Work Text:
Haejoon was coming back from school, regretting not taking his jacket with him today. Who would've thought it's gonna snow on 3rd December? Fortunately, he was already walking inside the dorm building.
"Oh, Haejoon, you're here! Is Eunyung with you? You guy's must've been freezing without your jackets today, lucky me I took mine I guess, hehe." Juwan's high-pitched voice was the first thing Haejoon heard. The little guy was sitting in the kitchen, eating something and scrolling through his phone, crumbs all over his mouth. Haejoon took his shoes off and walked further inside.
"Yeah, I didn't expect today's snow at all, otherwise I would've dressed more warmly. Good for you to check the weather, Juwan." Haejoon also took his hoodie off, as it was covered in snow and he didn't exactly want to get sick again. He was hanging it in the hall, when a sudden realization hit him. "Wait, did you just say Eunyung still hasn't came back? Didn't his classes end earlier today?"
"Huh? Yeah, he still hasn't came back. I thought he was waiting for you so you can go back together or something. It doesn't sound like him though, now that I think about it..." Juwan said, scratching his head. Eunyung is too big of an egoist, to wait for someone for an entire period. So why isn't he back already? "Maybe he had some business to do? Let me text him" Juwan entered their texts and wrote "Hi Eunyung! Me and Haejoon were wondering when are you coming back lolol". "Andddd sent. Now let's just wait for him to reply. Maybe he's just busy"
"Yeah, you're right. He's probably hangin' out with that friend group of his. Anyway, how did your math exam go?"
"To be honest, not so good heheh, I only got 64 points." Juwan smiled uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, even after you helped me study..."
"It's okay, we can study again. I don't really have anything to do now, so how about we study together?" Haejoon said. He could see Juwan was really trying his best, but just couldn't understand some stuff, so he was eager to help. Just like Haejoon's mom helped him, back in the day.
"Really?! If it isn't a problem, then yes please! I'll just go grab my workbooks." Juwan squeaked with excitment and rushed upstairs. Haejoon just smiled and sat down comfortably. Eunyung will be home soon, there was no need to worry for that rascal.
~ ~ ~
It was already past 12AM and they still haven't heard from Eunyung. Brunette was slowly loosing his mind. He and Juwan stopped studying around three hours ago, so he couldn't really do anything other than sit on his bed and think. About Eunyung. Where was that fucker? It was Thursday, so they still had to go to school tomorrow. So where is that bitch? Maybe he had an accident? Maybe it was a car accident? Haejoon couldn't stop thinking about it, he had to do something. That's right, he will look for Eunyung. Who cares it's past their curfew anyway. He stood up and went to pick out a warm outfit, it was still snowing after all. He got dressed, then grabbed one more jacket from his closet, for Eunyung, since Juwan said that moron didn't have a jacket either. He left the room and started going downstairs when someone pushed past him. They had medium length blonde hair and were covered in snow. Eunyng. Haejoon turned back and went after him, back in their room's direction.
"Where the fuck were you? Did no one teach you how to use your phone? Me and Juwan were waiting for you to at least text us back you fucker!" Haejoon could feel his blood boiling. Did he really worry just so that troublemaker could come back home and not give a shit? Eunyung didn't even respond, he completely ignored the older one and just walked into their room. Haejoon went after the blonde and grabbed his shoulder, forcing the younger one to look him in the eyes. Then he felt his heart drop. Eunyung's face was covered in bruises, his upper lip was bleeding, his hair was a total mess and his eyes were foggy. Haejoon looked at him carefully. His clothes were also a mess, wet from the snow, dirty, and some parts looked like stained in blood. "Eunyung... What happened? Who did this to you? Did you try to steal something again?" Why does he always get in trouble? He didn't even look Haejoon in the eyes. "EUNYUNG!" He shook the blonde one by his shoulders. Why didn't he say anything? Why didn't he look Haejoon in the eyes? Why did Haejoon have to worry about him again? He was ready to give up, but Eunyung started talking.
"I didn't steal anything, I promise." His voice was unusually quiet and raspy, it didn't sound like Eunyung at all. "I just... ran into some people I used to know. They don't like me very much.. Haahh, why do you even care? Why did you think I stole again? If you still think so lowly of me, why are we even talking right now? Just fuck off, dude." He shook Haejoon's hands off his arms.
"What the hell are you talking about, Eunyung? You know how you are, you often steal, and you often get in trouble because you pay no thought to consequences. Am I not allowed to think you did something stupid when that's practically all you do? I was worried, okay? It's really late, and you just came back home all bruised and looking like shit."
"I just came what? Home? Do you seriously think of this place as your home? Maybe you think of me as family too, huh? Little poor Haejoon, Eunyung didn't tell him when he's coming home? Such an awful family he has, doesn't he? Wake the fuck up, Haejoon. This isn't your home, this is some haunted shit hole that we just happened to temporarily stay in."
"I know it's not my home, okay?! I know it. But don't I have the right to worry about you?"
"No, you don't. We're not even close and I get myself in trouble all the time, you said it yourself, didn't you? So focus on yourself, fucker." That was it for Haejoon. He really tried to get on Eunyung's good side, he even worried about him. And this is what he gets in return? Eunyung acting like an ungrateful brat?
"You dumb bitch, you know what? Okay. I don't care anymore, you can just go die in some ditch if that's what you want. Or throw yourself under a car for all I care." He shouldn't have said that, he really shouldn't. Haejoon already opened his mouth to apologize, but then-
"Just like your mom did, right? Sure thing, du-" Before he could even think about what he's doing, Haejoon struck a punch straight to Eunyung's head, who immediately collapsed.
"You will not talk about my mother like this. Understood?" Haejoon stood over Eunyung, waiting for a response. He didn't hear a single word tho. Blonde boy was still laying on the ground, not moving an inch. The Brunette stood there for a while, and when Eunyung still hasn't moved, he started getting worried. "Eunyung? Hey, answer me." He kneeled down to the younger one, waiting for a suprise attack, but nothing happened. Haejoon took the hair out of blonde's face, only to discover he was unconscious. Brunette pulled the boy closer to him. "Eunyung, this isn't funny. You can hit me now if you wanna, okay?" He shook his friend's body, still to no response. Then, a sudden thought struck Haejoon. Maybe he hit his head while falling? What if he's not breathing? Almost panicking, he quickly checked if the younger one was breathing. To brunette's relieve, he was, although unsteadily. Haejoon pulled the boy's body closer again. "Come on, I'm sorry, wake up. Should I call 911? Eunyung, wake up, I'm sorry. You can hit me, just wake up. Did you have a concussion? Because of me? I'm gonna call an ambulance." Suddenly something pulled Haejoon's jacket weakly. Surprised, he looked at, now awake, Eunyung, who was gripping him with desperation in his eyes.
"D-don't you da..re call an a-ambulance.. I'll be o-okay, just need to s..leep this off..." With these words, his hand slipped off of Haejoon's jacket, and the boy was unconscious again, leaving Haejoon alone in this messed up situation. Not knowing what to do, as his atonement brunette chose to do what he's best at- clean. Not their room this time, though. He was gonna clean up something way more important than some dorm room. He dressed out of his jacket, to move more comfortably, took Eunyung's hoodie and shirt of, then put him on the lower bed, and took out a first aid kit from his closet.
Eunyung looked awful. There were bruises everywhere, especially on his stomach. Some of them had a sickening purple color. But the most worrying was a cut going from the right side of his ribs to his lower stomach's left side. The cut didn't seem really deep, but with Eunyung's level of self-care, it could easily get an infection. Haejoon disinfected it, and started bandaging. While doing so, he could only wonder what did Eunyung do for people to hurt him this much. With the stomach cut, it was clearly an attempted murder. And why didn't he want to go to the hospital? Sure, Haejoon could bandage him up, but he won't be able to put on stitches when needed. He looked at the time. It was past 1AM, which mean's he's spent at least half an hour bandaging that reckless boy, and he wasn't even half-way done. Haejoon sighed. It also means Eunyung has been unconscious for at least half an hour now. At least his breath seemed to be steadier now, so Haejoon didn't have to worry he's gonna die any minute. After he's done, Haejoon was going to try waking Eunyung up, because he was pretty sure the latter didn't eat anything since Wednesday (yesterday), and having an empty stomach wasn't too good for a healing body. But for now, he had to just focus on not screwing the bandaging up.
~ ~ ~
Eunyung felt incredibly tired and cold. Something was bothering his precious sleep. Someone was shaking him by his shoulders, and calling his name. Was it his father? Did he pass out after one of the beatings again? He must wake up now, or that old fuck will beat him again. He really didn't feel like fighting today, so he quickly thought of an apology before opening his eyes. Once he opened them, he could only see someone's silhouette. His vision was too foggy to recognize the person, but he spoke anyway.
"I'm sorry, father, I'm awake now, I won't misbehave so please, don't hit me anymore today." Then it was quiet. Once his vision cleared up, Eunyung realized the silhouette wasn't his father's but Haejoon's, who was now looking at him frightened, with shock in his eyes. Fuck, I screwed up. Thought the blonde one. He didn't want anyone- especially Haejoon- pitying him. He had to get out of this situation somehow. So, ignoring the pain tearing his stomach and head, he started laughing. "OH MY GOD, YOU ACTUALLY FELL FOR IT! DUDE, YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN YOUR FACE JUST NOW" But Haejoon's expression didn't go away. When Eunyung stopped laughing, the older one just- hugged him? Why the fuck would he do that? "... Man, what the fuck are you doing?" Eunyung couldn't understand it. He turned it into a joke, so why?
"You can't fool me, Eunyung. It's okay, I won't tell anyone. You don't have to tell me anything either, if you don't want to." Fuck, he was already pitying him. What to do? Maybe pretending nothing happened wasn't a bad option. Yeah, he's gonna go with it.
"Okay" Eunyung sighed. "Whatever. What did you wake me up for anyways?" Haejoon stopped hugging him.
"You haven't eaten anything today, have you? I made you some porridge, since you also seem to have a fever, dumbass." The brunette was right, Eunyung only now realized how hungry he was. He also seemed to be burning up. It's no wonder he got sick tho, he was laying in snow for quite a long time before he could move after getting beat up.
"Okay then, I am hungry." He said, taking the porridge from Haejoon. It looked really good, so he took a spoonful into his mouth. Wow- he thought- It tastes even better than it looks. "Thanks, it's good"
"No problem, I guess. When you're done eating, put it on the floor, I'll take care of it in the morning. I'm going to sleep now, okay?" Said Haejoon, turning off the lights.
"Sure, but.. Why are you treating me like this? You even bandaged me..." said Eunyung, only now noticing the bandages.
"What do you mean? You told me not to call 911, so what other could I do? Leave you on the floor to bleed out?"
"Yeah? You could've just gone to sleep or something. I know your classes start early tomorrow-today? Whatever. And you didn't have to cook for me. I just don't get why you did that, especially after what I said about your mom."
"Well, I already overreacted with mom. You were unconscious for over an hour, you know. For a moment I thought you died, dude. And is the porridge not good?"
"It is good, but still-"
"Then just eat, and don't question it. You would've done the same for me, if you weren't such a shitty cook." Interrupted him Haejoon, who then started to walk up onto the top bunk. But Eunyung still couldn't wrap his head around this. Why? He's such a shitty person, so why does Haejoon keep forgiving him? What does he want in return? What can Eunyung even give him? Nothing. Except..?
"My father did beat me up. Daily." Hearing that, Haejoon stopped dead in his tracks. So Eunyung was right. Haejoon wanted to know something about the younger one, didn't he?
"Hey, you don't have to tell me anything-"
"He did it for any reason. At home or in public. Every time I did anything wrong. I didn't even know what to do to stop him. Some days, some of my behaviors were acceptable for him, other days not. My mother also never let me rest. She did that pinching thing, I already told you about it. Or she screamed at me. Or slapped me. But her favorite was publicly gaslighting me to do something embarrassing. Like back then at director's office. But father was still way worse. No matter what, I knew my mother loved me, deep down. But that man... He just wished I hadn't been born at all. Then he would have more money for liquor and cigarettes. He lost his job over 10 years ago. Fucking alcoholic. He used to beat me until I was nothing but a bloody mess. As a kid, I would scream and try to run away from him, but that just made him more angry. He would pull my hair, push me arund, kick me. Threaten me with a knife, or make small cuts on me. Fortunately I don't have any scars."
Haejoon was now sitting right next to the younger boy, listening to him carefully and looking right in his eyes the whole time. But he didn't look like he was pitying Eunyung. Somehow, that made him feel better, so he continued. "Sometimes he'd smash an empty bottle on me, usually when he thought I drank his liquor. I... I was 7 when it first happened. He's the reason why I always know if someone has drunk or not. And he's the reason I'm never going to drink. I would rather die. And I would rather die than go back there. To be honest, I tried to die many times back then. I s-still think about it, of-often." Eunyung could see the shock in Haejoon's eyes, but he just continued talking. The blonde boy felt his eyes fill with tears as he spoke, painful memories coming back too quickly. "I r-really don't want to ever come ba-back there.. That's w-why I don't want you guys to e-ever call 911 f-for me... It's- it's just too much." He was uncontrollably sobbing, tears flowing from his hazel eyes. He felt like he couldn't breathe, his head was killing him. Suddenly, he felt warmth surrounding him, and something gently patting his back. Haejoon hugged him again. Eunyung couldn't explain why, but for the first time in his life, he really felt safe. He didn't even care about being judged right now, so he just cried and cried, until tiredness replaced the pain, and the boy fell asleep in Haejoon's embrace.
~ ~ ~
Haejoon was shocked and angry. How could anyone treat a child this way? How could anyone treat anyone this way? This was sickening, and Haejoon now understood why Eunyung said such depressing things sometimes. But one thing was bugging him the most. Eunyung tried to commit suicide? And he still thinks about it? Haejoon didn't know what to do. He wished he could just take Eunyungs pain and make it disappear. He thought the younger boy was so strong for living with it for so long. And, for the first time in his life, he truly, deeply hated someone. That someone was of course Eunyung's so called "father". But Haejoon didn't have time to think about that trash now, he was busy comforting a lonely, blond boy, who was so, so full of pain it was incomprehensible for someone like Haejoon. So he just held that boy and let him cry all his sadness out, and even when that boy stopped crying, Haejoon didn't stop holding him. He just laid down, cuddling the other, and slowly fell asleep, thinking about ways to help.