Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

The Price of Silence (Zico)

Zico was no stranger to pressure. As the leader of Block B, it was practically his shadow—looming, ever-present, and impossible to shake off. He had grown used to shouldering the weight of expectations, not just from fans but also from his members and the company. But nothing could have prepared him for the burden he now carried.

It started with a simple misstep during a late-night rehearsal. They were perfecting the final choreography for their comeback, and exhaustion clung to the air like a thick fog. Zico, despite the burning ache in his muscles, pushed himself further. He needed to set the standard. If he faltered, the others might, too.

But then his foot slipped during a turn, and all he felt was a sharp, searing pain in his knee. He hit the floor hard, gasping as the world momentarily blurred.

"Hyung, are you okay?" P.O's worried voice cut through the haze.

Zico forced a laugh, brushing it off. "I'm fine. Just twisted it a bit."

The others crowded around him, concern etched on their faces, but Zico waved them off with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. He stood, testing his weight on the leg. Pain shot through his knee, but he gritted his teeth and stayed upright.

"See? Nothing to worry about," he said, his tone light.

The members hesitated, but when Zico signaled for the music to start again, they didn't push further.

By the time the rehearsal ended, Zico could barely walk. The pain had only worsened, and his knee had swollen to twice its normal size. Quietly, he left the practice room and made his way to a nearby hospital.

The doctor's diagnosis hit him like a punch to the gut: a torn ligament. It wasn't something he could walk off or ice overnight. He needed rest, physical therapy, and possibly surgery.

As he sat in the sterile exam room, Zico's mind raced. Their comeback was weeks away. There was no way he could take time off without derailing everything.

The next morning, he approached the company. He explained the injury, hoping for some semblance of understanding. Instead, he was met with cold practicality.

"We can't afford to delay the comeback," the manager said. "You'll need to push through it. We'll keep it quiet—don't let the members find out. It's for the best."

Zico stared at them, disbelief bubbling under his skin. "You want me to lie to my members?"

"It's not lying. It's protecting them from unnecessary distractions," the manager replied.

Zico wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He hated this. Hated the idea of hiding something so serious from the people he trusted most. But the company's decision was final.

In the days that followed, the injury began to take its toll. Zico became quieter, his usual energy dimmed. At rehearsals, he masked his pain as best as he could, biting the inside of his cheek every time his knee protested.

But the members noticed. Taeil was the first to bring it up.

"Zico, you've been acting different lately. Are you okay?"

Zico smiled, the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm fine, hyung. Just tired."

Jaehyo, who had been watching him closely, chimed in. "You've been limping. Don't think we haven't noticed."

"It's nothing," Zico replied quickly, his tone sharper than intended. The members exchanged uneasy glances, but they didn't press further.

P.O, however, wasn't so easily convinced. As the maknae, he had always been the most attuned to Zico's moods. He noticed the way Zico flinched when he thought no one was looking, the way he avoided playful scuffles that might accidentally jostle his knee.