Chapter Text
Roksu woke up to see Cale’s face right in front of him.
He almost kicked Cale off the bed.
‘That surprised me.’
They hadn’t slept in the same bed since childhood excluding the times they napped on each other.
‘His face is still as handsome as ever.’
Roksu had always appreciated that face.
‘I really like him.’
Roksu thought back to what happened last night. He had come to realize that he treated Cale differently from anyone else. Back when he was Kim Rok Soo, he remembered working at the restaurant.
He had met all kinds of customers. Some of them were shameless flirts. They tried and he punched them.
Even when his colleagues joked with him, he always set clear boundaries.
But it was different with Cale.
After the kiss last night, he couldn’t deny it anymore.
He just never thought.. he would.. with someone.
“Roksu, I love the attention but your stare.. is a bit.. too much right now.”
Roksu snapped out of his thoughts. He saw Cale’s cheeky face, smiling brightly.
Roksu avoided his eyes. He hoped his face wasn’t flushed red right now. He quickly changed the topic.
“So, how do you feel?”
“The kiss was lovely. Ow.”
Roksu pinched Cale’s nose.
“I mean your body. Is there any change?”
Roksu’s face turned bright red.
“Oh, that?”
Cale sat up on the bed.
“Last night, when you went to rest, I changed our clothes and saw something.”
Cale pulled up his shirt. There was half of a tattoo of the indestructible shield on his chest, right over his heart.
“I figured it had something to do with this. So, what is it?”
Roksu’s hand hovered over the tattoo on Cale’s chest.
‘Did Cale take the ancient power? How does that work?’
“Cale, do you feel the power? Can you use it?”
“I can try.”
Cale moved away from Roksu and raised his hand.
A shield slowly formed. Its shape was a bit shaky at first, but eventually it steadied.
“Hm?”
Roksu looked at the shield curiously. He stepped closer to observe it. As he did, the shield glowed brighter.
‘Can I still use mine?’
Roksu stepped back from Cale and raised his hand.
His wings unfolded, the black feathers turning white as another shield formed. Now there were two shields in the room.
“We are really sharing it.”
Roksu didn’t know how it worked. He knew the God of Death said he was connecting them.
“Sharing, huh?”
Cale lowered his shield as he thought. He looked toward Roksu and nodded.
“Roksu, can I try something real quick?”
“Sure.”
Cale walked over and grabbed him by the waist before raising his hand to summon the shield again.
The shield appeared and flashed brightly around both of them. It glowed so intensely it was like a flashlight in the dim room. Cale quickly lowered it.
“Holy fuck, that was bright.”
“I don’t think it’s supposed to be that dense. That was basically a solid wall of light.”
“Yeah.”
So it turned out that when they were together, the shield might actually be unbreakable.
- Of course it’s going to be strong! The power comes from the heart, after all! All hail the power of love!!
“Roksu, you heard that?”
“..Yeah. It’s the ancient power’s voice.”
- Oh! Little angel remembers me!
Of course Roksu would remember that voice. She was a bit obnoxious.
- Hey!
Cale just laughed at the strangeness of the situation.
- Anyways, I'm hungry. we need to eat! EAT!
“Alright, alright. I’ll ask Ron to bring the meals. Roksu, you should bathe first.”
Roksu nodded. Right, he had been wearing…
“Why am I wearing–?”
Wasn’t he wearing the organization’s outfit yesterday? Why was he in a nightgown now?
“Hm? I told you I changed our clothes last night.”
Roksu suddenly felt embarrassed. There was nothing to be shy about, so why was he?
“You were sweating in those unfashionable clothes. I wasn’t going to leave you like that.”
Cale then grinned at Roksu.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t see anything, Roksu. I just took off the outer layer and your shirt before putting the nightgown on you.”
Roksu glared at Cale before speed-walking to the bathroom, leaving Cale laughing behind him.
***
‘I’m really a lucky bastard.’
To think Roksu was an angel. Cale still found it fascinating. But somehow, it suited him.
Might as well call Cale the first human to ever put a ring on an angel.
Cale opened the door.
And his smile froze.
Ron was standing right in front of it.
Smiling benignly.
“...”
“...”
They stared at each other for a moment.
“Ron. What the hell are you doing?”
Ron’s smile widened.
“Young Master Cale, I am simply waiting, as ordered.”
“Right in front of the door?”
Cale raised an eyebrow.
“Just in case something unexpected happens.”
‘Bullshit.’
They both knew that wasn’t it.
Cale smiled back just as pleasantly.
“Nothing unexpected is happening.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
“...”
“...”
They stared at each other.
“Anyway, where is Young Master Roksu?”
“He’s showering.”
Cale pointed toward the bathroom behind him.
Right on cue, the faint sound of water could be heard.
Ron’s gaze flickered past him for a second. Then back.
“I see.”
Pause.
“I reckon Young Master did not do anything we agreed on, yes?”
“Ron, I didn’t do anything. Quit it already.”
Ron shook his head.
“Our young master is too much of an actor. This Ron can tell you are bluffing.”
“I’m not.”
Cale crossed his arms.
“Just go and bring the meal, Ron.”
Cale was completely bullshitting his way through.
‘Just fucking go already!’
Cale acted like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t kissed Roksu on the fucking bed.
“Alright. I’ll let you go this time, Young Master.”
Ron said it while clearly not believing a single word.
Ron didn’t have any evidence, and he hadn’t heard anything inside the room. But his instincts told him his young master was lying right now.
Ron turned and went to bring the meal.
Cale kept smiling until Ron disappeared from sight.
Then he slammed his door shut and finally exhaled.
He survived thanks to the baby dragon, who had put a silence spell on the room before they left.
***
“Young Master Roksu, this Ron has to say, I am quite surprised.”
Ron was currently brushing Roksu’s wings in the hidden carriage.
They had left the empire the moment everyone was awake. Roksu had decided to reveal himself a bit to make his daily life easier.
Having Ron groom his wings might have been the best decision yet. Roksu felt like he would melt under the gentle, light brushing.
They were alone in the carriage. Cale and the children were outside, bothering Vicross.
“Little Roksu, may I make a request?”
“Hek, what? A request?”
Roksu’s eyes opened wide at Ron saying the word, ‘request’ and turned to look at Ron quickly. Ron still had a gentle smile on his face. Roksu's eyes started to fog up, as he quickly started to think.
‘This devious old man has a request for someone like me, who he thinks is weak?’
Roksu had an indescribable sense of ominousness.
‘No, It's probably nothing.’
Roksu calmed himself before asking in a more relaxed manner.
“Alright, what is it?”
Ron immediately shared his request with Roksu.
“May I have a year off?”
“What?”
Roksu looked at him, confused.
“Me? You're asking me? I'm not even your employer?”
Has the old man gone senile after looking after Cale for decades?
Seeing Roksu’s expression, Ron chuckled.
“Taking care of Little Roksu has always been my responsibility. Of course, this Ron must ask Little Roksu as well.”
Ron glanced out the carriage window. His son, his puppy-like young master, and the children were setting up a campfire. It was almost lunchtime.
“Who is going to be there when Little Roksu causes trouble?”
“It’s not that much.”
Roksu waved his hand in denial of Ron’s words.
“Why are you going?”
Roksu saw the benign smile disappear from Ron’s face. It was the first time he had ever seen Ron wear such a cold expression.
Ron began to speak with that look still on his face.
“I need to go hunt some foxes.”
Although he was old, Ron was still an assassin.
Ron fixed his expression once more and started to speak. His face turned stoic, with only the corners of his lips slightly raised.
“Little Roksu knows that I am someone who kills people, right?”
Roksu was getting a chills once again. He hid and asked.
“So?”
Ron almost returned to his usual benign smile at his little kitten young master’s usual blunt tone, but he suppressed it and continued.
“So, I’m going to kill people.”
“Leaving your son behind?”
“Yes sir.”
“Is the fox a person?”
Roksu knew how the assassin Ron smiled. It was a very faint smile. It was the one that made the person looking at Ron think that it would be better if he did not smile at all. Ron replied quite pleased.
“That’s right. I have to go kill a group of foxes.”
But his voice was cold.
“Rip them into pieces.”
Roksu got goosebumps at the phrase ‘Rip them into pieces.’ He then started to contemplate.
“.. Did Cale know?”
Ron chuckled as he looked outside. He saw Young Master Cale bend down, pick up a bottle of oil, and pour it into the pan Vicross was using to cook.
“Young Master Cale only told me to go and come back quickly.”
Ron thought back. His puppy-like young master had complained, grumbling about why he would leave Vicross behind with him.
“Then just go and take a break as long as you want. Vicross is an adult. He can take care of himself.”
Roksu said, pointing toward Vicross, who was currently clenching the handle of the metal pan.
Then Roksu grabbed Ron’s hand, before starting rapidly speaking. Warmth spread through Ron’s hand.
“Here. It isn’t much, but let me bless you a bit. The god is a bit annoying, but at least he should be able to do his job properly. This should protect you and keep troublesome things away. Ask Cale for money, buy yourself something delicious, and enjoy your break.”
Ron simply stared at his hand in silence.
‘Buy myself something delicious and enjoy my break.’
It made Ron think about how long he had been living in hiding. He had spent all that time taking care of his puppy-like young master and his little kitten young master.
He was now trying to step back out of hiding and restart his life. But there was a good chance that his future would be chaotic. With these people around and the little angel’s troublesome habits.
“Young Master Roksu, will it really be okay?”
Roksu excitedly answered Ron.
“Of course. Ron, you are qualified to enjoy a break.”
Qualification. Ron's original plan was to quietly leave in a few days either alone, or with Vicross. However,this damn affection was the problem. That was why he mentioned a year break. He had been curious about what this troublesome little angel would say.
“It seems to me that Little Roksu is eager to get rid of this Ron.”
“You’re overthinking, old man. Just go relax. Don’t get hurt while you’re out there.”
‘And leave that lemonade with you too.’
Roksu let go of the old man’s hand.
Ron, who had been quiet, was actually chuckling softly. That vicious sight made Roksu’s wings flinch.
“Young master, is reporting to you once a month enough?”
“Yes. Do as you please.”
Roksu said as he hid his wings.
“Then I will—”
“THE STEAK IS ON FIRE!”
A sudden scream from the baby dragon rang out.
They both turned to look outside. The children were running around in chaos.
The pan Vicross was holding was on fire— No, the steak itself was on fire.
“Throw it away! Throw it— Don’t throw it my way! THROW IT ON THE FUCKING FLOOR DAMN IT!!”
“Young master was in the way.”
Vicross said calmly as he stared down at the still-burning steak on the ground.
“I was right next to you!”
Cale complained as he stomped on the steak to put the fire out.
“Should have dodged then.”
“WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM?”
Vicross snapped back at Cale.
“You. Young master Cale. Please forever refrain from helping me.”
Cale quickly pointed at Vicross.
“You said you needed oil.”
“So Young Master should hand it to me— Not pour it in.”
And then the kitchen fistfight started.
Roksu quickly closed the curtain and turned to look at Ron.
“This Ron will be taking a break for a year and a half.”
Ron said, smiling benignly.
“Three months. Take a break and come back quickly.”
“Yes, sir.”
He would rather deal with lemonade than watch the Henituse residence burn down to the ground.