Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

The Weight of Silence (Nicholas)

Nicholas had always prided himself on his ability to keep going. From the earliest days of training to the long, grueling schedules that followed, he had become the pillar the rest of the group leaned on. His cheerful personality, constant smile, and unwavering optimism were a source of strength for his members. But there was something else hidden behind those smiles, something no one knew.

Nicholas had been living with a chronic autoimmune condition for years. One that was unpredictable, often leaving him bedridden or in pain. He had learned to manage it, to ignore it when he could, and to keep moving forward as though nothing was wrong. He had always feared that showing weakness would make him a burden to his members—after all, they already had enough to worry about.

So, he kept it to himself.

But today, as the group wrapped up their recording session, something was different. Nicholas felt the familiar ache in his joints, the slight dizziness that came with his condition, but this time it was worse. The symptoms were sharper, more intense, and it felt like his body was betraying him. He had been hiding the pain for so long, but today, it seemed impossible to ignore.

The studio was filled with the sounds of music and the shuffling of papers, but Nicholas couldn’t focus. The words on the lyrics sheet in front of him blurred together as his vision swam, and his hands trembled ever so slightly as he reached to adjust the microphone. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he feared that he might collapse right there in front of everyone.

He tried to shake it off. He always did. He tried to push through the growing fog in his head and focus on the task at hand. But it was becoming increasingly difficult.

“Are you alright, Nicholas?” K’s voice broke through his haze. He was standing at the edge of the studio, looking concerned. Nicholas glanced up, managing a smile even though it felt like a thousand pounds were pressing down on his chest.

“I’m fine,” Nicholas replied, voice steadier than he felt. “Just a little tired. Let’s finish up this recording, alright?”

But as the session dragged on, his condition only worsened. The pain in his joints spread, and his muscles ached with every movement. His vision blurred more and more, and the nausea that had been a distant feeling now surged through him. He clenched his jaw, willing himself to keep going, but it felt like his body was on the edge of breaking.

The moment when it all became too much came quietly, almost unnoticed. Nicholas took a deep breath and swayed on his feet. He felt the familiar rush of dizziness flood over him, and he stumbled slightly. K was the first to notice.

“Nicholas, are you sure you’re okay?” K’s voice was laced with concern, stepping closer to him.

“I just need a break,” Nicholas muttered, trying to brush it off. “I’ll be fine.”

But his body wasn’t responding. His head felt heavy, and he swayed again, this time almost losing his balance completely. Yuma, who had been sitting across the room, quickly rose to his feet.

“Nicho-hyung, you don’t look fine. Come on, sit down,” Yuma urged, his tone soft but firm.

Before Nicholas could protest, Yuma gently guided him to a chair. The moment he sat down, his whole body seemed to collapse into the cushion. The exhaustion hit him like a wave, and his vision grew even dimmer. His chest tightened, and it became harder to breathe.

“What’s going on?” Jo asked, his eyes narrowed in concern. He was the one who usually caught onto small details, and he was already picking up on the way Nicholas was struggling.

Nicholas tried to speak, but his voice was barely above a whisper. “It’s… just a flare-up. I’ve been dealing with it for years. I didn’t want to bother anyone.”