A gentle breeze made the leaves of the plants surrounding the pagoda rustle. The sun was already setting, which meant they had to leave their cozy nest. Fujin and Yuta were breathing so quietly it was barely audible, for after cuddling and pondering how their future might unfold, they had fallen asleep. The ringing of Yuta's smartphone was what finally woke them both. Fujin stretched leisurely while Yuta jolted awake, frantically searching for his phone.
"Mmh… calm down…" Fujin mumbled sleepily.
Fujin sat up and watched Yuta as he almost panicked, gathering his things. With a sigh, he stood up and stopped Yuta by wrapping his arms around him from behind.
"Hey…" he began calmly. "Let me guess: we overslept, and your parents are making a fuss… It's tough, but calm down. Once they're asleep, pack your documents and other things like we discussed, okay?"
Yuta stayed still for a moment, then nodded nervously.
He knew he would face punishment for being late. Just the thought of what might happen turned his stomach.
"Hey…" Fujin gently stroked his cheek before planting a small kiss on the same spot. "Here…" He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. There wasn't much in it, but it was enough for a small purchase.
"Buy some groceries on the way and tell them you waited for the prices to drop because the items shouldn't be kept for the next day or something…"
Yuta first looked at the money, then at his friend, before thick crocodile tears streamed down his cheeks. He wanted to thank him, but pressed his lips so tightly together that no words came out.
Fujin looked at him in despair for a moment, unsure if he had done something wrong. But the answer came when Yuta threw his arms around him and pressed himself close. Fujin immediately wrapped his arms around his friend and breathed quietly.
"If it gets really bad, let me know, and we'll just spend the night here, okay?" Yuta sniffled but nodded.
The two of them walked hand in hand along the old path leading away from the pagoda before their ways parted.
"If anything happens, write to me or call me…" Fujin gave his friend one last smile before hurrying off himself. He didn't want to cause more stress by showing that he, too, had to justify himself to his parents.
At home, he was greeted by his mother's usual tirade. She worried excessively, and Fujin sometimes imagined her staring at the elegant wall clock, waiting for the moment he would come home.
But he was used to that. It was harmless compared to what Yuta faced. The Omega had been standing for several minutes with a small shopping bag in front of the apartment building, which looked more like a ruin and was clearly very old. But there was no choice; he had to go in. Along the way, his smartphone had rung several more times, just like now, as he carefully opened the apartment door. If he wasn't careful, it could jam again, and he'd get in trouble.
"YUTA!?" he was immediately shouted at, even as he had just closed the door.
"Where have you been!? What do you think you're doing, hm!?" His mother threw an empty glass bottle at the young Omega, which shattered into countless pieces against the wall.
"I-I got you dinner…" he said, lowering his gaze, hoping the groceries would appease his parents. But instead of a "thank you," he received a sharp slap.
"And what took so long?! Do you think the house will take care of itself? You're so useless! When will you finally get lost, you little parasite!!?" These were words he had heard many times before. But they always hurt anew. They were his parents. Normally, his father would have beaten him, but Yuta was lucky that his father was asleep in a drug haze, so he only had to deal with his mother.
She tore the shopping bag from his hands, looked inside, and slapped him again.
"Is that all!? I really should have sold you back then!" she shrieked, before retreating to her partner with the groceries.
Yuta cried almost silently. He had learned early on that it was best to be invisible. No one should see or hear him. No one except Fujin. His body trembled with fear, yet he tried to pull himself together and pack his things. Soon, this nightmare would end. Fujin had promised him that.