SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Seungcheol | Cough

Seungcheol woke up before dawn, the soft light filtering through the curtains. He quietly slipped out of bed, determined to surprise his members with breakfast. The kitchen was blissfully silent as he gathered ingredients for pancakes and eggs.

As he cracked the eggs, a tickle in his throat crept up on him. He paused, rubbing his throat, and then coughed. It was a raspy sound that echoed in the empty room, making him wince. "Great, just what I need," he muttered to himself, pouring a glass of water and taking a deep sip. He shook his head, pushing through the discomfort.

Just as he flipped the first pancake, he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He quickly set the pancake on a plate, hoping his members wouldn't notice his raspy voice.

"Good morning, Seungcheol!" Jeonghan greeted, yawning and stretching. "What smells so good?"

"Just trying out a new breakfast recipe," Seungcheol replied, forcing a smile. He took another sip of water, hoping to mask the scratchiness.

"Looks amazing!" Woozi said, eyeing the stack of pancakes. "Hyung you really didn't have to do this, you know."

"Yeah, but I wanted to," Seungcheol said, coughing slightly. He cleared his throat, trying to sound more normal. "Besides, it's not every day we get to eat together like this."

The rest of the members started trickling in, each one drawn by the delicious scent. "What's for breakfast hyung?" Mingyu asked, plopping down at the table.

"Pancakes, eggs, and some fruit," Seungcheol answered, pouring himself more water.

"Did you make all of this by yourself hyung?" DK asked, impressed.

"Of course! I'm the leader, after all," Seungcheol joked, a hint of rasp still in his voice.

"Yeah, but you're also the one who usually burns toast," Jeonghan teased, laughing.

Seungcheol chuckled, but felt another tickle in his throat. He took another quick sip, trying to push it down. "That was one time!" he protested, but his voice cracked slightly.

"Are you okay?" Joshua asked, tilting his head. "You sound a little... off."

"Just early morning voice," Seungcheol replied, brushing it off. "Nothing to worry about."

They finished breakfast, plates empty and satisfied grins on their faces. "Let's head to the studio for practice!" Seungcheol said, trying to keep the energy up.

As they walked, he kept sipping from his water bottle. "Who's leading the dance today?" he asked, hoping to redirect the conversation.

"I think it's your turn," Dino said, grinning. "You've been hiding behind us for too long!"

"Yeah, let's see your moves, leader!" Hoshi chimed in, nudging him playfully.

"Okay, okay, but give me a moment," Seungcheol replied, clearing his throat again. "Just need to warm up."

"Your throat?" Wonwoo asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine!" Seungcheol insisted, forcing a laugh. "Let's just focus on the dance."

As they reached the studio, Seungcheol felt the weight of their gazes, a mix of trust and concern. He took a deep breath, ready to lead them, hoping his voice would hold up just a little longer.

As practice progressed, Seungcheol felt the tickle in his throat transform into a nagging sensation. He tried to push through, leading the choreography, but each move seemed to jostle the phlegm deeper. He coughed quietly, hoping his members were too focused on their dancing to notice.