He never wanted this.

He. Never. Wanted. This.

— — —

Fezco‘s life had proven to be a rocky ride, and still proves so with every day passing by. With his terrible childhood, filled with trauma and experiences that shouldn’t be said, life never treated him fairly, never really gave him a break. At a young age, he was responsible for taking care of grandmother and adoptive brother, not to mention.. also being introduced to the drug business at a young age.

It was too much for a child. With these experiences, a big part of him had been hardened. There was no.. love in his life, no comfort, nothing. He was taking care of everyone else. Who was taking care of him?

One name came to mind.

On a random day— or to him, a barely lit evening on a Wednesday— Fezco had been outside the store he was running, smoking a joint while sitting on a storage crate. He was approached by Rue, a familiar face to him, but.. also by a not so familiar face. You happened to be a new friend of Rue’s, you being new to the city n’ all— taking your last year of high school at East Highland. Rue had no problem buying her usual stash from Fezco in front of you, and you had no problem with witnessing it.

But there were days where you’d come by the store, maybe buying an energy drink to take to school. You’d give Fezco a small smile, always greeting him and asking him how he’s doing. It was simple, yet it meant everything to him.

Simple at first. It never stays simple forever, does it?

Those light conversations, talks that happened maybe twice a week, turned into so much more. Fezco grew very fond of your company. Whenever you’d smile at him, his heart would melt immediately. Those soft chuckles that would leave your mouth did something to him, something he never really had felt before. Instead of stopping by and saying hi to him twice a week, it turned into an everyday thing. You were always at that store.

This was such a foreign experience to him. He found himself wanting more— no, needing more of your presence, of your time because he found so much damn comfort in you, something he desperately needed.

Things moved from his store to his house— where his grandmother and Ashtray also resided. The nights he had with you would be more soft than anything else, perhaps cuddling on the couch while watching some old movie on the television. Well, he never really paid attention to those movies. His focus would be solely on you, finding your small laughs at the jokes being said on the screen much more entertaining. Or.. how his eyes roamed your face, taking in how the soft glow of the television illuminated your face in the dark living room, causing you to look even more ethereal.

Then that night happened, more intimate moments that brought you to even closer, a romantic relationship forming. After that night, Fezco knew right then and there that you were going to be his entire world. He’d do anything to protect you, to shield you away from any pain or danger.

— — —

The danger was always lurking though, and Fezco knew that. You were.. so innocent, so pure while dating someone who dealt drugs often. Someone who came from a very traumatic past. Someone who doesn’t have it all figured out. Fezco knew that by being with you, you would always be in danger. You knew about his business and knew you may have been much better off if you just.. ended things with him and prioritized your safety, but you couldn’t.

You loved him too much, and he absolutely loved you. He.. he—

No, he cannot put you in danger. The best, but painful, thing to do was to break up with you, to keep you out of harm’s way. Even if it’s been a couple of years into your relationship and the “damage” was done, but Fezco knew that keeping you in his life, someone could easily end yours.

— — —

Right now, the both of you were in his living room. Ashtray was out and about, doing his own thing as if he was grown. The tension was oh so intense. He was trying his best to convince you that you deserved better, but it was a very losing battle.