buzzer beater ✦ j.sc | ✔

book three ✦ [v]

By the time you got back to your house, you could barely open one eye enough to navigate the steps and get through the front door. It felt like you were being stabbed in your left eye, the pain shooting back through the entire left side of your head, and you patted Sungchan's arm before wordlessly heading off towards your room. You beelined for your bathroom, knocking back another dose of the rescue medication you had in there.

As you clutched your eye with one hand and gripped the bathroom counter tightly with the other, the door was pushed ajar. You quickly went to drop your hand and throw on a smile, then saw it was Sungchan, who put another tablet into your hand, your second rescue medication in the dining room.

"Thanks, baby," you mumbled, taking that one as well.

He sighed, but said nothing else as he rested a hand on your back. You covered both of your eyes as you turned into his chest, feeling when your fingers quickly turned moist. You took deep, shaking, quiet breaths. One of Sungchan's hands cradled the back of your head while the other slowly rubbed up and down your back.

"Eye mask?" He murmured, referring to the cooling eye mask you kept in the fridge to help with migraine pain. It could also be microwaved if you wanted it warm instead.

"What's Binnie doing?" You sniffed.

"Picking a movie for me and him. You're going to lay down. Do you want your eye mask?"

"Yes, please."

And so Sungchan grabbed the mask from the fridge for you as you crawled back into bed, handing you your earplugs from your nightstand drawer first.

You tried to refuse, eyes drifting towards your bedroom door. "No, but—"

"I've got him, hon." He opened the case and pushed the earplugs into your hand. "You've done plenty, Supermom. Okay?"

You nodded slowly, pushing the earplugs in one at a time. He helped you adjust the eye mask, then pulled the covers up over you. You felt as he stood up from the bed and gave one final pat to your arm.

✦

You woke up to find that the medication and nap had taken the edge off the migraine, at least. There was still a dull ache in your head, and you felt like shit, but it wasn't the worst that you'd ever felt. You pulled the room-temperature mask off your face and set it on your nightstand before rolling over, fully intending on burying your face in your pillow and going back to sleep if you could.

You weren't expecting to see Sungchan lying next to you on top of the covers, hand tucked under his cheek. His eyes were open, watching you.

"Hi, Channie," you said quietly, taking your earplugs out and setting those aside as well.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, voice barely above a murmur.

"I'm alright. Still hurts, but not as bad," you replied, reaching a hand out towards him. He grasped it, gentle but steadfast. "Where's Binnie? Down for his nap?"

"Snacktime. I called in backup, though, my dad's here."

"I'm—" You stopped yourself before you could apologize, biting down on your lip before mustering up a smile. "Thank you. For taking care of me and buddy today. More than you usually do."

"I wish I could've done more for you, baby," he sighed, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand.

"You were making sure our son was okay. He can't use the microwave, I can manage my ten-thousandth migraine on my own."

"But you shouldn't have to."

"It's not your fault," you insisted. "You've been Superdad and Superhusband today. So relax, okay?"

"Alright."

"How long is your dad staying?"

"He brought ingredients to make dinner. My mom's coming when she gets off her shift."

You smiled fondly at your in-laws' kindness, and lifted the blankets up. "Five more minutes?"

Sungchan joined you under the covers, immediately wrapping his arms around you and burying his face in your neck. You held him close, savoring his familiar warmth and the comforting pressure of him laying practically on top of you. You curled your fingers in his hair, resting your cheek against the crown of his head.

"Ten," he mumbled against your skin. "Ten more minutes."