Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a quiet evening in Gumi, South Korea. The energetic early evening was turning into a quiet night, the city basking in the glow of the setting sun. Wonwoo, who owned The Nook Bookstore, was seated behind the counter inside. He absent-mindedly sipped his lukewarm tea as he typed away on his typewriter. Wonwoo had always been old-fashioned at heart. He enjoyed vintage and antique items-the older the better. When it came to newer technology, he was like an old man, clueless and relentless. Just recently, he had purchased a cell phone only because his employee, Chan, had badgered him about it.

Chan was a young kid, twenty, who had just graduated high school. He wasn't sure about university yet, so he decided to get a job first, and The Nook was perfect. Like Wonwoo, he preferred his own company and barely said a word to Wonwoo when he first started. However, as of late, Chan had been talking more and even had begun teasing Wonwoo a bit. At first, Wonwoo hated it, not being used to that kind of relationship, but after a while, he grew on him. He started to view Chan as a little brother —something he had always wanted but never had.

"Who doesn't have a cell phone these days?" He had asked in disbelief. He had spent half the night on SNS looking up his boss to follow him so he could send him ideas he saw online. He was horrified when Wonwoo told him the next morning that not only did he not have social media, he didn't even own a cell phone.

Wonwoo didn't see the big deal. He didn't have any friends he wanted to call. His parents were always too busy, and their preferred method of communication was through letters anyway. If he needed to call for the store, there was a landline phone in the back. He didn't need a cell phone. Simple as that, but Chan didn't see it that way. He had to show his boss and surrogate big brother the ways of the twenty-first century. After a week of Chan's constant badgering, Wonwoo gave in and purchased a cellphone. He assumed the younger would have been pleased and would finally leave him alone, but the horror on his face when he saw it told him the opposite.

"You bought a flip phone?" He asked incredulously. "You may as well have bought a stone tablet or a carrier pigeon."

Wonwoo rolled his eyes as he placed the phone back in his pocket. "It calls and sends messages, just like any other cell phone." He defended. He didn't understand the appeal of touchscreen phones. They got dirty way too easily, and the lighting always seemed harsh. Not to mention, they broke easily, too.

"Yeah, at half the speed." The younger retorted.

"And half the price," Wonwoo added.

Chan had given up, knowing that his boss was an old soul and, as the saying went, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

As the typewriter dinged with another finished line, Wonwoo finished his now-cold tea. He grimaced at the taste as he glanced up at the clock above the door. It was almost eight, closing time. He contemplated writing another line, but ultimately decided not to as he was rapidly running out of ideas. He had been working on his draft for six months now, but lately, he found himself stuck with only two hundred pages written. Between running the store and managing his life, he couldn't seem to find the time to truly enjoy his first love and hobby, writing. It wasn't like he had any plans of being published, but he did find comfort in writing as well as reading. He had grown up lonely, and the two hobbies allowed him to escape to another world. He was content writing his stories and letting them sit on the shelf to be revisited whenever he needed an escape.

As he started to clean up, he heard shuffling in the back room of the store. Wonwoo stopped sweeping to listen. Just as he was sure he was imagining things, he heard it again, only this time, louder. Wonwoo sighed in annoyance and leaned the broom against the wall as he grabbed the small sword from his bag underneath the counter.

"How many times have I told them to leave the store alone?" He asked himself as the lights began to flicker.

Not only did he own a bookstore and write, but he was also a ghost hunter, nicknamed the Paranormal Hitman by the spirit world. He was a ruthless hunter who rid spirits from the living world and sent them to wherever they belonged. It started when he was a little boy. At that time, he just saw the occasional ghost, maybe a demon from time to time, but nothing too terrible. As long as they didn't hurt him, he didn't care. He tried to ignore them, but as he came to learn, ghosts could be very persistent bastards.

One night, when Wonwoo was eight, he finally snapped. A male ghost, around thirty or so, had been pestering him for weeks on end. He flickered the lights, opened and closed doors, as well as threw things across the room. It was when the ghost had broken his favorite toy that the ghost had officially crossed the line. Wonwoo may have been a small child, but when he was angry, he was as strong as any grown man, and in the heat of the moment, he punched the ghost. As a shock to them both, the punch connected and knocked the ghost to the ground. Both human and spirit blinked at each other, trying to process what just happened. Before Wonwoo could do any more damage or say anything, the ghost vanished, never to be seen again.

A week later, Wonwoo was visited by a woman in white who introduced herself only as Elera. She was beautiful with long dark hair paired with dark skin. Wonwoo, who was starting to understand what he could do, went to fight. However, it was clear this visitor meant no harm, and as Wonwoo later concluded, he couldn't hurt her. She was simply there to talk, to explain, and to offer him a job.

"A ghost hunter?" Eight-year-old Wonwoo asked in disbelief. He had no interest in such a thing. He was a child. His thoughts tended to revolve around school, toys, and books. Not death, ghosts, or the afterlife.

Elera seemed sympathetic to this but pointed out his unique earlier encounter. "You can mend the gap between the two worlds." She explained. "You're a valuable asset. You could help keep your world safe."

Her last statement struck a chord with Wonwoo, who always had a strong sense of responsibility. After some consideration and questions, he agreed and was gifted with a special small sword. Elera explained that the sword could be used to send ghosts into the afterlife if used correctly. It was silver and gold crested. It was light in weight, but heavy with its damage. Not only could it harm spirits, it could harm humans as well. However, he was warned that some spirits were stronger than others and required more of a fight. He had to assess the situation and act accordingly.

As Wonwoo inched closer to the store room, he prayed that this ghost wouldn't put up much of a fight. The day had been slow, and the tea he drank was starting to make him feel sleepy. He wasn't up for a tough or long fight. He simply wanted to send the spirit to where it belonged and go home. As objects started to be hurled across the room, Wonwoo realized his prayer wasn't going to be answered.

He ducked to avoid the flying debris and narrowly escaped a flying hardback. He frowned. "Hey! Hardbacks are expensive, you prick."

The flying objects didn't stop. Wonwoo grumbled to himself and unsheathed his sword, ready to fight. He gripped it tightly as he scanned the room to place the annoying spirit.

"Alright, you bastard. Get out here and quit playing hide and seek. It's time to fight." He yelled into what seemed like an empty store room. The throwing had ceased, and everything was still. As Wonwoo had come to know, it was only the calm before the storm.

When he didn't receive an answer to his earlier taunt, he took a step closer and laughed. "You're scared? You haunt my store, yet you're scared. Come out and fight." He ordered. "I would like to go home before ten."

A clatter to his right caught his attention, and he pointed his sword in that direction. However, the ghost materialized on his left. Luckily, Wonwoo caught the figure out of the corner of his eye, and he grinned. "Finally, you're joining the party."

He turned quickly and faced the spirit. It was a young man, maybe his age or slightly older. He was dressed in clothes dating around the 1950s or 1960s. His aura was fading, which meant he was weaker than the average ghost, a fact Wonwoo was relieved to notice. It meant his job was going to be easier. He lifted his sword, ready to strike. Unfortunately, this spirit wasn't going down without a fight. He let out a horrifying shriek as he charged toward Wonwoo. Wonwoo narrowly missed him and kept his eyes trained on the spirit so he couldn't disappear on him. The spirit went to throw a punch with his right, but Wonwoo blocked him with his left and twisted him around, locking his arm behind his shoulder. He took his sword and placed it at the spirit's back.

"I've told you all countless times to leave my store alone. Perhaps, this time, it will stick." He plunged the sword deep into the spirit's back, and the figure disappeared before his very eyes, leaving behind chalk-like dust that covered his clothes. He sheathed his sword and dusted himself off in disgust.

"I'll never understand how air leaves remnants." He muttered to himself.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" He heard a voice from the front of the store, and his entire body froze. He forgot to lock the door and switch the sign to closed. He sighed to himself. He was getting sloppy.

He carefully placed his sword on a shelf before entering the main part of the store, where a guy stood patiently waiting at the counter, book in hand. He was tall and slender, but the feature that caught Wonwoo's attention the most was his dyed blonde hair. It was bright and accented his features well, making him appear handsome in a strange way. His face lit up when he saw Wonwoo.

"Oh, good! Someone is here. I was worried you were closed." He said in relief.

Wonwoo glanced up at the clock. It was fifteen after eight. They were supposed to be closed by now, but Wonwoo didn't have the heart to turn him away either. He wordlessly reached for the book, and the customer obliged. He scanned Wonwoo's clothes with curiosity and interest.

"Were you cleaning out the basement, or did chalk explode?" He asked casually.

Wonwoo was caught off guard by the question until he remembered the state his clothes were in. "Something like that." He answered.

The customer nodded."Sorry for showing up so late, but tomorrow is my friend's birthday and I realized I hadn't gotten her a present yet. Your light was still on when I walked by, so I stopped in. I'm glad I did." He explained.

Wonwoo felt elated by the stranger's words, but his face reflected none of it. Instead, he focused on placing the card given to him into the imprinter and placing the carbon paper over it before sliding the bar back and forth. The customer watched on with intrigue.

"I've never seen one of those before. It must be ancient."

Wonwoo turned the paper around. "Please sign here."

The customer took a nearby pen and signed his name as instructed. He looked back up at Wonwoo. "You have a cool place. I'll have to come back here."

With another look around, the customer left, and Wonwoo was alone once more. He turned his copy of the receipt toward him and shook his head.

"Yoon Jeonghan, do you know you have a ghost following you?"

Chapter Text

Jeonghan was an interesting and strange person. Nothing seemed to bother him. He had his dream job at a company that produced some of the top video games in the country. That kind of company was rare to find in a place such as Gumi, but it had been the perfect opportunity for Jeonghan, who could work his dream job and stay close to home. He was close with his family which consisted of him, his parents, an older sister, and a younger brother. He grew up in a house of energetic chaos, but he wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world. They supported him in everything he did. Most parents would have grimaced at the idea of their eldest son wanting to design video games for a living, but not his. They helped him get into his dream school and trained him for the many rounds of interviews it would take to get accepted into the company. They were truly the best parents anyone could ask for. Regardless, he still lived alone. A year after working, he decided he needed his independence. His younger brother, Minyeong, was now a teenager and was getting a little irritating. He would barge into Jeonghan's room at odd times and constantly ask for money. As much as Jeonghan loved his little brother, he also wanted to strangle him. Besides, he took his work home with him and liked to work late into the night. At his parents', he used to feel guilty for working so late in case it woke anyone up. This way, he could work until dawn without worry.

As he came up to his apartment building, he let out a contented sigh. He loved the large building and the people within it. They were all so friendly and interesting. As he passed the first floor, he waved at Mrs. Park, who was sorting her trash. She smiled in return and told Jeonghan to visit her sometime and she would send him home with extra side dishes she had stored in her fridge. Jeonghan promised he would visit her soon as he climbed the stairs. Near the second floor, he ran into Mr. Jeong who lived right under him.

"Jeonghan, you're coming home late." He noted.

Jeonghan shifted the bags in his hands. "I had some shopping to do." He explained. "What are you doing out so late?"

Mr. Jeong was nearing seventy and had trouble climbing the stairs, making Jeonghan wonder why he lived on the seventh floor. Along with his wife, the two were rarely seen out of their apartment as they had most of their necessities delivered. Jeonghan would offer to pick up things for them from time to time because he always felt terrible seeing them tackle the stairs.

Mr. Jeong laughed a light laugh that could only belong to an old man. "Exercise." He joked. When he saw Jeonghan's concerned expression, he became a little more solemn.

"Getting Jungsook's medicine."

His wife had fallen ill last week. It seemed as if it was just a case of the flu, but for a seventy-year-old woman, it could mean something more serious. Jeonghan tried to check up on her often, but work had kept him preoccupied, and unfortunately, he hadn't been over there as much as he would have liked.

"How is she feeling?" Jeonghan asked, trying not to let his guilt show.

Mr. Jeong gave him a warm and reassuring smile. "Better. She's been out of bed most of the day."

"That's great. Will you tell her I'm thinking of her?"

"Of course."

The two parted ways, Mr. Jeong continuing down the stairs while Jeonghan continued going up. He waved and chatted to a few more neighbors as he reached the seventh floor. His apartment was at the very end, making for a long daily walk. He didn't mind. He enjoyed it, and it gave him a chance to interact with everyone. It was why he left an hour early every morning.

He flipped on the light as he unlocked the door and set his bags down in the entryway. He moved the bag from the bookstore closer to his shoes so he wouldn't forget to take it with him tomorrow. As he set it down, he thought of the man from the bookstore. He was handsome. He had a mature look about him despite seeming around Jeonghan's age. His demeanor was cold, but his eyes were kind, hidden behind black-framed glasses. He was strange, no doubt, from his old-fashioned store and the way he dressed, but was handsome beyond all reason as well. Maybe he'd stop by the bookstore again, just to see him. That would be fun. It had been a while since he last had a crush; maybe it was time for a little harmless one.

He moved throughout his apartment with ease, changing his clothes and putting the groceries away before settling down for the evening. He sat at his small desk in his bedroom which consisted an expensive PC, a drawing pad, and endless sticky notes with codes and ideas scattered around. He began working on his recent project. It was a horror-based video game, a first for the company. Jeonghan enjoyed horror movies and horror video games. He first pitched the idea when he was still a rookie. Of course, they rejected it back then, thinking it wouldn't sell and that such a large project shouldn't be placed in the hands of a rookie. He was disheartened, but understood.

Finally, just last month, they gave him the green light to continue. He was to build a team and start work immediately. They wanted to release it in October, in time for Halloween, which meant Jeonghan had a little under five months, near impossible even for an indie game, but Jeonghan was determined. His team had already completed the main storyline of a ghost hunter searching a reported haunted house. The main task of the game would be to find ghosts and 'vanquish" them. Jeonghan still wasn't sure how he was going to achieve it. He had written down several ideas, even tried a couple, but none of them seemed right. His team offered countless ideas, but they didn't seem right either. They just had to keep working at it. Jeonghan was sure they would find the answer soon.

He fixed a few bugs and added some dialouge to start. He fixed some coloring here and there and checked the notes left by his team. By the time he finished with it all, it was almost midnight. He stretched and began closing out of everything. Just as he was about to shut his PC down completely, a chime from his instant messaging app sounded. He checked it and lit up when he realized it was his friend and coworker, Seungkwan. He and Seungkwan had entered the company at the same time and sat next to each other. They easily became fast friends and enjoyed each other's company. Jeonghan matched Seungkwan's energetic nature well and Seungkwan matched Jeonghan's level of determination and curiosity. He clicked on the message to read it in full.

Found one. Be ready tomorrow night.

Jeonghan smiled, feeling the excitement bubble within him as he quickly typed a reply. He then shut his PC down and got ready for bed, not once noticing the strange shadow that had been lurking in the corner since he arrived home. 

Chapter Text

Wonwoo's life revolved around order and routine. He did the same thing every day at the same time, except for killing ghosts. That was always random and spontaneous. After all, the afterlife didn't come with a clock and time management. Chan had even teased him once that the store didn't need a clock; they only needed to go by Wonwoo's routine. He couldn't even be offended by it. It was true. He woke up at six on the dot every morning. He was out of bed, dressed, and at the store right at seven. He organized and set up so they could open right at eight. Everything was done at a certain time in a certain way. He was predictable by a fault. 

Perhaps that was why it came as a shock to his and Chan's entire system when he closed the store an hour too early and let Chan close up for him. Wonwoo always insisted he be the one to close up. He explained to Chan that he liked things a certain way, and it was easier for him to do it instead. The truth was that it was when most ghosts tried showing up at the store to start something. Wonwoo knew he was taking a large risk, but he was hoping that since it was still early, they wouldn't be there when Chan was alone.

Chan was startled as he caught the keys his boss had just thrown at him. "You want me to close up, right now?"

Wonwoo nodded, shrugging on his jacket. "I have an important matter to attend to. I trust you." The important matter was a head of blonde hair he saw pass by the store window, followed by a translucent figure.

"But Mr. Jeon, we're not supposed to close for another hour." He pointed out. It was clear he was flustered as he never called Wonwoo so formally.

"I know. It's okay. I'll still pay you for the full amount."

"That's not what I-"

Wonwoo cut him off. "Make sure you turn off the sign outside, too. See you in the morning."

And just like that, he was out of the store and into the cool evening of Gumi. He wrapped his jacket tightly around him and took measured steps as he followed Jeonghan and his translucent shadow. He shoved his hands in his pockets and felt the cold steel of his sword against his skin. He'd have to go about this carefully. He didn't want to alarm Jeonghan or make himself seem creepy by following him. He would have to find a way to get the ghost away from him. However, that seemed near impossible as the ghost followed close behind the blonde male. Wonwoo huffed. Why did he ever agree to this job? He blamed himself for being young and impressionable. 

Even though he was there for the ghost, Wonwoo couldn't help but observe Jeonghan. It was already dark outside, but Jeonghan walked-practically skipped- around without much thought. Even from a few paces back, Wonwoo could hear him humming some random tune to himself. He'd stop randomly to pet random dogs or look at birds. He was truly a happy person without a single care in the world. Wonwoo thought him insane, but he kept reminding himself he was there for the ghost, not Jeonghan. He was better with spirits than people anyway. He shouldn't overcomplicate things.

Jeonghan disappeared into a coffee shop, and Wonwoo took that as his chance to approach the ghost. Before it could enter behind the human, he drew his sword, holding it against the spirit's back. He pushed the ghost into the alley and lifted his sword. The ghost let out a horrendous shriek before disappearing into a mist. Wonwoo blinked a couple of times, stunned. That never happened before. The steel was supposed to trap them. They weren't supposed to be able to disappear. They weren't supposed to affect him. What the hell was going on?

Realizing how insane he looked with his sword still raised, he quickly sheathed it and waited for Jeonghan to exit the coffee shop. Ten minutes later, he started walking again, the ghost close behind him once more. This time, the ghost acknowledged Wonwoo and glared at him as it passed. Wonwoo frowned. Was this spirit protecting Jeonghan, or did it want him all to himself? He couldn't risk finding out which one too late, so he followed once more. This time, staying a little closer. Lucky for him and horrible for Jeonghan, the latter had horrible spatial awareness. He seemed to be in his own bubble as he skipped along. Wonwoo was mortified by how easy it was to trail him. Maybe that was why the spirit did it. It was easy. Too easy.

They stopped at a bus stop, and Wonwoo felt relieved knowing they would stop walking for a while. He was an indoor person. He despised any kind of exercise, and this journey was using up his yearly quota. He let more people board the bus before him so there would be plenty of space between him and Jeonghan. Jeonghan was seated in the middle. The attached spirit simply stood next to him, letting humans pass through it. It would have been so easy to capture it, but they both knew he couldn't use his sword on a public bus, not without some consequences. So, Wonwoo sat in the back, glaring at the stubborn spirit.

Wonwoo kept a close eye on all of the stops, checking if the next one was going to be the one. He felt uneasy as the people started decreasing and the stops were getting further apart from each other. Where was Jeonghan going? Why was it so far? It was getting late. It was nearing eight-thirty. What could he even be doing at this time? Wonwoo leaned over and noticed for the first time that Jeonghan was holding two coffee cups. Was he meeting someone at this place?

Wonwoo leaned back in his seat. This was a dead-end. It was clear he wasn't going to get the spirit tonight. He would have to try some other time. He would just get off at the next stop and find another way home. He would have to cook a late dinner and go to bed an hour later. It would mess up his routine the next morning, too, but it was the price he had to pay for being a paranormal hitman.

The next stop was approaching, and to Wonwoo's surprise, Jeonghan pressed the button. He was finally getting off the bus. Wonwoo stood and anxiously hid behind a large middle-aged man as he waited for Jeonghan to walk a considerable distance away. They were on the outskirts of Gumi, where many abandoned buildings sat, and construction was occurring. Wonwoo had never been on this side of the city. He usually avoided it. It creeped him out. Just looking at the dimly lit streets lined with buildings that were falling apart sent shivers down his spine. However, Jeonghan continued walking happily like he was at an amusement park. Was he insane?

Jeonghan came to a stop at an abandoned hospital at the end of the road. It stood large and looming in the night, lit only by a clouded crescent moon. A dormant giant relic of the past, forgotten in time. It had been closed since 1978 after a hundred years of operation in different forms. It was the oldest standing building in Gumi and reportedly, the most haunted. Wonwoo felt a twist in his stomach, and he prayed his assumption was wrong. He watched as Jeonghan approached a man with dyed orange hair. They chatted for a minute, and Jeonghan handed him the coffee as they stared up at the building together. Wonwoo moved closer, hiding behind an overgrown bush. He could do it now. The spirit wasn't paying attention. He could do it in one swift move, and then he could turn back like nothing ever happened. He drew his sword and was about to swing down when he heard Jeonghan.

"So, ready to hunt for some ghosts?"

What was wrong with this man? 

Chapter Text

Jeonghan didn't believe in ghosts. There was no science to back any of it up, and most 'evidence' that people provided was fabricated for attention and views. So, why would someone as skeptical as Jeonghan go ghost hunting? It was simple, research. His game revolved around a ghost hunter because that seemed like a different and fun idea. Besides, it could be fun to play pretend. His friend, Seungkwan, on the other hand, believed in ghosts, and currently, he looked one sound away from making his blue jeans brown.

Jeonghan reached into his bag and started pulling out supplies. "Okay, I have two flashlights, two cameras, two audio recorders, and two backup batteries." He announced as he handed Seungkwan one of everything.

"Great, a paranormal Noah's Ark," Seungkwan muttered. He looked up at the abandoned hospital in fear. "Remind me why we're doing this again."

"Research. We want our game to be playable, right?"

Seungkwan frowned. "Why couldn't you do a game about working at Build-A-Bear or something?"

Jeonghan smirked as he clicked on his flashlight. "Because that wouldn't be nearly as fun." When Seungkwan didn't react, he continued. "Seungkwan, it's just an old building. That's all. The whole ghost thing is bullshit."

"But you don't know that for sure!" Seungkwan exclaimed. "Just because you haven't seen anything, doesn't mean it isn't there."

His argument brought the point back home for Jeonghan. Sight science versus blind faith. Reality versus a fairy tale. Jeonghan wasn't going to believe in the possibility of something. It would be exhausting.

"Well, if there's something to find, we'll find it. Now let's get inside. We have work in the morning."

Seungkwan reluctantly clicked his flashlight on and followed Jeonghan into the dark and dirty building. The walls were torn and filled with graffiti and dirt. The floors were nearly gone, and the entire place smelled of a landfill. All in all, an unpleasant experience. It was most likely a health hazard just being in there, and both briefly feared for their health over the potential of spirits.

"Hello, ghosts!" Jeonghan greeted the air. "My name is Jeonghan, and this is my friend Seungkwan."

Seungkwan yanked on his friend's arm. "Don't rope me into your shit." He hissed.

Jeonghan only smiled. "Too late. You're here and you're a part of this."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"No, I don't."

"Anyways, my name is Jeonghan, and this is Seungkwan. We're researching ghost hunting, so we're here to play the part." He continued. "Honestly, I don't believe in any of this, and I feel stupid for talking to the air, but hey, I'm open. If you're here, give us a sign or something. Twirl my head around like that one movie."

Seungkwan's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Jeonghan shrugged. "What? It's not like it's going to happen." He then laughed. "Wouldn't that be crazy if my head spun off my neck, though?"

Seungkwan looked at him, horrified. "There is something seriously wrong with you."

"Perhaps," Jeonghan replied as he set up his camera. He panned around the room, paying special attention to corners and long hallways, hoping to catch a spooky little figure running across. As he expected, nothing showed up. Just as he was going to turn the camera to Seungkwan to film him and his thoughts, the camera beeped with an alert that its battery was depleted. Seconds later, it went black.

"Huh," Jeonghan muttered.

"What?" Seungkwan asked, hugging his arms around himself. The wind was blowing through the building, chilling both of them.

"The battery just died. It was fresh too."

"Hyung, don't you find that the least bit strange, scary even?"

Jeonghan shook his head. "Technology is far from perfect. It was probably just a defective battery. Which is why I brought a spare." He explained as he switched them out. The camera started up once more, and Jeonghan held the now functional camera up.

"See, all good! So, tell me your thoughts so far."

Seungkwan grimaced. "I think you're an idiot."

They continued moving through the abandoned building, initiating contact here and there, maybe asking to be hit or scratched, but ultimately, came back with nothing. Jeonghan was starting to get bored, and even Seungkwan was relaxing a bit as well. This building wasn't haunted. It was just old and gross.

"You know, I still haven't got the slightest idea of how to vanquish the ghosts in our game," Jeonghan stated suddenly. 

The real question was, what would rid a ghost from the earthly plane? If they were real, they were already defining the laws of science, so that means it would be nearly impossible to get rid of them logically. He was back at square one again.

Seungkwan glared at him. "You're really going to talk about vanquishing ghosts, here, right now?"

"Kwannie, we're alone here. It's fine."

Seungkwan didn't seem convinced, but he dropped it. "What about steel?" He asked.

"Steel?" Jeonghan repeated.

"Well, some say that ghosts can't pass through steel."

"And by some, you mean?"

Seungkwan hesitated, knowing where the conversation was heading. "Paranormal psychologists."

"Idiots." Jeonghan corrected.

"They have a whole degree," Seungkwan argued.

"So do I, and you think I'm an idiot." He pointed out.

"That's because you are."

Jeonghan sighed. "So, what are you thinking with the steel? Are you suggesting the character carry a crowbar around with his other tech?"

Seungkwan shook his head. "No, that would be ridiculous. I don't know. It's just something to think about."

"Okay, we'll test it out in the morning," Jeonghan promised. "Let's finish up here and then we'll leave."

"Why do we have to finish? You said the place wasn't haunted. Isn't that enough?"

"Seungkwan, we are here to do thorough research. That means searching every nook and cranny of this icky place. You are a professional, aren't you?"

"Unfortunately." He sighed. "Let's go search for ghosts, I guess."

"That's the spirit!" Jeonghan cheered.

"Please don't say that."

They continued their meaningless search until they made a full circle back to the main door they entered from. Jeonghan turned the camera off and began packing up, Seungkwan following suit. However, a clattering noise in the distance made them both stop in their tracks.

"Did you hear that?" Seungkwan whispered hastily.

Jeonghan rolled his eyes as he got his flashlight back out. "Obviously. Let's go check it out."

"Why?"

"Do we need to have the professional conversation again?"

"No."

"Good," Jeonghan said as he started toward the noise. "Look on the bright side, it's most likely an animal and you'll get to see a cute fox or something."

"I'm okay with seeing them through the safety of my phone screen."

Shuffling was heard in the same direction, followed by a loud bang and a groan. Seungkwan attached himself to Jeonghan, hands fisted tightly in Jeonghan's hoodie.

"Do you still think it's a fox?" He snapped.

"No, but there are a million things it could be before it's a ghost."

They rounded the corner, and Jeonghan shone his flashlight around the perimeter until the light flashed on a human figure. They lifted their arm to shield themselves from the bright light, and Jeonghan quickly lowered the flashlight.

"It's you!" He exclaimed.

Their arm moved from their face, and Jeonghan had a clear view of them now. It was the man from the bookstore.

"What are you doing here? Are you ghost hunting too?"

He hesitated before nodding. "Something like that."

Jeonghan's eyes lit up with an idea. He peeled Seungkwan off of him and smiled. "Guess what, my scaredy cat friend, you don't have to hunt ghosts with me anymore."

Seungkwan let out a large sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god."

Jeonghan turned back to the man from the bookstore and held his hand out. "So, what do you say? Ghost hunting buddies?"

The man stared at his hand for a couple of seconds before taking it, sealing it as a deal. It wasn't like he had much of a choice. 

Chapter Text

Wonwoo rode the bus home in a daze. He had Jeonghan's number written on his hand. He kept staring down at it every once in a while, feeling the ghost of Jeonghan's touch tingling his skin. He could still hear how the other had laughed warmly after asking for his number, and Wonwoo had admitted he only had a flip phone that he had left at home. 

"Call me when you get home so we can make a date to hunt some ghouls." He winked as he wrote his number on Wonwoo's large hand. 

He couldn't forget how warm he felt by the contact, despite Jeonghan's hands being ice cold. He was strange, but intriguing. Why on Earth was he hunting for ghosts? He couldn't have been good at it if he couldn't recognize that there was one right behind him at all times. That was another mystery. Why was there a ghost following Jeonghan? Did it have good intentions or bad? Not that it mattered, Wonwoo's job was to rid the earth of them despite their intentions. It was why he agreed to ghost hunting, even though it wasn't a good idea and would ruin his routine. However, he had to find a way to get rid of that pesky spirit that was practically velcroed to Jeonghan. It was his job. Once he got rid of it, that would be the end of that. He would just have to find a creative way out of the ghost hunting thing so he could return to his somewhat peaceful and routine life--except for killing ghosts, of course. 

Once home, he double-checked his place for any unwanted spirits, running the steel of his sword lightly along the walls. While he kept his home well-guarded against spirits using shaman-gifted items and temple-blessed pieces, some spirits still found ways to slip through the cracks, making for annoying situations. When he was sure he was spirit-free, he placed his sword on the shelf, in its rightful place, before searching for his phone. He found it resting on the coffee table where he had left it that morning, completely forgetting to bring it to work. He had a voicemail from Chan stating that the store was closed and everything went okay, but that he was worried about him. Wonwoo promised himself to offer him some kind of white lie to pacify him as he dialed Jeonghan's number from his hand, pleased that it hadn't smudged. 

"Handsome man from the bookstore." Jeonghan greeted as he picked up. 

"My name is Wonwoo." He replied, glad the other couldn't see how red his ears were getting. He wasn't used to being complimented, and he wasn't sure what to do with it. 

"Oh, and a handsome name to match the handsome face," Jeonghan said smoothly. "I'm Jeonghan. It's nice to officially meet you. If I'm getting your call right now, that must mean that you don't live too far." He observed. 

"Are you planning on stalking me?" Wonwoo asked. 

Jeonghan laughed; it was strange, weirdly pitched, but somehow still adorable, and Wonwoo swore his ears and cheeks were burning. What the hell was this feeling?

"Maybe," Jeonghan answered with a teasing lilt to his voice. "I'm mainly stating so we can figure out how to plan future ghost hunts." 

"Right." Wonwoo almost forgot the whole purpose of their conversation. 

"By the way, do you have your own equipment?" 

Wonwoo eyed his sword resting on the shelf. "Kinda." 

"That's okay. You can have Seungkwan's half. He won't be using any of it. 

"Okay," Wonwoo replied, unsure of how to reply. 

Again, Jeonghan laughed, and Wonwoo's heart pounded a little faster. 

"A man of few words. I like that. Anyway, I found another great place to check out near where we were today, all old and spooky. Do you want me to tell you the address so you can write it down, Mr. Old-fashioned?" 

He knew Jeonghan was joking, and he even found it humorous as he agreed, writing down the address the other gave him. 

"It's a date! See you tomorrow night, Wonwoo." 

Wonwoo hung up and stared at the wall, discombobulated by the phone call. He now just had to figure out what the hell ghost hunting even was.  

The next morning, Wonwoo arrived early at the bookstore to do research. He first pulled every book off the shelf that was related to ghost hunting or paranormal research, shocked to find they had quite the collection, but nothing sounded like what he witnessed Jeonghan doing last night. There was a lot involved, and it seemed very confusing. After closing the tenth book with unsuccessful results, he groaned. He would have to search the internet. 

Wonwoo may have been old-fashioned, but he wasn't a prude nor an idiot. He understood that the internet was a large part of the world, and he couldn't completely live without it. When he first opened the store, he purchased an old computer and set it up in the back. It was mostly for orders in case special requests for a book that he didn't have came in, but he sometimes used it for other things as well, such as research. It was slow and took ages to start up. Chan had complained about it, practically begging Wonwoo to put it out of its misery, but he refused, telling the younger it still had life in it, no matter how questionable it was. 

Once he could clearly see the Naver search bar without the lag, he sat up, ready to type. He searched ghost hunting and, after some more loading, was met with countless results and questionable websites. He was horrified just to see how much tech was involved, not to mention how fake most of it was. He watched a video of supposed evidence. An EMF meter was blinking and beeping like crazy, causing the people in the video to panic. Wonwoo shook his head. 

"There's nothing even there!" He exclaimed. "You're standing by a radiator. Your little device is stupid." He chastised. 

"Uhm, Hyung, is everything okay?" A voice asked. 

Wonwoo startled, but relaxed when he saw Chan standing there. Just how long had he been researching this bullshit? It was already time to open the store. He felt embarrassed and went to close out of his research, but Chan was quick to look over his shoulder, and as usual, the computer was slow. 

"Ghost hunting?" Chan murmured. "I had no idea you were into these kinds of things." 

Wonwoo shrugged, clicking to desperately exit the window. "Just a hobby I recently picked up." He defended, sighing in relief when the computer finally shut down. "Let's open the store." 

It was clear Chan had more questions, but it was even clearer that Wonwoo wouldn't answer any of them. The younger reluctantly went to the front to get the store ready to open while Wonwoo lingered in the back a second longer. He had been a paranormal hitman for years. Ghosts didn't scare him, but ghost hunting? That scared him. 

Chapter Text

Wonwoo felt both ridiculous and grossly underprepared for his first ghost hunt. After closing the store and fighting yet another stubborn ghost in the storeroom, he managed to catch the last bus on time, heading to the address Jeonghan had given him the night before. He found a seat in the back, thinking through his last vanquish. The spirit had been stubborn, but as usual, it was no match for the steel of Wonwoo's trusty sword. So what was the deal with the spirit attached to Jeonghan? How was he going to get rid of it? 

He held his bag closer to him as an old man sat directly next to him. He would figure it out. He always did. He would use this ghost hunting as an opportunity to study it and find a solution. He sighed to himself. He was also going to have to ward the store. There were too many ghosts showing up these days. He would hate to subject poor, innocent Chan to his messed-up world. He was fond of the kid. He was like a little brother. He brought joy and laughter to the otherwise bleak bookstore. Maybe he would give him a bonus, just for dealing with his oddities. He would have to check the finances in the morning. 

When he reached his stop, he looked around as he exited the bus. There wasn't much. It wasn't as bad as the area they were in the night before, but it was just as dark and desolate. It looked just like the type of places those people explored in the videos Wonwoo had watched. In that sense, it was the perfect place for ghost hunting. It seemed Jeonghan chose well. 

He found the other man sitting on the park bench underneath a flickering street light. He was dressed casually in a flannel and jeans, but he looked like a model. His blonde hair shone under the light, making him appear almost ethereal, nothing short of angelic. Behind him stood the aggravating spirit. It appeared like static, sending warning glares to Wonwoo. He paid it no mind. He was a hitman after all. The spirit should be afraid of him. 

Jeonghan grinned widely upon seeing him. "You made it! I was a bit worried you were going to stand me up." He admitted. 

Wonwoo shook his head. "I wouldn't do that." He softly replied. 

"You're just the perfect guy all the way around, huh?" He teased, but there was some sincerity behind his voice. 

While Wonwoo blushed, Jeonghan grabbed his bag that he had left resting on the bench. 

"So what kind of equipment do you have?" 

Wonwoo averted his eyes, starting to feel a bit embarrassed. "Uhm, a flashlight." 

It triggered Jeonghan's strange laughter. "Oh, you're actually so adorable!" He practically cooed. "I should have known Mr. Old-fashioned wouldn't ghost hunt with modern equipment. Like I said on the phone last night, that's okay. I have plenty to share.' 

He put his backpack on. "Okay, I have two very important questions for you." 

"Okay..." 

"Do you believe in ghosts?" 

"Yes." Wonwoo instantly replied. 

Jeonghan seemed a little surprised, but continued. "Are you scared of ghosts?" 

Wonwoo made eye contact with the spirit once more. "No."

Jeonghan smirked, leading Wonwoo through the dark and quiet neighborhood. "I think this is going to be a wonderful partnership."  

They stopped at a house, rather small, but dark and somehow overbearing as it seemed to loom over them. It was creepy, Wonwoo couldn't deny that. It had most likely been abandoned for years, letting time and decay do its thing. To Wonwoo, it was rather interesting that houses were vibrant and alive when people liked them, but dark and rotting when forgotten, almost similar to a person when they died. Perhaps that was what drew spirits to such places. 

"So," Jeonghan started as they approached the front door. "I did a little research about this place. It was occupied by a family in 1972. There was a husband, a wife, and two sons. According to newspapers and police reports, the father bludgeoned his entire family to death before hanging himself between the kitchen and the living room." 

Wonwoo, who had seen many awful and questionable things during his many years as a paranormal hitman, was a bit horrified. "God." 

Jeonghan grimaced in what seemed to be sympathy. "I know, pretty brutal." He pushed open the front door. "They say the whole family haunts this house and that the father's spirit is exceptionally powerful, but I personally think it's a bunch of bullshit. It's just a house where a horrible crime took place." 

Wonwoo was a bit confused as he followed him inside. "You don't believe in ghosts?" 

"Nope," Jeonghan answered, popping the p at the end for added effect. 

"Then...why are you doing this?" 

Jeonghan set his heavy backpack atop the kitchen counter as he pulled things out of it. "Research." He replied. "I'm a video game designer, and my current game has a ghost hunter. I want to make it as realistic as possible...well as realistic as you can get hunting air."

When he saw Wonwoo's hesitant expression, he laughed a bit."It's okay, you can say I'm weird. I'm well aware of that. I'm also dedicated to my craft." 

"That's honestly admirable." Wonwoo finally said. 

"Is that a compliment from the perfect man himself?" Jeonghan teased. 

Even though it was dark and they could barely see their hands in front of their faces, he could easily tell that Wonwoo was blushing. He decided to show him a bit of mercy as he handed him a device. 

"This is an EMF reader. People claim that ghosts and spirits can manipulate electromagnetic fields, so if that goes off, we caught one, I guess. A whole bunch of bullshit if you ask me, but I'm just here to play the part. " Jeonghan informed. 

He handed him a couple more items. "This is a digital recorder, simple enough. Apparently picks up voices we can't hear in person. I'll keep it on and check it when I get home. See if we caught any ghostly EVP. This is an inferred thermometer that detects sudden drops." His eyes narrowed as he observed. "Huh, we're currently experiencing the exact opposite. The temperature is rising." 

Wonwoo glanced up at the spirit. It was no doubt the cause, but why? Did he want to communicate with Jeonghan? Before he could challenge it, Jeonghan shrugged and handed it to Wonwoo. 

"Keep an eye on it. It might be defective, but we'll give it a chance." 

He lastly pulled out a small box. "I just purchased this. Did you know ghost-hunting equipment is quite expensive? How crazy is that?" 

Wonwoo finally looked away from the spirit. "What is it?" 

"It's called a spirit box. It scans radio frequencies at a rapid rate, and people claim that ghosts can use it to speak through." He turned it on, and the quiet house was filled with loud static. 

Both of them winced as Jeonghan tried to adjust the settings. "Well, here comes the fun part." He told Wonwoo. 

"Hello, ghosts of this house. Thank you for having us. My name is Jeonghan, and this is my friend, Wonwoo. We're looking for some ghosts tonight. This little device in my hand can help you speak, so say what you'd like." 

The spirit box was full of static and wrabbling, but nothing intelligible. Wonwoo kept his eye on the spirit, the only one he had seen so far. It was still nothing but static and was standing still. Maybe it didn't want to connect. Wonwoo was about to grab his sword to get rid of it once and for all, but Jeonghan chose that exact moment to turn back around. He held the spirit box up. It still sounded like garbled nonsense. 

"See, bullshit." 

He went to turn it off, but then a word came through. "Blue." 

They both frowned as they looked around for anything blue, but couldn't find anything. It was much too dark. 

"Chatty now?" Jeonghan asked the box. "Last chance to say something." 

Suspicious, Wonwoo looked back at the spirit. It was coming closer to Jeonghan and the box. 

"Road." 

That definitely came from the spirit attached to Jeonghan, but what did that mean? 

"Nope, we're in a house. Nice try, though. Maybe play a little light jazz or something next time, or better yet, a girl group song." Jeonghan taunted before turning the spirit box off. 

He tossed it on the counter and grabbed a flashlight and an EMF reader. "Much too noisy. I prefer to do this the old-fashioned way." He snuck a glance at Wonwoo. "Well, close enough." 

Wonwoo rolled his eyes but grabbed a flashlight and followed along. The leech that was stuck to Jeonghan was the only spirit in the house; no sign of the family that met a tragic end. Either they had moved on or never were ghosts. Wonwoo observed how the equipment reacted to the spirit. The EMF reader would go off whenever the spirit was hovering over Jeonghan, but otherwise stayed silent. It wouldn't show up in any pictures, and despite all his efforts, it didn't seem to be scared of Wonwoo in the slightest. 

A couple of hours in the house, Jeonghan came to the conclusion that there was nothing, maybe a faint gas leak and structural issues, but definitely nothing supernatural. Wonwoo wasn't going to argue with him, simply handed him the equipment back, and offered to carry the backpack for him back to the bus stop. Jeonghan grinned as he followed him out of the house. 

"Quite the gentleman. Careful, I might fall in love." He warned. 

Wonwoo didn't say anything in reply, but he felt his ears burn. 

They parted ways at the bus stop, Jeonghan telling him that his friend was picking him up. 

"Even though I don't believe in any of this, I had a lot of fun tonight. You're a great companion." Jeonghan told him, sounding uncharacteristically shy. "I have a few more places I'd like to check out. Gumi is apparently more haunted than I thought. Is it okay to call you?" 

Wonwoo nodded. "Yeah, it's okay." 

After all, he wouldn't stop until Jeonghan was safe. 

Chapter Text

Jeonghan could not wipe the smile off his face.

"Hyung, you're scaring me. Did you get possessed while ghost hunting?" Seungkwan asked as he drove. 

Jeonghan giggled, actually giggled, and Seungkwan was chilled to the bone, ready to stop off to find if there was some Catholic church willing to give him holy water after midnight. Jeonghan was strange, this he knew and had to accept, but he would never be used to it, nor did he want to. That would be like accepting defeat. 

"No, I didn't get possessed." Jeonghan finally replied. 

"That's exactly what a demon wearing my friend's skin would say." 

"Kwan, seriously, you know that whole thing isn't real." 

"Says the one ghost hunting." 

"For research and fun." 

Seungkwan shook his head. "You're so weird." He sped up to avoid a red light. "So, why are you smiling so widely after being in such a creepy place?" 

"My new ghost hunting buddy is quite the guy." 

Seungkwan, a bit relieved that it wasn't demonic possession or insanity, rolled his eyes. "Only you would fall in love in such a creepy place." 

"I met him in a bookstore." The older corrected. "He's so adorable, Kwan, in a nerdy kind of way. He doesn't have a modern phone, dresses in simple clothes, wears the cutest glasses, and is moody and quiet in that endearing way." 

"Why are you describing a grandpa?" Seungkwan asked with a scrunched-up face. 

"Grandpas wish they could be him." 

"Please don't make me vomit in this car. I just took it to the car wash." The younger pleaded. 

After a bit of silence, he spoke once more, deciding to indulge his hyung a bit. "Does he feel the same way about ghosts that you do?" 

Jeonghan's smile turned impossibly wider, once more scaring Seungkwan. "No, he believes in them, but isn't scared. He walks around, eyes searching, but he remains calm and collected. It's actually kinda hot." 

Seungkwan removed one hand from the steering wheel to hold it up. "Spare me any nasty details." 

"There are no nasty details. Can't a man talk about how hot another man is?" 

"Not if he's you." 

Jeonghan finally frowned a bit, and Seungkwan felt like celebrating as he parked. "Let me guess, same time tomorrow?" 

Jeonghan nodded, unbuckling his seatbelt and grabbing his backpack from the backseat. "If you don't mind." 

"You're saying it like I have a choice." 

Jeonghan blew him a kiss as he left the car. "I love you, Kwannie." 

"Go to hell." 

"It doesn't exist." 

"You're so insufferable." Seungkwan groaned before he drove away. 

Jeonghan laughed to himself as he made the long trek up the large staircase. Seungkwan was so easy to tease and get a rise out of. It was fun. He unlocked his door and let his backpack fall to the floor next to his discarded shoes. He should really go to bed, but he was too awake to bother. He would just work instead. Besides, he had some changes he wanted to make to his game. 

He changed into pajamas and made himself a cup of instant coffee before sitting at his desk. His team had been working diligently since he last checked and took heed of his past patch notes. The graphics were starting to look smoother, and it was becoming livelier, but they were still stuck. There was still the matter of vanquishing ghosts. He remembered Seungkwan's suggestion of steel. That could work. They could implement a system of weapons that could be upgraded using saved coins or some other process. As he began to sketch out plans, he heard clattering in his otherwise quiet apartment. He startled a bit, having been concentrated on his work, but he shrugged it off. It was an apartment complex. There were dozens of residents. Strange noises were part and parcel. 

The noises stopped after a while, as he knew they would, and he continued on, making more patch notes. He stared at the character for a bit and smiled with an idea. He drew on a pair of glasses and smiled fondly at his handywork. It wasn't like it meant anything. It was just a harmless little crush, some fun to be had. As he saved his progress, he heard whistling. That was a bit more strange than the previous noise, but it was nearing dawn now. Perhaps one of the older men in the building was already up. Jeonghan knew he needed to head to bed himself, but he still wasn't tired yet. 

He went back to the door and grabbed his equipment from his bag. He charged all the batteries he needed to and took the voice recorder back to his desk with him. He listened to the entire session, giggling as he remembered how serious Wonwoo had been and how baffled he was by Jeonghan's nonchalant demeanor. He was about to turn it off, chalk it up to another failed ghost hunt, when he heard whistling from the recording, similar to what he had heard moments ago in his apartment. His eyes narrowed at the device. There was a million things it could be. Noise from traffic, a wild animal, interference from all the other devices, but it was a bit strange. That, he couldn't deny. Then came the spirit box session. A bunch of garbled nonsense until the words blue and road came through, the only two clear words they had gotten all night. It was bound to happen eventually. It was technology, and technology did weird things. It didn't mean anything. He finally turned it off and set it aside. 

"Another day of no spirits seen." He sighed as he stood from his desk and stretched. 

He decided to head to bed, bypassing the spirit that was starting to get annoyed with him. 

Chapter Text

Jeonghan's ghost hunting, Wonwoo was realizing, was a lot different from his ghost hunting. A lot of electronics, a lot of talking to the air, whereas Wonwoo's ghost hunting consisted of steel, lots of high-pitched screeching, and chalk-like essence. Jeonghan's purpose, or supposed purpose, was to find the existence of ghosts, while Wonwoo's purpose was to get rid of them. Their jobs were supposed to align, but the spirit that insisted on being attached to Jeonghan didn't want to allow him that. 

They were at yet another haunted location, handpicked by Jeonghan himself. It had a less traumatic history than the last one, but was supposed to be just as haunted, according to the internet, which Jeonghan and Wonwoo knew didn't mean much. There were reports of interesting EVPs, full-bodied apparitions caught in pictures, and even scratches, a detail that had Jeonghan's trademark evil smirk widening. 

"Wouldn't it be something if I got scratched, Wonwoo-yah?" 

Wonwoo didn't bother telling him that very few people could actually be touched by ghosts or spirits. It took a weird connection, a strange anomaly that Wonwoo somehow had, but never wanted. Despite Jeonghan's version of ghost hunting being complete bullshit, it was almost endearing the way the other enjoyed himself. He entered each haunted place with excitement and found joy in the most disgusting and desolate of places. If Wonwoo hadn't been so interested, he would have been scared. 

"You want to be scratched?" Wonwoo asked, already knowing the answer. 

"I won't be, so that's half the fun, isn't it?" 

Wonwoo took Jeonghan's large bag from him with a shake of his head. "You're so strange." 

Jeonghan grinned. "You like it." 

He did, but he wouldn't admit it. 

He never thought that he would be doing something like this, and he certainly didn't think he would enjoy it. But now, with each hunt, he found that he was enjoying himself in an odd way. He liked being by Jeonghan's side, even though it was supposed to be for the older's protection. He liked how carefree Jeonghan was, but at the same time, he cared deeply about his career and craft, that he was doing something he didn't even believe in, just to pour his entire being into his creation. Shockingly enough, Wonwoo even liked it when Jeonghan flirted with him, whether he truly meant it or not. 

It had been a long while since Wonwoo had feelings for someone. The last time had been in high school. If Wonwoo thought people weren't accepting of him now, it was worse back then. To his peers, he was the weird, quiet kid who acted and spoke like an old man. He hadn't cared much about what people thought of him. He would leave high school and never think of them again, but then he developed a crush on an exchange student. He was tall, handsome, kind, and an amazing dancer. Wonwoo admired him from afar, silently cheering him on, but he never got the courage to even approach him, let alone tell him how he felt. Junhui went back to China the following year. 

As he grew into an adult, he figured and accepted that he may never find love, that love just wasn't for people like him. He assumed he was destined to stay in his little bookstore, hidden away from most everyone as he wrote and read, growing older each time the second hand moved on the old grandfather clock in the store, but Jeonghan had changed all that, or at least, he was going to, if Wonwoo could get rid of that paranormal leech attached to him. 

"So," Jeonghan started as they entered the building, "remember how we used the spirit box last time?" 

Wonwoo grimaced. "How could I forget?" 

Jeonghan gave him a sympathetic smile. "Well, I was doing some more research, and there's this method called the Estes Method." He stated as he started pulling their usual supplies out of his oversized backpack. 

"Estes Method?" Wonwoo repeated. 

The other nodded. " Basically, you pair the spirit box with noise-canceling headphones, and you're either blindfolded or have your eyes closed as the other person asks questions. The person hooked up to the spirit box blurts out whatever they hear, and it's supposed to have intelligent responses." He explained. "Of course, everything I've seen online is obviously fake, but you and I are realistic. Nothing will happen, but it's all in the name of science...or well... pseudo-science...research. It's all for research." 

While Jeonghan saw it as research, Wonwoo saw it as the opportunity that it was. 

"I'll ask the questions." He volunteered. 

Jeonghan playfully rolled his eyes. "I expected nothing less." 

As he set up, he giggled to himself. "What if we hear spaghetti?" 

Wonwoo frowned. "Why would we hear spaghetti?" 

"Maybe it's a hungry spirit." His excited grin turned wider. "That's it, if we get a spaghetti from the spirit box, I will believe in ghosts." He declared. 

"No, you won't." Wonwoo automatically retorted, handing Jeonghan the eyemask from the bag. 

"No, I won't." He agreed. 

Once Jeonghan was successfully hooked up, he sat himself in a far corner, away from Wonwoo, already shouting out random things he heard. Wonwoo, who knew it meant nothing, walked around, looking for the spirit. It was hovering nearby, just centimeters away from Jeonghan. Wonwoo stopped in place and glared at it. It never moved. 

"I'm more of a stab now, forget questions kind of guy." He began, "But it seems you like to play games. So for Jeonghan's sake, I'll play. Who are you?" 

"Blue!" Jeonghan shouted. 

The spirit remained still. 

"Fine. Don't tell me. I don't care who you are. What do you want?" 

A long silence filled the abandoned building as Wonwoo and the spirit had a staring contest. 

"Wonwoo! I heard pasta!" Jeonghan exclaimed gleefully. He then giggled. "I think I'll make pasta tonight, nothing like having spaghetti at midnight." 

Wonwoo reluctantly ignored him. "Not going to say anything?" He challenged. "Fine. I didn't want to talk anyway." 

He reached for his sword. It didn't work the first time, but he'd make it work if he had to. 

"Blue," Jeonghan shouted again. 

It gave Wonwoo pause. They heard blue last time. He shook his head. It didn't mean anything. It was just a silly box, created to freak people out. 

"Road." The spirit finally said. 

That was the other thing the spirit box had said last time. 

Wonwoo slowly lowered his sword. "What about a road? Is it a warning or a threat?" 

"Death." The spirit said this time. 

"So, a threat," Wonwoo concluded.

In the background, Jeonghan was shouting more nonsense, but Wonwoo paid him no mind as he lifted his sword once more, ready to stab. Like before, the spirit let out the worst shriek he had ever heard before disappearing. He sighed as he put the sword away. Another failed attempt. He walked over to tap Jeonghan on the shoulder. The other took off the eye mask as he shut everything down. 

"So, how was it? Did we get anything good?" 

"No," Wonwoo grumbled. 

Jeonghan frowned. "We knew that would happen. Why are you so upset?" 

"I'm not." Wonwoo lied. 

It was clear Jeonghan didn't believe him, but he didn't push as he gathered his things and walked back over to his bag. Wonwoo's heart dropped when he saw Jeonghan turning off the voice recorder. 

"I can't wait to listen to this and hear what kind of nonsense went on." 

Chapter Text

As usual, Jeonghan returned home in a good mood. He was enjoying his evenings with Wonwoo. Too bad they were wasting it talking to air, but time spent was time spent. At first, it was just a harmless thing. A little crush, someone handsome to look at and appreciate, but with each ghost hunt, he was sincerely falling for the strange man. He was stoic, but was considerate, carrying Jeonghan's stuff for him without him even asking. He was serious, but was quick to follow along with Jeonghan's antics no matter how ridiculous they were. He was a catch, and Jeonghan didn't intend on letting him slip past him. 

As he walked up the stairs, he stopped on the floor right below his. It was nearly one in the morning now. He felt guilt settle in his chest. Mrs. Jeong was still sick, and Jeonghan had yet to visit her, although he had promised. He had gotten caught up in ghost hunting and in Wonwoo. He had seen Mr. Jeong going up and down the stairs early in the morning, getting the essentials. Maybe he would stop by with groceries soon and ask them what else was needed. He nodded toward their door as a sort of promise. 

He entered his apartment, but instead of leaving his backpack at the door like always, he brought it with him to his desk. He was excited to hear how the Estes Method worked out. He wondered if Wonwoo was awkward. It was probably cute. Jeonghan couldn't contain his smile as he took out the voice recorder. He set it up and sat back to listen. He could hear himself shouting nonsense, and he let out a huff of laughter. Then, he heard Wonwoo. At first, it sounded like he was just walking around until he came to a sudden stop. 

"I'm more of a stab now, forget questions kind of guy, but it seems you like to play games. So for Jeonghan's sake, I'll play. Who are you?"  

Jeonghan frowned. What was he talking about? Stab? He continued to listen, and other than hearing himself shout out the color blue and some shuffling, it was unnervingly silent. 

"Fine. Don't tell me. I don't care who you are. What do you want?" Wonwoo asked. 

Even more silence until he heard himself yelling about pasta. He remembered that. He wasn't entirely sure it was pasta he heard. As it almost always was with the spirit box, it was a garbled mess, but it was pretty close to pasta. He had been so excited, but there was no excitement now. Just confusion and uneasiness. Who was Wonwoo talking to? He sounded so sure and confident, and if Jeonghan was being honest, a little hot. 

"Not going to say anything?" He challenged. "Fine. I didn't want to talk anyway." 

More shuffling until Jeonghan heard himself shout blue...again. That was...odd. The spirit box said blue three times. It didn't mean anything obviously; the spirit box was a silly box created to freak people out, but even Jeonghan could admit that it was weird. And then, he heard it. A voice that didn't belong to him or Wonwoo. 

"Road." 

Who the hell was that? 

"What about a road? Is it a warning or a threat?" Wonwoo asked. 

"Death." Was heard. 

Jeonghan couldn't deny the shiver that ran down his spine. Who the hell was that? Was Wonwoo playing a prank on him? No...he wouldn't do that...would he? Jeonghan shook his head, as if answering himself. No. Wonwoo definitely wouldn't do that. So, what was going on? 

"So, a threat," He heard Wonwoo conclude. 

More shuffling and more nonsense being shouted until a horrid shriek overpowered it all. Jeonghan winced and was glad that the recording ended there. He stared at the recorder, debating with himself. He replayed it over and over again, trying to make sense of what he just heard. 

--

"Hyung, you look like hell," Seungkwan noted as Jeonghan walked, or more like slumped in. 

He had spent nearly the entire night trying to make sense of that damn recording, and much to his aggravation, he couldn't. By sunrise, he could only come to two conclusions, and he didn't like either of them. Either Wonwoo was pranking him, or there was a ghost with them last night. Needless to say, he didn't get any sleep and was in a bad mood, accompanied by dark and heavy eye bags. 

"I feel like it," Jeonghan muttered, practically falling into his desk chair. 

"Maybe you should stop ghost hunting." Seungkwan suggested quietly, not looking away from his work. "You come home late and it's starting to affect you." 

Jeonghan couldn't deny that his friend was right, but he definitely couldn't stop now, not when there was a mystery to solve. Jeonghan didn't take ghost hunting as seriously as some people did, but he was determined to figure out who the hell Wonwoo was talking to. 

"Can't. I have so much to do." He replied. 

Seungkwan shook his head. His hyung was stubborn, and for what, a random hot guy? Oh well, he'd learn eventually, at least he hoped so. When Halloween arrived, things would return to normal. The game would be finished, and Jeonghan wouldn't have to do more research. He could stop haunting the office with his tired looks. 

"Has anyone started on weapons?" Jeonghan asked as he began his work. 

Seungkwan sighed. At least he was dedicated to his work. 

Chapter Text

Wonwoo was at a loss for what to do. Had Jeonghan listened to the recording? Was he upset? Was he mad at Wonwoo? Did he think he was stupid? The answer was probably yes to all of the above. He let out a frustrated groan as he walked the dark sidewalk alone. He wasn't quite ready to go home yet. He didn't want to have to sit with his thoughts and worries. He turned right and headed to the store. It was going against his routine and would result in a higher electric bill at the end of the month, but fuck it. A lot was going wrong these days. 

He unlocked the door and flicked on the lights before throwing his keys on the counter. The store was spotless. If Wonwoo had been in the correct headspace, he would have been impressed. He made a mental note to thank Chan for picking up his slack lately. He would definitely give the younger a raise, finances be damned. He earned it. Wonwoo rounded the counter and settled in his usual seat with his typewriter. If he wasn't going to sleep, he was at least going to do something productive. 

He carefully put his paper in, placing it between the platen and paper table before rolling it counterclockwise to feed the paper into it. Once settled, he slid the carriage to the left as he began to type. The motions were second nature to him now. He had used a typewriter for many years and had written several books with it, he was sure he could do it in his sleep. Chan, on the other hand, always watched him with a mix of fascination and confusion. 

"It looks so complicated, but you do it so effortlessly, Hyung. I know I tease you about being an old man, but you're seriously so cool." 

Wonwoo smiled fondly at the little memory as he slid the carriage over to type another line. He was bummed about what he was sure was the end of things with Jeonghan, but he would be alright. He always was. People like him weren't made for people like Jeonghan; he had learned that a long time ago. Once he figured out to how to handle the spirit attached to him, they could go their seperate ways as intented. That had been the plan all along. It wasn't meant to turn out this way. It was his own fault. He paused, his hands hovering over the keys. Just because it was over didn't mean it couldn't serve as a memory. He began to type once more, creating a character with blonde hair and a penchant for mischief. 

At two in the morning, he had typed over ten pages, complete with multiple white-out corrections. He stacked the papers together, finding it a good place as any to stop. He cleaned up, leaving the store as spotless as he found it. He left Chan a thank you note, typed with the typewriter under the counter where he put his things and left an envelope with his bonus under it. Maybe the younger could finally get those new shoes he really wanted. 

Wonwoo left the store feeling a bit lighter, but still frustrated and concerned about what would happen with Jeonghan. He hadn't recieved a call about another hunt and he doubted there would be one now or anytime soon. He had messed up and now he was paying the price. He made the familar walk to his apartment, but a shadow moving in a dark and abandoned store had him stopping in his tracks. Sword in hand, he carefully entered the vacant space. The ghost was fresh, looking modern, which meant he had plenty of energy and would be harder to fight. Wonwoo didn't care. He needed a fight right now. He was eager for a challenge. The ghost charged at hin and Wonwoo had his sword at the ready. The ghost was strong and had keen defense, but as usual, he was no match for Wonwoo. In the end, the ghost was vanquished, leaving the chalk-like residence behind. Wonwoo sighed as he seathed his sword. He could still fight and vanquish ghosts like he was supposed to, so why couldn't he get rid of Jeonghan's? 

"I hear you're having some trouble." 

The voice echoed in the empty building, causing Wonwoo to startle. He nearly reached for his sword once more, but stopped himself when he realized it was Elera. He hadn't seen her for years, not since he was twelve and a fight with a ghost had gotten so bad it landed him in the hospital and had his parents thinking he was being bullied. She had been there to check up on him and offer him what support she could give him. He hadn't seen her since, until now. 

"I could have used your help ages ago." He huffed, letting his sword fall into his bag. 

The spirit shrugged, not seeming the slightest bit apologetic. She reminded him of Jeonghan a bit. He inwardly shook off the thought. He couldn't think about Jeonghan right now. If Elera was here, that meant more important things were at play. 

"You're more than capable of handling things." She stated, voice calm and even as always. 

Wonwoo scoffed, dusting the ghost remains off of him. "If that were the case, why isn't that ghost vanquished yet?" 

She hummed, floating around and taking in the place. "There are different kinds of spirits. The ones you take care of are Earth leeches, bottom feeders if you will. They remain on Earth simply for the purpose of draining energy and life from the living. That's why the work you do is so important." She explained. "But some spirits, like myself, serve a purpose and are not easily killed. Perhaps that is what you're dealing with." 

Wonwoo frowned. "I've tried communicating with it. It doesn't give me anything useful. All it does is say strange words and shriek at me. In my opinion, it's a leech." 

"Obviously, it isn't," Elera stated, sounding like a firm but patient mother trying to teach a stubborn child. "It most likely has a mission, something to see through, and when it's done, it will take care of itself." 

Wonwoo took note of her words. "Will you disappear?" 

She smiled. "My mission isn't over yet." 

Just like that, she left, leaving Wonwoo alone once more. He sighed to himself as he left the building. He debated taking the long way home. He had plenty to think about. The spirit attached to Jeonghan had a mission, but what kind of mission? What was supposed to happen? Was Jeonghan in danger? Even if the other was upset with him, he couldn't let anything happen to him. He would protect him one way or another. 

He made it home after three, and without completing his nightly routine, he promptly passed out face-first on the bed. Thankfully he had enough sense to remove his glasses first. A few hours later, he was woken up by his alarm, and he felt dead as he got around. Chan was probably already at the store. He wondered if the younger had found his bonus yet. As predicted, the younger was at the store and in bright spirits when Wonwoo arrived. 

"Hyung! The envelope wasn't a mistake, was it?" He asked. 

Though tired, Wonwoo managed a smile. "No, it wasn't a mistake. You earned it." 

Much to his surprise, the younger ran over to him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you! You're the best boss ever. I don't even care that you're weird!" 

Wonwoo let out a confused laugh. "Thanks?" 

The day passed like any other, and by that afternoon, Wonwoo was sure that he wouldn't hear from Jeonghan ever again. He could go back to his normal life, let the spirit run its course and fulfill whatever mission it was on, but the thought of Jeonghan getting hurt didn't sit right with him. Maybe he could check in on him once in a while, or- His thoughts were interrupted by a buzz coming from his pocket. His phone. He took it out and flipped it open. It was a text from Jeonghan. Usually, he called him, knowing that Wownoo wasn't the best texter, but it seemed he wasn't fond of talking to him right now. That was fair, he supposed. He read the message and was surprised.

'Found another place I'd like to search. We'll talk tomorrow.' 

Chapter Text

Jeonghan didn't seem like himself when he arrived at their next location. He looked tired and defeated. Wonwoo automatically felt guilty. It was no doubt his fault. He hesitated offering to carry the other's bag for him, but he decided to anyway, and Jeonghan was too tired to fight him on it. They walked up to the building in silence. Normally, Jeonghan told him the horrid history that took place there, the ghosts they were supposed to be on the lookout for, as well as introducing his newest ghost-hunting tool, but not today. Today, Jeonghan didn't say a word, and it unnerved Wonwoo. Once inside, Jeonghan silently unpacked their gear and left Wonwoo's half on the table for him to grab. Without waiting for the other, he took off, flashlight and spirit box in hand. Wonwoo grabbed a flashlight for himself and took off to another corner of the building, wondering what the hell to do. 

Jeonghan walked alone upstairs, shining his flashlight into dark corners to see if he could catch a glimpse of whatever Wonwoo had been talking to the night before. Ghosts couldn't be real. That didn't make any sense, but Wonwoo didn't seem like the type to play pranks either. There had to be something he was missing. He felt bad for ignoring Wonwoo, but he couldn't think of anything to say to him at the moment, at least, not anything nice. Reluctantly, he turned on the spirit box as he entered a room. He winced at the harsh volume before he corrected it, and it was at a bearable volume. The room was disgusting, with broken furniture and peeling walls. He was almost worried to breathe in case it was a health hazard. 

"Hello...spirits...or whatever I'm talking to." 

He let out a long sigh. It didn't feel right anymore. Usually, he wouldn't have a care in the world and would joke around, but that was when he had been sure that there was nothing there. Now that he was questioning things, it left him feeling awkward, almost wrong. He sighed once more. He could do it. This was his last hunt anyway. It didn't matter what he believed. He had a job to do and a point to prove. 

"Ghosts, I'm going to level with you. This thing sucks." He warned, holding up the spirit box. "It's loud and it'll most likely annoy everyone in the room." 

Garbled noises sounded from the spirit box, but nothing intelligible. Jeonghan tried again.

"You're going to have to give me something intelligible to work with if you want me to believe in this nonsense." He snapped. His head hurt, he was tired, and he was not in the mood to play games. "That means you answer whenever I ask a question, got it?" 

More garbled nonsense, and Jeonghan nearly threw the aggravating device. 

"Fine. Whatever. You had your chance. I'm shutting this stupid thing off." 

"Door." 

"Door?" Jeonghan repeated, hand about to twist the dial. "What about a door?" 

"Locked." 

Before Jeonghan could ask anything else, he heard Wonwoo downstairs. 

"Jeonghan, the front door is locked." 

Jeonghan stopped cold. What the hell was happening? He shut off the spirit box as he rushed down the stairs. Wonwoo was standing at the door, twisting the knob to no avail. He was right, they were locked in. 

"What the fuck? Jeonghan spat, reaching his boiling point. He glared at Wonwoo. "You can stop with this prank. I've had enough." 

Wonwoo looked offended and a bit hurt at the accusation. If Jeonghan didn't know any better, he swore the younger was about to cry, and he instantly felt guilty about his outburst, but he didn't apologize either. He wanted and needed answers, and he was going to get them.  

"I wouldn't do that to you, Jeonghan. I'm not pranking you. I wouldn't even know how to do something like this." 

Jeonghan forced himself to take a deep breath. Wonwoo was right. This didn't seem like something he would do, but it was still suspicious. 

"Then explain to me what is going on." He demanded. 

Wonwoo looked reluctant but nodded. "I'm a ghost hunter." He started. 

Jeonghan blinked at him, feeling his frustration bubble to the surface once more. "Obviously, that's why we're here." 

Wonwoo shook his head. "No, not like this. I can see ghosts, and I get rid of them." He crossed the room and grabbed a sword from his bag. "I use this to vanquish spirits that are leeching off humans and their energy." He explained. 

"This isn't funny, Wonwoo. Let's just get this door unlocked so we can go home. This was a mistake." 

"I'm not lying," Wonwoo stated, voice calm and level. "I wouldn't do that to you. I only agreed to this because you have a spirit following you. I wanted to protect you and get rid of it. That was who you heard me talking to last night." 

Jeonghan searched his eyes. He seemed so intent and sincere that he had no choice but to believe him, but it was difficult to. It went against everything he believed in. He had a spirit following him? Wouldn't he have noticed something? 

"Let's say that you're telling the truth," He said. "Why haven't you taken care of it yet? You had plenty of chances." 

"It's different than anything I've ever gone up against. It seems to have a mission." 

Jeonghan shook his head. This was too much to take in. Against his better judgment, he sat on the cleanest part of the floor he could find, and even then, he was sure he would have to burn his clothes later anyway. 

"I really like you, Wonwoo, but I just...I can't accept this." 

The younger nodded, seeming to have anticipated such a response. Without thinking much about it, he sat across from him. "I don't expect you to, but I can't just leave you until that spirit does." 

"So you can see it?" 

"Kinda. It's like...static. Usually, I see ghosts in their original form even if they're fading, but this one is like static with a human outline." He explained, his eyes trained on the spirit hovering nearby.

Jeonghan watched him. "You really mean it, don't you? You actually see it." 

"I wouldn't lie to you. I like you far too much." 

Jeonghan's breath hitched before he eventually forced himself to exhale. "Do what you have to do." 

Wonwoo was thankful to have Jeonghan somewhat back on his side finally, but he wasn't sure what to do. He eyed Jeonghan's tools still laid out on the table. He got up and picked up the SLS camera. Jeonghan had explained to him that it used infrared light to detect motion or figures. It was worth a shot, Wonwoo decided. He fumbled a bit, but pointed it to where Jeonghan was. The older was standing up now and watching Wonwoo curiously. Normally, Wonwoo found all the gear to be useless, but now he felt a bit dizzy. There, on the screen, were three prominent figures being tracked. One was Jeonghan, the other was the spirit, and the last one...the last one Wonwoo couldn't even see. 

"Wonwoo, what is it?" Jeonghan asked, concerned by the younger's shift in expression. 

"There are two, but I've only seen the one." 

"Wonwoo, the SLS cam is a silly piece of technology. You and I both know that technology is flawed. It's probably just an error. It could be picking up an animal or something." 

The explanation made perfect sense. That could be it, but Wonwoo could feel it. There were two, and he had missed them this entire time. His concern wasn't the one he could see. It was the one he couldn't. That was the real danger. 

"Jeonghan, this isn't an error. This is a problem." He stated. "We have to leave." 

"I would love to, but the door is locked, remember?" 

Wonwoo grabbed a discarded beam from the floor, handing the SLS to Jeonghan. "Then we'll break out of here. Pack your things." 

Finding it best not to argue, Jeonghan packed up his gear while Wonwoo worked to bust the door open. He was still a bit upset and definitely confused, but he could admire how hot the younger looked, swinging that beam around. After a few hits, the door finally gave, and Wonwoo ushered Jeonghan out and away from the building. The static spirit followed, and Wonwoo had no doubt the other did too. Jeonghan shook his head as he discarded his jacket, revealing the blue shirt he had on. 

"I think I have enough research to stop ghost hunting." He decided. 

When the younger didn't say anything, he looked over to find him staring at nothing in what seemed to be panic and horror. 

"Wonwoo?" 

Before he could ask him what was wrong, Jeonghan saw something he couldn't make sense of. A creature of sorts was perched on the roof of the building, glaring straight down at Jeonghan. It had scaly skin and different parts of a face that didn't seem to belong to each other. He backed up, not wanting to take his eyes off it in case it disappeared. 

"Wonwoo, what the fuck is that thing?" 

"A demon." 

"Can you kill demons?" 

"Sometimes." 

"Sometimes is not a good answer, Wonwoo. Kill it!" 

He continued backing up, not looking where he was going. Wonwoo glanced back at him, and his eyes widened. 

"Jeonghan!" 

He rushed over to him and pulled him forward, into his chest, and out of the way of the car that was speeding down the street that Jeonghan had just been standing in the middle of. Jeonghan gasped, processing what just happened. Wonwoo held him close, only letting go when his breathing returned to normal. 

"Are you okay?" 

"Yeah...I think..I..." He was still in shock. Gently, Wonwoo led him to a patch of grass away from the road and the demon that was still perched on the roof. 

"Stay here. I'll take care of it." 

Wonwoo left Jeonghan and went to the demon, who finally left its perch. It was a tough fight, but Wonwoo was determined. It had tried to kill Jeonghan, and it wouldn't get away with it. Unfortunately, demons were strong and played dirty. Before long, it had the upper hand, and Wonwoo was on the ground. He couldn't lose, not now, but he felt weak and defeated. 

"Wonwoo!" He heard Jeonghan shout. 

"It's okay." He called out weakly. "I got this." 

He really didn't, but Jeonghan just escaped death once. He didn't need to rush back into it. This was Wonwoo's job. It was his responsibility. He would get rid of this demon, even if it killed him. He pushed himself up with what little strength he had and lifted his sword once more. To his surprise, the static spirit joined the fight and helped him against the demon. With his help, Wonwoo was able to stab the demon and vanquish him, the dust exploding across the front lawn. Jeonghan blinked at the sight before rushing over to Wonwoo, who had collapsed to his knees. 

"Wonwoo, are you okay?" 

He managed a nod. "Yeah, it's over now." 

Jeonghan looked around at the ghostly remains in disgust. "I can see that." He looked back at Wonwoo and gently held his face. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"I will be after twenty hours of sleep." 

Jeonghan snorted out a laugh as he helped Wonwoo up. "Let's get you home." 

Wonwoo couldn't take his eyes off the spirit that helped him. It hadn't been there to harm Jeonghan. It was there to protect him, and Wonwoo had tried to kill it. He didn't deserve the help, but he appreciated it more than he could express. The night could have gone much worse. The static vanished, leaving behind a handsome face. The spirit nodded once in acknowledgment before vanishing, its mission over. 

Chapter Text

Four months had passed since that final ghost hunt. Neither Jeonghan nor Wonwoo actively searched for ghosts ever again. Who the static spirit had been remained a mystery, but both felt it was better that way. He had helped them in their time of need, and that was all that mattered. Wonwoo still had ghosts to hunt, but they came to him. He would never search them out. 

Jeonghan had a lot of thinking to do after the incident. He had nearly died and found out that ghosts, spirits, and demons were real all in the same night. It was a lot to take in. He didn't talk to anyone for a month, pouring his everything into his game until it was finally completed. It was released on Steam on Halloween. It wasn't widely popular, but the people who did play it left positive reviews, saying they enjoyed how immersive it was and how well thought out it was. They liked the weapons upgrades that allowed them a beautiful sword if enough ghosts were vanquished by the fifth level. It wasn't a hit by any means, but Jeonghan was proud of it regardless. He and his team had finally made a game. His dream had come true, and he was more than willing to pass the torch to Seungkwan. The younger was heading a new game, consisting of teddy bears and magic. 

"At least if I have to do research, I won't have to hang out in disgusting places." The younger teased. 

Jeonghan found it to be fair. He never wanted to ghost hunt ever again. He more or less found what he hadn't been looking for. 

Wonwoo's life somewhat went back to normal. He ran his bookstore with Chan,  wrote his book, and fought any spirits that dared to approach him, but he never forgot that night and how he nearly lost Jeonghan. He fought a bit more carefully now, listened to warnings when they were given. He lived a bit more too, broke out of his beloved routine. He joined Chan for dinner or drinks from time to time and even played Jeonghan's video game with Chan when it came out. If the younger noticed the resemblance between the character and his boss, he didn't say anything. He found a love for video games, and other than his flip phone and ancient computer, it was the technology he used most. 

It was late afternoon. Wonwoo was seated in his usual spot, working on his book. He was nearly finished now, only a couple of chapters left. He was proud of it and couldn't wait for it to be finished. It was a fictional retelling of his time with Jeonghan. It was silent until the bell attached to the door sounded. Chan lifted his head first, ready to greet the new customer, but stopped himself when he saw who it was. 

"Oh, it's you. Hyung, your boyfriend is here." He announced. 

Wonwoo looked up from the typewriter and greeted Jeonghan with a smile. After Jeonghan had gotten over his initial shock over everything that happened, he and Wonwoo met up again, this time for lunch. They discussed what happened before moving on to other things, like themselves and their lives. By the end of the lunch, they felt that, despite everything, they could make things work. Lunches turned into dinners. Dinners turned into nights spent at each other's places. Friendly smiles turned into kisses and cuddles. Despite their differences, they fit well together, and dating was a natural step for them. 

"Hey, you're here early," Wonwoo noted. 

Jeonghan gave him a small peck on the lips that had Chan groaning. "Gross! Get a room!" 

Wonwoo laughed. "This is my store." 

Chan huffed, but knew he couldn't win the argument. "I'm taking another break then." 

Jeonghan giggled his odd giggle that Wonwoo came to love as he kissed him again. 

"Seungkwan is the lead now, which means he gets to pull the late nights." He explained. "I thought I could come by and hang out with you." 

"As long as you don't destroy my store." 

Jeonghan feigned innocence. "I wouldn't do such a thing."  

"Says the man that helped Chan nearly glitterbomb the place." 

"That was an accident!" 

"Glitterbombs are not accidents, Jeonghan," Wonwoo replied patiently. "They are planned attacks." 

Jeonghan crossed his arms. "You just hate fun and whimsy." 

Wonwoo went back to his typing. "If that were true, I wouldn't be dating you." 

Jeonghan, finding the point to be fair, shrugged and took Chan's spot. He loved the ambiance of the bookstore. Wonwoo always made sure it smelled nice, something between spice and warm cookies. His rhythmic typing and the ding of the typewriter were nice to listen to. It made for the perfect place to relax after staring at a computer screen for hours on end. Chan returned from his impromptu break and huffed, seeing Jeonghan in his spot. 

"First, you take my hyung and now you're taking my seat?" He accused. 

Jeonghan grinned, reaching over to pinch the younger's cheeks. He liked Chan a lot. He was cute, adored Wonwoo, and was fun to tease. All the perfect ingredients for Jeonghan's next bully victim. 

"Come on, Channie, I'm like your brother-in-law. We can share." 

He frowned, pushing Jeonghan's hands off his face. "Pass." 

"Channie," 

"Jeonghan, let him work." Wonwoo intervened. "That's what I pay him to do." 

Jeonghan pouted, dramatically getting up from the stool. "You guys are no fun!" He whined. 

He wrapped himself around Wonwoo. "Guess I'll just have to bug you now." 

"Just my luck." 

A shuffle from the back had the couple freezing and exchanging knowing glances. Dating Wonwoo meant that Jeonghan had to accept Wonwoo's other job as a paranormal hitman. He wasn't sure he would ever be used to it, but he knew that his boyfriend had a responsibility, and he took it seriously. He respected that. It seemed Chan heard the noise too as he turned his head toward the back. 

"What was that?" 

Wonwoo shrugged, his stoic expression in place. "No idea. I'll go check." 

"I'll keep watch out here," Jeonghan whispered in his ear. "I'll keep our little guy safe. Go kick a ghost's chalk ass." 

"Thanks." 

As Wonwoo headed to the backroom with his sword, he thought about how lucky he truly was. Just because his life was different didn't mean he couldn't have love. He just had to find the one that was worth fighting for, and Jeonghan was worth fighting for, as he continued to prove over and over again.