Work Text:
Kim Rok Soo stood at the kitchen counter, slicing onions with the precision and seriousness he applied to everything. The usual calm demeanor on his face began to change as his eyes watered uncontrollably. Despite blinking rapidly and trying to wipe his eyes with his sleeve, tears continued to stream down his cheeks.
Choi Jung Soo walked into the kitchen, humming a tune, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of Kim Rok Soo's tear-streaked face. His eyes widened in shock. "Kim Rok Soo, are you... crying?" he asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern and disbelief.
Kim Rok Soo sniffled, trying to compose himself. "It's just the onions," he muttered, blinking furiously to clear his vision.
But Choi Jung Soo wasn't convinced. He'd never seen Kim Rok Soo shed a tear, not even during the most emotionally charged moments. The sight of his stoic friend with tears in his eyes sent him into a mild panic. "What happened? Are you hurt? Did something terrible happen? Are we out of snacks?" he rattled off questions rapidly, his mind racing to the worst possible scenarios.
Kim Rok Soo couldn't help but let out a small, exasperated sigh between sniffles. "Jung Soo, it's just the onions. Really. Besides, why would i cry if we were out of snacks?"
Choi Jung Soo stepped closer ignoring Kim Rok Soo's question, squinting at the offending vegetable. "Onions did this to you?" He grabbed one of the onions and held it up as if it were a culprit in a crime. "I'll never let them get to you again, Rok Soo."
Kim Rok Soo snickered through his watery eyes, appreciating the absurdity and concern in Choi Jung Soo's reaction. "You're overreacting. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" Choi Jung Soo's voice rose a notch. "You don't cry, Rok Soo. You just... don't. Seeing you like this is like seeing a fish walk on land. It's not natural!"
Kim Rok Soo shook his head, amused despite the tears. "I guess there's a first time for everything," he said, wiping his eyes one last time and resuming his chopping.
Choi Jung Soo watched him for a moment longer, then sighed dramatically. "Fine, but next time, I'm doing the onions. You stick to the potatoes or something. I can't handle seeing you like this."
Kim Rok Soo, still blinking away the remnants of his tears, glanced at Choi Jung Soo, who was hovering nearby, still clutching the offending onion. "Jung Soo, why don't you take over the onions?"
Choi Jung Soo's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "You want me to cut the onions?"
Kim Rok Soo nodded, handing him the knife. "Yeah. Just be careful."
Choi Jung Soo puffed out his chest, trying to exude confidence. "No problem. I've got this." He took the knife and the onion, positioning himself at the counter with an air of determination.
Kim Rok Soo stepped back, observing warily. Choi Jung Soo began slicing the onion, his movements awkward and uncertain. He tried to mimic the precise cuts he'd seen Kim Rok Soo make, but it quickly became clear that his skills were severely lacking.
"Uh, Jung Soo, maybe you should—" Kim Rok Soo started, but it was too late.
"Ow!" Choi Jung Soo yelped, dropping the knife and clutching his finger. Blood welled up from a small cut. "I cut myself!"
Kim Rok Soo sighed, stepping forward and taking Choi Jung Soo's hand to inspect the damage. "I told you to be careful. Let's get this cleaned up."
Choi Jung Soo winced, his bravado evaporating. "Sorry, Rok Soo. Guess I'm not cut out for onion duty."
Kim Rok Soo guided him to the sink, running water over the cut. "It's fine. Just hold still." He grabbed a first aid kit from a nearby drawer and quickly dressed the wound. "There. All better."
Choi Jung Soo looked sheepish. "Maybe we should just order takeout next time."
Kim Rok Soo sighed. "Or maybe I should just handle the onions. You're better at... other things."
"Like what?" Choi Jung Soo asked, a bit defensive.
Kim Rok Soo smirked. "Like acting like a clown. Even if it's just at your own expense."
Choi Jung Soo grinned, his mood lifting. "Yeah, I guess I am pretty good at that." He looked at the half-chopped onion and shrugged. "You know, maybe onions just aren't my thing. But hey! at least we know I'm not as tough as you when it comes to crying."
Kim Rok Soo shook his head. "Let's just finish dinner without any more injuries, okay?"
"Deal," Choi Jung Soo agreed, stepping aside to let Kim Rok Soo take over once more. As Kim Rok Soo resumed his chopping, Choi Jung Soo stood by, ready to assist in any way that didn't involve sharp objects.
The battlefield was finally quiet, the echoes of combat fading into the distance. Lee Soo Hyuk moved among his team, checking on their well-being with a practiced eye. His calm and paternal nature ensured that everyone felt reassured despite the exhaustion etched on their faces.
As he approached Kim Rok Soo, he noticed something unusual. Rok Soo's eyes were red and teary, a stark contrast to his usual stoic expression. Lee Soo Hyuk's heart clenched with concern. He hurried over, his protective instincts kicking in.
"Rok Soo, are you okay?" he asked softly, laying a gentle hand on Kim Rok Soo's shoulder. "Are you hurt?"
Kim Rok Soo blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice slightly strained. He rubbed at his eyes, wincing a little.
Lee Soo Hyuk frowned, not convinced. "It's okay to cry, you know. We just went through a lot. You don't always have to be so strong."
Kim Rok Soo looked up, surprised by the genuine concern in Lee Soo Hyuk's eyes. "I'm not crying," he said, his tone exasperated but touched. "It's just some dust or something."
Lee Soo Hyuk raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Dust?"
Kim Rok Soo nodded, blinking again. "Yeah. It got in my eyes during the fight. Really."
Lee Soo Hyuk let out a sigh of relief, though a small part of him still worried. "Alright, if you say so. But let me help you get it out."
Kim Rok Soo hesitated for a moment, then nodded, accepting the offer. Lee Soo Hyuk gently guided him to sit down, carefully inspecting his eyes. "Hold still," he instructed, using a clean cloth to gently wipe away the dust.
As he worked, Choi Jung Soo ambled over, curiosity piqued. "What's going on here? Is Rok Soo crying?"
Kim Rok Soo groaned. "Not you too, Jung Soo. It's just dust."
Choi Jung Soo grinned, unable to resist teasing. "Sure, sure. Dust. Happens to the best of us, I guess."
Lee Soo Hyuk shot Choi Jung Soo a look, silently telling him to back off. "There, that should feel better," he said to Kim Rok Soo, stepping back.
Kim Rok Soo blinked a few times, his vision clearing. "Thanks, hyung. I'm good now."
Lee Soo Hyuk nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just take it easy for a bit. We all need to recover."
As they regrouped with the rest of the team, Choi Jung Soo nudged Kim Rok Soo playfully. "Next time, try to avoid the dusty parts of the battlefield, okay?"
Kim Rok Soo rolled his eyes. "Look who is talking."
Lee Soo Hyuk watched them with a mix of amusement and affection. Despite the grumpiness and the teasing, the bond they shared was undeniable. And even if it was just dust this time, he knew that if the day ever came when Kim Rok Soo did cry, they would all be there for him, just as they always were.
The room was dark and silent, the only sound the occasional rustle of Kim Rok Soo's restless movements in his sleep. His face was contorted in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks as the haunting scenes replayed in his mind.
In his dream, he watched helplessly as Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk fell, their faces twisted in agony. He tried to reach out, to save them, but the nightmare held him back, forcing him to relive their deaths over and over.
"No!" he shouted in his sleep, the word choked and desperate.
The Record of their deaths was unforgiving, blurring the lines between memory and reality. To Kim Rok Soo, it felt all too real, as if he were losing them anew each time.
He awoke with a start, his body jerking upright in bed. His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes still wet with tears. For a moment, he stared blankly ahead, the pain in his chest overwhelming. The room around him felt like a cruel joke, too familiar yet so empty without his friends. Family
But as the seconds ticked by, the intense emotions receded, leaving behind a hollow numbness. Kim Rok Soo wiped his eyes, the tears still falling, but his expression was now cold and emotionless. He had no time for grief, no time to dwell on the past.
He rose from his bed, mechanically going through the motions of his morning routine. Each movement was precise and deliberate, a way to anchor himself in the present. He dressed, fastening his gear with practiced efficiency, every action a testament to the role he had now assumed.
As he strapped on his backpack, the one that contained everything one would need in an apocalypse, he paused for a brief moment. The weight of leadership settled heavily on his shoulders, but he embraced it, using it to push away the remnants of his nightmare.
With a final glance at the empty beds that once belonged to his friends Family, Kim Rok Soo steeled himself and stepped out into the new day. The team depended on him now, and he couldn't afford to falter. The pain, the tears, the memories—they would have to wait.
For now, he was their leader, and he had a job to do.
Bouns scene:
In a realm beyond the mortal world, Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk watched over their beloved dongsaeng.
Their forms slightly translucent but filled with a determined resolve. A large, ornate mirror allowed them to see into the mortal realm, and they focused on Kim Rok Soo, who was tossing and turning around in his bed.
"He's having that nightmare again," Choi Jung Soo said softly, his voice tinged with worry. He reached out as if he could somehow comfort Kim Rok Soo from across the divide.
Lee Soo Hyuk nodded, his expression grim. "He can't tell the difference between the Record and reality. It's tearing him apart."
They watched as Kim Rok Soo cried out in his sleep, his tears streaming down his face. The sight made their own hearts ache, knowing there was little they could do from their current position. When Kim Rok Soo woke with a start, his eyes still wet with tears but his face now emotionless, it only deepened their concern.
"He's burying his feelings," Lee Soo Hyuk murmured. "That's not healthy. He needs to grieve, to process what happened."
Choi Jung Soo clenched his fists. "We should be there for him, not stuck here watching helplessly."
As if sensing their frustration, the god of death appeared. "You wish to help your friend," the god stated.
"Yes," Choi Jung Soo replied, his eyes fierce with determination. "He's suffering, and he needs us."
The god of death considered them for a moment. "Very well, I will allow you to visit him, but only in his dreams. You cannot alter his reality, but you can offer him comfort and guidance."
Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk exchanged a glance, hope flickering in their eyes. "Thank you," Lee Soo Hyuk said, his voice sincere.
The god of death nodded and with a wave of his hand, they found themselves standing beside Kim Rok Soo's bed. Though they were invisible to him, they could feel the weight of their presence.
Kim Rok Soo had risen from his bed, going through his morning routine with mechanical precision. His eyes were still red from crying, but his expression was a mask of cold determination. Choi Jung Soo stepped forward, his heart breaking at the sight.
"Rok Soo," he whispered, knowing his friend couldn't hear him. "It's okay to feel. It's okay to cry."
Lee Soo Hyuk placed a hand on Choi Jung Soo's shoulder. "We'll find a way to reach him. We have to."
As Kim Rok Soo finished dressing and prepared to face the day, Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk followed, silent guardians in the shadow of the god of death. They couldn't change the past, but they would do everything in their power to help their friend find a way to heal.