(4) Night 2/6 (Pt.1)
"What do you mean?", Jungwon asked.
Hyunsuk sat on the floor, watching Minjae being babied by Seungcheol.
"He saved Minjae. He sacrificed himself for him.", he said.
"I...don't even know what to say. I'm sorry you guys had to see that.", Chan added.
"We'll be okay. Just...", Hyunsuk held out the necklace,"I feel like I'm going to completely break when I have to give this back to Haechan."
"Yeah, that's the extra difficult part.. telling NCT they lost their leader.", Sangyeon replied.
Minjae patted Seungcheol on the cheek.
"Oh, what did I do to deserve a pat?", Seungcheol asked with a smile.
Minjae just laughed, and put the weight of his whole body on Seungcheol, making him fall over.
Almost everyone had gotten back after night one, and Team B broke the news to Team A.
Maybe it was because it hasn't quite hit them that they really lost someone, but no one had seemed to cry aside from Minjae and Hyunsuk.
Keeho was laying flat on the ground, on top of his blanket.
Chan decided to take the opportunity and put his blanket next to Keeho's.
"How do you feel?", he asked as he laid down.
"Pain. Suffering. That's how I feel.", Keeho responded.
"I wish I could help."
"Maybe you can. If the kitchen has knives, get one and come hand it to me."
"I am not doing that."
"Haha, I was joking. Can you get my bag?"
"Sure."
Chan got up and got the bag Keeho brought with him.
"Whoa, this is heavy."
"I know. I asked Theo and Soul to pack it for me so anything from actual medicine to an uncooked potato could be in there."
"You have some special members."
"Look who's talking."
Chan opened the bag for Keeho.
"Okay, looks like they packed a first aid kit! Let me get you something."
While Chan helped Keeho, Jungwon temporarily took over the babysitting job from Seungcheol.
"Aww, you are just so precious!", he told Minjae.
"N-no you precious!"
Minjae squished Jungwon's cheeks.
"I'm supposed to be doing this to you.", Jungwon said with a pout.
"Alright everyone, we should try and get some sleep. We have another night to...look forward to.", Serim told everyone.
"But I not tired!", Minjae said.
"Kids always say that, go lay down with Jungwon. You'll be asleep in five minutes.", Hyunsuk replied.
Everyone who didn't already have their blankets out, laid them down next to each other.
Of course, Keeho demanded Chan stay right next to him.
"Wake me up if you need something.", Chan said.
"I won't bother you. You need your rest."
Chan laid on his side and faced Keeho.
"Why are you staring at me?", the latter asked, with his eyes closed.
"No reason...and you're cute.", Chan said, the last part quieter than the first.
"Goodnight everyone!", Sangyeon yelled.
"Goodnight!", they all yelled back.
"If anyone has night terrors, let me know ahead of time so we can lock you in the bathroom!"
Jungwon started to raise his hand but Serim smacked it back down.
"Ow!"
"Sorry, but he's serious about locking you up."
"Oh-"
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The next morning (actually afternoon), everyone started to wake up.
Minjae was first, and wasn't little anymore.
When he opened his eyes, he realized he was being hugged by Jungwon. This brought a smile to his face, and he hugged him back.
"Ooo, I see you two.", Seungcheol whispered.
"I didn't know you were awake-"
"I'm always awake to witness such activities. It does make me miss my boyfriend though."
"Ooo."
"Oh stop it."
Slowly but surely, everyone started to wake up.
Some of them decided to raid the kitchen area for food.
Second to last to take up was Chan.
He stretched his arms, and took a moment to stare at the still sleeping Keeho.
"Hey, come on, time to get up. The others are raiding the cabinets.", Chan said with a smile.
Keeho didn't move however, which made Chan a bit nervous.
He sat up, and lightly shook him.
"Hey, come on man, time to get up."
The others started to look at them.
"Keeho?", Chan said worriedly.
Serim walked over and kneeled by them.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. He won't get up!"
"Maybe he's just a deep sleeper. Don't freak out Chan. Give him a moment."
Chan took a deep breath, holding his friends hand.
The group of men anxiously waited. Just a minute or so later, Keeho started to wake up.
Chan immediately wrapped him in the second tightest hug he's ever given. The first belonged to Jeongin.
"You scared the ever-loving shit out of me! How dare you?", Chan said.
"Sorry...it was hard to wake up."
"Are you okay? How do you feel?"
"I guess I'm alright. Can you help me sit up?"
Chan and Serim helped him sit up.
"I'm guessing your back still hurts.", Soobin said.
"Yeah, it does. I'm worried I won't be able to run if we need to."
"We will defend you. If the robot comes, we'll just form a wall around you."
"That's...an idea, Soobin."
The afternoon got underway fully, and some of the guys started changing clothes to prepare for the night.
"Hey, very important question.", Keeho said.
"Yeah?", Chan responded from under his and Soobin's blanket.
"Now, I wouldn't ask you this if I didn't have to..."
"What is it?"
"Can you...help me get dressed?"
"Hell yes I can.", Chan said, quickly getting off of the ground.
"You're excited."
"Oh, no I'm just...ready to help. Yeah."
"Sure. Just come in here."
He pulled Chan into the bathroom and closed the door.
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"Ooooooo, babyyyyyy!", Seungcheol sang.
"Please stop. That is not the last thing I want to hear before getting chased by a robot.", Sangyeon said.
"Such a hater. My Jeonghan loves my singing."
"He must be deaf."
"You're lucky we're not on the same team."
It was later that night and the boys were ready to go into the second mazes.
They knew it might be harder than the first one, and they were ready.
Sangyeon had practiced boxing with Hyunsuk, despite the fact that boxing a robot twice their size would never work.
The door to the mazes opened, and the group's separated.
"Okay. Tonight, we actually stay together.", Jungwon said.
"We can try. Maybe we hold hands.", Soobin suggested.
"Or we connect our belts like a pre-k toddler line.", Chan also suggested.
"What school did you go to?", Keeho asked.
"A very strange one."
"Anyways, let's just go. The faster we make it to the center, the faster this will be over.", Seungcheol said.
They started to walk towards their maze.
Keeho and Chan secretly held hands at the back of the group.
"I can still carry you if you need me to.", Chan said.
"Maybe carry me out of here after we're done. If I make it."
"Hey don't be so pessimistic. I told you i would protect you."
"But why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why protect me? Honestly."
"Keeho, above all things, I am a big brother. I do whatever I can to protect those around me."
"So you would be willing to sacrifice yourself...for me?"
"It might be hard to comprehend, but when I look at you...I see someone who deserves nothing but good things in life. You have a group who really needs you."
"Stray Kids needs you too."
Chan's smile fell slightly.
"No they don't."
"Yes they do, you're their everything! How could you say they don't need you?"
Chan looked down.
"They'll be fine without me. Come on...let's go."
Chan started to walk away, but Keeho grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
The two were now face-to-face.
"If you ever say that again...I will not hesitate to smack some sense into you."
"But it's true."
"Shut up. Okay? Shut. Up."
Chan got quiet.
Keeho put a hand on Chan's face.
"You're lucky you're handsome."
He walked away, leaving Chan standing there shook.
"Did he just call me handsome? It's meant to be~ hehehe."
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