Work Text:
“Where are you going.”
Tap.
Her steps came to a halt, one foot out of the door, with her back turned to the man who just called her.
“..” She slowly looked back, her gaze was empty, somewhat resembling a doll.
it was uncomfortable.
But he didn't stop staring at her.
Finally, after chilling silence, she smiled. “To finish some business.”
“At the crack of dawn?” he continued questioning her, his eyebrows creasing into a small frown, an expression she saw on his face often.
“Mhm.” She nodded, her eyes traveled behind Jin Qing— Cheongyoung’s back for a moment before meeting his eyes again, as if hinting at him to pay attention to a certain something.
He knew what it was.
“It's not that important.”
He frowned, he saw that expression on this bastard's face often, specifically during the recent times when he caught him— her sneaking out or coming back to or from doing god knows what.
She was hiding something from him—or perhaps, from his current self?— again, and he knows from experience that—
“.. What If he asks?”
—If she doesn't tell him herself, then she will be spilling nothing.
“Haha,” her chuckle was quiet— breathy, she didn't want to wake her son up, maybe that's why her smile didn't reach her eyes. “He won't make a fuss.” It wasn't a proper answer.
But he didn't ask anymore.
“.. Don't get into trouble.”
“I'll do my best.”
He watched her with mirrored silence, the door of their residence opening smoothly without a creak.
Small whiffs of wind caught her white hanfu, his eyes following the way it fluttered as she walked away, not bothering to close the door.
Strange, when did she get a white hanfu? He only carries memories of her lilac colored one.
His eyes watched her figure disappear into the darkness of this foreign world that he still feels estranged in, though she doesn't seem to be as lost as he is.
Woosh.
“Ah.” Another whiff of chilly wind snapped him out of his thoughts, and he lightly walked forward, his hand on the side of the door keeping it from closing, and-
..
He— she must be cold, wearing nothing but that. His grip tightened around the wood, this time, the coldness of the air didn't help him snap out of his new train of thought.
Everyday, this bastard makes a mess, and I always end up having to clean his mess! He grumbled internally, but his hands were already reaching for his coat hanging by the door.
His brain hesitated between walking forward or staying in place, he didn't know what to do— should he go after the idiot? Should he just mind his business?
Even if he attempts to follow, even if he doesn't intend to find out anything and only wants to deny adding sickness to their neverending list of problems— would Lee Kiyoung let him?
No.
Would Moyong Hwayeon let him?
“Father?”
He froze.
He clenched the thick door again, and pushed it closed. “Moyong Jincheon.” He called, and the child, no older than 8 years old, looked at him with growing unease.
His child. Apparently.
“... I-I'm sorry, father. I-i.. couldn't sleep..” The boy fiddled his own robe in an attempt to calm himself down, he still felt awkward calling this man, who was absent his whole life, ‘father’.
He didn't deserve to be called his father. What did he ever do for his family when they needed him the most?
“Hm.” Jin Cheongyoung nodded, and fully turned around to face his… ‘son’.
And if he noticed the way Jincheon stiffened and struggled maintaining eye contact, he didn't point it out.
Jin Cheongyoung fell back in thought again.
‘‘I bet it's awkward to have a toddler pushed into your arms and being told that it's your son out of nowhere, right?’’
The bastard laughed like it was funny, Jin Qing wanted nothing more than to punt him across the yard.
‘‘But, he is a good kid.’’ The bastard turned his attention to Jin Qing, a smile on his face.
Jin Qing blamed his new appearance for how strange it looked on him.
‘‘I'm not gonna ask you to suddenly play house and be a perfect dad or whatever, but..’’ the bastard stared forward at the extending grass.
‘‘..He really is a good kid, he is a shy crybaby who gets tummy aches during exams..”
“..so don't be too harsh on him.’’
Jin Qing didn't understand.
Lee Kiyoung shouldn't act like this. He'd usually grab him by the hair while laughing like a demon, forcing him to let this damn kid paint his nails and make him wear ridiculous things.
He didn't sound like himself. The Lee Kiyoung he knows would never say that.
“Right..” He mumbled, his eyes hazy. “Because it's Moyong Hwayeon…”
“Sorry..?”
Ah.
He forgot about him. Jin Cheongyoung stared at the kid in front of him, and after recalling that sudden memory…
..sigh.
“Father?” Jincheon took a step back, grabbing the door frame to his small room, “uhm, sorry, mother, where..”
“Did you have a nightmare?” Cheongyoung suddenly interrupted, and his demeanor seemed to change, Jincheon found it much easier to breathe now.
His eyes weren't piercing or terrifyingly blank, they were looking at him. And they looked.. troubled.
For once, Jincheon didn't see his father as a threat. An unreliable variable.
Could he be trusted?
Mother trusted him.
So, with his childish mind, he nodded.
Great. Jin Cheongyoung wanted to sigh again, but held it back. “Do you think you could go back to sleep now?”
Jincheon thought about it, and after a few seconds, he shook his head, lowering his gaze while biting his index finger.
Wonderful. Damn it. He didn't sigh— believe him, he wanted to. But his headache-maker can only act civil for so long before he really grabs him by the hair and forces him to be nice.
So, he'd rather do just enough for that guy to not complain.
“Okay.” Jin Cheongyoung nodded, and crossed his arms while thinking. What does one do for a kid who had a nightmare? Sleep next to them? Reassure them? Cook something?
Should he cook mapo tofu? The bastard likes it, maybe his son does too? Do they have the same taste buds?
While the man was thinking of a solution to a problem he never thought he'd stumble upon, the boy looked at him awkwardly, unsure if he should say something or only speak when spoken to.
“He might look a little scary,’’ Mother smiled as she brushed his hair, “but he is all bark and no bite, hehe. You can trust him, don't give him a hard time.” she peeked at him from behind, and winked. “Pinky promise?”
Inhale.
Jincheon took a deep breath.. He clutched his robes tighter— “f-father!”
“Hm?” Jin Cheongyoung looked down at him, regaining his focus. Jincheon lost tension in his shoulders at the reaction, and gained more courage.
“C-coat..” He pointed up at the coat he saw Cheongyoung almost grab. “W-were you going out?”
-to look for mother was left out. She always told him to pick up clues from people’s speech. His father interrupted him when he asked about his mother, it must mean he shouldn't ask anymore or he'll get angry.
Adults are scary when they're angry. Even Mother. Father would undoubtedly be scarier.
“...uh, yes, i was gonna get a breath of fresh air.” was his excuse, and before he could go over the cons and pros of the question, he blurted out, “wanna come?”
!
Jincheon's eyes widened.
Jin cheongyoung cried internally. Too late to back out. Fuck.
It's awkward.
He knew their dynamic was still stiff, that they won't be all relaxed with each other in their first few weeks together, but still—
This is so awkward that it's worse than the atmosphere between the jellyfish and the crazy mage! At least those two had their craziness to bond over— he doesn't know a thing about this kid.
Peeking at said kid, he noticed how he has been walking with his head low for the past 10 minutes.
He frowned.
Is he scared? He squinted, trying to peek at the bit he could see of his face. Or maybe he is shy?
Thinking back, isn't this kid way too timid? Trembling and crying over tiny things..
Neither he or Kiyoung are timid, maybe he took the personality of the original owners of the bodies they possessed instead?
No, that doesn't make sense either, neither of the original ones were described as timid.
Hm, Actually, doesn't he resemble..
..
He looked forward again, shaking his head. Whatever, doesn't matter.
The walk continued being silent. If he could guess from how low the moon in the sky is, it'd be around 4 am right now— most people would start waking up in 3 hours then.
I guess this is relaxing. The 12th dimension is a murim world, placing the timeline hundreds of years back from the continent, so the sceneries he never got to see in the developed earth were one of the few things he liked here.
The continent didn't have as much light pollution, but still.. having none really changes things.
Especially the sky.
He looked up, the sun was yet to rise high enough to make the stars disappear, so he can see them
The stars. The stars were beautiful.
It's really something… his eyes were dazed, the shine of the stars reminded him of her hanfu..—
Without realizing it, his steps gradually slowed until they fully stopped.
“Huh..?” Jincheon stopped too as he noticed the shoes of his father suddenly going out of his vision, and he turned back.
He tilted his head as he looked at him in confusion, opening his mouth and closing it, hesitant on whether he should say anything at all.
He stared at his father, stared at his eyes, noticing their gaze, and followed them.
Jincheon’s darker eye twinkled as the brightness of the night sky reflected on it.
He could see a lot of colors in the sky— that's… purple, right? It fades on the sky like a blanket around the shiny white dots.
It's pretty.
“Father?” The man finally got out of his daze, looking almost flustered.
“Uh- Yes?”
“What are those white dots in the sky called?” Jincheon, for the first time, spoke a full sentence confidently to his father. His small index finger pointed up.
?
Jin Cheongyoung frowned, and Jincheon felt regret settle in his heart immediately.
Ah, I said something unnecessary.
But before he could take it back, his father spoke first. “They're stars.”
“..ah, I think I heard of it before..” The child muttered after prolonged silence, looking up again.
You think? The man stared at the kid.
When he looks closely, he can see that he truly does resemble his father— mother?
They had similar eyes, although one eye has a different color than the other, they were large and wide, full of curiosity.
“…”
Jin Cheongyoung felt a headache already.
“Did your mother not tell you about the stars?” He asked, how the hell does an 8 year old kid not know of the stars?
Jincheon shrugged, his eyes still on the sky. “Maybe I just forgot. I didn't want to repeat it, mother also doesn't like stupid questions.”
“...?” Cheongyoung frowned, and he asked me to be nice to him?
Fucking hypocrite.
He decides to move on. “We should head back home, we both cleared our heads enough.” He turned around , not bothering to check if the child behind him followed.
He can hear his flustered gasp and clumsy footsteps, and can feel a pull at his robe that was quickly retracted. He pretends not to notice.
Their walk back home was fortunately less awkward, the silence felt more relaxing than suffocating.
That was the case for the older of the two, at least. He couldn't really tell what the child was thinking with his head all low.
Whooosh.
Quiet gasps of wind passed, making his long hair tied in a high ponytail sway, and his eyebrows furrow. It's cold. At the thought, His gaze went to the side.
Ah, fuck. He saw the little guy next to him wrap his arms around himself, his lips trembled slightly.
He mentally facepalmed, shit, if even he was bothered by the cold, then how is the little kid doing?
No wonder he was so quiet, maybe he is not shy, but was just freezing to death!
Way to go, Jin Qing. If he catches a cold, then what?! He can already imagine that bastard making him do all kinds of dirty work as payback when he finds out!!
So, he decides to do something— try to, at least.
“He-”
“Why-”
The two’s voices clashed simultaneously, surprising the both of them.
“Oh.”
“F-father, you go first..” Jincheon fidgeted with his fingers awkwardly, Jin Cheongyoung frowned.
“No, what were you going to ask?” He didn't know what he was going to say himself anyways.
“... Uhm…Then, why.. ” Jincheon looked forward again, then at the sky. “.. do the stars shine?”
Huh.
Jin Cheongyoung stared at the kid blankly.
What kind of deep question is that? Maybe this kid really did take after his parents.
He scratched his cheek with a raised eyebrow, then shrugged. “They burn.”
“Eh?” Jincheon looked up at his father curiously, his gaze stayed unreturned.
“They shine because they burn, the-” the man halted, did..
…did the people of this time even know how stars glow?
Wait, did they even know that the things up there were stars? Do they call them that, maybe it's a different term?
Is that why Lee Kiyoung never told this kid about it?? Did he just blow their cover?!
Before Jin Qing could panic, The child tilted his head in confusion. “Y-yes? How do they burn?”
“That..” should he just say he doesn't know? Would this kid even notice what he said was strange?
“.. you'll understand when you grow up.”
Now he gets why all the adults around him loved this phrase so much.
“But-”
“I'll tell you when you're older. Now,” he shut him down quickly, and started taking off his robe.
Jincheon stared at him curiously yet warily, jumping slightly when the man turned towards him and threw said outer robe on his head.
“If you catch a cold, your mother will kill me.”
“.......?”
Huh..?
He grabbed the robe that was way too long for his short body, and tried to wrap it around himself ineptly.
“It's gonna get dirty..”
“I was planning to wash it anyways.*
Huh.
Yaaawn..
The child yawned as he now took off his outside shoes and outer robe, laying back down on his bed.
Jin Cheongyoung peeked at him from the door as he himself got ready to go back to bed in the living room, as he refused to share a room with anyone.
“.... So,” after a few moments of silent observation, he decided to be the one to speak first for once. “Think you can go to sleep now?”
Small talk won't hurt. I can tell the bastard that I tried to talk.
“Mhm..” the child sleepily hummed, bringing blankets over himself, though it was a little clumsy and uneven.
He frowned.
“Okay.” He went back to his own spot in the darkness. Since this world was so behind on even electricity, they could only rely on sunlight and candles, which he currently lacked.
How annoying.
The house went silent.
One minute passed.
Then two.
Then five.
And after perhaps twenty, Jin Cheongyoung slowly sat back up on the couch, rubbing his face and sighing.
So annoying.
It took him 5 more minutes to get up from his spot, slowly and quietly peeking on one of the few windows in the house.
The sun was starting to rise. He still doesn't see her.
He frowned again. Is she going to stay out all day or something?
What about the kid? I can't be sure if he'll really not make a scene.
Did he get into trouble?
He bit his nail as he leaned on the windowsill, he didn't know how much time passed by then, but he did notice the sky turning into a much lighter blue now.
… What the hell is he doing ..
“Haaa..” he rubbed his face, shook his head, and forced his feet to move away from the window.
Let's just go to bed.
That was his plan.
Straightforward and simple.
..so why the hell am i stuck to another thing now?!
He looked down at the child sleeping on the bed in front of him with such a deep scowl one would think he was personally offended by him. His crossed arms didn't help his menacing appearance.
It was very fortunate that the kid was too deep asleep to notice.
But despite his appearance, his eyes were actually focused on the blanket that failed to cover a part of the child’s back, his right foot, and his arms.
“What an idiot, and when he catches a cold it's my fault..”
Both this kid and his mother.. his hands moved on their own, covering the feet and back properly, and tucking the arms under the blanket, then pulling it up to the child’s neck.
So clumsy, so annoying..
He looked at his finished peace, and to his own rage, his head felt slightly clearer.
He stared a bit more, before his eyes widened and he closed them shut, shaking his head aggressively, his hair swaying from side to side.
He quickly walked out the room, now uncaring of the noise he was making.
This is all Lee Kiyoung’s fault!
Chirp, chirp, chirp!
The sounds of birds singing outside made Jin Cheongyoung look at the window again, his frown deepening.
It should be about 10 am right now, maybe 9? He thought to himself, he didn't sleep much due to his brain being too occupied, plus, today is a weekday, the kid goes to school.
Huh, did people of this era have schools? Didn't they have home tutors back in the day?
Maybe there is a special building nearby where they tutor multiple kids at once.
Either way, he had to wake up early so he could make him breakfast.
A goddamned breakfast.
He clenched his fist holding the cleaning cloth, the kid was already gone, and he was cleaning the dishes.
I am a great tiger of the Republic generals.. he scrubbed the plate aggressively, it's a miracle that it didn't shatter yet.
I am a transcendent, the greatest wizard.. he put the plates under the water and back to where they belong in the cabinets.
I have power strong enough to be considered one of the strongest in the world.. He started wiping down the counters with a blank expression.
The greatest wizard in human history cleaning dishes that aren't even his.
He would rather kill himself than let anyone outside the house see this.
“I'm home!” Jincheon called, taking off his shoes on one leg, losing his footing repeatedly as he couldn't hold onto anything— his other hand was holding papers.
“Mhm.” Was the only response he got, and after a few seconds, he processed it.
“Huh?” He looked up from his shoes, meeting eyes with a man on the couch reading something, paying him no mind.
…
He looked around, peeking at the kitchen, and listening closely to any other noise.
Jin Cheongyoung glanced up from his book at the kid, and sighed. “She is not back yet.”
“Oh..” Jincheon visibly sulked, nodding, and taking off the one shoe left, now walking towards his room to put back his things with his head lowered pitifully.
Cheongyoung’s grip on his book tightened. Fucking hell.. he didn't even do anything, but that goddamned display made him feel like he wronged or bullied him somehow!
Why does he look so sad!!
As the kid disappeared into his room, Cheongyoung stopped pretending that he was reading anything, closing the book aggressively and putting it back on the table, he rubbed his face again.
I'm getting another headache..
What do one even do in this situation????
The worst part is, the kid isn't even asking why his mom isn't here!!!
“Did she do this often?” He mumbled, hands still on the side of his face. “Bastard..”
Now, what the hell is he supposed to do.. should he distract him?
Yeah, that's a good idea. He could just distract him by doing other things like yesterday so he doesn't keep asking or thinking about it..
“But what could I distract him with..”
“Mmm..” Jincheon frowned at the notebook on the low table in front of him, staring at the words written in it as if it personally offended him.
Yeah, he definitely took after his father’s genes.
He had a brush on his right hand, while his left tapped on his thigh. He continued staring at the words he was supposed to copy in the correct order of strokes from the scroll to his own paper.
A bead of nervous sweat ran down his cheek. Calligraphy was the worst class ever! His handwriting was horrible!
Well, that's what his tutors said.. mother said it was just fine and called them crazy.
He doesn't know who to believe.. a sigh escaped his troubled self.
“No need to put it off..” he straightened his back, and slowly dipped his brush into the ink…—
Slam!
“Gah!!” He visibly flinched when his door was suddenly pushed open, and he looked at the perpetrator with a frightened expression, who looked at him with equally frightening eyes.
“F-father..?!”
Cheongyoung tapped on a wooden sword, swinging it around lightly to test out the grip.
His son looked at him awkwardly, fidgeting with his own empty fingers, not knowing what to do.
Actually..
Shit, I didn't think it'd be that loud, embarrassing… Cheongyoung was just as nervous, despite looking relaxed .
Back then..
Slam!
“Gah!!”
He heard a flustered gasp, he held back his own surprise, he didn't think it'd be that aggressive..!
He couldn't help but freeze too, fuck, why does he feel so nervous..
“F-father..?!” The child called him out, and Jin Cheongyoung looked at him.
Is it too late to back out again..? He took a deep breath, and decided that silence is the best answer.
He peeked at the sword in his hand that he found at the back of the house— he isn't sure why it's there. Maybe Hwayeon bought it for the kid to train with one day.
He looked back up.
Throw!
“A-ah!”
“Follow me.”
That's what he said at the time, but…
He stopped assessing the wooden sword and handed it back to the child who took it reluctantly.
… Now what?!
He looked around— It's not like he could spar this kid or something, a tiny push and a failure at controlling his power could get him killed.
I had an idea that training would be a good way to distract him, but how exactly could I train this weak kid..?
He was in a dilemma, but he didn't let it show— instead looking around.
They were in a field— a little bit far from the house, it's convenient that they didn't live too close to civilization, finding an area like this would've been difficult otherwise.
“Father, what am I supposed to do..”
“Come.” Jin Cheongyoung started moving forward, and after a few seconds, Jincheon ran after him. “Where are you going..?”
Jin cheongyoung stopped, making Jincheon almost slam headfirst into his leg, but he thankfully noticed and halted before.
“This is your dummy.” His father patted a thin tree in front of them, and continued speaking. “I want you..”
His father looked at him.
“.. to hit it as hard as you could.”
I can snap this one with a punch, so a kid training on it shouldn't be too hard
Okay, so much for such a cool intro— this training isn't doing shit!!
No, specifically, this kid is weak!! So weak that it feels like he is trying to make a pig look up!!
When he tried hitting the tree for the first time, he didn't even manage to hit it! The sword barely grazed it and he almost tripped on his feet!
It wasn't even a difficult hit, he was 2 steps away from the tree, Jin Cheongyoung didn't even know such a fumble was mathematically possible!
But wait, there is more!
As they tried to train, Jin Cheongyoung realized that his son had a worryingly weak grip— as in, he had the sword flying in his direction roughly 10 times as the kid tried hitting the tree.
“Aaah, I'm sorry!!!”
“.. Just wipe your hands and continue.”
Don't even try to count the times he had to go retreat it as it was thrown into the woods— at least he has impressive throw power.
And if he put it nicely— his form was horrendous, but he expected that much from a kid who never held a sword, and he was fortunately quick on the uptake.
Another thing is, he seemed to be enjoying it. Whenever he took a small break, he'd get impatient and bored and start shaking around in his spot, buzzing energetically.
But even with that, it didn't make the training session any less pitiful..
“Don't be too harsh on him.”
“I know, shit..” he shook his head at the memory invading his mind again, now sitting while leaning on a large stone, watching his kid swing at a collection of branches that he stuck to the ground 30 minutes ago as an easier dummy alternative.
… He seemed to still be having trouble despite the branches being reasonably fragile.
Whatever, it's just an 8 year old, of course he'd be weak at this age. Though he did expect more of the child of two transcendents..
Sigh.
I'm not even supposed to be dealing with kids of this age or skill, this is all because of that bastard dragging me into this!
Seriously, how could he disappear and not come back for so long?! It has been over 12 hours since he last saw him! ‘It’s not that important’ he said, as if!
What the hell is he doing?! What kind of guy leaves his kid behind for this long!
.. Well, he himself may have been absent for 8 years, but he has a reason! He didn't even know they existed!
“So frustrating, ugh..”
What is she even doing..
…
.. what if she is—
“A-ah!!”
He quickly snapped his eyes back to focus and looked up, he could see Jincheon— a hand on his shoulder. “O-oowww..”
Jin Cheongyoung’s stomach suddenly started hurting.
“What happened?” He said with more urgency than he'd like to admit, quickly walking over.
“F-father..!” The child looked at him, eyes glassy.
… Shit.
Jincheon had a pained , yet proud smile on his face “I-i did it..”
Eh? Jin Cheongyoung frowned, and looked at the collection of branches from before—
They were all broken.
“It hurts..”
“I know, be patient.”
“Sob, owww..”
“...”
Cheongyoung awkwardly bandaged the child’s shoulder. After further inspection of his Qi circulation, it was safe to assume he pulled a muscle.
He didn't seem to be screaming bloody murder or losing the ability to move his arms, so if they're lucky, it's just a mild shoulder strain from the repetitive movement.
“This is what happens when you use the wrong form and not rest properly.” He said as he finished wrapping up his shoulder.
There isn't much to do, He iced the area and wrapped it tightly to reduce swelling, he can only wait and rest until it goes away.
“Hic, hic..” Jincheon hiccuped wordlessly, and it somehow felt worse than hearing him whine.
I feel like a monster…. Cheongyoung was glad his son was giving him his back as he treated him, he is already embarassed enough, he'd rather nobody sees him when he lowers his head in shame.
I got too carried away, I should've made him have longer breaks.. he sweated nervously. Damn it..
Lee Kiyoung is definitely going to kill him..
“Hic..”
“...”
“...”
“..does it still hurt?”
“Not..” Jincheon looked back, wiping his eyes with his healthy arm and sniffling. “..As much.”
“.......”
“.......”
Kids like compliments, right..?
“.. your training earlier wasn't bad.” He awkwardly spoke, he figured the way his son perked and glanced at him was a good sign. “Uh..”
How the hell do you compliment someone..
“You got the basics down quicker than kids your age, so.. next time, focus your strength on your forearm and hands rather than the whole arm.”
“......”
“You did.. good.”
“.. mhm.” The kid nodded, sniffling again. It's a relief he couldn't see what face this kid was making, he is probably cursing him out right now.
“... Okay. Go rest in your room and don't move your shoulder.” he patted the kid’s back to signal that he was done, and the kid nodded, whimpering slightly as he accidentally moved his shoulder.
Tap, tap, ta..
He stopped walking.
“Father?” He called, the latter looked up from his position of shame, frowning and crossing his arms. “Hm?”
“I have work to do from my tutors, how would I..”
“You can just do it when you heal, now go rest.”
“But-!”
“Do you want to work on it that badly? How diligent. Want to pull your other shoulder next?”
“That..” Jincheon felt frustrated, but he didn't know what to say without seeming rude, so he can only huff his annoyance under his breath.
“I can't just put it off..”
Jin Cheongyoung stared at the back of the boy walking solemnly towards his bedroom, and fell deep in thought.
Is the homework or whatever that important? He frowned, glancing to the side. Can't he just wait until he heals?
…
…
“God damn it.”
Jincheon laid down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, the light of the sun coming in through his window.
I'm bored.. he can't use his right arm, so that means he practically can't do anything except walk around, but his father has been forcing him to lay down and rest since an hour ago.
He has been trying to sleep, but..
“I miss mother..” he grumbled, pouting. She doesn't usually take this long when she goes out..
He has been understanding, he was patient, his mother always told him that everything she did and sacrificed was for him.
He couldn't understand everything she meant, but he knew he had to be grateful, so he shouldn't make even more trouble for his mother.
That's why he should study a lot and be polite to everyone, that's why he needs to stay quiet and not ask too many questions.
But his arm hurts.
It hurts. He wants his mom to comfort him and tell him it's gonna be okay.
He reached his left arm to his shoulder, hovering his hand over it.
His father pat him there, it felt nice.
Tried to mimick the touch, but it.. wasn't the same.
It felt warm. It stopped hurting a little bit too, does his father have healing powers like the strong martial artist brothers..?
He complimented him too.
That was weird, it was just word, but it made him feel warm and fuzzy.
Is that why the kids his age always make having a father such a big deal?
…
He shook his head, no, this man abandoned them and his mother, he must be trying to win his favor by sucking up to him!!!
Mother hates that kind of person, he heard her complain about it to the Sim aunties!
Mother wouldn't like it if he didn't do his homework either though..
Ah, she'd scold him to death if the tutors ever told her he didn't do his work on time!
“Ugh..” but even if he was gonna get scolded.. “mommm..”
Can't she just come back already?
Push.
Eh?
His emotions were abruptly interrupted when the door suddenly opened again, gentler, this time. And his eyes twinkled as a silhouette appeared, mothe-
“Here.”
Oh. It's just father.
Flap!
He watched as the man threw a collection of papers into his table, and turning back around as if trying to leave as soon as he came in.
“What- wait, huh?!” Jincheon got off the bed, quickly grabbing the papers on the table, staring at them in disbelief.
“This..”
“I got bored.” His father interrupted, not staring at him, is the wall really that interesting..?
“You said you were taking this away so I won't try to do it in secret..”
“I just got bored.” His father finally looked at him, but with a glare this time, as if his whole lineage was insulted.
Strangely enough, he wasn't very scared of that look.
Matter of fact, the warm and fuzzy feeling from earlier came back.
He stared at the papers full of the work he was supposed to do in disbelief.
It looked slightly above mediocre, it didn't match his handwriting exactly, it was noticeably better, but it could pass as his.
He saw his father’s handwriting before while he was speaking with mother about something, it was much neater than this.
Did he..
Did he try to copy my handwriting so that the tutors don't notice..?
He looked up at his father with a confused expression, his frustration from earlier was leaving his core at a quick pace.
“what are you looking at? Go to bed, you'll really dislocate your arm next!” Was all his father had to say though, turning away and leaving the room, not bothering to close the door behind him.
If this was a regular circumstance, he would've been annoyed, but..
He looked back down at the papers.. that's when he noticed something else was placed on the table without his knowledge.
“... Fruit?” He stared at the collection of cut up apples and pears, and blinked at them slowly.
…
He reached out his left hand, taking a piece, and started to munch.
“....” He ate the fruit silently, simultaneously staring at the papers.
Maybe..
Maybe his father wasn't that bad.
Click!
“I'm home!”
But he didn't think about it too much.
“Ah- mother!!”
He still didn't understand what was happening.
The dagger in his hands was gripped tightly enough to have the skin on his palms tear, but he didn't care, he was going to protect his mother.
He was going to protect mother.
Mother..
Ah..
.. father?
"...."
A hand stroked his head.
"Huuu..."
"...."
"You're still.. the lacking one like before."
"......"
"For not turning your back.. I'm.. giving you a compliment."
"......."
"You should know… you have to.. develop.. the ability to.. judge.. what's right.. and wrong.. huuu....huuu..."
"......."
"If you...huu....huuu... have something you want to.. protect.. you have to.. be calm.. calm.. huuu.. no matter.. no matter what happens.. you shouldn't.. lose your reasons.”
“.......”
“You.. you learn quickly so.. you must.. have understood.. what I.. said.. I won't.. say.. much.”
“.......”
“You.. wouldn't listen to it.. attentively anyway.."
……
That's wrong.
He is listening.
“Eh..”
Quiet whimpers he tried to hold back.
He is listening well.
He looked up pointlessly— his eyes were blurry, yet focused on his father as he went back to fight.
Even in that state..
Father.
His father.
In front of him again.
He stared at the still man who was speaking just a moment ago, he blinked.
..Father?
“Father..”
White puffs of air came out his mouth as he mumbled. The cold air didn't make him tremble anymore.
He leaned his arms on the wooden railing of a large balcony inside a branch of the heavenly demon church.
He looked up at the night sky, eyes in a daze.
“Young master?” An older woman’s voice snapped him out of said daze, and he turned around, meeting eyes with her.
“Ah, Soohee.” He smiled gently, tilting his head. “What are you doing out in the cold?”
“To ask you the same question, young master.” Soohee replied, her tone felt scolding, Jincheon didn't mind.
“Haha, come on, I'm just taking a breath of fresh, winter air.” He turned his body towards her to face her properly, now leaning the back of his elbows on the railing.
“Still, young master, what if you get sick..”
“It has been years since I last got sick!”
“You never know, you were very weak as a child!” Soohee insisted, and Jincheon couldn't help but chuckle— she always held into the past, even if it didn't matter anymore.
If a regular person heard her worrying about him of all people catching a cold, they'd think she is crazy.
“That was decades ago..”
“You still got sick a few times as you grew up.” She insisted, she was so stubborn.
But it never bothered him.
“Fine, I'll come back in a few minutes, let me relax a bit.”
That's because he was also a very stubborn person.
..And one who never stopped holding onto the past either.
Soohee didn't speak anymore, but she didn't move from her spot, staring at him intently.
Ah, jeez, this paranoid auntie.. he chuckled, turning back around to his original position, her eyes were too intense for him to relax.
“.......”
“.......”
The silence between them stretched on, but neither felt uncomfortable. This was an instance that has repeated enough times for them to find comfort in it instead.
It was nostalgic and calming. Staying in silence with someone else.
He learned to appreciate such moments from a young age, from the time he and his—
…
His smile fell, and his gaze lingered on the night skies once more.
“...Soohee.”
“Yes, young master?” The woman answered, not missing a beat, he grinned again.
“What are those things up in the sky?” His voice was euphonic— as it always was, after the incident.
Soohee tilted her head, and looked up. “The stars, young master?” Her reply carried a tone of confusion.
“Mhm.” She couldn't see his expression, but she could guess that he had that smile on his face, the one he wore whenever he started thinking about the past.
Jincheon.. her brows furrowed with worry, but she didn't speak up.
“.. Do you know why the stars shine, Soohee?”
He looked at her, she stared back.
“I'm not sure, young master.” she lowered his head, but kept her eyes on him.
He smiled, and she couldn't tell whether she should feel relaxed or alarmed.
“They burn.”
“..?” Soohee squinted her eyes, and when the silence went on, she realized she should say something. “Why is that?”
“Haha,” Jincheon looked back at the stars one last time. “I don't know.” And he turned around, starting to walk past Soohee.
“But I believe that I'm going to find out very soon.”
“Soohee, are you coming in or do you plan to freeze to death?!”
“Ah, I'm coming, Soosoo!”