01. Thief
Title: 01. Thief
Author: the_resolver
Fandom: Boyfriend
Chapter: 1/1 one shot
Pairing: Jeongmin/Youngmin
Rating: PG-13
Warning: None
Summary When Jeongmin saw Youngmin stealing an apple he was far to intrigued to know why.
A/N For the Boyfriend 50 promp challenge, master list here.
Jeongmin sat with his father watching at the market place, he knew today would be a slow day. It was sunny outside, who was going to buy an umbrella? No one, that’s who, but still Jeongmin and his dad had to man the stall. Jeongmin didn’t know what to think when he saw a young boy - probably around 15 - grabbing one of the shiny green apples from the stall across from him and running off. Jeongmin got up, the stall keeper hadn’t even seen the boy. Jeongmin smiled and moved, running in pursuit of the teenage. He called after him, and the boy eventually froze when he realised that there was no way out of this mess. “What do you want?” the boy asked, Jeongmin smiled, the voice was meant to be powerful but he could hear the fear in the boy.
He could tell from looking at the boy that he hadn’t in at least a week and he smiled. “Hey kid, why don’t I buy you a meal and we can talk about this.” Jeongmin didn’t ask, he just demanded, pulling the kid towards a small café, where he ordered two ramyeon’s. Not expensive, or exciting but he was pretty sure that the kid wouldn’t mind. He was right the kid didn’t mind, he ate gratefully, but slowly. Jeongmin smiled carefully eating his own. “Name. age.” Jeongmin demanded, he wanted to know all about the thief, something about him was compelling Jeongmin to know everything.
“Youngmin. I’m 16.” He said quietly in between mouthfuls. “How about you?” Youngmin asked, looking at Jeongmin his large eyes looking so innocent like bambi, as if Jeongmin was the first person in a long time who had tried to understand the boy. Which he probably was going by how under-fed the boy was, the boy finished his noodles and drank the soup, and Jeongmin handed his to the boy - he needed it. “Thank you.” Youngmin said politely bowing.
“I’m Jeongmin. I’m 19” Jeongmin said softly, ordering a glass of pepsi for both of them before turning back to face his young companion. “So stealing apples. Not exactly going to go very far now is it?” Jeongmin said, not meaning to sound it but, sounding condescending. Youngmin shrugged, then shook his head.
“I don’t have a choice.” He said quietly. “My twin and I were abandoned when we were young and we’ve been fending for ourselves.” Youngmin said defiantly, his face stone hard, as if he were himself a statue, as if he could be proud that he and his brother raised each other of the streets stealing just to keep themselves alive. Jeongmin nodded, to be truthful he had to admit he admired the young boy for his sheer determination, a lot of kids would have tried other ways to get out of living on the streets but him and his brother had fought.
“Right, your twin.” Jeongmin said slowly taking this information in. Youngmin nodded a slight smile flashing across his face and Jeongmin could see the pale outline of a bruise, he assumed someone had hit the boy - probably for stealing, or maybe for loitering, or maybe they just him because they could. Jeongmin suddenly felt protective over the young boy sat across the table from him eating gratefully.
“Mhm. My identical twin.” Youngmin nodded, looking at Jeongmin carefully. “Hyung, you won’t report us to the police right?” Jeongmin shook his head he wouldn’t do that to him, that would destroy everything that they had tried fighting for. “Anyway Hyung, I have to go now, my brother will wonder where I am.” As Youngmin got up Jeongmin grabbed his arm and handed him two chocolate bars.
“Share with your brother and you two meet me here, at 12, next week. I’ll buy you both a meal and we can talk.” Jeongmin said seriously and Youngmin just nodded before leaving running through the market place with the first full stomach he’d had for a very long time. Youngmin ran through the city centre to find his brother and they both shared the chocolate, smiling and laughing, it finally felt good to have some food that they didn’t have to steal.