Mischief Managed (Stray Kids Oneshots)

Sick Day Comfort | Kim Seungmin

It had been a rough morning.

Your head felt heavy, your throat sore, and the chill in your bones wouldn't go away no matter how many blankets you wrapped around yourself. You were curled up on the couch, your favorite hoodie on, and a cup of tea cradled in your hands. The last thing you wanted was to be sick, but here you were—feeling miserable and wishing for some comfort.

Seungmin had been busy all week with his schedule, so when you messaged him that morning to let him know you weren't feeling well, you expected him to send a quick, sympathetic text and go about his day. Instead, a few minutes later, your doorbell rang.

You shuffled to the door, your head feeling foggy, and there stood Seungmin, holding a bag filled with supplies—tea, tissues, a small bottle of medicine, and what looked like an entire grocery store worth of comfort food.

"You're sick, right?" he asked, his voice full of concern, and his brows furrowed as he looked you over. "You look terrible."

You couldn't help but smile weakly at his bluntness. "Thanks for the compliment," you replied hoarsely, stepping aside to let him in.

"I'm here to take care of you," he said seriously, setting the bag down on the table before turning to face you. "Sit down. I'll make you feel better."

You were too tired to argue, so you did as he said, flopping back onto the couch and wrapping yourself in your blanket once again. Seungmin immediately started moving around the room with surprising efficiency. He poured you some tea and set it on the coffee table beside you, then busied himself unpacking the bag of supplies.

"I got you some chicken soup," he said, his voice cheerful. "It's the best thing when you're sick, right?"

You chuckled softly, too tired to argue, and nodded. "I guess so."

Seungmin wasn't much of a cook, so you were a little skeptical when he pulled out a jar of pre-made soup. But when he heated it up and brought it over to you with a spoon, you found that it didn't matter. His presence made everything feel a little better.

As you ate slowly, Seungmin hovered beside you, checking on you every few minutes. "How's the tea? Is it warm enough?" he asked, sitting down next to you on the couch, his hand on your forehead to check if you were running a fever. "I brought some lemon and honey, too."

"I'm fine, Seungmin," you muttered, but the kindness in his actions made your heart warm despite the sickness in your chest.

He ignored your protests, standing up and heading to the bathroom. "I'm going to get you some more blankets. You look cold."

When he returned, he had two fluffy blankets in his arms and a cold compress. You had barely finished your soup when he gently placed the compress on your forehead, his touch tender as he adjusted it.

"You really didn't have to come over and take care of me," you said, a little embarrassed by his fussing. "I'm not that sick."

Seungmin shook his head firmly, sitting beside you once more. "Yes, you are. And I'm not going to leave you like this."

There was a softness in his voice that you hadn't expected, a quiet kind of caring that seemed to come naturally for him. It was surprising, really, considering how playful and teasing he usually was. But now, as he helped you get comfortable, he was all business—focused and determined to make sure you felt better.

"You know," you said after a pause, looking over at him, "I always thought you'd be the kind of person who would just send me a text and then forget about it."

Seungmin tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he smiled. "I'm not that heartless," he replied, nudging you playfully. "Besides, you're my friend. I'm not going to leave you to suffer alone."

You smiled weakly, your eyes feeling heavier. The tea had made you drowsy, and the warmth from the blankets was starting to make you feel sleepy. Seungmin didn't seem to mind, though. He just kept sitting next to you, occasionally adjusting the blankets or fluffing the pillows.

After a while, you realized your eyelids were too heavy to keep open, and the soothing warmth of the blankets combined with his presence made you feel safe enough to drift off. Just before you fell asleep, you heard him speaking softly, his voice a gentle murmur.

"I'll be here when you wake up. Don't worry about a thing," he said, his hand still resting on your forehead as if to reassure you. "I've got you."

The last thing you felt was his thumb lightly brushing across your skin, and it was enough to make you feel loved, cared for, and maybe even a little special.

You woke up sometime later, groggy but much more rested. The headache had faded, and your throat wasn't as sore. You felt surprisingly warm, not just from the blankets but from the comforting energy Seungmin had given you. He was still sitting next to you, now with his own blanket wrapped around him, his head resting on the arm of the couch. His chest rose and fell with a steady breath, completely relaxed.

You shifted a little, just enough to not wake him, but he stirred anyway, blinking his eyes open and giving you a sleepy smile.

"Hey, you're awake," he said quietly, stretching a little. "How do you feel?"

"A lot better," you replied, your voice still a little rough but much improved. "Thanks to you."

Seungmin smiled, his eyes soft. "I'm glad. You scared me for a bit there."

You chuckled, looking at him fondly. "I'm sorry for making you worry."

"No need to apologize," he said, sitting up and stretching again. "I don't mind taking care of you. Besides, you're always there for me when I need you, so I figured it was my turn."

You reached over, lightly poking his arm. "Well, I'll make it up to you. Maybe I'll bring you soup next time you're sick."

Seungmin raised an eyebrow. "Next time? You better."

"Of course," you teased, giving him a small smile. "But only if you promise to be just as nurturing when it's my turn to take care of you."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, laughing softly, his earlier seriousness now replaced by his usual playful grin.

And in that moment, as the two of you sat together, you realized that Seungmin's unexpected nurturing side was just another reason to appreciate him. The bond you shared was more than just fun and jokes—it was genuine, caring, and full of quiet love.