Stay Strong Seventeen

Vernon

Vernon is usually calm and introverted, he's quirky but charming in his own ways.
So when he started getting clingy and whiny that one afternoon, Jeonghan knew something was definitely up

"Since when do you ask for back hugs and head pats?" Jeonghan asked seeing the way the younger was wrapped in a fluffy blanket squeezed between Hoshi and DK constantly asking them for attention.

Vernon didn't reply and continued to let his head fall over DK's lap while the older wrapped him warmly with his arms around him brining patting the sides of his arms.

"It's rare to see him like this Hannie let us enjoy it while it lasts" DK grinned and Vernon chuckled but didn't say anything, he soon went back to focus on the show playing on Tv.

Dinner was fun, everyone chatting and talking, some had to leave for late shootings, others decided to crash early but Vernon wanted to stay up in the living room just watching some late night movies. Nothing unusual, so Jeonghan simply brushed it off and went to bed a while later.

It was around 7am in the morning when Jeonghan woke up shuffling his way to the bathroom, he passed by the living to find Vernon still wrapped in the same blanket as the night before, sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Ver? You're up early"

Vernon looked up and smiled a little "Good morning Hannie"

The older walked closer and sat next to him "Why so ... pale?"

"I haven't really slept" Vernon confessed blinking slowly and Jeonghan was a little worried.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Hmm ... not sure, my stomach has been upset and just a little sore and ... snuggly"

Jeonghan was worried but chuckled at Vernon's last sentence "You do look snuggly" seeing the way the fluffy blanket complimented his lazy morning look

"Hummm"

"Well ... you're off today, Dino, Seungkwan, DK and Joshua are off too, you can snuggle up as much as you like"

"Yeah I want to catch up on some sleep too"

Jeonghan reached his hand to brush Vernon's hair and smiled "Sure, I'll go get ready, I'll see you before I leave okay?"

But by the time Jeonghan was about to leave, Vernon was fast asleep on the living room sofa again, he checked on him and left soon after that.

Slowly waking up to the smell of breakfast, Joshua was making pancakes and it smelled amazing but Vernon's tummy thought otherwise. He sat up and ignored Joshua's invitation to have a bite to eat with him and headed to the bathroom where he started throwing up violently.

Joshua waited for him by the door until he finally came out and Vernon looked so pale "Hey is everything okay?

Vernon extended his hand Joshua to help him stay balanced

"Let's lay you down?"

Vernon nodded while sitting down on the sofa again, he tried to keep his eyes closed for a bit and just listen to his body
"I'm .... I just want to snuggle up here for a some time"

"You've snuggled up since last night Ver"

Vernon was feeling a little hazy "Yeah, I'm just a bit cold and ... sore, my stomach feels funny"

Joshua scanned him a couple of times before deciding to check on Vernon's temperature "You're warm too ... let's get you in bed? Do we need to get you checked out?"

"I'm not sure ... I couldn't sleep last night, I'm just tired I guess"

"Okay let's see"

Joshua guided Vernon back to his room, he wrapped himself up in his blanket like a burrito and asked Joshua to stay with him for a bit until he fell back to sleep and when he woke up again about an hour later, Seungkwan was now there

"Hi ... feeling better?"

Vernon squirmed "Yeah just ... snuggly"

"And feverish" Seungkwan added looking a bit worried "Joshua said you should eat and take something to help bring it down"

"Yeah I probably should"

Seungkwan was definitely worried, because yes sure Vernon is usually calm and quiet but this just seemed too much calm and quiet. He hasn't moved nor said anything since he had that jam toast and hot lemon tea along side with the medicine DK was able to pass to him.

DK pressed his palm against Vernon's forehead "Hey ... sorry I didn't mean to wake you, feeling any better?"

Vernon blinked still snuggled into his blanket "Pretty much the same" he mumbled softly

"Okay ... maybe Joshua and I should take you down to the clinic? Just a quick checkup?"

Vernon shivered a little hiding further under his blanket hating the idea of leaving the warmth of his bed but "Yeah that's okay"

Slowly, they helped him sit up, change, and DK drove him and Joshua to the clinic. Vernon was clinging onto DK the entire time and Joshua found it to be the cutest thing ever, Vernon isn't usually clingy but this makes him act so cute that Joshua couldn't resist brushing his heated cheeks playfully.

"Yeah he's okay" DK was on the phone with Jeonghan while sharing the hospital bed with Vernon who was laying by his side blinking slowly trying to get some rest, Joshua sitting on a chair near them and smiling at the scene in front of him.

"He's just being a baby" DK pointed out and Vernon pouted but didn't say anything he continued to tug on DK's shirt.

"It's just the flu, he's having a fever so they gave him an IV and some antibiotics, we are just waiting for him to finish the saline bag and we can take him home to get some rest"

About an hour later, they were all on their way home. Vernon was a little tired dozing off right on Joshua's shoulder and by the time they reached the house, he barely could keep his eyes open anymore.

Seungkwan and Dino opened the door for them only to frown on how exhausted Vernon looked. Dino saw him and gave him a tight hug "You're still warm, what did they do exactly?" The younger was definitely worried but Vernon just smiled at him and soon Joshua walked him inside

"He needs to rest, he'll be okay" Joshua smiled ruffling Vernon's hair and guiding him by the hand "Right? Will make you something warm and you can snuggle in the living room"

Vernon nodded "Yeah I'd like that"

"I don't know since when you like to snuggle but you're being adorable" Seungkwan chuckled, a part of him enjoying this very and extremely rare side of Vernon

The day passed peacefully, Vernon's fever was breaking slowly and even though it made Joshua and DK worried still because Vernon was way less talkative and way too tired. He was sleeping for a few hours before he woke up covered in sweat and shivering saying something about Scoups, Mingyu and Wonwoo asking him to finish writing his parts in some song they were working on but of course, Joshua and DK knew better then to let him work right now.

"It's okay I'm sure Seungcheol didn't mean you have to finish it right now" Joshua coed laying down with Vernon on his bed brushing his hair "It's okay, you need to rest right now, don't worry about anything" his voice steady and calming lulling Vernon back to sleep.

It's rare to see Vernon like this but right now, it's making them feel more worried than how cute he looks

"He's still warm DK ... I don't know" Joshua confessed but DK was optimistic
"It's better than earlier, the doctor said it might take a while but he's on medication he'll be okay"

Joshua sighed "Yeah I know, it's just weird seeing him this way"

A couple of hours pass by and Joshua woke up from watching over Vernon to find him wrapped up all around him. He chuckled and pressed his palm against Vernon's forehead ... his fever was definitely dropping.

"Aw I'm gonna miss you being this cute and snuggly buddy"

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The many times I used the word Snuggle in this chapter makes me want to go and snuggle 😂😅
Requested by SiimplyLiivy