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"Ahjussi," Lee Jihye says as she walks in the room, the kids following closely behind.
Kim Dokja acknowledges the trio with a nod and stares back at his black phone screen. What has he been doing for the last 10 minutes, he has no idea.
"Do you remember all those fables you didn't know you had?" Jihye continues speaking. "Like [Goryeo's Number Two Sword]? And the Rival of the Lame Dragon or whatever?"
Kim Dokja recalls the moment all the fables he didn't even know existed cried out, struggling to keep the constellation alive. He was already aware that certain feelings constellations bore towards incarnations could lead to fables being created, though he never thought he'd have so many of them. He nods at Jihye as he tries to remember the names of all his silent fables.
"Do you think we all have fables like that?"
The question stops Dokja's short moment of self-introspection. He's never considered the possibility of those same kinds of fables germinating within his companions too. Of course, it wasn't just him. He mentally slaps himself for letting his self-importance get this far. A voice in his head that sounds strangely like Han Sooyoung berates him for it.
"Probably," he replies as he mulls over the question in his head. The things they went through that haven't had the privilege of being named by the Star Stream, maybe they all have names already but they just haven't been made aware of it yet.
"How do we wake them up?" This time it's Lee Gilyoung asking the question.
Kim Dokja does not know the answer. In fact, he has no idea how to go about the process of the whole thing. Trying to find sleeping or simply shy fables residing within their incarnation bodies sounds almost impossible unless the fables themselves feel like revealing themselves.
"You're talented at this fable thing, are you not?" says Lee Jihye as she waves a hand around to make her praise sound as nonchalant as possible. "The reincarnators were very impressed by the stuff you pulled back then."
Kim Dokja nods. It was surprising to find out he had something he was naturally good at. The pebble fable he received back then has been useful quite a few times.
"Can you try to find fables like those? Maybe we can copy you to see if we have any." Shin Yooseung asks expectantly and Kim Dokja smiles at the kids. How could he possibly deny his cute incarnation when she's making such a request?
"Sure," he says and leaves his chair to sit on the ground. He crosses his legs as if he's about to meditate and closes his eyes. "I don't really know what I'm doing either so just wait while I figure this out." The trio all take seats around Kim Dokja in similar positions and copy whatever he's doing.
[Constellation Demon-like Judge Of Fire finds this bonding moment adorable.]
Dokja purposely ignores all the indirect messages he's getting and calmly reaches out towards his fables. They range from Great Fables to ones who weren't deemed important enough to have rankings. [Pebble and I] is sleeping while the previously hostile [Torch That Swallowed the Myth] watches Kim Dokja silently.
All of his fables are paying great attention to Kim Dokja's meditative state. They're all curious, just like the kids in front of him.
[Fable Plotter's Object of Desire is giggling away.]
What?
Kim Dokja furrows his brows and creaks open an eye. 'Object of what ?' he wants to ask but the various expressions the kids are sporting make him swallow his words.
"Ahjussi, you did it! That was really fast!" comes Shin Yooseung's excited exclamation.
At the same time, Lee Gilyoung stares at the blue notification box with quizzical eyes. "Object of desire…" he mutters under his breath.
Lee Jihye, on the other hand, looks like she's two seconds away from a panic attack. She looks between Dokja and the notification floating beside them. The expression on her face is a familiar one, Dokja has seen her look exactly like she does now back when the scenarios had just begun and she thought Dokja and Joonghyuk had a child together somewhere.
Jung Heewon finds the best moment to barge in, single-handedly destroying the weird atmosphere in the room. She takes one look at their positions and opens her mouth. "What are you guys doing?"
Lee Gilyoung answers her question excitedly. "We're looking for hidden fables! Dokja-hyung just found one."
[Fable Plotter's Object Of Desire is whistling.]
Jung Heewon gapes upon reading the name of Dokja's newfound fable.
"This doesn't belong to me," Dokja says very intelligently.
Jung Heewon either does not hear him or simply ignores his statement. She takes a seat on the chair Dokja had been sitting on previously and clears her throat. "I'd like to hear more about this fable of yours, Dokja-ssi."
Kim Dokja scratches his nape in embarrassment. "There's not much I can tell you about it really." He smiles, not knowing something has never felt this relieving. "I found out about its existence just now."
As if to mock Kim Dokja's entire existence, the fable begins its storytelling.
It starts with the train scenario they're all too familiar with: Kim Dokja killing the grasshoppers and then killing Kim Namwoon, Lee Hyunsung opening the jammed train door to let the others escape.
Lee Gilyoung and Kim Dokja, both know this story by heart. Even the members of their company who haven't been with them back then have seen this exact scene play out during the painful award ceremony.
The only difference is that they can hear a familiar voice commentating the scenario as it continues playing out. "How interesting," says the being who possesses the same voice as one of their companions.
"Is that Secretive Plotter?" Lee Jihye asks, watching the fable’s letters dance around their group.
Instead of a retelling of their entire Nebula Story from the eyes of an outsider, the scenarios just fast forward at a rapid pace. The only intelligible writings are Secretive Plotter's indirect messages to him and his annoyed scoffs at whatever mishap Dokja has gotten into.
"I didn't know this man was such an avid watcher of ours," Jung Heewon comments.
"He sent me a sponsorship contract after the first scenario," Kim Dokja explains to draw their attention back to him, away from the fable. He can sense where this story is heading and he'd like to stop its storytelling as soon as possible. "I think he found my schemes intriguing. He seemed pleased when I made that streamer contract with Bihyung."
"Ah, that!" Lee Jihye snaps her fingers and stops listening to the unpleasant fable wafting through the air. "You never explained what that contract was exactly. I wanna know more about it. For future reference possibly." She makes sure to tack on a flimsy excuse to not seem interested in Kim Dokja's cheap plans, in Lee Jihye fashion.
Before Dokja can start his explanation, however, the fable starts giggling again, showing them the moment the Secretive Plotter went up against the Yoo Joonghyuk of their world and kidnapped Kim Dokja. They see that same cruel Outer God responsible for many tragedies gently lay Kim Dokja down on a bed. They see the room reserved for Kim Dokja in the N'gai's Forest's Palace and they watch as Secretive Plotter stares at Kim Dokja's unconscious incarnation body alongside thousands of mini Yoo Joonghyuks.
"What are those kkoma guys? Are they all Yoo Joonghyuks?" Lee Gilyoung asks while Lee Jihye and Jung Heewon are caught up in another aspect of the story.
Kim Dokja looks around nervously. He doesn't want his companions to watch everything that went down in the N'gai's Forest without Kim Dokja's own (and very necessary) filtering. "I think this is enough." Kim Dokja reaches out towards the letters surrounding them and tries to get them back inside his body.
The fable avoids his grasp, refusing to stop its storytelling.
[You.] They see Secretive Plotter pointing towards the Outer God who was… gracious enough to show its flowers to Kim Dokja as what he thought was a peace offering. [Stop your courting rituals.] Secretive Plotter demands and Kim Dokja has a hard time getting his mouth to close.
"That tentacle monster was trying to court you???" Lee Jihye pulls her hair in distress.
"Just… what did you do in that Plotter's palace Dokja-ssi?"
Kim Dokja attempts to answer. He tries to explain what kkomas are and what they mean to Secretive Plotter. He also wants to point out that the Plotter has decided to spare him thanks to his useful Fragment of the Last Wall but he's sure neither woman would listen to his words. They're too caught up in this retelling of the strange time he spent in the N'gai's Forest through an even stranger romantic lens.
Jung Heewon looks at the story with concern while Lee Jihye looks gleeful. She even mutters "Those little bastards..." when the kkomas click their tongues but eventually help out Dokja with his problems.
81 cooks meals for him. 666 sends indirect messages to the company. 999 brings him the book about outer gods. And they all regard him with sorrowful eyes whenever Kim Dokja isn't looking.
Kim Dokja always believed he was good at surveilling his surroundings. He was always first to notice danger coming their way and he could point out people's intentions from a mile away. Being apart from his companions must've messed with his brain because watching his story this way makes him feel stupid for not realizing sooner.
"You’re fond of him."
They hear one of the Yoo Joonghyuks point out as he and the Secretive Plotter silently watch Dokja's interactions with the Nameless Ones.
Kim Dokja knows it's 41 but keeps the information to himself.
[Does that sound like something I’d do?] Secretive Plotter sips his wine. With a wave of his hand, a handful of nameless ones stop latching onto Kim Dokja.
"No, it doesn’t. That’s why I’m surprised as well," 41 concludes and jumps out of the window to interfere with whatever has been going on. Kim Dokja is kneeling with unshed tears in his eyes.
The rest of the party can't understand the outer gods' language but Kim Dokja can hear them screaming through the fable.
[Heknowsusheknowsheknowsus]
[Howhowhowhowhowhow]
He hears Lee Jihye let out a loud gasp and tears his eyes away from the story to look at his companions. "He likes him," she says with astonishment. She’s acting like she's watching a shitty rom-com movie. Even Jung Heewon looks touched by 41's declaration.
The scenes start fast-forwarding again. When it turns back to a watchable pace Kim Dokja is in the palace's library reading the outer god book 999 gave him, wearing clothes that don’t belong to him. Secretive Plotter walks in and Kim Dokja immediately closes the book. Once he’s done struggling with the book cover, he leans on the table and smiles wryly.
It’s so painfully Kim Dokja that Jung Heewon can’t help but smile.
"Ahjussi, why did you change outfits?" Shin Yooseung asks out of pure curiosity.
"Secretive Plotter said I reeked of scenarios and gave me new clothes…" He doesn't miss the way Lee Jihye raises a single eyebrow at his statement.
Secretive Plotter rolls his eyes . "I know about the book. Nothing goes unnoticed by me in my own palace. 999 wouldn't have been able to give that to you if I didn't approve of it."
Kim Dokja relaxes visibly but he doesn't continue reading. Instead, he clears his throat.
Watching him like this, everyone in the room can see that he's about to start talking like an insane person -like he always does.
"So," he starts. "What should I call you?"
Secretive Plotter looks at him with Yoo Joonghyuk’s signature "Kim Dokja are you out of your mind?" stare but Kim Dokja keeps going.
"I mean, calling you Plotter or Secretive Plotter is just awkward. Plus that's the name given to you by the star stream, right? That doesn't feel right." Secretive Plotter nods, urging him to continue . "But you said you weren't Yoo Joonghyuk anymore so I don't want to call you that."
Secretive Plotter smiles. He smiles and looks at Kim Dokja playing with the book's pages. "Call me Joonghyuk. It'll be okay if it's you."
Lee Jihye starts clapping. "Unni, did you hear what he said!? Ahjussi!" She looks back at Dokja with a bright smile. "I had no idea my master had that in him!" She seems to be forgetting the man flirting with Dokja is their enemy, the being sealed away somewhere in the Industrial Complex, and the man who kidnapped him and held him hostage for almost a whole month before Dokja made that contract with the Wenny King.
The scene shifts again. Kim Dokja and Secretive Plotter are sitting on opposite sides of a long mahogany table.
Not this.
Anything but this.
Kim Dokja rises to his feet. "This is enough, seriously." He attempts to leave the room altogether but a strong grip on his shoulders stops him from doing so. Jung Heewon squeezes his shoulders hard enough to bruise and pushes him back onto the floor.
"Don't think of running away, Dokja-ssi," she threatens.
Before Kim Dokja can do something dumb like unleashing his status to get away, Han Sooyoung opens the door and looks at the room with an expressionless face. She pops a lollipop in her mouth and comes closer to sit next to Lee Jihye.
"Han Sooyoung, hold the door." Jung Heewon commands and Kim Dokja wants to bury himself 6 feet underground. Death isn't something he's afraid of, he's died plenty of times already. If dying means he doesn't have to watch this godforsaken moment he forced himself to not think about for so long , he'll take it. He'll die and never come back. Or he could come back 3 days later like he used to, once the storm created by his fable dies down.
Han Sooyoung, who doesn't know what's going on, immediately takes an offensive position in front of the door. Her hand is ready to peel off her bandages at any second. "What's happening?" she asks, expression hardening.
Kim Dokja of the fable complains about the food he usually eats and thanks Secretive Plotter for not serving him those story steaks Persephone seems to love.
"We're not letting Kim Dokja leave." Something in Han Sooyoung's head seems to click. She sits down in front of the door and watches the fable-like the rest of them.
"Heewon-ssi, I'm serious. We really should stop listening to this guy's nonsense. The final scenario is approaching. We don't have time to waste like this."
Heewon ignores Dokja completely.
The fable shows Secretive Plotter leaving his seat and trotting towards Kim Dokja.
"I'm the protagonist of the story you read for all those years. Not that fool you put your trust into." Secretive Plotter continues walking towards Dokja and stops beside him .
"I know that," says Kim Dokja and puts extra vigor into his next bite of the steak. "He's still my companion, though. The whole <Life and Death Companions> thing?"
Secretive Plotts scoffs. "If that Olympus fate was bestowed on you again, do you think the Yoo Joonghyuk of your worldline would still be the one to kill you?" That question gets Kim Dokja to stop struggling with his utensils. "Didn't you say it yourself? People are their stories. That's the conclusion you reached. It was the only one that made sense. A man lonelier than anyone else, incapable of saying he truly loved any of his companions found solace in the loneliest of stories. That story you love so much belongs to me, not him."
"Ahjussi..." Lee Jihye examines Dokja's expression. She was excited and gleeful at the turn of events just a second ago. The "Love Story" between the outer god and her comrade was an interesting one if not downright amusing. Now she looks at Kim Dokja with pity and concern. He doesn't know who it's directed towards: Kim Dokja or herself.
"That was then," Kim Dokja counters. "Yoo Joonghyuk would still be the one to kill me but for completely different reasons this time," he says with a wistful smile on his face. "Maybe it'd be Han Sooyoung or even Jung Heewon. I can't say who I love the most among them but I can confidently say that I do love them, unlike before."
The kids are sniffing loudly. Even Han Sooyoung looks shocked at Kim Dokja's declaration. He's never told any of them that he loved them outright. They could see it in his gestures, his words but hearing it directly is a different experience.
"Ahjussi!" Lee Jihye says again but this time in a completely different manner. "Is that why you wanted to stop the fable?" She grins almost maniacally. "Were you embarrassed?"
"Hm." Secretive Plotter hums and grabs Kim Dokja's chin, forcing him to look up at him . Han Sooyoung watches the scene with wide eyes. "It seems you've changed quite a bit."
Kim Dokja grins, daring. "I have. Is that a problem?"
"That fool has no self-preservation skills," Jung Heewon mutters and shakes her head disapprovingly.
When Secretive Plotter leans down, both Kim Dokja of the fable and the current Lee Jihye squeak. "What is he doing?"
"I've read your story through the 4th wall, you know," Secretive Plotter whispers, his lips touching Kim Dokja's very, very red ears. "I can make your dreams a reality."
"Kim Dokja!" Jung Heewon and Han Sooyoung yell out in alarm. It seems no one, in particular, wants this story to turn into an R-rated one.
[Fable Plotter's Object of Desire is humming.]
"That's the name of this stupid fable? Why are we watching this? Turn it off!" shouts Han Sooyoung.
Even Lee Jihye looks slightly panicked as everyone flails their arms around to disrupt the flow of the sentences floating around them.
"Nothing happened I swear!" Kim Dokja yells desperately and shuts his eyes. The Fable seems to take pity on their disarray and it thankfully mutes the things Secretive Plotter whispers to Kim Dokja's ears. "He just kissed me, that's it! I left the next day and the next time I met him was during the <Journey to the West> scenario!!"
Everyone in their company seems to have taken a class in comedic timing. Just as Secretive Plotter leans in to kiss Kim Dokja, the door Han Sooyoung should've been sitting in front of opens to reveal their Yoo Joonghyuk.
Kim Dokja waves his arms around as fast as humanly possible. "Yoo Joonghyuk!" He exclaims loudly to suppress the sounds the fable is making with his voice, even considering using his true voice but deciding against it. "What are you doing here? Haha, don't you need to train with Namgung Minyoung or something? We don't have any time to spare before the final scenario, you know. Don't say you've lost your drive so suddenly!"
"Stay here," Secretive Plotter says once their lips separate, still holding Kim Dokja's chin, in addition, his other hand is cupping his cheek gently. "Stay with me."
Recognizing his own voice booming from the fable, Yoo Joonghyuk looks at their panicked state with a raised brow. "Kim Dokja." He doesn't say anything else but Kim Dokja can sense the danger in that warning.
"Can you please stop? What have I ever done to you?" Kim Dokja attempts to address the fable. He practically wails as his hands continue trying to grab it.
"I can't," Kim Dokja says, breathlessly. "I have to go back to my companions. They can't make it through the final scenario without me."
"Do you not trust them?"
"That's not it. We made a promise we'd see the end of this world together." Kim Dokja places his hands on Secretive Plotter's shoulders and lightly pushes him away. The latter does not budge and continues analyzing Kim Dokja's face, his eyes, his mouth. His gaze even drops to his neck, the same neck that another version of him has squeezed many a time.
"Master!" Lee Jihye says, finally tearing her eyes away from the fable. Lee Gilyoung has his palms pressed against his eyes while Shin Yooseung is looking anywhere but his sponsor. "We were trying to awaken hidden fables and this… this guy showed up! It's an entertaining fable, really," she says with an easy smile.
"This is a fable?" he asks, voice strangely calm.
"Yes? What did you think it was?"
Yoo Joonghyuk clenches his fists and speaks through gritted teeth. "One of those stories the Bureau's trying to sell to constellations."
Upon hearing the word constellations, Kim Dokja is reminded of something very very unpleasant. Constellations. They exist and they're predators. Whenever a story they've never seen before is involved, no matter how "good" a constellations is, they watch it with unparalleled intrigue. This fable is one of them, not only have they never seen N'gai's Forest before, this fable involved a powerful outer God and Kim Dokja, The Demon King of Salvation they've all been salivating over ever since the beginning. The indirect messages he's been ignoring until now suddenly flood his view.
[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire cannot believe her eyes.]
[Constellation Most Ancient Liberator says his maknae's charms are unrivaled.]
[Constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring disapproves of her son's food preferences.]
[Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon scoffs at the boring fable.]
[The absolute majority of the constellations watching channel BI-90594 are shocked by Secretive Plotter's intentions!]
"Kim Dokja's tentacles weren't enough?" Han Sooyoung asks with a roll of her eyes. "They're selling even weirder merchandise now?"
[Constellation Demon King of Salvation is glaring at constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire.]
He deliberately does not read any of Uriel’s donations.
"Tell me to stop and I will," Secretive Plotter says as he connects their lips once more.
[Fable Plotter's Object Of Desire has stopped its storytelling.]
The story Dokja has been desperately trying to stop comes to an abrupt end. The silence in the room is deafening as every member of Kim Dokja Company in the room stares at the representative with varied expressions.
Lee Jihye is back to looking delighted.
Jung Heewon is tutting disapprovingly. "So this is what Dokja-ssi was up to while we were trying to get a new Great Fable."
Han Sooyoung is frowning. "You should've done that somewhere those constellations could see. We would be even richer."
Shin Yooseung, his poor incarnation, has turned red and is avoiding looking at Dokja.
Lee Gilyoung is smiling with a thumbs up thrown Dokja's way. "Way to go, hyung!"
And lastly, Yoo Joonghyuk. "Kim Dokja."
Kim Dokja gulps.
"You slept with that man?"
Dokja shakes his head violently. "I did not!"
[Incarnation Han Sooyoung has used the skill "Lie Detection Lv.10"]
[Incarnation Han Sooyoung has confirmed Kim Dokja's words to be true.]
Still, everyone in the room looks at Dokja with distrustful eyes.
"Ask something more explicit," Jung Heewon suggests. "Sleeping with someone can mean anything."
Yoo Joonghyuk nods and tries again. "Did you have sex with that man?"
Kim Dokja sputters before answering the question. "No?! This is ridiculous!"
Han Sooyoung snorts. "I don't even need to use Lie Detection to know you're lying."
[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has used the skill "Lie Detection Lv.10"]
[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has confirmed Kim Dokja's words to be true.]
Silence fills the room once again. Kim Dokja takes this opportunity to defend his honor. "See? I told you! He kissed me, I told him to stop and we went our separate ways. He said he'd known I'd refuse but tried his luck anyway. You have got to learn to trust me, seriously."
"That doesn't mean you didn't do anything with him does it?" Han Sooyoung asks.
"Sooyoung-ah," Kim Dokja pleads. "What could you possibly mean by that?"
Dokja recognizes the familiar blue notification of Lie Detection activating as Han Sooyoung starts bombarding him with questions. "Did you do anything sexual with him? Did he get his dick anywhere near you? Did you get your dick anywhere near him?"
As Han Sooyoung resumes her assault, someone slaps her on the back of the head. "Han Sooyoung! The kids are still listening!" Jung Heewon motions for the kids plus Lee Jihye to stand up and looks at Dokja again. He feels like a middle schooler getting scolded by his teacher. "I'll trust you to know better than to fraternize with the enemy this way." She leaves the room with the kids in tow.
Lee Gilyoung, previously supportive of his hyung, seems to be doubting his stance on the matter.
Shin Yooseung sighs as the door closes behind her.
Kim Dokja is left alone with two of the most dangerous people in the universe.
"Han Sooyoung. Yoo Joonghyuk."
They both stare at him.
"I didn't do anything… inappropriate with Joonghyuk."
[Incarnation Han Sooyoung has confirmed Kim Dokja's words to be true.]
Kim Dokja waits for their stances to relax, for at least a few breaths to finally be let out. Instead, he sees the telltale vein bulging in Yoo Joonghyuk's temples.
Han Sooyoung gapes.
"What did you just call him?" Yoo Joonghyuk sounds so calm that even Kim Dokja can tell something is wrong.
"Hah, you weren't there for that part of the story, were you? He asked me to call him Joonghyuk because Secretive Plotter was just too long," Dokja chuckles and starts backing away from the two guarding his escape. He can enable Demon King Transformation and leap out of the window if things get out of hand. He saves that thought for later while he grabs a chair to hide behind.
"Right, Fable? Won't you tell my dear companions about that part of the story?"
[Fable Plotter's Object of Desire is continuing its storytelling.]
Kim Dokja realizes he's made a grave mistake calling out to the fable that was already the root of his problems. Why did he expect it to do as he asked? The fable simply continues where it left off, Secretive Plotter's kisses trailing from Dokja's mouth to his jaw.
"Not that part!" Dokja still tries. "The library part! The library!"
[Fable Plotter's Object of Desire is smiling.]
The scene quickly shifts to that of a library. Kim Dokja, fast asleep on a chair in the massive room, is snoring lightly. There's a stack of books standing tall right next to his head. The titles read "Yoo Joonghyuk: The 36th Regression" and so on. There's also the signature white coat thrown over him, blanketing him from the cold. The coat hanging from his shoulders isn't his though. Despite being the exact same model and color, somehow, they all know it's not Dokja's coat.
Kim Dokja groans. "The scene from before! The one you showed Heewon and the kids."
Finally, the scene Kim Dokja wants to see starts playing. "You want me to call you Joonghyuk, nothing else?"
Secretive Plotter nods.
"Joonghyuk. Joonghyuk-nim. Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi." Kim Dokja tries the name a few times. "Joonghyuk-ah?"
Secretive Plotter lets out a small huff of breath. His facial expression cannot be seen from this particular angle the fable is being conveyed in but it's safe to assume a gentle smile is plastered on his scarred face.
Kim Dokja blinks at his companions who have calmed down, somewhat.
Han Sooyoung shakes her head.
Yoo Joonghyuk slams the door on his way out.
Kim Dokja sighs for what feels like the millionth time in the last 20 minutes. "Why does he care so much? It's just a stupid fable. It's not like Joonghyuk's affections for me are hindering us. I would argue that they’ve helped us actually."
Han Sooyoung looks at him as if he's grown a second head. This expression is no stranger to him. "How are you so fucking stupid?" Han Sooyoung grabs Kim Dokja's collars and shakes him.
Once he’s had enough of this totally undeserved shaking, Kim Dokja pushes the small woman away. “Secretive Plotter likes me because this is the most ideal worldline and I was the one who contributed to it the most. Plus,” he raises a finger to accentuate his point, “I have a Fragment of the Last Wall. He can’t kill me even if he wants to.”
Blinking at Dokja doesn’t seem to do the trick, so Han Sooyoung starts pulling her hair. "This random thousands of years old outer god dude watched your story from afar and fell in love with you. You think Yoo Joonghyuk who actually went through all of that stuff with you doesn't feel the same?"
Kim Dokja feels as if a bucket of water has been splashed in his face. Still, denying other people like him as much as he likes them is habitual for him. "He hates me though?"
Han Sooyoung does her best to reach Kim Dokja's ear and pulls as hard as she can muster without using any of her skills.
"Ow, let go!" Dokja swats her hands away and fixes his collar once she lets go.
"Go talk to that idiot. He wasn't there to watch you refuse Secretive Plotter's oglings so he probably has the wrong idea."
Kim Dokja nods at her and leaves the room.
"These idiots," Han Sooyoung mutters as she watches Kim Dokja walk away with a tremble to his every step.
Finding Yoo Joonghyuk is as simple as it always has been. He's practicing his swordsmanship in a clearing near the complex. His calculated and efficient movements, his expression, and even his hair are absolutely perfect. Kim Dokja's entire being refuses to believe such a person could have any positive let alone romantic feelings for someone like Dokja himself but they have to talk things out. Han Sooyoung will most definitely choke him to death otherwise.
"Yoo Joonghyuk?"
The man in question does not acknowledge him.
"Can we talk?"
Yoo Joonghyuk stops swinging his sword and turns around to face Kim Dokja. "What is there to talk about?"
"I think you have the wrong idea about me and Secretive Plotter."
Yoo Joonghyuk huffs and turns back.
Kim Dokja, ever the optimist, tries his luck with the fable again, this time asking his other fables for help.
[Fable Life and Death Companions is glaring at fable Plotter's Object of Desire.]
Yoo Joonghyuk ignores Kim Dokja fighting with his fables.
Kim Dokja is unable to subdue the fable but it seems to understand their intentions. So, it complies.
[Fable Plotter's Object of Desire is continuing its storytelling.]
"Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk warns. "If this is some sort of ploy to make me angry, you're going to regret it."
Kim Dokja places his hands on the regressor's shoulders to stop him from leaving. Joonghyuk's sword still being out is intimidating, sure, but whatever wound he decides to inflict on Dokja won't be fatal.
"Just listen, okay? This idiot here was just trying to start shit for no reason."
"Stop," Kim Dokja's voice is small, he sounds as if he's run a marathon. "Joonghyuk-ah." That gets Secretive Plotter to stop and look at the star in front of him.
Yoo Joonghyuk scoffs but doesn't look away, yet.
" My very own Joonghyuk is waiting for me on Earth you know? As you've said, you've read my story. You know me more than I know myself probably." Dokja chuckles lightly. "You must already know what I'm going to say."
Secretive Plotter takes a step back, his hands never leaving their positions on his face . "I don't get what you see in him." Secretive Plotter sounds bitter, regretful, just like the time he had asked Dokja [Why not me? Why him and not me?] when they had their first proper conversation.
"I don't get what you see in me either. I'm one of those constellations you despise. I'm just a simple human from those scenarios you've been watching since forever."
Secretive Plotter sighs. "You can start preparing for your departure tomorrow. But remember, the things you did and experienced here will have consequences," says Secretive Plotter ominously, foreshadowing his not-yet-happened deal with the Wenny King and almost being turned into an outer god situation.
His Yoo Joonghyuk stares at Dokja with an unreadable expression. He's suddenly reminded of the fight against Shin Yooseung from the 41st regression. He remembers watching Yoo Joonghyuk disregard his well-being and go toe-to-toe with a Shin Yooseung he couldn't possibly have defeated by himself. He remembers hearing Joonghyuk refer to him as his companion and putting it off as bait for the constellations. Just how stupid has he been this entire time?
Yoo Joonghyuk swallows before speaking. "Your very own Yoo Joonghyuk, huh?" He smirks and sheaths his sword. He places his hands on Dokja's waist and pulls him in closer. They already were standing quite close thanks to Dokja pouncing on the other’s shoulders to stop him from leaving.
"Yes," Dokja smirks back. "Should I not have said that?"
Joonghyuk places his lips on Dokja's. This is the second time Kim Dokja has been kissed in his entire life. He feels as if his heart, his entire incarnation body is about to burst. He feels fireworks going off in his brain and it feels so, so different from the time he kissed Secretive Plotter. Yoo Joonghyuk of the novel he's come to love. The man in front of him, the man currently kissing him, is both that being and someone so much more. Someone who has stood beside Kim Dokja not just figuratively but physically. Someone who has avenged Kim Dokja's countless deaths and someone who has refused to regress to create the most ideal worldline alongside him. This kiss feels right.
[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is crying tears of joy]