It took Seungcheol an hour to drive to Hoseok's apartment. They decided upon themselves to stay somewhere else, somewhere Jaehyung wouldn't expect the group to go to since he doesn't know their nurse-friend. They honestly don't know what to do at this point, don't know where to go, don't know who to go to, to actually benefit them.

Hoseok was waiting for them at the cafe that's at the ground floor of his apartment complex, sipping on a cup of something, probably tea, sunglasses covering his eyes, and in a yellow tank top and shorts. He looks like a basic fuck boy slash hipster slash metropolitan gay man with his legs crossed, expensive phone on hand. Mingyu didn't expect how this man could be so laid back and obnoxiously looking while being a nurse in a prestigious hospital.

They park a few blocks away from the cafe and walk together towards him. "Hoseok." Mingyu says when they start to get closer to the man.

Hoseok looks up from behind his sunglasses and he beams, pulling up his glasses to his head. He stands to hug Mingyu. "Hey."

Mingyu smiles, too. "You look obnoxious." He says when he separates himself from Hoseok.

Hoseok spots Wonwoo behind him and Wonwoo moves away so that they could hug. "Wonwoo. It's nice to see you out." Hoseok glares at Mingyu from his shoulders. "Your boyfriend is being an ass about me flaunting my gay ass." And Wonwoo laughs. He walks to Seungcheol and slaps his face lightly. "Missed you, daddy long legs." And Seungcheol snorts a laugh while Hoseok turns to Jeonghan. "Hey, little thang." Hoseok receives a glare from Jeonghan. "I'll buy doughnuts, then we can go up."

__

They enter Hoseok's apartment and it looked like every hipster's apartment in movies; it has high ceilings with high windows to light up the whole room, one wall is a bare brick wall that has the pansexual flag plastered on it and picture frames adorning it; at the opposite side of the room, there's a flat screen TV sitting on a table with succulents around it; the coffee table also has a single succulent plant and a couch that has a fluffy blanket covering it; the carpet under the couch and the coffee table resemble dog fur, white and soft to the touch; in another side of the room was the kitchen with an island that also has succulents on top of it; and the other rooms were bedrooms.

"Oh, wow." Wonwoo says when they enter, looking around.

"I know. Might as well use the money I get for my hard work and live beautifully and comfortably. Too bad I live alone. The place is too big for one person." Hoseok faces Mingyu with a smirk. "Maybe you could hand me your professor's number so that I won't be lonely anymore."

Mingyu glares at him. "Keep your dick inside your pants, dude. Do it yourself."

Hoseok glares back. "Help a fellow gay man out, fam." He starts to walk away from them, to the kitchen. "Wait, I'll bring you guys some coffee and serve the doughnuts."

Mingyu and Wonwoo sits on the couch, knees bumping into each other, while Seungcheol is sitting on a separate seat, Jeonghan on his lap. Mingyu reaches for Wonwoo's hand to intertwine with his, and he could feel his lover's cold, nervous hands. Mingyu looks at him. "Baby?" Mingyu says but Wonwoo merely hums. "Are you okay?"

It takes a moment for him to answer back, raising his eyebrows and momentarily looks at Mingyu before looking away again. "Huh? Yeah, I'm okay." But Mingyu doesn't believe it.

"Are you sure? What's bothering you, Won?" Jeonghan asks, looking at Wonwoo with concern.

"It's just..." He sighs, eyes closing while his breathing loosens. "I'm scared."

Mingyu leans his head on Wonwoo's shoulder. "Tell us what's up, baby."

"This is so dangerous; our situation is so dangerous. And I'm so scared that one of us will get hurt from this. I don't even know what we should do at this point. All I want is to sleep and eat my new favorite mild ramen spicy that only exists in Mingyu's life." Wonwoo huffs a small laugh and it send Mingyu's heart up above the clouds, a soft pull in the midst of a storm cloud almost coming towards them.

"No one will get hurt and we will sleep as much as we want when we get back, okay baby?" Wonwoo nods. "Good."

At that moment, Hoseok comes in with mugs of coffee and a plate of the doughnuts on a tray and places it in the coffee table on front of them. He sits on the carpeted floor and grabs one doughnut from the plate and shoves it in his mouth. "So, what's the tea?" His says, mouth full.

"We're on the run." Seungcheol says before Mingyu could even open his mouth.

"That seems dramatic." Hoseok says.

"We're serious though. Mingyu's psychopath of a father is hunting us down and won't hesitate to shoot our heads off because he knows we have enough evidence to bring him down."

"Oh shit, really? Like, he has a gun and would shoot you?" Hoseok seems nervous with his words.

"Shot our landlord, who is apparently Mingyu's uncle, who is also a retired mafia boss, right on the head and ran out to try catching our car with his blood all over his face."

Mingyu could feel Wonwoo's skin go cold and his body shiver in fear. "That's shit."

"I agree." Mingyu couldn't help but breath out the agreement, grief in his voice.

"How did you end up in this mess?"

Mingyu spills everything just like how he told Wonwoo the truth, and it's obvious on how Hoseok's face turn from nervousness to fear that he is scared and anxious for the boys.

"I-I don't k-know if I can help you guys. I want to help. How c-can I help my favorite boys?" Hoseok is visibly shaking with the fact that his young friends are in extreme danger.

"We just need a place to stay. Enough time to gather our thoughts." Wonwoo says as his hold on his lover softens.

"Of course. Anything for the four of you."

__

Mingyu and Wonwoo are cuddling on the couch while Seungcheol's rock music blasts from his laptop. Their eldest friend was sitting on the floor, his laptop on front of him, and eyes fixated on the screen. Jeonghan was lying down Seungcheol's lap, playing something on his phone, while Hoseok was cooking them dinner in another room.

We sing along to "forever young."

It was a song Seungcheol would sing to more than once a day, which Mingyu doesn't retaliate with because the song was good in itself. He jams to it even.

Wendy, run away with me .

He could feel Wonwoo snuggle closer to him, head resting on Mingyu's arm as his back is flushed on his chest. He could feel the faint smell of lavender on his lover's hair and it really hit home, nostalgic and warm to the touch. It was like that night when he first let Wonwoo in his life, their bodies close but not close enough on Mingyu's bed, talking about everything and nothing in the same time.

I wanna be your lost boy, your last chance, a better reality.

"Baby." He feels Wonwoo's chest vibrate as he calls out for Mingyu. He hums in reply. "What song is this?" His lover asks.

Wendy, we can get away.

I promise if  you're with me, say the word and we'll find a way.

"It's really nice."  Wonwoo says as he intertwines his hand with Mingyu's which was placed on his side.

I can be your lost boy, your last chance,

You're "everything better plan"

"Yeah, it's really nice."

Oh, somewhere in neverland.

Moments like these makes him feel at ease to the point that he has forgotten that someone is hunting them down and won't hesitate to shoot their brains out. He wants everything to go back to normal, to the times when he didn't know the extent of his father's wrath, only having Mingyu wallow in his own pain his past brought to him. It feels so distant now that they're all together, stress and fatigue in their eyes. He's just very thankful that he has people who is willing to help them even if it was miniscule. Mingyu makes a mental note to himself to thank Seungcheol and Jeonghan for being here even if they're not involved in the first place, getting dragged into Mingyu's daddy problems.

Seungcheol suddenly grunts in frustration, rubbing his face with his hands aggressively. "What up, Cheol?" Mingyu asks. Jeonghan sits up to put a hand on his lover's cheek. "What's wrong, baby?"

"Fuck." Seungcheol says as he leans into Jeonghan's touch. "The file is barred."

Mingyu sits up, too, removing his arm from under Wonwoo's head. "What do you mean barred?"

Seungcheol hits his keys multiple times, aggression and anger painted on his face. "It means that the files can't be accessed. This is so frustrating!" Seungcheol shouts and Jeonghan hushes him.

"Calm down, baby. C'mere." Jeonghan gestures Seungcheol to come closer and Seungcheol buries his face beneath Jeonghan's chin. "Breath. I know this is so frustrating." Jeonghan rubs soothing circles at his lover's back. "Now, tell us what we could do about it."

Seungcheol sighs. "I need to hack into it."

"But isn't that easy for you, baby?" Jeonghan reaches for Seungcheol's face and pulls him up to look at him directly.

Seungcheol just pouts at him. "This is different. This is some kind of high security bullshit - something you would only find in government systems. I know how to hack into it, but I need all the time in the world. But since we are being hunted down, I don't even think we have the time for that."

Jeonghan lays a peck on Seungcheol's lips and smiles at him. "Then we'll give it to you. Don't worry about it and leave the rest to us. Just do whatever you have to do, and we'll handle it, yeah?"

"Thank you, Jeonghan." Seungcheol smiles, too.

"That's cute." Hoseok comes in from the kitchen with plates of their food. "Food's ready." Seungcheol puts his laptop away while Hoseok places the food on the table.

They eat, talking aimlessly about the TV shows they need to catch up on that Hoseok has watched and also the eternal pining of Hoseok for Mingyu's professor. They were laughing that whole time they were eating, and it really felt soothing to Mingyu's nervous heart.

When the plates have been washed and dried, they all retreat to their own rooms that Hoseok offered. Wonwoo was already wrapped around with the bed's blanket, cheeks puffing out and hair messy on the pillow when Mingyu steps out from the shower. "Ah, cute." Mingyu says when he sees Wonwoo already asleep, mouth open and cheeks pink.

Mingyu lies himself down right next to his lover and brushes a stray hair away from his face, caressing his fingers through Wonwoo's smooth skin. "Good night." He says in a whisper, placing a kiss on Wonwoo's forehead, and his lovers hums in content.

__

The next time he wakes, someone has their hands on his shoulder, shaking him. "Mingyu, wake up." Someone says in a whisper.

"Wha-" He turns to the voice and he sees Hoseok's nervous look. Hoseok quickly places a finger to his lips.

"Quietly, Mingyu, wake Wonwoo up and pack. There's someone outside the apartment complex trying to buzz themselves in."

"Huh? Then why do we-"

"It's your father. He has two other guys." Mingyu's eyes go wide. "Quickly." Hoseok leaves when Mingyu is trying to shake his lover awake.

Wonwoo wakes up in a start, eyes flying open. "What? Oh my god, what's wrong?" His lover sits up.

"We have to leave, baby. Pack up. You can change into something more comfortable, but be quick."

"What wrong?" Wonwoo looks at Mingyu with nervous eyes.

"I'll explain later, but we have to go."

Mingyu is quick to leave the bed, putting on his sneakers quickly and his jacket around his shoulders. While Wonwoo is fixing up their bags, Mingyu runs out to see Seungcheol kissing Jeonghan quickly at their door, hearing them whisper 'I love you' to each other. Seungcheol turns to Mingyu. "You have everything settled? Your laptop, do you have it?" Mingyu asks.

"It's inside the bag - with Jeonghan. I'll wait for you at the living room." Seungcheol says, leaving Mingyu to walk away.

Mingyu goes back to his lover, who's putting on his shoes and pocketing his phone. When Wonwoo stands, Mingyu rushes towards him, grabbing for his lover's face and doesn't hesitate to bring him closer for a kiss. Five seconds felt like forever to them, and the time they separate, it made Mingyu feel safe. Wonwoo rests his forehead on Mingyu's when they separate, panting and flushed. "I love you, Wonwoo. Stay close to me and you'll be safe." Wonwoo nods frantically.

"I love you, too, Mingyu."

When they come out to the living room, hands intertwined tightly, Hoseok was opening his window open and looking down towards the street. "Go down through the fire exit. Someone buzzed them in." Hoseok looks at the boys with fear.

"Do you see anyone waiting below?" Seungcheol asks, and Hoseok looks again.

"There's no one there. Be quick. Seungcheol, ready your keys, and don't hesitate to break the speed limit." Hoseok says to them. "Be safe, please." It sounded like a plead and Mingyu's heart aches.

Seungcheol is already stepping out from the window, Jeonghan behind him, when Mingyu walks towards their nurse-friend, placing a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, nurse Hobi. We owe you."

"Just text me if you're settled somewhere, okay?" He places a hand on Mingyu's cheek. "I'll be waiting."

They quickly climb down the fire exit, and Mingyu is sweating from either his aching muscles or the fear and adrenaline he feels. But he couldn't careless with how his heart is trying to jump out of his chest. All he could think of is his friends, most especially his lover, and their safety. They're hanging from a thin thread and one wrong move, they'll be plummeting towards their deaths. And he doesn't want that; he still has to watch Seungcheol and Jeonghan get married and exchange their tear-jerking vows, he still has to witness Hoseok finally dating Seokjin and finally suck faces. He still has to watch his life be played towards forever with Wonwoo in his hands - with the universe curled on his pinky finger, promises of future 'I love you's and fate intertwining their fingers together.

They sprint when they reach the bottom of the fire exit. They're halfway near their car when the glass door of the apartment complex shatters. Mingyu looks behind him and sees his father and his minions running towards them, guns out and furious. Wonwoo is dragging him by the hand when Mingyu looks forward. When they reach Seungcheol's car, they quickly climb in, and all they could hear is their hearts beating and their ragged breaths catching on their throats.

Seungcheol quickly turns the engine on, and a gunshot ricochets on the pavement beside them, and that's when panic tries to break through Mingyu's lungs. But Wonwoo has a hand on Mingyu's hand, assurring, keeping him grounded. He turns to see how far they are from them, but Wonwoo quickly places a hand on Mingyu's cheek to stop him, turning his face towards his lover. "Don't look, baby. We're okay. Breath with me."

Seungcheol is already driving away when Mingyu is heaving for air, sobbing in between his gasps, and his head resting on his lover's shoulder. Wonwoo stopped talking to breath deeply so that Mingyu could follow him. Mingyu only snaps out of it when they're already in the highway, far from where they were. Wonwoo has his soft hands on Mingyu's face and Wonwoo brings him close for a kiss. Mingyu relaxes, breathing out deeply. When they separate, Wonwoo smiles. "Better?" Mingyu merely nods timidly, his body tired. "Sleep more. I'll wake you up when we're somewhere safe."

Mingyu nods again and goes to sleep, his head resting on his lover's shoulder and hands intertwined.

__

Mingyu wakes up with a soft hand on his face. He's greeted with his lover's bright smile when he finally opens his eyes. "Good morning. It's six in the morning and we're going to have breakfast. Do you want to eat, or do you want to sleep more?"

Mingyu notices that Seungcheol and Jeonghan is already outside. Jeonghan has his arms around Seungcheol's neck and Seungcheol has his hands on Jeonghan's bare hip. They look like they're laughing between themselves, smiles and laughter in their own bubble. Mingyu looks back at Wonwoo and doesn't hesitate to peck his lips. "I want breakfast."

Wonwoo's cheeks flush a bright pink and Mingyu smiles when Wonwoo covers his face in embarrassment. "I hate you." He says behind his hands. He continues to leave the car, and Mingyu only laughs. "I hate you so much."

"I love you, too." Mingyu says in between laughs, as he follows on leaving the backseat to step outside.

The morning air was chilly and the sky was in a light blue color, the sun not peeking out yet. Wonwoo was watching him walking towards them and reaches out his hand so that they could intertwine their hands together. Mingyu thinks that's all they have been doing recently, holding each other close, as if the fear of losing the other will happen. Mingyu knows that Wonwoo is scared to lose Mingyu again, and Wonwoo knows that Mingyu is scared, too, so they have this mutual understanding to keep each other near, at arm's length, without explicitly saying it.

"Ready for breakfast? I want pancakes." Seungcheol says as he separates himself from Jeonghan, walking away to stretch, arms above his head. Jeonghan intertwines his hand on Mingyu's and he looks at him with a soft smile.

"You okay now? We were worried that you'll pass out from the lack of oxygen."

"Yeah." Mingyu smiles. "I guess I just got overwhelmed."

"That's fine. We're safe for now." Jeonghan releases his hold from Mingyu to run towards his lover. "I'm hungry! I want all the pancakes!" He says loudly into the morning air, and Mingyu and Wonwoo laughs.

They step inside a diner, the kinds you see in movies where it's in the side of the road and booths are lined up near the window and high chairs at the center of the restaurant. They sit on the farthest booth, each couple sitting beside each other. They are quickly given a menu by a woman with bright red lipstick and a smile on his face. "How may I help the beautiful and wonderful gay men of our society? I heard one of you shout for pancakes from the parking lot." Jeonghan chuckles, embarrassed, and the three other boys laugh. "It's six in the morning, and during this time we have this promo where we offer unlimited amount of pancakes. Would you want that?" The lady says towards Jeonghan.

"Really?" He lights up in excitement. "I'll have that." The lady writes it down on her notepad. "How about you, baby?" Jeonghan asks, turning towards his lover.

Seungcheol goes through the menu. "I'll have chicken and waffles." He says with a smile.

"I'll also have the unlimited pancakes." Wonwoo says and closes the menu book.

"I'll have coffee." Mingyu says and Wonwoo looks at him.

"You're not eating?" He asks worriedly.

"I'll just share with you, baby."

The lady