Mischief Managed (Stray Kids Oneshots)

In the Quiet of the Night | Han Jisung

It was late into the night, the lights in the studio dimmed as most of the members had gone to bed. Only the soft hum of the computer and the tapping of Jisung's fingers on the keyboard filled the silence. He sat hunched over his work, eyes slightly glazed over as he focused intently on a new track he was trying to perfect. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, melodies, and ideas, all swirling together like a storm that he could barely keep up with.

You had been finishing up some work of your own, and when you passed by the studio, you noticed the faint glow of light slipping through the cracks of the door. Curious, you pushed it open, finding Jisung in his usual spot, head down as he typed away.

"Jisung?" you called softly, stepping inside. He didn't look up immediately, too focused on his work, but when he heard your voice, he paused and lifted his gaze, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Oh, hey," he greeted, his voice hoarse from hours of silence. "You still here?"

You nodded, walking over to the couch and sitting down. "I was finishing some things. Looks like you've been at it for a while."

Jisung shrugged, pushing his hair back with one hand. "Yeah, I just... I can't seem to get it right. There's this sound I'm looking for, but it's not clicking."

You could hear the frustration in his voice, despite his casual tone. Jisung had always been a perfectionist, especially when it came to his music. He pushed himself hard, sometimes too hard, until he couldn't figure out why things weren't coming together.

"You've been working nonstop," you said gently, trying to pull him away from his work for a moment. "You need a break."

"I can't," he replied, shaking his head as he looked back at the screen. "I just need to finish this. I've been so behind on a lot of things lately, and I don't want to disappoint anyone."

The words hit you harder than you expected. Jisung was the kind of person who always put others first, someone who was constantly worried about living up to expectations. It was one of the reasons he'd never let himself rest, always pushing forward even when he was exhausted.

You stood up and walked over to him, gently resting your hand on his shoulder. "You're not going to disappoint anyone, Jisung," you said softly. "We all know how hard you work. But you need to take care of yourself, too."

Jisung exhaled, a long, drawn-out breath as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. "I just don't feel like it's enough, you know? I know I'm supposed to be this 'perfect' member of Stray Kids, but I don't feel like I am."

The vulnerability in his voice startled you. Jisung had always been so vibrant, so full of energy, that it was easy to forget that he, too, had his moments of doubt. But hearing him speak like this—it made your heart ache for him.

"You don't have to be perfect, Jisung," you said, your voice steady but filled with warmth. "None of us do. We're all just trying our best, and that's enough. You're enough."

He glanced up at you, his eyes filled with uncertainty, and you could see the hesitation in his gaze. "But what if I'm not doing enough? What if my best isn't good enough?"

You sat down next to him, letting the silence stretch for a moment before you spoke again. "You know, there's no such thing as 'perfect.' We all have our flaws and our struggles. But what matters is that we keep going, that we support each other along the way. And you have so many people who admire you, Jisung. People who look up to you and see how hard you try. That's what matters."

Jisung didn't say anything at first, but you could see his mind turning. After a few moments, he let out a quiet chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Guess I'm kind of a mess, huh?" he said with a light laugh, trying to make light of the situation.

You smiled at him, nudging his shoulder gently. "We all are, Jisung. And that's okay. We don't need to have it all figured out."

He looked at you for a moment, his expression softening. "Thanks for saying that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't always know how to talk about stuff like this. It feels like I'm constantly failing, but you make it sound like it's okay to not be perfect."

"You are never failing, Jisung," you replied, your voice firm yet gentle. "Everyone has their struggles. The fact that you're even aware of it and trying to do your best means you're doing great."

He smiled, a small but genuine smile that made your heart flutter. It was rare to see him like this—vulnerable, uncertain—but in that moment, you knew that this side of him was just as beautiful as the energetic, confident Jisung that everyone knew on stage.

"Thanks," he murmured, his smile widening. "I think I needed to hear that more than I realized."

The room was quiet for a few moments, the soft sounds of the studio filling the space around you. Jisung leaned back in his chair again, his body relaxing slightly, as though the weight of the world had lightened just a little. His fingers hovered over the keyboard once more, but this time, you could see the focus had returned to his eyes—more settled, more calm.

"You know," Jisung said, turning toward you with a playful grin. "You're kind of good at this whole 'cheer me up' thing."

You chuckled, shrugging. "It's what friends are for, right?"

"Guess so," he agreed, his smile growing a little wider. "I'll try to take your advice. Maybe a break is what I need after all."

You stood up, patting him on the shoulder. "Good idea. You've done enough for tonight."

As you walked toward the door, you glanced back at him. Jisung had already turned back to his work, but there was a sense of calm about him now—like he was finally allowing himself to breathe again.

And in the quiet of the night, as the soft hum of the studio filled the space, you knew that sometimes, the best thing you could do was simply be there—offering a reminder that it was okay to not be perfect, and that he was more than enough, just as he was.