Too Long
Demon King
Donghae's pissed.
He had nothing to do with it. Hyukjae revealed that bit of detail himself. But Donghae still got for it?
He's forbidden now. From asking questions. Trying to get information from him. About him. Out of anyone.
So Donghae can't utter a word. Even to his friends. He can only talk about Hyukjae's daily life.
He's really pissed.
----
Days go by.
Hyukjae glares at him warily. Each time they have to be together. Donghae will ignore it. But occasionally roll his eyes. Remind him: Donghae's not allowed to ask anything. So Hyukjae can stop.
A couple weeks later... Hyukjae starts to look sorry. Maybe he notices. That Donghae's still pissed. At this treatment. He gives Donghae furtive glances. Pouts by himself. Tries to be nice. In subtle ways.
He does more chores. Gets up himself. Tells Donghae thank yous. Sincerely. Energetically. He gave Donghae a chocolate bar. He texts him too. Random things. How the weather is nice. How the dinner was good.
----
Donghae's at a cafe. He's meeting Ryeowook.
Twigsy sends a message.
"Hey, my friend said someone is selling a nice used TV! Maybe we can buy it!"
"This twig..." Donghae mutters.
"Oh, it's the master..." Ryeowook says.
"Yeah. He's letting me buy a TV now because he feels bad? I was getting that for him, not for myself..."
Donghae texts, "Sure." Then addresses Ryeowook. The other's got a bored face. "Okay, sorry, go on."
"Your little master Hyukjae's feeling bad? Why?"
"Hyukjae's TV doesn't work. It's nothing. So are you sure the ones with us are under control?"
"Yes," Ryeowook says. "Of course. Don't worry about it."
---
"Donghae, you like coffee, right?" Hyukjae says.
He brings a mug over. To the table on the balcony. Smiles awkwardly.
Oh. Because Donghae has been showing up with coffee sometimes. To pick up Hyukjae. From work. From the school stop.
"I guess..." Donghae says. "So you got coffee."
It's a question. Because Hyukjae doesn't have any. The kid hates it.
"Yeah, I bought it!"
"You will try liking coffee."
"No! It was... uh, by mistake!" Hyukjae says. "But you like it so you can drink it, right?"
Donghae takes the mug. Peers at it. "You bought coffee by mistake."
"Yeah!"
"I don't need to eat or drink, monkey..."
"What? So you're never hungry?"
"Mm. Sometimes, I just crave it though."
"Oh. Then great! We have coffee now and you like it more than me so you can drink the coffee, okay?"
Donghae takes a sip. "This is instant coffee. Hazelnut."
Hyukjae blinks. Tilts his head. "Oh...?"
"Never mind. Finish your homework. It's late."
"Yeah! I will! I am almost done!"
"And I'm still pissed," Donghae mutters.
The sliding door pauses. Donghae doesn't look. Then it closes. Quietly. Donghae sighs.
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