protecting you no matter what - seungchan (stray kids)

12.

Seungmin's body was covered in fresh, crimson blood that's was still running down his arms and legs. His eyes were closed, and he would have looked peaceful if not he was unconscious.

Jisung had whipped out his phone to call the ambulance, and Felix was just standing there in shock. But Chan couldn't focus. His heart was beating so fast he could hear it in his ears and the whole world felt like it was about to explode because Seungmin was hurt.

"Seungmin... If you hear me... Please wake up,"

He knew he wasn't going to, because of his current state and all.

But he couldn't bear seeing him like this.

Chan grabbed the emergency first aid kit that was in the dorm toilet cabinet and tried to stop the bleeding from his arms with a bandage.

The blood was flowing through. Seungmin was losing too much blood.

Chan turned over to Jisung, tears flowing from his face and desperate, pleading eyes.

"Tell them...to come here faster,"

Jisung nodded with sad eyes, also seemingly on the verge of tears. Felix felt like he was going to collapse.

You could have stopped this.

Make sure this never happens again.

"Seungmin... Please-" Chan's words were coming out as choked sobs. Seungmin was special to him.

Way more than a friend.

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Blade. Cut. Scars. Red. Black.

Those words on loop, running through Seungmin's mind like a threadmill, threatening to never stop.

White.

Light.

Disturbed from the light, Seungmin's eyes fluttered open slowly, trying to get accustomed to the new environment. The air felt cold and foreign to his constantly abused skin.

Seungmin turned to his right. A tube linked to his wrist. He would probably die if he diconnected it.

His wrist was bandaged neatly.

Seungmin was in the hospital.

He looked around even more, trying to lift his head to get a better view.

His friends were here?

"He's awake!" Jisung said, lifting his head from his book. Felix looked up from his phone and the two of them ran to Seungmin from across the spacious hospital ward.

Jisung pressed the button to call the nurse and Felix tried to talk to him. It's not that Seungmin was mad at Felix to not try to talk to him. The words just seemed muffled and he just wasn't in the mood to talk to him.

Wait. Where's Chan?

Seungmin looked around the ward, panicking, until he spotted a hooded figure staring out of the widow blankly. He was facing away from Seungmin so he couldn't see his expression, but he was so still, almost statue-like.

Seungmin felt uneasiness pool up in his stomach.

A figure dressed in white came from the corner of his eye.

"Seungmin, its okay, lie down, I just have to check your vitals and you can rest,"

The nurse tested Seungmin's reflexes and checked his breathing pattern, and asked Seungmin to take some rest.

Seungmin flipped over to face the Chan's back a couple of feet away, forcing his eyes shut as he overheard the nurse talking to Jisung and Felix.

Look how many people you involved in your worthless issues.

"We're suspecting he has PTSD with depression and anxiety. He needs to seek immediate help from a therapist every two days after he gets discharged, but for now we're gonna put him under supervision, we don't know until how long. It would really help if you guys try to talk to him and try to let him know that you're there for him... "

You failure.

What have you done.

Now they have to deal with you.

Seungmin felt the sheets under him get wet. He realised he was crying and muffled his sniffling with his his forearm as he wiped his face with his palm.

Maybe Chan had heard the softest of sounds, because he got up and turned his chair around to face him.

Great.

The sniffling got louder and soon turned into sobbing.

"Hey...its okay,"

Chan grabbed the tissue on the beside table beside him and neatly dabbed it under Seungmin's eyes. He helped Seungmin up to a sitting position and joined him on the bed, capturing him in a warm, comforting hug. At this, Seungmin slowly stopped crying and hugged back, melting into Chan's arms.

"Feel better now?" Chan asked, rubbing Seungmin's back endearingly.

Seungmin nodded into Chan's chest and hid himself further in.

"It's okay, I'll help you get through this. Me and the rest,"

Seungmin turned to the window. It was night time.

"Jisung and Felix are coming back with our food. The nurse won't be back until before you sleep. It's just us for an hour,"

Silence.

"I really like you, Minnie,"

A pause.

What?

Seungmin's heart was fluttering and he suddenly felt light-headed after he said those words. Could it be?

Chan slowly leaned in closer and closer, Seungmin's heart beating louder every time.

Chan's lips pressed onto Seungmin's gently, softly kissing him.

Chan pulled back slowly and Seungmin swore he could see sparks fly around the  two of them. The moment was magical to him and he never wanted it to stop.

Seungmin looked down, blushing. " I like you too, Channie,"

Chan smiled and played with Seungmin's fingers.

Jisung and Felix came earlier than they expected and left sooner than they expected. After the nurse came and left and it was time for Seungmin to go to sleep, Chan and Seungmin just snuggled up to each other and cuddled, bathing in each other's warm presence.

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uwu