The Trials of Neo City [WINWIN • YUTA]

🖤 13. Walk 🖤

This was it; today was the last day.

Renjun cuddled up closer into Sicheng's chest, snoring softly. All Sicheng could do was sit up, awake, and stare at the ceiling, unable to move.

Al he could do was stare as Lay woke them up, not realizing that Sicheng had long been awake.

All he could do was stare when the Capitol buildings passed again through the tinted windows of the bullet train.

All he could do was stare as the dark reality set in.

All he could do was stare as the stylists glamorized him one more time.

All the could do was stare as the sun set on yet another day, a day of nothing. A day of life, practically wasted.

All he could do was stare as he saw someone he barely recognized in the mirror, dark eye makeup and a slick black suit, red eyeshadow at the corners of his eyes and an eyebrow slit that hadn't been there before.

Red lipstick, red tie, red blood.

All he could do was stare as he was paraded into a room to wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Waiting.

Walk. Walking.

And so, he took a little walk. He was supposed to sit and wait in this room away from the other tributes, waiting for his interview, but he couldn't help but walk.

He opened a door and came to corridor with other doors identical to his own. And where the corridor turned to another hall, he heard giggles. Hushed voices.

Curiosity got the better of him, as it tends to do.

"You're really pretty..." A hushed voice was heard, followed by a high pitched giggle. Sicheng looked around the hall and towards a stairwell, curious as ever, to find Shotaro and Sungchan whispering and leaning close to each other. It was interesting; a wholesome enough interaction with the two hugging and not letting go, eyes glistening with tears.

"Oh, don't say that!" Shotaro giggled, eyes glossing up as he did so. "Really, tomorrow is the Games, I'm not sure flattery is going to get you very far." He mused jokingly, face falling right after.

Sungchan noticed, holding Shotaro's hand. For a child about his age -maybe younger- he was awfully tall compared to him. Taller than most of the tributes, actually. "What's wrong?" His voice was gentle and Sicheng could barely make it out.

Shotaro smoothed out his vest with his free hand and sighed, his eyes far away. "Funny thing is... I don't know what will get us far. I don't want to lose you, Sungchan." His voice was shaky and so were his arms, letting go of the other boy's hand.

"I..." Sungchan couldn't promise anything, he realized. Not his own safety and not Shotaro's. Instead of empty words he couldn't make promise on, he held the smaller boy as he hiccuped, the dam breaking. Shotaro shook lightly as tears fell, the two holding on to each other desperately. For two people so young, they seemed to become so attached quickly. Sicheng's heart hurt a little bit at the thought of those two in the arena tomorrow.

"Listening in on people has become quite the habit for you, hm?" A deeper voice whispered into Sicheng's ear suddenly and he violently flinched, jumping back now facing the wall. He scanned the person only to find Yuta, smirking at him with crossed arms.

"I'm sorry. Really, I didn't mean to..." Sicheng muttered with a blush creeping up his cheeks and to his ears, Yuta stifling a laugh and looking to the younger's eyes.

He unfolded his arms. "Not like they were doing anything wrong. Finding comfort in another person is weak... but we're only human. We are weak. Of course they'd cling to each other like that." Yuta turned his head to the pair, Sungchan now wiping the tears from Shotaro's eyes with his own threatening to fall.

Yuta continues: "But you were right. The Capitol is full of sick, sick bastards, but we have the choice of what to do in the arena. We don't have to be as disgusting as those bastards are. Disgusting like they want us to be, I get it." Yuta reminded, Sicheng only nodding.

He looked at Yuta and then to his hands. "Really, I just said what came to mind. I hate it here." He let out a weak laugh and clenched his fists. "But I hope they get it. I hope we get it." He remarked, emphasis on the 'we'. Yuta only nodded.

"You still aren't dressed yet." Sicheng blurted, noticing that Shotaro had been wearing his interview clothes and Yuta wore a faded hoodie that was four sizes too large. Sicheng held back the urge to glance at his collarbone or his neck for marks, suspicions rising.

Yuta's face darkened. "Right. I had to do something earlier, I promised a... friend something." He smiled, but Sicheng noted how the corners of his mouth didn't smile with him.

"But you look really nice. Red is your color, I think." Yuta mused, changing the subject. All Sicheng could do was nod.

Yuta sat on a bench as the hushed giggled continued. He smiled sadly at the two, who scurried away somewhere else. Sicheng sat with him, the two boy completely silent.

"This is it. Last day before tragedy." Yuta smirked, though his voice was deadly serious. Sicheng sighed in exasperation, half-tired of thinking about his inevitable death and half-relieved that someone else had brought it up. Yuta, who seemed indestructible, had also seemed to be scared. Apprehensive, at least.

The corridor was silent for a few more moments. The two sat in an awkward silence, Sicheng playing with the edges of his suit sleeve.

"Do you miss home?" Yuta asked softly. Sicheng looked up with a surprised look on his face and into Yuta's intense, dark eyes. His faces heated up ever so slightly as he shrugged.

"Yes. And no." Sicheng lowered his gaze and placed his hands in his lap. "A sick, ugly part of me is glad that Renjun is here with me, though."

"I could say the same about me and Shotaro, to be honest." Yuta smiled softly. "He isn't my blood brother, but I've been doing everything I can to protect him. If he has to be here, I'd rather..." Yuta trailed off, mouth shutting abruptly.

What does that mean? Sicheng wanted to ask, but kept his mouth shut. He'd rather not pry and make the conversation ugly.

So instead; "What about you? Do you miss home, I mean?"

"Home wasn't much of a home for me, anyways. I don't have a home." The older boy admitted, messing with his long red hair, which Sicheng noticed was messy and slightly tousled.

"Are-"

"Nakamoto! You're on in an hour! Where have you been?! Get over here!" A woman with luscious blonde hair scolded and interrupted Sicheng, her pretty features poking from a door down the hallway.

Yuta smiled sheepishly at Sicheng, then her. "Sorry, Nayeon! I'll be there in a second!" He assured, before looking at Sicheng and grabbing his hands in his. Sicheng's face dusted a pink color and Yuta grinned, his healing smile piercing the darkest depths of Sicheng's heart.

"You look amazing, I do mean it. Take deep breaths. Don't panic. You'll do great out there. I've gotta go now, I'll see you later. Fighting!" Yuta smiled and spoke hurriedly, letting Sicheng's hands go and walking away.

And so, all Sicheng could do was stare. Stare and walk back to his door, stare and walk parallel to Yuta as he disappeared behind his own.