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It was a common occurrence for Thanos to be teasing Minsu while Semi wasn't around. She was in line getting her food. Minsu was sat on his bunk, Thanos on one side of it and Nam-gyu stood on the other.
"Come on, can't i just have a little bit of your food? You don't need all of that do you, boy?"
Nam-gyu was quietly laughing to himself as he watched Thanos interact with the shorter boy. Only stopping when something caught his eye. Minsu's wrist. What was that?
He stares down at the boys wirst until he sees it again. Scars. Dark and long scars. Namgyu froze, not knowing what to do or day. He went over to stand behind Thanos, putting a hand on his arm and rubbing it awkwardly.
"Alright man let's go, semis going to get back soon and I'm too tired to deal with that."
Thanos huffed and rolled his eyes, shoving Nam-gyu off and walking away. Namgyu stood there staring at minsu for a second before walking away. God, how is he even supposed to react to that?
Its not like he doesn't understand it. He's had his fair share of hurting himself. He never cut or anyways but he'd burn himself with joints and cigarette buds when he didn't known what else to put it out on.
But he and Thanos have been basically tormenting Minsu the whole time these games have been going on. So when he notices the boy he's been practically bullying used to slit himself up of course Nam-gyu is going to react oddly.
He didn't want to make things worse for him. Well, not anymore atleast. Because he may be an asshole but pushing someone to do that? Or worse maybe? He couldn't even bare the idea of it.
Whatever.
They finish their dinner and chat until the overhead speaker calls for lights out in 10 minutes. Thanos goes to his own bed and Nam-gyu waves him goodbye. Taking his jacket off and getting comfortable.
Just before he fully laid down, he heard a small voice. A small pathetic voice that he recognized.
"Nam-gyu..?"
"God, what do you want minsu?"
He looked over at the boy. Minsu was picking at his finger nails and looking down at his feet as he nervously tried to talk to Nam-gyu. It made him feel bad for a minute. But just a minute.
"Spit it out go-"
"Thank you. Thank you for making Thanos leave me alone earlier. I..i was really..hungry and I wanted to be left alone to eat and..i don't know why you did it but I really really appreciated it."
Nam-gyu stayed quiet. He heard as Minsu's voice cracked and shaked with each word spoken. Hands trembling slightly and quietly biting on the inside of his lip waiting for Nam-gyu to reply. He sighed and softened.
"Come here."
Minsu looked up and stood there confused before quickly crawling onto the bed and sitting next to Nam-gyu. He continued picking at his nails. Glancing at Minsu every so often while trying to keep his focus on the bed.
"Whatd you do it?"
"..what?"
"Your wrist. Why did you do that?"
Minsu went quiet for a while after that. Tensing up and not looking at Nam-gyu for a while before turning to him with teary eyes and a shaky bottom lip.
"I was 16. I wasn't exactly popular and smart so I was constantly picked on by my classmates. And..and by my dad. I used to..I tried to die. I took a bath and.."
He referenced to his wrists as his tears began to fall. Namgyu quickly pulled him to his chest and strokes his hair.
"You don't have to continue. I understand."
...
"You won't have to even think about something like that ever again. I promise you. Ill keep you safe from now on. No more teasing. No more tourment. I promise."
Minsu sobbed into namgyus shoulder for the rest of the night till he fell asleep, and Nam-gyu refused to let him go. Grip not loosening up even when namgyu himself fell asleep too.
He did promise him after all.