Work Text:
He did not know what he was in for when other employees at work asked him a vague but socially acceptable question.
He left his dorm room that evening, ignoring Baek Saheon as he scuttled around in the kitchen. Kim Soleum tried his best to ignore Baek Saheon at all times, and Braun was in high agreement with it.
As good friends, the host would say, it was unnecessary to spend time with others. Kim Soleum took that advice with a grain of salt.
He walked to Baekilmong, the setting sun's low light creating a rather amicable atmosphere. It wasn’t a bad way to enjoy city life. Most things had calmed down, leaving only friends and families still out to play.
The 10-minute walk to work wasn’t bad, though he did make a stop on his way, which added some time.
Kim Soleum entered Baekilmong just as others were leaving. He held a box of donuts in one hand, and a tray of piping hot drinks in the other. His schedule had differed so he could maintain his personal Darkness, and draw the cards at midnight.
He bypassed Go Yeongeun, who waved at him with a smile. Her steps were slow, a clear sign that whatever work she took on was a lot of effort. Thankfully, she would have all weekend to recover.
“Good night, Soleum-ssi,” she said, her eyes murky and bloodshot.
He responded in kind with a nod of acknowledgement. “Good night, Go Yeongeun-ssi.”
She walked away, completely oblivious that in a few minutes, Kim Soleum would find himself in a predicament that he had willingly entered. He was just unaware of the majority’s thoughts on a particular person he knew.
Kim Soleum went down to B2. The elevator only took a few moments to open up and take him there. He exited on the floor, and instantly went to the CCTV room. Jay would be on shift. He opened the door to see the silver-haired security sergeant boredly staring at the screens.
However, as soon as Jay glanced at him, his eyes widened ever so slightly, and he stood up. Kim Soleum grinned inwardly, pleased that Jay didn’t mind his company so much, and presented the donut box and coffee tray to him.
Some may think Jay would take a coffee to keep him awake through the night. He did not. Instead, he took the entire box of donuts with shining gold eyes.
Kim Soleum let it go, already partially mourning that he would once again not get to have a bite. But oh well, he would just grab one on his way back home if he wanted it so much. Just when Kim Soleum turned to leave, though, Jay tugged on his shoulder, and presented a pink-glazed donut to him.
Kim Soleum took the donut with a nod, and then a goodbye. Jay returned to his seat without another word. Kim Soleum left for the elevator. He took the donut and placed it in the center of the coffee tray, and boarded the elevator.
He went up to the higher floors, walked off, and stopped at a few familiar faces. He was doing his rounds. He wanted to leave a good impression on many co-workers. It would be best to do that, after all, if he wanted things to go more smoothly in the future.
Lee Byeongjin caught sight of his figure and immediately called out, “Kim Soleum-ssi!”
Kim Soleum walked over and thrust the coffee tray out as Lee Byeongjin went on about how nice it was to see him again. Kim Soleum replied in kind, though with much less enthusiasm, as it was quite late in the day, and with fewer words.
Lee Byeongjin took a coffee and waved goodbye. Kim Soleum bowed his head and turned to the others in the office. He heard them whispering conspiring with wide grins, so he was going to give them time to speak alone, but a tall woman waved him over.
“Roe,” she called out, “you work with Chief Lee, don’t you?”
Kim Soleum nodded quickly. D-squad was a very lovely place for him. He earned a good amount of points, entered ghost stories that were doable, and got paid well for it.
“So,” he drawled out, bouncing her eyebrows up and down, “what is he like?”
Kim Soleum didn’t think too hard about it. “He is a very good boss. He is equal and fair. He takes care of us—”
“I don’t mean that, silly. I mean, how is he in the field?”
“Reliable.” It was the first thing that came to mind. “Strong. Protective. He watches over us, considers us his responsibility.”
“A strong and dependable man…” muttered another worker, eyes bright in mischief.
Kim Soleum felt like he was misunderstanding something. He blinked at the workers as they began to talk about Lee Jaheon’s arms— how well-toned he was, and how his muscles looked while in his suits and shirts. Which was true. Chief Lizard was a rather fit person.
But he still felt on the outs, in some way. He asked hesitantly, “What is this about, exactly?”
“Hmm?” She turned to him. “Oh, we’re trying to find out if he’s in a relationship or not.”
“I see.” He did not, in fact, see.
Another worker added in, “Chief Lee has got to be a taken man. He just doesn’t wear a ring because it will get lost while in the field. Trust me, someone with eyes like that would not still be looking for a relationship.”
“Everyone must think about it at least once.”
What? No. Never.
“Do you think Falcon or Badger would know more about his personal life? Roe, here, doesn’t seem to have anything helpful to impart upon us.”
Kim Soleum could not speak.
He was practically slapped across the face when he heard someone say, “Is he a good kisser, you think? He must have experience, and I can only imagine that someone like him must have been a looker when he was younger. He doesn’t seem like the playboy type now, but surely in the past—”
He fled the scene
Kim Soleum left the coffee tray on the counter, only picking up the strawberry donut to go with him. They cheered at the cups of liquid gold, though he reminded them that one of them was tea, to which he got another excited whoop.
He entered the elevator with a racing heart, pressing the button quickly to shut the doors and be alone with his thoughts.
– What has my friend so startled?
Kim Soleum ignored Braun, settling to look at the elevator buttons instead.
When the others first mentioned Lee Jaheon as someone to kiss, his first thought was, that is my mentor. Lee Jaheon was the reliable boss that Kim Soleum could always count on. He was better than everyone else!
(Braun mockingly sobbed and cried out, Roe Deer-ssi does not care for this Braun’s company?)
His second thought was, he is a lizard. It was quite obvious. The reptilian white skin, the opalescent scales. Kim Soleum could see himself enjoying having a white lizard pet, but being in a relationship with one was very peculiar. However—
His third thought was, but he has a long tongue. Kim Soleum blushed furiously as that thought infected his brain. It was just a fact, a statement! Lizards had long tongues. Lee Jaheon’s was usually hanging lopsided from his mouth or licking his eyes. Everything was fine!
This was cursed.
Kim Soleum should not be thinking about Lee Jaheon like that. Chief Lizard was handsome; he knew that, but only because it said so in [Dark Exploration Records]. He, himself, did not see the handsomeness that others viewed all day.
He had heard things, of course. Even Assistant Manager Eun had said that their chief had been a bit… sought after. But apparently, he wasn’t supposed to be an option since his personality was how it was. Kim Soleum himself did not think that being with a reptilian would be nice.
Yet, even when he exited the elevator, he found himself still thinking about it.
Okay, sure, Lee Jaheon’s face was that of a lizard’s, but Kim Soleum had seen everything else as human. There was no tail, at the very least! Lee Jaheon was just– he was just a little bizarre to the eyes, that was all.
Kim Soleum sped up his steps. He needed to get out of here before he kept thinking about it. It was only because he was at Baekilmong that he was even considering the words. Lee Jaheon wasn’t anything extraordinary. Right? Right.
His body was normal for that of a field agent. The way his white collared shirts hugged his biceps was normal. He was a strong man, a strong agent. He was Employee D, a very well-known character whom Kim Soleum cheered for. That was all…!
– Lying won’t help matters.
‘Shush it,’ he hissed back in his mind.
What did Braun know anyway? Braun couldn't even see Lee Jaheon but— didn’t Braun also say that Lee Jaheon was tall, dark, and handsome? Didn’t he also admire Lee Jaheon’s looks? There was no trace of Lee Jaheon looking like a lizard, even to someone as powerful as Braun.
– Sniff. I still find it quite rude that you would call someone a lizard. Do you think of me as a lizard, friend?
Kim Soleum thought a lot of things about Braun. Mostly that he was annoying during times like these. He glared down at the pink rabbit plush in his pocket. How out of sorts would it look for his co-workers to walk in on him stomping the stuffed toy against the floor?
– Your lack of decorum is very unbecoming, friend!
Kim Soleum settled down. He knew that he wasn’t truly that upset at Braun. He was just internally a mess because he realized that Chief Lizard was good-looking.
What did his human appearance even look like? Were his eyes as red as his regular form? Was his skin even warm at all? Did he feel the need to sunbathe? Did he like eating barbeque with the others, or did he force himself to do that?
Kim Soleum let out a groan as he exited the elevator to 13F. He felt like a chicken that had lost its head. There was so much to do, and so little time to process it all.
He marched toward the office space, determined not to think any longer about Chief Lizard.
However, that was also when he bumped into him. Kim Soleum felt like he had walked into a wall. A very well-endowed and muscled wall that also had pillows…?
Kim Soleum opened his eyes in confusion as he realized he had walked straight into Lee Jaheon’s chest. It was a very nice view, objectively.
Kim Soleum profusely apologized with, what he hoped, was nothing more than a slightly pink face, “Chief Lizard! I am so sorry. I did not see you there—”
Lee Jaheon placed his hands on Kim Soleum’s shoulders. Kim Soleum promptly closed his mouth, the words dying in his throat as a silent scream tried to make its way out instead. Lee Jaheon then gently stepped away, and used his hands to gently brush atop Kim Soleum’s suit.
“Uhm…” Kim Soleum did not know what was happening.
Lee Jaheon nodded, not caring about Kim Soleum’s confusion at the moment. He even patted Braun on the ears, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary for him to do so. Kim Soleum was desperately wondering if he had walked into the Twilight Zone.
“Take care of yourself more,” Lee Jaheon said, voice low and brazen like it was an order.
Kim Soleum nodded along to the words, his throat constricting as Lee Jaheon accepted it and walked away. he stood there, all alone, with a donut in his hand, and a rabbit in his pocket. Chief Lizard... why must you be like this?
– What a kind gentleman. Why must you call him a lizard?