TW: Teen!Cast. Swears.

Who protected who?

It was a few hours after midnight.

Sips had on a dark black hoody, and a back pack full of spray paint.

Oh yes, he was going to enjoy this.

Sips stalked the streets, keeping to the shadows, minding the security cameras that could be hanging from street lights.

He eyed the bus parked at its stop. Their stop.

He quickly crossed the street and crept his way over to the side of the bus that faced off road.

As he peeked in, he could see what looked like playboy magazines and beer cans strewn across the floor of the bus, and in the driver's seat, an unconscious old man.

This was gonna work about better than he thought. He thought the driver would be drunk, but not asleep. Well, he'll get a wakeup call soon enough.

Sips checked the streets to make sure there wasn't any late night runners about. The bus stop was at the edge of the city. The city was almost always empty late at night, and he had about 45 minutes before the next cop patrol would roll in.

He moved closer and dropped his backpack next to him, removing two cans of spray paint.

What should he write? Something symbolic? Maybe some art? No, maybe something personal. Sips started shaking the bottles.

As he began to spray the paint onto the bus, he heard a loud familiar siren a few streets down.

Shit, looks like they're early to the party

Sips decided spraying a work of art on this guy's bus wasn't worth getting caught by the fuzz, so he wrote a short messy two word line instead. Well, it got the point across.

Sips quickly threw the can into his bag, took out the knife, and stabbed the tires closest to him before he ran back into the back alleys, out of sight from the cops. As he ran, he heard a faint yelling and a police siren in the background.

Looks like it worked.

____________________________________________________________________
Sjin decided to spend the day in. He was too tired to go out. It was the weekend, and he definitely had a whole lot on his mind.

It was late in the afternoon. Sjin checked his phone. 3 missed calls, 5 unread messages- Sips

Sjin sighed, and turned off the T.V.

He hated when Sips did things like this. He really did.

When would Sips learn? How long would it take before something like karma would come back to get them? What would happen if Sjin wasn't there for Sips? These questions had been floating around his head like a dark cloud, ever since yesterday.

Sjin had heard on the local news that the tires of a public bus had been slashed, and the bus had been vandalized with a message in blue spray paint that said "EAT SHIT."

This had Sips' name all over it.

Maybe the bus driver deserved it, but Sjin refused to forgive Sips so easily. This was one of the only public buses that traveled around here, and they had known for a while how very enthusiastic the driver was about sharing his opinion.

Sips and Sjin were forced to ride the bus home yesterday, due to the car being in the shop after a little accident with Sips' road rage, and they had overheard the bus driver's boisterous conversation with one of the passengers sitting a few seats in front of them.

"...ruining the sanctity of love, I'm sick of these fuckin' abominations of human beings. They're all going to hell for it!"

The entire bus fell silent after the driver's last remark was made, and all the heads in the bus turned to the driver's seat. He looked over 60 years old, overweight, and definitely senile, what he was doing driving a public bus was beyond Sjin.

The bus driver looked into the rear view mirror above his head, and narrowed his eyes when they were met by Sips, making it blatantly obvious he was referring to them.

"Oi, you nosey buggers mind yer' own!" The driver shouted at the rest of the people. The bus still remained somewhat quiet, other than the little whispers coming from other passengers.

Sjin spotted the driver pull a small tin bottle from his jacket, take a quick sip, and attempted to sneak the bottle back into his jacket pocket. The driver ended up fumbling it clumsily and let it drop to his lap. The driver was red-faced... the driver was drunk

This would not end well... if Sips saw this... Sips

Sips was already out of his seat and halfway down the aisle.

"Stop- stop the bus!" Sjin shouted, the old bus came to a sudden screeching halt, knocking Sips off balance, causing him to lunge for the 'oh shit' bar above his head.

Sjin let out an exasperated sigh. Here we go again. He ran to Sips' side and grabbed his shoulder to stop him from making anymore sudden advances.

"Sips, please, let's think about this, this is the only bus that-"

"Are you kidding me, Sjin!? Look at this joker, he's half drunk driving a bus full of almost 50 passengers, spewing ignorant bullshit along the way! I don't think he even knows where he's taking us, we could be on our way to goddamn Sesame Street-"

"Look, we'll just get off and walk home, it's pretty nice outside, we're close enough."

"The 'ells going on back there on my bus? Oi, you two, what seems to be the problem?" The bus driver rose from his seat, ignoring the honking horns of other cars surrounding the bus. The passengers started shouting at him, but to no avail.

"We uh, seemed to have missed our sto-"

Sjin's sentence had been interrupted by a hand yanking his collar and pulling him into another pair of lips.

Sips pulled him into a proud and passionate kiss.

Gasps filled the bus as a sudden realization at the situation hit all of the passengers.

Sjin was left stunned and speechless after Sips had pulled away to confront the bus driver.

"Looks like you're the one with the problem, chucklehead"

Sips squared his shoulders and pulled Sjin behind him just in case shit was about to start flying, which it probably was.

The driver's face contorted into one of complete disgust, and then blinding rage soon after, turning almost beet red.

"I want you two disgusting things off of this bus right now, ye hear me?!?"

The bus driver stumbled towards the two of them and Sips raised his arms to fight, but before a single punch was thrown, Sjin maneuvered his way between the two of them and turned to face Sips, grabbing him earnestly by his jacket.

"Sips, please. You know this isn't worth it, it'll only make it worse."

Sjin really was getting tired of having to do this, the same thing over and over. Sips almost starts something, Sjin puts a stop to it. When was Sjin actually going to get through to him?

Sips took a deep breath. Sjin always had a point, always had a reason not to fight. Was he just going to let this happen? Just take all of the hate that was thrown their way, and do nothing about it?

He turned to look deep into Sjin's eyes, and was caught by surprise with what he saw. Something was different. This was different. They looked different. They weren't warm, hopeful, and pleading like always. They were cold, almost tired.

This wasn't right

"Sips, let's go." He let go of his jacket and pushed past the bus driver, hitting the emergency door lever to leave. Sjin just wanted to go home.

Sips was left standing in the middle of the bus taken aback by what he had seen. The bus had fallen quiet, the passengers looking on in wonder.

Sips cracked his neck and marched past the bus driver, throwing a hostile look over his shoulder. He made sure to memorize the bus number on the way out.

Sips' feet hit the street and watched the bus jerk to a start and traveled uneasily down the road. They had been dropped off downtown, near the city, about two miles from Sjin's house and Sips' apartment.

Sips looked right, over the heads of some of the crowd walking on the sidewalk, to see Sjin walking away at a fast pace.

"Sjin!" He called out. Sips had to jog to catch up with Sjin.

"Sjin, I-"

"I know. Let's just go."

They walked in silence. It took almost an hour for Sips to walk Sjin home.

It was late by then.

Sips only made it as far as Sjin's doorstep.

"Look, Sips, I'm really tired, today's been pretty hard. I think we both need some rest."

"I-... okay then. See you tomorrow?" Sips knew something was wrong, but it was too late for anything that could turn into an argument... it would have to wait.

"Goodnight Sips."

Now here it was, late the next day, and Sjin honestly has no idea what to do, or how to get to Sips before something else does.

______________________________________________________________________

Sjin wouldn't call him back.

Sjin wouldn't text him back.

This was so unlike him.

Sips threw his phone across the room onto the small couch that was bolted into the walls of his apartment.

What had he done wrong?

Oh.

Yesterday.

Sips turned in his bed.

Why would Sjin be angry about that? Nothing happened, as a matter of fact, nothing ever happens. Sjin is always there to make sure of that. He let out a huff of breath.

He had no idea why Sjin would be so upset about things like this, he should be proud that Sips is defending him... defending them. But instead of a thank you or any type of appreciation, he gets this. Ignored.

They would have to sort this out, and soon. Since Sjin wasn't answering, he'd have to make a visit.

_________________________________________________________________

Sjin laid in his bed, gazing at its slick brown tint in deep thought.

A million 'what ifs' were running through his head.

What if Sips gets himself hurt? What if he gets caught? What if people catch him off guard, and I'm not there?

He rubbed the bags under his eyes.

He really was tired. Tired of stressing, tired of worrying. It really was starting to add up. He needed to find some type of release.

Sjin sat up and eyed the piano in the opposite corner of his room.

______________________________________________________________

It was getting darker outside.

Sips would have to hurry.

He biked as hard as he could down the streets as the light slowly dimmed. What was going to happen? What was he going to say? Was this going to be an argument?

Sips' nervousness increased tenfold when he reached Sjin's mansion of a house. If Sjin was upset with him, there would be a very slim chance Sjin's parents would let him in. They liked Sips but Sjin was their first priority.

Sips noticed the tall tree next to the house, that happened to reach all the way up to Sjin's window.

How convenient.

_____________________________________________________________________

Sjin took a deep breath and rose from his bed to walk over to the piano.

He remembers the first time Sips saw him play piano. Sjin even tried to teach him how to play, but it took him almost an hour to teach Sips to play chopsticks.

Now he sat alone in his room, with moonlight shining through his window onto the piano.

It was night now. Sjin hadn't noticed the time fly by.

He exhaled, and placed a hand on the keys.

A dark, warm tone emanated from the piano, causing Sjin to exhale again. Release.

Other than architecture, playing piano was another one of his hobbies. There was always a song for what he was feeling, whether it be happiness, joy, sadness, or loneliness, there was always something.

Comptine D'Un Autre Été

Sjin placed his other hand on the piano, and gradually started to play.

As music filled the room, it was like there was a weight being lifted off of his shoulders. The tempo started to slow, but progressed more and more.

Images of Sips were flooding through his head.

Their first date, their first fight, Sips' guitar, their first kiss.

The song increasingly gained tempo the more Sjin recollected.

They had been together for years, no year without it's hardships. But Sjin would be there. He was always there.

But what if there came a time when he wasn't?

A tear fell down his face, and the song slowed again.

What if Sips did something stupid? They lived in the wrong type of town, anything could happen, Sips could get attacked if he was ever alone, anything was possible.

It was because he didn't think! Sips was so passionate, he leaps before he thinks. That was so dangerous in their situation.

The song picked up again.

______________________________________________________________

"Awh, shit"

Sips' jacket got stuck in one of the branches. He shouldered it off and balanced on another branch before he tried to dislodge the fabric from the tangle of leaves. After he had his jacket back, he continued climbing up the branches. The tree wasn't that big, but he hoped it was big enough to support his weight.

When he had reached halfway up the tree, he heard a distinct sound coming from the window that was left cracked open.

Sjin was playing his piano.

A smile spread across Sips' face as he hurriedly reached the top of the tree to peek in and watch Sjin.

As soon as he reached the edge of the window, however, his smile soon faded as he caught a glimpse of Sjin playing in the moonlight.

He watched Sjin stop, and then start again at a slow pace as a tear dropped onto the keys.
______________________________________________________________________

Sjin didn't know what he should do. He couldn't be Sips' angel, and hang over his shoulder wherever he went.

Sips definitely was independent, practically raising himself. He was even Sjin's bodyguard from time to time, but who was protecting who?

Sjin was felt lighter and lighter as the song went on. Playing piano was his release.

As the song steadily reached its end, Sjin hit the last few keys and closed his eyes, letting another tear fall.

"Sjin."

Sjin jumped, startled by Sips' random appearance... at his window?

Sjin sighed and rolled his eyes.

"You could've used the front door, Sips. I'm the only one home."

Woops

"Jeez, Sjin, gimme a break, I was trying to be romantic, ya big dumb dumb"

Sips climbed through the window, weary of Sjin's emotional state. He had caught Sjin wiping his face after Sips had surprised him.

"...Sjin?" Sips ambled towards Sjin, who was still sitting on the piano stool.

"You were on the news today."

Sips froze.

"I-I was?"

"A bus driver was being interviewed after his car had been vandalized."

"Well, that could've been any-"

"'EAT SHIT', Sips? Really?"

Sjin turned to face Sips and gave him an accusatory glare.

Sips folded his arms and shifted his weight in response.

"Are you saying he didn't deserve it?"

"Sips, that's not the point" Sjin slammed the piano cover down in frustration.

"What if you had been caught? What if that bus driver had a gun?"

"Oh, please, he was obviously drunk, he'd miss me by a mile, and I timed it perfectly. It could've been a ghost for all the cops know"

"They reported a figure in a dark hoody running into the alleys away from the scene, slipping just out of their reach. They saw you, Sips."

Sips' body heat dropped a degree. He watched some of the news report, but not that part.

"... They still didn't catch me."

"They could've-"

"But they didn't."

God, Sips was so stubborn, why can't he listen?

"Damn it, Sips, why'd you do it? That bus driver could probably give our names to them, we ride it often enough, it's the only city bus that comes this far out! You don't think-"

"Did you watch the rest of the news report?" Sips spat.

"N-no, why would I-"

"The bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence multiple times. They got witnesses from some of the people that ride that bus more often than we do. He's lost his job and is doing some time."

Sjin was caught almost speechless.

"That's why I did it, Sjin."

"Sips, you got lucky. They saw you, they were only a couple seconds away from catching you. I thought you had it timed perfectly?"

Sjin turned his body all the way around to face Sips, but remained seated on the stool.

"You know, I'm always making sure you don't get into trouble. I stopped you from hitting the bus driver from yesterday, which would've been your third aggravated assault charge, and now this happens."

"...why."

Sjin was confused.

"Wh- what do you mean why?"

"Why do you stop me?"

Why do you care?

"N-not before you tell me why you always want to fight in the first place."

Two could play the stubborn game.

Sips took a deep breath.

"It's because I fuckin' love you, Sjin."

It was Sjin's turn to freeze.

"When I fight, I fight for you. That's one less asshole bus driver on the street that could put you in danger. We could've died if that bus driver had been any more drunk. I wasn't going to stand for that."

Sjin was silent.

"I know I may not think much, but if I did, everything would be different."

Sjin raised his eyebrows at this.

"Do you remember our first kiss?"

"Sips, of course I remember that." That came out a little too harshly. Sips chose to ignore it.

"I didn't think about kissing you. I just kissed you. If I would've thought about it before hand, I never would've done it."

Sips took another deep breath. This was getting pretty hard. But he needed this. They needed this.

"I would've thought about how I was completely out of your league, how I didn't deserve you, how you deserve better."

Sjin was finding it hard to breath.

"I know I'm reckless. I always have been, I probably always will be. That's why I need you, Sjin."

This was too much. Sjin let the tears flow freely. Sips walked across the room to kneel in front of Sjin and cup his face in his hands. They sat there, forehead to forehead, reveling in silent forgiveness.

"Your turn." Sips said. It was Sjin's turn to answer.

"Oh, Sipsy, I do it because I don't want to lose you. You could've been arrested, and with all of your charges, who knows what would've happened to you. You know what type of place we live in, anything could happen."

Sips closes his eyes. They did need this

"I'm so afraid of something happening to you. I-, I-"

Sips shushed him by kissing him gently and passionately, moving in between Sjin's legs to close their distance.

Sips' cheek was wet with Sjin's tears.

Sips backed away and gave Sjin an honest, sweet smile.

"Sjin, stop crying, you loser."

"I love you Sips."

Sips chuckled to himself.

"Yeah, I know."

Sjin mock punched Sips in the shoulder and they laughed together.

"Hey Sjin."

"Yeh, Sips?"

"Wanna play that song again? For me?"

Credit to snoop-todd on tumblr