Sanctuary for the Lost and Broken (Skz Fanfiction)

Changbin (2)

After Jeongin had abruptly left, Changbin and Felix exchanged bewildered glances, both still trying to process the unexpected confrontation they had just witnessed. Changbin took a deep breath, breaking the stillness. "What just happened?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and concern.

Felix shook his head, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. "I have no idea."

"Well, whatever that was, maybe he will open up when he wants to," Changbin reassured Felix, who appeared visibly concerned for the younger boy. The weight of the situation lingered between them, and an awkward atmosphere settled in. Changbin and Felix exchanged glances, both sensing the need to break the tension. Perhaps getting to know each other better would make things easier for them, Changbin thought, but he blurted out without thinking.

"Hey, maybe you wanna grab some food with me?" As soon as the sentence left him, he realized what a mistake he had made.

Felix's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before he managed a tight smile. "I... uh, thanks, Changbin. But I think I'll pass for now."

Changbin winced inwardly, realizing his mistake. Sensing Changbin's discomfort, Felix gave a small smile. "I said no because I have taekwondo practice, dummy."

Hearing this, Changbin let out a sigh. "I was scared I triggered you. Are you okay with us going out to eat someday?"

"You don't have to worry, I am tougher than I look and I've been getting better. So yeah, I would like to go eat with you someday. You know what, why don't I take you out for dinner? There is this great restaurant that I went to for one of my assignments, then you will learn what good food really tastes like," Felix teased.

"Well, I think I have really good taste in food thank you very much. But I am a gentleman, so of course, I won't refuse the offer to go grab some food with a cute guy," Changbin teased back. Felix smiled to himself hearing this. Changbin knew he was liking what he was hearing. But he wasn't quite done with his flirting yet. "But you know what I would like more than to go to a restaurant with a cute guy?" he asked, grinning. Felix, still smiling, shook his head. "Eating the food a cute guy made for me." Changbin was proud of himself for that one. Felix crossed his arms and shook his head while smiling even wider. He licked his lips before speaking.

"I don't just cook for anyone, you know," Felix grinned.

"Well, someday you are going to cook for me, you know," Changbin said, sure of himself. They had known each other for merely 2 hours, but Changbin knew that this was only the beginning; he could feel that they were going to be great friends.

"What makes you so sure?" Felix asked.

Changbin's gaze met Felix' with an air of confidence. "Because I have this gut feeling, Felix. Sometimes, you just know when someone's going to play a significant role in your life."

Felix raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're quite the optimist, aren't you, Changbin? Well, I suppose time will tell."

Changbin grinned, undeterred by Felix's playful skepticism. "Time will indeed. And when that day comes, you'll be whipping up something extraordinary in the kitchen, and I'll be the lucky one savoring every bite."

Felix chuckled, a warmth settling between them as they shared a moment of genuine connection. Despite the initial awkwardness, Changbin realized that perhaps their encounter wasn't a mistake after all. In Felix, he sensed a kindred spirit, someone with layers waiting to be discovered beneath his easy smile.

As they continued chatting, the atmosphere around them seemed to soften, the earlier tension melting away like sugar in a simmering pot. Changbin found himself drawn to Felix's easy charm, his laughter like music to his ears. With every exchange, Changbin felt a sense of anticipation growing within him, an excitement for the friendship that was just beginning to take root.

***

Changbin sat nestled in his favorite corner of the cafe he frequented, a haven amidst the chaos of the city outside. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the gentle hum of conversation, creating a comforting ambiance that enveloped him like a warm embrace. With his textbooks spread out before him, he delved into his studies, seeking solace in the familiar routine of academia.

As he delved into his assignments, the familiar vibrations of his phone interrupted the serene ambiance. The screen displayed a name that felt like a distant echo from a painful history. He hesitated before reluctantly answering, the bitter taste of resentment already on his tongue.

"Dad," he spoke, his voice a mix of cold detachment and lingering hurt.

"Changbin, my boy," came the gravelly voice from the other end. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Changbin's grip on his coffee cup tightened. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to hear my son's voice. Is that so wrong?" His father's words slurred together, a haunting reminder of the substances that had torn their family apart.

The cafe's ambient chatter seemed to fade as the weight of the conversation settled heavily on Changbin's shoulders.

"I'm busy, Dad. Don't call me again," Changbin stated coldly, a clear boundary drawn in his words.

"Wait, Changbin, I—" His father's voice continued, desperate.

Changbin ended the call, his jaw clenched. The silence that followed felt suffocating, and he took a deep breath, attempting to push back the memories that threatened to engulf him.

Changbin's gaze lingered on the bustling street outside the cafe, his mind drifting back to the chaotic chapters of his past. The call from his father had opened a door to memories he had tried to lock away.

He thought of the days when hunger had been a constant companion, when the weight of neglect and abandonment had pressed heavy on his young shoulders. His parents, ensnared by the clutches of addiction, had left him alone and malnourished, their priorities consumed by the destructive allure of drugs. Eventually, their desperate spiral led them into the dangerous world of drug dealing.

As his father became entangled with a notorious gang, the last remnants of Changbin's crumbling family were shattered. His mother, already an abusive and neglectful presence in his life, sank further into the grip of addiction. Changbin, a mere child, found himself fending for survival in the unforgiving streets.

It was during those desperate times that he encountered Wooyoung, another soul battered by the harsh realities of life. Their bond formed amidst the struggles of the streets, a silent understanding born out of shared pain. Together, they navigated the challenges of homelessness, their makeshift family offering a fragile sanctuary in the midst of chaos.

But Changbin couldn't escape the shadows of his past. The wounds inflicted by his parents' neglect and abuse ran deep. His decision to run away at the tender age of twelve had been a desperate bid for freedom, a pursuit of a life beyond the suffocating darkness of his family.

Now, years later, as the call from his father reverberated in his ears, Changbin grappled with the demons he thought he had outrun. The scars of his upbringing, the hunger, the loneliness, and the violence, all resurfaced in the face of that haunting phone call. The cafe, once a refuge, now served as a battleground for the ghosts of his past, threatening to dismantle the fragile peace he had painstakingly built.

As he stared into the bustling street, the present mingled with the shadows of his history.