Scars we share || lee know angst ||

Fragments of Strength

Bang Chan sat by Lee Know's side as dawn broke, watching every shallow breath he took. Even now, seeing him so fragile felt unreal. He kept reminding himself that Lee Know was still here, still fighting, the only sign there was, was the beeping rhythm of the heart rate monitor.

A soft knock broke his thoughts. Their manager, with his arm in a sling, entered quietly, guilt etched on his face as he approached the bed.

"How's he doing?" the manager asked, voice low.
Bang Chan glanced at Lee Know's face, noticing how pale and vulnerable he looked. "He woke up for a moment. But he's... he seems different."

Almost as if to prove it, Lee Know stirred, blinking slowly as he opened his eyes. Bang Chan leaned forward, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. He brought his hand to tuck a lock of hair behind the younger's ear, But as Lee Know looked around, his eyes clouded with confusion.

"...Where... am I?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, his gaze not quite settling on anyone in the room.

"You're in the hospital, Minho. You got hurt earlier this night," Bang Chan explained gently, intertwining their fingers as he spoke.

For a moment, Lee Know seemed to process this, but then he frowned, looking like a lost kitten. Which he usually found adorable, now saddening to watch. "I... I don't remember. Why was I...? Was it my fault?" His words trailed off, his eyes rapidly darting between Chan and the manager, searching for answers.

"No, Min. None of this is your fault," Bang Chan assured him, but Lee Know's expression dejected, as if he was brawling with something he couldn't express.

He glanced down. His eyes appeared lost in thought "I should've gone home earlier... should've listened."
Bang Chan's heart sank, his chest aching at the guilt in Lee Know's voice. "Minho, none of us blame you, you're not in the right mindset, okay?"

But Lee Know's eyes had already zoned out, staring blankly at the hospital wall as if he'd forgotten what they were even talking about. Bang Chan watched him, worry simmering beneath the surface. He'd read about concussions causing memory lapses, but seeing it firsthand—seeing Lee Know struggling like this—made his heart hurt.

Their manager left the room quietly, his eyebrows furrowed as he did, looking like he couldn't say what he wanted to at that moment. Leaving the two of them in a silence heavy with things unsaid.

After a while, Lee Know spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Chan... what happened to... the others?" Bang Chan frowned, taken aback, he caressed the others head softly, careful not to hurt him. "The others are fine. They're at the dorm, sleeping. I drove here alone."

But Lee Know's expression stayed distant, his gaze fixed somewhere in the past, as if he were caught in a different memory. "I thought they were... here..." He seemed confused again, brows furrowing as he struggled to focus. Then his face shifted, his frustration building into a sudden flash of anger.

"Why can't I remember?" he muttered, voice thick with frustration. His hand clenched into a fist, digging his nails into the palm of his skin, creating moon-like crescents. Bang Chan notices this and reaches out, holding his hand in his. "Take it easy, Min. Your body's been through a lot. It'll take time for everything to settle."

But Lee Know pulled away, turning his head as his breathing became irregular, emotion threatening to spill over. He stared at the ceiling, his voice unsteady. "I should've listened... I should've... done something different. I messed everything up."

"Don't say that." Bang Chan's voice was firm but soft. inside, he felt like he was grasping at straws. "You did nothing wrong. This wasn't your fault, Minho."
Yet as he looked at Lee Know, he saw a glimmer of disbelief in his eyes. The younger boy was battling a storm inside, one that Chan wasn't sure he could fully understand. He could only stay beside him, offering his presence as a steadying force.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and the rest of the members filed in quietly. They surrounded Lee Know's bed, relief mixed with worry in their expressions. Lee Know looked up, giving a tired, faint smile. But the light in his eyes was dimmer, as if some part of him was still locked away somewhere out of reach.

Hyunjin took Lee Know's hand, smiling softly. "Hyung, you really scared us. Don't do that again, okay?"

Lee Know's gaze softened, though his eyes drifted absently to the top of his thighs, almost as if he wasn't fully present. "Sorry," he muttered, the apology laced with guilt. "Didn't mean to make things burdensome for everyone."

Hyunjin looked confused but didn't push, sneaking a quick glance at Bang Chan for reassurance. Bang Chan met his gaze, nodding slightly. He knew they'd all have to be patient, to help Lee Know through the fog that had settled over him.
And as the morning light filtered through the window, Bang Chan made a silent promise to himself.

Whatever weight Lee Know was carrying, whatever memories he'd lost or guilt he held onto, Bang Chan would be there.

He wouldn't let Lee Know walk this road alone.