In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 31 - Day terror

A/N: Heelloooo friends, i have overcome this massive crippling stump and hopefully can smash out the last few chapters!!! All completely unedited first drafts ofc. 

Just a note: I have edited the previous chapter to remove some of what Chanyeol has disclosed. I removed everything about his dad except for the flashback - basically all Haneul knows is about the earthquake during his time in Afghanistan and that the news stated that all soldiers returned home (meaning no disclosure/news of his disappearance). Also about his TBI, restricted oxygen to brain and not receiving medical aid in time, resulting in a coma. Haneul has lots more questions than answers. 

Other than that, please enjoy this next chapter and thanks for your understanding <3333 

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The night passed so slowly, trapped in a semi-conscious state somewhere between dreams and a reality where I tossed and turned all night. Every time I moved, I would feel Chanyeol's arms tighten around me, and his leg would curl over each of mine as if to keep me grounded. Rather than the support I knew he intended, I felt like I had been trapped with the last embers of what once was a raging furnace. Sometimes my dreams would blend into my consciousness, and I would not know whether the violent quakes were real. I became paralyzed with fear. As much as I longed to protect Chanyeol from the potential devastation, my body was no longer mine to control and I had no choice but to take comfort in the fact that he did not stir. All I could do was grip the bed as I lay panicked and rigid, praying that I would not fall off from the edge of the world.

I woke drenched in sweat, but still wrapped protectively within Chanyeol's embrace. The memory of the quakes flashed through my mind, and I saw the collapse of buildings and the curdling screams of innocent victims. The shaking last night was silent beyond my own palpitating heart and ragged breaths, but this memory seemed to come from a foreign location. Was I remembering what I saw in Afghanistan? The fear and panic I endured last night did not seem to subside even now. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry.

"Hmm, Haneul?" Chanyeol murmured, pulling me tight against him as he stretched. "You are shaking." My eyes clenched shut as I attempted to self-soothe. As I did so, Chanyeol shifted until I could sense him above me, and kissed my forehead. The warm softness of his lips caused a tingle to run down my spine, alleviating some of the fear left in my soul.

Turning my head to face him, Chanyeol's eyes were still closed and his facial muscles were relaxed. The only vague sign that he was conscious was the very subtle furrow between his brows. Seeing him so peacefully quelled many storms in my heart, that it almost immediately eased the tension throughout my body until I ceased shaking. As soon as I noticed this change within myself, the minor furrow in his brows relaxed and his breathing turned heavy. It seemed that he fell quickly back to sleep.

After what felt like a sleepless night, I felt crushed by the weight of exhaustion – and yet I could not stay in bed for a moment longer. My thoughts raced at immeasurable speeds, so fast that I could not cope with them nor keep up. Confusion, anxiety, so many questions... I was overwhelmed by restlessness and could not help but dwell on the matters.

I etched my way out of Chanyeol's arms and slowly slid out from the bed, careful so as not to wake him. He spent a great deal of time caring for me when I became blinded with a crippling headache. He had called a House Doctor to tend to me, but my condition had already improved before he got here. I was able to talk Chanyeol out of sending him here. Instead, he tended to me all night, getting me a hot drink to relax my nerves, providing me with water and pain relief, and massaging my head and temples until I drifted to sleep. Chanyeol worked hard for me and deserved to be well rested this morning.