Work Text:
The battlefield was chaotic, with explosions, monstrous roars, and the shouts of ability users filling the air. Team 1 was in the thick of it, holding their ground against a powerful enemy. Kim Rok Soo was focused, his eyes scanning the area as he directed his teammates from the rear. His mind was a flurry of calculations, planning their next move, when suddenly, everything went wrong.
A monstrous blast of energy shot towards him faster than he could react. It hit him square in the chest, and in a flash of light, he was gone.
“Rok Soo!” Lee Soo Hyuk’s voice boomed over the battlefield as he turned to where Kim Rok Soo had been standing. But all he saw was a space where his friend should have been.
Panic spread quickly among the team as they fought to keep the monsters at bay while desperately looking for any sign of Kim Rok Soo. Choi Jung Soo’s heart pounded in his chest, the familiar weight of fear settling in his stomach. “Where the hell did he go?! Kim Rok Soo!”
“Keep searching!” Lee Soo Hyuk ordered, his voice strained with worry. He couldn’t let himself think of the worst—not yet. They needed to find Rok Soo, and they needed to find him alive.
They fanned out, scouring the area. Choi Jung Soo pushed through the smoke and debris, his eyes darting around in frantic search. He turned a corner, his breath catching as he saw a small figure huddled against a broken wall.
A scrawny, tear-streaked boy, no older than seven, was sitting there, his arms wrapped around his knees, shaking with fear. His clothes were oversized as if they didn’t belong to him, and his face was hidden by his hands.
Choi Jung Soo blinked in confusion, his brain struggling to process the sight before him. “Hey, kid…? What are you doing here?” he asked cautiously, approaching the boy. The child looked up, revealing wide, terrified eyes that were disturbingly familiar.
“Rok Soo?” The name slipped out before he could stop it. The boy’s tear-filled eyes widened even more at the sound, and he let out a choked sob.
“I—I don’t know where I am,” the boy whimpered, his voice small and broken. “I—I’m scared.”
Choi Jung Soo’s heart nearly stopped. He dropped to his knees in front of the child, his mind racing. “Rok Soo… is that your name, kid?”
The boy nodded, tears spilling down his cheeks as he clutched at his oversized shirt. “I—I don’t know what happened. Everything just… changed.”
Before Choi Jung Soo could say anything, Lee Soo Hyuk arrived, his expression dark and intense. He froze when he saw the child, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. “What the…?”
“Hyung, it’s him,” Choi Jung Soo said quietly, his voice trembling. “It’s Rok Soo. That blast… it must have… turned him into a kid.”
Lee Soo Hyuk’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like he didn’t know what to do. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and then crouched down in front of the boy. “Rok Soo… it’s okay. We’re here. We’re going to protect you, alright?”
The boy, still scared and confused, nodded weakly. “Okay,” he whispered.
Lee Soo Hyuk reached out and gently ruffled the boy’s hair, his heart heavy with the sight of his friend—now reduced to this vulnerable state. “You did great, Rok Soo. You held on. Now, let us take care of things.”
Choi Jung Soo stood up, his hands shaking slightly as he clenched them into fists. “We need to get him out of here, hyung. This place isn’t safe.”
Lee Soo Hyuk nodded, already thinking of the best way to retreat while keeping their tiny teammate safe. “You’re right. Let’s move.”
He carefully picked up the small boy, who instinctively wrapped his arms around Lee Soo Hyuk’s neck, seeking comfort. As they made their way back to the rest of the team, Choi Jung Soo couldn’t help but glance back at the battlefield, his chest tightening with worry.
This wasn’t just a physical transformation. Kim Rok Soo’s mind was that of a child now, too, lost and frightened. The challenges ahead were unknown, but one thing was certain: they would do whatever it took to protect him, just as he had always protected them.
As they made their way back to the team’s temporary base, Lee Soo Hyuk could feel the tiny arms of the child around his neck tightening. Kim Rok Soo’s small body trembled with fear and confusion, his head buried in Lee Soo Hyuk’s shoulder.
Choi Jung Soo kept glancing over at them, his mind reeling from the events. The sight of Kim Rok Soo—a man they had always relied on—reduced to a scared child was unsettling. But what unnerved him even more was the possibility that Rok Soo might not remember them.
When they finally reached the team office, Lee Soo Hyuk gently set the boy down on a couch. Kim Rok Soo immediately clung to his arm, his wide eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. Choi Jung Soo sat beside him, offering a reassuring smile despite the worry gnawing at him.
“Rok Soo… do you know who we are?” Lee Soo Hyuk asked softly, his tone careful and measured.
The boy blinked up at him, his eyes still brimming with fear. “I… I don’t know,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I don’t remember anything… except… you were there when I woke up. You and him.” He pointed a small finger at Choi Jung Soo.
Choi Jung Soo forced a smile, trying to keep his tone light. “That’s okay. We’re your friends. We’ll keep you safe.”
Kim Rok Soo hesitated for a moment, his little face scrunching up in confusion. But then, as if deciding to trust the two men in front of him, he nodded slowly and leaned closer to Lee Soo Hyuk, seeking comfort.
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo exchanged a worried glance but didn’t say anything. They both knew that Kim Rok Soo didn’t remember them—not as he used to. But at least he was still clinging to them, seeking protection from the people who were, in some strange way, familiar to him.
“Let’s get you checked out, okay?” Lee Soo Hyuk said gently, standing up and offering his hand. The boy took it without hesitation, holding onto Choi Jung Soo’s hand with his other one.
They led the child down the hall to the team’s medical room, where the team’s healer was waiting.
When they entered the office, the rest of the team was already there, their faces lighting up when they saw the small child with Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo.
“Oh my god, he’s so cute!” one of the team members, Cha Ha Jin, exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and delight.
“Who is that? Where did he come from? You didn't kidnap him, did you, team leader?” another asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Lee Soo Hyuk sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s… Kim Rok Soo.”
A stunned silence fell over the room as the team processed the information. Their sharp, stoic strategist was now a scared, confused child. The healer quickly moved forward, examining the boy while the rest of the team watched with a mix of concern and curiosity.
Kim Rok Soo clung tightly to Lee Soo Hyuk’s arm, his eyes darting nervously around the room as the healer gently checked him over. “Everything looks normal physically,” the healer said after a few minutes. “But his memories… well, it’s clearly regressed.”
Choi Jung Soo knelt down in front of the boy, his voice soft and reassuring. “Hey, Rok Soo. We’re going to take care of you, okay? You don’t have to be scared.”
The boy looked at him, his lower lip trembling slightly. “Promise?” he asked in a small voice.
Choi Jung Soo’s heart twisted at the sight. He forced a smile and nodded. “Promise.”
The rest of the team, seeing the small, vulnerable version of their usually stern and competent strategist, couldn’t help but feel a wave of protectiveness wash over them. It was strange, seeing Kim Rok Soo like this, but it also brought out a softer side in all of them.
“Alright, let’s get him comfortable,” Lee Soo Hyuk said, taking charge. “He’s had a rough day.”
They settled Kim Rok Soo into the team office, where the others quickly surrounded him with attention and care. Despite the situation, there was a sense of warmth in the room as they doted on the small child, trying to make him feel safe and loved.
One of the team members handed him a stuffed animal, which he clutched tightly to his chest. Another offered him some snacks, which he accepted with wide, sparkling eyes.
As the day went on, it became clear that the team was more than willing to embrace this new version of Kim Rok Soo, no matter how strange it felt. They laughed when he smiled shyly at them, and their hearts melted when he started to relax, giggling softly at their antics.
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo stayed close, keeping an eye on him. They were worried that he might go out and get lost somewhere in the company.
After a while of looking after Kim Rok Soo, Choi Jung Soo couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face as he watched the small, scrawny version of Kim Rok Soo standing awkwardly in the middle of the team’s office. The sight of Rok Soo, usually so serious and composed, now reduced to a confused and timid child, tugged at something deep inside him. It reminded him of the times he used to play with his younger cousins back home, back before the world went to hell.
He crouched down in front of the boy, his eyes softening as he took in Rok Soo’s wary expression. “Hey there, kiddo. Are you okay?”
Kim Rok Soo nodded hesitantly, still clutching the stuffed animal someone had given him earlier. He looked up at Choi Jung Soo with big, curious eyes, clearly trying to figure out if he could trust this tall, big, friendly man.
Choi Jung Soo couldn’t resist ruffling the boy’s hair, chuckling when Rok Soo blinked up at him in surprise. “You know, you remind me of my little cousins,” he said, his voice warm with nostalgia. “I used to play with them all the time. They’d run around, causing trouble, just like you probably would if you weren’t so shy right now.”
Rok Soo shifted his weight, glancing down at the floor before peeking back up at Choi Jung Soo. “You… you played with them?” he asked softly, his voice laced with uncertainty.
“Yeah,” Choi Jung Soo said, nodding. “We used to have a lot of fun together. And you know what?” He leaned in closer, his grin widening. “I was their hyung. Just like I’m your hyung.”
The boy tilted his head, confusion knitting his small brow. “Hyung?” he repeated, the word playing on his tongue.
Choi Jung Soo’s smile grew even wider. “That’s right! I’m older than you, so you should call me ‘hyung.’ What do you think?”
Rok Soo bit his lip, considering the request. He didn’t quite understand why this man wanted him to call him that, but something about the way Choi Jung Soo was smiling made him feel… safe. Like he wasn’t alone in this strange, scary place.
“Hyung?” he tried again, his voice small and tentative.
Choi Jung Soo’s heart practically melted at the sound. He reached out and gently patted Rok Soo’s shoulder, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s it! You got it, kiddo.”
Rok Soo blinked at him, a shy smile starting to form on his face. Choi Jung Soo could see the tension slowly draining out of him, replaced by a tiny flicker of trust.
“Come on,” Choi Jung Soo said, standing up and holding out his hand. “Let’s go play for a bit, okay? I’ll teach you some fun games.”
The boy hesitated for a moment, but then he reached up and grabbed Choi Jung Soo’s hand, holding it tightly as they walked over to a corner of the room.
Choi Jung Soo led him to a small area where he had set up a few toys and books, hoping to keep Rok Soo entertained while the rest of the team worked on figuring out how to reverse whatever had happened to him.
As they sat down on the floor, Choi Jung Soo started showing Rok Soo how to build a tower out of blocks, his hands moving slowly to make sure the boy could follow along. Rok Soo watched intently, his small fingers carefully mimicking Choi Jung Soo’s movements.
“See? Just like that,” Choi Jung Soo encouraged, his voice light and cheerful. “You’re doing great, dongsaeng-ah!.”
The boy’s concentration was intense, his little tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth as he carefully placed another block on the tower. When it didn’t fall over, he looked up at Choi Jung Soo with wide, excited eyes.
“Hyung! Look, it’s standing!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
Choi Jung Soo chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair again. “You’re a natural! I knew you had it in you.”
For the next hour, they played together, building towers, drawing pictures, and even chasing each other around the room in a game of tag. Rok Soo’s laughter filled the air, the sound so pure and innocent that it brought a lump to Choi Jung Soo’s throat. It was hard to believe this was the same Kim Rok Soo who usually faced the world with a hardened, distant demeanour.
At one point, Rok Soo crawled into Choi Jung Soo’s lap, resting his head against his chest as he let out a contented sigh. Choi Jung Soo wrapped his arms around the boy, holding him close as he felt a wave of protectiveness wash over him.
“Hyung,” Rok Soo murmured sleepily, his eyes drooping as exhaustion finally caught up with him.
“Yeah, little guy?” Choi Jung Soo whispered back, his voice soft and soothing.
“Thank you… for playing with me.”
Choi Jung Soo smiled, “Anytime, Rok Soo-ah. Anytime.”
As the boy drifted off to sleep in his arms, Choi Jung Soo couldn’t help but think about how strange and wonderful it was to hear Kim Rok Soo—someone he had always respected and admired—call him “Hyung” with such trust and innocence.
It wasn’t the way he had imagined it happening, but somehow, in this moment, it felt right.
For now, he would treasure this rare opportunity to be the hyung that Kim Rok Soo had never allowed him to be before. And when the time came, when Rok Soo was back to his normal self, Choi Jung Soo hoped that a part of this connection would remain, even if just in the small, unspoken ways they looked out for each other.
But for now, he held the boy close, feeling the warmth of his small body against him, and whispered softly, “Sleep well, Rok Soo-ah. Hyung’s here.”
When Kim Rok Soo woke up from his nap, he blinked sleepily, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the room. The warmth of Choi Jung Soo’s embrace was gone, replaced by the cool air of the room. He looked around, confused, until he saw Lee Soo Hyuk crouched next to him, a gentle smile on his face.
"Hey, kiddo," Lee Soo Hyuk said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Rok Soo’s face. "Did you sleep well?"
Rok Soo nodded slowly, still a little groggy. But then his stomach let out a loud growl, and he looked up at Lee Soo Hyuk with wide, embarrassed eyes.
Lee Soo Hyuk chuckled, ruffling Rok Soo’s hair. "Sounds like someone’s hungry. How about we go get something to eat?"
Rok Soo nodded eagerly, already starting to feel more awake at the thought of food. Lee Soo Hyuk stood up and held out his hand, which Rok Soo took without hesitation.
As they headed toward the door, Choi Jung Soo, who had been quietly watching from across the room, quickly stood up and followed them.
"Hey, where do you think you’re going?" Lee Soo Hyuk asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked back at Choi Jung Soo.
Choi Jung Soo puffed out his chest, a playful smirk on his face. "I’m Kim Rok Soo’s hyung! I should always be with him."
Lee Soo Hyuk gasped dramatically, turning to Rok Soo with wide eyes. "Is that true? Did you call him hyung?"
Rok Soo, who was still holding onto Lee Soo Hyuk’s hand, nodded shyly. "Yeah… he’s my hyung."
Choi Jung Soo grinned triumphantly while Lee Soo Hyuk’s eyes narrowed in mock suspicion. "Wait a minute," he said, crouching down to Rok Soo’s level. "If you’re calling him hyung, then shouldn’t you call me hyung too? After all, I’m older than him."
Rok Soo looked at Lee Soo Hyuk, then at Choi Jung Soo, his little mind working through the logic. Finally, he nodded slowly, agreeing. "Okay… Hyung."
Lee Soo Hyuk’s face lit up with joy, and before anyone could react, he scooped Rok Soo up and lifted him onto his shoulders. "Yes! Finally!" he cheered, twirling around with Rok Soo laughing and clinging to him.
Choi Jung Soo crossed his arms, pouting slightly. "Hey, I was his hyung first!"
Lee Soo Hyuk ignored him, still over the moon as he carried Rok Soo out of the building and down the street, heading toward the nearest restaurant. Choi Jung Soo followed behind them, muttering under his breath about how unfair it was that Lee Soo Hyuk always had to one-up him.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Lee Soo Hyuk carefully set Rok Soo down, crouching next to him again. "So, Rok Soo-ya, what do you want to eat? You get to choose today."
Rok Soo looked up at him, eyes wide with excitement at the idea of being able to choose whatever he wanted. He thought hard for a moment before pointing at the menu. "I want… that!" he said, his voice full of enthusiasm.
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo both leaned in to see what he was pointing at, and they both burst out laughing when they saw it was the children’s meal with all the fun little extras
"Good choice," Lee Soo Hyuk said, ruffling his hair again. "Let’s get that for you, then."
They ordered the meal, and when the food arrived, Rok Soo’s eyes lit up as he saw the colourful plate in front of him. He eagerly dug in, and both Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo couldn’t help but smile as they watched him eat, their hearts warming at the sight of him so happy and carefree.
As they ate, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo kept up a lighthearted conversation, making sure to include Rok Soo whenever they could. And though Rok Soo was mostly focused on his food, he would occasionally look up at the two of them, a small smile tugging at his lips.
For a brief moment, all the chaos and danger of their world seemed to fade away, replaced by the simple joy of being together, sharing a meal, and watching over the little version of their friend who, for now, was just a happy, innocent child.
As they sat there, laughing and eating together, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo both silently vowed to protect this precious version of Kim Rok Soo for as long as they could.
As the day wound down, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo made their way back to their apartment, Kim Rok Soo in tow. It had been a long and eventful day, filled with unexpected surprises and laughter, and now it was time to relax.
When they got inside, Choi Jung Soo stretched his arms above his head, letting out a loud yawn. "Man, I'm starving. Let's order something to eat."
Lee Soo Hyuk nodded in agreement, ruffling Rok Soo’s hair as he guided him toward the living room. "How about chicken and beer? Sounds good?"
Rok Soo, still holding onto Lee Soo Hyuk’s hand, looked up at him with wide, eager eyes. "Can I have beer too, hyung?"
Choi Jung Soo burst out laughing from the kitchen as he fished his phone out to place the order. "You're just a kid, Rok Soo. You can’t have beer."
Rok Soo pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "But you said it was good…"
Lee Soo Hyuk crouched down in front of him, smiling softly as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "It is, but it’s for grown-ups. How about you stick with some juice instead? I’ll get you the best kind."
Rok Soo’s pout deepened, but he didn’t argue. He just nodded slowly, clearly disappointed but trusting his hyungs' decision. Choi Jung Soo grinned as he watched the scene unfold, amused by how cute the usually stoic Kim Rok Soo was in his childlike form.
It didn’t take long for the food to arrive. They all gathered around the low table in the living room, the smell of fried chicken filling the apartment. Lee Soo Hyuk poured himself and Choi Jung Soo a glass of beer each, while Rok Soo got a tall glass of orange juice.
They dug in, the atmosphere light and relaxed as they chatted about their day. Rok Soo, with his smaller appetite, focused mainly on his chicken, but he couldn’t help but eye the beer from time to time, still a little curious about what made it so special.
At one point, Choi Jung Soo caught him staring and couldn’t hold back his laughter. "Stop looking at it like that, Rok Soo! You’ll get to try it when you’re older."
Rok Soo pouted again, his cheeks puffing out as he sulked. Lee Soo Hyuk chuckled, reaching out to pat his head. "You’re cute when you pout, you know that?"
Rok Soo huffed, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, unable to stay mad for long. The sight of his reaction only made Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk laugh harder, their hearts warming at how different this small version of Rok Soo was from the one they knew.
After dinner, they cleaned up the table together, and then it was time to get Rok Soo ready for bed. Choi Jung Soo helped him change into some comfortable pyjamas, while Lee Soo Hyuk prepared the bed.
Usually, Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo share a bed, with Choi Jung Soo clinging to him all night and snoring loudly in his ear. But tonight was different. As they settled into the bedroom, Rok Soo suddenly looked up at Lee Soo Hyuk, his small hands clutching the hem of his shirt.
"Hyung," he said quietly, his voice soft. "Can you sleep with us tonight?"
Lee Soo Hyuk blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the request. But then he smiled, nodding as he gently ruffled Rok Soo’s hair. "Of course, kiddo."
Choi Jung Soo, already sitting on the bed, grinned widely. "Guess we’re all sleeping together tonight, huh? This is gonna be fun."
Rok Soo climbed into the bed, settling in the middle as Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk took their places on either side of him. Rok Soo snuggled into the blankets, a content smile on his face as he felt the warmth of his hyungs on either side.
Lee Soo Hyuk reached over, gently brushing a strand of hair from Rok Soo’s forehead. "Sleep tight, okay, Rok Soo?"
Rok Soo nodded sleepily, already starting to drift off as Choi Jung Soo wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.
As the room fell into a comfortable silence, the soft breathing of his two hyungs lulled Rok Soo into a deep sleep, feeling safe and loved. And as they all lay there together, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo exchanged a glance over Rok Soo’s head, both of them silently vowing to protect this small, innocent version of their friend for as long as they could.
The night passed peacefully, and for the first time in a long while, all three of them slept soundly, their hearts light and their worries momentarily forgotten.
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Kim Rok Soo stirred, slowly waking from a deep, restful sleep. As he blinked his eyes open, he felt something was off. The bed felt unusually crowded, and there was a warmth on either side of him that wasn’t usually there.
He turned his head slightly, only to find Choi Jung Soo snoring loudly right next to him, an arm draped over his chest. On the other side, Lee Soo Hyuk was still fast asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful.
Confused, Rok Soo shifted slightly, and that’s when the memories from the day before came flooding back.
The battle. The monster’s ability. Turning into a child. Clinging to both of them for comfort. Asking Lee Soo Hyuk to sleep with them. Drinking juice while they had a beer.
He felt his face flush with embarrassment as everything came rushing back. Slowly, he extracted himself from the tangle of limbs, careful not to wake either of them and got out of bed.
Rok Soo glanced back at the two still-sleeping figures, his heart pounding in his chest. The whole experience had been mortifying. The way he had acted, the things he had said… He wanted to dig a hole and hide in it forever.
He tiptoed out of the room, hoping to get some time to himself to collect his thoughts. But as soon as he stepped into the living room, he heard a soft chuckle.
“Good morning, kiddo.”
Rok Soo froze, turning slowly to find Lee Soo Hyuk leaning against the kitchen counter, a cup of coffee in his hand, and a teasing smile on his lips. Choi Jung Soo was standing next to him, grinning from ear to ear.
'When the hell did they wake up?!'
“Had a good night’s sleep, Rok Soo-ya?” Choi Jung Soo teased, waggling his eyebrows. “Dream of anything fun?”
Rok Soo felt his face heat up even more. “Shut up,” he mumbled, trying to avoid their gazes as he headed toward the bathroom.
“Aw, come on, don’t be like that,” Choi Jung Soo said, stepping in front of him to block his path. “You were so cute yesterday, you know that? Calling us hyung and everything. Why don’t you do that now, huh?”
Rok Soo’s eyes widened in horror. “No way,” he said firmly, shaking his head. “That was… That was just because of the situation. It doesn’t count.”
Lee Soo Hyuk took a sip of his coffee, watching him with an amused expression. “You sure? I think it suits you. Maybe you should call us hyung more often.”
Rok Soo groaned, burying his face in his hands. “This is a nightmare. I’m never living this down, am I?”
Choi Jung Soo laughed, patting him on the back. “Nah, don’t worry about it. We’re just teasing you. But, for the record, you did make an adorable kid.”
Rok Soo shot him a glare, but it was hard to maintain his usual stoic demeanour with how embarrassed he felt. “I’m going to pretend yesterday never happened,” he muttered, finally managing to push past Choi Jung Soo to head for the bathroom.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, kiddo,” Lee Soo Hyuk called after him, clearly enjoying this rare opportunity to see Kim Rok Soo so flustered.
As the bathroom door clicked shut, Rok Soo leaned against it, taking a deep breath. He could still hear the soft laughter of his teammates on the other side, and despite his embarrassment, he felt a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
They were teasing him, sure, but it was all in good fun. It was just their way of showing they cared. And as much as he wanted to dig a hole and hide, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for them.
But there was no way he was ever calling them hyung again. That much was certain.
As Rok Soo splashed cold water on his face, trying to wash away the lingering embarrassment, he took a moment to collect himself. The events of the previous day were still fresh in his mind—how he’d been turned into a child and how Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk had taken care of him like he was their little brother.
The worst part wasn’t the transformation or the battle. It was the vulnerability, the way he had clung to them, relying on their comfort in a way he never would have if he were in his right mind. And the fact that he had called them hyung—that was the real kicker.
He dried his face with a towel, staring at his reflection in the mirror. “I’m never going to live this down,” he muttered to himself.
When Rok Soo finally emerged from the bathroom, he found Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo sitting at the kitchen table, breakfast already laid out. The smell of freshly cooked pancakes and the two of them looked up as he approached.
“Feeling better?” Lee Soo Hyuk asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rok Soo nodded, trying to act nonchalant. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Good, because we’ve got a lot to talk about,” Lee Soo Hyuk said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “We need to debrief about what happened yesterday and figure out what that monster’s ability was. It’s not every day you turn into a kid, you know?”
Choi Jung Soo snickered. “Yeah, and we need to make sure it never happens again. I mean, I don’t mind taking care of a little Rok Soo, but I think one day was enough.”
Rok Soo shot him a glare. “I’m fine now. Can we just move on?”
“Sure, sure,” Choi Jung Soo said, holding up his hands in surrender. “But you’ve got to admit, you were kind of cute.”
Rok Soo sighed, knowing there was no winning with these two. He took a seat at the table, grabbing a piece(?) of pancake. “Let’s just focus on the mission, okay?”
Lee Soo Hyuk nodded, but there was still a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Right. We’ll go over everything in a bit. But first, eat. You were pretty worn out yesterday.”
As they ate, the teasing gradually died down, and the atmosphere became more comfortable. Despite everything, Rok Soo found himself relaxing, the tension from the morning starting to fade away.
It wasn’t until they were finishing up breakfast that Lee Soo Hyuk spoke again, his voice more gentle this time. “You know, Rok Soo, you did well yesterday. Even in that state, you kept your head and didn’t panic. That’s not easy.”
Rok Soo looked up, surprised by the praise. “I… Thanks, hyu—” He caught himself just in time, his face heating up again. “I mean, thanks, team leader.”
Choi Jung Soo grinned. “Almost got you there.”
Rok Soo scowled, but there was no real heat behind it. “Whatever.”
After breakfast, they spent the rest of the morning going over the details of the battle, analyzing what had happened and strategizing for the future. But even as they focused on their work, the memory of the previous day lingered in the back of Rok Soo’s mind.
As they wrapped up their discussion, Lee Soo Hyuk clapped Rok Soo on the shoulder. “You know, you’re not alone in this, Rok Soo. We’re a team. We’ve got your back.”
Rok Soo nodded, the weight of his earlier embarrassment finally starting to lift. “Yeah, I know.”
“And if you ever need to talk, or… you know, if you ever feel like calling us hyung again,” Choi Jung Soo said with a wink, “we’re here.”
Rok Soo rolled his eyes, “Don’t hold your breath.”
They spent the rest of the day together, going through their usual routines and preparing for whatever came next. As the sun set and they settled in for the night, Rok Soo couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for the people around him.
He had lost so much over the years, but somehow, he had gained something even more valuable in return—a family he could rely on, even when things got tough.
And no matter how much they teased him, he knew they felt the same way.
That night, as he lay in bed, Rok Soo stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the day before. Maybe he wouldn’t forget what happened, but he could live with it. After all, it wasn’t so bad, having people who cared about him like that.
With a sigh, he turned over, pulling the blanket up to his chin. “Hyung, huh?” he whispered to himself, a small smile on his lips as he drifted off to sleep.