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Namgoong Soo was tired. And hungry. Yesterday had been hectic which resulted in him working all night long. Also due to yesterday being so hectic he had to skip lunch and dinner. And now he had to skip breakfast if he wanted to be on time for his lessons. He sighed for the tenth time that morning. This was going to be a long day.
He was at the teachers restroom. Splashing some water on his face to wake himself up, staring at himself in the mirror he let out a long sigh. He loved his job, he really did, but sometimes the students could be a bit much. Drying his face he tried to hype himself up to face the day. He wasn't very successful but he had to go out anyway.
Walking down the familiar halfways to his first class -it was on the other side of the academy- he came across a few people wanting to talk to him. He answered them of course but sometimes he wished he had the guts to just tell people to leave him alone. When he reached the common area he paused for a brief second. He could feel eyes on him. Searching for the culprit he eventually caught the eyes of Suryong because of course it was. Meeting his eyes he was met with a calculating look, his eyes searching. He didn't know why, but right now he felt like an open book. Easy to read while he turned the pages as he pleased.
Still holding his gaze he raised an eyebrow. Suryong kept looking at him though his blue eyes lighting up with amusement. Eventually Soo looked away first. Deciding that continuing to do what he was doing originally was more important then this weird staring contest. At least that is what he told himself.
The students parted for him as he passed so getting through to crowd was easy enough getting stopped ones or twice by another teacher or student with a question.
When he finally reached his destination he all but collapsed in his chair. Pulling an all-nighter wasn't so bad he had done so before but those times he had time to eat. Signing he closed his eyes for a brief moment. The students will be arriving in ten minutes he just needed to make it to lunch then he could eat and get some energy into his body.
He jerked up at the sound of a knock on the classroom door. Looking up to see Suryong leaning against the door frame. He was smiling but not one of the smirks he often had but a gentle one. Almost sympathetic. "I brought food."
Strolling in he placed the container he had been holding on his desk. That was unexpected, not unwelcome. But it was suspicious "why?"
"You looked like you needed it." The way he said it seemed so genuine. It caught him of guard. It cracked the image he had of Suryong. He was overconfident and annoying. Not nice or caring.
He could unpack that later though right now he had other concerns. If Suryong was able to tell then the students might also. He had forgotten that no one had mentioned anything on the way here. "Was it that obvious?"
"No." Then how- "But I'm good at noticing the details." That answer was very vague and kinda creepy if he thought to hard about it.
But it did make him curious as to which details could have gotten him as far as to bring him food. "What details?"
"The ones that let me know you haven't eaten since yesterday morning." It was true but how does he know that or he didn't and took a guess. Judging by that stupid look in his eyes. It's the same look as before because he is turning the pages as he pleases and Soo hates it. He wants it to stop and for Suryong to just go away. But on the other hand he is still curious. He hates whatever this is but he does want to know. "That is not an answer." "Sure it is. You really wanna know?" He isn't even gonna bother using his words. Instead he just stares at him. "The students will start coming in soon, you still need to eat. If you're that curious you can come find me later." He was still looking at him like that when he reached out. Slightly tilting his head while using his thumb to wipe something off.
And with that he leaves giving him one last look with that same calculating look in his eyes. It's not a predatory look but it does come close. Close enough and yet as far away.
---
The food helped he was getting through the day but at the end he couldn't wait to get home. He still needs to speak to Suryong though. He hated being read like that so if he knew what gave it away he might find a way to avoid another situation like that.
It was already late so there might be a chance Suryong had already gone home but he doubted it.
And he was proven right. He found him on a roof somewhere doing paperwork. Why he chose that spot he didn't know. "Didn't think you'd actually come." Good. He isn't as readable as he thought. "You coming up?" He really didn't want to. But he did want answers. After a moment he decided it was worth the effort.
Sitting down next to him he understood why Suryong chose this spot. The view was really nice. You could see the academy and the lake behind it. The way it shimmered in the moonlight was beautiful. But it wasn't why he came here. "So what details?" Suryong stopped what he was doing to look at him. His eyes searching for something. "Why do you want to know so bad?"
There was that look again. "Stop it."
Suryong looked taken aback for a moment. But then chuckled. "You don't like it when you're being read like this." Yes. So stop. "But reading you isn't exactly what gave it away." Seeing the question in his eyes Suryong started explaining. "Yesterday was chaotic and most had to skip lunch so that you did too was more of a logical quess than anything." "Than dinner came around. I have never seen you with take-out so the chance you went for that was small but the other possibility was making something yourself." That is true he enjoys cooking so other than it hurting his taste buds take-out just isn't necessary.
"But when I went for dinner I passed by your office. I could here you doing paperwork in there. And when I returned you still were. It could have been possible that you had dinner in the short time I was gone. But as I said you wouldn't have gone for take-out. Preparing a meal would have taken to long though. So my guess was that you hadn't had dinner yet."
"Then when I'm leaving the side door is open. That means you haven't left yet or you left early. The latter being very unlikely. So now I know you probably haven't had lunch or dinner and are still working."
"What does an open door have to do with any of that?"
"When you leave first you always lock the door behind you. So when the door's open I know you're still in the academy." He thought he was always the last one to leave. That has been the case for years now so hearing that came as quite the surprise. He made a mental note for himself to check if he was indeed the last one there. He didn't intend to lock someone in the school. That doesn't seem to be the case with Suryong but just in case he accidentally locks someone up that doesn't do his paperwork on rooftops.
"So I know you were still in the academy when I left and have the suspicion you haven't eaten anything since that morning. Skip to this morning I come into the academy to see you coming from the direction of the restrooms. You seemed normal but the hair at the front was a little damp and there was still some water left by your ear." So that's what that was.
"That doesn't just happen. The fact that I can see it means it wasn't that long ago. You came from the restrooms so my guess was that you had quickly washed your face. But you did it here. Why not at home? It didn't make any sense. Unless you never went home in the first place. Instead you worked all night."
"I am now pretty confident you haven't eaten or slept since yesterday morning. So I go to get the food I had left from this morning. When I get to your classroom I see a very tired Namgoong Soo. So now my suspicion that you haven't slept is basically confirmed." Suryong looked at him for a moment. "At the fact your swaying even when sitting down. I think I can say that one isn't so hard to guess." Suryong smiled at him when he said that. A teasing but kind smile. Maybe the picture he had of Suryong wasn't right. It wasn't completely wrong because he knew for a fact that Suryong could be the most frustrating bastard in murim. But maybe he wasn't all that bad.
"And of course when I said that you haven't eaten since yesterday morning I said so to see if I was right. And your reaction showed that I was indeed correct."
They sat in silence for a while. He was enjoying the view while thinking over what Suryong had said. It was impressive. Such tiny details the average person wouldn't have noticed but what was even more noticeable was the way he connected them all together.
Next to him Suryong was finishing some paperwork. It was one of the lesser parts of teaching but still a necessary one. This was peaceful. For a moment he considered doing his paperwork on a rooftop but quickly disregarded the idea. It wasn't possible with the amount of paperwork he had. He envied Suryong for the small pile he had next to him. It wasn't that small and he wondered if all of it was academy related but compared to what he had to do on a daily basis it seemed like a small pile.
As his thoughts started to jumble together the lack of sleep finally caught up to him. As he fell backwards he could feel someone catching him. Then slowly lying him down as he transfered over to the land of dreams.
---
Something touched his forehead. "Wake up sleepyhead." Slowly he opened his eyes, as they adjust to the light he could see the night sky above him. The thousands of stars made a beautiful picture. Shifting his gaze he could see Suryong looking at him. "Good morning." He said with a soft smile. He then looked back up at the sky, this was nice.
For a few moments neither of them said a word. Eventually it was Suryong who broke the silence. "We should go home." He was right. His bed would be way more comfortable but he would be alone again. Normally he didn't mind it but every once in a while the loneliness would catch up to him. "Soo?" His thoughts were broken up by Suryong. Who looked at him with that same soft smile, a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Yes, let's go." Getting of the roof was easy enough. Walking through the deserted academy was something he had done often. It felt different now, maybe it was because he was still waking up. Or maybe it was the presence of another person.
When they reached the exit they stopped. It was a small door used mostly by the two teachers who always worked past closing time. Suryong had his hand on the handel but didn't turn it. When he looked at Suryong he had that look in his eyes again. But there was something else in there he hadn't noticed before. He could neither place it nor give it a name but it doesn't seem unkind. "Are you okay?" The question was filled with genuine concern. It caught him of guard. He wasn't great, tonight more so than normally. He wasn't gonna tell him that though. Those were his problems. "I'm fine." He told him instead. It wasn't a complete lie he wasn't doing the best right now but overall he was doing fine. To him that would be the end of it but it would seem Suryong disagreed. Suddenly he found himself engulfed his arms. For a second he froze in shock, then he melted. "You don't always have to be."
After what felt like hours did he slowly let go. He didn't know how long they had stood there he couldn't tell with his head buried in Suryong's shoulder. He didn't cry. It wasn't that bad but it felt so good just to be held after such a long time. "Thank you." He couldn't think of anything better. Although he feels like he should.
"Don't be, you needed it." He let out a chuckle at that. "Yeah, I really did."
Suryong was yet to let go but they really needed to go home now. "We really need to go home. You have students to terrorize and I need to catch up on some sleep." He got a laugh in response. He was let go after though.
"After you." Suryong had opened the door. Looking at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes at him but obeyed. "I'm gonna make sure those brats aren't slacking off." And with that he started to make his leave. "Bye and stay safe!” And he was gone.
"You too." He said into the quiet. He didn't know if Suryong had heard it. But something tells him he had.
Baek Suryong. He had thought him another cocky bastard who only thought about himself. But he had been wrong. Very wrong.
Suryong seems to care a lot about others. He wonders how far he'll go to help the ones he cares about. Something tells him he'll go to the the ends of the earth if he has to.