Work Text:
Earth grabbed his pillow and closed his ears with it hoping he could not hear the loud argument of his neighbour. There's only a thin wall separating them in this shitty apartment and his neighbour was fighting almost every night. No one cares about you or your problem when you live in a shithole like this, it's a normal thing and the other residents were too busy with their own problems.
Earth moved in here almost two months already but he did not know anyone around here till now. The tenant already told him that this place is not for someone who's looking for a peace and harmonious neighbour.
Earth just shrugged, what could go wrong with his life after years in debt to afford his late mother's medical bill. He finally sold their house and with what was left he found this room to rent.
The thing that bothered him at least a bit is that Earth sure his neighbour was a victim of domestic abuse. It was two guys, a couple for sure because he could hear them having sex something. Yeah that's how thin these walls are. Maybe a fuck up relationship because they always fighting and then he heard the other guy scream in pain.
Who told you to talk with him? Are you seducing him you fucking whore.
Fuck you he was my co worker. I can't talk with friends from work now?
Ahhh! Stop hitting me!!
The sound of the guy screaming in pain when the other beat him was honestly scary. Earth chose to ignore it again, like the other night. Why did nobody seem bothered about it at least a little bit?
xx
Earth closed his door and locked him but he felt someone stared at him. He looked to his side and for the first time he met the guy next door. It was indeed a guy, probably around his age. The first thing Earth noticed is of course the fresh cut on the bust lip and dark purple bruise on the cheek when their eyes met.
"Hi" Earth greeted him.
"Since when you lived there?" Was he surprised that he got a neighbour now? Earth was probably too quiet that his neighbour did not notice his existence.
"Almost two months now"
"Oh..sorry about last night" He avoided Earth eyes.
Earth pretended that it was not a big problem because he knew better than to get involved with others' business.
"You okay?"
"MIX ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF?" Earth heard the other guy scream from inside.
Mix rushed to enter his house and Earth could only stare at him. He felt a little bit sympathy towards him. Earth let out a sigh and shook his head before he walked ahead for work. Hopefully he could find another place when he's back on his feet again.
••••
Three night rows in peace without his neighbour fighting and Earth could not be thankful enough. It's been so hard to get a good sleep since he moved here. The other problem is when they are not fighting they banging.
This fourth night, Earth peace being interrupted
Ahhh..ahhh.ahhh
Ahh.. stop you're hurting me stop
Please stopp.. please
Shut up and take it slut
Stoppp I don't want this
Earth's eyes flew open when he heard the conversation in the middle of it. That was so sick. Mix obviously was physically and sexually abused by his supposed to be boyfriend. Poor guy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Earth was surprised when he heard his door banging. Earth rushed to his door and a scared looking Mix standing in front of his door. He wore a shirt that reached his thigh with no pants. Earth noticed the blood drip on the side of Mix's forehead.
"Help me please" Mix begged and that's when Earth realised the other guy coming out from his house to get him.
"COME HERE BITCH"
Mix rushed to Earth side and clung into his arm.
"I don't know him. He's..he's not my my boyfriend..."
"Move. Don't get involve" The guy said to Earth.
Earth could not process what happened but when the guy moved forward he punched him on the face.
"Get out of here"
The guy tried to punch Earth back but he stumbled on his feet and Earth kicked his stomach until he fell on his knees.
"Korn will hear about this" The guy said before he ran to the stairs.
Earth turned to Mix to ask for his well-being before Mix's body swayed and lost his balance. He fainted and Earth caught his body before he landed into the floor. Earth decided to carry him inside.
••••
Earth put the damp folded handkerchief on Mix forehead. Mix was burning with fever. Earth did clean his face a little and wiped the blood on his forehead. He's not dared to change Mix's clothes because Mix did not wear anything under his shirt. He probably ran in a rush. Earth just cover his lowered half with a blanket. There's a cut on the side of his forehead. Earth knew nothing about how to tend a wound so he just cleaned it with warm water and put a bandage to stop the bleeding.
Earth wondered what happened. He thought Mix with his boyfriend and Earth should not interfere with anything. If he's any concerned netizens he should care honestly.
Earth stared at Mix face, he had a nice face even with the faded bruise on it. His bust lip Earth saw four days ago almost healed and Earth did not miss the red mark litter on Mix's neck.
Mix rouse and gain his consciousness after a while. Earth saw him startled and instantly back away in shock.
"Hey hey..It's okay. You're safe here" Earth said softly and tried to reach him.
Mix blinked his eyes a couple of times when he realised what's right in front of him. Earth handed him a glass of water and Mix took a sip of the water.
"Thanks," Mix said in a hoarse voice.
"You have a fever," Earth said softly.
"Sorry I'm troubling you" Mix replied in a low voice.
"It's not a big deal. I.. I should say sorry to erm you know I. I ignored whatever happened beside my room"
"It's okay. That's not your responsibility"
They both silent for a while before Earth cleared his throat to ask again.
"What happened? Who was that guy?"
"I don't remember. I remembered in the evening me and Korn eat together after I came back from work. Then.. then I .. I just woke up when I felt someone.." Mix face turned red and he did not finish his word.
"I thought it was Korn at first but then I realised it's not him, we fight and then I ran to your door"
Earth listened in attentively to Mix.
"Why are you still with your boyfriend? It's none of my business I know, but..but you're not really in a good relationship with him. I heard everything you know"
"I don't know what to do. I can't fight him and he,, he love me. We been together for ages"
"You don't hit a person you love like that" Earth pointed his finger on Mix lip.
Mix bit his lower lip and went silent. "I don't think he will go to this extent, allowing his friend to..he said the other day.. maybe I should become a whore to earn money"
"Crazy bastard" Earth cursed under his breath and clenched his jaw felt a sudden rage inside him. What kind of a person would say that to their partner?
"MIX!! MIX OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR. I KNOW YOU INSIDE"
Both Earth and Mix startled when they heard the loud bang and screamed on Earth's door. Mix flinched a little and looked scared.
"Korn.." Mix said in a hushed voice.
"You stay here I deal with him"
"He's gon hurt you. I should go"
"No Mix, stay here. The moment you get the door he will kill you trust me" Earth said sternly. Why did he entangle himself with their problem? Think about that later.
Earth gets the door and is greeted by the angry looking guy.
"Where Mix? The fuck you are trying to involve with my boyfriend"
"He's not here"
"I'm not that stupid. You punch Jeff and he told me" Korn said in arrogance. Guy is taller and buff than Earth, he probably is not scared of anyone.
"You mean the guy you let fuck your own boyfriend after you drug him?"
"Wow mister...who the hell do you think you are? Why? You wanted to fuck him too? Korn said sinisterly. Earth really couldn't stand this guy so he raised his fist and punched Korn.
Korn spit his blood before he fights back. Compared to Jeff, Korn seemed stronger and a fighter. He punched Earth back, kicked his leg and their fight became more violent.
Earth laid on the floor with Korn on his stomach, he punched Earth again and he was sure his face was bloodied by now. Guy a beast, no wonder Mix was helpless.
Earth heard a shattered glass and Korn groaned before he dropped on Earth side. Mix held a broken glass beer bottle in his hand.
"You bitch.." Korn cupped his bloody head and tried to get on his feet again before Earth kicked his face repeatedly until Korn fell unconscious.
Mix helped Earth to support him and stand on his feet. Mix threw the broken bottle on the floor.
"Thanks" Earth said while grimacing in pain.
•••
"Do you think he's dead?" Earth noticed Mix trembling hands when he asked the question. "I'm going to jail?"
"He's..not dead" Earth said with much difficulty because Korn kicked his side rib and it hurt like hell.
"He's going to kill me," Mix said solemnly while looking at his shoe. They walked in the middle of the quiet road, Earth did not think much when he grabbed Mix's wrist out from there.
Earth stopped on his track and Mix automatically stopped with him. He grab Mix trembling hands and hold it. "We're going to lodge a report. I can be your witnesses and maybe a couple of few neighbour would want to help"
"You're very kind..sir"
"Earth. My name is Earth"
"He already got arrested before, for assaulting me. His friend bailed him out and he came back and hit me again. He also threatened the person who lodged a report since then nobody dared to mind our business" Mix lowered his head and said softly.
"This time he won't get out, trust me" Earth convinced Mix.
"Thank you again Earth, you a very kind"
xx
Earth can't believe he finally got to sleep with peace for three months now. Korn got arrested by the police and it turned out he was also involved with drugs so his case became complicated. He was so glad because Korn was finally not in Mix's life anymore.
Earth turned to his side and looked at the person sleeping soundly beside him. It's also been a whole three months since he got to know Mix. They became close and Mix was such a wonderful person. He is smart, funny and too nice to be true. How can Korn treat him like a shit when Mix has been nothing but the sweetest person.
Earth learned many things about Mix. They were both children of poverty. Mix's parents died when he was young so he lived with his uncle. He quit school at a young age when his uncle can't afford his education. At the age of eighteen he left his uncle's house to live on his own. Mix met Korn at the bar he used to work at nineteen. The rest of their relationship is history.
Earth even knew Mix dreamt that he wanted to become a veterinarian when he was a kid. They hang out everyday and Mix always sleeps over at his place.
Earth thinks it was more than friendship now but he so treasured Mix and decided to take things slow between them. Mix barely escaped from the traumatic relationship and it was too soon for Earth to confess. He would not take an advantage towards Mix like that. He noticed Mix's low self esteem and his struggle to love and appreciate himself after everything happened in his life.
"Are you still awake?" Mix asked Earth out of nowhere.
"Am I waking you? Sorry I couldn't sleep yet. Too much coffee probably" Earth gave a warm smile towards Mix even though it's dark.
Mix scoot closer and put his head on Earth pillow. They were only a few inches apart from each other face now.
"You had a bad dream again?" Earth brought his hand to caress Mix cheek tenderly. Mix eyes shining so bright even in the dark.
"Not bad. But a good dream"
"Really? About what?"
"You. And me." Mix said in a hushed voice.
They stared at each other's eyes, lost in the moment and then Mix leaned his head until their lips touched. It was a mere peck before he pulled his head. Earth watched Mix face, notice the small smile on it.
"Can we do it again?" Earth asked politely.
Mix looked at Earth eyes and nodded slowly. Earth wasted no time to connect their lips and begin to kiss properly. Earth put his arm around Mix's back to fit him in his embrace tightly.
They continued to kiss again, and again and again until Mix complained about his swollen lip. Earth broke their kiss and chuckled lightly. Mix snuggled to Earth's chest and Earth was more than happy to hug the younger boy. Mix adorableness was too hard to resist.
Mix fell into his dreamland that instant, feeling safe and sound in Earth embarace. Earth kissed the top of Mix head and couldn't be more happier than he ever was.