Chapter Text
Haechan was curled up on the couch of Doyoung, Taeyong and Johnny's apartment. He had come down earlier that evening to play Animal Crossing with Taeyong. After a series of wins (Haechan) and several defeats (Taeyong), the elder of the two retreated to his bedroom, mumbling about how he was normally a good player, but Haechan made him nervous.
Haechan had stayed back in the living room. Mark was out on his schedules and he didn't feel like staying alone in their apartment. He preferred being in Taeyong's apartment only because he could annoy Doyoung for his entertainment.
(And because he had maknae privileges, Doyoung would be the one getting a scolding from Taeyong while Haechan would escape unscathed.)
Haechan didn't realize how much time had passed, but when he heard the front door open, his eyes glanced at the clock in the living room. It was apparently midnight already, and he had spent five hours watching vine compilations.
Just as the youngest was getting up from the couch to head back home, he stopped in his tracks, observing a tired and weary Johnny walk into the house. His gym bag was slung over his shoulder, and even though it didn't weigh much, from the way Johnny's upper half was threatening to just drop to the floor, the bag seemed like it contained a baby elephant inside it.
"Oh, hey Haechan. Wassup?" Johnny shot a smile to the youngest, despite all the exhaustion. "I should be asking you that hyung. Are you alright?" Haechan questioned, walking over to Johnny and taking the gym bag away, scared that Johnny may actually collapse under its weight.
"Me? I'm fine. Just a little... tired. Yeah, just a bit." Johnny gave him a weak nod. "Hyung, you look so tired that if I wasn't here, you would choose to sleep on the floor in this state. You look too tired to even make it to your room. Have you been overworking yourself again?" Haechan deadpanned, crossing his arms.
"No. No, no. I'm not that exhausted. I haven't been overworking myself, I pro- Oh hey Mark, didn't know you came over too." Johnny said, looking and smiling at a white wall.
"Hyung, Mark isn't even here." The maknae shook his head. "Come on, lets get you ready for bed." He instructed, the tone of his voice making the elder follow him without any hesitation.
Another maknae privilege: either you listen to Haechan, or you prepare for all hell to break loose.
Haechan ushered Johnny into the bathroom to take a quick shower while he picked out some comfortable clothes for the elder to wear. He also occasionally knocked on the bathroom door to make sure Johnny hadn't fallen asleep in the shower itself. Once Johnny was fully freshened up, and after Haechan dried his hair (after a lot of protesting), the elder of the two laid down on his bed, while the younger tucked him in.
"Be honest with me hyung, you've been pushing yourself too hard, haven't you?" Haechan asked quietly, his fingers carding through Johnny's hair, gently massaging his scalp.
The only other time Haechan had seen his hyung this tired was before their 'Neo Zone' album was released. Johnny would always be found in the dance practice room, or in the studio, or practicing his parts. He barely came back home to eat and rest. The unhealthy lifestyle had taken a toll on Johnny's health, which was clearly evident when he had fainted in the middle of one of their dance practices.
The fear that surged through Haechan that day was a feeling that had resurfaced upon seeing Johnny's exhausted state that night. The image of Johnny's limp body in the hospital bed, hooked up to various tubes, kept flashing in front of Haechan's eyes. Just the thought of reliving that day formed tears in the maknae's eyes.
"Hey, don't cry. I'm fine! Look at me, Haechannie." Johnny sighed, pulling the younger boy close to him, hugging him tightly. Haechan was like a younger brother, almost like a son, to him, and he hated seeing the boy cry because of him.
"I was so scared that day, hyung. I almost thought I lost you. I can't lose you again." Haechan cried, holding onto Johnny's shirt with a death grip, as if letting go of it would result in Johnny vanishing into thin air.
"I promise you, Channie, I'm not overworking myself." Johnny spoke gently, pulling the maknae back to look into his glossy eyes. "I've learned my lesson, and I assure you, I'm not gonna leave you any time soon."
"Thank you, Johnny hyung." Haechan sniffled, his smile lighting up his previously sad face.
"No, thank you for being here to take care of me. I really appreciate it." Johnny grinned back.
Noticing how Johnny's eyelids were drooping, threatening to shut close any second, Haechan went back to running his fingers through Johnny's hair, gently putting him to sleep.
"Good night, hyungie." Haechan whispered, booping the elder's nose.
"Good night." Johnny replied with a loud yawn, finally falling asleep.