Joo Woojae x Kwon Jungyeol BL

1.

It was a dark night of the mid December, with no moon and no stars and only the cold, merciless wind sweeping through the land and howling through the streets. The streetlights were barely bright enough to illuminate the sidewalks they hung over, their glow fading in and out and on and off as if the city itself was in the process of dying.

Woojae hated it. It felt as if the world itself was ending, as if the last bastion of light that remained after the sun fell below the horizon was finally being snuffed out. His hands were jammed into his pockets, his head bowed, his shoulders hunched against the biting chill. He kept his pace slow, though he wanted nothing more than to sprint home. His ribs ached.

He could feel the bruises and cuts freshly made from the kicks and punches. His back felt sore and numb, and he was pretty sure it was bleeding. The blood would stain his shirt, and then his jacket, and there would be no way to get rid of the evidence.

At least his boyfriend would be at work for a few more hours. Woojae would have time to wash his clothes and take a shower, and then he wouldn't even know anything had happened. Woojae tried not to think about what would happen if Jungyeol ever found out.

The thought of his boyfriend's warm smile and the feel of his soft, reassuring kisses brought tears to Woojae's eyes. Jungyeol was the only thing in Woojae's life worth fighting for. He would rather die than see Jungyeol cry, especially if he knew that he was the reason. Jungyeol would always protect him, no matter the cost.

But after all that, Woojae knew that Jungyeol couldn't protect Woojae from everything. He couldn't protect Woojae when it was their classmates who were attacking him, or when the teachers turned a blind eye. There was nothing he could do, and Woojae refused to let him see the hurt and the shame.

The tears fell down his face, icy and painful, but he didn't try to wipe them away. No one was around. No one could see. He kept his eyes fixed on the sidewalk, the cracks and the bits of trash and the puddles of water.

He would not think about what happened at school today. He would not think about any of it. All he could think about was getting home, and seeing Jungyeol's face, and knowing that, no matter how bad things got, at least he would always have Jungyeol.

The cold wind blew right through his thin, battered body, and he shivered violently. His hands were shaking. His teeth were chattering. He could feel his fingers going numb.

His house was just around the corner now. He would be home soon. He could take a shower and wash off the dirt and the blood, and then he could wrap himself in his blanket and lie on the couch and watch TV until Jungyeol got home.

As he reached the front door, he took his hand out of his pocket and fumbled with the keys, his hands clumsy and numb. After a few attempts, he managed to unlock the door, and stepped inside, grateful for the warmth of the heater.

He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. It was okay. He was home.

"Mf.." Woojae finally let out a groan before getting back on his feet. He couldn't stay like this all day, and he had to be careful, Jungyeol would get worried if he saw his state. Woojae headed toward the bathroom, and quickly started undressing. As expected, his shirt was stained with blood. He sighed and threw the clothes in the washing machine before heading to the shower.

The hot water make his cuts sting and his bruises throb, but the pain was a relief. It meant he was alive. It meant he was still here. The warmth spread through him, and he closed his eyes, letting the water wash away his worries and his fears.