Safe place (Markhyuck)

4

Possible triggering content ahead...

The next morning when Haechan opens the door to collect his mail he sees a bag and at first is kind of scared of what may be in it but he gingerly opens the rolled paper top and looks inside. He can see an energy drink and the cookie with a small piece of paper folded inside as well. He looks around to make sure no one is watching and picks it up quickly before pulling it into the house to see what the paper says. He sets it on the table and puts his glasses on before taking the note out.

You are braver than you think.
                        ML.

He doesn't recognize the initials but the message feels nice. He eats the cookie first, and saves the drink for when he starts his classes. He has a long day of work ahead of him so this will be nice.

After a half day of work and a really hard math assignment he's struggling mentally.
"Why do I care? I don't need this, it's not like I'll ever LEAVE MY FUCKING HOUSE!" He screams out in anger and fights back the tears.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck. I hate this, I hate this." He grunts and walks to the front door of the house, rips it open and steps out. He gets as far as the stairs before noticing the neighbor across the street out on their lawn and a man walking down the street. He retreats. He walks to the bathroom and pulls his little blade from the cabinet and takes a long satisfying slice across his forearm. It isn't that deep, it doesn't need to be, he just needs to feel something other than the utter disparity that comes with his crippling anxiety. He wraps it up so he doesn't bleed on anything and lays on his bed just staring at the ceiling. He feels slightly satisfied, and a lot calmer so after about ten minutes he's on his feet going back out to his computer. When he gets as far as the kitchen counter he notices the note and smiles again after reading it. He quickly grabs some tape and tapes it to the cover of his laptop so that he can read it when ever he needs to, he wonders if it ever would help but he can only hope.
He gathers his strength and courage and opens his laptop again to finish his classes.
When he finally finishes the doorbell rings, and right on time Jeno is there.
"Hey, how was your day?" Jeno asks inspecting Haechan's arm as he does everyday. He tries not to show how much it hurts but it's written on his face, it's obvious.
"I'm, sorry. Please don't be mad?" He pleads softly, wiping his tears. Jeno pulls him into a hug.
"You know I won't get mad. I'm just worried about you, I love you." Haechan wipes his tears and nods on Jeno's shoulder.
"Tell me about your day?" Jeno chuckles and sits down with Haechan.
"Well, Jaemin and I made out in the kitchen again this morning, this time it was just to irritate Mark and it worked. He decided to go to work early." Jeno's eyes smile watching Haechan cackle with delight. This is why he's here. This is why, even though he wants to be home cuddling his soul mate, he comes here to visit Haechan everyday.
"The poor guy spends eight hours at his intern job then he works at that cafe and he left an hour early because of us. Maybe tomorrow we will go easy on him." They giggle some more.
"Tell me about him? Your cousin. Is he like you?" Jeno ponders, staring at the window.
"I think maybe in a lot of ways but we of course have our differences. When we were kids we lived by each other and I remember on some days he would give off these don't mess with me, I'm older vibes and he was just so cute I wanted to pinch his cheeks." Haechan sits with his head resting on his fist and his elbow pressed into his knee. He really likes listening to Jeno's stories and this one is already a masterpiece. He thinks back to when he was younger, when life was simpler and he had friends and enjoyed family life. He had some really nice times in his life.
"Once when we were 12 and 14 he climbed a tree, I honestly don't remember what he was trying to prove but he fell and broke his arm. He felt so dumb when he went to school the following week and had to tell people what happened. He had been crushing on this girl and was going to ask her out but she said he was childish and said no." Haechan gasps and tries not to laugh.
"You know it's funny, I've always thought he was this cool, player in school because he seemed to have a new girlfriend or boyfriend every week but, I think I was wrong and he maybe was struggling. Just trying to find someone who meshed with him and just never could and now here I am in an amazing relationship with Jaemin and he's single focusing on getting through his internship and second job before he even tries again." Jeno looks down at the floor.
"I felt really bad, because of the way I talked about him with Jaemin actually painted a bad picture of his personality. I didn't mean for it to, but the way I perceived his actions and then relayed them made him look bad and He felt that his first night with us." Haechan rubs his shoulder.
"I'm sure he is ok now, I mean you talked about it right? Like I know you didn't do anything on purpose and if he thinks otherwise I'll fight him." Jeno chuckles.
"Yeah yeah tough guy, we talked we're fine now. But it does feel good to get it off my chest though." Haechan hugs him.
"We can be each other's therapy." They both giggle and Jeno stands.
" I need to go now, maybe Jaemin will come with me tomorrow, just text me if it's not ok." Haechan smiles softly.
"Thank you for being here for me. I love you and tell Jaemin I love him to and hope to see him tomorrow." He really enjoys his time with his friends and hopes he can get over his phobias and go see them sometime.
He can't live in the outside world but Jeno and sometimes Jaemin bring it to him and he couldn't be more great full.
He ends up going to bed early because all of the emotions he's felt through the day wore him out.