THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

THIRTY - SEVEN

| CHAPTER THIRTY - SEVEN |

Minghao stands in the front entrance of the department, frozen in his spot. The door swung back and forth behind him, and his unit stood dumbfounded right in front of him.

Fuck.

"Where'd you go to?" Seungkwan asks.

"Sorry, chief." He chuckles awkwardly, wiping his hands on his jacket, "I uh... Break! Yeah, I was on break." He smiles, "Was hungry.... yeah."

What a shit lie.

Hesitant, Seungkwan stares at Minghao for a moment or two before he shrugs, not asking any more questions. Minghao practically feels the relief ease into his chest.

But it's quick to fade.

"Where's...?" His voice was quiet, and if Seungkwan's ears weren't aware of their surroundings he wouldn't have heard it over Mingyu, Wonwoo, and Dino's bickering.

Seungkwan shakes his head with a sigh, "He's in the clinic," He runs his hand across his face, "God, that dumbass. I told him to stay put and look where that got him."

"Is he okay?" Minghao doesn't know why he's asking so many questions about his colleague. He should be asking about the state of the hostage.

Seungkwan nods, "Yeah, it was just an ankle twist. He's down the hall if you want to see him."

Minghao just nods slowly, looking away. He doesn't move though, just stuck in place as he chews on his bottom lip. Minghao flinches when Seungkwan whistles, and his head shoots up.

Seungkwan sighs, "It's not a crime to worry about someone, The8."

Minghao stares at his boss, all the way up until he and his unit leave. He stands there, dumbfounded, wondering why Seungkwan might've said something like that to him.

He doesn't even remembering it happening, his senses only coming to him when his feet slow to a stop, and when Jun's head turns to face him when the clinic door closes. Minghao's back was against it, and his eyes were glued on Jun.

Jun looks at him, "Hey."

Minghao seems to click back to reality when the greeting leaves Jun's lips. He clears his throat, leaning his back off the door with a shaky breath.

"Hey."

There was a nurse in the room, and Minghao bowed politely as she wrapped up her work, peeling the gloves off her hands. She looks at Jun, "Your ankle should be fine, just take it easy the next few days."

Jun nods, Minghao watching.

The nurse soon exits the room, bidding the two of them goodbye. And then Jun and Minghao are left alone, as well as the awkward silence that soon engulfs them both.

Minghao breaks that silence, "You alright?"

Jun clicks his tongue, "Never better."

Minghao cracks a smile of amusement, lowering his head.

He takes a moment before walking over.

Jun was sat on one of the countertops, legs dangling as he gave his ankle a break. The nurse had said to not put pressure on it for at least half an hour, then he'd be okay.

Minghao hops up onto the one across from him, letting out a breath when he sits. He clasps his hands in front of his body, lying them on his lap, "So..." He doesn't really know what to say.

Maybe seeing that Jun okay was enough.

"So..." Jun repeats.

Minghao lifts his head, their eyes meeting, and something runs through his chest, but he ignores it, "You alright?"