Chapter Text
It was a creature Jinwoo had never seen before.
It was round and fluffy, with a tiny horn on its forehead. Her hands and feet were lost in the puff of fur, nubbly little limbs they were. It had beady black eyes, round and small.
It looked to be in distress, floating left and right with clear anxiety in its eyes. The orbs were glassy, as if it was ready to break down and cry. Jinwoo felt his heart constricting at the sight.
Slowly, he approached the creature. When it laid eyes on him, it let out a soft ‘baat’ and flew towards him. Jinwoo released a soft ‘oof’ as it crashed into his chest, nuzzling while weeping.
“What are you doing here, little one?” Jinwoo asked, patting the small ball of fluff — it fit perfectly in his palm. “Are you lost?”
The little creature continued crying, but Jinwoo took that as a yes.
“Would you like me to help you?” Jinwoo asked once more, watching as the little creature sniffled before finally gazing up at him.
Smiling warmly, he scooped the creature into one palm and placed it on his shoulder. “Let me help you out of here.”
The creature let out a tearful ‘baat’ then nuzzled his neck.
Smiling, he started his way down the endless void.
✧ﾟ࿐ྂ
The black space surrounding them appeared endless. Yet, Jinwoo knew where to go. His feet continued to move, gaze locked straight ahead, hands in his pockets as he leisurely strolled.
The ball of fluff on his shoulder took the liberty to look around at their surroundings. It made soft anxious ‘baat’ sounds as it switched its gaze from the darkness to Jinwoo. He glanced down at the fluffball and smiled, bringing a finger up to smooth over her head.
It made another ‘baat’ noise.
There was no sense of direction, no sense of destination. Jinwoo had never seen this place before, but his subconsciousness had an inkling of where they were. It continued to lead the way, even though there was nothing in sight.
Until he found an exit for the little creature, he refused to give up.
✧ﾟ࿐ྂ
There was a paper sheet on the dark ground.
The ivory surface of the thin paper was a juxtaposition to the black surrounding. Jinwoo walked towards it, only to notice more sheets of paper. He knelt down to pick up the one he saw, gazing ahead at the trail of papers.
“ Baat? ”
Jinwoo turned to the fluffball and smiled. He petted her head soothingly before standing up, loosely grasping the paper sheet. His eyes followed the line of strewn paper.
Jinwoo had a feeling that wherever this led to, he would find the answer to his exit, and a way to help the lost creature.
“Let’s follow it.”
Jinwoo let his intentions be known out loud.
Seeing the fluffball agreeing with him readily, releasing an excited ‘baat’, he smiled.
His journey continued.
✧ﾟ࿐ྂ
The man before Jinwoo wore a white coat over a black dress shirt, dress pants and dress shoes the same dark shade. He was short with pale skin, hair soft and fluffy atop his head. His eyes, even from a side view, were soft and round, dark and sparkling like the night sky.
The little fluffball riding on his shoulder vibrated in excitement, crying out. “ Baat! ”
The stranger widened his eyes, turning to Jinwoo. His doe gaze befell Jinwoo briefly, before spotting the furball on his shoulder. An expression of relief instantly crossed the man’s face, lips pulled into a broad smile as he approached the duo.
“Biyoo! There you are.”
The ball of fluff, which Jinwoo suspected to possess the name of Biyoo, cried out before leaping off of his shoulder, speeding towards the stranger and landing softly against his chest. The man chuckled and patted the furball, who was crying while nuzzling into the man’s chest.
“There there, Biyoo. I am here now.”
The man looked at Jinwoo, who nodded his head in acknowledgement.
“Thank you for bringing her back,” spoke the stranger as he bowed his head.
“It is no problem,” mused Jinwoo as he shoved his hands into his pockets, watching the stranger and the fluffball reuniting.
The man smiled then turned his attention back to Biyoo, scooping her up in his palms. “Let us go home.”
Biyoo cried out a gentle ‘baat’ then floated up, resting on the stranger’s head. The stranger looked at Jinwoo once more, his lips tilted up in gentleness.
“You may go now too.”
Jinwoo could feel his consciousness slipping.
Groaning, Jinwoo held his head, his other hand shooting out to the stranger. “Wait a moment!”
The stranger looked at him confusedly, but stayed still.
“What is your name?” Jinwoo asked, desperation in his voice.
There was a feeling in Jinwoo’s chest, he could not describe what it was. Was it fear? Was it anxiety? There was something that was eating at Jinwoo’s consciousness, but he had no idea what it was. All he was aware of was that if he let go of the stranger now, without knowing his name, he would never meet the person again.
The man stared at Jinwoo, hesitation in his eyes. Biyoo let out a ‘baat’, prompting the human to look at the dokkaebi. After some exchange between the duo, the man sighed and focused back on Jinwoo.
There was not much time left. Jinwoo could feel himself slipping away. Soon, the black space around them would disappear.
“My name is Dokja,” answered the man, smiling sadly. “Till we meet again.”
“Sung Jinwoo.”