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the airport smelled like over-brewed coffee, perfume, and too many bodies rushing too fast.
fans were everywhere — cameras glinting, voices overlapping, reaching out with excitement and that electric thrill of proximity. for most idols, it was just part of the job.
for minho, it was one more thing he was trying to push through. he’d been okay so far. he stayed close to his members, hoodie up, mask snug over his face. chan was beside him, eyes sharp, one hand hovering at min’s shoulder at all times.
the group was exhausted. they were running off less than three hours of sleep and a handful of vending machine snacks.
and — min was feeling little.
his members practically knew he was, even if they didn’t say anything. they couldn’t, with all the fans staring at them.
so, they just quietly assisted him through the sea of way-too-excited fans.
———
the doors opened. the fans got louder — what was so exciting about that?
min swallowed and held tightly onto the strap of his backpack.
he stayed in the middle of the group, head down, legs moving just enough to keep up. felix was talking to seungmin about snacks. hyunjin kept looking through his sunglasses to make sure everyone was okay.
chan did a quick scan. counting heads, probably.
min hadn’t said a word since they left the terminal hallway.
not even to answer when changbin asked if they should grab hotteok on the way home.
chan kept a quiet eye on him.
———
they walked through another portion of the airport — still fans, still flashes, still noise.
the group exited toward the van, trying to keep their formation tight, practiced. chan murmured small things in minho’s ear.
“almost there.”
“just a bit longer.”
“you’re doing great.”
min didn’t answer.
his fingers were trembling. curse him and his almost-toddler brain.
hyunjin glanced over, just for a second. he slowed down. leaned close.
“min?”
min blinked. but he didn’t speak. didn’t even move his head.
his eyes were glasses over, far away. somewhere smaller.
hyunjin’s eyes widened. and without turning his head, he whispered to chan.
“he’s slipping.”
chan knew that — but the confirmation was all he needed to actually step in.
“okay. get in front of him. felix, stay close. changbin, take his bag.”
and just like that, their formation changed — not to protect themselves from the crowd, but to protect min.
they funneled toward the van, a protective wall forming around him.
minho just walked, eyes distant. feet moving only because they were supposed to.
———
the van door opened. staff were speaking quickly, directing them inside.
chan helped him, keeping a steady arm around him.
min’s chin wobbled.
“…channie…”
chan’s eyes softened. “channies here, kitten”
he gently placed a hand on min’s cheek—light, warm, slow enough to not overwhelm.
“we’re safe now. in the van.”
his face fell.
knees pulled up. head down. hands over his ears, as if the echoes from the airport followed him into the van.
“no more… don wan…” he whispered, voice tiny, muffled.
chan eased him down, his head laying on chan’s lap. safe? probably not. he didn’t really care right now.
“hey. hey, baby. i’ve got you. you’re okay. it’s okay, min.”
felix sat next to them, rubbing min’s back with a warm palm.
and min was finally small enough to show how overwhelmed he really was.
“t-too loud…” he mumbled, voice tiny. “..channie…”
“i know, baby. that was too much. we’re safe now. no cameras. no fans. just us. you did so well.”
min didn’t answer. he just curled up even more, his head nuzzling against chan’s soft hoodie.
———
they drove in silence. the van was quiet except for soft hums of the engine and the sound of min’s breathing slowing down again. felix handed him a stuffie from the emergency bag he kept — a tiny cat, of course.
minho’s fingers curled into its fur immediately.
“‘m tiny…” he whispered. voice small. scared. like he was admitting something he thought was wrong.
chan shook his head gently, brushing min’s hair from his eyes.
“you are. and that’s okay. i’ve got you. we all got you,”
min nodded. then closed his eyes.
———
the dorm was quiet when they got back.
chan carried min inside, still holding the cat stuffie in one hand. they passed the others silently — everyone knowing their roles.
jisung grabbed the weighted blanket. changbin turned on the lamp. hyunjin closed the curtains. seungmin got the tv ready, in case minho wanted to watch something. jeongin went to find minho’s paci. of course, it was in changbin’s room. he’d save the dramatic pout about the ‘min time robbery’ for later.
chan set him down gently onto his bed, kneeling in front of him.
“kitten. look at me.”
min blinked. eyes glossy and heavy.
chan brushed his cheek. “can i help you change into comfy clothes, or do you want felix or someone else?”
min reached out blindly. grabbed chan’s sleeve.
“‘ou… channie…”
chan nodded softly.
he helped min out of his airport clothes and into a soft hoodie felix brought (it was pink and had cat ears). min sank into it and the plush panda. his breathing started to loosen again. he was already half-gone into his little space.
felix rolled up with a soft voice. “kitten… wanna sit with us on the couch? we can burrow in a blanket pile and watch whatever you want. we got snacks too.”
min rubbed his eyes, sleepy. “mhms…” he whispered. “don wan wach, jus hug…”
chan smiled. soft and warm. “okay. that’s fine, we got allllllll the hugs in the world just for you”
min giggled.
chan lifted him gently, and together with felix, they started their journey to the living room.
they didn’t get far though, minho suddenly shifted, and blinked up at chan.
chan, thinking something was wrong, frowned.
“channie?”
“yeah, baby?”
“luv ‘ous.”
chan grinned. “love you so much, kitten.”