#yukberray

yuk’s car broke down, xav and yuk are trying to figure out the problem with the car.

xav’s crouched by the wheel, socket wrench spinning like he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“okay, so if i loosen this, the belt should realign,” xav mutters.

yuk glances over. “see? that’s what i was gonna say.”

“liar.”

“what? I DID.”

xav pulls the belt, adjusts it carefully.

yuk leans in. “did ya get it?.”

“yeah,” xav nods.

they work side by side, barely talking, just the sound of metal and clinks.

yuk breaks the silence. “remember when you tried to fix your truck with duct tape?” he cackles.

“it worked.”

“i could’ve fixed it, ya know?”

“it worked though. 🤷‍♂️”

xav tightens the bolt. “try it now.”

yuk hops in, turns the key.

engine starts smooth.

“damn. we did good, huh?” yuk says.

“team effort,” xav says quietly.

they fist bump, greasy hands and all.

“you’re not useless,” yuk grins.

“never was.”

they stand back, admiring their work.

yuk: “we should open a shop.”

“why not?”

“i hate people.”

“too bad lol”

now they’re just chilling, leaning against the car, sipping on sprite from the same cup, and yuk lights up his cigarette, ash falling to the floor.

yuk: “we’re like the best duo.”

xav: “always were.”

xav chuckles and sips the sprite quietly.

“let’s go get food, yeah?” xav says, confidently.

xav didn’t expect the new town to feel so… heavy. everything looked normal, but it didn’t feel normal. still, he tried. public school, new start, clean slate.

first day, he accidentally bumped into a guy at the community center.

“watch it,” yuk snapped.

xav immediately bowed his head. “oh— i’m sorry. really, my bad.”

yuk paused. he wasn’t used to that. most people argued back. he muttered, “whatever,” but felt weird about it.

the next day at school, some kids started whispering about the “new kid.” yuk, without thinking, shut it down.

“leave him alone.”

xav noticed. they didn’t talk about it, but after that, they stuck together.

first week goes fine… until science class.

group of three.

enter: haru.

awkward, nervous, eyes always darting. he overshared when stressed. people called him creepy. rumors everywhere. yuk instantly didn’t like him.

“no. not him,” yuk muttered.

xav side-eyed him. “dude… he’s just a kid.”

haru nervously smiled. “um… hi.”

xav tried to be friendly. “so, how was your day?”

haru hesitated, then blurted, “i found bones in the woods.”

yuk: 😐

“what.”

“like… human. i think. but i don’t know. i panic at blood.”

xav remembered finding haru once—bruised, bleeding after getting jumped. he’d helped him up that day. so now he felt responsible.

after class, xav guilt-tripped yuk into hanging out with haru.

“just once,” xav said. “please.”

“ugh. fine.”

xav warned him, “don’t bring your skate.”

yuk did anyway.

they went to the woods.

instead of bones… they found deer corpses hanging in a circle. in the center— a skull.

haru stared, fascinated. “we should report this.”

then—

a sound.

something ran.

huge. wrong. screeching.

they scattered.

yuk screamed like his life depended on it.

haru froze.

xav didn’t think. he threw haru over his shoulder and sprinted.

the thing chased them.

xav reached the road and threw haru forward, forcing momentum.

“RUN!”

they barely escaped.

yuk was shaking. hyperventilating. “we—we have to call the cops!!”

xav held his face. “no. they won’t listen.”

their parents called police anyway. they got detained. accused of drugs.

haru tried explaining. they brushed him off.

weeks later, a quiet guy approached xav.

rey.

apathetic.

“i heard about the woods,” rey said. “i think i can help.”

he showed xav a photo. evidence.

xav gathered the group. something was wrong with the city. missing persons. patterns.

they went back to the woods— everything gone.

cult signs. erased.

then yuk overheard his priest talking about killing teens.

he ran to xav’s house, crying.

“he said… they need sacrifices.”

the priest killed yuk’s grandpa. covered it up.

at the funeral, the priest stared at yuk.

“leave the past behind,” he whispered.

then rey’s sister died.

then xav’s mom.

xav snapped.

he beat the priest at the funeral. got arrested. haru bailed him out.

“we need to leave,” haru said.

rey knew a way.

but first— rey.

on the way, rey chased a dog that stole a photo, a photo of his sister. it led him to red-caped people in the same forest… chanting.

he overheard:

“haru. yuk. xav.”

their names.

targets.

rey ran to warn haru.

they lured them into church.

yuk was already in the church before rey and haru came,

haru slipped a note into yuk’s pocket during a fake fight.

they got separated.

locked up.

haru and rey tried signing.

yuk finally read the note.

rey stole a key.

called xav.

“we’re gonna die in a week.”

xav pretended to join the cult to get inside.

four days of psychological torture.

yuk almost broke.

haru whispered, “we can run. start over.”

yuk nodded.

night of the ceremony.

rey slipped the key.

they ran while chanting echoed behind them.

“sacrifice… sacrifice…”

they booked it to the train.

the cult chased them.

a woman ratted them out.

the train sped up.

xav jumped first.

then yuk.

haru barely made it.

rey slipped.

haru grabbed his hair and yanked him up.

xav grabbed rey’s arm and pulled.

they barely caught the cargo.

the train roared forward.

silence.

they were shaking. crying. laughing.

they escaped.

together.

the train didn’t feel like freedom.

it felt like a coffin on wheels.

no one spoke. their clothes were ripped, hands shaking, lungs still burning. yuk stared at the floor the whole ride, replaying the priest’s voice in his head. haru kept checking everyone’s pulse like he didn’t trust reality yet. rey sat stiff, eyes blank, counting screws in the metal walls. xav stared out the sliver of window like he expected red cloaks to appear any second.

they didn’t stop shaking until sunrise.

they got off in a random town. no money. no plan. no phones. just four kids who were supposed to be dead.

haru finally whispered,

“we… really left.”

xav tried to smile. it came out wrong.

⸻

news spread.

the priest was “murdered.”

people said xav did it.

memorials. candles. speeches about “a good man lost too soon.”

xav threw up behind a gas station when he saw it on a public tv.

“they’re praising him,” he muttered. “he killed my mom.”

no one knew what to say.

⸻

weeks passed.

they squatted in abandoned buildings. stole food. avoided cops.

yuk stopped sleeping.

every noise made him flinch.

one night, he snapped.

“THIS IS YOUR FAULT.”

xav froze.

“you made us go! you made me hang out with him! if we never went to the woods—”

his voice broke.

“my grandpa would still be alive.”

xav didn’t defend himself.

he just nodded.

“you’re right.”

that hurt worse.

⸻

haru started having nightmares.

he’d wake up screaming about deer hanging from trees.

about hands grabbing him.

about chanting.

he couldn’t look at churches anymore.

once, he saw a priest and threw up on the sidewalk.

⸻

rey found files online.

missing kids. past decades.

same pattern.

same pastor names.

same coverups.

“it’s bigger than our town,” he said quietly. “we were just… the ones who noticed.”

that made it worse.

they weren’t special.

they were next.

⸻

one night, police showed up.

not cult.

real cops.

someone reported “runaway teens.”

they scattered.

yuk tripped.

xav went back for him.

they hid in a drainage tunnel while sirens screamed overhead.

yuk sobbed into xav’s shirt.

“i’m so tired.”

xav whispered, “me too.”

⸻

they lost haru two days later.

not dead.

just… gone.

note left behind.

i’m sorry

i don’t want to be hunted anymore

i love you guys

they searched for hours.

nothing.

xav blamed himself.

rey punched a wall until his knuckles bled.

yuk didn’t cry.

he went silent.

⸻

weeks after, they heard rumors.

a body found near a river.

no face.

couldn’t confirm.

they never told yuk.

he still believed haru ran away.

xav didn’t correct him.

coward.

⸻

rey started getting followed.

same black car.

same street corners.

he said nothing.

until one night he didn’t come back.

xav waited all night.

morning came.

rey didn’t.

another note.

keep running

don’t look for me

they’re closer than you think

xav crumpled it.

it felt like dying slowly.

⸻

now it was just xav and yuk.

two ghosts.

no cult.

no home.

no family.

just trauma and guilt.

one night, yuk finally asked:

“why didn’t they take you?”

xav swallowed.

“maybe… they wanted me to watch.”

they sat in silence.

the world kept moving.

nobody cared.

the cult was still out there.

winning.

⸻

xav stared at his hands.

blood had dried a long time ago.

“i don’t feel like a hero.”

yuk laughed weakly.

“you’re not.”

pause.

“…but you stayed.”

xav nodded.

“i’ll always stay.”

internally, he was absolutely losing his mind. he couldn’t believe yuk had permanently put his initial on his stomach, not only that, but it was clearly one of the most noticeable ones. to xav, that meant alot.

externally, he remained surprisingly calm. a genuine smile spread across his face as he looked back at yuk.

“that’s nice.”

yuk immediately narrowed his eyes.

“don’t make it weird.”

“i wasn’t.”

xav couldn’t stop looking at it. the more he studied the tattoo, the more details he noticed, the clean linework, the placement, and the obvious thought that had gone into it. after another moment, he smiled again.

“i like it.”

“good.”

yuk already looked away.

xav laughed quietly.

“it actually looks really good.”

“obviously.”

for a while, the conversation drifted elsewhere, but xav found himself glancing back at the tattoo every few minutes. each time, yuk caught him.

“stop staring at it.”

“sorry.”

five seconds later, he looked again.

“bro.”

that finally made xav laugh.

eventually, though, his expression softened. the teasing faded and for a brief moment he was simply touched by the gesture.

“…thank you.”

yuk froze.

“seriously. that was minutes ago.”

xav looked back at the tattoo.

“that means a lot.”

yuk immediately looked away.

“yeah, yeah.”

xav smiled.

“still looks good.”

“i’m gonna cover it back up if you keep saying that.”

that only made xav laugh harder.

later that evening, after yuk had left, xav found himself thinking about the tattoo again. he wasn’t the kind of person who made a big deal out of things, but the gesture genuinely meant a lot to him. the fact that yuk had chosen to carry his initial with him permanently was something he knew he would remember for years.

and even though he never brought it up again, every now and then he’d remember the bold little “x” sitting among the other initials and catch himself smiling like an idiot before immediately pretending he wasn’t.

(art by @175days)

xav’s sitting with his legs stretched out, palms pressed into the sand behind him. yuk’s beside him, knees up, cigarette between his fingers. he lights it, takes a drag, then holds it out.

xav takes it. inhales. exhales toward the ocean.

“…remember how we first met,” yuk says.

xav hums. “you were loud.”

yuk scoffs. “you were sitting there like a ghost.”

xav smiles faintly at that. “you were intimidating.. but when the crew left you, i thought you were gonna ditch me.”

“i almost did,” yuk admits. “you didn’t say a word.”

“…you kept talking anyway.”

they both chuckle, quiet.

the cigarette gets passed back. yuk flicks ash into the sand.

“you couldn’t skate for shit,” yuk says.

“i could,” xav argues softly. “just… not fast.”

“you ate pavement in the first five minutes.”

“…yeah.”

xav remembers it anyway. the concrete warm from the sun. the sound of wheels rattling. yuk laughing too loud. the way he offered a hand without making it a big deal.

they sit there, watching the water darken.

“we used to skate until our legs gave out,” yuk says. “no phones. no plans.”

xav nods. “we’d just… go.”

“…miss that,” yuk admits.

“me too.”

the wind picks up. xav pulls his jacket tighter. yuk notices, shifts closer without saying anything, blocking the breeze.

xav glances over. doesn’t comment. just leans back into the sand.

“…you ever think about how different we were,” yuk says. “back then.”

xav thinks for a moment. “yeah. but… i think we were quieter. lighter.”

yuk smirks. “you were still awkward.”

“…yeah,” xav says, smiling. “but i wasn’t tired yet.”

that lands.

they sit in it. the ocean breathing in and out.

yuk crushes the cigarette into the sand when it’s done. watches the ember die.

“…glad you didn’t bail, even when i did.. stuff,” he says.

xav looks out at the horizon, where the water meets the dark.

“…me too.”

they don’t say anything after that.

the night settles

xav shifts first. not to leave, just closer. their shoulders brush.

he freezes like he might pull away.

he doesn’t.

yuk notices, breath hitching just slightly. he turns his head, stops halfway, unsure. “can i?” yuk asks.

xav’s gaze stays on the horizon. but his voice comes out low. “…it’s okay.”

that’s all it takes.

yuk leans in slow, giving him time to change his mind. the kiss is soft, barely there. more a press than anything. salt and smoke and the faint warmth of skin. it lasts maybe a second.

when they pull back, neither of them move.

xav’s heart is racing. he stares at the water harder, cheeks warm, breath uneven. yuk swallows, jaw tight, like he’s afraid to say the wrong thing and break whatever just happened.

yuk is silent.

xav looks at him, warmth and admiration in his eyes.

xav had been quiet the entire ride back—hood up, phone balanced in one hand, thumb tapping with focus.

“okay,” yuk said, peering over his shoulder. “what’re you doing.”

“ordering food,” xav replied softly.

“for us?”

xav paused. “…for me.”

that alone should’ve been a warning.

twenty minutes later, the bags were spread out on the counter. fries. sides. drinks. some random stuff xav did slide toward yuk.

and then—

the wingstop bag.

xav pulled it closer to his chest like it contained state secrets.

yuk squinted. “…no way.”

“don’t,” xav said immediately, calm but firm.

“you shared literally everything else.”

“not that.”

“bro.”

“yuk.”

“just one—”

xav opened the box just enough to grab a wing, took a bite while making direct eye contact, and closed it again.

silence.

“…you’re evil,” yuk muttered.

xav shrugged. “i warned you.”

yuk waited exactly three seconds before lunging anyway, snatching a wing and stuffing it in his mouth triumphantly.

bad idea.

xav froze.

slowly turned.

“…did you just take one.”

yuk chewed, grinning. “mmm. lemon pepper.”

xav snapped.

“give it back.”

“already swallowed.”

xav swung first—more of a frustrated shove than a hit—sending yuk stumbling back into the couch.

“OH it’s like that?” yuk barked, laughing, immediately swinging back.

they collided in the living room—xav trying to guard the wing box with one arm while batting yuk away with the other, yuk ducking and weaving, hands flying.

“YOU CAN’T FIGHT OVER WINGS—”

“YOU ATE IT AFTER I SAID NO—”

“IT WAS ONE—”

“IT WAS MY ONE—”

they knocked into the table. fries hit the floor. the wing box slid—

both of them dove for it at the same time.

they crashed down hard, tangled, breathless.

long pause.

xav stared at the ceiling. “…i’m not ordering you food next time.”

yuk wiped sauce off his mouth, still grinning like a menace.

“worth it.”

(yuk belongs to @puncktoria)

“yuk… would you… mind paying for this?” he asked quietly, voice steady but tight, each word carrying the weight of nervousness. his posture was stiff, shoulders slightly hunched, like asking for anything, even something small, was a huge risk.

yuk raised an eyebrow. “you want me to pay?”

xav kept his gaze low, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “i… i usually pay, but… didn’t bring enough this time,” he said softly, voice careful, tense. every movement felt like walking on eggshells.

yuk blinked, then laughed, clearly casual. “bro it’s just street food, i got it.” he tossed a few bills to the vendor, grinning.

xav flinched slightly at the ease of it, still expecting a lecture or annoyed look, but nothing came. “…thank you.” he murmured softly.

yuk nudged him lightly, chuckling. “see? nothing bad happened. you survived asking for food!”

xav gave a faint, shy smile, shoulders relaxing just a bit. “…yeah… i guess it’s okay,”

yuk looked at him, shrugging. “you worry too much it’s literally just dumplings.”

then the base door clicks.

yuk doesn’t even look up at first.

“..that better not be xav,” he mutters, because xav is supposed to be on shift tonight.

xav steps inside anyway, hoodie on, mask off, hair messy like he threw it together on the way over. he closes the door slow, trying not to make noise.

“why’re you here?” yuk rasped. “bro, aren’t you supposed to be with your crew?”

xav shrugs, dropping onto the couch next to him like it’s his house.

“told them i was busy.”

“with what?” yuk raises a brow.

“this.”

then he grabs the blanket off the back of the couch and throws it over both of them like he owns the place.

yuk freezes.

“did you seriously lie to ditch them?”

xav nods, totally calm.

“they talk too much.”

yuk scoffs. “and i don’t?”

xav just hums, this soft “mm.” yuk can’t tell if that means yes or no, and that annoys him more.

they sit there for a minute, sharing the blanket. xav pulls his knees up. yuk pretends the closeness doesn’t bother him at all.

“…you good?” yuk finally asks, low.

xav thinks for a second, staring at the wall like he’s choosing his words carefully.

“yeah. just tired of… everything.”

yuk doesn’t say anything, but he shifts the blanket more over xav’s shoulder.

xav notices. doesn’t comment.

“you ever get like that?” xav asks quietly.

“every day,” yuk says. “but i don’t dip out on my whole cre- i mean, myself— to come cry at someone else’s base—”

xav gives him a side-eye.

“i’m not crying.”

“you sound like it.”

“yuk,” xav says flatly.

yuk snorts, sitting back.

“…okay fine. you don’t.”

they sit in that peaceful silence again, but this time it’s not awkward, just weirdly warm.

xav leans his head back and lets out a quiet exhale, one of those breaths people only do when they finally relax.

“kinda nice here,” he admits.

yuk tries not to react, but his ears definitely perk up.

“yeah, well… don’t get used to it.”

“too late,” xav says, closing his eyes.

there’s a long pause.

“hey,” yuk says suddenly, softer, “you can… come here whenever. you know. if you want. i dont know why you would, though,🫩”

xav opens one eye, looks at him, and there’s the tiniest smile.

“i know,” he says simply.

and yuk, for once, doesn’t argue.