Word count: 3641
Warnings: drug addiction, slight violence.
Genre: angst

The lost soul walked on the streets at night, not caring about whoever eyes him with weird, disgusted looks. His mind wasn't in the right state as he walked on wobbly legs, laughing one second, crying the other. One second he felt like heaven the other he felt like tearing his hair with his own hands in pain. Stumbling to where he felt was the way, be dragged his disheveled, dirty, torn apart self to the doorstep of someone he remembered the name of but his hazy head won't let him remember the face properly of.

Pressing the door bell repeatedly, his finger pads not stopping as he shrieked in pain, his laughter seizing little by little to shorter intervals as he clutched his stomach not stopping the continuous assault on the poor door bell. His feet wobbled as he begged them to stay strong, not that it mattered much though, anyway. Neighbours eyed the person through windows, closing their blinds and shooing their children in, not wanting them to have a single glance of the 'wasted' one.

The continuous door bell rings were starting to pound his head with headaches as the person inside groaned scrunching up his nose in wrath. Who had the audacity to wake him up from his sleep?! There was surprise hidden behind the wrath though. No one actually visits him anymore, they don't recognize him much anymore. Groaning louder, he gets up, his bare feet finding its way into a pair of soft slippers, making soft thud sounds on the carpeted floor.

His appearance not any better compared to the other outside the front door, in terms of clothing but otherthan that he was free of any sort of shits going within the visitor's self, both physically and mentally. Who knew he was going to be surprised and alot more when he opens the door though? "Who the fuck is it at this time?!" Groaning he walked closer to the front door, sleepily pulling the knob and opening the door.

A slightly cold hand probably resting on the house door lost balance as it fell straight on the face of the house's owner followed by the tall and heavy body of the visitor outside. Yelping in surprise, with no time to even acknowledge who the visitor was by his face, the shorter fights for balance only to be saved by the door itself. One arm gipping the front door for balance and the other around the chest of the visitor, he stands there with eyes wide open.

Coming out of the shock, his eyebrows turn into creases, his teeth gritting, before he pushes the unknown visitors off of him only to yelp again as the person fell upon his butt a small wince following behind. Widening his eyes more after recognizing the scrunched face of the one on the floor, Hongjoong felt his blood running cold. "M-Mingi-" Hongjoong couldn't utter a word without stuttering as he immediately bend on coming up to help the other looking out the door to see if anyone had seen anything.

Nervously, he got the taller inside, scared anyone would see them if they stayed with the door open for long, Hongjoong dragged the other to the living room, his heavy body slumping down on the couch right after his arm moved away from his sides. "Ahhh!" The other groaned yet again, clutching on his shirt,his expression filled with pain. His groans were growing more little by little only to seize for a minute or two.

Hongjoong sat there looking down, his fingers laced together, eyebrows knitted. The other in front of him was surely in pain but Hongjoong had a big decision to make yet.He doesn't know when he would meet the other again, if he lets him go now. There are chances he can meet him again and again and again, only if he makes the decision that's right. The decision that may not be right according to the other right now probably but truly right according to him and others.

The other groans much louder now, minute by minute he was going crazy, pulling on his hair, trying to remove the scary visions he was getting right now. It looked all too scary and he couldn't help them. "I need it...Hongjoong-ah-" He groaned a request. Hongjoong ran closer to hold the man down, his body shaking from the pain, sweat beading at his forehead, already making his locks stick to his forehead.

"Mingi.. please hold up. Just for a little." Hongjoong tried consoling, the other's mind was too caught up with the pain though. It was getting almost too much, he felt as if he could die right now if he wasn't provided with it. Taking a fast pace and grabbing his phone, Hongjoong dialled a particular phone number. After a few rings his call was picked up fortunately."Hello?-"

***************

"Hong-j-joong Noooo! Please!!!" He cried out in pain as the people around him held his wrist and ankles, snatching any struggle rights from him. He was screaming at the top of his lungs yet Hongjoong was standing at the side staring at him. Hongjoong gave a small shook of his head to the other before Mingi felt a sharp pain in his arm and he was out.

Hongjoong looked lost as he stared at the body of the taller be carried on the stretcher. He was going to be alright now. As the sound of the vehicle grew distant, Hongjoong got reminded of what he had to do. He had a few calls to make.

***************

"What?! Mingi?! Where did you find him?!" Seonghwa's eyeballs were almost at the verge of popping out, the others' not any better. Four out of seven sat on one couch, fifth on a single one, another propping himself at the arm rest, and the last, the owner of the house, leaned his back on the well decorated wall across the room, his arms crossed with his fingers resting at the bridge of his nose, eyes closed.

"I don't know where the hell he was all these months and now he suddenly showed up." Worry knitted eyes pierced through his vision, his head starting to feel a headache develop. Seonghwa, at his authority of being the closest to the owner of the house, makes his way towards, resting his hand on Hongjoong's shoulder warmly. Hongjoong looked up at him, slight tears brimming his line of vision, he found Seonghwa smiling warmly. He looked at the others now, and their expressions were similar.

How he missed those days with them, where he took care of them just like a dad. Scolding them, making sure they weren't working too hard, and most of all having the right to be called their leader. How he missed whenever he was feeling down or whenever he was being harsh on himself for the others, Seonghwa would come to take care of him first, the others following right behind like baby chickens after a mother hen.

"I'm proud of you Joongie." Seonghwa wiped a tear from the corner of the leader's eye, leaning in to embrace the other in a warm hug. Hongjoong as strong he may feel couldn't deny the warm hugs and skin-ship of the other. It was as if it was some different connection between him and the oldest of the group. He felt happy to have him along with the others. Staying that way, Hongjoong closed his eyes shut, slowly letting himself go.

One drop.

Two drops.

Three.

Four.

And on and on.

Hongjoong cried out in the older's arm, mumbling about how he should have tried harder to find the other. How he should have been a better leader for them. How he was so wrong when he thought that he would never let their group down. "I s-should have fou-n-nd him b-befor-e. He looked so w-weak, Hwa." Hongjoong clutched harder on the other's shirt, wrinkling it more and more, as it got damper by his tears. The other didn't bother though. He just rubbed his back and mumbled soft assuring words that he was never a bad leader. That they are proud of him.

"Hyung, if it were someone else who were our leader, we wouldn't have gone this far either." Jongho said as the others gathered around and hugged each other, letting their leader take his time. "We should go see him tomorrow." San suggests, the others nodding. Hongjoong wiped his tears before shaking his head.

"I-I don't t-thin-k i-can." Hongjoong choked on his words, Seonghwa gripping onto his hand softly. "I d-don't deserve to se-e him. I can't s-see him al-all weak." The others looked at each other. Their leader was still guilty about everything that happened. Just because, Just because he was the leader. "It's alright hyung. Take your time, we understand. We all will go tomorrow to see him, okay?" YeoSang whispers as the others agree.

***************

Withering on the bed, Mingi tried not to scream, his body sweating almost in the amount of pools. Wanting to break free from the restraints holding him down, he wanted to hold himself and curl in a corner as if it would help ease the pain. "Ahhhhh!!!" The images were getting too horrific in his head, his eyes wanting to pop out so that he can't see them anymore. "Please!!! I need it!!!!!!" Mingi screamed louder, the dark room filled with only the light of the open window. Pulling on his wrists and ankles, Mingi hissed yet didn't care from the pain surging through his veins.

He needed it the most right now. The pain can stop only from that. A group of nurses running through the corridor barged in his room, immediately getting to work in holding him down. Slight bruises and gashes had formed at his ankles and wrists, blood seeping out in minimum drops. That's because they were closed immediately after Mingi was given anesthesia, which got him to unconscious. His wrists and ankles were now decorated with bandages.

After what seemed the other wouldn't wake up, the nurses left his room, closing the door behind.

***************

The seven figures walked through the rehabilitation center, their shoes clicking over the tiled floor, as they made their way towards the front counter. "Excuse me, we are here to meet Song Mingi." Seonghwa carefully formed his words, the others staying quiet behind him. They couldn't bring Hongjoong after his overwhelmed state and so here Seonghwa, as the oldest is taking in charge.

"Sorry but- Ahhhh- WAIT! NO-MINGI!" The loud voice of something smashing along with a scream following behind, everyone turned their attention towards where the sound came from. At the words, Yunho was the first one to make a run towards the sound, the others following behind with the front counter man as well.

Mingi currently stood at the corner, his expressions pained but still he felt a little alright to stand as he held a broken glass piece in his hand pointing it towards his own wrist. The nurse trying to stop him only to be threatened by his statements that he will kill himself if he isn't given what he needs. "Mingi! Please stop!! This is for your own good!!!" The nurse shouted trying to step forward as Mingi got alert motioning the glass piece towards the nurse instead.

"Give it to me!!! I said I'll stop if you give it!!!" That very moment the sound of running footsteps got closer as Yunho entered the room, stopping in his track right away at what he saw, his eyes going wide in the fear of finding the other in such a state. "Mingi!" Yunho called out to him, only for Mingi to be shocked as he immediately pointed the glass piece closer to wrist. "Stop right there! I will kill myself!! Don't come closer and just get me what I want!!"

The others stood in the room trying to get Mingi to his senses until Mingi's expressions turned more painful as he groaned losing his balance, shouting in pain. As a consequence, Yunho ran towards the other straight but Mingi was still on guard as he stabbed the glass piece in Yunho's bicep, Yunho hissing in pain but not losing his grip on Mingi, the nurse and boys running towards them, half helping with Mingi while the others pulled the injured Yunho apart.

Mingi was given anesthesia right away as the other nurses helped moving him to another room while Yunho was rushed to hospital. Yunho had gone unconscious from the loss of blood and the doctors were still treating him. Seonghwa sat on a metal chair, his fingers threading his hair. Loud footsteps of someone running through the hospital corridor were heard as the others turned their grave expressioned faces to see who it was. It was Hongjoong.

"What happened?! Is Yunho alright?!" Hongjoong asked, his eyes were red and slightly still. But most of the worry printed on his face was getting Seonghwa nervous. "Mingi hyung....." Wooyoung trailed off his words into silence not sure how to say it until YeoSang broke the silence. "Mingi stabbed Yunho in the arm with a glass shard." Expressionless as usual, YeoSang looked down at his cross armed leaning position against the hospital wall biting his lip slightly.

Hongjoong started breathing faster, as his eyes grew wider. Seonghwa understanding the situation got to action, holding Hongjoong tightly in his arms. "No joongie, he is alright now. He just needs rest the doctors said. He will wake up soon." Hongjoong struggled bursting into yet another fit of tears. "But I need to see him. He was stabbed in the arm hwa!!" Seonghwa stopped Hongjoong from making any other movement. "Shhhh, it's the hospital joongie. You can't be so loud here and he is alright. Don't worry." After a few minutes of struggle, Hongjoong had stopped, only sniffling in Seonghwa's arms.

"I-I should h-have gone. Yunho wouldn't b-be there else." Hongjoong cried blaming himself yet again. As a leader he has a habit of taking responsibility for everything that happened with the others. And that habit of his hasn't gone even till now. "Hyung, it's not your fault. You can't blame yourself for everything." Jongho said from the side, Hongjoong not responding anything in return.

***************

The car pulled up at the corner, soft music filling it. The driver sang along with the music softly, smiling slightly. He missed singing alot but right now the one they were going to meet was missed by him alot more than that. After ten minutes more of the ride, he was at his destination. Looking up at the building, he smiled slightly before he made his way inside.

Speaking with the man at the front counter, he smiled before turning and making his way towards a particular room. Softly he knocked, and entered only after he heard a deep "come in" from the other side. "You're ready?" He asked the other, as he pulled him in a warm tight hug. "I missed you, old man." The other smirked before sticking his tongue out at the other's smack on his arm. "I missed you too, princess." Both of them laughed slightly after they walked out of rehabilitation center.

The music in the car was now changed. One of the their favourites: 'Win'. As the car drove through, Mingi questioned softly. "Hyung, how is everyone else?What about Yunho's arm?" The last question got Mingi to look down before he whispered. "I hate myself for doing that." Seonghwa continued driving. "Everyone's alright. They were too excited to meet you and wanted to come along but I held them. They can be chaotic and I can't handle them alone without Hongjoong, you know that. Also Yunho is fully alright too now. It's alright, he doesn't blame you nor anyone else does."

"Ah, I see. But I still need to apologize for a lot. Now that I am free of all those shits I understand how wrong I was back then hyung." Seonghwa smiled a little shaking his head. "Though I would say it's alright, I suggest you prevent those words for later." Mingi nodded before turning to look out the window.

***************

"Sannie, Wooyoung! What are you both doing?!" Hongjoong mumbled softly while he walked with Wooyoung's guidance and support with San's hands closing his eyes shut. "You'll know soon hyung." San and Wooyoung giggle as they sat Hongjoong in the living room. Yunho dialled a particular number after seeing they were all ready. "Hyung, you guys can come in now." Getting out of the car, Seonghwa and Mingi made their way to Hongjoong's house.

Hearing the front door open and close, Hongjoong got curious asking softly. "Who went out?" San and Wooyoung giggled as Jongho answered. "You'll know soon hyung." Hongjoong waited patiently before he felt a blindfold wrap around his eyes now covering up for San's hands. "Stupid, you took so long in finding a blindfold." San complained only for YeoSang to answer that he couldn't find a cloth good enough to be opaque and that every cloth looked transparent.

"Hyung we are going to play a game now ok?" Jongho announces. Hongjoong grows curious yet again. Seonghwa and Mingi enter the room smiling softly as the others though wanting to jump on the taller for a hug stayed quiet. Mingi felt like breaking down after seeing everyone after so long but he controlled himself as well. It took two months and a week for Mingi to be free from drug addiction. A year ago, Mingi had made a friend who got him to have his first shot.

Thinking it would be fine once, Mingi didn't really mind it and complied only for this to go for the second time, the third, the fourth and so on until he grew deadly addicted. The reason why Ateez grew apart was because of him. The members had no clue until one day, Hongjoong started noticing Mingi's weird behaviour. He didn't pay much attention to it because of how busy he was working on music for the group. Things were thrown up to the notch when one day, Mingi came home only for Hwa to confront him after he found him out with this weird friend.

The members fought until Mingi ran away, not listening to even Hongjoong. And months after Mingi showed up at Hongjoong's doorstep that night. And now after two months and a week Mingi is here back to normal. Finally.

"Hyung you have to touch our hands and tell which member it is, ok?" Jongho said as Hongjoong smiled nervously before nodding. "Okay i guess." All of them get in a line, including Mingi who was dazed out thinking about how things changed so much until Yunho dragged him along. The first one was, San's hand. Hongjoong touched it, it was bigger than his small ones of course. He smiled at how soft they were. It had to be San. "It's San." Hongjoong said with no doubt.

"Woah! You got it right away hyung!" San commented before getting aside. Next was Seonghwa. How can Hongjoong forget his hands? He can never. The soft slender fingers, the ones that always intertwined in his first whenever he was down and wanted support. "Hwa." At the familiar giggled Hongjoong smiled proudly. He was right. As the members went by, Hongjoong got all of them correct. The members were surprised at how good the other was.

The last one was Mingi. Hongjoong didn't expect another pair of hands to be there when they were only six otherthan him in the house right now. Whose were these? Hongjoong touched them. They were a mixture of softness and hardness. And they were slightly cold but when Hongjoong touched them he could feel his insides get warmer as if he was complete finally. As if it was the eighth piece to him. "M-Mingi?" Hongjoong stuttered out a little teary.

Working his hands faster than light, Hongjoong tried opening the blindfold only for YeoSang to help him in the end. As soon as the blindfold was removed, a stream of tears were descending down Hongjoong's eyes staining his cheeks. "Mingi! Is it really you?" Hongjoong extended his hands to touch Mingi's face that was starting to look like Hongjoong finally, his own tears falling. Hongjoong touched his face properly to make sure he wasn't dreaming and Mingi was back fully healthy now.

Feeling a hand on each of their shoulders, Mingi and Hongjoong looked up to find Seonghwa smiling softly towards them. "H-Hwa? Look! Mingi-" Hongjoong cried happy tears, his eyes turning red. "Yeah joongie, Mingi is back. He is back because of you, if you wouldn't have sent him to the rehabilitation center he wouldn't be here." Seonghwa smiled softly, a tear leaking his eye as well, the other came towards them. "Yeah hyung, I would have been dead by now else. I'm really sorry for leaving you all like this." Mingi hugged Hongjoong while crying who didn't speak anything but stroked the taller's hair.

"Hyung, forgive yourself. Mingi is safe and back now. And even that is because of you." The others said as Hongjoong opened his closed eyes pulling away from the hug. "Yeah hyung, Seonghwa hyung told me everything. Stop blaming yourself please." Mingi said wiping Hongjoong's tears only to wipe them again cause of new tears. "Guys, I love you all more than anything. I can't see anyone of you hurt." The other smiled before they all had a big hug together, happy they had a leader like Hongjoong and members like each other. Because without each member they can't be

8 makes 1 team

************
This took so long I swear. I got the idea after Mingi came back but took really long for me to start writing it. I know I update really late anyway but I hope longer chapters makes up for the slow updates. Love you all and also, as shown in the Oneshot I don't support drug, alcohol, etc addiction and if you know anyone nearby you suffering with this, please try to help them as much as I may try to. Because remember, that you can do it.