Chapter Text
As the night returned Minho knew he had to take off his cap and sunglasses. He couldn't see with them at night. He never took off his mask because the pollution was high at night too. So this was a positive thing. Because Minho didn't want Jisung to recognize him. He knew that there was that risk and he was scared. He was scared of the way Jisung would react if he knew it was him. Their first encounter wasn't that good because he immediately thought that there was going to be a fight. Especially now Jisung was really vulnerable because he was completely thin and not athletic anymore. The three weeks probably were hard on Jisung and he assumed that the death of Jisung’s loved ones hit him too. He knew how hard it was for himself and he mourned a lot and still is. He is crying every night missing his old life even though it wasn't perfect. He even regrets not being dead with them.
Jisung and Minho found a place they could sleep at. It was not in one of the many destroyed buildings but outside on the street. Minho made them a fireplace and they made themselves cosy around the fire. They sat next to each other but not close enough for it to be awkward. Jisung was shifting slightly on the sandy floor and Minho kind of got nervous because of that. Over the fire they were roasting a rat because that was the main catch of the day. The bigger animals all died and all of the food that was still eatable were snacks or canned food they both already ate today.
Nothing happened while the rat was roasting over the fire and as they ate the uncomfortable silence didn't shift. So Minho guessed that that is why Jisung tried to make up a conversation.
“Can I know what your name is? I mean you're still my savior.”
This was a problem for Minho because what should he say? He couldn't just lie could he? It at least wasn't the right thing to do. So he said the truth.
“Lee Minho.”
“Wait…no way. Are you by chance the Lee Minho?”
“Yes. Yes , I am." Minho said reluctantly and the heavy, loud silence returned. It was obvious that Jisung wanted to ask or say something but didn't. Minho sighed.
“What do you want to ask?”
Jisung flinched visibly but didn't say anything for a while as if thinking of a good way to put his words into a sentence.
“Did you by chance hear me sing?” He asked shyly and he turned red like a tomato. Minho quickly denied hearing anything to not embarrass Jisung any further. He liked Jisung in a friendly way because he seemed like an interesting person and really talented. To be honest he would love to dance to Jisung’s songs one day. The way he sang and the way his song was full of emotions and and feelings was just so breathtaking.
“Do you know what happened? I mean how did the world end up like that?”
“No, I also don't know. It was just so sudden.” Minho replied.
“ Did you also loose someone?” Jisung asked and Minho flinched visibly. He didn't really want to talk about it. So he said just that.
“I don't want to talk about it.”
Jisung noticed how Minho was taken aback by this question. He didn't want to pry any further so he just nodded and the uncomfortable silence returned that Jisung also noticed. Although he wasn't as uncomfortable as before. That they knew each other already was really lucky so Jisung knew how Minho ticked. He knew he was not good with people and the way they interacted before was proof enough that Minho actually didn't want him here. Jisung actually didn't know if surviving the basement was a good or a bad thing. Being saved was really cool but living in a world that is doomed to fail is not any better. He didn't know if he should just give up because there was no way his dreams could come true now. Now it was just about surviving which Jisung already did all his life.
He noticed that Minho’s gaze changed to a dark demeanor and Jisung thought he looked like someone who lost everything. He looked so dark and sad and like someone who couldn't handle change really well.
After they ate they went to sleep on the floor and both of their breathing went down to a steady rhythm. Although both of them weren't asleep they pretended like they were just to not talk anymore.
Minho was scared that Jisung wasn't asleep yet so he sat up and looked over to him. He seemed to be breathing in a steady rhythm and his eyes were closed so he assumed he was. He laid down again and the bad thoughts began digging into his brain and clinging onto him. He knew that his family's death wasn't his fault but being the only survivor is not as good as it seems. He thought of all the ways he could've changed the outcome. Maybe even not being the only survivor. But that didn't change anything. He was still alone.
A tear fell down his face and soon he couldn't stop himself from crying and sobbing. His breathing began to be shallower and he gasped a few times trying to catch some air. He was having a panic attack. It always came so sudden every day that he wasn't surprised anymore when it happened. Minho grabbed the knife from his pocket and gripped it tight in his hands. It was a bit comforting because his parents gifted it to him but not enough for him to stop wailing and sobbing into the night. Hoping that Jisung was asleep.
But Jisung wasn't. He heard every wail, every sob and every desperate gasp for air. He wanted to turn around to help Minho. To press him into his arms and say everything was alright even though they both knew it wasn't. They were doomed to live in a world that wasn't functioning and to be honest with himself he didn't have any more reason to live anymore. Except for one thing. He couldn't leave Minho by himself. Even though he knew Minho only for two small days he couldn't leave him without a bad conscience. It was enough for him to stay alive and fight through each day again and again.
The day returned without any incidents and Minho and Jisung were walking through the sticky heat. The sun shone down on them and sweat pearled and dripped down Jisung’s face. It was unbearable but both of them went on and didn't stop walking. Jisung was slightly behind Minho and was stumbling forward. In his whole life he didn't walk as much as he did already today. They were walking and when they stopped they just drank one small gulp or ate one bite. Otherwise they stopped for Minho to go into the destroyed houses to scavenge for food or anything that could be somewhat useful. While Minho was scavenging Jisung was sitting in a shadowy place and waited for him. He tried once to help Minho out but got stuck in a hole with his leg because he didn't watch where he was going. So Minho told him just to wait until the next time they arrived at a house. Jisung felt really helpless and useless because now he was just another baggage that Minho was carrying with him. He remembered how he said yesterday that he would have a bad conscience if he left Minho alone but by now he knew that he would rather have that bad conscience than being a useless piece of nothing that is just eating away the food and drinks that Minho actually is now scavenging for both of them. Which means that Minho needs to find supplies for two people alone which was very difficult at this time.Jisung didn’t feel good about this and was eager to learn a lot about scavenging from watching Minho.
Over the next few days he picked up quite a lot about it and because they were now always scavenging together they got way closer. They were happy together when they found liquor today and disappointed when they didn‘t find anything in the other house. They also planned to drink the alcohol on the same day they found it so they were both pretty excited to drink for the first time in a while. It was also Minho‘s first time but not Jisung‘s. They were both not 21 yet so the opportunity never occurred to Minho. They both were excited and it was the only thing they‘re talking about.
Jisung and Minho definitely got closer over the days. They bickered and even giggled when Jisung made some stupid mistake or stumbled over his own feet. But most of the time there was still silence between them. The problem or the day they wanted to drink is that it definitely was going to rain. The clouds were forming like the feeling when hearing a sad song. They hadn‘t found a shelter yet and Minho was nervous. He was sure of it that Jisung also noticed but he didn‘t say anything so Minho was also quiet. He fiddled around with his fingers and glanced at the sky nervously. He really didn‘t want to go into a house with a ceiling, there was just too much pain in his chest. In addition he was really scared that this might happen to him. On the other side he doesn‘t know if he should embrace his fear and die without any regrets. Except for one. He couldn‘t just leave Jisung here alone. He was so clumsy and just not made for the world they‘re living in. It seemed that Jisung himself had a wealthy and good life unlike him.
They finally found a house that was partially standing and even the ceiling was still there. Minho hesitated at the entrance and Jisung looked at him, questioning him with a tilt of his face. Minho just took a deep breath and stepped inside. Jisung followed him close behind. They needed to be careful and watch their steps because the floor could give away at any time. They arrived at the second floor and found a fully functioning bed. They both gasped excitedly and sprinted to the bed forgetting about the floor possibly giving away. Jisung and Minho layed down on the bed together and sighed at the same time.
This is the best feeling. They both thought at the same time and giggled at each other.
After some while just lying on the bed and listening to the rhythmic fall of the rain, they sat up and opened the bottle of alcohol. Minho drank and Jisung looked at him expectantly. When the bottle parted his lips he coughed and made a gag sound but at the same time laughed.
“It‘s disgusting!“ he gagged again and Jisung couldn‘t help but laugh.
Jisung also took a long gulp out of the bottle and smacked his lips together visibly enjoying the taste in his mouth.“I missed that,” he said, letting his head fall back against the wall behind the bed. “It’s like…burning juice.”
Minho chuckled, still recovering from the aftertaste. “Burning garbage juice, maybe.”
“Yeah, but at least it makes the world feel a little less…real.”
They passed the bottle back and forth, not really talking—just breathing and listening to the sound of the rain on the roof above them. It was the first time in weeks that the tension between them didn’t feel like a looming third presence. The silence was softer now, more comfortable.
After a few more sips, Jisung’s head lolled sideways toward Minho. “Hey…”
Minho turned his head slowly. “Yeah?”
“You ever think about…what we would’ve been doing if none of this happened?”
Minho blinked slowly, not expecting such a heavy question with the alcohol settling in. “All the time,” he admitted. “Every second.”
“What would you have done?”
“I don’t know,” Minho said, voice rough. “Dance, maybe. Go on stage. Chase some stupid dream.”
“That’s not stupid.” Jisung smiled faintly. “You were good at it.”
Minho looked over sharply, brows furrowed. “You knew that already?”
Jisung shrugged. “Kind of. I mean, I wasn’t sure it was you until last night, but once you said your name… it made sense. I used to watch you on those videos. You were electric. You made everything feel alive.”
Minho didn’t reply right away. He stared down at his hands, the same hands that had clawed through rubble, held the knife during his worst nights, and now clutched an almost-empty bottle of cheap liquor. That person Jisung remembered felt like a ghost—someone who had died alongside everyone else he loved.
“I don’t feel alive anymore,” he whispered.
“You do to me,” Jisung said softly.
It was quiet again after that. The kind of silence that felt fragile and sacred.
Jisung eventually took the last sip from the bottle and lay back down, curling slightly on his side to face Minho. “Can I tell you something?”
“Yeah,” Minho murmured, lying down too, still facing the ceiling.
“I think… if you hadn’t found me, I would’ve given up.”
Minho turned to look at him. Jisung’s face was shadowed in the dim light, his eyes open and shining.
“I mean it,” Jisung went on. “I was done. I didn’t care about eating or getting out. I wasn’t even scared anymore. But then you came.”
Minho swallowed thickly. “I didn’t save you. I just… dragged you out.”
“Isn’t that what saving is?”
Minho looked at him a moment longer before turning back to the ceiling. “You’re not useless, you know.”
Jisung blinked. “What?”
“You said earlier… about being baggage. Eating more than you earn. But you’re not. You… you make this bearable.”
A faint flush crept across Jisung’s cheeks, but it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol or Minho’s words.
“Thanks,” he whispered.
The rain continued tapping gently against the ceiling. Minho could feel the weight of sleep tugging at his limbs, but for once, he didn’t fight it. It was the first night he didn’t feel the panic creeping in as his eyes closed. Maybe it was the liquor, or the soft lull of the rain, or maybe—just maybe—it was Jisung’s presence, a quiet warmth beside him.
Before drifting off, Minho spoke again, voice barely audible.
“I’m glad I found you too.”
And with that, both of them finally slept.
The next morning arrived with the sky still heavy and gray, but the storm had passed. Puddles reflected the muted world around them as they packed up what little they had. Minho handed Jisung a makeshift walking stick—just an old broom handle—but it made walking easier for him, especially on the rough terrain.
Their journey resumed in near silence, but this time, it was different. Not uncomfortable. Not distant. Just quiet companionship.
As they moved forward, Minho glanced sideways and caught Jisung humming softly under his breath. No words. Just a melody.
Minho didn’t say anything, but he smiled. For the first time in a long time, it felt like something was beginning. Something fragile and uncertain—but maybe, just maybe, worth surviving for.