Work Text:
You remember the day it happened. It felt like all the other trips you made to Korea, long and full of drama but with a happy end. Seeing your boyfriend waiting for you.
You missed his birthday by a day due to weather delays; he understood and was more than happy to spend a few days alone with you before rejoining his crazy life with the men who came to be like family.
You grabbed your luggage, cleared customs, and headed to the same pickup point you always used. Tucked away in a side section of Incheon Airport, away from prying eyes and fans trying to get a glimpse of one of the most popular leaders.
“Hey! Over here!”
You stopped and turned, looking at the voice who called; and not expecting who you saw.
“Josh? What are you doing here? Where’s Cheol?”
He smiled, wrapping his arms around you in a tight hug. “Glad I’m wanted,” he chuckled.
You poked his side, giggling “Not that I’m not happy to see you, he said he’d be here. We have this thing,”
“I know, but your thing will have to wait. Cheollie got hurt during filming,”
You gasped, bags dropping and hands covering your mouth.
Joshua’s eyes widened, “hey, don’t think like that. He landed on his knee funny, and they took him to the hospital as a precaution. I don’t know anything else, just that he sent me to get you,”
This wasn’t the first time Seungcheol got hurt, and you knew it wouldn’t be the last. It didn’t mean it hurt your heart any less.
You nodded and grabbed your stuff off the floor. “Ok let’s go. Faster we’re out of here the faster I can see him.”
Joshua chuckled and towed the rest of your bags behind him to the car. Deep down you knew Seungcheol would be ok, but the constant nag of a major injury wore at you.
You watched the road signs pass as the car sped along, paying close attention to where you were going. As the buildings blew by, you started noticing that the neighborhoods didn’t look quite the same.
“We’re not meeting him at home, are we?” You asked. “He hasn’t replied to any of the texts I sent him.”
The driver shook his head, looking back at you in the rear-view mirror with a sad smile, “No. The testing is taking longer than expected. His phone is with one of the other managers. He knows you’re here and texting, just not able to reply.”
You sighed as you leaned against the window, feeling Joshua pat your knee gently as he did the same.
The car came to a stop in an underground garage of an unassuming office building. A man was waiting to open your door.
“Hey Friend, long time no see,”
You smiled and got out of the car, hugging him. “Hey, Mingyu. What are you doing here?”
“This is the hospital. We’re all upstairs; played rock paper scissors to see who got to come down and get you,”
“Ahh yes, cause you’re all children. How is he?”
Mingyu sighed as you and Joshua fell into pace. “I can’t read him. Normally I can but he’s hiding everything. It’s gotta be bad for them to not tell us,”
You nodded, biting back the tears that threatened to fall. Everything was going so well for him and the group, what did they do to deserve this? You thought.
After being screened by the receptionist, you were pointed down a long quiet hall that felt like miles. Finding the number from the sticky note she gave you, you gently rapt three times before pushing the door open.
Inside, you found four men; but only had eyes for one. There he lay, knee elevated and wrapped in ice. A cannula was imbedded in the top of his left hand, pumping fluid, and painkillers into his veins. Although his eyes were unfocused, you could still see them sparkle as tears dried along his cheeks and jaw.
You quietly made your way to the right side of the bed, perching yourself gently on the mattress by his side. Positioning yourself in his line of vision as best you could, you held and kissed his hand before reaching up to gently caress his cheek.
Although you tried your best not to spook him, he still jumped a little before gasping as he saw you.
“Hey baby, you’re here,” he smiled, squeezing your hand in his.
You smiled, “of course I’m here. Thanks for sending Josh by the way. What happened?”
He sighed, “Honestly, I don’t even remember. One minute I was up, the next I was down. It hurt so bad; worst pain I’ve ever felt.”
Nodding, you gently played with his hair, trying to comfort him as best you could. “Is it bad?”
Seungcheol pulled you into his arm, allowing you to bury your face in his broad chest. “Yeah, it’s bad. I need surgery. It’s a complete tear so there’s no hope in letting it heal on its own.”
Your heart broke for him. They were getting back on track after the pandemic, producing some of the best content they ever had. Twelve other men depended on him, for his leadership and songwriting abilities, and it was gone. Lifting your head, you kissed him gently, letting all the emotions you had for him pour into his lips.
“Cheol, I’m so sorry! You don’t deserve this, nobody deserves this, but especially not you,”
“So, when are we doing this? Are your parents coming? What about your brother?”
Seungcheol laughed, squeezing you closer to him with each chuckle, “Take a breath, Jagiya. It’s happening later tonight. Eomma and Appa know; they’re coming in a few days,”
Your face fell, thinking about how his parents wouldn’t be here for him.
“Get out of your head. They know you’re here and wanted to give us some time together before they took over. At least I’ll be able to spend time with you this trip,”
“And while I’m not happy that this is the way I have to get your schedule free, I’m happy that we can just hang out and catch up,” You smiled, lifting your legs up to fully lay beside him.
The two of you cuddled, pulled closer by the tight quarters the bed provided. He talked about Kkuma and the things he was working on for his master’s degree. You filled him in on life in your country, the things your family were up to, and how you were ready to start planning your next vacation with him. Kisses and soft touches abounded; both of you making up for lost time. You both talked about moving in together, but the thought of leaving your country terrified you.
Time crept up on you both as the nurses arrived to take him to the operating room. You did your best to keep your tears inside; to be strong for him. But one look into his eyes and you couldn’t hold back. You held him as tight as you could, burying your face in the crook of his neck and said a silent prayer for his safety and wellbeing. With one final kiss, you let go as they took him away.
You made your way to the waiting room where the rest of the group was. Seeing them stay to be there for Seungcheol made you cry again, hugging the member nearest to you.
“I need to tell you all something,” you started, sitting amongst the twelve. “It’s nothing bad, I just want to tell you all before I tell him.”
Minghao chuckled, “Break our hearts first? Or to rehearse the delivery?”
Woozi smacked his thigh, “Shut up. Go ahead when you’re ready.”
You took a deep breath, steeling yourself and preparing for their reaction. “So, you know that we’ve been together for a few years, and I think we’re ready to take the next step but obviously we don’t live in the same country,”
“You’re breaking up with him?!” Dino gasped.
“No, dumbass. She wouldn’t have said she thinks they would be ready for the next step if she was,” Seungkwan groaned, slapping Dino in the back of the head.
You chuckled, “My company has an office here and they need a few extra hands. Since I speak Korean, I was a natural fit for the position. So, if Cheol is ok with it, I’ll be moving in with him in a few months,”
The room erupted in cheers and congratulations, each of the members hugging you and sharing their excitement.
Soon the excitement became too much for you and you lid down across one of the couches, putting your head in Jeonghan’s lap. The jet lag finally caught up with you, and with the lull of his voice and fingers in your hair you drifted off, waiting for news on Seungcheol.
You woke to a gentle shove of your shoulder. Squinting in the bright light, you found Hoshi leaning over you.
“Wake up, sleepy head. Coups Hyung is ready to see you,” He smiled, helping you sit up.
You bolted upright, “already?! Why didn’t anyone wake me?! Is he ok?!”
He laughed, crouching down to be at your eye level, “We tried to wake you! It was impossible!”
Wonwoo rolled his eyes, holding his hand out for you to take, “He’s fine, he told us to let you sleep. Now you’re both awake so move it,”
You ran as fast as you could to the hospital room, not caring how you looked or what people thought about you.
“There you are sleepy head. I missed you,” Seungcheol smiled, holding his hand out for you to take.
He looked practically the same as when you left him. His pajamas were replaced with a surgical gown. A bandage from toe to hip wound around his leg, and you could see wires through the collar of his gown connected to machines monitoring his heart rate. A nasal cannula looped through his ears and under his nose, providing a constant stream of oxygen.
“I’m right here, baby. How are you feeling?”
He let out a breathy chuckle. “Feeling pretty good, I gotta tell ya. I want whatever this is all the time,”
The room laughed as he shook his hand with the IV line.
“Coups Hyung, I don’t think they’ll let you take the morphine home,” Vernon smiled, gently tucking the blankets around his leaders covered leg.
“Speaking of home, I think we should all probably head out. Let our favorite lovebirds rest,” You heard DK announce to the room as Jun helped you climb into bed with Cheol.
Each member had a moment with their leader, wishing him a comfortable rest and promising that they would return later that night. Jeonghan, the last to leave, draped an extra blanket over you both before winking and diming the lights when he left.
“They told me you have something to say to me,” He whispered, wrapping his arm around your shoulder.
You nodded against his shoulder, “It can wait though. I think I want you sober for this conversation.”
Cheol smiled, placing a kiss on top of your head. “Seungkwan let it slip. You’re thinking about moving here?”
You nodded and laughed. “Knew I shouldn’t have said anything with him in the room. I’m just surprised it wasn’t Hoshi or Mingyu. Neither of them can keep a secret.”
“But yeah, I got an offer to come work here. There’s nothing really holding me back to my home. Everything I want and need is right here,”
Seungcheol lifted your chin with his fingers, looking directly into your eyes.
“I agree. I wanted to bring it up the last time we saw each other but didn’t know how to ask you. I just want you to be happy and be with me, whether in the same country or not.”
You leaned forward and pressed your lips to his. Nipping at his bottom lip, you pressed on further, tongues dancing and kissing him like you wish you would’ve at the airport.
In that moment, the beeping of monitors and the sterility of the room faded away. All that remained was the deep connection you shared, and a reminder of your love and promises to each other to fight for each other.
The monitors pace quickened as your kiss deepened, leaving the two of you full of breathless giggles. A dazed Cheol rested back against the pillows, eyes slowly drifting shut.
“I love you. I’m happy you’re here with me. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you here for this,” He whispered, nuzzling close to you.
You smiled, hugging his torso tight. “My healing hands will get you through this. You’ll be alright, baby. Now get some rest, wake me if you need anything,”
You cuddled close, kissing his neck and whispered I love you before drifting off to sleep yourself. It would be a long road to recovery, but with your help and the spirit of his members, Seungcheol was in a good place.