Work Text:
Another morning and the sleepless night that preceded it.
Kwak Jekang had already gotten used to barely sleeping at night. Working at Daydream Inc. was always too exciting to stop research just because he needed to go to bed.
It would be an understatement to say that after such "research marathons," he looked unkempt. The scientist himself acknowledged his unseemly appearance. Of course, it didn't bother him much, but appearing in front of his colleagues like this, especially at the upcoming meeting, would be outrageous.
So now he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, combing his rather long hair with a small comb that could easily fit in the pocket.
Carefully, he removed each tangle, one by one... How could so many have formed in just three days and two nights with minimal sleep?
Normally, he would have been offended by spending so much time on a single hairstyle, but now, rather passive due to fatigue, he continued smoothly, without showing any emotion.
Combing naturally led to braiding. Dividing his hair into three sections, Kwak Jekang began to braid a loose braid.
And so, removing the scrunchy from his wrist, he was about to secure the end of the braid with it, when the realization of what he had done struck him like lightning.
Frowning, he quickly unbraided the braid, this time more nervously creating a low ponytail.
Kwak Jekang didn't stop there, twisting the ponytail around its base and finally securing it with a bobby pin, which was also in his pocket.
Not too simple a hairstyle like a ponytail, and not too elaborate like a braid. The golden mean.
Having finished his hair, Kwak Jekang stared into the mirror. It would have been logical to check how well he'd taken care of his own hair, but his gaze was fixed on his own eyes.
The dark circles beneath them were undisguised, but even that didn't register with the scientist.
He looked directly into his eyes.
A heavy gaze, completely different from his usual one.
One that lacked his usual lightness and cheerful glimmer.
There was simply no room for them there.
His hand reached for the faucet handle, turning on the water. Warm water immediately poured out, but Kwak Jekang changed the temperature to cold.
After washing... No, splashing cold water on his face, he smiled.
"I'm completely overworked."
But his voice lacked the tone characteristic of a smile.
Putting on his glasses, Kwak Jekang turned away from his own reflection.
It was time to go to the meeting.
***
The meeting had just ended, and now Kwak Jekang was on one of the annex's underground floors. He needed to check on some Darkness.
Naturally, accompanied by a member of the security department.
And right now, he was waiting for the guard in charge of this floor to arrive... It took this guard quite a while just to get to the elevator! Kwak Jekang should reprimand him when he arrived.
Partly because the quiet wait made him think about things he shouldn't.
Carefully, even a little hesitantly, Kwak Jekang touched the bun at the back of his head with his finger. It was a weightless, almost ghostly touch...
But the moment he heard footsteps coming from the hallway, his hand was quickly pulled back from his hair and into his pocket. The corners of his mouth lifted with a force he usually didn't need to exert. He shouldn't have been seen like that.
"Hey, I understand the security department doesn't have any important assignments, but I'm a scientist, and my time..."
Kwak Jekang couldn't finish his sentence. After all, the guard who approached the elevator was someone he'd rather not see right now.
"Hello to you too..."
J3.
It completely slipped his mind to check who exactly was on duty today. If Jekang had known, he would have come here tomorrow...
"What's wrong?.."
"No! Like I said, you should be more careful with the time of scientists, especially important ones like me! And anyway..."
Jay, who seemed worried despite his rather passive expression, returned to his usual indifferent demeanor, eventually turning away from the scientist. Long accustomed to Kwak Jekang's personality, he merely played his role as an escort, treating his temporary charge's monologue as something completely unrelated to him.
Kwak Jekang himself was tired of this one-sided conversation, started merely to ease the tension that he was sure only he was experiencing.
Damn morning, he couldn't shake it from his head.
Why did he have to remember it... Even such an integral part of life as hair evoked unwanted emotions.
He should have just cut it off and forgotten everything, but...
"Jekang~"
"Huh?! What? Ah... It's you, ■■■. Came out of the Darkness and come to submit a report?"
"Of course. Why else would I come to the research floor? And you, I see, have been working nonstop all night again. I can tell by your appearance. You're so handsome, especially your hair, but you don't take care of it or yourself at all, which hides your beauty. Come on, don't be a mess.
"What business is it of yours anyway?! Hand in your report and go about your business instead of bothering me..."
"Let me braid your hair for the last time. It's just not right to be walking around like this..."
The memories flooding back in the silence, broken only by their footsteps, made his soul ache.
He shouldn't feel like this. It was long past and shouldn't affect his life.
He needed to get rid of the root of all these problems and lose himself in work.
"You can go back, I won't need your help anymore."
Leaving this aside, Kwak Jekang entered the room that served as a storage place for the Darkness he was heading for.
He could focus on the task at hand, return, and continue the project...
But upon exiting the room, he didn't see the emptiness he expected. On the contrary, J3 was still standing there.
"Why didn't you leave? Didn't you hear what I told you? Is it needed to check your ears too now..."
"It's my duty... To make sure nothing happens to the scientist under my charge..."
"Made sure? Then you're free to go. Or do you need to walk me to the elevator too?"
"Mm... No."
And after such a brief exchange, J3 turned and walked away.
However, this didn't really help Kwak Jekang's situation, since they still needed to go in the same direction... But now they weren't walking side by side. The scientist trailed behind, his gaze fixed on the back of the guard's head.
Gray hair, too long to be short, but too short to be long, covered his neck. It was unkempt—it was obvious no one had cared for it in a long time...
He was completely different.
At this thought, Kwak Jekang clenched his jaw so hard that it ached from the pressure. And just as Jay was turning toward the surveillance room, Jrkang unconsciously stopped him.
"Wait."
"..?"
He stopped.
"Didn't anyone ever say that taking care of your appearance was so important at work? Don't be a mess. God, and I have to explain such basic things…"
"..."
"I'll take care of your hair, but this is the first and last time, okay? Next time, do it yourself."
That's how Kwak Jekang found himself at the security post, standing behind Jay as he sat in a chair, carefully combing his hair.
Jekang wondered if he felt the same way Kwak Jekang had in the past?
He felt a thrill from the fact that someone cared so much about him that instead of going to bed, this person decided to take care of his appearance.
The warmth and care from every soft touch that made him shiver involuntarily...
...
...Probably not.
Their attitude toward each other had long since changed.
Kwak Jekang had gone to great lengths to make J3 dislike him. And he didn't regret it. It was better this way than trying to imitate their previous relationship.
They weren't the same anymore.
His gray hair was braided into a neat low ponytail. Nothing more would work with that length.
Kwak Jekang was even glad of it. Although he had a nagging urge to braid his hair, he had no desire to pick at his wounds even more.
"Done."
"Items..."
"Keep the comb and hair tie, you can use them yourself next time."
Kwak Jekang had gotten them from him anyway. He was simply returning the items to their rightful owner.
And it doesn’t matter that he had such short hair before that he never needed to get it.