Chapter Text
Varian had been far from his home for a long time. He had set out alone, hoping to find clues about what happened to his mother. However, he found more than that, he also found a few new friends.
Nuru and Yong had been traveling with him for a couple months now. Hugo had just joined their group a week ago, and seemed to have almost as many secrets as Varian. The mysterious boy was tall and had blonde hair that was just long enough to keep back in a ponytail. He was 19, just one year older than Varian. Although Varian hated to admit it, he had fallen head over heals for Hugo.
The whole group was sitting around a campfire, chatting like old friends. As they were talking, Varian noticed a sharp pain in his ribs.
"I'm getting really tired guys, I'm gonna get some sleep," Varian told the group, "I'll see you all in the morning."
They all said goodnight as Varian got up and walked to his tent. Once there, he took his shirt off and then his binder. He put on a new, baggier shirt. Just after he laid down in his bed, he heard someone outside his tent.
"Can I come in?" Said Hugo.
Varian adjusted his blanket so it covered his chest, "Sure!"
Hugo stepped into the tent.
"What's up?" Asked Varian.
Hugo had a concerned look on his face. "I'm really sorry if I'm overstepping, but I just need to ask: are you okay?"
"Yeah of course," Varian hoped he sounded convincing "Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just, you seem distant. Like as if you're scared of letting anyone get to close. And you spend a lot of time alone, even though you obviously care about your friends a lot. I just was wondering if their was a reason you were isolating yourself?" Hugo seemed genuinely concerned.
"How did you notice all that?" Varian said, looking away.
"I have my ways." Hugo replied, "Look, I know you don't really know me that well, but you can talk to me. I just am really worried about you."
"Why?"
"Because you remind me of myself."
Varian looked him in the eyes. He had noticed it too. All the similarities. He was more like Hugo than he wanted to admit. Still, he didn't trust him, so he stayed silent.
"How about this," Hugo broke the silence, "I share one of my secrets, then you can share one of yours."
Without waiting for an answer, Hugo rolled up his one of his sleeves. His arm was covered with small scars, some of them fairly new, while others were years old. Varian looked at Hugo with sadness in his eyes as he rolled up his sleeve to show similar marks on his own arm.
"How long?" Varian asked.
"Since I was about 14," Hugo responded, "I had started noticing my feelings toward other boys and... I guess I thought something was wrong with me. I've been clean for about a week now though."
"For me it started when I went to prison. I just felt so alone. I had lost everything. The last time I cut was a couple days ago." Varian then added, "Oh, and I like boys too. And girls. Just whoever really."
"I know." Said Hugo, "I see the way you look at me~"
"Shut up," Varian was blushing, while also trying not to grin like an idiot.
"If you ever need to talk I'm here, okay?"
"Okay" Varian replied.
Hugo left the tent, and Varian slept just a bit more soundly that night.