Kpop Sickfics & Hurtfics

Phantom Pain (Junmin)

Junmin had always been a perfectionist. Every step, every beat, every breath during dance practice was carefully controlled and calculated. Being the main dancer of Xikers wasn't just a title to him—it was a responsibility. One he took more seriously than anything else. But lately, something had been nagging at him. It started small, a sharp, fleeting pain in his ankle during choreography sessions. He ignored it at first, chalking it up to the usual wear and tear that came with intense training. But the pain persisted.

It was a typical afternoon practice session, the group working on their new comeback choreography. The air in the studio was thick with the sound of synchronized breathing and the thumping bass of their latest track. Junmin was at the front, as always, leading the group through the movements with precision. They were going through one of the harder sections, a series of intricate footwork that required sharp turns and quick shifts in balance.

That's when it happened again.

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through his ankle, so intense it made him stagger. Junmin tried to recover, quickly adjusting his footing, but the pain lingered. He bit down on his lip, trying to push through, but it was no use.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Yujun, the youngest, called from behind, his voice filled with concern.

Junmin nodded quickly, waving him off. "I'm fine. Let's just keep going."

He forced himself to move, pretending nothing was wrong, but his ankle throbbed with every step. His body felt like it was betraying him, and the frustration bubbled up inside. By the time practice ended, he was limping slightly, his movements stiff and awkward.

Later that evening, Junmin found himself sitting in the dorm's living room, his ankle propped up with an ice pack resting against it. Minjae, their leader, noticed him from across the room and wandered over.

"You sure you're okay?" Minjae asked, his brows furrowed with concern as he sat down next to Junmin.

"It's just a little sore," Junmin replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I probably overdid it."

"You've been limping for a week now. You should see a doctor."

"I will," Junmin promised, but in the back of his mind, he wasn't sure. He didn't want to make a fuss over something so small. Plus, if it turned out to be nothing, he didn't want to waste anyone's time.

Days passed, and the pain only grew worse. It wasn't just his ankle anymore. Now it was spreading, manifesting in his wrists, his lower back, places that hadn't even been injured. It didn't make sense.

Minjae had finally convinced him to see a doctor, but after multiple tests and scans, the doctors found nothing physically wrong. No sprain, no fracture, no ligament damage. Nothing. Junmin sat there in disbelief as the doctor explained that it was likely a case of phantom pain, brought on by stress and psychological pressure.

He felt his chest tighten at those words.

Phantom pain.

There was no real injury. Just his mind, tricking him into feeling pain that wasn't there. He left the doctor's office with a sense of unease, wondering how he was supposed to handle something so intangible.

Back at the dorm, the others were waiting for him. Minjae, Sumin, Jinsik, and Hunter were seated in the living room when he arrived. The room fell silent as Junmin entered, their eyes immediately locking onto him.

"So, what did the doctor say?" Sumin asked, his usual playful tone absent, replaced with concern.

Junmin dropped his bag by the door, running a hand through his hair. "It's... phantom pain."