A/N: as you can see, there's a song up there. don't listen to this immediately, unless you wanna loop it. you'll know when to listen to it. believe me, you're gonna feel it in your bones

~

What do you believe is the most painful sound?

A gunshot?

An ear-piercing scream?

A firework?

What do you think?

Jimin believed it to be the sound of his brother belting the lyrics to whatever godforsaken atrocity he decided to call music.

"GOD! PLEASE! Shut up!" Jimin screamed over the music as he dried and styled his son's hair.

"Rude! Be nice to be the pregnant person," Liz frowned.

"You weren't nice to this person when he was pregnant," Jimin grumbled as he threw the towel in the hamper and unplugged the blow dryer.

Prince giggled as he held his baby brother in his arms while holding his binkie in his mouth.

"Alright, alright. Stop arguing like children," Halo tsked as he cleaned up all the cardboard boxes and plastic.

"Tell Liz to turn that..." Jimin caught his words and cleared his throat, "Off."

Liz giggled as he rocked Rein back and forth in his arms. Jimin rolled his eyes as he gathered all the towels and took the trash back from his father.

"I'll take these downstairs," he offered as he shook the towels and trash bag in his grasp.

"Oh no, baby, I got it."

"No, no. It's fine. I need to get out and away," Jimin sighed.

"The life of having two kids is starting to get to you, huh?" Halo grinned.

"And barely having an alpha? Oh, absolutely," Jimin shook his head before heading out of the room downstairs.

As Jimin tossed the towels in a clothes hamper, he heard the doorbell.

"I got it!" he yelled up the stairs as he jogged towards the door.

His hand hesitated over the knob as his heart felt unsettled. He had a feeling it could be the mafia, and he had a feeling they would have some news. Oh, God, what happened to his husband this time?

He opened the door and his eyes scanned the faces of those he could see. Namjoon in front of him, Jennie to his left, and Yoongi to his right. This didn't feel right. This felt like when they told him his then-boyfriend-and-baby's-father was in the hospital barely alive.

"What... happened?" he whispered as he looked over everyone covered in blood.

The beta, Yo-un, Jungkook's old friend, stepped up beside Namjoon.

"Where's my husband?" Jimin's whisper got a little louder but held the same worry and fear as no one had made a move to tell him a thing.

His eyes began to shake and he looked around for his father. His father would tell him. Gently. But he'd say to him. Where was he? He should be front and center.

"Where's my dad?" Jimin frowned, confused.

Everyone winced.

No. No no no. What did that mean? Why did they do that?

"Jimin," Yoongi began slowly.

"Wh-where... where," Jimin began to back away from the door.

No one was saying anything and he was beginning to panic. His stomach started to turn.

"Baby?" Halo asked in concern as he made his way downstairs.

He went to Jimin and held his face, deeply concerned that his son's eyes were shaking as was his body. He turned to the door and saw everyone standing there.

"What did you say to him?" Halo nearly growled as he held his shaking son.

"They didn't... they didn't say anything, Pa. That's why I'm so, so scared."

Halo looked at Jimin and then looked at everyone at the door. Yo-un and Yoongi sighed and stepped into the house.

"Jungkook and Leo are in the hospital."

Jimin and Halo stopped. Their world came to a complete halt. Yo-un went to touch Jimin's shoulder.

"Jungkook is fine. He's just getting patched up," he smiled softly.

Yoongi took Halo's hand and lightly held it with a small sympathetic smile.

"Leo... Leo got hurt pretty bad."

Halo tried to snatch his hand away from Yoongi but Yoongi held his hand tightly. He looked at him like he did when telling Jimin the news about Jungkook's life-threatening situation all those years ago.

"He's alive, but he's in bad condition. Last I heard from people at the hospital, he's in emergency surgery right now."

Halo's lip quivered and his hands shook as he slowly took them from Yoongi. He turned to the group still at the door, looked at Yoongi, then his eyes landed on his son who looked like the world around him was falling apart.

Halo took a shaky breath before holding his hand out to Jimin who gently took it.

"We... We will gather everyone here and get ready. Then you, anyone of you, will take us all to the hospital as soon as we come down. Do you understand?"

Everyone immediately nodded. Something about Halo's tone made it feel like if you didn't do what he wanted, he'd break. They weren't sure if that break meant he'd start crying or if that break meant he'd hurt them. They, truly, didn't want to find out.

~

The oldest omega, his children, and their children were silent the entire ride to the hospital. Jimin could barely explain what was happening to Prince without a sob threatening to break through. Halo had to tell Liz and Prince what was happening.

Jimin thanked the heavens that his baby wasn't being fussy or whiny. He doubted he could handle taking care of him if he was.

Prince clung to his grandfather's arm, asking him every now and again how he was feeling. Liz rocked his daughter, trying his best to calm her down since he was panicking himself.

"Who are you going to go see first?" Liz whispered to Jimin who winced.

"Liz," Halo scolded.

Liz's eyebrows furrowed with a slight frown.

"I'm just asking."

"Now is not one of those times to ask such a thing," Halo hissed.

"Pa, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just wondering because his husband is in the hospital but he's fine, Dad isn't so I was just-"

"Kim Liz, I swear to God, be quiet!" Halo managed to be stern without being loud.

Liz whimpered softly at the tone of Halo's voice and Jimin held back a sob. He didn't know who he wanted to visit first either. He thought of his father because he wasn't in good condition, but he also thought of his husband because, well, that's his husband.

"I-"

"Minnie, baby, you don't have to choose right now. You don't have to choose at all. Whoever your heart leads you to is where you go. Your father will not be upset and your husband will understand. It's okay," Halo cooed at his oldest, who nodded in understanding.

The rest of the car ride remained silent.

~

Jimin listened to what his father said. He followed his heart. His heart led him to throw open the door where Jungkook was sitting on the hospital bed getting looked over by a doctor. He had his sleeping baby in his arms and his fidgeting son beside him.

"Dad," Prince sobbed in relief as he ran to Jungkook.

Jungkook opened his arms after the doctor moved aside and held his son tightly. Prince sobbed as he clung to his father. Jungkook hushed him and rocked him, kissing his hair and rubbing his back.

"I'm okay, pup. Hey, hey, I'm okay," Jungkook cooed.

Jungkook looked up and saw his husband standing there, holding their baby boy close, tears falling from his eyes. Jungkook waved him over and Jimin rushed over and held his husband tightly.

"Jungkook," Jimin's voice quivered. "My dad, what happened to my dad?"

Jungkook held Jimin tightly and exhaled loudly.

"Let's go see him."

Prince held his brother as he followed behind his parents, Jimin helped Jungkook walk to the operating room. As they approached the double doors where Halo, Liz, and Rein were waiting, the bright light over the doors turned off.

A doctor came out a few moments after and Halo stood to his feet, almost falling over if it weren't for Jimin holding him up.

"Family of-" the doctor began until he made eye contact with Jungkook. "Oh, Mr. Jeon. You know the patient?" he frowned.

Jungkook nodded. "Yes, but please address him," Jungkook pointed to Halo, "first."

The doctor turned to Halo and smiled softly.

"What is your relationship with the patient?"

"He's my husband," Halo managed to squeeze out.

"Well, sir, your husband's surgery went well. He's alive."

Halo let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"But," the doctor began.

Halo felt like he could pass out.

"We have no idea when he'll wake up, or honestly, if he'll wake up. He's alive, yes. But he's not in good condition. I'm so sorry," the doctor frowned.

"Can we see him?" Liz stepped up with a whole world of hope in his eyes.

The doctor nodded.

"The nurses are setting up his IV drop and cleaning up his blood bag."

"B-blood bag?" Halo's eyes bucked.

Jungkook gripped his shoulder.

"It's just a blood transfusion."

Halo relaxed.

"I'll send the nurse to come get you all once he's good to go. Alright?"

Everyone nodded and thanked the doctor before sitting down and waiting. Jungkook comforted his family and Taehyung, after he had caught wind of what happened, was comforting his husband and daughter.

Halo didn't want to be touched. He couldn't handle anyone touching him until he saw his husband. He wrapped his arms around himself and paced back in and forth.

"Pa, you should sit down," Jimin sniffled as his eyes followed his father's moving figure.

Halo shook his head as he kept pacing.

"I-I'm unnerved," Halo's voice shook as he paced.

"Pa, this isn't the first time Dad's been in the hospital," Liz tried to reason.

That's true. Leo had been in the hospital much more when Deadly Fires was still highly active. Halo would be losing his mind about having to visit the hospital so much, even though it was just to dress a gunshot wound. After a while, Leo gained little to no injury so hospital visits grew nonexistent.

There's only been one time Leo was in the hospital like this and it was after Halo had told him about their second child on the way. He was distracted during a drug trade-off, and the boss shot him in the chest.

That day haunted Halo's mind as he paced the quiet hospital hallway. He thought his husband had left him. He thought he would be left alone to raise his son and give birth to their second child. God, Halo could feel himself tearing up.

"Mr. Jeon," a nurse called as she made her way toward them.

Everyone stood up, Jungkook stood up with the help of his husband.

"We've placed him in your family room. Follow me," she told them softly.

Everyone followed behind her, Halo following the closest. She slid the door open and stood to the side to let them pass by her. Halo's heart broke. His poor baby.

He slowly walked up to his husband and he didn't know what to do.

Leo was hooked up to an IV drip, wires seemed to be coming from everywhere on his body, he was wrapped up in bandages and his face was bruised. He had an oxygen mask over his face and the constant beeping of the heart monitoring machine felt like a taunt to Halo. He slowly reached his shaking hands out to hold his husband's face.

"Look at what they did to you," Halo whispered as his lips quivered and his hands held his love's battered and bruised face.

Tears fell from his face and soaked into the blanket over the alpha's unresponsive body. Halo leaned forward and placed a soft longing kiss on his mate's forehead.

"My precious, baby," Halo sniffled as he gently brushed Leo's messy hair out of his face.

He could tell his hair was matted with blood. The hospital did their best but they didn't clean like how Leo would've preferred.

Halo turned to look at the families at the door and stared at his sons.

"H-his hair," Halo began.

Liz and Jimin rushed to their father's side, listening to him intently as he brushed his fingers through the alpha's hair.

"It's matted with blood," Halo whimpered.

Jimin and Liz nodded with the same pained faces.

"His blood?" Halo turned around to look at Jungkook who still stood by the door. The alpha bowed his head and sniffled. That was enough for Halo.

"I want to clean it," Halo whispered.

The nurse in the room had a pained expression as she looked at Jungkook.

"There isn't much cleaning you can do with him in this state."

Jungkook's lip quivered and she knew if she didn't get something for the omega to clean the man's hair, she might be out of a job. Or worse... out of a life.

"But I'll look for something for you, okay?"

"Thank you," Halo tried to smile.

She bowed and made her way out of the room.

Jimin laid a soft kiss on his father's forehead followed by Liz.

They all sat around comforting each other. When the nurse came back, Jimin helped Halo clean Leo's hair. It was quiet. The only sound was the water in the bucket, the beeping of the machine, and Halo's soft humming.

Halo would talk to Leo in between humming and it broke every one.

"My handsome man," Halo cooed as he wiped Leo's forehead with the damp towel. "Did you give 'em hell?"

It was quiet.

"Honey," Jimin called.

Jungkook looked up and looked around. Halo was looking at him as he stood beside Leo's bedside.

"We did... we did our best. The motherfuckers that did this to him got away. We'll find them. As soon as he's back on his feet."

Halo hummed, not worried about the younger alpha's language enough to correct it.

It won't be too bad. This won't be too bad.

They've gone through this before and come out on top. Nothing will make this any different.

~

It's been four days.

Jungkook had meetings with people whenever he wasn't comforting the omegas, drowned in turmoil at the alpha of their lives in the hospital. Taehyung tried to stay with his husband and daughter as much as he could but work always called for him.

Leo was showing no progress. Little to no progress. Halo never left his bedside unless he had to use the bathroom or shower. It took a lot of strength to shower, especially considering most of his bathing escapades were accompanied by his husband.

Halo was laying beside Leo, gently patting his chest and singing to him.

"Pa, have you eaten?" Jimin asked as he made his way back into the hospital room, handing over the snacks and drinks everyone asked for.

"No, he hasn't touched a thing. He said he wanted to wait until they switched out Dad's IV drip," Liz scowled.

"Pa," Jimin sighed as he rubbed his father's arm gently.

"You have to eat. Dad would be furious to know you haven't eaten all day."

Halo sighed and peeked over to look at his eldest child.

"Just..." Halo turned back to look at his husband's face. "I don't think I can stomach anything."

"Just some crackers, Pa."

Halo sat up and held his hand out. Jimin placed the cracker packet in Halo's hand and kissed his cheek.

Members of the mafia stopped by to see Leo and the omegas staying with him. They tell Halo that everything is okay and as they all know, Leo is strong.

Prince was sitting on the couch, cuddled up with Yuta. Prince was watching whatever show Yuta put on on his phone, and they shared earbuds.

Halo slowly ate the crackers, doing his best to stomach them. But his mind came to a halt when he felt movement next to his thigh. His head snapped to look at Leo.

He let out a cry and turned as carefully as he could to hold Leo's face.

Leo's eyes were barely opened and he could just barely move his arm.

Any progress is good progress.

"Hey! Hey, baby! Hi," Halo cried.

Jimin, Liz, and Prince rushed over to crowd around Leo. Leo just blinked and gently moved his fingers to rub against Halo's leg.

He was comforting him.

Oh, Halo could faint.

"Dad, hey," Jimin cooed as he held his hand.

"Hey, Daddy," Liz's eyes watered as he lightly patted Leo's leg.

"Grandpa," Prince sniffled.

Leo let out a long exhale and continued rubbing Halo's leg.

He wasn't saying anything. He could barely open his eyes. His chest would rise and shake uncomfortably. They all continued to sit around and enjoy Leo being conscious.

When Jungkook and Taehyung returned they damn near fell to their knees. Everyone, even Halo, stepped back to allow Jungkook time with Leo. They understood that Leo had made such an impact on the younger alpha, that seeing the attack Leo experienced firsthand messed with his head horribly.

"We'll get them, okay? You just get better," Jungkook sniffled as he held Leo's hand.

Leo tapped Jungkook's hand with his fingers to show his acknowledgment.

Though Leo still couldn't speak, could barely open his eyes, and could only respond in taps, God was the Park-Jeon-Kim family ecstatic.

~

Halo couldn't take it. It's been almost two weeks. Eight days.

His husband is a proud, upright, and gorgeous man. He's courageous, loving, and caring, and he would never stay down for this long. He just wants to hear his husband's voice. That's all he wants.

Even the smallest thing. Hi. I love you. Something. Anything.

But he also couldn't leave his husband for too long. He took a long deep breath and then made his way into the hospital room. Everyone was talking among themselves softly, no one noticed what Halo noticed.

Leo's breathing was off. He, as calmly as possible, made his way over to Leo. He held his hand and his face, his eyes shook with panic.

Leo turned and opened his eyes to look at him. He was breathing a little hard through his mouth and smiled at Halo. He slowly and gently took Halo's hand, trying to flip it over.

Halo got the message and flipped his palm over. Leo tapped his palm before writing.

Hi.

Halo's eyes watered and he smiled.

"Hi."

Everyone turned to look up. Halo focused as Leo continued to write.

I. Love. You. So. Much.

Halo nodded.

"I love you too. So, so much," his bottom lip quivered.

Leo patted Halo's hand, his eyes closing and his smile very faint.

Be. Happy.

Leo managed to write, even as his arm began to weaken.

"Love," his voice whispered through a croak.

Halo was over the moon. But he was swiftly shot down and began to fall back to earth quickly.

"Dad," Jimin called through a slight sob.

The beeping. The beeping.

It was slow. It was way too slow.

"Honey," Halo called as he held Leo's hand.

Way too slow.

"Honey!" Halo called again as he held his face.

Way too fucking slow!

"Leo!"

One long constant beep filled their ears. One long, nauseating, constant, evil beep.

His world. Park Halo's world just fucking ended.

His eyes shook, and his hands grew weak. The world sounded like white fuzz. Somehow, for some reason, Leo seemed to get further away from him.

While his mind was going numb, nurses and doctors were rushing into the room, checking vitals and trying to revive the alpha.

Everyone was filled with worry and fear. Tears stained their faces and filled their eyes.

"This is some cruel joke," Halo whispered to himself as his eyes unfocused. "He's going to jump up and be just fine, isn't he?" Halo smiled crazily to himself as big tears fell from his lashes.

"Time of death, 6:57 PM," a doctor sighed.

Hollering. Hollering and sobbing filled Halo's ears as he watched the doctor and nurses unhook and unplug everything connected to his husband. It didn't truly sink in until he watched that white sheet get pulled over his husband's head.

His legs shook and his knees buckled. He fell to his knees and the most anguish-filled sob left Halo's mouth. His hands were folded against his chest and he just cried.

What else could he do but cry?

His throat burned, his stomach ached, his eyes didn't feel like they belonged in the sockets, and God did his heart hurt.

His face was a mess and he wouldn't dare clean his face. He felt arms wrap around him and his wails only got louder. Jimin sobbed as he held and rocked his father.

Halo didn't know what to do. This had to be some cruel joke.

"Please! Please! No no no!" Halo screamed through his tears as he stared at the now lifeless body of his husband.

This just couldn't be real.

Park Leo was dead.

So, what's the most painful sound? The sound of a spouse that just lost their world.

~

A/N: yeah.... Leo is gone

tbh this was so painful to write cause I could feel all of Halo's emotions, just as the author imagining this scene in my head, and I was like getting teary eyed

but it had to be done babes, I'm sorry 😔