Demonic || Seventeen

Demonic 5

Inside the med tent, Joshua was leaning casually against one of the tables, chatting with Jihoon and Soonyoung. The tent was dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the room. The conversation between the three had been lighthearted, a brief escape from the grueling tasks of the day. Jihoon sat with his arms crossed, nodding at something Joshua had said, while Soonyoung laughed softly at a joke.

But when Jeonghan arrived, carrying Seokmin on his back and followed by Mingyu, Seungkwan, Hansol, and the injured boy, the mood in the tent shifted instantly. All eyes turned toward them, the lighthearted conversation coming to an abrupt halt. The other medics, scattered throughout the tent, also turned to look, their faces growing serious as they saw the injured recruits.

Joshua's expression changed immediately, his usually calm demeanor sharpening into one of concern and professionalism. He pushed off from the table and stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Seokmin. Jihoon and Soonyoung exchanged glances before standing as well, ready to assist.

"What happened?" Joshua asked, his voice steady but laced with urgency as he quickly moved toward Jeonghan and Seokmin.

Jeonghan gently lowered Seokmin onto one of the cots, careful not to jostle him too much. "He took a hard fall," Jeonghan explained, his tone clipped but calm. "His hand's cut, and I think his leg is sprained. He also hit his back pretty hard."

Joshua's eyes quickly assessed Seokmin's condition as he knelt beside him, gently lifting Seokmin's injured hand to examine the bleeding. "This looks pretty deep," he murmured, before turning his attention to the rest of the injuries.

Jihoon stepped forward, his cold, analytical gaze sweeping over the scene. "What about his leg?" he asked, glancing at Seokmin's slightly twisted ankle.

Seungkwan, who had been hovering nearby with a worried expression, quickly piped up. "He tried to stand earlier, but he winced in pain. I think it's sprained, Sergeant Lee."

Jihoon nodded, already moving to check Seokmin's ankle. Meanwhile, Soonyoung, who had been standing quietly by, stepped up to help with the injured boy, guiding him to another cot. He waved over one of the other medics, who immediately began tending to the boy's bruises.

"Let me handle Seokmin's hand," Joshua said as he gathered bandages and disinfectant, his hands moving with practiced precision. "Jihoon, you focus on his leg."

Jeonghan, who had been standing back, watching with a tense expression, finally let out a quiet breath. He glanced at Mingyu, Seungkwan, and Hansol. "Stay with him," he told them. "Make sure he's okay. I'll handle the situation with Seungcheol and Yunmin."

Mingyu nodded, his eyes still dark with anger over the earlier fight, but he turned his attention to Seokmin, his protective instincts kicking in. Seungkwan and Hansol stood close by as well, their concern evident.

Joshua worked quickly, cleaning Seokmin's hand and applying pressure to stop the bleeding. His movements were gentle, but his face was serious. "You're lucky this didn't hit anything too deep," he said quietly to Seokmin. "But you'll need to take it easy for a while."

Seokmin winced slightly as Joshua applied the disinfectant, the sting cutting through the dull ache in his back and leg. His eyes were still glassy with exhaustion, and the weight of the night's events seemed to press down on him all at once. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

Joshua must have sensed his hesitation because he gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You're alright, Seokmin. Just focus on healing. We'll take care of the rest."

As Jihoon finished examining Seokmin's leg, he looked up at Joshua. "The sprain's not too bad," Jihoon said. "He'll need to stay off it for a few days, but it'll heal quickly if he rests."