Take a Break

Everyone knew that 3racha overworked themselves sometimes, it was a fact of life, that the producers would simply forget to eat, sleep, drink, or move, for days on end, leaving the other members of Stray Kids to come and haul them out of their studio, forcing them to shower and eat before tucking them into bed. 

This just happened to be one of those days, the members hadn't heard from any of their friends for days, which in itself was concerning, but what was more concerning was the locked door, not to mention poor Hyunjin, who had started to go crazy in his dorm alone, choosing to sleep with the others instead of existing alone in a space made for four people. 

"We have to do something," Felix was wringing his hands nervously, he had knocked on the door to the studio where 3racha had barricaded themselves and after he had gotten no response he came straight back to the dorm, where the other boys had pushed two couches together to make a nest-like creation, to make a game-plan. 

"Yeah, they're working themselves to death," Seungmin agreed quietly, Hyunjin leaning on his shoulder while sending a hundredth text to Jisung, who had been leaving him on delivered since they had hidden away in the studio, in fact, the only proof that the three men were still alive was the single text from Chan earlier that day; 

Channie: Won't be home today, make sure to eat dinner guys. 

To which the rest of the group had responded with variants of 'have you eaten?' or 'come home soon ;(' but there was no further communication from 3racha, sending the members into a state of worried panic. 

"Me, Jeongin, and Felix should go together to get them out, we have the best shot at convincing them to leave," Minho said, Seungmin and Hyunjin looked a little sad before nodding in agreement, six people was already arguably too many, as Minho's car only sat five, so there was no shot at all of them cramming in together. 

Once they had settled on who was going, they were quick to get moving, Seungmin and Hyunjin decided to cook an actual meal for their producers, as well as find comfy clothes for them to change into the second they got home, while Minho loaded his car up to go. 

They pulled into the parking lot, heading into the building, walking fast as they made their way up to the producers' studio, where the muffled sound of a track on repeat could be heard, even through the soundproofing. 

Felix knocked loudly on the door, "Chris?" he spoke in English, thinking maybe his friend would be more likely to respond in their mother tongue, "You there?" he knocked again, and the track repeated, no one answered the door. 

Jeongin knocked after Felix had failed, the youngest hated the feeling of knowing his friends had locked themselves away to work to their deaths, and he tried to blink his tears out of his eyes, "Jisungie?" his voice came out like he was begging, "Changbin? Chan?" his voice cracked a little when he said their leaders name, and he let Felix pull him into a small hug, uncharacteristically quiet about the show of PDA. 

When there was still no response to Jeongin's attempt, Minho stepped in, knocking furiously on the door, and when there was still no response to that, he unslung the bag that hung on his shoulder, grabbing a philips-head screwdriver, and began to disassemble the door handle, letting it clatter on the ground while he swung the door open, "Okay, that's enough you three." 

The three men inside the room looked startled at the sudden entrance like they hadn't even realized there were people trying to get their attention, and judging by the music blasting through the room, they probably hadn't. 

The room was, to be honest, a mess, empty cans of energy drinks and empty coffee cups littered the floor, crumpled-up paper overflowed the trash can, and all three of the men were slumped in their seats, staring at too-bright screens, and the bags under their eyes looked like they had been tattooed on. 

"Minho?" Chan broke the silence, voice cracking like it hadn't been used in days, "Lix? Jeongin?" he looked at the distressed looks on the younger boys, Changbin and Jisung staring blankly, like they were looking through their bandmates, not at them before Felix crossed the room in a few brisk strides to cup Jisung's face in his hands, coaxing him up and out of his chair. 

"No, I have to-to finish, Lix, please," Jisung weakly tried to fight him, but he was too exhausted to actually fend him off, and Jeongin quickly followed suit with Changbin, "Come on, Bin, let's go," the youngest took his hand, Changbin didn't even fight him as he slipped an arm around his waist to support him a little. 

"Chan, you need to stop," Minho searched his leader's eyes, reaching to hold his hand, removing it from the mouse he was holding, "Let's go home, yeah? take a break, see the kids, and eat? also you need to shower," he cracked a small smile, attempting to drag Chan out of his seat, but the captain struggled against him, "I'm not done, Min, I have to-" Felix reached out his free hand to touch Chan's shoulder, the small movement seemingly bringing the oldest back to reality, and he rose uncertainly, allowing Minho to guide him to the car. 

They arrived back to the dorm, entering to the smell of a fresh-cooked meal, Seungmin, and Hyunjin came to greet their producers with hugs and relief in their eyes, ushering them to the shower, the three of them were seemingly incapable of letting the others out of their sight, so the members decided to just let them shower together, laying out the clothes that Hyunjin had chosen for them, and serving up three portions of food so they could eat as soon as they came back out. 

The reappearance of 3racha was marked by Chan's stumbling, Minho letting him lean on him a little as they walked, freshly dried curls bouncing as he collapsed into a seat, Changbin, and Jisung quick to follow, but none of the three moved to eat as Felix placed their food on the table. 

"Eat, please," Seungmin sat across from Changbin, who reluctantly picked up his utensils and began to eat, slowly, but Chan seemed to space out as he started into the soup, "I am so sorry, guys," his voice crackled, "I didn't mean to worry you, I should've sent them home, I-" Felix tangled a hand into his hair, "You guys just wanted our comeback to be great, Chan, but you need to take care of yourselves too," he offered the older a spoon of food, which was accepted, Chan's cheeks turning a little pink, and Jisung finally clued into the food in front of him as he started to eat for the first time in days. 

The producers were herded into the couch-nest creation after they finished eating, collapsing into the pillows and blankets, the other five clambering in after them, finally, the eight of them were back together, and as uncomfortable as it was to be eight fully grown men, it was so worth it, to have Jeongin back to pretending to be grossed out by the affection while Felix spread out over his chest, holding hands with Chan, Minho sprawled like a cat on top of the captain, Jisung and Hyunjin curled together, and Seungmin was locked in Changbin's half-awake, bone-crushing embrace. 

And when they all awoke, a tangled mess of limbs, none of them complained about how horribly uncomfortable they were, and no one mentioned the searing back pain that came from the twisted sleeping positions, they just settled in together, Hyunjin turning on a kid's movie to watch, Jisung's half asleep form still settling in his lap as he absentmindedly stroked his hair, the producers muttering quiet apologies to each member, silently thanking them for rescuing them from their studio.