Work Text:
Moving out is never an easy thing. Especially when one has to go through it because of work, then, it is even more tiring with all the things you have to handle in a short time. Finding a new apartment, signing the contract, dealing with the job transfer, and all that.
Currently, this was what Kim Dokja was going through for the past few days. His job was transferred to a different city, and he was extremely busy trying to put everything in order before he went insane. He didn't even have the time to sit down and drink coffee to relax since last week. He's been running on two or three hours of sleep every day and he looked like a zombie. Working full time and returning home late at night only made it impossibly slow his progression at home- and he didn't even own that much!
Thankfully, yesterday was the day everything has been settled. He went to bed at 4 am and woke up at 6 am to go to work. He was exhausted, to say the least. His only motivation was being able to go home early and sleep to his heart's content since tomorrow was his day off. He could finally take a breath of relief and relax properly.
He managed to stay awake, by some miracle, until he finally took a step inside the complex. He pressed the elevator button and closed his eyes to rest while it came down from the 15th floor. He was basically sleeping upright, and the ding of the elevator made him jump awake as he hurried to get in. He couldn't wait to get into his apartment and get the proper rest he very much deserved. But just as the elevator's doors started to close, a hand stopped them. A big, tanned hand with scars. It wasn't like Kim Dokja paid extra attention though.
Then entered the hand's owner into his vision. A man. A tall, buff, and gorgeous, GORGEOUS, man. A man, who could put all those greek gods to shame with his looks. A man so perfect that Kim Dokja could only watch him as he entered the elevator with his Doberman and stood beside him.
Only after noticing the dog's existence, did he realize that he was openly looking without shame and averted his gaze. The man also looked intimidating as hell, so he didn't want to cause trouble, especially at this ungodly hour. He already felt short and small enough by just standing next to him and he was sure the man wouldn't even struggle to wrap those hands around his throat and lift him up like he weighs nothing -well this was an oddly specific example on his part and he was just going to blame his sleep-deprived mind for it. But yeah, he wouldn't struggle at all. Not with those arms.
"Sit down."
And that voice.
THAT.
FUCKING.
VOICE.
Kim Dokja had to hold back a little gasp as his brain automatically took the words as a command (because that voice could make him do anything, and I mean ANYTHING) and the next thing he knew, he was sitting on the floor.
Elevator's floor.
He was at the same eye level as the Doberman.
It was sitting too.
There was something wrong with this.
...
As everything clicked in place, slowly, he wanted to scream.
Oh god. OH DEAR GOD, he was such an idiot. Why would he even think that the words were directed to him? They were clearly commands FOR THE FUCKING DOG!
In a matter of milliseconds, shame had absorbed him as a whole. He felt the heat on his face, ears, nape, EVERYWHERE. It was so humiliating that he couldn't even gather the courage to lift his face.
But he had to. At some point.
And he did.
Hating himself with every fiber of his being, he lifted his face. Maybe he could say that it was a joke and that he knew the command was for the dog. It was a lame excuse but he could TRY. Yet, the man was already looking at him, brows slightly furrowed and a clearly confused look on his face.
In the end, Kim Dokja couldn't say anything.
They looked at each other in silence. One second lead to two, and two lead to three...
That was until the man suddenly started to laugh. Then Kim Dokja felt a new wave of shame washing over him, biting his lip and scrambling to get up. He silently dusted off his clothes and spoke. His voice sounding smaller than he expected next to the man's laughter. "Sorry. I'm just- I'm a little bit sleep-deprived right now. I think..."
"No, no, it's okay," the man replied, not even letting him to finish speaking and still laughing as he struggled to breathe. "I'm just caught off guard."
At that, he, too, cracked a small smile. Watching the man from the side, he thought that the man didn't look like someone who easily smiles or laughs at all. Yet, currently, his smile was literally the sexiest thing Kim Dokja had ever seen in his 28 years long life.
And he caused it.
Sure, it cost him his pride and first appearance, but he could work with that. He definitely could.
For the rest of the elevator ride, neither of them said anything. There was only the man's continuous laughter -he tried to keep it quiet but his shoulders shook so much even Kim Dokja almost felt sorry for him-, his dog's panting, and Kim Dokja, standing very still, side-eyeing the man in every few seconds, and kind of hating himself for the way he was. It was awkward, until the elevator stopped at the 10th floor and they both stepped out.
...
Wait-
WAIT.
THEY BOTH STEPPED OUT???
THIS MAN WAS LIVING NEXT DOOR??????
Oh god.
For a moment, he actually considered jumping out of the nearest window. It was the 10th floor, so he couldn't possibly survive, right? Then he would have nothing to worry about. It was a great idea, honestly.
As he stopped in front of his apartment door to take out his keys, the man approached him, this time with a quite serious expression on his face, he enxtended his hand to Kim Dokja.
"I apologize if I came as rude just now, I didn't mean to humiliate you," he said before pausing. Voice low and soothing. "My name is Yoo Joonghyuk."
Kim Dokja could only look at the extended hand for a good few seconds. Only then his poor brain processed what was being said and reached out to shake the hand. It was warm and calloused against his hand, but it felt comforting to touch. "It's okay," he tried to say, but his voice cracked.
The second worst day of his life. Really. -and no we are not talking about the first-
After clearing his throat, he tried again. "It's okay," this time was better. Placing a soft smile on his face, he lightly shook the hand. "I had it coming, honestly. The name's Kim Dokja."
The man -Yoo Joonghyuk didn't return the smile. He just nodded slightly as his eyes remained soft. Then he withdrew his hand and took a step back to head to his door.
As he was trying to find his keys, sharp eyes met with Dokja's one more time. "I would like to treat a dinner as an apology sometime," he took out his keys and placed it in the hole. "I won't take no as an answer."
Kim Dokja's eyes widen in surprise briefly. "You really don't have to-" was what he was trying to say but he silenced himself when he saw the look on Yoo Joonghyuk's face. "But- but, okay!"
"Mhm," was the only response he got before click of a door opening and Yoo Joonghyuk took a step inside his apartment. "Good night, Kim Dokja."
Kim Dokja only watched him as he got inside. "Good night, Yoo Joonghyuk."
As the other man's door clicked shut, he fumbled with his keys to open his door and threw himself in. Closing the door behind him, he directly went into his bedroom and jumped on his bed face first. A single deep sigh to release the tension on him.
The last 3 minutes of his life seemed to be longer than his whole day.
He wanted to think as he always did before sleeping, but exhaustion was totally absorbing him, making it extremely hard to even get up and change his clothes.
So he didn't.
As sleep took him over slowly, the last thing on his mind was the greek god named Yoo Joonghyuk next door, and what he could do about him.
Not like he wanted to do something, but still, maybe his neighbor would prove being so much fun than he thought.
At least, their first meeting was something to remember.
For now, all he knew was that he was going to laugh his ass off once he remembered all these in the morning.