I Cannot Breathe (Be My Oxygen)

Mending Broken Shards

Trigger Warnings : arguments, talks of murder, mention of mourning, injury and fainting.

Minho looks behind him with tense shoulders as he hears him call.

This is... new.

He doesn't know what to think about it, the last time Changbin called for him, it was to tell him to back off from Chan.

It's just been so long. To hear Changbin call for him.

It's like he's back when they were a happy family with his kids swimming and pranking around.

He can still picture Changbin when he was just a happy kid with no worries, all smiley.

His tail flicks and he swims as fast as possible, ignores his heart beating too hard against his chest and the shaking of his fingers, hopes this time, it's not to push him away again.

What am I dreaming about ? He'll never want me back as family.

(His picture morphs into a hideous anger coated with bitter betrayal.)

His eyes falter as he reaches the place where Changbin is, but turns resolute when he sees the small dot morphing into a siren the more he comes closer.

He doesn't know what they're going to talk about, but at least, Changbin will be talking to him.

He pauses and swallows the uneasy feeling choking him, halting a good distance away from the younger.

He watches him, heart bursting hot when he sees his tail scattered with black scales. The weak light flashes white on some. It's always surprising to see how build up he is now. He's no longer the naive and weak child, but a strong and independent adult who can make his own decisions and accept the consequences.

But he's still his cute dongsaeng.

"Hi Changbin," He says with his usual smile, doesn't show the hope igniting in his eyes when Changbin doesn't glare at him.

But he doesn't talk.

Minho approaches him slowly. He doesn't back off, it's a win, "Why did you call for me ?"

"I don't really know," He replies honestly. He looks tired, this doesn't suit him, why is he tired ? Did something happened- "I just want it to end."

Minho freezes.

His hope crushes into a myriad of pieces, pierces his heart until he's left bleeding, emptying his once full heart.

"Oh."

So, this is it.

He really never had a second chance to begin with.

He turns himself, sighs tiredly, he's so tired of everything, but he still smiles, "Alright, I'll be going then, hope you'll be happy with the others."

He's just about to swim away when Changbin catches his hand, startling him. He looks back at him, sees something glint in his eyes.

"Want it to end doesn't mean I want you to leave."

Minho pauses, so confused by the situation. He can't understand Changbin's expression, "Then what did you mean ?"

"It means I'm the one leaving."

"What ? You mean with Chanie ?"

Changbin ticks at the nickname, but then he falters more, "No, alone," he lets go of his hand to rub his eyelids, "he doesn't love me," then he adds as he stares at him, almost accusatory, but he looks defeated instead, "but you."