K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Minghao seventeen - Misophonia

Misophonia is a condition where certain everyday sounds trigger intense negative emotional reactions, like anger, anxiety, or frustration. For people with misophonia, sounds like chewing, breathing, or tapping can feel overwhelmingly irritating or even unbearable. It's not just a mild annoyance, the reaction is often strong and hard to control, making it challenging to be around these specific sounds.
What I write may not be entirely accurate, but I hope you enjoy.
1000 words

Seventeen's practice room was filled with noise: the constant thud of feet against the floor, the buzz of conversation, and the unmistakable crinkle of snack wrappers. For Minghao, the cacophony was usually something he could handle, but today, his misophonia was acting up. The small sounds -  ones no one else seemed to notice - were jarring, cutting through his thoughts and making it nearly impossible to focus.

Sitting in the corner, Minghao closed his eyes, trying to tune out the sounds that grated on his nerves. But it was hard. Misophonia had been part of his life for as long as he could remember, and though he'd found ways to manage it, today's practice had left him on edge. The whisper of plastic, the scrape of a spoon against a metal bowl, each sound seemed sharper, somehow louder, echoing in his mind in a way that no one else could hear.

"Hey, you okay?" Jun's voice broke through the noise, soft and concerned.

Minghao opened his eyes, meeting Jun's gaze. He forced a small smile, though the tension was evident in his posture. "Just... tired," he replied, not wanting to burden anyone with the specifics.

Jun nodded, but his eyes held understanding. As one of Minghao's closest friends, Jun knew about his misophonia, even if he didn't fully understand what it felt like. He gave Minghao's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading back to the others, letting him know he was there if he needed anything.

They were nearing the end of practice, and Minghao knew he could push through, but the sounds kept getting under his skin. He watched as Seungkwan sat down across the room with a bag of chips, and that all-too-familiar crinkling noise reached his ears again, louder than everything else. The snapping of each chip, the crunch, the rustling of the bag, it all made his muscles tense. He tried to ignore it, but each bite felt like an intrusion, cutting through his thoughts like static.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" This time, it was Hoshi, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. Minghao realized he must have been fidgeting or tensing up visibly.

"Yeah, it's just... can you ask Seungkwan to, um, maybe eat a bit quieter?" he said, keeping his voice low. He hated asking anyone to change for him, but sometimes the sounds became too much.

Hoshi raised an eyebrow, glancing at Seungkwan, who was happily munching away, oblivious. "Of course," he replied, walking over and gently suggesting that Seungkwan take his snack to the kitchen area.

As Seungkwan left the room, Minghao sighed, the tension in his body easing slightly. It wasn't Seungkwan's fault, he knew that, and he didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. But in moments like these, when he felt like he was surrounded by a symphony of sounds that only he could hear, the relief of quiet was something he desperately needed.

The reprieve didn't last long, though. Soon, Jeonghan and Woozi started working on new harmonies, their voices bouncing off each other as they hummed and tested out different notes. The sound was pleasant at first, but the repeated notes and the sudden, clipped exchanges between them began to feel grating. It was a strange sensation, feeling both annoyed and guilty for being annoyed. He wanted to enjoy the moment, to share in the creative process, but every little sound seemed amplified, overwhelming him in waves.

He took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that this was just part of the process, that the sounds weren't anyone's fault. But the longer it went on, the harder it became to sit still.

"Need some air?" This time, it was Wonwoo, who'd quietly observed him from across the room. He could always tell when Minghao needed a break, and he knew that misophonia was something Minghao tried to handle alone. Wonwoo didn't push or pry, but he always seemed to know when to step in.

Minghao nodded gratefully. "Yeah. Just for a minute."

As he stepped out into the hall, the cool air felt like a balm against his skin, calming his nerves. For a moment, he leaned against the wall, eyes closed, letting the quiet settle over him. The silence was a relief, a rare moment where he could breathe without the nagging pressure of sounds getting under his skin.

It wasn't long before the door opened, and Jun slipped out, joining him in the hall without a word. He simply leaned against the wall beside Minghao, their silent companionship offering comfort. After a few moments, Jun glanced over, giving him a small smile.

"Better?"

Minghao nodded, his shoulders relaxing. "Yeah, thanks. Sometimes... it just gets too much."

Jun nodded in understanding. "You don't have to explain. We get it, you know. If you need a break or if the noise is too much, you can always tell us. We won't mind."

Minghao felt a pang of gratitude. Misophonia was hard to explain to others, and he knew it must seem strange to them. But Jun, Wonwoo, and the others had always respected his boundaries, offering understanding without judgment.

"Thanks," he said softly, feeling a little lighter. "I just don't want to make it difficult for you guys. It's hard to explain, but some days... every little sound just feels amplified, like it's right inside my head."

Jun nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can't imagine what that's like, but we'll help however we can. You're part of our team, and that means we work through stuff together, right?"

Minghao couldn't help but smile, the weight of his frustration lifting. "Right."

When they returned to the practice room, Minghao felt a bit more grounded. The sounds were still there - the shuffling feet, the voices, the occasional crinkle of a wrapper - but they didn't feel as sharp, not with his friends' support grounding him. He knew the misophonia would never truly go away, but he also knew he didn't have to face it alone.

As they wrapped up practice, Minghao noticed that the others were being extra mindful. Seungkwan ate his snack farther away, Woozi and Jeonghan hummed softly, and even Hoshi made a point to avoid fidgeting with his jacket zipper, which usually clicked loudly in the quiet room.

The small gestures didn't go unnoticed, and Minghao felt a surge of warmth for his team. misophonia wasn't something he could control, but with his members' understanding, it felt just a little easier to navigate.

Thanks for reading. If you have a special story in mind don't hesitate. I take requests.