Chapter Text
Living within the walls of Red Mansion's darkness is all Minimart has ever known. The lonely, depressing place where he was born and most likely where he will die. His drug-dealing parents had been forced to move there when their income suffered so greatly that not even loans could save their swift descent into large amounts of debt. Red Mansion was the only sanctuary left for impoverished criminals like them. They'd never been cruel or treated him badly, doing the best they possibly could until they fell ill with heart disease; paying the rent on time, running drugs for the Mikages, taking care of his basic needs. He only wished his mother hadn't given birth to him in this wretched place that was little more than a self-imposed prison to protect them against the outside world.
The building was surrounded by a high chain-link fence and its windows were secured with steel bars. Barely any sunlight filtered through the curtains residents kept tightly drawn, whether from paranoia or from growing accustomed to the gloominess of Red Mansion. There were many who never ventured outside the building's walls, fulfilling their basic needs as best they could by buying food and supplies from its three stores and visiting the doctor's clinic there whenever they needed. Most of the residents were rough and violent criminals who were all referred to as the number unit they lived in. In his case, everyone called him "kid" or "minimart," which he didn't mind. He didn't even remember the last time his parents were cognizant enough to speak, let alone call him by his given name. His identity no longer mattered, perhaps it never did. He also simply thought of himself as Minimart now. It was easier that way.
It seemed like any other day as he worked another long shift in minimart three, when about half-way through the shift, one of his regular customers stumbled in as though he was already drunk, asking for a cold beer. As he grabbed one out of the cooler and set it down on the counter, the man told Minimart to just put it on his tab. He suppressed a heavy sigh. At this rate, if all his regulars kept telling him to put everything on their tabs, then he wouldn't be able to pay rent this month. He could die for all he cared, but he needed to stay around for his parents and help them get better. The money he made here was necessary to keep purchasing their medicine.
"Hey kid, did you hear what happened?"
He stayed silent, not particularly caring what the man was about to tell him.
"Unit 231 and 151 got into a fight."
Well, that was nothing new. The residents of Red Mansion were always having petty scuffles over the smallest of things like looking at someone the wrong way.
"231 bled out and died," The man grinned. "The twins just came and hacked up 151's body, hung it up in the middle of the hallway for everyone to see. A scrawny kid like you would freak if you saw it, so better cover your eyes when you go back to your unit tonight," the man roared with laughter until he broke into a rough coughing fit.
But Minimart didn't care what happened to either of those men or about seeing unit 151's body in the hallway. Living in Red Mansion had made him disillusioned to death, its name had always called forth the image of blood, after all. He wasn't as fragile as everyone thought he was, wouldn't have survived this long here if he was. All around him people were one step away from falling into a premature grave, because it wasn't only sending the other residents into a murderous rage they needed to worry about. Illness ran rampant through the building and many coped with their miserable existence with various addictions such as alcohol, drugs, and, self-harm. Making money through drug dealing was common in Red Mansion, but it was always a risky business in which someone could get shot on the street if someone was desperate enough to kill for a free score. It was a last resort Minimart turned to only if he was falling dangerously low on cash.
Turning around without sparing the man another glance, he returned to his chair behind the store counter. He considered opening his notebook to reread old entries while he passed the time between customers, when suddenly a deep voice filled with false cheerfulness Minimart recognized all too well came over the PA.
"Hello residents!"
It was Syrim, one of Mikage Reo's malevolent elder twin brothers.
"I'm sure by now you've all heard of the small incident that happened here, but nothing for you all to worry your filthy little heads over, because we took care of everything. Oh, but do watch for the dead body in the hallway. As an apology, we're collecting only half your rent this month. Carry on!"
Mikage Syrim and his twin, Kyrim, were strict when it came to violence in Red Mansion. They'd long since delegated the every day management to their younger brother, Reo, but always took matters into their own hands in cases like these. Stringing up the corpse of the perpetrator for all to see, the twins only removed the body when they felt like it, and it wasn't unusual for the corpse to remain for an entire month, serving as a warning to all what happened when someone crossed the line. Minimart often heard complaints about the smell of rot and decay, but to him, the place always reeked, whether there was a corpse strung up in the hallway or not. He barely noticed the difference.
Wondering when Reo would come by his store was the more pressing matter at hand. It should be any minute now. Minimart saw him every four days, when Reo sent his thugs around the building to intimate the residents and ensure they wouldn't cause problems, distribute drugs and other supplies, as well as collect rent money on the the last day of the month. Reo usually spent the time hanging around Minimart's store, which according to him, was closest to the back entrance where he liked to park his black Corvette. He was flipping through his notebook when Reo's rich, lilting voice startled him, his notebook falling quickly to the floor.
"Did you hear?" Reo asked, smirking.
Minimart looked up, swallowing thickly. Reo looked gorgeous as ever, his purple hair swept back in a loose bun, arms crossed over a simple black long-sleeve button up with the first few buttons undone, revealing his defined clavicle, amethyst eyes sparkling with amusement. Reo's appearance always served as a startling contrast to his own. Minimart's pale skin, gray eyes, messy and overgrown white hair, as well as the shabby clothing he wore made him want to shrivel up and die sometimes. The scent of expensive woody cologne flooded his senses and he wished he could lick it off Reo's skin, committing the taste to memory so he could keep it there on his tongue forever.
"Y-yeah," he stammered, averting his eyes when Reo's penetrating gaze became too intense, as though he could read all of his lewd thoughts about him. Minimart struggled to remember a time before he was devastatingly in love with him. He could divide his life into two distinct parts, before Reo and after Reo. After his parents fell ill and he took over operation of the store, he felt devastated and lonelier than he ever believed was possible. But when he first met Reo and fell for him at first sight, the bleak and cold world of Red Mansion became vibrant and warm, if only for the small amount of time Minimart saw him each week.
"Well then, guess you'll have some extra money, right? So let me have this lollipop," Reo laughed, reaching for a chocolate flavor in the stand next to the counter. "I gotta have some sugar for spending time with my idiot brothers."
Minimart was all too hypnotized by the suggestive way Reo made small kitten licks along the tip of the lollipop before creating loud slurping and sucking noises with his mouth, all while making eye-contact with him. It felt intimate, like a show put on just for him, something he could detail in his notebook later. But it made him wonder if Reo was like that with everyone and he hated the thought. Minimart should be the only one seeing him this way. He clenched his fists, thinking of all the ways he'd murder them for gazing at Reo too long. Stringing them up with a noose, stabbing them in the throat, using his father's old gun to shoot them in the head, brain matter splattering all over. Reo crunched down hard on the lollipop, breaking him out of his murderous thoughts, and Minimart watched the movement of his throat closely as Reo swallowed the candy.
"Ugh. Could barely finish that cheap ass lollipop. You should really start stocking something better. Well, see ya!"
Reo began walking toward the doorway, but turned back and gave him a wink and a sly smile, sticking his tongue out playfully. His scent lingered for a long time after and Minimart closed his eyes, breathing it in deeply. He rushed to retrieve his journal from the floor, desperate to write about the interaction.
July 14th, 5 minutes. He had a chocolate-flavored lollipop this time and was wearing the same shirt he had on twenty-four days ago. He looked great just like the last time. I remember he complained about the heat, so why did he wear that long-sleeve shirt again on such a hot day? Why did he smile and wink like that when he left?
"What the hell's wrong with you?! You gonna ring up this shit or not? Lucky I don't make off with it…"
Minimart jolted, realizing there was a customer standing in front of him. He apologized and quickly rang up the pack of cigarettes. He didn't appreciate being interrupted from looking at his notebook, but at least the guy didn't steal from him. The rest of his shift was spent replaying the image of Reo smiling at him over and over again and by the time he finally made it back to his unit, exhausted from the stifling heat, Minimart crashed immediately onto his thin mattress on the floor after administering his parents' medication. He'd learned early on to split the pills in two so they would last longer, delaying paying the steep price for them. Since he only needed to pay half the rent this month though, the cost wouldn't be as much of a concern. He'd go to see Red Mansion's doctor early tomorrow before work.
However, Minimart was shocked when the doctor told him the cost for the medication had increased from 50,000 to 70,000 JPY. He had extra money, but he suspected the only reason for the price increase was the doctor's greed. Minimart wasn't usually a person prone to anger, didn't care if the residents took advantage of him at the store every so often and he didn't mind barely eating a single meal most days so he could save enough money to make rent, but for the doctor to take advantage of his parents' illness was despicable. He was a low-life in here just like the rest of the people living in Red Mansion. Was he hoping to rip off enough residents to make his escape? Fucking sleazebag.
"No, I won't pay that. It's not the price the medication was last month."
"The market price has gone up. But hey, pay for them or don't. I couldn't care less. If you're not, then get the fuck out of my face, kid."
The doctor sneered at him and the second he turned his back, Minimart rushed to grab the medication sitting in the doctor's cabinet and ran out of the room toward his store.
"Ah fuck," he heard the doctor yell to his assistant, "go after him!"
Heavy footsteps thudded after him and despite running faster than he ever had in his entire life, Minimart was quickly knocked down onto the hallway floor. The man hit him in the face until his nose spurted blood before directing his fists to Minimart's ribs and stomach, knocking all the air out of him until it felt like he could hardly breathe.
"You fucking idiot kid," he snarled, pulling the money out of Minimart's pocket and spitting in his face, leaving him there to bleed in the hallway. He didn't know how long he laid there or how many people walked by him, not sparing him a single glance. He might have fallen asleep briefly as he imagined Reo finding him there, offering a hand to help him up, and smiling with that dazzlingly bright smile.
Once he was cognizant, Minimart gingerly lifted himself off the ground, checking his pockets to make sure the medication was still there. At least the doctor wasn't enough of a crook to steal them back. He walked to his store and was thankful for the brief reprieve of having no customers waiting for him to open up as there often were. Knowing exactly what would make him feel better, Minimart stepped behind the counter, reaching for his notebook in the drawer and flipped to the winter date he wanted to relive.
February 10th, 7 minutes. Reo wore a long coat that came down to his knees. It was sleek and stylish and looked warm. I wish I could also be wrapped in Reo's warmth. He's like the sun, his beauty so blinding that I can't even make eye contact, and emitting radiance wherever he goes. He wore a sweet cologne this time, something with a cherry scent. When he came to pay for his lollipop, he reached across the counter and grabbed my hand, running his thumb along the skin.
"Even someone like you wears hand cream, huh? Cute." I wondered what he meant by that. Was he surprised because I'm just another piece of trash living in Red Mansion? He's right. I don't have much reason to wear it. Maybe it's because my mom used to wear it before she got sick. Whatever the reason was, Reo smirked at me when he asked it and lingered in the store for a bit as he finished his lollipop. He took off his coat, leaving it on a chair in the seating area, muttering something under his breath about how hot it is inside Red Mansion even in the middle of winter before leaving after another couple minutes, forgetting the outer layer there. I couldn't believe my luck.
Minimart remembered quickly snatching the coat and tucking it underneath the counter until the end of the day when it was time to close the store. After locking up, he laid on the floor, pressing the coat to his nose, breathing in the scent of Reo's cologne, still lingering on the fabric. He briefly imagined suffocating himself with it, thinking dying this way would be a very pleasant way to end his life. But, if he was dead, who would look after his parents? Not to mention, he would no longer be able to see Reo. Maybe he could kill him too, though, find some way for them to die together. And if Minimart held onto him tightly enough, they would be together forever in whatever afterlife existed.
He'd thought he cold indulge in the ridiculous fantasy some other time. Instead, he'd make good use of what had so serendipitously fell into his lap. Any guilt over his actions escaped Minimart, as it was Reo's mistake for treating his belongings with such carelessness and leaving the coat behind. He'd unzipped his pants and taken out his hard cock, already weeping pre-cum, and began stroking himself fast. Minimart imagined fucking into Reo's tight hole as he pressed the coat firmer against his nose, pretending it was Reo's neck he was breathing in, leaving kisses and bruises onto the delicate skin.
He had wanted to prolong it, making the pleasure last, but Minimart came in less than a minute, thick cum dripping onto his hands and clothing. God, how pathetic. It almost made him glad he'd never get the chance to actually fuck Reo, because what would he think if Minimart couldn't even last inside him for a minute? Sighing, he scooped up the cum from his hands and rubbed them along his nipples, imagining Reo was the one touching him, pinching the reddened buds harshly, and taunting him for being a bad boy.
"Can't even last, kid? Don't tell me this is your first time. Losing your virginity to Mikage Reo and you spill your load in thirty seconds?" A cruel laugh, then, "Do you even deserve another chance to make me cum?"
"Please, please. I'll do anything."
"You don't think I could have anyone I wanted? You're disgusting."
He imagined Reo sticking his cum-soaked fingers deep inside Minimart's mouth, making him gag on his own cum, before slapping him across the face and leaving him to wallow in his shame.
Wishing he could sit there all night reading his notebook, Minimart sighed, knowing he needed to return to his parents to give them medicine. His whole body ached and it was all he could do not to crash into bed the second he walked through the door. After he'd washed off all the filth and bloodstains, he tossed and turned all night, barely getting any sleep, excited to see Reo again.
A few days later, he seemed to be in a playful mood, as he gave Minimart three times as much money as the lollipop he bought was worth, smiling giddily at him before taking a seat and scrolling though his phone. It was days like this that Minimart knew he never wanted to cut his long bangs, as they offered the perfect chance to sneak glances at Reo without being noticed. Except this time, Reo seemed to feel his eyes on him and he looked over, a small brow arched questionably.
Minimart drew his gaze toward the floor, embarrassed at being caught, but looked back up at the sound of Reo's chair scraping and him making a swift exit. Had he freaked him out? Would Reo return to the store again after this? Fuck, he'd messed up, hadn't he?
After detailing the encounter in his notebook, Minimart groaned in frustration, throwing it hard onto the floor. 'Fuck, I'm so hopeless. How could a worthless guy like me ever be good enough for Reo?'