Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Carrying the Weight (Taeyong)

Taeyong had always prided himself on being a leader, someone who could juggle the weight of responsibilities that came with being the face of NCT and a key member of SuperM. He loved his members and the way they pushed him to be better, but lately, the constant travel, endless rehearsals, and the pressure to perform at the top of his game had begun to wear him down.

As he lay in bed that morning, the sunlight filtering through the curtains, he felt a heavy weight on his chest. It was an all-too-familiar feeling, but he brushed it off. Today was just another day filled with back-to-back schedules, and he didn't have time to be tired. He had to be strong for them.

"Taeyong-hyung! We're leaving in ten!" Mark called from the living room, breaking through his thoughts. Taeyong pushed himself out of bed, forcing his muscles to cooperate despite their protests. He was determined not to let anyone see how drained he felt.

At breakfast, he did his best to keep his spirits high, laughing and chatting with the members. They were all so lively, and he couldn't let his fatigue dampen their mood. As the leader, he felt an obligation to keep everyone motivated, to be their pillar of support. So he plastered a smile on his face, pretending that he wasn't fighting the exhaustion that clung to him like a heavy blanket.

The day progressed in a whirlwind of activity—traveling to the studio, rehearsing for their upcoming performances, and managing the constant flow of communication that came with being in two different groups, and a bunch of sub-units. Taeyong pushed through each task, but by the time he reached the SuperM dance rehearsal later that afternoon, he could feel the cracks beginning to show.

"Okay, everyone! Let's get started!" Baekhyun, the leader of SuperM, called, clapping his hands together. The energy in the room was infectious, and Taeyong felt himself getting lost in the rhythm of the music. But as the choreography unfolded, he struggled to keep up. Each move felt heavier than the last, and soon his vision started to blur at the edges.

"Taeyong-hyung, are you okay?" Ten asked, his voice laced with concern as he caught Taeyong's eye. Taeyong smiled weakly, waving a hand dismissively.

"I'm fine! Let's keep going!"

But as they transitioned into the next sequence, Taeyong felt his body betray him. His legs felt like lead, and the room began to spin. The music faded into a muffled echo, and before he could even register what was happening, the world around him went dark.

When Taeyong came to, he was lying on the floor of the rehearsal studio, his teammates gathered around him, their faces etched with worry. Baekhyun was kneeling beside him, his hand on Taeyong's shoulder.

"Taeyong! Can you hear me?" Baekhyun's voice cut through the haze in Taeyong's mind, grounding him. He blinked a few times, trying to regain his bearings.

"What happened?" he croaked, his throat dry and scratchy.

"You collapsed," Ten said, concern filling his eyes. "We need to get you checked out. You've been pushing yourself too hard."

"No, I'm fine!" Taeyong insisted, pushing himself up into a sitting position. But his body protested with a wave of dizziness, and he had to close his eyes again.

"Taeyong," Baekhyun said firmly, "you're not fine. You need to rest."

Taeyong opened his eyes again, looking at the faces around him. There was no judgment, only worry. He hated that he had worried them, that he had made them feel like they had to take care of him. "I'm sorry," he murmured, feeling embarrassment flood over him. "I didn't mean to collapse."

"Stop apologizing," Mark said, his voice gentle yet firm. "You need to understand that it's okay to take a break. You can't carry the weight of both NCT and SuperM all on your own."