Words Spoken By The Heart
Title: Words Spoken By The Heart
Pairing: CNU/Jinyoung
Rating: PG
Word Count: 885w
Prompt: 2
Summary: The end of the world was a year ago and Jinyoung has lost everything - his family, his friends, even his voice. Dongwoo is the last part of himself he can't bear to lose.
Note/Warnings: Post-apocalyptic AU.
Jinyoung doesn't really remember what it was like before the end of the world. The sky used to be blue, sometimes purple. Used to be orange, red, and pink during sunset, he thinks, trying to recall what the world looked like before the nuclear explosion had turned everything a depressing grey. There used to be sunlight too, and Jinyoung tries to remember how it felt on his skin, absently rubbing his arm. But the thing Jinyoung misses the most, is probably Dongwoo.
Dongwoo, who would treat him to lunch when he forgot his wallet, who would walk him all the way home, even though he lived on the opposite direction. Dongwoo, who would fall asleep next to him when they stayed up late studying for exams. Dongwoo with his eyesmiles, with his easy laugh, the Dongwoo with the soft, gentle hands.
Not the Dongwoo sitting next to him, pulling at the edges of his frayed leather gloves, shoulders drawn in, scooting closer to the campfire for warmth. Dongwoo's eyes are dark, tired, always tired, and it hurts Jinyoung to see the glossy stare Dongwoo gets after particularly long days. Jinyoung wishes he could take it all away, wishes he could take the tiredness out of Dongwoo's eyes, take the heaviness out of Dongwoo's heart and carry it for him.
"I'm okay." Dongwoo says, knowing Jinyoung has been staring him, concerned.
Jinyoung frowns, takes Dongwoo's hand, opens his palm and writes out the word liar.
Dongwoo gives a faint smile, the ones Jinyoung hates to see, the smiles that never reach Dongwoo's eyes. But they're the only smiles that Dongwoo ever gives these days.
"Hey, we made it through today alive, didn't we?"
Jinyoung sighs and is about to write something in response when Dongwoo starts coughing. They're not regular coughs, they're throaty, raspy, and Jinyoung panics because the only thing he can do is give Dongwoo his share of water, rub circles into Dongwoo's back as they wait for the fit to pass.
When Dongwoo finally stops shaking minutes later, his eyes are red and watery. Jinyoung wants to believe him when Dongwoo says, voice hoarse, "I'll be fine."
He wonders if they'll ever make it out okay.
They siphon gas out of the cars in the street every day. It's dangerous work, and slow; they take turns going out because they can't afford to leave their base empty, prone to raiders and thieves.
It's Dongwoo's turn today and Jinyoung almost doesn't want to let him go, because Dongwoo is tired, the dark circles around his eyes getting worse with every passing day.
"But we're so close." Dongwoo says, when Jinyoung tugs on his arm, holding him back. Jinyoung glances at their supply, a few gallons painstakingly collected over the past twelve months. They're almost set to go, so close to finally being able to leave the city and the smog that surrounds it. Leave the days of hiding behind boarded up windows and barbed wire fences.
"I'll be back in a few hours. Before sunset." Dongwoo says, and Jinyoung doesn't know why he lets him walk out the door.
Jinyoung spends the first and second hour checking their supplies, loading and unloading extra things onto their van.
The third hour goes by with Jinyoung sitting on the floor in the middle of their warehouse, staring at the door.
Somewhere in between the fourth and fifth hour, Jinyoung pulls out extra blankets, plays with the frayed edges as he continues waiting.
Jinyoung loses track of time and winds up curled in the blankets on the floor, waking up from a nap he doesn't remember starting. He's still alone.
A chilling wind sweeps in as Jinyoung opens the door, making him wrap the blanket tighter around his shoulders. It's dark and the night air is freezing, but Jinyoung feels dread burning in the pit of his stomach, heating his skin. Dongwoo is late.
And Jinyoung is faced with all the things he's never told Dongwoo, all the unspoken emotions he never thought to express because Dongwoo had always understood him.
Come back alive Jinyoung tries to plead out loud, and it's the first time he's tried to use his voice since he'd lost it. I need you. Please come back. Jinyoung cries out his words, wants to scream and beg and hear the echo of his yells bounce off the walls of the empty building.
And he doesn't know if he's deluding himself into believing it but Jinyoung hears a knock. The knock that only he and Dongwoo know.
Jinyoung opens the door and Dongwoo stumbles forward, his breathing is harsh and there's bruises all over but he's alive and he's there, and Jinyoung clings to Dongwoo, holds him like he never intends to let him go.
They escape the city, and drive far enough to a place where the sky is actually blue on good days. In a small forest by a stream, they make a place of their own, wake up in each other's arms, warm, rested, and together. The air is cleaner, Dongwoo doesn't cough. He loses the darkness around his eyes, and starts to smile, truly smile.
Jinyoung presses himself closer against Dongwoo, mouths the words I love you into the crook of his neck, does it every morning, does it at random times whenever he wants to. The end of the world has passed, and Jinyoung knows they'll be just fine.
Pairing: CNU/Jinyoung
Rating: PG
Word Count: 885w
Prompt: 2
Summary: The end of the world was a year ago and Jinyoung has lost everything - his family, his friends, even his voice. Dongwoo is the last part of himself he can't bear to lose.
Note/Warnings: Post-apocalyptic AU.
Jinyoung doesn't really remember what it was like before the end of the world. The sky used to be blue, sometimes purple. Used to be orange, red, and pink during sunset, he thinks, trying to recall what the world looked like before the nuclear explosion had turned everything a depressing grey. There used to be sunlight too, and Jinyoung tries to remember how it felt on his skin, absently rubbing his arm. But the thing Jinyoung misses the most, is probably Dongwoo.
Dongwoo, who would treat him to lunch when he forgot his wallet, who would walk him all the way home, even though he lived on the opposite direction. Dongwoo, who would fall asleep next to him when they stayed up late studying for exams. Dongwoo with his eyesmiles, with his easy laugh, the Dongwoo with the soft, gentle hands.
Not the Dongwoo sitting next to him, pulling at the edges of his frayed leather gloves, shoulders drawn in, scooting closer to the campfire for warmth. Dongwoo's eyes are dark, tired, always tired, and it hurts Jinyoung to see the glossy stare Dongwoo gets after particularly long days. Jinyoung wishes he could take it all away, wishes he could take the tiredness out of Dongwoo's eyes, take the heaviness out of Dongwoo's heart and carry it for him.
"I'm okay." Dongwoo says, knowing Jinyoung has been staring him, concerned.
Jinyoung frowns, takes Dongwoo's hand, opens his palm and writes out the word liar.
Dongwoo gives a faint smile, the ones Jinyoung hates to see, the smiles that never reach Dongwoo's eyes. But they're the only smiles that Dongwoo ever gives these days.
"Hey, we made it through today alive, didn't we?"
Jinyoung sighs and is about to write something in response when Dongwoo starts coughing. They're not regular coughs, they're throaty, raspy, and Jinyoung panics because the only thing he can do is give Dongwoo his share of water, rub circles into Dongwoo's back as they wait for the fit to pass.
When Dongwoo finally stops shaking minutes later, his eyes are red and watery. Jinyoung wants to believe him when Dongwoo says, voice hoarse, "I'll be fine."
He wonders if they'll ever make it out okay.
They siphon gas out of the cars in the street every day. It's dangerous work, and slow; they take turns going out because they can't afford to leave their base empty, prone to raiders and thieves.
It's Dongwoo's turn today and Jinyoung almost doesn't want to let him go, because Dongwoo is tired, the dark circles around his eyes getting worse with every passing day.
"But we're so close." Dongwoo says, when Jinyoung tugs on his arm, holding him back. Jinyoung glances at their supply, a few gallons painstakingly collected over the past twelve months. They're almost set to go, so close to finally being able to leave the city and the smog that surrounds it. Leave the days of hiding behind boarded up windows and barbed wire fences.
"I'll be back in a few hours. Before sunset." Dongwoo says, and Jinyoung doesn't know why he lets him walk out the door.
Jinyoung spends the first and second hour checking their supplies, loading and unloading extra things onto their van.
The third hour goes by with Jinyoung sitting on the floor in the middle of their warehouse, staring at the door.
Somewhere in between the fourth and fifth hour, Jinyoung pulls out extra blankets, plays with the frayed edges as he continues waiting.
Jinyoung loses track of time and winds up curled in the blankets on the floor, waking up from a nap he doesn't remember starting. He's still alone.
A chilling wind sweeps in as Jinyoung opens the door, making him wrap the blanket tighter around his shoulders. It's dark and the night air is freezing, but Jinyoung feels dread burning in the pit of his stomach, heating his skin. Dongwoo is late.
And Jinyoung is faced with all the things he's never told Dongwoo, all the unspoken emotions he never thought to express because Dongwoo had always understood him.
Come back alive Jinyoung tries to plead out loud, and it's the first time he's tried to use his voice since he'd lost it. I need you. Please come back. Jinyoung cries out his words, wants to scream and beg and hear the echo of his yells bounce off the walls of the empty building.
And he doesn't know if he's deluding himself into believing it but Jinyoung hears a knock. The knock that only he and Dongwoo know.
Jinyoung opens the door and Dongwoo stumbles forward, his breathing is harsh and there's bruises all over but he's alive and he's there, and Jinyoung clings to Dongwoo, holds him like he never intends to let him go.
They escape the city, and drive far enough to a place where the sky is actually blue on good days. In a small forest by a stream, they make a place of their own, wake up in each other's arms, warm, rested, and together. The air is cleaner, Dongwoo doesn't cough. He loses the darkness around his eyes, and starts to smile, truly smile.
Jinyoung presses himself closer against Dongwoo, mouths the words I love you into the crook of his neck, does it every morning, does it at random times whenever he wants to. The end of the world has passed, and Jinyoung knows they'll be just fine.