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From within the depths of hell itself, John Kosak felt an ominous shiver go down his spine.
This, of course, happened just before he was notified of yet another 5☆ review. And while yes, ordinarily he would be ecstatic, for this meant a soon to be increase in not only his rankings, but also the time he got to spend outside of here. And that meant more chances of spending time with Bong! (For protection purposes, of course.)
Seeing as there was also the slowly emerging (worrying) trend from his Summoner-nim being quote on quote “proactive” with the floors as of late. (And wasn't that just a very heart attack waiting to happen for someone like himself?) Someone like him, who not only relied on said summoner’s…summons to exit out of the dark space he begrudgingly called home. But also because he has honestly grown to like the shorter male's goodwill and company. It was refreshing, having someone like Bong around who not only appreciated his work, but also remembered to reward him for it. (With great meals and TV no less!)
So, when the light finally surrounded him, it was with a small inclination of worry that Kosak appears in his standard salute formation into Bong's apartment.
‘Odd…’ he thought to himself, ‘There's a pressure in the air today…’ Kosak does a quick curio check of Bong's apartment. Upon finding nothing though, Kosak instead focuses his attention onto Bong.
…
‘Eh?’
Bong…who had assumed a power stance of sorts with the main two main visual points being the bat and a shield. Kosak can feel his soul descending back to hell, because what is this?! Summoner-nim was moving way too fast for his liking! And yes! He knows it was his own words that Bong was adhering too with the whole ‘shield and weapon’ thing, but come on! How was Kosak supposed to know Bong would take less than a week- no, days, to work up the courage into actually getting them?! Not him, that's for sure.
Meanwhile, Bong gazed at his summon (his friend?) with fiery eyes filled with determination, eager to show that he was ready to actually help in conquering the tower. And to not just stand in the back and watch. Of course, he would feel more confident if it weren't for Kosak, who was currently on the ground with his soul leaving his body. ‘And how does that even work?’ Bong thought incredulously, ‘Summons are the souls of dead people brought back in a physical body! A body….that is also their soul made physical– no! Not what's important right now.’ Bong shakes his head and decides to rest his equipment down as Kosak finally raises his head from his wooden floorboards.
It had taken the brunette less than a second to categorize Bong's full assemble- shield and all before sighing and letting his head thud back onto the floor.
‘Nooo…!’ Kosak lamented internally with a cry, while outwardly displaying resignation.
“Sigh…In the end…Do, do you really have to do this?” Kosak's not sure if he's asking Bong, or himself, but the sentiment is the same.
Bong's reply is to readjust his stance into something less of a ‘Lets Go!’, and more into something calmer, softer, more aware and grateful of the pride (and care?) Kosak takes into his safety, more than Bong feels he deserves at any rate.
“I'll be as careful as possible!” Bong said with determination. “Promise!”
From the ground, a suspiciously Kosak shaped starfish dragged a half gloved hand down his face. Resigned, he said: “Ah…my last summoner said that too.”
Bong crouches down to Kosak with a small sigh. Kosak lets his eyes trailing up, and notes with some degree of awareness that his summoner's eyes are sincere.
“Don't worry, you know I'm a loser. If things get tough, I'll definitely give up and run.”
Kosak takes in a subtle breath to calm himself down as Bong moves back to stand while Kosak desperately wages a war with what he wants to do, and what he has to do. Could he, in good conscience, tell the other he was in no way a loser, but that now was not the time to be brave, or does encourage the other's growth in not only demeanor, but in mind and body?
‘Too soon to tell.’
Instead, Kosak rises to a lazy half sitting position, one arm resting over a bent knee while he debates with himself as to look up into Bong's eyes, or avoid them entirely.
Decision made, the assassin turns to look up at Bong's tilted head.
“... Promise me then.” Kosak asks quietly, but firmly. “Promise me that you won't rush on ahead.”
Bong's eyes widened as a shine develops in his eyes at Kosak's concerned words for him. Moved beyond words, Bong crouches down once again to grasp at the other man's gloved hands, encircling them with his smaller hands as best he can with his own.
“I promise.”
Kosak's eyes search the blackette's own and upon finding nothing lies, he relaxes and gives a final nod.
“Good.”
“...”
“... are we going today?”
Bong shakes his head and lets go of the other's hands, instead, opting to offer one to the other to pull him up. Kosak accepts the assist as Bong replies with a head shake.
“No, lets…let's go tomorrow.”
The trained assassin lets out a silent breath and smiles, good, that's good! He can work up a plan on how to send the weaker enemies to Bong, while he and the…other summon take care of the stronger- wait. Kosak's head swivels to the door behind Bong and frowns. There was an approaching malicious presence approaching the building. Kosak's head doesn't turn when he asks Bong in a cold voice:
“Summoner-nim…do you know of someone who holds a grudge against you or your family?”
Bong tilts his head with a frown, brows furrowed in consideration.
“No…? Not that I can think of? Neither I or my family have ever earned anyone's hatred, why?”
Kosak's usually fox-like eyes open a tad, showing electric blue pupils. “Someone with considerable killing intent is approaching your door.”
Bong's eyes widened before he stares at Kosak's back. Kosak…who people didn't know existed because people didn't know he could summon! ‘Shiiit!’
“Hide!” Bong tells the other in a rush, already making his way to the door. Kosak in the meantime flash steps into the adjacent bathroom. His body was taught like a bowstring ready to be fired as the brunette listened to this…this thug and his attempts into trying to mug his summoner. His summoner.
Kosak could feel his killing intent spike from within the tight confines he kept it in. Ooooh! What he would do to that brute if only his summoner would allow him to kill. Kosak could see the little ribbon in his mind…! Could see how he would tie it into a perfect little bow. How the shine on the glossy ribbon would soak in the blood… Could see how he would leave it for his summoner to find, not unlike how a cat would leave its master a present in the form of a dead rat, and maybe…maybe he would even get rewarded with udon or ramen for his offering…
Unfortunately- for the man outside, that is- Kosak's fantasies are cut short at the sound of a gun being cocked. In a flash, Kosak disappears from one room and appears in the other. In quick succession, the brute was disarmed and dispatched with a single, clean jab to the back of the neck.
Kosak watches with some satisfaction as the man's head rebounds off the floor twice and almost moves to tie him up in order to ‘get to work’ until he hears the praises being heaped onto him by his summoner for his quote, “restraint”. Kosak stalls and slowly puts his dagger and pack of ribbons away even as his mind cries out at the loss.
‘Eh? Wait. No! I want to kill him!’ But…Kosak also wanted Bong to be more than safe. He wanted him…happy? Yes. Happy. So reluctantly, (and after a token protest, come on! He is an assassin.) Kosak reluctantly lets the matter lie, for now, and nods his head in assent.
“Thank you for protecting me.” Kosak hears Bong say, “Things could have been…much worse if you weren't here. So, uh…thanks.”
Tearing his gaze away from the man on the ground, the brunette looks to Bong and smiles with an incline of his head.
“You are my priority, Summoner-nim! Of course I'll always be there to protect you.”
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