ascension, love, and the ever present pull-and-push

Kim Dokja gets de-aged as a result of a mishap with an artifact, post-epilogue. Uncomfortable truths come out.
(Or, they love Kim Dokja, no matter what form he’s taken.
 
He doesn’t know what to do with this much love.)
...
When he wakes up again, it’s to a whole group of people, most of which are noisy and loud.
He lies there in the soft blanket for a minute, taking in the details of a hospital room, and noting the IV going into the crook of his elbow. He attempts to sit up, wincing when it pulls at the mess of his chest.
There’s an odd weight on one of his legs, and there’s a fluffy...creature resting on it, curled into his side. It’s warm.
The room goes quiet all of a sudden, and he finds himself staring back at an odd assortment of people.