Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja could not sleep.

No matter how tired he was, he could not fall asleep.

He needed sleep to clear his head. That was the only way he could complete three projects, eight assignments and twenty-two webnovels. Although the latter of this could be ignored, if he didn’t finish all the college work, it would affect his scholarship.

Goddamn that scholarship, Kim Dokja decided as his feet carried him to the college cafeteria. Taking a random seat, he pulled out a book to study, for an assignment, unfortunately. He would’ve much preferred a novel right now.

All this studying was going to kill him.

But it was required. For THE SCHOLARSHIP.

Now, the scholarship was a tricky subject; Kim Dokja always tried to explain how he was definitely not a scammer but truly, even he himself didn’t know how he got it. He studied a lot. That might have been one of the reasons, but honestly sometimes it felt like it was the interruption of an actual god that got him this opportunity.

It might have been more of a curse than a blessing, he sighed, missing a paragraph and having to go back. The scholarship was also the reason he was staying in the dorms, another cause for his insomnia.

“Sup, loser,” Han Sooyoung appeared out of thin air, almost as if the author was too lazy to write her an actual entrance. “What are you up to? Got any blackmail material on Yoo Joonghyuk yet?” She took the seat across him, crossing her legs in a weird way.

“Shut up, I’m trying to not fail history.” Kim Dokja explained, wanting to ignore all mentions of Yoo Joonghyuk entirely. Han Sooyoung was a good friend, one of his bestest friends, but at times she would really manage to get on his nerves.

“Oh come on, I really want to be able to make fun of him without being killed.” She added, smiling her cheshire smile, and leaning forward, her face in her hands.

You still torment him whenever you can though, Kim Dokja thought.

“Get someone else to do it.”

“You’re his roommate dude, clearly you’re not understanding your position of advantage here,” Han Sooyoung leaned back, disappointed at the rat’s disinterest. “A man’s college dorm is the dead center of personal space.”

Kim Dokja sighed again. He was developing a headache.

College dorming, he had realized at some point, was hell. Especially because his roommate was Yoo ‘has-a-stick-up-his-ass’ Joonghyuk. Now normally, this wouldn’t have mattered. Kim Dokja has dealt with endless assholes and Yoo Joonghyuk really wasn’t the worst; but these days, his insomnia would lead to him staying up for no reason, deciding to finish some work, getting distracted and then staring at Yoo Joonghyuk’s face.

He kept on staring at Yoo Joonghyuk’s face.

But was it really his fault though?

Eyebrows seemingly drawn by a single, uninterrupted stroke of a famed artist’s brush; a nose and a chin shaped in perfect angles that defied attempts to measure them through mere devices of men; a pair of deep eyes seemingly carved out of a beautiful jewel containing all the misfortunes found in this world.

He looked like a protagonist.

Kim Dokja felt his ears turning hotter, a little blush choosing to settle on his cheeks. His heart was beating audibly now but that might have been the insomnia part.

“Earth to the rat,” Han Sooyoung interrupted, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Dokja-ssi…” And then suddenly, there was Lee Hyunsung walking towards him with Jung Heewon, his girlfriend.

“I heard that. You’re okay? Not possible, what’s wrong?” Jung Heewon questioned as she shoved Han Sooyoung away to sit in front of him.

“Dokja-ssi, you can tell us anything, we will help you!” Lee Hyunsung put a hand over his chest and smiled dependably, before whispering about some cartridge or something.

“No really, its fine.” Kim Dokja smiled; he didn’t want to worry his friends. Somehow he felt that the headache was increasing, as though some celestial being wanted him to seek help.

Weird, but whatever.

He got up feeling faint, stuffing his book back into his bag, “I have to finish this and I left some of the material at my dorm so,” He probably wouldn't be able to study here,especially now that his head was aching, “See you guys later.”

As he was leaving, his back to the others, he missed their looks of concern.

---

The walk to his dorm room was usually uneventful. A stroll through the park, literally. (From the cafeteria, down some stairs, through a random park, crossing two dorm buildings, and then finally walking into the last building.) But with sleep deprivation, Kim Dokja found, things got a little weird.

Auditory hallucinations are said to start after 48 hours of no sleep, followed by visual, more complex ones. He had experienced them before, (when he studied for the college scholarship exams), sudden noises, like glass breaking or a door shutting, father yelling-

Nevermind.

It hadn’t even been that long yet, so what in the world was this?

Right in the middle of the little street surrounded by trees, there was a goose.
“Baht!” said the goose.

Nothing in this world could have prepared him for this moment. Biyoo, he decided was a wonderful name for this goose. And then he decided that naming weird goose hallucinations was a sign of his brain cells dying from too little sleep.

“Biyoo, I’ll feed you later so don’t worry… I have to sleep now.” He promised the goose, reaching out to pet her.

Biyoo slowly wobbled on her little goose feet and placed her head on Kim Dokja’s palm.
Oh fuck, she’s real, Kim Dokja thought.

“Kim Dokja?” Said someone from behind him.

Oh fuck, that’s Yoo Joonghyuk’s voice, Kim Dokja thought. And then he spun around. And then he fell.

INTO YOO JOONGHYUK’S ARMS. (This was real too.)

Finally, all of the tiredness hit him at once and he felt his legs become jelly, his brain turning off. Yoo Joonghyuk’s arms wrapped around him, and his warmth seeped through his clothes. He also smelt nice, Kim Dokja noticed, like something that smells nice, Kim Dokja noticed. Another thing Kim Dokja noticed was that he was fainting. All the drowsiness was now converting into ‘need sleep’ chemicals in his body.

“Kim Dokja!”

Self diagnosed insomnia is one way to activate the clichés card, he thought as he properly died in Yoo Joonghyuk’s arms.

---

Chapter Text

TWO WEEKS AGO

Kim Dokja had Yoo Joonghyuk’s contact long before he actually entered the dorm for the first time. It was part of the system to get to know your future roommate who you will have to adjust to for the next year and the questionnaire that Kim Dokja had filled previously should have assured him a roommate similar to him.

But now, standing in front of the dorm room ‘1864’, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared.

Kim Dokja flattened down his white button up, dusted his blue jeans and stood up straight. First impressions matter. This was nerve-wracking. He took his old phone out of his pocket to check if somehow miraculously Yoo Joonghyuk had replied to his messages. (Yes, he did try contacting him. No, Yoo Joonghyuk never answered.)

Opening the chats app on his phone, he ignored the eighteen texts from Han Sooyoung and scrolled down. There wasn’t much to scroll though, since he didn’t have a lot of contacts anyway. He clicked on the contact named Yoo Joonghyuk, (the profile picture was a flower), and once again stared at the seen messages and no replies.

Ugh.

He shoved the phone back into his pocket and pulled out the dorm key he got. He decided to just do it and unlocked the door.

A previously symmetrical room in its essence with two beds on either side of the room greeted him. There were study tables and chairs next to each other facing the window on the back wall. They doubled as bed side tables. Moving in, he saw the small bathroom next to the door on the left, and built in cupboards on the right.

His roommate must have arrived before him as one side of the room was customized in as much black as possible. From the bed sheets to the table clock on the left desk, everything was black.

Yoo Joonghyuk’s soul was black probably too, considering how he left Kim Dokja on seen.

Speaking of Yoo Joonghyuk, where was he?

Kim Dokja pulled out his phone again, this time pausing at Han Sooyoung’s contact instead of scrolling. She had warned him of how some crazy dude pissed off a senior, got into fight and managed to win popular support during the orientation. (He had missed all this as he was too busy catching up on the latest webnovel update and trying to dodge awkward conversations with people he would literally never meet again.) But to think that the crazy dude was Yoo Joonghyuk…

Kim Dokja sighed.

Han Sooyoung was critical of Yoo Joonghyuk, “He’s tall and that pisses me off, can’t believe he’s your roommate.” She had said. But Kim Dokja couldn’t really trust her opinion of people, considering she found Jung Heewon annoying.

Then suddenly the phone started ringing.

“Oh shit!” The phone almost launched itself out of Kim Dokja’s hands as he scrambled to pick up, moving several paces forward and then accidently bumping into Yoo Joongkyuk’s chair. Something fell.

“KIM DOKJA, YOU WON’T BELIEVE!” A voice basically yelled out of the device.

“Stop shouting,” Kim Dokja went to pick up whatever fell. It was a black sword. “What the fuck?”

“What...?” Han Sooyoung continued anyway, “Anyways, your roomie got the senior suspended! You know, the dude who he beat up. Apparently the senior—” Kim Dokja accidently cut the call trying to reach the sword and sighed. He put his phone back.

Why was there a sword here? And why did Yoo Joonghyuk get someone suspended?

What the fuck.

Kim Dokja hesitantly lifted the sword.

And then the door burst open. “What are you doing?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked. Kim Dokja panicked. And so he did what he always did when he panicked, he smiled.

“Put down the sword,” Yoo Joonghyuk commanded as he strided over to Kim Dokja. “Are you trying to steal?”

“There’s not much to steal,” Kim Dokja rambled on, “Anyways, your sword prop is really convincing so I thought maybe it has the price tag on it―” Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed him by the neck, choking him.

“Ok, wait, just a second,” Kim Dokja squirmed, his voice struggling, “It’s not like I actually stole anything, you don’t have proof, I was joking, and I’m your roommate.” He used his free hand to try and shove the other man off but it was like Yoo Joonghyuk was made of metal.

Yoo Joonghyuk did not let go.

“Ugh, let go!” Kim Dokja coughed. And finally Yoo Joonghyuk let go. Kim Dokja shoved the sword to Yoo Joonghyuk.

“Who are you?” Yoo Joonghyuk threatened.

“Maybe if you read my texts then you’d know.”

“What texts?”

Oh, so wrong number. Kim Dokja pulled out his phone to delete whatever contact he saved as Yoo Joonghyuk. The flower profile picture was telling but Kim Dokja could not read apparently. Notifications bombarded the screen.

HSY: fukc you
HSY: why did you cut the call
HSY: ghe senior harassed some girls
HSY: the crazy dude is not evil apparently
HSY: now I don’t have a reason to mess with him
HSY: whatever
HSY: its not like I really needed a reason anyway

“Who are you?” Yoo Joonghyuk demanded.

Kim Dokja put his phone back. He sighed, fixed his shirt and finally took one good look at his roommate. Yoo Joonghyuk had dark hair and dark eyes, dark clothes to match. He looked like he ate confidence for breakfast and rejected the love confessions of greek gods. Kim Dokja was annoyed. He smiled his insufferable smile again, to distribute the annoyance.

“I’m Kim Dokja, your life and death companion. Congratulations.”

---

Kim Dokja woke up feeling tired. His legs felt heavy and for some reason elevated. His eyes blurred and then started to adjust to the darkening natural light in the room. He half got up, his elbows supporting his body and then awkwardly turned to his side.

Glancing over to the hello kitty clock on his desk, (Curtsy of Han Sooyoung), Kim Dokja despaired at the fact that it had been only a few minutes. And then he realized.

A distracted Yoo Joonghyuk was sitting between his legs, holding his legs up.

“I’m a virgin.” Kim Dokja explained.

“What?” Yoo Joonghyuk let go of his legs and got off his bed.

“What?” Kim Dokja questioned back, blushing.

“You…” Yoo Jooghyuk looked disturbed, and then worried.

Kim Dokja felt his headache come back, when he realized, “The goose!” He sat up straight.

“I fed it.”

Now, Kim Dokja wouldn’t lie, he could still get up and go check on Biyoo, (and try to figure out where she came from,) but he was tired. And there really was nothing that compared to breaking promises and having your life and death companion figure it out for you. He apologized to Biyoo in his head, swearing to meet her after he got some sleep.

He floofed onto his pillow again, “Why did you wake me up then?”

“You fainted.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not the same as falling asleep.”

“What?”

“You…” Yoo Joonghyuk frowned, crossed his arms and then sat down on his own bed. “Fainting is losing oxygen to your head, falling asleep is different. People mainly faint because of shock, dehydration or exhaustion.” After a long stare at Kim Dokja’s waterbottle set on his table, Yoo Joonghyuk continued, “Do you not sleep enough?”

“Uh,” Kim Dokja was not expecting a Wikihow article. “I have a lot to catch up on.”

“Like webnovels?” Yoo Joonghyuk was skeptical. Somehow he knew that Kim Dokja never really did any college work in the middle of the night. “Go to sleep earlier. You have morning classes.”

“But you don’t, so its not bothering you, right?” Kim Dokja tried. He didn’t want Yoo Joonghyuk to find out his weakness and try to attempt murder while he was delirious and sleep deprived and could not defend himself. (Kim Dokja remembered the sword incident.)

“Actually,” Yoo Joonghyuk said, “I switched a few classes to the morning ones.”

Kim Dokja sat up straight again, this time horrified. Yoo Joonhyuk switched classes after two proper weeks into college?

“Why?”

“None of your business.”

“Yes, it is.” Kim Dokja dared, “We’re life and death companions.” He moved over to the edge of the bed, interested. Outside it was getting darker and darker, but he could have sworn that Yoo Joonghyuk burst a vein.

---

EXTRA- HOW DID YOO JOONGHYUK CARRY KIM DOKJA?

(Camera turns on, focus adjusts. Reporter coughs, looks around.)

Reporter: Are we?

(Reporter gestures.)

Camera man: Yeah, yeah, we’re live.

(Reporter’s eyes widen, he coughs, and then he smiles.)

Reporter: Here we are at the location where Yoo Joonghyuk had allegedly carried his roommate a few paces―

(Camera pans over to the entrance of the dorm.)

Reporter: ―to over there. I have with me, a few witnesses here, let’s hear from them.

(Camera shifts to a girl.)

Lee Jihye: Hi.

Reporter: How exactly did Yoo Joonghyuk carry his roommate?

Lee Jihye: It was amazing!

Reporter: How so?

Lee Jihye: He gently put one hand under the knees of the squi― um, I mean his roommate, and with his other hand, supported the roommate’s back. Then he leaned over carefully, and with heavy, soulful, ‘in love’, eyes, he whispered about his undying love for―

(Reporter is incredulous, he fake smiles harder and then nervously coughs.)

Reporter: ―Ok! That’s enough, um, lets move on to the other witness―

(Camera pans over to a boy.)

Reporter: Yes, what did you see?

Kim Namwoon: Uhhhhhh, he grabbed the other dude and tossed him over his shoulder.

(Reporter blinks.)

Lee Jihye: You weren’t even looking, oh my god―

Kim Namwoon: I did see!

Lee Jihye: No you didn’t!

(Lee Jihye shoves Kim Namwoon, Kim Namwoon blushes.)

Someone in the background: SIMP!

(Reporter looks like he is gonna cry.)

Reporter: Moving on―

(Camera turns to last kid.)

Reporter: Our last witness! Will you enlighten us?

Jang Hayoung: Yeah, Yoo Joonghyuk dragged him.

Reporter: W- What?

Jang Hayoung: I said he dragged him. Like one would with a dead body.

(Reporter looks like he wants to be the dead body.)

Reporter: Ummmmmm, more on this at 7.

(Reporter is going through the five stages of grief.)

(Camera turns off.)

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk flinched again when he heard the rustling of sheets.

It was like any sound of movement around him when he was sleeping was processed in his mind as that of his enemies. Once again, he tried to lighten up and loosen his limbs from the always ready to attack posture.

Staying in the dorms was the worst idea ever. Only for Mia, he thought as he turned to his right, to face Kim Dokja. His sister, Yoo Mia had insisted that he gets the “ULTIMATE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES DORMING OBVIOUSLY”, and thrown a tantrum. Although initially he tried to hold his ground, Yoo Mia further explained how she would like to stay at her school’s dorms too, like her best friend, Shin Yoosung.

When Yoo Joonghyuk heard the second reasoning, he was conflicted. He didn’t know if he was really being a good brother to her. He didn’t want to disappoint his little sister. Maybe it would be ok to let her stay in her school’s dorm like she wanted.

Yoo Joonghyuk was always weak to Mia’s tantrums.

After a meeting with the principal of Mia’s school and a proper check of the environment there, he decided that it would be ok for her to stay there. (And he also managed to convince (threaten) the principal into letting her stay with her best friend.) Money solved everything. And he had a lot of it from his gaming ventures.

Kim Dokja sighed quietly but it was loud enough for Yoo Joonghyuk to hear.

Yoo Joonghyuk sat up and checked the time on his phone, carefully so as to not distract Kim Dokja from trying to sleep. He squinted and a very bright 2:03 AM stared back at him. Usually, both of them would be awake right now (Dokja reading, and him gaming), tomorrow was Saturday after all. But Kim Dokja needed to get into a sleeping pattern, Yoo Joonghyuk had declared around twenty minutes ago. And what could be a better time to sleep than 1:40 in the morning, right?

“It’s not working.” Kim Dokja sighed from the other bed.

Apparently laying still and breathing in a decided manner (?) did not help. Yoo Joonghyuk sighed too.

A couple hours ago, Kim Dokja had insisted on finding out the truth behind his class changing. (No one knew it was because of Anna Croft and he wasn’t going to let that change) Yoo Joonghyuk was stubborn and gave a vague but long explanation of why he had changed classes, (some insistence later, Kim Dokja finally shut up), and then both him and the other finally started searching for “How to sleep” guides. Deciding to test out a few of the methods when it was time for bed, Kim Dokja smiled saying that he got some new found energy from having listened to Yoo Joonghyuk’s bullshit. “I’m going to have dinner.” He had said as he scurried off.

Now, the methods, Yoo Joonghyuk understood, were in vain.

“Get up, let’s go to the rooftop.” Yoo Joonghyuk rose up picking up his black coat from his chair and putting it on.

“That makes no sense.” Kim Dokja complied anyways, tired feet carrying him over to the door, “Are you going to push me off?” He didn’t think that his restlessness would be that annoying. Besides he already had an experience with that, not rooftops exactly, windows, but still. Zero on ten, would not recommend, Kim Dokja thought.

After scowling at Kim Dokja’s statement, Yoo Joonghyuk turned the table lamp on, and then went over to the cupboards. He pulled out something but Kim Dokja was too busy blinking away the light to see.

“It's not that cold but it's not hot either.” Yoo Joonghyuk draped a white coat over Kim Dokja’s shoulders. Kim Dokja just blinked more, his heart rate picking up.

“That’s a bit much, it’s just August.” Kim Dokja watched as Yoo Joonghyuk fiddled with the door lock, his back wide. Kim Dokja would never admit it but Yoo Joonghyuk was quite admirable, a nice person even. (Although the violence tendencies could be toned down)

Maybe this would be fun, Kim Dokja decided, well, as fun as it can get when you feel like you are the personification of fatigue.

---

Kim Dokja felt like shit.

He scanned the next item on the counter, adding in the discounts on the computer screen. The customer in front of him glared, already holding the money in her hand as if to ask what was talking so long. Kim Dokja sighed on the inside.

Yesterday, or actually today, he and Yoo Joonghyuk had paced around on the rooftop so that he would get tired enough to fall asleep. He had tried to get some more information out of Yoo Joonghyuk, but it seemed that Yoo Joonghyuk was even more stubborn than him. At least the attempt to sleep worked, even though it resulted only in two hours and ten minutes of proper sleep. He felt even worse than he previously had.

Kim Dokja gave the lady her bill and she impatiently left. He felt as if a heavy blanket of exhaustion was weighing him down. Maybe taking the weekend seven-hour shift at the convenience store was a bad idea. Whatever, Kim Dokja thought and glanced over to the wall clock, it was ten minutes to 4 PM. His shift would end then.

The bells attached above the door jingled as two kids walked in. “-staying at the dorms for the weekend?” The boy wearing a red cap and carrying a backpack too big for him asked; he was probably barely a middle schooler.

“Yeah,” The girl next to him, the same age maybe, responded, “Her oppa is busy so she told mam to not call him.” Both of them disappeared into an aisle but their voices continued. Kim Dokja frowned; it would be very irresponsible for a teacher to not call oppa to tell discuss the ‘go home for the weekend’ situation. Kim Dokja caught himself, he shouldn’t eavesdrop. His sleep deprived brain cells were acting up again.

“She threatened mam, didn’t she?” The boy questioned. He was loud so it wasn’t Kim Dokja’s fault for still listening.

The door jingled open again and the next shift’s part-timer walked in. She glared at Kim Dokja like the edgy teen she was and walked off into the back. Kim Dokja took off the nametag and collected his stuff into his bag; there was no uniform for the store so he didn’t need to change. A few more minutes until the other worker came back and he could leave. Once again he found himself listening to the kids.

“She said that her oppa said that he didn’t want random phone calls and that he wasn’t going to pick her up this weekend.”

“And mam believed her?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Kim Dokja was concerned. He heard the sound of the cold fridge door open.

"Which one do you want?" The boy asked.

"Hm... That one!" Sounds of movement, probably the girl trying to get whatever she wanted.

"Oh, wait-"

And then the sound of glass hitting the floor.

Kim Dokja moved fast getting to the children quickly. Both of them were panicking and attempted to pick up the glass on the floor in between them. Kim Dokja was quick to warn but the children were quicker.

“Wait!” Kim Dokja pulled up both of the children by their forearms trying to not put too much force. He moved them enough feet away from the glass before checking for injuries. Both of the children had a few bleeding cuts on their hands. Fortunately it was not from the flying shards which meant that they didn’t have any actual glass stuck in their hands. To think that both of them would try to pick it up, Kim Dokja breathed out, they need to wash their hands immediately.

The girl looked like she was going to cry and the boy looked worried.

“Sorry Ajusshi.” The girl looked down and the boy joined in on the apologizing. Kim Dokja was so surprised that they were apologizing for an accident that he missed the ‘Ajusshi’.

“We’ll clean it up, hyung.” The boy clenched his fist only to falter when his hand hurt more.

“Hey, let’s stop the bleeding first, ok?” Kim Dokja tried. It wasn’t really the fault of the children, “Just be more careful next time.”

By then the other part timer came around, “What did you do!?” She yelled. The two children flinched.

“We’re really sorry-”

“Ugh, move kid,” She tried to force them away, “I’ll have to clean it up anyway.” The girl’s eyes started to water and she shrank into herself, the boy maintained a guilty look.

“I’ll do it,” Kim Dokja looked at the part timer with a customer service smile on his face and anger in his eyes, “Just don’t let anyone in for a bit.”

“Whatever. I don’t get paid enough for this shit.”

Kim Dokja started by making the two kids go wash their hands properly in the washroom that was in the back of the store. He cleaned up the glass properly and efficiently checked around for more glass. Deciding that it was safe now, he called the other part timer back in, quickly paying for the broken bottle and grabbing his bag before calling out to the kids. They both seemed much calmer and after the kids’ failed attempt to pay for the bottle, Kim Dokja managed to get them both out of the store.

He sat the kids down in the seating area out front.

“I’m Lee Gilyoung.” Lee Gilyoung declared as he chose the insect based band aids. Kim Dokja had rushed to the nearby pharmacist to get band aids for the kids lest their hands started bleeding again. He carefully wrapped the band aid with a praying mantis cartoon on it around Gilyoung’s finger. Both of his hands had cuts so Gilyoung couldn’t do it himself, "Um, I'll pay you back since college students are poor."

Kim Dokja laughed in shock, "It's ok, Gilyoung-ah. You don't have to." Gilyoung looked glum but accepted after some hesistance.

“I’m Shin Yoosung…” Shin Yoosung mumbled, looking dejected, she was still hung up on the accident. Kim Dokja took the animal based band aid she was putting on herself and started to apply it instead. Since she had only injured one hand she could do it herself, but he wanted to do it anyway. She looked surprised when he reached out, but accepted it. Kim Dokja quickly wrapped it up and put the remaining band aids in his bag. 

“My name is Kim Dokja.” He said softly and suddenly pulled out two lollipops. The old lady pharmacist had asked him about the band aids because of their peculiar design and when Kim Dokja told her about the kids, she gave him the lollipops.

He handed both of them a lollipop.

Yoosung’ eyes lit up and Gilyoung looked shocked. “Hyung…”

Kim Dokja did not know why the children were looking at him like that. It’s not that the lollipop was an extremely rare flavor or something. He check the time on his phone to not be overwhelmed by the staring children. It was already 4:57 PM. He looked up again at the children eating the candy. In fact, he just realized, he was literally the stranger giving two children lollipops.

“Haven’t you heard of stranger-danger?” Kim Dokja sighed, his body aching louder now that he was no longer doing something time sensitive. Everything just took a backseat whenever there was an emergency. He stretched in his seat lightly. And then it hits you like a truck, he thought, a genuine smile blooming on his face.

“You’re not a stranger anymore.” Both the kids smiled too.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk was being weird.

Kim Dokja bit the back of his pen as he tried to focus on his stupid assignment. The fact that he had so many assignments only two weeks into college was weird too, he sighed. Even though it was Sunday, he was cooped up in the second floor of the library. He glanced over at the shelves of books, none of which he could read right now because of his work.

The atmosphere in the dorm room was tense after work yesterday. His train of thoughts swerved again.

Yoo Joonghyuk was in a bad mood. Like some senile old lady whose unruly neighbourhood kids stepped on her lawn, Kim Dokja concluded. He had gone to sleep on time yesterday, at 1:40 AM, in an effort to not further piss off Yoo Joonghyuk. Although the amount of stupid puns he wrote on post it notes and stuck all over Yoo Joonghyuk’s desk must have pissed him off anyway. It was in an effort to make him laugh though, and its the thought that counts. He had gone to sleep, but sleep did not stay with him. Not much to do when you wake up in the middle of the night and try not to stare at your roommate, he thought.

(A vague image of Kim Dokja hovering over Yoo Joonghyuk’s desk, snickering, sticking a bunch of post it notes down, more than half of them crowded with smiley faces. Yoo Joonghyuk rests in the background, sleeping moodily. It seems that his anger had deepened his sleep.)

Kim Dokja’s lips slightly curled up; he had left earlier this morning before Yoo Joonghyuk could wake up. Initially, he had wanted to see the reaction of his roommate but decided that that would be against his own better health. He could have used Yoo Joonghyuk’s sword prop to defend himself but that didn't occur to him then. He looked up from what little work he had done. Oh wait I’m getting distracted again, he stopped smiling.

His phone binged once with a notification. Immediately several turned heads stared at him, feeling awkward he quickly moved to pry his phone out of his pocket. And then suddenly―

Bing- bing- bing- bing- bing- bing- bing- bing!

Kim Dokja panicked as many people started scowling, others straight up glaring at him. He hurried to turn off notification sounds, seeing that it was Han Sooyoung texting him.

HSY: dudeeeeeee lmaooooo

HSY: remember when you said that yuo were not even that close to mr.protag

HSY: [img.jpg]

HSY: ur rat face is posted allllllll over the grp chat [link]

HSY: how does it feel to be carried by Yoo himself?

HSY: lol

HSY: also

HSY: ill break the face of the person who posted thsi dont worry itll be off the internet only 150-ish people saw it anyway

HSY: it wont be off my phone though, you best buy me lunvh sometime to shut my mouth :)))))

Well, fuck.

The photo was blurry and a weird angle but you could tell that it was Yoo Joonghyuk in the picture. Kim Dokja stared at his own face in the picture; if you knew Kim Dokja then maybe you’d be able to tell but otherwise he looked pretty generic. Kim Dokja sighed in embarrassment. Yoo Joonghyuk was carrying him in a princess carry. Blood rushed to Kim Dokja’s face, steam was probably coming out of his ears, how predictable, he thought.

He quickly clicked on the link to open up the groupchat.

CIH: image deleted

U: OHMYGODITSHAPPENING STAYCALMSTAYYYYCALMMM                 

SWK: I see

ABFD: thats gay

ABFD: also the guybeing caried is ugly

U: stfu @ABFD

ABFD: u knoe its tru tho

SWK: the picture is blurry @ABFD

U: fuckin chunni fifteen year old looking dumbass piece of shit @ABFD

U: start begging for my mercy @ABFD

U: arson is literally my passion @ABFD

U: I will doxx u @ABFD

ABFD: AHHHH SORRRYYYY OK GEEEZZZZZ

SP:…

After seeing that the image was deleted already, Kim Dokja felt sightly relieved. He could not care enough to read more than the first few replies and so he closed the app.

He wondered if Yoo Joonghyuk had seen the message. Fucking bastard would sue CIH (whoever that was) for photography rights or something. Kim Dokja grinned, but then frowned when he realized that Yoo Joonghyuk was already in a bad mood for some unknown reason and he would have to face all his wrath. Evil husband takes out his anger on hardworking wife, Kim Dokja thought, but then tried to unthink because he just called himself the wife of Yoo Joonghyuk. What the fuck.

“I need to get a coffee,” Kim Dokja’s brain was so annoying, he wished he could turn it off. He got up and swiftly left the library.

---

Kim Dokja hadn’t expected to meet Yoo Sangah in the coffee shop.

“It’s been a while, Dokja-ssi,” She greeted, sipping on what was remaining of her tea; they both somehow ended up sitting together after she saw Kim Dokja ordering, “You just missed Sooyoung-ssi, she had work.”

Oh, Han Sooyoung was texting him while she was here. Does that mean Yoo Sangah had also seen the picture? Whether she had or not, she did not show it on her face.

Kim Dokja had met Yoo Sangah in his Finance class. Her pen had run out of ink and Kim Dokja just happened to have a spare one. Yoo Sangah was also coincidentally friends with Han Sooyoung. She was very amiable, that’s probably the reason why she could stand Han Sooyoung.

“Yeah, although I don’t know why she does part time, she’s rich,” Kim Dokja drank some of his own coffee, a very basic cappuccino. He could hear Yoo Joonghyuk’s voice in the back of his mind telling him to not do stupid shit like this. Coffee would fuck up his sleeping problems even more than ever and Kim Dokja knew that, but right now he just needed to feel awake.

“Kim Dokja.” A voice appeared, somehow this kept on happening to Kim Dokja. Why couldn’t he just exist without hearing the bastard’s voice right behind him? He cursed the gods.

Kim Dokja then realized that Yoo Sangah was not looking at him, but above him. Oh. Yoo Joonghyuk was actually here wasn’t he?

Kim Dokja whipped his head around. Yoo Joonghyuk stared him down. Oh.

Yoo Sangah held back some laughter, politely coughing. With a knowing smile on her face, she invited, “Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi, right? Nice to meet you,” She gestured at the seat next to Kim Dokja, “Will you sit down?” Yoo Joonghyuk acknowledged her and then sat down.

“Why are you here?” Kim Dokja tried desperately, hoping that Yoo Joonghyuk would not notice the cup of coffee right in front of him.

Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed the coffee cup, his icy aura freezing everything around him. Kim Dokja faked a smile.

“Just one coffee.” He pleaded and slithered his fingers under Yoo Joonghyuk’s, trying to get a grip on the coffee cup so he could take it back. Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand was bigger than his and basically clamped down on Kim Dokja’s hand. Kim Dokja’s hand was stuck. He only noticed now how close they were sitting. The heat radiating off Yoo Joonghyuk was making Kim Dokja feel hotter. He looked at Yoo Joonghyuk and Yoo Joonghyuk stared back. He was not just angry like he was yesterday; this time the emotion was deeper. Kim Dokja’s heart decided to pick  up the pace and his face flushed. Somehow, Kim Dokja felt, time was not moving anymore.

“Fool.” Yoo Joonghyuk commented (his ears red too), and once again time rushed. Kim Dokja felt annoyed.

Yoo Sangah chuckled, putting down her tea cup. Quickly, both of the men in front of her retrieved their hands. The stray coffee cup just sat there in the middle. “Well, I've got to get going now,” said Yoo Sangah. She gently brushed off her jeans and got up, “See you later.”

“Oh, well then, bye.” Kim Dokja replied, knowing that Yoo Joonghyuk was going to kill him now.

---

“So… why were you mad yesterday?” Kim Dokja asked. He was desperate to change the topic. After having been forced to not drink his coffee, (Yoo Joonghyuk drank it because he wasn’t going to waste food) they both left the coffee shop awkwardly. The wind blew a little stronger and the leaves rained down. They were walking back to the dorm.

“None of your business.” Yoo Joonghyuk replied.

“Hasn’t our lovely Yoo Joonghyukie heard of what happens when you bottle it up?” Kim Dokja dared, deciding to grin from eye to eye. Murder happens, he thought.

“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk threatened.

“Yoo Joonghyuk.” Kim Dokja was done having to deal with all this bullshit. For some reason, he also felt that his moods were shifting too fast, "If you don't tell me, then I'll end up worrying about you all night and be unable to sleep." 

"Shut up."

"Tell me," Kim Dokja waited and then he realized that he might have been too pushy, "Or not..." His brain was really pushing the limit today. He looked at Yoo Joonghyuk from the corner of his eye to see that he was slowing down a little.

Suddenly, Yoo Joonghyuk paused. Kim Dokja turned around to face Yoo Joonghyuk. Yoo Joonghyuk was hesistant, looking at the fallen leaves at his feet. Sighing he spoke again, “My sister does not want to see me on the weekends.”

YOO JOONGHYUK HAD A SISTER???????????????????, Kim Dokja thought, calmly.

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja did not know what to do.

He didn’t think that the problem would be a family matter. Not knowing what to say, he stood still with a carefully neutral expression. He wasn’t sure if he qualified to have an opinion on this considering the fact that he had not seen his mother in a long, long, time.

Oh, wait a second.

Kim Dokja knew how to listen. Maybe Yoo Joonghyuk just needed to get this off his chest. That’s probably why Yoo Joonghyuk decided to tell him what happened to begin with. But you’d need to trust the person you’re talking to. Kim Dokja’s carefully neutral face almost changed. Yoo Joonghyuk needs to be more careful, he thought, to be able to tell anyone about this… It must have really been bothering him.

“Mia, she’s only a middle schooler but she wanted to live in the school dorms.” Kim Dokja had never heard Yoo Joonghyuk speak so much before. Yoo Joonghyuk added, “Maybe… I’m not fit to be her brother.”

The clouds shifted and a suiting shade fell over Yoo Joonghyuk.

“She told her teacher not to call me for the weekend meetups but her teacher got worried and called me anyway.” Yoo Joonghyuk continued. Although his face was blank, it was clear that he was concerned. “I’m her only guardian,” A painful emotion bled through the crack in his walls.

“She deserves better.” A heavy silence fell over the two.

“Even though you’re this worried?”

Yoo Joonghyuk met Kim Dokja’s eyes. Even Kim Dokja himself was surprised at his own words. What happened to only listening? Kim Dokja grimaced on the inside. Yoo Joonghyuk was still holding his gaze. Something had changed in his features.

Suddenly the wind blew again, raining them in leaves. Distracted by the wind in his eyes and the sun in his hair, Kim Dokja missed the small, genuine smile on Yoo Joonghyuk’s face. As fast as it had appeared, it was gone before Kim Dokja brought back his attention.

A natural pause made Kim Dokja hold his breath.

“Um, so, maybe you should just talk to your sister. She might have not meant it in the way you think she did.” Kim Dokja shifted and smiled awkwardly. Since Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t say anything but his name, Kim Dokja got scared that he might have overstepped and decided to go all the way. Consistency is the key to properly getting murdered by your roommate, he figured.

“I will.”

Oh.

Kim Dokja internally sighed in relief. His roommate had accepted it.

---

Kim Dokja was at the cafeteria.

He was thinking, but obviously, thinking was not doing him any good. Yoo Joonghyuk hadn’t told him much of the details but it seemed like his sister didn’t like him. Or at least, that’s what Yoo Joonghyuk thought. Kim Dokja disagreed. To have a brother worry so much about you… It was novel. Maybe, his little sister just wanted him to stop worrying about her so much and enjoy his own life. Anyways, the whole situation reminded him of something but he couldn’t remember what. It was weird.

Kim Dokja then decided to stop being nosey.

The sun had almost set and the lights were all slowly blinking on.

“I can’t believe you got a boyfriend. We should go on a double date sometime.” Jung Heewon commented, eating some abominable sandwich. She had been sitting across Kim Dokja for the past thirty minutes trying to not talk to him so he could finish his work. Now, she finally cracked.

“What?” Kim Dokja was dragged out of his thoughts, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Then who was in the picture?”

Kim Dokja sighed, “Yoo Joonghyuk. Roommate.”

“He’s your roommate Dokja-ssi?” Lee Hyunsung strolled in, passing the tissues he had gone to get to his girlfriend. He also pulled Heewon’s hair back, tying it causally so it wouldn’t fall on her food. A quiet ‘thanks’ was the respond.

“Yeah.” Kim Dokja pulled out his phone so he could avoid the topic of Yoo Joonghyuk. In his peripheral view he could see the couple looking at each other with a weird smile on their faces. Kim Dokja couldn’t be bothered to know.

Once again, his phone was filled with messages from Han Sooyoung.

HSY: cheon inho. freshmen. Self proclaimed schemer.

HSY: although he did delete the message before I could get to him

HSY: this was fun lmaooooooo

HSY: [img.jpg]

HSY: [img.jpg]

HSY: [img.jpg]

The three images were in a series. The first image was of Cheon Inho crying with his hands put together in a begging-for-forgiveness pose. The second one had Jung Heewon holding him up by his collar and Lee Hyunsung towering over him from behind. And the third had Han Sooyoung posing with a peace sign in the foreground.

Kim Dokja couldn’t hold back a little smile. He didn’t understand why they would go so far for him. He looked up at the couple across him and they stopped their conversation to focus on Kim Dokja. He didn’t understand why they were paying so much attention to him.

KDJ: lets meet with the others for lunch on fri

KDJ: at that nearby barbeque place

KDJ: its my bribe

“You guys wanna eat barbeque on Friday? The restaurant is pretty close I think.”

“‘Fire Hell Barbeque Unlimited’? You know, like that really popular place?” Jung Heewon quickly shoved down the rest of her sandwich, excited.

“Yeah, for lunch. I’ll pay.” Kim Dokja included in his deal.

“Of course!” Lee Hyunsung lit up. Little celebrations commenced, the couple cheering happily.

Feeling warmth in his heart, Kim Dokja grinned.

---

Kim Dokja was unbelievably tired.

After leaving the cafeteria, he went off with Lee Hyunsung to his dorm so that he could get inspiration from his notes. Lee Hyunsung’s amiable roommate was okay with Kim Dokja staying for a bit but somehow the ‘bit’ turned out to become multiple hours.

Kim Dokja checked the time on his phone as he sped up, it was almost one in the morning already. Reaching his own dorm, he walked in quietly.

Yoo Joonghyuk was already asleep, the moonlight reflecting off of him.

Kim Dokja carefully turned on his night lamp, setting down his bag. He was just about to lay down on his bed when he noticed.

THE STICKY NOTES FROM EARLIER WERE ALL OVER HIS BED.

He had forgotten about the sticky notes. Those were his creations. But now they were turned into his enemies.

Yesterday, he had stuck them onto Yoo Joonghyuk’s desk to cheer (annoy) him, but the tables had turned. He pulled out one nearest to him. ‘What is essential when catching a wild Yoo Joonghyuk? Sunscreen.’ Kim Dokja sighed. But then he silently chuckled.

Sunfish bastard, why couldn’t he just throw them away? He thought, annoyed.

Kim Dokja started using his overdriven brain cells.

Now, he could just remove all of the sticky notes and change the sheets to go to sleep. But where’s the fun in that? He looked at the back of Yoo Joonghyuk’s head. Maybe… Kim Dokja planned, deviously.

Five minutes later, Kim Dokja was sleeping right next to Yoo Joonghyuk, careful to not accidently stir him. Kim Dokja turned red. Obviously it was because of the heat, since there was barely any space between them. This was a bad idea, he concluded trying to get up. But right before he could slip away, Yoo Joonghyuk turned around and put an arm around him, effectively trapping him.

OH SHIT, WHAT NOW?

Kim Dokja panicked. But wait, this was the plan, he thought. Yoo Joonghyuk was supposed to wake up in the morning, find out that his plan to annoy Kim Dokja by messing with his bed didn’t work, and realize he lost, because Kim Dokja outsmarted him.

Kim Dokja shifted with fake confidence, his blush deepening. He was now facing Yoo Joonghyuk. Its really hot in here, huh?

He was so close to Yoo Joonghyuk that he could count his eyelashes. He could hear his heartbeat even in the tips of his fingers. Kim Dokja closed his eyes and tried to calm down.

Today had been a really long day. He had dealt with Cheon Inho indirectly, met Yoo Sangah, listened to Yoo Joonghyuk, invited Han Sooyoung and the couple to lunch and finished his work with Lee Hyunsung.

Now he was platonically in bed with Yoo Joonghyuk.

He was tired. So, so, so goddamn tired.

And then eventually, his fatigue rocked him to sleep.

---

The next morning, Kim Dokja woke up after nine hours of sleep, almost missing his early class. Yoo Joonghyuk was gone before he woke up. He didn’t come back until midnight, when Kim Dokja could not even get a word in before Yoo Joonghyuk went to bed.

They didn’t talk about it.

---

A few days and sleepless nights later, Yoo Joonghyuk forced Kim Dokja to follow him. It was all very suspicious and Kim Dokja felt a bit scared for his life but Yoo Joonghyuk refused to elaborate.

Once outside of the dorm building, Kim Dokja could no longer hold back his curiosity, and tried to stop Yoo Joonghyuk from marching along. He grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand. But the velocity or motion or something (physics shit) made him lean over a little too close to the other. Yoo Joonghyuk stopped Kim Dokja from falling onto him.

“Uh-” Unintentionally, he was reminded of his stupid sleep deprived idea of sleeping next to Yoo Joonghyuk. He coughed and stepped back, “Sorry. Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out.”

Yoo Joonghyuk started to walk again, so Kim Dokja trailed along. Kim Dokja didn’t know whether he should interrupt. Yoo Joonghyuk walked off the main path and squeezed through the trees into a sort of unkept area. A pond in the middle, grass and weeds everywhere else, trees surrounding.

Kim Dokja was shocked.

“I found it a few days ago,” Yoo Joonghyuk replied to the obvious query on the other’s mind. “Your goose lives here.” Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear. The goose wobbled randomly out of the pond.

“Baht!”

“Biyoo!” Kim Dokja beamed, he was happy to be reunited with his daughter. He crouched down and held his hands out. Biyoo honked in joy and put her head on Kim Dokja’s shoulder, returning the hug. She then slithered out of her father’s arm to go bite onto Yoo Joonghyuk’s pants dragging him over to Kim Dokja.

Yoo Joonghyuk obeyed, knowing not to make an enemy out of the most powerful existence among them. Mischievously, Biyoo forced Yoo Joonghyuk to crouch as well so that she could spread her wings and hug them both at the same time. Kim Dokja wanted to step away but his daughter had insisted so he was forced to accept it. From the corner of his eyes he could see Yoo Joonghyuk’s ears turn red.

“Wow, my Biyoo is so smart, isn’t she?” Kim Dokja laughed, “What did you feed her last time? It must have helped her.”

“The grass from over there.” The other replied, “Since you’re not supposed to feed wild geese in the first place.”

“Oh.”

“What are you two doing?” A high voice spoke from behind them. Turning his head, Kim Dokja saw a girl. A very beautiful, female lead worthy girl.

“Lee Seolhwa?” Yoo Joonghyuk spoke from beside him.

They knew each other. Obviously.

“I was just walking by and then saw a trail of footprints,” She laughed and it was like the singing of angels. Yoo Joonghyuk got up and walked over to her which cause Biyoo to become discontent. She snuggled into Kim Dokja’s arms further for comfort.

Standing next to each other, Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa looked like a couple. Kim Dokja missed their conversation, just struck by their collective visuals. Wow, they could totally have a fanclub, he thought.

“Nice to meet you Dokja-ssi. He told me a lot about you,” Lee Seolhwa said, gesturing to Yoo Joonghyuk, smiling. Kim Dokja responded with a generic greeting. Yoo Joonghyuk is saying things about me?, he almost laughed in nervousness, that’s a bit concerning. 

“I wish I could stay a bit longer but I need to go.” Lee Seolhwa continued. Turning to Yoo Joonghyuk “So, you’ll lend me the notes right now?” Oh. This was what he missed in the conversation.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked back at his roommate, “Kim Dokja, let’s go.”

And become the third wheel? No.

“I’m staying with Biyoo for a bit.”

Yoo Joonghyuk considered, “…Okay.”

“I hope we meet again, Seolhwa-ssi,” Kim Dokja wanted to know more about how Lee Seolhwa had managed to get Yoo Joonghyuk to agree to give her his notes. But mostly, he wanted to find out if they were actually a couple.

He wouldn’t admit to that though.

The maybe-couple left and Kim Dokja was alone with his daughter and his stupid sleep deprived thoughts.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk’s heart stopped beating.

And then it restarted with a pace even faster. He sat completely still on his bed, next to Kim Dokja who was sleeping.

ON HIS BED.

A few minutes ago he had to detangle himself from Kim Dokja. But the embarrassing part was that he was the one with his arms around Kim Dokja. It seems that Kim Dokja had just lain there, like a dead squid, with his arms uncomfortably squished. Now, he stretched out a bit, blissfully unaware of Yoo Joonghyuk’s conscious state.

Although his heart was running a mile, Yoo Joonghyuk’s face was stiff.

The perils of actually sleeping well due to too much worrying.

When Yoo Joonghyuk wasn’t distracted by the lightest shuffles in the room, he was asleep like the dead. The latter case being much worse, because somehow, cuddling came naturally. He used to have a lot of pillows back at home before Yoo Mia came along, and the room was always a bit too cold. To think that he slept so deeply two nights in a row, Yoo Joonghyuk scowled.

Last night, it caused his desk to take one for the team. He had to pull out many abominable sticky notes and the desk stayed sticky until he wiped it down with a wet towel. To get his revenge, he stuck all abominable sticky notes onto the culprit’s bed. Little did he know that his roommate was an absolute idiot with no sense of personal space.

Not that Yoo Joonghyuk really minded it.

Yoo Joonghyuk turned to Kim Dokja, his breath getting stuck in his throat.

Kim Dokja was beautiful.

This was not the first time he had noticed that; the idea of being attracted to Kim Dokja was a reccurring thought. As a means of not going crazy, he always killed this idea, mentally, with his sword. But like some fictional main character with plot armor, the thought always came back, always stronger than before.

Yoo Joonghyuk had a crush.

The sun was barely above the horizon but the little light peeking in through the curtains rested in Kim Dokja’s dark hair and demanded to reach his face. A calm face— clear skin, long eyelashes, and pretty lips. Yoo Joonghyuk wanted to kiss him.

BUT UNLIKE YOUR LOCAL SEXUAL ASSAULTER, YOO JOONGHYUK HAD HALF A BRAIN CELL AND KNEW NOT TO BE A FUCKING CREEP WHO KISSES PEOPLE IN THEIR SLEEP.

So, he turned away.

Carefully, he stepped over Kim Dokja and got off the bed. Kim Dokja stirred, mumbling something. He then kicked around woozily until the blanket covering him slid down and pooled at Yoo Joonghyuk’s feet.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. But then he started feeling a little proud.

Kim Dokja was really sleeping. All this random exercises to fall asleep, but all it took was a human body. Wait, that sounds wrong. 

Nevermind.

Yoo Joonghyuk aligned the blanket over Kim Dokja again, tucking in the corners. After a few seconds of silence and his roommate’s steady breathing, Yoo Joonghyuk left.

---

Now, Kim Dokja wasn’t really a miser.

He just didn’t have the money to be extravagant. (Most of his meals ended up being one-day-expired Kimbap) Although he did have just enough money to buy lunch for his friends every once in a while, could you blame him for accepting a weirdly structured challenge?

“Seven people? That’s oddly specific.” Kim Dokja commented trying to ignore the headache descending from the crown of his head. He swatted Han Sooyoung’s hand to prevent her from drinking the vinegar on the table from boredom. She stuck her tongue out at him and quickly changed her expression before the waitress noticed.

The waitress rolled her eyes, “You said more people were joining you,” She was towering over the circular barbeque table that the two were sitting at, “Do you want to do the challenge or not?”

“Of course,” Kim Dokja smiled, convincing the waitress who then stalked off.

The challenge was easy. With seven people, finish 15 kilograms of meat and not only do you not have to pay but instead you get paid the cost of the barbeque. The drawing of seven stickmen happily eating barbeque on the special menu stared back at Kim Dokja.

Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung were at ‘Fire Hell Barbeque Unlimited’, waiting for the couple and Yoo Sangah (who Kim Dokja had invited during a random lecture) to show up. Located pretty close to campus, it was a hotspot for hungry college kids. The owner was famously called Persephone and she ran the restaurant with her husband, Hades. They were known for all the crazy discounts and offers they added to the menu. Almost all of the challenges were gambles, and often the students unable to pay had to work to pay off their dues.

“I heard some kid called Kim Namwoon was stuck here for a while,” Han Sooyoung mumbled, texting Jung Heewon to ‘hurry the fuckkkkk up DUDE’.

Although the challenge was basically equivalent to gambling, Kim Dokja was willing to play a hand. He felt pretty tired today, but weirdly it made him forget the unimportant things, which overall helped him concentrate on the matter he was dealing with right now.

“So, we have five people already, just two more…” Kim Dokja pulled out his phone.

Han Sooyoung groaned, “Ugh, its two ‘o’ clock already! Where the hell are they?” Her chair creaked dramatically as she tested its stability by leaning back. From afar, the waitress scowled.

Suddenly, as if struck with an idea, Han Sooyoung sat straight up. She wiggled her eyebrows, “Get your roommate to come.”

Kim Dokja flinched, “What?” He looked at her in disgust. And then he considered.

It was true that he barely had any contacts. To get two more hungry people to show up on such short notice…

But it’s not like Yoo Joonghyuk would actually come. Kim Dokja pondered. The desperation to save money was consuming him. Maybe if he blackmailed him with chunni sword prop thing…

Han Sooyoung stole the phone out of his hands.

“Hey, wait!”

It was no use, the contact named ‘Crazy Bastard’ was already ringing. Han Sooyoung cackled. When the call was accepted, she shoved the phone back to Kim Dokja.

“Kim Dokja.”

“Uhhhhhhhh, hi.”

“…What do you want?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked with a voice that was neither happy nor annoyed.

Kim Dokja decided to just take the plunge and fake smiled for confidence.

“Come to ‘Fire Hell Barbeque Unlimited’ with another person in fifteen minutes or else.” Kim Dokja quickly hung up.

Han Sooyoung’s chuckle converted into full on wheezing as she slapped the table and shook with laughter, her short hair shaking with her. One part of the restaurant almost froze from the icy glare of the waitress afterwards.

---

Kim Dokja coughed.

It had been some time since his phone call and the party was already eating. But somehow, it was weird. Kim Dokja could see Yoo Joonghyuk eating the well barbequed meat from the corner of his eyes. And from the other eye, he could see Lee Seolhwa eat more meat while conversing with Yoo Sangah across her.

Yes, that’s right.

Kim Dokja was sitting directly in between Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa.

How did it end up like this? Kim Dokja sighed, the feeling of exhaustion climbing up his leg.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk considered.

‘Fire Hell Barbeque Unlimited’ was only a few minutes away. Although Kim Dokja’s threatening call didn’t mean much and was probably just a passing thought to him, Yoo Joonghyuk still felt his heart jump when he saw the caller ID. His jaw tightened with anger and embarrassment at his own emotions. Blood rushed through his veins and reached his ears. He breathed.

Kim Dokja.

Kim Dokja.

Kim Dokja.

“Yoo Joonghyuk?” Lee Seolhwa tried and he quickly turned back to her.

They had the same class today and were just discussing their notes together when Kim Dokja had called. Class today had gone well, but he had to clear the little details with Lee Seolhwa. He didn’t realize it was already lunchtime. It must have been because he couldn’t concentrate. His mind was still stuck at the second conversation he had with Mia. After Kim Dokja’s suggestion, he had called her.

The required conversation had somewhat not taken off after Yoo Mia had interrupted him within the first two minutes to talk about how she had ‘BIG NEWS’.

The ‘BIG NEWS’ had Yoo Joonghyuk worried. Mia was going on a school trip day after tomorrow.

‘Nebula Eden Amusement Park’ was a very popular tourist attraction near Yoo Mia’s school. On a Sunday, the place would probably be filled with people. Yoo Mia was only in the first year of middle school; he didn’t understand why this school would take literal children to such a crowded place.

The school dorms were okay because Yoo Joonghyuk had thoroughly inspected it. An amusement park was different. But Mia had begged, said she would stick to her buddies and listen to the attending teacher very carefully. Yoo Joonghyuk was a weak man.

And so he had signed the online consent form.

Worry was chewing away at the corner of his mind and using up his energy. He was hungry. He decided to entertain Kim Dokja’s bullshit this one time.

Yoo Joonghyuk abruptly focused at the person in front of him. Lee Seolhwa looked back at him in vague confusion. Kim Dokja had told him to bring another person. “Would you like to have barbeque for lunch with a few people right now?”

The answer was affirmative.

---

Kim Dokja almost choked on the dazzling and perfectly cooked barbequed meat.

“Sooooooo, are you guys dating?” Han Sooyoung asked, smiling hard, as if to hold back her laughter. The targeted people, Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa paused awkwardly. The replies were clear, calm and definite.

“No.”

“We’re friends.” Lee Seolhwa chose. Both the just-friends glanced towards the person in the middle simultaneously, with different intentions in mind. Kim Dokja flinched. This seating arrangement sucked.

Han Sooyoung and he were sitting at a circular table earlier but then they realized that the table was too small and so had to shift to one of the bigger tables.

A long rectangular wooden table with a barbeque grill in the center. Kim Dokja ate slowly in between his roommate and Lee Seolhwa, on one side of the table. On the other side, the actual couple switched between grilling and eating the meat. Sangah sat at the head of the table, politely shoving the barbeque down her throat while Han Sooyoung sat at the other head, having already eaten about five plates of meat.

Light chatter continued, general questions were thrown around. They had already grilled through about twenty plates of meat and yet the waitress came back with another round of meat. 15 kilograms of meat was a lot more than expected. Still, it was welcome, they had the best players in the game after all.

Yoo Sangah conversed lightly, unlike the heavy amount of meat on her plate, disappearing as fast as it had appeared.

Kim Dokja picked at his food, completely distracted by the conversations. He didn’t really have that great of an appetite. He felt annoyed by the stare directed at the side of his head. Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be ready to kill him with the intensity.

Kim Dokja turned to face him but was surprised to see the depth in his eyes. He waited. And then the conversations bled away, only Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes stayed fixed with his. A weird emotion rose in his chest and he arbitrarily decided it to be a glitch in matrix. He didn’t want to look away, didn’t want to lose whatever this was.

Suddenly, Han Sooyoung coughed and Kim Dokja looked away.

Feeling the stare still on him, he shoved Yoo Joonghyuk’s leg with his foot under the table. Yoo Joonghyuk blinked and then looked away to eat more barbeque.

Kim Dokja’s phone rang with a notification. He opened it.

HSY: stop eyefucking your roommate now that ive confirmed he’s not a thing with Lee Seolhwa

HSY: ur welcome btw

Looking up, he rolled his eyes at Han Sooyoung and received a middle finger with a smile as a response. He ate the little meat on his plate, finishing it. Before he could reach for more off the grill, Lee Hyunsung got up.

“Dokja-ssi, um, you don’t look so well today…” He commented, putting meat onto Kim Dokja’s plate.

“Hm, yeah. Extra pale.” Jung Heewon said and then snorted, “Not that you weren’t already.” Still, she looked concerned. Guilty that she had not noticed faster.

“Are you…” Yoo Sangah started, looking at Kim Dokja’s dark circles, “Sleeping well?”

Kim Dokja stiffened. And yet, almost naturally, he replied, “I’m fine.” A smile on his face.

No need to worry everyone. They were having such a good time today, this would ruin the mood. And he wasn’t actually diagnosed with insomnia anyway, it wasn’t a big deal.

He stood up, unable to understand why the others looked so betrayed, “I’m going to the washroom.”

A mumbled ‘this rat bastard’ was missed by Kim Dokja as he quickly shuffled off, getting the directions to the washroom from the waitress. Once inside, he stood idle at the sink, not knowing what to do.

I’ll just go back in five minutes, he stared at himself in the mirror.

Jung Heewon was right, he was paler than a vampire. His eyes were with a hint of red, looking emphatically depressing due to his dark circles. He whispered stupid excuses which even he himself couldn’t believe and then frowned.

Involuntarily, he was reminded of the night with Yoo Joonghyuk.

It had been the best sleep he had gotten in weeks. Nine hours, and he had woken up lazy yet comparatively clear headed. But the next night was the worst. Having to go back to barely two hours of sleep was a bit harsh. He had thought of sleeping next to Yoo Joonghyuk again. It would’ve brought back his health...

Kim Dokja shuddered. As if that would ever happen again.

Abruptly, the washroom door creaked open and then dramatically shut.

Kim Dokja composed himself with a smile, “I didn’t realize that you would have such a small bladder.” He pulled out a handkerchief and pretended to dry his hands.

“Kim Dokja.” The other was grim, ready to kill.

“The normal range of urine volume is 800 to 2000 milliliters per day, are you in the clear?” Kim Dokja added, but then regretted when he realized he might be murdered.

Yoo Joonghyuk stepped forward; his expression changing to worry when he noticed the details of Kim Dokja’s face under the stark light of the washroom. Kim Dokja stepped back, cornered. His back met the edge of the sink so he froze. There was only so much space in the washroom of a restaurant. The light glared but it failed to stop the mood from shifting.

“Although the washroom doesn’t have any cameras, it’ll be really suspicious if you leave with a corpse. Circumstantial evidence.”

“Why don’t you tell your friends?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you just tell your friends that you can’t sleep?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked.

“I don’t want to worry them.”

“Kim Dokja.” He stood his ground, “They will know.”

“I’ll fix it before they know.”

“It shouldn’t matter if they know, they’ll help you too.”

“But they’ll make a big deal out of it,” Kim Dokja was getting riled up.

“They’ll help.”

“They’ll worry!” It was almost a shout, the shared space was heating up.

A pause.

“They’ll worry even more if you keep telling them that you’re fine.”

Kim Dokja didn’t know why he was being so stubborn. Yoo Joonghyuk was right. He worried them either way. He didn’t know why it was so hard to rely on someone else.

“Still.” Kim Dokja held on to his previous words and the anger bubbled up again.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, “…Okay, how will you fix it then?”

“By–” sleeping with you.

No, Kim Dokja stopped, as if.  For some reason he felt hurt.

Another pause.

“Sleep with me.” Yoo Joonghyuk said it. It was just a whisper but the two were close enough for it to be a scream. Tension echoed off the walls.

“What?” Kim Dokja froze, his heart thundering. Red reached down enough to even touch his collarbones. His heartbeat filled the shocked silence between them.

And then, Yoo Joonghyuk reached out. His fingers curled around Kim Dokja’s cheeks, thumbs settling right under his eyes, light, barely even touching him, “You weren’t this pale the next day. You slept well that night, didn’t you?”

It was not a question. Yoo Joonghyuk knew that Kim Dokja slept well that night.

Kim Dokja spoke fast, quick to change the tone of the conversation, “Is this an attempt to make me put down my guard so you can kill me off when I’m properly asleep?”

Suddenly, Kim Dokja’s phone dinged multiple times, immediately drenching the two in psychological cold water. A final ding after a few seconds really stopped the mood.

Yoo Joonghyuk backed off, annoyed and then after a second of hesistation left the washroom entirely.

HSY: did you die in there?

HSY: crazy bastard has been gone for a while too

HSY: ooooooh are you exchanging SALIVA??????

HSY: sry didnt mean to cockblock

HSY: Oh HE’S out?

HSY: come back before Sangah eats everything

HSY: we got you a surprise even

What? Kim Dokja sighed.

After calming himself down from whatever that was with Yoo Joonghyuk, he reappeared at the barbeque table. The party had downed almost everything by now and there sat the last plate of barbeque, spared for him… along with a lot of lettuce??????

“According to my calculations, and Sangah’s big brain energy, you can’t sleep.” Han Sooyoung declared.

Kim Dokja flinched. They had figured it out already.

“You should have just told us man, Sangah was going to kill someone.” Jung Heewon drank some water and then commanded Kim Dokja to sit.

“Seolhwa-ssi knew immediately,” Lee Hyunsung started literally feeding him the meat, switching to the lettuce after a bit, “She’s the best med student.”

“It’s green and leafy, makes sense.” Jung Heewon ate some lettuce too.

“Exactly.” Han Sooyoung replied.

Kim Dokja sighed, and everyone turned back to him.

 Am I that predictable? He thought looking over to Yoo Joonghyuk momentarily. Maybe, this is ok. He hesistated but then smiled.

“You know you’re not off the hook yet, right?” Han Sooyoung threatened, “Step one is fixing you, step two is beating the shit out of you.”

Kim Dokja smiled even harder.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk needed an accomplice.

Computer and notebooks aligned neatly in front of him sat abandoned as he maintained a gaze on his roommate. Kim Dokja shuffled in discomfort, and Yoo Joonghyuk counted Kim Dokja’s two hours of sleep from the ticking of his Hello Kitty clock. It was six in the morning.

Yoo Joonghyuk remembered his own words in the washroom of restaurant and his face darkened. Kim Dokja had probably taken it as a joke. Fool, he sighed.

He looked back at his own notebook, words sketched out over the pages with little external notes added by Lee Seolhwa, He flipped over to the last page, a big smiley face etched over math calculations. His heart felt a little warmer. Mia had done that.

Speaking of Mia, his face went rigid again, he needed an accomplice.

Amusement parks are dangerous. Mia was going to an amusement park in less than four hours. His computer screen glared a big blue Sunday when he opened the calendar and he made quick decisions.

Amusement parks are dangerous. BUT he himself could monitor the danger.

Yes, that’s right. Yoo Joonghyuk was going to the amusement park today. (Definitely not for any ‘stalking his little sister’ purposes, DUH, and obviously you could tell that he was going there to have fun, with a friend and all. A normal, casual, recreation activity to do.)

Hence, he was going to need an accomplice.

Kim Dokja stirred on his bed again before eventually just sitting up. He stretched out, his T-shirt riding up, a sliver of pale skin showing. Yoo Joonghyuk looked up at his face instead. Bad idea; Kim Dokja had bitten his lips from frustration and they were tinted red with cuts, his hair was not the usual straight down bangs either, sticking out in multiple places, and sticking to his forehead with sweat. He looked… inappropriate.

Yoo Joonghyuk turned back to his screen and coughed, red climbing up his neck.

---

Fifteen minutes later, Kim Dokja ate cereal directly from the box as Yoo Joonghyuk spoke. His mind had already played the same tape of Yoo Joonghyuk’s ‘sleep with me’ at least a hundred times last night. Gravity felt heavier than usual. But still, his ears perked up when money was mentioned. Just the sound of free stuff was enough to make him happier.

“Come with me.”

Kim Dokja considered. A trip to the amusement park would be meaningless if Yoo Joonghyuk had not offered to pay. The rusty cogs in Kim Dokja head started spinning. It was weird, almost sounding like a date but Kim Dokja knew better. Although Yoo Joonghyuk refused to elaborate, Kim Dokja assumed it had to do something with the ‘Sword Fight Play’ they were doing at ‘Nebula Eden Amusement Park’. It was very famous, to the point that even Kim Dokja had heard about it more than once.

Free, this word rang in Kim Dokja’s tired mind. He stuffed the steel spoon back into the box of cereal and shrugged, “Okay.”

---

Kim Dokja was prepared.

He mentally recalled every iota of acting information he knew. Someone had once told him that reading webnovels would never help him in real life and that it was useless. Well now, he could proudly tell that someone to go fuck themselves.

Reading all 669 chapters of ‘I, a renowned Hallyu actor, transmigrated to a magical world and have to act as the wife of Satan himself to survive’ was the best decision of his life.

“Yes, we are a couple.” Kim Dokja smiled widely, weaving his fingers with Yoo Joonghyuk’s. No amount of awkward recollections of yesterday’s offers (sleep with me), could stop Kim Dokja now. He felt kind of out of it anyway. The happy-stupid phase had started. He was determined. Yoo Joonghyuk accepted it pretty easily, probably just wanting to get into the place faster. The amusement park worker, her nametag reading Uriel, nodded solemnly, knowing that her gaydar was on point.

“Here you are.” She smiled and passed them the ticket bands, accepting the money that Yoo Joonghyuk handed to her, minus the ‘50% couple discount’. It was very generous.

Although Kim Dokja was not paying, he firmly believed in the religion of discounts.

Airheaded, he tugged Yoo Joonghyuk along, determined to make the most of the free trip. Behind him Yoo Joonghyuk grunted in surprise. After covering some distance, Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly stopped.

“Hey, let’s go find a map.” Kim Dokja pulled on Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand but he wouldn’t budge.

Huh.

Kim Dokja followed his gaze to see a herd of middle schoolers all standing around while an adult, probably the teacher, called out their names.

Oh, wait a second.

Kim Dokja almost burst out in laughter, “Aren’t you a little too over protective?”

To think that a busy college student would use his Sunday to trail behind his middle schooler sister to make sure of her safety even though she was with an entire group of students and teachers…

“None of your business.” Yoo Joonghyuk glared at him, but Kim Dokja could swear he was embarrassed.

“You brought me here.” Kim Dokja laughed, “You could have told me that we’re here to spy on your sister.”

“We’re getting rid of potential threats.”

“Okay, geez.” Kim Dokja pulled him along, “We have to stay out of sight at least.” And then the two of them waited for the students to start moving behind a random mascot statue.

“You know… middle schoolers are more responsible than you think.” Kim Dokja tried. The two of them were leaning towards the angel statue, Kim Dokja pretending to take a selfie of them, “Smile.”

Yoo Joonghyuk frowned at the camera and Kim Dokja took the photo anyway.

“I trust her, I don’t trust the world.”

“Your trust should include her being able to take care of herself.”

“She is a child.”

Kim Dokja sighed and discreetly turned back to see the children. When they finally started to split into smaller groups of five, Yoo Joonghyuk was quick to spot his sister and then they started to follow. Somehow, two of the others seemed familiar to Kim Dokja but they were too far away for him to actually recognize.

In true montage fashion, they stayed a proper distance away while still keeping up as time moved forward. A couple boring children rides and stupid debates later, they finally found a problem.

A group of men were smoking in the corner of the street. The children were going to a ride that was nearby that street and would need to cross them. Luckily they went off to the washrooms first. Yoo Joonghyuk moved to destroy the men and Kim Dokja silently followed.

The three men were crouched down, wearing leather jackets and chains. They looked to be the age of the college students. Yoo Joonghyuk stopped threateningly, right in front of them. Kim Dokja coughed even though he was standing quite a distance behind Yoo Joonghyuk; the smoke was incredible.

“Fuck off.” One of the three said as the other two laughed. Kim Dokja forced a smile off of his face from the sheer audacity.

“I’ll–”

“Report you!” Kim Dokja hurried; it was not a good idea to threaten death to people. Especially if they didn't want to get kicked out before they accomplished their mission. Yoo Joonghyuk turned back to glare at him.

The men laughed obnoxiously. The obvious leader of them stood up and the other two followed, “Report me? To whom?”

“Just go smoke in the smoking area, dude.” Kim Dokja held back a rabid Yoo Joonghyuk who was ready to bite, “This place is filling up with smoke.”

The leader smirked, “What are you gonna do about it?” Kim Dokja stumbled as the leader shoved him back, “Are you going to call your mommy?” Again, he shoved the other.

Yoo Joonghyuk’s face darkened more than Kim Dokja thought was possible. In an effort of damage control, he smiled his customer service smile, really gripping onto Yoo Joonghyuk’s wrist. It only made it worse.

Yoo Joonghyuk grabbed the collar of the leader, muscles flexing as the other was easily lifted up. It seems, dangling in air while desperately coughing for air really cleared the nicotine high of cigarettes. The leader was quick to beg for forgiveness as his lackeys stood still in fear.

Kim Dokja sighed, looking around to see if there were any witnesses. He didn’t want to start anything incriminating with some random people who would be thrown out by security anyway. It was a quieter area but the rest of the amusement park had been busy, hence why the security hadn’t caught these thugs yet. Right when he was going to relax and figure out the best way to get rid of three dead bodies he noticed a blue uniformed person heading their way. Security.

He grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s free hand in a panic, making him drop the leader who landed with a thud on the ground.

“HEY!” The security guard noticed the commotion and was rushing over.

No time to get in trouble, Kim Dokja thought before running, his hands joined with Yoo Joonghyuk’s.

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja had involuntarily maintained a grip on Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand.

“Can I offer you some cotton candy?” The employee in front of them asked after rolling her eyes with a bored attitude, blowing on her nails. All the customers had been stolen away by the competitor stall and she seemed to not care. Yoo Joonghyuk answered it with a ‘no’ as Kim Dokja heaved in exhaustion, leaning onto the side which was supported by the building structure.

After running away from the security guard, the two found themselves at a cotton candy stall. Pastel pink streamers tickled Kim Dokja’s head as he panted, out of breath from the impromptu exercise. Yoo Joonghyuk was much better, not even breaking a sweat. Kim Dokja frowned, unsatisfied at the other’s calm disposition.

“Do you want any cotton candy shitheads?” Kim Dokja looked up, thinking that the employee had asked them again. Instead, he realized that she was talking to the two children who had somehow arrived next to them without him realizing. Four disgusted faces looked at the employee, two children, two adult. Obviously, this employee didn’t want to be here.

After a peeved ‘no’ from the children, one of them, the girl, looked at Kim Dokja and her eyes went wide, “AJUSSHI?”

Kim Dokja blinked in surprise. “Yoosung-ah?”

The boy next to her who Kim Dokja recognized as Lee Gilyoung was equally surprised, “HYUNG!”

Kim Dokja connected the dots and vaguely looked at his roommate. Yoo Mia was in the same middle school as the children he knew. Probably the same group as well, Kim Dokja recalled the faces he had thought to have known earlier. The world is quite small, huh?

Quickly, Shin Yoosung’s attention shifted to the man next to her Ajusshi and she squinted in suspicion. Lee Gilyoung’s similar gaze travelled downwards while Yoo Joonghyuk glared at the two. Neither the suspicions nor the glares were noticed by Kim Dokja who was trying to collect himself.

“Why is Ahjusshi holding your hand? Are you two IN LOVE?” Shin Yoosung interrogated, emphasizing the end a bit too much.

 Kim Dokja flinched, instantly taking his hand away, as if burned by a fire. Too late, a dozen heads from the opposing competitor cotton candy stall turned to stare, cowering off only after seeing Yoo Joonghyuk’s scowl. Kim Dokja coughed in embarrassment. His face turned red, still feeling Yoo Joonghyuk’s warmth lingering in his fingertips. Suddenly, Yoo Joonghyuk’s presence felt more real.

“No way!” Lee Gilyoung declared immediately, “Hyung is too good for this bastard!”

Kim Dokja blinked; Yoo Joonghyuk frowned.

“How did you decide that he’s a bastard?” Shin Yoosung fired back.

“I just know.”

Kim Dokja almost laughed; Yoo Joonghyuk definitely glowered.

Now, Kim Dokja wouldn’t want to influence the kids’ opinion on Yoo Joonghyuk’s bastardry but the sharp pain he felt from the stare directed at the side of his head made him consider. Before he could say anything though, an irritated voice called out, “If y’all are not gonna buy anything then fuck off, no one’s coming here because of you.”

Once again four heads turned to the employee.

“No one was here to begin with,”

“Have you considered that maybe you don’t have any customers because you’re rude–”

“We’ll leave but ‘fuck off’ is a bit–”

“Call your manager–”

---

“Are you guys here alone?” Yes, this was a stupid question to ask but Kim Dokja wanted to feign ignorance about the whole middle school stalking situation. Lee Gilyoung started swinging his legs under the table as Shin Yoosung bit off a huge chunk of cotton candy. In the end, the four of them went over to the competitor stall because the kids still wanted cotton candy. Sitting on a square park table, the four looked like a family on vacation.

Brief conversations had been exchanged between the four in the little time they were taking to eat cotton candy. At Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung’s approval of Yoo Joonghyuk being Kim Dokja’s roommate, Yoo Joonghyuk had seemingly relaxed just a little.

“No, we’re here on a school trip. Jinho, Hana and Mia–” Kim Dokja subtly looked at Yoo Joonghyuk from the corner of his eye, “–our buddies, went to the ‘Road to Heaven X100’.” The ride near the smokers.

“Don’t you have to stay with your buddies all the time?” Tensing up again, Yoo Joonghyuk asked with a poker face. The buddy system was supposed to work like that. Kim Dokja winced, although he could understand the casual rule breaking of kids, Yoo Joonghyuk would not like that.

“Yes, but like, Mia said to get the cotton candy if we’re so hungry.” Lee Gilyoung revealed.

Shin Yoosung looked guiltily, “They’ll be here pretty soon, so it’s fine.” She turned to Gilyoung for assurance.

Lee Gilyoung shrugged at her and turned back to the college students, “They can take care of themselves just like we can. It’s not like we’re five. In fact, Jinho’s mom called the teacher five times already, it’s a bit excessive.”

Abruptly, Yoo Joonghyuk got up, walking away a little distance to a trash can to throw away the stick of his cotton candy.

“Don’t worry about it,” Kim Dokja consoled the kids with a refreshing smile on his face, finishing off his own cotton candy, “We’ll get out of your hair so have fun, ok?”

“But…” Shin Yoosung looked down unhappily.

“…Ok.” Lee Gilyoung sulkily accepted. It was already getting a little weird for a grown up man to sit next to obvious middle schoolers in their uniforms and perspective Lee Gilyoung noticed it.

Kim Dokja patted Shin Yoosung’s head in consolation, “I’ll see you later maybe, at the store."

From the corner of his eye he saw the movement of three kids, all coming that way. Recognizing them as the children’s buddies, he finished his goodbyes and quickly backed off, pacing over to Yoo Joonghyuk.

“Hey!” Kim Dokja whisper-yelled, pulling Yoo Joonghyuk behind a pillar. Yoo Joonghyuk glared at him but there was no fire. Oh god, Kim Dokja realized, he’s sulking.

“Are you–” Kim Dokja quickly shut up when he realized that the entire buddy team was heading towards them. The pillar was not enough cover so Kim Dokja had to move fast. Yoo Joonghyuk looked at Kim Dokja in surprise as he yanked him away, rushing to get to a corner.

God must have not existed considering two and a half minutes of speed walking later Kim Dokja was pressed up against Yoo Joonghyuk as they stood face to face in the thin gap between two buildings. Kim Dokja flushed, not knowing where to look.

Yoo Joonghyuk was undeniably gorgeous, a fucking painting to be hung in the museums of fine art. Closer still, Kim Dokja could count the number of people who had fallen in love with him written on his blemish-less forehead. His dark eyes refused to meet and Kim Dokja could have sworn there was a star in there somewhere. Perfect. Kim Dokja panted as quietly as possible, looking over to the light where, in the distance, he could hear the voices of the kids.

Suddenly, Yoo Joonghyuk shifted against Kim Dokja, breathing harshly. Oh so, now, he’s tired, Kim Dokja felt a surge of embarrassed anger at the person taking up his space. Before he could whisper-yell anything, Yoo Joonghyuk put his head down on Kim Dokja’s shoulder. Kim Dokja blushed the same color as wine.

“Kim Dokja,” The words tickled on his neck and sent a shiver down his spine, Kim Dokja breathed, “You were right.”

“Obviously,” Kim Dokja spoke back, his head was already swimming in the panic of having Yoo Joonghyuk so close to him. The ultimate defense mechanism whirred up, fake-confidence.

“Mia will be fine.” Yoo Joonghyuk was trying to convince himself.

“Of course. She’s your sister, so she must be smart like you.” Kim Dokja assured, feeling kind of proud of the idiot who was willing to change what was probably a defense he had grown up with, for his sister.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, and Kim Dokja felt a fire start in his heart. His heart started beating faster but this time there was something in there else in there. An emotion Kim Dokja didn’t know burned down the gates of Kim Dokja’s heart and demanded to talk to the manager. What the fuck.

“…That ride?....” Voices distracted the red Kim Dokja who listened in fear for the kids’ footsteps. If they were found, it would be so embarrassing, Kim Dokja internally prayed.

The footsteps suddenly stopped and so did Kim Dokja’s heart.

“Wait, actually lets go to the ride way over there. C’mon, turn around, shoo!” Perspective Lee Gilyoung to the rescue.

Kim Dokja thanked god, and wondered if there was a way to adopt a child who already had a family.

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja was probably just hungry.

Yes, that’s it, he decided as he strolled on forward towards the next rollercoaster on his mental itinerary. Some feeling rested in the pit of his stomach. Hunger, definitely. After awkwardly dislodging themselves from the thin gap between the buildings, Yoo Joonghyuk had suddenly shoved Kim Dokja ahead refusing to explain why he needed to walk a few paces behind Kim Dokja. Even the icy mood couldn’t chill Kim Dokja’s heart though, the same way it couldn’t stop the red tinting of Yoo Joonghyuk’s ears.

The sun was a bit across the halfway point, it was lunchtime. Kim Dokja stared at the ice cream store in the direction they were walking in. Ice cream to fill the emptiness in his stomach, he considered. A short ice cream break would be okay under the assumption that now that they were no longer following Yoo Joonghyuk child version, they could still spend the rest of the day in the amusement park.

It would be a waste of money to leave now.

Kim Dokja peered over his shoulder to see if Yoo Joonghyuk was actually following. “Hey, let’s have ice cream.” Although it was a statement, he had actually wanted to know if the other was really okay with not stalking his sister anymore.

Yoo Joonghyuk curtly glared but still graced Kim Dokja with the slightest nod.

Kim Dokja approved, slowing down discreetly so that he could be next to Yoo Joonghyuk. So he can pay for us, he justified.

Apparently Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t need to pay.

“You are a couple, right? We have the ‘FREE COUPLE ICE CREAM CHALLENGE’ going on right now.” The excited vendor defined, “If you can feed each other the ice cream in less than ten minutes combined, the ice cream will be free! Any choice of flavor.”

“No.” Yoo Joonghyuk said immediately. (The ice cream would probably melt off simply from the amount of heat his ears were radiating.)

“You… are not a couple?” The previously happy employee, Gabriel, questioned suspiciously.

Kim Dokja lightly kicked Yoo Joonghyuk’s leg, “Yes, we are a couple. My love is just a bit shy.”

Gabriel blushed along with the object of Kim Dokja’s affection.

“Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja glared at Yoo Joonghyuk with a happy smile, so as to say, if they find out we are not a couple, they’re gonna kick us out, dumbass. Yoo Joonghyuk glared back with an equally indecipherable expression, so as to say, how will he know that we entered this place pretending to be a couple anyway, fool. Kim Dokja finally smiled brighter, (pinching Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand) with a look that said, FUCK YOU, IT’S FREE FOOD.

The telepathic argument was finally over with Kim Dokja reigning victorious.

“What all flavors do you have?”

---

“Okay so, your time… starts NOW!”

Kim Dokja started shoving ice cream down Yoo Joonghyuk’s throat just according to game plan. Yoo Joonghyuk was going to eat his ‘cookies and cream’ ice cream first after which Kim Dokja could eat his ‘chocolate’ one. The tiny plastic spoon suffered as Yoo Joonghyuk bit down on it, coughing, “–Dokja, slowly.”

“Oh, okay, sorry.” Kim Dokja frowned, holding the spoon up in front of his own face to blow on it.

Gabriel sucked in a breath, standing next to their table, watching the time with a big smile on his face.

Kim Dokja carefully fed Yoo Joonghyuk, not wanting for him to choke in case that took up their time. Yoo Joonghyuk nodded in approval. Three minutes later, he was done eating.

Yoo Joonghyuk took the chocolate ice cream, wielding the spoon as a sword. He was somehow into the challenge even more than Kim Dokja was. The initial embarrassment had been washed away. A few spoonfuls of ice cream later, Kim Dokja waited, looking over at Gabriel to ask for the time.

“Two minutes left.” Kim Dokja panicked, a lot of his ice cream was still left. He looked over at Yoo Joonghyuk to convey the very important message, HURRY THE FUCK UP.

Yoo Joonghyuk calmly followed, feeding Kim Dokja faster and faster. Finally, the last spoonful was here. Yoo Joonghyuk maneuvered the spoon around the bowl and with more ice cream on the spoon than Kim Dokja thought possible, he fed Kim Dokja. The other swallowed, a drop of ice cream stained at the corner of his lips. Before noticing, Yoo Joonghyuk had already reached out. He rubbed off the ice cream and licked it off of his finger.

PAUSE.

The two stared at each other in surprise.

“You’ve won with a time of nine minutes and forty eight seconds!” A blushing Gabriel congratulated the equally blushing couple.

---

Kim Dokja time skipped in an effort to forget about the ice cream incident. A temporary lapse of judgement made by his sleep deprived half dead brain cells had caused that. Moreover, it was Yoo Joonghyuk’s fault anyway.

And yet, the ultimate mistake trophy would have been received by him now.

The beautifully colored shimmering lights flicked on everywhere, like stars far down below. The sun had almost disappeared below the horizon but the subtle peek of it left an orange glow. Shrieks from the other rides along with laughter rang in Kim Dokja’s ears as the bird’s eye view of the sight before him shiftly slowly. Yes, they were on the Ferris Wheel.

Yoo Joonghyuk coughed, (probably from the previous ice cream mishap,) ticking off items from a map that they had picked up. He was across Kim Dokja in a one person seat identical to the one Kim Dokja was seating on. The Ferris wheel was generally a couple’s ride, made to kiss in. Kim Dokja looked down in disgust at the nearest pod where two people were making out. Nonetheless, they needed to ride every single ride in the park for the ultimate profit.

“We’re done with all of the rides with this.” Kim Dokja yawned, barely conscious from the amount of rides they had gone to.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked up with a piercing gaze, “Don’t fall asleep.”

“Well that’s rude, I’ve been trying to sleep since five days ago.”

“I won’t carry you again.”

“Again?”

Oh, right, the time I passed out, Kim Dokja realized, the general embarrassment offset by fatigue, “Well, it’s okay to not be an upstanding citizen sometimes; you can just leave me with the nearest security guard.” He shrugged. It was more of the truth rather than just a joke; he would be fine even if Yoo Joonghyuk left him.

“Kim Dokja.”

“What?” Kim Dokja leaned back on his seat, stretching.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, “I won’t leave you behind.”

Kim Dokja rigidly sat up properly, slightly shocked, and looked out of the window. Well, that was unexpected. A sudden overwhelming feeling came over him. Blushing, he tried to focus on the scenery surrounding them and noticed that they had almost reached the end.

The ride came to a slow stop as the pod below them opened and the shameless couple walked off. Slowly it started to move again.

“It’s over,” Kim Dokja tried to lighten the mood, “Once again, you missed the opportunity to ki– kill me.” He coughed, barely stopping himself from saying Kiss. It was because he was distracted after seeing the couple, not because of– whatever. A sudden embarrassed anger blazed in him.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS WRONG WITH HIS BRAIN CELLS?

“You were going to say ‘kiss’ weren’t you?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked with a blank look on his face and Kim Dokja started coughing violently.

“Cover your mouth.” Yoo Joonghyuk added, stepping out of the open pod and striding away.

“Wait–” Kim Dokja coughed more as he rushed forward following the other, “Just a second–” He barely dodged a pole in the way, in an effort to keep up with Yoo Joonghyuk when–

BAM!

Kim Dokja met a second pole and greeted the ground.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk always lost all of his brain cells when put near an absolute idiot by the name of Kim Dokja.

Not only had he wiped ice cream off Kim Dokja’s face and licked it, leaned onto Kim Dokja’s shoulder while stuck in between buildings and rode the cliché couple Ferris wheel, he had also proceeded to assume that Kim Dokja was going to say ‘Kiss’. Running away right after was probably the least embarrassing thing he had done today. Yoo Joonghyuk turned around at the sound of a loud BAM!

And now Kim Dokja was dead on the ground.

Honestly, what the fuck? Yoo Joonghyuk sighed.

Fifteen seconds later, Yoo Joonghyuk picked Kim Dokja’s corpse off the ground. Ignoring the pointed looks of bystanders, he sat the dead Kim Dokja onto a park bench at the side of the path. Kim Dokja’s head lolled back and hit the backrest of the bench.

“Ack!” Kim Dokja expressed gravely, wiping away the startled tears from his eyes. He rubbed the bright red patch on his forehead, his bangs awkwardly parted. “Well, that was embarrassing.”

Standing right in front of Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk looked around with the magic of his death stare and had the crowd running away for their lives. He looked at Kim Dokja again. Lifting the other’s face, Yoo Joonghyuk finally asked, “Are you okay?”

Kim Dokja smiled with his head tilted, “Of course.” And then he yawned.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, wondering why he had to go and fall for this dumbass. He checked around for any visible wounds other than the giant red mark on Kim Dokja’s forehead and decided the other was probably okay. Unconsciously, Yoo Joonghyuk reached out to flatten the strands of Kim Dokja’s hair. Soft locks slipped through his hands as he lightly shaped them down; Kim Dokja looked up through his eyelashes. Yoo Joonghyuk thought he might stop breathing.

Fuck.

Yoo Joonghyuk sharply inhaled and took a step back as a confused half conscious Kim Dokja stared at him.

Suddenly, a panting employee materialized next to them. “Are you okay sir?!” The security guard asked, having ran across the park to clear up the situation.

Yoo Joonghyuk turned to the security guard in annoyance (and gratitude because he didn’t know what else he would pull today) as his roommate stared off into the distance, still out of it.

When Kim Dokja realized the presence of a person next to Yoo Joonghyuk, he blinked until finally he had a bit more focus. Connecting the dots, he quickly got up, opening his mouth to reply but wincing instead. He sat back down again. Yoo Joonghyuk immediately spotted the actual injury– a possible sprained ankle. Before he could intervene though, Kim Dokja was already waving off the security guard.

“Ah, its fine, I’m fine. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Kim Dokja.”

“What?” The other said. “It’s literally nothing.”

The security guard looked between the two of them and decided to excuse himself, walking away. Yoo Joonghyuk glared at his roommate. Kim Dokja shrugged, “We’re going back now anyway.” Another yawn.

“Is your ankle okay?”

Kim Dokja flinched, “What makes you think it isn’t?”

“You just flinched.”

Kim Dokja flinched again and Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. It was Yoo Joonghyuk’s fault for assuming that a half conscious Kim Dokja was capable of holding a conversation. Both of them were very tired after the events of the day and now they were running on low energy.

“Ok then, let’s go back.”

---

Yoo Joonghyuk smells nice, Kim Dokja decided.

Putting the last of his energy into the hand which was around Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder, Kim Dokja yawned again. His ankle ached every time he put weight on it so he leaned onto Yoo Joonghyuk, watching as he fiddled with the lock of the dorm room until finally something clicked and the door slammed open. Trying to listen carefully to what an angry neighbour was yelling, Kim Dokja realized that he might not fall asleep even now.

The two stumbled into the room, Yoo Joonghyuk stabbing the wall with his long, sharp, pretty fingers to turn on the lights. It felt nice when he ran them through my hair, Kim Dokja’s brain supplied.

The half conscious Kim Dokja hopped forward on one leg, and having reached his destination, poured himself onto the bed.

“Kim Dokja.”

“No.” Kim Dokja whined, rolling over an entire round until the wall touched his back.

“Why are you on my bed?” Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, walking over and switching on the table lamp on Kim Dokja’s desk. Kim Dokja closed his eyes, trying to force sleep to take over. The exhaustion was there but the sleep was not.

“Kim Dokja.”

“No.”

“Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja heard the shuffling movement of the other, still refusing to open his eyes. Suddenly, he felt the familiar hands grab onto him and in return he grabbed onto the Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands in shock. The more Yoo Joonghyuk pulled, the more Kim Dokja let himself relax, forcing his weight onto the bed. Still half unconscious in his struggles, the aggravated Kim Dokja finally pulled Yoo Joonghyuk.

“I wanna sleep. Sleep next to me so I can sleep.” Kim Dokja thought, but actually said out loud.

With a grunt, Yoo Joonghyuk fell onto the bed next to Kim Dokja, having loosened his grip from shock.

“What?”

“You told me to sleep with you so now I am.” Kim Dokja whispered, “It’s your fault.”

Yoo Joonghyuk wide eyes met Kim Dokja's face and he said nothing. Kim Dokja smiled. This is great, he thought, taking Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand into his own. 

Sleep is great, he decided, Yoo Joonghyuk is great too.

The two laid quietly next to each other, Yoo Joonghyuk silent as the dark of the sky outside. The bed was small, and the heat was shared but Kim Dokja was too busy trying to tear his eyes away from Yoo Joonghyuk’s. He needed to close his eyes to sleep, yes, that was true. Kim Dokja closed his eyes squeezing the other’s hand. Yoo Joonghyuk squeezed back and then finally Kim Dokja felt it slowing down. Missing the harsh blush on Yoo Joonghyuk’s face, Kim Dokja finally faded away into sleep.

---

Chapter Text

 Kim Dokja regretted everything.

Sitting down silently on the stool behind the cash counter, Kim Dokja wondered if he should call Han Sooyoung. His slightly swollen foot ached as he applied ice to it. His manager was shocked to see him come in with a foot like that but work is work. He sighed in defeat.

Last night, he had slept with Yoo Joonghyuk. Next to him, Kim Dokja corrected himself, embarrassment covering his face.

In the morning, he woke up earlier than Yoo Joonghyuk, promptly taking the chance to slip out of the dorms and stumble off to his morning lecture. Kim Dokja flipped the page of the notebook sitting on the register; He was at a weird angle because he was sitting and everything sucked. Studying had once again become his number one priority (after the swollen foot). The scholarship wouldn’t save itself, Kim Dokja sighed. Trying to solve a stray question, he groaned in annoyance and scratched his head. And yet, only Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands came to mind.

Kim Dokja blushed.

Somehow, he found himself thinking of Yoo Joonghyuk a lot since last night.

It was that emotion again, begging to be acknowledged but Kim Dokja wouldn’t dare. There is no way I have feelings for–

The door jangled open so Kim Dokja reflexively stood up. Three familiar heads presented themselves.

“Are you the amazing Ahjusshi?” Yoo Mia scrutinized. The two others behind her exchanged glances, “You seem very… boring–”

“Mia!” Shin Yoosung cried out.

“Uh.” Kim Dokja did not expect that.

“Are you okay?” Lee Gilyoung took the chance to ask after he noticed the ice pack in Kim Dokja’s hand.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Kim Dokja hid the ice pack behind his back, and smiled. It was as if Lee Gilyoung could see right through his bullshit and Kim Dokja hands started sweating.

“…Anyways, I’m Yoo Mia and my oppa is cooler than you.” Yoo Mia declared, looking at her friends judgingly. Kim Dokja wondered if Yoo Joonghyuk knew how his sister introduced herself. It was kind of cute, two doting siblings.

“I’m Kim Dokja.”

---

Fifteen minutes later, the roasting session was finally over and the three kids disappeared off into an aisle to buy whatever they were here for.

“I bet Ahjusshi doesn’t have a girlfriend.” Yoo Mia’s voice travelled across the convenience store followed by a sound of disapproval from Shin Yoosung. Kim Dokja chuckled awkwardly, wondering why literal kids were so involved in his love life.

“His roommate is in love with him.” Lee Gilyoung said and Kim Dokja choked on thin air. It’s okay, he decided, sometimes, Gilyoung-ah’s magical sense can be wrong.

“Huh. Well, Ahjusshi just got lucky,” Yoo Mia scoffed, “My oppa has a really kind friend and I’m pretty sure they will get married.” Kim Dokja paused. An ugly feeling rose up in his chest and he felt suffocated, Yoo Joonghyuk was not dating Lee Seolhwa, but…

Whatever.

Kim Dokja tuned out of the kids’ conversation and concentrated on his work until eventually the kids came around and bought their things and left.

---

Kim Dokja pulled out his phone. The notifications were killing him. He was walking back to the dorm, having avoided Yoo Joonghyuk the whole day. He stepped over into the clearing area to see Biyoo for moral support.

HSY: check out the grp chat

HSY: ://///

HSY: Have you not made a move on your obvious crush yet??????

KDJ: Not my crush

HSY: but you know who im talking about

Kim Dokja groaned, this is bullshit. He was not willing to accept it. Opening the group chat, his screen almost froze from the number of messages that trickled down.

CIH: image deleted

U: Um.

ABFD: oh

SWK: I see

U: im pretty sure theyre just friends

ABFD: or he’s two timing the ugly dude

U: can u fuckin not @ABFD

U: istg

U: who is CIH anyway? Stop stalking YJH @CIH

Kim Dokja had an idea of what was going on.

KDJ: Cheon Inho deleted the image already

HSY: ohhh

HSY: fcking snake shit,,,, we beat him up and for what?

HSY: honestly

HSY: do you really wanna see the img?

KDJ: yea

KDJ: Im not actually with Yoo Joonghyuk so it doesn’t involve me

HSY: …ok

HSY: [img.jpg]

Oh.

The photo was of Yoo Joonghyuk facing Lee Seolhwa, an obvious blush on his face. There was barely any distance between them, Kim Dokja noticed, or maybe that was the angle of the photo. Lee Seolhwa’s face was not clearly visible in the photo but Kim Dokja could guess that she was probably just as in love as Yoo Joonghyuk.

Kim Dokja smiled at his correct prediction. He knew they were the perfect couple. A tug at the end of his pants made him look down at his daughter.

Biyoo, as if sensing the sadness of her father, hugged him until he calmed down.

---

Kim Dokja stood firmly in front of the dorm room.

He had decided to support Yoo Joonghyuk in his love for Lee Seolhwa. Although they said that they were friends, according to Yoo Joonghyuk’s very trusted sister, they wanted to be more. Friendship is the beginning of love, someone had once probably said. Kim Dokja ignored the annoying feeling in his chest. He chalked it off to being a symptom of sleep deprivation, (even though he slept great last night).

The plan was to ask Yoo Joonghyuk about Lee Seolhwa subtly, urging him to spill his secrets. Kim Dokja nodded with resolve.

He slammed open the door to stride in.

Yoo Joonghyuk immediately turned around; he was sitting in his desk, doing some work.

“Is your foot okay?”

Kim Dokja coughed, all his determination flew out the window, “…Yeah.”

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, motioning him to take a seat on his bed. The other obediently followed. Why does it feel like I got called to the principal’s office? Kim Dokja wiggled around awkwardly on his bed, waiting for his roommate to say something.

Before Kim Dokja could break the silence though, Yoo Joonghyuk crouched down in front of Kim Dokja and took his foot his hands. Kim Dokja sucked in his breath. Lightly tracing the redness of Kim Dokja’s slender ankle, Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. The swelling was almost gone but he was not satisfied.

“Why did you run away this morning?” Yoo Joonghyuk let go of Kim Dokja’s foot but did not stand. Looking up, he continued, “Your foot must have been bad then.”

“Um.” Kim Dokja flushed at the other’s actions, “I iced it later.”

“That’s–” Yoo Joonghyuk stopped and sighed again. He got up and sat down on his own bed, opposite to Kim Dokja’s.

“Did you sleep well?” Yoo Joonghyuk asked instead.

Flustered at the sudden change in topic, the other could only respond with a surprised sound, “Um, well, yeah–”

“I have a series of early morning lectures starting from tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

“Your movements in the middle of the night are annoying.”

“I see.”

“So,” Yoo Joonghyuk paused, “Just sleep next to me until your insomnia is fixed.” He hesitated before adding on, “I’m serious.”

Yoo Joonghyuk must have been an honor student for him to be able to sleep next to his roommate even though he had a crush on someone else. Does that make me a mistress of some form?  Kim Dokja thought, or I’m not a potential homewrecker because I’m not an option at all.

Well. Not that it mattered because KIM DOKJA WAS NOT IN LOVE WITH YOO JOONGHYUK.

“Okay,” Kim Dokja responded, angry at his stupid insomnia and angry at himself for saying yes even though he knew of Yoo Joonghyuk’s true love.

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja snuck around sneakily, wanting to meet Yoo Sangah without accidently getting distracted by a possible Yoo Joonghyuk. He had wanted to compare his class notes with someone and Yoo Sangah had offered.

After waking up and dodging Yoo Joonghyuk’s attempt at small talk, he had attended a lecture refreshed. Sleeping next to Yoo Joonghyuk was working, Kim Dokja sighed with meaning. Walking straight ahead to the cafeteria, a random person looking like a particular person caught his eye.

YOO JOONGHYUK?

Oh, wait, no. That’s the dude from chemistry class.

Kim Dokja mentally scolded himself for getting distracted. Suddenly it was as if Yoo Joonghyuk was in every corner, every crowd.

And along with him, Lee Seolhwa.

Kim Dokja paused.

“What are you doing?”

He was hearing Yoo Joonghyuk’s voice too although he was not particularly sleep deprived anymore. Kim Dokja must have lost his mind.

“Kim Dokja.” Very Déjà vu vibes.

Kim Dokja whipped around wide eyed as Yoo Joonghyuk stared him down. Quickly, Kim Dokja looked away, down the corridor and it seemed that the cafeteria could not be further. There was barely anyone in the corridor other than them and it amplified what sounded like his heartbeat.

“Are you going to eat at the cafeteria?”

“Yes,” Kim Dokja avoided the other’s gaze, “With Yoo Sangah.”

Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes darkened for a split second before returning to its usual depth.

“Here. I was going to meet with Mia and made too much.” Yoo Joonghyuk handed him a lunchbox. Kim Dokja’s eyes widened with shock.

“Shouldn’t you give this to Lee Seolhwa?” Kim Dokja couldn’t help but ask. Instantly, regret started choking him.

“What?”

Kim Dokja didn’t know if he should push but his mouth opened before he could think, “Um, she–”

“I’m giving it to you.” Yoo Joonghyuk demanded, a hint of anger in his features which Kim Dokja couldn’t exactly find a reason for. “Sandwiches.” Yoo Joonghyuk elaborated about the lunchbox, completely ignoring the mention of Lee Seolhwa entirely.

“Did you poison it?” Kim Dokja smiled widely after a pause, feigning ignorance of the stubborn feeling in his chest as Yoo Joonghyuk only sighed in response.

Five minutes later, Kim Dokja trudged along in silence with a lunchbox slotted between his hands.

---

Yoo Sangah didn’t question it even a solid two hours of work later.

The lunchbox sat ominously next to Kim Dokja’s notebook, almost a highlight point on the table, a weird black box.

Maybe it was not that weird, because lunchboxes are not weird, but it was ominous still.

Kim Dokja expressively closed his notebook as Yoo Sangah rounded up the random amount of stationary scattered on the cafeteria table.

“Would you like some?” Yoo Sangah asked generously pointing at the fries that she had brought. She glanced at the black lunchbox, knowing that for some reason the other was suspiciously conscious about it.

“It’s fine,” Kim Dokja stretched, happy that his work was finally over.

“You didn’t eat anything yet so I thought I’d ask.” Yoo Sangah shrugged with a smile, “Your skin looks brighter.”

“Oh,” Kim Dokja sat properly. Yoo Sangah’s phone chimed with a message, and then chimed another eight times.

“Must be Sooyoung.” The other commented.

Yoo Sangah was just about to check when suddenly she was interrupted by some loud voice.

“YOO JOONGHYUK BEAT SOMEONE UP!” Some kid standing on top of one of the cafeteria tables yelled.

“Seriously–”

“WHO!!!?–”

“Who cares–”

What?, Kim Dokja stared at the ecstatic kid standing on the table and suddenly his phone dinged too.

Opening his messages, he quickly realized what was going on. Yoo Joonghyuk had beaten up Cheon Inho. Because of the photo with Lee Seolhwa, he concluded. Going as far as to resort to violence, Yoo Joonghyuk must have been really in love with Lee Seolhwa.

Yoo Sangah got up, “Well, I’ve got to go,” She opened her phone to read the messages and observed Kim Dokja’s face, “See you later.”

Kim Dokja could only smile back in response.

---

Now sulking was not something someone uninvolved would do.

But Kim Dokja could not help the heavy frown on his face. Thank god no one comes here, he thought, staring out at the dull pond. Biyoo sat quietly next to him observing the black lunchbox in front of her. The grass was soft under Kim Dokja’s hands and the sky was a clear blue.

Yoo Joonghyuk had beaten up Cheon Inho on such a fine day.

Even Mia approves of her, Kim Dokja thought as he scooted nearer to the pond to look at himself in the water. No matter the wavy movement of his makeshift mirror, it was clear that he looked better than before. Sleep was great. And it was all thanks to Yoo Joonghyuk. Why was he being so irritated anyway? He had literally resolved to help Yoo Joonghyuk in this matter.

And, Kim Dokja stared at the black lunchbox; he gave me the extras of Mia’s lunch.

That was really kind.

Kim Dokja’s stomach rumbled so he finally picked up the lunchbox. Opening it to see inside, there was a thin compartment for cutlery but there was no cutlery. Instead, there was a note.

‘For Kim Dokja-

  No tomatoes.’

Blushing immensely, Kim Dokja realized that Yoo Joonghyuk had separately made sandwiches for him. It was not the extra stuff that was too much to fit in Yoo Mia’s lunchbox but instead individual, different, planned, arranged sandwiches for him, for Kim Dokja. Yoo Joonghyuk had somehow even found out that he didn’t like tomatoes.

Kim Dokja wanted Biyoo carefully biting onto the note and wobbling away to be the reason for the wide smile on his face but he knew. He could no longer deny it.

Oh fuck, Kim Dokja finally admitted, covering the bright flush of his face, I’m hopelessly in love with Yoo Joonghyuk.

---

EXTRA- HOW DID YOO JOONGHYUK KNOW THAT KIM DOKJA DOESN’T LIKE TOMATOES?

Earlier that week, a text conversation took place.

YJH: Does Kim Dokja have any allergies?

HSY: ???

HSY: did youo just unblock me to ask about Dokja???????????

HSY: LMAOOO SIMP

YJH: Answer my question.

HSY: no allergies

HSY: but

HSY: he doenst like tomatoes,,

HSY: are you gonna cook for him?????????

HSY: putting our differences aside id like to say,,,,

HSY: …don’t hurt him

HSY: but he’s gonna hurt himself first so idk why I even try

HSY: ig take care of him then

YJH: I will.

HSY: ah, yes, romance

HSY: ew

HSY: get a room     (!) did not send

HSY: fUCK      (!) did not send

HSY: blocked again i see     (!) did not send

HSY: annoying bitch     (!) did not send

HSY: bye to you too, stupid metaphorical wall     (!) did not send

---

Chapter Text

Contrary to popular opinion, Yoo Joonghyuk was not in love with Lee Seolhwa.

Sitting in a lecture hall, Yoo Joonghyuk pondered.

The picture taken by the random side character was simply a misunderstanding. Yoo Joonghyuk thought back to that moment in time when he was blushing next to Lee Seolhwa. He vaguely remembered talking about Kim Dokja accompanying him to the amusement park. The lecture hall started heating up from the red of his ears. (“Isn’t it getting hot in here?” A nearby student commented.)

And yet, the stupid bastard he was pining for reached a stupid conclusion. Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. The lecture hall turned cold from the ice of his glare. (“Wow, suddenly it became cold???” The nearby student commented once again.)

Yoo Joonghyuk’s attempts to woo Kim Dokja were not successful at all.

Moreover, Kim Dokja might like Yoo Sangah.

(“AHHHH! IT’S FREEZING!!! CLOSE THE WINDOWS!” The nearby student commented for the third time.)

Yesterday, Kim Dokja had returned to dorm and behaved really weirdly. As though he was thinking back to something and was embarrassed about it. Maybe he was thinking of Yoo Sangah and that was why he was blushing? Yoo Joonghyuk’s grip around his pen became stronger.

(The nearby student shivered furiously.)

Kim Dokja had then thanked Yoo Joonghyuk for the lunch after which he studied until eventually the two went to sleep next to each other. Almost like all his frustrations were forgotten, he had passed out within five minutes. Yoo Joonghyuk had dried blood on his knuckles from the encounter with Cheon Inho and yet, he woke up with his fingers intertwined with Kim Dokja’s.

(“WHAT THE FUCK? OPEN THE WINDOWS!!! I’M SUFFOCATING FROM THE HEAT!” The nearby student commented, no longer a believer of god.)

Finally, annoyed by the comments of the nearby student, Yoo Joonghyuk decided to pay attention to the lecturer. The temperature slowly started to return to normal.

---

“The emergency meeting is in session.”

“Literally why though, it’s the hell hour right now,” Han Sooyoung sighed in misery under the wrathful sun. Yoo Sangah shushed her while Jung Heewon laughed, enjoying Han Sooyoung’s suffering. Lee Hyunsung watched patiently.

“Its noon,” The meeting leader stated, putting her hands together, “Hell hour is like three in the morning.”

Han Sooyoung groaned, not even Yoo Sangah herself would stop Han Sooyoung from thrashing around like a vampire dying of the sun rays. Jung Heewon shoved Han Sooyoung.

“So, what’s the meeting for?” Lee Hyunsung asked.

“Dokja-ssi and Joonghyuk-ssi need to get together before I commit heinous acts of violence.” Yoo Sangah smiled, “It’s getting kind of annoying.”

“I suggest we lock them up in the warehouse.” Jung Heewon thoughtfully said.

“Wow, I agree.” Han Sooyoung said, “Did not think that would happen. The heat is killing my brain cells.” Jung Heewon rolled her eyes.

“No, we can’t make it too obvious that we’re involved.” Yoo Sangah continued, “Dokja-ssi will back into his shell again. I don’t think he wants to admit it even to himself.”

“Um, then, will it be okay to force him?” Lee Hyunsung asked, worried about hurting Kim Dokja.

“He’ll lose his chance, it’s not like Yoo Joonghyuk will wait forever for him to respond to one of his very obvious hints.”

The four scratched their heads.

“A party?” A fifth voice spoke out of nowhere. The four jumped. A pretty blonde girl continued to speak, “If they drink and dance, they’ll let their guards down. Maybe the alcohol will make them honest. And I know someone who’s always up for hosting a party.”

“Uh, who are you again?”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Uriel.”

---

It’s not like Kim Dokja was going to do something about.

He realized that he liked Yoo Joonghyuk and he realized that he was bitterly jealous of Lee Seolhwa but that did not mean he was going to act on his feelings. I’ll be taking it to the grave, Kim Dokja thought grimly. Getting rejected was not on his bucket list.

Yoo Joonghyuk was just a surprisingly kind bastard.

Nothing less expected of the protagonist.

Kim Dokja slowly edged over the dorm wondering if Yoo Joonghyuk was there or not.

On entering, he sighed in relief.

“What are you sighing for?”

Short-lived relief.

Yoo Joonghyuk walked in wearing a black leather jacket and Kim Dokja swooned. Immediately fake coughing and replacing his expression with a fake smile, he tried to maintain his calm.

“Did you know that there’s a forty per-cent mortality rate for moderate to severe hypothermia? You’ll be fine though…Since you’re wearing a–” Kim Dokja paused awkwardly, “–Jacket.”

“It’s fall.” Yoo Joonghyuk stared. Kim Dokja felt the tips of his ears turning red. What the fuck am I talking about?

“I’m going to a party.” Yoo Joonghyuk stated.

“What?”

“A party.”

“Oh.” OH. Yoo Joonghyuk did not seem to be the type to go to college parties. Kim Dokja wondered if he was invited by Lee Seolhwa. Then it would make sense.

“The jacket is not mine.”

“Sure.” Kim Dokja nodded.

“Are you–” Yoo Joonghyuk started but paused ineloquently, “Will you go to the party with–”

Kim Dokja’s phone rang with a demanding volume. Fumbling, Kim Dokja quickly answered.

“YOOOOOOOOOO! Ok so, there’s gonna be a party at our senior’s place, Dionysus? Have you heard of him?” Han Sooyoung’s voice pierced the receiver’s ear, “Anyways, you have to come.”

“What?” This doesn’t even matter, what was he gonna say? Kim Dokja thought, looking up at the person in front of him. Han Sooyoung really had the worst timing ever.

“I said, come to this party tonight or else. I’ll text you the address so figure it out!”

“Wait, but–”

Han Sooyoung hung up.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him expectantly but he did not finish his previous sentence, “Are you going to the party too?”

“Uh, yeah!” Yes because you asked, Kim Dokja internally winced. Parties were not his thing but if Yoo Joonghyuk was going then...

Liking someone was not easy.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk offered to take Kim Dokja to the party.

Han Sooyoung’s assumption was correct. Dionysus was a name Kim Dokja had heard a lot, in hyped voices and friendly social circles, well known and well liked. The party was going to have a lot of people. He was almost uncertain, but it was too late to back off now.

What the fuck do you even wear to a party?

Kim Dokja stared at his blank white shirt and jeans. As much as he could care, he didn’t. Whatever.

Kim Dokja quickly fixed his hair in front of the bathroom mirror, embarrassed by the fact that Yoo Joonghyuk was probably standing outside the door. Grabbing his phone, he stepped outside in a rush.

“Ok, let’s go.”

---

After walking through the open gate of the tallest fence Kim Dokja had ever seen, he saw a house equally magnificent. A modern structure with asymmetrical design, the blinding blue of a swimming pool stood out. Bright lights on the outside, a peak of dimmer ones inside, he hesitated as the music blared out.

On the way, Yoo Joonghyuk had argued about Kim Dokja’s lack of a wearable jacket in this weather but Kim Dokja defeated him with Yoo Joonghyuk’s own previous statement, ‘It’s fall’. The previously unconquerable king lost a debate. Kim Dokja stood smug.

“It’s quite big.” Yoo Joonghyuk commented, looking at the house.

Kim Dokja tried to stop himself but couldn’t contain it, a huge grin on his face, “That’s what she said.”

Disgust wrote itself on Yoo Joonghyuk’s face and Kim Dokja just smiled wider.

His roommate moved ahead with confident steps, weaving through the small crowds of people conversing. Kim Dokja walked a little fast to catch up only to be overwhelmed by another group of people leaving the house. Someone bumped into him but there was no time to waste, he didn’t want to lose Yoo Joonghyuk and have to search for him later.

Reaching forward, he grabbed the other’s hand.

Yoo Joonghyuk turned around, if only due to shock, “Don’t—” He gripped Kim Dokja’s hand harder to reel him in, “Fall behind.”

As his ears turned red, Kim Dokja swore that he heard a ‘dumbass’ over the loud laughter of the closest group.

---

Inside, Han Sooyoung was desperately fiddling with a ping pong ball, another girl next to her. Yoo Sangah stood threateningly across the table. Loud pop music played out and Kim Dokja had to maneuver around multiple dancing bodies to reach the table.

Yoo Joonghyuk had fallen to his side this time, their hands still together. In a burst of realization, Kim Dokja let go.

“Hiya!” A somewhat drunk smiley faced Han Sooyoung cheered, completely missing the cup of beer. Yoo Sangah smiled too and instantly destroyed the other with a perfect shot. Han Sooyoung groaned, “You’re too good at this game, fuck you.” Han Sooyoung’s partner drank. Still, Han Sooyoung’s team had seven cups left of the ten while Yoo Sangah had five. Overpowered but teammate-less Yoo Sangah flipped her hair.

“Hi, I’m Anna Croft,” Han Sooyoung’s teammate introduced herself to the new face, Kim Dokja, and scowled at Yoo Joonghyuk. Kim Dokja turned to observe his reaction and it was uncannily similar. Huh.

“Will Kim Dokja-ssi join us?” Yoo Sangah laughed and looked suspiciously at Han Sooyoung, “And Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi?”

Han Sooyoung dramatically nodded, tipsy.

Kim Dokja shrugged and looked at Yoo Joonghyuk, but before he could answer, a tall hovering shadow appeared behind them. 

“Um, would you like a drink?” Yoo Joonghyuk looked positively angry until he realized that it was Lee Hyunsung offering, at the recommendation of his girlfriend who was dancing a bit further away. Jung Heewon glaringly smiled at Han Sooyoung and Han Sooyoung looked distressed.

“Well, they were playing beer pong with us actually.” Yoo Sangah said pulling the one nearest to her towards the table, not realizing it was Yoo Joonghyuk.

“I’d like a drink.” Kim Dokja looked at Lee Hyunsung.

“Um.” Lee Hyunsung sweated, realizing something. Everyone turned expectantly towards Yoo Joonghyuk.

“I’m playing.” He looked as if he was ready to kill someone and judging by the receiver of his glare, it was going to be Anna.

“Ok then.” Kim Dokja turned and a wilted Lee Hyunsung turned too. For some reason, Jung Heewon looked at him in disappointment.

---

The way to the kitchen was long and sweaty. Kim Dokja considered just picking up a random full red cup on the few tables scattered around but Lee Hyunsung looked at him disapprovingly so he didn’t. Instead the two of them walked down a few corridors with kissing couples and laughing friends.

“Hey?!” A dude who was red in the face and wearing a Hawaiian floral shirt appeared. Alcohol sloshed around in his cup, dangerously close to spilling so he drank it in one shot.  Kim Dokja cringed. “You’re Kim Dokja, right? Uriel told me about you, said that you’re the future boyfriend of―” A girl dressed in angel wings suddenly pushed him away and he met the wall.

“Hi!” She smiled but then turned to the fallen one with an expression which could only be described as fury, “He is the host. Dionysus. Always drunk, don’t mind him.” She laughed awkwardly and ushered them forward, which was assumed to be the direction of the kitchen.

“I’ll help him out,” Lee Hyunsung stared at Dionysus, who had probably passed out. He looked at Uriel with a suspicious look and subtly nodded. Not subtly enough, because Kim Dokja was watching this, somewhat amused but equally confused.

Uriel and Kim Dokja walked on.

“You’re Uriel then?” She seemed almost familiar.

“Yeah. How are you liking the party? Also, random question but what song would make you immediately start dancing, preferably a romantic dance?”

“Well, I just got here.” Kim Dokja grinned in an effort to skip the second half of the questions. It was a very specific random question. His grin worked as Uriel immediately got distracted and bumped into a table.

She coughed, “ANYWAYS,” Walking carefully around and clenching at her side, Uriel opened a clear door which led to the pool and paced on, “There was a bit of a mess in the hallway– some kid threw up– and so this little detour, there’s another way into the house on the other side.”

“Yeah, ok―”

“WATCH OUT!!!!!”

Kim Dokja fell into the pool.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk defeated Anna Croft & Co. He internally celebrated. 

A last cup of beer sat on the Yoo team’s side. Han Sooyoung whined while Anna Croft looked like she wanted to flip the table over. Competitive people were intense.

“Well, you won, I guess.” Han Sooyoung nodded, “Only because Yoo Sangah is a legend.”

Yoo Sangah laughed and Yoo Joonghyuk congratulated her in true friendship. Unlike Anna Croft who probably congratulated her with evil intentions. Anna Croft shrugged when Yoo Joonghyuk pointedly glared at her.

Some guy bumped into Yoo Joonghyuk as he walked over to his friend. Yoo Joonghyuk frowned.

“Some… fell…. Yeah!” Yoo Joonghyuk could only hear fragments of their conversation.

“What?” The friend asked.

“Some… for real…. Pool!”

“WHAT?”

“SOME DUDE FELL INTO THE POOL!” The guy yelled at his friend nearby and Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly got a bad feeling.

He drank the last cup of beer and walked off to the pool.

---

The last thing Kim Dokja heard was a strong ‘Oh FUCK! Where’s–’ before a loud splash took over. The muted silence and dimmed movement under water made him close his eyes in shock. He didn’t close his mouth fast enough. Choking, he flipped over in the water. Surprisingly, the pool was heated. But that didn't matter because Kim Dokja didn't know how to swim. 

He was thrashing around, coughing, only to drink more chlorine. Heat surrounded him desperately and he thought of Yoo Joonghyuk. Was he going to die here? Probably not, logically. But his emotions told him that it was over for him. Suddenly, he stopped to listen.

A muted voice was talking. God?

“―You know you can stand right?”

Kim Dokja stood.

Oh, he blushed immensely; realizing that all the flailing around was not required. His head was above the water if he stood still on the floor of the pool.

Well, that was embarrassing.

“Here,” A dude with really golden hair offered him a hand. It was not god. He turned away in embarrassment, clutching his hand to pluck himself out of the water. Next to them was Uriel who was wrestling her wings. She stopped when she noticed Kim Dokja out of the water.

“OH MY!!!! I thought I killed you!” She stumbled over, “I couldn’t help you with these―” She finally ripped them off, “―fucking wings.”

Kim Dokja stared at her with his arms around himself; it was somewhat cold now that he was out of the water.

She awkwardly smiled, “I didn’t mean to push you in, I― I’m really sorry.” She genuinely looked guilty.

Kim Dokja shrugged with a smile on his face.

She glanced over at the golden dude and nodded upwards, “Sun Wukong. Your timing is on point.” He smirked with his hands in his pockets.

“Kim Dokja?”

"Yoo Joonghyuk, just the person I wanted to see," Kim Dokja sneezed, "Did you know the pool is heated?" His white shirt was semi-translucent and clung onto him. His hair weighted down and stuck to his forehead and droplets of water fell around him. A puddle started forming at his feet. His face as flushed from either the cold of autumn or the heat of embarrassment.

Yoo Joonghyuk walked over to quickly pour his leather jacket over Kim Dokja. Somehow, Kim Dokja blushed harder.

“He should probably change into some dry clothes instead, don’t you think?” Sun Wukong smiled, offering a hand, “I know Dionysus’ room. Could lend you some clothes?”

Yoo Joonghyuk’s expression darkened but it was true. The drenched rat looked like he was suffering in the chilling air. How did he even fall in? Yoo Joonghyuk glanced at the stray droplet of water that ran down Kim Dokja’s face and landed on his collarbone. The leather jacket could not cover everything. The white shirt was too… inappropriate; Yoo Joonghyuk blushed. Kim Dokja sneezed again.

Avoiding Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes, Kim Dokja took Sun Wukong’s hand. The golden haired boy grinned from ear to ear looking at him and Yoo Joonghyuk felt irritated. Nonetheless, he watched as Sun Wukong ushered Kim Dokja away.

---

“So you pushed him into the POOL!? I mean that’s genius but not very angelic of you, Angel.” Someone whisper-yelled in Dionysus’ broom closet.

“I thought we were initiating plan B!” 

“What the fuck is plan B? I thought the plan was to keep them in the same room and make them DRINK!?”

“That’s plan A-13, idiot! You were supposed to talk to Big Bear and bring The Punisher to the Squid on time for plan B!”

“…The Big Bear just went back to dancing with Flames, though? Your communication skills are shit.”

“That’s rude!”

“Anyways… Now what?”

“Well, Sun Wukong is fucking crazy and also a flirt, so…. Let’s commence plan D-5.”

---

“Does he just not own anything which is not sheer, a crop top or literally stolen from a pop star’s banned collection?” Kim Dokja thought back to Dionysus’ Hawaiian shirt and wondered if that was the only normal shirt he had.

He felt kind of bad for ignoring Yoo Joonghyuk but he would have probably ascended if he had to look at Yoo Joonghyuk’s face then, the embarrassment harassing him. You wouldn’t want your crush― no, wait, person you like to watch you do something embarrassing.

Sun Wukong shrugged and picked up a sheer black shirt with sequin stars spaced around, “This suits you.”

Kim Dokja looked at him, “No.”

The other laughed, throwing the shirt back into one of the shelves in the walk-in closet, “The towels are in the connected washroom, just pick something and change. I’ll wait outside.”

Kim Dokja dried himself off as well as he could and then awkwardly picked the least controversial outfit he could. It was the combination of a white crop top sweater and a surprisingly well fitting pair of jeans similar to his, but drier.

He also dried off the leather jacket and wondered if he should just put it on until he can eventually give it back. Ultimately, he put it on.

“Are you done yet?” Sun Wukong burst in with a jute carry bag with him, “You can keep your wet clothes here, I’ll get Dionysus to wash… damn, you look hot!”

“Thanks a lot.” Kim Dokja said dryly, unimpressed.

“Like seriously.” Kim Dokja stared at the other’s golden eyes and then decided that he was just a flirt.

“Right. Well then. I want a drink.”

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk was not at the kitchenette and Kim Dokja thanked the gods.

After Uriel picked herself off the floor and Han Sooyoung wiped up her spit out beer off the kitchenette, a random silence fell onto the nearest spectators. Music blared still.

“He didn’t have any other clothes.” Kim Dokja shrugged.

Sun Wukong obnoxiously laughed, and Jung Heewon took a shot to that.

“You finally look like someone who is following the trends.” Han Sooyoung cackled. Kim Dokja rolled his eyes at her and Han Sooyoung jumped at the opportunity, “Very Y/N of you to roll your eyes!”

“And how exactly do you know of fanfic tropes so well, huh? TLS12―”

“OKAYYYYY! I’m sorry. You won.” Han Sooyoung quickly glanced between him and Yoo Sangah to make sure her secret career as an author remained a secret till the end. Yoo Sangah smiled.

Kim Dokja waded forward and finally got to pick up a cup of beer. It was time. He downed it. Sun Wukong clapped behind him. Why is he so weird? He squinted at the weird flirty golden boy and shrugged.

Anyways.

---

Yoo Joonghyuk tried to not die of a heart attack, and drank the fourth shot. A random crowd of people cheered behind him. Not that he cared, because right now Yoo Joonghyuk was busy sweating.

Kim Dokja was wearing a white shirt.

He drank and the alcohol settled in the form of a bright red shade on his cheekbones. Yes, the alcohol. Definitely the alcohol.

There was no reason for Kim Dokja to be so fucking pretty??????

Someone tapped his shoulder and he flinched. If this were an apocalyptic situation, he would be dead. UGH.

Lee Seolhwa greeted him happily, “How’s it going with the love of your life?”

Yoo Joonghyuk groaned; he knew it was a bad idea to confide in Lee Seolhwa but she was the only one who could be his advisor. “Fucking Han Sooyoung called him before I could ask.”

“I did not know you get angry when you’re drunk. Noted.” She picked up a cup of her own, “Well, at least you both are at the party in the end. You should ask him to dance.”

“He’s― I―”

“You’re too shy to ask him?”

“What―”

“You’re drunk, right? Use the courage of the alcohol!”

“I’m not drunk.”

“Sure.” Lee Seolhwa looked around, “And that’s not Kim Dokja in a crop top.”

Yoo Joonghyuk turned to look. Kim Dokja was actually wearing a crop top. His heart might have stopped for a second but he didn't care to notice since all he could think of was the other. Kim Dokja was stunning... and he was wearing his leather jacket. An almost smile flashed across Yoo Joonghyuk's face and he couldn’t stop himself from staring. Then their eyes met and Kim Dokja smiled. His heart probably did stop beating this time. In panic he looked away, only to see― The golden dude next to Kim Dokja.

Jealousy was an ugly emotion. He turned back to his drink.

“You’re really annoying.” Lee Seolhwa sighed and grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Speeding things up.”

---

Kim Dokja stopped smiling when he saw Lee Seolhwa grab Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand. That was unfair. Even though he knew that she was not doing anything wrong, the alcohol in him yelled that at least Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands were his.

Just his hands.

Fuck.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong took his hand and Kim Dokja looked at him in curiosity. He tousled his bright golden blonde hair with his other hand and leaned in cautiously. “Let’s dance.”

Kim Dokja held his eyes and wondered if he should. In a bout of stupid jealousy he replied in affirmation.

---

Han Sooyoung whistled looking onto the mini fight going on between her best friend and his future boyfriend. Hopefully this would end well.

Jung Heewon threw the umbrella of her cocktail into the air and drank it in one shot, “The plan is working,” She declared, “But at what cost?” Sun Wukong was going to get killed.

---

They were all going to die in the crossfire.

Uriel guiltily played her hand in the round of UNO with random people. She could already feel the room heat up slowly from the amount of fire in Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes. Sun Wukong was an idiot. She had warned him about the possible consequences but he had just shrugged.

Nodding at a person in the corner of the room, Uriel carefully analyzed the situation.

The person quickly sauntered over to Sun Wukong in the middle of the dance floor and ‘seduced’ him. It was in fact just a warning from Uriel. “You’re fighting with fire. Watch it.”

She saw the Sun Wukong's light shrug and happy smirk as he just turned back to Kim Dokja.

Fucking traitor.

---

The lights were dizzy and the music was bright. Kim Dokja stopped thinking and just danced.

He swayed a little more than he wanted to and the red cup almost fell out of his hands so Sun Wukong took it, “You’re drinking too much.” He grabbed the sides of the black jacket to stop Kim Dokja from falling over.

“What, no!” Kim Dokja whined, “Give that back.”

Sun Wukong scoffed and then handed the cup over to some girl standing next to them. She whispered something to him but Kim Dokja wasn’t bothered enough to find out what.

Kim Dokja pouted and subtly glanced over to where Yoo Joonghyuk was previously standing. He was not there anymore. Who cares? Kim Dokja paused. I do. He nodded dramatically.

“Do you see Yoo Joonghyuk?” He whispered.

“Aw! The feelings are finally coming out. That sucks.” Sun Wukong leaned in, “I guess it’s time to end this. If your lover boy ever breaks your heart I’m available~”

Sun Wukong was leaning in too close, a bit too close.

Kim Dokja stepped back only to trip over his own feet. Yoo Joonghyuk caught him.

“He’s drunk.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s monotone voice calmed Kim Dokja.

Sun Wukong smirked, “There was something in his eye.”

Yoo Joonghyuk blankly stared at the golden boy. “Are you sure?”

Sun Wukong matched Yoo Joonghyuk’s demeanor but still backed off, “Yeah.”

Yoo Joonghyuk frowned and so Sun Wukong took the opportunity, “I’m gonna get a drink.” He looked at Kim Dokja who just nodded again.

The lights settled down on a gold color and dimmed. It seemed that the DJ was prepping for a specific song.

“Why are you here?” Kim Dokja pointedly asked now that he was alone with Yoo Joonghyuk in the middle of a crowd. A cute acoustic romantic song started playing and the couples around them cheered.

Yoo Joonghyuk paused and let go of his hold of the other. He was hesitant about something.

Kim Dokja guessed randomly and took off Yoo Joonghyuk’s jacket, “This?”

Matching his eyes again, Yoo Joonghyuk had a trace of a smile on his lips, “You can keep it.”

“I’ll get it dry cleaned before I return it then.” Kim Dokja teased.

“That’s not―” Yoo Joonghyuk sighed with a hint of amusement and Kim Dokja fell in love all over again. Maybe it was the music.

Kim Dokja had a thought: I’m not letting him go.

 It’s time to seduce Yoo Joonghyuk.

“Will you dance with me?”

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja woke up and what accompanied was a painstaking headache.

His eyes focused as he dizzily tried to sit up, realizing from the softness of the black blanket that he was on Yoo Joonghyuk’s bed. And that was normal. No better time than when he was hung over to really contemplate his past decisions. He sighed and an ear piercing alarm shrieked on his desk, one table too far away for his hands to reach.

“Ughhhhhhhh,” Kim Dokja said, not very happy, his headache flaring up from the stupid Hello Kitty alarm clock. Han Sooyoung was a bitch, a fucking FBI raid would be quieter than this. Suddenly, he remembered something. Kim Dokja clutched at his head, what did he do last night?

---

Kim Dokja barely held back his tears as Han Sooyoung opened the book and showed him the big empty space inside of it.

“Oh my g o d, they― they killed the. BOOK,” He sobbed.

Han Sooyoung daringly laughed, “It’s a show piece, not a real book. Ya knoww, to keep cool thing inside of it… and stuff.” She was drunk too.

Kim Dokja flinched upwards, his eyes filling up with water as he turned to the person next to him, “Yoo Joonghyuk, are you seeing this shit? They put things inside Of THE BOOK CORPSE!” He screamed.

Yoo Joonghyuk just silently held Kim Dokja’s hand and rubbed circles on his palm, “Hm. That sucks.”

Kim Dokja turned back to Han Sooyoung and glared.

“Not a real book.” She taunted.

“Every booooook,” Kim Dokja slurred against Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder, “is a. REAL, book.” And as an afterthought he added a much deserved– “Bitch.”

---

…

Fuck alcohol… and well, he blinked at the clock, Fuck Hello Kitty too, tossing whatever his hand came up with from Yoo Joonghyuk’s desk, the alarm clock met its sad fate.

A crash stopped the noise.

He was too tired for this shit.

Getting up, he drank the glass of water chilling on Yoo Joonghyuk’s desk. Speaking of Yoo Joonghyuk… he was rubbing circles on my palm, Kim Dokja blushed.

Where was he anyway?

Did Kim Dokja somehow manage to destroy their relationship last night, OH FUCK, DID HE CONFESS?

Panicking, he ended up stepping on the broken Hello Kitty clock.

“FUCK!” He clutched at his broken foot and cursed the stupid clock, even in death it was the essence of dishonor. He shook his head. About to get up, he noticed the note at the corner of the desk.

‘I have an early lecture.

       Drink water.

        Dumbass.’

Oh.

Kim Dokja stared; at least their relationship was not over. And then he sighed. Whatever he did last night though, he had to remember.

The perils of alcohol and the following short term memory loss.

He decided that he could deal with this later, once he figured out what class he had first.

---

“Will you dance with me?”

The song was slow and romantic, so it was PERFECT.

Kim Dokja grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands and placed them on his waist and flinched from the chill of the other’s fingers on his bare skin.

The crop top was a great idea. Seduction 1000.

He giggled, drunk on the stupid shot of tequila which he had taken five minutes ago.

Yoo Joonghyuk turned pink, so Kim Dokja put his arms on his shoulders, leaning in as much as he could without falling.

“Fuck.” Yoo Joonghyuk whispered in his ear as he tightened his hold on the other and Kim Dokja was sure there would be finger prints on his waist tomorrow.

---

WHAT THE FUCK.

Kim Dokja almost fell out of his chair.

His pen took the fall for him, rolling pathetically a few feet away from him on the ground. He coughed, and quickly picked it up, meeting Yoo Sangah’s knowing smile from two seats forward and one seat left to him.  

Never mind that.

WHAT THE FUCK WAS HE DOING LAST NIGHT?

Kim Dokja was getting increasingly uncomfortable in his chair, the words of the professor blending into the background. He had barely escaped his headache with the help of medicine but now he had this to worry about.

The memories of last night.

He tried to seduce Yoo Joonghyuk. By asking him to dance. By suggestively putting Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands on his waist.

Drunken Kim Dokja was an idiot.

Fuck him.

Kim Dokja sighed with his hands on his head.

---

“You knowwww,” Kim Dokja stared at Yoo Joonghyuk and sipped from his cup of mixed alcohol. It burned and Kim Dokja liked it. The cold air sent a shiver down his spine. Maybe Yoo Joonghyuk was right about how much of a bad idea it was to chill in the balcony, “Where did you get your sword?”

“It was a gift from Mia,” Yoo Joonghyuk smiled that lovely smile and Kim Dokja felt himself getting drunker, “Well; she liked it and wanted me to buy it for myself.”

The cup shook in his hands as Kim Dokja chuckled; Yoo Joonghyuk continued.

“She was obsessed with this cartoon,” He leaned against the railing in a quiet happiness, “Said the prince was like me and he had a sword, so I would need to have a sword too, to protect the person I love from evil witches.”

“Wellllllllllll, did you find someone to protect?” Kim Dokja blinked, suddenly curious to know the answer.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him, “Yeah.”

---

Kim Dokja spit out his coffee.

Well, almost. It was too expensive to spit out so he swallowed instead. Never mind the insomnia. The little bits of memory that came back were ruining his life. Ignoring all the bullshit he spewed as a particularly idiotic drunk guy, Yoo Joonghyuk was pretty open lipped too.

According to his fragmented memory, Yoo Joonghyuk said that he had someone to protect… while looking straight at Kim Dokja.

Did he like―

Nope, Kim Dokja thought, I’m reaching.

Yoo Joonghyuk was probably drunk too. He conclusively nodded, his phone dinging in his pocket.

U: Dokja-ssi do you have some news to share, perhaps, maybe?

KDJ: ?

U: you know, since you left early

U: with your roommate

U: at around 2

U: the party went on till about 4:30 sooooooooooo

KDJ: I actually dont remember much

Why had they left early? Kim Dokja squinted at the suspicious development and hoped that if the memory came back then it would come back when he wasn't drinking something. Yoo Joonghyuk's early lecture was on point somehow. 

U: Oh

U: okay

U: well here are some photos f rom the party

U: [img.jpg] [img.jpg] [img.jpg] [img.jpg] [img.jpg] [img.jpg] [img.jpg]

KDJ: thanks

Kim Dokja stared at the photos of him and the others. The particularly blurry ones where someone had moved around too much made him smile. It was a fun party, even if Kim Dokja didn’t remember some of it.

He’d figure the shit out with Yoo Joonghyuk at some point.

U: oh and this

U: [vid.mp4]

Kim Dokja actually spit out the coffee.

---

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja clutched onto the imaginary microphone and yelled out a garbled version of the lyrics of whatever pop song was playing.

Jumping and bouncing around with the brightest smile on his face, he danced. He laughed and he cheered as the crowd heaved to accompany him on his high. Around him, people chuckled and vaguely he heard someone say that he had drunk too much but it didn’t matter because this was fun.

This was awesome.

Kim Dokja grabbed onto Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder and shook and shook him. The lights swayed and so did the floor but Yoo Joonghyuk had a smile on his face so it didn’t matter at all. A sudden bout of giggles slipped past his lips; Yoo Joonghyuk looked puzzled at his laughter. He was sure that Yoo Joonghyuk was drunk too.

It was awesome.

In fact, it was so awesome that he needed to tell the other that. Immediately.

“YOO JOONGHYUK!!!”

“―Dokja,” The music was too loud. Kim Dokja smiled.

---

The video played out and Kim Dokja sat there in shock. Just like the Yoo Joonghyuk in the video who had stood there in shock. Or maybe it was confusion, but the Kim Dokja of now was panicking.

Although the words weren’t audible, the angle of the video allowed him to read drunk Kim Dokja’s lips.

I love you.

FUCK??? FUCK!!! HE DID CONFESS?!!!??!

“Ahem.” A waitress scowled at him and his spit out coffee. A shell-shocked Kim Dokja stumbled up and walked out.

---

Kim Dokja decided that he ought to calm down.

He picked up the pace to get to Biyoo faster; his daughter would definitely distract him.

The music at the party was really loud. Maybe, maybe Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t hear him. He was also drunk so maybe if he did hear him, he forgot. Or at least―

Is that why Yoo Joonghyuk was gone in the morning?

Was the note an excuse?

Kim Dokja hurriedly shoved some branches aside and stepped into the clearing to see his goose. A distracting cold winds sent a blush to his face; Yoo Joonghyuk was hugging Biyoo. He coughed. The other snapped back at him in surprise.

“Kim Dokja, hi.” Yoo Joonghyuk was twisted in his position. From the equally bright blush on his face, people might have suggested that he was nervous, “…Did you drink water?”

Oh, is he pretending to not know? Kim Dokja anxiously judged, “Yeah.”

“Ok.”

“Yeah.”

Biyoo honked and ran back to the water deciding to abandon her family in embarrassment.

“Biyoo?!” Kim Dokja sighed, “Do you think we pissed her off?”

“Maybe she wants food.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Kim Dokja nodded and got up to collect some of the weeds surrounding the area. He couldn’t believe that his daughter would run away just to make him face Yoo Joonghyuk all alone.

Anyway, he still had to figure out if Yoo Joonghyuk knew.

---

The door slammed open and Yoo Joonghyuk deposited the limp body of Kim Dokja onto his bed. Kim Dokja’s limp body slid right off to become a stain on the floor.

“Heh.” Kim Dokja laughed, “That kinda hurt.”

Pouring himself a glass of water, Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, he wasn’t sober enough for this.

“Joonghyukieeeeeee~”

“You’re drunk.”

“nO.” Kim Dokja sat up with his weight on his elbows, “I’m sober as fuck.”

Yoo Joonghyuk rolled his eyes with a tired expression on his face, “Get up.”

After no response from the limp body, Yoo Joonghyuk decided to help out. Grabbing Kim Dokja and pulling him up, he barely escaped the fate of falling over as well. Kim Dokja whined and wrapped his arms around Yoo Joonghyuk, “Kiss meeeeeeeee~”

“…You’re mistaking me for someone else.”

Kim Dokja pouted, “That’s bullshit.”

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, “And you’re drunk.”

“So are you!!! Besides, you gotta kiss me because I like you.”

“No you don’t.” Yoo Joonghyuk decided arbitrarily. Kim Dokja pouted even harder, who was Yoo Joonghyuk to decide who he liked.

“Why can’t I like you!?”

“You can’t, because―” Yoo Joonghyuk stumbled, “…You’re too pretty.”

The words went right over Kim Dokja’s head who just wanted a kiss.

“So―” Kim Dokja sniffled, “You’re not gonna?” His voice dropped to an almost whisper as tears started to fill his eyes.

Yoo Joonghyuk froze. Kim Dokja hid his grin and made puppy eyes at the other, “Kiss.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Yoo Joonghyuk pulled him in and then kissed his forehead.

Embarrassment flooded Kim Dokja who only managed to fall back onto the bed and roll over so that he could pretend to sleep. Before he did though, he took one last glance at the victim of his manipulation and was happy at the sight of the bright redness on his face.

Drunk Kim Dokja was a cruel, cruel man.

---

OH.

Yoo Joonghyuk thought Kim Dokja didn’t actually like him. What the fuck?

Kim Dokja didn’t know whether to feel relived or insulted, he did however feel the full force of embarrassment. Dazed, he touched his forehead, the same forehead that Yoo Joonghyuk had kissed to keep Kim Dokja from starting a war.

And he had called him pretty. He quietly giggled making sure that the other didn’t hear him. But then again, Yoo Joonghyuk was drunk too, he justified. And then he immediately realized his hypocrisy.

Drunk Kim Dokja spilled the truth like a law abiding citizen in a court of law; drunk Yoo Joonghyuk could have been truthful too.

“Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja’s heart almost jumped out of his ribcage. He stood up and decided he didn’t need the weeds after all. Right now he needed to meet Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes. Fuck.

“Last night…” Yoo Joonghyuk paused and like a bashful maiden, looked down instead, “Um. Do you remember?” He looked up again only for the light to reflect in his eyes and choose to lift the curtains on the emotions hidden in them.

Kim Dokja no longer wanted to run; it was getting a little tiring. There was always so much distance in between them, and at the same time so little. He smiled.

Oh what the hell am I stalling for?

Stepping forward, Kim Dokja kissed Yoo Joonghyuk.

---

Chapter Text

Yoo Mia concluded that something was off.

She remembered her weekly video calls with her Oppa and wondered. It was unfortunate that her Oppa was not together with Seolhwa Unnie yet; they had known her for a long time and in that long time, her Oppa only ever mentioned her in conversations. But now there was another person.

The Roommate.

The elusive, never mentioned by name but rather referred to as ‘my roommate’ roommate. Yoo Mia had never seen an expression like that on her Oppa’s face before. If she hadn’t known better she would have assumed that her Oppa had a crush on the aforementioned roommate, BUT she was his sister. The other Yoo. And therefore, she knew the truth― Her Oppa was in love with his roommate.

Her ship sank.

But her Oppa’s happiness was first and foremost. Part of the reason why she insisted he had the “ULTIMATE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES DORMING OBVIOUSLY” was so he could branch out and make more friends. A roommate who he fell in love with was just a bonus which Yoo Mia would gladly accept.

Lee Seolhwa would just have to be her Oppa’s Maid of Honor then. She prayed that she would find someone worthy of her in the future. (Someone who would look good in the wedding pictures being the +1 of the Maid of Honor with her handsome Oppa and the mysterious roommate.)

Now, she didn’t really care much of the fact that her Oppa’s roommate would be a man; rather she was worried of this roommate’s personality. How could a mere man be a better choice than Lee Seolhwa? Did he, this potential siren, seduce her Oppa? If so, how?

Also, she was worried he would be ugly, but that’s beside the point.

“―Yeah, but Hyung is HOTTER!” Lee Gilyoung interrupted quite rudely.

Shin Yoosung frowned, “Of course! I’m just saying that this idol is the second hottest.” She was pointing at the picture of the top idol in the magazine sprawled in front of them. They were in the common room of the school dorm and Shin Yoosung had taken a liking to the idol who had recently done one of those ‘Survival in a Jungle’ reality shows.

There was something weird about her friends’ obsession with Kim Dokja. They had gotten so close so fast that Yoo Mia had assumed him to be an angel, with how kindly the two described him at least.

But Kim Dokja was eccentric. The day they had met at the convenience store, he had cheered up immensely at the sight of her friends. From the kind smile on his face, Yoo Mia found that he did care for them. Ignoring his plain attire and side character aura, she somewhat approved. 

Yoo Mia sighed, “Kim Dokja isn’t that hot.”

“Show some respect,” Lee Gilyoung frowned.

Yoo Mia stuck her tongue out at Gilyoung and decided that she was better off droning out of this particular argument. She instead tried to focus on the question at hand.

Think, think, think, think― Wait a second.

“Speaking of Kim Dokja, didn’t you say that he had a roommate who was in love with him?”

Lee Gilyoung stared, “…Yeah.”

“And Kim Dokja goes to the same college as my Oppa?”

“…Yeah.”

Yoo Mia started sweating, “And― Did― is he, you know, my Oppa’s roommate?”

“D- Did you… not know?”

Shin Yoosung gasped, “That was her brother?!”

“He looks exactly like her?!” Lee Gilyoung pointed at Yoo Mia, who did in fact, look exactly like Yoo Joonghyuk, “Wait, was I the only one who knew?!”

Meanwhile, Yoo Mia’s soul left her body.

---

Kim Dokja kissed Yoo Joonghyuk.

Yoo Joonghyuk froze. And then he grabbed Kim Dokja by the shoulders and pushed him off.

Kim Dokja froze too, turning bright red; his heart crashed. Wow, that was fucking harsh. Yikes. Am I―

“Are you still drunk?” The million dollar question. Yoo Joonghyuk hands pressed down on his shoulders making Kim Dokja look up at him. Oh. Yoo Joonghyuk was equally red, if not even more.

This was not rejection.

“…I’m not?”

Yoo Joonghyuk face went through a series of emotions and Kim Dokja wondered if this was what a stroke looked like.

Should he explain? Was confessing the right choice? Did a kiss even count as a confession?

“I like you.” Kim Dokja blurted out and then gasped, covering his mouth.

“What.” Yoo Joonghyuk looked like he was making a realization right now, his pupils dilated when he met Kim Dokja’s eyes.

It was now or never.

“I’m in love with you! Really, like seriously; I’ve been for a while and I didn’t even realize. So, um, uh,” Kim Dokja panicked, “―And sorry about kissing you without asking―”

Yoo Joonghyuk kissed him.

Kim Dokja shouldn’t have been surprised but he flinched anyway.  A hand settled onto his waist while another came around his neck and curled into his hair, pulling him closer, closer. He crashed against Yoo Joonghyuk, his own fingers caressing the other’s face. Yoo Joonghyuk smiled into the kiss.

It felt like fire.

Yoo Joonghyuk bit down, and Kim Dokja came undone. Flushed, his lips parted, giving way to the other and the flames rose up to infinity. Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands slithered underneath and climbed up Kim Dokja’s shirt. Kim Dokja’s back arched at the feeling and when they finally separated for air, he laughed. The oxygen settled like ash in his lungs. It burned.

They looked at each other like they had been blind their whole lives, until now. Now, they looked. They felt. It felt like fire.

Yoo Joonghyuk smiled lazily, taking the other’s face with both hands and started by kissing Kim Dokja’s forehead, “Really?” He breathed.

“Really.”

Yoo Joonghyuk kissed the bridge of Kim Dokja’s nose, the space underneath each eye; he paused above the other’s mouth teasingly, and when the other moved, impatient, he travelled down instead. The hollow of Kim Dokja’s neck, followed by his dimple of his left shoulder, finally, finally Yoo Joonghyuk came back around.

“Tease,” Kim Dokja blushed fire red and kissed him again.

---

Chapter Text

It was time.

Kim Dokja pondered on how to tell the fam without being killed. It had been a total of four days of sneaking around and flirting secretly with Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja had to admit it was fun as hell.

Between the Yoo Joonghyuk randomly kissing him in between alleys and giving him adorable little snacks, Kim Dokja could not decide what was the best part. Before he noticed, four days had gone by and it remained a secret. (Mainly because the two were too caught up in each other to care about their very impatient friends.)

And also, Yoo Joonghyuk had wanted to tell Mia about this new thing today. He was going to visit Mia at a park for lunch and told her he'd be bringing someone special. Kim Dokja had passed away at hearing the words 'someone special'.

Kim Dokja twirled the pen in his hand and failed marvelously at a pen flip. It landed sadly on the floor with a clatter and everyone in the library turned around to stare. He was too in love to stop smiling and picked it up while looking like a creep.

"So, why exactly are you smiling like a creep, Dokja-ssi?" Sangah lightly put down her books and sat across him.

"Um-" Kim Dokja cleared his throat, "I'm not." He immediately regretted his words; he was so caught up in being a sneaky rat that he forgot he was going to tell them. Classic Kim Dokja. Wow, this relationship was making him self aware. That's wild.

"Did something good happen?"

Kim Dokja noticed the intense sound of someone texting under the table while Yoo Sangah's hand was mysteriously out of the frame.It almost seemed like she was texting people about something.

He quickly thought up an excuse. "Uh, my insomnia is gone."

Yoo Sangah's eyebrows disappeared into her hair and one of her eyes twitched. "I see." She said knowingly.

"Actually, do you guys wanna meet tonight, like all of you?"

"...We'll be delighted to. I'll text them." Yoo Sangah looked like a deer caught in headlights. She got up with the same expression on her face and left.

Kim Dokja wondered if he did something.

---

"He's gonna come clean?!" A group video chat showed the shocked faces of the fam. Yoo Sangah was still frozen. She couldn't believe that they would not have to figure out how to get Kim Dokja to spill the beans.

Yes, they knew. It was pretty fucking obvious because the lovebirds were pretty fucking oblivious.

Uriel gawked and then screamed and then cried and then threw up (in her mind), "IT'S A MIRACLE!!"

"Seriously, this is literally wild. Is this like the second last chapter of a book or something?!"

---

Yoo Mia was sweating buckets and pulling her hair out. She was in denial. There was no way her Oppa was going to marry Kim Dokja. He's way too ugly.

But today, her Oppa was bringing 'someone special'. Her Oppa had never brought anyone special. She shuddered. This was a marriage level threat. She would now have to support her Oppa and his lover for sure if he had called his lover 'someone special'.

If this lover was really Kim Dokja, she was going to have to spend her allowance to get him a new wardrobe immediately since plastic surgery was off the table. Her Oppa probably wouldn't be chill with that.

Missed opportunities.

Lee Gilyoung yawned two picnic tables away from the girl pulling her hair out. He adjusted his hat and tugged on the fake moustache. Shin Yoosung was dazed next to him with her pink hair wig, "Do you think... Yoo Joonghyuk, that dude, will treat our Ahjussi right?"

Yoo Joonghyuk had quickly gone from someone to respect to someone to be treated with suspicion until further notice. Lee Gilyoung squinted in the direction of the trees and saw the bastard walking in with his hyung next to him. They were laughing. "I mean, we're here to spy today to find out. And if he does treat Hyung wrong, it'll be the last thing he does."

"Not that I support murder or anything but I'm totally with you." Shin Yoosung nodded.

---

Yoo Joonghyuk coughed to hide his smile. His sister had looked like she accepted it even before they walked into the park. He was scared about her reaction although he knew it wouldn't be bad.

Kim Dokja was a dream. He rubbed calm circles on his lover's knee to stop him from fidgeting right off the picnic table bench. He didn't know that Mia had already known his Dokja already. It was obvious that he had made a good impression.

Yoo Joonghyuk had never been happier.

"So, Kim Dokja... sshi," Yoo Mia started, "I understand that you and Oppa are like dying to get married but how do you feel about plastic surgery?"

"He's not getting plastic surgery." Yoo Joonghyuk smiled, exasperated, "He's beautiful."

Kim Dokja might as well have been a tomato. Beautiful??? And was MARRIAGE already on the table?! "Honestly, you—"

Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes dared him to comment so Kim Dokja scoffed, "We're not getting married already."

"You won't marry me?" Yoo Joonghyuk pulled the other's hand up and caressed the ring finger with his thumb with a playfulness in his eyes.

"wOAHHHHH, okay! No PDA. Wow, Oppa is turning weird, I'm going to call you out on the weekends now to prevent this. What if you too end up with a child before–"

"That's not possible!" Kim Dokja felt like he was burning up.

Yoo Mia shook her head in embarrassment but also pride. Her Oppa was finally living the true college student life.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at his sister in shock. All it took was a boyfriend to get her to finally start calling him more often. He laughed.

"Wait no, wait–" A boy from two tables away yelled, "I didn't know Yoo Joonghyuk laughing was possible?!"

"Gilyoung-ah??!"

---

Kim Dokja stared at the clouds lest he triggered another round of tears from his two very attached children.

"Ok but, it's too early to marry." Shin Yoosung dabbed away the water in her eyes with the help of a handkerchief she nicked off of Lee Gilyoung while he just stared at Yoo Joonghyuk in suspicion.

Kim Dokja sighed, "We're not getting married."

"Yet." Yoo Joonghyuk added.

"Ok, yeah, whatever."

Lee Gilyoung frowned, "I totally predicted this development though I'm not particularly happy about it."

Kim Dokja just patted Gilyoung's hair in respect and then had to pat both Yoosung and Joonghyuk, followed by Mia so she wouldn't feel left out.

The five people unusual group settled all their confusion and questions. The children complained about the changed Yoo Joonghyuk and he ignored all of it by bribing them with ice cream. Kim Dokja took advantage of the lover tag and had two like a psychopath, kissing Yoo Joonghyuk in return.

Lunch was amazing.

___

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja let Yoo Sangah choose the venue after she insisted.

The dinner meet was going to be nerve wracking. He knew that literally any of his friends’ reaction would not be bad reactions but they would totally tease him about it for the rest of his life. Yoo Joonghyuk looked weirdly nervous too, Kim Dokja could tell from the slight crease in his brow.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, “Is Han Sooyoung going to be your Best Woman at the wedding?”

“Obviously—” Kim Dokja blinked and then flicked the other’s forehead. He would never actually admit it, Han Sooyoung would definitely tease him about this. The wedding thing was getting old. He pretended not to notice the bright redness of his own goddamn face in the mirror while fixing his hair. “Yoo Joonghyuk, you need to stop.”

“…Sure.” Yoo Joonghyuk lied with a straight face, pulled him in with a hand on his nape and kissed him. The other’s whining protests barely compared. Before he could shove his tongue down the Kim Dokja’s face properly, a phone chimed.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed into Kim Dokja mouth and took a step back. The other finally got the chance to complain, “—astard.”

Kim Dokja pouted in embarrassment (definitely not disappointment) and checked his phone; it was a text from Yoo Sangah.

“Okay, let’s go.”

---

Kim Dokja gulped as Yoo Joonghyuk led him through the dark alley.

They were going to get murdered. This was it. His friends were actually disguised axe murderers. Again, he glanced at his lit phone screen and saw that they had to walk a few more meters and take a left. Yoo Joonghyuk’s grip on his hand just tightened, his whole frame shook and for some reason Kim Dokja felt that the reason for that was not fear. “Hey, are you laughing at my justified fear right now?”

The other just glanced back with a hint of a smile on his lips, “No.”

“Yoo Joonghyuk.” Kim Dokja frowned.

“Kim Dokja.”

“Don’t test me.” He shuffled forward and squeezed into the little space next to his boyfriend without touching the grimy walls of the dark alley. “Your destination is on the left.” The GPS declared with a monotone voice. The two of them turned to the black door which led into a suspicious building on the left.

“Well then.” Kim Dokja twisted the doorknob and walked in.

“SURPRISE!”

The room lit up and a splash of colored confetti rained down on the two surprised faces. There were balloons everywhere and party hats on all his friends’ heads. It was a fully furnished apartment. In the middle, there was a table with a cake on it and the wall behind it had an enormous sign on it which said, “HAPPY INSOMNIA FREE KIM DOKJA + YOO JOONGHYUK MARRIAGE”. The “MARRIAGE” got smaller and smaller in size until it barely managed onto the paper.

Kim Dokja grinned widely, not even bothering to correctly them on the marriage bit anymore.

“That’s right, you idiot. We knew all along,” Han Sooyoung taunted and picked up a glass of alcohol, “Jeez, this party hat is uncomfortable. Yoo Joonghyuk, you better wear it; we put in way too much effort into this.”

Yoo Joonghyuk unsurprisingly dodged the hat like he was a professional hat dodger.

---

Kim Dokja finished off his pizza and wiped his hand on Yoo Joonghyuk to piss him off. His boyfriend just sighed in total defeat and pushed him off the sofa. Kim Dokja just claimed the spot on the floor like it was meant for him and tuned back into the conversations going on around them.

“We can actually go on double dates now.” Jung Heewon took Lee Hyunsung’s hand in hers. The other nodded, adding, “Yeah, the whole ‘We’re roommates and he carried me in his arms but it was totally casual’ thing was getting disappointing.”

“Kim Dokja is an idiot.” Yoo Joonghyuk shrugged.

“HEY?!” He backhanded Yoo Joonghyuk’s knee in exasperation.

Yoo Sangah sat down next to Uriel on the couch and exhaled happily, completely ignoring the couples’ shenanigans, “Now that Dokja-ssi’s insomnia is gone we can rest easy.”

Uriel questioned innocently, “Yes, yes, I wonder how that ended up happening…?”

Kim Dokja froze up and coughed, “Um.” He could literally feel the smugness radiating off Yoo Joonghyuk behind him.

“Anyways,” Han Sooyoung started, “Now, that your insomnia is cured, we’re onto step two. Which, in case you forgot, was beating the shit out of you.”

Kim Dokja blinked. He was handed a bat.

“…Am I supposed to beat myself up now?”

Yoo Joonghyuk glared, “Don’t even think about it.” He grabbed the other off the floor and settled Kim Dokja next to him, complete with a protective arm over his shoulder. Kim Dokja just blushed.

“No silly,” Uriel elaborated, “Over here!”

Over there, in the corner of the room with adequate space where he had previously not looked, was a Kim Dokja-like piñata. It was perfectly dressed down to the white clothes and generic hair style.  The string attaching it to the ceiling had another bit of vertical cardboard on it which said "RAT".

Kim Dokja laughed so hard he cried.

---

The party lasted all night.

After eating cake and destroying the piñata, they shifted to playing the video games that Heewon had brought along with her along with a fair amount of stupid party games- truth or dare (“Kim Dokja, sit in Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap for the next three rounds.”), twister (“Han Sooyoung, you’re gonna break MY ANKLE!”), UNO (“Call 911 because I’m about to END YOU—”) and monopoly. Monopoly only resulted in tears… so that was a success.

Now, the two were finally back home in their dorm. The room slowly lit up from the light that was pouring out through the gap below the curtains. Kim Dokja was significantly tired but extraordinarily content, lying down on Yoo Joonghyuk’s bed. He nestled into the space that was his, next to his boyfriend. The other in turn shifted to rest his chin on top of Kim Dokja’s head.

Kim Dokja smiled into the crook of Yoo Joonghyuk’s neck.

He whispered into the soft pulse, a stupid confession far more obvious than a million ‘I love you’s, “You know, I didn’t want to mention it since we’re always using your bed and I do owe you one but the black sheets are seriously edgy.”

“Kim Dokja, you—”

Kim Dokja kissed the frown away from his lover’s face, gently. Fingers curled around his own and Yoo Joonghyuk just looked at him in loving exasperation. Handholding at the crack of dawn was simple; it was a love language.

---