dokja looks down at the memory stone warrily, he has absolutely no idea what to expect from it. 

Memory stones allow the user to store their personal memories for later access, it not only replays everything that happened, but also the user’s emotions as well. Even if the memory isn’t your own, when you use the memory stone it feels like you’re reliving your own memory. 

Dokja has used them a couple times, but every time the experience is no less intense. If it’s a collection of various moments of Joonghyuk taking care of him, Dokja honestly isn’t sure he wants to know. Is he really ready to face the truth so soon? 

Running away sounds oddly attractive right now… 

“And don’t even think about running away,” Sooyoung suddenly pipes up, somehow sensing his thoughts, “ I already surrounded the perimeter with a boundary spell, so unless you want to get your ass shocked you’ll stay there and do what I told you to.” 

Dokja just flips her off. Can’t she just mind her own business for once.

He sits there for a moment, trying to prepare himself for the new revelations that await him. Ultimately, Dokja decides it’s better to just get it done and over with already, who knows what Sooyoung will do if he were to keep her waiting.

Dokja shivers at the thought.

He takes a steadying breath and holds up the stone. With a wave of his hand he murmurs the activation spell and in an instant his world fades to black. 

Surprisingly enough, the first memory is Hyunsung’s. 

Honestly, Dokja’s a bit caught off guard that he even had something he wanted to show. In comparison to the rest of the guild, Hyunsung never really had much to say about Dokja and Joonghyuk’s complicated relationship. He took a more neutral stance on the situation, not expressing opinions either way. 

Hyunsung was more of a silent support, usually trailing behind Heewon or Uriel after they got particularly pushy to comfort him. He would place a gentle hand on Dokja’s shoulder and reassure him that regardless of his choice, they’d support him. While Dokja seriously doubted it —Heewon looked like one more minor inconvenience away from locking Dokja and Joonghyuk in the same room until Dokja fessed up— he appreciated it nonetheless. 

If anyone understood just how overbearing Heewon could be, it’d be Hyunsung, so Dokja was oddly comforted by his presence. Honestly, Dokja vehemently believed Hyunsung is simply too precious for this world, and no one from their guild deserved him. 

It takes a moment for Dokja’s eyes to fully adjust, but gradually the memory comes into focus. It’s a bit disorienting, viewing a memory from the eyes of another, but the clarity of the magic is absolutely fascinating, as if Dokja were reliving his own memory.

Currently, Hyunsung is walking through a rather dense forest, towards what appears to be a campsite. It’s night time, so the campfire stands out, casting a rather ominous glow on the surrounding forest. Oddly enough Dokja feels like he recognizes it, but he can’t put his finger on why. He’s seen dozens of forests during his time as a mercenary, so he’s surprised he actually remembers this one.

As Hyunsung gets closer to the campsite, however, Dokja realizes why he remembers this forest. 

This mission, surprisingly enough, was actually one of the very few that went off without a hitch. They ended up completing it in record time and planned on staying in the town to celebrate the successful mission. Unfortunately, that proved to be a test of their already waning luck, and they ended up being run out by the very villagers they had just saved. 

Everyone says it’s his fault, but Dokja will vehemently deny it until the day he dies. For the record, Dokja was just minding his own business, it was that shitty bastard that started the problem. Did they really just expect him to sit there and take it while some random villager talked shit? Dokja may not be the most aggressive person in his guild, but he’s not one who can actively turn the other cheek either.

For such an arrogant shit talker, one would think the man was capable of taking it, but like always, Dokja was wrong. Dokja honestly hadn’t said anything that bad, especially in comparison to what the bastard had been saying, but naturally the other guy took full offense and instead of dealing with it himself, he got his guild involved. 

Dokja wasn’t scared by any means. He had Heewon, Hyunsung, and Joonghyuk with him, so they could finish any fight. However, Dokja was well aware such a fight would not bode well for the village, especially since Heewon is incapable of holding back. So he tried to talk him down and smooth out the situation, but naturally that just blew up in his face.

The second Heewon caught wind of the situation a brawl broke out and everything went to shit. In order to avoid bloodshed and the total destruction of the town, the mayor of the town had them banished. 

As far as peace goes, it certainly was the best decision, but to this day Dokja still believes it was an unjust call especially since he had to spend the night sleeping on the hard ground. No one was particularly happy with the turn of events or prepared for that matter, but they managed. 

Dokja just doesn’t understand why this night is a memory Hyunsung wants to show him. Dokja’s pretty sure he ended up passing out not too long after they made camp. 

Dokja remembers freezing his ass off despite being mere feet away from the fire. It was no ordinary chill though, and Dokja really hated his body’s poor timing. Had it not been for his sheer exhaustion, Dokja wouldn’t have been able to sleep a wink.

Despite his parents’ best efforts, they were unable to heal his body completely. To this day he still suffers from a weak disposition, which is why he often felt cold for no reason at all. The chill would hit him so deep, it was as if his bones were made of ice. No amount of external warmth was ever able to truly ward it off, so Dokja just had to endure it until the feeling passed. 

He suspects it’s a trauma response, his body remembering the unforgiving winters he spent in the shack behind his house. With only a ragged blanket and the poorly insulated walls to keep him warm, winter was never a peaceful time for him. It wasn’t just the cold either, it was often paired with a crushing sense of loneliness, his cold and weak body desperately longing for the presence of another. As if anyone would truly care for him though. He could never escape it, and he was forced to bear it until one of the other servants took pity on him and snuck him into their quarters. 

To this Dokja’s not entirely sure what triggers it, but it always seems to strike him at the worst possible times. It usually left his body rather weak afterwards, and he almost always ended up with a cold. 

This day was probably one of the worst attacks he had had in a while, his body shivering pathetically as if he were naked in a blizzard. He had fully expected a night of restless sleep and a brutal onset of a cold, but to his surprise, none of that happened. Now that he thinks about it, he had briefly woken up once during that night, only to find himself pleasantly warm. It had thrown him off guard, but he was too tired and comfortable to question it. Mere seconds later he was soothed back into his sleep by that gentle warmth surrounding him and Dokja forgot all about it. 

But what the fuck is that…

Now Dokja knows his memory is shitty at best, but there’s absolutely no way he wouldn’t remember this. For a moment Dokja forgets that he isn’t in his own body, and he tries to pinch himself. Obviously that doesn’t work, and he just stays an observer to a memory he is 97% sure never happened. 

Just a few feet in front of him is the unmistakable form of Yoo Joonghyuk. The man is sleeping with his back against an oak tree, but that isn’t what catches Dokja’s attention, as curled into Joonghyuk’s lap is well… himself. 

He’s cradled closely against Joonghyuk’s chest, his face nuzzled into Joonghyuk’s neck. Joonghyuk doesn’t seem to be bothered by it in the slightest, his arm wrapped around Dokja’s waist and the other interlaced with Dokja’s hand on his lap. In fact if the slight smile on his face is anything to go by, Joonghyuk is quite pleased with their current arrangement. 

What. The. Fuck.

Dokja honestly doesn’t know what to think. He knows for an absolute fact he didn’t initiate whatever the hell this is, in fact when Dokja had fallen asleep Joonghyuk was on the other side of the camp, so there’s no way this could have happened by accident. Which means that Joonghyuk had initiated it himself and that conclusion alone is very hard to accept and understand. 

If Dokja remembers correctly, Heewon and Hyunsung had left the campsite to look for more firewood while Joonghyuk and him had stayed behind to keep watch. Now Dokja was freezing his ass off and absolutely exhausted, so he ended up curling up to go to sleep. He had honestly expected Joonghyuk to talk some major shit about it, but he didn’t breathe a word and just silently handed Dokja an extra blanket. Though he appreciated the sentiment, the extra blanket offered no help, and Dokja still felt like he was freezing to death. 

Had Joonghyuk noticed he was still cold and went to warm him up? 

From beside Hyunsung, Heewon quietly clears her throat. Joonghyuk doesn’t stir, but it’s pretty obvious that he’s just ignoring her. Heewon isn’t at all perturbed, and instead clears her throat again, this time a bit louder.

Joonghyuk’s brow twitches slightly, a single eye peering open. His pupil flashes gold, obvious agitation flickering in its depths. For having only one eye open, Joonghyuk sends her a rather menacing glare. Hyunsung shivers at the intensity of it, and Dokja honestly shares the sentiment.

“Now how did this happen?” She teases, “Last I checked you two were on separate sides of camp.”

Dokja watches with faint surprise as Joonghyuk just pulls him closer. “He was cold.” He murmurs, sounding clearly annoyed that Heewon was disturbing them. There’s a sense of finality to his voice, one that promises harm should she continue to bother him. 

True to her character, Heewon just ignores it. “And so you took the opportunity to help him, what a gentleman.” She croons. 

Dokja feels incredibly embarrassed as he watches this version of him let out a disgruntled groan, snuggling in closer to Joonghyuk. Much to his surprise, Joonghyuk just soothes him, gently carding his hand through his hair. So this must have been when he woke up…

Once the discomfort fades from his face, Joonghyuk turns his attention back to Heewon, sending her a bone chilling look. “Be quiet. You’ll wake him.” He growls, voice dripping in a silent threat.

“Ah yes, that’s my bad.” Heewon says with a laugh, before turning her attention to Hyunsung. “Sounds like we should leave them to it then.”

Hyunsung hums in agreement and with that they leave Joonghyuk alone. As they walk away Dokja can faintly hear Joonghyuk speaking softly to him.

“You fool… I really wish you’d eat more, maybe then you wouldn’t freeze this much.” Despite the words being a bit callous, the gentle fondness in Joonghyuk’s voice makes them miss their mark. 

It catches Hyunsung’s attention, and he can’t help but turn around. Joonghyuk has a gentle smile on his face, staring down at Dokja’s sleeping face fondly. Joonghyuk presses a gentle kiss to his brow, murmuring out inaudible praise.

Oddly enough Dokja feels embarrassed by the action, as if he were intruding on an intimate moment despite it being himself that’s involved. Dokja’s not the only one embarrassed by Joonghyuk’s shamelessness though, as Hyunsung’s heart skips a beat and quickly jerks his head back around, his cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

“Are you seriously blushing at that Hyunsung?” Heewon teases, “One would think you’re a virgin with the way you act.”

Hyunsung promptly chokes at that, sending Heewon a scandalized look. “It’s not like that, I just felt bad for intruding on their moment, that’s all. Do you have to be so vulgar?”

Heewon just laughs, wrapping her arm around Hyunsung’s arm as she rests her head on his shoulder. “Forgive me dear, I only wanted to tease you.”

Hyunsung just rolls his eyes, but the Dokja can feel the warmth in his chest. He wraps his arm around waist and leans down to press a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re lucky I love you.”

Heewon shoots him a warm smile. “That I am. I thank the fates every day that I was blessed with such a wonderful husband.”

Hyunsung’s chokes at that, his entire face seeming to catch on fire in embarrassment. “You truly are too much…” Despite his obvious embarrassment, Dokja can feel the way Hyunsung’s heart flutters. 

The rest of their banter trails off then until the memory fades away. Dokja feels rather light now, a gentle warmth in his heart. He doesn’t know if it’s due to Joonghyuk’s tender care or the brief snippet of Heewon and Hyunsung’s relationship, but if Dokja were in his own body, he knows he’d be grinning like a fool.

Despite Heewon’s brash and obnoxious nature, her dynamic with Hyunsung is rather reserved. Perhaps it’s due to how long they’ve been together, but their interactions are much more subdued and tender. More outward displays of affection are very rare, so it was a pleasant surprise to see them like that. 

There’s no doubt in Dokja’s mind that they love each other more than life itself, but he always found it interesting that they weren’t more open about their relationship. At first he thought it was due to Hyunsung’s more reserved nature, but after the years he’s spent with them, he found it was actually Heewon. 

She seemed very intent on keeping their relationship behind closed doors. Not with the intention of keeping it a secret, but more so to give them the peace and safety to love each other free from the eyes of others. Dokja has an itching feeling there’s a deeper reason behind it, but he never got the courage to truly ask. He knows neither her or Hyunsung’s past was the best, but they never went into specifics. 

It’s more or less a trend in their guild, as none of them had a particular pleasant childhood. It’s kind of funny now that he thinks about it. Birds of a feather do tend to flock together it seems … 

Because of this, they all came to a mutual agreement not to broach the topic of childhood trauma unless it became a problem or someone wanted to discuss their own, and to this day no one has ever truly gone into depth. Not that he can blame any of them, Dokja dreads sharing his own even though he doesn’t remember most of it. 

It’ll take a bit of time for the next memory to generate, so Dokja takes the moment to recount the events he had just seen. Hyunsung’s memory takes place almost four years ago, which means Dokja had been misinterpreting Joonghyuk’s intentions for quite some time. 

One would think such a revelation would be a cause for happiness, but all Dokja feels is a foreboding sense of dread. 

Despite what the others may think, he’s not as dense as he appears. He wishes he were, fates how he wishes he were. It would make everything so much easier, but no matter how hard he tried to force himself to believe that there was no chance Joonghyuk could ever return his feelings, there was always a small part of him that denied it. Now, with the events of the past week, how Joonghyuk responded when Dokja said he thought he hated him, and Sooyoung’s confession, that small part of him is starting to raise its voice. 

Dokja knows he’s a mere step away from crossing the point of no return, and it scares him. The impenetrable walls he had built around his heart are beginning to crumble, and Dokja has a feeling that by the time these memories are finished, there will be nothing left. It terrifies him, and Dokja honestly doesn’t know what to think.

It was easy to ignore his feelings when he was convinced that Joonghyuk hated him, but now after all these revelations and Joonghyuk’s heartfelt confession, even his determined self-sabotaging tendencies can’t deny Joonghyuk anymore.         

Oddly enough though, along with the dread there’s also a very small, barely noticeable part of him that’s excited to, giddy even. To think all this time, Joonghyuk loved him just as much. Him . Kim Dokja of all people. That thought alone does dangerous things to his heart. 

There’s a contradicting torrent of emotions warring inside of him, and despite the dread being the dominating force, that small sliver of happiness hasn’t waned. At this point, Dokja just wonders what feeling will win out in the end. 

Fuck… Regardless of what wins out, he’s not going to make it out of this unscathed, is he…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

With that, Uriel’s finishes materializing and Dokja forces himself from his thoughts. He could wallow in self pity later.

Before him lies a grand and ornate ballroom. Pillars of sculpted marble span throughout the room, supporting intricately carved arches in the ceiling. Above the arches the ceiling curves into a high dome, painted to display a starry night with a crystalline chandelier hanging from its peak. 

For a moment, Dokja’s taken away by the sheer beauty of it. Everything down to the minute detail is crafted from expensive and rare materials, making it scream wealth and status. Despite having seen many ballrooms in his time, this one certainly puts the rest to shame. He’s never seen such a grand estate and Dokja can’t help but wonder who the owner could be. 

Well now that he thinks about it, Uriel was a princess after all, so in between her home country, Eden, and their current country, Dokja wouldn’t be surprised if she saw such grandiose parties normally. 

One would think it a waste that she gave up such a lavish lifestyle, especially to live in the dumpster fire that is Kim Dokja’s guild, but anyone who truly believed that didn’t know Uriel at all. 

Dokja ran into Uriel during one of his missions. He had been biding his time in a local tavern waiting for his informant to show up, and had apparently been sitting in someone else’s spot –a complete bullshit excuse because who the fuck reserves seats in a tavern– which gave some pompous asshole the right to cause some shit. 

Now Dokja’s no stranger to a good old fashioned bar fight, as being friends with Heewon and Sooyoung meant he was unwillingly pulled into one any time they stopped somewhere, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t find them annoying. Especially when he’s by himself and surrounded by ten oversized bandits each looking more like mangled strays then actual human beings. 

The whole situation was rigged from the start honestly, they probably singled him out because he was alone and deduced that he had a decent bit of coin on him by his gear. Heewon never lets him hear the end of it, complaining how he needs to stop drawing attention to himself, but unlike the rest of his companions, Dokja ate shit in the luck department, so he has to make up for his own physical weaknesses somehow.   

Not everyone can just crush someone’s skull with their bare hand or call a typhoon on a whim, some of them are normal. Or at least he should be considered that, but when he’s surrounded by overpowered monsters every day, he can’t help but feel like the odd ball out. So forgive him for not wanting to get his ass killed when they’re all dead set on fighting every dragon or demon they come across. They’re a necessary protection, and Heewon can go fuck herself for all he cares. 

Though there is a part of him that begrudgingly admits his life would be significantly easier if he didn’t walk around with obnoxiously expensive gear, especially in moments like these, but he’d die before he’d admit that to Heewon. 

Regardless, Dokja isn’t one to back down from a challenge either, so rather than negotiating with them like he’s sure Sangah would have wanted him to, he takes a page out of Heewon’s throat and just punches the strongest looking one in the face. 

Take the leader out and they all crumble like flies. She’d always say. 

Of course, Dokja failed to account for the fact that there are significant physical differences between Heewon and him, and while he still managed to bring the ape of a man to his knees, he broke his hand in the process. 

A very unfortunate wound to receive, especially at the beginning of a fight, but Dokja isn’t one to let a minor inconvenience hold him back. A broken hand is nothing in comparison to the wounds he’s received and still had to fight with. 

From there everything goes to shit, and the entire tavern breaks out into one of the worst bar fights Dokja has ever been a part of. Which is certainly saying something. 

At one point when he was kneeled making a mess of someone’s face, a bandit decided to sneak up behind him and Dokja would have been shit out of luck if it hadn’t been for Uriel. She appeared seemingly from thin air, a bottle of rum held high above her head before she slammed it down on the bastard’s face. 

She had cast a forlorn look at the shattered bottle in her hand, before turning her attention back to Dokja. “Such a waste, eh?” A light smirk slipped onto her lips and she held out her hand to help him up. “So what do they call you then?”

Dokja had stared at her for a moment, honestly dumbstruck both by her intervention and her unworldly beauty. Thankfully he managed to regain enough sense to take it. 

“Kim Dokja,” He said dumbly.

Her smile brightened then, eyes sparkling with mirth. “Well I must say you pack quite the punch, Kim Dokja. I was impressed. I’m Uriel, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

From there they fought back to back, and Dokja was honestly quite grateful for the help. She was an amazing fighter and had a funny personality, and within five minutes of meeting her he knew she’d make a great addition to their guild. The thought had thrown him through a loop, as Dokja is an extremely cautious and wary person when it comes to strangers, and yet with her he felt oddly comfortable. As if he had reunited with an old friend.

There was just something about her, something different, as if pure goodness seemed to exude from her. Dokja just knew that if he had been blessed with the gift to read souls, her’s would shine like gold. 

After that she tried to part ways, but something in Dokja told him he shouldn’t let her go, and like a complete dumbass, he asked her to join him on his mission. There was absolutely no need for it, he was perfectly capable of completing it on his own, and yet something told him that if he were to let her go, he’d regret it for the rest of his life. 

Surprisingly enough, she agreed, and after that the rest is history. The two of them completed the mission in record time, and rather than parting ways, Dokja took on three more missions as an excuse to stay with her. They became fast friends, and the more time he spent with her, he could see why he hadn’t wanted her to leave in the first place. 

For one thing she was an incredibly gifted swordsman, her style fierce yet elegant, quite similar to that of a dancer’s. She also was gifted with heavenly magic, giving her the ability to harness heaven’s flame. It’s the strongest type of fire magic, the only type of magic capable of harming a demon and purifying corrupted souls. Maybe one or two mages are born every millennium or so, and while the strongest mages are capable of conjuring it, it is a significantly weaker and unrefined form of it. Plus the mana required to conjure it in the first place is quite hefty, so many don’t bother at all. 

For one blessed with it though, it’s like an extension of themselves and the mana cost is no different than it would be for regular fire magic. In terms of sheer odds, Dokja never should have met her, hell she shouldn’t even have been born in this century and yet here she is. At this point it couldn’t be coincidence anymore, he must be some kind of magnet to unworldly attractive and overpowered monsters otherwise there’s no way all of them would have ended up in his shitty guild. Fate must have a really shitty sense of humor…

Unfortunately the time finally came where Dokja had to leave the town, as he would be meeting the rest of the guild for a team mission. He felt like it was too soon to ask her to join the guild, as even though he was the guild leader, he’d never ask someone to join without his companions’ approval. It didn’t matter how much he liked someone, if they didn’t fit with their group, they’d never have a place in his guild. 

Not one to just accept defeat, he off-handedly asked if she’d like to join him on that mission, throwing in a bullshit excuse of how it would be a great help to have heavenly fire user. It was a shot in the dark, but surprisingly enough Uriel accepted it. 

To no surprise to him, she fit in wonderfully with the group. Heewon and her clicked almost immediately, their shared convictions and personalities complimenting each other nicely. The rest followed suit, and even Sooyoung, who literally hates everyone, liked her. 

With their approval, his decision was set and after they completed the mission he asked her to join them. It was probably the shitiest way he could have done it, stumbling on his words like a shy child confessing to their crush, and yet she burst into tears as if he had offered her the very world itself.

At the time he hadn’t understood her tears, but he had noticed the trauma that seemed to burden her and figured the reaction had something to do with that. He kept his thoughts to himself though, and just comforted her and said that she no longer had to worry because she was a part of their family now.   

The true reason wouldn’t come into light until several weeks later when the guild was stormed by royal knights from the kingdom of Eden, demanding them to return their stolen princess. 

That alone through Dokja and the rest of the guild through a loop, of all the things he anticipated her identity to be, a princess –from Eden nonetheless– hadn’t even crossed his mind. Thankfully she managed to talk them down saying she came here to learn more about their country’s customs, and they weren’t arrested for kidnapping a royal. 

She was, however, demanded to return to Eden as her parents had requested her immediate return. The head knight gave her three days to finish her business and warned that should she try to run again, their entire guild would perish for it. They left without so much of another word, and Dokja honestly doesn’t know how long he stood there completely dumbfounded. 

Uriel had broken down then and confessed everything. Apparently she was the third princess of Eden, and had run away a couple months before because her parents were trying to marry her off to a foreign kingdom to an absolutely horrible man, fully aware of the kind of person he was. They did it all for their own personal gain–not even for the benefit of the country mind you– because apparently the value of a third princess is only found in marriage. 

She confessed how she never felt loved at home, but tried her damndest to make herself valuable to the country and gain the approval of her parents. None of it ever worked though, and despite being one of the bravest, smartest, and talented people Dokja has ever known, they reduced her to no more than an over glorified bed warmer. 

She had then apologized profusely for the trouble she had caused and how she was grateful that they had accepted her, that for the first time she had felt loved. 

Dokja remembers the rage he had felt in that moment, an all consuming fire at the injustice and suffering such a pure hearted woman had to go through. He hated how she was treated, how she was made to feel worthless when she was far from it. 

Obviously they all comforted her and told her she didn’t have to apologize. Dokja reassured her that she didn’t have to leave and that since she was one of them, they’d fight to keep her. 

True to her character though, she hadn’t accepted it and instead decided to sneak off in the middle of the night to keep them safe. Dokja obviously expected this and followed her. 

When she met up with the knights, that’s when Dokja made his presence known. He tried to negotiate with them peacely, as if he could avoid offending the royal family of Eden; that would certainly be the best case scenario. Obviously, they didn’t go with it and despite not saying anything to garner such an aggressive backlash, Dokja found himself surrounded by nearly thirty royal guards, their weapons pointed unnervingly close to his throat. 

Of course it was that moment the rest of the guild came storming in, and the second they saw the situation Dokja was in, everything went to hell. Joonghyuk was at his side in a second, sending five of the guards flying in his wake. 

The rest followed closely behind, breaking through the ranks to form a protective circle around him. While touched, Dokja was really cursing his bad luck. So much for not offending anyone, but he didn’t think much of it. He was already a war criminal in two other countries, what’s one more. 

Negotiations officially over, Dokja gave them one last warning. Leave quietly, or die by their hand. It was a very simple ultimatum, one that Dokja felt had a clear answer. Such a threat wouldn’t have worked moments before, but his guild mates offered the proper incentive to make it stick. 

Unfortunately, the royal guard of Eden are as proud as they are stupid, so rather than leaving peacefully, they called in reinforcements. Dokja had expected as much, but he was honestly hoping it would actually go their way for once. Figures things would turn out this way. 

Surprisingly enough, it was Uriel that stepped in front of them. She drew her blade from her side and ignited it in heavenly flames. For a moment, Dokja thought her an angel, her flames wrapping around her in such a way she appeared to have wings. 

With eyes burning with the might of the stars themselves, she declared she wouldn’t be leaving, and that if they chose to fight, she would kill any who tried to harm her friends, or her real family as she put it.

Apparently she had never revealed her powers because it served as enough shock to make them surrender. From there things were awfully anti-climatic, and Heewon was disappointed she didn’t get to ‘have a go’ at the Eden soldiers as she so elegantly put it. For a moment he feared she might follow after them and start a war, but thankfully Hyunsung intervened. He honestly has no idea what he’d do without him… Heewon would be a fucking menace if he wasn’t around…

Regardless, Uriel unofficially cut ties with the royal family, but to save face, the king and queen just named her an ambassador. From then on it was smooth sailing, and they not only gained a powerful ally, but a wonderful friend.

What Dokja doesn’t understand, however, is why on earth Uriel is showing him such a memory. As far as he’s aware, neither he nor Joonghyuk had ever attended such a…

It’s then the flutter of an all too familiar flag catches his eye and Dokja’s brain promptly short circuits. Mortification doesn’t even begin to cover the torrent of emotions threatening to consume him as the memories of that cursed night come rushing back to him. 

Despite remembering very little of it, as he was inebriated for most of it, he’s well aware he made a complete fool of himself and offended not only a majority of Eden’s nobility but the entirety of the royal family. Quite horrendously in fact, considering they were chased out of the banquet with the palace guards on their heels. Dokja was also marked an enemy of the crown and banished from the country of Eden altogether.

It’s not a night he looks back on fondly, and he wished it could have stayed omitted from his memory. 

The day started off normal, not the best day of Dokja’s life by any means, but certainly not the worst. Their reason for being in Eden at all was to attend the celebration banquet marking the 200th anniversary of the creation of the People’s Federation. 

The People’s Federation is a coalition of noblemen from the various districts throughout the country of Eden. Apparently for the centuries prior to the Federation’s creation, Eden was wrought with civil unrest, divided between three different political groups. In order to prevent even more bloodshed the royal family had stayed neutral and allowed each political group power to govern their own portion of land. As long as they stayed loyal to the Crown and obeyed royal decree, then they were free to govern their land accordingly. 

When war came from foreign borders, however, the civilian’s and the royal family decided the social divide was doing more harm than good. So in order to appease the opinions and concerns of the majority, they formed the People’s Federation. In this federation, the noblemen from each district in the country would meet several times throughout and act as the voice of their people. 

Which sounds like a load of shit if you ask him, the only voice they speak for is their own. Their political officials are as corrupt as they are arrogant, after all. It’s yet another reason why Uriel wanted to leave the country, and honestly after meeting them, Dokja can’t blame her. It’s just a bunch of arrogant assholes who only care about themselves and their wealth. 

Despite having cut off ties with Eden altogether, Uriel wanted to be there to support a friend. Honestly, Dokja hadn’t felt very comfortable with her attending it by herself—not because he felt like she couldn’t handle herself, but that as her friend he’d hate to see her suffer alone— so he planned to accompany her. 

His thoughts were shared by the rest of the guild, but since he was the only one of real status —being the heir to the Northern Dukedom— it made the most sense for him to attend. Plus the nobles wouldn’t be able to look down on him so easily as he outranked pretty much all of them—the status behind his name is quite formidable even outside of the country. 

However, due to Dokja’s supposed obsession for causing trouble wherever he goes, the guild couldn’t just let the two of them go alone. Apparently he is “stupid bastard with a savior’s complex”, so they needed a babysitter to ensure he didn’t get himself killed. It was this time he learned they had a system in place for such a situation, by which they had a rotation for who would join Dokja on his various outings or missions. 

Honestly, Dokja can’t say he’s surprised. They’ve always been aggressively protective of him for some reason, especially in the more recent years. He doesn’t quite understand their reasoning for it. It’s not like he’s dead set on getting himself killed or anything, things just get complicated sometimes. They’re mercenaries, regardless of how easy their missions are, their lives are always at stake, it comes with the job title. 

He put up quite a fight to avoid it, but ultimately he lost. Of course Sooyoung had to get his parents involved, the traitorous bitch bitch. As soon as his parents heard he planned to attend a banquet in another country their overbearing and protective nature came to play. He was left with a very displeasing ultimatum, either have one of his guild mates attend the banquet as well or they would send a portion of their personal guard to protect him. 

Dokja really can’t ever catch a break it would seem. 

Ultimately he went with the first option. His parents’ personal guards are just as overbearing and protective as they are, so Dokja would rather attend it with one of his companions over them.

Somehow though, things just so happened to work out that it was Joonghyuk’s turn in as Dokja’s over glorified babysitter. He honestly calls bullshit on that though, having doubted Joonghyuk was a part of that stupid rotation in the first place. He has a shaking suspicion that Uriel and Heewon were conniving shit behind the scenes in order to make that happen. What he doesn’t understand, however, is why Joonghyuk went along with it. 

He just joined them without a fight, not offering a word edgewise as to whether or not he was displeased with the turn of events. Which is oddly unlike him. 

Regardless, Dokja honestly couldn’t complain that much though. Seeing Joonghyuk in formal clothes is a sight too enticing to pass up, and Dokja is a very weak and horny man. Seriously, Joonghyuk in formal attire should be illegal. 

In order to prevent unnecessary complications, they ultimately decided to keep their identities as mercenaries a secret. Instead Dokja attended as the heir to the Northern Dukedom and Uriel’s current business partner with Joonghyuk posing as his personal guard. 

Which all and all isn’t a complete lie, but he doubts any of the nobles or royals would be all too pleased at the intentional omission of information. 

With his parents’ help, they were able to look the part. The process was quite unpleasant though, as Dokja was fitted into an expensive looking suit, one that reflected the immense wealth of his parents perfectly. He found it a bit much, but neither his parents or Uriel felt the need to listen to him, so Dokja was forced to wear it regardless. The useless extravagances aside, it was a good looking suit, and Dokja quite liked the way the white and silver fabric meshed together. They were the official colors of the North, so Dokja honestly felt a bit of pride at being able to wear them. 

Meanwhile Joonghyuk was given the traditional guard uniform of the Northern knights. Despite it not being as intricate as his own, Dokja honestly felt like Joonghyuk looked more like an heir than he did. The black and gold complimented him beautifully, and Dokja honestly got a little hot and bothered by the way the uniform accentuated his strong and powerful body. Uriel even insisted upon styling his hair, and Dokja honestly found himself at a loss for words. If he were a lesser man, he’d have popped a boner right then and there. 

He definitely did but no one needs to know that .

Dokja could tell that the outfit made him uncomfortable, but Joonghyuk never breathed a word, merely offering a small and quiet thanks to his parents after the outfit was complete. Honestly, Dokja was taken away by how odd Joonghyuk was acting. 

Though he was incredibly reserved, it wasn’t in his typical closed off and ill-mannered way. Dokja honestly hadn’t ever seen the ill-tempered bastard behave so politely in his life. If he hadn’t known any better, Dokja would have thought Joonghyuk was shy, as if he were nervous and unsure of how to act around Dokja’s parents. 

Obviously that wasn’t the case, but Dokja was so distracted by his mother’s own shameless behavior that he didn't have the time to decipher Joonghyuk’s behavior. She was immediately smitten by Joonghyuk from the moment she saw him and after his quiet and polite replies, much to his dismay, and she more or less fell in love with him. 

She doted on Joonghyuk for the rest of their stay and Dokja had honestly never wanted to disown his mother more in his life. One would think Joonghyuk was her own son with the way she doted on him, and Dokja was so unbearably embarrassed. Dokja fully expected Joonghyuk’s retribution to involve his own demise, and at that point, Dokja wished for it. Anything to save himself from his mother’s humiliating behavior. 

His father, the useless bastard, offered no help whatsoever, and just encouraged her. She got so bad in fact, Dokja thought he caught Joonghyuk blushing, only to realize it was but a sign of his growing anger and Dokja decided that was time to leave before Joonghyuk actually snapped.

It took far more effort than it should have, but eventually managed to escape. Of course his mother pulled him aside, an all-knowing look on her face. Dokja took one look at her and he knew he wasn’t getting out of this with his pride intact, not that there was much left anyways. 

‘Your father and I approve, he seems like a wonderful man. I can see why you like him.’ She had said, eyes gleaming with mirth. 

Dokja had just told her to piss off, too embarrassed by the way she managed to figure out Joonghyuk was the nameless crush he had been ranting about for years. She had just laughed, ruffling his hair affectionately, saying that when he finally got the balls to ask him out, she expected him to invite Joonghyuk over for dinner. 

Where she got the idea that Dokja could ever have a chance with him, he doesn’t know, but he figured it would be more of a drag than it’s worth to call her out on her shit. After assuring her that he would, he gave them his goodbyes and joined his companions. 

Their preparations for the banquet went rather smoothly, and before Dokja knew it he was in that jaw dropping ball room. He was a bit overwhelmed by how grand it was, especially with how many people there were. He was never one for big parties, and the sensory overload was a bit much for him. 

It made him feel a bit guilty about Joonghyuk, knowing full well that if he was bothered by it, Joonghyuk would be suffering with how sensitive his senses are. The hybrid didn’t even show the slightest inkling of his discomfort though, and merely stood behind Dokja with an impassive face, looking every bit of the guard he was intended to be. 

Dokja definitely drooled a bit at the serious expression on his face, but thankfully the banquet kicked off and he was distracted. A bit too distracted unfortunately because not too long after he started to drink what he thought was the non-alcoholic beverages, his memory goes painfully blank.  

It’s not his fault entirely, mind you, visually there was no difference between the two types of drinks and Eden wine is incredibly sweet, so much so that it masked the alcohol content altogether. Dokja didn’t realize his catastrophic mistake until it was too late. 

After that everything is a huge blur, but judging by Uriel’s amusement and his current status as a war criminal of Eden, he can fill in the blanks. 

Uriel is now outside, peering into the outdoor corridor behind a pillar. She’s clearly spying, judging by her current state and the curiosity budding inside of her. Dokja just doesn’t know what, but then he hears it. 

“Joonghyuk-ah,” A very loud, and obnoxiously drunk voice slurs, “Dance with me.”

Dokja realizes with great mortification that the pitchy voice is in fact his own and promptly wishes he could die on the spot. At this point Dokja doesn’t care if the night ends with Joonghyuk confessing his undying love, Dokja can already tell he made a catastrophic fool of himself. 

Unfortunately for him though, memory magic is incredibly unforgiving, and until he watched them all, he would not be able to leave, so he’s forced to sit and endure it, watching his own embarrassing acts through the eyes of another. 

Excitement thrums inside Uriel then, making her discreetly peak her head around the pillar. Not for the first time, Dokja wishes he were dead. 

A little ways in front of Uriel, Dokja can see himself hanging off of Joonghyuk’s arm like a lovesick maiden, looking at him like he had placed the very stars in the sky. He feels so unbelievably mortified by his actions, even if Joonghyuk loves him, Dokja doubts he’ll ever be able to look him in the eye again. 

Joonghyuk looks down at him with a gentle expression, a twinge of mirth in his eyes. “If you want to dance, why did you leave the ballroom, Kim Dokja?” 

He looks entirely too amused by the situation for Dokja’s comfort, and he honestly wishes the useless bastard would have just knocked him out or something.

Dokja watches with great horror as his own lips quiver, a pout suddenly appearing on his face. “Because you were uncomfortable in there,” He whines. 

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen slightly. “You left because you thought I was uncomfortable?” He asks, surprise slipping into his tone. 

“I know you were uncomfortable. Your senses are too powerful for your own good.” Dokja says, a heavy frown on his face. He goes so far as to hold Joonghyuk’s face, caressing it softly as if he were soothing a lover. “I hate to see you suffer.”

In that moment Dokja resolves to never be in close proximity to alcohol ever again.

Joonghyuk flinches slightly at the hold, but to Dokja’s mortification he doesn’t shy away, if anything he leans in. “Do you now?” He murmurs, an unreadable, but undeniably fond expression on his face. 

The recreation of him nods furiously, the movement jerky and awkward. “I do. You never care for yourself and it makes me very angry. That’s why I left because I knew you would follow.”

Joonghyuk raises his eyebrows at that. “That’s quite rich coming from you of all people, Kim Dokja. You must really be drunk.”

“No,” He whines petulantly, “I already told you I’m not drunk, I’m pleasantly buzzed. There’s a difference.”

Joonghyuk lets out a huff of air, eyes crinkling slightly in amusement. “Oh really?” He teases.

Dokja honestly doesn’t know if he’s more mortified by his own actions, or more surprised by how receptive Joonghyuk is to it. If anyone were to spy in on this moment, they’d easily mistake them for a couple with the way they’re flirting. Fates above, had they always been like this?

Meanwhile Uriel seems to be having an absolutely field day if the raging excitement in her body is anything to go by. Good heavens, this woman needs a life . 

“Yes.” Dokja says firmly, “Now dance with me.”

“I don’t think I should do that. A guard dancing with his ward would more than likely cause a scene.” The words are a serious concern, but Joonghyuk’s tone is far from it, if anything he’s teasing him. 

Dokja is completely dumbfounded by this exchange. His own actions he can somewhat understand, as mortifying as it is. But Joonghyuk? That shitty bastard has absolutely no excuse. His healing capabilities make it so alcohol has absolutely no effect on him, so he’s clearly in his right mind right now. So what the fuck is this bastard up to? Is this even Joonghyuk? There’s no fucking way this flirty and caring man is the broody bastard Dokja has come to know.

The recreation of him lets out an affronted noise. “And? Last time I checked you my knight, so you’re to follow my orders. Why the fuck do you care about everyone else? It should only be me you worry about, not those shitty nobles.” 

Good grief will this torture ever end… Someone please just put him out of his misery…

Joonghyuk’s amused expression just grows, a smug smirk growing on his lips. “You are the only one I think about, Kim Dokja.” He purrs, his hand wrapping around Dokja’s waist to pull him closer, “Far more than you realize. I just believe that if we were to get caught it wouldn’t bode well for our cover.”

If Dokja were in his own body he’d be blushing from his face all the way down to his feet. Since when was Joonghyuk a fucking smooth talker. Is he like a secret casanova or something?

Uriel is no better, one would think it was her receiving such affections with the way her face flushes and heart pounds in her chest. If she weren’t trying to keep her cover, Dokja has no doubt she’d be squealing her head off. Why did he become friends with her again?

The recreation of him reaches up to fist the collar of Joonghyuk’s collar, forcing him even closer despite there being no distance between them in the first place. “I don’t give a shit about our cover, now dance with me before I start to get angry, Yoo Joonghyuk.” He demands.

Dokja honestly wants to cry at this point.

Joonghyuk’s pupils dilate, his expression darkening with something akin to desire. It’s almost predatory in nature, as if he wanted to devour him —it’s a look Dokja is intimately familiar with after the whole feral incident and it has absolutely no business being used outside of the bedroom. Has Joonghyuk always been this obvious? Was he really this dense? Dokja is really starting to question everything now…

“We wouldn’t want that now, would we…” Joonghyuk murmurs, his voice rough and deep. His free hand reaches out to cup Dokja’s face, thumb tracing the bottom of his lip.

Just watching it make his whole body light up, a thrum of arousal shooting through him. Joonghyuk really is too hot for his own good. Dokja can feel the heat of Joonghyuk’s hand against his face, the way it burns against his lower lip, as if he were really there. The constant flip of emotions is throwing him through a loop and Dokja just wants it all to end all ready. 

Surprisingly enough, the drunken version of himself is blissfully unaware of the dangerous situation he’s put himself in —Joonghyuk literally looking one second away from devouring him—- and just huffs. “Good, you aren’t a complete dumbass then. Now come on.”

With that the recreation of himself slips from Joonghyuk’s grip and storms off, pulling Joonghyuk behind him.

The memory goes black then and for a moment Dokja cheers internally, thankful that someone took pity for him, only for all his hopes to shatter as the next memory follows suit. 

The surroundings have changed, but they're still outside. Uriel is now hiding oh so elegantly behind a bush, staring at the marbled gazebo with rapt attention. She’s practically vibrating with excitement and Dokja really wishes he was there in person so he could smack her. 

The reason for her excitement, however, is a very conflicting sight for Dokja. 

Despite there being no music to hear, Joonghyuk holds him close, leading him in a very well practiced dance. Dokja is a bit taken aback by it, despite being drunk Dokja knows muscle memory would have kicked in for him at this point, but as far as he was aware Joonghyuk had no idea how to dance. He leads Dokja with the confidence of someone who was classically trained, possessing far more grace than Dokja ever could have. 

This recreation of him is equally surprised, looking at Joonghyuk with something akin to wonder. “I didn’t realize you could dance, Joonghyuk-ah.”

Joonghyuk just smiles down at him, eyes a light with mirth. “I’ve had time to practice.” He says simply, extending his arm to twist Dokja in a delicate spin and pulling him back all without dropping a beat.

If Dokja were in his own body his cheeks would be on fire right now. Why does this shitty bastard have to be good at everything? 

Dokja’s brow furrows. “Why though? I don’t see how dancing would really be of any use to you.” 

“It seems to be coming in handy right now, doesn’t it? What would you have done if I couldn’t dance?” Joonghyuk says, a slight smirk on his face. 

Dokja just huffs, “Clearly I don’t have to worry about it, since you’re better than me. You’re avoiding my question though.”

Joonghyuk continues to sway them to the beat of soundless music. “Why? Is that jealousy I smell, Kim Dokja?” He teases. 

He hit the nail right on the bud it would seem, the slight flush on his face growing way too red for it to just be the alcohol anymore. “Get over yourself. I’m just curious, you stupid bastard.” Dokja mutters, shifting uncomfortably. 

Joonghyuk just laughs, reaching his arm up to spin Dokja around. “I didn’t learn it to impress anyone, so don’t be thinking such foolish things.” He reassures, pulling his arm so Dokja spins back into his chest. His hand slides down Dokja’s waist, gently leaning his body into a low dip. 

Rather than pulling him back up, however, Joonghyuk just leans in closer, so close their noses brush against each other. “I learned it, Kim Dokja.” He murmurs, his voice deep with unsung emotion, “Because you love to dance.”

At this point, Dokja’s brain is fried beyond reason. How the hell does Joonghyuk know that?

“Then you’re saying you learned it for me?” The recreation asks breathlessly, looking as dumbfounded as he feels. 

Joonghyuk lips turn into a gentle smile, his eyes gleaming with love as he stares down at him. “I did. I just never dreamed I’d actually be able to dance with you.” 

“You say that as if dancing with me is something to be desired, Yoo Joonghyuk.”

“But it is,” Joonghyuk murmurs, his hand gently caressing Dokja’s face, “You have no idea how much I’ve longed to hold you like this, Kim Dokja.”

Dokja’s heart rages in his chest at that. The conflicting torrent of emotions raging its ugly head once more. Who gave him the right to look at him like that? And while he’s drunk no matter? If Joonghyuk truly loved him as much as he’s claiming, why the fuck was he so deadset on making sure Dokja had no idea?

The recreation of him sputters pathetically, clearly embarrassed and overwhelmed. “I had no idea you held such feelings for me…”

Joonghyuk hums. “You are as dense as you are beautiful I’m afraid, but I also didn’t want you to know either, so it’s partially my own fault. The only reason why I’m telling you now is because you won’t remember it come morning.”

This stupid bastard… Dokja has half a mind to strangle him right now. 

He swings Dokja back up then, easing them back into their slow waltz. 

The recreation of him just pouts, “You’re not being fair,” He whines.

Joonghyuk’s smile wanes ever so slightly, a twinge of pain flashing through his eyes. “It’s you who’s not being fair. Teasing me like this, making me hope. If you weren’t drunk, I’d think you actually felt the same.” He murmurs softly.  

Any anger he may have felt dissipates in that instant, just leaving him painfully confused. If anything Joonghyuk is the dense one here. Can he not see the way Dokja is looking at him now? Does he truly think it’s just the alcohol? 

This would be the perfect moment to reveal everything, confess the feelings he’s been harboring for years. For a moment Dokja forgets this is a moment from the past, and he wishes that he would say something, anything to make the sadness in Joonghyuk’s eyes go away. To Dokja’s disappoint, however, the recreation just blinks up at Joonghyuk dumbly, clearly not comprehending a word Joonghyuk had just said. “What did you say?”

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen at that, as if realizing what he had just said. Just like that the pain is gone, replaced with a more subdued sense of fondness. “Nothing, I was just talking to myself.”

The recreation looks at him suspiciously, clearly not believing him, but rather than pushing it he just closes the distance between them, resting his head on Joonghyuk’s chest. “There, now I’ll be able to hear you, so stop whispering.”

Joonghyuk hadn’t whispered before so he doubts the lack of distance will help anything. Damn this stupid night and this stupid alcohol. Dokja’s never been more frustrated with himself in his life. 

Joonghyuk just laughs softly, shifting his arms so he cradles his waist with one and his head in the other. “As you wish.” Joonghyuk murmurs into Dokja’s hair, a bittersweet emotion sparkling in his eyes. 

After that a comfortable silence falls on them, the two just gently swaying to music no one but themselves can hear. The sight is beautiful, and had it been anyone else, Dokja would have found it heartwarming. Without context, they appear to be just two lovers enjoying each other’s presence, free from prying eyes. As if they were in their own little world, with nothing but their love and the shining stars to keep them company. 

To Dokja, however, it’s bittersweet, heart wrenching even. Despite holding each other so close, they’re worlds apart. Both trapped in their own misunderstandings and insecurities. To literally anyone else their love for each other is so painfully apparent, but to each other? It’s completely lost, drowned out by the emotions threatening to consume them both.

It’s the reserved defeat on Joonghyuk’s face that breaks him, as if he were trying to cherish a moment he knew would soon pass. Dokja wishes he could just scream, say something, anything to reassure him that his love was returned, that Dokja yearns for him just as much as he does. 

But life doesn’t work that way, and Dokja is left as a useless bystander, helpless as Joonghyuk seems to shatter on the inside. 

“I missed this, more than you will ever know, Kim Dokja.” Joonghyuk murmurs, “Thank you for humoring me, even if it isn’t real…”

And with that the memory fades, and Dokja is left feeling sad and confused. What on earth did Joonghyuk mean by that? Is this not the first time this has happened?

He doesn’t get the chance to truly think it over before the next memory is fading into view. 

They’re back in the ballroom, and neither he or Joonghyuk are in sight. Uriel is in the conversation with a nobleman Dokja doesn’t realize, and judging by Uriel’s growing annoyance he wouldn’t care to either. So he tunes out the conversation, instead focusing on the surroundings to see if he can spot himself or Joonghyuk.

It’s then another conversation suddenly trickles in, a grating voice sticking out over the loud thrum of the crowd.

“A monstrosity like you should not exist. How dare you taint these righteous halls with your filth? Your mother should have killed you than to bring such a curse into this world.” 

It catches Uriel’s attention, and she whips her head around only to find a very short and fat man glaring up at Joonghyuk. His face is red with rage, a chubby finger poking at Joonghyuk’s chest with vengeance. 

To be quite honest, Dokja had never wanted to kill someone more in his life. How dare he speak to Joonghyuk in such a way?

Dokja’s rage is amplified by Uriel's body, and for a moment he thinks she might intervene or at the very least Joonghyuk would take the opportunity to punch his disgusting face in. 

Surprisingly enough, however, it’s neither Uriel or Joonghyuk that react first. 

In an instant the nobleman is forcefully shoved into a marble pillar, cutting off his revolting rant. The sound of shattering glass echoes throughout the room, as a very expensive looking wine bottle is shattered above the man’s head. The entire ballroom goes painfully silent, hundreds of wide eyes all turning to watch the spectacle. 

Internally Dokja cheers for the unseen aslant, thanking them for stepping in when he couldn’t. The happiness is echoed in Uriel, the princess sadistically amused by the situation. 

Uriel moves closer to get a better look and it’s then Dokja realizes, with great surprise, that the aslant is in fact him. 

For a moment Dokja doesn’t quite believe it’s himself that he’s seeing. Dokja has never considered himself an intimidating person, in any sense of the word, but as he looks at himself through Uriel’s eyes, he finds himself a bit unnerved. 

His expression is devoid of any emotion as he glowers down at the now quivering excuse of a man. Dokja’s eyes are almost unhinged, bleeding with pure malice as if he were but a moment away from killing him. He holds the shattered bottle’s end at the man’s throat, his hand shaking in obvious agitation. 

“I suggest you learn to hold your tongue before you find yourself without one.” He mutters darkly, his words oddly serious and coherent despite being a slurring and blubbering mess moments before. 

The words seem to draw the nobleman from his fear induced stupor, and he lets out an indignant squawk of disbelief. “You–you h-how dare you attack a nobleman of the federation! Do you not know who I–” His words cut off in a terrified squeak as the jagged bottle inches closer, glass now digging into his throat. 

Dokja just tuts, cocking his head to the side. “One would think for how highly you revere yourself you’d have a better sense of self-preservation. And yet here you are saying such vile things about my companion… If you wished to die, you should have just asked.”

The threat of death seems to shatter the paralyzed shock that had fallen over the bystanders, and voices suddenly cry out for the guards. The clanging of metal echoes through the room and Dokja is quickly surrounded by a formidable amount of guards.

Now Dokja isn’t easily intimidating by any means, but being surrounded by that many professionally trained soldiers would certainly make him falter. This version of him, however, doesn’t even flinch. He just casts an irritated look over his shoulder, as if they were no more than useless flies. Liquor truly is the courage of men, it would seem. 

Realizing that their presence alone wouldn’t deter him, one of the guards steps forward, his sword pointed dangerously close to Dokja’s neck. The moment the blade gets too close, Joonghyuk is suddenly there, his sword smacking it away with a jarring clang.

Joonghyuk’s imposing frame now covers his back, face impassive as he casts them a bone chilling glare. “Touch him, and you die.” Joonghyuk says, voice edged with a slight snarl. 

From there all hell breaks loose, Uriel jumping in the fray to help fend off the guards. Despite being unfairly overwhelmed, they make it out unscathed. His drunken self, however, did not have any plans to leave until Joonghyuk’s honor was avenged, so he was ultimately carried out, cradled in Joonghyuk’s unfairly strong and comfortable looking arms.

The last thing Dokja sees is himself looking around Joonghyuk’s shoulder, throwing up his hand and flipping the guards off. “Go fuck yourselves.” He shouts with vengeance, only to then turn back around and curl back into Joonghyuk’s arms like a sated puppy. Joonghyuk just looks down at him fondly, a soft but deep chuckle leaving his lips. 

With that Uriel’s memory fades and Dokja finds himself not knowing what to think as darkness clouds his eyes. Well that was a clusterfuck. What the hell is he supposed to do with that?

Thankfully, Sangah’s memory develops much faster and Dokja pushes his own conflicting thoughts away in favor of paying attention to her memory.

Now that he thinks about it, in comparison to everyone else in the guild, Sangah is really the only person he didn’t have much of a hand in when she joined the guild. Oddly enough, it was Sooyoung. 

Rather than being pissed off when the woman had taken a job right from under her nose, Sooyoung was completely love struck. Sangah had even gone so far as to steal her coin purse, leaving a similar shaped pouch in its place with a short note that read thanks for the tip, baby girl .

Dokja was honestly dumbfounded by the entire situation, if there are two things Sooyoung loves in this world it’s her pride and her money, and Yoo Sangah managed to steal both in one fell swoop. And yet she was more mad at the fact she didn’t get a chance to talk to her. 

The following weeks were quite humorless, Sooyoung trying everything in her power to woo Sangah and get her to join the guild, only for Sangah to tell her to fuck off and steal her money in spite. This happened far more times than it should have, and rather than taking a hint like a normal person, Sooyoung just doubled down her efforts. Honestly Dokja was a little worried Sangah might kill her.

Against all odds, though, somehow Sooyoung managed to win her over, and to this day Dokja doesn’t know how. It couldn’t have been Sooyoung’s personality because despite being her best friend, he’ll be the first to admit it’s complete shit. It also couldn’t have been her looks either because she looks like a washed up gremlin on a good day, which is a complete lie, she’s actually incredibly attractive, but her personality makes it worthless. 

Regardless of his own confusion, he saw how well they fit together, their differences pulling them together rather than apart. After that Sangah unofficially became a member of their guild and never left. None of them questioned it, and she honestly fit in like she’d always been there. 

They became close friends, and Dokja honestly couldn’t be more thankful for Sooyoung’s shitty but persistent personality. Not that he would ever admit it out loud. 

Though he honestly doesn’t know what to expect from her memory though. Especially after the last one, Dokja hopes it’ll be more subdued in nature, these revelations are giving him whiplash at this point. Anymore and his heart will give out.

Sangah is currently at the guild, standing out on the balcony outside her room. It’s night time, but it’s not the stars that have caught her attention. 

In the field spanning behind the guild sit two figures, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who they are. This is yet another memory Dokja has no recollection of, so this is probably another instance of his own drunken antics getting into trouble. Fates help him, what on earth did he do this time.

“I found them,” Sangah calls, not taking her eyes off of Dokja.

As if summoned, Sooyoung suddenly appears out of thin air, huddling close to Sangah as she looks out from the balcony with heavy interest. 

“Ah, so that’s where that drunk bastard ended up, glad to see he’s not out causing trouble.” Sooyoung says, a smirk curling onto his face. 

He is never drinking ever again…

“What do you think they're talking about?” Sangah whispers conspirately, “They’re sitting awfully close together.”

Sooyoung casts Sangah a smug look, going so far as to wink. “I don’t have to think, I know.”

And with the wave of her hand, a small golden orb appears in front of her and suddenly Dokja and Joonghyuk’s face shimmer into view. 

This sneaky little bitch actually fucking bugged him. If Dokja was reluctant to kill her before, now that pent up rage comes back with vengeance, their previous heart to heart completely forgotten. Just how long had she been spying on him for?

“Why are you out here, Kim Dokja?” Joonghyuk asks, his voice pinched in concern. 

Dokja just waves him off. “I wanted to watch the stars.” He says simply, despite not looking at the stars and paying more attention to the flowers on his lap. Now that catches Dokja off guard, just what the fuck is he doing? 

He realizes with great mortification that he’s braiding a flower crown. For fucks sake, no wonder why Sooyoung has no respect for him. 

Sooyoung cackles at that. “Oh this is gold, we need to get him drunk more often. This is giving me so much blackmail material right now.”

Sangah just reaches over and pinches her side. “Shut up, I’m trying to listen.” She scolds. 

Sooyoung just sticks her tongue out at her, but surprisingly enough stays quiet. 

Joonghyuk looks down at Dokja fondly. “Are you now?” He teases, “I wasn’t aware you could view the stars from the ground.”

“Shut up, you broody bastard, I’m trying to focus.” Dokja snaps, not taking his eyes off of the flower crown.

Joonghyuk just holds his hands up in surrender, a small smile on his face. A comfortable silence falls on them then, Joonghyuk watching Dokja with rapt attention as he weaves the crown. 

When it’s finished Dokja lets out a pleased huff, holding it above his head so he can admire it. “There. All done.” He says happily, face lit up in a bright smile.

“Beautiful,” Joonghyuk compliments, eyes trained on Dokja’s face.

Dokja hums in approval. “I’m glad you think so because it’s for you.”

Joonghyuk flinches at that, eyes widening in surprise. “I-I’m sorry?” He sputters out. 

Joonghyuk’s not alone in his reaction, Sooyoung’s eyes threaten to bulge from their sockets as her jaw drops. “Good grief, I didn’t know the shitty bastard had it in him,” She says. 

If Dokja had his own body right now, he’d smack her. 

The recreation turns his attention back to Joonghyuk, smile ever present. “I said it’s for you.” And without giving Joonghyuk the chance to respond or recover for that matter, he reaches up and places it on top of Joonghyuk’s head. 

The expression on Joonghyuk’s face is almost comical, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets. With a trembling hand he reaches up to touch the crown, his fingertips just gracing the edge of the flowers. The surprise on his face melts after that, shifting into an unreadable but noticeably pained expression.

His eyes seem to speak a thousand words, and yet Dokja is foreign to them all. Not for the first time he wishes he could understand him, know what’s going on in that head of his. It’s just a flower crown, why is he looking at him like that? Like what Dokja did had far more weight and meaning to it then just a mere gift. 

“So pretty, Joonghyuk-ah,” He praises, blissfully unaware of the emotional turmoil he’s putting Joonghyuk through, “They suit you quite well.”

Joonghyuk swallows thickly, his eyes suddenly sparkling with unshed tears. “Thank you,” He murmurs, voice rough with emotion. 

“You’re welcome.” Dokja says simply, “And now that I’ve given you a gift you have to watch the stars with me. It’s only fair.”

Joonghyuk lets out a quiet chuckle, a bittersweet smile curling on his face.  “Even after all this time, you haven’t one changed a bit have you, Kim Dokja?” He murmurs, and the weight of Joonghyuk words resonates deep inside Dokja. As if there’s far more to them than their simple phrasing may suggest, but for the life of him Dokja doesn’t know what. 

The broody bastard needs to stop being so damn cryptic with his words, can’t he just speak clearly for once?

Sooyoung lets out a low whistle. “They really are something. How can they both be so painfully in love with each other and yet so blind to it? It makes no fucking sense.”

Sangah hums. “It’s honestly impressive at this point.”

“It’s fucking depressing and annoying as shit. Why do we have to suffer through all this sappy bullshit?” Sooyoung seethes. 

Sangah just sighs. “All in their own time, you can’t rush this. They’ll figure it out eventually.”

Sooyoung lets out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, when they're dead maybe.”

Sangah just rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to the floating image. 

“The stars are beautiful tonight,” Dokja remarks, eyes shining as he looks up at the stars. 

“Absolutely exquisite,” Joonghyuk agrees, even though his eyes are still trained on Dokja’s face, looking at Dokja with unmasked adoration. Dokja honestly wants to cry. 

Sooyoung audibly gags.

“I like looking at the stars,” Dokja says conversationally, clearly seconds away from talking Joonghyuk’s ear off. 

Joonghyuk nods, his expression oddly distant as his eyes seem to shine with unsung emotion. “You always did.” He murmurs softly. 

For a moment Dokja thinks he’ll elaborate, but then his recreation shivers and it’s enough to pull Joonghyuk revere. He lets out a slight laugh, “You could have picked a warmer day to do it though,” Joonghyuk remarks, and to his great surprise, he shrugs off his own coat and wraps it around Dokja’s shoulders. 

The recreation of him turns his attention to Joonghyuk, eyes wide with shock. “But won’t you be cold?”

Joonghyuk just smiles. “I’m not as skinny as you, Kim Dokja. A little wind won’t bother me.” He teases. 

Dokja’s having none of it apparently, and to his absolute mortification plops himself onto Joonghyuk’s lap. “There, hold onto me so you can be warm.”

Sooyoung promptly chokes on her spit at that. “What the fuck, since when could that rat bastard actually flirt?”

Dokja is too embarrassed to care that much. He might just die of mortification at this point. 

Surprisingly enough, Joonghyuk takes it in stride, wrapping his arms around Dokja and pulling him close to his chest. “I suppose I should enjoy this moment while it lasts then.” He murmurs softly, nuzzling into Dokja’s hair.

A slight tremor travels across Joonghyuk’s body then and suddenly his head jerks up, eyes flashing gold as he stares directly into the screen. Busted. 

A displeased scowl curls onto his face then, glaring at Sooyoung with a look capable of burying her six feet under. “It seems we have some unwanted guests.”

Sooyoung visibly pales, “T-there’s no fucking way he noticed, the mana residue should be completely untraceable.” She sputters.

The recreation of him hums in question, clearly asking Joonghyuk to elaborate. And Joonghyuk just places a gentle kiss on his brow. “Don’t worry about it, it’s just an annoying bug.” 

And with that he picks up a rock from his side and hurdles it behind him, not once taking his eyes off Sooyoung. 

Sooyoung prickles in agitation. “Just what is that shitty bastard up t-” Her words cut off into a pained yelp as something strikes her face with an audible smack. Dokja realizes with great amusement that it was the very same rock Joonghyuk had just thrown.

Thoroughly distracted by the sudden attack the golden screen fades away and the last thing Dokja sees is Joonghyuk’s pleased smirk, his teeth glinting ever so slightly between his parted lips. 

Sooyoung lets out a string of profanities, so vulgar a nun would blush, meanwhile Sangah just laughs just as amused as Dokja at the turn of events. With that the memory fades away, Sooyoung’s scandalized curses the last thing he hears until they dissipate into nothing. 

Dokja feels oddly light after that memory, still utterly confused by Joonghyuk’s strange and cryptic behavior, but that he feels strangely determined. Now don’t get him wrong, the emotional turmoil is still going strong, but right now Dokja honestly couldn’t care less. He has absolutely no reason to doubt Joonghyuk any more, and after wasting all this time letting his trauma get in the way of his own happiness, Dokja doesn’t give a shit. Especially seeing how much Joonghyuk suffered because of it. 

He’ll beg on his knees for Joonghyuk to forgive him once this is all over, then they can talk it out, have amazing make up sex, and live happy ever after. An absolutely foolproof and fantastic plan if he does say so himself. 

His happy mood quickly dissipates however, as Heewon’s memory shimmers into view. 

Dokja takes one look at the scene before him and his heart promptly shatters, all that light hearted happiness ripped from his chest, leaving only his horror behind. This memory, at least when it takes place, is not one he looks back on fondly. In fact it’s probably the worst day of Dokja’s life. 

This day itself had started off quite peaceful, as all of Dokja’s worst experiences do. Looking back, that should have been his sign that all hell would break loose. Hindsight is always clearer than foresight it would seem. 

Save for Dokja, the rest of the guild was away for various reasons, which really shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Through their diligent work over the years, they had amassed a fair share of enemies, all of whom would leap at the chance to strike them when they’re weak. Not only that, but they have rather dubious relations with all the other guilds, so they were intentional about never leaving less than three members at the guild at all times. 

That day was just a matter of poor timing and shitty luck. The tragedy itself was avoidable, which is the worst part. Had fate allowed just another hour to pass, things would have ended up much different. 

Unfortunately, no such mercy was allotted to them, and one of Dokja’s worst fears came to pass. 

One minute everything was fine, and the next the guild hall was surrounded by the Imperial Guard. Now Dokja is no saint, and had seen his fair share of prisons and dungeons alike in his years as a mercenary—-not due to anything he did, mind you, some people just can’t take a joke— but to his recent memory, neither he or any of his other guild mates had done anything to warrant the dispatch of the Imperial Guard. 

Due to the dubious nature of mage and mercenary guilds, the Imperial family had allowed them more legal leeway to complete their missions, so as long as the guild followed the Code of Conduct for Guilds, CCG for short, they would not face the wrath of the law. However, should one of those commandments be broken, they would face a fate far worse than death. 

Since both mage and mercenary guilds often possess individuals with immense talent, the Imperial Court would take no chances. Rather than risk the guild retaliating, they took much more assertive measures, which in most cases was the mobilization of the Imperial Guard. 

The Imperial Guard is a sub branch of the Imperial Army. The Army itself is filled with many talented individuals, but the Guard is where those with exceptional talent are placed. 

It’s a name that invokes fear in the hearts of all guilds, be they good or bad, for any time the Guard is mobilized, the full wrath of the Imperial Court is wrought upon the guild, be they guilty or innocent. Dokja has heard stories of cities and even entire islands being destroyed. 

They care not for the innocents caught in the crossfire, only the swift and full deliverance of their so called law. To Dokja it’s just an overpowered group of arrogant bastards the Imperial Court uses to keep the rest of the country under their control. He hates them with every inch of his being, but like the rest of the country, he has very little power to do anything about it.

Even though his guild is filled with some of the most powerful individuals in their entire country, even they wouldn’t stand a chance against the full might of the Imperial forces. It’s not even the fact that the army possesses more powerful soldiers—that Dokja seriously doubts— but it’s their sheer overwhelming numbers. Regardless of the fight they put up, even they would enviably be overwhelmed. There’s simply too many of them.

Now if all of the guilds in the country were to unite —at least the more powerful ones— then they would stand a chance, but it would be a full out war, and the casualties and devastation of such a war would be catastrophic. The Imperial Army wouldn’t hesitate to use innocent civilians to gain the upperhand. So no one, not even the more violent guilds, were willing to take such risks. 

So many sat by quietly, and abided by their shitty laws without complaint. Because of their submission, however, the Imperial Court developed a rather large head and took full advantage of the fragile compliance. 

He still remembers that shitty interaction like it was yesterday.

“Kim Dokja, guild master of the Kim Dokja Company, by decree of the Imperial Court you have been found guilty of treason and are hereby sentenced to death by public execution. For your crimes against the Council, your guild will be forcefully disbanded and removed from the register. We have been dispatched to transport you to the capital, you will come quietly or we will take you by force.” One of the soldiers had said.

Dokja had been completely caught off guard by the sentence, knowing full and well he hadn’t done anything to warrant treason. A million thoughts had raced through Dokja’s head in that moment, but none yielded a solution or reason to his current dilemma. Dokja knew he was outmatched, and any resistance would put innocent lives and his guild members at risk.

“Though none of your guild mates have been found guilty of such crimes, should you resist, I’m sure the Judge can be persuaded to hand off the sentence to more of you. Wouldn’t want innocents being caught up in your mess, now would you?”

The rage that had ignited in him was overwhelming, so much so Dokja can feel it burning in him just thinking about it. At the time, however, Dokja knew he was helpless. Even if the rest of the guild were there, they probably wouldn’t have stood a chance. If his submission would be their salvation, then he would accept it willingly. He’d die a thousand times over before he let harm come to his companions. 

However, despite making no attempt to resist, they still beat him into submission, taunting him with every callous insult their feeble minds could conjure up. Dokja wanted nothing more than to wipe off the smug grins from their faces, but for the safety of his friends, he resisted and endured it all. 

Honestly, it’s probably the worst beating Dokja had received in a long time, which is rather sad considering he’s faced literal demons before. They didn’t stop at beating him though, and after he had been beaten within an inch of his life, he was forced to watch as they ransacked the guild hall and then destroyed it. 

He honestly reached the lowest point in his life at that moment, and Dokja had never wished death upon someone so violently. Anger and horror had raged in his chest, tearing him apart from the inside. He screamed and cried, beginning them to stop. It felt as if his own heart was being ripped out before his very eyes and he was helpless to stop it. He begged them to just kill him instead, but they did not stop until the final piece of their once magnificent guild hall crumbled to the ground. 

Through it all, they had just laughed at him. Their condescending words and taunting threats like knives to Dokja’s already shattered spirit. Never before had he felt so defeated, so powerless. It was a torture unlike anything he had ever experienced, every traumatic experience in his shitty life paled in comparison to this. 

All the blood, sweat, and tears his companions had put into that guild hall and the treasures found within, just gone. Burnt to ash and taken by greedy hands. The guilt was suffocating, bone crushing against his already beaten body. It was if he had been the one to set it alight, and honestly he was. He should have done something, anything, to prevent this, and yet he just watched as their home was destroyed. 

He was supposed to be their leader, the one who had a solution to every problem they faced. And what did he do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. His intellect is the only reason he could even dare to associate himself with his companions. Otherwise what right had he to stand beside them. What did someone as useless as him have to offer?   

In that moment, Dokja realized just how undeserving he was of his place in the guild. He realized just how much of a burden he was and Dokja never hated himself more. All the unrelenting rage he had felt towards the soldiers simultaneously turned towards himself, and he found the false charge suddenly a fitting fate for his parasite-like existence. 

Perhaps his death would be better for everyone after all. 

Even after he was rescued, that thought weighed heavily on him. He was unresponsive for weeks, entirely dissociated. It was an odd time for him, and Dokja doesn’t remember anything about that brief period. All he knows is after that his companions grew incredibly protective after that, almost to the point of smothering. 

Through their tender care and insistent words, Dokja was able to crawl his way out of that depressive state. Without them, Dokja doubts he would have made it and he couldn’t be more grateful for their presence in his life. 

Now Dokja certainly doesn’t hold these thoughts anymore, but the ghost of their truth still lingers in his lowest moments. It’s yet another trauma Dokja has added to his unending list of reasons why he shouldn’t be loved, so he was entirely unprepared for the reminder. 

Focusing back in on Heewon’s memory, he can feel the fury and confusion that raged inside her. This must have been right after they found out what happened.

Joonghyuk suddenly appears in front of them, his expression stony and unreadable. His eyes widen slightly at the destroyed guild hall before twisting into worry and rage. “Where is Kim Dokja?”

Sooyoung turns around to face him, and Dokja is taken aback by the expression on her face. Despite the fury raging in her eyes, tears fall freely from her face and it breaks his heart. Han Sooyoung has never been one to cry, and in all the years he’s known her, this would be the second time he’s ever seen it.

“They took him.” She says bitterly. 

Joonghyuk flinches, eyes flashing gold. “Who?” He growls.

“Those imperial bastards.” Heewon seethes, her hand tightening on her sword, “And they destroyed our guild house just for the heck of it.”

“Why would they do this? Neither us nor Dokja have done anything to warrant the dispatch of the Imperial Guard.” Uriel asks, her voice rough as if she’d been crying. It’s another knife to his heart. 

Sooyoung laughs humorlessly. “We didn’t have to do anything to deserve it. Our presence probably threatened them and they intend to use Dokja as a message to the rest of us.”

“No entirely. In their eyes, Kim Dokja is the one standing in their way of receiving what they truly want.” Hyunsung answers grimmly, his brow pinched in obvious anger. 

“What do you mean, Hyunsung?” Sangah asks.

“I know how their minds work, my father was the same way. They have tried countless times to recruit all of us, but since we are already employed in a guild we were under no obligation to answer it. With Dokja out of the way and our guild forcefully disbanded, legally we would have no choice but to join them.”

Dokja’s a bit surprised by Hyunsung’s spot on conclusion, as this was the very reason why all of this had come to pass. Usually Hyunsung kept to the sidelines and offered little opinion in such matters, so it’s easy to forget how sharp the man could be. 

The rage simmering in Heewon’s chest erupts in that moment, a feeling shared by the rest of the guild as they all shout out in clear protest. They seem to be far more upset at the fact he was taken than the guild being destroyed and their belongings stolen. Dokja’s heart warms at the sight of it. He knew his companions loved him dearly, but seeing such an aggressive reaction to his unlawful sentence honestly makes him feel good. 

Sooyoung ends up using her magic to replay the events that occurred. Dokja tries his best to ignore this part, not wishing to revisit it for a second time. He instead focuses more on the reaction of his guild mates.

Despite his best efforts, he can still hear every word being said, and he’s taken aback at how broken and frantic he sounds. It’s odd, watching a magical replay of himself through the eyes of another, and for a moment he can’t quite believe it’s him. 

Every time one of the soldiers strikes him, the expression of his guild mates grows colder. Heewon is so filled with rage Dokja can’t make out any of her other feelings. It’s so hot and uncomfortable, Dokja feels like she’s one second away from exploding. Not that he can blame her though, had it been one of them in his place, his anger would have rivaled hers. 

It’s when he starts pleading with them to kill him instead and to leave the guild alone that the replay comes to a startling halt. Sooyoung’s entire body quivers in rage, a feeling that is reflected in the rest of the guild. 

The verbal reactions of the guild are lost in the sudden burst of pressure that explodes from Joonghyuk. He lets out a bone chilling roar, promises of death leaving his lips as his rage overcomes him. It echoes across the clearing around them, and Dokja watches with slight horror as Joonghyuk loses control.

He’s never seen Joonghyuk fully shift in person, and honestly he wishes it could have stayed that way. Though he never imagined it as a painless process, the gruesome sight before him honestly broke his heart. 

It’s painful to watch, Joonghyuk’s body twisting and contorting in ways that shouldn’t be possible. His body seems to simultaneously destroy and heal itself as it changes form. It’s not natural, far from it, and Dokja’s heart aches for Joonghyuk as he hears Joonghyuk’s bones literally snap. Even with Joonghyuk’s high pain tolerance and quick healing, there was no way this process wasn’t agonizing. 

Joonghyuk lets out deranged growls as his body continues to change, the sound growing more contorted and feral as the shift continues. 

The wings are the worst part, the bones erupting from Joonghyuk’s back in a violent spray of flesh and blood. The bones snap and break as they span out behind him, extending to their full length. Dokja is honestly at a loss for words, his stomach clenching painfully as bile threatens to crawl up his throat. 

When they were at the cabin Joonghyuk’s wings had just materialized from thin air, so why was it so violent and bloody now?

As the bones continue to mold into shape, black leathery membranes begin to knit from them. Though the process seems to take centuries, it’s over in a matter of seconds. With his wings fully extended from his back, they almost look like a deadly halo. Paired with the blood splatters coating his body, Joonghyuk looks like a monster fresh out of a nightmare. 

Joonghyuk casts a murderous glare at the guild, the promise of death imminating from his golden eyes. A flash of fear and adrenaline shoots through Heewon, as she instinctively grabs her sword. 

“I will meet you all at the capital.” He growls out, his voice dark and rough from misuse. 

Then just like that he disappears. A tense moment of silence falls upon them then, everyone seeming to hold their breath and prepare for Joonghyuk to return and go on a rampage. 

After the moment passes, they all share a collective sigh of relief. And despite knowing that obviously Joonghyuk hadn’t gone on a rampage, Dokja felt relief all the same.

“Well I feel like we’re all in agreement.” Sooyoung finally says, breaking the tense silence that had fallen upon them.

Heewon grunts in agreement. “Let us prepare for war.”

Dokja internally shivers at the conviction in the words, but what truly catches him by surprise is the determination of his friends. He hadn’t realized that they were prepared to go to war over this.

He doesn’t get a chance to truly admire the moment before the scene suddenly changes. Dokja internally grimaces at the scene before him. This is yet another place he doesn’t remember fondly. 

After he was taken to the Capital, this was the first room they escorted him to. General Xerius, probably the shittiest man Dokja has ever had the displeasure of meeting, sat on his chair as if it were a throne. The disdain and arrogance that marred his face was enough to rival a royal, despite the fact he was far from such a noble status. 

The only reason he received the rank of General was due to his father’s achievements as a general in the army and the Council passed it onto him because they’re obsessed with nepotism. If incestuous relationships weren’t frowned upon by the church, Dokja wouldn’t be surprised if they kept it entirely in the family. Pretentious bastards .

Despite the fact Dokja was already beaten and broken, Xerius still found the need to gloat over his supposed victory. Dokja was numb to the taunts though, all of Xerius’ callous insults paled in comparison to what he thought of himself. 

Xerius hadn’t appreciated that, and took to violence when his words garnered no such reaction. He delivered a rather nasty blow to Dokja’s face, and Dokja had an imprint of the Imperial seal on his face for maybe a week afterwards. It served as a physical reminder to the soul shattering guilt he bore, and Dokja found it oddly fitting. Eventually Xerius grew tired of Dokja’s unresponsive state, and Dokja was immediately thrown into the dungeon. 

Turning his attention back to Heewon’s memory, judging by the light outside it must now be the following day. If Dokja remembered correctly, he spent one night in the dungeon before he was taken out, so this must be when they came to the capital to rescue him. 

“I have already told you, Kim Dokja has been found guilty of treason. There’s nothing anyone can do to remove such charges.” Xerius says plainly.

“By what grounds?” Sooyoung seethes. 

Xerius just shrugs, placing his hands behind his hands. “That’s none of your concern, mercenary filth.”

Had it not been for the calming hand Sangah placed on Sooyoung’s shoulder, Dokja knows the entire room would have gone up in flames. 

Suddenly a rather loud and aggravated snarl rips from behind Heewon. “I have had enough of this.” Joonghyuk growls.

Dokja finds faint amusement in the way Xerius jumps at the terrifying sound, obviously not expecting that from a human. 

“We have no time for your games. We will be taking Kim Dokja with us and you will not stop us.” He demands.

Despite having been scared out of his wits just a moment before, Xerius manages to piece together some semblance of arrogance. He raises an eyebrow, casting a rather scornful gaze towards Joonghyuk. “Oh really? And what power do you have to think you can do that? Do you truly think a puny guild such as yourselves can stand against the might of the Imperial forces?” He drawls.

This man really has a death wish, it would seem.  

Joonghyuk just lets out a humorless laugh. “Far more than you can imagine. Destroying armies is why you Imperial filth had me created for after all.” There’s a sinister edge to his voice, and it sends shivers up Dokja’s spine.

Heewon flinches slightly at Joonghyuk’s words, shock registering deep in her chest, and Dokja finds himself equally confused. ‘What he was created for?’ What the hell does he mean by that? 

As far as Dokja was aware, Joonghyuk was created by a random organization obsessed with world domination. Why is he saying it was the Imperials that did it?

“What the hell are you going on about, you mercenary scum?”

Rather than validating him with a response, Joonghyuk merely unclasps the cloak from his shoulders. As it falls from his body, it reveals his true form. His wings unfurl from his back, spreading out menacingly around him. He’s wearing a sleeveless, high collared top, showing off the full expanse of his tattoos. With his horns winding from his head and the darkened claws on his fingertips, he looks every inch of the Daemon he was created to be.

Xerius’ eyes widen in horror, all the blood draining from his face. “There’s no way…”

Deadly golden eyes glare down at Xerius' quivering form as if he were no more than an insect. 

“To think, the weapon you all tried to create in secret proved to be your own undoing.” Joonghyuk drawls, a dark and humorless laugh leaving his lips, “Fate truly has a fitting sense of humor.”

Dokja finds himself completely caught off guard, his brain not quite processing the fact that Joonghyuk just revealed the truth of his creation. 

“That—that’s impossible. The experiment was abandoned when they yielded no results. All of the test subjects died.” Xerius stutters out. 

Joonghyuk just raises an eyebrow. “It seems your own pawns were lying to you. What kind of General are you if you can’t even subject your subordinates to your own will?”

Dokja honestly doesn’t know what to think in this moment. He’s completely blindsided by the revelation of Joonghyuk’s creation, but at the same time he’s also loving this side of Joonghyuk. Who knew this kind of callous arrogance would be so attractive to him. 

“I chose to overlook your heinous deeds as I wished to live a peaceful life with the one I love. Eradicating you and the rest of the festering rot that is the Imperial Council would be far more of a headache than it’s worth. However…”

Joonghyuk’s voice trails off as he disappears from view, until he suddenly reappears directly in front of Xerius’ quivering form. Joonghyuk’s clawed hand is around his throat before the man even has a chance to react, and the entire room shudders at the force of Joonghyuk shoving him against the wall. 

Xerius cries out in pain, begging for mercy, but Joonghyuk offers him none. 

“You dared to harm the one thing truly I care for in this world. You had your soldiers beat him for your own amusement, and now you beg me for my mercy? You and your kind created me to be a ruthless killing machine without conscience, and now you expect me to have one? Your arrogance truly knows no bounds.” With every word, Joonghyuk’s hand tightens on Xerius’ throat. The man’s cries for mercy are slowly cut off into choked gasps of pain. 

A more sinister side of Dokja finds great pleasure in seeing such an arrogant man a relapse into a quivering and pitiful mess, especially by Joonghyuk’s hand. Heewon seems to share the sentiment, a pleased smile on her face. 

“You should have known better than to mess with us. You have declared war upon us and we will see to it that the entire Imperial Council burns to ash.” Sooyoung seethes out.

The rest of the guild shares the sentiment, each looking down at the pitiful man with looks of contempt and rage. Dokja can feel the rage and determination burning in Heewon’s heart. It’s a conviction shared by the rest of the guild, and if Dokja were in his own body he’d be in tears. 

The guild had been rather vague about how they managed to save Dokja from his life sentence, and eventually Dokja gave up trying to fish it out of them. To think they effectively declared war on the entire Imperial Council for him of all people. Touched doesn’t even begin to cover the torrent of feelings building up in his heart. 

“Kim Dokja is not a man scum like yourself has the right to touch.” Joonghyuk snarls, and with a mighty swipe of his hand he slams Xerius into the floor.

Xerius hits the floor sickening crunch, a choked cry leaving his lips. 

Despite obviously being close to death, the man manages to sit himself back up. Though it's a pitiful attempt, he manages to piece together the pieces of his arrogant persona. Dokja has to give him credit though, if it had been him in that situation, he wouldn’t have bothered trying to get back up. 

Xerius’ glare is surprisingly strong, considering it’s Joonghyuk he’s glaring at.  “You would do all this for a mere man? You will surely regret this. You are only one guild, what do you expect to do?” He spits out.

Uriel lets out a humorless laugh from beside him. “I am the third princess of Eden, and have passed the trial of Judgement. By that title I exercise the right to call upon the Fate’s Judgment at any moment, should I choose. Your soldiers may be great, but they’re only men, how do you think they’d fare against Fate’s own guards?” Uriel 

This is yet another mind blowing revelation. While he knew Uriel was a princess, he hadn’t realized she had gained the title Judge of Fire. In the country of Eden, there’s a notorious trial open to any that the Fates deem possess a heart of absolute good. Though Dokja doesn’t know the specifics of the trial, he knows it is so difficult no one has been said to have ever passed it. Not many dare to challenge it, as should they fail, their life would be offered in forfeit. However, should they prove their worth and pass the trial, they can earn the allegiance of Fate’s Judgment. 

Fate’s Judgment is a legion of sentient soldiers made of stone, rumored to be the guards of Fate themselves. Though the title holder can not use them to their true potential, they are still a force terrifying enough to make the strongest of armies quiver with fear. 

To Dokja’s knowledge, they were merely a fragment of myth, something passed on to children to encourage them to behave. Judging by Uriel's actions, however, that seems to be false. He finds it oddly fitting, a heavenly flames user a Judge of Fire.

“Do you not realize that he is the son of the Duke and Duchess of the North? To harm him is to declare war upon the entirety of the Northern Territories. Is that truly what you wish?” Sangah presses.

“Despite his shitty personality, he has far more allies than he does foes. By threatening his life you have made yourself the enemy of the Heavenly Sect, the Dragons of the Black Cloud, and the Secretive Plotter and his entire Association. Though he would never ask it, every one of them would go to war for him.”

Now Dokja has a feeling Sooyoung is pulling this out of her ass. While he doesn’t necessarily have a bad relationship with any of those guilds, he doubts such powerful people would delve into such inconsequential matters. 

Especially the Secretive Plotter. His association is the biggest source of information in the entire country, if not the world. They’re assassins and spies that work entirely in the shadows. No one knows they’re identity or how to contact them, as they will find you if your request is enough to pique their interest. The Imperial Council has no power over them, and they’re the one name capable of resonating fear in the Capital. 

“We are far more than one guild, as Dokja is far more than a mere man. He’s a presence that has united us all. He is the world and future each of us wish to save, and we would rain the very depths of hell upon all who dare to harm him.” Heewon declares. 

Dokja is completely overwhelmed by the conviction of his companions, and his heart is threatening to burst with the torrent of feelings welling up inside of him. How fortunate is he to be able to call these amazing people his friends… No… His family.

Xerius looks more dead than alive at this point, and Dokja honestly can’t blame him. 

“But even then, I doubt we would need to resort to such extremes, considering you and your pathetic soldiers are nothing more than mere ants.” Joonghyuk drawls.

This shakes Xerius from his fearful paralysis, and he casts an affronted look at Joonghyuk. “Such insolence. Do you not fear the wrath of our forces?”

Joonghyuk laughs, the sound dark and patronizing. Dokja honestly hadn’t realized Joonghyuk was capable of such a sinister sound, and he finds himself oddly attracted to it. If Joonghyuk forgives him and Dokja’s plan comes to fruition, he needs to convince Joonghyuk to talk down on him like that… Damn that would be so hot…

“What is this wrath you speak of? You certainly can’t mean your worthless Imperial Guard?”

Xerius sputters, trying to regain some semblance of control. “You laugh now, but when you face them, you will regret your insolence.”

Joonghyuk just cocks his head. “If you’re so confident in their ability, why don’t you go ahead and contact them?”

To others Joonghyuk his actions would appear arrogant, but Dokja knows Joonghyuk. He is a man that is fully aware of his own strengths and weaknesses, any claims he makes are made from full confidence in his abilities. What Dokja doesn’t know, however, is why Joonghyuk is so confident. 

If Xerius were to mobilize the Imperial Guard, which he has the authority to do, they’d be at severe disadvantage. Even if Uriel were to call upon Fate’s Judgment, it would still be pretty difficult. They’d be facing 200 of the country’s strongest mages and soldiers in foreign territory. All of which have been specially trained to take down overpowered mages and mercenaries, gifted priceless artifacts capable of incapacitating even the strongest mage. 

Rising to Joonghyuk’s challenge, Xerius snarls. “Oh I will, and they will make you regret the day you dared to insult the Imperial name.”

With a frustrated huff he pulls the communication from his desk. Judging by the size of it, it connects to several different crystals, meaning Xerius probably plans to mobilize the entire legion of the Imperial Guards.

To Dokja’s surprise, however, the crystal merely flickers and until it ultimately shatters. That can mean only one thing. All of the corresponding crystals that one is paired to have been disconnected or destroyed. 

The color leaves Xerius’ face in quick succession, so much so he thinks he might have died from shock. 

Entirely unperturbed, as if he had expected it, Joonghyuk just cocks his head. “Is that it?”

“That… That can’t be right.” Xerius mutters breathlessly.

“As I look at you now, the supposed General of such a revered legion, I see that it is no wonder they fell so pitifully.”

Joonghyuk’s words are simple, and yet the dark edge to them cuts deep. 

“What… what do you mean by that?” Xerius asks, voice twinged in horror.

Joonghyuk offers no response and merely reaches to his side. Seemingly out of thin air, Joonghyuk suddenly reveals a rolled mass of fabric. With a careless flick of his wrist, he throws it into the air. As it hits the air, the mass untangles, and from it fall ten separate pieces of fabric. 

Dokja feels his own surprise reflected in Heewon as he realizes that they aren’t just fabric, they’re flags. Each bare one of them bears a different emblem, one for each of the factions of the Imperial Guard. Why on earth did Joonghyuk have these in his possession?

A strangled cry escapes Xerius’ lips as he too realizes what Joonghyuk had just thrown at him. 

“Why… how do you have these?”

“The only advantage you possess is your sheer numbers, separated, you are nothing . Taking down the entirety of the Imperial Guard was pathetically easy to me. 

To think the safety of our country is reliant on such pitiful soldiers.” Joonghyuk drawls, casting a disdainful look at the flags.

Equally as shocked as Dokja, each of his guild mates cast Joonghyuk varying looks of astonishment. That must have been what Joonghyuk set off to do when he had disappeared. To think the entirety of the Imperial Guard fell in one night… 

Is the Guard truly that weak or is Joonghyuk just that powerful?

Though the more that Dokja thinks about it, Joonghyuk is right. The true force of the Guard is founded in their sheer numbers. Each faction has their own specialty, of which they are trained to mastery. Because they specialize, each has their own weakness, but one faction’s weakness is another’s strength. This is why they are often deemed unbeatable when they are combined.

Depending on the reason for their mobilization, specific factions will be called so their strengths are maximized and their weaknesses overridden. Separated, however, Dokja can see how easy it could be to intentionally target that weakness. The factions only have about twenty members each, so for someone like Joonghyuk, Dokja doesn’t find it unbelievable that he managed to destroy them. 

“Fear not, I didn’t kill them all. Only the ones who thought them powerful to harm what’s dear to me. The rest are merely incapacitated. They’ll heal eventually.” Joonghyuk drawls. Though the words would normally be said in comfort, Joonghyuk’s tone is so dark and condescending Dokja doubts it offers any comfort to Xerius. 

Joonghyuk looms over him, his face mere inches away from the quivering excuse for a man. “Take this as a warning,” Joonghyuk says quietly, voice dark and sinister, “If any of you try to harm Kim Dokja again, or so much as look at him, I will destroy you until there’s nothing left.”

Heewon’s memories suddenly fly by once more, throwing Dokja off guard. This time it’s only a matter of seconds, though, and Dokja finds himself in an infirmary room. Joonghyuk walks in, a broken and frail version of himself cradled in his arms. Holy shit, he looks worse for wear… How the hell is he not dead…

With tender care, Joonghyuk sets him down gently on the bed. Dokja fully expects him to leave, but Joonghyuk does no such thing, and instead pulls up a chair and sits next to him. He cradles Dokja’s hand tenderly in his own, pressing a gentle kiss to it. 

Worry and anger are painfully present on Joonghyuk’s face, his handsome features marred by a deadly scowl. 

“He’ll be alright, Joonghyuk. Seolhwa has already healed him, he just needs to rest.” Heewon says, oddly worried about Joonghyuk’s state.

“It’s not his physical state that I’m worried about.” Joonghyuk murmurs, using his free hand to brush the hair from memory Dokja’s face. “He blames himself for what happened…” 

Heewon hums in agreement. “You and him have that in common, it would seem.”

Joonghyuk’s eyes widen imperceptibly, casting Heewon a questioning look behind his shoulder. 

“What happened wasn’t your fault, you can’t blame yourself for it.” Heewon continues. It’s obvious that words aren’t just intended for Joonghyuk, but herself as well, and like Joonghyuk, she doesn’t believe them either. 

Joonghyuk just grunts. “I swore I would always protect him, and I failed him.”

“If there is anything I have learned from the years at his side, it’s that protecting Kim Dokja is not something one person is capable of doing, not even you. For the greatest risk to Dokja’s own life is himself and I don’t think there’s one person alive capable of shielding him from that.”

Dokja can feel the bitterness deep in Heewon’s chest, the anger she feels at her own inability to protect him. He doesn’t quite know how to respond to it, his heart breaking at the obvious hurt deep inside her. 

“He values the lives of others far more than he ever will his own, so when it comes to it, there’s nothing he won’t sacrifice to save those he cares about. Even if we had been there that day, I doubt things would have been different. Dokja would have found a way to slip past us and offer himself up in order to save us.”

Joonghyuk’s jaw clenches at that, his eyes glowing gold in obvious agitation. “He’s a fool.” 

Heewon laughs humorlessly. “He is, but that is why we love him. We all have our fatal flaws and his is selflessness. It’s something one has to accept if they are to love him, but you already know this. More so than I’m sure any of us do. You have since the very beginning.”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept it. It’s the only thing I hate about him.” Joonghyuk murmurs.

A tense moment falls between them, and Dokja wishes he could read either of their thoughts, know what it is they’re thinking. 

“But none of us would be here without it, so I suppose we have no right to hate him for it.” Heewon concedes. 

Joonghyuk lets out a heavy sigh, casting a forlorn look at Dokja’s sleeping face. “Indeed.”

With that the memory fades away and Dokja finds himself back in the forest. It takes a moment for it to fully adjust to being in his own body again. With great difficulty he manages to stand back up, a haze heavy on his brain.

“So,” Sooyoung suddenly says next to his ear, startling Dokja badly enough he falls to the ground, “How was it?”

Dokja shoots her an unimpressed glare from the forest floor. “Was that really necessary? You know how disorienting it is to readjust after using a memory stone.”

Sooyoung just laughs, offering him a hand. “I do, but I found that startling someone is often a good way to get them reacquainted with their own body.”

Dokja rolls his eyes, but takes her hand. “You’re so full of shit, Han Sooyoung.”

“Maybe, but it worked, didn't it? Sounds like a solid hypothesis to me.” She remarks, “But anyways, back to my question. How was it? You understand why we think you’re a dense idiot and an insensitive asshole?”

Dokja glares at her. “In my defense, all the memories you showed me were either when I was asleep or inebriated, so forgive me for not seeing his intentions. Joonghyuk seemed pretty dead set on letting me think that he didn’t like me.”

Which it’s true, had it not been for the tenderness Joonghyuk had displayed while feral, Dokja would have had a hard time believing the memories he saw were Joonghyuk at all. 

Despite all that though, he can’t help but feel like a dumbass at the same time. To think the man he had been pining after for literal years was just as in love with him, what an oblivious idiot he has been. Not that Joonghyuk really helped with that. 

“I agree with you to some extent, but I still think you’re a dumbass. Maybe not as much as Joonghyuk, but certainly close. Regardless, there’s still one more memory I have to show you, but before that, someone else wants to talk with you.” 

As if summoned, someone appears from the forest behind him. “Hey, old man, long time no see. Heard you’ve been having some love problems, so I thought I might offer my two cents.” 

Dokja grimaces at the sound of her suspiciously cheery voice, a sense of dread washing over him. Whatever it is that Lee Jihye of all people has to say, he doubts it’ll bode well for him. 

Fates above, this is going to be a long day…