runaway boys (a just dance story)

3.

tw: slight mentions of abuse.

-third person-

the gang looked at jack, whose green eyes looked like they had fiery flames in them; he pointed his microphone stand close to boy who was holding the young man by his collar. the rest of the gang backed up in fear as jack stepped forward, still holding his scowl at the leader.

"you all got three seconds to let him go, or i'm reporting you all to the police." jack said in a stern voice. the leader just scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"so? he deserves to be beaten up," the leader said, tugging roughly on the man's multicolored jacket. "look at him."

"and? he's a human just like the rest of us."

jack took a good look at the young man; his hair was a pastel pink color and his eyes were pale blue color, which were telling jack to save him before it's too late. without thinking, jack swung his microphone at the gang leader, knocking him down. he grabbed the pink-haired's hand and ran out of the bathroom together, hoping that they can catch the train and take shelter for the night.

not even looking back, the two gave the train conductor their tickets and took their seats on the train, staying silent throughout the train ride.

——————

"this is a pretty nice place." the pink haired man said, looking at the fully furnished apartment. jack was able to find a place the two can stay in for the night, thanks to the "for rent" sign, plus, it was suppose to be rainy and wet tomorrow. right now, jack was taking care of the young man's wounds, trying his best not to hurt him.

"what's your name?" the redhead asked him.

"levi. what about you?"

"jack rose."

"what made you come here to the city, jack?"

jack sighed, not wanting to mention his mother. "i wanted to follow my dreams; i want to be a singer. that was my dream when i was little." he finished bandaging up levi's facial cut. "what about you?"

"i wanted to get away from my small town. t-they treated me badly after i came out," levi replied, playing with his bracelet, avoiding eye contact with the redhead. "it took a toll on my mental health and i felt worthless. i started doing drugs and attempted to run away several times, until the police caught me and took me back to my house where i would get beaten up again. my dad then sent me to a mental hospital to "turn" me back to my normal self, but it didn't work, so while i was there, i dyed my hair pink, and i tried to commit suicide, but it failed. i-i'm still badly affected by it and i miss my mother so much."

jack felt tears welt up in his eyes. levi has been through so much trauma during his lifetime and felt extremely bad for him; it was even worse than his own trauma involving his mother. he looked at the slight bruises of levi's collarbone, then at his bandaged wounds, and finally, the slightly healed self-harm wounds that were on his arms.

"my mom," jack began, a single tear fell on his face, remembering what night swan had told him. "my mom disowned me."

levi's eyes widen in shock. "what?! why?"

"she was all about perfection and her eyes i wasn't perfect. that's why it's my dream to become a singer."

levi took in jack's words as the redhead broke down crying, covering his face with his hands. what kind of mother disowns their child just because he wasn't perfect? his mother told him that nobody's perfect and that everyone is beautiful in their own way, even after he came out. removing jack's hands from his redden and tear-stained face, levi pulled him into a hug, feeling his heart break a million pieces.

"i think we should go to bed."

levi escorted jack upstairs to his bedroom and tucked him into bed. before going to sleep, he got him a cold glass of water and placed it on the nightstand.

"goodnight, jack."

"goodnight, levi."

before the pink-haired can leave, jack called out for him. "wait, levi?"

"yes, jack?"

"um," the redhead looked down at the comforter, taking off his jacket and nonchalantly placing it onto the floor. "c-can you sleep with me? i don't like being alone."

"of course."

taking off his shoes and jacket, levi climbed next to the redhead as he laid his head against jack's chest, feeling his heartbeat. jack then wrapped an arm around levi's shoulder as both of them looked up at the moon for a few seconds before falling asleep in each other's arms.

as levi and jack slept, both of them silently cried.

——————

i almost cried when i wrote this chapter.