Hiraeth ⚕ Seungjin

15. Seungmin

It was cold.

16-year-old Seungmin should've packed on a few more jackets, but that hadn't crossed his mind tonight when he went out again for his daily routine.

Pickpocketing.

Or at least his inexperienced version of it. Seungmin wouldn't deny that it was an all time low, but running away left you with little choices. It's not like he stole anything life-changing, always a few pieces of spare chance or a broken watch or something Seungmin struggled to benefit from.

Still, it was much better than having to pick out glass shards from the scarred palms of his hands every other night, his mother's screams still echoing from downstairs. What was so absurd was that Seungmin felt safer roaming the dark streets every night rather than being at that pathetic excuse of a home.

Was it lonely? Maybe. Was it better? Definitely.

Leaning against the bus stop, half frozen from the winter chill, the teenager eyed the passing pedestrians, trying to discern the humans from the vampires. No matter how brave Seungmin pretended to be, he'd never try stealing from a vampire unless he had a death wish. Of course, he'd already known running away from the only physical shelter he'd known since he was a child was a death wish, but we don't talk about that.

It was getting late, and Seungmin hadn't had a good haul so far, so he'd probably be heading back to his poor excuse of a residence (an abandoned warehouse with locks that were rusty enough for Seungmin to smash apart) any time now.

Eventually, Seungmin grew tired of trying and failing to slip his hand into the pockets of passersby, plopping down on the bench dedicated to whoever was waiting for the bus. Just when he was about to head back, a heavy weight plopped next to him, nearly startling Seungmin out of his two jackets.

Trying to turn his head as discreetly as possible, Seungmin observed the man sitting beside him. Dark, short hair. Didn't look much older than him. Clearly absorbed into whatever was displayed on his phone, or at least enough not to notice Seungmin slithering his hand into the stranger's pocket.

It could be that Seungmin was a horrible observer, but it really must've been his bad luck that had the stranger's hand abruptly locking around his wrist, those brown eyes snapping to his, sharp and wary. The younger couldn't help but wince as the man's hand tightened, a frown slowly appearing on that face.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it isn't nice to steal?" The man's voice was smooth, deep, and oddly soothing despite the predicament Seungmin was in.

Of course, Seungmin would never admit defeat, yanking his hand back but failing to free himself from the older's grasp. "Let go."

"That's pretty bold, considering your hand was just half-buried into my pocket a second ago. You look like you're barely 13. What are you doing, stealing on the streets this late at night?" The stranger's hold on him loosens, although it remains inescapable, his eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly.

"16, actually. And that isn't any of your business. I'll leave, just let go."

"I suppose, yes, it isn't any of my business. But what is my business is a kid thieving on the streets. The patrols gotta be here somewhere..." Seungmin's eyes widened as the man stood up, hand tightening around his wrist to drag him along. Without thinking, the teenager tugged him back down, a panicked expression replacing the annoyed look on his face.

"Okay, okay! Fine, I'm sorry!" Seungmin hurriedly whispered, watching as the corners of the man's lips lifted mockingly. "What do you want me to do? Leave? I'll do that-"