Comfort Me || STRAY KIDS

Take A Little Breather

✧

Spending a majority of his youth in the presence of older boys, Yang Jeongin had developed somewhat of an unsavoury habit. He'd been scolded repeatedly, told it was impolite and that he was likely to choke. Yet still, he found himself inhaling food as if it were about to disappear. And sometimes, it really was. His hyungs liked to tease him, try to steal his food—and, let's be honest, they're a group made up of eight young men. Food is not bound to last.

The inevitable finally happened.

All of Stray Kids were gathered in the dorm kitchen, various conversations and activities taking place all at once. Minho and Jisung had undertaken the daunting task of trying to make a new recipe—some kind of fancy steak with a multitude of side dishes, while the rest of the boys "helped". Ultimately, it was chaos, but they were having fun.

Jeongin, Felix, and Seungmin all sat at the dinner table. They'd helped chop vegetables and knead the dough for the steamed buns. Now, they're goofing off while eating a light, pre-dinner snack.

"Stop eating chips," Minho whines. "You guys won't be hungry by the time dinner is ready."

"Exactly." Jeongin says, smugly. It earns him a painless smack of an oven mitt to the back of his head.

"Min, please don't hit the children." Chan frowns from where he's leaning against the fridge.

"I make no promises if they insult my cooking."

Felix shoves his hand into the chip bag and it crinkles loudly in response. "These are really good, though."

Seungmin nods in agreement, his mouth too full to answer. Jeongin reaches for the bag, Felix wordlessly points it towards him so he can take another handful. It's a big handful too—unlike his previous portions. Without hesitation or second thought, he skillfully pushes the amount into his mouth and begins to chew.

All would have been fine, if Changbin hadn't ducked down to prod him in the ribs at that exact moment. His hyung's fingers dig into his ribs, tickling him, and Jeongin gasps on instinct. It's not air he inhales at that moment, but a large amount of food.

He's out of his seat, coughing and spluttering almost immediately. Someone is grabbing his arm, there's voices too, but Jeongin is too focused on trying to breathe. Well—wheeze.

"Shit—here," someone presses a cup of water into his hand and guides it to his lips. Jeongin tries to drink, but there's no give. The chips are chalky, drying his mouth and throat. The water just dribbles uselessly down his chin and chest, doing little to clear the obstruction.

"Innie? Come on, cough it up buddy," Chan says loudly—panicked.

He's not the only one panicking. Jeongin has never choked so badly in his life, and it's terrifying. He's barely gone seconds without oxygen, but the adrenaline shooting through his body has him stumbling.

There's arms, holding him up. Someone pounds heavily on his back, jostling him.

"Hey, hey, breathe—" Hyunjin appears out of nowhere, ducking down to face him. "Keep breathing." He orders, as if his conviction alone might clear his throat. Jeongin's sight goes blurry—there's tears in his eyes from coughing so hard.

Just as someone wraps their arms around his midsection, clearly about to perform the heimlich maneuver as a last ditch effort, Jeongin manages to clear enough of his throat to gasp. It's loud and desperate, sounding much like a drowning man who'd just breached the surface.

"Oh thank god." Felix breathes, still pounding on the younger's back.

He's getting oxygen now, but there's still a sticky ball of rapidly disintegrating food in the back of his mouth. Jeongin has very little warning, only enough time to shove away from the hands holding him and lean over the garbage can. He gags into the trash, the contents of his stomach and mouth leaving him in a rush.

He comes up for air then, falling backwards into the hands at his back.

"Holy fuck—" Hyunjin swears, rubbing soothing circles.

Chan is there, kneeling next to him. "Get it all up? Can you breathe now?"

Jeongin nods, breathing harshly. Someone hands him a cup of water again, this time he successfully takes a drink. It's cold and refreshing, helping to rinse the awful taste in his mouth.

"You okay Innie-ah?" Minho is leaning over—they all are, crowding around him. All other activity has ceased the moment he first choked. Felix helps him stand, pulling him back to his feet and smoothing the hair at his forehead.

"I'm fine now," His voice is raspy and wet, he clears his throat loudly. "Jeez that was close."

"You're telling me," Jisung slaps a hand to his chest, looking much like his soul just left his body. "I thought you were a goner."

Jeongin rolls his eyes at his hyung, still taking small sips of water.

Chan frowns at him, still holding his arm. "I think that's enough chips for now, yeah?"

"Maybe forever." Changbin inserts.

Hyunjin is steering him forward, out of the kitchen. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

When Jeongin returns, he's feeling much better. He'd needed a new shirt and to brush his teeth, maybe a second to compose his breathing. He enters the kitchen, red faced and shy. Felix is quick to yank him back to his seat, patting his back.

"Feeling better now?"

"Yes hyung. And don't look too disappointed, Minho-hyung. I lived bitch."

The kitchen collectively gasps, dissolving into fits of laughter.

"At least he's no longer too full for dinner." Minho offers helpfully.

"Ew! Hyung!"