Red Strings

Red Strings 4/?

The next time he saw the sight of the tattooed man was in the same manner.

Taekwoon woke up the soft thumping of the window, muffled sounds of his name drawing his attention immediately. He'd quietly tend to the other's injuries from god knows what this time around, sparing a few words here and there but never trying to delve deeper into it.

He was upset each time Wonsik showed up with more cuts and bruises over laying the newly healed ones, black eyes almost looking like another tattoo. His heart ached at the sight of the man who grinned back at him with that stupid smile, telling him to get to work before he bleeds out on the floor.

Such crude humor the man had.

Taekwoon started reading up more on first-aid procedures from the books his father had in the shelf in his office, finding the need to do everything perfect for Wonsik.

It went on for the next three weeks and by the fourth week, Taekwoon was about fed up and wanted answers. He could only stand seeing someone like that for so little and it was cruel of Wonsik to keep showing up in front of him like that.

Then again, he was starting to realize how cruel life was in that sense, especially when it came to Wonsik who always seemed to be running into some sort of trouble.

"Wrong place at the wrong time." Wonsik would always muse when he saw the saddened look in Taekwoon's eyes, a hand coming up to ruffle up Taekwoon's bed hair. The elder didn't miss the way he'd flinch as he did so, as if lifting up the weight of his own arm was too much.

Either way, their continuous cycles of tending to injuries, borrowing clothes, sleeping together and Wonsik disappearing before he would wake didn't stop.

The fifth week was no exception of that either.

"You're going to need to buy me a new first-aid kit. If my mother checks and sees how many things are missing, she's going to throw a fit." Taekwoon whispered, feeling Wonsik hum tiredly against his neck. They were laying in one of Taekwoon's favorite positions; Wonsik's head laying on top of his arm, tucked into his chest, as his own arms coiled tightly around the elders slim waist.

Taekwoon felt as though he was protecting Wonsik from all the bad in the world as he wrapped himself around the other. Wonsik could use his fists to fight off all the bad guys if he wanted to but for now, Taekwoon would be the one to shield Wonsik away within the comfort of his arms.

"Don't worry, I'll buy you one when I can." Wonsik responded, his baritone voice shaking Taekwoon's heart.

"Wonsik..." Taekwoon whispered, pausing as he couldn't find the right words. He felt Wonsik's arms tighten around him, fingertips sliding up his spine only to find home in between his shoulder blades.

"I know." He felt the hot breath of the others voice against his neck. "I know, Woonie. I know." Taekwoon visibly shuddered at the feeling of Wonsik's lips grazing against his sensitive neck, a certain something shooting in his veins that made his senses flare.

"What do you know?" The way his voice trembled as he spoke so softly made him feel weak, vulnerable. But that's exactly how he felt.

"I know you have a lot of questions. You are so curious about everything aren't you?" Wonsik hummed, "But I can't answer them. You don't need to know."

"But I want to know." Taekwoon said a little too loudly as he sat up, lowering his voice down once again as he spoke, "I want to know. No, I think I deserve to know."

Wonsik sat up as well, their faces mere inches apart as he scanned the others expression, finding many things he'd expected to see on Taekwoon's face. Worry, concern, determination, sadness, anger... and naivety.