A Home in Him
wonyeezy
Kihyun had just taken the tea off the stove, soft jazz music filling the house from the stereo in his living room as he moved lightly about the kitchen. He was moving along to the springy beat, purple apron tied around his chest and pink hair protected by a black beanie.
He had just poured himself a cup when there was a knock at the door. A single, loud knock. Kihyun didn't think much of it, he lived in a complex with many other college students his age and there were always bangs and knocks during the weekends as the influx of bodies crowded around the small area. They were always harmless though.
He ignored it and continued to fill his jug with more tea, eyebrows knit in concentration when the sound of pounding on his door designated throughout the entire apartment. He huffed in annoyance before taking his apron off, and made his way to the door.
"Listen, I don't-" Whatever he had planned to say to tell the intruder off had been completely erased from his mind. Swinging the door open, his heart caved in his chest at the sight before him. Kihyun's entire body tensed up, immediately going into slight panic mode as his ex-boyfriend Hoseok stared at him with embarrassed, shy eyes.
Kihyun couldn't believe it. After all this time, he thought Hoseok would change, move past this. And, after all this time, Hoseok didn't change. And as usual, Hoseok came running back to Kihyun.
Kihyun's body reacted before his mind could catch up and he stepped aside, letting Hoseok into his apartment in silence. Hoseok shrugged his leather jacket off and made his way to the kitchen and propped himself up on the counter. Kihyun followed behind him, heading to the pantry cabinet to grab his emergency first aid kit and a water bottle.
They had done this one too many times.
Kihyun walked over to Hoseok with careful steps and positioned himself in between Hoseok's legs. He then opened the first aid kit and took out the rubbing alcohol and disinfectant wipes. Seven months apart suddenly feels like nothing and Kihyun wonders if any time had passed at all.
They met at eye level because Hoseok was sitting on the counter and Kihyun was standing in front of him. Hoseok stared at him with a soft gaze as Kihyun began to wipe some of the blood off his shoulder and carefully dab the bruises forming on his arms. Kihyun could feel the heated gaze but avoided looking at Hoseok. He couldn't look that man in the eyes without wanting to erupt into flames. The scene looked like one from a movie, Hoseok decked out in all black attire, tight black jeans and a snug black tank under his leather jacket. Kihyun, who was considerably smaller than him body size wise was in his boxers and an oversized white t-shirt. The two huddled so close together with jazz music and dimly lit candles sprayed in the background. Polar opposites, yet so close to being one.
They had done this one too many times when they were togther. Kihyun couldn't count the amount of times Hoseok would come home some nights completely bloodied and bruised up. Fight after fight, brawl after brawl, Hoseok would come home to his Kihyun, waiting by the front door with a towel and tears in his eyes as he knew he would have to spend the night taking care and patching up a wounded Hoseok, only for Hoseok to go back and get into another fight the next day.
Hoseok never intended to get into so much trouble all the time. He wasn't always a bloodied mess. Simply hanging around the wrong crowd opened the floodgate to this brutal lifestyle and Hoseok was in too deep. He began getting into small fights here and there, never doing anything criminal, but hurting himself nonetheless. His body, skin once smooth, fair, and blemish free was now covered in bruises. Kihyun always made sure to kiss down his body and pay attention to the bruises and scratches, sucking on the sensitive skin and licking over it to cover the spots with his saliva. As if it would help heal him faster.
