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It had been a few days since his first meetup with Thanos, and he had yet to text him anything. Dae-ho kept checking his phone periodically throughout the day, multitasking while doing mundane tasks throughout his house.
A small part of him was starting to wonder if he should be the one to send him something first, but he didn't know whether the ghoul would actually even be okay with any form of communication between them again.
He sighed, looking down at the phone in his hands as worry settled into the pit of his stomach.
'Should I… should I text him?'
…
After a bit more time going back and forth between feeling anxious and feeling like he's being ridiculous, Dae-ho let out a resigned sigh and opened up his contacts.
Choi Su-bong, the contact read. He stared down at the name, his thumb hovering over the screen and a small lump of nervousness sitting in his stomach as he debated on whether or not he should actually text him.
'What if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore?' He thought. 'Maybe I was a bit annoying…'
Dae-ho took a deep breath, steeling himself and trying to calm his suddenly racing heartbeat.
'Okay… okay… just… calm down, dude.' he told himself . 'Just send a text, it's okay. No big deal.'
He took another deep breath as he typed into the message box: "Hey, it's Dae-ho. Just checking to see how you're doing. :)"
Satisfied with his text, he hit send. His heart began to pound against his chest once more, his stomach fluttering nervously.
A few minutes passed by, and Dae-ho's anxiety heightened the more time ticked by without a response. He was beginning to wonder if maybe he was bothering the ghoul, if he was maybe coming off as intrusive or annoying.
'Ugh, why is this so damn nerve-wracking—?' He thought to himself, his stomach churning with worry. He kept checking his phone for any notification from Thanos, his eyes glued to the screen like a hawk.
And then… he watched as the typing bubble appeared.
Dae-ho felt himself freeze, staring at the screen. His heart was beating out of his chest, his stomach doing flips in his stomach as anxiety and hope fought over his mind.
'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god—' He thought. 'Stay calm, stay calm, STAY CALM.’
He sat there, waiting. Watching.
He watched the bubble pop up and disappear a few times, but didn't reply. A feeling of unease began to settle in the pit of his stomach, a small frown spreading across his lips.
He waited, and waited, and waited, and he tried to stay calm by looking for some other things on his phone, to keep busy and pass the time.
Time passed by, the seconds ticking by. The minutes.
And then…
‘Hey. Back hurts.’
Dae-ho's expression instantly lightened when he saw that message appear. Oh, thank goodness, he had actually texted back. The uneasiness in his stomach instantly cleared away, a small smile coming to his expression.
He quickly typed back. "Oh no!" he sent as a response, his fingers flying across the keys on his phone. "What happened? Are you okay?!"
Another moment of silence, and then the typing bubble lit up again: 'It happns sumtimes when I overwork myself durin fights. Kagune gits sore.’
Oh, his typing was atrocious.
Dae-ho's shoulders immediately slumped in both relief and disappointment. Part of him felt a bit bad for immediately jumping to worry in such a panic… but another part of him felt a bit… guilty, for some reason. That he wasn't able to know or help his pain…
"Oh no, that sucks." Dae-ho was able to type back quickly. "Are you at home, then? You can just soak in a hot bath and relax, that would probably help."
'Yeah, am home now' The ghoul texted back. This time, his response was actually comprehensible, a clear sign that he was locked in at least.
‘Usully Nam-gyu comes and helps out, but he not feeling 2 good 2day. Bath won’t help. Need sumthing else.’
Dae-ho blinked in surprise, a tiny frown appearing on his face. What did Thanos mean, "something else"? Was there something else that would actually help out in a situation like this?
He typed back quickly, his fingers flying over the keys. "Wait, what else would actually help, though?? I'm… I'm pretty sure I don't know if there's something else that could help you."
Another moment of silence. This time, it felt somewhat different. It took him noticeably less time to type out a response, which gave Dae-ho pause.
'Come over.'
…
After a few moments, Dae-ho's brain was working on overdrive, his mind struggling to process the words he had just read.
Did he… did he read that right? Or was he just… seeing things?
Dae-ho's mind came to a full stop. His entire brain seemed to just stop working the second he read that message.
'What…? Come over? He wants me to come over… now?'
His mouth dried up and his palms suddenly became sweaty as he stared at the phone screen.
Did… did he…? Yes. Yes—he was right. He said that. He actually invited him over. The ghoul wanted him to come over to his house…
Dae-ho could not even begin to describe the mix of emotions that were running through his chest. Anxiety, nervousness, excitement… he was both eager, and terrified.
He'd never—never in his life—gone to a total stranger's house before. But something about this felt totally different than a total stranger. It felt… safer. Less strange.
"Okay. I'll be there." Dae-ho typed back. "I’ll need an address.”
A moment passed, and then a series of numbers appeared on his screen. A string of numbers and letters.
The address popped up. Thanos had sent it to him.
Dae-ho was suddenly overcome with a rush of excited nerves, his heart beginning to beat once again. He stared down at the screen, his fingers hovering near the keyboard.
'Okay… okay… it's a real address. He… he actually sent it to me. I'm… I'm actually going to go over to his house.'
The thought alone made him shiver.
"Okay… okay… okay… just keep it cool, Dae-ho." He muttered to himself.
Dae-ho typed back with shaking hands. “Okay, I'll be on my way. See you soon!”
He then quickly hit send, his heart racing with both nervousness and excitement.
It was now or never. He had to get his emotions under control.
He took a few deep, shaky breaths.
Calm down, you can do this. Act normal. Dae-ho thought to himself.
He set aside his phone for a moment, taking a few more deep breaths to calm himself down. After a few moments, he was able to calm himself down enough. He took another pause, looking around his house.
He needed to dress.
Dae-ho glanced out the window. After what seemed like ages, he finally arrived at his destination, parking in the small parking lot. He swallowed down the nervous lump in his throat, taking a deep breath to calm down.
He then took out his phone, looking at the numbers one more time. The small address. He swallowed again, his stomach fluttering.
"Okay… okay… I can do this. I can do this…" He repeated the mantra to himself once more, taking another deep breath and then stepping out of the car.
Dae-ho began walking towards the house, his hands clenching and unclenching nervously. He was shaking… and he felt like a nervous wreck.
But he had to stay calm. Stay cool. He had to act like he wasn't a nervous, blushing mess.
He stopped a few feet from the front door, taking one last, deep breath to steady his nerves. He swallowed again before raising a shaking hand and knocking on the door.
The sounds of footsteps approached the door, from the inside. Dae-ho's skin tingled with anticipation, his heart pounding in his chest as the ghoul's footsteps got closer.
After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing…
Thanos, who was leaning casually against the frame. “Yo.” He nodded his head at him, pushing the door a bit more open for Dae-ho to step inside. “C’mon in, I’ll explain everything you need to know.”
"R-Right…" Dae-ho managed to get out, clearing his throat before following him into the house. "Thank you…" he mumbled, making sure to keep his voice even.
The ghoul nodded, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his baggy hoodie. "No need for that." He said, closing the door with his foot as he began walking a bit deeper into the house. "Just follow me." He called out, his back facing Dae-ho as he led him into the living room.
The house was… surprisingly nice. It looked a bit cold and almost unlived in, but not in a bad way. A comfortable and homey feeling emanated from the room.
Dae-ho swallowed, following Thanos' gaze to the couch that was sitting on the other side of the room.
As they walked, the ghoul casually plopped down on one side of the couch, the leather making a small ‘squeaking’ noise as his weight shifted on it.
He gestured for Dae-ho to sit down on the other side. "Sit." Thanos said, looking back at him over his shoulder. "Make yourself comfortable."
Dae-ho felt his heart race as the ghoul sat down, following suit and sitting down on the other side of the couch. He tried to calm his emotions, taking a deep breath and trying to get comfortable on the leather couch. "Um, uh… thank you." he said quietly, trying to sound relaxed.
He still couldn't stop the fluttering in his stomach, though. He could only hope it wasn't noticeable.
There was a moment of silence. Thanos looked at him, his gaze somewhat unreadable as he seemingly studied his expression.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, a faint frown forming on his face.
"You're nervous." He said bluntly, his tone flat and lacking any form of judgment. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous here! I’ve got an embarrassing favor to ask you…”
Dae-ho swallowed once more, the lump in his throat growing bigger. He tried to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to show his true feelings. He chuckled nervously, trying to come across as more calm. “How embarrassing can it be?”
“… Pretty damn embarrassing, actually…”
Thanos ran a hand through his dyed hair, his eyebrows furrowing with slight frustration.
He took a deep breath, sighing faintly. “Okay… don’t freak out on me here.” He warned, grabbing the ends of his hoodie before raising it up over his head and pulling it off his body completely, leaving his torso exposed.
He tried to remain calm, he really did—but his eyes couldn't help but trace over Thanos' exposed torso, noting the lean muscle and tanned skin. He swallowed, trying to compose himself. God. GOD.
“U-Uh… what are you doing..?”
"I'm showing you what I need help with." The ghoul replied, his expression still somewhat unreadable as he looked down at his own bare torso.
His muscles were taut and toned, a clear sign of his strength and athleticism… but what caught Dae-ho's eyes was a different thing entirely.
There, beside each shoulder blade, were blotchy spots of discolored skin. A pale, faded patch where his kagune normally sprouted from. And it didn’t take long before that same skin began to slowly rip open, the ukaku forming like a butterfly crawling out of its cocoon, except definitely more fleshy. Those familiar looking wings sprouted from their usual spot rather quickly, though not quite spreading out as they should. It was like some of the RC cells have gone stiff, unable to move around properly while ingrown projectiles formed in right next to it.
Dae-ho couldn't even find the words to describe the feeling coursing through his body. He was mesmerized. “O-Oh… i’ve never seen it so up close before…”
"Yeah.” Thanos murmured, staring at the state of his own kagune. His expression was slightly pinched, but there was also a hint of disgust there as well. “Look. Can you see it?“ He asked, gesturing at the areas with his chin. “It’s not spreading out all the way. Some parts are… stuck. This is the type of shit that ukaku users have to put up with, man.” He goes to rub a hand over his face, as if trying to keep himself focused. “I need to be preened.”
"P-Preened?" Dae-ho repeated, his voice cracking slightly. His mind was still trying to process everything that was going on.
He studied the wings of the ghoul's kagune, taking in the details. Thanos was right—he could see the places where areas were stuck, not able to move properly, not spreading out like they should.
It looked almost... painful.
“Like… how birds preen their feathers..?”
Thanos nodded, his jaw tightening as he seemed to struggle to keep his patience. "Yeah. Exactly like that, except a hundred times more embarrassing."
He let out a weary sigh, shifting to turn and look at Dae-ho directly, his wings shuddering slightly with the movement. "Normally, I'd ask my friends, but Nam-gyu is having a bad day. I figured it was better to just ask you. So… can you help me out? I can't really reach the spots to preen them properly."
Dae-ho swallowed, his heart racing. Did that mean... he was going to have to put his hands on Thanos? To actually touch his kagune?
The idea was both nerve-wracking and strangely thrilling, sending a shiver down his spine. He couldn't deny the feeling of excitement that was rushing through him... but he also couldn't deny the nervousness.
"I... I guess i can try." Dae-ho said, trying to keep his voice even.
Thanos nodded, his expression becoming relaxed with the agreement as he shifted once more so that he could lean on the couch with his chin resting on the edge of the seat. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddery breath, back on full display.
“Alright. Just... be gentle and try not to get grossed out, okay? I've got pretty good pain tolerance... but it'll still suck if you mess up.”
Dae-ho took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady himself. He shifted on the couch so that he was sitting closer behind the ghoul, and then reached out with trembling hands. "O-Okay... I'll be careful..."
Dae-ho's fingertips gingerly touched the rough skin of the ukaku, his heart already pounding. It was cool to the touch, the texture somewhat softer than he had expected. He tried to focus on being careful, his mind going momentarily blank.
"S-So, these spots that are stuck... are they in clumps?" he managed to say, his voice shaky.
The ghoul let out a shuddery sigh in response to the light touches, taking a moment before responding. "Yeah..." He muttered, wincing faintly as the fingers carefully prodded the sore skin. "The RC cells have gone all stagnant. It's like they're all... bundled up and tangled at the base. That's why some parts can't break through to unfurl fully..."
Dae-ho nodded slowly, trying to visualize what Thanos was describing. He could still feel the ghoul shudder as his fingers gently traced over the skin, pausing at the base of the kagune.
As he touched the area, he could feel the tense bundle of RC cells that the ghoul was referring to. It was like a clump of tangled-up spaghetti at the base of the kagune, preventing it from fully spreading out.
"I-I think I feel it." Dae-ho spoke, breaking the silence between them.
A faint groan escaped Thanos’ lips as the fingers kept exploring, a mixture of discomfort and relief. The sensation of the clumped-up RC cells being touched seemed to be a bizarre mix of painful and soothing at the same time.
"Yeah... that’s it." He confirmed, his voice strained. “Those damn cells are all tangled up and bunched together. It’s hard to get them untangled and moving again... You’re gonna have to be thorough, y'know."
Dae-ho nodded again, his hands continuing to gently probe the area. He could feel the tension in the ghoul's shoulders, the slight shivers in his muscles. He tried to keep his touch steady, even as his own emotions were starting to swirl.
"I'll... I'll do my best." he said, his voice shaking slightly.
He kept his focus on his task, his fingers working their way into the clump of RC cells. It was like trying to untangle a knotted ball of yarn, but much, much more sensitive. He worked his way up the left side slowly, trying to be as precise as possible with every movement. “Some of these look like they’re about to fall out…” he commented wearily.
Thanos grunted in response, his hands gripping the edge of the couch as the fingers continued their work. He was acutely aware of Dae-ho's touch, the way he tried to be delicate with the tender skin around the kagune.
"You're doing good so far." He said with a hint of strained approval in his voice. "You're being gentle and trying to be thorough... it's just... damn... hurts like hell when they get this way..."
Dae-ho nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line as he continued his ministrations. The praise echoed in his head, spurring him on to be even more careful.
His hands moved up to the mid-point of the kagune, where the clump of RC cells felt even denser. The pain seemed to be worse in this area, as evidenced by the tenseness in Thanos' body. Dae-ho couldn't even imagine how uncomfortable it must feel to deal with this kind of discomfort every time these spots appeared.
"Should I just pluck out the loose ones?" Dae-ho asked quietly.
There was a moment of hesitation before Thanos responded, his voice low and strained. "...yeah." He sighed, his shoulders tensing as his ukaku instinctively tried to shudder. "It's... it's better if you do that... But you have to be careful. Those cells are... sensitive... So, they're more prone to bleeding if you pluck them out wrong."
Dae-ho nodded again, steeling himself mentally before getting ready to pluck out the loose RC cells. His fingers trembled slightly as he gently pinched one of the loose ones, trying to find a good spot to yank it out from.
His heart was pounding in his chest as he focused all of his attention on his task. His mind was a jumbled mess right now -- part of him focused on being careful, the rest of him being hyperaware of the fact that he was touching a living, breathing part of the ghoul.
He swallowed, then took a deep breath.
"Here goes nothing."
Dae-ho plucked out the first loose RC cell as gently as possible, wincing as he heard a faint 'snap' sound and a slight gasp from Thanos. Despite his efforts to be gentle, he could still sense the discomfort and tension in the ghoul's muscles. It was a difficult balancing act, trying to provide some relief while avoiding causing pain or bleeding.
He continued the process, plucking out the stuck and loose RC cells one by one, his fingertips moving carefully and systematically. He had never done anything like this before, and the combination of nerves and concentration was making him feel strangely lightheaded.
Thanos' body tensed and shuddered involuntarily with each RC cell being plucked out. The gasps and hisses of pain that escaped his lips were almost involuntary, his body's natural response to the discomfort of the situation. The ghoul's usually cocky facade was replaced by a vulnerability and discomfort that was almost jarring.
Despite the pain that he was clearly experiencing, he kept his eyes closed and his head resting on the edge of the couch, trying to keep himself focused through it all. His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the couch.
"D-damn... just... just keep going-"
Dae-ho continued his work, his expression one of concentration. Each RC cell that he plucked out made him wince, his stomach clenching in sympathy for the ghoul's pain. But his hands kept working, moving in a steady rhythm as he plucked out one by one.
Despite the discomfort and pain, the ghoul continued to offer encouragement, trying to keep himself focused and to urge Dae-ho to keep going. The air felt thick with tension, and Dae-ho could feel a thin layer of sweat starting to form on his forehead. He eventually got to another bundle of ‘feathers’, gently pushing his index and middle finger into the center before carefully pushing them apart.
He went still the second Thanos’ back arched.
"S-STOP!" The ghoul practically growled, his breath coming in ragged pants as he tried to catch it. "N-Not that spot... D-don't... touch that spot... g-god, you’re as bad as when my mother used to do it!”
Dae-ho flinched violently, freezing in place. A rush of cold ran down his spine as he realized he had overstepped badly.
"S-Sorry, I'm sorry..." he sputtered, pulling his hand back like he had just touched a hot pan. His heart was pounding as he looked down at Thanos' back. "I-I didn't mean... god... I'm sorry... I won't touch that spot again. I won't...."
“Damn right you won’t..” Thanos growled back tersely, his clenched hands now trembling slightly as he tried to steady his breathing. The ghoul’s eyes were screwed shut, his whole body coiled with tension now. It took a few moments before he managed to speak again, his voice strained.
“Just... be careful... That clump is close to the base, it’s... it’s too sensitive. You just need to-”
He took a sharp intake of breath, his body twitching.
“Damn it... just be careful…”
Dae-ho nodded vigorously, the guilt and fear overwhelming him. He could feel how tense the atmosphere was now, and he knew he had messed up big time.
“Okay... I-I understand. I'll be careful. I won’t touch that spot again. I promise.”
He cautiously moved his trembling hands closer to the clump of RC cells that the ghoul had mentioned. He was more careful now... so aware of how much pain his touch could cause, so afraid to make another mistake.
“S-So… your mother used to help you out w-with this..?”
Thanos nodded, though his expression was still pinched with tension. "Yeah... she used to... preen my ukaku like this." He grunted out. "Before she..."
The ghoul's voice trailed off.
There was a brief moment of silence before he spoke again, his voice a little strained. "Y'know... ukaku users need to preen their kagune at least once a month... Otherwise our RC cells get stagnant, and that just makes 'em stick together..." he swallowed dryly before continuing, “she would help out whenever I wouldn’t, but… it wasn’t always nice. It all depended on her mood, I guess. Sometimes she’d be delicate with things, smoothing it all out with love and care… but then, you’d have her bad days…”
One particular memory came to mind, causing Thanos’ lips to twitch with a hint of displeasure.
"There were days where her damn smoking habit would worsen her mood. She’d... she’d get really impatient, you know?" He said, his jaw clenching slightly. "She’d just grab the stuck areas, and just... start plucking away in big handfuls. She just didn't have the patience to go slow and thorough. So I’d sit there, while she just yanks out every single RC cell, until nothing remained... goddamn woman..."
Dae-ho could hear the disdain in the ghoul's voice, and the pain behind the words. He was getting a tiny glimpse into Thanos’ past, a dark and cruel side.
“Th-That sounds... awful.” He said softly, his hands pausing in their movements. “I can’t imagine… she was so rough with you. You were just a kid…” He shook his head, his expression solemn. "Why would she…? I mean, wasn't it painful for you? Or did she just not care?"
Thanos grunted, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Of course it hurt. My goddamn kagune was getting ripped apart. But she just... she used to say it was 'tough love'. She'd tell me it was for my own good, that the sooner it was over with, the better.
"Honestly, some days... some days I'd rather deal with the RC cells sticking together than deal with her plucking like that. It was... yeah, a whole different kind of pain."
Dae-ho winced at the thought. The idea of someone willingly ripping apart such a beautiful, fragile part of a body was barbaric. The fact that Thanos’ own mother did this to him… it was sickening.
“That’s… that's horrible.” Dae-ho murmured, his hands resuming their work on the ghoul's kagune, his touch gentle and careful. He could feel the tension and pain radiating off Su-bong, and he desperately wanted to ease some of his discomfort.
"Yeah... it was horrible." Su-bong admitted quietly, his voice tinged with a mix of pain and resignation. "But it was what I grew up with, you know? It wasn't something I could escape from. I just had to endure it, and try my best to get through the pain. And it wasn’t like I had a father around or anything. Fucker took off real fast after he realized how difficult it would be to raise a kid."
Dae-ho's heart ached for the ghoul, imagining him as a young child, completely dependent on a mother who could be both nurturing and cruel. It made his own upbringing, with his overprotective parents, seem like a paradise in comparison. And the fact that he didn't have a father in his life... it was just tragic.
He listened in silence, his hands continuing their work on the ghoul’s kagune, his touch gentle and light. “…W-Well… despite it being ripped apart so many times, it still looks quite beautiful…”
Su-bong gave a low, bitter laugh, his eyes closing as he leaned his head forward against the couch. "Yeah... I guess it does, huh." he murmured, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"But... y’know, sometimes I wonder if being 'beautiful' is really worth the pain that comes with it. I can barely sleep on my back, I can't put on a t-shirt without worrying about ripping the fabric, and I have to go through this shitty preening routine every goddamn month. And that's if any of my partners are even willing to do it for me…”
The idea of living with a body that was so delicate and sensitive, yet so essential to his existence, was both fascinating and horrifying to Dae-ho. He continued to work carefully on the ghoul's kagune, his touch delicate and precise. "It... it must be so hard for you..." he murmured softly. "I c-can imagine it's frustrating to deal with these complications every month... especially if your help is limited down to uh.. Nam-gyu.”
Su-bong’s eyes flickered open, and he let out a soft, exasperated huff. "Yeah... Nam-gyu can be a real pain to deal with. He's better than most at handling my kagune... but he still gets impatient real fast. And sometimes he forgets to be as careful as he should be."
He grit his teeth as Dae-ho's fingers touched a particularly tender spot, causing his back to arch involuntarily. "Damn it...!"
Dae-ho's heart raced anxiously as the ghoul's back arched, his fingers swiftly withdrawing from the tender spot. "S-Sorry! Sorry... I didn't mean to... I'm trying my best not to hurt you..."
He bit his lip, his hands resting motionless on the ghoul's back for a moment. The thought of Nam-gyu being impatient, or even careless with such a delicate body... it sent a spark of anger through him.
He resumed his work, his touch even more careful than before, almost painfully slow. “Is it usually this tender, or have you been putting this off for a while?”
Su-bong let out a sharp exhale, his body tense and coiled with the effort to try and keep himself still. "It's ... it's always tender to an extent," he admitted through clenched teeth. "But it gets worse when I put it off for too long. And I've been putting this off for way too long..."
He couldn't help but let a low groan escape his lips as another sensitive area was touched. "Goddamnit..! Fuck! It ain’t your fault…”
“I’ll be gentler, I promise…” Dae-ho said softly, his hands moving over the ghoul's kagune with a painstaking slowness. “We’re getting through this, okay? Just try to take deep breaths and focus on something else…”
He paused for a moment, his fingers tracing over a particularly tender area. “Thanos, these spots… look like faint scars. I can see scarring.”
Su-bong's body tensed even more. He knew exactly what Dae-ho was talking about, and he could feel the faint white lines running across his kagune like pale veins.
He took a slow, shaky breath before answering, his voice low and strained. "Y-yeah… scars. That’s what happens when you have a mother that yanks out your cells like she’s trying to start a damn lawn mower."
Dae-ho’s eyes swept over the faint white scars running across the ghoul's kagune, a sense of sadness and anger swelling up in his chest. The fact that Su-bong had undergone such painful and traumatic experiences on a regular basis, throughout his entire life... it was heartbreaking.
The ghoul's own shoulders tensed, his body coiled with the effort to endure the touch.
“S-stop looking at it like that," he grunted. "I don't need your pity... I can feel your sadness from here.”
Dae-ho's expression immediately turned sheepish, as he realized how obvious his concern must have been.
He quickly averted his gaze, his fingers continuing their slow and careful movement over the ghoul's kagune. “I-i wasn't trying to pity you…” he said softly, his voice gentle.
He kept his focus on his task, trying not to let the sight of the scars affect him too much. “I just… I can’t help but feel bad for all the pain you've endured… no one should have to go through that.”
Su-bong let out a huff, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah, well..." He grunted, his jaw clenching slightly. "Life ain't fair, y'know? And it ain’t like I had a choice in the matter."
His words were tinged with a hint of bitterness, as if he had accepted the cruelty of his situation and resigned himself to it. But at the same time, there was a hint of something else... a silent, aching need for… something gentle.
Dae-ho continued to work meticulously on the ghoul's kagune, his touch light as a feather. "I know life's not fair... but it still doesn't make it right." He paused for a moment, his mind working quietly as he spoke gently, "You deserve kindness... compassion..."
Thanos let out a scoff, his body tensing at the words. "Yeah, right… And next you’re gonna tell me that I deserve love and happiness too, huh?" he retorted dryly. “Well, news flash buddy, life ain’t some damn fairy tale. The world is a dark and crueler place than you could ever imagine. Especially for monsters like me, the world’s number one target.”
Dae-ho swallowed back a sharp retort. He knew that the ghoul's words weren't solely directed at him. This was years of resentment and hurt bubbling to the surface, a defense mechanism developed over a lifetime... he couldn't blame him.
But that didn’t mean he had to accept it.
“Maybe life isn’t a damn fairy tale, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have hope for better things.” He said firmly, his hands still working carefully on the ghoul's kagune, his touch almost tender. “It doesn't mean you don’t deserve kindness and compassion.”
“Hope huh?” Su-bong repeated, a scoff escaping his lips. “Is that what you think you’re doing? Helping me find hope? How can you be so damn optimistic when the world is filled with nothing but hate and fear?”
He took a sharp intake of breath as Dae-ho’s fingers worked over a particular tender spot, his body once again tensing up in response. “Ugh...damn it…” he grunted under his breath. “Are you gonna be the person who gives me that shining hope, huh?”
Despite the tension and bitterness in the ghoul's voice, Dae-ho remained composed and focused. He gently navigated around the tender spot, his touch light and considerate.
"I don't know if I'm the one who'll give you hope..." he murmured, his voice soft but firm. "But I wouldn't give up on it so easily."
He continued to work on the ghoul's kagune and spoke gently, "If you keep believing that the world is only filled with hate and fear... then that's all you'll see."
"Easy for you to say... you're human, after all," Thanos replied, his words laced with a hint of venom. "You haven't been targeted for simply existing, hunted down and tormented for being a 'monster.'
Dae-ho's expression softened, a small pang of sympathy forming in his chest. He let out a small sigh before responding, his tone gentle.
"I get it... the world's not easy on you." He admitted quietly. "I can’t begin to understand what it's like to constantly face that kind of treatment every day..."
His hands continued to work on the ghoul's kagune, his touch still careful despite the tension in the air. "But... you can't just give up hope. I’m- I’m not gonna let you.”
"You think you can force hope down my throat, huh?" Su-bong retorted, his voice tinged with a mix of skepticism and defiance. "You think you can just waltz in and say ‘don’t give up hope,’ and suddenly everything’s gonna be sunshine and rainbows? That’s not how life works, buddy."
His body remained tense as Dae-ho's hands kept working on his kagune, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Damn it, I get that, okay?" Dae-ho responded, his own frustration slowly building up. "I’m not stupid, you know. I know it’s not easy. I know I can't just snap my fingers and cure your problems. I’ve lived a pretty cushy life. I know that."
His words were sharp, but his hands were still careful with the ghoul's kagune. "But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop trying to help you, you stubborn bastard."
Su-bong's body stiffened, and he let out an exasperated grunt. "Ugh, you're like a damn dog with a bone, aren’t you?" he retorted, the insult half-hearted. "F-fine, keep trying. Keep wasting your time on me. See if I care…"
Despite his words, there was a hint of resignation in his tone.
Dae-ho rolled his eyes, a mix of annoyance and affection evident in his expression. He continued to work on the ghoul’s kagune, his touch gentle despite the tension between them.
"You’re damn right I’m stubborn. I’m not giving up on you," he muttered softly. "And I don’t consider this a waste of time. It’s just another challenge. And besides..."
He let out a small huff, his words tinged with a hint of defiance. "This is quite therapeutic for me. It’s like tidying up actual bird wings…”
Su-bong's expression softened, a hint of amusement flickered across his face. “Tidying up bird wings, huh?" he muttered, his tone a bit lighter. “You're more messed up than I thought.”
Dae-ho feigned offense, his mouth forming a small pout. “Hey, I take pride in my weird quirk.” He retorted, his voice laced with playful annoyance.
He leaned forward, his hands still working diligently on the ghoul’s kagune, a smirk tugging on his lips. “And yet, here you are, letting me handle your precious kagune like it’s a piece of fine porcelain.”
Su-bong huffed out a sarcastic laugh, his usual attitude returning. "Precious kagune," he repeated with a mock smirk. "You’d think it’s worth a fortune, the way you're handling it so carefully."
He paused for a moment, a flicker of genuine curiosity in his voice. "Is it really that interesting to you? My ukaku? I know you’ve already fawned over it in the past, but… c’mon. You’ll eventually get tired of seeing it. I sure as shit have.”
Dae-ho’s fingers paused for a moment, his expression turning contemplative.
"I won’t deny it," he admitted, his voice serious for once. "Your kagune is absolutely mesmerizing. And it’s more than just the visuals. It’s a part of you. A part of what makes you who you are. And that... that's what I find fascinating. That’s what I'll never get tired of."
Su-bong's expression softened, his usual defensive attitude faltering for a moment.
"Y-you’re one weird bastard, Dae-ho…” he muttered, an edge of confusion in his voice. "Most people would run away in terror if they saw it. But you… you’re like a damn moth drawn to a flame. You’re gonna get burnt one of these days."
Dae-ho shrugged nonchalantly, his tone light but sincere. "I guess I'm just a little thrill-seeker."
He paused for a moment, his hands resuming their work on the ghoul's kagune. "And besides, I don't think your ukaku is like a flame. It's more like... an aurora. A beautiful, mesmerizing, and potentially dangerous phenomenon."
He let out a small chuckle, his voice laced with a hint of irony. "And I guess I'm just drawn to beautiful and dangerous things."
A huff of amusement escaped Su-bong's lips. "An aurora, huh?" he chuckled darkly. "That’s… unexpectedly poetic."
He winced slightly as Dae-ho's fingers brushed against a particularly tender spot, his body involuntarily jerking in response. "Damn it..." he muttered through clenched teeth. "You're surprisingly gentle… for someone who admits to being a thrill-seeker."
Dae-ho gave a small smirk, his touch becoming even more careful. “Oh, I have layers, you know.”
His hands navigated around the sensitive area, his fingers moving with practiced precision. "And yeah, I’m a thrill-seeker... but even thrill-seekers know better than to be unnecessarily rough," he added, his tone a bit chiding.
He paused for a moment, his gaze focused on the ghoul’s kagune. "You know... I don't get how something so sharp can be so... smooth and soft... at the same time..."
Thanos let out a low grumble, his tone still tinged with skepticism. "Y-you find everything fascinating, don’t you? Even this…" he muttered, gesturing towards his ukaku.
Dae-ho's gaze flickered to meet Su-bong's eyes, the playful glint in his expression replaced with a hint of curiosity.
"Yeah, I do." He replied simply, his voice tinged with sincerity. "But not just your ukaku. You. I find you fascinating."
He continued to work on the ghoul’s kagune, his touch more tender than ever. "You're... different. Unique. And I'm not just talking about your kagune. I mean... you."
Su-bong's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and vulnerability flickered across his face. He let out a scoff, trying to play it off as nonchalantly as possible. "You’ve really got a screw loose, man." he muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of skepticism and defensiveness. "What’s so fascinating about me?"
Dae-ho's smirk widened, his touch never faltering as he continued working on his kagune. "Oh, where do I begin?" he mused, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe it’s because you’re stubborn as a mule, with a personality that would give anyone a headache…"
He paused for a moment, his tone turning more serious. "But there's also the fact that you're unapologetically you. You don't hide who you are... and there's something admirable about that."
Su-bong's expression wavered between annoyance and a hint of surprise, his usual defiant attitude momentarily faltering.
He let out a gruff grunt, his tone gruffly defensive. "Damn right I’m unapologetic." He replied with a small scoff. "Why should I hide who I am? Being anything else would just be... pathetic."
Dae-ho nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the ghoul's ukaku as his fingers glided over it with practiced ease. "You're absolutely right.”
He continued working on the kagune, his touch gentle and yet firm. "Being yourself is a form of courage that not many people have. It takes strength... especially for someone in your position."
He looked up, meeting the ghoul’s gaze with a sly grin. "Guess that’s just another thing I find fascinating about you, hm?"
Su-bong huffed out a small laugh, his usual defiant demeanor slowly cracking under Dae-ho's relentless charm and sincere words. “Alright, alright." He muttered, a hint of reluctant amusement in his voice. "So you find me fascinating and courageous. Anything else you want to add to the list, buddy?"
Dae-ho chuckled, his expression turning impish. "Oh, there's quite a few things I could add to the list.”
He continued working his hands, his touch becoming even more tender. "You're incredibly resilient, for one. Despite everything you’ve been through... you're still here, and you're still fighting. That's an admirable trait."
He paused for a moment, his tone softening. "And... honestly, you're not a bad guy once you get past the rough exterior. In fact... You’re kind of... endearing."
Su-bong's expression faltered for a moment, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his typically defiant demeanor. "E-endearing?" He repeated, his voice cracking slightly as he tried to mask his surprise with a scoff.
He averted his gaze, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "You find a monster endearing…" he muttered almost incredulously, his voice tinged with a hint of disbelief.
Dae-ho smirked, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Yep. Endearing." He confirmed, his tone light but sincere.
He moved his hands, working on a particularly stubborn spot on the ukaku. "And I don’t see a monster when I look at you. I see a man who's been dealt a tough hand and is trying to survive in a world that's against him."
He paused for a moment, his expression softening. "But yeah... I’m glad that I know you.”
Su-bong's expression wavered, a mix of emotions flickering across his face. He clearly wasn't used to this… kindness. This gentleness. This… affection.
He let out a huff, trying to maintain his usual facade, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his voice when he spoke. "You’re a damn idiot." he muttered weakly. "Fawning over a ghoul…. You’re crazy." His body repositioned itself so that he’s lying on his side, bringing his knees up to his chest. “…I think you’re good to stop now. With the preening, I mean. I feel… better.”
Dae-ho's heart swelled at the sight of Su-bong's vulnerability. He knew that this ghoul wasn't used to being treated kindly, especially not by a human.
He nodded in understanding, his hands ceasing their movement. "Alright, sounds good."
The room fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, the atmosphere thick with a strange tension neither of them could really pinpoint.
Su-bong continued to lie on his side, staring at the floor, his expression pensive. It was clear that the ghoul was wrestling with his feelings, torn between his usual defiant attitude and the unfamiliar flutter of affection forming in his chest.
“…I feel like a shitty host. I’d offer you food, but it’s nothing that you would ever eat. And you don’t strike me as someone who would drink black coffee.”
Dae-ho let out a small huff of laughter, shaking his head lightly. "Don't worry about it. I’m not really hungry anyway."
He took a seat on the floor, his gaze fixed on Su-bong’s form. "And coffee? No thanks, black coffee is the devil's drink. No, give me sugar and milk any day." He fell quiet for a moment, just observing the ghoul's expression. He didn’t want to push him too far.
He leaned back against the wall, his hands casually in his pockets. "You know, you don't have to be on the defence all the time with me." he said quietly, his gaze never leaving the ghoul.
He understood that Su-bong was used to guarding himself, to being on edge at all times in a world that wanted him dead. But right now, in this quiet room with just the two of them, Dae-ho hoped that maybe... just maybe… the ghoul could let his guard down, even if just a little.
Thanos let out a sigh, bringing up a hand to run it through his wild purple hair. “It’s hard not to.” He admitted softly, his usual gruff voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. “This… whatever this is… it’s new to me. You’re new to me…”
Dae-ho let a small smile form on his lips, his heart fluttering lightly. “Yeah, I figured as much…”
He shifted his position slightly, his gaze still fixed on Su-bong's form. "You're not used to kindness or affection. You're used to fighting and surviving... To being tough and guarded." He paused for a moment, his tone soft but genuine. "But maybe... maybe it doesn't have to be that way. With me, at least."
Thanos huffed out a small laugh, his tone tinged with a mixture of sarcasm and defensiveness. “You make it sound so easy… like it’s just a switch I can turn on and off…” He turned his gaze away, avoiding Dae-ho's gaze. “It’s not that simple…”
Dae-ho leaned forward slightly, his gaze gentle but determined. "I know it's not that easy." he replied softly.
He knew that Su-bong couldn't just switch off years of survival instincts and defensiveness all of a sudden. That would be impossible.
He let out a soft sigh, his fingers gently running over the surface of the couch cushions. "But it's a start, right? Letting me treat you like this, letting me be gentle... That's a start?"
Thanos let out a breath, his usual gruff voice turning almost tentative. "It’s... a start, yeah." He admitted softly, his gaze flickering towards Dae-ho for a moment before darting away again. "But don't expect the miracles, you idiot..."
Dae-ho couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape his lips. "I would never expect miracles from you." he replied, his tone light and playful.
He shifted his position again, moving just a bit closer to the ghoul. "But I'll take what I can get. As long as you're not trying to bite my head off, I'll consider it progress."
Su-bong let out a small scoff, his usual scowl almost faltering into a small smirk. "Oh, don't tempt me. I can still bite your head off any time I want."
He shifted his position as well, his body turning towards Dae-ho as if his body is being drawn to him subconsciously. "Just because I'm letting you be gentle with me doesn’t mean I'm completely harmless, bro.”
Dae-ho raised an eyebrow, his expression turning playful. "Oh, I have no doubt about that. I know how dangerous you can get." he said, his voice tinged with amusement.
He leaned back on one arm, his gaze fixed on the ghoul. "But I'm also pretty sure I can handle it."
His tone was confident, but at the same time, he knew better than to underestimate a ghoul. He was aware of the risk he was taking, but for some reason... he wasn't afraid.
Su-bong let out a scoff mixed with a chuckle, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're one confident bastard, huh?"
He leaned back into the couch, his body language still slightly guarded, yet oddly comfortable in Dae-ho's presence. "Fine, whatever. If you wanna start ‘bonding’, then we’ll bond.”
Dae-ho's eyes gleamed with excitement. Getting the guy to agree was more than he'd hoped for. "Great." he said, his tone light yet full of anticipation. "Now, where to start…” he murmured, tapping his chin slowly.
Su-bong raised an eyebrow, his usual cynical expression slightly amused by Dae-ho's enthusiasm. "You're way too excited about this…”
He let out a scoff, his usual gruff demeanor masking a hint of curiosity. "This is a first for me, you know. Getting all buddy-buddy with a human. So... I kinda don't know what to do either, bro.” He goes to snap his fingers, sitting up straighter. “Oooh! I know a place. It’s an underground bar, I like to go there sometimes with Nam-gyu when he’s not busy.”
Dae-ho tilted his head slightly, his interest piqued. "Underground bar, huh? Sounds sketchy." he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.
He was ready for anything as long as it included the ghoul. "Is Nam-gyu going to be joining us?" he asked curiously, a small hint of jealousy in his voice that he tried to disguise as innocence.
Thanos shook his head, his reply almost dismissive. "Nah, he won’t be joining. Like I said, he's too busy with his own stuff."
He shifted in his seat, his expression turning almost serious. "And it's not sketchy, it's an underground bar. It's just... a little... unconventional, I guess. You'll see. It’s uh, ran by ghouls.”
Dae-ho raised an eyebrow, his reaction mixed between surprise and curiosity. "Ghouls, huh?" he repeated, his tone contemplative.
He didn't expect that. The idea of stepping into a ghoul-run bar was... thrilling. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive. "Are you sure it's safe? No offense, but... won’t I just look like a snack to them?”
Su-bong let out a small scoff, his usual arrogant demeanor returning. "Safe? Psh, don’t worry your empty head about that. The owner runs a tight ship, no bullshit. And yeah, you might look like a snack to them. But they won’t dare to touch you with me around."
Dae-ho's eyebrow raised slightly "Oh, so you're my bodyguard now, huh?" he teased, a smirk on his lips. The thought of a bunch of ghouls eyeing him like a piece of meat wasn't exactly comforting, but he trusted Su-bong's words. As long as the ghoul was there, he probably would be safe.
Su-bong's smirk widened, his gaze still slightly guarded. "Yeah, I guess you can say that. You're my responsibility now, bro. I’m not letting any meatheads get their hands on you."
He got up from the couch, a hint of eagerness in his movements as his kagune began to slowly retract back into his shoulders. "C'mon, let's get going. I need a decent buzz in my system.” He bent down to pick back up his shirt, basically throwing it on before walking over to grab his shoes.
Dae-ho followed suit, getting up and grabbing his jacket from the floor. "Alright. Lead the way." he said with a grin, his eyes fixed on the ghoul in front of him.
He was ready for whatever the night had in store for them. After all, as long as it included a little quality time with Su-bong... he would go willingly.