𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄! ( s.cb + l.f )

20| flamekeeper

"I'm sorry that I got blood on you," Felix mumbled.

Changbin shook his head, gently bringing the lukewarm washcloth to the younger boy's face.

"Don't be sorry, it'll wash off really quick," the older boy replied.

"But...What about your shirt?" The Australian asked in a quiet voice.

"It'll probably be best to throw it away. That blood has Lykyde in it, so it could seep into the fiber of the shirt, even if I wash it," Changbin replied.

"But...Isn't that the shirt you bought when we went to the city together?" Felix asked, feeling guilt prick at his chest.

Changbin was shocked that the younger boy noticed that. It honestly just looked like all the other long sleeved black shirts that he owned.

"Well, yeah, but it's okay. Don't worry about that kind of stuff right now, Felix. All that matters is that you're okay," the raven haired boy replied in a soft voice.

"Let's go into the city sometime and buy you another one," Felix suggested with a smile.

It wouldn't happen, Changbin knew it wouldn't happen, but he smiled back at Felix anyway. That simple gesture of his lips turning slightly upward made the Australian feel like he was on cloud nine. Even after he'd nearly just died, Changbin's smile was enough to make him feel as good as new. At least for a few moments, anyway.

"Don't worry so much about me and my shirt. You need to focus on yourself right now. And, you need to focus on getting better," the older boy commented.

"I already feel better," Felix insisted, though it was only half true.

He did feel better in comparison to how he felt hours before, but the Australian was still a bit dizzy, and he felt cold, too.

"Even if you feel better, you're staying in bed for at least a few days," Changbin replied, not leaving any room for complaints on the younger boy's side.

"But...You'll take care of me, right?" Felix asked hopefully.

When the raven haired boy met the younger boy's gaze, he saw innocence and purity; something that he himself had lost so long ago. He wanted to treasure that innocence, -make sure that it never went away. He wanted to make sure that Felix was always smiling, and laughing, and feeling happy. If anything else were to be the case, he didn't quite know what he'd do with himself.

"Something like that," Changbin answered vaguely, because if he were to promise, he'd be lying.

And he didn't ever want to lie to Felix.

The brunette frowned slightly at first, but he just assumed that it was Changbin's way of saying that he would. After all, they were partners; for better or worse, and they'd promised to always protect and take care of one another.

"So um...About what you said earlier..." the younger boy began lightly.

Every word that Changbin spoke had reached his ears. He heard every last one of them. He felt every touch that the older boy gifted him with; and he was thankful for every word, every heartbeat, every slight brush of fingertips, and every forehead kiss that Changbin had bestowed upon him.

"I'm...I'm really not a part of Crimson Vector, Felix," the older boy said.

"No, I know that. That's not what I was going to say," the younger boy assured.

"I was going to ask if you're okay now. I know that they inject, like, chemicals and stuff...So I...I just wanted to know if you still feel it. If you're in pain."