Black Roses and White Chrysanthemum

renegade °3.2° il

The air stank with decay, seeming more rancid than before.

But Hyungwon couldn't tell very much anymore, it'd been like that for so long, no one really noticed it anymore. The city was really just a ghost of what it used to be, down alleyways that were usually stacked full of body bags. It was mostly the people who died from the sickness, and kept dying, for that matter.

Hoseok was close behind Hyungwon, occasionally his hand brushed against his arm, assuring he was still there as the sun was coming closer to the horizon, as if to remind him he was still close. It wasn't like the streets were busy, but that didn't mean they were any less dangerous.

There was no more law, no more reasoning. A constant fight between two sides- and then the middle. Where you get nothing but pain. Unfortunately, that's where they were. Trapped between sides that fought, unable to show them that they're both wrong.

Hyungwon's feet carried him back home without a second thought, rather than his thoughts being on where he was going, it was on the few bodies they had been able to find and bury, the ones near the top of the rubble.

They were so young.

"Guard." Hoseok whispered, taking Hyungwons arm and lightly drawing him off to the side, bringing Hyungwon back into the moment as he was carefully led into the mouth of an alley, lightly pressed against the cold brick wall.

Hyungwon released a tight breath to the side, only now hearing the footsteps among the buzzing of numerous flies. The sun was going down, no one was supposed to be out at this time. He hadn't even been paying attention to the time.

Hoseok pressed closer, for the sake of making sure they wouldn't be seen as the evening street guard passed.

Hyungwon was overly aware of Hoseoks warm breath across the side of his face, and his chest moving against his own as he breathed, hands on either side of Hyungwon against the worn out walls.

Dark figures walked past the entryway, not slowing their pace in the slightest as they passed.

For another long moment, Hoseok didn't move. He wanted to be entirely sure that they were gone.

When he was satisfied, Hoseok stepped back and let Hyungwon have some space back, peeking out into the street.

"We better hurry home." Hoseok mumbled.

Hyungwon didn't need to be told twice, passing Hoseok and grabbing his sleeve on the way to continue back.

Remembering how close Hoseok was, how warm, made Hyungwon wish they had the life that would allow them to be something more.