knowsthetruth I didn't ask for this, but here I am

[startfromnothing]

This place has too much space for him to be really comfortable. Too much money, too many clean angles, too much white. What else should he expect from someone that had grown up so well to fit into such a scenario? Siwoon wasn't the poor little lost lamb he'd been when they were kids. He had means now, and that meant he could have a setup like this.

And offer it to someone that he'd convinced in basically off the street.

Nevermind that their relationship is in something of an odd limbo. There is interest. It might even be completely mutual. But their circumstances aren't exactly normal, and Taemin still hasn't completely come to terms with the dramatic turn his life has taken; from a roof overhead that he didn't have to pay for to the ability to repay everything that he owed on his own terms, to finally having the company of someone that seemingly cared about his existence. That hadn't happened since the night his mother had run off without a word.

He's standing in the middle of the room he'd been given with his bag crammed full of just about everything he owned, spacing out as he considers all of it. His hand is gripped down tight around the strap of it, head up as he listens to the white noise of the apartment. He can barely here the city below from up here with the windows shut. It's surreal, for certain.

This was your choice, Yoon Taemin. You agreed to this. Whatever happens next,
you are responsible for that too.

Comments

[knowsthetruth]

Taemin sits down and Siwoon almost wants to encourage him to relax, but he's not sure that's something that'll happen just yet. Not before he's adjusted to being in a new place. And maybe not even before he's finished paying off his debts. He seems to be wound tightly when it comes to money and Siwoon can only hope that'll abate once he's free from owing anyone anything.

He takes another bite, shrugging his shoulders as he looks over at Taemin.

"You're still the same, that's all. I think it's nice to see you haven't changed."

[startfromnothing]

"I figured out that I could survive doing things that way. And I did. I wouldn't say I've been thriving but I did everything on my own terms, everyone else be damned."

Taemin closes his eyes and sits back, head hanging back over the floor as his chair tips back. "When I get everything done I need to... Maybe I'll keep going to the gym. I'm good at the things they taught me. If they can keep paying me..." He stops when he catches himself musing aloud, shaking his head and letting the chair clatter back to the floor. He needs a shower before he heads out. "I'll be back tonight."

[knowsthetruth]

He already knows there's no chance Taemin will allow him to help, even just in taking care of him once he's finished paying things off. As much as he wants to, Siwoon knows he needs to take a step back and allow him that continued freedom of handling things on his own, even when it's not entirely necessary. Even when he has someone he can lean on now.

That's something he still has to earn back. So when Taemin stands, Siwoon remains seated, silently watching him as he finishes off his share of eggs. It keeps him from immediately reaching out, from reminding Taemin to take a breath. And when he finally does speak, it's with a nod.

"Alright. I'll see you when you get back."