Run Away

Taemin was very weak in the knees. He had to use one arm to hold himself up as he washed his face at the bathroom sink. Again and again he splashed his face with cold water. Mixed with the cold water were hot, salty tears. It was redundant to wash them away, but he tried anyway.

After the collar of Taemin’s Pajama shirt was soaked by sink water, he changed it and curled up on the couch, crying loudly.

Everything was beyond messed up at this point.

For the second time, Taemin called Minho’s cellphone. No answer. He tried three more times with no response. He called Key and Onew, and they couldn’t get a hold of him either. Key told Taemin that he would come home as soon as possible.

Taemin tried Minho’s cellphone five more times.  Each time he got Minho’s answering machine, he cried harder. He called the owners of the shops around town, and everyone gave him a different story. He tried to jot everything down.

He had told Minho to hurt him. And now he was hurting. He deserved it, of course. He had driven Minho away.

Taemin found himself retreating to Minho’s room and crying in his bed. It smelled so amazing… it was almost comforting.

“You’re a liar…” Taemin cried softly into Minho’s pillow. “You hurt me so much… you’re a liar…”

Taemin felt like he must have lost all the water in his body through his tears at this point. He had never even imagined crying this much in his entire life. But it just kept coming. By the time the dorm door was opened and slammed closed, an hour and a half had passed. Key knew exactly where to find Taemin, and came into the room without hesitation.

Taemin looked up at his hyung with tear-blurred eyes, not able to form a greeting with his chocking voice. Wordlessly, Key sat down on the bed and pulled Taemin into a sitting position. Key held his dongsaeng as he cried, like a father holding his child. He patted his back gently, letting Taemin go on for as long as he needed. And it was scary how long it went on for. When Taemin’s eyes dried out, and he was beyond exhausted from crying, he resorted to simply breathing heavily against Key’s shoulder.

“What happened, Minne?” Key finally asked. Taemin moaned.

“He kissed me,” He breathed, voice hoarse, “He…” Key stiffened up.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked. Taemin nodded.

“N-not physically,” He added, and Key loosened up a little. “B-but…. The usual pain. A-and… he told he would hurt m-me… I was scared… maybe he would go too f-far? It was… scary how far he d-did get.”

“How far is that?” Key asked, trying to stay calm.

“… I’m not sure… h-how to say it… But… not quite… that. And then… he said that he loved me, but… b-but, it couldn’t happen again,” Taemin said slowly, shaking. “And then he left.”

Key sat silently for a moment, before taking out his cellphone with his free hand. He continued to pat Taemin’s back with the other. He dialed a number and held the phone to his ear.

“Yes, hello. I’d like to report a missing person…. Seoul… Yes.” Taemin was tense as he listened to Key talk. “Quite tall. Skinny. Black hair, big eyes…. Choi Minho…. Yes, just this morning…. Yes, that’s possible…. Search boats?”

Taemin held his breath.

“… I would have never expected him to jump, but… given the circumstances, I don’t know,” Key said quietly. Taemin began hyperventilating. “Thank you… Yes. Okay, goodbye.” And Key hung up. Taemin was panicking, and Key wrapped his arms around him. He held his head against his chest, trying to calm him down.

“Taemin,” Key said softly, “I need you not to panic or be afraid. We’re going to find Minho, okay?” Taemin let out a cry of fear and pain.

“What if he jumped?!” He moaned loudly, “No, please, no…” Key stroked his hair.

“He didn’t jump, Minnie. We’ll find him, and he’ll be fine.”

Out of tears, Taemin could only moan into Key’s chest. When Onew came home, Jonghyun was with him. Onew came to stand in Minho’s doorframe.

“We’re going to look right now,” He told Key. “If this gets out too much, we’re in trouble.”

“Bring him home quickly,” Key instructed, Onew nodded. Taemin watched as his leader, face the epitome of heartbreak, turned his attention to the maknae.

“Taeminnie,” he muttered, gripping the doorframe. He approached him and patted Taemin’s head through Key’s arms. “Trust this dumb old dubu to find your hyung, okay?” Taemin took a deep, shaky breath and tried to nod. “I’m going to exceed your expectations, so don’t fret. Don’t even let a single hair on your head worry.” He gave a reassuring smile and left the room. Jonghyun followed him, and they left the dorm again.

“Hear that, Taemin?” Key whispered softly as Taemin gasped for a solid breath. “They’re going to bring him back. Don’t be scared, okay?” Taemin nodded. “Let’s trust our hyungs. Minho is in good hands.”

Taemin spent a long time in Key’s arms, his breath changing back and forth from calm to harsh. Key never left his side.

Yes, it's a short chapter. But a quick update! I hope you enjoy it regardless...

Aish, I'm a bad author. I make everything go wrong XD

Thank you to Sephora for your insightful comment XD It makes me smile when people leave me big comments~ And thank you to the rest of you for your comments too! <3

Stay tuned for chapter 17~