Another week passed, a week in which LuHan felt more comfortable than ever around the little family, especially Vinson. The handicapped man had made a bit of an effort to include LuHan more, actually talking to him and greeting him in the mornings with a smile. The whole atmosphere had become more bearable on the one hand...

And on the other, it became harder. The more friendly they became with him, the more LuHan realized how selfish and horrible he had been all those years. It was a hard revelation, but one that had been building since he had first come into the Luo’s household four months prior. He could no longer justify his selfish actions and lifestyle when confronted with what his choices did to others. He truly wished he could; he wished that he could ignore the pain and the depression that his new-found conscience was causing, but it was too late for him to try and turn a blind eye to it.

With a sigh he washed the hair gel from his hands and dried them quickly on a towel before heading out of his bedroom to go downstairs and work. This had all become routine, a daily task that he had become accustomed to. The thought struck him that he only had two months left here, and a strange feeling of uncertainty filled him. He had found a niche here, found something that he could do and to be proud of, but he knew that his presence here was only a constant reminder to the Luo’s over their loss. He had to find something to fill this niche in his own life, and that honestly scared him. 

What in his own life could replace what he had found here?

Stepping down into the kitchen, he pushed a smile onto his face and tried his best to hide the turmoil in his mind as he greeted Grandfather Tzu. The old man nodded to him with a bright smile, the expression unusual and giving LuHan a pause in his step as he wondered what he was so happy about, but the other man simply motioned for him to go into the dining room. “I’ve got this,” he said, motioning at the stovetop and the breakfast already sizzling on it, and so LuHan obeyed and stepped into the front room.

Mrs. Luo was setting their usual table with a smile on her face, humming quietly a song that LuHan didn’t recognize. What surprised the tall man, though, was that Vinson was beside her…

Standing.

On crutches, yes, leaning heavily on them with a hint of pain on his face, but he stood nonetheless, and LuHan couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise that escaped his mouth. The stocky man looked up at him, a small smile gracing the corners of his mouth as he took in LuHan’s shocked expression.

“Good morning,” Vinson said, and LuHan’s mouth opened and closed for a moment as he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that the other was standing. The handicapped man let out a laugh, though, and said, “You look like a fish!”

“But… you… you’re standing!” LuHan finally spat out, and Vinson laughed and leaned his weight onto one crutch so that he could lift the other to show it off.

“Cool huh?” He said, and his mom reached over to lightly smack him on the shoulder. 

“Don’t be cocky,” she said, but her smile was light and he only laughed in response. As she left the room to go help with breakfast, Vinson’s eyes met LuHan’s own and the tall man could see the joyful gleam in those dark orbs.

“I’m not allowed to use them very much,” he said, a small grimace crossing his face as he turned to take a small step away from the table, crutches even but his legs a little wobbly. “The doctors said an hour a day is the maximum allowed for now, though I’m honestly not sure if I could last that long right now.”

LuHan watched him makes his slow progress over the linoleum floors, each step careful and with each step, a little wince of pain would cross over Vinson’s face, but he still made the trek stubbornly. LuHan felt happy for him, but at the same time as he watched he felt guilt wash over him in a flood. Vinson should be able to run, to play sports, to walk across the restaurant easily, but because of some idiot he had to go through this painful recovery. The stocky man reached his wheelchair, placed beside the counter in Vinson’s usual morning spot, and with a sigh he settled himself into it. He gave his crutches a longing look but propped them in the corner beside him, glancing at LuHan as he did so.

“Despite the pain, I intend to use those several times a day and I am gonna be walking on my own by Halloween dammit.” The determined set to his voice pulled a smile from LuHan, and it shook him out of the stupor he’d been in since seeing the muscular man actually s