Fluffy SKZ Oneshots EP.2🧸

End of winter🌡

Sickie: Changbin

Caregivers: Chan & Jisung

No one's POV.:

The snow had barely melted away a week ago and 3racha was back at the studio recording the guide tracks for their upcoming album. Wanting to start the new year off strong, they had a comeback scheduled in the first few months of the year. It embarrassed Chan to say but they had fallen behind schedule. They hadn't recorded a single on of the tracks yet, most of the tracks even lacking guide versions, so there was no way the dance-racha could possibly work on the choreographies. Chan knew why they were so off schedule and he felt guilty for it, knowing the chaos stressed his dongsaengs out.

Chan himself had been struck down with the flu for close to two weeks and while he had tried to get some work done on occasion, his success was mediocre. Changbin and Jisung did their best to compensate but there was only so much the two of them could do without their leader. They insisted it was no problem to stay the nights at the studio as they tried to catch up after Chan's recovery. Chan immediately jumping back in working the nights to catch up, worried the two rappers greatly. Not too concerned about a relapse, the Aussie mainly worried about his dongsaengs. Jisung seemed on edge from the messed-up schedule and Changbin's eyes were adorned with angry red rims though he insisted he wasn't that tired.

The recording was mainly Jisung's task this time because Chan's voice hadn't fully returned yet and Changbin admitted to feeling quite stuffed up, making it difficult to record. Afraid their trio would be picked off by sickness one by one, they had agreed for Changbin to wear a mask around the studio in case he was coming down with something. To be fair, the rapper was sneezing up quite a storm too but he claimed not to feel sick. It made Chan's heart ache because he figured his dongsaeng was afraid to admit to feeling unwell because they were already behind schedule, which was entirely Chan's fault and the eldest knew it.

Chan absentmindedly passed Changbin his water bottle when the younger tried to clear his throat but only ended up triggering a cough. He tried not to cringe when Changbin tugged down his mask to drink and his upper lip glistened in the dim light of the screen. Jisung must've noticed it too because he offered the older a tissue and frowned: "We're so doomed for this comeback."

"Your cold's only getting worse, huh?", Chan worried, glancing at Changbin who hesitantly lowered his arm again after catching a flurry of sneezes against his wrist. His eyes still watered when he shook his head and muttered: "I-I'm not su-huh-re this i-hih-s a cold." Scrubbing at his itching nose in irritation, he tried to stop his breath from hitching couldn't. In a hurry, Changbin fumbled with the tissue Jisung had given him, cupping it over his mouth and nose before pitching forward with a harsh sneeze. "Bless you. I'm so sorry I gave you my flu", Chan hummed sympathetically, "Why didn't you say it was this bad?" - "Huh-what? Ndo", Changbin sniffled as he shook his head, "Ndot the flu either. 'mb way too- too itchy for that. Would've guessed it's allergies but it- it's too early for that, right?"

With Changbin insisting he wasn't really sick, he tried his best to power through, which probably would've worked if his symptoms weren't as disruptive as the were. Since it was only the guide track, the trio had gotten a small practice studio and none of the larger recording studios, which meant that they didn't have a recording booth, merely a mic on the desk. Jisung tried not to get upset but it surely was frustrating to record the same line over and over again because his hyung seemed to be overcome by the need to sneeze the second Chan hit record.

"Alright, Ji. One more time", Chan sighed, pressing the button. Changbin's nose hadn't stopped itching at all and he held his breath to keep himself from sneezing. Praying Jisung would be done quickly, the older glanced away with watering eyes and scrubbed at his nose. "hEGSHU! ohmygodimsorryi-hih h-hESSH!" - "Bless", Jisung sighed as he leant back in his seat. Covering his face, Changbin groaned: "I'm sorry." - "We know", Chan breathed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "It's okay. Maybe you wanna step out for a moment? You could grab some tea from the breakroom because those sounded like they hurt your throat." The younger nodded in resignation, rubbing his eyes as he got up to leave. Jisung felt bad for him because he couldn't tell whether the tears were from the itch or the frustration. Making eye contact, Chan nodded at Jisung. They should better get this over with quickly.

Sniffling into the cuff of his sleeve, Changbing trudged to the breakroom. He had left his phone at the studio, so there was little to occupy his mind with as he waited for the water to boil. Still, he startled when the door to the breakroom opened and the two maknaes walked in. They had just finished their vocal lesson and wanted to rest for a moment before heading to their next schedule. "Oh, hi hyung", Jeongin smiled but it soon faltered when Changbin turned to him, eyes red and watering. Plopping down in his seat, Seungmin frowned: "Chan-hyung got you sick, didn't he? You look awful." - "Dod't thigk I'mb sigg", the rapper rasped, clearing his throat a few times, "If you have your phode with you, could you check the pollend coudt? I'mb so itchy."

"Oh, guess it really is the end of winter. It's pretty high actually", Seungmin hummed, surprise evident in his voice. He looked up when he didn't get a reaction from Changbin, the rapper's eyes holding a faraway look. "hESH! KGSH! *sniff* guess that explaids id", Changbin muttered, reaching for a paper towel to blow his nose. While the older tended to his nose, Jeongin poured the boiling water over the tea bag and worried: "Do you have your meds with you, hyung?" Shaking his head, the rapper sniffled: "Did't thigk mby allergies would start up this early. The sdow is barely gode." - "I could try to find Hyunjin-hyung and ask if he has any antihistamines with him", Seungmin offered, already getting to his feet to look for the dance-racha.

"Oh, I didn't expect you here, Innie", Chan smiled as he entered the breakroom, "Is the tea helping any?" Changbin shook his head slightly, mumbling: "'s dot goi'g to. The polled cou't is too high." - "So, it's allergies after all", the Aussie sighed and watched his dongsaeng blink away itchy tears, "We found a different studio and Jisung is already heading over there to set everything up. It'll be far more productive if he can just sing in the recording booth. How're you feeling? Wanna join us there?" - "Yeah, sure. Mby eyes a's ndose are itchy as hell a'd my throat's scratchy but it's okay. The headache's really botheri'b mbe though. Mby whole face aches frob it", Changbin groaned, massaging his forehead. "Seungmin is trying to find him an antihistamine, hyung", Jeongin piped in, taking the teacup from Changbin when his breath hitched again.

Rushing to grab a few more paper towels, Changbin turned his back to his friends "h-hESSH! Heh-hESH!" - "Bless you", Chan smiled, cringing when the younger blew his nose. Changbin sounded absolutely miserable but Chan understood his determination to keep working. Luckily, Seungmin did manage to get some antihistamines from Hyunjin and Changbin knocked the pill back with a few sips of his tea.

After bidding the maknaes goodbye, Chan guided Changbin to the studio they had chosen and the younger gave Jisung a little wave as he plopped into his seat. "You good, hyung?", Jisung asked, the older looking more exhausted than he had an hour ago. Nodding, Changbin claimed: "Dot sigg, jus' allergic." - "He took some meds, Sung. Don't worry", Chan added as he got settled in front of the laptop, ready to pick up where they had left off. Though Changbin could tell the pill was strong, already getting drowsy, the sneezing didn't stop yet. It didn't interrupt Jisung's recording anymore though.

With how out of it Changbin had gotten, he didn't even notice how Chan and Jisung took a break before moving onto the next song. While Chan went to use the restroom, the younger approached Changbin, resting his hand on the rapper's broad upper back. "Maybe you should lay down on the couch, hyung. You look like you're falling asleep", Jisung mused, catching his hyung's attention. Rubbing his eyes, Changbin yawned: "Huh?" - "Exactly my point", Jisung giggled, "Come on, hyung. We have a comfy couch back here and you should rest your eyes a little. They're flaming red already." He gently coaxed Changbin out of his seat, steadying him when his balance tipped for a moment. Tiredly shuffling over to the couch, Changbin flopped down, arm draped over his face. "hEGSHU!"

"Is he asleep?", Chan hummed softly. He closed the door as quietly as he possibly could but Changbin still groaned: "'mb dot." - "Almost", Jisung chuckled, running his fingers through the other's hair, "You can go to sleep, hyung, you know? It's okay. Just relax, yeah?" - "Keep your eyes closed", Chan instructed. He had run some paper towels under cold water and now draped the makeshift cold compress over his dongsaeng's swollen eyes. Gently stroking the hair out of the rapper's face, Chan whispered: "Go ahead and take a nap, Bin. We got you."