"A Refuge from the Storm"

As they sat on the cold bathroom floor, Young-il helped Myung-gi clean himself, gently washing away the dirt and grime that clung to his skin. Myung-gi's tears had slowed to a gentle sob, his body still shaking with the aftershocks of his ordeal. Young-il's hands moved with a soothing gentleness, helping Myung-gi to clean his face and arms. Once they had finished, Young-il closely inspected Myung-gi's body, his eyes widening as he took in the multitude of broken bones, cuts, and bruises that marred the younger boy's skin. Myung-gi winced as Young-il touched a particularly tender spot, but he didn't pull away. "I'm sorry," Young-il whispered, his voice soft with concern. "You've been hurt very badly. These are just a few of the injuries I can see. You have several broken ribs, and your arm is badly bruised. You'll need to be careful not to move it too much." Myung-gi's eyes welled up with tears again, and Young-il quickly pulled him into a gentle hug. "It's okay," he whispered. "I'll take care of you. We'll get you fixed up and feeling better soon." After cleaning Myung-gi's wounds, Young-il helped the younger boy dress, but it quickly became apparent that Myung-gi's shirt was ripped and his jacket zipper didn't work. Young-il's eyes narrowed as he considered the problem, and then he slipped off his own jacket, zipping it onto Myung-gi's body. Myung-gi stuttered out a sobbed "thank you" as Young-il covered him up, and Young-il smiled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. As they left the bathroom, Young-il paused in front of a guard, who stood at attention, his masked face expressionless. Young-il gently covered Myung-gi's ears, and the younger boy looked up at him in confusion. "Extend the sleeping time by 4 hours," Young-il ordered the guard, his voice low and smooth. The guard nodded, and Young-il uncovered Myung-gi's ears, continuing to guide him to the bunk room. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of sweat and fatigue. As they approached the beds, Myung-gi's eyes began to droop, and Young-il softly whispered, "You need some rest." Myung-gi's face crumpled, and he sobbed, "I d-d-don't want to b-be a-al-alone." Young-il sighed, his expression softening, and nodded. "If it's okay with you, we can share a bed." Myung-gi nodded, his eyes welling up with tears again, and Young-il guided him towards his bed. As they approached, Young-il stopped at the bed next to his, where Gihun slept, and gently shook the older boy. Gihun instantly shot up out of his sleep, his eyes wide with surprise as he took in Myung-gi's presence. "What...what's going on?" he asked, his voice husky with sleep. Young-il's expression was serious, his voice low and smooth. "I need you to take over the night watch." Gihun raised a brow, his eyes flicking between Young-il and Myung-gi, before he nodded and walked to the edge of their sleeping area, sitting down on the edge of an empty bed. Young-il guided Myung-gi to his bed, and they both lay down, Myung-gi curling up against Young-il's chest. As they settled in, Young-il's arms wrapped around Myung-gi, holding him close, and the younger boy's eyes drifted shut, his body relaxing into Young-il's warmth.