Chapter Text
The laundromat was fairly quiet for a Sunday afternoon, a few older ladies being the only ones there when John walked in, his phone which was playing music loudly through his earbuds in one hand and laundry bag in the other. He went about his business as usual, humming along to his music. when he noticed another man around his age walk in. He walked quickly with his head down, choosing the washing machine next to his and fumbling around in his pockets for his change. A laundry bag was thrown over his shoulder and he remained silent as he dumped his bag into the machine. A few articles of clothing missed and John did a double take when he realized they had bloodstains on them.
“Hey man are you alright?”
He reached out to touch his shoulder but the other man lurched backwards, falling into the machines behind him. As painful as it sounded, it gave John the chance to get a good look at his face, which he realized sported a black eye. The injured one of the two was now shaking, using his hand to steady himself.
“Do you need help?”
John sputtered his words out, doing a one over of the man and noticing he also had bruises on both of his wrists. He didn't answer him verbally but nodded slightly and gestured towards the door with his foot. John turned his head and looked outside, where a man much taller than the both of them with beady dark eyes and black slicked back hair paced on the sidewalk, stopping every once and a while to look inside and mouth at him to hurry up.
“What's your name?”
Before he could answer, tall slicked back hair man poked his head through the door and answered for him.
“Alexander honey we have places to be, try to hurry along.”
He spoke in an endearing tone that made John sick to his stomach, and it appeared it made Alexander feel that way too. The sound on both of their washers dinged and John dug around in his pockets, finally landing on a business card and sliding it to Alex, who glanced outside before pocketing it quickly.
“John Laurens, call the number on the card if you need help.”
Alex whispered his thanks and grabbed his things, bolting out the door before John could say another word.
-
John took his time unloading his clothes and went home, glancing down at his phone more than he normally did to make sure he didn't miss a call from Alexander.
At 5:00 his roommate, Hercules, came home and immediately noticed Johns distressed state.
“You okay?”
He questioned him and sat down next to on the couch, where John sat staring at his at his phone and picking at the hem of his shirt.
“Met a guy at the laundromat today who was washing blood out of his clothes and had a black eye, some guy was with him and I think it was his boyfriend...he just looked like a douche”
Herc nodded and listened to John as he continued to ramble
“I gave him my business card before he left to call if he needed help and I can't stop freaking out over it.”
John sighed, dropping his head in his hands. He had only seen him for 5 minutes but it broke his heart to see him so terrified at the the thought of John touching his shoulder and to see how fast he ran out of the laundromat when the man he was with called him out.
-
He went about the rest of the day as normally as he worry would let him and he brushing his teeth when he saw his phone light up with an unknown number. Dropping his tooth brush on the floor, he picked up the phone, practically screaming hello into in the other end.
“Is this John Laurens?”
His voice was shaky and John could tell he had been crying.
“Yeah it's me are you okay where are you?”
“Outside the laundromat.”
By now John was pulling on his coat and running out that door, leaving a note for Hercules taped to the light switch.
“I'm walking there now just stay put okay?”
He sprinted down the street in the dark towards the mat, thankful it had a light up sign so he knew exactly where to go.