"Hey, kid," Seungcheol said, his voice gruff. "You're safe now, okay? Nobody's gonna hurt you again. I promise."

Haneul's eyes widened even more, his small body trembling. It was obvious that he was still scared and unsure. Seungcheol felt a pang of guilt and helplessness - he had no idea how to comfort the child.

He reached out a hand, hesitating for a moment before gently placing it on Haneul's head. "You're safe now," he repeated, his voice a little more gentle this time.

Haneul didn't react at first, but then he slowly leaned into the touch, closing his eyes and letting out a small sigh. It was a small, subtle sign of trust, but it felt like a victory to Seungcheol.

He kept his hand on Haneul's head, stroking the child's hair gently. He wanted to say something more comforting, something to reassure Haneul that everything would be okay, but the words stuck in his throat.

The other members were watching from the side, their expressions a mix of amusement and surprise. They had never seen Seungcheol act so gentle and caring towards anyone before, and it was a strange, almost comical sight.

Seungcheol could feel their eyes on him, but he ignored them, focusing on Haneul. He didn't care if they saw him as soft or weak. All that mattered right now was making sure Haneul was okay.

He continued to stroke the child's hair, his fingers carding through the soft strands. Haneul's trembling had subsided, and his breathing was slow and steady. It seemed like he was finally starting to relax.

Haneul slowly lifted his head and looked around the room, taking in the sight of the other members standing near the bed. His eyes darted from one face to the next, his expression a mixture of fear and curiosity.

The members tried to smile and look as friendly as possible. They knew they must have seemed intimidating to the small, scared child, but they wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible.

Seungcheol kept his hand on Haneul's head, a protective and reassuring gesture. He could tell that Haneul was still nervous, but he was glad to see the child finally looking around and taking in his surroundings.

"These are the other members," Seungcheol said, his voice low and calm. "They're good guys. They won't hurt you, I promise."

The other members nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on Haneul's small, fearful face. They didn't want to scare the child any more than he already was, and they wanted to make sure he felt safe and protected.

Hoshi stepped forward, holding out a small stuffed toy in the shape of a tiger. "We thought you might like this," he said, his voice soft and gentle.

Haneul's eyes widened at the sight of the toy, his small hands reaching out tentatively to take it. He clutched the tiger toy tightly, his fingers clenching around the soft fur.

The other members smiled at the sight, pleased that they had been able to do something to comfort the child. Seungcheol let out a quiet sigh of relief, glad that Haneul seemed to be responding well to their efforts.

He looked down at Haneul, who was now cradling the stuffed toy against his chest. The child was still a bit wary, but he looked slightly more relaxed than he had a few minutes ago.

Seungcheol couldn't help but feel a pang of affection for Haneul. The child had been through so much, but he was still so sweet and innocent. He found himself wishing he could keep the child safe and protected forever.

But he knew that wasn't possible. The world was too cruel and unpredictable, and there was no way to guarantee Haneul's safety. And besides, Seungcheol wasn't exactly the most responsible or stable person in the world. He was a gang leader, for fuck's sake. He led a life of crime and violence.

Everyone's heads whipped around in surprise at the sound of "Thank you." Haneul's voice. They had all thought he was too scared to speak, but here he was, thanking Seungcheol and the other members.

Seungcheol felt a wave of relief and pride wash over him. "You're welcome, kid," he said, his voice low and gruff.

The other members smiled, their expressions softening at the sound of Haneul's tiny voice. They knew how hard it must have been for him to speak up, and they were happy to see him starting to come out of his shell.

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the steady beeping of the monitors. Everyone was still surprised by Haneul's sudden speech, but they were all glad to hear him finally speak up.

Seungcheol found himself looking down at the child, a flicker of something that felt suspiciously like affection fluttering in his chest. Haneul was such a brave and strong kid, despite everything he had been through. He was amazed at how well the child was handling himself.

"You like tigers?" Haneul ask with a low voice to Hoshi, who gave the toy.

Hoshi's face lit up with a huge smile, glad to see that Haneul was talking and taking an interest in the toy he had given him. "Yeah, kiddo," he said, leaning down to be level with the child. "I love tigers. They're my favorite animals."

The other members chuckled at Hoshi's excited response. They were used to his enthusiasm and passion for tigers, and it was amusing to see him so eager to talk about his favorite animal to Haneul.

Haneul clung to the stuffed toy, his small fingers digging into the soft fur. "Is this your tiger?" he asked, looking up at Hoshi with wide, innocent eyes.

Hoshi nodded, his grin widening. "Yep, that's my tiger," he said, pointing at the toy in Haneul's hands. "It's a little bit smaller than a real tiger, but it's just as soft and cuddly."

The other members chuckled again at Hoshi's description of the toy, amused by his childlike enthusiasm. They couldn't help but find his excitement and affection for tigers endearing and hilarious.

The other members watched as Haneul and Hoshi continued to talk, their conversation becoming more animated and excited. Hoshi was clearly happy to have someone to share his love for tigers with, and Haneul seemed to be enjoying the distraction and comfort.

Seungkwan suddenly spoke up, interrupting Hoshi and Haneul's conversation. "Look at us," he said, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "We're a bunch of gangsters listening to a grown up talking about tigers to a kid."

The other members chuckled at Seungkwan's comment, knowing he was only half-joking. They were used to Hoshi's obsessions and passions, but sometimes they couldn't help but find them a bit silly and ridiculous.

Hoshi shot a mock glare in Seungkwan's direction. "Hey, don't judge," he said, his tone defensive. "You're just jealous that you don't have a cool favorite animal like I do."

The other members laughed, enjoying the playful banter between the two. They liked to tease each other and rile each other up, but they all knew there was no malice or genuine anger behind their words.

Seungkwan feigned a look of exaggerated hurt, putting a hand over his heart. "Me, jealous of you? Never," he said, his voice dripping with mock offense.

Suddenly, a giggle broke through the banter and teasing. It was a small, soft sound, but it was enough to stop everyone in their tracks. They all turned their heads to look at Haneul, surprised and pleased to hear him laughing.

Hoshi's eyes widened with delight, his face breaking out into a huge grin. "He's laughing!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy and excitement.

The other members smiled, also pleased to hear Haneul's laugh. It was a good sign that he was starting to feel more comfortable and safe with them, and they all felt a sense of relief and satisfaction that their efforts to comfort and distract him were working.

Seungcheol watched as Haneul continued to laugh and chat with Hoshi, his heart swelling with a strange mixture of emotions. Pride, protectiveness, and something that almost felt like affection filled his chest, making it tight and uncomfortable.

He wasn't used to feeling this way. He usually kept his emotions in check and kept a cool, detached facade in front of others. But for some reason, seeing Haneul laughing and enjoying himself made him feel vulnerable and raw.

As he watched the exchange between Haneul and Hoshi, Seungcheol found himself unable to look away. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the child's small, smiling face, and he couldn't shake the strange and unfamiliar feeling that was growing inside him.

He could feel his heart beating faster in his chest, and he had to fight the urge to reach out and touch Haneul's head or give him a pat in reassurance and affection. What was happening to him? Why was he feeling so protective and tender towards this small, scared child?

He tried to shove down the unfamiliar emotions, telling himself that he was being stupid and sentimental. He was a gang leader, for crying out loud. He had no business feeling sentimental or attached to some abandoned kid. He had a reputation to maintain, a gang to lead. He didn't have time for this.

Seungcheol's thoughts were interrupted suddenly by Haneul's soft, timid voice. The child's small face was turned up towards him, his eyes wide and hopeful.

"Is my dad here?" Haneul repeated, his question hanging in the air.

The room fell silent as everyone's attention focused on Seungcheol, waiting to see how he would respond to Haneul's question. Seungcheol felt a pang of sadness and guilt in his chest. He knew he had to be the bearer of bad news.

Seungcheol took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult task ahead. He knew he had to explain Jeonghan's condition to Haneul, but he wasn't sure how to do it. How do you explain to a child that their father is hurt and unconscious?

He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat felt tight and dry. He had never been good at this sort of thing. He preferred violence and intimidation to gentleness and empathy. But he knew he had to be gentle and understanding with Haneul right now.

Haneul's face grew serious and solemn, his small body tensing in anticipation. He nodded solemnly, his eyes fixed on Seungcheol's face.

Seungcheol took another deep breath, bracing himself. He knew this was going to be difficult, but he had to do it. For Haneul's sake, and for Jeonghan's.

"Your father..." He began, his voice catching in his throat. "Your father was hurt. Really badly hurt. He's in our medical wing right now, and he's not awake."

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