Red Strings

Red Strings 6/?

He brought his lips to man who was heaving for a breath, gasping in pain while he was at it, Wonsik whispering out harshly, "The first one was for causing mom's face to bruise. The second one? That's for doing all the right things to piss off the one person providing for your sorry ass."

He panted in and out as he felt the vein on his forehead pulse, standing straight up to let the man before him slump down onto the ground, holding onto his stomach for dear life as he cried out in pain.

He had to leave before he lost it, he could feel his anger turning his blood into a molten heat, prepared to explode at the next thing that ticks him off. His hands shook as he bent down to grab the stack of money he had dropped in his haste to punch the other, clasping it in his hand before straightening out with a sigh.

He walked out of the living room with eyes burning holes in his body, walking up to his mother before harshly shoving the stack of money in her hand. "Here. Don't let him fucking touch it, alright? When they come looking for the money, give this to them. It's not enough but tell them they'll have it all soon."

She merely nodded, gripping the money in her small hands in a tight grip as her head slumped down in shame. Wonsik sighed as he gently placed a hand on her head, pulling her forehead in to meet his lips in a ginger kiss. "If he hurts you again, I won't walk away with just a couple of punches like I've done today." He trailed his fingers to cup his mother's face, lifting her chin up to stare at the marking with hatred. He brought his lips to her cheek, kissing it tenderly before walking away with a wave goodbye.

This time, she held back on telling her precious son that his father's debt had increased from the mere nine hundred to a whooping two thousand, fearing that Wonsik might actually pop a vein.

Wonsik kicked at the rocks as he threw his head back with a frustrated yell, panting harshly as his eyes followed the fog that left his lips. He continued to walk towards the direction of the new place he had called home— not the house he was going to but the arms.

Jung Taekwoon's arms.

He hugged his body closer as the anger left him, the heat within him cooling and no longer keeping him warm in the cold breeze that was blowing against him. He let out a little hiss as he licked his lips, the stinging pain making him remember he was still un-tended to.

He smiled a little at the thought of Taekwoon's slender fingers and caring hands fixing him up and making sure he was all good to go before letting him lay down and rest.

Wonsik continued to drag his feet across the concrete of the sidewalk before seeing the familiar house in sight. He quietly and swiftly made his way to the tree, using whatever strength he had left to haul his body up and climb onto the branch near the window.

His bruised knuckles tapped on the glass gently three times in a short and choppy pattern before doing four quick ones— a code they had made up so Taekwoon wouldn't accidentally open it up to a stranger who just so happened to decided to do the same.

Not even a minute later, the curtain was drawn back, Taekwoon's grin replaced with a small frown. He watched the elder cross his arms sassily with an eyebrow raised, Wonsik shaking his head with a grin as he pointed to the window.

Taekwoon shook his head, staring at Wonsik pointedly, who in return gave a pleading look, pouting his lips in a manner that was rare. He could practically hear the soft and breathy— annoyed— sigh that left the elders lips as he unlocked the window and pulled it up for him to climb through.

"You were doing so well, three days. Three days you came without a single injury and now you're like this." Taekwoon chided in a hushed whisper as he waved a hand to the other's body.