The convenience store's lights shine upon the street, letting themselves be the only major source of illumination in that rather dull street. Inside, a young woman sits behind the counter, putting tags on products while she waits for the next customer to come in.
She remains completely unaware, however, of the green-eyed presence that watches her from afar.
Mischief stands in front of the convenience store, letting its light shine on him though he remains in the reaper's realm, invisible to human eyes. His own eyes, however, are on the young woman behind the counter, a look of longing in them as his mind returns to a memory from 150 years ago.
"She hasn't even changed in appearance," the Messenger thinks to himself as he watches her, finishing her current task before letting a relieved sigh and then looking around the store. She seems to be looking for something else to do while waiting for customers. And Mischief slightly furrows his brows as he watches her. "... Of course, it's not like she'd recognize me if I went in now, would she?"
He wonders, staying in his place for a moment, before he finally steps into the human realm, and he enters the convenience store, the bell ringing above him as he pushes the door open.
The young woman turns to him almost immediately when he comes in, and Jangjun smiles and nods at her before he goes into the aisles.
"As expected... she doesn't remember."
Jangjun lets out a quiet sigh as he looks through the shelves, looking for something he might end up wanting to buy now that he's inside. All the while, he remains wary of the young woman at the counter, now wiping the counter and the shelves underneath it.
• • •
Jung Hyemi — or rather what she was once called — just so happened to be one unlucky human that had made the Messenger of Mischief just even more unlucky than he already was.
To fall in love was already such a sin for grim reapers. They weren't allowed to, otherwise, what was the point of their immortal suffering if they were allowed to live among the humans like the humans?
But to try and cheat on the Laws of Life just to save one soul?
It was supposed to be just a secret between him, Death, and Torture, but everything came falling down when it was leaked to the others. And Torture just had to be the one with Hyemi at the time, ultimately becoming the one to take her soul and restore the Laws of Life.
• • •
Of course, while Jangjun knew Hyunjin meant well, even after all this time, he still can't help but have some resentment left inside him for the Messenger that took his love's life.
And now, even Hyunjin is begging to have his friend with an Expired Soul saved. How could that ever look fair to him?
The sound of the bell above the door ringing breaks the silence once again, but Jangjun doesn't pay much heed to it as he continues looking through the food section.
That is, until he hears a rather concerningly loud thump from the counter.
"My, my, isn't it concerning that a young lady like you is out here working alone in the middle of the night?"
Jangjun perks up at the threatening sound, and he turns his head, quickly creeping towards the counter to see what's going on.
The man that just come in hasn't really done anything, at least. But he looks drunk, and the thump from earlier must have come from him slamming his hand down on the counter to keep his balance.
Hyemi's reincarnation, on the other hand, doesn't look so comfortable, as she gingerly keeps her distance from the drunk man. "I assure you, it isn't that at all alarming, sir. My boss is in the back, watching over everything that happens in here. See that CCTV over there? She can see what's happening out here right now, so you don't have to be worried about– Ah!"
The man slams his hand on the counter again, making the young woman yelp and break out of the fearless image she tried to keep up to make this man go away.
Jangjun's brows furrow, and he instinctively takes a step forward, only to immediately freeze when he remembers a certain rule that grim reapers have to follow, too.
Don't interfere in human matters. Most especially when they are a matter of life and death.
"But... what the hell am I supposed to just leave her there on her own?"
"Don't act all innocent! You think I'm a bad guy, don't you?! How offensive... You really think all men are the same? Well, let me tell you. I'm not like those other men, so why should you be scared of me?" The man talks with a falsely softened tone, but that does nothing as the young woman behind the counter leans hard against the shelves behind her, trying to keep as much distance as possible from the threat right in front of her.
"W-what are you talk–"
"Just come with me and I'll show you!" The man stretches his hand and reaches out his hand to try and grab the young woman, but before he could even get to her, a third person enters the scene, grabbing the man's hand and pressing it hard, making him scream in pain.
Jangjun's eyes glow a faint green as he looks down at the man, the latter turning to him with rage in his eyes that quickly turn into fear. And then Jangjun lets go of him, pushing him to the ground in the process.
"Lay a single finger on her, and I will break both your arms," he threatens the man, an aura slowly coming out of him and getting to the bastard who becomes even more scared at the atmosphere that's suddenly surrounding him.
"W-wait a minute... I-I didn't even do anything... I didn't do anything! Spare me, please!"
"Leave!" the enraged reaper tells him, and the man's face drops, before he gets up quickly in the next second and staggers out of the convenience store.
As soon as the door closes shut once again, Jangjun's aura dissipates, and he slowly turns to the counter towards the young woman who still looks shaken... even by him.
He promptly avoids her eyes as he places two cup noodles on the counter. "I'll take these."
"O-oh... right..." she says, and then she continues her work as Jangjun's eyes slowly move back to her, towards her name tag.
"Hwang Seulbi," it reads, and Jangjun turns his eyes away again just as Seulbi finishes scanning and packing the things he bought.
"Here's your change and receipt. Have a good day!"
"Thanks," Jangjun replies and nods, as he picks up the bag, and then Seulbi continues.
"Oh, and... thank you... back there. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't come." A small smile forms on her face as she looks down, and Jangjun's smile turns into a more genuine one as he nods again.
"No problem. Take care!" And then he finally leaves the place, still keeping in mind the young woman's new name in this life.
Still, once he steps out, and the cold night air and the stars up above greet him with a familiar feeling of solitude, he sighs, and his smile turns into a sad one again as he hangs his head and starts walking "home".
"In the end, I was still willing to break the rules for you even in your next life... How tragic indeed... the life of a grim reaper."
YOU ARE READING
Death's Bow (Golden Child TAG X Female OC)
Фанфик[‼️RATED MATURE FOR VIOLENCE‼️] He is Death. He was meant to bring death. He was meant to bring darkness and misery. And yet why did he choose to do just that to save a life? Bae Suyeon isn't even special. And yet, now that she's seen Death, she can...
