Chapter Text
Yet another knock came to Han Sooyoung’s apartment door as they had taken a break to watch TV, this one more heavy and somehow managing to sound impatient despite its tempo being reasonably paced. Han Sooyoung breathed out a sigh of relief and muttered “Finally” as she got up to open the door. The group had fallen asleep on the couch together, and awoke to find that the sun rose and Kim Dokja had become a swan once again.
Upon opening it, she said, “He’s in there,” pointing to the living area before not-subtly escaping into the kitchen. The new person could be heard shuffling off their shoes before emerging from the entryway.
“Kim Dokja.” Came the deep, rich voice of the one man Kim Dokja most definitely did not want to see right now. Nonetheless, hiding from him would cause more trouble than it was worth. Who knew if Kim Dokja would be turned into a turducken as a result?
So he answered in what was not a meek and timid “Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
Kim Dokja’s fluffy swan head poked up from behind the back of Han Sooyoung’s couch, followed by the heads of Shin Yoosung and Lee Giloung. All three stared at Yoo Joonghyuk with varying expressions, the children more annoyed than anything.
“Watching My Little Pony, what does it look like?” Kim Dokja deadpanned
“Why.”
“Because it is a masterfully crafted show about friendship and overcoming hardship in the face of adversity.”
Han Sooyoung poked her head out of the kitchen, unable to resist the prime opportunity to poke fun at her friend, “Nah, you’re just a Brony who hasn’t come out of the closet.”
“I resent that.”
“You don’t have to like it, it’s just the truth.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s face screwed up in an exceptionally handsome rendition of someone eating a lemon, no doubt regretting ever meeting these two in the first place. It really was unfair how attractive he was.
“So Shin Yoosung wasn’t lying.”
Said girl looked away guiltily when Kim Dokja turned to her, somehow managing to convey betrayal. “Sorry Ahjussi, but he was worried too.”
Yoo Joonghyuk moved closer, rounded the couch, and knelt down before the swan that was apparently a man. He made eye contact with Kim Dokja, holding it for a second before slowly dipping his head. He raised his eyes again before repeating the action.
Seemingly without conscious input, Kim Dokja mirrored him. Upon realizing what he’d done, Kim Dokja jerked back, bewildered, asking, “What are you doing?”
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t answer right away, periodically dipping his head and Kim Dokja copying him as if on reflex.
“Shin Yoosung said this was how we break the spell.”
“What?”
“It’s a courtship ritual.”
“What?!”
Yoo Joonghyuk dipped his head one last time, then slowly leaned in, watching. Kim Dokja stared back, then tentatively leaned in too and pressed his beak to Yoo Joonghyuk’s cheek. Kim Dokja had just enough time to register what he’d done before his vision was engulfed in white and his body grew to that of a human once again.
The two of them stayed like that on the floor for a moment, Kim Dokja’s face heating up once he realized his lips were against Yoo Joonghyuk’s cheek. He jumped up and let out a sound that was oddly similar to the honk of a swan, ears cherry red.
Shin Yoosung gasped and, with genuine concern, said, “Oh no, the spell didn’t break all the way! Oppa, kiss him again!”
Han Sooyoung shouted, “Not in my apartment! Take it outside!”
Not needing to be told twice, Kim Dokja practically sprinted out the front door, slamming it behind him.
They all sat in silence until Lee Gilyoung declared, “I think that’s the fastest I’ve seen Hyung move since he saw that book sale.”