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He was here again.
It wasn’t hard to remember his face, mainly because this was the graveyard shift and during the week - and in this weather - almost no one came here ever and if they did it, it was in the drive-thru. But not through the main entrance, bringing a wave of cold air as they push open the doors - clad in clothes that were definitely not appropriate for the middle of January when there was a snowstorm raging outside for days.
He was shorter than him, probably younger than him too, skinny and looked tired, his tanned complexion somewhat faded, either from the cold or whatever else the world out there had in store for him.
Namjoon didn’t know his name, but he felt like he knew the kid himself. He had come in every night this week and only ordered a simple cheeseburger and one small coffee, pulling change and used-up bills to pay - always the exact amount and Namjoon felt horrible whenever he took the money to cash him, fighting the urge to buy him everything on the menu.
It wasn’t different this time. A cheeseburger and a coffee and the kid smiled at him when Namjoon gave him his order, his eye-smile genuine and cute, his little “thank you,” so quiet and shaky. Their hands brushed when Namjoon gave him the two little things and his small hands were rough and ice cold and he had to fight the urge to take them in his own to warm them up.
The kid walked towards the table in the furthest corner of the restaurant and since there was nothing else to do, Namjoon just stood there and stole glances at him. It was obvious that he didn’t have a home and he wondered what had happened to a kid so young to end up like that. He felt like he wanted to do something for him, just anything, but didn’t know what or how. He had to work at the graveyard shift at McDonald’s so that said enough about how well off he himself was. He should still consider himself lucky though.
Of course no one else came in and the restaurant remained quiet. Namjoon considered going back to the kitchen and talk to the two other poor souls that had to work with him now, but instead he just leaned his elbows on the counter and stared holes into the air, while humming the newest beat he had come up with and wanted to work on for a song.
When his eyes fell on their only customer again Namjoon saw that he had fallen asleep. The cheeseburger and coffee both gone and his head resting against the table and it was against their policy to let people sleep here, but really, who was he bothering? At least it was warm here and no one was going to come anyway, so Namjoon let him. Instead just quickly went there and cleaned up his table, careful not to wake him up.
For another hour nothing happened and Namjoon felt like falling asleep himself, when suddenly the door from the kitchen was opened and to his surprise the manager stepped in.
To be honest, their manager was an absolute asshole and during the nightshift Namjoon had thought that he would at least be spared from the absolute shit that guy liked to talk about.
Again, he didn’t even greet Namjoon, not even acknowledged him. Instead he just wordlessly looked around the space and when his eyes locked onto their only guest, Namjoon could see his eyes hardened and he started getting nervous. He had totally forgotten about the sleeping kid.
“Who the fuck let this scum on earth stay here? Huh? Was it you?” Namjoon didn’t know what to say – not that it would have mattered – so he just shrugged his shoulders. He wanted to point out that he had bought something and thus had had the right to stay, but he didn’t know how to excuse the sleeping part.
“Get him out of here. We’re not a lost children’s home.”
Namjoon was astounded by what an absolute asshole this guy way. His eyes glanced to the storm outside, back to his boss, unbelieving that this guy would really throw him out.
“Sir… no one is here and the weather outside-“
“I don’t fucking care. He shouldn’t have become the dirt under people’s shoes then. You’ll throw him out if ya wanna keep your job. Move it, Kim.” Namjoon stared at his booth who just made a shooing motion with his hands and the younger one had to fight the urge to deck him. Well, not that he would have actually done it, Namjoon wasn’t really a fighter.
Instead he had to actually drag himself to the other side of the restaurant, his fists balled because he felt like absolute shit. The kid wasn’t doing anything, wasn’t bothering anyone so why should he have to leave? The weather was shit, there was a fucking storm raging outside and he had to be the one to throw someone out there in the middle of the night. Christ, he could die out there and it wasn’t even an exaggeration.
It didn’t take Namjoon a lot to wake him up. He stood there next to the sleeping form, awkwardly raising his hand, but deciding not to touch him because he didn’t want to invade his personal space. So he only cleared his throat and whispered, “E-excuse me?”
The boy jumped up immediately and looked around, apparently confused and still half asleep. He must have caught up quickly on the situation because once his eyes locked with Namjoon’s, they immediately widened in something like horror.
“I-I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep, oh my God, please, I’m really, really sorry. I’ll leave right away!”
“No, I,“ Namjoon’s voice died in his throat and he felt like choking up. He had to let him leave, it’s what he came here for, but it just honestly felt so wrong, his skin was crawling from what his boss was making him do. “I-I’m sorry… I would let you stay, I… my boss, I mean, he-“
The kid shook his head and was already standing up, already ready to run out, out there into the fucking snow.
“No, I understand, it’s fine, it’s fine, I’m already gone.” He gave Namjoon a little smile, genuine as always and just how, how, how did this person deserve to live like this? Namjoon liked to think a lot about life, believed that you shape your destiny and future by your decision you make and the paths you take, but what could have he done wrong? He was still so young, he seemed too good, he just-
“J-Just wait here! Before you go! I’ll be right back, don’t leave yet!” Namjoon waited until the boy nodded, his eyes wide in surprise and Namjoon didn’t know what he was looking for when he quickly ran back into the back, looking through his stuff. His mind was pretty much on autopilot and he was just looking for anything to make the boy’s night easier, to make him survive it. He eventually found the long scarf stuffed into his jacket, along with his beanie and he quickly pulled them out and ran back, already holding them out to the other boy.
“Here, please take this! I… it’s just really cold, and-“
“It’s fine.” He was interrupted by the other, who gently pushed the things away from him, his smile wider now, so wide that his eyes disappeared and Namjoon couldn’t understand, why wouldn’t he take them?
“You need those yourself! You will get cold. I’m gonna be fine, I promise. Thank you. You are very kind.” And with that he walked past him, outside into the storm and all Namjoon could do was watch him walk by and eventually disappear.
He felt empty. So utterly empty. A boy who didn’t have anything, probably not enough for a proper meal, for clothes or a home wanted to make sure Namjoon wouldn’t get cold later. Wouldn’t take a simple scarf and head even though his old worn jeans had holes, his sneakers were walked off and his jacket was not even enough for fall.
A shaky breath left Namjoon and once again he ran to the back of the restaurant and – again like on autopilot – he grabbed all his stuff, put on his jacket but kept the scarf and beanie in his hand and ran out again and he only left with a loud, “I’m quitting! Fuck you, asshole,” running after the boy.