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“It’s all gone now, used to pay rent so I didn’t have to live on the streets. And even if there was any left, I wouldn’t give it to you.”

“Oh yeah? What makes you think you can stop me from just taking it?” Mr. Ahn asked with a grating laugh.

“Want to find out?” Jihoon asked.

Junu worried now. Mr. Ahn was a bully, which meant challenging him could cause him to lash out. Like a rabid animal afraid of losing ground. Junu thought it was time to intercede.

“Don’t think this is the last you’ll see of me,” Mr. Ahn said, his voice a low hiss.

Ah, so he was the other kind of bully. The coward kind.

Junu heard the approach of footsteps and sank back into the shadows of the alley. He waited as Mr. Ahn started to storm past, then reached out and pulled the man into the darkness with him.

“What the fu—”

“I’m going to give this warning once,” Junu said, throwing Mr. Ahn against the wall. The man crumpled and fell on all fours. “You stay away from Jihoon and never come back.”

Junu took a few bills from his wallet, large enough to make Mr. Ahn’s eyes widen. “This is all you’ll see from us, so be grateful for it and leave. Trust me when I say I know the right people to make you disappear quietly. Do you understand?”

Mr. Ahn’s eyes didn’t leave the money in Junu’s hand as he nodded frantically.

Junu threw the bills at him, letting them flutter on the ground.

Jihoon’s father went scrambling on his hands and knees, scraping his knuckles against the asphalt in his rush to grab the money. Then he clambered to his feet. “I deserve more than this for all the trouble I went through over that boy.”

“I doubt you troubled yourself at all for your son. And I don’t believe you have any plans to do so in the future. So take that money and go.”

Mr. Ahn’s eyes darted around, like he was wondering if he had a chance. He lunged toward the wallet, but Junu grabbedthe old man’s wrist before he could reach. Mr. Ahn let out a yelp, yanking free, a red burn circling his skin. “What the hell?”

“Get out of here. Now. Before I change my mind,” Junu said through clenched teeth.

Mr. Ahn didn’t need to be told twice as he turned and raced out of the alley.

Junu was left to stare at his palms. They still burned hot from his anger. Dokkaebi fire was tied to strong emotions. And though his own father hadn’t been a pathetic alcoholic bully like Jihoon’s, he’d still been a man who cared more about himself than raising his own son. Seeing Mr. Ahn’s selfishness had triggered too many memories Junu had spent a long time burying.

“You always did know how to make an impression.”

Junu winced at the familiar voice. He almost pretended he didn’t hear it, but knew it would be futile.

He’d been trying to avoid this. Ever since that dim-witted dokkaebi had arrived on his doorstep yesterday claiming “Hyuk” sent him. In fact, it had been an anxious energy that had caused him to leave his apartment today, seeking out company.

Turning, Junu took in the sight of the reaper. He was beautiful. Taller than even Junu with a lean build. Full lips with a perfect Cupid’s bow. Thick lashes. Alabaster skin that made him look like he was carved from marble. His beauty felt almost otherworldly. Though, Junu supposed that made sense, as Hyuk didn’t belong in this world. It’s what had originally drawn Junu to him, a being with the face of youth but an old soul. Someone that reminded Junu of his own predicament. Forever frozen at the end of his teen years but with the burden of eternity on his soul. Although Hyuk never seemed truly weighed down by hisimmortality, it was a balance that Junu used to seek, before he gave up on any kind of inner peace.

Hyuk was dressed head to toe in black with a black wool fedora to match. If he were a mere mortal, Junu would worry the guy would get heat stroke, but he knew that jeoseung saja felt things differently, even when they visited the mortal world.

“What are you doing here?” Junu asked, pasting a neutral expression on his face. Reapers weren’t known for being able to read human expressions; they were almost comically bad at it. But Hyuk had developed the ability to read Junu from their time together.

“I would have thought you’d be expecting me. You did get my referral, didn’t you?”

“Well, you’ve gone through a bit to get my attention,” Junu said. “What do you want?”

Hyuk gave a stilted smile, but Junu knew the awkwardness in the reaper came from being unused to expressing human emotion. “I want nothing from you, old friend. In fact, I am here because I want tohelpyou.”

“How kind of you.” Junu made his voice so smooth you’d slip off it. His patience was wearing thin. And he knew Hyuk would take it for the subtle warning he meant.

“It seems there’s something affecting our worlds.”

“Something other than the normal, horrible ailments?” Junu asked with a lifted brow.