It was close to nearing a week since Joon had been staying at Jinki’s apartment. He couldn’t help but feel like he was free loading no matter how generous Jinki seemed to be.

Jinki would attend university every day and go to work every night but still come home whenever he got the chance to make sure Joon was alright, and not too bored by himself.

Of course he was bored though. He was alone in an empty apartment for most of the day. He didn’t really move around much, he couldn’t extraneous movement made his ribs hurt even more, he found this out when he had tried to leave the first time. But now it was getting a lot better. However, Jinki always ended up insisting that he sleep on the bed and he felt for making him sleep on the floor.

The other roommate, Key, wasn’t as hospitable. He obviously felt that Joon was free loading and taking advantage of Jinki’s kindness but he didn’t say anything. He cooked for Joon because Jinki had begged him to and that was pretty much all the interaction they had.

Jinki was at his shift at the coffee shop since it was Saturday. Joon was amazed at the work ethic of the younger, Joon never really had the willpower to hold down a job. He usually quit or was fired in a few days, but it was probably because he was more interested in snorting coke than actually doing the job.

Now that he thought about it, he really craved the stuff. But there was no way of getting the stuff or even getting past Jinki. Jinki didn’t even seem to like the fact than Joon smoked, not that he said anything. Joon was sure he was way too shy.

With Key and Jinki both not at home, now seemed like the perfect chance to get even a small bag. Joon obviously couldn’t go get it himself, so he quickly dialed the one person he could think of to help.

The dial tone rang twice before he picked up. “Hey Mir.”

“Where are you, man?” Mir asked, “I heard GD left you for dead?”

“And you couldn’t bother calling to check.”

“Umm…”

Joon knew that Mir was just plain stupid, “Don’t stress. But since it’s your fault that Ji Yong beat me up, I need a favor.”

“Ok…” Mir replied cautiously.

“Get a bag for me.”

“What! NO!” Mir exclaimed, “I ain’t touching the stuff.”

“But you asked for Ji Yong’s number!”

“Yeah I know, but the moment’s passed. I don’t really want it anymore.”

“Mir, please.” He calmly asked, not wanting seem as if he was begging but it seemed as if he was close.

“Urghh… I don’t want to meet GD again.” Mir sighed.

“You can have my watch! You know the one you’ve been eying.”

“Really, dude?” Mir voice exclaimed through the phone and Joon pulled it away from his ear.

“Yeah sure.”

“Deal.”

Jinki was excited to be coming home, no tired or worn out, he enjoyed working at a café much more than the convenience store, he had a lot more help and it was definitely a friendlier atmosphere.

He had a lively kick in his step, it was only four and today was one of his least busy day. Jinki was pleased to have a lot of time on his hands, maybe do some study and relieve Key of his cooking duties. Not only that but his workmate had finally lent him a pair of crutches he thought Joon might want, he couldn’t help but be excited.

As he approached his apartment door, he passed a young man that stank of cigarette smoke and some unknown smell. Jinki couldn’t help but grimace but felt bad for doing so.

Walking into his apartment the smell still lingered a fraction but Jinki ignored it. Joon who looked over from the couch as the door shut behind Jinki, was not expecting Jinki home.

“Hey,” Jinki greeted, slipping off his shoes still smiling gently.

“Hey,” Joon answered back, “Your home early.”

“It’s Saturday, I don’t work long.” He grabbed the crutches that he placed beside the door. “I got something for you.”

Joon looked at it, “mmm, thanks.”

“Do you want to try them out?” Jinki asked eagerly like a child about to receive a Christmas gift, Joon couldn’t refuse.

“Yeah sure.” He took the crutches out of Jinki’s hand, slowly standing up and placing them under his arm. He gripped the handle and tried to walk forward. It wasn’t too hard but honestly Joon thought they didn’t even help much.

“Great,” Jinki exclaimed grinning in satisfaction.

Jinki hovered for a moment before he thought they were heading towards an awkward silence, “I’ll make something to eat, okay?”

Joon’s hand skimmed his pocket and dropped to his side. Why did he feel like he was going to betray and disappoint Jinki. Why did the thought make him mad, why did he even care?

Joon decided to make his way into the kitchen, he smiled seeing Jinki running around the kitchen in a confused haze.

“Have you never cooked before?” smirking he sat on the kitchen stool.

“I usually have Key. Before that I had my parents.”

Joon smile wavered, of course Jinki would have led a privileged life. “Don’t worry though,” Jinki reassured, grinning widely, “I’m making something really good!”

“hmm… ok.”

Joon watched Jinki’s back as he worked with the saucepan, adding ingriedents before sighing and wiping his head off sweat.

Finally Jinki grabbed three plates and served three plates. He carefully opened the fridge placing one plate on the rack and taking the others towards Joon.

“Bon appetite.” Squirting some tomato ketchup, Jinki pushed the plate of omurice towards Joon.

Joon couldn’t help but laugh, “a true masterpiece.”

Jinki watched Joon as he took a cautious spoonful, “Is it alright?”

“hmm, it’s good.”

His face lit up in appreciation, and he started to taste his creation himself. Taking a bite, he paused and looked over at Joon before slapping his shoulder lightly, “You liar, this taste horrible.”

“It’s a bit salty.” Joon hesitantly replied.

Joon sat next to Jinki on the couch watching as Jinki animatedly talked about his day at work. “And I swear Taemin did it on person!” he continued, Joon wasn’t truly listening but liked his voice and was amused as happily continued

He laughed loudly at his own lame joke and awkwardly stopped as Joon didn’t respond. “Sorry that was lame.”

“Yeah,” he calmly answered.

“so tell me about yourself?” Jinki countered.

“What’s there to tell?”

“I don’t know? What do you do usually? What about your friends?”

What friends, he almost wanted to say; they were all deadbeats who’d easily take the chance to screw you over. But he couldn’t really say that. “We just hang out. Nothing special.”

“Okay.” Jinki didn’t want to push it, “I don’t mean to sound intrusive, but…”

“See there’s a but.” Joon interrupted, “If you don’t mean to be intrusive, then don’t.”

“But you’re staying here, don’t you think I should know?” Jinki didn’t mean to say that, it sounded as if Joon was an annoyance. He doesn’t like to argue but he felt the need to know more about the man he was allowing stay in his house.

“I don’t need to stay here.” Joon knew that was a lie, he had nowhere else.

“You do though,” Jinki called out his bluff, “If you didn’t, you would have left already.”

“What happened to the awkward loser Jinki?” Joon exclaimed in anger, “Why do you have to talk so much.”

Jinki went silent, he had started this but had no desire to continue it, “Ok, sorry.” He

Joon noticed the younger’s face drop, his offence hitting close to home. “hey,” he murmured put his hand on Jinki’s shoulder, “I’m sorry.”

Jinki didn’t look up, “it’s okay,” he mumbled shuffling himself of the seat and went into the kitchen. It seemed as if he always disappeared into there. Joon could tell he was upset.

After a quick moment of deliberation, Joon got up and slowly followed. “fine, shall I tell you why I was in the alley?”

Jinki didn’t look over but Joon continued anyway, “I needed something and that er Jiyong had it. But he wouldn’t give it because he’s a . But anyway that’s what you wanted to know right?”

Jinki was still hurt but felt thankful that Joon trusted him, “what did you need?”

Joon didn’t expect any more questions, he hoped after he told Jinki that he would drop it. “I’m not a good guy,” he started despite knowing what Jinki’s reaction would be is to throw him out, after he said it, “I haven’t lead the ing perfect life you have. Life’s to begin with for some people, and we just end doing everything and anything to make it worse.” He could sense that Jinki had already understood where he was going with this, “what else can we do? At 17, my parents kicked me out, not that would want to live with those alcoholics. Soon after, the only thing I could do, only thing that fit and seemed right was coke."

He didn't even wait for Jinki's reaction before getting up, "Don’t worry Jinki, I know your disappointed, disgusted, mad, whatever you are but I don’t really give a about other people. Knowing that, I’ll be out of your hair.”

A/n: sorry it took so long to update :( but i made it extra long. I didn't have time to proof read because i just wanted to update. So read, enjoy, comment.