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He hasn’t been de-fanged, exactly, but there is something bloodless in the smile that Lee Dongsik wears on his face. Somewhere in himself, Juwon is relieved to see it.
He hasn’t been called so tender in an era.
“Keep up the good work, Inspector Han Juwon,” lingers in the air between them. Lee Dongsik’s eyes blaze a fierce, watery red.
He has to turn away to leave, then; the sunny-sky smile makes something in his heart turn over.
The rest of the walk back to his car is spent in a daze. Manyang’s hills are cooperatively silent and the parking lot near Jaeyi’s shop is still empty by the time he reaches back. It takes Juwon a solid three seconds to get himself back on track—he has someone to find on Mount Taeak after all—but when he catches a glimpse of himself in the rear-view mirror, he’s still smiling.
“’Keep up the good work’?” The words are honey sweet savoured on his tongue; he can still see the sun-stained smile as afterimages when he blinks.
Juwon had never really worked for anyone’s approval; he has known how the world works from an unfortunately young age. Yet, some part of himself loosens its slipknot as he repeats the words out loud again, and he finds himself grinning. Slightly. He isn’t one for theatrics after all.
Keep up the good work, he laughs silently. I’ll do my best.