Chapter Text
This was going to be the one. He could feel it. His big break was coming. After six—failed— attempts, this was finally the one that would get his name some fans. It was an album, 7 tracks, all dedicated to the light of his life, Kang Mi-na. She was a rising star on Instagram, with more brand deals than stars in the sky, and more boys lining up for her than she could count. Frankly, Thanos was lucky she had noticed him at all, like the sun's light illuminating a dark corner. Not that she didn't have her issues, too, but it was clear Thanos had far more, and his weren't limited to a bad hair day or a missed event.
His album was all about their relationship. Each track was dedicated to a different aspect of it. They had met a year ago, in a dim, dingy club, drunk off their asses, and instantly, it was on. Their connection had grown more...romantic since then, often opting for dates at nice restaurants or wherever Mi-na wanted to go.
They tried to live together for a while at the start of their relationship, caught up in the early intensity of their hookup-turned-love. It almost killed them. Thanos hated thinking about that two month period, which was peppered with non-stop tension, holes in the walls, and changed phone passwords. It couldn't have been helped. Thanos took everything too far, too immature to de-escalate, and Mi-na was combative and revengeful. It was a dangerous mix. Like fire fighting fire, yet instead of burning brighter together, they burned each other out, competing for fuel. Their living arrangment ended quickly, both agreeing they needed their own space. Neither of them could live with other people. It was too cramped, regardless of who it was.
Thanos would never admit how much that bothered him. He wished they could be like every other couple, waking up together every morning and making dinner for each other. He hated that they couldn't be normal, but at the same time, he understood why.
-WT-
On the other side of the city, an art student sat in his apartment, crumpling up what had to be the hundredth draft of his final project, before tossing it on the floor.
This project was worth sixty percent of his grade, and he just couldn't get it right. He had tried nearly everything he could to find the inspiration. He had went out for a walk, sketched random people and places, looked at art online, even hanging upside down off his bed to "reveal new things," but still, he got nothing(except a headache). It was all so frustrating. The project was centered around the theme "when stars align" and was supposed to be done using a traditional medium. Traditional mediums were Nam-gyu's strong suit. Oils, chalk, watercolour, you name it. There was something in the way the colour would interact with the canvas that captivated him, making him hyper focus.
In short, Nam-gyu's an art nerd, enrolled in a virtual art class. He didn't really need to take a virtual class, though. It was based out of a college about thirty minutes away, and he could probably save up for student housing, but that wasn't the issue. Nam-gyu was very, very bad with people. He had only recently driven his third roommate out, who had gotten completely sick of his rude comments and reclusive nature. Lee(his ex-roommate) was upset that they never hung out or even talked, despite being in the same apartment almost 24/7.
On the other hand, Nam-gyu didn't like how much they talked already, often drowning in awkwardness during their conversations. It's not that he hated people, or hated his roommate, he just didn't know how to be friends with anyone. He had never really been liked by many people, let alone had friends. Growing up, people often dismissed him as a quiet kid, the kind that might become a genius, or bring a gun to school. However, he wasn't entirely lonely. There was someone, once. Nam-gyu's first friend, real friend. Lee Myung-gi. He was a mysterious, popular boy, the kind of student teachers loved and girls flocked to, but behind closed doors, he was a different person. In unoccupied school bathrooms, in empty libraries, in Nam-gyu's bedroom, he was different. With Nam-gyu, he was different, he wasn't just Myung-gi. He was legs tangled up on a couch, the sound of someone breathing in the dark, the unspoken understanding in the closeness under sheets.
So that was Nam-gyu's concept of friendship, and he had discovered that stuff didn't fly with the other people he was around. So naturally, when he had met his roommate and instantly gave him a hug, Lee had gotten a little weirded out. He was especially weirded out when after that happened, they didn't seem to hang out much or even talk.
However, regardless of the past, he's still out of a roommate, unable to pay for his apartment himself, with not even a shred of his final project planned.
-WT-
Thanos had never been a good son. Not in the traditional sense(or in any sense, honestly). His rebellious nature extended beyond the average teenagers, including—but not limited to— regular parties that left him drained and hungover the next day, drug tests revealing various hard-core substances, picking-fight, and about every self-sabagoging habit there was. Not to mention, he was persistent. He would sneak out his windows, his parents would have screens installed, and he would cut through them. He would get into a fight, get suspended, then come back and get into another a few days later. They were never angry, though, just... sad, probably disappointed, too. Everyone in his life seemed to be let down by him, though they'd never say it outloud. They wouldn't have to, he could hear it in the sighs, feel it in the sympathetic looks, and in the conversations the principal would have with his parents.
"We need him to try."
"We understand his... special circumstances, but we can't tolerate this behavior."
"Have you heard of a 504 plan?"
When he somehow graduated highschool, it got better. He subdued a little, matured a little. However, he was still Su-bong, and Su-bong never really changed, not for long. A year after he graduated, he got worse. Worse then he ever was in highschool. Stealing money, OD attempts, an eating disorder, all of which his poor parents couldn't handle, especially with their rapidly increasing age. One day, after Su-bong had given himself alcohol poisoning, they decided it was enough. It all caught up to him, and they kicked him out. It wasn't harsh, but it was firm, and it was final.
All at once, his life was upside down. He was homeless, vehicle-less, all he had to his name was a suitcase full of things, and a couple tracks on Spotify.
"Gyeong-su?"
A sigh. It was never good news from Thanos. "Yeah, man?"
"Can you come pick me up? I need somewhere to stay." He didn't beat around the bush.
"I can't -" A second sigh. "I'll be there in twenty."
Beep.
Gyeong-su, albeit exhausted, was loyal. They'd become friends in grade nine, so he'd seen Thanos through it all. His best times, and his worst. His worst being right now. Gyeong-su knew how destructive Thanos was, and he knew there was little anyone could do to prevent it. Regardless, he'd listen to him vent when he smoked too much, and he'd pick him up with no explanation when he asked. He would never be mad, but he was disappointed, and Thanos knew that.
He arrived as he said, twenty minutes later, with two coffees sitting in the cup holders. He watched as Thanos threw his suitcase in the trunk. He pieced it together pretty quick after that.
"Finally kicked out?"
"Yeah. Took them long enough to do it." He stared out the window, watching the Suburbs pass him by.
"Yeah. You fine with the couch?" Thanos didn't look at him, just nodded, continuing to watch the scenery change. Gyeong-su reached over, giving his shoulder an awkward pat. Physical touch wasn't really something either of them did. The ride was nearly silent. What was to say? They both knew it would happen eventually. Except Thanos wasn't prepared for it. He had no stable job, no real place to live, and no relationship with his family now, all he had left was Gyeong-su. Mi-na, too, but he'd rather not tell her right now.
Gyeong-su's roommate, Min-su, wasn't terrible either, but he didn't know him. He was a short, quiet thing, with baby fat still clinging to his cheeks.
"How's Min-su?" Thanos asked quietly, not so much as a real question, just something to break the silent tension.
"Ah, well, you know him, always studying. He's made some friends now," his face seems to lighten a little, breaking out a sad smile. "Yknow, man, we actually have some friends coming over later, you should meet them. You'd like them."
"Maybe." Thanos was quiet, unreadable to Gyeong-su.
-WT-
"No, he doesn't want to come out." Min-su announced to the room. "I dont know why of all people you thought he would listen to me, Gyeong-su."
Gyeong-su sighed. "I dont know, man, tell him we have weed or something." Min-su shook his head slightly before turning back to Gyeong-su's bedroom, where Thanos had holed himself up. "Look, guys, I swear, this guy's cool."
"Mhm, sure sounds like it."
"Nam-gyu, give him a break." He rolled his eyes. Though he wasn't really upset. Gyeong-su invited him and Se-mi over every weekend, and it was usually the same thing, just smoke, drink a little. They might go to a club or a party if they all felt up to it. However, this weekend was very different because Gyeong-su had told them—very excitedly— that his other friend was coming too. It may not seem like much, but it broke routine, so it was interesting.
On top of that, Gyeong-su had given them warnings about the guy. Sounded like a real nutcase. He can be... alot. He might just be silent the whole time, Gyeong-su had said. Just be nice to him, just for today. He's having a bad day.
It pissed Nam-gyu off. Why should he have to be nice to some asshole just because he's having a bad day? Maybe Nam-gyu is having a bad day too, so what the fuck?
"Hey, Thanos." Gyeong-su said. Everybody turned to look, as a tall boy wandered into the room, Min-su behind him. His eyes—which were framed by dark circles—narrowed suspiciously as he surveyed the room. He had a blanket wrapped around himself, clutching both sides to his chest.
"Mm, where's the weed?"