Work Text:
It was a normal morning at Daydream. D Squad was assigned to deal with paperwork for the entire day since the last Darkness they had entered once again ended in an anomaly.
However, their new Rookie had cleared it like he trained his entire life to survive in these crazy situations.
Said Rookie was currently making his way to the office with eyebags heavy enough that it looked like he lost a fight with a door. A heavy sigh left him.
Kim Soleum was unable to sleep the entire night since every time he so much as thought about closing his eyes images of the last Darkness would start hunting him. It was a creepy mess that left him shaken.
At least he and the entirety of D Squad survived without injuries… as always the biggest hit was to his mental health.
Kim Soleum entered the elevator and went to the 13th floor where D Squads office was. Once he entered he saw all his superiors already present.
Eun Haje and Park Minsoeng were sitting on the couch laughing about something, seemingly unaffected by yesterdays experience. Well, they are true veterans and you don't survive in this company by being sacred of everything.
Kim Soleum tries not to think of his fate should his cowardly nature be exposed.
Sitting at his desk and writing the required reports was Lee Jaheon with his white scales and red eyes. A truly reliable and unchangeable lizard.
Averting his eyes Kim Soleum focused back on his superiors on the Couch.
"Good morning, Assistant manager and Supervisor."
Both of them shared a look before returning the greeting.
Did Kim Soleum forget something?
"Why don't you sit down for a second, Roe!" Eun Haje pointed to the couch opposite of her and Park Minseong.
"You must be tired after all the work yesterday and we have the entire day to write those reports so a break before work can't hurt. Isn't that right, Squad leader!" Park Minseong gestured to the Section Chief who answered without turning to them.
"…Yes."
"Why don't you join us, Section Chief?"
"…"
"Didn't you just agree that a break is beneficial?"
"Yes?"
"So, why don't you join us?"
Seemingly thinking for a couple of seconds the lizard stood up and came over to sit besides Kim Soleum. The red eyes seemed more unfocused than usual but their beady look still gave Kim Soleum chill so he once again everted his eyes.
"…"
"…"
"Now, is there something you like to say, Roe?"
Not really but Assistant Manager why do you look so gleeful?
"Seriously, no reaction?"
To what exactly?
Kim Soleum wasn't sure what the correct reaction is even supposed to be right now…
"Thank you for allowing me this break." Kim Soleum bowed his head slightly to all his superiors.
"NOT THAT!!!"
Then what?
"Tell me, Roe. Do you notice anything different about the Section Chief today?" Park Minseong was asking in a polite tone but he too had that gleeful look in his eyes like he was waiting for something.
Turning his head Kim Soleum focused back on the lizard head.
Well, there was one thing he has been noticing ever since he met said Lizard but he doubts that it is what they were looking for. Besides Kim Soleum doesn't want to be accused of insanity or contamination.
…
Now that Kim Soleum is looking closer the Section Chiefs skin does seem smoother than usual. His eyes are also a bit dead but considering he had been avoiding looking too closely at those he chalked it up to him not paying enough attention.
"Did you get a hair cut, Section Chief…?"
"No."
Kim Soleum figured. But as far as he knows that lizard is bald…
Does Chief Lizard have hair…
Anyways!
"Are you joking???" Eun Haje looked exasperated.
"I get it! This is your way of payback."
"It is kinda funny. Pretending not to notice any difference." Park Minseong looked amused and let out a small laugh.
Kim Soleum felt like he was left out of the loop but looking at anyone revealed nothing. The Section Chiefs face looked even harder to read then usual.
Right now, Kim Soleum felt utterly lost.
"So, we caught you. What do you say about the idea? we thought it might lighten the mood after yesterday." Eun Haje was leaning back and smirked like she figured it out.
Did they do a prank? What exactly did they do?
"We know that these things don't really brother you…"
Kim Soleum wanted to cry at Park Minseongs words. During the night he thought about resigning at least a 100 times…
"But its good to still have some fun every chance we get. We don't want you overworking yourself."
"Thank you, that is very kind."
"But seriously no reaction. Man, you are cold."
Reaction to what exactly. Subtly looking around Kim Soleum couldn't find anything out of place. His paranoia was rapidly rising.
"Roe…"
What's with the sudden shift in tone?
"You do know what the joke is, right?"
"Yes."
He doesn't.
"Roe Deer seems unaware of the preparations done."
Why are you snitching Section Chief???
Kim Soleum fished he had finished writing his resignation yesterday. Because now Assistant Manager and Supervisor were sharing looks like they were planning some kind of intervention.
"Do you think that he needs glasses?"
The he in question is still very much present just for you information.
"But he didn't seem to struggle with his sight before."
Both look to Kim Soleum in a very unsubtle way before going back to their little conspiracy talk.
"What about contamination?"
"What kind of contamination would hinder him from seeing that!?"
Eun Haje wildly gestured to Lee Jaheon. So, the change was done to the Section Chief.
In that case it wasn't strange that Kim Soleum was seeing something different then them.
Maybe he did cut his hair? But the Section Chief doesn't lie.
He hopes its something that he can chalk up to sleep deprivation or he might just die. Additionally, he doesn't know how the Section Chief will react upon finding that Kim Soleum can see his true appearance.
The 'can you see?' still sends shivers down his spine.
"Maybe he hit his head?"
Their attention turned back to Kim Soleum like they were trying to find out whatever was wrong with him through sheer willpower. The attention and intense stare made Kim Soleum want to fidget but he couldn't even come across cowardly.
So, Kim Soleum turned his attention to the Section Chief with a stare almost as intense as that of the Assistant Manager and Supervisor.
His clothes were the same as always and his face…
…
"Section Chief…"
"Yes."
"Your head-"
Eun Haje didn't even wait for Kim Soleum to finish speaking. She lunged forward and ripped a lizard mask off the Section Chiefs head revealing a identical lizard head. At least to Kim Soleum that is.
…
Fuck.
"I was just… pretending not to notice…" Please buy it.
"Bullshit."
Kim Soleum looks back to the Section Chief and his skin was indeed less smooth and more scaly once again. He could have defiantly chalked this up to sleep deprivation if others wouldn't in turn chalk it up to insanity.
The eyes of the Lizard blink one at a time and Kim Soleum was getting the distant feeling that he was being mocked.
Looking to his superiors he could see them already searching for nearby asylums in their minds. As long as it's not the fox counseling office.
If this continues his reputation will take a hit and he might just become a lunatic for more people than just his roommate.
Baek Saheon would probably have a field day with this.
"HOW!!! How didn't you notice the lizard head???" Assistant Manager was wildly waving around the plastic mask and shoving it in Kim Soleums face.
"Are you sick, Roe…?"
Don't look so concerned!
Damn it, can't you do something, Chief Lizard?!
"I'm perfectly fine. I was simply joking."
"Bullshit!"
"I'm contaminated…?"
"You are currently displaying no symptoms of contamination."
"SEE! Even the Section Chief calls Bullshit."
"That is not what I said."
Don't look so clueless, Section Chief…
The mask was finally put down by the Assistant Manager. Kim Soleum was distantly wondering were they got such a perfect copy of the Section Chiefs face without knowing what he looks like unless…
"It kind of looks like the Section Chief."
"Well we did pick it because it reminded of the Section Chiefs mask." Park Minseong explains and destroys any hope Kim Soleum had of not suffering in this situation alone.
"So if Roe isn't contaminated then maybe we should go shopping for glasses during out next Team outing."
A very touching though, Supervisor but Kim Soleum can see perfectly fine.
Kim Soleums eyes naturally slide to the side and the table where the identical red lizard eyes were staring into his soul. If a Darkness doesn't kill him soon he will do it himself.
"I'm just gonna pass out."
"Did you say something, Roe?"
All the attention was back on Kim Soleum but he was already out like a light.
"Skill issue."
"IS HE DEAD???" Park Minseong quickly rushed to Kim Soleum checking for a pulse.
"Roe Deer is fine."
"I kind of figured, Section Chief but thank you."
Kim Soleum looked like death frozen over and like not even Daydream exploding could wake him up.
…
"…"
"Hey, Minseong. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Both their eyes turn to the lizard mask that was abandoned on the coffee table.