Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 15

"Hey, kid," Seungcheol said, his voice gruff. "You're safe now, okay? Nobody's gonna hurt you again. I promise."

Haneul's eyes widened even more, his small body trembling. It was obvious that he was still scared and unsure. Seungcheol felt a pang of guilt and helplessness - he had no idea how to comfort the child.

He reached out a hand, hesitating for a moment before gently placing it on Haneul's head. "You're safe now," he repeated, his voice a little more gentle this time.

Haneul didn't react at first, but then he slowly leaned into the touch, closing his eyes and letting out a small sigh. It was a small, subtle sign of trust, but it felt like a victory to Seungcheol.

He kept his hand on Haneul's head, stroking the child's hair gently. He wanted to say something more comforting, something to reassure Haneul that everything would be okay, but the words stuck in his throat.

The other members were watching from the side, their expressions a mix of amusement and surprise. They had never seen Seungcheol act so gentle and caring towards anyone before, and it was a strange, almost comical sight.

Seungcheol could feel their eyes on him, but he ignored them, focusing on Haneul. He didn't care if they saw him as soft or weak. All that mattered right now was making sure Haneul was okay.

He continued to stroke the child's hair, his fingers carding through the soft strands. Haneul's trembling had subsided, and his breathing was slow and steady. It seemed like he was finally starting to relax.

Haneul slowly lifted his head and looked around the room, taking in the sight of the other members standing near the bed. His eyes darted from one face to the next, his expression a mixture of fear and curiosity.

The members tried to smile and look as friendly as possible. They knew they must have seemed intimidating to the small, scared child, but they wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible.

Seungcheol kept his hand on Haneul's head, a protective and reassuring gesture. He could tell that Haneul was still nervous, but he was glad to see the child finally looking around and taking in his surroundings.

"These are the other members," Seungcheol said, his voice low and calm. "They're good guys. They won't hurt you, I promise."

The other members nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on Haneul's small, fearful face. They didn't want to scare the child any more than he already was, and they wanted to make sure he felt safe and protected.

Hoshi stepped forward, holding out a small stuffed toy in the shape of a tiger. "We thought you might like this," he said, his voice soft and gentle.

Haneul's eyes widened at the sight of the toy, his small hands reaching out tentatively to take it. He clutched the tiger toy tightly, his fingers clenching around the soft fur.

The other members smiled at the sight, pleased that they had been able to do something to comfort the child. Seungcheol let out a quiet sigh of relief, glad that Haneul seemed to be responding well to their efforts.

He looked down at Haneul, who was now cradling the stuffed toy against his chest. The child was still a bit wary, but he looked slightly more relaxed than he had a few minutes ago.

Seungcheol couldn't help but feel a pang of affection for Haneul. The child had been through so much, but he was still so sweet and innocent. He found himself wishing he could keep the child safe and protected forever.

But he knew that wasn't possible. The world was too cruel and unpredictable, and there was no way to guarantee Haneul's safety. And besides, Seungcheol wasn't exactly the most responsible or stable person in the world. He was a gang leader, for fuck's sake. He led a life of crime and violence.