Just a heads up this is longer than I normally write and...sadder? >.<

YongGuk becomes attached to a quiet, apprehensive homeless boy named JunHong

YongGuk stepped out of his office building and took a deep breath of the dirty, city air. He wrinkled his nose and contemplated moving to the country for about the tenth time that week. City life wasn’t bad – he just felt like it wasn’t for him. For now though, his vacation home in the countryside would have to do.

He was still feeling particularly stuffy though so he thought a walk in the park would help clear his mind and his lungs. He strolled around smiling at the families and couples that were milling about and chattering happily. Maybe one day he would be one of those people.

He was passing a park bench when he saw a long body lying on it. It was a young boy, he couldn’t have been a day over sixteen, wearing ratty clothing and sleeping soundly. His face looked like it may once have been blessed with plump cheeks but now it was small and hollowing out. YongGuk immediately took the scarf from around his neck and rested it on the boy so that he would see it when he woke up.

He started to walk away then looked back wondering if he should get the boy something to eat and leave it for him. The boy was sitting up now and his eyes were open and staring at YongGuk. He looked at the scarf lying on his body then back at YongGuk.

He shook his head slowly then held out the thick, deep blue scarf to YongGuk.

“Keep it,” YongGuk said. “It’s getting cold these nights.”

The boy bit his lip and looked down at the scarf. YongGuk went over to him and kneeled down.

“Please keep it. I have lots trust me, it’s not an inconvenience to me if that’s what you’re wondering.”

The boy glanced at YongGuk then back at the scarf.

“Thank you,” he said so quietly that YongGuk had to read his lips.

“What’s your name?” YongGuk asked gently.

“Jun...” The boy said but YongGuk couldn’t catch the last part.

“Jun?” YongGuk asked.

“JunHong,” the boy said a little louder.

“I’m YongGuk. Are you hungry, JunHong?” YongGuk asked.

“This is enough, thank you,” JunHong said, clutching the scarf.

YongGuk clucked his tongue quietly but decided not to press the young boy. He gently took the scarf and wrapped it securely around JunHong’s neck while the boy looked at him with large, wondering eyes.

“I hope you stay warm enough tonight,” YongGuk said as he finished fluffing the scarf.

JunHong nodded and whispered his thanks again. YongGuk gave him a small smile and reluctantly continued on his walk home. Once he got to his apartment he kicked off his loafers and went straight to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee to enable him to finish tonight’s work.

As he the machine his mind wandered back to the boy in the park. JunHong.

He looked so young and vulnerable. How did he come to be homeless and sleeping on park benches? Should YongGuk call the police? Would they put JunHong in an orphanage or try to find his family if he had one?

YongGuk sighed and ran his hand over his face. He decided he would take some breakfast for JunHong tomorrow. And maybe some clothes too. The boy was tall but YongGuk had to find something in his closet for him.

***

The next morning YongGuk fixed his tie as he watched his reflection in the mirror. He thought he might look a little odd walking through the park like this early in the morning but it was worth it. He had left his car at work anyway. He had a warm breakfast packed for JunHong and clothes in a knapsack that he would probably just let the boy keep.

He left the apartment a lot more enthusiastically than he normally would and quickly headed for the park. What YongGuk hadn’t thought of though was that JunHong may not be there. He couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face when he reached the area of the park where JunHong had been the evening before. YongGuk bit his lip and looked around. It was a pretty big park...maybe JunHong was wondering around somewhere.

He walked through the park until he got to the centre where the fountain was. To his relief he spotted a blue scarf wrapped around a boy sitting on the ledge of the fountain, swinging his feet aimlessly back and forth.

“JunHong!” YongGuk called out.

The boy looked up utterly surprised at the man running towards him.

“I have something for you,” YongGuk said, taking the backpack off his back. He pulled out the lunchbox containing the breakfast and handed it to JunHong who reluctantly took it. He looked questioningly at YongGuk and opened the box. When he saw the food his eyes widened and he looked up at YongGuk.

“Really, you don’t need –”  

“I wanted to,” YongGuk interrupted. He laid the backpack next to JunHong and gave him a reassuring smile. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

JunHong smiled a little at that and whispered his thanks.

“Do you want some company?” YongGuk asked.

“Sure,” JunHong said softly.

YongGuk sat next to him and watched as he carefully picked up the chopsticks in the box and began to eat the breakfast. YongGuk was dying to know how JunHong had ended up like this. Was he a runaway? Did he have a family at all? He didn’t want to pry though, or push the boy away.

“Is it good?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong nodded fervently as his cheeks were full of food. YongGuk chuckled and lifted his hand to ruffle JunHong’s dirty hair but stopped when he realized what he was doing and played it off by running his own hand through his hair. He glanced at his watch and realized he would probably be late for work. Right now though, that didn’t seem to matter.

“Thank you,” JunHong said again, handing the empty box and chopsticks to YongGuk.

YongGuk took the backpack and put it on JunHong’s lap as he stood up.

“There’s something else in there for you. I hope I’ll see you later, JunHong.”

YongGuk started to walk away then abruptly turned around.

“Would you...maybe...I don’t live too far from here...if you want...we could have dinner?”

JunHong bit his lip and looked at his lap.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” he asked.

“No one deserves to be living the way you are,” YongGuk said plainly. “Will you come?”

“I...I can’t...” JunHong said. “You’re...you’re you and I’m me. I’m dirty and smelly and –”

“Hey,” YongGuk said, “I don’t think like that. You’re coming over tonight, ok? I’m not taking no for an answer.”

JunHong sighed in surrender and YongGuk grinned.

***

JunHong sat nervously on the park bench that was his bed waiting for this strange man named YongGuk to come by and get him. Literally thousands of people had passed JunHong and no one had ever given him a spare glance, especially not the people dressed in loafers, crisp suits and silk ties.

In the past day YongGuk had shown him more care than anyone ever had in his lifetime. A scarf and breakfast might seem like nothing to all the people that passed him every day but to JunHong it was worth so much. His neck had been so warm when he had slept last night and he hadn’t shivered like a leaf in the wind as he normally did.

And this morning...YongGuk was actually the last person JunHong had expected to see. He had been kind but JunHong didn’t expect more. He felt ashamed putting his dirty mouth on YongGuk’s chopsticks but he was so hungry he pushed that thought to the back of his mind. And now, now YongGuk wanted JunHong to go to his house. JunHong couldn’t understand it. He considered that YongGuk could be some kind of sly criminal, maybe trying to sell him off somewhere but JunHong’s gut just didn’t let him believe that.

He adjusted the scarf around his neck and tapped his dirty fingernails on the bench. He was so nervous. YongGuk looked like he had a nice, clean house. JunHong couldn’t imagine setting his unwashed feet in such a place. He imagined dirt just falling off of him and YongGuk ordering him out.

“JunHong!”

He jumped and immediately stood when he saw YongGuk.

“You didn’t change?” YongGuk asked, referring to the clothes in the backpack he had given JunHong.

“Oh..I...didn’t have anywhere to...if you want right now I’ll –”

“No, no! It’s fine. I thought maybe you didn’t like the clothes.”

JunHong shook his head and almost laughed. At this point in his life he wouldn’t have cared if YongGuk had given him a dress. Any clean clothes were a blessing to him. He followed YongGuk back through the park and to the underground parking lot of a skyscraper that JunHong had gaped at many a day.

YongGuk pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and unlocked a sleek black Mercedes.

“I left this here yesterday so I thought we could use it. It’s not a long ride but I thought you might want to rest your feet,” YongGuk said as though people casually left cars like that all over the place.

JunHong gulped and gingerly got into the car. He felt so dirty in this car. He must smell so bad. He hadn’t showered in ages. He was making it disgusting.

“Hey...are you ok?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong was so used to crying he hadn’t even noticed the tears in his eyes.

“I don’t belong in here,” JunHong said. “I’m filthy.”

“JunHong, I’m so sorry. I...I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I –”

JunHong quickly got out of the car and started walking briskly back to the park. YongGuk immediately followed him and jogged behind him.

“We can walk,” YongGuk said.

“No...I –”

“Please, JunHong?” YongGuk begged.

JunHong stopped short and looked at YongGuk. Why was he so persuasive?

“Come on,” YongGuk said, holding out his hand.

JunHong took it reluctantly and followed YongGuk to his apartment. When they entered JunHong had to suppress his feelings of inadequacy or he would have once again made a break for it. YongGuk must have sensed his unease because he led JunHong to the bathroom.

“You can have a shower if you’d like,” YongGuk offered. “I think it’ll make you feel better.”

JunHong looked at the spotless marble tile and squeezed his eyes shut. This was overwhelming. Of course he wanted to take a shower but it was just so hard to accept YongGuk’s kindness.

“Go on,” YongGuk urged, “It’s ok.”

JunHong stepped into the room and YongGuk closed the door with a quiet click. JunHong sighed and looked around the perfect room. He would probably break something, smudge something, do something wrong to leave his mark. He took off the clothes he had been wearing for aeons and stepped into the shower.

It must have been a guest bathroom since everything was untouched. He felt better that way though. He might pass out if he was using YongGuk’s bathroom. He hated to imagine dirtying his personal things. When the hot water sprayed onto his body he almost groaned. It felt so good. He didn’t leave it on for long though – he refused to run up YongGuk’s bill. He scrubbed himself thoroughly – he didn’t know when he would shower again – until his skin was pink from the friction of the loofah.

He washed his hair then rinsed his body and stepped out of the shower. Once he was dried with what he swore must have been pure Egyptian cotton towels he took the clothes out of the backpack and pulled them on. He brushed his teeth for as long as he thought he could without his gums beginning to bleed and pushed his old clothes into trash can in the bathroom then wrapped them up in the plastic bag and pushed them into the backpack.

He stepped out of the bathroom and followed the smell of food to the kitchen. YongGuk was just setting the table when he walked in and the man looked up and gave JunHong a smile so warm that he felt it in his toes.

“Sit,” YongGuk said, transferring dishes from the kitchen to the dining table.

“Do you need help?” JunHong asked.

YongGuk shook his head and nodded his head at the chair he had pulled out. JunHong sat and watched as YongGuk set down the juice then finally sat.

“Well, help yourself,” YongGuk said, “there’s more than enough for both of us.”

 JunHong carefully dished out some food for himself then picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. It was with great discipline that he didn’t bury his face in the plate and clean it off with his tongue. YongGuk doled seconds onto his plate with a small smile and JunHong felt his face turning red. Had he been obvious?

The meal was quiet but JunHong was fine with that. He was happy with the comfortable silence and also happy that YongGuk respected his privacy enough not to pry.

 “It’s raining,” YongGuk said suddenly, nodding at the window behind JunHong.

JunHong looked at the rain that was suddenly pouring down and sighed. He would have to find somewhere dry to stay tonight. He put his chopsticks down when he was full and looked at YongGuk. He wasn’t sure how to leave.

“Thank you,” he said. He felt like he couldn’t say it enough.

“It’s my pleasure, JunHong. I mean it.”

The boy nodded and stood.

“Well...I guess –”

“You’re not going out there are you?” YongGuk asked incredulously.

“YongGuk,” JunHong said, feeling unworthy of using his name without a title, “I can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

JunHong felt the tears coming again with his frustration. He couldn’t take advantage of YongGuk’s hospitality like that. He just couldn’t.

“JunHong,” YongGuk said, also getting to feet, “there is no way I am letting you go out there in the rain.”

“YongGuk, please...” JunHong could feel the tears pouring down his face now. He knew it must have been confusing for YongGuk – watching a homeless boy cry and refuse when he offered him a place to stay for the night – but it was complicated, as cliché as that sounded.

YongGuk immediately went over to JunHong’s side of the table and wrapped his arms around him.

“JunHong, it’s ok. I want you to stay here. I want you to have a bed and not be looking for someone’s porch to sleep on. Please, I’m asking your permission to have you stay here tonight. Just one night, JunHong.”

“Just one night,” JunHong said, his voice muffled in YongGuk’s chest.

YongGuk pulled away and gave JunHong a gummy smile that the younger boy couldn’t help but return. YongGuk took his hand and pulled him towards a spare bedroom.

“My room is right across from this one,” YongGuk said gesturing to the opposite door. If you need anything at all, come get me. Even if I’m sleeping, ok?”

JunHong nodded and looked at the floor that he was still unworthy of standing on.

“Thank you, YongGuk.”

The man ruffled his hair and smiled at him.

“Sleep well, JunHong,” he said, then retreated to his bedroom.

JunHong slowly walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. He crawled into the bed and slipped under the soft sheets and thick comforter. He didn’t know what possessed YongGuk to treat him like this, like he was some kind of special person. He was grateful of course, but still confused and overwhelmed. But even with the gears in his head spinning with these thoughts JunHong’s eyelids couldn’t help but droop and soon enough he was asleep in the king size bed.

He woke before YongGuk and he was glad. He was almost sure that YongGuk would try to get him to stay for another meal or maybe even another night. Who even did stuff like that? It was just too much to take in right now that all this was being done for him and there was absolutely nothing he could do to repay this man. He might even find a new park to stay in...this was just too much.

He slipped out of the bedroom and into the living room to take his things and leave. There was just enough light for him to make out a piece of paper resting on his things.

JunHong,

I thought you might leave. I wish you would stay but I can’t force you. But please know, and believe, that you can come here anytime. I’ll never turn you away or expect anything in return except to see a smile on your face.

YongGuk

JunHong felt the tears running down his face before he noticed he was crying. YongGuk was literally the kindest person he had ever met. Why couldn’t he just stay?

“JunHong?”

He quickly turned around to see YongGuk rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

“You’re still here?” YongGuk asked, a smile beginning to form on his face but stopping as soon as he realized that JunHong was crying. He immediately went over and sat him down.

“JunHong...what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

JunHong rested his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. This was the last thing he needed right now. It would be even harder to leave with YongGuk present. He didn’t want to see sadness or disappointment on the face of someone who had been so good to him.

“JunHong?” YongGuk asked again.

“Nothing...nothing happened,” JunHong said through his tears.

“Than what is it? Why are you crying?”

JunHong didn’t know how to explain the tumbleweed of thoughts and emotions in his head. So he stayed silent and shook his head.

“Is it...” YongGuk eyed the note that JunHong was still clutching tightly, “Is it what I wrote?”

JunHong started to nod but then stopped. It was and it wasn’t. It was a combination of YongGuk’s kindness and his own messed up mentality. He took a deep, shuddering breath and tried to sort out his thoughts.

“I can’t understand why you’re being so kind to me. It...it confuses me and I just...I’ve never...no one has ever...”

“No one has ever treated you like this?” YongGuk wondered.

JunHong nodded.

“So you don’t know how to respond?”

JunHong nodded again.

“You feel like...you must do something in return for my kindness yet you feel there’s nothing you could do.”

“E-exactly,” JunHong said, staring at YongGuk.

“Well it seems the only way this can be solved is if you become accustomed to being treated with kindness or if you give up altogether and decide not to get used to it.”

“I couldn’t – I could never –” JunHong started.

“I think you could,” YongGuk said, “but it’s up to you, JunHong. If you want, you can stay here.”

JunHong’s eyes widened and he clutched the note in his hand tighter.

“You don’t have to decide right now, take your time and...space if you need it,” YongGuk said hesitantly.

JunHong stood slowly and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

“I promise I’ll let you know what my decision is,” JunHong said earnestly. “I’ll come back and tell you. Right now I just...need to think.”

He bowed as deeply as he could.

“Thank you for everything, YongGuk.”

The man nodded and smiled, and tried his best not to run after the boy leaving his apartment. He knew full well he may never see JunHong again but for now all he could do was hope and pray that he would return.

It's been so long! >_< I blame university <_< but I really hope you guys think this was worth the wait ^^ and I hope you're not disappointed that it's not a fluffy, birthday oneshot ;_;

aaaaaaaand did you guys see that pic Yongguk posted of Zelo, omg it's toooooo sweet ;_; I'm inspired~~ but my feels and imagination are just too flighty right now for me to write ugh plus schoolwork OTL but please let me know what you guys thought of this~~ ^^

pic cr