Chapter Text
Dohwa honestly wasn't bothered that much his entire world was a comic book, it wasn't ideal but, he was living in a world where nothing really had a consequence, which, for a sixteen year old kid, was honestly a great deal. He hadn't actually slept in three days, everytime a scene switched his energy maxed out like he spent the last eight hours sleeping, so why would he, if he knew he'd be fine and dandy the moment the writer decides to make an plot point happen. He could slip into school in the middle of the night, shoot some hoops, annoy Squid Fairy if he was wandering about, one time he had scaled up Danoh's window and had a sleepover -they did eachothers nails but the next day it was gone and he'll admit, he was pissed- life was better now he knew it was a lie. One time, while doing a test, him and Danoh decided to get up and leave, Squid Fairy looked a minute from an aneurysm, next period, no one mentioned it. Wiped clean from their memories. He knows, that if Danoh and Squid Fairy weren't there, he would take this much harder, probably wouldn't be so carefree, but, he was lucky enough that he did. He had two people in the world who could understand him, the real him and would remember it. They know that his favourite colour was yellow, not blue, like the comic said. They knew he loved sports more than music, even though the writer claims his first and eternal love is the violin. They knew he thought girls and guys were both viable options for dates, but the comic would never show this. He didn't mind so much, even if it was annoying when Namju or Baek Kyung got things wrong about him, he still had Squid Fairy and Danoh who did know. He wasn't alone.
It was Saturday, Dohwa was sitting in the school library, it was dark outside, around six or seven at night, he was trying to sit in one of the floating chairs when his phone rung, it was loud in the silence of the abandoned building and echoed in the large room. Dohwa assumed it was Danoh, she was the only person who'd phone or text him when it wasn't needed for a scene, he didn't even glance at the name as he accepted.
"Danoh! I was just trying to-"
"Dohwa." The voice wasn't Danoh, it was deep and masculine, but choked with a sob. It was Baek Kyung. It was Baek Kyung, crying, phoning him in the shadow. Something was horribly wrong.
"Baek Kyung? Are you crying? What's wrong?" Dohwa pulled a chair and sat on it, focused on the usually cold boy who sounded so wrecked on the other end of the phone.
"Dohwa, it's, it's," he choked on a fat sob, "Danoh, she's- she died" Baek Kyungs voice was sticky and nearly intelligible with the hitching breath and shaking voice. But, Dohwa heard.
"I, I didn't know who else to call, i- I knew she'd die, but, God, I," Dohwa felt his hands shaking, his breath quickened as Baek Kyung broke down on the other end.
How. Could. Danoh. Die.
It didn't make sense, they were in the shadow, wouldn't one of the lead characters fiance dying be an important plot point? How could she die in the shadow? The shadow was meant to be safe, you couldn't die in the shadow...could you?
Would Danoh be forgotten, written out of the comic? Can they get rid of characters so easily? Or would her death be treated as an inconvenience? Something to further drive Baek Kyung's character growth?
He felt sick.
"But, she didn't even die from her goddamn heart condition," came the hoarse voice of Baek Kyung, having calmed himself enough to stop his hear wrenching sobs. His voice still held the same amount of guilt and sadness. "It was a car. A fucking drunk driver, she-" Baek Kyung broke into another round of tears and Dohwa saw the edges of his vision darken.
"She what?" Dohwa barely recognised his voice, strained and hurt.
"She was awake," came the tearful voice. "When I got to the hospital, she was still awake...she must have been in agony Dohwa, and she- she, she said that she forgives me..." he trailed off into tears, before Dohwa heard a loud crash sound.
"I treated her like a fucking ass and she, god, she still was optimistic and caring for everyone but herself, she, Dohwa, I never wanted her to fucking die, I never wanted to feel like this again, I, I never even apologised and she-fucking hell!" another crash and Dohwa heard the other boy hiss in pain.
"Are you sure..are you sure she's dead?" Dohwa asked, his voice shook, his lungs had crumbled, oxygen wasn't getting in, his head hurt, his stomach clenched. Danoh couldn't be dead. There was no way.
"Of course I'm fucking sure!" The other boy screamed, Baek Kyung's voice was thick with pain and rage, Dohwa didn't care, his head was so heavy.
"Why the fuck would I lie, I'm fucking having a," Baek Kyung made a sound, then Dohwa heard something shattering.
"I just, fuck.." Baek Kyung trailed off, probably tired from the onslaught of emotions. Dohwa stared at the floor.
"Danoh...wanted to live her own life..." Dohwa said quietly, he knew Baek Kyung was listening. Dohwa was pretty sure he would forget so he continued.
"She...she wanted to find true love, she wanted to live a long time, she wanted to be a vet...she..." Dohwa trailed off, tears and snot dropped onto the library floor.
"I didn't know she wanted to be a vet.." came the reply, "I assumed she wanted to be a housewife or a lawyer, like her dad" Baek Kyung admitted, his voice was small. "I didn't know you two were friends"
"Hm..she was my best friend" Dohwa confessed, "she, she has a mouth like a sailor" Dohwa smiled a little, the tears still ran. "You wouldn't expect it, but, if you make her mad she'll have the most creative insults and threats" he laughed and he heard Baek Kyung make a choking sob.
"I didn't know" his voice was wet, "what else didn't I know..." he trailed.
Dohwa smiled sadly, "it wasn't just you, it, we, we...I'll call you later" Dohwa quickly pressed end call as he fell into hysteric sobs.
Dohwa had cried the entire night, but, like magic, his previously red rimmed eyes and pale skin had instantly disappeared the moment the scene changed. He was sitting in his usual seat when Juda walked in.
She tripped, of course, Saemi and her crew had tripped her up with wire, however before she fell, Namju appeared with his main love interest magic and caught her, sweeping her up into his arms bridal style.
Namju turned his gaze towards Saemi and co, it was an icy look that froze the girls in place, Dohwa would have moved and got Juda down cause she looked very flustered and a second from passing out, but, alas, he was stuck, silent and unmoving till the scene ended.
"What do you think you are doing?" He demanded, usually, Dohwa would find the dramatics of Namju hilarious but right now he was keyed up and upset, he didn't care about these shenanigans, he just wanted to cry, demand answers from Baek Kyung and go to Squid Fairy to find how to get Danoh back.
The scene was nearly over, Namju had given punishment to the girls, Juda had awkwardly asked to be put down, to which the pair looked away from eachother, flustered and too aware of their hearts frantic pace la-da-da. Namju made his way to his seat while Juda stayed near the door, the prank hadn't been moved and the scene hadn't ended. Why?
Baek Kyung walked in, cleanly stepped over the wire and continued on, a second after Danoh walked in.
Danoh. Oh God, she was alive. She had the typical soft, stage Danoh smile, she walked with the same bounce that shadow does, she was alive and healthy and-
Oh. She was falling.
She fell to the floor, the class, including Dohwa leaped to their feet, everyones concerns overlapping. Baek Kyung didn't look back, just continued to his seat. Didn't even glance. He looked back at Danoh, Juda was helping her up, Danoh was thanking her when Saemi grabbed Danoh's arm, pulling her away from Juda and into her chest.
"She didn't need your help" Saemi sneered over Danoh's head, before she looked down and checked the shorter girl for injuries, her previously mean and coldness, melting for warmth and worry. Danoh looked over at Juda, clearly apologising, Juda smiled warmly at the girl, sunshine moved over her, making Juda glow, she moved towards her seat. And the scene ended.
Dohwa was immediately making his way towards Danoh when Saemi was done fussing, he bent his knees slightly and placed his hand on her shoulders, looking into her eyes for any lies.
"Danoh, are you okay?" He asked seriously, his eyebrows furrowed in worry, Danoh smiled. It wasn't the smile shadow Danoh makes.
"Of course Dohwa! Don't be so worried! You'll get wrinkles if you frown like that everytime someone tripped!" Her voice was high and lilting, stage Danoh's voice, shadow Danoh didn't make her voice that high, preferring to speak in her natural tone.
She poked his eyebrow, smiling serenely.
This wasn't his Danoh.
This was the writer's Danoh.