Never mind his kid brother’s birthday, Daehyun’s mind basically stopped functioning the second the other called him up by a title he was clearly very offended by. “Did you just call me ‘noona’?” he chortled while narrowing his eyes.
“Oh! Is that your fiance, Daehyun-ssi?"
Yes, because avoiding the topic was what he excelled in. Well, not really, but he’d seen what the demon could do in his earliest wrath so straying away from that seemed like the better choice. Maybe he could ask someone else for help… Someone else… If he were to be brutally honest, he knew basically none of Junhong’s friends, save for maybe Daehyun and Yongguk, but Yongguk really didn’t strike him as someone who’d know much about someone’s hobbies and interests. Supposedly serves him right for not being there for a few years.
Zelo really couldn’t tell if his father was being funny by asking him questions about his Other. His “Other” of all people! Honestly, wasn’t it obvious that the two got along like fire and ice? …Though, his father was probably the last person to understand this. They weren’t close, never were, not even from the start, not even when Ryoji handed over him the title as the Harbinger; but that didn’t mean the other should just openly speak of Death’s name like so. Fine, he hadn’t really spoken Death in literal sense, but they were two of the same person so even an implication towards said force was considered treason.
Zelo couldn’t help himself though. When his mouth automatically opened one minute with words spilling out like water the next, he finally realized how much he had missed the other. His human father was different from the force that had bestowed destruction on his life, but despite the differences, Zelo still favorited Ryoji. He wondered if it was because of his status.
“No, Death and I don’t really talk…” They were technically the same person but since their separation, Zelo and Death considered themselves different despite sharing the same identity. They both had their own lives to lead and crossing paths was the last thing on each of their minds. “…Answer me though, why were you gone for so long?”
Did Junhong wish for an honest answer or something that could avert the heart from pain? The only tie they had as family was the cursed influence of Nyx, however, that did not mean Ryoji cared little for the Fallen. It was by chance that Junhong received the worst end of the deal because he had been the only one there at that time–Ryoji had little choice back then so what blame was it on his end? Or perhaps that was a poorly made decision at the time? Junhong’s disappointment hadn’t stopped Ryoji from hesitating, though. In fact, the bitter words were literally sitting on the fence, at the tip of his tongue, ready to spill and tread on thin waters if he dared.
But alas, that much he had in dignity; Junhong deserved a much more caring father and since Ryoji was as close as the label could grant him, he took upon the job. Irony wasn’t quite what most would describe their relationship. “You and Death are one person, but despite this, you do not interact with one another…” It wasn’t much of a question, but rather something to keep his mind reeling. So Death and his bringer weren’t on good terms and for some reason Ryoji felt the burden to take the blame.
“I’m sorry to hear that; perhaps I should visit him as well,” to take a gander at the things he had missed out on all these years, “do you think he still remembers me?” Remembers his face? Two years in terms was considered short, however, with the number of faces cast upon the shadow of Death and his bringer, perhaps it wasn’t quite the result he had hoped for. On the other hand, Death had always garnered most of Junhong’s impatient and intolerable side; Ryoji wouldn’t be surprised if he was attacked upon first glance.
“I’m happy that you’re well, Junhong,” he smiled and offered a hand to mend their broken friendship. “If you’ll have me, I’d like to make things better again.”
Wait, who was this before him? Zelo could hardly believe it was his father - the same man who was responsible for his turning; sure, being a force had its perks but it came with a big sacrifice too, one which had Zelo constantly wondering if he had sinned at some point in his life. He meant no harm by mentioning Daehyun at this point, but he truly had done nothing wrong to deserve the title his “father” once held. Were they nothing but servants in the eye of the true Harbinger of Death?
Now, don’t get him wrong, Zelo did appreciate the tender moments the two shared during their moments of grief but the avatar who had left him alone when he needed someone to explain to him what his powers meant, that was the part he detested. Honestly, he didn’t know if he was happy to see his father again or driven insane with anger.
Zelo opted silence over words, knowing fully well the minute he opened his mouth would be his downfall.
Yes, as if he expected any less from the young one. This kind of behaviour wasn’t anything new, he’d been shunned before but somehow this was different from all the other days he felt blue. Perhaps it was Junhong that made the obvious difference. Either way, Ryoji was at a loss for words. The silence between the two harboured a form of affection that deemed itself almost as sinful as Daehyun in entirety. He did long to speak to the young one like they had maybe two years ago but that seemed impossible at the moment and perhaps even permanent.
Yet, he fell to temptation and opened his mouth and prayed that the voice of his words were neither too cruel or cold. “You’ve grown,” he said, awkwardly hesitating. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen your brother, have you?” Or his other part, but details, details. As far as he knew, Zelo and Death were of the same whole separated into halves.
