Chapter Text
Sun flinches as his mother throws a plate at him. “I’m sorry mom! I had to clean up the living room, and I had to pick up Moon! I was busy, dinner is almost-”
“Shut up!” She yells, her eyes are filled with rage. “You’re 20! I let you live here rent free ! I allow you to eat the food I buy! And I grant you that one stupid favour!” She yells out. “Maybe I should go back on my word!”
His gold eyes widen in terror. “No! Please, I can do better! I’ll make dinner, I’ll scrub the house top to bottom! I-I can get a job, give you all the money!” He pleads, clenching his fist. He’s trying not to cry.
“Hm. I’ll consider it. You better get dinner done. Understood?”
“Yes, mother. Thank you.”
“And clean that up.”
“Yes, mother.” Sun says quietly, watching as his mother leaves the kitchen.
He goes to grab the broom, pausing when it’s taken from in front of him. Moon gives him a sympathetic look, blue eyes filled with guilt. He knows, he knows all Sun has done for him, and he feels so much guilt because of what Sun puts up with.
Sun gives him a grateful smile. “Be careful, don’t hurt yourself cleaning it up okay?” His voice is laced with concern.
Moon nods quietly and begins to sweep up the mess, silent for a moment. “You should move out,” he says quietly.
The elder freezes up in his cooking. “No. I am not leaving you alone here. When you turn eighteen, we’ll leave together.” Sun says firmly.
“Do you think you can put up with this, Sun? I know you use concealer. I know what you try to hide. What you hid in high school. I’m fifteen, do you really think you could put up with three more years of this? Of bending to her will to protect me?” Moon asks as he sweeps.
“And leave you on your own with them?” He challenges, pulling the pot off the stove and draining the water from the pot. “You know I won’t.”
“But you should. You’ve acted in my interest from the second I was born. You should be selfish, for a change.” He argues back, pushing the glass into the dustpan.
A deep sigh. “I can’t afford to be. Not now.” He says quietly.
Moon allows the silence to take over as he empties the dustpan. He puts it back and starts to set the table. Two plates. They were to be unseen and unheard during dinner. They could eat, yes, but not here.
“Go get them for dinner, okay Moon?” Sun says softly, the ‘be quick’ is unsaid.
The other nods quietly and goes to the living room, quietly telling them that dinner was ready. After, when he was sure that they got the message, he quietly disappears into the kitchen and makes up a small bowl of food. Sun makes his after.
They quickly disappear to Sun’s room, sitting on the ground together. Moon quietly begins to eat his spaghetti. “That’s not enough food.” Sun says with a small frown.
“I’m not hungry.” He mutters out, digging into his food. “I took what I knew what I would eat.” He explains quietly. The blonde lets out a small ‘hm’, but doesn’t push, quietly eating his own.
Moon gets up and takes their bowls when they both finish. “I can finish your chores for the day. Sleep.”
“But you have homework, and other things to do it’s-”
“Sleep. I did my homework at school, take a break for once in your life.”
He hesitates, but nods in agreement. Once his brother leaves, he gets changed. His night light goes on, and his light goes off.
He wakes up hours later to someone shaking him. He yawns softly and opens his eyes, freezing up when he sees his brother.
Sun shoots up from the bed and quickly takes in his brother’s appearance. Moon is bruised, one of his eyes is swollen shut. He’s covered in bruises, and he’s holding back tears. He didn’t have to tell Sun what happened.
It was obvious.
Without wasting a second of his time, Sun grabs the first aid kit from under his bed and has his brother sit down at his desk. He starts with the disinfectant, carefully cleaning his injuries. He only begins to talk when he begins to bandage them.
“What happened?”
And Moon’s blue eyes narrow in response. “They were talking shit about you,” he hisses out. “And I snapped. I yelled at them, told them that it’s a miracle they raised someone with a heart of gold when they were so, vile. They didn’t take it well.”
Sun’s grip tightens a bit on Moon’s arm, quickly loosening when the other winces. “Moon.”
“They talk so much shit about you! You do nothing wrong!” Moon snaps. “And you defend them! You’ve given in!” He yells out.
“Moon. I’ve told you not to go against them. You see what happens,” his voice cracks. “I don’t want them to hurt you. I made that deal with her so they don’t. Just don’t push it, Moon.”
Moon is quiet for a second. “Be honest, do you really think that we’ll survive? That- that we’ll be able to live for three more years?” He whispers out. “I don’t think so… I’m so worried they’ll kill you… That- that I’ll lose you.”
Sun stares at him for a second, considering his words. ‘Will we be able to live?’ He finishes bandaging him, quiet for a second.
Sun could leave. He’s twenty. Would they look for Moon though? He won’t be leaving his brother to suffer. He could run. They could run. He takes a deep breath.
“A day. Give me a day to plan.” He finally says. Moon freezes up and meets his eyes. “Do not say anything to anyone, if we run, I can’t risk anyone knowing we left, or where we went to. Do you understand, Moon? You need to promise me.”
He holds out a pinky. “I promise.” He smiles and links pinkies with him, trusting his brother to keep his promise.