Her eyes landed on the boy as soon as she slowly entered the room, the white concerned dog running over to his owner.

Chenle had his back turned to her, gripping his jet black hair between his fingers and pulling it as he let out a frustrated and angry yell.

Grabbing the glass of water on the table, he impulsively threw it at the wall as it shattered onto pieces.

The sound of the ear piercing shattering sent Seowoo to jolt in shock, eyes widening at the sight and instinctively she took a step inside the completely ruined room.

Loki was whimpering, standing up on his two back feet, paws gently prying Chenle's hands down to release the shard of glass piercing into his palm.

Seowoo felt the heaviness of the situation weight down and break her heart at the sight.

"Chenle," she's began softly, unsure of what approach to take- him flinching at the sound of her voice and turning around.

Concealing her overwhelming worry, she gave him a small smile instead- raking her eyes over his frame.

His black hair was messy, eyes bloodshot and he took heavy breaths- droplets of blood falling onto the ground beneath him.

As soon as he saw her, his face contorted into anger- clenching his jaw and eyes piercing into hers.

"Get out." He uttered.

Seowoo swallowed down the dry spit in her throat, walking over to him cautiously.

"I said get out!" He yelled at her, causing her to stop.

The air fell silent apart from his shallow frantic breaths.

His eyebrows were drawn down, eyes dark yet his lower lash line became red from the amount he had rubbed his tears away.

Gritted teeth and gritted fist, he saw how she wouldn't back away remaining standing there looking at him as if she saw right through him.

"What happened?" She asked, raking her mind for something else to ask yet she didn't want to come across as intrusive.

A wry scoff fell from his lips, turning his head and all she could see was the tear stains decorating his cheek.

"Just go." His voice was hoarse, deeper and rough- attempting to hold back his bubbling of anger threatening to release. "I don't want you here."

She sighed, not wanting to rile him up nor leave him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Her voice was soothing, calm and trusting.

He was hesitant to answer before he shook his head- gulping down the lump forming in his throat.

Chenle blinked the burning sensation away from his eyes but his mind couldn't stop replaying the worst of his memories.

First it was the screams bouncing off the wall as his non biological Mother wailed for help- pleading for mercy.

Then it was his own screams.

His breaths became rapid, shallow and Seowoo looked at him- he seemed spaced out and stuck in his thoughts.

"If you can't do a man's job, you might as well die."

Chenle began to stumble back as if he could see his parents in front of him, closing in on him with wicked smiles.

Seowoo's softened worried eyes followed him, wanting to erupt into a fit of concern however she wondered if it would come across as too much.

Nevertheless, she had walked close enough to place her hand on his back to stop him from walking into the sofa behind him.

As soon as her hand came in contact with him, he flinched and a breath hitched in his throat- triggering his mind and reflexes.

"Don't touch me! Don't...don't touch me." His voice drifted out into a shaky breathy tone- defensively taking a step away from her.

Seowoo removed her hand from his direction and left her closed palm by her side.

"Okay, I won't touch you- I promise." She spoke gently, nodding and respecting his preference.

He felt the scars on his back tingle with the bad memories.

"Do you want some water Chenle?" Seowoo asked, crouching down to pick up the pieces of glass littering the ground.

"No." He almost whispered out eyes closed, sitting on the sofa as the fan above him blew cold air against his sweaty skin.

His body was trembling and hot flushes washed over him- feeling suffocated within himself.

He wanted to cry out, cry to his Mother as she would hug him in her warm embrace and run her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck to soothe him.

There was a comfortable silence that filled the air as he tried to bring himself to a calmer stage.

After a while of being caught up in his thoughts, he felt the sofa next to him dip down and the scent of her cherry blossom perfume fill up the air.

"Can I see your hand?" She asked, analysing his face in case he was uncomfortable or triggered by something.

He didn't open his eyes to look at her, being reminded of the times where the infirmary nurse tended to his wounds and tears pricked at his closed eyes.

Almost reluctantly, he opened his bloody and sore palm.

Seowoo winced at it yet let the back of his hand rest into her palm as she began to clean it out.

"I'm sorry if it hurts, it will be quick." She apologized, wincing again as she didn't want him to be in pain.

Chenle didn't flinch or hiss at the stinging sensation, blinking his eyes open and focusing his gaze on Seowoo.

She sat next to him, hunching over slightly with her hair tucked behind her ears so she can see without getting distracted.

"You cut your hair."

Seowoo glanced up at his voice, catching sight of his bloodshot eyes and flushed cheeks.

"Oh, it was only a little trim...I didn't think it was that noticeable." Subconsciously, she scrunched her nose up and dabbed cotton wool on his wounds.

"I don't think there's any glass inside the cuts, thankfully." She murmured, getting out the bandages. "I'm glad I actually played attention to that one hospital visit in school."

"You remind me of someone." He whispered, as if saying the words pained him. She lifted her eyes to his to see him gazing deeply at her with his dark brown eyes.

Entranced by her own lighter brown eyes but more so the emotion swimming behind it.

His heart clenched.

His eyes never left hers as he sat up straighter and the non injured palm reached up and brushed against her soft cheek.

Chenle's palm encased over one side of her face, his thumb naturally falling to her cheekbone and Seowoo was rooted in place.

Her heart did a thousand somersaults and she was sure he could hear how loud it was thumping.

"She looked at me the way you do..." He began. "like she cared for me."

Seowoo knew who he was talking about and for a moment wondered if it would make him upset or angry- instead a small smile grazed his lips.

It was a nostalgic smile, laced with grief and sadness.

Seowoo's hand drifted to his outstretched forearm, trailing up until she placed her own hand over his on her cheek.

"I do care about you Chenle."

"I'm not worth caring for." He replied in a vulnerable state, shoulders slumped and voice stripped of its defensive tone.

"Of course you are, you're worth so much more too."

He didn't believe her words and she knew that but she hoped one day he would.

"My back..." He started, almost reluctantly removing his hand from the warmth smoothness of her skin. "touching it triggers me." He informed quickly to explain himself, shifting uncomfortably against the sofa.

It made sense to Seowoo and she nodded respectively.

"That's okay, I understand."

Chenle's eyes flickered to her hand that rested on her lap- the feeling of her small warm hand seemed inviting yet he only tightened his hand into a fist as a reminder not to.

"There's this movie that's playing in the cinema, it just came out and it looks good- do you want to come?"

"Why?" He asked confused.

"Why not? Let's hang out and not have it be about looking for hints over this case." She suggested with a shrug.

"...okay." He agreed, feeling weird with the situation yet he couldn't explain the other feelings itching at his chest.

Seowoo was putting the first aid kit away, when she finished and turned around to face him.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it? I'm always here you know."

He shook his head, knowing he was too mentally exhausted to even utter the words about his past.

Chenle felt so vulnerable just by being there with her yet made no effort to move.

It didn't feel burdensome being this way in front of her.

He often craved someone's warmth when he felt so lonely and there was only so much his dog could provide with even though he helped a lot.

Chenle rubbed the back of his neck as he hesitated, flickering his gaze to Seowoo as she tied her hair back out of her face.

"Can..." He began but stopped, earning her attention nevertheless.

"Hm?"

"Can you um....do that thing when someone is sad." He rushed out at the end.

Seowoo didn't catch on for a second, confused yet her face contorted as her eyebrows raised and smile grew.

"Do you want a hug?"

Chenle avoided eye contact and shrugged as if it was meaningless to him.

She couldn't help but grin, scooting closer to him and leaning towards him to wrap her arms gently around his neck.

He wasn't much of a comfortable hugger, more stiff than others yet when her thumb ran up the back of his neck brushing over his hair- he felt himself loosening up and relaxing.

There was a warmth he hadn't felt in so long that ran through his veins and filled his heart up with the euphoric feeling.

The feeling of being safe and loved.

Closing his eyes as his cheek was placed on her shoulder and nothing had to be said as they enjoyed each others company.

Bro......let's cry over them pls

Seowoo is respective over his boundaries too we love it