Destined (Jaeyong) [Complete]

2

Taeyong lifted his head to glance forward.

His building was the last large house in a row at a junction of two busy roads.

Sure enough, the same silent blond sentinel stood on the diagonal opposite corner from the house that included Taeyong's tiny apartment.  The man seemed unaffected by the cold wind or the rain.

Taeyong briefly considered that he should worry that the man had taken his post there and seemed to do so at just the right time to see Taeyong arrive home.

However the man had never attempted to cross the road or accost Taeyong and the young man had never seen him during the day. 

The reason Taeyong didn't worry was he somehow took comfort from the tall, broad figure. As irrational as it sounded, he was reassured by the silent presence.

It made him feel as though someone cared enough to see he got home safely. 

Taeyong always checked from his window when safe inside his room, but by then his watcher had always vanished.

Taeyong had harboured notions of coming home a different way to try and pass the man and see him up close, but then he'd become sick with this unrelenting infection and such ideas had been quickly abandoned.

Reaching his building, he struggled with frozen fingers to get the key in the lock.

He bit back a sob of frustration as the small piece of metal seemed determined to resist any attempt to be inserted to unlock the door.

"Let me." 

A soft, warm voice whispered in his ear and a strong arm wrapped around Taeyong's slender waist.

Taeyong briefly considered resistance, but his treacherous body had other ideas. He leant heavily against his benefactor as he was helped into the lobby.

Taeyong thought he must have fainted as, when he raised his aching head, he was already in his tiny room and settled on the battered settee.

Noises from the cooking portion of his accommodation indicated the whereabouts of the stranger.

The single word, authoritatively spoken. "Drink."

Taeyong gratefully accepted the steaming mug and sipped at the tea.

"You have almost no food. You are ill and are out without a proper coat. What are you thinking of still going to work and so poorly dressed in weather like this?"

The tone of censure from someone who'd shown him such kindness was suddenly too much for Taeyong's fragile psyche to deal with. 

"I've no food because my day job only pays enough to cover rent, utilities and the debts I owe due to a so-called friend maxing out every card I possessed. My bar job pays for me to eat and I don't get paid till Sunday and I ran out of money because of an emergency. I can't afford a better coat right now, this is all I have."

Hot tears began to fall and Taeyong felt the mug be removed from his shaking hands. He was drawn into a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, little one."

This time the voice was comforting and Taeyong found himself sobbing against the strong shoulder, instinctively seeking the bigger male's warmth and succour.

Powerful arms wrapped protectively around him and Taeyong let himself be gently rocked.

For the first time since his early childhood Taeyong felt safe and loved.

He whimpered a protest as he felt the man move and then lips brushed gossamer-light across his temple.

"Let me care for you, angel," came the softly whispered request and Taeyong found welcome darkness descending.