Skz oneshotes (Requests Open)

🐥🦊 Beneath the Surface

Main characters: Felix, Jeongin
Side People: Jisung
Subject: angst, littlespace

**Title: Beneath the Surface**

It was a quiet evening at the dorm. The usual hum of energy from rehearsals and recording sessions had long since died down. Most of the members of SKZ were scattered around, either in their rooms or occupying different corners of the shared space. The dorm felt unusually calm—almost too calm for Felix’s liking. He sat at the edge of his bed, the dim glow of his phone illuminating his face. His messages to Jeongin had gone unread for the past hour.

Jeongin had been off for the past few days. His cheerful demeanor, always filled with innocent laughter and playful teasing, had begun to feel like a distant memory. Felix had noticed the subtle shifts—the moments when Jeongin seemed lost in thought, his eyes not fully engaging with the conversation around him. Felix wasn’t sure how to approach it, but he knew something was wrong.

Feeling a knot in his stomach, Felix pushed himself off the bed and made his way down the hallway toward Jeongin’s room. As he approached, he saw the door slightly ajar, a small beam of light spilling out into the hallway. He knocked softly before pushing the door open wider.

"Jeongin?" Felix called, his voice barely above a whisper.

Inside, the youngest member of the group sat on his bed, a blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders. His eyes were focused on the small plush bear in his hands, a toy Felix remembered Jeongin often kept close during long tours and stressful times.

Felix stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind him. He noticed the way Jeongin’s fingers were gripping the bear, and how his breathing seemed just a bit too shallow.

“Hey, are you okay?” Felix asked, sitting down beside him, close but giving enough space for Jeongin to breathe.

Jeongin didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained fixed on the toy in his hands. Felix could see the inner struggle in his friend’s face—the way his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his lips trembled as though trying to form words but not quite managing to let them out.

“I… I don’t know,” Jeongin finally whispered. His voice was small, fragile, like it might shatter if he spoke any louder.

Felix felt his heart tighten. He reached out and gently placed a hand on Jeongin’s back, rubbing in slow, calming circles. “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I’m here.”

For a moment, there was only silence between them. Jeongin’s breathing gradually slowed, becoming more even, though his grip on the bear remained firm.

“I’ve been feeling… weird,” Jeongin admitted, his voice barely audible. “Like everything’s too much. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Felix nodded, encouraging him to continue. He understood that sometimes, just getting the words out was the hardest part.

“It’s like… I feel really small sometimes,” Jeongin said, his gaze finally lifting to meet Felix’s. His eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion and vulnerability. “And not just because I’m the youngest. It’s like my head feels too crowded, and all I want to do is just… be little.”

Felix felt a pang in his chest. He had heard about this before—littlespace, a mental state where someone might regress to a younger mindset as a coping mechanism for stress or overwhelming emotions. He had read about it online, and though it wasn’t something he had much personal experience with, he could see now that this was what Jeongin was trying to describe.

“You don’t have to feel bad about that,” Felix said softly. “It’s okay to feel that way. I think everyone has their own way of dealing with things.”

Jeongin let out a shaky breath, as if he had been holding it in for days. “But I feel so embarrassed. Like… I’m supposed to be strong, you know? I don’t want anyone to think I’m weak.”

Felix shook his head immediately. “You’re not weak, Jeongin. None of us think that. You’re always so strong for everyone, but even strong people need a break sometimes.”

There was a brief pause before Jeongin spoke again, his voice quiet. “I don’t know what to do when it gets bad. Sometimes, I just want to hide in my room, hug my bear, and not be ‘Jeongin from SKZ’ for a while. Just be… me. But I feel like no one would understand.”

“I understand,” Felix said, his voice firm. “And I’m pretty sure Jisung would too.”

Jeongin blinked, surprised at Felix’s mention of Jisung. He hadn’t expected anyone else to be brought into this, but the soft expression on Felix’s face eased his concern.

“Why Jisung?”

Felix gave a small smile. “Because Jisung’s been through something similar. Not exactly the same, but he knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and like you need to retreat for a while. He told me once that it’s okay to have those moments, to lean on people when you need to.”

Jeongin’s shoulders relaxed slightly, as if some of the weight he had been carrying had been lifted. “Do you really think so? That he wouldn’t think I’m weird?”

“Of course not,” Felix replied. “Jisung cares about you, about all of us. He’s one of the most understanding people I know.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes, the tension slowly ebbing away. Felix kept his hand resting on Jeongin’s back, a grounding presence as Jeongin sorted through his thoughts.

“I don’t want to feel like this all the time,” Jeongin said after a while, his voice barely above a whisper. “But when it happens, it’s like I can’t control it.”

Felix nodded, understanding the helplessness that came with emotions that seemed too big to handle. “You don’t have to control it all the time. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just accept it, and let yourself feel what you need to feel.”

Jeongin looked down at the bear in his hands again. “Can… can you stay with me for a little while? I just don’t want to be alone right now.”

“Of course,” Felix said without hesitation. “I’ll stay as long as you need.”

Just as Felix was about to suggest they watch a movie or play a game to help Jeongin relax, the door creaked open. Jisung poked his head in, his usual playful expression softening when he saw the scene in front of him.

“Hey,” Jisung said gently, stepping inside. “Is everything okay in here?”

Felix glanced at Jeongin, who gave a small nod. “Yeah. We’re okay.”

Jisung took a seat on the other side of Jeongin, his presence warm and familiar. “You don’t have to explain anything, but if you ever need someone to talk to… I’m here too, you know.”

Jeongin’s eyes flickered between Felix and Jisung, a quiet gratitude shining in his gaze. For the first time in days, he felt like he didn’t have to carry the weight of his emotions alone.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

As the three of them sat together in the quiet of the dorm, Jeongin allowed himself to lean into the comfort of his friends. They didn’t need to say anything more. Their presence alone was enough to remind him that he wasn’t alone—and that he didn’t have to be strong all the time.

Sometimes, it was okay to just be.