Chapter Text
Minho faced the wall in the hospital, it seemed like it was mocking him, calling him useless and reminding him that there was no way out. He knew that Jisung was next door, the boy’s yelling easily made its way past the soundproofing. However, the elder boy was zapped of all energy and was simply resigned to his fate, there was nothing that could be done. Even the pain from hearing Jisung’s protests and screams wasn’t enough for Minho to gain enough energy for one last fight.
All that Minho had ever known about the procedure were hushed stories that he had been told at school. The reality was much different. Most people told him that no one was scared and everyone simply accepted their fate yet this seemed like a joke. He was the only one in the entire building without the energy to fight.
It was when he first walked the corridors that everything sank in. People were yelling and crying out for their lovers but no one was responding. The place was ridden with fear but Minho was sure that most of that fear belonged to those who were attempting to stay strong.
He knew all about being the ‘strong’ one, perhaps the thing he knew most was that those perceived to be strong were usually the weakest. Jisung’s screams and protests echoing throughout his room reminded him of how weak he truly was. The younger was terrified and not only for himself but for Minho too and he was fighting, he was doing everything he could to keep their love alive. Minho wasn’t trying, there was nothing he could do.
The older supposed that his only fear was that he would never lay eyes upon Jisung again. Yes, the younger was goofy and dorky and a lot of his jokes weren’t as funny as Minho made them out to be but living without him wasn’t an option. The idea of never laying sight upon his big brown eyes again or never hearing his cute laugh caused Minho’s heart to clench in his chest. It felt like a death sentence.
It seemed like an age passed before a doctor walked into Minho’s room, "Lee Minho, your procedure will take place in 20 minutes, before this you will have 3 minutes to say your goodbyes to,” he paused for a moment to read a piece of paper, “Mr Han Jisung,” he paused again, “after this you will be escorted directly to be injected with the serum" he spoke and Minho decided as soon as the doctor mentioned Jisung’s name that he hated him.
The man turned to leave before taking a look at Minho and smiling “I don’t tell this to many people but you can trick the serum, just love truly and find him again" the doctor spoke before nodding and walking out of the room.
Love truly? Minho thought on this. He was sure that his love for Jisung was true, he’d never felt anything quite as strong. Surely this was a sign? Would it be stupid of him to hope that he may see Jisung again?
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Minho remembered the day that they were taken as if it hadn’t happened 3 days ago. It felt like years had passed but at the same time it seemed like only minutes. Time was cruel. His days spent with Jisung flew by in seconds yet his days spent alone dragged out for decades. This day in particular he wished would never end.
"Hyung, I didn’t just ask you to come over because I wanted to watch movies and cook you some half burned disgusting food," Jisung spoke to Minho in a soft and nervous voice that instantly made the elder concerned, "I need you to know something,” he paused to gather his thoughts, “always remember that I love you, even if neither of us know this, even if we both find love again, I will never love someone as strongly as I love you now," the pure fear, determination and love wrapped around Jisung’s every word made tears spring into Minho’s eyes. They were terrified, both of them.
"Sungie, I doubt they’ll come for us, we’re one couple out of so many others but just so you know, you’re everything to me and I promise you that you will be the only person that I will ever love" Minho told Jisung in return as he hugged him from behind and lay soft kisses on the nape of the younger’s neck. The tears began pouring out of both his and the younger’s eyes too quickly for either of them to try and hold them back.
Jisung’s next words were like a bombshell, “hyung, I know that they’re coming for us.”
"What?" Minho had asked in a blind panic. His heart began racing as his breathing quickened and every good thing in his life began to come crashing down.
"They’re on their way hyung, they’ll be here any second please listen to me," Jisung began. Panic sparked in his features as he attempted to hold it together but his tears just continued to rush down his face like a tidal wave
Before he could comfort the boy he loved so much Minho felt a hand on his arm and he was being pulled away from Jisung.
“JISUNG!” he screamed in panic as he tried to shake off the officer’s hand from his arm. His head spun as it whipped around at lightning speed to catch any possible last glimpse at the love of his life.
“Jisung,” Minho spoke with every ounce of calm that he had left, “Promise me you’ll never forget,” he told the boy he loved so much even though he knew that his promise would be baseless and impossible.
“I promise hyung, I promise, please promise me too,” Jisung spoke through pained sobs and heavy breathing.
“I promise and I’ve never broken a promise to you,” Minho choked out as he took one last look at Jisung being forced up from where he’d collapsed on to his knees. The younger offered a broken and teary smile and Minho savoured the picture as he was shoved into the van.
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As he waited for the doctor to return, Minho tried to remember all of his favourite memories that he had shared with Jisung. He felt pathetic really, this wasn’t just every memory related to Jisung that he was going to lose, it was his family, his friends, his whole life. Of course, he wasn’t close to his parents but Jisung’s family had been so kind and accepting they had become like a true family that he was just waiting to find. Although, despite all this, it was undeniable that this process would be harder for Jisung. He’d lose the love and support he’d known his whole life and be thrown straight into a new family that he didn’t know at all.
"Lee Minho, please follow me,” the doctor called and Minho stood with shaky legs and began to walk through the white corridors. It felt like an ending as he walked further into the white light but instead of heaven, he was heading to a loveless hell. The doctor stopped before a door. “Mr Han Jisung is in there already, please remember what I told you before.” Minho nodded and took a breath before pushing it open.
He’d never seen Jisung move as fast as he did in that moment. The younger’s arms flung around Minho’s waist and his head buried into his chest. Minho closed his arms around Jisung just as tightly and opened his mouth to speak, “Sungie did the doctor tell you about the true love thing?” he spoke attempting to stay calm and strong, if not for himself but for Jisung.
"No hyung, I’m so scared, I’m terrified please do something, I can’t do anything, I’m gonna lose you and I’m gonna lose mom and dad, I can’t do this hyung," Jisung spoke frantically as he sobbed into Minho’s hospital gown. It was a normal reaction, the eldest supposed. The situation was overwhelming and Jisung was weak-hearted at the best of times, it only made Minho feel more powerless and angry that he had failed at keeping him safe.
"Jisung you have to listen to me,” the older boy spoke soothingly as he rubbed circles on Jisung’s back in an attempt to get him to calm down, “the doctor told me that if I love you truly I will find you again," he finished. The room fell silent for a moment and Minho could tell that Jisung was taking a moment to think this through.
“I love you hyung, truly, you’re everything to me.”
“Then we’ll be okay, we’ll find each other again, just think of every little detail when we go in okay, in my last second I’ll be thinking of you Jisungie,” Minho took a deep breath and tried to blink back his tears but failed as they began to stream down his face.
Jisung leaned up and brushed his lips against Minho’s softly and lovingly. It was like being in each other’s presence even for a moment could make them instantly calm down, Minho made Jisung feel safe and vice versa but that was all about to be taken away.
The doctor opened the door, “okay your 3 minutes is over,” he spoke before looking between the two boys, “if you could please follow me.”
Jisung latched his hand onto Minho’s and they held on tightly, staying together even until their final moment. They stopped before two separate doors.
"Lee Minho in 103 and Han Jisung in 104 please," the doctor told them.
"Hyung I love you, please remember me," Jisung spoke in shaky voice ridden with pure terror at the prospect of what was about to be.
"I promised you that I will never forget, I love you too" Minho spoke before looking into Jisung’s wide fear-stricken eyes one more time. This was the last sight he’d ever get of him, horror in his face, tear streaks lay on his cheeks but he was still the most beautiful person that Minho had ever seen.
He looked away and headed into the room.
It looked like a horror movie. Everything was white other than the electric blue serum that sat in the syringe on the table next to him. As he lay down in the chair, the doctor seemed to waste no time in picking up the needle. Minho’s mind focused itself on every aspect of Jisung as he closed his eyes and awaited the impact.
Jisung’s eyes were like the stars, giant and sparkling, it seemed that his brightness would never die. Minho only hoped that this would remain after the procedure. His smile was so beautiful, the way he had a smile for every occasion but one that it seemed he reserved only for his time with Minho. He was the kindest person Minho had ever met, he went out of his way to make sure other people were happy and comfortable and only let himself be looked after once he knew that the people around him were okay.
Minho didn’t care about what happened to himself but the fact that Jisung was panicked and upset seemed like the biggest injustice in the world.
He felt the needle on his skin and thought of Jisung’s face before the world turned to a cold black.