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Felix knows the exact moment Bangchan arrives just by the sound of his heavy footsteps in the hallway. Something about his boyfriend’s walk is so unmistakable that he would recognize it anywhere, and the sound brings up that same silly nervousness that shows up every time he’s around the older man.
The tingly feeling begins to settle in the pit of his stomach just as the familiar voice joins the fray. Felix has to hold back a smile of longing when the smooth voice reaches his ears, even if the words are not exactly what Felix wanted to hear after a week apart.
"Oh my god, Lix, are you all right?" The question is audible even before Chan enters the room. "I ran over here as soon as I could."
And the older’s voice is indeed breathless and worried. Felix wants to sink into the pillows and suffocate.
"You shouldn't have come. I'm fine, like I keep repeating and repeating to all these doctors."
The nurse in the corner of the room gives a little snicker, and Chan lets out a tired sigh. His eyes study the blond sitting in bed, meticulous.
“I’m sorry if he’s giving you trouble”, he says to the woman as she gets ready to leave the room. She just smiles and bats her hand in a “it’s no problem” movement, but Felix is still offended.
"What trouble, I’m a delight!” Chan narrows his eyes at him, and the smaller pouts, feigning innocence. “What, it’s true! And I’m fine, I swear, but they refuse to believe me."
"In their defense, you fell from, like, the third floor. You probably broke something. And you have the whole back injury thing. Please, just let me make sure everything is fine. You know, inside."
And he awkwardly gestures at the slender body thrown casually over the blankets. Felix rolls his eyes in response.
"I only slipped down a few stairs."
"But it doesn't hurt to run some tests to check."
Bangchan approaches the bed, and tucks a stray blonde lock in. Felix leans into the touch, starved.
"Look at me, Chris, I'm fine. A little cast on this foot and I can go home."
"A little cast..." he repeats, indignant. "You are not leaving this hospital until you're cleared by your doctor, whom I insist on meeting, by the way."
"You're so dramatic," Felix mutters, and Chan sits on the edge of the bed, his brown eyes still searching for a more serious injury. But, apart from a few well-placed bruises, his boyfriend looks mostly intact.
"I'm taking care of you, little one."
"And as sweet as that is, it's unnecessary. You should be working, not here fussing over me. You have employees to look after."
"If you're in the hospital, I'd rather be here to make sure you're okay than at a studio three towns away."
"I tripped, it wasn't anything serious."
"That wasn't exactly what Hyunjin told me. And by his call I thought I was going to find you in the ICU or something. I was sick with worry."
"His heart is in the right place, I swear, but you know Hyunie has a very dramatic streak. You'll get used to ignoring him."
"Because you didn't actually tumble down several flights of stairs, hit your head and faint, right?"
Felix shrugs, nonchalant.
"Well, that did happen, but it was just a few steps and I landed awkwardly. I sort of twisted my ankle, but it's nothing that hasn't happened on level ground before."
Chan scoffs, but he smiles and leans in, planting a quick kiss over the blonde’s lips. Felix lets himself lean into the older body, the familiar scent calming his nerves frayed by hours in the white room.
The truth is he hates hospitals.
"I'm glad you're feeling okay, really, but I'd prefer to stay until your doctor returns and clears you. I already came all the way here, so it's not like I'm going anywhere."
"It's overkill, but you're free to do whatever you want. It's not like I wanted you to go off to the other side of the world again."
"Seoul’s not that far, come on. A few hours' drive, at most."
"Too far for me. I didn't see you all week."
"But I'm here now, right? Right with you"
"Yeah, because I fell down the stairs and sprained my foot. And I had a veeeeery mild concussion."
Bangchan’s whole body stiffens, and he turns around to stare at Felix, eyes wide.
"So the reason you can’t leave is actually because you're under observation?"
"Just to make sure I don't fall asleep? This IV is only so the painkiller kicks in faster, I swear."
Chan shakes his head, annoyed, and kisses the other’s forehead again.
"And you didn't want me to be here..."
"That 's not fair! You know I always want you nearby. I just said you didn't need to race across the country to see me, because it wasn't that serious. Minho was going to pick me up when the doctor released me. I had everything under control."
"Eh, no, I'm not convinced. I'm staying. Until the weekend at least, to make sure you don't go rolling down the stairs again because of that foot."
"Oh God, what a doting boyfriend."
"Yes, exactly, that's me," he jokes, striking a heroic pose at the end of the bed.
Felix can’t help it; he laughs.
"Okay, Superman. I accept your kindness."
"You really had no other option. I'm your private hero."
“God, you’re so corny”,
But when Chan kisses him, Felix can't help but feel a little safer.