Chapter Text
"We did good." Joonghyuk sighed, as he watched the his husbands smiling face.
Hair turned grey, wrinkles and all. His bones ached.
He was old.
But to the retired Emperor, he was still as beautiful as the first time they met.
"I hope so, because we don't have anymore time to regret anything at this point." Dokja sassed, his wit hasn't changed at all.
A calloused wrinkly hand caressed the former Empress' face. And placed a devoted kiss on his lips. It was sweet, and somehow bitter.
"I was hoping I'd go first." Joonghyuk said, as he laid beside his husband.
They've spent over five decades together.
A shared long peaceful tenure as monarchs.
They raised two independent children.
He even managed to spend time with people of the Kim Dokja Company.
Everything was in order.
In its place.
"That's not going to happen. I've told you before didn't I—"
"All Joonghyuk incarnations live longer than a Kim Dokja." The retired Emperor repeated like a sad mantra.
It's always been that way.
And even placed in another timeline isn't going to change that.
"You can't be sad ok? You are the only Joonghyuk to stay with me this long after all." Dokja said, holding his husband's hand.
This was the second death he would be proud of.
And the only death that he carried no regrets towards
He was happy.
Dying of old age wasn't something he imagined he could do, even in his previous timeline.
"I suppose I am lucky." Joonghyuk said, remembering the stories that the Empress told him over the years.
"Are you happy?" Dokja asked, as his husband quietly watched him.
"I am." His husband replied, making the retired Empress smile wider.
Even in his previous life, that was all he wanted.
"Me too."
"It has ended." The outer God announced, as the life of his most beloved had finally reached it's peak.
Bihyung looked at the stunted God.
He . . . Wasn't doing anything?
By now the Dokkaebi King predicted that he would've scrambled to get the soul fragment back. And even try to reincarnate the reader again. Or even elevate him to the rank of divinity.
But the outer God remained quiet.
It was unnerving.
"Why aren't you doing anything?!" The Dokkaebi shouted, a little frustrated at how it played out.
At least his daughter was happy where she was.
Human.
That wasn't something he imagined his daughter would like.
But his daughter was more like her other father after all. Full of humanity and curiosity.
Biyoo was doing just fine without him.
It hurts to say, but he enjoyed watching her live her life to the fullest.
"He said he was happy." The God murmured.
"I guess he is." The Dokkaebi replied, feelings were a tad bit different for creations like him.
Happiness was too human of a feeling to be fully understood by him. He had a sense of what it was. A pride in seeing his daughter at her peak. A pride when his streams hit big in the old star stream system.
"He said he was happy!" The God said a bit bitterly.
"Yes, I heard that."
"I can't take that away from him." The outer god said with resolution.
"I want him to remain happy till the very end." The God said sweetly.
The God truly, and sincerely loved the fragment with all his being.
And watching his beloved live happily with the image of him by his side.
That was enough for him.
He couldn't interfere with that happiness.
"Well, if it's any consolation, he loved you too." The Dokkaebi king said in a moment of kindness.
"All Joonghyuks are a part of you after all." Bihyung added.
"I suppose that's true." The God replied, giving a rare smile.
"He loved me too."