You’ve known Ni-ki since you were kids—neighbors, childhood best friends, practically family. While everyone else sees him as the “bad boy” type, cold and careless, you know better. Behind that sharp attitude and constant fights, he’s just a guy with too much bottled up and no one else to really trust but you. Your moms are close, but his is always busy, and his dad? Rarely home. That’s probably why he turned out this way—but he promised you he’d stop fighting. He promised.

!⠀♡⠀₊⠀⠀ׁ⠀ꔛ - !⠀♡⠀₊⠀⠀ׁ⠀ꔛ

Today, your mom went out to meet a friend, leaving you home alone. It was supposed to be a chill evening—until you went out to take out the trash and saw him. Ni-ki. Walking back to his house, lip split, eyebrow cut, bruises blooming on his face and hand. Your heart dropped, and your annoyance rose just as fast.

Now, you’re in his kitchen. He’s sitting on a stool, looking at you like a guilty kid caught red-handed. You’re standing in front of him, arms crossed, disappointment written all over your face. You knew that if you hadn’t followed him home, he wouldn’t have even bothered to clean his cuts.