Something New (OnHo)

Even That Big Tree Is Shaking

Minho went limp in his arms, he looked to his friends who were frozen in shock.

"Kibum, help carry Minho. Jinki and Jonghyun go ahead and start the car, we have to leave as quick as possible" Taemin ordered, Jonghyun nodded to him and complied.

It was Kibum who stayed frozen, this skilled assassin was just staring at him. As Jinki's sobs got quieter, Taemin wasn't sure if he could keep Minho up for much longer.

"Kibum!" Taemin yelled at him this time, and the older seemed to jump, "He needs your help" Taemin pleaded.

He was filled with relief when Kibum wordlessly began supporting Minho's other side, and they made their way out of the school as quickly as possible.

"Lay him in the back seat" Taemin ordered and Kibum followed.

Taemin got into the back seat with his unconscious friend, and Kibum stood frozen outside of the car. The youngest didn't waste any time uncovering Minho's wound, looking around for something to soak up the blood.

"Kibum, give me your jacket and get in the car, we have to leave now" Taemin held his hand out, and once Kibum's jacket was in his hand he pulled the older into the car.

It may have been cramped, but Taemin wasn't going to leave anyone behind. The door shut and Jonghyun began to drive away as Taemin pressed on Minho's wound. There were mumbles of "everything will be okay" coming from the front seat, and a more inaudible mumbling coming from Kibum. Taemin almost didn't hear it, his thoughts of wishing for Minho to wake up louder than the phrases Kibum had been repeating to himself. He looked up at the older, shocked to see the tears welling up in his eyes. Taemin had never seen Kibum looking so vulnerable. His hands were holding Minho's face, and Taemin found himself placing a hand of comfort over one of Kibum's. The older stopped mumbling, a few tears falling as he met Taemin's eyes.

"He's going to be okay" Taemin said it to convince not just Kibum, but all of them, even himself.

Kibum looked like he was going to speak, but the car pulled into the hospital parking lot and Jonghyun began to speak.

"I'll pull the car up to the front door of the E.R., you two get in there as fast as you can please" Jonghyun almost pleaded.

"We will" Taemin assured him, watching Kibum take in a deep breath.

As soon as they entered the hospital, nurses rushed towards them, taking Minho from them. Taemin finished checking him in, then joined Kibum sitting in a waiting chair.

"Are you okay?" Taemin asked carefully, the look in Kibum's eyes unfamiliar.

"He... He has to make it... I can't lose him" Kibum's voice was shaky, Taemin never thought he'd hear him like this.

"He's going to make it, Minho wouldn't give up that easily" Taemin insisted.

"N-no you don't understand, I can't go through this again" Kibum looked at Taemin with scared eyes.

"Go through what again?" Taemin was confused.

"I just- I can't, I can't lose him" Kibum insisted.

"You won't lose him"

"How do you know?" There was a sliver of anger in his tone.

"How do you know you will?" Taemin countered.

"Because that's what happens, this is how I'm punished" Kibum was staring at his hands.

"That's ridiculous Kibum, you're not being pun-"

"Why are you being so nice?! I almost killed you! Why don't you hate me?!" Kibum interrupted.

Taemin froze for a second, trying to make sense of what Kibum just said.

"What? Do you not remember? Those loan sharks wanted you dead, they hired me to do it" Kibum explained, seemingly irritated.

"Wait, what stopped you?" Taemin asked, trying to keep himself calm.

"Minho..." Kibum sounded crestfallen again.

"He told me you two took care of the loan sharks" Taemin replied.

"We did, Minho didn't want you to be in danger anymore, we made it look like a gang fight" Kibum smiled at the memory.

Taemin was just glad the older was almost back to normal.

"Thank you" Taemin told him.

"For what? Almost killing you?" Kibum partly laughed.

"For helping Minho that day, you didn't have to do that" Taemin answered and Kibum nodded.

"There's a lot of things I'd do for him, I wasn't going to let him risk his life alone"