Work Text:
Yoo Joonghyuk has to recognize something: Han Sooyoung is a good writer. A great writer, even. He knows it first hand, after reviewing more than a million of her words, intrinsically knowing them by heart now.
If only she could use that gift for something good.
“Fanfiction is an important foundation of society as we know it today.”
A figure wearing eyeglasses moves from side to side of the room, articulating with her hands as she continues the presentation, immersed in her lesson.
“That is why, you youngsters, should be able to enjoy it again! It is only through the creation and consumption of fanfiction that we may restore our society to what it used to be before the Apocalypse!”, she concludes, now facing the classroom full of curious eyes.
Her students are taking notes, focusing on what is being said like it is a saintly word. There is no room for doubt that her authority precedes her.
“Tell me, now: which is the most popular ship of today? Do any of you know?”
A girl wearing a ponytail shyly raises her hand, a little hesitant of answering the question as she looks behind her to a certain brooding man, but going for it regardless as she turns forward again to her professor: “Th-the Supreme King Yoo Joonghyuk and the Ugliest King Kim Dokja!”
“Bingo! Now, what exactly makes this ship attractive?”
Her eyes shimmer, with something akin to excitement as she seems to let go of her shame now.
“The dynamic! For me, it is the dynamic! Tsundere Supreme King slash cocky Ugliest King! The way the Supreme King only gets soft around the Ugliest King! Or how the Ugliest King tries to suppress his feelings, but when it comes to the Supreme King he just can’t help it, and…!”
The young woman continues with her rampage of words as Han Sooyoung listens with eyes closed, hands crossed in front of her chest while nodding along, as if she believed what was being said.
“Yes, yes, that is the spirit I am talking about. Beyond the reason why a ship is popular, the importance of it resides in the feelings it evokes. Our dear Miss Park here is a living proof of it, and I am sure many of you have felt something like that before. Fanfiction, be it romantic or not, has such an effect on us. It is a continuation of life.”
As she talks in front of her desk, the students seem spellbound to the words that leave her mouth. It is something to brag about, after all, being teached by the one and only Han Sooyoung, renowned writer, Black Flames Empress, hero of the scenarios, Architect of the False Last Act…
Irrelevant names for a troublesome individual that only served to boost an already soon-to-explode ego, if you asked Yoo Joonghyuk. She should get less titles and more decorum. But if she had any shame, this would not be happening.
“I have brought some examples with me of popular fanfic tropes that deviate from canon, also known as alternative universes, to analyze today, of our most beloved ship. And of course, it is no class of mine without a twist, so as you may have noticed by the sudden darkness enveloping the room, I have brought with me today the one and only Yoo Joonghyuk to review them with us!”
At that, the classroom explodes in clapping, delighted looks this time turned to him, while his left eye twitches at what the wicked woman just said. He was here today after being pestered for a whole month about giving some explanations about what working with Han Sooyoung was like, not whatever this buffoonery was. He was always going to decline the offer, be it not for a presence even more annoying and haunting than Han Sooyoung. For a second, Yoo Joonghyuk just thinks leaving is the best option, but eventually gives up to the pressure of so many eyes that relied on him.
As such, he walks forward to where Han Sooyoung is.
The woman, falling short to him, just looks up with a wicked cat smile, managing to look even more infernal than usual. A vein pops to the side of his forehead.
“I’ll kill you for this.” He murmurs trying not to be heard by the students, hand to her shoulder as she just shrugs.
“Would not be the first time.”
(...)
Yoo Joonghyuk often thinks of the images of Kim Dokja covered in blood.
He thinks of it just because he has had to see it time and time again for the past week, as the shooting of the Demon King transformation arc has been taxing on them all. All of his fellow actors are exhausted, but the final scene is finally being shot, marking the end of the first ORV season.
They are finally shooting the scene in which his character gets to stab the Demon King, and is desperate for him to not go, holding him in his arms. There is a certain melancholy in knowing something is coming to an end.
It does not matter for this scene is fake, with at least thirty members of the staff focused on them, and scorching artificial lights illuminating their frame. For that short moment of pretending, the fact that he is holding Kim Dokja is real. He squeezes a little harder at the warm body, dreaming of hearts beating as one, and finds himself wishing not for the conditions of these characters' lives, but for the closeness that comes with it.
EXAMPLE ONE: Actor AU
“How would you classify this trope, Yoo Joonghyuk?”
He thinks for a moment, seriously focusing on finding the best words for the students' understanding, despite almost choking on them.
“I guess people can find solace in turning a grim reality into fiction.”
“Spoken like a true professional.”
“Still, low to twist a moment so personal like that.”
Even for you, goes unsaid in the look Yoo Joonghyuk gives to Han Sooyoung, having realized already that this was obviously written by her.
Fuck it, Han Sooyoung imaginarily replies to him, I was there too, it is my right.
(...)
Yoo Joonghyuk is a nasty person. He has a bad temper, does not hesitate to throw punches first and ask questions later, and is a terrible conversationalist. Devoid of any social charm beyond a pretty face.
From the first moment Kim Dokja had the disgrace of meeting eyes with him, he knew he could just not get along with this person. And Yoo Joonghyuk definitely felt the same way. He could die at any moment, for all he cares. It had been shown time and time again that they would rather get the other one killed than ever working together.
Kim Dokja’s bad habit has always been meddling in others businesses. He had not been able to follow the shaman’s advice of keeping to himself, that was for sure. That is why he was now running away with an injured Yoo Joonghyuk on his back with a rain of bullets behind them.
“If we make it out of here alive, you better ask me out on a date!”
EXAMPLE TWO: Enemies to lovers
“Why would you fall in love with someone who tried to kill you?”
“I don’t know, maybe ask Kim Dokja about it.”
(...)
The sound of the bell ringing wakes Kim Dokja from his daydreaming, as the teacher announces the test is now finished and to bring their papers to the desk.
The only thing on his paper are his name, and another name that definitely does not belong to him. Alarmed, he hurries to erase the other name, when the teacher yells at him for taking too long to hand over his paper.
On the other side of the room, a boy finds himself in a similar situation, looking down at his equally empty paper. If you asked him, Yoo Joonghyuk would rather say that he did not study the content rather than admit that he got lost in observing Kim Dokja for the duration of the lecture.
This was the day they both realized what was happening.
Surely, they both had failed the math test, but they still had to win the most important test: love.
EXAMPLE THREE: Highschool AU
“Plain stupid.”
“Hey! It is both the wonders of first love and the spring of school love, how do you not get it?”
“I would not know if the descriptions are correct, I never went to highschool.”
“Yoo Joonghyuk”, Han Sooyoung murmured, concern dyeing her voice, “don’t tell them that. They’ll see you as an unreliable source now.”
(...)
“Kim Dokja, have you eaten yet?”
“Huh?” a weird mumble is all he can give back, finding it hard to process a single thought in such a state.
Without noticing it, Yoo Joonghyuk is right in front of him. How is it that he did not hear his footsteps? Nothing makes much sense at that moment, so he does not even question it when he is being dragged by hand like a lost little kid. Somewhat the sensation is so familiar he should just be used to it by now. No matter how many years go by, it feels natural to come back to that warmth.
Next thing he knows, he is just sitting by the table, unfocused gaze while Yoo Joonghyuk moves in the kitchen like an expert, and did he even have eggs this morning in the fridge? Everything sort of feels like a trance at that point, so maybe in an alternative reality, he did.
The oh so quiet Yoo Joonghyuk, so out of character of him with his cool and mysterious persona, starts talking again at some point while finishing cooking:
“You didn’t have anything to eat at dinner. You take care of everyone, but who is going to take care of you?” The voice reproaches, as if it is something inconceivable.
Moments later, in silence, only the sound of cutlery could be heard. Curiously, the only two sets that could be found in the whole apartment. Curiously, only ever used by the two present that day.
When they finish eating, they find themselves resting on the couch. Yoo Joonghyuk has a hand in Kim Dokja’s hair, making soft circular motions, as the other lays on top of him. Kim Dokja’s eyes are a little red from crying, but at that moment his afflictions seem forgotten to the wind with Yoo Joonghyuk’s presence. A low voice fills the walls of this tiny apartment.
“Can’t you just be mine?”
“I am not an object, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
“I don’t want you like an object… an object you can lose. I want you like a part of me.”
Like a human who can’t live without a beating heart.
EXAMPLE FOUR: Hurt/Comfort
“What appeal do you think this sort of plot has, dear protagonist?”
Yoo Joonghyuk, still focused on the words displayed on the screen, simply does not answer her question, still reading some of the paragraphs of the fanfic.
For a second, Han Sooyoung becomes concerned she may have pushed this too far, but eventually Yoo Joonghyuk comes back to reality, and without sparing her a look, just says:
“Go to the next one.”
(...)
Where were these feelings coming from? What could possess him to feel such a thing? So undignified, a primal thing that made the insides of his mouth ache.
Ever since Kim Dokja presented as a late blooming omega, Yoo Joonghyuk’s alpha has been out of his mind.
He will hover over him, looking down at a pale, unpolished neck. Scent gland there, bare for his eyes to see. Unmarked. Shining in all its glory. His teeth would ache, it looked so easy to just press down. An animalistic kind of impulse took over him, all of his logical restraint being tested by a sniff, torn between human and beast.
He could just sink his teeth on his neck, and pretend it was fate…
EXAMPLE FIVE: Omegaverse AU
As he kept reading over Han Sooyoung’s shoulder, he suddenly arched over her, alarmed at what he was reading next, and shut down the laptop screen with so much force something definitely broke.
“Are you fucking insane?!” The witch had the audacity to ask, with the insolence of looking mad at him. “I was just about to give a double example with the appeal of not safe for wor…!”
“Class dismissed.” He announces, tone of voice leaving no room for bargain.
At the same time he is saying this, a person makes his way inside the classroom, and Yoo Joonghyuk freezes on the spot.
“Oh, is the class over? Sorry, I got the time wrong.” Kim Dokja explains, his hair a little disheveled and nose red from the cold outside. He is wearing a coat Yoo Joonghyuk got for him a year ago on his birthday, one that he thinks now could use an upgrade.
With the sudden intromission, Yoo Joonhyuk clenches his jaw and turns to look at Han Sooyoung again, murderous aura being exuded by every single one of his pores.
Don’t say a word.
She just crosses her arms at that, and gives him an eyeroll.
“Sure thing. Over. Finished. See you guys next week, make sure to do your assigned readings. We will continue this discussion in another moment. Geez, I did not even get to gender swapping.”
Yoo Joonghyuk feels like he can finally breathe again. He is never doing this again.
A hand rests on his shoulder, and he is tempted to brush it off with violence, but refrains himself as she points an accusatory finger at him.
“Now we are even. No need to kill me.”
Kim Dokja just looks at the familiar scene of what seems to be a tacit pact between them, and decides this is not something he will get an answer on, so he just makes his way to their most beloved persons.
“Sorry, sorry. Since I am so late, maybe lunch is on me?” he tries to offer, as if to pacify them.
“Deal.” Han Sooyoung immediately replies.
Yoo Joonghyuk scrunches his nose ever so slightly, barely noticeable for foreign eyes.
“Better leave me to it. I would rather cook than getting those greasy things you both like.”
Scene playing in front of them, the recently dismissed students cannot help but stare at what is happening, fascinated. Not only for having such respected figures in their classroom, but because it now really feels like there is a fanfic playing right there. Yoo Joonghyuk, whose figure seemed intimidating just a minute ago, shifted in mere seconds to a calm species, and they were all seeing it live.
When he noticed that they were not leaving, Yoo Joonghyuk pointed a hard look at them, as a final warning. Many of them had to swallow thick before immediately leaving the room. Maybe not.
This was a waste of my time , he thinks to himself, but is promptly distracted out of his thoughts by Kim Dokja’s laughter at something Han Sooyoung just said, and he cannot help but smile a little too.
The only thing Han Sooyoung may be right about, is that Yoo Joonghyuk has loved Kim Dokja through every universe.