Because it's the moment of Minghao's realization that really stuck with me.
ooohhhh okayyy so the relationship and history between the characters in this fic is fairly complicated. i don't actually remember how i thought of this plot point, but i really like it. basically, y/n finds minghao on a mission and realizes it's him, that he's not dead! and their first thought is-- is he okay? was he kidnapped by the triad? is he safe? and they're waiting with jeonghan to ambush them (minghao and jun = crime partners, minghao is brains, jun is brawn, both of them are tricky and flexible and sneaky), but y/n breaks their cover because the only thing she can think of is minghao
and minghao responds automatically and shoots y/n. and he realizes, in a single horrified moment, that he just shot his estranged spouse and the love of his life, directly in the chest. and he's running toward them, but jeonghan is firing on them and calling for backup and jun is pulling him away and the last time he sees you before jun pulls him around the corner, you're unconscious on the floor, and for all he knows, dead.
the injury leaves y/n with chronic pain and a lengthy recovery, and it's like a constant reminder that the minghao they used to know is gone. that minghao did this to them, that minghao shot them and nearly killed them. the injury and the scar is like, a recurring echo in the story, and a source of regret and guilt and anger for both y/n and minghao.
there's another scene where y/n wakes from emergency surgery and is still drugged up and not entirely there, and they see minghao, who secretly leaves his accomplices for a few hours and sneaks into the hospital just to make sure you're still alive. snippet below the cut:
You can’t sleep, but you’re too drugged up to be fully awake, so you drift on the line between water and sand, dreams and wakefulness.
So it must be just a dream when you see Minghao, by your bedside. You see him walk slowly around your room, pick up the clipboard by the foot of the bed and look through your chart, come back to stand by your bed.
“Minghao,” you try to say, but your lips are too dry and your throat too sore after having been intubated. His name comes out as a silent breath.
“I’m here,” you hear a whisper in response.
It must be a dream, your brain says, the part that still has a grasp on reality. “Minghao,” your lips form the shapes again. “Where are you?”
He shot you, you hear your brain say in someone else’s voice. He’s the reason you’re here right now. He shot you. He tried to kill you. Minghao, where are you? I’ve been looking for you for so long. Why did you hurt me? Why did you do it? Minghao, you try to say, but the air that leaves your lungs is empty, Minghao, where are you?
[R] — rated r not suitable for younger audiences due to violent content
[S] — spicy content not suitable for younger audiences due to sexual content
[👌🏽] — personal favorite 10/10, would recommend
[💥] — action based, suitable for thrill-seekers
THE BOYZ
Kevin Moon
A PRINCE'S TALE | [C] [👌🏽] | Between a stoic knight, an affably evil rival, a timid shapeshifting dragon, and a plethora of other eccentric characters, Prince Kevin quickly realizes he’s on a convoluted, frustrating, and absurd adventure to win a lady’s heart.
WE CAN BE HEROES [MULTIFANDOM] — an anthology series with your favorite idols as superheroes
ATEEZ
Kim Hongjoong
SPECTER OF THE GOBLIN | [👌🏽] [Green Goblin!Hongjoong] | Hongjoong wakes up in his father’s study with no memory of how or why. Or the one where Hongjoong transforms into the Green Goblin.
Jung Wooyoung
TRANSFORMATIONS: PART ONE & PART TWO | [👌🏽] [Spider-Man!Wooyoung] | Change is unexpected, especially when you’ve been bitten by a genetically-altered spider. Or the one where Wooyoung becomes Spider-Man.
BTS
Min Yoongi
HAWKEYE: EVERYMAN VOL. 1 | [💥] [Hawkeye!Yoongi] | TEASER | In a world where BTS are superheroes, Min Yoongi is the one and only Hawkeye.
Park Jimin
HAWKEYE: EVERYMAN VOL. 1 | [💥] [Kate Bishop!Jimin] | TEASER | In a world where BTS are superheroes, Park Jimin aspires to do good and what better way to do so than by being the protégée to the one and only Hawkeye.
Jeon Jungkook
SPIDER-MEN: FAR FROM HOME | [💥] [Spider-Man!Jungkook] | MASTERLIST | When the sky is ripped open and the world seems to come undone, Jeon Jungkook—the one and only Spider-Man—finds himself in the middle of something bigger than himself.
STRAY KIDS
Bang Chan
STEPPING UP | [💥][👌🏽] [Cap!Chan] | When a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are held for ransom by terrorists, Captain Bang Chan is tasked with aiding in their rescue.
THUNDER & MISCHIEF | [C] [💥] [TVA Agent!Chan] | TEASER | When two variants, a Loki and a Thor, break into the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority, caseworker Christopher Bang is forced handle the situation. Unfortunately for him, the Sons of Odin are on a personal mission and there’s nothing in the Multiverse that will stop them—not even a bunch of bureaucratic timekeepers.
Lee Minho
THUNDER & MISCHIEF | [C] [💥] [Loki!Minho] | TEASER | When two variants, a Loki and a Thor, break into the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority, caseworker Christopher Bang is forced handle the situation. Unfortunately for him, the Sons of Odin are on a personal mission and there’s nothing in the Multiverse that will stop them—not even a bunch of bureaucratic timekeepers.
Hwang Hyunjin | APPEARS IN: STEPPING UP (cameo)
THUNDER & MISCHIEF | [C] [💥] [Thor!Hyunjin] | TEASER | When two variants, a Loki and a Thor, break into the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority, caseworker Christopher Bang is forced handle the situation. Unfortunately for him, the Sons of Odin are on a personal mission and there’s nothing in the Multiverse that will stop them—not even a bunch of bureaucratic timekeepers.
Han Jisung
ALIVE | [💥] [Spider-Man!Jisung] When duty calls, Han Jisung—the Sensational Spider-Man—answers the call without hesitation.
TXT
Choi Yeonjun
SPIDER-MEN: FAR FROM HOME | [💥] [Spider-Man!Yeonjun] | MASTERLIST | When the sky is ripped open and the world seems to come undone, Jeon Jungkook—the one and only Spider-Man—finds himself in the middle of something bigger than himself.
NCT / WAYV
Mark Lee | APPEARS IN: STEPPING UP (cameo)
WEBBED SURVEILLANCE | [💥][👌🏽] [Spider-Man!Mark] | An exasperated Spider-Man trails the elusive Black Cat across town, hoping to knock some sense into the master thief.
Hendery Wong
FREAK OUT! | [C] [💥] [Freakazoid!Hendery] | Struggling to balance his rather uneventful life with all the useless information in his head and his alter-ego’s chaotic personality, Hendery finds himself involved in all kinds unlikely situations that constantly test not only his mettle as a hero but his own sanity.
ATEEZ
Choi San
MASTER OF THE SEAS | [CS] [R] [💥] | TEASER | DRAMATIS PERSONA | Born in a life of piracy, Choi San is slowly but surely becoming a living legend.
NCT / WAYV
OT23
MAVERICK LUCK | [C] [R] [💥] | TEASER | When a big bad ensemble—all of them wanting his head for past grievances—pursue him, Johnny Suh reluctantly joins forces with a gang of wholesome crossdressers and the worst tailor in the county to save his own skin and keep a small town out of trouble.
Ten Lee
BE SEEING YOU | [A] [R] Part of the Addictions Collab | PRELUDE | Ten has known nothing but violence his entire life and has embraced it as an enforcer to some disreputable individuals. When decides he's had enough, his decision to leave it all behind might not be as easy as he expected.
Mark Lee
BLUE HOUR | [A] | TEASER | Finding themselves at a crossroads, Mark and Donghyuck decide the best thing to do is hash things out: cards on the table, no gloves, just real talk. Thing is, doing that in the middle of an anger management session might not be the best idea.
NEVER TOO LATE | [A] [CS] [F] | Sometimes Letting Go Collab
Na Jaemin
DON’T LET IT PASS | [A] [C] [F] | “A Vibe” Collab | Admitted to an underfunded psychiatric clinic, Na Jaemin feels stuck and the “nice” girl that always says hi and waves at him isn't helping.
STRAY KIDS
Felix Lee
FOR THE HOMIES | [C] | Felix loves to bake. The boys enjoy the “magic grass.” One thing leads to another and—well, you can guess the rest.
NCT / WAYV
Johnny Suh
ANIMAM AGARE | [A] [F] | In a single blink, a normal day turns to tragedy. With a snap, everything turns to ashes.
AS YOU WISH | [S] [👌🏽] | A rainy night and boredom leads to some teasing.
CLOSING TIME | [C][💥] | TEASER | In hindsight, reading from the Book of Dead was an abysmal idea. Lucky for you, the last customer for the night lends a helping, if troubling hand against a recently resurrected mummy.
Qian Kun
THE RUNNING TYPE | [💥] [👌🏽] [Mandolarian!Kun] | Kun is no stranger to bounties who panic the moment they see him. The ones that run, though, tend to really piss him off.
Ten Lee
ANIMAM AGARE | [A] [F] | In a single blink, a normal day turns to tragedy. With a snap, everything turns to ashes.
Dong Sicheng
GOING THROUGH IT | [C] [S] | It’s late and you’re going through it. Thing is, Sicheng doesn’t see how that's his problem. Or the one where you’re horny and Sicheng couldn’t care less.
EX ANIMO | [A] [👌🏽]| Though you're no longer with me, I'm glad we loved each other.
THE LONG NIGHT | For these criminals, it's all about getting what's theirs. Easy in, easy out. A Marvel short-story.
