Fluffy SKZ Oneshots EP.2🧸

Winter soup 🌡️

Sickie: Felix
Caregivers: Stray Kids

No one’s POV.:

“Here, sit down”, Minho instructed as he guided Felix to the couch at their dance practice room. The Aussie was doubled over coughing and had a hard time catching his breath, so his hyungs were understandably worried. Hyunjin brought Felix his water bottle and hummed: “Don’t you think it’d be for the best if you sat today out? Your cold’s not going to get any better if you keep pushing yourself so hard.” – “I just don’t feel like I got the steps down yet”, Felix rasped, the coughing slowly tapering off as he sipped his water. “Still, I agree with Hyune”, Minho sighed, “There’s not much for you to learn when you’re not feeling well. You probably won’t remember the steps in a few days even if you manage to learn them now and you will be sicker and for far longer if you refuse to take time to rest.”

Minho and Hyunjin eventually managed to talk their fellow dancer into taking it easy and sit out the rest of their practice. Felix still insisted: “At least, let me watch. I don’t consider myself sick enough to go home and maybe I can memorize some parts from watching you two.” – “Deal but only if you go get changed and put on your hoodie. Your clothes are drenched with sweat and you’re bound to get cold soon.”, Minho smiled, glad that his dongsaeng was finally giving in and the compromise was as good as they would get. “Deal”, the younger sniffled as he got to his feet.

Shakily shuffling to his bag, Felix had to admit the fatigue was weighing far heavier on him than he wanted to let on. It shouldn’t have surprised him so much, since he had been up for most of the night, coughing up a lung and only sleeping in short intervals but still, they had things to do and he wished to be more functional for their schedule. His entire body ached as he tried to peel off his sweaty dance clothes. Funny, they hadn’t even gone over the most taxing parts yet but he was already sweating like crazy, maybe even starting to get dehydrated. If the growing headache was anything to go by, at least.

Felix made a point of finishing the rest of his water bottle as soon as he was changed, convinced it would ease his headache but Hyunjin had a different suspicion, humming: “Are you sure, you’re not running a fever? Your eyes look a little off to me.” – “I dunno”, the Aussie replied hoarsely, “They jus’ feel really tired an’ sensitive.” – “There’s probably no point in feeling your forehead now with all of us still warm from dancing but you should definitely check once you get home. I wouldn’t be surprised if you managed to make yourself worse by going all out dancing”, Minho frowned, only now paying such close attention to the younger’s eyes, which were undeniably glossed over.

“Chan-hyung is asking if we all want to meet up for lunch once the maknaes are done with their vocal lesson”, Felix read out before glancing up from his phone. By now, he had drawn his knees up to his chest, trying to preserve warmth while his body was being wracked with chills. Minho and Hyunjin were quick to agree, wanting a break too besides, maybe their leader would be able to convince Felix to go home if he saw how bad the younger was doing. As requested, Felix texted back on behalf of the dance-racha before putting his phone away because the screen was hurting his eyes, the headache only getting worse.

Felix knew he was running a fever but in his mind that didn’t mean he needed to go home. He wasn’t dancing, therefore he was resting, right? His hyungs didn’t seem to think that way but what did they know? They also thought that going out for lunch was a great idea and Felix couldn’t agree any less. His appetite had all but vanished over the past few days and going out sounded like it took a lot of energy, energy that he didn’t have. He’d be perfectly content with just staying in his spot on the couch, waiting for their day of practice to finally be over.

“Oh wow, what happened to you, mate?”, Chan frowned when he spotted Felix. The dancer huddled in his coat after the walk to the restaurant had left him even more chilled. Collapsing into his seat, Felix sniffled: “Cold.” – “I mean, I knew you’ve been sniffly recently but when did it take a turn like this?”, the leader worried, resting his pam against the other’s forehead. “Last night probably”, Seungmin piped in, “Did you manage to get any sleep?” – “Sorry if I kept you up”, Felix apologized to his dorm mate. Shaking his head, the vocalist hummed: “It’s alright but I’m surprised you still got some of your voice left with how much you were coughing.”

Seeing how uncomfortable Felix grew with the amount of attention he was receiving in public, Changbin pulled the younger into his side and smiled: “Let’s eat because Lixxie is probably going to lose that voice if you keep making him talk.” With his social battery drained, the younger was glad that Changbin had changed the topic for him and even order lunch for him. He didn’t even pay attention to what the rapper ordered because he didn’t feel hungry and would just try to force down a few bites of whatever the older picked for him. Watching Felix shiver, Changbin knew the boy needed something hot and nourishing, so he chose a hearty winter soup to warm the boy up from the inside.

Sitting on Felix’ other side, Jeongin smiled when the dancer’s head dropped onto his shoulder as they waited for their meal. The Aussie just seemed so drowsy and fatigued, it made Jeongin want to bundle him into a fuzzy blanket and cuddle him till he was feeling better, which they certainly would’ve done if they didn’t have to work. “Lixxie, I think you should go home after lunch”, Chan mused, still studying the younger closely, “You look awful and with how flushed you are, I bet you have a fever. Since you can’t dance and would only be watching aways, I think you r bed and some sleep would be the better choice.” – “I-I think, I have a fever”, Felix admitted softly, avoiding the leader’s eyes. Minho’ and Hyunjin’s heads immediately shot up at that because least they knew, he had still been uncertain.

Encouraging Felix to eat as much of his soup as he could, Chan promised he’d get Felix a ride back to his apartment, so he could lay down. Though the soup felt nice on his sore throat, Felix couldn’t stomach much. He only got sleepier after the meal and could already feel his eyelids start to droop. If his nose hadn’t started to run from the steam, he might even have dozed off against Jeongin’s side. Snatching a napkin off the table, Felix caught an itchy sneeze, his watering eyes meeting Jisung’s across the table before he ducked down again. Jeongin gently rubbed the Aussie’s back when the sneezes triggered a cough and Changbin reached for his dongsaeng’s glass.

“Really not feeling well, huh?”, Changbin cooed when Felix had taken a few sips. The dancer tiredly shook his head mumbling: “I get why you guys wanted to send me home earlier. Sorry, for giving you a hard time about it.” – “It’s okay, Lixxie”, Minho smiled, with Hyunjin nodding along, “We know how you always want to give your best for us and for Stay but I’m glad you agree that the best would be resting now.” – “Please check the bathroom cabinet when you get home, so if there’s any medicine you need, I can pick it up on my way home tonight”, Seungmin requested, unsure of how well they had stocked up their apartment.

That was exactly when Felix did after being taken home, immediately swallowing something for the headache and fever. They didn’t have much besides that, so he texted Seungmin to pick up some cough syrup and more tissues later, before grabbing the vapor rub and shuffling to his room. Sluggishly changing into his pajamas, Felix spread some vapor rub on his chest and hoped it’d help him keep from coughing long enough to actually get some sleep. He then stacked his pillows to help him breathe a little easier and was surprised when he heard the front door click. Seungmin wasn’t supposed to get home until later that evening, so what was happening?

“Hey, Lixxie, wow. You officially smell sick now”, Seungmin chuckled, holding up a small pharmacy bag, “I got your cough syrup. Innie and I have some lyric practice to do and we convince manager-nim that we could do that from home, so we’ll be in my room if you need anything.” – “Thanks, Seung”, Felix rasped, hazily looking up at the other. Stepping closer, Seungmin cupped the Aussie’s freckled cheeks and frowned: “Did you take your temperature? Gosh, you gotta be miserable with a fever that high.” – “Didn’t measure it but already took something. Hasn’t kicked in yet”, Felix pouted, neither denying nor confirming how bad he was feeling.

Having overheard their conversation from the hallway, Jeongin collected a cold washcloth from the bathroom and went to join his friends. With a shy smile, he whispered: “Maybe you wanna keep this on your forehead to ease the headache till the medicine kicks in.” – “Thank you, I.N.-ah”, Felix sniffled, “’m jus’ so cold.” – “Well, I don’t think you should have more blankets than this one but we can tuck it around you really tight”, Seungmin offered, scanning the bed. Realizing that that was as good as it would get, Felix agreed and the younger fixed his blanket for him.

“You gotta practice, right?”, the dancer sniffled. Nodding, Jeongin explained: “Mainly the lyrics because we don’t remember them well enough yet.” – “You could practice them by singing, right?”, Felix confirmed, shooting Seungmin a hopeful look, “Could you practice them here, at least, till I fall asleep?” – “Lix, if you wanted to be sung to sleep, you could’ve just asked”, Seungmin laughed, turning to the door, “Hang on and let me grab my lyrics sheets.”