K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Chan straykids - Insomnia

900 words.

Chan never really slept much. His nights stretched long, the kind of quiet that others found unsettling but that he had grown accustomed to. At first, it was an occasional late night, spent producing tracks, scribbling lyrics, or simply sitting in the dim light of his studio, letting his thoughts run wild. But over the years, "late" had become the norm.

By the time the clock struck 5 a.m., Chan would reluctantly drag himself to bed, his body wired but his mind exhausted. And then, just a few hours later, he would be up again, like clockwork. For a long time, this schedule worked – or at least he thought it did. His body had adapted to the demands of his life, and even with just a few hours of rest, he pushed through. But lately, something had changed.

The five hours he used to scrape by with began to dwindle. Five turned to four, then to three, and now? Some nights, he barely managed two. The fatigue wasn't just a whisper at the back of his mind anymore; it was a roar, clawing at his focus, his energy, his patience.

Chan could feel it : behind his eyes, in the heaviness of his limbs, and in the way even the simplest tasks started to feel monumental. The dark circles under his eyes deepened, and his usually vibrant energy seemed muted.

The members noticed, of course. How could they not? The way he would zone out mid-conversation, the slight slur in his words when exhaustion took hold, the trembling hands as he adjusted the soundboard in the studio. But they didn't say anything.

Minho's sharp eyes lingered on Chan more than usual during practices, but he stayed quiet, opting instead to subtly adjust the choreography to ease the burden on their leader. Seungmin hesitated every time he thought about speaking up, unsure if confronting Chan would help or make things worse. Even Felix, who usually wore his heart on his sleeve, held back his concern, channeling it instead into small gestures : a warm drink left on the studio desk, a gentle hand on Chan's shoulder when the older boy looked ready to collapse.

But their silence wasn't born from indifference. It was fear – fear of pushing their sleep-deprived leader over the edge. They relied on Chan, admired his strength, but that strength had started to feel brittle, like glass stretched too thin.

And Chan? He noticed their concern, of course he did. But he brushed it aside, convincing himself that he could handle it, that a little less sleep wouldn't break him. After all, he'd been running on fumes for years now. What was a little more strain?

In the quiet hours of the night, when the world was asleep, Chan sat alone in the studio, staring at the flickering cursor on his computer screen. His head ached, his eyes burned, and his heart whispered the truth he didn't want to admit.

He was tired.

~~~~

Practice was grueling. The choreographer's sharp commands echoed through the room as the members worked through the complex steps of their new routine. Sweat dripped from their brows, muscles burned, but they pushed forward, driven by their collective passion and determination.

Chan, however, was struggling. His movements lacked their usual precision, his footing slightly offbeat. The others noticed, exchanging concerned glances as Chan pressed on, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Hyung, maybe you should take a break," Hyunjin finally said, his voice cautious but firm.

I'm fine," Chan replied quickly, his tone curt, as if saying it aloud would make it true.

But he wasn't fine. His vision blurred, the room spinning slightly as his body screamed for rest. Still, he refused to stop.

Until his body made the decision for him.
One moment, he was mid-step, and the next, his knees buckled beneath him. The world tilted, and Chan collapsed to the floor in a heap.

"Chan-hyung!" Felix's panicked voice broke the stunned silence that followed.

The members rushed to his side, their worry finally spilling over. Han gently turned him onto his back, patting his cheek lightly to try to rouse him. "Hyung, wake up. Come on."

Chan's eyelids fluttered, and a groggy groan escaped his lips. His body felt heavy, as if it had finally surrendered to the exhaustion he'd been ignoring for far too long.

"We need to get him out of here," Seungmin said, his voice steady but tense. "He needs rest."

They carefully helped him up, Minho and Changbin supporting him on either side as they guided him to the dorm. Once they had him lying on the couch, Felix draped a blanket over him, his hands trembling slightly as he adjusted it.

For a long moment, they all just stood there, watching as Chan finally gave in to the sleep he so desperately needed. His breathing evened out, and the lines of tension on his face softened.

"He's been pushing himself too hard," Hyunjin muttered, guilt lacing his words.

"Yeah, but at least now he'll get some rest," Changbin said softly, his voice filled with relief.

As the members settled around the room, their quiet chatter fading into the background, Chan slept deeply for the first time in what felt like years. And though his collapse had scared them, the relief of seeing him finally resting was enough to ease their fears – for now.

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