BTS Sick-/Hurtfic

Overworked - Taehyung

Requested by Inasa27
TW: exhaustion, collapse, hospitalization, dehydration, anxiety, medical treatment, needles

Taehyung knew he was pushing himself to the limit, but he couldn’t stop. His schedule was packed with filming for Hwarang and practicing for the upcoming dance performance with the group. Each day blurred into the next, filled with lights, cameras, choreographers, directors, and the overwhelming pressure to be perfect.

The set for Hwarang was beautiful. It felt surreal to Taehyung, standing in traditional Korean clothing, embodying a character from a completely different era. He’d spent hours memorizing lines, perfecting his expressions, and ensuring every scene was flawless. But while his on-screen persona thrived, Taehyung felt himself wilting inside.

It wasn’t just the filming. The long days on set were followed by equally long nights in the practice room. The group had an important performance coming up, and Taehyung didn’t want to be the one to hold them back. He couldn't afford to. Dancing was as much a part of him as acting was now, and he knew the members depended on him. No matter how tired he was, no matter how heavy his limbs felt, Taehyung pushed on.

His day began early, just as the sun started to peek through the horizon. He hardly remembered what sleeping in felt like. After filming for nearly twelve hours straight, Taehyung rushed back to the dance studio. The others were already there when he arrived, their expressions a mix of determination and fatigue.

“Hey, you made it,” said Jimin, greeting him with a tired smile. “How was filming today?”

“Good,” Taehyung answered, though his voice lacked its usual energy. “Just a bit long, but nothing new.”

Namjoon looked at him, concern flickering in his eyes. “You sure you’re okay? You look… exhausted.”

Taehyung waved off his concern with a forced grin. “I’m fine. Let’s just get started.”

But even as they practiced, Namjoon kept glancing at him as if waiting for Taehyung to admit that something was wrong. But Taehyung didn’t. Instead, he threw himself into the dance routine, moving his body to the rhythm of the music, feeling the familiar burn in his muscles as he danced alongside his brothers.

Inside, Taehyung was struggling to keep up. His body screamed for rest, for a break that he knew he couldn’t afford to take. He hadn’t slept properly in days, surviving on just a few hours of restless sleep. Meals were often skipped, replaced by quick snacks or nothing at all. Taehyung told himself he’d eat later, he’d sleep later, but later never came. There was always something else demanding his attention.

He didn’t notice how his hands started to shake, how his breathing became shallow, and how his vision blurred at the edges. He was too focused on getting the moves right on perfecting every step. The last thing he wanted was to be the weak one.

Jungkook noticed first. During a break in the music, he walked over to Taehyung, concern etched on his face. “Hyung, are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look so good.”

Taehyung nodded quickly, brushing him off. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit tired.”

But Jungkook wasn’t convinced. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Maybe you should take a break, just for a little while.”

Tae shook his head. “No, I can’t. We need to get this right.”Jungkook frowned, but he didn’t push further. He knew how stubborn Taehyung could be when it came to his work.They continued practicing, the music blaring through the studio as they moved in sync. Taehyung tried to focus, but his thoughts were scattered, his body screaming for a rest he wouldn’t give it. He could feel himself slowing down, but he couldn’t stop. He had to keep going. For the group. For the performance. For himself.