𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜

𝙷𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚁𝚞𝚗

TW: Car crash, drunk driving (none of the boys), near death experience, major character injury

angst, hurtfic

The soft glow of the monitor illuminates the studio, the steady tap of keys providing a soothing background.

Chan hums to himself as he adds the final layer to his track. The vibration of his phone jolts him out of his focus.

It's Changbin, wondering when and if he'll be home, reminding him that if he chooses to stay at the studio he's required to sleep at least five hours. A smile ghosts Chan's face as he reads that. The others never forget the schedule management put him on, even if he chooses to ignore it.

He saves his work, gathering his things, jamming the notebook he uses for lyric writing (honestly, it's on its last leg- he takes it everywhere, so what can he expect, really) and his computer, along with the other bits and pieces of his setup into his bag.

The night is cool when he steps out of the building and into the awaiting city. Autumn is in the air, and Chan inhales thankfully. The studio can be stuffy, especially during the odd in-between period of summer and autumn. The night is peaceful, calm, even in the never-ending bustle of the city.

It's quiet tonight, and only a few cars wend their way down the city blocks that are in Chan's sight. The leader curses, digging his phone out of his pocket. It's later than he thought. No wonder Changbin texted him, the rapper's quiet concern that much more understandable now.

He meanders his way down the sidewalk, lost in the sea of his own thoughts.

Everything seems like a dream, has for the past few weeks in the best way possible. True, their schedules are busier than ever, with a comeback, interviews to perform, variety shows to attend, photoshoots to do. Still, Chan has found that his workload seems more bearable than it ever has, the members taking over what responsibilities they can. Management placed him on a schedule after the last time he ended up in the hospital, too exhausted to even speak. 

Ever since then, the others have pretty much refused to leave him alone, trailing behind him nearly everywhere. Chan appreciates it. He's found that with their company, he enjoys the presence of himself much more now. He can stand to hear his own thoughts, to see himself in the mirror.

He's reached the end of the sidewalk, an intersection. The light changes, and he steps onto the crosswalk, thanking his lucky stars that the dorms are only a half hour walk from the studio. It's gotten cold in the past few minutes.

When he gets home, he needs to thank Changbin for texting him, for jolting him from his usual schedule.

All thoughts fly from his head as he hears the screech of tires, breaking of glass, someone's scream. The scream belongs to him, he realises as pain erupts in his chest, spreading throughout his body. The world turns red, white, black. A weightless feeling overtakes him, then his head connects with something cold, solid, heavy. The world disappears in his sight, the acrid scent of engine smoke and blood hanging in the air.

---

Minho groans, his ringtone shattering the peaceful silence of his bedroom. Why did he let Jeongin change his ringtone to that fucking meme song STAYs created?