Work Text:
Kim Soleum, whose presence became so deeply incorporated into his life, has become a constant and a natural part of mundanity, an unforeseen development, though not quite unwelcome, and Jay finds himself almost… expecting these visits, even looking forward to it at some point.
Perhaps it’s the treats he comes with, or maybe it’s the way he seeks Jay’s company like an air pocket deep in the ocean.
Normally, employees like to avoid dealing with the security team as much as they can, either not knowing how to deal with them, or simply uncomfortable with their inhuman state, but Kim Soleum is not exactly normal from what he’s heard, and… from what he’s seen.
Though as weary as any other, it’s not… out of distrust, but simply caution, a scarcity in this damned company, but… ah, even if he’s used to it now, it still doesn’t explain how the super rookie ended up sleeping comfortably in the makeshift cot tucked away in the corner of their dingy little office.
“...”
No, in the first place, even though Kim Soleum has been a continued visitor for some time, it’s not in his habits to sleep in strange places, no matter how much he trusts the security team. Even the former supervisor, Park Minsung, ended up putting the man in a dangerous position once, granted it was partly due to third-party interference, but still…
‘Kim Soleum-ssi seems smart enough to exercise caution, former colleague or not…’
Then, there is only one other explanation.
Because Kim Soleum has displayed such exemplary performance, it’s not a secret that the company favors him as a competent employee, and with the number of rumors… Jay can only surmise that the company has been running the poor man ragged since he grew into the super rookie role that can solve any Darkness in a timely and efficient manner.
Perhaps it’s because the man has such a pale complexion, but his eyebags look more prominent now that he looks weary and exhausted, his facial muscles too lax from sleep to form a stoic front, and Jay feels pity towards the frail, overworked man.
‘Then, the reason you’re here…’
He must be hiding, a vain attempt at minimizing workload that the company loves to pile up on his hands, even on his day off. Because of his performance, Kim Soleum is now being exploited by the company, and knowing its nature, they will not hesitate to call for his services regardless of work hours. Similarly, it is also not recommended to get on the company’s bad side, and though it can be attributed to Kim Soleum’s reputation as a diligent worker, his phone remains on hand even as he lies passed out on the cot.
‘What a rotten company…’
Clicking his tongue, Jay falls into a crouch, eyeing the weary lines marring the rare, serene expression on the sleeping man’s face. Like this, Kim Soleum looks much younger, though tired, and Jay comes to understand why D-Squad members are so fond of doting on their youngest like a little lamb lost in the woods.
Recalling all of the stories former Supervisor Badger rambled during break, Jay listens to the soft snores, sighing as he weighs his options.
Disrupting his well-needed rest is out of the question, but no matter how he looks at it, the position seems uncomfortable. Grunting, Jay thinks of the new addition to his team and promptly decides that he does not want to be nagged knowing how the other will fuss over his junior’s sleeping condition.
Sighing in misery from the imagined scenario, Jay slumps into a lean and prepares to wake the younger up from his peaceful slumber, already feeling glum about the situation as he stares at the youthful, stress-laden face of the tired employee.
“Um… Soleum-ssi…?”
No response, other than a small movement to curl in on himself more, causing a halt in Jay’s attempts to shake him awake.
“...”
The corner of his lips twitches, amused.
‘… cute…’
Right, despite his reputation, Kim Soleum carries a certain… innocence, not quite naivety, but some sort of misplaced faith in humanity he’s managed to preserve even after getting hired into such a dubious company. He has a good perception, and an exceptional judgement, yet he carries around a small plush housing a Darkness in his breast pocket like a lucky charm that works in times of crisis.
A walking contradiction, that is.
‘But it’s not a bad thing…’
Rather, it’s charming almost, how he sees Jay and the doll as capable beings he can turn to in dangerous situations. He doesn’t quite show it, but it’s obvious with how he often seeks the little toy from the minuscule gestures Jay manages to catch whenever he finds himself in the same vicinity as the rumored enigma.
Chuckling softly at one particular memory of Kim Soleum expressing relief upon Jay’s arrival, his gaze softens as he recalls how relieved he appeared once his eyes met his. His face never showed it, but it’s obvious with the way tension seems to melt off his shoulders, up until he sees the doppelganger using his face, that is.
As though sensing his thoughts, the little bunny hangs limply from its station. Though it remains immobile in an awkward slump, beady eyes show a clear image of his reflection, looking abnormally threatening for an expressionless doll.
Huh.
Humming, Jay tilts his head in thought.
‘Well, if it values its owner as much as the other, then it probably wouldn’t mind if I moved him into a more comfortable position.’
With that in mind, he goes to nudge the unconscious man into a better posture, coaxing the body to unfurl and lifting it so he won’t end up on the floor. Kim Soleum is unsurprisingly light, making it easy to shift him to the center of the cot without losing a breath, but once he’s laid down more comfortably, Jay finds himself unable to pull away.
With his arms pinned beneath the body, Kim Seleum’s little sighs gently fan his face, even breaths warm against cold skin, and the quiet thumps of heartbeat pounding softly in his ribcage. It’s only with his enhanced hearing that he’s able to listen so closely, and Jay finds himself sapped of energy to extract himself from the cot.
Kim Soleum is a quiet man.
Neither loud nor chatty, quite reserved though polite. The noise he brings is like a low, comforting buzz, a soft clamor that can mercilessly put him to sleep, and the kind of sound Jay can listen to for the rest of his dull, miserable life.
His scent… it’s comforting, and his mere presence is like zephyr in a cloud of smoke, a breath of relief, and a short reprieve in this exhausting life he’s forced to lead. It pulls him, like sail to the wind, and Jay is helpless to the beckoning warmth he exudes.
Inhaling softly, basking under his presence, Jay flutters his eyes to a close, just savoring the moment, breathing in the existence, the entity that is Kim Soleum, and soaking in the tender moment into his system.
As he watches the steady rise and fall of his chest, the doll faces him, somehow keeping contact despite being at the mercy of the owner’s movements; never moving, but looking suspiciously accusing.
Hmm.
With a placid smile, Jay shifts until there is enough space in the cot for another to lie in, moving Kim Soleum around gently until he’s comfortably tucked under his arms, humming a relaxed sigh, and none the wiser.
‘Maybe it won’t mind.’
The doll rests by the pillow, facing the ceiling and a safe distance away from getting squished in their sleep, while the owner sleeps in his loose embrace, bringing a satisfied uplift to his lips.
After all, Jay is only keeping its owner warm.
And with those last tendrils of thought, he lets himself succumb to the comforting pull of slumber, feeling a peace he hasn’t known in a long time, heart at ease, as if a weight was never there.
