The Maid Prince (Chapter 10)
Title: The Maid Prince
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: 2Min
Summary: Taemin loses his way once Minho is gone, and Minho finds that he as well is miserable without his love.
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I can't take this anymore.
Again Taemin found himself in his bathtub, but this time was different. He hadn't remembered turning on the water at all, and stepping into the bloodstained tub was a complete blur. Fully clothed, he let the hot water cover everything up to his neck and he stared blankly up at the
ceiling.
How had things gotten this far? At what point did he decide to let himself go so much? He couldn't recognize himself in the mirror anymore because the sleepless nights had changed his eyes into dark, lifeless orbs.
I'm pathetic, really.
Momo Sweet's manager demanded that he seek medical treatment before returning to work, but the wounds were deeper than skin. He was tortured by voices that were continuously screaming in his mind. Was he going crazy? Or had he gone crazy? Either way, it was too late for help now.
With a shaking hand, he picked up the now dulling razorblade and studied it. He knew this was wrong, but so does every addict while they take another shot of their drug; it doesn't stop them.
He felt reality again when tears wet his cheeks. He wasn't crying, tears just rolled down and hit the still bathwater, creating the only sound in the entire apartment. Almost unintentionally, he roughly pierced the blade into his skin and ripped a large tear down his arm, wincing and letting out an involuntary scream.
Oh, shit.
The cut was too deep and jagged to stop on it's own this time. Before he could realize anything, his vision blurred and his body started to feel cold. Slowly, the color red enveloped him and his reflexes collapsed, making him unable to keep himself above water.
~*~
Minho felt nervous when he approached Taemin's door. He really doubted that Taemin would take him back after this situation, after all this time. Would he still have the charm or would he have thrown it away to forget him..?
After taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.
For several minutes he waited and there was no answer.
"Taemin-ah, it's me..." He leaned against the door. "I know you probably hate me, but just give me a few minutes... everything's all messed up."
Still no answer.
"Taemin-ah?" He knocked again and heard a faint meow from Snickerdoodle on the other side.
Something's wrong.
He felt something instinctual take over. Something told him that things weren't right. He turned the doorknob expected to fight with it, but to
his surprise the door was unlocked.
Something is definitely wrong.
"Taemin!" He called into the apartment, stopping in his tracks when he noticed how destroyed the place was. Things hadn't been cared for in months and it showed, except for the cat who was still as fat and fluffy as ever.
Suddenly, a strong bitter smell caught his attention.
Is that... blood?
With anxiety and adrenaline pumping through his body, he stopped in front of the open bathroom door and saw the most painful sight of his
entire life; Taemin's body, possibly lifeless, literally gashed open and bleeding out. The water covering his body was completely opaque with deep red and a slight tinge of blue painted his lips.
"Oh god..!" He rushed to the edge of the tub and pulled Taemin out of the water, not caring about the overflow that spilled out.
"Baby no!" Minho frantically pumped air into his mouth, hoping to god that he was still holding on. After a few breaths, he felt a slow heartbeat and heard a shallow breath come from Taemin.
"Jesus Christ, Taemin! What the fuck did you do to yourself!?" Minho cradled him close and cried. Even without a response, he just needed to feel Taemin in his arms. After a short moment, he removed his shirt, ripped it into shreads, and tied them onto Taemin's arm to create tourniquets and apply heavy pressure. "I'm not letting you die, baby." He promised, fighting through his tears and fear.
As best as he could, he continued to give first aid after he called for an ambulance.
"...Hyung..."
Minho looked back down to Taemin and found the boy looking back at him. "Taemin..." More tears came as he touched his love's cheek, stroking it softly and smiling.
"...You came back..." Taemin gave the faintest smile.
"I did Tae, I did..." Minho brushed Taemin's hair back with his fingertips and smiled. "You're gonna be alright, hyung is here~" He heard the ambulance siren wail from outside. "They're here to come help you, okay? You won't feel sick anymore."
Taemin only nodded in response in his state of confusion.
~*~
After being released from a week in the hospital, Taemin was still ordered to be on suicide watch. That meant he had to return to the hospital every few days for counseling and a 'cut' checkup; a physical exam to make sure he wasn't harming himself anymore.
Still, returning home felt wonderful.
"Baby," Minho arranged some comfy blankets on the couch for Taemin. "Now we have a chance to talk about what happened~" He sat and beckoned for Taemin to join him.
"Hyung," Taemin layed across the couch and put his head on Minho's lap. "It doesn't matter to me what happened. I'm just happy that you're here now." He sipped at the banana milk they had gotten on their way home.
"Well, you should know." Minho stroked his hair. "Sooyoung was lying. I was stupid for not thinking that in the first place."
Taemin's eyes widened. "She was? Omo, that's really low..."
"Mmhmm," Minho smoothed his hand over Taemin's healing arms. "Why did you do this baby? You have such beautiful skin..."
Taemin retracted his arms shyly. "I'm sorry hyung... It was such a big mistake. I really wasn't trying to kill myself..." He knew that his words would mean nothing after that incident.
Minho nodded. "Okay," He leaned down and kissed Taemin's forehead. "Let's start over, okay?"
"No," Taemin shook his head. "Let's continue from where we left off." He smiled, and pulled Minho down for a kiss, one that he'd been waiting for a long time to feel.