there's a gas leak in my house

Sung Jinwoo:

• you two were at the mall today shopping when you happen to pass by your go to cosmetic shop

• instead of passing by, jinwoo guided you inside which made you look at him

• sensing your gaze he looked back at you and gave a knowing smile "your lipstick is running out, you should get a new one, as well as some other things for stock"

• you were a bit stunned, you didn't know he was paying that much attention

• anyway as you two go around, he was carrying the basket when both of you stopped at the lip section

• lipsticks, lip balms, lip tint, lip gloss and lots of other things

• of course you grabbed the ones you use everyday when he asked if you wanna try the new ones that the shop had

• and so you look through each one, grabbed one of the lipstick sample that is close to the shade you always get yet not quite

• jinwoo took notice of it immediately and extended his hand that wasn't carrying the basket

• "you can try it on me" he simply said when you gave a confused look

• he knew those samples were tried by many, some trying it on their lips, while some on their hands

• his observation before definitely comes in clutch when he was dragged to these type of shopping quite a few times by his sister

• he just simply cant let you do the same since it will dirty you, i mean who knows right? there could be a bacteria or something - new level of protectiveness unlocked

• anyway back to you, you smiled at his gesture knowing the intention behind it

• and so you swiped the lipstick on his hand and a few others that caught your eye

• in the end, all is bought, all the shades that was tried on his hand

• his hand looks like that of a painter that tried different colors with their brush, except the painter is you and he is the canvas

• those lipsticks ended up leaving some marks when you kiss him, and he never wipes it off, its stays on like that until it fades on its own

Liu Zhigang:

• one of your stops is the cosmetic shop you frequent to when you run out on your products

• liu carried the basket while walking beside you

• you were looking at the things around you while liu grab the products he knew you use that was nearby at the moment

• when you turned to look at him, wanting to show him something that you wanted to try, you noticed the products that was already in the basket that you certainly did not put in there

• you glanced up at him again

• "how'd you-" "i watch you do your routines remember?"

• "so go look around for their new things, I'll handle the ones you need" he added, already taking the things you were holding "new face mask?"

• you were speechless for a moment, suddenly unable to process how you were able to pull a man like him before shaking your head and getting back to reality

• "yeah! should we try them on later?" you asked, you knew liu loves skincare and suggested if he wanted to try something new with you

• "of course" he put in onto the basket

• when you stopped at the lip section, liu just finished going around to get the products you use daily

• "ah yes, you're also running out on your lippies" he glance at you as if he didn't just say "lippies" confidently

• you nodded, even this, bro is like downloading your vocabulary, or maybe he already did

• he took the ones you use, like the lip balm and lip gloss you use on a daily basis, as well as the lipstick you put on when you go out

• all the while you look through the others

• when you pick out a different lippie from the ones you usually use, liu offered his hand when he noticed you were about to test it out on your own

• you gave a glance over at him before smiling to yourself and testing it on his hand

• you didn't know if its because he wanted to help you out or because he knew that once its bought, its gonna end up on his cheeks due to how much you like giving him kisses there, which he proudly shows off

ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

You were enjoying one of the few quiet days between college classes and exams. With plenty of free time on your hands, you decided to pick up one of the books you had bought a long time ago and finally finish it.

You sat on your bed for well over an hour, lost in the world of the book, and didn’t hear Jinwoo come in. You never did.

“You’re really into that book,” he said softly.

You jumped, nearly dropping it. “Jinwoo! You can’t just appear like that.”

He winced. “Sorry, I knocked.”

“You did not.”

He didn’t even try to argue. He simply stepped farther into the room, watching you sprawled on the bed with your head against the pillow. Something in his expression softened, as if he were relieved to see you resting for once.

“You look comfortable,” he said.

“I was,” you muttered, slipping the bookmark to make sure you don’t forget where you’d left off. “What’s up?”

He hesitated, which was very rare. He never did that unless it was something important.

“I want to show you something,” he said after a few seconds of staring at you.

“Sounds scary,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not,” he said. “I just... trust you. More than most people.”

That made you sit up from your reclined position. Jinwoo wasn’t dramatic, and he never said things unless he meant them.

“Okay,” you said, tilting your head. “Show me.”

He exhaled before taking a step back, just enough for the darkness around him to shift.

Shadows thickened at his feet, gathering on the floor.

You froze. “Jinwoo...?”

“It’s alright,” he said gently. “They won’t hurt you.”

They?

Before you could ask, the shadow nearest him rose and took shape until a tall, armored figure knelt on one knee, head bowed.

“This is Igris,” Jinwoo said, his voice steady as he watched your reaction. “He’s... one of mine.”

“One of...?” You swallowed. “Jinwoo, what is he?”

“A shadow,” he said simply. “My shadow.”

You stared. “Are they... alive?”

“In their own way,” Jinwoo said. “They’re intelligent. Loyal. And they’ve known about you for a while.”

You tore your gaze away from the shadows to look at him. “Why?”

He met your eyes, his expression softening.

“They know you mean a lot to me,” he said softly.

Your breath caught, not from fear, but from the weight of the honesty in his voice.

You looked back at the shadows, who were watching you with strange, almost gentle attentiveness.

“...Do I say hi?” you whispered.

Jinwoo actually laughed, quiet and warm, the kind of laugh he only ever let slip around you.

“Yeah,” he said. “Just... say hi.”

You lifted a hand awkwardly. “Hi.”

Igris bowed deeper, as if you’d just given a royal command.

You blinked. “Okay. That’s... a lot.”

Jinwoo stepped closer, his voice low. “If it’s too much, I can send them back.”

You shook your head. “No. It’s... weirdly not scary.”

“They like you,” he said. “They don’t do that with anyone else.”

You glanced at him. “Because of you?”

“Because you're important to me.”

The room felt different then, still quiet and dim, but warmer somehow. It was as if the shadows themselves had settled into the space without threatening it.

You exhaled. “So... shadow soldiers, huh?”

“Mm.”

“And you decided to show them to me first.”

“Yeah.”

You let that sink in. It was a lot, but it wasn’t frightening. Not when it was him.

“...Thanks,” you said, smiling softly.

Jinwoo’s shoulders relaxed, the tension melting out of him. “I’m glad you’re not running.”

You snorted. “Please. I’ve seen your fridge. This is nothing.”

Of course, the comment did nothing but earn you a loud groan.

A few days after he first showed them to you, you were sitting at your desk, trying to finish an assignment you’d been avoiding for the past week. The room was silent except for the tapping of your keyboard and the occasional frustrated sigh you didn’t bother hiding.

You didn’t notice the temperature shift at first, that faint coolness that always came with Jinwoo’s presence. You only realized you weren’t alone when a soft clink of armor sounded behind you.

You turned slowly.

Igris stood there, perfectly still, holding out a pen you didn’t remember dropping.

“Oh,” you said, blinking. “Thanks.”

He bowed his head once, then stepped back into the corner like he’d been assigned guard duty.

You stared at him for a moment, tilting your head, before turning back to your laptop.

A few minutes later, something tugged lightly at your hoodie.

You looked down.

Iron was sitting on the floor beside your chair, staring up at you with big glowing eyes, holding your water bottle in both hands like an offering.

“...Did Jinwoo tell you to do that?” you asked.

Iron shook his head so fast his whole body wobbled.

You sighed, taking the bottle. “Thanks, I guess.”

He puffed up proudly, then scurried off to sit beside Igris, mimicking the knight’s posture with comically exaggerated seriousness.

You tried not to laugh. You failed.

When Jinwoo finally appeared in the doorway, silently, as always, he paused at the sight of his shadows stationed around your room like overprotective pets.

“They’re not bothering you, right?” he asked.

“No,” you said, glancing at Iron, who was now trying to sit perfectly still like Igris and failing miserably. “They’re... surprisingly helpful.”

Jinwoo’s expression softened, the tension in his shoulders easing. “They like being around you.”

“I noticed.”

You turned back to your screen, trying to focus, but it was hard to ignore the way Igris stood like a silent sentinel in the corner, or the way Iron kept inching closer every time you weren’t looking.

“You’re still working?” he asked.

You leaned back in your chair. “Trying.”

He glanced at the screen, then at the shadows, then back at you. “They told me you were getting frustrated.”

You blinked. “They... told you?”

Iron nodded proudly, which made you sigh.

“Great. Even my stress is public now.”

Jinwoo stepped closer, resting a hand on the back of your chair. “They weren’t worried. Just... paying attention.”

You looked at him. “And you?”

“I was checking on you,” he said. “You didn’t answer your phone.”

You reached for your phone on the desk. The screen was black. Dead battery.

“Oh,” you said. “That explains it.”

Jinwoo’s shoulders relaxed a little. “I thought something happened.”

You stared at him for a moment. “You came all the way here because I didn’t text back?”

“Yeah.”

You turned your chair toward Jinwoo fully. “I’m fine. Just... drowning in this assignment.”

He looked at the screen again, then at you. “Do you want a break?”

You shook your head. “If I stop now, I won’t start again.”

Jinwoo nodded like he understood that completely. He moved a little closer, enough that you could feel the faint coolness he always carried with him.

“I can stay,” he said. “Just until you finish.”

You didn’t expect that. “You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

Iron made a small sound, like he agreed. Igris stayed still, watching the room with quiet focus.

You sighed, but it wasn’t frustration anymore. “Fine. Stay.”

Jinwoo pulled a chair over and sat beside you, not hovering, not distracting, just there. Present. Steady.

With him next to you, the assignment didn’t feel as heavy. You typed a few more paragraphs, then finally hit save.

“Done,” you said, leaning back.

Jinwoo let out a quiet breath. “Good.”

You looked at Jinwoo. “Thanks for... all of this.”

He met your eyes, calm and sincere. “Anytime.”

"What do you want me to make for dinner?" I asked looking at him.

"Korean Fried Chicken?" he asked with soft smile.

"Of course that's what you want."

The dynamics between the characters in Solo Leveling and the relationships they share (both romantic and platonic) are really interesting despite most of them being rushed. But Ashborn and the Rulers? HEART WRENCHING AGONY. And I am an absolute sucker for it. Sadly, this wasn't really explored in either the novel or the manhwa or even Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which I 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 cry over because please, I just want some Ashborn and Ruler content...

(Spoilers ahead for the anime only people)

In the novel, it's mentioned that the other Fragments of Light trust and respect Ashborn the most amongst themselves. So much so that they were willing to disobey the Most Brilliant Fragment's orders to kill Ashborn in favour of not only sparing his life but begging for his forgiveness as well. Even his soldiers were willing to follow him to death when everyone else rebelled. So yeah, he sounds like a great guy.

I feel it's more tragic considering the nature of their relationship and the roles they were forced into. I imagine that they're already fully grown from the moment they were born from the fruits of the World Tree, whether they slowly develop inside the fruits or just manifest like that is a different mystery. The command, 'Obey the Absolute Being and fight the Monarchs', is ingrained into their minds in that moment itself.

They have no caretaker figures in their life except the Absolute Being who is distant and shows little to no concern for them. Not to mention they were also heavily brain washed from the start so I can't even begin to imagine how that affects their psychology. They were soldiers who really only had each other to rely on. I wonder how they felt when they realized they would need to go against Ashborn, when they knew nothing they said would change his mind. His loyalty and devotion, the same thing that they used to admire so much, were now the biggest obstacles between them...

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” _ Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Ashborn had every right to break down too since everyone he trusted his whole life betrayed him and the cause they were all fighting for together. His entire troop died in front of him and he was the only one who survived. And in his rage, he ended up slaughtering thousands more of his kind and continued the war they had so desperately wanted to end. The cycle starts anew.

I'd like to think none of the Fragments of Light could bring themselves to truly end his life so they left him to succumb to his wounds instead. A twisted form of mercy but the road to hell is often paved with good intentions. Further more, I bet it felt like rubbing salt to Ashborn's wounds when they decided to rename themselves as 'Rulers' after the death of his Master.

• • •

• You're likely not a human if you were together before he became the Shadow Monarch. Maybe one of the Rulers? Someone from their troops?

• You knew him before he knew you. He was kind of hard to miss since he was once one of Brilliant Fragments of Light. Talks about him amongst your fellow Rulers were common as well.

• He's a busy man of high ranking, well respected and admired by many. He's not someone anyone thinks they could approach lightly but contrary to those beliefs, Ashborn would never turn down any of his companions who come to him.

• You're probably the one to approach him first. It could be anything like reporting the status of the army to him or just asking him a question out of curiosity, if you're bold enough. Either way, now he's aware of who you are.

• As your interactions become more frequent, he slowly grows more curious about you as well. Expect deeper and longer conversations too.

• Sometimes you'll find yourself training together and although Ashborn has never been one to flaunt his abilities, he'll pull off a hard stunt or move just to impress you. You can see the corners of his eyes creasing slightly under his helmet when you show your admiration or praise him.

• (Bellion has some competition)

• It takes some time but eventually the both of you grow close enough that he feels safe to share his fears and concerns to you about the wars and how much it pains him to see the others get hurt.

• He's so used to being the strongest, the reliable pillar everyone can lean on. You're the only one who gets to see him like this. Vulnerable. 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘬.

• After you cross that threshold, you can see him being a lot more open and affectionate towards you. It includes small things like asking you how your day was, waiting for you to catch up to him and asking if you need help with anything.

• Kissing isn't really known by him or any of your kind, for that matter. Instead, you'll get affectionate head bumps (helmet to helmet), nuzzling your horns or faces together, holding hands and brushing your wings with one another.

• He'll become more protective of you, especially during the wars. Even though he can't always be by your side, he'll make sure none of the more dangerous opponents come your way. Checking up on you after every fight in also a must.

• Give him your love and loyalty, he will return it tenfold. But beware, betray his trust and you will burn in the fires of his anger. Yet...

• ...He could not bring himself to hate you even as you sink your spear into his back and fly off with the rest to kill his Master.

• Whether you are a Ruler or human or anything else, you will have to have a lot and I mean A LOT of patience with this man. He has already been betrayed twice which has left him a little more than distrustful and paranoid about others.

• Unlike his Fragment self, he pushes away anyone who tries to approach him. He refuses to entertain any sort of conversation unless it's with his shadow soldiers, even then their interactions are limited to business.

• He's not taking any more chances. He's had centuries of time to build up the walls around him so it's going to take more than just a few words for you to break down each and every one.

• Lot of cold glares, short & direct answers and getting ignored. Don't take it to heart. Being dismissed is still better than ending up on the wrong side of his greatsword.

• Its going to take a long time before you can earn even a smidgen of his trust. He is constantly doubting what your true intentions are, whether you're lying to him or not or if you're just trying to exploit his weaknesses (if he even has any).

• The key is consistency and knowing when to give him space. Try not to accidentally anger the ancient being. That's how you end up as fertilizer for the World Tree.

• Don't force him to do anything he doesn't like and recognize the cues when you should take your leave. Slowly, you'll find him starting to relax around you. It's not an easy process but eventually, he will acknowledge you and respond to your greetings or small talk.

• Ashborn will likely begin observing you from afar, taking note of your behavior and intentions. When he sees you are sincere in wanting to get close to him and not hurt him, he will gradually start to open up more.

• You won't notice exactly when it happened but Ashborn has already warmed up to you and your presence. He still has his doubts but he's weaker to his emotions than he thought...

• He will remain defensive but in rare moments, his true personality shows through, revealing the weary and kind-hearted being underneath.

His fingers twitch against his sides for a split second–claws flexing on instincts before he forcibly relaxes them. You had already reassured him that the cut on your arm was an accident but he still seemed on edge. He mutters something like, "Foolish creature...you are already fragile as it is." And quickly walks about before you notice the hint of vulnerability.

(He offered to have one of his shadow soldiers follow you around to keep you safe but of course you immediately turned it down.)

• You've become somewhat of an emotional pillar for him and although Ashborn doesn't show it, his feelings of not being good enough (not only as a lover but also as a warrior and protector) haunt him constantly. Your words of reassurances mean more to him than you might think.

• He would show his affection in subtle yet meaningful gestures: He would walk close to you, slightly shielding you with his body or cloak at all times, offering you words of encouragement when you seem to be struggling and remembering small things you mentioned in earlier conversations.

• The most you'll get from him in terms of physical affection (for now) is hand holding. At first, he's hesitant but he doesn't realise how touch starved he is until his fingers curl around yours. He had almost forgotten how it felt to touch another person after being surrounded by nothing but the cold and shadows for years.

• The warmth of your hand lets him know that you're here, safe and alive.

• His love is selfless, caring for you before himself. He loves you with everything he has and he will give up anything just to keep you safe. He has lost everything else, he doesn't want to lose you too.

• • •