"I'm sorry that I got blood on you," Felix mumbled.

Changbin shook his head, gently bringing the lukewarm washcloth to the younger boy's face.

"Don't be sorry, it'll wash off really quick," the older boy replied.

"But...What about your shirt?" The Australian asked in a quiet voice.

"It'll probably be best to throw it away. That blood has Lykyde in it, so it could seep into the fiber of the shirt, even if I wash it," Changbin replied.

"But...Isn't that the shirt you bought when we went to the city together?" Felix asked, feeling guilt prick at his chest.

Changbin was shocked that the younger boy noticed that. It honestly just looked like all the other long sleeved black shirts that he owned.

"Well, yeah, but it's okay. Don't worry about that kind of stuff right now, Felix. All that matters is that you're okay," the raven haired boy replied in a soft voice.

"Let's go into the city sometime and buy you another one," Felix suggested with a smile.

It wouldn't happen, Changbin knew it wouldn't happen, but he smiled back at Felix anyway. That simple gesture of his lips turning slightly upward made the Australian feel like he was on cloud nine. Even after he'd nearly just died, Changbin's smile was enough to make him feel as good as new. At least for a few moments, anyway.

"Don't worry so much about me and my shirt. You need to focus on yourself right now. And, you need to focus on getting better," the older boy commented.

"I already feel better," Felix insisted, though it was only half true.

He did feel better in comparison to how he felt hours before, but the Australian was still a bit dizzy, and he felt cold, too.

"Even if you feel better, you're staying in bed for at least a few days," Changbin replied, not leaving any room for complaints on the younger boy's side.

"But...You'll take care of me, right?" Felix asked hopefully.

When the raven haired boy met the younger boy's gaze, he saw innocence and purity; something that he himself had lost so long ago. He wanted to treasure that innocence, -make sure that it never went away. He wanted to make sure that Felix was always smiling, and laughing, and feeling happy. If anything else were to be the case, he didn't quite know what he'd do with himself.

"Something like that," Changbin answered vaguely, because if he were to promise, he'd be lying.

And he didn't ever want to lie to Felix.

The brunette frowned slightly at first, but he just assumed that it was Changbin's way of saying that he would. After all, they were partners; for better or worse, and they'd promised to always protect and take care of one another.

"So um...About what you said earlier..." the younger boy began lightly.

Every word that Changbin spoke had reached his ears. He heard every last one of them. He felt every touch that the older boy gifted him with; and he was thankful for every word, every heartbeat, every slight brush of fingertips, and every forehead kiss that Changbin had bestowed upon him.

"I'm...I'm really not a part of Crimson Vector, Felix," the older boy said.

"No, I know that. That's not what I was going to say," the younger boy assured.

"I was going to ask if you're okay now. I know that they inject, like, chemicals and stuff...So I...I just wanted to know if you still feel it. If you're in pain."

"Not really," Changbin answered.

"Sometimes I'll feel the effects, but normally it doesn't hurt. I get headaches, and on some days my body gets really sore, but it's never anything I can't handle. The nightmares are the worst part," Changbin explained.

"But, ever since you started singing to me, I haven't had as many. So...Thank you."

Felix felt his heart swell. He was just so happy that he was able to help Changbin in any way, shape, or form. He was so happy, in fact, that he couldn't resist giving the older boy a tight hug, even if it did hurt a bit to move around like that. The older boy was stunned for a moment or two, but then he closed his eyes, exhaled quietly, and hugged Felix back with just as much force.

"Promise me that the next time you have one of those days, you'll let me know so that I can help you," Felix requested.

Changbin brought his chin down onto the brunette's shoulder, gently so that he wouldn't hurt the younger boy.

"...maybe," he replied quietly, because once again, he wasn't keen on making promises to Felix that he knew he wouldn't be able to keep.

Though the Australian certainly wasn't satisfied with that answer, he didn't want to push the older boy. He'd been through so much in his life, and all he wanted to do was be a beacon of hope and light for Changbin. He never wanted to make him feel upset. Never.

"You know Changbin, I'll never hate you. And, I really don't think that you're a bad person. I...I know you're not a bad person. If you were, you wouldn't have looked after me all those times when I got myself sick. You wouldn't have laid with me to keep me warm. You wouldn't have protected me," Felix rambled on, unconsciously tightening the hug between the two of them.

"I didn't do a very good job of protecting you," Changbin whispered.

Felix pulled out of the hug quickly, making himself a bit dizzy in the process. He would have stayed with his arms around the older boy forever, but for his next words, he felt he needed to be looking the raven haired boy directly in the eyes to make him see how serious and truthful he was being when he said them.

"It's not your fault that I got injured, Changbin," Felix assured him.

But the older boy didn't believe that. He couldn't believe that, because, in his mind, it was his fault that Felix got injured. He'd thought about it over and over again, and the only plausible explanation he could come up with in regards to the chip in Felix's neck was that it had become embedded in his neck when the younger boy protected him at Crimson Vector's headquarters.

"It was my fault. If you hadn't protected me, you never would have gotten the chip. All of this could have been avoided if it weren't for me...And I'm really sorry," Changbin apologized, because he felt one was in order.

He wanted to say it three million times over, because he was so, so, so sorry. But he couldn't quite find the right words to describe just how sorry he truly was, so he hoped that his short but heartfelt apology would be enough. But, in Felix's eyes, he wasn't owed any apologies from Changbin. If anything, he felt he should be thanking the older boy.

"It was my choice," Felix replied.

"I chose to save you, Changbin, because if I didn't, I'd have lived the rest of my life regretting it. I saved you because I...I care about you, and even if you don't think that you deserve your life; I know you deserve it. You deserve it more than anyone! Look how much you've been through, and yet you're still here. You're living, and breathing, and you're heart is still beating...And I'm so happy that I got to meet you," Felix said, and after he was finished, Changbin felt like bursting into tears of joy.

"You know that I killed someone, don't you?" Changbin questioned.

But even after he said those words, he couldn't sense any signs of hesitation in Felix's eyes. They were unwavering; staring straight into his, locking into the very depths of the deepest, darkest parts of his soul.

"It was an accident. I know that you'd never kill anyone on purpose. I know you wouldn't. You were only a kid, Changbin. When I discovered my powers, I could have ended up doing the same thing. It just worked out in my favor. Anything could have happened. You were a kid. Your powers were strange to you, and they got out of hand...That's not on you, Changbin. It wasn't your fault."

Tears began to leak from the raven haired boy's eyes.

"Don't cry," Felix whispered, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears.

"There's not a reason to cry."

Silence followed, but it was comfortable. Felix's eyes spoke words that that his mouth was too afraid to, and they glittered with that innocence that Changbin swore to protect. And he would protect it. The younger boy leaned in, gently resting his own forehead against the older boy's.

"Thank you," the brunette whispered.

"For what?" Changbin inquired.

"For being you."

Having said that, Felix craned his neck upward in order to lightly press his lips to Changbin's forehead.

The older boy paused, but didn't make an effort to push the younger boy away or even to pull himself out of the situation. Because he didn't want to. That simple sign of affection was more than enough to send his heart racing.

"What was that for?" He questioned lightly as the younger boy pulled away.

"I meant to do it a while ago after you did it the first time, but I always got too nervous to do anything. But then you did it again earlier, and I...I just wanted to," Felix blushed a bit.

"I hope you don't mind."

Changbin smiled, much to Felix's immediate delight, and he leaned in to press his lips to the younger boy's forehead in return.

"I don't mind," he replied, cupping cheek of the younger boy in his hand.

Their eyes locked, and the world seemed to stop as Changbin leaned in closer. Felix shivered a bit, anticipation coursing through his veins, because he knew what was going to happen next. Or at least, he thought he did. They were close; so close that they could feel the others heart thumping away, somehow syncing together like that of lovers. But, as badly as he thought about just kissing the younger boy, Changbin knew he couldn't.

He wouldn't.

Not now, the raven haired boy scolded himself, not ever.

Instead, he turned his face to the side and pushed Felix's head into the crook of his neck. Though he'd been expecting a kiss, -his first kiss-, he decided that if Changbin wasn't ready, then he certainly wouldn't push him to go any farther. The younger boy knew that Changbin was hesitant about touching people, allowing people to touch him, as well as letting people in and getting emotionally close and connected to anyone. But for Felix, he'd done all of the above. When it came to the Australian, Changbin lowered his guard and allowed Felix to burn down the walls around his heart.

And, despite the fact that the older boy knew none of it would be permanent, he decided to relish in the feelings that were flooding his chest in that moment. Because even if that would end soon, he knew that he wanted to remember everything about the way Felix did anything at all. He wanted to remember his touch and the way the brunette made his skin erupt in a frenzy of tingles and goosebumps. He wanted to remember that spark of happiness behind his eyes when he laughed and the way his eyes crinkled at the sides when he smiled. Changbin wanted to remember the innocence, the purity, and the childlike tendencies of the younger boy that reminded him of a delicate wildflower, sprouting up through the cracks in a sidewalk. He wanted to remember the way that Felix smelt of all things comforting and sweet with hints of rose water. He wanted to remember the way that the Australian seemed to be caught between a strong mind and a fragile heart. Every detail, every freckle on his face, every softly sung word he'd ever sang in the older boy's ear in order to ward off the horrible nightmares, -Changbin wanted to remember it all. Every last detail, no matter how small.

"I'm tired," Felix admitted.

"Will you lay with me, Changbin?"

The older boy gently tucked a strand of hair behind the younger's ear, and with that, he nodded his head.

"Yeah. Okay," Changbin nodded.

"But, your sheets have blood on them. Let's go over to my bed."

After the raven haired boy gave Felix some clothes to change into (because his were dotted with blood), Changbin went to take a quick shower in order to get the blood off his torso. He haphazardly dried his hair and body, slipped into his usual attire of all black clothing that covered the majority of his skin, and then went to join Felix in bed. The younger boy was already curled under the blankets, and Changbin slid in beside of him, gently wrapping his arms around the younger boy.

Earlier, he didn't think that he'd ever be able to do that ever again. He thought he was going to lose Felix, and he knew right then and there that if that really had happened, he would have lost a piece of himself as well. He'd become deeply intertwined with Felix, so losing the younger boy would result in him losing himself as well. But even so, Changbin thought that even if Felix survived, he wouldn't want Changbin to touch him. He thought Felix would see him as nothing more than a murderous monster...But the younger boy didn't think that at all, -not even in the slightest.

Still feeling the effects of using his powers so forcefully, and feeling the effects of the Lykyde that still remained in his system, as well as the loss of blood, Felix was welcoming to the undeniable warmth that radiated off the older boy's body. Even if he was a bit cold due to the fact that he'd just taken a shower, Felix felt warm around Changbin. He always felt warm around him, no matter the temperature. That warmth started in the younger boy's chest, but gradually made its way throughout the rest of his body. But it wasn't just Felix that felt it. His veins set ablaze, but it wasn't a painful sensation. It was the kind of warmth that made him feel loved. The warmth seemed to spread to Changbin, and as Felix closed his eyes and buried his face in the raven haired boy's chest, the older boy wondered if he could just, for once in his life, allow himself to feel loved by someone.

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Changbin didn't sleep. Instead, he watched as Felix breathed softly, just hoping that the younger boy was having good dreams. The raven haired boy ran his hand through the sleeping boy's hair, gently so that he wouldn't wake him. One final time, he pressed his lips to the younger boy's forehead before untangling his body from Felix's and sliding out from under the covers.

"...Changbin?" The Australian mumbled, reaching out to grab the older boy's wrist.

But Felix was only half awake, so his grip was loose.

"Go back to sleep, Felix," Changbin whispered, bending down so that he was eye level with the brunette.

Lightly, the Australian pulled on the raven haired boy's arm.

"Lay with me," he said pleadingly, because it had only been a few seconds, and Felix was already missing the older boy's warmth.

Changbin wanted to. He wanted to lay with Felix so badly. But he didn't. He couldn't, and he knew that he couldn't.

"I would if I could, Felix," he mumbled longingly.

"...will you come back and lay with me then?" Felix asked.

You'll never understand how badly I want to, Felix...

"Just go back to bed. You need the rest."

With that said, Changbin made his way to Red's room. It was barely past ten o'clock at night, so the leader wasn't asleep yet.

"Come in," Red called, and Changbin walked inside the room.

She was a bit surprised to see him, because she thought he would be with Felix around that time.

"I've been sensing that someone's been needing to talk to me all day," she laughed.

Changbin nodded.

"Is something wrong, Changbin? Felix is doing okay, right?"

"Felix is fine. This is about me," the raven haired boy replied.

That shocked the redhead too. Changbin was never one who liked to talk about himself or his struggles. He always kept everything bottled up inside.

"Okay," Red nodded in understanding.

"Are you okay?"

"I...I've been thinking a lot about a few things," the raven haired boy began.

"Because I have a past with Crimson Vector, I'm putting everyone in Supernova in danger. And I...I don't want to do that anymore. I don't want anyone here to get hurt because of me. Especially not Felix."

"What are you trying to say, Changbin?" The leader asked, but a part of her already knew the answer, even though she didn't use her powers to read his mind.

"I'm leaving Supernova."

Red pursed her lips for a moment or two before responding.

"If you're serious about this, I know that I can't stop you. If your mind is made up, then...Okay. But, if you ever change your mind, there's always a place for you in this group," she told him.

Changbin gave her a light smile, and she was shocked by that gesture too.

"But take a Connection Crystal. Just in case you ever want to come back," Red requested.

Connection Crystals were something that Seungmin and Red came up with together. The whole purpose was for members to be able to find one another if they were ever to get separated and their Call Watches weren't on them or didn't work. Teleportation would only help if Red knew the location, so Connection Crystals were a way to keep members of Supernova safe.

"I really don't think I'll need it," Changbin stated.

But Red was insistent, and in the end, he took it...For her sake.

After their discussion, Changbin went back to his and Felix's shared room. Or, Felix's room, rather. He grabbed a backpack and shoved random clothes into it.

Shirt, another shirt, one more shirt, jeans, sweatpants, jacket...

But as he grabbed the jacket, he paused. He knew that nights may get very cold, but he also knew that Felix's own jacket was very thin. It didn't take him long to decide that he would leave it at the hideout, because Felix had commented on how warm it was the last time he'd worn it. And, frankly, Changbin thought it looked better on Felix than it did on himself. That jacket was his favorite, but he thought that the younger boy would need it more. He also wanted Felix to have something to remember him by; and a small part of him selfishly hoped that Felix would never be able to forget him. He also hoped that the Australian would wear his jacket, and breathe in his scent, and be reminded of the times when he'd held the younger boy while he drifted off to sleep. Because, as selfish as he knew it was, he didn't ever want the younger boy to forget him. Plus, he thought that the jacket would came in handy to the brunette.

After all, Changbin knew how much Felix disliked cold weather.

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