Fluffy SKZ oneshots🧸

Candles🌡️❄️

Sickie: Minho

Caregivers: Stray Kids

No one's POV.:

The first member to get into the Christmas spirit was Felix but his enthusiasm was contagious and soon Hyunjin and Jeongin joined him with the holiday preparations. They had wanted to go shopping anyway and decided to keep an eye out for seasonal decorations. Mainly they bought Christmas lights and a few more cookie cutters for Felix but at the end of their shopping trip, they came across a candle store and decided to check it out. They were pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of candles in the store, admiring the different colors. In one of the corners at the back of the store, they came across a shelf with scented candles. The two spent the next thirty minutes smelling each of them multiple times, agreeing to decide on only four of them, aware that they couldn't just take one of each as there were just too many. Hyunjin ended up taking one pine-scented candle and one with a homely orange smell, while Jeongin chose one that smelled of cinnamon and another one that smelled of honey. By the time they payed and left the store, it was already dark outside, with a few stray snowflakes floating from the sky. They made their way back home and after taking a shower, Hyunjin placed the pine-scented candle on the coffee table and lit it, its flame illuminating the living room with a warm glow.

Seungmin joined him on the couch, turning on a drama for them to watch as they waited for the rest of the members to come home for the night. Felix was playing video games in his room and Jeongin had already gone to bed, so only 3racha and Minho were still out but 3racha always stayed late, so they weren't too worried. After the first episode of their drama, the front door opened and Minho sleepily stumbled into the dorm, kicking off his shoes. He had spent most of the day dancing and had exhausted himself, his muscles aching. Leaning back against the closed door, the dancer brought his wrist up to his face as his nose tingled. "hh'txCHH'uh!" Minho tiredly nudged his knuckles against his nose, trying to rid himself of the tickle at the back of his sinuses. "H'iKTsh!" – "Bless you!", Seungmin called from the living room, pausing their drama to check on his hyung. The older looked completely drained, his shoulders slumped as he tried to find the energy to move away from the door. "Are you okay, hyung?", Seungmin asked, taking in the other's disheveled appearance. Nodding, Minho straightened up and sighed: "Sore and tired but that was to be expected. Today's been exhausting." Before the dancer could react, the younger placed his palm against his forehead but his skin was still cold from the walk home. "You didn't really walk home in your sweaty practice clothes, did you? You're going to catch a cold or something", Seungmin scolded, taking his hyung's bag when he saw his eyes flutter shut. "H'iKTsh!'tsh! H-'khSHt'NGsT!" – "Exactly my point", the vocalist sassed. Scrubbing at his face, which was growing increasingly itchy, Minho gave a watery sniffle and removed his coat.

"Where is everyone else?", the second oldest asked quietly. Walking over to them, Hyunjin explained: "3racha's still at the studio, Felix and Innie are in their rooms, either sleeping or playing games. You look like you could really use a hot shower right now, hyung." – "And that's exactly what I'm gonna have now. I'll probably go to bed immediately after, so good night to you two", Minho rasped, clearing his throat. How had it become so scratchy so quickly? Nodding, Seungmin agreed: "We'll be quiet when we join you. Rest well, hyung!" – "Good night, don't get sick", Hyunjin called after him softly, worriedly watching his hyung trudge to the bathroom, "He's so coming down with something." – "Yes, he is", Seungmin sighed, heading to the kitchen to at least make the older some tea if he was planning to skip out on dinner. He heard the shower running when he took the cup to their shared room and placed it on the dancer's nightstand before going back to the living room to finish their drama with Hyunjin.

With the hot water hitting his back, Minho closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax. Not for long though, as he was quickly overcome by another sneeze. His nose just wouldn't stop itching and now with the steam wafting through the bathroom, it had started to run as well. At least his muscles felt a little better now. The warmth soon made him sleepy, so Minho washed up and got ready for bed. He wasn't even hungry enough to force himself to eat something, which confused him after all the dancing he had down. Well, sleep was more important right now and if he woke up hungry in the middle of the night, he'd allow himself to have a snack. Collapsing onto his bed, the dancer couldn't help but sigh at the way his mattress welcomed his body. He settled under his blanket and spotted a cup of tea on the nightstand, smiling at the gesture as he propped himself up on one arm, taking a few sips to soothe his throat. About halfway through, he had to take a break, scrubbing the edge of his blanket against his nose. It itched like crazy but somehow not enough to make him sneeze, instead making his eyes water. Huffing a shaky breath, Minho finished his tea and turned off the light, ready to let sleep take over. Despite his exhaustion, sleep didn't come anytime soon, the annoying tingle in his nose keeping him up. He fell asleep mere minutes before his roommates joined him.