Qiang and Younghoon come to Sunwoo's rescue
Kingdom was in full swing and The Boyz were as busy as ever. Today, they were going to shoot some underwater scenes for their next stage. Qiang wasn't thrilled about it; he was a decent swimmer but he didn't particularly like it.
The first of them had gone already and had done really well. Qiang was cheering them on and stood on standby with towels and heat packs. It was his turn to go in by himself and if he was being honest, he was a little nervous.
The tank was smaller and more confined than it looked from the outside and he was feeling claustrophobic before he even got into the water. "You can do it, hyung," New cheered with a smile. "It'll be over quick." Qiang nodded and lowered himself into the water.
He bit his lip at how cold it was. He had thought the other boys were just being overdramatic but it really was like he just immersed himself into an ice bath. He sucked it up and took his pictures and short video, getting everything on the first try.
Sangyeon was waiting with a large smile and a towel once he emerged. "I think you're the only one who can do things on the first take," he teased and Qiang laughed, shaking his head. "Maybe I'm just having good luck today." He went and changed, clutching a heat pack in his hands.
"I didn't know it was that cold," Haknyeon teased, "Your lips are blue and you're shaking!" Qiang rolled his eyes and Eric handed him another heat pack. The one thing Qiang absolutely loathed was the cold. His body didn't seem to be able to regulate his temperature when it was cold.
"Do you need a heat lamp?" Kevin asked, looking worried. Qiang shook his head. "I'll be alright. Just have bad circulation." Sunwoo was up next and Qiang could tell the boy was nervous. If you looked close enough, he was slightly trembling as he stared down into the empty tank. "Come Sunwoo-ah!" Q called out.
Sunwoo got in the water, clutching the side until his knuckles turned white. Younghoon seemed to notice too because he started teasing him a little. Sunwoo went under the water but only lasted for a few seconds before he shot up to the top, hanging on to the edge again for dear life.
"It's okay if you can't do it, Sunwoo-ah," Sangyeon called out, looking worriedly at the younger member. It was clear that he was terrified. "I just can't seem to hold my breath for that long." He said between trembling lips. He tried a few more times but wasn't able to keep himself under the water for more than a few seconds. He also wasn't opening his eyes quick enough.
Younghoon shot up from his seat, walking around and seeing a teary-eyed Sunwoo hanging on to the side again. "Is it scary?" He asked and Sunwoo didn't directly answer. "It's just hard to hold my breath for so long." Qiang didn't waste anytime in getting up and joining his two members.
"What is me and Younghoon-ah do it with you? Will that help?" Sunwoo nodded his head and seconds later, Younghoon and Qiang were changed and lowering themselves back into the water. "Just follow us, hang on to my hand. Blow out through your nose to help you stay down a little longer." Qiang held his hand out and Sunwoo had it in a death grip.
"We're both here. We won't let anything happen. Let's get you some amazing photos." Sunwoo nodded and on the directors count, the trio sunk under the water. Sunwoo was a little stiff still, but the more they did it the more he loosened up and was able to get some good photos.
The three emerged from the tank, Qiang shaking from how cold he was. "You shouldn't have went back in, hyung," Hyunjae said, wrapping and extra towel around him. "Now your lips really are blue." Qiang shrugged, drying his hair. "Sunwoo needed help. I would have went back in for any of you. I'll be okay."
"That's why you're our favorite hyung," Hyunjae teased with a wink. Qiang chuckled and pulled the towel tighter around him. "There's an extra pair of sweats in my bag and a sweatshirt, put them on and we'll put the heat on in the car," Sangyeon said, pushing Qiang to go change. The last thing they needed was Qiang to die of hypothermia.
Dressed in the cotton pants and shirt, Qiang was feeling a little warmer. He was still trembling and his fingers and toes were still numb, but he was sure it would only take a few minutes for the blood to rush back to them. They walked out to the cars, hopping in.
"C'mere," Sunwoo said, patting the empty space next to him. Qiang sat down, wrapping his arms around himself. Sunwoo took his hand in his, rubbing them together to try and create some heat. "Thank you, for helping me. You don't have to freeze to death to do it though." Qiang laughed, laying his head on top of Sunwoo's.
"It's fine. You would have done the same thing even if it scared you." Sunwoo hummed in response, closing his eyes. They were headed out to have a nice dinner together, but the two napped the whole way there.
Once they woke up, Qiang was feeling a lot warmer. His one hand was still between Sunwoo's who was sleeping peacefully. Qiang smiled and felt more warmth spread through his body. He was proud of Sunwoo. For overcoming his fear and working through it.
Even if it meant he almost froze to death.
