Hii this is my first time requesting- heh but could I ask for kdj x fem!reader, The reader is someone who acts confident but when faced with the problem doubts herself (idk where I'm going with this) but it could just be plain kdj x reader. (I'm fine with a one shot, headcanons anything really)
holy smokes!
kim dokja x reader
summary: in which a simple beast-hunting excursion goes very wrong. you hit a mental wall in the face of danger, and kim dokja is there is help you through it.
w.c: 2.4k
warnings: this fic is hot, but in a literal sense. i.e. you light yourself on fire
a.n: hi anon, welcome! idk where I was going with this either :)
side note, mushussus are supposed to be favorable animals of protection, but there aren't a lot of major non-human monster hybrids in mesopotamian mythology. i took some creative liberties lol
The plan was simple. Lure the mushussu beast into Hyochang Stadium, Kim Dokja would trap it with 'Way of the Wind', and then you both would blast it with skills until it fried up into a nice (and potentially-tasty) fillet of fish/bird hybrid.
That was the plan anyways.
You might have sliced your calf halfway through your sprint to the stadium. In all fairness, the roads of Seoul had become terribly overgrown, and your luck was so abysmal that, of course, a jagged piece of metal had nestled in the shrubs and weeds as you ran through it. Now your blood dripped a convenient trail for the beast to follow. Hopefully the metal wasn't rusted.
Kim Dokja was going to be pissed. He was often frustrated at your boldness.
Scraped skin, burnt fingers, food poisoning, twisted ankles...hey, you weren't accident-prone! But these things seemed to happen to you and you alone. Some lousy constellation up there really had it out for you.
At least in this case, your misfortune was lending itself to the goal; the mushussu was fueled by bloodlust and roared behind you. There was little chance that it would get distracted by other prey before you and Kim Dokja could take the spoils for yourselves.
The mushussu was gaining ground rapidly. It took all your strength and stats to stay ahead.
Could you really do this?
A familiar shadowy presence in your mind crept up behind the adrenaline and bravery. It spread like a poison—quick and lethal.
Kim Dokja was relying on you. Nothing had truly gone wrong yet, so long as you were successful at baiting the monster into the stadium, but what came after was raging on your nerves.
Courage and doubt. Two sides of your own personal coin that never failed to plague you since the start of the scenarios. Some people called it "imposter syndrome", but you liked to think of it as a healthy regard for the possibility of failure at every opportunity.
Okay, yes. You felt like an imposter.
Someone that pretended to be strong and fooled others into believing it. Your companions relied on you, but were you good enough to support them?
"Rooooaaaar!"
The mushussu cried out, echoing off the buildings. Up ahead was Hyochang Stadium. You dashed through the metal gate and went for the center of the field.
Metal screeched, and the gate was torn from its hinges. Your hair swished in the growing breeze. The beast was close. Closer. Almost there...
Before it could reach you, its neck jerked to the side and the tail whipped around against its will. You backed away. There was a strong wind tugging at your clothes.
Kim Dokja walked closer to you from the stands. His arms were out, pushing 'Way of the Wind' in a capturing swirl around the mushussu. It picked up until the roars of the beast were drowned out by the near-tornado around it. He stopped near you.
"Nice job."
"Thanks." You eyed the thrashing creature. "That is one nasty looking fish-bird."
Kim Dokja shot you a wild look. "Fish? It's a snake."
"No, it has scales," you said with a frown. "And beady eyes."
"Snake scales. With snake eyes and a serpent's tongue," emphasized Kim Dokja.
You examined the beast fighting against the wind funnel. Scales...that were a bit green...and a long, slithery neck, and a forked tongue—shit, yeah. That omniscient fool was right. His annoying smirk told you he knew it, too.
"It's hard to digest information when you're running for your life from the damn thing."
"...Sure."
You kicked at his leg for laughing at you, but a sharp pain reminded you of the reason for your earlier struggle. Fuck, it hurt.
"What is that?"
Kim Dokja's sharp voice cut through your thoughts. You didn't bother to hide your injury, as he was already crouching to examine it. His fingers prodded at the torn pants leg around the skin to get a better look as he muttered to himself. "The mushussu scratched you?" he asked.
"I ran through some scrap metal." A roll of bandage materialized in his hands, and you winced as he wrapped it tight. "To be fair, it was hidden in the bushes."
His fingers rested on your shin as he looked up at you, a pinch in his expression. You saw his mouth open, scolding, but a Star Stream message sent exclusively to you snagged your attention.
[The constellation 'Giver of Merciful Fury' scowls at the treatment of his creation.]
You went pale.
This beast was a lower-level version of the legendary mushussu, not the real deal...it shouldn't have attracted the notice of the most important constellation in the <Genesis> nebula. The nebula your sponsor was also a part of.
[The constellation 'Giver of Merciful Fury' is accusing the constellation 'God with Cleansing Flame'.]
[The 'Lesser Mushussu' has risen in power to Grade 5 beast, 'Greater Mushussu'!]
In your peripheral, you saw the giant, scaled monster take a step out of the wind.
Shit. That was not supposed to happen.
"Ah, Dokja. Problem."
He straightened up just as the mushussu came charging at you both. You each leapt to the side, and your leg was throbbing as you dodged its talons swiping at your head. The beast swung its head towards you.
You hardly had time to ready your sword before clashing with the swipe of its claws. A sharp tail flew at your body. Everything happened too quickly, it was hard to concentrate.
This felt like your fault. The constellation 'Giver of Merciful Fury' was the leader of the <Genesis> nebula that your constellation was part of. It must seem like you were turning against your own supporters. Damn, why didn't you consider that? Your movements slowed.
[The constellation 'God with Cleansing Flame' looks down meekly at you.]
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
You didn't notice that you had frozen before the monster until Kim Dokja yelled your name frantically.
Then you were swept off your feet, hurtling towards the bleachers in Kim Dokja's arms. He set you down gently. His eyes slid to the beast that was locked back on to you both, and he grimaced.
"I'll deal with it." Kim Dokja squeezed your shoulder once. "Wait here."
Unbroken Faith, Way of the Wind, and the lethal strikes of the mushussu clashed in a blur of explosive power. You watched in a daze.
This wasn't the first time you had brazenly rushed into something without thinking things through. Most of the time, it all worked out. And the few times it didn't remained painfully on your mind.
You liked to act confident in front of the others—but it was just that. An act.
It was hard to feel good about your abilities when faced with Yoo Joonghyuk's superior strength, Lee Hyunsung's military background, perfect for the scenarios, Yoo Sangah and Jung Heewon's natural skills, Kim Dokja's resourcefulness, and even the kids' raw potential. What did you bring to the table?
A screech and dull clang of metal broke you out of your spiral. The monster's tail had narrowly missed piercing Kim Dokja, now lodged in the ground.
"Dokja!"
Your body moved to rejoin the fight before your mind had decided to push past the self-doubt.
"Don't count me out so soon," you said.
It was impressive that the beast managed to defend and attack both of you, all at once. Luckily, you had a Kim Dokja who somehow managed to know a bit about everything in this new world. He was adamant that fire would be enough to destroy the creature.
The mushussu roared as Kim Dokja struck its head, the hit not strong enough to pierce its sturdy scales, but hard enough to knock it in a brief stun. You gathered your strength and mana.
[Your stigma 'Purified Torch Lv. 6' is activated.]
"'Flame on!'"
"What?" Kim Dokja wiped the sweat at his temple.
"...It's a comic reference."
"Oh," he said with a nod. After all, Kim Dokja had spent his formative years poring over web novel text rather than drawings.
Your stigma sparked to life and ignited, bathing your body in yellow and white. The flames licked your skin, cool to the touch. Kim Dokja blinked a few times. The fire danced in his eyes as he looked at you with a faint smile.
You angled your sword and charged.
Together, you attacked the mushussu. It wasn't easy, but soon enough Kim Dokja had trapped it once again in a vortex of wind, to which you fed with fire until a whirlwind of burning flames surrounded the beast, like a devil's finger had struck the earth.
Left behind was a horrible, burnt stench in the air and a scorch mark on the ground.
[You have defeated the 'Greater mushussu'!]
[Rewards are processing...]
"We did it," you said, breathing hard. Fatigue set in your bones.
"Yes." Kim Dokja sheathed his sword, frowning. "Strange. It changed from a simple grade six beast..."
[The constellations of the nebula <Genesis> observe quietly.]
[The constellation 'Giver of Merciful Fury' is arranging a meeting with your sponsor, 'God with Cleansing Flame'.]
Kim Dokja received that message, because his eyes widened. "Fuck."
"Yeah."
He shoved his hands into his coat pockets, as if searching for something while he muttered, "I didn't think...the beast wasn't important enough...Ways of Survival doesn't cover the <Genesis> ones very well...Chapter 439—?"
"I shouldn't have come."
Kim Dokja looked uncertain for a beat too long. Your heart sunk, even as he shook his head. "You didn't need to rejoin. I could have handled it."
Your body felt numb. "Do you doubt my abilities, Kim Dokja?"
He flinched at his full name, eyes widening with panic. "No. Of course I don't."
There was an ache throbbing in your chest. You had a hard enough time believing in yourself sometimes, it was bitter to know that your Kim Dokja felt the same way.
"I know I'm not Yoo Joonghyuk, or Heewon-ssi, but I want to be of some help to you and the party—"
"That isn't what I meant." Kim Dokja took a deep breath. "I don't want you risking yourself when you don't feel well. Actually, I was glad to see you hesitate before the mushussu."
His confession left you speechless. Glad?
"You're always confident. It's something I admire about you," Kim Dokja admitted with pink spreading across his face. "But it worries me, because you never seem afraid of jumping into danger. And I don't always know if I can reach you in time if something happens. I don't like to see you hurt."
It took a few minutes to fully process his words. Kim Dokja was concerned over you. Kim Dokja cared about you. Kim Dokja admired you—!
Your flustered feelings brimmed to the surface, splitting open into a smile on your lips. "That's a bit hypocritical of you, isn't it, Cat-ja?"
"Cat-ja?"
"You're like a cat with nine lives. Dying and coming back." You ignored his bewildered expression. "Anyways. Um, this time I froze up because I realized that my lack of power could affect you." Your voice quieted, shy. "I don't like to see you hurt either."
Kim Dokja nodded, appearing a bit dazed. He registered your full statement and startled. "Hold on. 'Lack of power'? Are you serious?"
"That's what I said, yeah."
"Your stigma lights you on fire. You control flames." Kim Dokja grabbed you, wearing a deadpan expression. "You fight better with a sword than 99% of incarnations. You have an ancient god for a sponsor from one of the oldest mythologies in existence."
His shaking of your shoulders increased with each word. This unusual display of care from Kim Dokja was brightening your mood already.
"Only 99%?" you asked with a cheeky grin.
"99.99%. There's Yoo Joonghyuk, of course," Kim Dokja said seriously. "And me. Perhaps, you're the level of Jung Heewon, or Lee Ji—no—"
You wrapped him in a hug before his big mouth could walk him back into an unintended insult. After all, you were pleased to learn what Kim Dokja really thought of you; meaning so much to the man who had quickly become a significant part of your world made you feel warm.
Kim Dokja slowly returned your embrace.
"Is that why you get pissed off when I'm injured?"
Kim Dokja exhaled, nose now buried in your hair. "Yes. It's hard work keeping you alive."
"Hey! Rude." You squeezed him once.
Kim Dokja tightened his arms around you and laughed. "Well, it's probably more work trying to keep me alive."
It was good that he couldn't see your face just then. His deaths were no laughing matter to you, and to the rest of your party, but you didn't wish to spoil the moment with an argument.
"Hold on to those extra lives, Dokja, or I'll crawl down to hell to drag you back up myself," you murmured.
"Right, hell. Because I'm a Demon King."
Yes, Captain Obvious. Your eye roll was hard enough to rival the Supreme Eye-Roll King, Yoo Joonghyuk. Kim Dokja did often say you spent too much time with the sassy bastard.
"By the way," you remembered, drawing back to look at him. "You should take Heewon-ssi on the next hunt. I have to do damage control with my sponsor's nebula, and I don't want to make things more difficult."
"You don't—"
"But my affiliation does." You offered him a smile. "It's fine. Really."
There were two more mushussus you had planned on tracking for rare items. You knew that your companion would be up to the task; meanwhile, you had your own.
Kim Dokja's hesitation eased, and he nodded. "I'll tell her when we return."
"Good."
There was a silence that rested between you both. Not uncomfortable, but tangible. Kim Dokja's palm, flat against your lower back, grew hot through your clothes.
He coughed and released you. The hand whose touch you could still feel on your body swung up to drag through his unkempt hair.
Without a word, you both agreed to head back to the others. And if you snuck glances at Kim Dokja and his handsome side profile, accidentally catching his eye more often than not, then that was entirely your business.
[The constellation 'God with Cleansing Flame' sighs at the mess his incarnation likes to put him through every day.]
^^ a mesopotamian mushussu in case anyone was curious
OMG YEPPIE!!! This might be ooc but may I request a Secretive Plotter x reader angst to fluff where they are arguing and he said something hurtful to reader so reader gave him the silent treatment and only talks and pay attention to the kkomas pls? If it's too much then you can twist and experiment it in ur own way!! I just crave SP contents hehe😚
the sound of silence.
secretive plotter x reader ⋆✴︎˚。⋆
warnings: none
w.c: 2k
a.n: i'll edit for mistakes tomorrow...the plot isn't fully fleshed out since it's a little one shot 🫣 thank you for a lovely request!
<< secretive plotter m.list
"I wish you wouldn't shut down when I try to help him."
Secretive Plotter's expression hardened. "And I would like you to stop fawning over that pathetic copy," he sneered. "Showering him with coins. Sending him gifts in my name."
"It's you that I'm helping!"
You couldn't understand why the plotter was so against you supporting Yoo Joonghyuk of this 1,864th round. Every time you sent aid, he went silent, watching you with dark eyes and a firm, angry line for a mouth; it would sometimes take days to coax him back into a normal state. Yet he refused to say why. Perhaps you were also in the wrong—you knew how he felt about your actions, and still, you continued.
But you couldn't help it. Whenever you saw Yoo Joonghyuk's face on the screen, struggling in vain against the scenarios, your brain imagined a large scar on his cheek. It was the plotter that your heart cried out for in distress. Even though he sat right next to you.
"Look," you said, lowering your voice. "I'm not giving him attention for the sake of it. I only support him because he is you."
A dark shadow settled over Secretive Plotter's face.
"Stop it. He is not me. That pathetic brat could never understand—" He exhaled harshly.
You reached for his hand, but he jerked away. It stung.
"Then help me understand? Because I see his face and," you swallowed, "it hurts to watch y—him in pain."
It was exactly the wrong thing to say. The air crackled with the probability of an Outer God, sharp and electric. You held your breath.
"If you care for him so much, then be with him," Secretive Plotter thundered. "Or choose one of the kkomas—they are, as you seem to believe, extensions of me. One of them would be happy to have you warm their bed."
"What did you say to me?"
He laughed cruelly. "Is that what you wanted all this time? To get passed around to every version of my face? Go on then."
You stumbled back, pulse thumping loud in your ears.
Secretive Plotter took one look at your expression and paled. His eyes grew wide, shining with emotion as you continued to step away from him. "Wait. I didn't mean—"
"You did."
"No," he said. "I should not have said that."
Somehow, it didn't surprise you that he failed to apologize properly. The plotter's hands were suspended in the air, like he wanted to pull you to him once more. You shook your head.
"Maybe they will show me more kindness than you have," you said quietly.
They were the last words you spoke to him before turning your back. Behind you, was the endless call of your name, each with increasing fear.
You read beside kkoma 451. He was a companion you spent the most time with, as his love for books set him apart as a rare iteration of Yoo Joonghyuk, who generally did not consume literature like he did games.
451 enjoyed the classics from various countries on Earth: Dostoyevsky, Soseki, Dickens, Borges, Gibran, and more. You read genres widely, enjoying some of the older literature aligned with his tastes, and also devouring newer stories. It was a great way to pass the time. Even more so now that you were not speaking to a certain Outer God of this realm.
The devil himself called out your name.
"Shit," you muttered.
You had hidden away in the library this time. Secretive Plotter had taken to walking past your usual reading spot outside, trying to get you to talk to him. Unfortunately, the plotter was not stupid.
"Are you in here?"
It was too late to slip away unnoticed, so you hurried to pack your things, marking your place in the book. 451 watched you with a solemn gaze.
The footsteps grew louder. Then stopped.
"Ah." There was an awkward pause. You didn't turn to look at the man. "You were reading...in the library."
You shoved the bundle of bread rolls roughly into your bag.
451 coughed. "Reading in the library, as one does."
"Yes." Footsteps moved closer to you. A call of your name, soft and insistent. "I'd hoped we could take the time to talk."
451 pursed his lips and looked behind you. The plotter shuffled, agitated.
"Well, 451, it looks like we'll have to continue this another time," you said coldly. "It seems a horrible draft has entered the room."
"Please, it has been days. Let's put this behind us and—"
"Oh, and 451?" You tossed your bag over your shoulder. "If you see 1,862, do let him know I'm looking for him. He has such knowledge from his regressions...he might be able to help me meet our 1,864th. It would be nice to see him before he joins us as a kkoma, wouldn't it?"
There was a choking sound.
You allowed yourself to glance at his face for a moment. Secretive Plotter was, as expected, already staring at you. He startled as your eyes met.
When you turned away, a pained look tightened his expression.
It didn't make you feel good to know you were upsetting him. But then, you were still upset as well.
Hurt people hurt people. Or so the explanation goes.
Secretive Plotter did not attempt to coerce you into conversation after that day.
999 appeared beside the plotter with a frown. They both watched you giggle with a group of kkomas as you all tossed walnuts up to the elephant-shaped Outer God blob.
Secretive Plotter ached. You had not smiled at nor spoken to him in weeks.
"You are a fool," said 999.
"Yes."
"Why have you not apologized?" They both knew how difficult words of apology stuck in their throats. A classic Yoo Joonghyuk trait. 999 instead asked, "Why do you choose to keep your distance?"
The plotter crossed his arms. "It is what she wants."
"A fuck up and a fool." 999 smacked the plotter's leg hard. It was the most rage Secretive Plotter had ever witnessed from the kkoma. "You will never win her back if you continue to be passive."
"...I don't know how to amend it."
999 sighed noisily. He grumbled something under his breath. "You gather a bunch of things that she enjoys, and you say you're sorry." 999 side-eyed the plotter. "And you explain whatever nonsense was going through your head that your thick tongue couldn't form into sensible words during that argument."
Secretive Plotter merely nodded. After all, the kkoma was right.
"Good." 999 left.
And the plotter began to live up to his name.
Secretive Plotter spent all day preparing. He cooked the soup dumplings you liked best, he gathered his softest blankets and cushions to spread out in the grassy area under your reading tree, assembled a fresh pitcher of chilled pear juice and other foods you preferred, along with your favorite flowers and candle oil aromatics to perfume the scene.
He was rather proud of himself for bringing it all together. Aesthetics and gifts had never been his forte.
The sun began to dip lower, and Secretive Plotter settled against the tree, its wide trunk hiding him from view from the pathway up. Not long after, he heard the crunch of gravel.
"999?" you asked. "Look, how lovely!"
The plotter waited until you were engrossed by the sight of his picnic, crouching slightly. He slipped behind to block the path.
You stiffened, as if sensing his identity from the silent movements.
"It wasn't 999 that asked to meet me," you murmured. You hadn't spoken directly to him, but Secretive Plotter still counted it as an improvement.
"You don't have to speak to me. Or even look at me." The words tasted like bile as they left his throat. "But please, allow me to at least share your company. Just for a bit."
The scent of fresh dumplings and other goodies must have been too tempting to resist, because you sunk down into the blanket and dug into the basket of food. He watched you make note of each item with care.
You chose a dumpling and ate, enjoying viewing the expanse of clouds below the tree. They were on a hill that overlooked the universe beyond, a wealth of stars beneath the cloud cover.
"I have missed you."
Secretive Plotter could not help but voice this admission.
You went still. "Hm," you said, and then resumed chewing.
"There are some new books in there if you would rather read. I won't distract you."
Secretive Plotter was surprised when you made no move for the basket. Instead, you shrugged and looked out at the cloud plains. "I don't feel like reading right now."
...You had just responded? Spoken to him?
The plotter was so gobsmacked that no further sound left his open mouth. You polished off a few more dumplings and glanced his way.
"I've missed you, too."
"You have—you missed me?"
You gestured to the set up under the tree. "I can't very well ignore this effort, can I? Every part of it is thoughtful. Intentional."
The plotter decided he was now eternally grateful to 999.
He took your hands, gentle. You let him. "I apologize for what I said. It was uncalled for and untrue."
You traced the pattern of the blanket with your eyes. "So why did you say it?"
"Anger." Secretive Plotter winced. "Jealousy. I don't always react well when it comes to the most recent Yoo Joonghyuk."
"That is true."
The plotter edged closer. He was close enough to you for the first time in weeks, so much so that he could fill his nose with your natural scent.
"You asked me to call you Joonghyuk," you commented. "But you claim to not be him."
"In truth, I dislike him. 1,864," he clarified. "He has been handed an easy path to the end unlike anything I've experienced before. It doesn't seem fair...and I am envious that he has you as well.
You met his gaze and frowned. "He doesn't 'have me'."
"I don't mean in that way," he said quickly. "Only that you care for his wellbeing."
Secretive Plotter leaned in as your hand came up to his head.
"I do it because it hurts me to see you suffering," you said softly, fingers carding through his silky locks. "I know you are not him, not really, but I can't help but love each version of you that has ever been. It doesn't mean I want to be with them in that way," you hastily added. "I only want to see you safe and happy in every form of existence."
Secretive Plotter's eyes closed. "That ungrateful brat has Kim Dokja to aid his journey. I—I am the one who needs you."
You melted in his hands.
"If I could go back in time to help you too, I would. You know I would."
Doing what you could for the current regression of Yoo Joonghyuk was how you made up for not having been there for the plotter when he made his own scenario journey long ago.
The plotter understood your intention. As you now understood him.
He was content as you slowly wound your body around his, leaning into his warmth. His fingers drew circles on your back. To have you beside him once again, there was no greater feeling.
"...Will you really go down to meet the 1,864th Yoo Joonghyuk?"
You curled your arms tighter around his torso, snuggling into his side. "No. I never planned to."
He sighed. "Good."
"Sorry for provoking all of this. I'll be more mindful of your feelings in the future."
The plotter smiled and said, "Continue helping him. Perhaps we will both watch this one reach the end, as I suspect he can."
You hummed in agreement.
Together, you watched the sun lower beyond the cloud plains, both of you at peace with a warm and welcome quiet. Silence had set at last.
it's hard to keep sp in-character, particularly with the apology. hopefully he doesn't sound too off to you guys
eighteen sixty-three masterpost [kdj x oc; yjh x oc]
captive behind enemy lines, you escape only to be caught by the most feared group of outlaws and their leader, the demon king himself. wild west au.
who's there? masterpost (18+) ❤︎ [kdj x reader x yjh; & joongdok]
someone is lurking out in the dark watching you. will your new boyfriend be enough to ward off a stalker? ghostface au.
one shots.
brilliant star ❤︎ [yoo joonghyuk; secretive plotter]
the one you desire won't look your way, so someone else swoops in to claim your heart.
not so alone [secretive plotter; slight kdj & yjh]
it feels like everyone has companionship but you. an impulsive decision reveals there is more than meets the eye.
Also!! Never say sorry that u r slow to write! u write those wonderful requests for us to read for free and I always look foward to reading ur contents no matter how long :D 🩷
Thank you dear 🥺❤️ that's so sweet of you to say! I really enjoy writing orv fics and it makes me so happy that you guys actually enjoy reading it :)
Hiii! Just a random question, but when writing for your fanfic "in life and death" Do you use the manhwa or novel?? Also thanks for posting orv x reader esp on tumblr(I barely see any these days😭)
I use both! Mostly, I'm referring to the novel as I write, but some storylines or scenes I use the manhwa. It's whatever feels right for the story I have in mind ;)
Thanks for your question ☺️ I'm glad others enjoy reading orv x reader too!
Hihi I wanna request a kdj x reader where the reader is very OBSESSED with him, and while she’s happy and chipper with the people around her but kdj can sense how strange she is only with him (he doesn’t mind it tho lololol)
no bounds
kim dokja x obsessed!reader
a.n: i love yandere undertones hehe. kdj's pov because I think an obsessed reader works best when we don't get an internal monologue
w.c: 1.3k
warnings: none
"You're insane for that, actually."
Kim Dokja raised his head at the loud voice. You were leaning over Han Sooyoung, eyebrow raised and hands on your hips, peering down at something in the plagiarist's lap. He couldn't see it clearly from this distance.
As if sensing his attention, you glanced over at him and grinned. Kim Dokja returned it with a questioning look.
"Sooyoung-ssi is trying to mix beast blood into healing tonics."
Kim Dokja frowned. "That will not increase the effects."
"You've tried it, have you?" said Han Sooyoung snidely. "Tried all the potion combinations out there? Ha, I didn't think so."
You laughed. It was a sound that often filled the air when your companions were around. Kim Dokja had grown rather fond of it, and even Yoo Joonghyuk nodded along, content, when you brightened their ears with your laughter.
"Will you drink it?"
Your tone was innocent, but your eyes danced with mischief. Han Sooyoung huffed. "I'm not stupid."
"No?"
Han Sooyoung went off, spewing mild rage and curses at you for having taken a shot at her pride. Kim Dokja observed. He was impressed by your constant ability to bait the plagiarist.
"Just don't test it on animals," is all you said once there was a break in her ranting.
"How else am I supposed to see if it works—?!"
Kim Dokja decided to walk away before he was dragged into her nonsense. He nodded his head to you. You watched him go with an unidentifiable expression.
Some time later, Kim Dokja spoke with Jung Heewon. He had already spoken with the others, and the youngest, Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung, had accompanied Yoo Sangah and Lee Jihye respectively. Han Sooyoung had vanished. He left her to her own devices.
"There are hidden pieces not far from here," said Kim Dokja. "The rewards are probably low-level skills, beast cores, or rare potion ingredients. You can reach two within the day. Perhaps three if you go with someone."
"Hyunsung and I can do that. I don't think it will be difficult—"
Kim Dokja blinked, and you appeared next to him.
Your beaming grin was aimed at Heewon. "Heewon-ssi," you said, tone bright. "I think that's a great idea! You two—" Kim Dokja noted the flustered expression Jung Heewon wore "—gallivant off into the sunset. In search of hidden pieces, of course." You finished it off with a wink.
"That's not—ahem." Jung Heewon coughed. "I will go find Lee Hyunsung-ssi."
Kim Dokja noted the over-formality as Jung Heewon walked away sheepishly.
"Bye!" You waggled your fingers and slipped the other hand around Kim Dokja's arm.
He was going to speak, when several constellation messages came in.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' complains about the rude dismissal of her incarnation.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is watching the scene with a smirk.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is picking at his teeth with his thumbnail.]
"Dokja."
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is looking at the constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' with a frown.]
[The constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' is shrugging.]
What did Uriel want with your sponsor? Were you receiving these messages as well?
"Dokja-ya."
[The constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' tells the constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' that love knows no bounds.]
Love—?
"Kim Dokja!"
You nearly shouted in his ear as you hugged him from behind. Oh, you had been trying to get his attention.
"Did you need something?" he asked. Everyone else had separated to complete their tasks or personal quests. They would reconvene for dinner once the sun set.
"Kim Dokja."
Your arms tightened. Kim Dokja couldn't help but lean back into your embrace as your scent enveloped him in a cloud; despite the circumstances, you always smelled like warm rice and crisp paper. It comforted him.
He jumped out of his skin when your nose touched his neck. "Ah—?"
"Kim Dokja," you repeated. Your nose dragged up towards his ear. Kim Dokja didn't dare move, his breathing stalled. "You talk a lot with other people."
Kim Dokja was very glad that the others had gone off on their own. It would painfully awkward to explain...whatever this was. Your bodies pressed together. The feel of your hot breath on his neck, the color of his cheeks, your hands tucked under his coat.
"I guess so," he said, uncertain.
"Do you get lonely?"
Lonely?
Well... Kim Dokja thought about it. He was no stranger to loneliness. It had been an old companion since his early years in life. But now he had real companions, people to look out for. "Everyone feels lonely at some point," he said in the end.
"So you seek out company from others," you pressed, not seeming to hear him. "All kinds of people."
"Sure—" Kim Dokja winced as your fingers dug into his ribcage.
You sensed it and softened your hold just as quickly. "Sorry."
It happened often in your presence. A subtle shift from the sweet, cheerful person that you were into something murky, like your happy self was teetering on a tightrope only he could notice, and every time he looked up at it you wobbled.
You slipped around his torso to face him, much too close still. Kim Dokja's pulse thumped hard against his chest.
"I'll talk with you."
"What?" Kim Dokja was distracted by the sun glinting off of the shine on your bottom lip.
You smiled. Delighted. "I'll. Talk. With you." A giggle. "You don't need anyone else."
"I don't understand."
Instead of responding, you nuzzled under his chin. Kim Dokja was privately hoping that no one would return anytime soon. While he found your behaviour strange, there was no denying how good it felt to be held by you. Kim Dokja was a liar in many ways, but this was something he could freely admit within the confines of his mind.
"Sometimes I wonder how it could have been if we had met when the world was normal," you said dreamily.
Kim Dokja recalled his time at Minosoft. The small, sad apartment he lived in. Old kimbap wrappers balled up in his briefcase. Walking to work, invisible in the crowded streets of Seoul.
"You would not have noticed me."
You gasped, as if stabbed. "Don't be ridiculous. As if I could see someone like you and not notice."
It was flattering, but Kim Dokja did not want you to feel like you had to soothe his feelings. "No. It's true."
"You're a star, Dokja-ya. A wonderful, shining star."
Stars dotted his vision as your words washed over him and filled his head. It was too easy to get wrapped up in your joyful affections; Kim Dokja often forgot that you were bubbly to everyone. He wanted to believe that you fawned exclusively over him, but Kim Dokja had never been someone people fawned over.
But he indulged. Damn.
"Maybe if you were less of a star, other people wouldn't steal away your attention all the time," you muttered.
Kim Dokja was at a loss for words.
You heaved a grand sigh and tugged him to your group's makeshift campsite. "Come on. Go read on your phone, I'll watch."
He paused. "What?"
"...I'll watch out." You nodded rapidly. "I'll keep a watch out for, um, monsters. Or rogue incarnations. Yeah!"
"Okay."
You both settled against a wall. Kim Dokja scrolled on his phone, searching for a storyline he suspected might point him in the right direction for the next scenario. You curled into his side. He glanced at you, staring out at the street, and gave you a faint smile before diving into Ways of Survival.
The moment his focus returned to his phone, he felt eyes pinned to the side of his face.
Kim Dokja did not sense your gaze waver the entire time he read. And he would be a liar if he said it bothered him.
I was delirious from lack of sleep writing this so if it doesn't make sense, don't pay any mind lol
❝ Do you want to play a game? Let's play a game... ❞
kim dokja x reader x yoo joonghyuk; kim dokja x yoo joonghyuk
<< "who's there?" masterpost
a.n: found this in the drafts. sorry, it's been so long that i can't remember all the little trivia bits i wanted to share with you guys. i'll try to add others as i remember more
1. How did you figure out Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk were the killers?
You were alerted to them when you visited their first victim's crime scene to take photos for a newspaper. People were everywhere, police scrambled to block the public from witnessing the gruesome sight, and, through the chaos, you saw him. Yoo Joonghyuk in his uniform picked up a small object from the feet of the body. He pocketed it with a faint smile. You continued to follow him for weeks. You were led to Kim Dokja, discovered more...and the rest is history.
2. Kim Dokja liked to trace his finger along your body after you fell asleep in his arms, imagining where he would cut you up.
3. You witnessed Kim Dokja gag from unexpected tomatoes in his soup one day. You decided to use them as a test to see how far along his desire and obsession of you was over the course of the relationship.
4. Yoo Joonghyuk has a [big dick? massive ego? idk what the hell I was going to say]
5. After you cared for him tenderly when he got injured, Kim Dokja realized he could purposefully injure himself so you would continue to care for him in that way.
6. Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk set a plan for who would call you and when. Once Yoo Joonghyuk broke that schedule at the bar, Kim Dokja veered off the plan himself. They mended the relationship and agreed to stick to the plan after the grocery store guy was killed.
7. Cafe Layered is a real café in Seoul with the most scrumptious spring onion and cream cheese scones. (Author is salivating just thinking about it, someone please mail one to me.)
8. Some lines are adapted from the Scream (1996) script. The first scene where Ghostface calls Casey was the largest inspiration for this fic.
9. Yoo Joonghyuk was suspicious of you. There were moments where it seemed like you knew, but he couldn't prove it. He wanted to be sure before accusing you to Kim Dokja, because he knew that Kim Dokja would flip if he didn't have solid evidence.
10. Did Kim Dokja get a new j*b after all of this happened?
Yes, he gets a temp job as an administrative assistant at a fried chicken chain's corporate office.
11. In the first scene when you nearly open the closet door, Kim Dokja's "dirty laundry" was the fourth wall--photos and snippets of you, the prey he was stalking--that he had stuffed in there since you now came over often.
12. Towards the beginning when you say "for them to be caught", Kim Dokja thinks you somehow figured it out. You drop that word to intentionally mess with him, hoping to see him panic a bit (devilish reader, you).
13. Yoo Joonghyuk is genuinely the most mentally stable of you three.
Kdj with an isekai'ed reader who becomes his best friend #4lifez that's all
P. S lwk haven't read past ch50 on webtoon so... I might be getting shit wrong... My only basis is that one fanfic I've read and shit I remember being spoiled from
You wake with a gasp, a scream ghosts along your throat like a raw, itchy cough. Bright yellow headlights sear you vision even when you close them repeatedly.
The truck— it hit... you. You were dead... you-
Your body aches, violently shuddering as if experiencing the harsh hit of the truck's hood over and over again.
Blood splattered all over the concrete, painting the dry road in a splotchy red. The burn was unforgiving, flesh dragging against rough asphalt in the sheer peak of summer vacation.
You remember your last thoughts. Your last words, as you weakly muttered for your deceased mother.
Screams and shrieks of terror echo all around you, it's deafening yet silent at the same time. There's this, incessant ringing in you ears. You try to reach and pull your arm up and oh— you can't move.
A blurry figure reaches you, and you swear you see your mother's face in the stranger.
Try as you might, but words seem to fail you. And you can't tell if it's your fault or the continuous, constant pain flaring in your lower half.
"Shi- han...! —ssing?!? Where-"
Darkness claimed you then.
Each inhale feels piercing. And each time you exhale, you remember the way your ribs caved in, splintering and tearing through your lungs—
Warmth seeps through your cheeks, they're hands. Warm and roaring with blood, with life.
Sounds garble and ring in and out your ear, and you watch as tears fall down their face in globs of worry.
They bring you in, embracing you with all the strength they could muster— firm yet gentle— for a second, your mind quivers. Questions linger the edge of logic, feeding you countless doubts and thoughts that's barely make any sense.
It was only now, did you finally realize you were in a hospital room, with a woman suspiciously similar to your mother.
Yet your soul knows otherwise.
Because your mother is deceased. Been so ever since you were twelve.
The woman embracing you is not your mother, but you let your delusions sing and cling to a copy.
Now its been a year since that... incident. Since the moment you woke up in this weirdly peculiar world— peculiar in the sense that it is not so different to your old one.
And that makes it quite strange.
You can't tell if the gods are messing with you but for some reason you got isekai'ed into whatever the hell this place's supposed to be.
Everything is normal.
No magic or superpowers, no dragons or curses to defeat, you can't wear ball gowns or luxurious dress because apparently this world was modern instead of historical— heck! There wasn't even a system (that's actually a hidden love interest) to guide you!
Everything is superbly normal. To the point that it's boring.
How else can you enjoy the perks of resurrection if this whole damn place was so fucking... normal?!?!?
You wanted to ride and tame a dragon, reenact your dreams of living in Hiccup's world. To fight as a general, to strategize a battle and win the war. To learn how to steer a ship and command a crew in search of treasure.
To do anything besides a repeat of your mundane life!!
Dying was a waste if it meant fantasies were mere fiction yet again.
You'd rather live in a cutthroat aristocratic society than go through another year of school.
Which unfortunately is your first day of senior high.
But you know what's worse than that?
You live in fucking korea. Home to severe bullying cases and rampant harassment all year round
To make your situation any better— you were transferring to a new school due to bullying.
Well it's not like you were properly victimized, it's more like you actually fought back and broke a nose or two.
But that's for another story.
Now you're standing in front of your new class, introducing yourself while assessing the profound number of immature brats who think so little about foreign-looking people like you.
It wasn't until you sweep your eyes in the front row, did you actually take a double take.
There, on the second seat, sits an all-too familiar black-haired reader.
Kim Dokja. The name rings in your head in utmost clarity and for the first time since you first woke up here, you finally realized the world you were isekai'ed to.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
One of the holy grails of manhwa and novels to exist.
"Shit." You curse quietly, snapping back into place as you finish your introduction. Sitting three rows behind your beloved character, you solemnly vow to give him the best, most happiest highschool experiences ever.
Just you wait Kim Dokja. You stare at him firmly, half listening to the teacher's lesson.
I'll be helping you through everything!
You greet him the moment class ends, introducing yourself and inviting him to lunch almost immediately.
You felt bad when you saw him hesitate. But if you're going to give him the best, most happiest highschool experiences ever, then you might just use your reader knowledge, the same way he did with Yoo Junghyeok.
"Do you know the novel by the name of Ways of Survival?"
Hook. Line. And sinker.
You got him right into your trap as he lights up in his own, Dokja way.
The weeks after that were spent with the both of you bonding over the novel— and you, the lying little shit that you are, had to read 100 chapters just to catch up with Dokja's scarily intact memory— shared interests, and lunches you always share with Dokja on the rooftop.
Whenever that hard-headed, brute Mingsu (Minsoo?) or whatever his name comes picking at Dokja, you're already there beating the shit out of him and his lackeys.
And when he snitches to the principal about your 'violence'. You threaten and blackmail the principal to release the footage you have of him and the young assistant all over the internet.
Safe to say, you were constantly under Bingsu's nerves.
There were times when you'd sneak into the Dokja's residence, climb over the fences and try not to alert his psycho of a mom— just to greet Dokja by the window and start a conversation as if he wasn't actively freaking out.
Thankfully, she never found out... You knew she had her suspicions, so you only ever sneaked in when your instincts told you Dokja was having a hard time.
And when a year passed of successfully making Dokja happy, you invite him out the night of his birthday. Sneaking him out the house to climb on the roof, where you prepared a small cake and bags of presents and goodies.
That moment cemented your drive to continue your pursuit as Dokja tearfully thanks you in joy.
A year turns into two, then four. From four to seven, then suddenly, the both of you are grown-ups in different careers.
Still best friends— not that you'd ever let him go— that talk about the series of Ways of Survival.
As the sole two readers of WSA, you began to memorize everything, down to the boring of lines, just to prepare yourself for the inevitable.
Dokja who's grown so familiar with your antics, has increasingly noticed your nervous ticks. Jumpy and almost tense in joining him during commute back home to your apartments.
It must've been your instincts flaring again. But whatever it was, it doesn't go unnoticed to your best friend's sharp eyes.
It wasn't until a certain train ride back home did he finally understand why you were so jittery in the first place. You had an inkling of this happening, which spanned three months before reality merged with fiction.
All this constant rereads of WSA, memorizing words like scripture, and your anxiety towards riding trains— it all comes crashing down into one singular conclusion.
You somehow knew this was going to happen.
His mind wraps around the idea in a chain of broken records: There were instances in his life where he always thought of you as someone too... knowledgeable. As if you were omniscient in some way.
But he brushed it off, chalking it up to your 'womanly instincts.'
He doesn't question you yet. This new reality of his was all too-much for both you and him.
He's also selfish.
Dokja doesn't want to lose you or push you away. You've been his lifeline since the beginning of highschool, he'd fight through hell and back just to get you, to save you.
Even if you were suspicious in his eyes— it doesn't change his true perception of you:
Because you are (Last Name) (Name). Someone he cared for and grew to love. Someone he valued besides his precious novel— and those thoughts were scarce, a once in a lifetime.
(Name) protected him from Minwoo. Sure, you beat him up but that wasn't important, no. (Name) was the person who tanked punches to the gut and face, busted their skin and lips from the fights they got often defending him.
(Name) was the person that made him smile through jokes and gifts. Cheering him up from his bad days, making him laugh even when he thought he couldn't.
(Name) was the person that silently gave their food on days he never felt like eating. When his mind had shutdown and memories would play back like a never-ending reel, dimming his world to a bleak and colorless life.
Even through his silence, you were always, always there for him. Despite his tendency to push, to distance, or place a wall between you. Even through his constant detachment, you somehow found a way to slither back into his life, like an insistent buzz.
Even through all that... it never once occurred to you to leave him like all the others.
You were an insistent yet beloved buzz he welcomed all the same.
The only person he'd let through his guarded walls, to peel back each layer, each chain and thorn he carefully put up, through each layer of defense until he was left vulnerable and bare.
Until he was nothing but flesh and bone, 'till you can peer down at his very soul. The flickering flame of life you could very well extinguish.
And despite showing you all his ugly and broken sides, you still chose to treat him with sincere kindness. To embrace all those layers of hurt, of hatred, that lay deep in his core.
A love that reached even his soul.
So in his eyes, you are someone heroic, a savior— his savior— The light he greedily enjoys while actively hiding you from prying eyes. From people who could (just as easily) take you away from him.
He is selfish, and Kim Dokja knows that very well.
Because in his eyes, you were Yoo Junghyeok— Similar and yet so, vastly different— but more than that, you are (Last name) (Name). Similar in acts but vastly different in nature.
And somewhere deep in his heart, deep in his soul, he would choose you over Yoo Junghyeok any day.
And that scares him. Violently, dangerously so.
Because all his life, he has only known Yoo Junghyeok.
But now...
He has (Last Name) (Name) in his life. A person who he holds so dear in his hollow, broken heart.
And he'll be damned if he ever loses you.
As the sole readers of Ways of Survival, you two team up to create the ending you both desire.
But both of you know that ending leaves one of you dead.
So you both pretend, and level up in the sidelines. You both pretend to not notice the other's growing abilities and obnoxious need to rise and achieve higher power.
Time is ticking, and the two of you are racing to finish your stories—because in this unforgiving world of WSA, only the main character can truly live in the end of the novel.
And neither of you are main characters in the first place.
You possess knowledge of the future— Kim Dokja's future. You know what decisions he'll make, you know that ending he's striving for isn't the one you two promised.
And Kim Dokja knows you see through him, but for the sake of saving the world— his world that he holds so dear. The light he greedily consumes. The person he's willing to die for— he remains intentionally ignorant.
But you have the upper hand.
Had so ever since the first time you saw him back in highschool.
Dying was a waste if it meant fantasies— the ending you sought for Dokja— were mere fiction yet again.
And you'll be damned if you can't change Kim Dokja's future.
What am I even writing 😭 I'm not gonna lie to ya'll I feel like kdj possessed me midway writing bcs I reached flow state and shi, I feel enlightened
Kim Dokja always gives me this posessive vibe. Like this man is nonchalant af but internally he's alr calculating ways to get your attention. NOT EVEN A YANDERE WAY BRU, but I am sooo thinking about ex-kdj and he's just planning ways to 'coincidentally' run into reader and I'm just MMMMM
credits : divider by @uzmacchiato
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