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The members of TXT were preparing for a new comeback. The new songs for the album had been written, and their demo tracks finished. They had reached the final recording sessions before they were due to work on choreography and film all of the promotional material.
None of the members were more excited for the new comeback than the two maknaes, Taehyun and Hueningkai.
They had been called up to come and record their lines together, and the excitement was practically vibrating through the air as they walked through HYBE's corridors.
"I think we have to go up a couple of floors to get to the recording studio from here?" Taehyun said as they walked.
"Yeah, you're right, let's take the elevator," Said Kai as they turned a corner towards a set of elevators.
"Ning Ning," Taehyun whined, "Can we not just take the stairs? It won't take that long,"
"Hyunie, we've already done so much exercise this week! You're barely out of the gym, it's not going to hurt anybody."
Taehyun sighed, anxiety rising, "Fine."
Taehyun had a secret. Not a big secret, but an embarrassing secret.
He's claustrophobic.
He hadn't told Kai for two reasons; one, because it had never come up, Taehyun always took the stairs and passed it off as 'extra exercise', and two, he didn't want to be seen as weak by his boyfriend and the other members.
The idea of an elevator made Taehyun sweat, and shivers run down his spine.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the elevator with Kai.
Everything had gone to plan until the elevator made a deafening thud, stopping harshly.
Taehyun felt panic rise in his chest.
He'll be fine, right? This should only last for a few minutes. He can hold it together for another few minutes.
"It's probably just teething problems with the new building," Kai chuckled. Taehyun awkwardly joined in.
Then, the lights went out.
Taehyun could no longer keep the anxiety at bay. His breathing became more shallow, his palms clammy, and his chest felt tight.
"Th-the lights will probably be back on soon," He told himself out loud, swallowing around his tight throat.
"Are you okay, Hyung?" Kai asked, concerned, coming closer to Taehyun.
"Yeah, yeah. It's just a bit stuffy in here,"
Kai hummed in agreement. "I'm going to text Yoongi hyung to let him know we're going to be late."
"Good idea,"
One of the reasons the couple had been so excited for these vocal recording sessions was because Yoongi was producing the title track on the new album. BTS were usually that busy that they didn't get to spend much time with their younger label brothers.
The light of Kai's phone screen illuminated the elevator, giving Taehyun some relief.
It wasn't pitch-black darkness. He'd be fine.
Kai was leaning on the far wall of the elevator, and Taehyun was opposite.
"He said they're going to send someone to get us out, we've just got to hang on, babe," Kai smiled at Taehyun. Taehyun returned the smile, albeit awkwardly.
Let the wait begin.
It had been forty-five minutes, and Taehyun's calm facade was crumbling. Kai had sat on the floor of the elevator long-ago, playing some game on his phone. Taehyun was still standing, leaning against the wall, not daring to move, in fear that if he did, he'd fall apart.
'Well, that plan has worked hasn't it?' He thought sarcastically as the anxious fog at the back of his head came forward.
His breathing become more shallow and quick, as his stomach churned. He felt his heart racing, the sound of its thumping so loud in his ears it was deafening.
"Taehyun? Are you okay?" Kai asked, looking up from his phone to see his boyfriend falling over the edge and giving in to panic. "Taehyun?"
Kai leapt up from where he was sitting on the floor of the elevator and quickly moved over to where his boyfriend was standing. Kai stood in front of Taehyun, putting his hands on either side of the older boy's face in a failed attempt to get Taehyun to look him in the eyes. "Taehyunie, are you okay?"
Taehyun violently shook his head, screwing his eyes shut tightly as tears started to fall.
"What's the matter?"
"Trapped," Taehyun choked out between panicked breaths, "W-we're trapped!"
"Not for long okay? We're going to be fine, just a little longer,"
Kai would soon find out that this was the wong things to say. Taehyun felt his breathing become even more shallow and even quicker.
"I'm so sorry," Taehyun wept. He felt the blood drain from his head, his stomach churned once again violently, and his vision became foggy.
Then suddenly, Taehyun became boneless, blacking out and falling forward onto Kai, who luckily caught him before he hit the ground. Struggling with the dead weight of an almost fully grown man, Kai carefully slid down the wall of the elevator so he was sitting with his back against the wall, and Taehyun was laying on the floor, his head in Kai's lap.
When Taehyun felt himself return to the world, he did not see anything at first. Instead, he head the soothing voice of his boyfriend repeating "I've got you, I've got you, I'm not going anywhere," while carding his fingers through Taehyun's damp hair.
Taehyun blinked open his eyes to notice that the elevator's lights were back on. The second thing he noticed was Kai's face, creased with worried, staring down at him.
"How long was I out for?"
"About two minutes," Kai said. "You really scared me Taehyunie."
"Sorry," Taehyun said, feeling awkward.
"You wanna tell me what all that was about?"
Taehyun closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to see the look on his boyfriend's face when he told him. "I-I'm claustrophobic," He sighed. "Elevators and stuff freak me out anyway, and-and-"
"Getting stuck made it worse?" Kai finished.
Taehyun nodded.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, baby."
" I just didn't want you to think that I am weak," Taehyun whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek.
Kai leant down and pressed a gentle kiss to Taehyun's forehead.
"I could never view you as weak, Taehyunie,"
A second later, the doors of the elevator opened to reveal the maintenance guy, Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu and Yoongi looking at them.
"Finally," Taehyun sighed in relief.
The other members rushed into the elevator to help them both to their feet. "Are you guys okay?" Soobin asked.
"We are now," Kai smiled.
The five members walked out of the elevator to be greeted by Yoongi. He looked at Taehyun and Hueningkai softly. "You guys, go get some rest, we'll reschedule for another time."
The members headed back to their dorm, Taehyun and Kai walking hand in hand.
"We're taking the stairs next time," Taehyun said, deadpan.
Hyuka could only laugh.
Later that night, the dorm was unusually quiet. The members gave Taehyun a little more space than usual - hovering, doting, without making a show of it. Beomgyu even brought him a mug of warm honey tea without saying a word, just plopping it beside him on the couch with a pat on the shoulder. Soobin had turned the heating up a little, and Yeonjun wordlessly tossed him a blanket with mock annoyance.
Taehyun lay curled against Kai, the two tucked into the corner of the couch, half-watching a variety show rerun. Kai was gently combing his fingers through Taehyun's hair again, humming quietly.
"You scared me today," Kai whispered after a moment.
"I scared myself."
Kai kissed the top of his head. "Thanks for trusting me."
"Thanks for staying," Taehyun murmured.
Yeonjun looked over from the kitchen and rolled his eyes with a fond smile. "If you two get any more domestic, I'm gonna vomit."
"Shut up, you're the one who made Taehyun soup literally five minutes ago," Beomgyu quipped.
"He looked pale!" Yeonjun defended.
"You all are the best," Taehyun said sleepily, a smile ghosting across his lips." Even if you're ridiculous."
Sobbin spoke up from his spot by the window, warm and firm: "Next time, just tell us. We'll carry you up twenty flights of stairs if that's what you need."
Taehyun's eyes grew glassy again, but this time it wasn't from panic - it was from the gentle swell of being known and still loved.
"I'll hold you to that," he said.
"Deal," said Kai.
And the night settled around them like a soft blanket, quiet but full of comfort.