Mediterranean Kiss ~ Taeten

All Stitched Up

Several minutes later, Taeyong, Mark and Johnny made it to the jetty. It was the pick up point where a boat would take them back to the cruise ship. The cruise staff noticed them and rushed over to help.

It must have looked bad with Taeyong and Mark helping poor Johnny walk with his foot bundled up in Taeyong’s t-shirt. Blood was already seeping through it, blooming red like a bloody flower.

“What happened?” One of the crew members asked. She pulled a white plastic chair out from behind a table they had stacked high with cups of water.

“He slipped and cut his foot on a rock.” Mark informed them in English. He helped Johnny to sit down in the chair then crouched down next to him.

“Well, the boat’s coming soon, so we’ll get someone to meet you at the ship and get him to the emergency room.” She replied. She looked a little pale as she glanced down at Johnny’s wrapped up foot. Maybe she wasn’t good with blood, Taeyong thought.

“Do you want some water?” Taeyong asked Johnny, handing him a cup of cool water from the table. He took it and swallowed it in nearly one gulp.

Thankfully, it was only a few minutes later that the boat showed up. There was still a few hours before everyone had to be back on the ship so it was just the three of them hopping on the boat. The crew members were helpful in getting Johnny safely onto the small lifeboat. They sat him down close to the entrance, with Mark and Taeyong sitting either side of him.

Taeyong rested a hand on his leg and gave him a gentle smile. He couldn’t help but worry for him. He looked like he was still in pain, and the makeshift bandage kept getting redder. Mark looked just as concerned, and kept fidgeting with his bracelet.

Five minutes later the boat slowed to a stop next to the huge cruise ship. There were two crew members waiting for them with a wheelchair. Taeyong and Mark helped Johnny out of the boat and he slumped down into the wheelchair. He and Mark followed quietly behind as Johnny was wheeled through the corridors towards the emergency room. Taeyong remembered from looking at the map of the ship that the emergency room was on the seventh floor.

They reached the elevators and none other than Ten stepped out of one as the doors slid open. His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed Johnny injured and in his wheelchair.

“Oh my God, Taeyong what happened?” Ten asked as Johnny was wheeled into the free elevator. Mark followed them in and looked expectantly from Taeyong to Ten.

“It’s okay, you guys go ahead. We'll meet you there soon.” Taeyong said.

The elevator doors slid shut and he turned to Ten. Relief came over him as he stared into Ten's worried eyes. He was glad he had bumped into them; being around Ten always seemed to make him feel more calm.

“Is Johnny alright? Are you alright?” Ten asked in a worried tone, rubbing Taeyong's arm.

Taeyong nodded. “I'm fine but Johnny got hurt at the beach. He's got a pretty bad cut on his foot.” He replied.

Ten pushed the elevator button a few times and one of the sets of doors opened for them. He steered Taeyong inside the small mirrored box and pushed the button for the twelfth floor. Once the doors shut on them and they were alone, Ten pulled Taeyong close and wrapped his arms around him. Taeyong cuddled into him and nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck.

“Its okay, you don't need to worry anymore. They'll patch Johnny up and he'll be back to his old self in no time. They'll take care of him.” Ten soothed, rubbing his hand up and down Taeyong's back.

“Mhmm, I know.” Taeyong mumbled into Ten’s shoulder.

“We'll go and see him but first you're going to need a shirt.” Ten said.

Taeyong pulled back from his embrace and stared down at himself. “Oh.” He responded. He had completely forgotten that he was shirtless. His eyes shot back up to Ten. He was staring at his chest with what Taeyong could only describe as a naughty smile on his face.

“We can't have you wandering around shirtless; you'll give all the ladies heart attacks.” Ten purred, winking at him.

“Ten! Stop it!” Taeyong exclaimed, slapping him lightly on the arm. A shy smile pulled at his lips. Ten’s confidence knew no bounds; it was something that Taeyong still hadn't gotten used to.

Ten pretended like it hurt and pulled a pouty face at him before breaking out into a smile.

“Come on.” Ten said. He dropped a quick kiss on Taeyong’s lips and then stepped out of the elevator when it came to a stop on the twelfth floor.

Taeyong followed him and in a few minutes they were outside his cabin.

“I don't have my cruise card. It's in the bag that Mark has.” Taeyong stated as he realised he didn't have the card to get into his cabin.

“Don't worry, I have the master key remember.” Ten replied proudly, waving his own cruise card in hand.

He unlocked the door and Taeyong threw on the first top he could find which happened to be a baby pink t-shirt.

After another quick walk through the cruise ship the two of them ended up outside the emergency room on the seventh floor. Taeyong pushed the door open and they stepped inside.

Johnny was sitting on one of the beds in the small white rectangular room. Mark was sitting in a chair next to the bed watching with his face scrunched up in distaste as a man tended to Johnny’s foot.

“Hey guys.” Johnny greeted them as Taeyong and Ten pulled over some chairs and sat down next to Mark.

“You’re getting stitches!” Taeyong burst out in surprise as he noticed.

Johnny gave him a reassuring smile. “Yeah, but don't worry, they numbed my foot so it doesn't hurt.” He replied. He reached a hand over and placed it on Mark’s shoulder. “You know, you don't have to watch, Mark.” Johnny chuckled.

Mark shook his head and kept watching the doctor neatly stitch up Johnny’s cut. He looked grossed out but fascinated by it at the same time.

“And we're done.” The doctor said as he pulled tight the last bit of surgical thread and cut off the excess. He looked satisfied with his work and gave Johnny a smile. He stood up and walked over to a cupboard and came back with some large rectangular plasters. “Now these are waterproof, so you can leave it on in the shower but I would advise you to not go swimming while your foot heals.” He advised Johnny as he placed one of the plasters over Johnny’s stitching.

“Thank you.” Johnny replied, bowing his head in thanks.

“You'll be needing these as well.” The doctor added. He stood back up and grabbed a pair of crutches resting against the wall. He handed them to Johnny who hopped off the bed and tested them out, using them to walk around the side of the bed towards his friends.

“Other than that, you're free to go and relax for the rest of the afternoon. Come and see me again before you disembark at Venice.” The doctor said. He waved goodbye to them as Taeyong and the others followed Johnny on his crutches out the room.

The four of them made their way back to their cabins on the twelfth floor. It was slow going as Johnny hadn't fully gotten the hang of using his crutches yet.

“Man, I can't believe you had to get stitches.” Mark sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I wonder how long it'll take to heal.”

“You guys certainly get up to a lot of interesting stuff when you're on holiday.” Ten chuckled.

“Gotta love a new experience.” Johnny replied jokingly.