He had always been their shield.
But no matter how much he had tried to protect Dino from the physical horrors of their past, the emotional scars had taken root. Seungcheol could see it in Dino's eyes now, the way they darted nervously around the room, unable to focus. Dino had grown up in their world of violence, chaos, and death, but he had never truly adjusted to it. And Seungcheol hated himself for that.
He hated that he hadn't been able to give Dino the life he deserved. He hated that Dino was even here, preparing for a mission that could get them all killed. Most of all, he hated that Dino looked at him now with a mix of fear and longing—the same way he had looked at him all those years ago, when Seungcheol had promised him that everything would be okay.
But things hadn't been okay. Not then, and not now.
Seungcheol's eyes softened as they lingered on Dino. The boy's fingers hovered over the keyboard again, trembling slightly as he tried to focus. There had been nights, recently, when Seungcheol had heard Dino thrashing in his sleep, crying out in terror. The nightmares had returned, stronger than ever, and Seungcheol knew that Dino was slowly falling apart. But Dino hadn't spoken about it, hadn't confided in anyone. He was trying to be strong, to live up to the expectations his brothers had placed on him, but Seungcheol could see the cracks in his armor.
"Dino," Seungcheol called out softly.
Dino's head snapped up, startled. "Yeah, hyung?" he replied, his voice small and hesitant.
Seungcheol's gaze remained steady, though his heart ached at the sight of the boy's tired eyes. "You've been working hard. Make sure you get some rest tonight."
Dino blinked, surprised by the rare gentleness in Seungcheol's tone. He opened his mouth to respond, to thank him maybe, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. Instead, he simply nodded, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Seungcheol felt a pang in his chest as he watched Dino return to his work, the brief moment of softness between them quickly dissipating. Dino had grown up too fast, had been forced to face horrors no child should ever know. And even though he was an adult now, Seungcheol still saw the little boy he had cradled in his arms, whispering promises of protection that he hadn't been able to keep.
The others had noticed Dino's struggles too. Wonwoo, ever perceptive, had been the first to voice his concerns.
"He's not sleeping well," Wonwoo had said one night, after Dino had gone to bed. "He's getting worse."
Seungcheol had said nothing at the time, but the words had weighed on him, pressing down like an unbearable weight. He had known it was true. Dino wasn't adjusting. He was breaking. Slowly, painfully, and silently. And Seungcheol didn't know how to stop it.
Hoshi had noticed as well, though he never said much. Seungcheol knew that Hoshi cared about Dino deeply—he had practically raised the boy alongside Seungcheol. But Hoshi, like the rest of them, had grown distant over the years, hardened by the responsibilities of their roles. There were moments, though, when Seungcheol would catch Hoshi's eyes lingering on Dino, a flicker of concern passing across his otherwise stoic face.
Jun, on the other hand, had tried to downplay his own worries. "Dino's tough," he had muttered one night, though there had been a tightness in his voice that betrayed his concern. "He'll get through it. He's just... adjusting."
But Seungcheol knew better. Dino wasn't like them. He never had been. The trauma of their shared past had haunted him in ways that were different from the others. While Hoshi, Jun, and Wonwoo had built walls around themselves, Dino had always been more vulnerable, more open to the darkness that threatened to consume them all.
The mission tonight weighed heavily on Seungcheol's mind, but so did Dino's fragile state. He couldn't help but worry that this mission would push Dino past his breaking point. The boy was strong, yes, but Seungcheol feared that strength was only skin-deep.
As the minutes ticked by, Seungcheol's thoughts drifted back to the days when Dino had been just a child. The memories were painful, but they came to him unbidden. He remembered the way Dino used to look up at him with wide, trusting eyes, clinging to him like he was the only safe thing in the world. Seungcheol had been so sure, back then, that he could protect Dino from everything. But now, all these years later, he wasn't so sure anymore.
The sound of fingers tapping on the keyboard brought Seungcheol back to the present. Dino was typing again, his brows furrowed in concentration as he worked to breach the enemy's firewalls. He was good at what he did, there was no doubt about that. But Seungcheol couldn't shake the feeling that Dino was slowly slipping away from them—from him.
He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on each of his brothers. They were all preparing in their own ways, but the tension was palpable. They knew the risks, and they were ready to face them. But Seungcheol couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at him, a cold certainty that this mission would be different.
It wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about keeping what was left of their fractured family intact.
"Dino," Seungcheol called again, his voice softer this time.
Dino looked up, his eyes meeting Seungcheol's. There was exhaustion in his gaze, but also a flicker of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.
Seungcheol swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a small, reassuring smile. "You've got this, kid. I believe in you."
Dino's smile widened slightly, and for a moment, Seungcheol saw a glimpse of the boy he used to be. The boy who had looked up to him with unwavering trust, the boy who had believed that Seungcheol could protect him from anything.
"I won't let you down, hyung," Dino whispered, his voice barely audible.
Seungcheol's heart clenched as he nodded. "I know you won't."
But deep down, Seungcheol wasn't sure if that was true. He wasn't sure if any of them would make it through this night unscathed
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