𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦 | 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗶𝗻

Ɔ

The days following the warehouse incident were a blur for Renjun. He struggled to reconcile the Jaemin he loved with the man who had so coldly taken a life. The memory of that night haunted him, replaying in his mind over and over, each time more vivid than the last. But even as the fear and confusion gnawed at him, Renjun couldn't bring himself to leave Jaemin's side.

Jaemin, for his part, was more attentive than ever. He seemed to sense Renjun's turmoil, his every word and gesture carefully chosen to soothe Renjun's frayed nerves. Despite the darkness that now hung between them, Jaemin's affection for Renjun remained as strong as ever, if not stronger. It was as if he was determined to prove that nothing had changed, that their love could withstand even this.

One evening, as they sat together on the couch in Jaemin's apartment, Jaemin turned to Renjun, his expression serious but gentle. He reached out, taking Renjun's hand in his and squeezing it lightly.

"Renjun," Jaemin began, his voice soft but firm, "I need you to understand something. What happened at the warehouse... it's part of my world, part of who I am. But it's not something that will ever touch you. I promise you that."

Renjun looked down at their joined hands, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He wanted to believe Jaemin, wanted to trust that he would never be dragged into the darkness that Jaemin dealt with. But the memory of that night was still too fresh, too raw.

"I just... I don't know if I can forget what I saw," Renjun admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "It's hard to think that... that you could do something like that."

Jaemin's grip on Renjun's hand tightened, and he reached out with his other hand to gently tilt Renjun's chin up, forcing him to meet his gaze. "I know it's hard," Jaemin said, his tone filled with understanding. "But I need you to trust me when I say that I will never harm you, Renjun. You are the most important person in my life, and I would never do anything to hurt you."

Renjun's eyes searched Jaemin's, looking for any sign of deception or doubt, but all he found was sincerity. The intensity of Jaemin's gaze, the way his voice shook with emotion—it made Renjun's heart ache with a strange mix of love and fear.

"I want to protect you," Jaemin continued, his voice growing more resolute. "But I also want you to be able to protect yourself. This world... it's dangerous, and I don't want you to ever feel like you're helpless. I want to teach you how to defend yourself, how to be strong."

Renjun blinked in surprise, his mind reeling at the idea. He had never imagined that Jaemin would suggest something like this—that he would want Renjun to learn how to fight, how to survive in a world that had always felt so foreign and terrifying to him.

"I don't know if I can do that," Renjun said hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jaemin's expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Renjun's forehead. "I believe in you," he murmured against Renjun's skin. "You're stronger than you think, Renjun. And I'll be there with you every step of the way. I'll teach you everything you need to know."

Renjun's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear and determination warring within him. The idea of learning to protect himself, of being able to stand beside Jaemin as an equal, was both terrifying and strangely empowering. He had always relied on Jaemin to keep him safe, to shield him from the dangers of the world, but now Jaemin was offering him a chance to take control of his own fate.

"Okay," Renjun finally whispered, his voice trembling with uncertainty but laced with a growing resolve. "I'll do it. I'll learn."

Jaemin's eyes brightened with something like pride, and he pulled Renjun into a tight embrace, holding him close. "I knew you would," Jaemin said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "You're braver than you realize, Renjun. And together, we'll make sure you're never in danger again."

The next morning, Jaemin began Renjun's training. They started with the basics—self-defense techniques, how to throw a punch, how to break free from a hold. Jaemin was patient and thorough, guiding Renjun through each move with a calm, steady hand. There was no trace of the cold, dangerous man Renjun had seen at the warehouse—only the loving, attentive partner who wanted to keep Renjun safe.

At first, Renjun struggled. The movements felt foreign to him, his body awkward and uncoordinated as he tried to follow Jaemin's instructions. But Jaemin never lost his patience, never once raised his voice or showed frustration. He encouraged Renjun, praised him for even the smallest progress, and made sure that Renjun knew he was doing well.

As the days passed, Renjun began to improve. The techniques that had once felt so alien started to become second nature, his movements growing more fluid and confident. And with each new skill he learned, Renjun felt a small piece of his fear fall away, replaced by a growing sense of empowerment.

But even as Renjun's confidence grew, so too did his awareness of the darkness that surrounded them. The training sessions with Jaemin were a stark reminder of the dangerous world Jaemin inhabited, a world that Renjun was now being drawn into. Yet, paradoxically, the more Renjun learned, the more he felt connected to Jaemin, as if they were forging a bond that went beyond love—a bond built on trust, strength, and a shared understanding of the dangers they faced.

One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Renjun and Jaemin sat together on the floor of the apartment, their backs against the wall as they caught their breath. Renjun's muscles ached, and sweat dripped down his forehead, but there was a sense of accomplishment that made it all worth it.

"You're doing so well," Jaemin said, his voice filled with pride. "I knew you'd pick it up quickly."

Renjun smiled, leaning his head against Jaemin's shoulder. "It's because you're a good teacher," he replied, his voice soft but full of warmth.

Jaemin chuckled, wrapping an arm around Renjun's shoulders and pulling him closer. "Maybe," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Renjun's temple. "But it's also because you're strong, Renjun. Stronger than you know."

Renjun closed his eyes, letting the comfort of Jaemin's embrace wash over him. The fear that had once consumed him was still there, lurking in the corners of his mind, but it was tempered now by the knowledge that he was no longer helpless. He had Jaemin by his side, and he was learning how to protect himself, how to survive in a world that was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

And as they sat there, wrapped up in each other, Renjun realized that despite everything, despite the darkness that had entered their lives, he wouldn't trade this bond for anything. Jaemin had given him the strength to face his fears, and for that, Renjun knew he would stay by Jaemin's side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

"I'll always be here for you, Jaemin," Renjun whispered, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

Jaemin's arms tightened around him, and he pressed a kiss to Renjun's lips, a kiss that was full of love, passion, and a promise that they would never be separated.

"Together," Jaemin echoed, his voice a soft vow.

And in that moment, Renjun knew that no matter how dark the world around them became, he and Jaemin would face it as one, their bond unbreakable, their love stronger than any danger they might encounter.