SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Seungkwan | Fear of being Alone Part II

The moment Jeonghan wrapped his arms around Seungkwan, the rest of the members rushed in, eyes wide with concern. "Seungkwan, what's happening?" Joshua asked, kneeling beside the couch.

Seungkwan gasped for breath, his body trembling uncontrollably. "I... I didn't mean to-" He struggled to form words, his mind clouded by the fever. Images flashed before him-distorted and chaotic, each one feeding into his rising panic.

Dino knelt on the other side, his expression filled with urgency. "Hey, it's okay. We're here now hyung. Just breathe with us," he said softly, trying to ground Seungkwan in the moment.

But the fever had taken a firm grip on him, and he felt himself slipping. "I can't... I can't breathe," he stuttered, his voice shaking as he fought against the wave of dizziness.

"Look at me, Seungkwan," Jeonghan urged, tilting Seungkwan's chin up to meet his gaze. "Just focus on my voice. You're safe. We're not leaving you."

"But I feel so alone," Seungkwan cried, tears spilling down his cheeks. "What if I can't get through this?"

"You're not alone," Woozi said, his voice steady and calm. "We'll get you through this. You just need to let us help you."

As they spoke, Seungkwan felt the warmth of their presence anchoring him, but the panic was still there, clawing at his chest. The world around him seemed to spin, the room blurring at the edges. He clutched at the blanket, desperately trying to hold onto something solid.

"Let's get him some water," Joshua suggested, rising to grab a glass from the kitchen. "And we need to check his temperature."

Dino and Jeonghan stayed close, offering comforting words as they kept their hands on him, grounding him in reality. Seungkwan could feel the heat radiating from his skin, and he closed his eyes, willing the feelings of fear and delirium to pass.

"Stay with us, Seungkwan," Jeonghan whispered, brushing a hand through his hair. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing."

When Joshua returned with the water, he held it out to Seungkwan. "Drink this. It'll help," he said gently.

Seungkwan took a shaky sip, the coolness contrasting sharply with his feverish state. But as he swallowed, he felt another wave of dizziness wash over him, and he leaned back against Jeonghan, who kept a steadying arm around him.

"His fever is really high," Seungcheol said, feeling Seungkwan's forehead again. "We need to get him to the hospital if this doesn't improve soon."

"Not the hospital," Seungkwan gasped, panic flaring up again at the thought of being poked and prodded by strangers. "Please... don't leave me alone."

"Shh, we're not going anywhere," Jeonghan reassured him, his voice firm. "We're right here, I promise."

Seungkwan felt their presence, the warmth of their support slowly easing the worst of his fear. But as the fever continued to spike, the lines between reality and delirium blurred further. "I just wanted to be strong for you all," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to be a burden."

"You could never be a burden to us," Dino said, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We love you, hyung. Let us take care of you."

Feeling overwhelmed, Seungkwan let the tears flow freely. "I'm so scared," he admitted, his voice cracking.

"And that's okay," Joshua replied, his expression earnest. "You don't have to be strong all the time. We're a team."

As the members surrounded him, holding him close, Seungkwan felt a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. With them by his side, he could face this fear, one breath at a time. And for the first time, he allowed himself to lean into their warmth, to embrace the love they offered.