Ship: Stray Kids (OT8)

Summary: Felix has gone too far in his attempt of keeping things to himself and the others can't help but worry.

🔺(TW - graphic description- blood and violence.)🔺

Student! Felix (Lee Yongbok)
Students! OT7

(Bang Chan, Lee Minho, Seo Changbin, Hwang Hyunjin, Han Jisung, Kim Seungmin, Yang Jeongin)

Song: badbye - RM

2243 Words

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Morning arose with a fresh start for all. But the grim atmosphere of the dorm didn't quite match. It was as if the life of the place was sucked into another dimension. A dimension of hurt, sadness and despair.

They were back home. Both the older boys of the dorm with a slightly limping and bandaged up Felix. They must have been happy, but here they stood like sims character staring at the boy in question. The trance only broke when the said boy ran to his room before anyone could say anything.

"Yongbok?"
Seungmin called out, only to be stopped by the touch of an arm.

"Don't... Just let him be."
Bang Chan spoke as he looked at the other boys with downcast eyes.

Fortunately it was holiday at the college, and so the boys were able to atleast rest up. Getting by the chores and dirty laundry of the entire week, all of the boys continued with their work, except Felix.

"Bubba, come out and have some lunch please?"
Changbin knocked on the younger's door, unrealistically expecting the blonde boy to actually respond to him.

"No, I'm good."
The deep voice startled Hyunjin who stood behind Changbin by the door.

The next day rolled in with the same dread in all of their faces. It felt foreign to even have this environment in their normally cheerful, energetic and overexcited dorm.

"Lixxie?"
Bang Chan expected the younger to be in bed and get a day off, as his wounds still needed rest. Except the bed was made neatly with no Felix in sight. His backpack was missing along with his black sneakers.

Meaning only one thing: he had already reached college. But it was hardly 6:30.

"Mornin' hyung. How's Felix?"
Jisung's voice shook him off his deep thoughts as he once again continued stirring the pancake batter.

"He left already."
Bang Chan's grim sigh resonated in the silent empty dorm.

He so desperately wanted to know why Felix was acting so...so out of character. Everyone wanted to know what had made him like this in just one day. Fearing the worst, the boys tried their best. Their best to act normal hoping Felix would be remembered of the old him.

"Oh, hyung! He'll get better. Don't worry."
Jisung rubbed the older's back in reassurance.

Soon the breakfast ensued with a disturbing silence. It was no hidden fact that the sunshine of their dorm was Felix. And without him, it was empty. And no one else could get the cheer that died with Felix shutting them out. And just like that, they got out of the door to their respective classes.

Changbin was the first to come back home. Home was it? Because it was no less than a barren hut by the shore. He didn't expect anyone to be there, but he saw the light shining by Felix's door. He treaded carefully to see the blond boy sitting by the bed edge looking through his phone.

"Felix? Let's watch a movie, yeah?"
Changbin asked as he sat next to Felix. He didn't the shiver that ran through Felix's frail fingertips.

"No thanks, hyung."
Felix spoke while putting his charger up.

"Come on! You can pick the movie."
Changbin tried convincing the boy to get out of bed.

"I... No hyung, I'll sleep it off today."
Felix remained adamant about his proposition.

"Why won't you just come with me? Like old times. What changed Felix? You don't even keep eye contact for ten seconds with us. Did we do something wrong?"

Changbin suddenly asked pulling the boy by his arm. He didn't want to but that bubbling feeling never ceased to exist. But, he yet again didn't miss the hiss that came out of Felix's mouth.

"No, I'm just tired"
Felix harshly spoke, pulling his arm away from the tight grip. That was a clear indication of not wanting the older near him.

Changbin just wanted to cuddle the younger, ask him how he was, and how he got hurt. He wanted to know the reason for Felix's quiet behaviour or if he had to smack the person who caused this. He wanted to make the younger laugh and cry out of joy. But the wall in between restricted it.

An invisible wall that pushed everyone out of Felix's safety bubble. It was sad that they were being pushed out, but they had to respect his wishes. Had to believe his white lies.

"Bin-ah! What happened?
Minho asked as he saw the younger come out of Felix's room.

"Nothing, don't worry."
Changbin put up a smile not wanting to worry anyone.

Felix on the other hand, slept with his eyes open. His sanity long gone. He had no go as to what had happened earlier. It was all building up since forever and today was just the day he decided to numb it all with physical pain. The physical pain induced by one self, or by others. But soon his thoughts dissipated as sleep lulled him into nightmare-land.

Meanwhile, it was already eight when all of them returned home from pratice and part-time jobs. And Hyunjin noticed Felix's absence.

"Did he come home?"
Hyunjin asked softly, fully hoping not be disappointed.

"Yeah, he is asleep!"
Seungmin answered with chirpness, as he watched the game that Changbin and Jeongin played on the TV.

"It's his second day without proper food. And knowing him, he probably didn't eat at the cafeteria either."

Chan mumbled, laying on Minho. The younger had his fingers in the oldest's hair to give some sort of reassurance. It had come with years of practice. Practice of having kittens.

Hyunjin couldn't wait no longer, and quietly opened the door to Felix's room. It was dark with only the small stars that hung on the ceiling. It was glowing a fluorescent green and yellow bringing flashbacks of them sleeping together in Felix's room.

But now, it felt so strange and foreign to find Felix like this. Hyunjin hadn't expected the younger to be so distant from all of them. Burnt out in the most painful ways, the younger was just getting through. That was only his emotional health, but his physical signs were much worse.

His wounds still fresh and raw, bandages turning yellow, the eyes dark and red from lack of sleep, his skin dry with no signs of hydration, his once rosy lips chapped and pale. He was an utter mess even after the hospital had fixed him right. It was getting worse. He could see the signs right there.

It hurt Hyunjin physically, he just wanted to caress the other's smooth pale skin and whisper comforting words. Just wanted to hold him in his arms. He couldn't do all that, so instead he went further inside to press a soft kiss on Felix's forehead. Tucking in the blankets upto the younger's chin, Hyunjin whispered a small, "we love you, bubba."

The next day rolled in with equal dark weight of yesterday. Felix had yet again gone to college early. Hyunjin brought up the topic on the breakfast table. The thing that ate him up from within.

"Hyung, I don't know why but I feel like Felix is not getting better. I just want him to be safe. And healthy."
Hyunjin spoke grimly as he moved his spoon in the cereal with disinterest.

"I know Hyunjin."
Minho answered as he stared at his own food.

"He looks like he's a livin' zombie. He's hurt all over. Hasn't changed the bandages properly either."
Jisung added to the conversation.

"Now that you mention it, he had a pained look yesterday when I touched him in the wrist. I didn't even put extra force."
Changbin spoke his mind, remembering yesterday's events.

"Let's just wait for a day."
Chan silenced the boys with a comforting tone.

The evening was exhausting to say the least as everyone had their share of college life and the added stress of the disturbance back home. And the next day came in like a whirlwind yet again with no particular change. But there was a nerve-wrecking fear. Something felt amiss among the things that were to ensue today. Just a premonition of nightmares to come.

"Han-ah! Seungmin-ah! Just accompany him to college, alright? He looks like he is going to pass out. I hope he doesn't faint."

Bang Chan managed to convince the two to basically follow the blond, who had went in to college a little later than usual. The boy was pale and dried off like a leaf. And the oldest was definitely fearful of the consequences.

Seungmin put on his Converse shoes, that were essentially changbin's gifts to him as he waited for Jisung to tag along. Fumbling around, the other came in to do their secret mission. Felix had already gone around the block, mostly with staggered weak steps. It was evident from all of his body language that the boy needed nourishment. But Felix was too adamant for his own downfall.

It was going all well, as the two followed their dorm mate, and best friend go along the pavement. Except until he took an abrupt turn into an alleyway that seemed to dark for the other two.

"Oh you came. Nice."
A gruff voice was heard making the two hide behind the wall.

From the peeping angle, they saw three huge six foot tall boys. Except they wore uniforms. They were from the same university as theirs. Felix stood small, in front of them with his head down.

"Speak up pretty doll. Oh right, you can't! Because you are fucking coward."
One of them spoke with a laugh accompanying by the other boys.

Seungmin didn't expect this. He was confused to say the least. As to why Felix was speaking to these boys, who openly cussed at their sweetheart.

"What a joke! Your life is itself one."
Another piped in, as he walked forward to grab Felix by his chin.

"Why are you so adamant?"
Felix asked with his deep ass voice looking straight into their eyes with a glare.

"Dare you speak back!"
The first guy, preferably the leader of this gang spoke.

Jisung felt shivers down his spine, as he took in the scene. Young Felix in between three grown boys who were ready to use fists and sticks. The alleyway being a gray area for everyone to miss it.

"I will. Coz I deserve better. Not to be bullied by you. Just because I'm from a foreign country doesn't give you any rights, bastard."

Felix yelled pulling his face away from the touch of the ghosting fingertips on his face.

And it seemed like that acted as a trigger to them, as they started throwing punches to Felix's stomach and face. It seemed like the comeback wasn't welcomed by the three, and had angered them too much. Felix couldn't stand the 3:1 ratio, especially when he was so sick.

Seungmin couldn't go in the fight and save his brother. He knew that he will end up in the same manner. He wasn't selfish but he was scared as to what they could do to him. A loud thud was heard as Felix dropped on the road. But the hard kicks to his sides didn't stop as the relentless pace definitely caused some stitches to open up.

"Hope you learnt your lesson, darling. Next time, I want to see you try."
One of them spoke sweetly as he squatted down to look at the bloodied face of Felix.

Jisung had already made calls to everyone back home. To come back, even if they risked missing classes for a day.

"Because I will keep up my promise and torture your dear friends. In front of you."
The leader spat before turning his heels to go away.

Upon seeing the coast clear the two of them scrambled quickly to be met with a passed out Felix. His wounds were harsh and gaping as the red blood stained the pavement. In contrast to the gray, the wet liquid had started to dry rather quickly. Felix had swollen eyes, partially the reason for his sleeping state along with being physically weak.

"Lix?"
Han Jisung asked patting the not hurt parts of his face.

In response, Felix made a small sound of discomfort which was much appreciated by the two. Seungmin already had tear trails on his face as he feared for Felix. Seeing him in this near-death state, scared the living lights out if him.

Atleast Bang Chan was right, Felix had indeed passed out. But this wasn't what they expected. And especially when Felix was struggling to get in air with his blood stuffed nose. His low grumbles for help didn't last long as Seungmin and Han helped him up.

"Let's get home, yeah?"

Hooking an arm behind his thighs and neck, Seungmin carried the boy back to their dorm while Han carried all the three bags. Seungmin didn't mind the blood red stains that came along. All he wanted was for Felix to be safe.