Chapter Text
'How…?'
It has come to a point in Baek Saheon's life where he asks…
'How the hell did I even end up in this situation?'
To be fair, he has probably been asking himself this same question every night. For example, when the emcee at the Daydream Inc. orientation threw all the new employees into a darkness with no warning. Or when he got assigned the same company dorm as the psychopath that routinely took pleasure in his suffering.
This, however, was to an entirely different level.
Baek Saheon already regretted his path in life when he set foot inside his and Kim Soleum's shared living room. Saheon was already aware that the freak sitting on the couch and watching children's cartoons had cleared yet another darkness in record time, garnering praise from everyone in the company. It still feels wholly unnerving to have to sneak past the guy even when he was expecting his presence.
Ever since the psycho caught Saheon using the pen to try to wring items out of him, there has been a palpable tension that has led to the one-eyed man feeling like he is walking on glass rather than eggshells. What made it worse is that Saheon still got an item out of the exchange, obligating him to feel grateful even when the bastard demanded the pen from him. So there he was, sneaking through his own dorm room, trying his hardest not to attract that freaks attention. All his efforts were in vain when a smooth, cold voice came from the direction of the couch.
“Saheon-ssi.”
Chills ran down his spine. He felt Soleum’s sharp glare before he saw it. He straightened up and faced the source of the voice as soon as he had heard it. Sharp yet tired eyes stared straight back at him from over the back of the couch.
‘God, did that guy ever blink.’
“Yes, Sir?” Saheon responded quickly, that fake smile, reserved for his superiors, stretched across his face and cold sweat running down his neck.
Silence.
“Well? Are you going to stand there and make me look back at you, or are you going to come here and address me properly?” Kim Soleum finally said, breaking the tense silence.
…
‘Damn it.’
He hesitantly walked around to stand in front of the TV, the psychopath on the couch watching him as he did so. He kept his distance from the man sitting on the couch, keeping that fake, placating smile on his face. That pink plush bunny Kim Soleum carried everywhere and called Braun, was sitting next to him as if the plush were just another person. It was still unclear to Saheon whether that was true or not.
“Is there something you need from me… Sir?” Saheon asked tentatively, checking his exits in case he needed to make a quick escape.
Kim Soleum tilted his head the same way a horror movie serial killer would. A mocking expression came across the freak’s face as he spoke. “Why are you so far away? Come closer.” He points a finger at the floor right next to where he is seated, directing Saheon to where he should be standing.
Saheon begins to pray. He doesn’t care to what god but he promises to devote himself to them for the rest of his life if his prayers are answered.
Kim Soleum didn’t stop pointing to the floor until Saheon was standing right where the psycho wanted him to. Now Saheon was standing directly in front of the man, only a hint of distance between them. This was bound to be anything but good.
“Face the TV and sit on the floor,” Soleum said sternly. Saheon stood frozen in shock, attempting to process the words this guy had the nerve to say straight to his face.
Baek Saheon’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times but no sound came out. Soleum waited for Saheon to come back to his senses, staring at him all the while.
Stealing himself, Saheon spoke. “Is this… somehow related to a darkness.”
Soleum gave him a pitying look, like Saheon had just asked one of the most stupid questions in the entire world. “Of course it doesn't have anything to do with a darkness,” he responds casually, a hint of impatience and exasperation seeping in.
“Then what could you-!” Saheon lashes out, frustration boiling in his gut until remembering who he was talking to. He froze up, his face falling as Soleum quirked an eyebrow at him.
“You?” came the predictable response from that crazy man’s mouth.
“I-I just meant that I… would like to know why… I’m over here, Sir,” Saheon responds meekly, already planning his obituary.
“Saheon-ssi, do you know how long it takes for a lethal dose of ricin to kick in?”
…
“No, Sir.”
“Would you like to find out?”
As Saheon turned around to obediently sit on the floor without a word spoken, there was only one thing he was thinking.
‘All the gods are dead.’
So he sat on the floor with his back against the couch and wholly too close to the psycho that just threatened his life. An uncomfortable silence flowed through the room even as cheerful cartoon characters talked on the screen in front of them. The atmosphere was tense and something bad was bound to happen at any moment to Saheon. What else would that crazy psycho want from him except more of his suffering?
Something touched the top of his head. The sensation was unfamiliar and surprising, causing Saheon to jolt suddenly. He froze as it began to caress him, something threading through the hair on his head and pulling softly… comfortingly.
…
‘It’s that bastard’s hand!!’
Saheon whipped his head around to face Soleum, starting to push himself up from where he was seated.
“What are you doi-?!”
A firm pressure was placed on the top of his head, no longer comforting. The vice-like grip pushed him back down to the floor and turned his head to face the front again.
“Was there something you wanted to say, Saheon-ssi?” the smooth and silky voice of Kim Soleum asks, sending shivers up Saheon’s spine. Hearing the crazy man’s intimidating words and feeling the pressure of his hand made the man sitting on the floor, like a pet, sure that he was two seconds from death.
“No, Sir. I was just… startled, that’s all.”
No other words were spoken as Soleum let out a pleasant yet mocking hum. The grip on Sahoen’s head became gentle once again as fingers played with his hair and softly stroked his head. He would even feel nails lightly scratching at his scalp ever so occasionally.
Now here he is, kneeling in front of the living room couch, while the biggest threat to his life at the moment is petting his head as if it were the most normal thing to do. This is really too absurd.
‘Seriously… How the hell did I even end up in this situation!?'
The gentle hand running through Baek Saheon’s hair, juxtaposed with the cruel words and insane actions of the man, was really driving Saheon to his wits end. The mindlessly cheerful drone of the colorful cartoons playing in the background did nothing to help as his mind began to spiral.
‘What is his goal? Is there a reason he is doing this? Is he just messing with me!?’
Considering the events that took place in the last few minutes, he was not going to take the risk of voicing these thoughts out loud. Instead, he sits silently while time ticks by.
This was really unfair, wasn’t it? He had just gotten home from his own darkness exploration, late because of his good for nothing coworkers that keep shoveling all the desk work on him, and hadn’t even been able to change out of his stuffy suit before he was forced to deal with this freak’s antics. He just wanted to shower and relax in his own room. Was that so much to ask for, universe?
“Saheon-ssi.”
Lost in thought, Saheon flinches as the soft voice that calls his name breaks him out of his stupor. The oddly cool skin of a hand slowly moves from the top of Saheon’s head, down to his left cheek. He knows that the man behind him has leaned forward by the way his legs have shifted but Saheon was frozen in place, too scared to check.
A thumb gently slides under the eyepatch, lifting the cloth as it continues to rise. The world shifts in color as the item disguised as an eye reveals the auras of the objects around the apartment. The worst part was the fact that, even though Kim Soleum was not in his range of sight, he could still see that ominous red creeping in from the side of his vision. His breathing quickened and he could hear his heart beating in his chest.
“How is that eye treating you? Is it… helpful?” Kim Soleum continued, his voice noticeably lower than usual.
A feeling that Saheon could not exactly place built up in his stomach as that thumb caressed the skin just below Saheon’s left eye. Was this fear? Embarrassment? It was overwhelming.
“Saheon-ssi? You should answer when someone asks a question.”
Saheon jolts as he hears that voice so close to his ear, urging him to speak. “Yes!” He clears his throat, realizing he was a little too loud. “Yes, it’s helpful. Thank you… Sir,” he tacks on, hoping it would please that monster behind him
A content hum comes from the psycho as he leans back into the couch, bringing his hand back onto Saheon’s head. A brief silence emanates through the room, giving Saheon enough time to bring the eyepatch back over his eye again.
“Is there anything you are doing tomorrow after work, Saheon-ssi?”
…
‘Shit.’
“I will find out if you lie.”
………
‘SHIT!’
“…No, Sir.”
“That’s good. Let’s do this tomorrow then.”
Saheon could practically hear the smile behind those words. He really did not want to do this tomorrow.
“This… sorta hurts my knees though.”
“Is that so?” Is all the response that Baek Saheon would get.
…
He was wrong…
‘The gods aren’t dead. They just hate me specifically!’
***
‘What was I even thinking?!’
An example of the thoughts running through one, Kim Soleum’s, head.
For the record, he really was not thinking straight after all that had happened that day. Getting thrown into another darkness was usual in this god forsaken company but this was a rather brutal one. It left images in his mind that he wanted to erase immediately. Thankfully he used another little hack that quickly got him out and away from all of that. If ever there was a darkness to shorten the time he would have to be in it, he was thankful it was that one specifically. That still did not change the fact that he would probably end up watching cartoons until 3 in the morning, leaving him tired as all hell for tomorrow’s work day.
In his defense, he was not thinking properly when he did this. Drowsy from the lack of sleep over multiple days and scared out of his mind after the traumatic visuals of the day, could anyone really blame him for doing something irrational?
When he heard the door gently open and close, he knew that his roommate had made it back from his own darkness safely. Weary thoughts of Baek Saheon began to run through his head as usual due to their strained relationship.
‘Huu… he’s back. So much for peace. What kind of crazy guy like him has any kind of business having such an unassuming face like that anyways?’
But the thoughts began to run wild, leading down an absolutely insane path.
‘…He looks like he takes good care of his hair.’
…
………
‘…I wonder if it would be soft.’
Then he was calling that guy over without a clear plan in mind even as the nervous man came to stand in front of him.
‘It looks like one of those curly haired dogs’ fur. The ones that are trained to help relax people…’
…
Now, after some back and forth as well as some threats being thrown out, Baek Saheon was sitting on the floor, staying obediently silent while being pet like a dog.
What conclusion did Kim Soleum make about Saheon’s hair? On the one hand, Saheon’s hair was softer than he had imagined and it was indeed very soothing to the touch. On the other hand…
‘WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?!?!?!’
Kim Soleum was internally screaming his head off and panicking. The goal of acting like a psychopath was to keep the real crazy one far away from him, not bring him closer.
- I must agree with that sentiment, friend! What are you doing, touching that lowly cur?
‘Braun!’
He almost jumped straight out of his skin, forgetting about the little push bunny sitting right next to him. Strangely enough, there was a menacing air to it. He almost thought the bunny's head was turned slightly from the position it was originally in to stare straight at Saheon.
…
Must be his imagination though.
‘I was just… curious. I guess I got carried away. Besides, maybe this will have a positive impact on my sleep.’
The plush let out an incredulous sigh as if disappointed after it heard out his explanation.
- Well, if it’s for my friend’s well being, I suppose I can’t be too bothered. Although, I do think that there are better ways to calm our anxieties. An actual dog, for example.
Relief washed through Soleum at successfully quelling Braun’s worries and sparing Baek Saheon of his wrath.
This situation was still rather concerning however, and not only to Braun. Not to mention he had practically just confirmed that he was planning to continue this tomorrow. Really, the power of ultra soft hair was nothing to bat an eyelash at. Just how sleep deprived was he?
…
It really was too calming.
He focused on the way the silky, soft curls ran through his fingers with each pull. They would always coil back with a satisfying bounce that he would find himself watching instead of the TV. The brown waves were oddly pleasing to the eye. Soleum could feel his worries melt away as he carefully played with each individual lock. It did not help that he got a twisted kick out of watching Saheon twitch uncomfortably or flinch whenever Soleum would get his hands too close to the other man’s neck. He could not lie, it was a little thrilling to have THE Viper at his feet.
The night dragged on with Kim Soleum idly caressing Baek Saheon’s hair. Eventually, it got to a point where Soleum almost caught himself drifting off to sleep. He almost felt elated knowing this would never happen any normal day while watching cartoons. He even caught himself thinking that it was not so bad that he would get this opportunity tomorrow, but those thoughts did not feel as troubling as they normally would.
Despite Kim Soleum’s internal celebration brought on by the fact that he was dozing off, he would not be caught dead sleeping in front of this greedy little man. He might as well send Saheon off, but not without giving him… a little push.
“That’s enough,” Soleum muttered quietly, mostly to himself. He stands while turning off the TV, the cheerful sounds of children’s cartoons transitioning to complete silence. He turns to Beak Saheon with a haunting smirk playing across his face. “Thank you Saheon-ssi~ you were a very good dog today.”
Kim Soleum watched as the man still frozen on the floor flinched as he took a step closer. The satisfied and condescending look on his face almost felt too genuine as Saheon trembled below him.
Kim Soleum stood there observing Baek Saheon for a moment longer before turning to calmly stroll back to his own room. “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Soleum yells back down the hall as a final remark, closing the door behind him.
- Mr. Roe Deer, you aren’t seriously considering associating further with that man, hm?
Braun’s smooth voice filled his head once again as soon as the door clicked shut, though no one would be able to hear their conversation anyways. Soleum began to mistake the tone of the TV host’s voice as genuine concern but shook it off as his usual commentary.
‘If I have to be honest, it was actually enjoyable. Maybe I really am going crazy.’
Even so, he found himself looking forward to tomorrow against his better judgement. It felt surreal looking forward to another day in this messed up world that he came to the conclusion that he really does need more sleep.
‘…Shouldn’t that mean that this is a good idea? Ah… Baek Saheon said that sitting on the floor made his knees hurt. Maybe I should get him a cushion…’
- Oh, good heavens.
And thus, Kim Soleum slept better that night than he had in months while the person on the other side of the hall did not sleep a wink.