#dancingwithdeath

You laughed, confused. “Death? What are you here for? Gonna come and collect me?” You decided to indulge in the stranger's words, bored.

“Not yet my dear, you still have two months left,” As of a sudden, he crossed his legs, sipping a drink in his hand which wasn't there earlier. You stopped smiling, your blood running cold at the mention of those two months. “Do you believe me now?”

“How…how do you know? I never—”

“Like I've said before, I am Death. I know when you die.”

You decided to accept the nonsense spewing from this handsome stranger. “So am I being babysat until I die? Is that it?”

“Absolutely not. I have better things to do. I'll be staying around you since you're the longest contract I have currently… Can I stay at your place so I can continue to work without moving between worlds?” Death had a nonchalant look on his face. You were taken aback by how shameless he seems, asking you if he can live with you for two months, disturbing the time you had left to sort things out.

You scoffed in his face, unable to contain the laughter tumbling from your lips. “So you're gonna ruin my remaining time? Wow, I can't even die in peace. Also, how am I supposed to believe you're Death? You just randomly showed up and started talking to me.”

“Watch.” He reached out toward a rose in the cafe. As his hand grew close, the rose shriveled and dried up, some petals falling onto the floor. The dead rose stood out from the rest as an ugly blob of brown. He looked at you and winked. His body shimmered and he looked nearly transparent. Walking over to a man sitting nearby, he began moving things, scaring the customers. Eventually returning to the seat across from you, his body shimmered again, returning back to a solid state. “If you're wondering, only the contracts I have can see me when I'm in that state. But,” You blinked and he disappeared, “I can completely disappear from everyone's eyes.” You blinked twice and he was sitting back in the chair, smirking. “Believe me now?”

“Okay… Mr. Death or whatever you call yourself. I believe you. I guess. But I won’t let you move in or whatever. Because I work a job to pay for rent and food and I doubt you’d help out either.” You crossed your arms, narrowing your eyes.

The man chuckled in his seat, the noise riling the bit of fear that’s started to grow. “Call me… Seungmin. That’s the name I was given when I became one with Death, a collective group of other…well Grim Reapers. You’ll never see the others because they have their own contracts to fulfill. Anyways, for your concern, I don’t eat nor sleep. I just need a temporary place of stay rather than returning to my realm every single day because of my many contracts. Live with you or not, I will be grounding myself near you.”

“Um no thank you. In fact I will be going home so please do not follow me,” You stood up and grabbed your umbrella, leaving Seungmin sitting in the chair. The rain was pouring hard and you stood outside, struggling to open your umbrella. When you finally succeeded, a gust of wind ripped it from your aching hands. Giving up, you began walking, drenched to the bone.

All of a sudden you felt the rain stop. Seungmin was next to you, holding an umbrella. He grinned, looking straight.

“My dear, I have no need to follow you home when I’ve already been there multiple times.”

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Seungmin exhaled shakily, gently flexing his wings, stretching them to the width of your small room. “...Are you sure I don’t scare you?” He gazed into your eyes, searching for signs of fear or disgust. Rather than some scary demon of death, he looked so vulnerable, so hurt. You shook your head, reaching to feel his wings.

“May I?” His giant wing moved towards your hands. Despite its appearance, the feathers were soft as you ran your fingers gently through them. Almost like a dog, as you kept touching his wing, it seemed to lean more into your calming touch. You peered at his other wing, seeing the size difference. The bottom of his other wing was missing, scarred tissue around that area. “Can you still fly?” He nodded grimly. 

“It hurts a little but it’s slowly healing, just like the rest of me.” Your eyes widened. His injuries. You forgot about them. You carefully checked his back and saw that the deep gash was a lot more shallow, looking a little smaller than earlier. 

“What- actually, you don’t have to tell me. But I’m sorry these things happened to you.” You looked at him, noting his closed-off appearance. Before you thought it through, you reached out to hug him. He grunted in pain. “Ah sorry!” You pulled away, worried that you had hurt him. He seemed to understand your worries and shook his head, pulling you back in for a hug, feeling his wings wrap around you in a protective manner. It was comforting and warm. 

“Thank you.”

Over the course of a week, Seungmin’s injuries had healed. Convinced you honestly didn’t mind his true form, he began to stay in his natural form when he was in your apartment. 

“When I die, are you going to fly my soul away or something?” You stared at him, looking up from your book. 

“Or something.” He gave you a cheeky grin. “I’m not sure how to explain it.” You threw a pillow at him, giving him a look. “Oww,” he pretended to hold his arm, pouting. “You hit an injured person!” 

Rolling your eyes, you grinned. “You heal plenty fast. Get over it. Anyway, I made a list of things I should accomplish before my time is up. A new list,” you glared at him, remembering when he called your wish to fall in love dumb, “And some of them I need your help. Especially your ability to travel around this world quickly.” 

Seungmin sighed loudly. “Fine. What’s first on the list?”

“Well actually I want to try this dessert at this popular bakery but it’s so busy every time I go. So I was thinking maybe you could wait in line for me since you don’t sleep or eat?” You smiled at him sweetly, hoping he’ll cave in. He blinked twice at you. No. “Meanie.” You sat back on the couch, pouting. 

The next morning, you woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing. Normally he goes out for a morning flight earlier. Getting up, you changed and went to wash up. When you went to the kitchen to get water, there was a bag and a note. It read: “You’re the real meanie here.” Inside the bag was the dessert you had been wanting. You smiled. That’s nice of him. I wonder how early he had to be there… You sat down and enjoyed your sweet breakfast.

Sitting on the roof of the apartment building, Seungmin scowled. “Why did I stand in line for her damn dessert? She better appreciate it. I stood for 2 hours.” He frowned, his pale cheeks sporting a light pink tint. “I only did it because she’s sick. Yeah. That’s right.”

When he flew down, entering your apartment through your balcony, you hugged him for a short moment, thanking him. “Yeah, yeah whatever.” He walked off, failing to hide the pink in his cheeks. 

“Seungmin. Hey Seungmin?” You poked his cheek, his eyebrows furrowing as he was concentrating on a mental meeting he was having about his weekly report. Minutes later his eyes opened, scowling. “Can you make it rain?” 

He opened his mouth and then closed it. He opened his mouth again. “What?”

“You know, make it rain? Rain water? Control the weather?” He stared before nodding slowly. “Great. Can you make it rain tonight?” 

“Whatever.”

Later that evening, it started to rain. It didn’t pour or sprinkle but it rained a nice constant shower. “C’mon!” You grabbed Seungmin’s arm and pulled him towards the door. “Let’s go!” You ran outside with Seungmin in tow.

“You wanted me to make it rain so we both get soaked?” He frowned, confused.

“No, silly! I wanted to dance in the rain, I’ve always wanted to do this.” You set up a waterproof speaker on the sidewalk as you walked out into the middle of the empty road, beckoning Seungmin to come out. “May I have this dance?” You grinned as Seungmin rolled his eyes, smiling as he placed his hands in yours, swaying to the beat of the music. “I love this, it’s so fun!” You giggled as Seungmin twirled you around in the rain. 

Three songs in, the two of you began to slow dance, slowly moving to the music. “Thank you for doing this.” You looked up at Seungmin, who brought out his wings, shielding you from the rain. He smiled softly in return, staring into your eyes, noticing the tiny drops of rain sticking to your lashes, the way the water dripped from the ends of your hair, and the giant drop of rain that sat on your plush lips.

Closing his eyes and blocking any thoughts, he leaned forward and kissed you gently, tasting the bit of rainwater as he claimed your lips. Your eyes widened at the kiss, eventually closing as you began to kiss him back, surprising him. His wings once again protectively wrapped around both of you, creating your own little secret world.

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He chuckles, the noise chilling you more than your rain-soaked clothes. “When I move between realms, it can be difficult. But near your apartment and many other places, there are rifts between realms, allowing me a much smoother and easier transfer but it’s still time-consuming. So whether you like it or not, I’ll be sticking around you.”

As you approached your apartment door, you faced him. “Yeah… how about no?” You shut the door in his face quickly, shivering from the cold. You went to your room to grab clothes for your shower, passing by your office. Doing a double take, you look back into your office. There he was, sitting at your desk, inspecting the little things you had on there.

“You can’t lock me out. Physical barriers don’t do much for me,” Seungmin grins, setting down a paperweight. “Do go ahead and shower, I wouldn’t want you dying earlier than you’re supposed to. Don’t worry. I won’t peek or anything.”

Screw it. You went to the bathroom, quickly getting underneath the warm water. Standing there, you had so many thoughts running through your head. Should I move? If I ask my job for an advance on pay, will I be able to get treatment to make him leave? Why is he still here? I can’t force him out either…

After your shower, you go to your room, writing down a list of things to do before you die. “’Fall in love’? That’s a pathetic wish but alas, a common one.” Flinching, you whirled around in your seat, glaring at Seungmin who was looking over your shoulder.

“What the hell? I’m sure you haven’t fallen in love with anyone,” you shot back, adrenaline pumping from the shock.

“I won’t respond to that. But it is a dumb wish to accomplish.”

“I still want to experience it. It’s my life, not yours.”

“It’s so boring and plain pathetic to watch you humans attempt to love another before your life ends.” Seungmin scoffed, fiddling with your pen.

You were silent for a moment before you began to speak. “Yeah. It’s pathetic. I know because that’s how my life is. That’s how a lot of our lives are. So if you’re gonna act like an asshole about this, go away. Leave. I just found out today.” Your voice broke and you took a deep breath. “I…I know it’s pathetic and- and stupid. Humans, we’re dumb. We take things for granted and then when we might lose it for real…” You looked down at your lap, tears forming. “We don’t face reality until the end. I regret not living my life. Enjoying more.”

Seungmin was speechless. He’s listened to pitiful stories before so why is this human’s story hurting the heart he doesn’t have? “I’m sorry for calling that pathetic. You’re the only human who has really regretted the things they missed out on, the things they held onto when they should’ve let go. But listen. You still have time. I will help you fulfill your wishes since I am helping you to your afterlife and then your next life once you pass. I’ll…I’ll go now,” He disappeared from your room. You walked around your apartment, no sign of him. He really left.

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Countless stores and bags later, you entered your apartment with a bright smile. Humming you put your clothes and accessories away, knowing very well you’ll try them on later anyways. All of a sudden, you heard a thud. You froze, poking your head into the hallway, listening for anymore noises. You heard scraping noises coming from your door. “What the hell?” You grabbed the bat your friend gave you when you moved in, approaching the door slowly, peering into the peephole. Nothing. There’s nothing.

Your eyes trailed down, seeing legs in a black suit and black substance on the floor. And feathers. Lots of them. Carefully, you opened the door a crack. “Seungmin? Oh my god.” You saw Seungmin slumped against the wall with giant black wings. You dropped the bat and swung the door open, kneeling down by his side. Sliding your hand behind his head to support him, you gasped. The black splotches. It’s blood.

“You’re okay. I got you. I’m sorry, I know it hurts.” You reached around his folded wings to drag him into your apartment, leaning him against the wall. “Wait here.” You ran to your bathroom, filling a bucket with water, grabbing the first-aid kit and spare over-sized clothes. Kneeling down with trembling hands, you took off his bloodied shirt, peeling it away from the gashes on his back and stomach, not seeing the scratches and cuts on his arms. “I’m gonna clean you up okay?” You hesitantly looked at his fluttering eyes.

“Hurry.”

You wiped the blood off and gently cleaned his wounds, flinching as he grunted and grit his teeth. “You’ll be okay. It’s okay.” You were really saying this for yourself.

When he finally had the strength to move a little, you helped him into your bed. You were worried. You tried your best to treat and wrap him up. It’s hard to take care of a being that doesn’t eat nor sleep. He fell in and out of consciousness. It must be that bad that he seems to sleep right now. You paced in the hallway anxiously before going to your kitchen to get a glass of water. “Even if he doesn’t eat, water should be fine, right?” You spoke aloud to yourself, setting the glass down to dab at the sweat on Seungmin’s forehead. As you pulled away, you felt a gentle tug on the hem of your shirt.

“Don’t… don’t go.”

“Huh?” You stared at him incredulously. Seungmin’s jaw and grip was tense. His eyes were scrunched closed tightly. He was not conscious. “Hey, hey, hey, wake up. Wake up,” you shook him lightly, searching for tiny signs of consciousness. After a moment, his eyes fluttered open, blinking multiple times before speaking.

“Y/n?” He winced, attempting to sit himself up. You quickly helped him up. “Sorry…I got blood everywhere. And I must’ve scared you. I got caught in between a few dastardly beasts on my way back and I couldn't heal myself…Let me- let me change so I don’t scare you any more.”

You blinked and his wings disappeared and his deep wounds started to heal slowly while the little cuts were gone. “Have… have you always had wings?” He nodded, avoiding your gaze.

“They look ugly, don’t they? Especially after I had a good part of my wing torn off, which is still trying to heal.” You shook your head.

You stared deep into the bottomless pools of darkness in his eyes. “No. They aren’t ugly. They’re…beautiful. Terrifyingly beautiful. I know you’re hurting and changing your form probably makes it worse. Go back to your true form. It doesn’t scare me... Let me help you.”

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