Part 8
Felix ran blindly from the dining hall, his breath ragged, his hands still clamped tightly to his throat. He didn't stop until he reached a quiet, isolated corridor, where the overwhelming surge of fear and shame finally caused him to falter. He stood gasping, unable to move further
A few seconds later, Jae-bum rounded the corner, his breathing heavy from the chase. He found Felix leaning against the wall, his posture screaming of terror and defeat
"Felix!!" Jae-bum said softly, his voice heavy with concern. He put a steadying hand on Felix's shoulder and guided him back through the corridors. They didn't speak a word until the heavy steel door of their cell was shut behind them, sealing them off from the dining hall and most crucially from Hyunjin
Jae-bum led Felix to his bunk "Sit down" he ordered, his voice firm but compassionate
Felix sat down stiffly, refusing to meet Jae-bum's gaze. He still held his hands defensively pressed against his neck
"Felix. What happened out there?" Jae-bum asked, his gaze searching for the truth
Felix immediately pulled his hands tighter around his neck and shook his head sharply "No...thing. Nothing happened! I just dropped my tray. I'm just tired, Hyung"
Jae-bum's jaw tightened at the obvious lie, but he maintained his steady, calm demeanor. He knelt down beside the bunk, trying to meet Felix's eye level
"Don't lie to me. I know that wasn't just you dropping a tray. You were shaking. What did that bastard say to you?"
Felix flinched, his body tensing with rising panic "No! He said nothing, Hyung!"
"I saw his face Felix and I saw yours. And yesterday I saw those marks on your neck, Don't lie to me. Who did this to you? Was it Hyunjin?" Jae-bum insisted, his voice never rising but its quiet intensity was inescapable
"He... he said... they looked beautiful" Felix choked out, the words tasting like ash "The places he kissed. He said they show up so nicely" Tears welled up in his eyes again, tears of profound, consuming humiliation
The confirmation that his injuries were known, combined with Jae-bum's unwavering, protective grip, finally shattered Felix's denial. He collapsed forward, the sobs escaping in ragged, uncontrollable bursts
"He... he did it in the bathroom after lunch" Felix choked out, the words tasting like ash and shame. He couldn't meet Jae-bum's eyes "He forced me against the wall... and he kissed me. He pulled my hair... Hyung... He said it was my punishment" The terrible details spilled out in a torrent of shame and pain
Jae-bum listened in horrified silence, his large hands forming tight, white-knuckled fists on the bunk as a wave of pure, murderous rage consumed him. He felt sickened and consumed by guilt for not having been there
"He wants you to be afraid and silent," Jae-bum stated, his gaze meeting Felix's "Don't give him that, You can't let him win"
"He already has" Felix whispered, defeated
"No he hasn't. Not yet"
When Felix finally quieted, exhausted and limp, Jae-bum released his hands. He gently pulled Felix's head into his shoulder, holding him tightly against his chest "I promise you that bastard will never touch you again"
Just outside the heavy, steel cell door Hyunjin had been listening intently to the muffled sounds of the conversation. The thin metal barrier did little to block the emotion. He had caught the final, defiant words of Jae-bum's promise.
A cruel, arrogant smirk twisted his lips as he straightened up, smoothly pulling away from the door
"You won't let me touch Felix again? Ha! That's rich" he muttered under his breath, scoffing at Jae-bum's misplaced heroics. To Hyunjin, Jae-bum was nothing but an insignificant annoyance trying to claim something that was already his property
He started walking toward his own cell, his steps heavy with mounting anger. The idea of anyone especially Jae-bum, challenging his absolute control over Felix was an intolerable insult
"We'll see who will win, Kim Jae-bum," Hyunjin hissed, his voice venomous and cold already calculating the most destructive way to eliminate the threat Jae-bum now posed to his dominance.
It was the designated time for the prisoners to head to the communal showers, which were located in a separate, steam-filled block away from the general sinks. It was even Jae-bum's turn to wash, but he quickly declined, citing a need to fetch something and let another inmate take his spot. He stayed behind, leaning casually against the wall, determined to keep an eye on Felix until he emerged
A few minutes later, the curtain to one of the small shower stalls opened and Felix emerged, wearing only his damp prison pants. He looked exhausted but clean
He blinked in slight shock when he saw Jae-bum waiting outside, standing up immediately as if he had been expecting him
Jae-bum, avoiding looking directly at Felix's exposed, water-slicked torso, immediately grabbed Felix's folded shirt and towel from the hook and handed them over
"Why haven't you showered yet, Hyung?" Felix asked, water dripping steadily down his body and onto the concrete floor. Jae-bum's cheeks were slightly flushed, and he focused intently on Felix's face
Hyunjin was waiting his turn a little distance away. He stopped dead when he saw Felix step out of the stall, clad only in his lower garments. Seeing Felix's bare, slender torso and abs glistening with water a sudden intense warmth spread through Hyunjin's entire body. The sight the forbidden nature of it, combined with his raw anger, consumed him
Felix took his shirt from Jae-bum, water still dripping from his hair and body. Hyunjin stared at him for a long, agonizing moment. Suddenly he felt a sharp, undeniable pressure. He glanced down and saw his own erection tenting his pants. His dick rose up and was completely hard
Hyunjin quickly tried to angle himself away from view "Damn it" he muttered, grinding his teeth
He looked back at the pairand his arousal twisted instantly into anger at what he saw next Jae-bum gently, intimately taking the towel and starting to dry Felix's wet hair, his large hands working the fabric with a protective, tender motion
"Damn it!" Hyunjin hissed again, his fury now overpowering the lust. He knew he couldn't step into the shower in his current state. He quickly walked away from the block to deal with his violent arousal before attempting to take his shower
"I'm going to go shower now. You go on back to the cell" Jae-bum smiled, finally satisfied that Felix was safe and quickly disappeared into a stall
Felix quickly pulled his damp shirt over his head and started walking back toward the general cell block. To reach his cell he had to pass the entrance to the main restroom and wash area.
Felix was only a few steps past the restroom entrance when a shadow fell over him. Hyunjin was waiting, having clearly only ducked inside long enough to zip up his pants. His anger had cooled into a chilling, focused menace.
Felix felt his blood turn to ice
"Going somewhere?" Hyunjin drawled, blocking the narrow corridor
"Leave me alone" Felix said, his voice flat with rising fear and he tried to walk around him
But Hyunjin instantly grabbed his arm, his fingers digging in. He took a slow step closer, invading Felix's space "You think Jae-bum can save you from me, hmm?" he whispered, the name dripping with contempt
Felix's fear was so overwhelming he couldn't even shake his head
Hyunjin's gaze dropped, fixing on Felix's chin. Despite the towel-drying, a few drops of water still glistened on his skin, having run down from his wet hair. The sight, combined with Felix's fresh terror, ignited Hyunjin's possessive rage again.
With terrifying speed, Hyunjin reached out, hooked his fingers under Felix's chin, and yanked Felix's face up toward his. Before Felix could even register the movement, Hyunjin dipped his head and savagely sucked Felix's chin, tasting the remaining water and skin with a fierce, possessive slurp
"Hng, stop!!" Felix cried out, the sound choked with shock and disgust but Hyunjin continued the repulsive, sucking action for another moment
He released him instantly "Don't forget what i said" Hyunjin stated, his voice a cold command. He then stepped aside and walked past Felix toward the shower block, his steps heavy with finality
Felix stood there, paralyzed, his hand instinctively flying up to rub the place where Hyunjin's mouth had been, feeling contaminated all over again.
Felix hadn't said a word when Jae-bum entered the cell earlier. The quiet of the cell was heavy, weighted by the painful confession Felix had made earlier that morning. Jae-bum sat down on his bunk with a nervous, forced smile. There was still about an hour before they had to go to the dining hall for dinner, a space Felix now dreaded
Felix was staring intently at the floor, still consumed by shame because of the raw, humiliating details he had shared with Jae-bum regarding Hyunjin's attack
"Felix?" Jae-bum prompted gently, breaking the silence
"Yes!" Felix immediately looked up, his attention snapping to his cellmate
"Um... do you want to learn how to fight?" Jae-bum asked, the question coming out hesitantly, as if he feared the answer
"Pardon?" Felix replied, confusion etched on his face
"I thought it might be good... if you learned how to fight" Jae-bum explained, twisting his hands nervously
Felix paused, turning the idea over in his mind "You know how to fight?"
"Ah, yes I learned a bit when I was in the military. It's not the same as a professional but I know some basics so I can teach you some things" Jae-bum offered, his tone becoming more earnest
"You want to teach me so I can protect myself?" Felix asked directly, his gaze steady
"No...No!" Jae-bum stumbled, his cheeks flushing again, instantly trying to hide the true, protective motivation "It's just that sometimes... it's a way to pass the time and I think... it would be good as a form of exercise too" he quickly added, stammering over the convenient excuse
Felix clasped his hands together and simply looked at Jae-bum, waiting for him to admit the obvious
"Okay, okay! I just think it's better if you can defend yourself sometimes!" Jae-bum finally exclaimed, throwing his hands up in defeat
"I think it's better too..." Felix agreed, a small, resolute flame igniting in his eyes "To try not to just be a coward"
"You are not a coward!" Jae-bum said immediately, his voice sharp with conviction "You've survived this place for two months. They're just the ones with power here"
Felix nodded, accepting the sincerity of the defense "Okay. So when do we start?"
Jae-bum grinned, pleased by Felix's willingness to fight back, even symbolically "First, we can practice in our cell but sometimes we can practice more during the general works"
"so that means tomorrow?" Felix asked
"Yes tomorrow morning, during the general work detail" Jae-bum explained "They usually assign us to different sections. We'll both request Section B the area with the old maintenance shed near the back wall. It's usually empty and the walls block the view from the towers. We can take our break there" He paused, then added thoughtfully, "And we can practice some basic movements right here in our cell too after lights out. Nothing too strenuous just footwork and stances so you can build muscle memory"
"Alright," Felix said, feeling a flicker of something new purpose "Tomorrow, then"