The drive to Hyunjin and Felix's apartment wasn't really long, which Minho was quite happy about.

Not because he didn't want to leave Felix with Hyunjin, but much more because he was worried about how all this would affect Felix's mind.

He stopped soon in front of the building in which the apartment was and got out. The sun slowly crawled up the sky and it seemed as if it was going to be a particularly warm autumn day.

After one last look at the sky, Minho unlocked the front door and went to the elevator. Fortunately, he had remembered how he had gotten to Hyunjin's apartment the last time, because the building was huge.

Even before he unlocked the apartment door, he heard the kittens muzzle miserably.

Instantly he was plagued by a guilty conscience. The poor little ones had been alone all night and were certainly quite hungry.

Even before he did anything else, his first way led into the kitchen. The water fountain rippled happily, which at least ensured that the little ones were sufficiently supplied with water.

Next, he filled the food bowls of the two and then sat down with them on the floor. Because although he wanted to return to Felix as soon as possible, the little ones also needed love and attention. And actually, Felix was in good hands with Hyunjin. But his boyfriend definitely woke his protective instinct more that the kittens did, even though he for now decided to hold against it.

When the kittens curled up on him after eating and fell asleep exhausted, Minho's heart melted. He instantly knew, that he would spend som more time with them, so he carefully lifted them up, carried them into the living room and lay down with them on the sofa.

He gently stroked his fingers over the velvety fur of the kittens until they fell asleep again.

⍭〄⍭

Although Felix was insanely worried about Hyunjin, he fell asleep in the warm arms of his best friend pretty quickly. The night just had been too short. Apart from that, he still felt very safe in the arms of the blond.

Nevertheless, the unfamiliar environment ensured that he was startled out of sleep again as soon as the door was opened and someone came into the room.

He had only slept briefly and now felt all the more like he had been run over by a train. Tired, he sat up and looked into the confused face of a young doctor.

"Excuse me. I must have fallen asleep," Felix mumbled and immediately blushed.

"I... uhm no problem. But it's time for the doctors visit and you would have to wait in the hallway please. Was Mr. Hwang awake in the mean time?"

Felix nodded embarrassed and climbed out of bed, which woke Hyunjin up.

"Where are you going? Please stay here," Hyunjin muttered sleepily and reached for Felix's wrist to stop him from leaving.

"Sorry, baby. I'll be right back. The doctor is here," Felix whispered and couldn't help but press a kiss on Hyunjin's forehead, even though he knew they were being watched.

Reluctantly, Hyunjin let go of Felix, but was immediately seized by the doctor, who wanted to ask him any questions.

Felix quietly closed the door behind him, leaned against the wall and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Minho had sent him photos of the kittens, which made him suddenly feel guilty as well. Because regardless of everything that had happened, he had been far too happy to spend the night with Minho than to think about the little ones. At least there were two of them and they had had food in the evening, but they would definitely have to come up with another solution if they were both gone overnight.

Sighing, Felix rubbed his hand over his face and thought about sending Minho an unfortunate selfie back when the door of the next room opened.

"- should absolutely stay with him, not that he wakes up again and is still alone. The events of the night were probably insanely re-traumatizing for him and he shouldn't be left alone. Maybe it's better to transfer him to another clinic as soon as his injuries allow."

"And there really are no relatives he could stay at least for a while?"

"His parents are in prison-"

Shocked, Felix stared after the two women, who were now too far away for him to continue listen to their conversation.

There was a possibility that they had spoken of the patient that Hyunjin had saved.

Of course, he knew that the older wasn't allowed to tell him confidential patient information, but he wondered if he knew about it.

He chewed on his thumb nail thoughtfully and registered how two other doctors went into the room where Hyunjin was lying. Which probably meant that it would take a while before he could go back in.

Sighing, he stared at his phone again, but then decided to go to the canteen. He hadn't yet had breakfast and in the meantime his stomach was protesting quite violently, which he had skillfully ignored until now.

⍭〄⍭

On the way back to Hyunjin's room, he was at least much less hungry, but still had a bad feeling. He just couldn't really classify whether it was because of what had happened to Hyunjin, or the possible information he had just heard about the young man Hyunjin had saved.

Sighing softly, he knocked on the door and walked in after hearing Hyunjin quietly calling him in.

The blonde sat cross-legged on the bed and his facial expression was incredibly difficult to interpret.

"What's wrong, baby?" Felix asked worriedly, went over to the bed and sat down next to him.

Silently, Hyunjin pulled the younger into his arms, but then groaned because he had moved too jerkily and pulled Felix too hard to himself .

Frightened, Felix wanted to retreat, but Hyunjin held him tight.

"I'm supposed to stay in the hospital for at least three days and then I'm not allowed go to work for at least two weeks. If anything, I will only have two weeks left of my internship," Hyunjin explained darkly.

The thought of not being able to see Chan for more than two weeks hurt him insanely. And although he usually rarely got physical, he really wanted to punch something.

"You could visit him," Felix suggested quietly.

Sighing, Hyunjin shook his head. "That's probably not a good idea. Relationships with patients are prohibited."

Felix fell silent saddened. He understood the older only too well. If anyone told him he wasn't allowed to see Minho for two weeks, he'd probably go crazy.

He gently reached for Hyunjin's hand and intertwined their fingers. "I'm so sorry, Jinnie..."

Helplessly, the blonde shrugged his shoulders. He knew no way out of the whole thing and hadn't really expected Felix to be able to present him a solution.

He was just about to let himself sink back into bed when Felix looked at him askance and kneaded his fingers nervously. "What's wrong, little one?"

"The patient... you saved... I think he's in the next room..." Felix whispered and told Hyunjin what he had heard in the hallway.

"Oh God, Jeongin. You could be right," Hyunjin muttered, gently swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"What are you up to!?"

"Well, I'm going to him. And you will help so that no one catches me."

"Like that?!"

Confused, Hyunjin looked down at himself and hesitated for a moment. After what had happened to Jeongin, it was certainly not a good idea to show up half-naked in his room.

"Just give me your jacket."

Although Felix wasn't really convinced of Hyunjin's plan, he handed him his jacket and then followed him uncertainly to the door. He was pretty sure that the plan would fail. Because the doctor had said that there should always be someone in the room with Jeongin.

Hyunjin furtively looked into the hallway and took advantage of an unobserved moment to leave his room and slip into the one next door. Felix followed him into the hallway and then stood uncertainly next to the door. The plan had some huge gaps and would certainly bring them some trouble. Sighing, Felix shook his head and prayed that they wouldn't get caught.

Like a thief, Hyunjin sneaked into the room and immediately recognized Jeongin, who fortunately was alone in the room.

"Innie," he whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

When the younger didn't respond, he put a hand on his forearm, which at least led to the younger one moving restlessly back and forth.

Hyunjin looked thoughtfully at the younger one and considered for a moment whether he should just go back to his room.

But he wanted Jeongin to know that he wasn't alone. That he could always come to him when he needed someone to talk to.

He gently stroked the younger's forearm. "It's all right, Innie. You're not alone."

Blinking, Jeongin opened his eyes, but it took a moment before he realized that Hyunjin was sitting next to him.

Relief instantly spread to Jeongin's face and he reached for Hyunjin's hand. "Hyunjin. You're here. So it was all just a bad dream."

With his head tilted, Hyunjin looked at the younger one.

The confused expression on the older's face was enough to show Jeongin that he was wrong. That what had happened before hadn't been a dream. Restless, his gaze wandered through the room. He was still in the hospital.

His fingers tightened around Hyunjin's hand and he had the feeling that panic would immediately push him down again. "I don't know why I'm here," he whispered desperately.

Compassionately, Hyunjin caressed Jeongin's shoulder.

"I don't know if I'm the right person to tell you what had happened... I just wanted to tell you that I'm in the room next to you and you can come to me at any time if you need anything!"

Only now did Jeongin notice that Hyunjin was also wearing a hospital nightgown under his jacket. And noticed the big bruise on the elder's chin.

"What-"

But before he could ask his question, Felix stuck his head in the room. "Jinnie, you have to go back to your room now!"

"Shit," Hyunjin mumbled, gently squeezed Jeongin's hand and climbed awkwardly off the bed. "I'll be back. Or you can come over. See you later, Innie."

Jeongin nodded puzzled and looked thoughtfully after Hyunjin, who hurriedly left the room.

30
꧁⟢ ⍭〄⍭ ⟣꧂