The next day, 8 a.m. in the morning,
Han gained consciousness.
The first thing he noticed was the pale gold light filtering through the heavy curtains, cutting across the stone floor. His head felt thick, like he'd been dragged up from deep water. He blinked once, twice, and the blurry ceiling slowly sharpened.
Then he turned his head.
Taejoon was there, slumped in the wooden chair by the bed. His cheek was pressed against his palm, dark hair falling into his eyes. He was asleep, but his brows were still knit together, like worry had followed him into his dreams. He hadn't changed clothes. The same jacket from the last time han saw him, and there were dark circles under his eyes
On the bedside table, a cup of water sat half-empty. Han's cracked phone rested next to it, screen dark.
Han tried to shift, but his limbs felt like lead. The faint rustle of the sheets was all it took.
Taejoon jolted awake instantly, like he'd been sleeping with one eye open. His gaze locked onto Han, and for a heartbeat he just stared, like he didn't trust what he was seeing.
Then his whole face crumpled with relief.
"Han," he breathed. His voice was rough from disuse. "You're awake."
Han's throat was dry. He tried to speak, but only a rasp came out.
Taejoon was already moving, grabbing the cup and bringing it to his lips.
"Slow," Taejoon said, one hand carefully lifting Han's head. "Don't choke and scare me again."
The water was cool. Han swallowed, coughed once, and met Taejoon's eyes. They were bloodshot, exhausted, and completely fixed on him.
"You stayed," Han managed, voice barely there.
Taejoon let out a short, shaky breath that was half laugh, half scoff. "Where else would I be?" He set the cup down, but his hand didn't leave Han's. "Idiot. Don't look so surprised."
Han's lips twitched, but it wasn't quite a smile. "Could've left," he rasped. "Anyone else would've."
"Well, I'm not anyone else." Taejoon's thumb brushed over Han's knuckles before he seemed to realize what he was doing. He didn't pull away though. "And don't start with that self-sacrificing crap. Not today."
Han huffed. It turned into another cough. "Bossy."
"Yeah, yeah." Taejoon eased Han's head back down onto the pillow, but kept the blanket tucked around him. "How do you feel? Actually. No jokes."
Han stared at the ceiling for a second, taking inventory. "Like I got hit by a carriage. Twice. Then it backed up to make sure."
Taejoon's mouth pressed into a thin line. "That bad?"
"Mn." Han's eyes slid back to him. "But better than before. I think. Everything was… cold. Then dark. Then you were yelling."
"I wasn't yelling," Taejoon muttered, but his ears were red. "I was projecting. Loudly."
"Same thing." A faint, real smile ghosted across Han's face. It vanished fast. "Did… did I say anything? Before I passed out?"
Taejoon went still. "You don't remember?"
"Bits." Han frowned. "You. Saying my name. Your hand. That's all."
Taejoon exhaled, something in his shoulders loosening. "Then that's all that matters." He reached for the water again. "Another sip."
Han obeyed, then sank back, exhausted from just that much talking. "You look awful, you know."
"Stop saying that." But Taejoon's voice had no bite. He set the cup down and dragged his chair closer with a scrape. "I didn't sleep. Sue me."
"You could've." Han's words were slower now. "Should've."
"And leave you alone?" Taejoon shook his head. "Not a chance."
Quiet stretched between them, but it wasn't heavy anymore. Just tired. Safe.
Han's eyelids were getting heavy again. He fought it for a second, then mumbled, "Don't go."
Taejoon's expression softened completely. "I told you. I'm not going anywhere." He adjusted the blanket, then, after a second, let his hand rest on top of Han's again. "Sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up."
Han didn't answer. He was already slipping under. But his fingers curled, just slightly, around Taejoon's.
Taejoon watched him, and finally let himself lean back in the chair. He didn't sleep. Just watched Han breathe, like if he blinked, the whole thing might vanish.
The door creaked open before Taejoon could even think to stop it.
Alexander stepped in first, eyes scanning the room fast. Right behind him came the Alpha Boys — Harrison, Lorenzo, Ace, Adriel, Hudson, and Caleb — all trying to look casual and failing. Jace and Kai from the idols slipped in last, Adriel trailing just behind them.
The room, which had been quiet for hours, suddenly felt crowded.
Alexander's gaze landed on the bed. "Is he—"
"Shh," Taejoon hissed instantly, half-rising from his chair. His hand was still on Han's. "He just fell back asleep."
Everyone froze. Six Alpha Boys and three idols all going dead still in a line was kind of ridiculous.
Harrison was the first to whisper, "But he did wake up? For real?"
Taejoon nodded, jaw tight. "Yeah. About an hour ago. Barely. He drank some water. Talked for a minute."
Lorenzo let out a breath. "Thank god." He ran a hand through his hair. "You have no idea how—"
"I have some idea," Taejoon cut in, voice flat.
Ace nudged Lorenzo to shut up. Caleb was already peering around Harrison's shoulder, trying to see Han's face. Hudson just leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, but his shoulders dropped like a weight came off.
Jace cleared his throat quietly. "Is he… okay?"
"He's alive," Taejoon said. Then, softer: "He's gonna be."
Kai exhaled and pressed his palms together, muttering something that sounded like a prayer. Adriel — the idols' Adriel, not the Alpha Boys' one — just stared at Han with wide eyes, looking like he might cry or punch a wall.
Adriel from the Alpha Boys broke the silence. "He look awful."
"Adriel," Harrison hissed.
"What? He does." Adriel didn't back down, but his voice cracked. "He's all pale and—"
"He's breathing," Taejoon snapped. "That's what matters."
Alexander stepped forward, calm but commanding. He put a hand on Taejoon's shoulder. "Easy. We just needed to see him. We've all been going crazy out there."
Taejoon shrugged the hand off, but not angrily. Just tired. "Well, you've seen him. He's asleep. So out. All of you."
"Come on, man," Hudson said quietly. "We just want to—"
"Out," Taejoon repeated. His eyes flicked to Han, making sure the noise hadn't woken him. It hadn't. "Doctor said rest. No stress. And ten people in a room is stress."
Jace was already herding Kai toward the door. "He's right. We can come back later."
Caleb lingered, looking torn. "Tell him… tell him we were here? When he wakes up?"
Taejoon's expression eased a fraction. "Yeah. I'll tell him."
Alexander was the last to move. He studied Taejoon for a second — the dark circles, the death grip he still had on Han's hand. "You need to sleep too," he said, not unkindly.
"I'm fine."
"You're not." Alexander didn't push. Just nodded toward the door. "We'll be in the hall if anything changes. Or if you need backup."
One by one they filed out. Harrison gave Taejoon a tight nod. Lorenzo sighs, then pointed at Han, then at Taejoon — . Ace just clapped Taejoon's shoulder as he passed. The Hudson and Harrison accidentally made eye contact and immediately looked away, awkward.
The door shut with a soft click.
Silence again.
Taejoon let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He looked down at Han, still asleep, still holding his hand.
"See?" he murmured. "Told you everyone was worried. Idiot."
Han didn't answer. But his fingers twitched against Taejoon's, like he'd heard.