Chapter Text
Vernon doesn't consider murder often.
First of all, because it's illegal. He could have problems, go to prison, his family would be sad, so not a great deal: for him to consider murder, the offense has to make the pain worth it. Second of all, because he's a pacifist.
But when he felt hands pull his headphones off of his head this one afternoon, he did very seriously consider murder.
He settled on a muffled scream and a jump to the side, then immediately lunged forward to snatch the headphones right back - and if he scratched the thief's hand in the passing with his nails, he didn’t mean it.
He held the headphones against his chest, close to his too-quickly beating heart, eyes wide and glued on the person in front of him.
He was a boy, around Vernon's age with deeply fried hair, round cheeks and pale skin that was turning a little red around his wrist from Vernon's sudden reaction.
" Wow calm down! " said the stranger, and just like that Vernon considered turning himself into a ball and crying. That would’ve been painful and humiliating so he didn’t, but he was that close.
" What do you think you are doing? " he uttered, not too loud so no one could hear him. He wasn’t about to risk having to explain to his grandmother that he scratched a boy’s wrist. She already was so reluctant to let him wear his headphones, he knew her patience would wear thin.
" I called you but you didn’t hear me “ said the guy with a pout, “and then I wondered why you had headphones on at all. There is music out there. "
This was exactly why he had headphones on in the first place: to block out the music. And the chatter. And the sound of heels. And the noise of the air-conditioning. And boys with bleached hair asking him questions.
" Why didn't you just ask? " he answered, finally managing to calm his heartbeat as he sat back down.
The boy shrugged as he imitated him, taking the chair right next to his.
" I did. You didn't hear me though. " he insisted.
" Oh, right. These are noise-canceling headphones. " Vernon finally explained, hoping to satiate the boy’s curiosity enough so he would consider leaving him be. " I wear them to block the noises, because I'm hypersensitive to them."
"Oh. That must suck " was all the other answered, and that was the first time Seungkwan understood something about Vernon.
He had learned his name about five months ago, even before he started coming to the elderly dance club every sunday. They hadn't ever talked, but he happened to be his grandmother's friend's grandson, so...
Seungkwan.
He didn't bother to respond - silent meant agreement - as he simply let his eyes drift to his grandmother, chatting in a corner of the room.
Vernon liked the idea of this club. Every sunday, elderly people could come and practice ballroom dance with their children or grandchildren, mostly an excuse so they could socialize with each other.
Now he wasn't sure that he appreciated being the one dragged into this, but his bonding times with his grandma were so rare that he didn't complain as long as she didn't either. It was their silent agreement: he tagged along and danced with her, she let him wear his headphones and sit in a corner during the breaks.
" Is she your grandma? " piped up Seungkwan, his voice startling Vernon. Truth to be told, he knew he hadn’t given him the kindest and warmest of answers, so he half-expected the other to be mad at him. Maybe Seungkwan was also a pacifist, who knows.
He didn't let any of his wonders phase his neutral expression - he'd grown used to them by now - as he followed the direction of Seungkwan's finger, and sure enough, it was her.
" She's very pretty " answered the other after he nodded. " I really like her dress ".
" She's a tailor " he said, regretting it a little for a hot second because that meant they would keep talking and he wasn't sure he wanted that, but he wasn't sure he wanted to stop the exchange either.
" Well she was a tailor, she's retired now but... she didn't forget how to tailor. She makes her own dresses. "
Seungkwan dramatically nodded in acknowledgment.
" Okay, I'm sorry, this was a really bad way to spark a conversation I realize.” he eventually said, when the silence got to be slightly too awkward. “ I thought you were just going to talk about your favorite group of music or something, not that I would freak you out. Sorry for that. "
" Oh don't worry", Vernon assured, " a lot of things freak me out. Loud noises freak me out. Strong smells freak me out. It's not a "you" thing. "
Seungkwan had a small laugh at that. “ Well, I’m glad that I’m not scarier than a strong smell. I kind of get you to be honest, I didn’t think I was that sensitive to them until I was forced to take classes in lecture halls with 400 people in the middle of June.”
“ You go to college? “ Vernon asked, perhaps a little too astonished considering it was the most likely occupation for a nineteen-year-old.
“Yes! I study journalism. You?”
" Oh I don't...study. Yeah sorry, I don't know why I went on the topic of studies in the first place. "
" It's fine " answered Seungkwan with a chuckle. Seems like that was his default answer, though not in a bad way. It was probably nice, to be that worry-less. Vernon could only wish he had 10% of his poise. " At least I can trust you not to talk about studies exclusively. I swear, it's like the moment I dipped a toe into college it's all people can ever ask me about. Like, my dad? I'm pretty sure he believes if he asks me enough he can make my grade magically turn into an A. "
" Maybe he can. Motivational speaking? "
" If it is, then he's really bad at it.
Vernon chuckled, more because of the natural theatricality of Seungkwan than anything else.
" The grandmas here love that I'm doing journalism though " he continued with a mischievous glint to his eyes. " For some reason they assume that means I love gossip, which I do, but I'm pretty sure it's unrelated. And they've got mad tea. "
" Actual tea or rumors? "
" Both! " he answered with a laugh. " Like this man over there? He's been coming for a year with a young woman, and everyone thought she was his daughter but guess what. "
" She's his girlfriend? "
Seungkwan clapped his hands. " Top tier deduction skills. You should gossip with the grandmas some time, you would love it. "
He scrunched his nose up. " Thanks, I'll pass though. I'm afraid they would start gossiping about me. "
" Oh they do " said Seungkwan, like it was the most natural thing ever.
" What do they say? "
The older pretended to be lost in thought for a moment. " Anything ranging from 'damn kids with their technological devices' to 'why doesn't he cut his hair, it falls into his eyes constantly".
Vernon tugged at his hair, properly tucking the stray strands behind his ears. He'd like to say he kept his hair on the longer side out of style or convenience, but the completely honest truth was that he just hated the hairdresser.
" Don't beat yourself over it though, they would really say the most random things. I like your hair actually, it looks fluffy. It's much better than mine! " Seungkwan admitted with a laugh.
He would have answered something had the music not changed, prompting his grandmother to walk towards him in long strides. So did Seungkwan's grandfather.
Both boys stood up, and luckily Seungkwan was kind enough to avoid him the dreadful task of having to figure out how to say goodbye.
" Well it was nice talking to you, Vernon. See you later! "
" Bye Seungkwan".
He almost bit his tongue as he watched the other's figure retreat. He was not supposed to know his name.
He figured he wouldn't come off as too weird though, because he had never told Seungkwan his name either.
------------------------------
When he got home, Vernon was greeted by the familiar smell of ramen floating in the air. Usually he would’ve complained about the kitchen's door being left open and the smells getting everywhere, but ramen was an exception. So he's a sucker for any kind of pasta, sue him.
He smiled at his mom as he entered, to find that she was absolutely beaming. She hastily dried her hands on her apron before handing him what looked to be a letter, the envelope obviously having already been opened and then carefully shut again. He appreciated the attention.
" Open it " she urged him, even though his curiosity was faster than her. He was fairly sure he wasn't expecting anything, making this all the more ominous.
He pulled out a very official-looking paper, with "University of Seoul" printed in red at the top of it, with the logo and everything. Except it was January, and Vernon is pretty sure he didn't imagine the rejection letter he got back in august.
He quickly skimmed through the letter, his brain short-circuiting a little.
" They're accepting me? " he finally asked, voice barely audible.
His mother nodded so enthusiastically he got scared her head was going to fall off her shoulders.
" They have opened special spots for students with autism in IT and so they reevaluated your case. The faculty's administration is allowing you to only follow the second semester, as long as you agree to take extra classes to catch up on the basics. Isn't that awesome?? "
Words suddenly became very complex to Vernon's overwhelmed brain. He just opened and closed his mouth like a fish a few times, before his mother engulfed him in a hug.
" I'm very happy you're getting this chance, Vernon " she whispered in his hair, and he smiled.
When he failed to find a university back in September she had told him that it was okay and he didn't have to go to college, that he could still try next year, but he could tell she was worried. Worried for him. He was bad at deciphering people's emotions, but she was bad at hiding hers. She was so outwardly emotional in reality that he believed she was the only person in the world he didn't struggle to understand.
The second semester didn’t start for another two weeks. Never had two weeks felt both like forever and a mere fraction of seconds.
" How will I get there? " he suddenly worried, as a pile of logistical questions started flooding his mind. How would he get there? And what would he eat? How was he expected to dress and behave? Where was he supposed to go? What-
" Take a deep breath Vernon, I can almost see steam coming out your ears " teased his mother. " I'll drive you, is that alright? "
He didn’t know if it was.
Don't get him wrong, this was not a problem of "oh no so shameful how can I be seen with my parent at school" or anything of the sort. He hated the bus, and his mother drove him to class all through high school.
But he had grown up, and whereas he used to be happy to rely on his mom, he now longed for autonomy. Wouldn't going to college on his own be a good place to start?
" I could try taking the train " he proposed, trying not to notice his mother's expression freezing for a second.
" You could " she replied with a smile, " but you know it's no bother for me to take you there. "
" I know " he smiled back, "but I really want to give it a try. If I can’t do even that, college is going to be very complicated. "
" Are you sure? Do you want me to come with you to be certain everything's alright and-"
" I’ll be fine mom " he said with a laugh, already walking in the direction of his room. " I'm not twelve '
' Well almost!! Nineteen's not that much older than twelve. "
Vernon wasn’t sure he disagreed, so it was more for the sake of pride that he answered" Sure, what are seven years after all. "
She rolled her eyes at him, and as soon as she was out of view he started jumping from excitement