Zerobaseone Sickfics [REQUESTS CLOSED]

《 Taerae: Cold 》

Written on: Sunday 4th August, 2024

Words: 1320

This one is for you: Kazutora_myStorys
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The venue was buzzing with excitement as fans eagerly awaited ZB1's arrival. The group was scheduled to have a fan sign event, and the energy in the room was palpable. Behind the scenes, however, not everything was going smoothly.

Taerae sat in the dressing room, rubbing his temples and trying to ignore the persistent tickle in his throat. He had felt the beginnings of a cold creeping in the night before, but with their busy schedule, he hadn't had time to rest. Now, the symptoms were worsening, and he could feel the telltale signs of a fever coming on. "Taerae, are you okay?" Jiwoong asked, noticing the younger member's flushed cheeks and tired eyes. Taerae forced a smile, not wanting to worry anyone. "Yeah, I'm just a little tired. I'll be fine." Hanbin, always perceptive, frowned as he watched Taerae discreetly wipe his nose with a tissue. "You don't look fine. Have you taken anything for it?"

"I took some cold medicine earlier. It'll kick in soon." Taerae replied, his voice slightly hoarse. "You should have said something. You are burning up Taerae." Matthew scolded gently, placing a hand on Matthew's forehead to check for a fever. "I didn't want to cause any trouble. It's just a cold." Taerae admitted, his voice barely above a whisper."We're more worried about you than the schedule.You should rest, hyung. " Gunwook said, sitting down beside Taerae. "But the fans... they've been waiting for this." Taerae protested weakly, not wanting to disappoint anyone.

"You can still meet them, but we'll keep an eye on you. If you start feeling worse, you need to let us know, hyung. Ricky suggested, his tone firm but caring. The members nodded in agreement, their concern clear. "We'll take care of everything else. You just focus on getting through this." Zhang Hao added. Taerae felt a wave of gratitude for his members. "Thanks, guys. I'll be okay. I just need to get through the day."

"Don't push yourself too hard, hyung. We've got your back."Gyuvin warned.
The group prepared to go on stage, with Taerae doing his best to hide his discomfort. As they made their way to the event, the noise of the crowd grew louder, the fans' cheers and excitement filling the air. The members plastered on their best smiles, waving to the crowd as they took their seats. Taerae's head was pounding, and his nose was stuffy, but he forced himself to keep smiling. The fans were so happy to see them, and he didn't want to ruin the mood. He greeted the fans warmly, even as he felt a sneeze building in the back of his throat.

He turned away discreetly, trying to stifle it, but the itch was too strong. "Hh... h'TSCHH!" The sneeze escaped, and he quickly covered his nose with his sleeve, his face flushing with embarrassment."Bless you!" several fans called out, their concern evident.
Taerae gave them a sheepish smile. "Thank you. Sorry about that." Sitting beside him, Yujin offered him a tissue under the table, whispering, "Don't push yourself too hard, hyung."

Taerae nodded, grateful for the support. He continued signing albums and chatting with fans, but the cold was taking its toll. His voice grew raspier with each word, and his sneezes became more frequent, though he tried to hide them as best he could. The members noticed his struggle, exchanging worried glances. Ricky , who was seated next to Taerae, subtly took over some of the conversation, giving Taerae a chance to rest his voice. "You're doing great, hyung. Just a little longer." Ricky whispered to him during a brief lull.

Taerae nodded, though his energy was waning. He wanted to keep going for the fans, but his body was fighting him every step of the way. Halfway through the event, the members decided to take matters into their own hands. Hanbin leaned over to the staff and quietly requested a break, citing that they needed to check on Taerae's condition. The staff quickly arranged for a short pause, and the members gently guided Taerae backstage. Once they were out of sight, Taerae slumped into a chair, exhausted. "I'm sorry, guys. I didn't mean to slow things down."

"You're not slowing anything down. Your health is more important." Jiwoong reassured him, kneeling beside him. Ricky handed Taerae a bottle of water. "You need to drink this and rest for a bit. We can handle the fans."

"Maybe we should call it off. You're really not looking well." Gunwook suggested, concern etched on his face.Taerae shook his head, though he was clearly struggling. "I don't want to disappoint the fans. I can make it through the rest of the event."

"Only if you promise to tell us if it gets too much and no pushing yourself." Hanbin said firmly."Promise," Taerae agreed, though his voice was weak. Zhang Hao draped a warm jacket over Taerae's shoulders. "This should help you feel a bit better." The members stayed close, watching Taerae carefully as he sipped the water and took deep breaths, trying to regain some energy. After a few minutes, he stood up, though he wobbled slightly. "I'm ready." He said, his voice steadier but still raspy.

The members exchanged glances, clearly still worried, but they respected Taerae's determination. They returned to the stage, and the fans cheered as they resumed the event. Taerae continued to push through, though his movements were slower, and his smile a bit strained. Despite his efforts, the fans could tell something was off. "Are you okay, Taerae?" one fan asked, her eyes filled with concern. Taerae gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm okay, just a little under the weather. But I'm really happy to be here with you all."The fan smiled back, clearly touched by his dedication. "Please take care of yourself. We care about you."

"Thank you." Taerae said sincerely, her words giving him a small boost of energy. The rest of the event passed in a blur for Taerae. The members subtly took on more of the interactions, giving him time to rest. They kept the atmosphere light and fun, making sure the fans still had a great experience. As the event drew to a close, the members were relieved that Taerae had made it through. They waved goodbye to the fans, thanking them for their support, before heading backstage once more.

This time, there was no pretending. Taerae was clearly exhausted, his face pale and his body trembling slightly. "We're getting you home. You need to rest." Jiwoong said firmly, not leaving any room for argument. Taerae nodded, too tired to protest. "Thanks, guys." With that, they bundled him up and guided him out of the venue, making sure he was comfortable in the car.

As they headed back to the dorm, the members discussed how to best take care of him."I'll make him some soup." Zhang hao offered, knowing that a warm meal would help. "I'll get the cold medicine and set up a humidifier in his room." Ricky added."I'll stay with him and make sure he rests," Gyuvin said, already planning to keep a close eye on Taerae. Back at the dorm, they helped Matthew into bed, making sure he was warm and comfortable. Zhang Hao brought him a steaming bowl of soup, which taerae sipped gratefully, though he didn't have much of an appetite.

"Just rest. We'll take care of everything else." Jiwoong said softly, sitting beside him. Taerae nodded, his eyelids drooping. "You guys are the best." The members smiled, their worry easing slightly as they saw Taerae beginning to relax. They took turns checking on him throughout the night, making sure he had everything he needed. As the cold medicine took effect, Taerae finally drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the warmth and care of his members. And as they watched over him, they knew that no matter what, they would always be there to take care of each other.