SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Seungcheol | Shot

The airport terminal was bustling with activity as Seventeen prepared to return to Korea after a successful series of concerts abroad. Fans and staff milled around, the energy palpable and buoyant. S.Coups, the charismatic leader of the group, was surrounded by his fellow members, each lost in their own post-performance euphoria. But behind the smile that adorned his face, S.Coups harbored a secret that weighed heavily on his shoulders.

It had started weeks ago. The first letter was innocuous enough, a crumpled piece of paper slipped into his mailbox with a message scrawled in shaky handwriting. "You're not safe." It was unsettling, but he dismissed it as an isolated incident. However, the threats became more frequent and more specific. They weren't just vague warnings anymore; they included details about his routines and locations. The paranoia began to seep into his life. He was wary of every shadow and every stranger, but he kept his concerns to himself. He didn't want to alarm his members or disrupt the group's harmony.

As they moved through the airport, Seventeen's members were in high spirits, discussing their plans for their time back in Korea and sharing jokes. S.Coups smiled along, but his eyes darted around the terminal. Every person in a crowd felt like a potential threat. He was becoming increasingly adept at masking his anxiety, putting on a brave face as he navigated the chaos.

The airport was particularly crowded due to the arrival of several international flights. Seventeen's entourage had a small section cordoned off, but it was still a challenge to move through the sea of people. S.Coups tried to stay close to his members, who were chattering away, oblivious to the gnawing fear in their leader's heart. The noise, the press of bodies, the disjointed chatter - it all combined to create a chaotic backdrop against which his mind raced with thoughts of the threats he had received.

The air was thick with anticipation as Seventeen approached the departure gate. S.Coups had just begun to relax slightly, feeling the comforting presence of his members around him when it happened. The sudden, sharp sound of a gunshot pierced through the terminal, causing a collective gasp from the crowd. The chaos that followed was immediate and overwhelming. Screams erupted, people scrambled, and Seventeen's members froze in shock.

S.Coups felt a searing pain in his side, a jolt that knocked him off balance. He stumbled, his hand instinctively going to his wound as he collapsed onto the floor. The world around him became a blur of movement and noise. His members rushed to his side, their faces pale and horrified.

"Seungcheol!" Jeonghan's voice was filled with panic as he knelt beside S.Coups, trying to assess the damage. The sight of blood seeping through S.Coups's clothes was enough to make the reality of the situation hit hard.

"Help! Someone, help!" Joshua shouted, his voice breaking as he tried to keep his composure.

The airport security and medical teams were quick to respond. The area was cordoned off, and the chaos was gradually contained. S.Coups was carefully lifted onto a stretcher, his face pallid but his eyes still open, though glazed with pain and shock. His members were frantic, struggling to keep up with the medics as they wheeled S.Coups away toward an ambulance.

"Hyung, you're going to be okay," DK said, his voice trembling. He reached out to hold S.Coups's hand, squeezing it gently. S.Coups's lips formed a weak smile, a small gesture of reassurance even as the pain overwhelmed him.

The ride to the hospital was a blur. The ambulance sped through the streets, sirens wailing as it navigated through traffic. The members, who had been granted permission to follow the ambulance, were silent in their concern, their faces etched with worry. Their usual banter was replaced by a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional sob or whispered prayer.

At the hospital, the atmosphere was tense. The waiting room was packed with Seventeen's staff and members, all of them anxiously pacing or sitting in silence. The severity of S.Coups's condition was unknown, and the uncertainty gnawed at them. They had been instructed to wait as the doctors worked on their leader.