Work Text
A soft breath of air left his mouth, his eyes followed it until it vanished into the cold night sky. He needed to hurry up, his boyfriend was home waiting for him. But it was hard to not follow a lead right away. There’s always the chance that it could slip away from you.
Suddenly, he stopped. Someone was following him. He could tell there were footsteps matching his own standing close behind him. There was a busy street up ahead, but for now he was on a quiet street. He needed to get there faster without seeming suspicious. He took out his phone, pretending to receive a text before breaking into a run towards the busy street. He could hear the footsteps running behind him.
Faster.
Faster.
He begged his lungs to intake more air as he tried to run harder. He took a sharp round of a corner as he reached a busy street. After running for too long he stopped, bending down his right hand propped on a knee and his left hand propped against a building. He heaved, taking painfully cold air into his airway. He glanced behind him. Everyone seemed to be walking like normal. The street lights kept the atmosphere seemingly bright- however he couldn’t help but feel there was something ominous about them. Maybe it was best he headed home soon. It was late and he was further from his destination now that he had sprinted to get away from someone who he wasn’t even sure was there.
He needed to get more sleep, he thought. After he caught his breath he stood up and looked around, trying to decide his next course of action. He was pretty close to his house, so he gave an exasperated sigh and decided to go home for the night. He always had tomorrow.
He dragged his feet slightly through the thin layer of snow that barely stuck to the ground. Who the hell had been tailing him? Did someone know what he was investigating? He didn’t even know who the culprit was, how would they know that he was even looking into the incident?
Unless…
Eyes flying wide open, Jeongguk finally realized it. He knew it. He knew what happened. He raced home, going inside and locking the doors before shuffling as quietly as possible into his office. His boyfriend was sound asleep in their room, so he needed to be as quiet as possible while he worked. He furiously began to scribble down his notes, he couldn’t let any of it slip his mind before he went to bed. He knew the last pieces of information he needed to get before he would be able to go to the public about everything he found.
After hours of writing and researching, Jeongguk finally turned off the light and crawled into bed with his boyfriend, allowing an arm to drape over the sleeping mans waist.
“Mm, you came home late.” Hoseok mumbled as he turned towards Jeongguk, cuddling against him to get comfortable once again.
“I know.”
In the morning Hoseok had already left for work by the time Jeongguk woke up. He groaned sleepily and began to get ready for his day. Showering, getting dressed. He would have loved to do more work, but he had a date with Hoseok later. An important date. So instead he found his nice clothes out and got dressed. It was still early, so he began to walk towards his office. He could read over his notes and make sure his writing made sense. Once he opened the door something was thrown over his head.
What was going on? Suddenly there was a tightness around his neck.
No.
He began to struggle, realizing someone behind him. His hands reached up to desperately claw at the rope around his neck. He clawed so hard that he could feel the skin beginning to feel warm and painful. This couldn’t be happening. There were splotches of blackness in his vision. He was losing consciousness. He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn’t breathe.
Jeongguk’s eyes began to roll up into his head as his body began to feel heavy. His legs gave some last fighting kicks as his hands began to slow down and eventually drop to his sides. All he could think about was Hoseok. Hoseok couldn’t see him like this.
Hoseok. Hoseok.
Hoseok.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
When someone dies, they must be judged. Not every single detail in their life is taken into account, only the important things. Murderers are always sent to hell. People who have done amazing work for humanity are usually sent to heaven, although sometimes they’re reincarnated. Normal people who lived normal lives tend to be reincarnated. Usually, souls of the deceased find their way to be judged on their own, but there’s a very rare few who can’t make it alone. They’re called Lost Souls.
Lost Souls become ‘lost’ because they get attached to something in the human world. Usually a person, sometimes a pet or an object. The attachments happen when the human thinks of something other than death or a happy memory in their dying moments. Most people think things along the lines of “I don’t want to die,” or, “I had a good life,” or perhaps, “I wish I had done more with my life.” Sometimes people don’t even get a last thought. But those who think of a loved one who’s alive or an animal or something they cherished will become attached. It’s most common in lovers, although still quite rare. The souls of both become attached and can’t separate on their own. The deceased soul is like dead weight on the living one.
That’s where Soul Collectors come in. Well, Soul Collector really. There’s only one due to the rarity of lost souls. Namjoon is the World’s Soul Collector. He was handpicked by Death himself for the job. When Namjoon heard there was a new lost soul he had to let Death know he’d be leaving.
“I’ll be back soon.” He’d say.
“You better be.” Death would respond, locking their eyes a moment before Namjoon left.
The usual routine went on the morning Jeongguk died. Namjoon left and crossed the bridge, stretching out his legs as he walked. He needed to go quickly, but he didn’t get out much so he liked to walk on the bridge rather than go straight to the human world. It’s not like the Lost Soul could go anywhere on its own anyways.
After taking a leisurely walk across the bridge, Namjoon finally headed towards the Lost Soul. When he saw it from a distance a breath of air left his mouth. It was Jeongguk. He’d died so much earlier than last time. Of course, he was lost again. Namjoon watched from a distance for a little bit, wondering if Jeongguk was aware that he was dead.
Jeongguk seemed to be trying to talk to the man he was attached to, frantically waving his hands in attempts to get his attention. Namjoon sighed. He didn’t appear to know. He began to approach Jeongguk and the man when Jeongguk’s words came into earshot.
“Baby please don’t go home. Please. Please, you don’t need to see it. Fuck, you’re going to be so upset.”
Namjoon grew closer and noticed something. Jeongguk was attached to Hoseok’s heart. His
heart.
That was dangerous for all parties involved. He sighed, slowly approaching the two. “Jeongguk? Is that you?” Namjoon hummed, tilting his head as he caught the soul’s attention.
“Can you see me? Oh, thank god! You have to tell him! You have to tell-” Jeongguk finally turned towards Namjoon, his eyes seeming to gloss over. “You’re… here for me already? Please, Namjoon, you have to tell him. You have to tell him not to go.”
Namjoon knew Jeongguk would recognize him. He always does. “You know I can’t do that. How’d you die this time?” Namjoon asked as he looked him up and down. He felt a sinking feeling as he noticed the dark mark around Jeongguk’s neck. Most souls retained any injuries that occurred during death. “You didn’t-” Namjoon couldn’t finish his sentence as he stared at Jeongguk’s neck.
“What? No! I didn’t kill myself. Someone fucking killed me. With a noose. I was fucking murdered.” He hissed, eyes still gazing at Hoseok, who was standing waiting for a bus to arrive so he could head home. His hand ghosted across the living mans cheek gently, wishing so badly he could touch him.
“You were
murdered?
” Namjoon asked, his eyes seeming about ready to pop out of his head.
“Yeah, long story. Look, can you just leave me with Hoseok for a few days? I want him to be okay. You don’t have to tell the big man, just pretend it was really hard to get me out this time.” Jeongguk tried to convince Namjoon.
Namjoon shook his head. “I can’t lie to him. But it
will
actually be hard. You’ve managed to get yourself attached to his heart and I don’t want to hurt him. He’s still alive, this could be dangerous if i accidentally cut a part any part of his soul.” He responded, shaking his head and sighing as he watched Hoseok start to move to get on the bus he was waiting for. Jeongguk was brought with him, so naturally Namjoon followed the two.
“Was that your boyfriend?” Namjoon asked, watching Jeongguk sit next to the man on the pretty empty bus.
“Yeah. Jung Hoseok. He’s the sweetest guy you could know.” The recently deceased man sighed.
Namjoon looked over Hoseok. Hadn’t he seen this guy before? He couldn’t put his finger on where he’d seen the guy before. Maybe he’d carried his face from his last life, that was pretty common. “He seems pretty happy. He doesn’t know you’re dead yet?”
“No, he’s on his way home from work. We were supposed to celebrate our third anniversary after he got home.” He muttered, a pained tone in his voice as he watched Hoseok.
Hoseok reached into his pocket, pulling out a tiny little box. He popped it open to reveal a pretty ring inside, causing the man to smile to himself. Jeongguk stared at it with wide eyes. “No way.” He whimpered, a sinking feeling growing in his chest.
Hoseok was planning to propose. Jeongguk threw his arms around Hoseok, knowing he couldn’t feel him. “No, I’m so sorry. I should’ve fought harder. I should’ve been more careful!” He cried out, hoping he could somehow talk to Hoseok for just a moment.
After about a half an hour, Hoseok arrived at his stop and jogged a few blocks to get to his home, a stupid grin on his face. He was practically skipping rather than jogging. He soon got to his house, fumbling with his keys before opening the door.
“Gguk! I’m home!” He called out, toeing off his shoes and closing the door behind him. “I’m so sweaty from dance, so I’ll have to shower before we leave if that’s okay.” He chirped. After a few moments of silence the corners of his lips turned slightly downwards. “Did he fall asleep?” He mumbled, chewing the inside of his cheek as he usually did when he was nervous. He licked his lips and began to walk into his home, eyes sweeping across each room he went to. His feet immediately took him towards Jeongguk’s office, assuming that’s where he would find him.
He was right.
He found the door to the office slightly ajar and frowned. “Jeongguk?” He asked meekly before pushing the door open. HIs blood ran cold at the sight in front of him.
The entire room was a mess, his papers sprawled and ripped apart, each individual folder had been opened and his books were all torn off the shelf. His computer was completely smashed on the ground. The worst part? Jeongguk was in the center of the room hanging from the ceiling fan, his lips blue, fingertips raw and bloody, and a chair tipped on its side beneath him.
Hoseok couldn’t move for a minute. He took a step forwards, his hand reaching out shakily. “Jeongguk…?” He whimpered, his voice shaking as the shock set in. His steps were shaky, he moved closer, reaching up in hopes that maybe he would find a heartbeat. He was dumbfounded. “Where did I go wrong?” Hoseok choked out, gasping for breath. He couldn’t breathe.
He dropped to his knees, his vision blurring due to the hot tears spilling onto his cheeks. His hands cupped over his mouth and nose and his breath was rappid, attempting to take in as much air as possible. He couldn’t calm down as sobs left his mouth. “Why?” He choked out, head tilting up to stare at the hanging body in front of him. “Why!” he shrieked.
Little did he know, Jeongguk was knelt beside him, cooing in his ear and apologizing. Trying to comfort him from the other side.
Hoseok held his head in his hands, screaming and sobbing again. After he had screamed his throat raw he hastily took his phone out, dialing the police.
“Help… Please- I- my-” He sobbed out between his words as the person on the other end told him to calm down and speak clearly. “
My boyfriend’s dead!
” He cried out, choking back another sob.