Ateez Oneshots & Sickfics

Seonghwa: A Song in the Silence

•Ateez: Seonghwa
•Hurtfic
•CW: hearing loss, hospital, panic.
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It had been months of preparation, rehearsals, and anticipation. The lights were set to dazzle, the stage was built to perfection, and the fans were ready to scream their love for Ateez, the K-pop group that had been taking the world by storm. This was their first international tour, and each member could feel the excitement buzzing through their veins as the night of the first concert approached.

The venue was packed. Fans filled the stadium, waving light sticks and chanting the names of their idols. The energy was palpable, the air electric with excitement. For the seven members of Ateez, this was a dream come true. They had worked tirelessly to get to this point, and tonight, their performance would be nothing short of spectacular.

The concert kicked off with a bang. Their hit songs reverberated through the speakers as they danced in perfect sync, smiles on their faces, adrenaline pumping in their hearts. The crowd roared, and the lights flashed in a stunning display. Everything was perfect-until it wasn't.

During the third song, Ateez reached the point in their performance where the fireworks were meant to shoot off, a signature part of their show. The moment the music hit the dramatic drop, the machine was triggered. But something went wrong. There was a loud, terrifying bang and a sudden burst of smoke that filled the stage. The fireworks malfunctioned, sending a cloud of sparks in the wrong direction, dangerously close to one of the group's members - Seonghwa.

Seonghwa, who had been jumping in rhythm to the beat, found himself suddenly too close to the firework machine. The loud sound of the malfunction was deafening. The force of the explosion was enough to make him stumble backward, his ears ringing with an unbearable pressure. His body froze, and his vision blurred. He barely caught the sight of his bandmates looking at him, wide-eyed in shock, before everything felt muffled, as if he were underwater.

"Hwa! Are you okay?" Hongjoon, the group's leader, rushed toward him, his voice cracking with panic. The rest of the members quickly surrounded him, their concern evident.

Seonghwa tried to speak, but no sound came out. His world was drowned in a harsh, buzzing silence. His head throbbed, and he could feel a painful pressure in his ears. He staggered, clutching onto Hongjoon's arm for support.

"Hwa! We need to get you to a doctor!" Hongjoon shouted, his eyes frantic.

But Seonghwa just shook his head, still unable to hear clearly. His thoughts were a blur, his body shaking with the shock of what had just happened. His hearing was gone, and the thought of performing again seemed impossible.

The decision was made quickly-despite the show's urgency, the rest of the members rallied together to stop the performance. A stage manager rushed onto the stage, signaling that there would be an immediate intermission.

Backstage, the band members gathered around Seonghwa, trying to keep him calm. A medic quickly checked on him, but there was no immediate answer to the cause of the sudden hearing loss. "It might just be temporary," the medic said, though no one could truly be sure.

"Don't worry, hyung," Yunho said softly, holding his hand. "We're all here with you. We'll get through this together."

The rest of the members nodded in agreement, their faces filled with resolve. It wasn't just about the show anymore-it was about their brother, their friend. Seonghwa had always been the one to keep the mood light, cracking jokes and keeping everyone's spirits high. Now it was their turn to support him, no matter what.

Over the next few hours, Seonghwa was taken to a local hospital where doctors ran tests. They assured him that his hearing could return, but it would take time. The loud explosion had caused his eardrums to become temporarily overstimulated, and his hearing would need to be monitored. The road to recovery wasn't certain, but they assured him that with rest and care, he would improve.

Meanwhile, back at the venue, the rest of Ateez made a decision. The fans had been understanding, but they could see their bandmate was struggling, and they knew that the show could never go on without him. As they returned to the dressing room, Hongjoon gathered everyone.

"We need to cancel the rest of the concert," Hongjoon said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Seonghwa's health comes first. Our fans will understand."

Despite the disappointment of the fans, the group knew they had made the right choice. They posted a message explaining the situation, and the fans responded with an outpouring of support and love for both Seonghwa and the rest of Ateez.

Back in the quiet of their hotel room, Seonghwa sat with his bandmates. They sat in a circle around him, not letting him feel alone for even a moment. Seonghwa could read their lips, his ability to hear still blocked by the ringing in his ears, but the warmth in their eyes and the closeness of their touch made him feel understood.

"I'm sorry," Seonghwa finally wrote on his phone, showing the message to his members. "I ruined the show." He still didn't feel comfortable speaking when he couldn't even hear his own voice.

Wooyoung shook his head, his hand on his shoulder. "You didn't ruin anything. We all get hurt sometimes. We're family, hyung. We don't just perform for the fans-we perform for each other. You're not alone."

The members agreed, each of them offering words of encouragement. "We'll figure this out, and we'll come back stronger," said Yeosang, the quiet but fiercely loyal member.

As the days passed, Seonghwa's hearing gradually began to improve. It was slow, and frustrating, but with the constant support of his bandmates, he never felt alone in the process. They took turns helping him with communication, and Hongjoon even learned a few basic signs to make sure he was included in every conversation.

Seonghwa worked hard on his recovery, taking care to follow the doctor's orders. It wasn't easy-he missed hearing the sounds of his own voice, the music, the fans-but with each passing day, he could feel the pieces falling back into place.

When the time came to return to the stage, the fans welcomed Ateez with even more love and devotion. Seonghwa was a little quieter than usual, but the moment he heard the first note of the song playing and the cheering of the crowd, he smiled. His hearing wasn't perfect yet, but it was enough. And he was stronger because of it.

On that stage, with his bandmates by his side, Seonghwa realized something powerful. It wasn't just the music that made Ateez who they were-it was the unwavering support of the people who cared for him, the unconditional love that went beyond the spotlight and the stage.

In the silence of that moment, Seonghwa knew he would never be alone again.

(1161)