K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Jeongin Staykids - exhaustion

I'm thinking of maybe doing a littlespace chapter, is anyone interested?
1000 words

It had been a long day for IN. The members of Stray Kids had been rehearsing for their upcoming concert, and although they were all used to the grueling schedules, today had been particularly taxing. IN was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The weight of everything, from the pressure of their success to the responsibility of being the youngest member, was starting to take its toll on him.

The moment they wrapped up practice and returned to the dorm, IN felt a wave of exhaustion hit him. He had to force himself to get through dinner, but it was hard to focus on anything as his mind wandered. He kept his head down, not wanting anyone to see how much he was struggling.

Hyunjin was the first to notice. He watched IN from across the room, noticing the younger member's sluggish movements and the way his eyes seemed to lack their usual spark.

"Hey, are you okay?" Hyunjin asked softly, placing his hand on IN's shoulder. "You look a little pale."

IN forced a small smile, brushing off the concern. "I'm fine. Just tired."

But Hyunjin wasn't convinced. He could tell there was something off. "IN, you know you can talk to me if something's bothering you, right?"

IN nodded quietly but didn't answer. He didn't want to burden anyone with his problems. After all, he was the youngest. He should be able to handle everything on his own. But deep down, he felt like he was slowly falling apart.

The next day, things only got worse for IN. The physical exhaustion from the past few days had taken its toll, and now his emotional state was starting to crack as well. During practice, he found himself stumbling more than usual, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated. His body felt like it was moving through molasses, and it wasn't just from the lack of sleep.

As the others noticed his struggles, the tension in the room grew. Bang Chan walked over to him after the third mistake in a row, his eyes filled with concern. "IN, what's going on? You're not acting like yourself today."

IN tried to shake it off. "I'm fine," he repeated, though his voice lacked conviction. "I just need a break. I'll be better after a rest."

But deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple. He was more than just physically tired. It felt like there was a weight in his chest, something suffocating him from the inside.

"You're not fine, IN," Bang Chan insisted, his voice soft yet firm. "If something's bothering you, we need to talk about it."

IN clenched his fists, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. He couldn't let them see him break. Not again. He had been the strong one for so long, the one who held it together for the group. If they saw him as weak, it would destroy everything.

"I said I'm fine!" IN snapped, his voice cracking.

The room fell silent. Everyone froze, unsure of what to say. IN's outburst had caught them all off guard. He quickly turned away, trying to hide the tears that were now streaming down his face.

Hyunjin was the first to approach him, his voice gentle but insistent. "IN, please... talk to us."

But IN just shook his head, pushing past Hyunjin and rushing out of the practice room, not caring where he was going—just needing to escape.

IN ended up in the small storage room in the corner of the building, a place where he knew no one would find him. He sat down on the cold floor, hugging his knees to his chest, and let himself break. The tears came harder now, and he couldn't stop them. The weight of everything was too much.

Why was he always the one holding everything together? Why couldn't he just be strong for once?

As the sobs wracked his body, he felt a presence next to him. He looked up to see Bang Chan sitting beside him, his expression filled with quiet understanding. The leader didn't say anything at first—he simply sat there, offering comfort in the silence.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, IN spoke through the tears, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared, Chan. I feel like I'm failing. I don't know how to keep going. I'm so tired."

Bang Chan didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gently pulled IN into his arms, wrapping him in a protective embrace. "You're not failing, IN. You're human, and it's okay to not be okay sometimes. We're a team. You don't have to carry everything on your own."

IN buried his face in Bang Chan's shoulder, letting out a choked sob. "I just don't want to disappoint you all. You've done so much for me, and I can't keep up."

"You're not disappointing anyone," Bang Chan said, his voice steady and comforting. "You're part of this family, and we're here for you. No matter what."

It was in that moment that IN realized how much he had been holding back—not just from the members, but from himself. He had buried his fears and doubts for so long, trying to be the perfect leader's youngest member, the reliable maknae. But it was okay to feel weak sometimes. It was okay to let himself lean on others.

"I don't want to keep pretending like everything is fine," IN whispered. "I'm so tired, Chan. So tired."

Bang Chan held him tighter, brushing his hair back from his forehead. "It's okay to rest. We'll carry you when you can't carry yourself. You don't have to be strong all the time."

IN let out a shaky breath, the weight in his chest slowly starting to lift as he allowed himself to cry, to feel vulnerable. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like he had to hide.

And just as Bang Chan had promised, he wasn't alone anymore.

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