Salvation

Chapter 16

I'm sorry it's taken so long to get another chapter of this one. This particular story requires a certain amount of TLC that I don't like rushing.

...

Junmyeon observed the man across from him, not for the first time, in rapt interest. Yixing kept his head tilted down, engrossed in something on the tabletop. Though no doubt he felt his companions eyes boring holes into the top of his head. It was hard to ignore Junmyeon altogether, even if he tried his hardeat not to take up space in anyone's life after being the destructive hurricane he'd turned himself into. Actually, it was nice to see Yixing. It had been awhile since the two had crossed paths.

"A new job," Yixing boasted proudly, albeit tiredly, when he'd first arrived. "Money is running tight." He'd added that last part in a low tone, as Zitao lurked about. And the last thing he needed to hear was the financial struggles of his soulmate and his cousin. "Besides it's at a restaurant. I love to cook." Junmyeon of course didn't miss the little sparkle in Yixing's eyes as he talked about it. In the short amount of time the two had gotten to know each other Junmyeon knew when the taller male was excited about something. He couldn't quite mask his passion, a trait he actually found quite endearing. He rested his chin in his palm, watchimg the taller of the two males.

"So Junmyeon." Said male jumped when Yixing spoke, averting his gaze when Yixing's eyes sought his. A string of guilt threaded through his stomach, but it was short lived as Yixing shot him one of those radiant smiles Junmyeon didn't often get the privilege of seeing. "What else did you like to do. Before..." Yixing trailed off awkwardly, realizimg the sensitive subject they were suddenly dancing around. Junmyeon let out a throaty chuckle, hunching over and fiddling with the bracelet he'd been constructing out of multi colored thread.

"Before Eunha," he replied, quirking an eyebrow. Yixing only nodded. "Not that I ever had a lot in life to look foward to," Junmyeon continued, setting the art project delicately on the table. "Between a father that wished I never existed and a mother I can count on one hand how many times I've seen over the course of my life. I enjoyed my friends. I loved to read. I dabbled in writing in my last few years of secondary, but Eunha always made a big fuss about how I paid more attention to my fantasies than her, so that stopped altogether in year eleven." Yixing listened intently, eyes wide. Junmyeon realized with a little start that he'd so rarely had people who listened to him. Really listened. At least with this keen of interest. It was almost too much for his heart to take.

"I'm sorry." And once again Junmyeon was taken aback. "I'm sorry life has been so cruel to you," Yixing continued, a gaze so full of sympathy that it nearly folded Junmyeon double. "You didn't deserve that." Junmyeon dipped his head in acknowledgement, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. He wasn't necessarily used to sympathy. Not like this anyway. Maybe the occasional pity from Baekhyun, when his friend bothered to stop by. It had been about a month since Junmyeon had last seen the Parks, and while he didn't exactly expect them to drop EVERYTHING to come and see him, he maybe expected his closest friends to worry about him just a little.

Then again maybe he had done this to himself. Maybe he wasn't deserving of sympathy and pity anymore. Maybe he'd done something wrong in a past life to earn this treatment upon himself. How else would he explain this streak of bad luck? Maybe Junmyeom just wasn't worthy of love anymore.

Who wanted to love a broken man anyway?

"Yixing?" Both men swiveled as a third voice lent itself to the conversation. Tao approached the table slowly, and as with any time Junmyeon saw him thess days, his heart gave a little pang. While he himself may have been undeserving of love, he acknowledged that Tao meeded an abundance of it. And overflowing cup of it. Amd he'd tarnished that image with one swift, silver tongue. "Can you send something to Yifan for me?" Tao asked at last, squirming under the scrutiny. Junmyeon could be...unnerving...when his full focus was upon him.