Twilight of Shadows

Chapter 19: Meeting Dino

The soft hum of the neonatal ICU was the only sound in the room. The air was thick with antiseptic and the quiet determination of the medical staff moving with precision around the tiny incubators. Mingyu stood frozen outside the glass wall, staring at the fragile life nestled within one of the units.

Dino.

His son was so small, so impossibly delicate. Tubes and monitors surrounded him, the rhythmic beeping of the machines a lifeline tethering him to this world. Mingyu’s chest tightened as a wave of emotion threatened to consume him.

Jeonghan stood beside him, his hand gripping Mingyu’s sleeve for support. He was pale, still weak from the ordeal, but he had refused to stay in bed. The moment the doctors had allowed it, he’d demanded to see Dino.

"Is that… him?" Jeonghan whispered, his voice trembling as his eyes filled with unshed tears.

Mingyu nodded, his throat too tight to speak.

---

A Father’s Guilt

The nurse approached them with a gentle smile, sensing the intensity of the moment. "You can come in now," she said softly, opening the door to let them through.

Mingyu guided Jeonghan inside, his arm wrapped protectively around him. As they drew closer to the incubator, the sight of their son stole Jeonghan’s breath.

Dino was impossibly small, his tiny chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. His skin was a soft pink, and his delicate fingers twitched slightly as though sensing their presence.

Jeonghan pressed a hand to his mouth, tears spilling down his cheeks. "He’s so tiny," he whispered, his voice breaking. "So… fragile."

Mingyu swallowed hard, his hand tightening around Jeonghan’s. "He’s a fighter," he murmured, though his voice cracked with emotion. "Just like his appa. Just like his omega."

Jeonghan let out a shaky sob, his knees giving out as he collapsed onto the chair beside the incubator. He reached out, his trembling fingers resting against the clear glass. "I’m so sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t keep you safe."

Mingyu knelt beside him, his own eyes brimming with tears. "This isn’t your fault, Jeonghan," he said firmly, though his voice was thick with guilt. "You did everything you could. You carried him, you fought for him. If anything, it’s my fault for not protecting you both."

Jeonghan shook his head, his hand sliding down the glass as he broke into sobs. "I’m his mother, Mingyu. I’m supposed to keep him safe. But look at him. Look at what he has to go through because of me."

Mingyu wrapped his arms around Jeonghan, pulling him close as he rested his chin on Jeonghan’s shoulder. "Stop," he whispered, his voice raw. "Don’t do this to yourself. Dino’s here because of you. He’s alive because you’re strong. Because you’re his omega."

Jeonghan buried his face in Mingyu’s chest, his body trembling as he cried.

---

Hope Amidst the Pain

After what felt like an eternity, the nurse approached again, this time holding a small pair of gloves. "You can touch him," she said gently. "He’s stable enough for a little contact."

Jeonghan lifted his tear-streaked face, his eyes wide. "I can?"

The nurse nodded. "Yes. It’ll be good for him to feel your presence. Just be gentle."

Mingyu helped Jeonghan put on the gloves, his hands steady despite his own emotions. Together, they reached into the incubator, their fingers brushing against Dino’s tiny hand.

The baby’s fingers twitched at the contact, curling weakly around Jeonghan’s finger.

Jeonghan let out a soft sob, tears streaming down his face. "He knows us," he whispered, his voice filled with awe and heartbreak. "He knows we’re here."

Mingyu smiled through his own tears, his free hand resting on Jeonghan’s back. "Of course he does," he said softly. "We’re his parents. He knows we’ll always be here for him."

Jeonghan leaned into Mingyu’s touch, his heart aching with a mix of overwhelming love and guilt. "I promise you," he whispered to Dino, his voice trembling, "I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. I’ll protect you with everything I have. I swear it."

Mingyu nodded, his own resolve hardening. "We both will."

As they stood together, their hands resting on their fragile son, a sense of hope began to bloom amidst the pain. Dino was here. He was alive. And no matter what it took, they would fight for him.

For the first time in weeks, Jeonghan allowed himself to believe that they might make it through this. Together.