Chapter Text
Beomgyu quickly took off the leather apron, grabbing his bag as the clock struck 4 p.m, the end of his shift.
"See you tomorrow." His coworker, Yooyeon, waved goodbye as the boy took his bike to ride home, headphones blasting his favorite playlist.
He was living in a small village surrounded by mountains, not able to go study in the big city far from his wilderness he had to start working right as he left high school, so he took a job in the factory right next to his town.
His apartment was in the north side of the town and he had to drive through a part of the forest that cut the village in half, his workplace being in the south side. It wasn't bothering him too much, the ride was a bit long but he liked biking. Except that that day was especially hot, the warm sun at his zenith was burning Beomgyu's skin, despite the trees surrounding him there wasn't any shade in the road and the suffocating warmth of the summer afternoon had him stop. If he kept going he'd pass out, already feeling light headed.
He stopped in the middle of the forest, heading toward a tree and getting out his water bottle. As it reached his lips, he heard a faint cry behind him. Beomgyu froze. He wasn't a scaredy-cat but lately there was a rumor going around that the woods were haunted and he wasn't about to get eaten alive by some monster or killed by a ghost. He slowly got up.
"Please..." The voice was quietly begging. Beomgyu felt his heart ache. No, he wasn't going to fall for that. If a ghost or a serial killer wanted to kill him, begging for help would be the best way to get his attention. "I... just want water."
Beomgyu tensed up, fists holding tightly his bottle. He turned around slowly. Standing, well no, leaning against the tree was a boy. He seemed weak, almost lifeless. From where he was Beomgyu couldn't clearly see his face, only the messy black hair covering it. His head was tilted down and he was panting, like he had trouble breathing. The creature was wearing a teared up, dirty tee-shirt, his jeans weren't in a much better shape and his converse were so dirty Beomgyu could barely tell what color they originally were.
But Beomgyu was a nice person, too nice for his own good. So he spoke.
"What are you ?" He squinted.
"... A monster." Beomgyu scoffed.
"What a way to gain someone's trust." He was wary of the creature. "If-" He was stopped by the boy collapsing on the ground. Breathing in, he walked to him. The boy wasn't moving and now that Beomgyu was closer, he could see that the boy's body wasn't in a good shape either, full of bleeding scars and bruises. He crouched next to him. If this was his last time on earth at least he'd make it be an act of kindness. He handed him his bottle. "Here, water."
The boy weakly lifted his head, looking at Beomgyu with his big, desperate eyes... human eyes. Beomgyu's heart ached once again, harder. His gaze went to the only thing the boy had that wasn't human. Antlers, small brown antlers on his head, like ones of a young fawn. His eyes widened in surprise but somehow he now felt ... safer... more familiar. He sat beside him and the boy quietly drank. Pitying his state of despair, he also got out what was left of his lunch.
"Here, something to eat." The boy slowly sat up, unstable and shakily taking what Beomgyu was handing him.
"Thank you." He ate a bit. Beomgyu didn't like the silence.
"I'm Beomgyu." That was all he could think of to say to fill the later.
"Thank you Beomgyu. I am..." He paused, like saying his name was disgusting, like he was afraid.
"You are ?" He carefully put a hand on the boy's shoulder, the latter flinched and closed his eyes but sensing Beomgyu wasn't doing anything else he opened them back, still tense.
"... Yeonjun." He said with a grimace. Beomgyu slowly patted his back. Yeonjun was more afraid than Beomgyu was, looking around and wanting to run away but seemingly not having enough strength to do so.
"Are you... okay ?" He asked, the scars were fresh and one of the horn was bleeding from it's base. He had to do something.
"..." Beomgyu squinted at the lack of an answer. There was no way he was letting him die in theses woods. Especially if they were haunted.
"You need a shower and new clothes, get up you're coming with me." He stood up, holding out his hand to Yeonjun. The latter's head jolted up, this was the fastest Beomgyu had seen him move so far. His big brown eyes were filled with a mix of fear and incomprehension. He stared at Beomgyu in awe, not saying a word. "Come on hurry or else we'll miss diner time."
"But..."
"I'm stubborn." He stopped him. "And you're coming home with me." Yeonjun finally took the boy's hand. Beomgyu smiled brightly, making Yeonjun relax a tiny bit. "Get on my bike, i'll push it so you don't have to walk" He glanced at Yeonjun's legs, they were in a poor state, blood peaking through the badly teared up jeans. The boy did as he was told and hopped on the bicycle.
"Why ?" Yeonjun asked, head lowered.
"I wasn't about to let you die here, you're bleeding."
"But... I'm a monster." Beomgyu rolled his eyes.
"And i'm in idiot, now will you let me take care of you ?"
"I... Thank you, Beomgyu."
"I really want to ask why you're... well, why i found you here and like this. But i guess that would be a bit too much and too soon ?" Yeonjun just shook his head in agreement and Beomgyu nodded. "I get it."
"Can... hum... Can i get something to cover myself ?" Beomgyu looked at him puzzled. The boy pointed to his antlers.
"Oh ! Of course wait." He got a purple bandanna out of his bag. "Thankfully they're not big, i think that'll do the trick." Yeonjun took the piece of fabric and wrapped it gently on his head, covering the horns. "Perfect !"
"Aren't you scared ? Why aren't you asking about... them.. ?" Yeonjun spoke after a bit. Beomgyu shrugged.
"None of my business. I've seen worst, to be honest." Yeonjun smiled and Beomgyu almost flinched at the sudden grin. He was pretty when he smiled.
"Worst than a monster ?"
"I saw Soobin kiss someone ugly once. That was traumatizing." Yeonjun chuckled, it was Beomgyu's turn to smile.
"Soobin is ?"
"He's one of my best friend ! We grew up together."
When they arrived to Beomgyu's place the sun was setting, painting the mountains pink and orange. Casting a golden glaze on the landscape. He usually wasn't home so late but walking while pushing a bike with someone on it definitely slowed him quite a bit. The scenery made up for it. Beomgyu smiled, breathing in deeply. His neighborhood consisted of colorful old houses clustered together, each of the five homes divided in 3 apartments, one on each floor. Beomgyu lived on the third floor of the light blue house.
"Isn't beautiful ?" He opened the gate only for a man to be behind them.
"Beomgyu, I was worried !" The man was older, with brown, messy hair. It seemed like he had a full day of work behind him.
"Eunkwang ! Sorry I met a friend on the way home. That's Yeonjun." Yeonjun had his head lowered, he was badly shaking. "He... uh... He has social anxiety so we'll go !" He hurried inside, dragging Yeonjun behind him.
"Oh- Well be careful outside alone !"
"I'll do ! Have a nice evening !" He quickly answered, closing his apartment door behind him. "That's Eunkwang, my landlord, he's like a father to me. He's really nice." Yeonjun kept quiet so Beomgyu spoke again. "Do you want to take a bath or eat first ?"
"... I don't want to bother-"
"I'm hungry, let's eat !" He stopped him, taking of his shoes, getting ready to cook.
And while Beomgyu got to work in the kitchen, Yeonjun looked around the place. The apartment was small but looked comfy. Not too old or too modern it was just right. There were big windows allowing the pink light of the sunset inside. The living room had a big beige couch that took up most of the space with a considerable amount of purple and red pillows and yellow blankets on it. There was a Tv in front of the couch with a table in between them. An old looking green rug was tying the room together. The kitchen was just behind the living room, not separated from it. The counters were a light green like the rug and Beomgyu had decorated it with clutter and touches of red and yellow here and there.
"Do you want to watch the Tv ? I have netflix or youtube. The remote is on the table."
Beomgyu looked over his shoulder, Yeonjun was sitting on the couch, browsing netflix. He smiled, so he knew how to use a Tv, good to know. He got back to his cooking.
"I made some ramen." He put the two bowls on the table, sitting next to Yeonjun. "It's nothing fancy but i'm tired, i'll cook something better tomorrow." He started eating, watching what Yeonjun had put on. Beauty and the beast ? Interesting choice but not Beomgyu's favorite movie.
"Thank you Beomgyu."
"Don't thank me, they're not even good... I fucked up with the spice I think." Yeonjun chuckled.
"They're good to me."
"Well you have poor taste, but thank you." Yeonjun laughed and Beomgyu felt a sudden wave of warmth.
When they were done eating and finished their movie, Beomgyu got up.
"To the bathroom now." Yeonjun was reluctant but he still obeyed. The room was tiny, had a bathtub that took up most of the space, a sink and the toilets. It was almost fully white only clutter bringing some of the red, yellow and green of the other room. Some purple flowers were also added to the mix, sitting on the sink and filling the room with it's flowery scent. "Sit here, i'll sanitize the wounds." Yeonjun sat down on the closed toilet seat and Beomgyu turned around, getting what he needed. "Please take off your shirt..."
Yeonjun did as he was told. When Beomgyu faced him he couldn't stop the slight blushing on his cheeks. Yeonjun was pretty. He knelt in front him, carefully cleaning the swarm of wounds. They weren't old, most of them still bleeding and open. Beomgyu could feel the boy moving under his fingertips anytime he touched him. Yeonjun couldn't stop whimpering from the sharp pain that was the alcohol on his wounds.
"Sorry, it's painful." Beomgyu bit his lip, he could feel the intense gaze of the boy on him. He worked his way from his chest to his stomach, then getting to his legs, or at least what he could do when was Yeonjun still wearing his jeans. Thankfully they weren't as bad as he thought. "I'm done, some of them are a bit infected we'll probably have to start again tomorrow."
"Okay." Yeonjun whispered.
"Ideally i'd have you go to the hospital... But yeah..." He looked at the boy's antlers and the latter turned his head shamefully. "Anyway ! Now for the bath !" He got up, shaking his head trying to get the image of an almost naked Yeonjun out of his mind. He turned on the faucet, warm water filling the tub. "There's shampoo here, and conditioner here." But Yeonjun didn't move.
"I can't... do it alone." Beomgyu could feel the shame in Yeonjun's shaking voice.
"Oh... Well i'll help you, if you're going to sleep in my bed you'll have to take a bath before so..." Helped by Beomgyu, Yeonjun sat down in the tub, only keeping his underwear on. He let out a sigh as the warm water soothed the pain from his wounds.
Without a word and with a flushed face, Beomgyu gently scrubbed Yeonjun's back and the areas he couldn't reach by himself. The lavender scent of the shampoo filling the bathroom.
"I'll get you some clean clothes." The very flustered Beomgyu disappeared in his bedroom and came back with a graphic blue shirt, clean underwear, grey sweatpants and socks. "Here, i'll wait for you in the bedroom."
When changed he joined Beomgyu. The latter was tidying up the room in a hurry. Like the rest of the apartment it was small and comfy looking. The light purple flowery bed sheets harmoniously contrasting with the touches of yellow and red. There was only the bed on the right of the room, a drawer on the left and a side table with a bunch of books and clutter on it. The window on top of the bed letting them get a look at the bright moon outside.
"Please don't mind the mess, I haven't tidied in a while. I don't get guests often." He awkwardly threw some clothes in the drawer. "You must be really tired, get in the bed and..."
"But and you ?" Beomgyu looked at him, surprised.
"Me ? I'll sleep on the couch."
"Will you be comfortable ?"
"Oh, yeah ! Don't worry about me !" Beomgyu tried to hide his smile. "Goodnight Yeonjun !"
"Goodnight." Yeonjun whispered with a soft smile, awkwardly getting in the other boy's bed. He looked at the books, awkwardly picking up one whose cover caught his eyes, it was just a drawing of a lavender flower, no title or summary and no name of the author either. But Yeonjun was too tired to read so he just put it back and closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep. He hadn't been so comfortable in a while.
Beomgyu was staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. It was two in the morning when he decided to sit up in the couch, looking out at the window, pouting. The moon was half full, he let out a sigh.
He got up, walking to the window but instead of gazing outside he leaned on it. "Now ?" He whispered looking at the picture next to the Tv.
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Beomgyu was about six or seven years old at the time. Cuddling next to his grandpa, he was crying. The rain was pouring. They where standing in front of his grand-father's best friend grave.
"Hi, uncle." Beomgyu whispered in a shaky voice. Uncle was how he had always refereed to the later, even thought they weren't related. But it was his way of showing how much he cared about the man. To Beomgyu, he was like another grand-father.
"Beomgyu." The old man standing beside him said, solemn. The boy lifted his head, his grand-father wasn't serious often. "Come with me." Taking his grand-son's hand the man walked to their house, they lived isolated from the town, deep in the forest. Taking out a key that he always had on him, the old man opened the attic. Beomgyu wasn't allowed in this part of the house, he hesitantly followed his grandpa.
"Why are we here ? It's not allowed."
"Now it is." The man took an old looking suitcase and opened it carefully, Beomgyu sitting on the floor beside him. "Beomgyu, I want you to have this."
"Why...?"
"I can't tell you." He took out a picture and book. "This is a picture of your uncle and I the day we graduated." Beomgyu silently observed his grand-father. "You... won't understand but..." He was close to tears, gently handing him the book. "One day, you will need it. You'll know." Beomgyu took both the book and picture, puzzled, what would a six year old child do with them ? This made no sense to him whatsoever. He glanced over to the suitcase, it still had something in it.
"Grandpa..."
"Beomgyu, honey..." He said softly but Beomgyu could feel the pain, the guilt in his smile. "I love you and I don't want you to suffer the same way we did." The child looked down at the picture, not understanding his grand-father's distress. He slowly brushed Beomgyu's hair out of his face, hand shaking, tears pouring like the rain outside. The man slowly took off his necklace, the golden key of the attic hanging from it, gently placing it in his grandson's pocket. Beomgyu looked down at the picture again, too scared to ask what was happening.
"Why is uncle holding a lavender bouquet ?"
"Lavenders were his favorites."