title inspired by one of svt's best songs ❤️
also tw: someone unalives themselves again in this chap

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Wooyoung wakes up a little after eleven in the morning the following day, able to sleep in after Hongjoong met with the Headquarters to cancel his schedule today with the Mayor of Utopion on the opening of some water park at Glory Hill.

Wooyoung's well aware of how Utopion treats him more like a celebrity and less like a hero at times, and how his missions had increased greatly in comparison to fellow heroes his age due to his popularity. And while he's spent years eagerly shouldering that kind of responsibility with a smile, he feels far too fatigued and spent to deal with anything of the sort today.

For once Wooyoung's grateful for how shitty his eyesight is without his glasses as he peers up at the ceiling, absentminded for a few lovely seconds. But before long memories of last night are rampant in his brain, erasing the last remnant of sleep.

Hongjoong advised him to steer clear of TVs for the time being, both of them knowing what'll be broadcasted on them anyway.

Wooyoung exhales, squeezing his eyes shut that suicidal man's last moments replay in his mind like some fucked up tape.

Wooyoung is no stranger to death. No stranger to terrible, awful ones that used to keep him up at night and made him want to claw out of his skin, but something about the look in that man's eyes sparked feelings and emotions Wooyoung had tried so hard to forget, and now it's all the hero can think about.

Aching to just do something, Wooyoung grabs two pillows and hurls them at the wall. The surface cracks, but it just isn't enough to quench the pure unease terrorizing his being.

He needs a distraction -- anything. He scrambles for his glasses and snatches his phone, wanting to submerge himself in one of his many relaxation playlists.

Before he can jam his airpods into his ears and block out the outside world, a couple unread messages catch his eye.

SAN🤍✨️ sent you a message !

Wooyoung's heart soars, dropping his phone in utter shock. He grabs it on time, however, thumbs trembling as he hurriedly clicks on the notification.

- SAN🤍✨️
i know it's very late right now, but i just wanted to check up on you

- SAN🤍✨️
how are you doing
are you okay?
[sent 10:18PM]

Heat spreads all over Wooyoung's chest like a firm hug, and he almost doesn't know what to do with himself at first.

San had messaged him back after all, but Wooyoung's luck had it that he just had to be out of commission that very moment. It's as if San knew something was wrong, because his texts couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

Totally forgetting about his playlists, Wooyoung sits up, cross-legged as he contemplates deeply on what to send.

He can't let San know what really happened to him of course, but the man just proved he cares about him at least, even if that's just Wooyoung's wishful thinking.

"Send something, Wooyoung!" He yells at himself, relieved he's alone in his room right now. He grips onto a plushie, slowly rocking back and forth. "It's just San."

It's just San, yet Wooyoung is going insane over what to send. He knows next to nothing about the alluring man, but fuck, does he drives him crazy. It's nothing short of bizarre.

At last, after a while of pacifying the excited thump, thump of his heart, Wooyoung finally finds something to reply back with.

- WOOYOUNG
honestly, not really
but thank u very much for asking!!

- WOOYOUNG
and good morning san

Wooyoung bites into the poor plushie when his texts enters, the checkmarks turning blue in seconds.

Wooyoung nearly shoots through the ceiling like a rocket as those little dots dance across the bottom of his screen.

- SAN🤍✨️
good morning

Wooyoung bites harder into his plushie, too ecstatic to care how fucking absurd he's being.

- WOOYOUNG
hiii
thought you'd still be asleep LOL

- SAN🤍✨️
i'm in town right now

Despite San clearly being a dry texter, Wooyoung still vibrates with glee. He and San are actually having a conversation, and while this is nothing to go berserk about, Wooyoung is having the time of his life.

- WOOYOUNG
ohhh

- WOOYOUNG
to see jongho?

Wooyoung suddenly remembers how eager he is to meet the boy again.

Seconds pass without a reply from San, and Wooyoung grows rigid with worry. Shit, did I say something wrong?

- SAN🤍✨️
yes

Before Wooyoung can come up with something else to talk about, San sends another message.

- SAN🤍✨️
are you feeling better now?

His question is so simple yet so strangely heartfelt that it hits Wooyoung straight to the core. His cheeks heat up as he blushes like mad.

- WOOYOUNG
you can say that

- WOOYOUNG
wbu?
you feeling okay?

- SAN🤍✨️
why are you asking?

- WOOYOUNG
because i wanna
and we're friends

- WOOYOUNG
so im gonna be concerned over ur wellbeing

- SAN🤍✨️
go back to sleep

Wooyoung huffs in disbelief, not anticipating that reply in the slightest.

- WOOYOUNG
no can do san
and even if i wanted to, it isnt so easy to sleep

- WOOYOUNG
so i guess youre gonna have to put up with me for a while longer

Why did Wooyoung have to mention that?

- SAN🤍✨️
i cant talk for much longer because i have things to do

Oh. Wooyoung hadn't thought of that. Despite San making sense, the hero isn't keen on letting him go just yet. Even after knowing him for such a short while, San had managed to keep those thoughts at bay. San had managed to keep Wooyoung afloat.

- WOOYOUNG
where are you rn?
can we meet up?

Wooyoung's well aware of how desperate he looks right about now, but he can't stay in his room all alone with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. He'd go insane.

- SAN🤍✨️
i can't wooyoung
i'm busy

Wooyoung deflates completely. Of course, he and San barely know each other and he can't just expect San to accommodate him into his life just cause he asked.

- WOOYOUNG
oh okay
i understand

San doesn't text back, and whatever's left of Wooyoung's good mood vanishes into thin air.

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Wooyoung can't bear to spend today by himself, so he decides some exercise will do the trick.

Cramming his airpods into his ears and blasting his nature playlist at full volume, Wooyoung jogs all the way from his manor to Treasure Heights. He desperately wants to clear his mind and stop feeling so shitty just because he can't hang out with San today.

What the hell is up with me? Wooyoung questions as he runs down the sidewalk, taking care to not move too fast or accidentally bump into someone. No one pays him much mind anyway (as he looks just like the average joggers that peruse the parks time and time again) but Wooyoung isn't keen on risking getting his clover blown. Hongjoong has also been suspiciously silent today so far, and while Wooyoung doesn't mind some hard-earned privacy in the slightest, he wants to avoid doing something that'll tick the older man off, thank you very much.

Wooyoung completes his trek around the entire Dazzling Light public park twice without breaking a sweat, but his mind's still full and his heart still thumps with impatience.

The sun has risen to its highest peak in the azure blue sky, its bright rays blazing down on everyone. Wooyoung stops at a bench and folds his sleeves over his forearms, combing through his bag for his water bottle when something on the grass catches his attention.

It's his shadow, the silhouette perfecfly still while he'd been looking for his water. Wooyoung stiffens and blinks twice in case he's seeing things now. But his shadow's right here, immobile as he takes two steps back. What the fuck.

Wooyoung's never seen something like this before, and he fears for a few seconds that he's gone mad when his shadow promptly moves in tandem with him, settling into its predicted position.

A moment passes of Wooyoung being absolutely stunned and believing he's truly lost it, before he smells it. Smells the smoke.

Someone shouts, loud and petrified, and that's when Wooyoung looks up ahead at one of the many apartment complexes that populate the metropolis, a woman standing right on the balcony of her flat.

People point, wide-eyed as the woman stays perfectly still on the metal railing meant to protect her from certain death. She's donned in a thin white nightgown, her pitch black hair like wisps in the wind.

Wooyoung's frozen in shock, gaze darting to his watch that Hongjoong most frequently uses to contact him for missions when he's not in his hero form. But the man has not informed him of anything today, so this is a sudden occurence.

Several "What are you doing?"s, "Get down!"s, and "Don't jump!"s echo throughout the city square. Some parents are even covering their children's eyes and others pulling their children away from the scene altogether. Even with this, the woman remains unbothered.

Wooyoung zips his bag shut, quickly tapping some businessman's shoulder. "Call the ambulance," he beckons, voice lowered and face ducked to conceal his identity. Immediately, the man springs into action, while Wooyoung heads straight for the woman's apartment.

Fully tuning into his zias makes his hair a stark red that would get Wooyoung recognized anywhere, so he yanks on his hood and tugs on its strings, speeding up the stairs at full velocity so the surveillance cameras around won't pick up on anything. The woman's on the fifth floor so Wooyoung speeds that way, hoping to god she hasn't jumped.

He hates to do this, but there's no choice. He engages his locations setting and connects to the lair, which Hongjoong will undoubtedly be in binging a show and slurping ramyeon.

As soon as the watch beeps blue Wooyoung states his plans without wasting any time. "A woman on the fifth floor at the Sunrise apartment complex is about to jump, and I'm going to save her."

Hongjoong sputters on the other line, possibly having choked on his noodles. "What?"

Wooyoung knocks out the doorknob he hopes leads to the woman's apartment, entering into the flat in less than a second.

"Wait, Wooyoung -- "

"She can't die."

"This isn't a mission," Hongjoong interrupts, voice shrill. "You don't have your suit!"

"It doesn't matter," Wooyoung replies, marching past what appears to be a living room. He knows he's hit the jackpot when pictures of the woman line the mint walls, as well as a little boy that appears to be her son.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter? People are gonna recognize you!" Hongjoong exclaims, and Wooyoung almost can't believe the guy, but Hongjoong's always been a little more cold, a little more indifferent to other's plights. "You can't be breaking into people's houses and tuning into your powers with cameras around."

Wooyoung's heart nearly stops once he spots the woman on the balcony, still in the same position as she'd been before. It should relieve Wooyoung, but something about the way the woman just stands there, patiently still like she's waiting for something, unnerves him greatly.

"Hey," Wooyoung calls out, inching closer. People are still watching from below, even some sickos are snapping pictures. "Can you come down please? I'm not gonna hurt you, I promise."

It's like the woman doesn't hear him at first, frozen like ice. But then she turns, and something hard and heavy slams into Wooyoung right then, stumbling him over his feet. Smoke invades his senses, hot and unbearable, and then there's fire all over the walls, flames spreading across the floor and crushing everything to soot and ash.

"I swear I didn't mean to hit you so much!" The woman screeches, trembling behind the destruction.

Wooyoung can't breathe, coughing out to clear out his lungs all to no avail. Tears sting the back of his eyes as he nearly collapses into himself, watching on helplessly as the flames consume the woman like a fiery tsunami, blistering and tearing through her skin.

Wooyoung can't find it in him to scream as the skeleton of the woman is all that remains, the structure falling over the balcony like burnt paper.

The screams are what bring Wooyoung back to the present, and then Hongjoong yelling his name through his watch. The hero blinks and the flames are gone, and the woman is no more.

Wooyoung knows he can't be seen around, but at that moment he doesn't give a damn. He rushes for the railing, his fucked up, twisted curiosity winning over as he catches sight of blood and broken bones before he stumbles back, narrowly throwing up.

"Wooyoung. Oh my god. Answer me," Hongjoong keeps calling him, keeps pleading for him to answer, but Wooyoung wants to obliviate himself because he failed to rescue someone from death yet again.

The commotion outside's more than enough to allow Wooyoung to escape the apartment complex unseen and unnoticed. He makes it to an alley before he's sinking to his feet, punching his chest and and heaving uncontrollably, unable to forget the woman. Unable to forget those flames.

Hongjoong isn't talking anymore, which means he's coming for him sooner or later.

But Wooyoung can't wait; he rummages for his phone and goes to text San, hesitating for a second before typing a message. His fingers slip more than once with how much he's shaking.

- WOOYOUNG
i know u said ur bsy
busy
but can i talk to u?
please.
i need to talk to you

Any other moment and Wooyoung would hate himself for seeming so needy and clingy, but right now he just needs someone to talk to, someone to tell him everything's going to be alright.

Wooyoung's texts go through, and his breath hitches when only a few seconds later, San calls him.

He'd only anticipated San texting him back so he ends up almost letting the call go unanswered.

"H-Hi," Wooyoung inhales, wanting to get that stench of smoke out of his system.

"...Hey," San replies after a beat, and his voice is so soft. Deeper, too. The weight pressing down on Wooyoung's chest lightens.

"I'm sorry for bothering you again," Wooyoung blurts, wanting to stop shaking so much. "But I think I've officially gone insane."

There's a pause on the other line, but San soon speaks up. "What happened?"

"I know you won't believe me -- I don't even believe myself either," Wooyoung whispers, squeezing his eyes shut. "But I think I'm seeing things that don't exist in real life."

"Oh."

"I know. I'm crazy."

"Where are you right now?" San asks, and while Wooyoung knows he might be hallucinating this like how he hallucinated that apartment burning down earlier, the man sounds almost concerned.

"Treasure Heights, near some alleyway close to Sunrise apartment complex. Someone -- " Wooyoung exhales deeply, "someone died there. God I think I'm going insane. I fucked up, and I hate myself now." He isn't even making much sense anymore.

"You're not insane, Wooyoung. Don't say that," San states, his rather stern tone snapping the hero out of his self-deprecation. "Just take a couple deep breaths and remember I'm right here with you. You're going to be fine."

"R-Really?" Wooyoung stutters, too surprised to be embarrassed.

"Mhmm. I'm here."

Wooyoung does as San instructs, inhaling then exhaling huge breaths to get his erratic heart-rate to slow down. Whenever his surroundings feel like they're spinning again, he inhales once more, reminding himself over and over that he isn't alone.

"Feeling better?" San asks after a long moment, his voice like a soothing balm on Wooyoung's bruised mind. Faint laughter echoes in the background of wherever San currently is, and it defintely contributes to calming him down.

"I don't feel sick anymore, s-so that's good," Wooyoung responds. His heart flutters at San's help, stomach swarmed with knots. "Thank you, San."

"Wooyoung?" Someone yells right then. It's Hongjoong, the man stepping out of a sleek silver car. His dark hair's frazzled, clothes askew as he heads for him.

"Hongjoong hyung's here for me," Wooyoung tells San even though San doesn't know who he is. The man's just so easy to confide in, and now that Wooyoung is positive San cares, he's more than happy to share parts of himself with the taller.

He barely reacts as Hongjoong pulls him up and supports him into the car. "Can I call you later?"

San takes a while to reply, and Wooyoung curses himself for crossing another one of San's boundaries. He's about to apologize when San mutters a quiet 'okay'.

Wooyoung exhales in relief, while Hongjoong pulls into the street. "Thanks."

San doesn't reply, but it has no effect on the pure joy coursing through Wooyoung's veins. Two people have died under Wooyoung's watch, and he's sure he hallucinated earlier, but he doesn't have the heart to focus on any of that right now.

"We need to talk," Hongjoong tells him from the front. "Something happened when you were at that woman's appartment."

"Not now, hyung."

"This is serious. Something blocked out your signal in that apartment. I could no longer see or hear you for thirty seconds," Hongjoong admits, but Wooyoung isn't having any of it. He wants erase what happened at that apartment for good.

"Just take me home, hyung."

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a/n: thoughts?