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Shun had only been trying to get home quicker. How was he supposed to know that the “shortcut” he took would get him lost? How was he supposed to know that by turning down this unfamiliar street, he would encounter two delinquents waiting to shake down the first person they saw?
He quickly figured out that last part when a taunting sticker echoed down the narrow street.
“Hey, kid,” a boy, maybe a few years older than Shun, started leisurely. “You lost?”
He smiled in a way that Shun knew he wanted to look reassuring but, instead, made the hair waon the back of his neck stand on end. A feeling of dread settled deep within Shun’s bones.
The boy’s head was shaved, and he was wearing a shirt that looked like he had ripped it up himself because he thought it looked cool. His posture was slightly slouched, but despite that, Shun still had to tilt his head up to look him in the eye, something that he was having trouble doing.
Another boy followed closely behind the first. He was a little shorter than his friend, but his hair made up for it. Shun guessed it probably took him copious amounts of hair gel and time to get the brightly coloured spikes to stand up like that.
Shun’s wide, shifting eyes and trembling hands must have let the delinquents know that they hit the jackpot of helpless victims for whatever they planned to do.
Shun really should be more open-minded. Sure, these kids looked like delinquents, but maybe they really did just want to help him get home. Although it was hard to think so positively when the two boys sneered and loomed over Shun, their shadows leeched the light from where he stood.
“It’s okay, kid,” the shorter boy began. “Just give us your money, and no one has to get hurt.”
He sounded like he meant it, which was a little surprising. Shun had never been involved in a shakedown before, but he assumed that people would normally take his money and beat him up anyway.
The taller of the two seemed to fit Shun’s assumptions more accurately, stalking toward him and cracking his knuckles.
Shun’s heart rate spiked at the threat, and, somehow, he began to shake more than he had before.
Each step forward they took, Shun took one back in a feeble attempt to keep distance between them and regain some sort of control. After only a few steps, Shun’s back was pressed against the rough brick wall behind him. He was sure the chill shooting down his spine was due to the cold surface biting through the thin fabric of his shirt, not because of how terrified he was.
The boys snickered in twisted amusement at Shun’s unfortunately obvious fear. All he could hear was his own heart pounding in his ears. He balled his fists around the hem of his shirt, trying in vain to hide how they trembled, creasing the soft material.
Shun wanted to tell them he didn’t have any money. Try to reason with them. What little kid carried enough cash that was worth this effort anyway? Shun thought that was probably not something these guys wanted to hear, so he kept his mouth clamped shut. Although he wasn’t sure he could open his mouth if he tried.
No one had to get hurt; that’s what the boy had said. Maybe if he just-
“What’s going on here?” A distant voice coming from the end of the abandoned street cut off Shun’s racing thoughts.
Oh, thank God. Shun thought. I’m saved. A wave of relief washed over him. He leaned more heavily against the wall, his fight or flight instincts being put on hold.
His reassurance was short-lived, as he caught sight of who the voice belonged to.
The first thing he noticed about their unexpected guest was the unique shade of purple his hair was and the strange way it was cut. Shun had never met someone with a mullet before. He thought it was just a popular design choice for delinquents in manga.
The boy was just a little kid, probably the same age as Shun.
The new arrival seemed to understand what was happening almost instantly, but instead of running away, he started to move toward them.
Is this kid stupid? Shun thought, bewildered. Was he really going to try to intervene? Surely this little kid wouldn’t have the strength to take on two older kids practically by himself. He would hate it if someone else got their money stolen or even got hurt because he wasn’t strong enough to protect himself.
The two delinquents seemed to welcome their new guest. Obviously, they liked the odds that they could take down the two younger kids without any issues and leave with more money than they originally thought.
“Get out of here!” Shun cried, coming to his senses. His voice rang down the street, shaky, but clear enough in the quiet of the late afternoon.
The older boys faltered, clearly baffled as to why someone in Shun’s position would be refusing any help.
“Quiet!” The taller boy barked, shoving Shun harshly by the shoulders. He stumbled backwards, tripping over a rock and falling to the ground.
Shun’s palms and knees burned with the familiar feeling of being scraped raw. The sting caused tears to well up behind his eyes. He blinked quickly, hoping to avoid being laughed at for being a cry baby.
Something about seeing Shun lying on the ground, panic clouding his eyes, and on the verge of tears must have made something in the mullet kid snap.
“Hey!” The purple-haired boy shouted, hands balling into tight fists as he marched closer towards the group, any sense of diplomacy out the window.
The boy’s eyes were now narrowed, filled with fiery anger. Shun was honestly a little terrified by the sight, and he wasn’t even the person the intense glare was focused on. The boy who had pushed Shun scoffed, finding this little kid's rage amusing.
“Easy there, tough guy,” the taller delinquent sneered, still looming over Shun.
“Yeah,” his friend chimed in. “Unless you want what he’s having.” The two older boys laughed.
Seriously? Who says that? Shun thought, despite the panic muddying his thoughts. Shun was starting to think that the only thing these guys knew about mugging people was stuff they learned from cheesy manga or tv shows.
The boy with the shaved head strided toward the younger kid and put a baleful hand on his shoulder. The kid didn’t seem to like that at all, his deep purple eyes glaring at the delinquent’s hand in a way that could quite possibly set it on fire.
Before the bald-headed kid could even open his mouth to spew the most cliche line he could think of, the purple-haired boy planted his fist firmly in his face. Shun flinched at the resulting sound that rang through the air.
He stumbled back a few steps, clutching his quickly swelling cheek. His face turned a deep shade of red, obviously embarrassed and infuriated that a little kid managed to get a hit on him.
A look of satisfaction flashed across the younger boy’s face.
The delinquent growled in frustration, and he practically threw himself toward the kid who dared lay a hand on him, fingers clenched in tight, red fists. Shun was scared to see what he would do with them.
Before he could even think, Shun’s bloodied legs were fumbling to get him off the ground and carrying him towards the older boy. His arms wrapped around his torso, and the momentum brought them both falling hard against the rough pavement.
Shun was relatively unharmed, his fall broken by the delinquent beneath him. The boy he just successfully tackled (he would think about how cool he was later) huffed and cursed in pain, his breath knocked out of him. He clutched the back of his head where it had smacked against the ground.
Shun almost felt sorry about it before remembering what exactly was happening.
Shun didn’t have time to think about what to do next before the other boy pulled him off his friend. He clawed at and gripped Shun’s arms so harshly that he knew his nails would leave marks.
Shun was yanked backwards, and he threw his arms behind him to catch himself so his head wouldn’t smash into the ground. Small stones and dirt dug deeper into his already bleeding palms, and he had to bite his lip to keep from crying.
Honestly, Shun should just stay on the ground at this point.
“Little brat,” the taller boy hissed, getting to his feet. His face was somehow an even brighter red than it was before.
He didn’t make it very far before the purple-haired boy was going in for another punch. This time, he saw it coming and was able to dodge it better than he had the first time.
Shun couldn’t really focus on their fight, as the shorter boy was now zeroing in on him.
Shun was thankful that this guy didn’t seem as eager to hit a little kid as his friend was.
It was a messy sort of wrestle, mostly just the older boy making a grab for anything in Shun’s pockets and Shun doing his best to fend him off. Shun pushed at his face, kicked at his stomach, and did really anything he could to get this guy off him long enough so he could get off the ground.
“Just give us the cash, kid,” he practically whined. Shun almost pitied him.
A painful groan caused the two to pause their sad excuse for a fight and turn to the other brawling kids.
The baldy was bent over and nearly collapsed on the ground, fighting off his own tears. The mullet kid was on the ground, much like Shun. He was leaning back on his elbows, one leg raised. It was clear that he had just landed a hit to the older kid’s… lower half.
The younger boy took his time to stand up and dust off the dirt and gravel from his shorts and t-shirt. He took the few steps necessary to close the gap between himself and the boy who was previously wrestling with Shun, who was now leaning back against his heels, stunned and out of breath.
The boy fixed the delinquent with a withering glare that would have Shun’s blood running cold if they weren’t seemingly on the same side.
“Get lost. Unless you want what he’s having,” the boy practically spat at the delinquent.
Shun had to say, it sounded a lot cooler coming from this guy than the wannabe gangster, though he knew the kid said it to mock him and not to sound tough.
The guy with the crazy hair scoffed, as if trying to salvage his crumbling ego. He stood up and made his way over to help his friend, apparently deciding this wasn’t worth the effort.
“What the hell…” The baldy muttered, clearly baffled that two little kids could beat him and his friend up so easily. He and his friend left in relative silence, save for a quiet mumble about “psycho freaks.”
The boy watched the two until they were out of sight. Only then did he turn to face Shun.
They were silent for a moment, listening to the cicadas humming in the summer heat. Now that he was still, Shun could get a good look at the other kid.
It looked like the older boy managed to get at least one punch in, if the red swelling on his cheek was anything to go by. His clothes were a little scuffed up, probably from the fall. Other than that, he looked okay; he seemed to be standing fine, barely out of breath.
Shun jumped when the boy held his hand out to him, causing him to realize he was still on the ground.
“Can you stand?” The gentleness of his words took Shun off guard. It was a stark contrast to the deep, almost chilling voice he used with the delinquents.
“I think so,” Shun replied, his shaky voice barely above a whisper.
The other boy extended his arm closer to Shun, encouraging him to take it. Hesitantly, Shun accepted the help, wincing as the sharp sting of the palm-to-palm contact reminded him of the blood and gravel that clung to the flesh.
The purple-haired boy pulled Shun off the ground with a considerable amount of strength for his age.
Immediately after putting pressure on it, a bolt of pain shot through Shun’s ankle. He winced, gritting his teeth and shrinking in on himself involuntarily.
The other boy quickly noticed his discomfort and helped him to lean against the nearby wall. After a moment, the boy looked down the street and seemed to be thinking something over. Shun thought that maybe he was just going to leave him there, deciding that helping Shun wasn’t worth the hassle. He wouldn’t have blamed him; the other boy had already done so much for him. Has Shun even thanked him yet?
“Thank you,” Shun said quickly, cheeks burning.
The boy looked back at Shun, his words pulling him from his thoughts. The most genuine smile Shun had ever seen tugged at the boy's lips. It was small, but it was the kindest thing Shun had seen all day. It eased his nerves, and soon, Shun felt his own smile blooming on his face.
“Don’t worry about it,” he assured. He allowed Shun to rest against the wall for a moment before adding, “There’s a convenience store not far from here; I can carry you.”
It took a moment for Shun to process the offer.
“I- you really don’t have to do that!” Shun stammered. “I’m fine, really!”
Shun’s wide eyes and frantically waving hands caused the other boy to laugh. Before Shun could protest further, the other boy was crouched in front of him, ready for Shun to climb onto his back and accept his help.
When Shun didn’t move, the purple-haired boy looked at him over his shoulder and beckoned him in a way that you might in order to coax a stray cat towards you.
Sighing, Shun tried not to put too much pressure on his foot as he climbed onto the other boy's back, wrapping his arms around his neck and doing his best not to strangle him.
Shun’s eyes widened when the boy lifted him with ease, though Shun supposed he was way stronger than he looked, and he should know by now not to be surprised.
Shun was glad the other boy wasn’t able to see the deep blush of embarrassment plastered across his face.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Or rather, the boy walked, and Shun tried not to breathe too loudly in his ear.
Eventually, the boy came to a stop outside a small convenience store. He crouched down the same way he did when Shun first climbed on his back and lowered Shun until he was sitting on the curb. Shun drew his knees close to his chest when the other boy stepped away.
He watched the boy closely. The only thing about him that revealed any strain from carrying Shun was a thin, almost invisible layer of sweat that coated his forehead. Although he thought that might be from the summer heat.
Shun would believe it if you told him that this boy was some kind of superhuman. Seriously, what were his parents feeding him?
The other boy studied Shun for a moment. He felt his ears heat under his careful eyes. Again, Shun considered the possibility that the boy was contemplating leaving him. Or maybe he was waiting to see if he would cry, which was, honestly, still a real possibility.
Shun opened his mouth to say something, though he wasn’t sure what. Before he could get a word out, the boy pulled the door open a crack, tripping the small bell, and turned to Shun.
“Wait here, okay?” He said. The way he spoke was careful, as if he were trying not to scare Shun away.
Shun could only silently nod, even though the boy didn’t wait around long enough for a response.
Shortly after disappearing into the convenience store, the boy with the mullet returned carrying a small white plastic bag. Shun eyed it curiously.
He took a seat beside Shun, the bag crinkling as he set it in front of them. He reached his hand inside and pulled out a brightly coloured red popsicle. The boy opened it and handed it to Shun, who accepted it with a confused but grateful thank-you. Even in the early evening, the summer heat was starting to make Shun sweat.
Shun was still curious to see what else was in the bag. He watched as the boy pulled out a small box of bandages, a bottle of water, and a packet of tissues.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out what the boy would do with the assortment. Still, Shun was surprised when the boy made a move to clean up his wounds.
“I’m fine, really!” Shun tried, eyes wide and hands waving in front of him.
The boy just hummed and grabbed Shun’s hand from where it was flailing in the air, not paying any attention to his protests.
The boy held his hand gently as he assessed the damage. His touch was feather light, but Shun could feel small calluses adorning his hands. He wondered what this kid got up to in his spare time.
He poured water on his palm first, washing away the now mostly dried blood and dirt that was caked on his skin. Shun watched the refreshing liquid run down his arm and collect in a small puddle beneath him. The water made its way down the street and disappeared into a nearby sewer drain, darkening the pavement in its lazy path.
“You’ve already helped me so much,” Shun whispered, his eyes still focused on the little stream.
“It’s okay,” the boy replied, equally quiet. “I want to.”
Shun found the courage to face the boy again, only to be met with the same earnest smile as before.
He felt his face heat up again, though he didn’t know why exactly. All he knew was that this kid was way too genuine and kind for someone who could, and has, beaten the crap out of people he definitely should not have been able to.
The boy wiped Shun’s arm where the water had travelled with the tissues. Shun hissed as he dabbed his sore hand. He apologized quietly, briefly looking up to fix Shun with a deprecatory smile.
After Shun’s palm was sufficiently cleaned, he covered the area with brightly coloured bandages. Each one had a different character on it from a popular kids show Shun had seen his siblings watching.
“They were the only ones they had,” he explained, reading Shun’s amused expression.
The boy continued to work on the rest of Shun’s scrapes. There were more than he would have preferred, but the whole thing could have turned out a lot worse.
Now that the adrenaline from the fight had worn off, the realization of what had happened pushed its way into the forefront of Shun’s mind.
He could have seriously gotten hurt. What would have happened to him if the other boy hadn’t shown up? How far would the delinquents go if there wasn’t someone to stop them? He could feel his hands start to shake again, so he balled them into fists to hide his rising panic.
Shun looked around desperately for a distraction, and his eyes landed on the other boy’s hands. They had just finished placing the last bandage on Shun’s knee.
Shun noticed a red swelling covering the purple-haired boy’s knuckles. His mind quickly switched to something else to panic about.
“Your hands!” Shun cried. He grabbed one and pulled it towards his face to inspect it closer.
“I’m fine,” the boy murmured, clearly amused. “I didn’t hit him that hard; I’ll just put some ice on it when I get home.” He shrugged. This was clearly something he had dealt with before.
Before Shun could even think to stop himself, he lifted the boy's hand to his lips and kissed the red knuckles.
Both boys froze, eyes wide. Shun quickly dropped his hand, his face promptly turning a brighter shade of red than the vibrant cherry popsicle he had just finished. He didn’t think he had ever been more embarrassed in his life.
He stumbled gracelessly through an apology. Explaining how he had acted on instinct. How his younger siblings would always insist he kiss their cuts and scrapes better whenever they got hurt. It was the only way to calm them down, and he had just gotten into the habit. He wasn’t sure if any of this was coherent; he just hoped the other boy got the idea.
Shun wondered when he would stop embarrassing himself so thoroughly in front of him.
Halfway through his humiliation-infused rant, the purple-haired boy began to laugh.
It was loud and just as genuine as his smile. It filled the warm air around them and echoed down the street and into the evening sky.
Shun’s face slowly broke out into a smile of his own. He didn’t understand how a single sound could ease his racing heart so quickly. He released a laugh, though it was more unsure and hesitant than the other boy’s. His shoulders slowly relaxed, an uncomfortably warm blush still high on his cheeks and ears.
“Sorry,” the boy finally managed to get out, wiping a tear from his eye.
He cleared his throat, then took one of Shun’s hands from where it was resting in his lap. He brought it to his lips and kissed Shun’s bandaged palm like Shun had done to his knuckles.
“There,” the boy said. “All better.”
Shun looked away, the tips of his ears going red. A fresh wave of laughter washed over the boys, and Shun really did feel all better.
Eventually, the other boy stopped laughing enough to eat his own popsicle. It had melted a little after being in the heat for so long. If it bothered him, he didn’t let it show.
Shun watched in horror as he sunk his teeth right into it without hesitation.
The other boy watched Shun physically cringe at the sight and merely laughed at the reaction.
“So, where do you live?” The boy asked around a mouthful of watermelon-flavoured ice.
The question made Shun realize that he was still hopelessly lost. Honestly, he couldn’t be surprised; he had always had a horrible sense of direction, no matter how much he didn’t want to admit it.
His hesitation caused a look of understanding to flash behind the other boy’s violet eyes.
“That’s alright,” the boy said, getting to his feet. “We can just walk around until you see something you recognize.”
Shun nodded, grateful for the boy’s continuous help and kindness, and accepted the hand reaching down to help him up.
It only took a few short minutes of wandering around aimlessly until Shun found a street he recognized.
“I think I know where we are now,” Shun said, turning to face the boy. He only nodded and gestured for Shun to lead them the rest of the way.
They continued to walk in a comfortable silence. It only took a couple more turns before Shun’s house was in view.
His mom’s car was still gone, which meant Shun could go straight to his room without being interrogated about the bandages adorning his body.
The boy shifted beside him, drawing Shun’s attention back to him.
“Thank you,” Shun said. “For everything.” He tried to put as much genuine thanks into his words as he felt.
He was met with the same smile he received when he first thanked the boy.
- • -
“Hey, Shun.” Aren’s gentle voice coaxed Shun out of his dream. “Shun, wake up; class starts soon.”
Shun shot up in his chair, and Aren quickly pulled away to avoid the unintentional attack.
“The Jet-Black Wings doesn’t sleep! I was merely resting my eyes.” Shun stated, maybe a tad over defensive. He cleared his throat, trying to recover from his post-sleep drowsiness.
“And how does The Jet-Black Wings plan to defeat The Dark Reunion with drool all over his face?” Aren inquired, the beginning of a smile tugging at his lips.
A bright pink blush instantly engulfed Shun’s face. He wiped his face frantically and stammered through some weak excuse. Aren snickered lightheartedly, taking his seat beside him.
Shun found it hard to concentrate on the lecture, his mind continuing to wander to the memory his subconscious had presented to him. He hadn’t come across the boy who saved him again after they parted ways. He wondered if maybe he had, and he just didn’t recognize him. It’s not like Shun had a very clear memory of the incident; the face of the boy became hazy and faded after the years.
Shun snuck a glance at his best friend. Aren and that boy have a similar hair colour, from what he can remember, but Shun didn’t think the boy was wearing glasses. The boy also had a crazy mullet, completely different from Aren’s neat hairstyle. Although Aren does have a mysterious past that he doesn’t talk about often…
Suddenly, Aren’s eyes caught Shun’s. They widened for a brief second, as if he were the one who had been caught staring and not Shun. Aren flashed him his all-too-familiar smile before turning his attention back to the board.
An all-too-familiar blush found its way back to Shun’s cheeks.