Chapter Text
Rumors were an inevitable for any work space, but it was more certain that rumors would latch themselves in a places like the Disaster Management Bureau.
Only made sense with the things that dealt with along with the turn over and casualty rate for those who did not reach the retirement age for the Bureau (real shame too, the benefits are quite good for those who made it over the finish line). The rumors tend to range from meaningless hushes like Agent Haeguem’s secret stash of American mint chocolates being tucked besides Agent Choi’s less secret stash of cigarettes to everyone to the quiet legends that everyone knows to not acknowledge but are workers are privy to knowing (don’taskaboutbathroomtwodon’taskaboutbathroomtwodon’taskaboutbathroomtwodon’taskaboutbathroomtwo).
But the newest rumor that agents started to whisper about was…
...most unusual for the bureau.
See, Hyunmoo Team 1 wasn’t a new victim of this speculation. Such questions of them having experimental ‘plot armor’ to how much time their eldest member has left until he has to go to one of the Americas for hair loss replacement. Those were were common place; but an Otter?
Indeed, a river otter to be specific, spotted by one of the eyes apart of Team Baekho members who just happened was walking past the Hyunmoo Team’s waiting room, and see a brown creature seemingly squeaking around in the room.
The agent (who requested to remain anonymous for their safety, as if they wouldn’t be found out later on) states that they were certain it had to be an otter; weasels would be a little too small for how long and frankly chunky the liver colored creature was. A dog would be a comparable size but this agent hasn’t ever seen a dog that long before and with such short and stubby legs! A dog bred to look like that would entirely be unethical! Think of their poor little joints!
What sealed this particular agents thoughts on it being an otter was the little creature picking up some kind of marble bead in it’s mouth and sliding on it’s belly out of the view of the window of the waiting room.
Dammit!
What dog does that?
The agent reports then attempting to get a better look of the creature by going in but they felt an ominous presences as they lifted a hand to the bronze handle of the door. ‘It was like something was already there in the room with the otter! Like I could only catch a glimpse of it or else I would be caught by something that would crunch me in half! I couldn’t even move! God, I’m getting goosebumps and sweating from it. But there is an otter in there!’
So, what was in Hyunmoo Team 1’s room now?
An otter darkness? A darkness that appeals the natural instinct of human’s pack bonding before tearing out their throats?
Or even worst…
Was Hyunmoo Team 1 breaking bureau regulations and sneaking an unsanctioned pet in their room!?
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“Stop it.”
“Grruh! GeeHeuh!”
“No.” The reprimand is accompanied by the soft chime of bells.
“GrHuff!!
“I mean it, sunbae.”
“KeuGH!”
“You know better, Agent.” Kim Soleum was carefully holding the blade of the jakdu by it’s spine as Chotter tries to tug it back by the rope, bells singing even louder from the otter’s frantic tugs “You can’t do the mission if you’re like this.”
Chotter didn’t know better as he wiggles his tail and pulls even harder with his entire body weight! Kim Soleum had to be careful to make sure the jakdu doesn’t land on his foot (again) and hulls the jakdu up with a wily otter attached and spinning in the air with it. He shakes the blade twice and when that didn’t detach Chotter, Kim Soleum gently tickles the prominent pink scar still at the otter’s neck.
Several squeaks, squealing chirps and rope acrobatics later, Chotter safely lands back on the ground with a ‘thump’ and seemingly with a pout on his muzzle. “mrph.”
“Choi.” Kim Soleum easily flips the jakdu to it’s handle, the weapon giving a clean ‘sheek’ before returning to a small key chain size ‘memorabilia’ and is set on the table. “Choi...look at me, sunbae.”
The otter turns to have his back facing the agent. “Mrph!”
Kim Soleum sighs and sniffs once. Chotter immediately turned back around, his tiny clawed paws tapping at his junior’s legs. He didn’t necessarily understand otter chirps, grumbles and or yips, but it did sound a lot like fussing from an uncle that knew they did something wrong so they’re trying to bribe and or shut the kid up before their mother came home.
“Agent Grapes. What’s the noise?”
And so did the mother come home, with Chotter trilling and scurrying behind their hoobae’s legs. Perfect. Kim Soleum turned his face aside, using his index under his glasses to wipe at a ‘tear.’ “It’s nothing, Agent Bronze. Me and Choi were having a disagreement.”
“…”
“Eep!”
“Disagreement, you say?” Ryu Jaekwan, predictably walks up to Kim Soleum, his face darkening a terribly fast as he looks down at the river otter. “In what sense?”
“No, it’s fine…”
“Agent Grapes. Stop defending him.”
Kim Soleum sniffles into his sleeves and mumbles into it. “It’s..It’s just that I was worried about sunbaenim when I saw he was tugging on his jakdu when me and you were going on this rescue call. I told him to let go and that it wasn’t safe because he was an otter, but he starting to huff and grumble at me. I just...I don’t know, Agent Bronze. I just was trying to help…keep everyone safe. I’m sorry, Agent Bronze and Agent Choi…”
The subtle sniffing, the down trodden eyes and hunched figure of their precious hoobae. Oh! How made every agent within a two meter viewing radius clutch at their chest to sooth their aching hearts. His glasses were even fogging up by how guilty he was feeling! Monsters! They were monsters! There would be some karmic punishment upon their souls, sealed in the same degree of other dongti!
Choi, scrubs and nuzzles his face into Kim Soleum’s ankle, chattering various kind of promises to the agent. If someone were to translate now, there would be a mention of grapes every two to three syllables.
Ryu Jaekwan sighs as he takes a handkerchief – somehow tucked somewhere on his person – to wipe Kim Soleum’s face and glasses. “It seems that Choi is asking for forgiveness, Agent Grapes.”
“Is he? I thought he was yelling at me more…”
“!!! Eyep! Churrup!”
“See.” Kim Soleum was just fanning the flames for the sick of it. But, Choi seems to have wilted, his paws tugging Kim Soleum down. “What is it? You want me closer to your level to scold me, sunbae?”
Instead of doing what was scripted, Chotter boops his muzzle to Soleum’s right cheek and clutches his paws together in a repeated prayer motion. ‘oh please forgive this insolent sunbae for making his cute cute hooebae cry’ is what he seems to be saying from Kim Soleum and Ryu Jaekwan’s analysis.
Kim Soleum seemed unbothered but he gave a soft chuckle at how insistent Chotter was with his kisses; on his cheek, on his chin, under his eyes to lap up the drying trails of tears before startling when Kim Soleum stood up and Chotter’s muzzle just happens to tap against his lips.
Chotter squeals and hides his face in his paws, unable to look at his junior even if Kim Soleum tried to look at him. Kim Soleum and Ryu Jaekwan gave him a funny look but places him back on the couch, with a few spare jackets that they had recently worn so Chotter wouldn’t be so lonely without their physical presences with him.
“Be good.” Ryu Jaekwan takes a knee to wag his index finger in front of Chotter’s snout; much like a drill sergeant would to a new recruit. “And don’t make trouble.”
Rather than assure his hoobae of his obedience to this single command, Chotter squishes his rotund face against that chiding finger to chew on it a little. Ryu Jaekwan indulges him for a nibble and a head rub before wiping the otter drool on Chotter’s forepaw.
Ryu Jaekwan stands up before turning away but he found himself being held in place. Chotter was holding onto the hand that was rubbing him, tiny claws carefully digging into the agent’s hand to keep him close.
Frowning, Ryu Jaekwan uses his free hand to gently pry Chotter’s claws off of him but Kim Soleum had to assist in freeing him. “Choi. We’ll be back soon. Promise.”
Chotter’s ears snap shut, their words muffling before he used a paw to smack Jaekwan a couple times as the agent tucked him back onto the makeshift nest of jackets. He sniffs a couple times before resting his chin on one of Kim Soleum jacket sleeves and chews on it.
Ryu Jaekwan and Kim Soleum were both worried but they couldn’t put off this lower case call for much longer. They made sure they left him some water (in a nice paper cup and ceramic bowl, Chotter still has his human niceties and preferences) with his lunch being some rice with leftover pieces of mackerel and steamed bok choy to snack on.
Chotter at the moment didn’t feel that pang of hunger yet despite not having eaten anything. He climbs up and over the familiar smelling jackets and slides down the make shift slope Jaekwan made for him off the couch to look up the giant door in his way. Chotter shifts back and forth a little, as if expecting for someone to come back and cradle him.
But no such person came.
Not for a while.
A long while.
A person from the Baekho team with a name tag saying ‘Mint’ came by to refresh his water (which was untouched) and inspect his food. She was nice enough, smells similar to the fabric softener that Agent Grapes used, but he snuffled away into the nest when she offered him her hand to sniff. No offense, Minty, but you’re no Grapes or shining Bronze.
Chotter sighed a little as he watched the hour hand move a little more before sighing so hard his flank heaved, closing his eyes once and then twice.
Was the waiting room always this quiet?