MASKED FACES || SEVENTEEN

⛥ FORTY FIVE ⛥

The man sat in the opulent softness of his bed, his gaze fixated upon the warm glow of the morning sunlight as it cascaded through the window. Despite the fading aches and lingering wounds that marred his body, he remained stoic and still. At the side of his bed, a cluster of medications and a glossy, black gun rested upon the tabletop.

The door creaked open, and a man strode in with an air of concern etched upon his face. He moved silently across the room towards the first man, who remained unperturbed and fixated upon the view afforded by the window. The second man sat beside him on the bed, his worry deepening with each passing moment.

The second man's voice broke the silence.
"Felix, everybody is waiting for you at the dining table for breakfast," he said.
Felix turned his attention towards him, his gaze cool and detached.
"I'm not hungry, Hyunjin," he retorted, his voice flat and emotionless.

Hyunjin let out a weary sigh and shook his head.
"Felix, Bangchan hyung will be angry. Stop being so stubborn," he implored, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and frustration.

Felix remained silent for a few moments longer, his gaze returning to the window. But he knew Hyunjin was right. Bangchan would be angry if he didn't show up.
With a resigned huff, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, his body still sore from the recent incidents.

Hyunjin stood up as well, relief evident in his eyes.
"Let's go, then," he said gently, placing a comforting hand on Felix's shoulder. "The others are worried about you."

Felix nodded silently, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic stoicism.
The two men left the room, heading down the long corridor towards the dining room where the others were waiting.

As they entered the dining room, the sounds of animated chatter abruptly ceased. All eyes, including Bangchan's, turned towards Felix. 
Bangchan's expression was stern, and his gaze lingered on Felix's bruised and bandaged form.

Bangchan's gaze was stoic, but beneath the surface, a mix of worry and concern for his member was evident. As the leader of the group, he was deeply invested in the well-being of each and every one of his team. Returning Felix from Seventeen's captivity had been a difficult task, both physically and emotionally. He knew the psychological impact it had taken on Felix and was determined to help him through this ordeal.

"Felix," Bangchan spoke, his voice firm but not unkind. "Sit down. You need to eat something." 
Felix hesitated a moment before sinking into a chair at the table, his face still betraying no emotion. Bangchan watched him for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on the bandages and bruises that adorned his member's body.

Changbin, always observant and caring, pushed a plate of food closer to Felix, silently nodding at him to start eating. The gesture was gentle yet firm, a reminder that he too was concerned for his friend.

Reluctantly, Felix picked up the fork and began to eat. He could feel the weight of the others' gazes on him, their worry and curiosity palpable in the air. But he kept his gaze lowered, avoiding eye contact with anyone, as he mechanically shoveled food into his mouth.

Changbin watched Felix, his eyes full of worry. He knew how much Felix had been through and how difficult this recovery process was for him. The others at the table also had similar expressions on their faces, all silently observing Felix and trying to gauge his state of mind.

Bangchan spoke with authority as he rose from the table. “Everybody, be in the meeting room in thirty minutes.”
With those words, he swept out of the room, leaving the others behind. There was a moment of silence and exchanged glances as the group digested his instruction.