Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Finding a Safe Haven (Yuki)

Promotional seasons were always stressful for NEXZ. Between endless rehearsals, interviews, and back-to-back schedules, emotions ran high. Yuki, the youngest of the group, was known for his cheerful demeanor and his deep aversion to conflict. He believed in keeping the peace, often acting as a buffer when tensions rose among his older members. But this time, the stress proved too much, and the cracks in their bond began to show.

Tomoya and Yu argued over choreography details. Haru and So Geon clashed over vocal harmonies. Seita and Hyui snapped at each other over minor mistakes during interviews. And somehow, Yuki became the group's emotional punching bag.

"Yuki, could you not mess up the timing next time?" Tomoya's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry, senpai," Yuki murmured, lowering his head.

"You're always sorry," So Geon muttered under his breath, loud enough for Yuki to hear.

The barbs continued, subtle at first but increasingly direct. Yuki, unwilling to fight back, absorbed their frustrations quietly. What the members didn't notice was how their behavior began to affect him. He grew quieter, flinching at raised voices, his anxiety building with every passing day.

Two weeks into the promotions, Yuki started avoiding the others entirely. He spent most of his time locked in his room, headphones on, pretending he didn't hear their arguments. His appetite waned, and his usually bright eyes dulled with exhaustion.

One evening, as the group rehearsed, an argument erupted between Tomoya and Yu. Voices escalated, chairs scraped against the floor, and someone slammed their water bottle onto the table. Yuki froze, his chest tightening. The room spun, and he clutched the edge of a counter to steady himself.

"Yuki, are you even listening?" Tomoya's voice cut through the chaos.

When Yuki didn't respond, Tomoya stormed over, placing a hand on his shoulder. The sudden contact sent Yuki into a panic. His breathing quickened, and tears spilled down his cheeks as he bolted from the room, locking himself in the bathroom.

The members were left in stunned silence as they heard his muffled sobs through the door.

Later that night, while the members slept, Yuki packed a small bag and left the dorm. His heart raced as he made his way to the Stray Kids dorm. Changbin and Lee Know had always been kind to him during their interactions at music shows and in the corridors of the company building, and they felt like a safe haven.

When Lee Know opened the door to find a teary-eyed Yuki on their doorstep, he didn't hesitate. "Yuki? What are you doing here?"

"I... I didn't know where else to go," Yuki stammered, his voice shaking. "Please don't make me go back."

Lee Know exchanged a glance with Changbin, who appeared in the hallway, concern etched on his face. They brought Yuki inside, settling him on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of tea.

Over the next few days, Yuki remained with Stray Kids, but his behavior worried them. He flinched at loud noises, often locking himself in the bathroom or a quiet room whenever someone raised their voice. The members tried their best to keep the dorm calm, but even minor sounds seemed to set him off.

"Hyung, he's not eating much," Felix said quietly to Bang Chan after one particularly quiet dinner. "And he barely sleeps. I hear him pacing at night."

Bang Chan frowned. "We need to figure out what's going on."

Their concern grew when Yuki had a full-blown panic attack after a sudden loud laugh from Jeongin. Lee Know and Changbin had to coax him out of the bathroom, their voices soft and reassuring.

"Yuki, you're safe here," Lee Know said, sitting beside him on the floor. "No one's angry. No one's going to hurt you."

On the fourth day, Bang Chan received a frantic phone call from Tomoya.

"Bang Chan-sunbaenim, is Yuki with you?" Tomoya's voice was strained. "He's been missing for days, and we're worried sick."

Chan's jaw tightened. "He's here. And from what I've seen, he has every reason not to want to come back."

Tomoya fell silent for a moment before replying, his voice quieter. "Can I... Can I talk to him?"

"No," Chan said firmly. "Not until I figure out what's been going on. I'm bringing him back to the dorms, but if you start yelling at him, I won't hesitate to take him right back."

Lee Know, Chan, and Yuki returned to the NEXZ dorms that evening. Yuki clung to Lee Know's arm, his head down as they entered. The other NEXZ members were gathered in the living room, their expressions a mix of relief and guilt.

Tomoya was the first to speak. "Yuki, what were you thinking? Running away like that and bothering the Stray Kids sunbaenims?" His voice was harsher than he intended, and Yuki recoiled, tears filling his eyes.

Before anyone could react, Yuki's breathing quickened. He clutched at Lee Know's sleeve, his body trembling as he struggled to breathe.

"Yuki, look at me," Lee Know said, his voice calm but firm. He crouched in front of the younger boy, holding his hands. "You're safe. Breathe with me, okay? In... and out..."

Hyui knelt beside them, his hand on Yuki's back. "Yuki-ah, I'm here. It's okay. Just focus on Minho-hyung's voice."

It took several minutes, but Yuki's breathing slowly steadied. He clung to both Lee Know and Hyui, his small frame shaking.

Once Yuki was calm, Chan turned to the NEXZ members. His usual warm demeanor was gone, replaced by a cold, authoritative tone.

"I don't know what's been going on here," Chan began, his eyes scanning the group, "but the way you've treated Yuki is unacceptable. Stress is no excuse to take your frustrations out on someone else."

"We didn't mean to—" Haru started, but Chan cut him off.

"Intent doesn't matter. Look at him!" He gestured to Yuki, who was still huddled against Lee Know and Hyui. "He's terrified of you. Of you, his family. That's not okay."

The members lowered their heads, guilt washing over them.

"I'm taking Yuki and Hyui back with us for now," Chan continued. "You won't see them until Yuki feels safe around you again. And in the meantime, you'd better figure out how to fix this."

Over the next week, Yuki and Hyui stayed with Stray Kids. Hyui acted as a buffer, helping Yuki feel more at ease. The Stray Kids members took turns keeping Yuki company, engaging him in lighthearted games and conversations. Slowly, he began to open up, his bright personality starting to return.

Meanwhile, the NEXZ members worked to make amends. They spent hours reflecting on their behavior, writing heartfelt letters to Yuki, and even baking treats to show their sincerity.

When Yuki finally agreed to see them, the NEXZ members greeted him with nervous smiles and plates of brownies.

"These can't be better than Felix-hyung's brownies," Yuki teased, his eyes twinkling for the first time in weeks.

The room filled with laughter, and the tension eased.

The members promised to never let stress divide them again. They agreed to communicate openly, ensuring no one felt isolated or overwhelmed.

As Yuki looked around at his senpais, their faces filled with determination and regret, he felt a flicker of hope. Things wouldn't change overnight, but for the first time in weeks, he believed they could heal—together.