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On a regular Monday afternoon, a phone flew through their apartment. The Secretive Plotter caught it, while putting on his coat.
“Did you pack his jacket?”
“Yes.” Yoo Joonghyuk stoically answered.
“His phone?” Uriel began packing through things laying around on the ground. “God knows why he always forgets those out of all things.”
Yoo Joonghyuk caught the jacket flying his way in his other hand, packing it away. “Of course.”
“When will you be back?”
“In three hours.”
“Oh.” She suddenly stopped, looking up at Yoo Joonghyuk, standing in the doorway, dressed to pick Kim Dokja up from school. “Visiting the library today?”
“He asked me to.” He didn’t mean to mock her, but his tugged up lip betrayed him.
“Well,” In return Uriel’s tone tipped up on the annoyed angel scale. “Have fun, you damn favorite, why does he always only ask you.”
“It’s because you’re too protective, unnie.”
“Facts.” Kim Namwoon, unhelpfully chimed in with Lee Jihye.
The scale rose another pitch. “Am I?”
Lee Hyungsung dejectedly answered after being urged a few more times.“…No comment.”
“Jeez.” Uriel groaned. “You’re dramatic. My sweetheart - ”
‘Sweetheart.’ The word echoed in Yoo Joonghyuk’s eardrum.
“- is shy so he needs someone to take him to places. He’s cheering inside, I swear.”
Yoo Joonghyuk held the chuckle inside, better than Lee Hyungsung who suddenly found Lee Jihye’s video game extremely funny. “I’ll be back in three.”
“Ah wait!” She hastily handed him a card in the doorway. “He forgot his library card too.”
“Thanks.”
And then she pulled him down by his coat to whisper in his ear, tone lowered, “And don’t forget.” Her eyes were daring him to harm their star. “Never kill someone in front of my dear child.”
"Sure."
‘Dear child.’
“Since when can we openly call him that?” Yoo Joonghyuk once called him Dokja-ya and Kim Dokja nearly went into cardiac arrest.
“Well someone needs to take the first step.” She said narratingly, winking. “And as you all agreed I’m overbearing anyway.”
***
It didn’t take long for the Outer Gods to realize.
This world where the Oldest Dream was living in, bore a fundamentally different detail to their original one. As soon as night struck and the moon howled over the buildings, vampires began their hunt for sweet human blood.
Vampires. Mythical creature only found in fables, typically having a sharp pair of fangs and maddingly-crazed appetite for human blood.
In the face of this new world, the Outer God Party tried to fiercely adapt to this newfound reality. For three months already.
Enough time for them to tell the Oldest Dream of their story. It was initially matched with an evenly absurd expression by the child. By how usually suspicious and mistrusting he was at the beginning, Yoo Joonghyuk thought he’d have to go catch a runaway.
Instead Kim Dokja simply judged their truths himself.
It sorted itself out eventually when Yoo Joonghyuk killed a vampire barehanded in front of him by accident, a feat no human could do, but an outer god with ease. Uriel still told him off because of it as well.
So it had been three months since Kim Dokja moved in with them after the adults of their group started working, and changed to a new school Yoo Joonghuyk made sure was a good environment. He also made sure to check that vampire activities were minimal in the neighborhood.
On said school, the schoolyard trees were just turning into the brightest colors of autumn, and the fresh breeze blew through his loose hair, past the students coming out.
Just as Yoo Joonghyuk was waiting for Kim Dokja, a certain presence sneaked behind him, acting stealthily. “Did you wait long, ahjussi?”
“No, I just arrived.” A smile greeted him, as he turned around. Kim Dokja always seemed to find it incredibly funny to sneak up on a novel protagonist, as he called Yoo Joonghyuk.
He opened the car door with a not-yet smile. “How was school?”
Kim Dokja fluidly entered. “Ah fine, yeah fine.”
“Is that why I got a call from your homeroom teacher that you disappeared.” What he truly wanted to ask is if he needed to go to another parent meeting because Kim Dokja suddenly left during school again. It was a bad habit the boy adopted from god knows who.
“... It was lunch break, and not even 30 minutes.” Kim Dokja argued back.
“Yes without a phone and no jacket.”
“Why is that the thing you're upset about?” Kim Dokja’s face disinterestedly searched for the seatbelt.
Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly leaned over to touch his forehead. It was ice-cold. As expected. He sent the boy an accusing look, meaning he was worried.
Kim Dokja brushed the hand off. “My body’s always cold, ahjussi. A jacket won’t do much.”
“Still, wear it.” He said as he fixed the seatbelt around Kim Dokja, so the belt wouldn’t chuff off his neck.
As Yoo Joonghyuk started the car, the boy beside him suddenly asked, “Don’t you think that’s weird?”
Yoo Joonghyuk stopped, confused. ”Because you’re frail?”
“...I’m not frail.” Kim Dokja said. He turned up the exact music he knew would annoy Yoo Joonghyuk. For the whole drive.
***
“It’s good for your health.”
“It is not and that doesn’t change that it tastes like crap.”
“Kim Dokja.”
“Ahjussi.”
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed, annoyance now apparent, even to the others sitting around the table, digging in. “Garlic has concentrated vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and allicin. It’s very healthy for you.”
“You’re trying to kill me.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s last straw was drawn. His brow ticked in serious contemplation, when he suddenly stood up. His rare sarcastic lip tilt was something Kim Dokja came to know was a terrifying gesture. “The tomato soup in the fridge certainly will kill you. Mentally.”
Kim Dokja returned a cocked eyebrow arrogantly. “You wouldn’t.”
With a stuffed mouth, Lee Jihye intervened. “He would. Why else would I willingly eat seafood? I hate fish.”
Yoo Joonghyuk launched his explanation immediately. “Fish has important nutritional value, is rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, High-Quality Protein, Essential Vitamins and Minerals.” At that he saw some very dissatisfied expressions all across the table.
But nutrition was important for Kim Dokja, who was growing up. “Anyway.”
“I’ll eat it.” Kim Dokja clung onto his arm without delay, having gauged his seriousness.
Yoo Joonghyuk sat down, satisfaction showing as he scooped an extra large portion of the stir fried veggies on his plate.
“Ahjussi, are you working as a chef in a famous restaurant? It’s weird to know all that stuff by heart.”
“I’m not a chef.”
“Then what?” Kim Dokja must try to distract him so he can shove his dinner towards Uriel. “I know Uriel-noona works as an idol.”
“A very popular idol.” She noted shortly, taking half the plate as a compromise.
“Wow, and Hyunsung-ahjussi works as her bodyguard.”
The man looking like a teddy bear nodded. “Just for show though.” Because a 6’1’ teddy bear man is the better choice for an idol than a man radiating death at her fans.
Kim Dokja continued, pointing at the young adults, “And unnie and hyung … don’t work.”
“Hey.” Lee Jihye suddenly slammed her fork on the table. “We’re students. Just as much freeloading as you!”
“Ahjussi, just say it. I can’t read your mind.” He shortly hesitated. “Wait, you’re not doing any dangerous work, are you?”
“It isn’t dangerous for me.” Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t dare meet Kim Dokja’s flat stare. He remembered lecturing the boy about the dangers of this world just three hours ago. Some role-model he was.
It was at this time, Uriel who had remained, decided to speak up. “Dokja, no need to stress, for him nothing's dangerous in this world.” She gave Yoo Joonghyuk a long look, so he nodded.
“Exept maybe a few mind tricks.” She quietly added. “Vampires, a new world and such.”
‘Watch it.’
“Yes, but …” Kim Dokja levelled his stare in. “Ahjussi even so, don’t be a gangster. You can do better.”
- Pfft!
Unintentionally, Lee Jihye sprayed her mouthful of noodle dish on Kim Namwoon’s side profile. Kim Namwoon delayedly, registering what Kim Dokja just said, did the same.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the spectacle in awe, at how two outer gods could still behave this surprised after 2000(?) years of living.
He cleared his throat. “I’m not a gangster.”
“Really, what else?” Immediately Kim Dokja interfered. “Quit.”
“He’s not a gangster.” Uriel came to the Plotter’s help.
“At this point, you’re just throwing a tantrum.” Hand picking the noodle out of her hair, Lee Jihye commented.
“You’re my role model in this.” Kim Dokja commented back.
‘That’s rather bad.’ The only one worse he could pick in this room was the other student, no name mentioned.
“Ahjussi, quit.”
“It’s not dangerous.” Yoo Joonghyuk insisted, but before he could continue,
“He’s a vampire hunter.” Lee Hyunsung splurted out, as he heard the seventh ‘Quit’.
Before Yoo Joonghyuk could realize it, Kim Dokja spit out his soup. It landed on Yoo Joonghyuk’s left cheek, dripping down the clothes almost mockingly as they shared a shocked look.
“Sorry.” Trying to pick a noodle out of Yoo Joonghyuk’s hair wave now, Kim Dokja appeared even more disturbed at the revealed job. “...Quit, please. Work at the restaurant.”
“Why?” ‘Why would he be so stubborn about this?’ Puzzle pieces were revealing itself, but Yoo Joonghyuk couldn’t fit them together. The three months* he’s known the boy, Kim Dokja never insisted on something this bad.
“Ahjussi, if you care about my opinion even a little, quit. I’m being serious.” The look on Kim Dokja’s face certainly said so too.
“Okay,” Uriel redirected the attention to her. “I think that’s enough talking about jobs today.” Changing the subject back from this grim resolution and stubbornness, Uriel brightly asked flashing idol smile number 3, “So how was the library, my sweet little Dokja-ya?”
Kim Dokja exchanged quick glances between her and him. The look shot his way roughly translated to: ‘Tomorrow. Quit.’ , before he let him off for today and began rambling about his day to Uriel.
Meanwhile, Yoo Joonghyuk’s focus was severely distracted by what Uriel said previously again. ‘Dokja-ya.’
Noticing his gaze Uriel, shot a bemused one back, knowing exactly what he thought. Teasingly she repeated, “Dokja-ya, what happened after that, sweetheart?”
A vein throbbed in his neck, as the chopsticks in his hand bent a weird angle. She was teasing him.
So, Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly said it too. “Dokja-ya.” But his eyes were way too intense.
The group all stilled in their seats, gazing moving to him in slow motion.
“...Ahjussi, did I do something wrong?”
In the background Uriel could only pinch her nosebridge both in pain and to not start laughing. Meanwhile, Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye were laughing, snorting out their noodles on each other again, and Lee Hyungsung only shortly clearing a huff out of his throat.
Despite himself feeling utterly dumb, this moment made him feel oddly relaxed. His hand found itself on the boy’s head. The round dark eyes looked at him weirdly, like Yoo Joonghyuk acting like this made no sense in this little one's mind.
***
Vampires. Mythical creatures only found in fables, typically having a sharp pair of fangs and maddingly-crazed appetite for human blood.
As a vampire, Kim Dokja knew it all too well. Fangs that hurt like a madman, not retractable once he gets hungry, the human blood tickling his nose or even the sunlight burning on his skin whenever he’s outside.
At first it was easy to hide. Then they moved to a nearly vampire free neighborhood and now the protagonist he’s admired hunts vampires for breakfast. What a reality this has come to be.
Three months ago he was just a normal kid -well vampire too- sitting at a subway station, when these people found him, turned his reality around and now Kim Dokja began to believe that to them he was someone they wanted to protect from all the sorrows this world had to offer.
Still, even now after all was so seemingly perfect, sometimes Kim Dokja wondered. Did they know he carried one of those sorrows deep within himself?
No, he knew better. They wouldn’t treat him like a fragile shard of glass if they did.
When should he tell them?
When Yoo Joonghyuk?
Time and time again, Kim Dokja asked himself that question when loitering around for blood.
In the end Kim Dokja never told him. He waited instead, for this stupid, he realized, bastard to figure out his deepest secret.
He would wait for them to figure it out. How would he even start the conversation otherwise? ‘Actually, I lied to you all. I’m a vampire.’
“Want to hold my hand?” Uriel suggested one Saturday afternoon, as they walked home from the aquarium she insisted they visit.
When Kim Dokja took it, pressured by her eyes, Uriel’s delighted humming toned out the traffic noises pestering his eardrums.
“Oh, should I buy you a new book?”
“Ahjussi bought me one on Friday already.”
She tsked.
Kim Dokja smiled in response. “Maybe next month.”
“That’s too long, let’s say tomorrow.”
“Next week.”
“Deal.”
Her humming continued again, cheerful as ever, calming as ever. He wondered if Uriel had some kind of skill she used on him or if it was just her personality.
“Wait, I can just send you my password.” She smiled down at him.
“For what?”
“My bank account?” Before Kim Dokja could respond she was already tapping on her screen, as his own phone beeped.
Never had Kim Dokja thought of getting into the bank account of an idol. Yup these numbers were like the heaven, Uriel probably came from.
“Don’t be surprised if a bird lands in your mouth.”
He hadn’t even realized his mouth hanging open. “Seriously, you’re spending way too much on me.”
“Dokja-ya.” Looking up, her gentle eyes hardened, uncharacteristically sad. So Kim Dokja looked away again, the silence between them filled by the clicking of the traffic light.
Then the clicking stopped.
“Be more selfish.”
Her watery eyes were undeniably beautiful, so much Kim Dokja wondered why he ever doubted Uriel could scam a whole nation out of their money. A shimmering green, filled with genuine pain on his behalf was something he never saw before.
Her tone carried the most careful voice yet. “Could you do your noona this favor?”
He stared at her, long enough for the clicking to resume again.
“...alright.” Was the reflection in her eyes his face? But he wouldn’t have that look on his face. Like he cared too much. Which was dangerous. “Alright.”
Uriel chuckled, snapping him out of his stupor, taking his hand. “You can’t take that back.”
“I won’t.” His gaze met her hand, delicate, yet firm, as if saying she won’t ever let go.
“Alright!” Her expression beamed, full of light all of a sudden. “You could wish for the stars to fall, seriously!”
Unseriously as her intention hopefully was, Kim Dokja wanted to believe her.
‘Dangerous.’
And for only a split second, a sentence formed itself.
“Noona.”
He called up to the figure holding his hand, while crossing the street. There was no need for her to do that, when Kim Dokja was old enough to cross it by himself. Just like he’d survived alone for the last 12 years.
“I’m not human in this world.”
***
“Hey.” Uriel said to the Plotter, just coming home from her walk with Kim Dokja.
“How was the aquarium?” The plotter asked.
Uriel ignored the question, only stepped forward to stare into his eyes with a dead serious expression. “Quit your job.”
Kim Dokja quickly grabbed her. “Excuse me.” He pulled Uriel out of the door again, shutting the door behind them, before waving goodbye again.
‘What was that?’
***
He regrets telling her. No not per se, but it certainly wasn’t good for his mental health to be cuddled nonstop.
Chewing her rice, Lee Jihye noted. “He’ll die at this rate.”
“He’ll live.” Kim Namwoon countered.
A vein throbbed in her temple. “Why can’t you agree, ever.”
Yoo Joonghyuk, not even one second in the living room, caught the spoon thrown after Kim Namwoon. “I’ll cut your allowance, if you start this in the morning.”
Walking over to Kim Dokja's position of misery, he brushed Uriel’s hair out of his face.
“Ahjussi, help me.”
“He’s alive.” Yoo Joonghyuk, having heard his wheezing, confirmed he was among the living - or not -, although squished like a plushie. “Uriel, let him go, he needs to eat.”
In the corner Kim Dokja heard Lee Jiyhe triumphantly kicking Kim Namwoon.
Defiantly towards the other outer god, Uriel’s arms wrung the life out of his body. ‘Urgh.’ “He’s said he’s full.”
“But he needs more.”
She shot him an asking look, but in the end listened, only rolling her eyes. It was morning, a time to be nice.
Finally Kim Dokja escaped.
“Stay here.” Or not. When Uriel decided that now a good time had come to lean her head on his, a string of blonde hair tickled his nose, so Kim Dokja blew it off.
Meanwhile Yoo Joonghyuk seated himself next to them, and shoved some bowls with dishes his way. “Tell me next time, if you’re still hungry.”
Kim Dokja, finally able to speak normally, began stankering in the food. “I wasn’t though.”
“You were chewing on my arm in your dream.”
“...ah.” It felt as if the nonexistent blood throbbed in his stomach. “I did?”
Kim Dokja’s eyes scanned through the faces, each one oblivious still. Expect the one above him. In response Uriel took his fork and shoved a dish in his mouth.
He couldn’t look up now. The last time he saw those eyes, he blurted out what he swore himself he wouldn’t.
“Don’t starve and tell me next time.” One oblivious outer god next to him said, forcing another spoon down his mouth.
‘Ahjussi, this would be so much easier if you looked at me like noona.’ Then Kim Dokja wouldn’t have to try so hard to make him notice about his weird actions anymore.
“Stop feeding me, I can eat on my own.”
Was it that time of the month already? The time for his blood thirst to rise and scent to bristle under his nose. It made reality sink in even more.
Kim Dokja hadn’t fed in a week. He was starving.
***
There was a reason Kim Dokja avoided coming out for the last month. Yoo Joonghyuk was a vampire hunter. As much as Kim Dokja tried to stop him, going as far as hiding the others' swords, he hadn’t yet succeeded.
As such Kim Dokja needed to be careful of being caught by him, especially when he secretly sneaked out during school and into its back alley to search for some wild animals to satiate his hunger. Humans weren’t really an option in a vampire-empty neighborhood. Thanks for that.
From what Kim Dokja knew, Yoo Joonghyuk gathered with other vampire hunters in a nearby forest area, Dream Forest.(Real one) Their headquarters. Maybe Yoo Joonghyuk went there to hunt his vampires too. But chances are higher he would patrol around school instead.
While time and time again contemplating where he went to hunt his vampires, Kim Dokja briefly forgot that his Ahjussi wasn’t the only dangerous being out there. Sadly enough.
And the current situation is a consequence of this.
He carefully let go of the deer he caught not even a second ago.
Another vampire just had to show up. Kim Dokja had never been this far out before.
Did he intrude into his territory?
‘Shit.’
Don’t move too quickly. Just silently back away, peacefully. His foot caught on a root. Stumbling, Kim Dokja already saw the vampire launching at him.
‘Shit!’
But the body slam never came. Belatedly, it dawned on him why and he lifted his arms off his face.
“We talked about this last week.” Under Kim Dokja’s protagonist's palm the vampire struggled to breathe. “What are you doing here?”
“Just taking a lunch break walk.” He never before feared for his life, would Yoo Joonghyuk figure out his secret. Not now either. He did though, for this poor man who made the mistake of chasing him when the Plotter coincidentally was around.
Kim Dokja heard an unnatural crack from the stranger's neck. He felt kind of sorry for him. “Ahjussi, I think you can let him go.”
Grip tightening, Yoo Joonghyuk fixated the man with murderous eyes. “He chased you.”
“He didn’t hurt me.” Yet. Because Kim Dokja was 99% sure a normal vampire would launch at him as soon as they saw a boy nipping on Bambi in the wild in his territory.
In Yoo Joonghyuk’s grasp the man struggled for air. He shushed him with another squeeze. “Quiet.”
Damn, it was kind of his fault for intruding.
“Ahjussi, I’m not hurt. Let’s just go.” Standing behind Yoo joonghyuk, Kim Dokja grabbed the one arm hanging loose.
“Why does a hunter!-” The man coughed from his airflow thinning.
Now it became problematic. Yoo Joonghyuk couldn’t find out like this. It wasn’t the proper way. “Ahjussi.”
The man began wheezing for air again. Shit.
“Ahjussi!” He pulled on the arm, strongly. Maybe too strong, because Yoo Joonghyuk actually stumbled.
The man let the body go in favor of intercepting his fall. And before Kim Dokja could see it, the vampire hushed away.
“Kim Dokja.” Oops.
“Sorry, ahjussi. I didn’t mean to.”
Before Kim Dokja could notice it, he was lifted up on Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder.
“What is this now?”
“The punishment.”
If only that, he could accept it.
Yoo Joonghyuk began walking on a trail leading out of the forest. His face wasn’t visible. Somehow the silence was more scary than any words from this man.
“Why are you slipping out of school again?” There it came. “No excuses.”
“It’s for a wildlife study.” While not seeing his face, Kim Dokja was sure, Yoo Joonghyuk just rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell noona. She can be scary.”
Yoo Joonghyuk grunted.
“But aren’t you going to yell at me to not sneak out again?”
“I could never yell at you.” Came as an immediate answer.
He huffed against the wavy hair. “Sure.”
“I promise I won’t. But I do have to reprimand you.” He added shortly.
“You just said you wouldn’t be mad.”
“Dokja-ya.” He started, tone different unusually cold, when speaking to Kim Dokja. “Vampires are scary. From what I’ve seen they are bloodthirsty, inhuman and won’t stop from killing a child like you.”
Kim Dokja listened in silence, let it prevail. For a vampire hunter it was clearly a very logical image of a vampire. He had heard worse. But would Yoo Joonghyuk, who had those experiences, think so well of Kim Dokja. A vampire.
Suddenly he feared the moment, he would.
“...I know. Horrible.” The few drops of blood in his stomach churning up, he let his head plump down on his hunter’s cloud-like hair as a pillow.
Usually he would have found it relaxing. “Let me down.”
“They’re revolting. Every time one sees me, they attack-”
“Let me down.” Kim Dokja countered in a dejected voice. “Aren’t they’re tame compared to what you’re used to?”
“I’ve seen worse, but at the end they’re all putrid monsters.”
“Stop it. And let me down already!”
“So you can run off again?”
“No, I just don’t want to burden your precious vampire slaying shoulders. Slaying such putrid creatures. How noble of you.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s response was a rare laugh. ”Who could see it as noble. Also you’re as light as a wisp.”
Kim Dokja didn’t find this funny at all. “I’m not.”
“Yes. So eat more.” Kim Dokja felt a smirk on where his hands touched Yoo Joonghyuk’s cheeks. It made him grumble in turn and pull on some strands out of pettiness.
“Stop pulling my hair.”
“You deserve it.”
“I’ll make something when we get home.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Your stomach is growling.” ‘And whose fault is that? Ah right the runaway vampire.’
“I’ll make omurice when we get home.”
“I want to order pizza though.”
“...”
The silence meant he wouldn't get pizza.
“Wait. Ahjussi, didn’t you tell noona, you would quit?”
“...”
***
Uriel wasn’t delighted about Kim Dokja’s forest rendezvous.
“Why is there blood on his sleeve?”
Kim Dokja hadn’t even noticed. Bambi?
“Didn’t we talk about not killing people in front of him?” Well they were talking about it pretty easily in front of him.
“Plotter?”
Yoo Joonghyuk decided that now was a good time to stare at the wallpaper Uriel just installed. “You forgot the edges.”
Kim Dokja saw her eyes turning on him with a scornful look he knew she reserved for only her worst enemies, namely the Secretive Plotter. “Dokja-ya? Do you see the edges?”
“I don’t. It looks perfect. 10 out of 10.”
***
By the time he’d finally sorted out his thoughts, the next morning already dawned on his bedroom window.
He can’t rely on them right now. And the Plotter the least.
“You’re not forgetting your phone.”
Kim Dokja flinched on the doorstep, ready for school. Turning around in slow motion, Uriel stood, looking down at him with a smile and technical device he absolutely didn’t leave in his room, in her hand.
“Ah right.” Kim Dokja should just ditch it somewhere, preferably at school. So they couldn’t track his location. He was sure Uriel installed a tracking app at some point.
Alright, Kim Dokja knew he promised the Plotter.
But the Plotter said vampires are disgusting, filthy monsters, so he should be allowed to do something monsterly at least.
It’s kind of getting permission.
***
Yoo Joonghyuk knew he’d lied.
Quitting wasn’t on his mind. Neither was it to stop his hunt for vampires, especially if they chased after innocents.
In the span of the week Yoo Joonghyuk had captured a few of them. He wasn’t the one who killed them, because then his income would be non-existent. Vampires vanishing into dust and all that. He learned the hard way.
His workplace, laid deep in the Dream Forest, collected them for the government, while the government did who knows what.
Test subjects. Human trafficks. Cheap work force. Experiments. Pets. Items of Value. Objects for War.
Where it began and where it ended was unclear.
All speculation.
So Yoo Joonghyuk tried not to blur the lines and did only so much which allowed their party to survive. He already had the blood of millions on his hands, a few more that hurt what mattered to him, wouldn’t add up to much.
A branch broke just behind the deer he was watching in silence. Yoo Joonghyuk heard a yelp, a crunch and a small voice, followed by a squelch.
A vampire.
Ready to launch himself forward, he stocked, seeing the being look up at him. Big round eyes holding the misery of all stars inside. He knew them too well.
“Dokja, what-” He began. Only then he saw, a deep red shimmer, an animalistic one as well and blood over trickling down the boy’s mouth.
“Ah.”
Then Yoo Joonghyuk realized.
It was a mind trick. Used by vampires to confuse their enemies and kill them, when they don’t expect it.
Yoo Joonghyuk lunged forward.
How barbaric - the lithe neck under his fingers felt exactly like Kim Dokja’s, while its eyes screamed in disarray.
Under his grip the vampire squeezed out a weak whisper, sounded hurt like being betrayed, “Why? Is it so difficult to believe?”
“Stop this.” Yoo Joonghyuk warned. “Stop wearing his face.”
The resignation that had just presided in its eyes turned to something akin to realization then disbelief. “Wait, ahjussi, you’ll regret this. I think you’re confused-”
“I said quiet.”
“That hurt’s! Let me down!”
Yoo Joonghyuk only squeezed tighter.
“You’re not listening!”
“Be quiet.” His sword moved with utmost precision, stopped at drawing blood from Kim Dokja’s neck. No, the vampires.
“Ahjussi stop! It hurts!”
And for a moment he hesitated. The voice, body and act felt too realistic to be played. He let the vampire go, accidentally fall to the ground.
The vampire’s body, muttered in pain, while clutching the wound on his neck. With eyes that so obviously looked like Kim Dokja’s, he coughed, glaring at him. “Noona, will burn you alive for this.”
He looked down at the monster, who in turn looked up at him, wary. But Yoo Joonghyuk’s grip on his sword didn’t loosen. He didn’t trust an enemy. “You’re not him.”
He had to make a decision. That was how Yoo Joonghyuk acted. He doesn’t differentiate between human and non-human, only between friend and foe.
A being that could interfere in his mind shouldn’t be left alive.
The vampire seemingly feeling his shift of emotion had a cold expression. “If you do this, be aware, I’ll not talk to you for at least a month.”
“I’ll take that risk.” He leaned down to pack the vampire.
Just as his hand wrapped around the lithe neck again, sharp teeth sunk in his hand. Yoo Joonghyuk tried shaking him off, but before, they ripped out a chunk of flesh.
When Yoo Joonghyuk turned around again, the vampire was gone.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t hesitate to grab his phone, the wound on his hand being irrelevant.
The phone rang three excruciatingly long times.
Uriel’s voice answered, “Hello? Why d-”
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t notice his breath growing erratic. “Is he home?”
“It’s only 2. He’s in school.”
An excruciating feeling settled into his body. He wasn’t one to curse, but this situation deserved it. “Fuck.”
“Plotter, what's wrong?” From the sound Uriel let something fall on the ground, because Lee Jihye was cursing as well in the background. “Unnie!”
Amidst chaos, her angry voice screamed at him in worry, “Tell me what’s going on right now!-”
And then Yoo Joonghyuk hung up.
Silence stretching through the forest, the plotter comprehended how he absolutely fucked up. He was doomed. But before his doom, where did Kim Dokja run off to?
***
It had been thirty minutes since Yoo Joonghyuk decided screaming around the forest wouldn't work.
Had been 15 minutes since he found traces of blood, he dearly for the life of this planet, hoped weren’t Kim Dokja's.
And for the people that hurt him like this, he dearly hoped Kim Dokja at least hurt them to some extent. Because once Yoo Joonghyuk got his hands on them, revenge by the little one would be impossible.
It had also been one minute since he arrived at his workplace headquarters that held captured vampires.
“The vampires, where are they?”
The guard, usually taking the vampires he brought, stood tall before a door probably leading to a basement. “Why suddenly ask?”
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t have time for his bullshit. “I’m not asking thrice. Where?”
He grabbed the man’s neck, lifting him up in the air with ease.
Strangling, a cooperative wheeze came out with a cough, “Who are you searching for?”
“Someone’s waiting there for me.” He answered, scanning the door. Metall. If Kim Dokja was here …
“What?”
“My god is waiting.” He hurt his god. So let all of Kim Dokja’s hatred befall him, but only after the child was safe.
“Fuck man!” He tried kicking Yoo Joonghyuk with no success. “You’re bullshiting me!”
“No, I’d do whatever he asked.” ‘How dare I ever say no to his desire. As his desire is mine as well. And if he now wishes the world to burn then i'll be the one to lit the flames.’ “But you’re not worthy of living on with that knowledge.”
He threw the guard to the ground, knocking him unconscious. Yoo Joonghyuk would ask Uriel to burn this place down later, with all these people still inside.
Those who hurt what mattered.
***
The staircase down led him to a barely lit, dirty room.
Stepping inside Yoo Joonghyuk’s raging heartbeat finally calmed down a little.
“Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja looked up at him. His crouching position in the furthest corner had dried blood all over his chin.
When he saw Yoo Joonghyuk, he looked away defiantly.
He stepped closer until kneeling down before the boy.
Still denying Yoo Joonghyuk even a glance, Kim Dokja said, “You’re stupid. I’m not talking to you.”
“That’s okay.” Yoo Joonghyuk answered in the most gentle voice he'd ever heard himself use. “I’m sorry. No, you don’t have to, but let’s go home.”
Kim Dokja stayed silent, true to his threat.
So Yoo Joonghyuk simply picked the boy up. Holding the light body in his hands made his stoic expression melt at last.
Arms crossed, Kim Dokja whispered, “Why say go, when you carry me? That’s so stupid, ahjussi.”
On the way home Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t talk until they reached the entrance of the forest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Unbeknownst to the plotter, that point was a tough spot to get Kim Dokja to talk again.
“Ahjussi you’re so frustrating. Are you even aware of how many hints I dropped?!”
Looking back on the last month shortly, yes. “...Sorry.”
Kim Dokja sighed. “I feel like I forgive you too easily.”
Yoo Joonghyuk needed to hide his smile, because Kim Dokja was finally honoring him with his gaze again.
“Why are you so bloodied up?” After getting Kim Dokja to the surface, more than just his own blood, painted the fabric of his clothes. Though Yoo Joonghyuk saw no wounds.
“I fought back, when they tried to capture me.” Kim Dokja smirked for the first time again.
Yoo Joonghyuk imagined the maneuvers must have looked like a weasel. “I’ll teach you self defense techniques, when we’re home.”
“Sure let’s go home.”
Sadly, he forgot a certain fact.
Before rescuing Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk called Uriel and hung up on her.
***
It had been a day since they quickly had to organise a new apartment to live in.
Their old one burned down, tragically. (After the Plotter explained to her what happened, Kim Dokja wasn’t surprised. Uriel even gave them all the time to pack their stuff. All but the Plotter. “How could an Outer God be so utterly stupid!”)
Now then, the new appartment was even bigger than the last. Possessed so many rooms Kim Dokja owned his own reading room with a big window overlooking the Han River.
And the people living with him and now too all knowing he was a vampire… It didn’t seem like they’d treat him any different.
Kim Dokja needed to duck before a flying phone banged against his head. “Hey!”
His complaint fell on deaf ears, as Uriel was too busy arguing with the Plotter about the many new things they had to think over.
Kim Dokja heard that conversation about 3 times already.
“It’s so worrying. I have so many things to think over.” She rattled to the Plotter preparing their late dinner snacks, as the stars were already sparkling through the window wall. (UV-proved because they were worried Kim Dokja would burn in the sun.)
“Just think about it. If he ever has health concerns, who do we contact? If he needs braces, who would do those on vampire teeth?”
Kim Dokja slipped into the conversation. “Are you also that worried, ahjussi?”
Yoo Joonghyuk, chopping the veggies, replied, “I’m worried about your diet, yes. I also have to plan daily sessions, so you get your nutrients.”
Kim Dokja blinked. Daily sessions, he never heard those in Yoo Joonghyuk’s vocabulary. “Daily sessions for what?”
“Blood. You need fresh blood. At least three times a day. Before school, after school and before bed.”
Okay first of all, Kim Dokja for sure didn’t need a gallon of blood a day. What doctor did he talk to? “You’re not seriously asking me to drink… wait.” Knowing Yoo Joonghyuk, he wasn’t one for frozen goods. “From who…”
Yoo Joonghyuk blinked back at him, as if it was obvious. “Me, naturally.”
“Hah.” Uriel interrupted. “Who would want to drink the blood from the body of a 40 year old geezer.” She turned to him with an angelic smile. “Dokja-ya come over here, mine tastes heavenly.”
“Dokja-ya,” Yoo Joonghyuk said mockingly for Uriel to hear, while nearly chopping the kitchen board in half. A shame, they only installed it 2 hours ago. “Whose blood?”
Kim Dokja’s finger slowly lifted in shame, pointing at neither of the two. He felt very sorry for who he was pulling into this fight. “Hyungsung-ahjussi smells the best.”
Both opposing forces, suddenly united.
“Metal.”