Chapter Text
Yoo Joonghyuk returns to an empty camp.
Strange. They were resting in between scenarios, so there was no reason for everyone to be missing. And there seemed to be no signs of a fight.
The mystery is partially solved when he hears panicked voices a little farther within the woods. He quickly makes his way in that direction.
“He’s in here!”
“Ow! You little—“
“Quick! Don’t let him escape!”
Yoo Joonghyuk finds the KimCom members circling a bush.
“What is this?”
They all freeze, and he gets a front row seat to a ridiculous scene.
Han Sooyoung, full of bite and scratch marks. Yoo Sangah, hair ruffled and clothes disheveled. Lee Hyunsung, holding a cage. Jung Heewon, with a handful of jerky. The kids, crouched behind the bushes.
One member is missing.
“Where is Kim Dokja?”
The company exchange nervous glances with each other.
“About that…”
The moment Yoo Sangah starts speaking, something shoots out from the bush. They all panic as the greyish blur weaves through their legs and dodges every attempt at capture. It heads towards his direction.
“Oh no!”
“Catch him!”
Just as it tries to pass, Yoo Joonghyuk easily scruffs it and holds the creature up.
From this close, he realizes what he holds in his hand is a very dirty fox. One that hates being manhandled because it yowls and thrashes against his hold, desperately trying to bite his hand to no avail. Yoo Joonghyuk makes sure to keep his grip firm on the slippery thing.
“Oh thank god!”
“Ahjussi!”
The children rush forward with worry in their eyes, and the rest of the company relaxes as he holds onto the vicious thing.
Wait a second.
“This is Kim Dokja?”
——
It turns out this was a result of a failed story scenario. A scenario that the founding member gave no details about before doing something stupidly reckless. And now the said culprit is pacing back and forth in the cage.
“You did something useless again.”
The fox gives a shrill bark and what sounds like a bunch of chattering sounds.
“What’s the point of having the company if you go off on your own?”
That had been the root cause of their disagreement a couple hours ago, and he had left after their ‘difference of opinions’ kept going in circles. He should have realized leaving their leader unsupervised would end in disaster.
Well, it’s too late to fix that issue. Now he has another pressing matter to address.
“You’re filthy.”
Mud and grime have dried to the point it flakes off at every displeased swish of his tail, but it doesn’t seem like Kim Dokja even registers the filth when he has his hackles raised. And god forbid he has fleas or ticks in that brief time apart, but judging by all the injuries he’s caused to the rest of the company, it’s unlikely this fox is unscathed.
Yoo Joonghyuk opens the cage, and Kim Dokja takes that chance to nip at his hands. Unfortunately for the latter, Yoo Joonghyuk maneuvers him into another harmless position.
“Stop that. You’re getting a bath.”
And with that finality, they head to the restroom.
——
Bath time is as eventful as the afternoon.
Murky water sloshes over the small metallic tub as Kim Dokja tries to run at every chance. And when he realizes there’s no escape, the fox resorts to pawing at the tin and vocalize his objections to the fullest extent of his little high pitched lungs. Yoo Joonghyuk has half the mind to simply leash the fox and dunk him in the closest stream. Instead, he channels the infinite patience of three lifetimes to help him with this endeavor.
He massages the soap into the fur, fingers brushing out the major knots and tangles before running through again with a teeth comb. Through the repetitive motions and soothing warmth, he can feel the tension slowly leak out of the lithe body.
Kim Dokja blinks slowly and starts chirping in a decimal that doesn’t pierce his ears.
He takes that as a sign to rub more circles in his fur, gently caressing around the face and ears. It’s like a small reward to see Kim Dokja relax and lean into the touch.
The first rinse turns the water a disgusting brown and Kim Dokja’s fur a blinding white. The tips of his ears and tail were as black as the sock-like pattern on each of his paws, and a partial grey mask surrounds his eyes.
The second rinse was less than stellar, with the water turning a faint pink.
He removes the fox from the tub, with only a bark as protest, and sees cuts along the pads of his feet. Kim Dokja stares intently with his beady little eyes as Yoo Joonghyuk takes rolls of bandages from his coat and wraps it around each paw.
He sets the fox down once the wounds are patched up, and Kim Dokja takes that chance to shake out all the water from his fur.
“Did you want me to make you into a coat?”
Kim Dokja blinks innocently at the drenched man.
Grabbing the towel that was right next to them, Yoo Joonghyuk starts wringing the rest of the moisture away. Surprisingly, Kim Dokja takes the motions well and chirps happily.
Now fully dried, Yoo Joonghyuk runs his hands through the white coat, pleased to feel how soft and silky the fur is.
“Maybe I should make you into a coat after all.”
The fox yips, none the wiser.
—
Yoo Joonghyuk has taken it upon himself to be the fox’s personal nanny, harnessing the fox onto his chest with bandaged paws and tail dangling free.
Kim Dokja wiggles in the carrier and whines.
“Don’t complain.” He sets aside the chopped vegetables and moves onto grounding the meat. “This is your fault.”
The other option was to leash him to a tree, but the moment the other KimCom members turned away, the collar would soon lay empty and the fox halfway out of the camp. He refuses to go chase after the fox, who apparently can still use the way of the wind, for the third time.
Kim Dokja barks and tries to bite his face.
“If you don’t behave, I’ll muzzle you.”
And true to threat, he pulls out the muzzle and places it on the table as a reminder. The barking quiets to miserable whimpers, his ears pointing down.
“What’s the matter with you?”
He pets the top of the fox’s, and luckily for the both of them, Kim Dokja is receptive to the touch. Whatever the issue was, it seems some attention was the answer because the fox calms considerably.
“Needy baby.”
The fox chirps back.
Occasional pats and little snacks here and there tide them over until dinner.
——
The company sits around the campfire, haggard by the day’s events. The source of their woes, currently whining in the chest harness, is hand fed by their cofounder.
“You two sure got comfy,” Han Sooyoung mumbles bitterly. Her face and arms are littered in bandages. “Not afraid to lose a finger or two?”
Yoo Joonghyuk simply feeds Kim Dokja another dumpling. A pink tongue licks his fingers.
“He knows what a muzzle is.”
“I don’t think Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi will need it. After all, Dokja-ssi is much calmer around you.”
He stares at Yoo Sangah as if said pain in the ass wasn’t strapped onto him for the past few hours.
“She’s right. Just look at Sooyoung-ah.”
Han Sooyoung flips off Jung Heewon, the latter shrugs.
“He wouldn’t let us get close enough to catch him, much less touch him. Now look at you, petting the damn bastard like a pet.”
“I tried to talk to Ahjussi, but my skill doesn’t work on him.”
Even Lee Hyunsung had his share. “Dokja-ssi broke two S-grade cages by the time you came.”
‘Two’??! He looks down at the fox licking his chomps.
“If Master wasn’t here, we’d spend days looking for him.”
Kim Dokja barks.
“So we will be depending on you, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi.”
The fox sticks out his tongue and pants happily.
——
“Kim Dokja.”
The fox doesn’t look at him, too busy sniffing around and exploring the tent to answer.
“Can you understand what I’m saying?”
Ignored once again, Yoo Joonghyuk opens Midday Tryst.
「Kim Dokja.」
The message did not return but neither was there a response. Was this part of the penalty?
While he is deep in thought, Kim Dokja’s interest changes from the dirt floor to him. A black little snout nudges against his leg, and Yoo Joonghyuk instinctively runs his hand over his black ears. It’s surprising how fast he’s adjusting to Kim Dokja’s new form.
He holds out his hand.
“Give me paw.”
Kim Dokja gives his palm a cursory sniff.
“Sit.”
The fox tilts his head.
“Speak.”
Kim Dokja gives a little jump and starts going wild in the tent. Running around, climbing onto the bed and shooting off the next, all the while making stutters throaty sounds like laughter. He gives a brief pause to look at Yoo Joonghyuk expectantly. Ready to bound off again.
“Is this what zoomies are?”
He never had a cat or dog but he imagines this is what it feels like. He takes a step forward and the fox darts around him, gekkering.
They spend the next few minutes playing chase until the fox flops on his back, paws folded in the air and white belly showing.
“Are you done?”
Kim Dokja whines and stretches his legs. His belly in full show. Yoo Joonghyuk walks over to pet him only for the fox to trap his hand and nibble playfully.
“You little troublemaker.”
Kim Dokja huffs contently.
Yoo Joonghyuk picks up the fox and cradles him in his arms, white tail wagging lazily. He walks to the cage and gently places Kim Dokja down into a makeshift bed.
“It’s time to sleep. Don’t break this cage.”
Kim Dokja yawns and curls up in the blanket, blinking sleepily. Yoo Joonghyuk gives him one last pet before turning to his own bed.
When he opens his eyes the next morning, the cage is empty and white fur sleeps curled up on his chest.
——
Over the course of the next couple days, the company takes turns watching over their president. And while Kim Dokja is rowdy and needy for most of the part, sometimes, it wasn’t only the fox they needed to adjust to.
“Don’t play too rough. He’s still healing.”
“Of course!” “We‘ll take care of hyung!”
“You’re holding him wrong.”
“Oh…”
“You can’t give him that.”
“It’s just jerky?”
“He’s eaten too many treats.”
“…”
In the end, it was easier to deign the main responsibility to Yoo Joonghyuk.
——
Lee Hyunsung walks out of his tent confused.
“Has anyone seen my shield?”
The other members of the company immediately point to Yoo Joonghyuk’s bulging tent.
“Ah… of course.”
He makes his dreaded way to the tent and parts the fabric door.
“Excuse me, Yoo Joon—“
“Give it back you little thief!”
Lee Hyunsung watches as Han Sooyoung tries to wrangle her jacket from Kim Dokja. The latter growls and screams, hackles raised, as he puts himself in between her and the treasure trove.
“Sooyoung-ssi,” He says in greeting.
“Hey.” She grits out through her teeth.
Her face is as red as the new bite marks on her hand. It makes him wonder how something so small could be so fiercely protective. He silently prays on his own trial.
“Good morning Dokja-ssi.”
The fox barks but doesn’t dare move.
“Dokja-ssi, we need to prepare for the next scenario,” he pleads as he eyes the mountain of stolen goods.
Kim Dokja happened to make a habit of collecting their belongs. At first it was cute, taking small things like snacks or common monster drops, but it somehow escalated into more important things. Like Lee Gilyoung’s hat. Or Han Sooyoung’s jacket. Or his steel shield right in that corner (how a little fox like him managed to sneak it all the way here is a mystery he’s not sure he wants to know). Even Yoo Joonghyuk’s sword is in the pile.
The only consolidation is that Kim Dokja doesn’t scent mark his ‘territory’ like other canines do, but he’s a hundred times more possessive of his belongings.
“Kim Dokja if you don’t hand over my jacket right now, I swear to god, I will singe your—“
Yoo Joonghyuk enters the tent and raises an immaculate brow at the scene.
“Hey! Can you get your lover boy to chill?!”
Instead of answering, Yoo Joonghyuk cooly walks forward until he stands right in front of the growling fox. He moves to slip off his black coat, revealing his muscular sun kissed arms, and tosses the jacket into the pile, much to their shock.
Kim Dokja immediately goes to inspect the new offering, rubbing white fur all over the black fabric. Yoo Joonghyuk takes his sword from the pile and leaves the tent. Leaving Han Sooyoung and Lee Hyunsung stunned in silence.
It was that simple?
Lee Hyunsung steps forward, hoping that Kim Dokja was still distracted, but unfortunately, the fox barks at him from under the coat.
“…”
He looks at Han Sooyoung, but she shrugs in frustration.
What could he do? He doesn’t have a coat like Yoo Joonghyuk, and it was a bit too much to part with his shirt or pants.
Unless…
Remembering one tidbit, Lee Hyunsung removes his belt and tosses it into the pile. And like before, Kim Dokja goes to inspect the new item. He quickly takes out the shield before the fox changes his mind.
Han Sooyoung catches on and tries throwing some lemon candies to the pile.
It hits Kim Dokja in the face, and he barks at her.
“Oh come on! This is completely unfair and you know it!”
Lee Hyunsung pats her on the shoulder.
“Good luck, Sooyoung-ssi.”
And he leaves the tent.
——
“Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi, do you know wher—“
To Yoo Sangah’s surprise, a head pops out from under Yoo Joonghyuk’s collar.
“Oh Dokja-ssi, hello.”
The fox gives a little yip before burrowing back inside the comfort of the coat. He could feel Kim Dokja nip his ears before nuzzle against his neck.
“Master, are you sure you should be bringing Ahjussi? Isn’t he fragile like that?”
“He doesn’t like getting left behind.”
The last time he had left Kim Dokja alone, the fox broke the cage and became so distressed at seeing the camp empty that he ran searching for them in a monster infested forest. Following the trail of corpses, they found Kim Dokja shaking violently and whining painfully from the deep gash on his hind leg. The wound quickly subsided with a simple life and death pill, but it did not heal the emotional scar of being left behind. For the next couple days, Kim Dokja became clingier and cried whenever Yoo Joonghyuk wasn’t within eyesight.
And Yoo Joonghyuk, who was deeply affected by the scene, pampered the fox tenfold.
During dinner time.
Kim Dokja paws his leg, begging for scraps. Yoo Joonghyuk has become weak to the whining and gives a fatty piece of steak, much to the fox’s delight. Kim Dokja eats his piece whole and playfully bites at his hand, jumping happily.
The rest of the meal is spent similarly. With Kim Dokja squirreled away in his lap and eating from his fingers.
During bath time.
“You bought SSS Grade Cleansing Elixir for his bath ?”
He looks impassively at Jung Heewon. Not that he particularly cares what she thinks but he doesn’t pull out the S Grade Renewal Cream or the SS Grade Star Fragrance.
She laughs. “You’re fucking whipped. I can’t wait to see what ridiculous thing you’ll do when Dokja-ssi turns back.”
The mention jolts him back to the reality that it’s been weeks since the incident and Kim Dokja shows no sign of returning. He imagines Kim Dokja’s trademark smile, that trickster grin that somehow wormed its way to his heart. He misses it dearly.
A wet snout nudges against his palm, and a soft bark breaks him out of the longing before he delves too much in the feeling.
“It’s okay.”
He rubs the fox’s head. The suds bubbling even more with the action.
Kim Dokja tilts his head and whines. If he were human, he’d be full of disbelief. Instead, the fox lifts himself and places his wet paws onto his chest. Yoo Joonghyuk becomes soaking wet from the tongue that licks his face and the wet ball of fur in his arms.
They finish the bath quickly.
During night time.
He holds Kim Dokja over his lap. Each paw is raised to the sky as he gingerly wipes each one, stroking his soft marble pads. Once all the dirt is wiped away, he lets Kim Dokja jump on the bed, the fox tapping his feet as he waits for Yoo Joonghyuk to lay down.
It’s become routine to sleep with Kim Dokja, and he recounts each step in his head.
One, turn off the lights, and Kim Dokja will scamper onto his chest. Two, he’ll knead his chest five times before tucking himself into a ball. Three, Yoo Joonghyuk will run his hand through the soft fur, think about how well worth it was to use all those elixirs, and fall into a deep sleep.
Four, he dreams of holding human Kim Dokja in his arms.
——
Over a month has passed since Kim Dokja has become Kim Foxja, and the company has started to seriously worry. They call upon a meeting in the early afternoon.
“As much as I like how easier it is to keep this—,” Han Sooyoung motions to the fox distracted by a butterfly feeding on a flower. “—squid alive, we need to figure out what the story scenario was.” She draws a little fox in the dirt. “Did he say anything?”
Lee Jihye raises her hand.
“I think it was a reconciliation story.”
They all turn to her. The butterfly flutters away, and Kim Dokja pads softly as he follows.
“‘Reconciliation?’ About what?”
“I’m sure there are things Dokja-ssi feels sorry about,” Lee Hyunsung says. Watching how the fox’s head moves in circles in tandem with the butterfly above him.
“Yeah, the list is as long as the Yellow Sea, but he never apologizes for the right thing.” Jung Heewon crosses her arms. “And if the story is about reconciliation, then that obviously means he’s done something wrong to someone recently.”
Han Sooyoung writes down ‘Sorry???’ and draws an arrow from the fox to a new drawing of KimCom. The butterfly lands on the Kim Dokja’s nose.
“Kim Dokja, do you have anything to say for yourself?”
The fox sneezes.
The butterfly gracefully flies away into the forest.
“Alright, going to put ‘guilty’ right over here…” Han Sooyoung scratches that into the dirt, and Kim Dokja eyes the stick with interest. He tries batting at it as she waves it around. “Who was the last person with him?”
“We were with Hyung before he turned into a fox.”
“Ahjussi seemed upset about something, but he wouldn’t tell us anything.”
Han Sooyoung hums, crossing out the two children from the suspect list. She starts pointing to the rest of the company.
Jung Heewon and Lee Jihye went out to find lunch.
Lee Hyunsung was returning from the Industrial Complex at the time.
And Yoo Sangah and Han Sooyoung were preparing for the next scenario.
Which left only Yoo Joonghyuk.
“What did you do that day?”
Oh that day, he remembers clearing a sub scenario and then…
“We fought.”
Han Sooyoung breaks the stick in half and aims it at his face. It misses, and Kim Dokja chases after the twigs.
“You’re telling us this now?!! ”
She paces back and forth, pulling a fistful of her hair.
“Nevermind asking what happened, I have to think about how to fix this.”
Han Sooyoung activates [Predictive Plagiarism] thinking of all the possible scenarios their leader got into.
Kim Dokja, on the other hand, returns victorious. Stick in mouth. Shin Yoosung grabs the wood, the fox running in circles as she primes herself, and throws it into the forest. Little fox-shaped holes appear in all the nearby shrubbery as he searches, and every time he brings back the stick, the game of fetch intensifies as it gets smaller and smaller until it’s no bigger than a skipping stone.
A few minutes pass, and Han Sooyoung’s face turns grim. Kim Dokja hasn't returned yet.
“Since the main issues stem from ‘fox’ and ‘transformation’, we’re most likely dealing with a ‘kitsune’ story.”
Lee Jihye blinks, the other members of the company sharing her confusion.
“So what does that mean?”
“Most kitsune stories end tragically.” The company stiffens at Han Sooyoung’s words. “Until we know what the scenario is, finishing will have to be on hold indefinitely.”
The meeting adjourns with that consensus.
Yoo Joonghyuk stands at the forest’s edge, waiting for Kim Dokja. He thinks about what was discussed, of ‘reconciliation’ and the day of their fight. It’s been a long while since the conversation, but he remembers the gist.
And his heart drops.
“Why do you insist on sacrificing yourself?”
Leaves rustle in the nearby bush, and Kim Dokja trots out with his head held high and tail wagging. Bits of leaves and twigs are caught in his dusty fur.
“Do you know how it feels? To be left behind as you do everything on your own?”
Muddy paw prints track up his leg as Kim Dokja uses his leg as support, the fox standing on his hind legs. Yoo Joonghyuk brushes out most of the debris with practiced ease and runs his hand along the fox’s ears and under his small jaw.
Kim Dokja leans into the touch, making high pitched giddy whines, before the fox nudges his palm open. And spits.
“Why do you make it so hard to love you?”
The fox pants happily at the dead butterfly in his hand.
This was his fault.
——
It stays on his mind the whole day.
Through dinner, bath time, until their routine be at night, he thinks of the hurtful words he’s said. Of course Kik Dokja would take those words and twist them with a new meaning. It doesn’t make it any better.
Kim Dokja whines.
And he looks down at the fox laying on his thighs, ears pulled back. They both have been quiet for the whole day.
Yoo Joonghyuk runs his hands through his white fur.
“It will be okay.”
And like a dam breaking, Kim Dokja starts to cry. Short choppy whimpers. The fox jumps onto his paws and dashes around him, bombarding his face with little kisses.
“That’s enough.”
The words distress the fox even more, giving a sharp cry. He bounds off the bed and runs to his collection, pouncing into the pile. The fox’s head pops out of the heap, and he sprints back to place a big piece of jerky into Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap.
“Kim Dokja.”
The fox runs back and drags his sword to his feet. Looking expectantly. Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t move.
“Kim Dokja.”
He places Lee Gilyoung’s cap onto the bed. His ears droop.
“Kim Dokja.”
Again and again and again. Kim Dokja picks a little treasure and gives it to Yoo Joonghyuk. Until he’s surrounded by the belongings of the company. Until there’s nothing left in Kim Dokja’s trove.
The fox, turning around to see his spot empty, cries.
“Come here.”
Yoo Joonghyuk opens his arms, and Kim Dokja sprints into his arms, rubbing his fluffy white head all over his face.
“I’m not mad at you.”
They touch their foreheads together, Kim Dokja affectionately nuzzling against him. The fox chirps.
“It’s not your fault.”
He cradles the small body, tucking the fox’s snout to his nape, and lays down. He strokes the fur until the light turns off.
“Kim Dokja, you might not understand me, but you are my life and death companion.” He can feel Kim Dokja’s ears twitch as he speaks. “And I will always love you. So when you are willing to forgive me, I will wait to welcome you.”
The next morning, instead of white fluff, a black haired man snores on his chest.
——
The story of Ono.
A man who married a kitsune as his wife. It was a happy marriage, but after his dog attacked his wife, she turned back into a fox and fled. He cried out to her, saying how he loved her and how he would always welcome her should she decide to come back. And every night afterwards, she would return back into his arms.
“That’s it?” Han Sooyoung says in disbelief. “You were fox-ified for months because that bastard didn’t say ‘sorry’?”
Kim Dokja, in human form, scratches his cheek.
“Well, it all worked out in the end.”
She groans. “Next time you drag us into your lover’s quarrel, I will neuter you.”
He nods. After all the harassment his foxself did, it does not sound like an empty threat.
“And go make up with him already.”
“We’re not figh—“
She glares at him, and he looks away. “You haven’t spoken to him since the morning.”
It was too awkward. Waking up in Yoo Joonghyuk’s arms and remembering everything he did with fox-brain. He ran off the moment he figured out how to stand again.
Even thinking of it now makes him flush in embarrassment.
“I don’t know why you resist being happy. Is it so hard to believe we care about you?” She sighs when Kim Dokja doesn’t answer. “Figure it out before another sub scenario makes you.”
Han Sooyoung walks away, leaving Kim Dokja alone for the first time in a long while.
——
Although the story scenario was resolved, remnants of his time as a fox remained.
Like when he looks at Yoo Joonghyuk when he gets a stain.
Or when he just takes random items from the company and hoards it in his interdimensional coat.
Or when he barely stops himself from sitting in Yoo Joonghyuk’s lap during mealtimes.
Or like now.
Him on top of Yoo Joonghyuk. In bed.
He shoots up the moment he realizes and curses at how he almost curled under the man’s chin, just like his foxself did.
“Wait—, no I didn’t mean to do that. I must have been sleepwalking and—“
“Kim Dokja.”
He hates how he automatically stops and props to listen. Another annoying habit he’ll have to break out of.
Yoo Joonghyuk must have realized this because he puts his hand behind his head and pulls him to his chest. And Kim Dokja follows easily like a trained dog.
“Welcome back.”
He can feel tears prickle in his eyes, and he buries himself into Yoo Joonghyuk’s chest. A beat of silence passes before he can mutter,
“I’m back.”
Yoo Joonghyuk hums, stroking his head in an annoyingly soothing way. His breath soon starts to even, and his eyes become heavy. A warm whisper in his ears.
“I love you.”
‘That’s unfair, Joonghyuk-ah.’ He thinks, but it’s getting harder to fight the drowsiness.
‘I love you too.’ He wants to say. Instead he nuzzles closer, tucking his head right under his chin. Just like before.
He could feel Yoo Joonghyuk smile with the chaste kiss to his forehead. And he could feel him laugh when he gives a sleepy kiss to his neck.
There were many things they would need to talk about, but for now, they cherished their long awaited reunion.