𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜

𝙷𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚁𝚞𝚗 𝙿𝚝 𝟸

TW: Major character death 

 hurtfic

The hospital is still, silent.  

Or more accurately, the private room the members acquired is silent, the only sound the occasional sniffle. 

They are all on edge, waiting for Hannah to arrive. 

If hell exists, this is it, Minho decides, tracing soft circles on Changbin's back with one hand as Hyunjin clutches his other, holding it fast.  

Changbin straightens suddenly, knocking Minho's hand off of his back. The rapper's eyes are red, puffy, face drawn and tear stained. Though Minho doesn't suppose he looks any better himself.  

"Hong Joong." 

"What, Binnie-ah?" 

Changbin shakes his head as if to clear it.  

"Chan-hyung...he was supposed to meet with Hong Joong tomorrow about- about a collab. C-can we call him, please?" 

"Of course." 

MInho is taken aback at the rapper's request; he didn't expect the younger to remember. Hell, he's surprised that he can remember his own name.  

"Can we ask them to come here?" 

Felix looks to the manager, eyes bright.  

"Of course. As long as it's okay with  Hannah and their staff, we can get everything sorted." 

Felix nods, then his head falls to his chest. His thin shoulders are shaking with the force of silent sobs. Seungmin pulls him close, carding his fingers through the Aussie's hair, carefully, gently undoing the snarls. 

MInho wants to comfort the others, tell them that everything will be alright. But there's so much that's unknown- he can't give them false hope. He can't afford to  give himself  false hope. For now, all he can do is hold Changbin and Hyunjin close as the rapper falls apart again.  

He's not sure how much time passes. It could be seconds, minutes, hours, months. He must doze off by some unknown miracle, because when he looks up, Hannah is there, pale-faced, shaking. 

That's right.  

She had come to Korea to surprise her brother. She had been in the process of organising  a surprise  party for him when she got the call, a call no sibling, or loved one, or anyone, for that matter, should ever have to get. 

At least she was in the country, Minho supposes. Small blessings.  

He meets her gaze, and she shakes her head.  

Someone is rubbing his back, he realises. He turns, startling at the figure beside him. The elder offers a strained smile, eyes bright, full of sympathy. Not pity, no.  

MInho swallows thickly, falling into Seong Hwa's arms. He buries his head in the elder's chest, allowing his tears to fall in the safety and privacy of the ATEEZ member's arms.