Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Over the Edge (Sion)

Sion sat at the head of the practice room, a clipboard balanced precariously on his knee. His eyes darted between the schedule in his hand and the group of younger members laughing and joking at the far end of the room. A smile tugged at his lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

As leader of NCT Wish, the newest sub-unit of NCT, Sion carried responsibilities that felt heavier than any choreography or vocal line. It wasn't just about being their leader; he wanted to be their anchor, their safe place, and their example. He believed he had to be perfect—untouchable, unshakable—so they could flourish.

But perfection came at a cost.

In the past two months, their debut promotions had gone from a whirlwind to a hurricane. Rehearsals stretched into the early hours of the morning, interviews stacked up, and their manager's phone buzzed with constant updates to their schedule. It left little room for rest, let alone for Sion to catch his breath.

Each night, as the members drifted off to sleep, Sion remained awake. He reviewed setlists, studied choreography notes, and replayed rehearsal footage, searching for weaknesses. To keep up, he turned to caffeine—first out of convenience, and then out of necessity.

"Sion-hyung, did you sleep last night?" Ryo asked one morning as Sion stumbled into the dorm kitchen. The leader's hair stuck out in all directions, and the dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss.

"I slept," Sion mumbled, his voice groggy as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Ryo frowned. "Two hours doesn't count."

"It's enough for me," Sion replied, forcing a smile. "Don't worry about it."

Ryo wasn't convinced, but Sion had already shifted the conversation to their schedule for the day.

By the time they arrived at the practice studio, Sion was on his third cup of coffee. His hands trembled slightly as he scrolled through their choreography notes. Ryo exchanged a worried glance with Sakuya, the group's maknae.

"He's been like this all week," Ryo whispered. "I think it's getting worse."

"We need to say something," Sakuya murmured back. "But he's so stubborn. He won't listen."

Their concerns only deepened as the week went on. Sion's temper grew shorter, his patience thinner. He snapped at the members over small mistakes, his frustration boiling over during rehearsals. Afterward, he would always apologize, but the strain in his voice was evident.

The announcement of a special joint practice with Taeyong and Ten from NCT's senior line was the final straw. Sion's admiration for the two leaders bordered on reverence. The chance to work with them was both an honor and a source of immense pressure.

"We have to be perfect," Sion told the group the night before the practice. His voice was firm, his expression serious. "No mistakes. Taeyong-sunbaenim and Ten-sunbaenim are expecting us to give 110%."

"We'll do our best, hyung," Jaehee said, his tone uncertain.

"You'll do better than that," Sion replied sharply.

The members exchanged uneasy glances but nodded.

The next morning, Sion's exhaustion was palpable. He moved like a man running on autopilot, his gaze distant and unfocused. He'd already consumed two cups of coffee before leaving the dorm, and during their warm-up, he downed an energy drink.

"Sion-hyung, you need to slow down," Sakuya said, pulling him aside.

"I'm fine," Sion insisted, though his voice wavered.