beauty & the beast
Sep. 24th, 2024 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trainerlyrafandom: omniscient reader's viewpoint
pairing: secretive plotter/oldest dream
word count: 1,012
notes: written for the lovely SPOD romance/fantasy zine! spoilers, obviously, for those unfamiliar with SPOD's identities.
also read here!
Kim Dokja could barely feel the rain against his skin despite the freezing cold. He couldn't hear Uriel, Lee Jihye, or Kim Namwoon's words from the doorway. The only thing in his world at that moment was Yoo Joonghyuk, lying beneath him on the cold stone of the balcony.
His fur was becoming matted from the wind, and Kim Dokja desperately tried to untangle it with his fingers, trying to focus on something, anything to do. He was dying — Kim Dokja knew he was dying, and all he could do was cry. The curse was supposed to break, not… not this.
"Please," he whispered, words getting lost in the sound of the rain. "Please, Hyung, come back." Closing his eyes, he gripped his fingers into the fur of his arms, wishing he was not so powerless.
The time he'd spent with Yoo Joonghyuk and the others in the mansion had been some of the best moments of his life. When he'd first walked in unannounced, Kim Dokja had no idea he could be so happy. That the simple, mundane parts of the day could make him smile wide enough his eyes crinkled and his jaw hurt afterward, unused to being moved so much.
He shouldn't look away, if this was really the last time he'd get to be with Yoo Joonghyuk. Slowly, with great hesitation he opened his eyes, only to be met with light.
Colorful lights, almost like shooting stars, were falling down with the rain, circling around Yoo Joonghyuk's body. This time, the gasps from the doorway were audible. Slowly, he pushed himself up off of him and onto his feet, trying to take in the scene as best he could.
Since arriving at the mansion, Kim Dokja had seen more magic than he had ever known existed. Talking kitchenware, a beast that spoke his language — the mansion practically buzzed with it. All of that paled in comparison to watching Yoo Joonghyuk's body be lifted off the balcony, the light wrapping him in a cocoon.
When the lights dissipated, the only thing left was a distinctly human man.
Kim Dokja blinked. The man first looked confused, as confused as Kim Dokja felt, but it didn't take long for him to regain his bearings. With shaky steps like that of a newborn fawn, the man made his way to where Kim Dokja now stood.
He was absolutely beautiful. Somehow, the large scar that ran down his face only added to the man's beauty. His mismatched eyes were bright, but they looked familiar. Achingly familiar. Without thinking, Kim Dokja reached a hesitant hand up, despite how much taller the man was. In turn, he bent slightly, allowing Kim Dokja to run his fingers down the scar on his cheek.
"Kim Dokja," the man breathed, "it's me."
The look in his eyes — of course. Of course. He hadn't wanted to believe it, at first, terrified to believe in anything. What would he do, were he to be wrong? Were Yoo Joonghyuk to truly be gone, right when Kim Dokja had understood his own feelings?
There was no denying the expression on his face, though. "Hyung. It is you," he said, smiling widely.
Around them, the storm began to pass, allowing moonlight through the heavy clouds. Just like earlier, everything in Kim Dokja's world faded away until the only thing in it was Yoo Joonghyuk. He was still so warm, still had that gentle look in his eyes that was seemingly reserved for him and him alone. There was a part of him was still terrified that this was all a dream. That he'd wake up and Yoo Joonghyuk would be gone, and everything would end before it had truly begun.
Something must've shown on his face, as before Kim Dokja knew it, Yoo Joonghyuk was picking him up, holding him in his arms like he weighed as much as a pillow. His fingers scrambled to hold onto something, finding purchase on the edges of broad shoulders.
In Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes sat a universe of black and gold. Kim Dokja barely registered it when their lips pressed together, his eyes fluttering close as he gasped. Distantly, he could make out the noises from Uriel and the others but gave himself no time to process.
He'd never been kissed before, had only read about it too many times to count. Were lips supposed to be this soft? Was his heart supposed to feel like it was about to beat right out of his chest? All he could do was tighten his grip against the cloth and clumsily kiss back.
Slowly, they broke apart, still unable to look away from the other. Dimly, Kim Dokja was aware of the lights bursting above them, bathing them in the same colors that brought Yoo Joonghyuk back to him.
"Master!" Lee Jihye exclaimed, breaking the silence with delight. No longer were she and the others in the forms of the cutlery and kitchenware Kim Dokja had grown to love them as, but back in their own bodies. "Master, Kim Dokja, we're all okay!"
Without warning, she tackled them both in a hug, and Uriel, Lee Hyunsung, and Kim Namwoon were not far behind. Laughter bubbled up in Kim Dokja's throat, his joy unable to be contained. There was no way he would've been able to guess what would become of him that very first night he stepped foot inside the castle. Change had terrified him. The idea of someone truly loving him had been nothing more than a pipe dream — a nice thought, but not one worth wasting his time on. He had his books, and he'd thought that would be all he'd ever need.
He knew better, now. Melting into Yoo Joonghyuk's arms, still holding him tightly against his chest, Kim Dokja felt a kind of peace he hadn't known to be possible.
"I love you," he whispered quietly to Yoo Joonghyuk, not particularly caring if he was heard or not. He knew that even if the words fell into the wind his feelings would still reach him.
