K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Hyunjae Theboyz - APD

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is when the brain has trouble processing sounds, especially speech. People with APD can hear sounds just fine, but they may struggle to understand or keep up with what people are saying, especially in noisy places or when they're tired or stressed. It's like the words get jumbled, or there's a delay in understanding them.
I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with this condition, so you're essentially getting two chapters for the price of one.
2100 words

TheBoyz were in the thick of promotions for their latest comeback, and the hectic schedule was beginning to wear them all down. Late-night practices, early morning interviews, and everything in between filled every corner of their lives. But for Hyunjae, the fatigue and stress weren't just making him tired. They were making it harder for him to keep up, not physically, but mentally. His auditory processing disorder (APD) was kicking in worse than ever.

APD had been part of Hyunjae's life for as long as he could remember. Usually, he managed to keep it in check. He had developed little tricks to stay focused, and over time, he'd figured out how to anticipate what people might be saying if he didn't catch every word. But when he was sleep-deprived or stressed, it was like his mind got stuck on a delay, and his ability to process words felt like it was slipping out of his control.

Today, as the group gathered for a run-through of their choreography, Hyunjae found himself struggling. He could see his members talking, he could hear their voices, but the words seemed to come at him in pieces, mismatched and confusing.

"Hyunjae, did you hear?" Sangyeon, their leader, was speaking to him, looking expectant.

Hyunjae blinked, trying to catch up. "Uh, sorry, what?"

Sangyeon's brows furrowed slightly. "I was saying we're going to run the bridge section again. We're switching a couple of positions."

Hyunjae nodded quickly, his face heating up with embarrassment. "Got it."

They lined up, and Hyunjae concentrated, pushing through his frustration. He watched the other members carefully, trying to anticipate the cues he hadn't quite heard. The music started, and he focused on matching their movements. The routine was so ingrained that he could manage, but halfway through, the instructor called for a stop.

"Hyunjae, you're out of sync," she said, looking concerned. "Are you alright?"

Hyunjae swallowed, nodding quickly, though he could feel the weight of his members' gazes on him. They were all exhausted, and he hated to be the one holding everyone up.

"I'm fine," he said, a bit too quickly. "Just... a little tired."

The instructor nodded, though her eyes lingered on him. "Alright, let's take five."

As soon as they dispersed, Eric sidled up to him, a knowing look in his eyes. "Hyunjae, you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," Hyunjae replied, trying to sound casual. "Just out of it today."

Eric gave him a small nudge. "You know, you don't have to pretend. We can tell when you're struggling."

Hyunjae looked down, his shoulders tensing. He knew Eric meant well, but he hated feeling like he was causing extra stress for the team. APD wasn't something the others could see or necessarily understand; it wasn't an injury or something he could just fix.

"I'm really okay," he repeated, forcing a smile. "It'll pass."

But deep down, he wasn't sure it would pass, not until he could get a proper night's sleep, and that wasn't happening anytime soon.

Later that evening, they were scheduled for a live broadcast, and Hyunjae's anxiety only grew. Live broadcasts required quick thinking and fast responses, and he knew that if he was having trouble processing, it would only get harder. As they settled into their seats in front of the cameras, he took a deep breath, doing his best to stay calm.