The last message Riven sent Kael was left on read.

 “can we talk? Please. I never meant for things to end like this.”

Kael didn’t reply, he just stared at it. Not because he didn’t care—but because he cared too much. He thought staying away would protect Riven. He thought silence would mean safety. He was wrong.

Hours later, while walking home through an empty street, Riven's world turned dark. rough hands. A van. Muffled cries. No one came.

Inside a decaying facility, Riven was nothing more than a plaything to monsters. his bruised body shook. Cuts decorated his arms and neck. His shirt clung to his chest, half-ripped. His pants—unzipped, unbuttoned, stained.his eyes held no light—just pain, betrayal, and silence.

[Kael's pov: the message that shattered everything]

Kael sat in his car, heart like stone, staring at the dashboard.

Then—

Buzz.

A message. Unknown number.

He opened it. Photos. Riven. Broken. Bloodied. Barely clothed.

Then… A voicemail.

 "Stop—please… Please don't… I… Kael… Help me—" A cry.

"Fuck off—! Please, i can't—" Whimpering. A muffled scream.

Kael froze, his heart dropping to his stomach. His throat clenched, face turning pale. His hand trembled as he checked Riven’s location. The tracker. Thank god he still had it on Riven’s phone. "Hang on, baby. Please…" He muttered, flooring the gas.

Later...

The facility. He found it—an old warehouse, metal creaking in the wind. No signs of life. No guards. No cars. No voices. Just... Silence. Then he saw him Riven, collapsed on the cold concrete, curled up, arms wrapped around himself, eyes swollen shut. Blood on his lips. His pants loose around his hips. Bruises blooming over his chest and thighs.his breath came in shallow, wet gasps. “Riven—Riven…baby!” Kael rushed to him. Riven whimpered at the sound, flinching, weak. His lips moved, but nothing came out—just tears, silent and endless. Kael dropped to his knees, tears filling his own eyes. “i’m here. I’m here, baby. I’m so sorry. I’m so—f*cking sorry—” He lifted Riven carefully into his arms, cradling his broken body close.

[aftermath: safe, but shattered]

At their house, the doctor was already waiting. Kael didn’t leave Riven’s side—not even for a second. Riven lay there, wrapped in soft blankets, bandaged and clean, but his expression was hollow. He wouldn’t speak. Kael stroked his hair, kissing his forehead, trembling himself. “i should’ve answered. I should’ve protected you…” Kael whispered through clenched teeth, guilt drowning his voice.“you won’t be alone again. I promise you that.”

The doctor had finished. He left quietly, giving Kael a long look before closing the door behind him. Now it was just the two of them. Riven lay motionless, wrapped in clean sheets, his skin pale against the fabric. Only his fingers twitched now and then, as if trying to hold on to something — anything.

Kael sat beside him, elbows on knees, staring down at the floor. His fists clenched. His jaw locked. The monster inside him — the one he usually kept buried — was clawing its way to the surface. “i swear to god…” He muttered, voice like broken gravel. “they’ll pay for what they did to you. Every last one of them.” A small sound. A shift. Kael looked up.

Riven had moved—barely—but his lips were trembling. “you’re… Still here?” His voice was hoarse. Weak. He didn’t look at Kael. Kael swallowed. “of course i’m here.” “…I thought you’d leave me again. Tears welled in his swollen eyes, but none fell.

They just sat there—like they were too tired to drop. “i’ll never leave you again,” Kael whispered. He moved closer, carefully—like getting too near would cause Riven to shatter again. “i should’ve never ignored your message. I thought keeping you away would keep you safe. But i was so wrong.” Riven finally looked at him.

There was no anger in his eyes. Just pain. So much pain. “why’d you stop talking to me…? It came out like a breath, more ache than question. “i was trying to fix things. I just… Didn’t want us to end like that.” Kael reached for his hand. Riven flinched, then let him take it. Kael’s grip was gentle, thumbs brushing over Riven’s bruised knuckles.

“because i’m stupid. Because i thought you’d be better off without me. I thought i was protecting you by staying away. But i only ended up hurting you more. I wanted to finish all those damn task and problems first so that I won’t trouble you, but it’s worse” “you did…”

Riven said quietly. “you broke me, Kael. Even before they did.” Those words. They sliced deeper than any knife. Kael looked away, swallowing the guilt like poison.“i know,” He murmured. “and i’m gonna spend the rest of my life making up for it. If you’ll let me.” Riven was quiet. His hand trembled in Kael’s. “i don’t know if i can be whole again.”

“you don’t have to be,” Kael said, tears finally spilling from his eyes. “i’ll hold the broken pieces. All of them. Until you’re ready.” A long silence. Then— Riven leaned, slowly, painfully, until his head rested on Kael’s shoulder.

Kael froze—then gently wrapped an arm around him, protective, warm. They stayed like that for minutes. Hours. Maybe longer. Nothing else mattered anymore. Not the gang, not the danger, not even the blood still drying on kael’s shirt. Just this moment. Just them.