[Year 19 of Exile]

[Zitao]

"H-Hyung?" I tasted iron on my tongue as I instinctively my lips. "Suho-hyung?"

Luhan-hyung looked at me, his eyes reproaching, before getting up and he headed to the bathroom on the second floor that Sehun had brought Kai to. His heavy steps up the stairs resounded throughout the cabin. Jongdae-hyung followed after him.

My eyes returned to him. His eyes were dark and stormy.

I've never seen him like this.

"Suho." A large hand appeared on his shoulder, and instantly the storm in his eyes vanished; calm returned. He looked down at his fists that slowly in clenched themselves. They started to shake excessively.

"I-I'm going out for some air." He breathed, and he spun on his heel before dashing out of the door.

Kris-hyung's eyes followed the man, and when I tried to stand up, they snapped to me.

"Stay down there," He hissed, eyes unforgiving, and his index finger pointing accusingly at me. "Don't you ing dare get up, you immature kid."

I flinched and I went back down to the floor, elbows propping my body. My jaws tightened and tears threatened to spill over. He turned and went after Suho-hyung.

My tears escaped and I let myself flop onto my back. Letting them flow, I bawled loudly.

Kid. He called me a kid.

That was the lowest form of insult Kris-hyung ever threw at me. I don't mind being called other degrading names, but I never liked "Kid".

And he knew. But he still said it.

"Someone shut him up." I heard Yixing-hyung growl, as Xiumin-hyung sighed. "Please, I'm trying to heal this girl here."

"Zitao, get up."

Someone peeled the arm off my eyes and they blinked profusely, adjusting to the sudden light and unspilled tears escaped.

"Get up. Don't make me say that word." Xiumin-hyung hovered over me, his hand still on my arm. Pulling me up, he placed that arm over his shoulder and we staggered to the living room where Kyungsoo was digging through the first aid box.

Baekhyun and Chanyeol were sitting on the couch that Kyungsoo was barely sitting on; the latter staring blankly off at who-knew-what while the former had his hand on his friend's thigh, patting it occasionally.

“Yixing’s father should have packed the anti-vomit pills, I just know he did!” Kyungsoo rubbed his hair in frustration, as the contents of the first aid box laid messily in it. “How could a doctor not pack those!?”

Even though my mouth hurts and my tongue continued to taste iron, my hand reached over to my friend and patted down the tufts of hair that stood up after his frustrated rubbing.

“Thanks, Tao.” He gave me a small smile before tossing a pack of plasters at me. A bottle of antiseptic liquid and several cotton swabs were handed over to Xiumin-hyung. “Be gentle, hyung.”

“Oh you know I will.” Xiumin-hyung returned the smile with a knowing smirk and I knew I was in for a hell of time.

[Baekhyun]

“Hyung.”

“Mm?” He continued to apply the antiseptic liquid at the corner of Zitao’s mouth with a cotton swab. The younger winced and squirmed at the pain but with a stern look from the oldest, he stopped.

“Why were the hyungs so against Zitao turning back time?”

The corner of Xiumin-hyung’s mouth twitched and for awhile, I thought he would ignore my question for he continued to dab at Zitao's lips. His hand gradually lowered to his lap. Sadness washed over his features and he sighed heavily.

“Only the older ones know. Starting from you,” He pointed to me and gestured to the rest of the boys in the living room. “Nobody else has been told.”

“So Yixing-hyung knows?” My eyes darted to the healer in the kitchen, as his hands glowed blue still and his face contorted in deep concentration. Jen laid still on the table, and my heart ached at the sight of her.

He set the cotton swab on the table and screwed the cover of the antiseptic liquid back on.

“He does, but none of us like to talk about it. It’s taboo when it comes to Suho.” A scowl appeared on his face and he tucked his legs under him. “Now, get comfortable. It’s going to be a long story.”

[Suho]

“I want to be alone.”

I heard a deep sigh and someone settled down beside me on the mound.

“You know I can’t leave you alone. Not after the taboo topic has been broached.”

“What taboo topic…” I muttered under my breath and he laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, honestly.”

“C’mon, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He nudged me with his elbow. “And t