Work Text:
With his companion shaking, clutching his head, and stumbling back from extreme shock, Yoo Joonghyuk has the faint idea that he should not be admiring his face.
In his defense, it’s the first time he had ever seen the other’s appearance. A clear, unfiltered version of his appearance.
Even at the very start of the scenarios, the man he claimed as his companion was one shrouded in mystery. With the surface of him blurred, and his features hidden behind an unknown wall, no one could really say they knew what he looked like.
There was no explanation to describe him. No conceivable words that could be used to picture a person inside your mind. No way to form an image of the anomaly known as ‘Kim Dokja.’
There was nothing to him, in his appearance. And so, people being the cowards they were, aimed for the easiest explanation and chose ‘ugly.’
As if ‘ugly’ was an accurate depiction of haze and fog covering the star in disguise, and an appropriate image to depict in your head.
But ‘Kim Dokja’ was not ugly.
Not even when he’s on the floor, heaving with choked breaths, and not even when a demon king had brought him on his knees, and tore apart his only defense.
Not even as he’s glaring furiously at the devil, who went by the name of ‘Asmodeus’, with an expression that could kill and bury a body six feet under.
[My, my.] The ‘Demon King of Lust and Fury’ cackles, and the sound is piercing. [Is this what the famous ‘Demon King of Salvation’ looks like when he doesn’t have the fragment of the ‘Last Wall’? A weak fool, who can’t even stand?]
[I must say, I’m rather disappointed in you.]
Yoo Joonghyuk registers, in his head for the first time, that they are not out of the woods yet.
It’s a shame to say, but he knows next to nothing about his companion’s skills, much less whatever ‘wall’ protected him. No information has ever been offered to him, and none of his skills could uncover the secrets that the other kept.
Even so, he never imagined Kim Dokja was so dependent on one thing. So dependent, on one skill, that evidently held him together.
Unfortunately, being composed in the apocalypse is not a strength he apparently has. In fact, he looks quite the opposite from composed. If Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t know better, he’d think Kim Dokja is having a mental breakdown.
“Oh, shut up.” The shaking figure spits out, drawing his sword. He makes a poor attempt to hold it steadily, but it seems as if there is something truly wrong with him.
[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is concerned for Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation.’]
[Constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is swearing at the ‘Demon King of Lust and Fury.’]
[Constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is yearning for the ‘Demon King of Lust and Fury’s bloody death.]
[Several constellations are interested in the current state of the ‘Demon King of Salvation.’]
[Oh, look.] Asmodeus smiles, glancing up at the sky. [It seems as if you can still provide entertainment like this.]
“Better than you ever could, at least.” Despite him cradling his head, as if in pain, Kim Dokja still manages to make a retort. He’s also still trembling in his place.
Yoo Joonghyuk should probably do something at the moment. He should probably pull out his own weapon, and start cutting down Asmodeus right where he stood. He should probably help fix whatever was wrong with the fool now, and get rid of the mess that was going on.
But, for some reason, he can’t.
Because he’s still staring, and he’s still frozen in place.
And he still has done nothing to assist the situation.
And among the concerned and gleeful notifications from the observing constellations above, there are others that seemed to share his sentiment.
[Many constellations are surprised by the appearance of Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation.’]
Yes, his appearance.
Because of the little information gathered about the ‘Demon King of Salvation’, Yoo Joonghyuk is certain ‘good-looking’ was not part of them.
Handsome.
Handsome isn’t the right word for Kim Dokja, unfortunately for him.
He would never be something handsome, in his opinion.
Instead, he’s something closer to
beautiful.
With pale, delicate skin that’s as white as snow, clear, dark eyes that shine like obsidian, and the smooth strokes that seemed to draw his face.
He’s beautiful, with a gaze that glimmered like stars.
He’s beautiful, and he looks like salvation draped in a cloak made of the sky.
Yoo Joonghyuk would probably be ashamed, in the future, knowing that he had to stop and merely gawk at his companion the first time he saw his face.
But, Kim Dokja looks like the archangels from Eden and the demon kings from hell had formed a truce in their eons of antagonism, and combined to carve one perfect being.
One perfect being, that seemed so delicate, and yet so sharp at the same time.
“Yoo Joonghyuk,” a voice hisses, and he’s suddenly snapped out of his reverie. “I know you like being horribly unhelpful, but I would very much appreciate it if you could do something about this right now.”
Ah, that’s right.
His companion is in trouble.
This is not the appropriate situation for staring.
Gods, if they make it out unharmed, he would be teased so much for this. Specifically, by Han Sooyoung. She would certainly make fun of him without end. In fact, he can already imagine her shit-eating grin.
This is so embarrassing.
This has never happened before.
This might ruin any ounce of dignity he had before.
[Ah, did I interrupt something?] A sly smile curves across the devil’s face. [My sincerest apologies. I didn’t realize that there was more to your… friendship.]
“Asmodeus.” The dark look that Kim Dokja is giving at the very moment is more impressive than many things he has seen so far from the man. In fact, his glare had never seemed this intense before. “ Shut up .”
[But it’s so interesting. I’ve become quite invested in your story, after all. You can’t blame me for wanting a bit more out of it.]
“There,” Kim Dokja practically bites out the words, “is nothing more to want .”
[If you say so.] Asmodeus grins, chin propped up on his hand.
[The ‘Supreme King’, on the other hand, seems to disagree.]
Yoo Joonghyuk startles at that, swiveling his head to stare at the demon king with a glare of his own.
“Don’t speak nonsense.” He scoffs. Was he that transparent? “Don’t pretend you have an idea of what you’re talking about.”
[Oh, but I do.] The delight on Asmodeus’ face is almost too bright for his eyes. There’s mischief glinting, and he looks as if he was having the time of his life, irritating them here. Irritating him here.
[It’s quite obvious. Everyone can tell.]
“Yoo Joonghyuk.” A cough comes from his kneeling companion, and it’s obvious, from the way he was breathing, that the absence of his skill is taking a toll on him.
“Don’t listen to his bullshit.”
Thank you, Kim Dokja, because he could most definitely not figure that out himself.
“Just get rid– get rid of him already.” Another gasp, followed by a groan.
Under normal circumstances, Yoo Joonghyuk would have reprimanded him and called him pathetic by now. He would have lectured him, and berated him for not being strong enough to handle just existing without one ability.
These are not normal circumstances, though, and right now, he’s not in the mentality to scold the fool without feeling like he’s done something wrong.
[Now, now. ‘Supreme King’ Yoo Joonghyuk, shouldn’t you be thanking me?] A raised eyebrow, accompanied with a knowing smirk. [After all, I did you a favor.]
He scowls at that, and he swore if the buzzing fly that was Asmodeus gave away his thoughts, he would surely not let him see the light of day again.
Favors or not, he is the one who crippled his companion like this. Who made him such a weakened shell of his normal state, who made him look so completely vulnerable.
Favors or not, he would kill him. Or at least, fight him until he stopped bothering them.
Because no one could harm his companions without facing the consequences. Least of all a demon king .
Yoo Joonghyuk steals a glance at Kim Dokja once again– just to see how he’s doing– and successfully loses his train of thought.
‘Ugly’ is quite a horrible word to describe someone so ethereal.
‘Ugly’ can’t be used, with a man with such impossibly long eyelashes, strangely soft lips, and oddly captivating features.
Paired with his slender figure, and the strands of hair that fell perfectly across his head–
– he could potentially be a model. An unconventional one, by male standards. Perhaps not the most popular, or the most good-looking. But he could qualify. He has some height, after all.
Fuck, he thinks miserably, because he’s fallen to a point where even someone like ‘Kim Dokja’ seems attractive.
But then again, he’s not the only one who thinks so.
[Several constellations are looking closely at the appearance of Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation.]
[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ can’t take her eyes off of Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation.’]
So perhaps he’s justified. Just a little bit.
“ Yoo Joonghyuk .”
He’s abruptly snapped back to reality.
“Stop standing around there,” the hitch of a breath, then another wheeze, “and do something, you damn son of a bitch.”
Fucked.
Yoo Joonghyuk is fucked.