I Cannot Breathe (Be My Oxygen)

Love Is Always The Answer

Trigger Warnings : blood and injury, hospitalization, hopelessness and a ton of crying ;).

Changbin puts Chan carefully against the sand, worry icing his veins at the sight of blood in his hands.

Chan's hurt.

Again.

(The flash of blood haunts him day and night, screams at him for being useless, a constant reminder of his incapacity—)

Chan keeps getting hurt, and Changbin can't protect him, he's so useless—

"He needs to be taken to the hospital !" Seungmin yells, a few bruises and scratches on his body as the rain pounds on the sand hard, soaks them from head to toes. Weak thunders echo away, "go !"

Changbin's eyes lock with Minho's and it's only when he sees him nod, does he move to listen—

"No..."

— but he freezes when he hears Chan's weak voice, sees him hold his wrist, eyes dazed as he stares at him.

"Chan—"

"Please, please tell me you reconciled with Minho," He croaks out tiredly, eyes burning with tears, "please Changbin."

"I—" he glances at Minho, sees him smile and can't help but mirror it. Something unlocks in his chest, a hidden knot of pain unfolding, makes him breathe easier, "— I did."

Chan visibly relaxes, a weak but happy smile taking his features. But his hand weakens, and Changbin's back fills with cold sweat when he sees him go lax.

It's almost quiet in his brain, as if anticipation has taken the place to wait and see if Chan was really going to—

"Changbin ! Go now !"

— his breath hitches, finds Minho's eyes firm and sure, urging him to move.

He does.

Minho watches him run, lets himself be soaked, cold. He needs to go back in the water because he can't stay outside for too long— but Seungmin and Felix hold his hands, beg with their eyes.

And well, he's a weak siren.

"Let's go."

Chan wakes up disoriented and confused by the strong light of the room. He scrunches his face, and moans in pain when something keeps pounding in his head.

"Hey buddy, calm down—"

He's freaking out since he doesn't know where he is, squirming in the bed and desperately trying to sit. His eyes start to get accustomed to the light and he blinks several times, pants with tiresome. His heart's beating too loud in his chest, heavy and rushing to his injury.

Maybe he shouldn't have, because a wave of nausea torments his inside, churns in a violent storm and he quickly presses a hand to his mouth and shuts his eyes tight.

He's sweating and confused and he doesn't like this one bit—

He flinches when delicate fingers rub his back in comfort and he looks up to find Minho.

Chan stills.

Minho ?

The siren smirks, all innocent, "Slept well ?"