Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Unsteady Steps (K)

The morning sun streamed through the windows of the practice room, casting warm streaks across the wooden floor. The members of &TEAM were already hard at work, rehearsing for their upcoming performance. K stood at the front, his gaze focused and sharp as always, guiding his team through another grueling day of choreography.

“Alright, everyone,” K clapped his hands, gathering the members' attention. “Let’s run it again from the top. This time, focus on keeping the lines clean during the transition to the second chorus.”

“Yes, hyung!” Taki chirped, his energy unwavering despite the long hours they’d already spent practicing.

The music started, and the room filled with the rhythmic beats of their latest track. K’s movements were precise, his usual fluidity and sharpness on display—at least, outwardly. Internally, however, he was battling an intense wave of nausea that had been plaguing him since he woke up.

His stomach churned with every step, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He forced himself to keep going, biting the inside of his cheek to distract from the queasiness. Just one more run-through, he thought. Then I can take a break.

But as the choreography reached its climax, his body had other plans. A sharp pain twisted in his stomach, and he stumbled slightly.

“Hyung, are you okay?” Harua asked, pausing mid-dance.

“Yeah,” K replied quickly, waving him off. “Just need some water.” Without waiting for a response, he hurried toward the door, his steps unsteady.

In the bathroom, K leaned heavily against the sink, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The nausea overwhelmed him, and he barely made it to one of the stalls before emptying what little was left in his stomach. His legs trembled as he sank to the floor, trying to catch his breath.

The cold tiles against his skin offered some relief, but only briefly. K wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and forced himself to stand. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would wash away the dizziness.

“You can’t let them see you like this,” he muttered to himself. “You’re the eldest. You have to set an example.”

With a deep breath, he straightened up and walked back to the practice room, plastering a smile on his face.

Fuma noticed immediately. K’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, and his usually commanding presence felt subdued. As the music started again, Fuma kept one eye on K, watching for any signs of trouble.

K pushed himself harder, determined to lead by example. But the more he danced, the heavier his limbs felt. His vision blurred at the edges, and his stomach twisted painfully.

“I’ll be right back,” K muttered, cutting through the music again.

“Hyung, are you sure you’re okay?” Nicholas asked, concern evident in his tone.

“Yeah,” K replied, forcing a weak laugh. “Just drank too much water earlier. Be right back.”

This time, Fuma exchanged a look with EJ, who nodded subtly.

K barely made it to the bathroom before collapsing against the wall, clutching his stomach. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his entire body felt like it was on fire.

“Hyung?” a voice called softly.

He looked up to see EJ standing in the doorway, his expression filled with worry.

“Hyung, what’s going on?” EJ asked, kneeling beside him. “This is more than just drinking too much water.”

“It’s nothing,” K said weakly. “I’ll be fine.”

EJ frowned. “You don’t look fine. You’re pale, and you can barely stand. Are you sick?”

“I think… I think it’s just a stomach bug,” K admitted reluctantly. “But I can handle it.”

“Handle it? You can’t even make it through one practice session,” EJ said, his tone firm but gentle. “You should’ve told us.”

“I didn’t want to worry anyone,” K mumbled. “We’re on a tight schedule, and—”

“Hyung!”

EJ and K both turned to see Fuma, Nicholas, and the rest of the members standing in the hallway, their faces etched with concern.

“You’re sick?” Taki asked, his voice small.

“It’s just a stomach bug,” K said quickly, trying to downplay the situation.

“That’s not the point,” Fuma said, stepping forward. “You’ve been pushing yourself all day, running out every few minutes, and pretending everything’s fine. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t want to slow us down,” K admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Harua knelt beside him, his expression gentle. “Hyung, you’re our performance leader, but you’re also our family. We’d rather slow down than see you like this.”

With the members’ help, K was brought back to the dorm. They insisted he lie down on the couch while Fuma called their manager to inform them of the situation.

Taki hovered nearby, bringing a glass of water and a cold compress. “Hyung, you have to tell us next time. We can’t help if we don’t know.”

Jo nodded. “Exactly. We’re a team, remember?”

K looked around at his members, guilt weighing heavily on his chest. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I thought I could handle it on my own.”

“Well, you don’t have to,” Nicholas said, his tone a mix of frustration and concern. “We’re here for you, K. Let us be.”

Over the next few days, the members took turns caring for K. Maki prepared simple meals to soothe his stomach, while Yuma made sure he stayed hydrated. EJ and Harua monitored his symptoms, and Fuma took over leadership duties to ensure K could rest without feeling guilty.

Despite his initial resistance, K couldn’t deny the warmth he felt from their care.

“You guys are too good to me,” he said one evening as they gathered in the living room.

“No,” Fuma replied firmly. “We’re just good with you.”

The room filled with laughter, and for the first time in days, K felt lighter.

As K recovered, he reflected on the lesson he’d learned: being a leader didn’t mean carrying the weight alone. His members had his back, just as he had theirs. Together, they were stronger—and nothing, not even a stubborn stomach bug, could change that.