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Lee Taeyong loves adorable things, so he surrounds himself with an assortment of stuffed dolls and toys he had devoted his whole life to. Isn’t it better than being inside a crowd of people?
Last month, Baekhyun gave him something huge but quite literally. He owns a textile factory outside town, it’s not weird at all for him to know a lot of masterful tailors. The weird and unpredictable part is that he decided to give him an almost six feet tall stuffed bunny plushie as Taeyong’s 26th birthday gift.
Although Taeyong knew how beyond quirky and whimsical his brother’s personality is, he still can’t understand why he had to manufacture some superfluous, massive decoration when he could just celebrate it effortlessly instead like they used to do. Baekhyun did insist that he’s fine with the project, plus the doll has the perfect place in the middle of the shop and can attract more customers. That’s the reason Taeyong chooses to believe as it makes sense.
Little did Taeyong know, it obviously doesn’t make any sense.
But still, the giant pink bunny is unexceptionally cute and endearing. Taeyong gradually allows him to join the family of the doll kingdom. He’d attentively dust off his silky fur, taking care whenever children disobeyed the Do Not Touch. Not for Sale sign, and even giving him a nickname like how he did to the rest of the toys as well.
Today too, Taeyong worked hard to take care of him.
"Cute! I want this!"
“You want this?” Taeyong approached the child who was tiptoeing, trying to reach the bunny’s dropping long ears. Of course, he cannot immediately say no to an innocent being especially when they looked genuinely amazed by its bizarre size, most likely to pique children’s interest.
“So big!”
"This fellow loves his home a little bit too much, I'm afraid you can't take him away," Taeyong gently strokes the child's head, focusing on the same eye-catching object in front of them. Patiently waits for him to give up touching it. "But you can be friends with him. He's adorable, loyal, and friendly with everyone! His name is Tokki Knight!" Yeah. Very creative, Lee Taeyong.
Undeniably, the naive child jumped excitedly unknowing the credibility of the false narrative. Regardless, Taeyong's warm words convinced the little's heart that he introduced himself directly at the giant pink bunny and even waved goodbye before he walked away from the shop. it’s just another usual storytelling day that gears up children's wide imaginations. After all, Taeyong got a bunch of ready to tell tales in his pocket and at all times comes in handy.
Hours later, the customers became lesser followed by the unsaturated sky. Ominous grey clouds began to gather and jarring storms drifted across the town. Raindrops are falling to the ground like bullets. Pedestrians fastened their walks, some lucky ones unfolds their honorable umbrellas, the others stopped in front of any canopy they could possibly find as a temporary shelter.
Taeyong stretched his body as he watches behind the large, foggy window. The rain is more way tumultuous than he thought, that he can barely see anything out there but dense mist. Even canopies aren't enough to save them from the rain blown by the strong wind at this point.
Noticing his shop is no longer packed anymore, Taeyong decided to turn off some of the lamps to prevent high electricity bills. He carefully closes all the doors and windows, basically securing every access from outside so the rain won’t spatter in. Taeyong would be furious if he found wet traces on just one of the clean toys.
Taeyong hums Singin’ in the Rain while his hands are busy tearing off tea bags that he’d purposely stocked inside the storage room. Nothing can beat the warmth and coziness of drinking peppermint tea during rain. He let the leaves simmer for a while before he poured the herbal tea into his personal mug and sipped it in a relaxed motion.
Life felt briefly beautiful when moments like this occur. When his business became as simple as waiting for the rain to stop, inhaling fresh mint scent, and organizing some of the shelves without any bother. And Taeyong would immerse himself in these bits of healing ambiance as the clock ticks slower than usual.
He walked onto the outlet, intending to check the terrace once again in case the rain had blown over. But when Taeyong just took a few steps, he suddenly stopped on his spot.
Taeyong was lucky that he didn’t bring his mug with him because if he did, he’d one hundred percent drop it on the floor. Shocked by the sight of an empty retail display table.
Tokki Knight isn’t there. A nearly six feet, seventy inches in length plushie vanished in thin air.
Perplexed, Taeyong immediately looked left and right. There are more than a hundred different models of toys and plushies. Obviously, Tokki Knight is one of a kind. But to disappear mysteriously is something Taeyong wouldn’t imagine it to be. It weighs 14 pounds and wouldn’t it be burdensome to move it around freely?
Taeyong assumed that he left some doors open and someone’s playing games with him, which is both annoying and scary. Believing that, Taeyong continued walking towards the shop exterior to double-check.
And so, the encounter happens.
"Hi?"
Looking straight as his mouth went agape. Taeyong nearly fell due to legs unconsciousness, his arms had the chance to grab any shelves around him for support. But it doesn’t help to compose his mind. An unknown man is currently standing on top of Tokki Knight’s established spot.
“You were looking for me?”
Tokki Knight entirely changed into something Taeyong had never imagined before. A form of a well proportioned, healthy, stunning young man. His keen eyes are pointed and sharp between his long black bangs, facing Taeyong's perplexed expression. It is undoubtedly the same gaze as Tokki Knight's.
Doors and windows were are completely locked, Taeyong knew that very well. As the owner of the shop, he won’t be as clumsy as voluntarily letting some stranger trespassing.
"T-Tokki Knight—" despite the loss of words, Taeyong tries his best to stay sane. "You... You're human now?”
"I have a name you know," he swings his legs up before he hops down the floor. Now that he's standing near, Taeyong remarked the fact this person is slightly taller than himself. Exactly the same scale as the original form of Tokki Knight, purposelessly monstrous. "It's written here."
Suddenly he turned back and lift his waist to Taeyong’s eye level, which made him taken aback for a brief second. His first shock wasn’t even finished, yet this unknown person kept pulling surprises right in front of him.
“Can you see it?”
Looking closely, there’s a tiny label attached springs out from his trouser. Taeyong hesitated but curiously read the written text there. Just the standard guidance of how to properly wash the doll and its materials. But as Taeyong squinted his eyes furthermore, he noticed that there was a name written under the ‘Made in Korea’ indeed. Kim Doyoung.
“Can you see it?” Doyoung repeated a bit louder, probably wondering what took Taeyong so long to read.
Taeyong jumped into speculation. “D-did Hyung…,” he mumbles almost inaudible, “Pranked me?”
The actual bunny plushie must be here somewhere. If Taeyong’s cheeks hurt when he pinched it, indicating it as not a dream, then he must’ve been tricked. Baekhyun has always been mischievous because he likes the way Taeyong reacted confusingly. Absolutely not this time. Taeyong maintains his straight, unconcerned expression just in case there are hidden cameras adjusted to unknown corners.
“Haha very funny, Hyung. Bringing a hot guy here just to surprise me! Give me back Tokki Knight right now!” Taeyong shouted to God-knows-who while Doyoung just quietly stood beside him as he enjoyed the sound of rain.
Nothing happened. It’s just Taeyong, Doyoung, and a missing huge plushie.
“I should take a day off. Gosh, I am hallucinating. This isn’t real, everything is an illusion. I am, in fact, hallucinating.”
“You’re not,” Doyoung affirmed, his harmless grin horrified Taeyong. “I know you. Lee Taeyong, the owner of TY’s Plushies. You like to tell stories to customers. I particularly like your version of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Oh, and your most popular one is Mrs. Elfy the Elephant. When she fights Mr. Lion for the jungle? That’s an original.”
Taeyong bemusedly glares at Doyoung where he’s being suspiciously observant. All the familiar titles are mentioned correctly without any single mistake. Doyoung has never stepped inside this shop, ever, Taeyong could bet for it. But how can some stranger suddenly glean records of him, as if he has been watching for a long time?
“And you kiss me every day. Before and after work.”
Fat pause. Taeyong’s face drastically changed into a horrified look upon hearing his last sentences. That should’ve been a secret between Taeyong and Tokki Knight. Nobody had ever witnessed Taeyong giving sweet, simple affection in the form of a kiss to Tokki Knight because he is certain that he always does it when the shop is closed. It’s nothing to be embarrassed of except that the one being kissed was completely aware of the situation, that’s the problem.
“It’s okay. I don’t dislike it.”
“What are you exactly?!” Taeyong exclaimed for the sake of hiding his blush.
“Me? I’m... What am I?” Doyoung dodged the question and transformed it into a rhetorical question instead. “Don’t you know me the best? You created my personality and my history. You know exactly what I am.”
Taeyong gulped as he mumbles desperately. “Did I drink tea or liquor... I must be drunk.”
Doyoung’s frown dissolves into laughter at the other’s uneasiness. “Don’t tell me you were intimidated by me just now.”
“I- I wasn’t.”
“The result of engaging conversation only with kids and dolls. Once you met a man, you’re stuttering.”
“What’s the problem with that?!” Taeyong became flustered, almost agitated at Doyoung’s offending remark. He got reminded by how a shut-in he actually is and has completely forgotten how to socialize properly if it’s not about buying and selling activity.
“Relax, why are you so mad at me?” Doyoung calmed him down. “And I’m here to accompany you. It’s raining and you’re not even planning to go home.”
It’s still raining and cold. Taeyong rubs his palms together to create heat. “My schedule to go home it’s always around 10 PM. It’s still 7 PM. On some days, I could actually stay overnight here and start working in the morning.”
Doyoung nods slowly. “I know.”
“You know,” Taeyong repeats, dumbfounded. “Of course. You’re Tokki Knight.”
“You’ve worked hard enough. Spend some time with your friends.”
“It’s just,” Taeyong’s hands gestured, overcoming the difficulties of arranging words by words. “I don’t know if they would... like to hang out with me. I’m that boring person in a party that rather crouch in the corner than being beneath the spotlight.”
The last time Taeyong found himself in crowds was when he graduated from high school. Throwing a farewell party in one of his friend’s houses, a backyard pool party. But Taeyong didn’t jump into the water at all. After that, His family moved from the town he just became a bachelor with simple dreams. Busying himself with a toy shop Baekhyun inherits because he’s certain his younger cousin would be passionate and dedicated for this job.
It took years for Taeyong to understand that in the bottom of his heart, he felt lonely.
Doyoung reaches Taeyong’s firm hands, enveloping his fist using his fingers. Doyoung breaks the silence, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s also hard for me to understand why they gave me an extra living body. But as much as I know, when the sun shines, everything will turn back to normal.”
“It must be a gift from Baekhyun-Hyung,” Taeyong mumbled as he absorbs the warmth from their hands’ touches.
Doyoung wears an exuberant smile that allows it to showcase his aligned teeth. “So, you wouldn’t be lonely anymore!”
“Doyoung,” Hesitating, Taeyong slowly spells Tokki Knight’s real name. Doyoung returned with his eyebrows raising lively. “Let’s talk more as we sit over there, shall we?”
It’s past 10 PM. The rain has stopped, and no sign of any customer’s visit. Taeyong flipped the Open board in front of the door into Closed. The bulbs at the ceiling of the main room are casting soft glow on him flickers before it fully went off, leaving only a single source of light from the counter.
Doyoung is still there, sitting well-mannered despite Tokki Knight was usually left with a sluggish attitude to sit.
“Great work today,” applaud Doyoung.
“Thanks,” Taeyong puffs his cheeks, exhales loudly. “I didn’t realize we’ve been talking for almost three hours already. Thanks for listening to my rambles.”
“No problem,” Doyoung suddenly stretches his arms out, chin slightly lifting up. Taeyong tilted his head at the motion, clueless.
“Hm?”
“Kiss after work?”
Taeyong coughed immediately, unexpected by the request. The thrill gave his stomach a small twist before Taeyong managed to respond properly, “A kiss?”
“Yeah, for Tokki Knight.”
For Tokki Knight. Taeyong gulps. A plushie is easier to hug, to cuddle, to kiss. But to deal directly with a real grownup man is undoubtedly nerve-wracking, especially that he has such sweet voice and good looking facial structures. Taeyong would literally melt whenever the smile was thrown at him. He’s too weak for this.
“Don’t think too much!” Doyoung chuckled, probably noticing Taeyong’s sweating expression. “By I mean kiss, it’s on the cheek you know.”
Of course.
Taeyong shut his eyes tightly as his arms circle around Doyoung’s broad shoulders. As quickly as he can, Taeyong planted a kiss on the surface of Doyoung’s cheeks, making an audible pop sound afterward.
When Taeyong opens his eyelids, he found Doyoung was gently smiling at him. It’s fluttering, and Taeyong hated the fact he’s caught staring at him for quite a moment before he loosened his caress.
“Thank you for your hard work, Taeyong. Let’s meet tomorrow again.”
“Will you still be here?”
“Of course. I’m always by your side,” Doyoung giggles. “As long as you love me, I’ll never go anywhere.”
The sky is clear in this early morning even though the sun is barely rising. Birds are chirping in a sirenic harmony, eager to catch worms for breakfast. There are still traces of puddle and wet soil because of the rain last night across the boulevard. It might be dew on the tip of the grass, and it glows a wonderful sparkle.
“Lee Taeyong, it’s really you!”
Someone behind Taeyong intercepted his steps leading up to his toy shop. Taeyong shortly observed the tall, muscular man and identified him as his classmate during high school. “Suh Johhny?” Taeyong’s eyes are widened. “What are you doing here?”
“I was about to go to the bakery before I saw you, your perfectly sculpted face isn’t easy to forget,” Johnny playfully teases.
“Thank you so much,” Taeyong’s blushed look aimed his way. “Want to visit my toy shop?”
“Yo, you have a toy shop? That’s cool!”
“I know right?”
“Hey, do you still remember Nakamoto Yuta? He’s an assistant of a professional comic writer now. I remember how you two used to draw together when there’s no teacher nearby.”
“Really? What’s the comic title? I should read it then!”
Taeyong just unlocked the door and welcomed Johnny as his first customer for today. His old friend couldn’t stop admiring and wonderstruck by the colorful, dazzling interior. Taeyong is actually glad that Johnny wasn’t judging him for this profession, which is why he’s already comfortable showing him multifarious types of toys.
“What a huge doll,” Johnny doesn’t need to look up unlike children, and Taeyong figured that Johnny is still taller than Tokki Knight.
“He’s cute, right?”
“What’s his name?”
Taeyong grins. “Tokki Knight.”
“Nice to meet you, Tokki Knight.”
When Johnny has shifted to another display case, Taeyong averts his eyes to glance at Tokki Knight. Doyoung was right, everything came back to normal in the morning. Unsure whether it’s a dream or not, hallucination or not, setup or not, Taeyong tried not to dwell his mind in it too much. He prefers to not tell anyone regarding his first meeting with Doyoung.
Ah, Taeyong almost forgot something important.
Taeyong leans over, pushing Tokki Knight’s ears away to peck his right cheek. Then, whispered softly, “Wish me luck for today too.”