KRTverse Sickfics/Fluffshots (OCs)

*Alex: The Bridge

Word Count: 4893
Finished: August 18, 2024
TW: panic attack, su!cide attempt, PTSD

No hard feelings at all if this one is too dark for you. Also Minlex is strong in this one. It's originally written platonically, but of course you're free to interpret it as a ship if you so wish.

Will also be included in my KRTverse Oneshots book!
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"Well, mate, looks like it's just you and me," Alex announced as he shut the hotel door behind him and Minjun, popping open a Redbull. "Wanna share? Helps with the jet lag," the Aussie offered to his hyung.

"I'm alright. I won't be able to sleep tonight if I have any caffeine this late. But thank you," the older politely declined, slinging his tote over his shoulder.

The excitement was apparent in Alex's entire demeanor, from his resting smile to the way his eyes beamed in the sparkling lights of his home city. The group had just arrived in Melbourne all the way from Los Angeles that morning and unsurprisingly, their internal clocks had been completely thrown off track. Namgyu, Khuong, and Sukchan were all dead asleep by the late afternoon while Ryuko alleged feeling too disoriented from the long flight to go out that night. It was an entirely different story for Alex Choi, though, being back home for the first time in months. And Minjun knew that the time change would be no problem as long as he stuck around Alex, whose energy was undeniably contagious.

"I'll let you lead the way, Lexie. This is your city, you know her better than me," Minjun smiled at his dongsaeng.

"As if you even have to remind me," Alex teased, grabbing Minjun's wrist and setting forth into the city.

Minjun was nothing short of impressed at just how much his dongsaeng had to say about the city, from spitting out random fun facts to telling incredibly detailed personal stories about any specific spot. He doubted he could even say that much about his own home city. With Alex in Melbourne, there was never a shortage of things to do. Little did he know, however, that Alex was almost entirely in control of where the pair went. Minjun was oblivious to the way that once they'd settle in one place, Alex would think of something else to do and drag Minjun along with him without leaving the older any room to think of things he himself wanted to do. They got boba, rode the City Circle Tram, wandered around the Queen Victoria Market, and did some shopping all in under just two hours. Alex was more than aware of what he was doing. And there was a very good reason why.

"Depression and anxiety? But he's been doing so well, he has good grades, he loves making music, he and his older sister are inseparable...I don't understand, Doctor!" Alex heard his mother's distraught voice in the hallway of the psych ward.

"Mrs. Choi, with all due respect, your son was found attempting to jump off a bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning and admitted to having suicidal intentions. Clearly, something isn't right."

"I...what am I supposed to do, then? Pack up and leave Melbourne? Pull him out of school, what?"

Alex bit his lip as he heard choked back tears start to strain his mother's voice. Of all things he took into consideration before doing what he did, he never would have guessed that what he tried to do would hurt his mum this much. What came out of his mum's mouth next was nearly unintelligible, the closer she got to breaking down right in the middle of the hall. Alex had to look away, despite it not doing anything to mute his mother's strangled sobs.

He turned his head to face the window that peered out into the vast city as the golden sun emerged through the towering skyscrapers once again. The Melbourne skyline bathed in the sun's luminous rays, not a single cloud daring to threaten the picturesque view. Had Alex succeeded with his plans earlier that morning, would it make any difference? Would the sun still rise over the misty horizon? Would those millions of people continue on with their morning routines as if nothing ever happened? What would this place really lose if it lost a scrawny teenager on some early morning in April?