Juni's eyes widened. His breath hitched. He looked away quickly—but Elian saw the faint blush spreading across his cheeks. Before Juni could reply, a loud metal clatter echoed from inside the apartment complex.
Juni flinched hard.
Elian's protective instinct surged instantly. "Juni—"
But Juni stepped in front of him abruptly, pushing him back with gentle urgency.
"You shouldn't be here when he's home."
Elian froze.
"Your uncle?"
Juni nodded stiffly.
"He's… in a bad mood today. He always is when work calls him in early."
A door slammed upstairs. Juni instinctively took a step backward.
Elian's chest tightened.
"You don't have to go inside alone."
Juni shook his head fast, panic rising.
"I do. If he sees you here, it'll get worse."
Elian reached out, grabbing Juni's wrist before he could run.
"Juni—stop pushing me away."
Juni turned, eyes wide and trembling.
"I'm not pushing you away… I'm trying to protect you!"
Elian's breath stilled.
Juni's voice cracked again.
"If he thinks you're close to me… he'll take it out on me. And I don't want—"
He broke off, voice shaking.
Elian stepped closer.
"I don't care if it puts me at risk."
Juni shook his head fiercely.
"Well, I do!"
Something broke in his expression—pain, fear, longing all tangled.
His voice dropped to a trembling whisper.
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
Elian exhaled softly. Then he said the words Juni needed most.
"You're worth protecting."
Juni's breath caught—a tiny gasp escaping before he could contain it. He stared at Elian like the world was tilting.
Then—A shout erupted from the apartment.
A man's voice.
Sharp.
Angry.
Juni flinched violently.
"I have to go."
Elian's grip tightened briefly—a silent please don't—but Juni pulled away.
"I'll be okay," he whispered, though the fear in his eyes said otherwise.
And before Elian could say another word, Juni ran inside. Elian remained frozen at the foot of the stairs, staring at the building that had swallowed Juni whole.
The shouts continued inside.
Then muffled thuds.
Then silence.
Elian's hands shook.
His chest hurt.
His vision blurred for a moment.
But more than anything…
More than fear, more than anger, more than helplessness—He felt a fierce, undeniable determination. He would not let Juni keep suffering like this.
Not in the shadows.
Not in silence.
Not alone.
Elian turned slowly, fists clenched at his sides.
Tomorrow… he would not let Juni walk home alone. Tomorrow… he would do what he needed to do. Even if it meant crossing a line he could never uncross.