stray kids imagines

changbin | nightmare

ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᵉᵈ
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angst. fluff / 1138
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the night outside was quiet, the hum of the city muted by the soft drizzle tapping against the windowpane.

you had gone to bed early, exhaustion weighing heavy on your shoulders after a particularly challenging day.

changbin had tucked you in, pressing a kiss to your forehead before promising to join you soon, his warm presence always a comfort.

but tonight, comfort felt fleeting.

the dream began innocently enough. you were in a sunlit meadow, the scent of wildflowers filling the air as a gentle breeze played with your hair.

it was serene, peaceful - until the sky began to darken. the clouds rolled in unnaturally fast, swallowing the light and plunging the world into a suffocating darkness.

you turned to run, but your feet were rooted to the ground. the once-vivid colours of the meadow were now muted, the flowers wilting and turning to ash.

a shadow slithered along the ground, its inky black tendrils creeping closer, winding around your legs.

"no," you whispered, trying to pull free, but the shadow was relentless. it crawled up your body, cold and heavy, its weight pressing against your chest like a thousand stones. you couldn't breathe.

from the darkness, you heard whispers. they were faint at first, but they grew louder, harsher, like nails scraping against glass. they mocked you, taunted you with your fears and insecurities, their voices twisting into the familiar tones of people you trusted.

"not good enough."
"you always mess everything up."
"why would anyone stay with you?"

tears burned your eyes as you struggled against the shadows, their grip tightening.

you tried to scream, but no sound escaped. the whispers turned into a deafening roar, drowning out everything else, leaving you alone in a void of despair.

suddenly, you were falling. the ground beneath you vanished, and you plummeted into the abyss, the shadows following close behind.

your chest ached, your lungs burning as though the air had been stolen from you. panic consumed you.

and then, a hand.

warm, strong, and steady, it broke through the darkness, reaching for you. you grabbed it desperately, clinging to it as though it were your lifeline.

"baby," a voice called, soft yet firm, pulling you back from the brink.

you shot up in bed with a gasp, your chest heaving as you tried to suck in air. sweat clung to your skin, your heart racing like it might burst from your ribcage.

it took a moment for the room to come into focus - the soft glow of the bedside lamp, the faint hum of the rain outside, and changbin's worried face hovering above you.

"baby," he said again, his voice laced with concern as his hands cupped your face gently. "hey, look at me. it's okay. you're safe."

tears welled up in your eyes, spilling over as a sob escaped your lips. "changbin," you choked out, your voice trembling. "it was- I couldn't-"

"shh, I've got you, sweetheart," he murmured, pulling you into his arms.

his embrace was solid and grounding, the warmth of his body chasing away the lingering chill of the nightmare.

he stroked your back in soothing circles, whispering soft reassurances into your ear.

"it was so dark," you mumbled against his chest, your fingers clutching his shirt like it was the only thing keeping you tethered to reality. "I couldn't move... I couldn't breathe."

changbin tightened his hold on you, his jaw clenching as he listened. "I'm so sorry you went through that," he said softly. "but you're here now, okay? you're with me. nothing's going to hurt you."

his words were a balm to your frayed nerves, but the remnants of the nightmare still clung to you like cobwebs.

you pulled back slightly to look at him, your eyes searching his face for reassurance. "what if it comes back?" you whispered.

"it won't," he said firmly, brushing a strand of hair from your face. "not while I'm here. I'll keep the nightmares away, I promise."

he shifted, leaning against the headboard and pulling you into his lap. you settled against him, your head resting on his chest as he wrapped the blanket around both of you.

the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your ear was soothing, a reminder that you weren't alone.

"do you want to talk about it, love?" he asked after a while, his voice gentle.

you hesitated, the memory of the dream still raw, but you nodded. "it started out okay... but then everything went dark. there were these shadows, and they- they wouldn't let me go. and there were voices, horrible voices, saying all these awful things."

changbin's arms tightened around you protectively. "you don't have to believe those voices, baby," he said. "they're not real. they're just fears trying to mess with you."

"but what if they're right?" you whispered, your voice barely audible.

"hey, no," he said, tilting your chin up so you could meet his eyes. "they're not right. not even close. you're incredible, sweetheart. you're strong, kind, and so, so loved. don't let some nightmare make you doubt that."

his words cracked through the fog of doubt that the nightmare had left behind, his unwavering belief in you shining like a beacon.

you swallowed hard, the tears returning as you whispered, "thank you, binnie."

"always, my love," he said, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "now, let's get you feeling better."

---
changbin stayed true to his word. he didn't let you go, holding you close as he hummed softly, the sound vibrating through his chest and lulling you into a calmer state.

when your breathing had evened out, he suggested, "why don't we put on something light? a funny movie or one of those shows you love."

you nodded, grateful for the distraction. he reached for the remote without letting go of you, navigating to a familiar sitcom.

the familiar humour and changbin's occasional chuckles helped ease the tension in your body, the nightmare's grip finally beginning to loosen.

as the night wore on, you found yourself relaxing more and more, soothed by his presence. every so often, he would press a kiss to the top of your head or murmur sweet words of reassurance, reminding you that you were safe.

by the time the credits of the third episode rolled, your eyelids were growing heavy. changbin noticed, a small smile tugging at his lips as he shifted to lay you back down.

"you feeling a little better now, darling?" he asked, brushing his fingers against your cheek.

you nodded, your voice soft as you replied, "yeah. thanks to you."

"good," he said, pulling the blanket up to tuck you in. "now, try to get some rest, my love. I'll be right here."

"promise?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

"promise," he said, his hand finding yours under the blanket.