Chapter Text
The room went silent.
Viper stared at Kim Soleum, stunned. He tried his best not to get angry or annoyed. He only complained in his mind: "What the hell is he saying? My gaydar is perfect! I was dating men for decades! This guy fucked a man at least once, I just know it! Who are you trying to fool, huh? I'm a veteran in many ways, not only in the darkness exploration!"
Actually, Viper dated women too, but he usually chose men for a simple reason: (most)men can't get pregnant. Considering his dangerous career, the last thing he needed was a kid, or any kind of commitment at all. That's how he stayed unmarried even in his forties.
Still, no matter how pissed he was inside, he outwardly only showed shock with a hint of sadness.
"You... you shouldn't say something like that..." he let out an awkward laugh. "You could get in trouble with HR, you know?.."
Kim Soleum stood up.
"Of course I won't say it to anyone else. You are an exception. Don't talk to me, you filthy..."
He couldn't even say the slur out loud, that funny guy. Baek Saheon almost couldn't hold back a grin.
"I won't give up on you anyway," he said, not breaking his facade. "Because you have a good heart. You saved people today, even though you could have left alone."
"Tsk." Kim Soleum left the kitchen and loudly closed the door to his room.
Baek Saheon allowed himself a quiet laugh.
"Ahaha, this guy! Is this his cool act? He behaves like a moody teenager! How cute... Should I give him some acting advice?" he thought. He looked at the clock and realized that it's not even that late yet, so he should eat something. Baek Saheon wasn't really hungry, but he couldn't neglect his bodily needs. He should eat, so he is going to. This was his discipline.
Later in his career, Baek Saheon got so rich he didn't really need to cook for himself anymore. Still, he didn't forget his roots and could put together a few decently tasty meals.
"Hey, mister homophobe!" he knocked on his roommate's door. "Do you wanna eat? I'm off to the grocery store!"
Kim Soleum didn't respond.
"Still on your cool and brooding act, eh? I saw right through you, my dear roommate! Anyway, I'm cooking for you too. You better come out later and eat something. Skipping meals is bad for your health. Mental health, too, by the way! Which is very important for out job!"
He heard Kim Soleum approaching the door and stepped back, just in case. The door opened.
"I'm going with you." said Kim Soleum. "Forget what I said today."
Baek Saheon nodded in understanding.
"He has a right mindset." he thought. "Rather then beating a dead horse, you gotta cut your losses and think of something better."
They took the elevator and gone outside together. Viper inhaled the cool night air and glanced at his phone. "Autumn, eh? September, even. How nice."he thought.
Out of all the seasons, Viper hated winter the most, so he was glad it was still autumn. Something terrifying happened in winter. Something he couldn't recall. Whatever happened in the winter of 202x, he wasn't the same person afterwards.
Viper is usually curious, but he still hadn't uncovered the truth. There was a simple reason: he knew that he brainwashed himself with that pen from the Sekwang techical school.
"I saw a supermarket nearby," he said. "Let's go."
Kim Soleum didn't say anything and simply followed.
"What do you want to eat?"
They approached a supermarket stupidly named "Mimi-mart" and stopped near the entrance. They were bathed in the pale, greenish light.
"Whatever." said Kim Soleum.
"Ok, then I'm making ramen", he said.
They were done with the shopping soon. Kim Soleum helped him out a lot and earned some praise. Poor guy got a little flustered:
"Please stop. This is the most basic skill, stop flattering me."
Baek Saheon didn't stop, because embarrassing him was funny – seeing Kim Soleum keep his stone cold expression, while his body language showed everything.
As soon as they came back, Baek Saheon took off his suit jacket and carelessly left it on the kitchen chair.
"Are you cooking in your suit?" asked Kim Soleum.
"Yeah, I'm not wasting any time." he said, pulling up his sleeves. He also didn't really care about this cheap suit, to be honest.
Baek Saheon took out all the necessary ingredients and got started.
"I can't believe you are actually doing this." Kim Soleum approached him. "I'll help. And I'll return you money for ingredients later."
"You don't have to." Baek Saheon didn't even look at him, busy with cooking. "But if you want to help, can you wash the dishes?"
"Sure."
They ate together, still a little awkward.
"It's not bad." said Kim Soleum. What a cute little guy, still acting cool and tough!
Baek Saheon smiled.
"Really? I'm glad."
They finished their meal in peaceful silence.
Next morning, Baek Saheon woke up earlier and made a packed lunch for himself and Kim Soleum. He left his roommate's lunch on the kitchen table with a note: "Eat well! I'll check!"
He dressed up and left for work.
***
Kim Soleum failed spectacularly. Baek Saheon didn't buy his act at all. This was, probably, the most embarrassing moment of his life. Worst of all, the guy turned out to be really nice, completely crushing his expectations.
While they were going to the supermarket, Kim Soleum was lost in thought.
"What made him a Viper?" Kim Soleum asked himself. "He could be fake as hell, but his actions speak louder then words. He is going to feed me for free..."
Maybe, that is Baek Saheon's strategy to hit on him. It would make sense, but still... For a character like him, that would be too much effort. Something isn't right here.
Still, whatever was going on, Kim Soleum was grateful. In this new world he had nothing, not a single won on his bank account. He would have to steal roommate's food or loan some money to eat before receiving his first paycheck. How humiliating.
In the store, Baek Saheon embarrassed him again, praising him for the smallest things.
"You are very good at picking vegetables!", "Thanks, I almost missed this!". Kim Soleum wore his icy expression all the time, just politely asking him to stop a few times. He hoped it was convincing enough.
At the dorm, Baek Saheon actually cooked... Kim Soleum was honestly surprised.
Even more surprising was the taste. So good!
He made a mild compliment: "It's not bad."
Baek Saheon gave him a cute smile.
"Really? I'm glad."
Kim Soleum was so shocked he almost dropped his spoon. Viper? This guy?! There must be a mistake... No way.
Later, he washed the dishes while internally panicking. Something was wrong, very wrong. He checked the wiki as soon as his roommate left, and he wasn't mistaken. Baek Saheon was Viper. Wiki called him a "ruthless, backstabbing bastard."
"Backstabbing... wait."
He finally reached the conclusion.
"This guy... He'll poison me with his food eventually, won't he?.."
He swore to never eat anything that Baek Saheon gives him, no matter how hungry he is.
Next morning, he woke up and went to the kitchen to have some tea. He saw a packed lunch on the kitchen table with the note attached: "Eat well! I'll check!"
Kim Soleum's heart stopped. He remembered everything that happened yesterday and was hit by a terrifying realization: "This guy! Is he trying to become my wife?!"
And then, he got even more terrifying realization: "AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BECOME A WIDOW?!"