Work Text:
Baek Saheon never had vices growing up.
If anyone asked him about this, he'd really just pass it off, saying that it was a complete waste of time.
He'd been surrounded by the older folks at his village, all with habits of drinking, smoking, and gambling that would grow even worse when the festivities came around. Even when he watched the people in his hometown celebrate through these means, it didn't necessarily mean he understood why they'd do that.
His older sister wasn't much of a saint either. Saheon recalled her nagging about never picking up such habits, but went home smelling like cheap cigarettes a good number of times for him to have remembered. Saheon never questioned her—he even chalked it up to coincidence, just her being at the wrong place during those times—but even if he didn't see her in the act itself, it always left a bad taste in his mouth just by thinking about it.
To celebrate or to cope, Baek Saheon always felt detached towards these things for a boy whose majority of thoughts were about fear and pure survival as a child.
But after being immersed in the corporate world, of course such a mindset would only leave you problems. Smoking was one thing, but refusing a drink with your superiors?
…That’d of course, land you in hot waters.
Contrary to his actual thoughts—his civilized, polite persona at work would only be helping him in the long run. There was just no use in being demeaning, no matter how much he wanted to roll his eyes or curse someone off. His motto was to suck it up no matter what, anything that'll get him to survive, even socially.
Always a cordial employee—an amicable, good employee.
And so when company dinners come around, and his superiors pour him glasses, all Baek Saheon could simply do at that point was to drink.
And so he drank.
And he drank.
And drank.
And drank again.
—Up until staying in the room felt too suffocating for him to stay in.
Telling his co-workers and superiors that he'd be getting some fresh air for a while outside—he left to escape the small restaurant they dined in. Even if it was honest to god, too cold outside for his liking, having forgotten to take the coat on his seat outside.
To Baek Saheon, it was better here than to stay stuck with reminders of his hometown—and how he, of all people, managed to be roped into the same habits his folks had.
He could only sigh having accepted his situation. It felt bitter for sure, but he didn't expect less than what this shitty life had to offer him, even now as an adult. It was still the same, unfair game to him after all these years, so what else could he possibly do about it?
Saheon just looked up.
Up into the far, far distance.
Taking in all the sounds and sights of the city with nothing better to do in his little getaway at an alleyway, alcohol still buzzing in his system.
In comparison to his hometown, where cicadas and crickets flourished, trees swayed noisily, and only voices of familiarity can be heard within their little village—the city was the complete opposite to all of this. His head was spinning from the bustling noises of the street, with nothing but his own thoughts and feelings to drown it all out.
In a way, he found solace in this cold, foreign place. It was a far cry from the eerie warmth within his quiet house, one ever so silent since his sister's passing.
If he isn't used to this yet, survival will make it so that he’ll have to be used to it.
“Saheon-ssi…?”
Just his luck.
As if he wasn't having a shit night already, Kim Soleum happened to waltz into his little escape away from their colleagues.
Getting away from an overwhelming room, just for an overwhelming person to come straight to him.
…Really.
“Are you doing okay?”
“...I’m doing okay, sir.”
The exchange was awkward. Maybe the alcohol dulled his senses out, but Baek Saheon couldn't get a proper read on Soleum at all while he said this. He said enough for him to know that he'd also been drinking, though.
…
…Actually, he was most definitely positive he was right witnessing how wrecked he was. It wasn't obvious with how he moved, but he saw how flushed his skin was even from a distance. Saheon noted how slightly disheveled the supervisor looked—not that it was necessarily bad or anything—but it was a far image from how he’d usually compose himself at work.
Before he knew it, he caught himself eyeing him up and down unconsciously. He tries to move past it.
Even Kim Soleum’s not immune to peer pressure… huh. But I guess he can also be the type to enjoy company dinners like these, Saheon thought.
He didn't make much of it, or at least made an attempt not to despite curiosity’s sake.
It didn't take long for Soleum to ask him another question, but it did take a minute having scanned him up and down to see his status—Saheon was shivering a bit with his arms crossed together, face reddened either from the alcohol, cold, or both.
But of course, it wasn't Kim Soleum’s responsibility. Even though he was slightly, just slightly concerned, the both of them knew they weren't on that form of basis for niceties. With this in mind the supervisor simply ignored it, and asked softly:
“Can I smoke here? I couldn't find any other smoking areas around.”
“...? Go ahead, sir.”
“You don't have to be polite.”
“I’m saying it's completely fine...”
It wasn't.
But Baek Saheon would let him smoke rather than admit that he was actually bothered by it. Childish as it was, there was a weird feeling of loss admitting that he wasn't the type to smoke for some reason. Was this just an ego thing? Saheon also wondered a bit.
Kim Soleum didn't want to push it any further. Taking his colleague’s reply, regardless of what his mannerisms were telling him, he took his lighter and pack out of his pocket, taking the remaining cigarette out of it.
As he flicked his lighter, Soleum took a small, attentive glance at Saheon, only to unexpectedly meet his eyes. His roommate could only look away, as if he was completely uninterested in the first place—but the Supervisor noted the tinge of upset in his expression while he still faced him.
It wasn't just his eyes that he started gazing at either, but Soleum's lips as well, weirdly enough. After taking a puff, Saheon was greeted with that familiar scent of tobacco, one would most likely follow him all the way back to company housing after they finished dinner here.
To his surprise, it wasn't anger nor disgust he found on his colleague’s face—but a form of discomposure that screamed: why?
…Baek Saheon was most certainly curious.
It prompted Soleum to engage more. Just drunken curiosity, is all.
“I started to smoke ever since I started working… even before entering Daydream. I should probably quit soon enough though.”
“That’s… okay?”
“...I’m asking if you also relieve your stress this way.”
“Ah.”
“You don’t mind me smoking, so I thought I’d ask.”
Baek Saheon didn't know what to say. He was surprised by Soleum’s question first and foremost, but his concern lied more with how he was supposed to respond.
He didn't… really know how he released his stress specifically. Sure, he cussed people out in his head, maybe even cussed people out loud, and “inconvenienced” folks a bit with some of his decisions—but it never came to a point of picking up a proper outlet. He never gave it much thought at all.
Kim Soleum on the other hand, was quick to notice this reaction of his, “You don't smoke, do you? You don't drink either?” He prodded.
“...how the hell would you know?”
“It didn't look like you particularly enjoyed drinking earlier—even now, you don't look like someone who’d smoke.”
“Fuck, you were watching me inside…?”
“Don't get too cocky. Your table was in front of mine.”
Their bickering satisfied most of Soleum’s thoughts, though.
Baek Saheon didn't drink, smoke—or had sex as an outlet. He was most definitely a virgin in Soleum’s eyes—who the hell would even want this guy? He probably didn't pick up shit like painting therapy as far as he knew either. It sounded unfitting for the dangerous guy he envisioned from the Wiki, but as Kim Soleum thought more about it, no wonder this guy just started to fuck people over, maybe that was his way of relieving his stress?
Now that he thought hard about it, he remembered just how batshit crazy this viper was in general.
‘This guy's really something…’
Though, if it could help, even just a little bit—wouldn’t it be better if he did introduce him to some form of release better than… causing other people to die…?
…Soleum had a thought. A really, really impulsive one at that. One that probably wouldn't be even possible had it not been for the consequences of drinking the shots Manager Eun was passing to him with utmost compliance earlier.
“Saheon-ssi, come here for a bit.”
“Huh?”
Baek Saheon’s tone was annoyed, but he was still docile as ever to whatever Kim Soleum asks of him. It wasn't… much out of fear this time, but maybe just the smallest amount of intrigue having nothing else to do out here. He still did feel really weird about it regardless, having rather entertained a nutjob outside than going back in to get irritated by Daydream employees all over again.
Saheon steps closer to him. Just a little bit.
“…What?”
“Do you want to try?”
“…”
“Well, no pressure. I’m just a little surprised that someone like you has never done it before.”
“What the hell is that supposed to— you say that like I’ve never smoked in my life?”
“You’ve been dodging how to answer me.”
“...! Ugh…”
Kim Soleum caught him there. It felt a little embarrassing having him figure out how much he was trying to avoid the question earlier, especially over something trivial as smoking—but he really can't do anything about it anymore, can he?
The supervisor kept looking at him, not with any judgement but with expectant eyes, anticipating some form of snark in reply. To his assumption, he was fairly right.
“Are you giving me your used cigarette then? If so, then I’m seriously fucking passing… sir.”
“...I don't need to give you my cigarette though?”
“?”
Saheon couldn't shake off this overwhelming feeling of uncertainty he always had whenever he was around this guy. He kept his brows furrowed, confused about whatever he meant with what he said—did he have a second pack? …Why the hell couldn't he just say that?
“...!”
Kim Soleum gently placed his hand on his roommate’s collar and moved up to his neck, signaling what he was about to do, yet it still didn’t quite register to him at all. Saheon flinches a bit from the sudden action, but still retorts out of confusion.
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“No… not at all.”
It was comical. Soleum didn’t know what to do with him at all. He could tell that despite Saheon’s response, he wasn’t necessarily expecting anything violent from him—I mean, why would he? Now of all times all of a sudden?
That’s why he’d be all the more surprised on what Kim Soleum had to say for him next.
“I don’t have any more with me—anything you’re expecting will come from me directly,” the supervisor firmly stated. He grabbed Saheon’s face gently with the hand that was previously on his neck, cigarette still held by his other one. “...So, if you want to decline, now’s the time.”
“Wh—”
Baek Saheon finally realized what he was getting into.
He knew that if he pushed him away now, he would avoid getting dragged into Kim Soleum’s rhythm—something that he could never doubt about him, even though he was a psychopath, an asshole, a crazy bastard, anything of the like—the man always kept his word.
Forget the curiosity he ever held about taking up such a habit, or the small, small glimpse of normalcy he shared with such a guy talking about it at a cold, dimly lit alleyway—Saheon didn't know what to make of his offer at all. Something like never even crossed his mind before. He didn't even know whether he was supposed to feel fucking stupid about it or if Soleum was just that much of a wacko.
But he couldn't throw all that away now. It's never that simple.
He couldn't completely wipe off that guilt of feeling interested, even if it went against everything he stood by for the majority of his life. He wondered about what the taste of a cigarette would be like, how it would feel, the aftertaste of it—even if it came from this guy’s mouth.
So… if Kim Soleum was like unexpected rain, Baek Saheon willingly walks out in the open, accepting whatever downpour that comes over him as a consequence.
He'll let himself be swept up by this wave. He couldn't even say “just this once,” knowing it'll probably happen again sooner or later, but…
It felt somewhat good having thought this when everything feels completely normal.
“Go, then…”
“Go, you mean by…?”
“...I meant doing it.”
“Saheon-ssi, we're past beyond being vague at this point, no?”
“Tsk. You just want me to say it over and over again, don't you?”
Cutting through all the bickering, Soleum put the hand with the cigarette over his mouth followed by an inhale of smoke. He soon dragged his colleague’s face to his, lips finally overlapping as he took it upon himself to open Saheon’s mouth using his very own.
Kim Soleum tasted like all the vices Baek Saheon avoided—familiar due to distance, but completely unknown territory as he experienced it now. The ashy, dry flavor that invaded his mouth as Soleum exhaled, accompanied by the chapped lips the two have from the cold weather was horribly uncomfortable. Saheon could even taste beer on his tongue, how bitter-tasting it was as they continued to exchange spit.
Yet, the two can't seem to pull away from one another, smoke seeping out from each gasp for air they took. Soleum kept cupping his face tenderly, keeping in mind the small height gap they shared as he tilted Saheon’s face upwards to him. He could feel his trembling hands tugging at his sleeves, unsure how and where to put his hands during the moment.
As if they were two awkward teenagers sharing their sloppy first kiss, Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon couldn't help but feel like they were experiencing something entirely new to themselves—heart rate increasing by minute.
Feeling a heat rise within, one that melted away any previous chills the current weather gave him, Saheon pulled away from Kim Soleum as he started to cough. It was bad enough that the supervisor kept patting his back as a sign of comfort, thinking that it would go away shortly. Baek Saheon squatted down, still coughing while covering his mouth.
“Oh–cough—fuck…! I— cough, cough!” The colleague tried to speak, yet kept being interrupted by himself with the hacks he kept releasing between each word he tried to utter.
…It took a bit for his coughing fit to have finished. T’was embarrassing for him now, but it made Saheon crazy relieved he never tried this with anyone else casually with how much he genuinely couldn't take just one single puff.
There was a silence that formed after all that—a very awkward one. God knows what the hell this created for the two of them: Google searches of “is it normal to kiss a co-worker I dislike?” and “am I gay?” were practically imminent after the two of them left this alleyway shortly.
Still, it was a weird moment for them to savor. Regardless of both of their lack of speech, the urban noises within the area were enough to fill in any discomfort the two of them had. It was really… really weird.
After a while, it was Kim Soleum who broke the silence between the two.
“...Saheon-ssi, I’m going back inside.”
“Alright then…”
“You're staying out?”
Saheon nods, “I’ll, uh– come back later,” later, he thinks, not really knowing what that'll be exactly, but long enough to have people going home by then. Especially his superiors.
Taking his reply into consideration, Kim Soleum hesitates a little, but takes off his coat while also taking Braun out of his small front pocket. He throws it at Baek Saheon.
“...!?”
“You’ve been trembling ever since I got here. I’ll take the one on your seat inside—just give that back when you're back home.”
“Wh—wait, you don– Kim Soleum!”
His roommate pays him no mind while disposing of the cigarette he previously held, crushing it with the sole of his shoes as he walks away out to the alleyway’s opening and into the busy street.
…
Huh.
This entire situation just confused Baek Saheon a lot. So many questions left by his bastard co-worker—and for what, exactly? Just to fuck with him again?
Seriously…
The tobacco and beer still lingered in his mouth, finally having tasted the habits he never dared to pick up ever in his life—but even so…
To celebrate? To cope? Nonsense.
He still didn't understand the appeal at all.
Kim Soleum being the face of this experience especially didn't help him either. He actually might've made things even worse if Saheon continued his line of questioning now—but oddly enough, he really just grew tired thinking about it. Any further than this would’ve made his head hurt even more, so he just gave up. At least for now.
Sighing, he put Soleum’s coat over his shoulders, still freezing out of his mind over the cold weather. He couldn't deny that it helped just a little bit with his state.
...I’m never fucking coming to company dinners like these ever again, Baek Saheon thought.
