Two for Tragedy (Drabble) -- khvur ;
Hyuna was over for another movie night. The two of them had just finished Finding Nemo for the fifth time that week. Mainly because of how much they loved the movie and the characters. L.Joe still choked up whenever Dory, the character, got upset with Marlin because of an idiot he was after he saw Nemo being 'dead'. He couldn't blame the clown fish.
In more ways than one, Hyuna was a lot like Dory. Forgetful. Sweet. Caring. Kind. But had an air of loneliness that L.Joe wish he could fill. When he watched that scene, he could picture Hyuna having the same insecurities. And it pained him. L.Joe swore he would never leave his Dory or hurt her. If he did, which he probably would because people make mistakes sometimes, then he'll make sure to make it up to her even if it'll take a few lifetimes. He would never allow anything to happen to her. Ever.
Whenever L.Joe laid in bed staring at the ceiling, he would find himself smiling . Remembering the pet names. Remembering each time that Hyuna called him Squishy and pinched his cheeks. Each time she poked fun at him with light humour. Every moment he spent with her. He knew neither of them minded their idiocy or their stupidity. Both seemed to welcome it in fact. L.Joe learned that he loved the attention she gave him and Hyuna seemed like she was more than willing to give it to him.
Which is what she was doing now as they stood near a bookshelf in a dimly lit room. Poking at his sides as he looked over the few movies he owned. His collection had grown since he met Hyuna since she always recommended movies to him. She seem to love movies as much as she loved books, even though she would always complain about the differences between the two. L.Joe didn't mind because he joined in as well. Humouring her whenever he agreed and nitpicking when he didn't.
"Yah! How can I choose a movie if you keep poking me?!" L.Joe swatted at her hand for the umpteenth time. A smile played on his lips when she finally stopped poking him and he continued to look through the movies. It took L.Joe a few seconds before he noticed that the room was quiet. Hyuna would normally say something sarcastically but there was nothing. The hairs on the back his neck rose. L.Joe turned around. His breath hitched.
A shadow. Close to Hyuna. Too close. Blurred hands wrapped around a pale neck. L.Joe stood frozen in his spot. It wasn't until a sound escaped Hyuna's lips and she glanced at him with scared eyes, that L.Joe moved. He lunged at his father, tearing the shadows away from her neck. L.Joe shoved the shadow away from his friend before any real damage could be done.
Relief washed over him when he heard Hyuna drastically inhale the oxygen, that was cut off from her lungs, from behind him. There were coughs and gasps and L.Joe knew that she was still breathing. That she was alive. That she was going to be okay. Anger raced through his veins when he stared at the figure in front of him. How dare he do this to the person he cared about. His father began to push back, taunting the blond. Vocalizing L.Joe's insecurities is whispers only he could hear.
"You think you can beat me? I'm your father! You? You're nothing! No match for me. A fucking worthless being! That girl? She doesn't even like you-- she doesn't care for you-- You're nothing to her. She's just using you because you're nothing but a little bitc--"
L.Joe's harsh words echoed off the walls as both he and his father tumbled to the ground. He was one to usually take the beatings but he wasn't going to let his father hurt the people he cared about. Limbs went flying. Punches and kicks thrown as grunts and cries could be heard. Attacking a shadow person was a difficult feature but L.Joe was also one. It wasn't going to be difficult to even the playing field, as L.Joe let his shadow side take control. Pale skin and blond hair turning an ugly gray as colour seeped from his form.
The two shadows rolled across the floor fighting. He would do anything to keep his father away from the person he cared about. After all, she made L.Joe feel alive. So he was willing to sacrifice himself, if it meant protecting her. Consequences be damned.
As the two fought, L.Joe made sure that when his punches landed it momentarily stunned his father. Whenever they hesitated or tried to shake off a hit, L.Joe would roll them over once more in order to get close to the master light source. Right before L.Joe was at the light switch, which he programmed to turn on all the lights of the apartment at once, his father grabbed a large shard of glass that belonged to one of the tables that broke during their fight. In one quick motion, the shard connected with L.Joe's jugular right as L.Joe managed to flip the switch.
The world was silenced. No sound could be heard in the room as the figure underneath him disappeared into the few shadows left in the room. The blond didn't even know that his father sliced his neck until he heard a muffled cry in the distance. L.Joe felt himself teeter on his knees as he coughed up blood onto his hands and became lightheaded. After taking a glance at the blackish red liquid on his hands, L.Joe shut his eyes tightly. His head began to throb as his throat became dry. No matter how hard he tried to breathe, little air was getting to his lungs. The world turned upside down.
L.Joe vaguely registered the arms that wrapped around his torso, protecting him from falling to the littered ground. The warmth of being pressed into a body made L.Joe feel tired. Light slaps could be felt on his cheeks after he was turned in the arms that held him. Hyuna began shaking him before holding him even closer to her. Soft sobs sounded. Mutterings of 'please wake up', 'stay with me' and 'don't leave me' could be heard but L.Joe didn't understand.
'What is she talking about..? I'm right here... aren't I? I'm not going anywhere, Dory... Hyuna...'
After opening his eyes, L.Joe raised his hand to Hyuna's cheek. He frowned slightly at the wetness he felt on her cheek but then smiled as he began to speak. His voice was strained and husky, "I'm here, Dory... Yah.. why are you crying? Don't cry," L.Joe coughed a bit, his body convulsing slightly, "I'm not going anywhere..."
He paused as he tried to inhale a bit more air, but a finger was pressed to his lips to silence him. "Shut up, you idiot! Stop talking," Hyuna sobbed as she lowered her head closer to his, "Please... stop talking...."
"Dory, please... listen to me..." It took a few moments but when she nodded with a bit of hesitance, he continued. "Shadow people... they're hard to kill... I'll be fine, really... I just... I-- I need sleep." He rubbed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tears with a small smile. "I'm sorry... for scaring you--" he inhaled a sharp breath, "-- but I'll be fine... This isn't... the first time. Just-- let me... sleep....."
As the words escaped his lips, L.Joe's vision started darkening, signalling that it was time for him to sleep. He was too tired to fight it, so he let it consume him. But not before reassuring his friend that he was fine. "I might... look scary in a few moments... but I'll be fine... I promise." He gave her a smile as his eyes fell close and he was consumed by the darkness.
