Limbo

For a Minute More

Things are getting better... not really. Sorry. Enjoy!

(Previously apologizing for another cliffhanger ;)

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Minho wasn't entirely sure how he kept the toast down. He'd gag every few seconds around each bite and that kept going for about five minutes even after he'd finished eating. Maybe it was just the sheer determination to not end up hunched over the toilet again that kept it down. Or maybe it was the happiness in Seungmin's eyes that he was actually trying to eat something he'd made. It was probably more the latter than the former, but Minho wouldn't admit that. His heart was currently pinned to his sleeve anyways (without his permission) and any scrap of dignity he could keep in his pocket, he would.

The rest of the members were up shortly after, busying themselves with getting ready for the day. It was a normal day for them. Voice lessons, dance lessons, language classes. Nothing too big. Maybe that's what made Minho believe he could handle it so well. Or maybe he just hadn't gotten over the unreasonably insane desire to dance right now. 

"Hyung, what are you doing?" Changbin asked when he noticed Minho slipping on his sneakers by the door with them before they left for the day. He'd elected to stay back with Minho again since he'd gotten permission to stay home to work on composing - it was a lot of begging on Chan's part that made it happen. 

"I'm going with them." Minho answered casually but everyone stopped and stared at him; Hyunjin even dropping his shoe in shock. 

"You're what?" Seungmin asked, raising his eyebrows. 

"That's not a good idea, hyung..." Jeongin continued, brow furrowed. 

"Min, we talked about this." Chan added, slipping his phone into his pocket. He'd just texted their manager that they were heading out the door now... but their unmet ETA could be explained later. 

"No." Minho shook his head, a slight pout on his lips. "I want to dance. I'm going." 

The members looked around at each other, not sure how to deny him. They weren't usually the ones to deny him anything, especially something he so clearly wanted. Eventually, all eyes found their way to Chan, begging him to take his role as leader and make the poor injured dancer stay home and safe. 

Chan sighed, pulling off the baseball cap he'd had on. "Come here, mate. Can we talk for a minute?" 

Minho's eyes narrowed, challenging him, but he followed regardless. They walked to the Chan and Felix's bedroom and the leader let the door close lightly behind him. "Minho." He began but was cut off immediately. 

"I don't have to dance, hyung. I could just watch. I could literally just sit in the corner all day and not say a word and I'd be perfectly happy. I want to go. I have to go. Please. You have to understand."

"I do, Min. I do understand." This was going to be harder than he thought. "But-"

"Then let me go. Please, hyung." Minho's eyes were sparkling with deserve - or maybe those were tears that hadn't really left his eyes from this morning. At some point - somehow Chan missed it - Minho had freshened up. He had actual clothes on now. His hair was brushed. He looked almost okay. But there were still obvious signs he wasn't okay - the easiest to spot being the huge bruise on his right temple - a stark reminder that the accident had still happened and there was a lot more inside that was wrong than met the eye on the outside.

"I don't know, Lino-ah, you're not healed yet. Your concussion is still really messing with you and those ribs definitely aren't ready to be used in the way you want to use them." 

"That's fine!" Minho exclaimed, forcing an "i'm okay, see?" smile on his face. "I don't need to dance. I could just watch." 

"The lights are bright, and the music is loud. Are you sure you can handle that, Min? I don't want you to be hurting and I promised your nurses I'd be your caregiver."