Work Text:
Soleum is pressed against the wall, unable to escape.
Anyone passing by would think this was a kidnapping incident.
It was worse.
Choi is trying to recruit him into Hyunmu team 1.
Just moments ago, he had been pushed against the wall by Agent Choi in the stairway beside the door. Most forceful recruitments happen where it isn’t visible, but not Choi, apparently.
The door is wide open for the world to see.
He wants an audience. The audience, however, will not come 10 meters in his general direction.
Unfortunately, Soleum is now very unwillingly part of his play.
“Fate has brought us together," he practically shouts in Soleum’s ear. "Now come, join our team and save the world from the disasters that plague our world!”
Combined with the cigarette-stained breath, which Choi vehemently claimed was “a habit that followed him back from the battlefield” or... Something like that—Soleum flinches.
That was a mistake. As Choi takes it as a sign his recruitment is working.
“The darkness once claimed you, but the light shall prevail.”
Why exactly is he the only one claimed by darkness here? Soleum truly would never understand what went on in this man’s head, nor does he want to know what goes on.
“Is this about the team transfer form...?”
It probably is—and he definitely shouldn’t ask—as he doesn’t want to hear Choi's monologue, but against his better judgement, he asks anyway.
Choi slams the hand beside Soleum’s ear for god knows what reason and says, “The form is merely a symbol.”
He looks at Soleum, waiting for a response.
Soleum has no idea what symbol he’s talking about.
Soleum rarely knows what he’s talking about.
The silence stretches for too long, in Choi’s opinion at least, as Choi starts speaking again.
Soleum would’ve rathered the silence. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say.
“The form is a gateway. A declaration you have decided not to stand at the front lines of humanity’s defense.” he says seriously.
The rest of the Hyunmu teams do the exact same thing as Hyunmu team 1. And absolutely none of them will be saving this world from the doomed prophecy.
“It’s alright... I’m still going to be working at the bureau.” Soleum says, attempting to slide sideways across the wall and out the door.
Choi moves immediately, his hand blocking the one lifeline Soleum had to get out. He’s starting to feel bad for Jaekwan now.
There’s no way anybody put up with Choi.
“You fear your own potential.”
No, I fear you.
He can’t exactly say that to his co-worker. Though, no one will blame him if he does.
Choi continues, “Hyunmu team 1 will lead you to the path of light!”
Hyunmu team 1 might be the reason he resigns.
“I’m not interested,” he says flatly.
“The path of righteous ones is never easy.” He adds,
He stares at Soleum, expecting him to realise his destiny, or maybe have an epiphany.
But he doesn’t, obviously.
A few moments later, Choi lifts his hand to slam against the wall for the 3rd time.
Soleum immediately dashes out of the stairwell.
He doesn’t look back.
Later, he gets an email telling him he was assigned to Hyunmu team 1 despite his protests.
He must have sinned in a previous life.
Despite knowing exactly how this might end, he asks Choi something for the first and last time.
“Sunbae-nim, is your real name Choi?”
His curiosity of a named character gets the better of his disdain.
Choi turns around in his rolling chair, chin propped up on his arm with the most serious expression he's ever had before.
That is not a good thing.
Soleum can still run now, but unfortunately for future Soleum, present Soleum made the horrible decision to stay.
“Kufufu,” Choi chuckles.
It’s the most demonic laugh Soleum has ever heard.
He hopes to never hear that again in his lifetime.
“So, my disciple, you’d like to know my true name, don't you?”
He’s not Choi’s disciple—he would rather die than do that.
But for the sake of not hearing how or when he became one, he lets Choi continue.
“My given name is far too bright for a mere mortal to handle,” he continues, “Get rid of the darkness in you, and I shall tell you the answer in due time.”
He’s gotta be an orphan, right...?
There’s no way anyone raised him to be like this.