Stray Kids Oneshots & Sickfics

Seungmin: The Silent Week

Requested: taylorsxskz

•Skz: Seungmin
•Angst w/ happy ending
•CW: isolation, emotional breakdown

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Seungmin had always been the quiet type. The kind of person who didn’t mind the occasional silence between him and his bandmates. After all, in the high-energy world of K-pop, silence could be a rare commodity, and sometimes it felt like a moment to breathe.

But this week felt different.

From the moment they’d returned from their schedule in Japan, something shifted. His bandmates had been distant. They spoke less to him, avoided eye contact, and when they did talk, it was as if he wasn’t even there. Seungmin tried to brush it off at first. Maybe they were just tired from their packed schedule, he thought. He even attributed their lack of communication to something as simple as the stress of the upcoming concert.

But day by day, it only got worse. They huddled in small groups, laughing over inside jokes that Seungmin didn’t understand. At rehearsals, they’d give him instructions, but it was without the usual warmth. The small gestures—patting his back after a successful take, complimenting him on his dance moves—had stopped. He felt like an outsider in the group he had poured his heart and soul into.

"What did I do wrong?" Seungmin would whisper to himself in the silence of his practice room, his voice barely louder than the hum of the air conditioning. He racked his brain for any possible reason, any argument or incident that could’ve led to this, but nothing came to mind. He had done his best to be kind and helpful, to contribute to the group’s dynamic. So why now?

The days passed in a haze of confusion. The loneliness grew heavier each hour, the knot in his stomach tightening. The others were laughing and joking together. They had an unspoken bond, a chemistry that seemed impenetrable. And here he was, a part of the group in name only, cast aside without an explanation.

By the fourth day, Seungmin's self-doubt had spiraled. Was he a burden? Was he not good enough? Maybe they didn’t like him anymore. Maybe they were finally sick of him.

The weight of these thoughts began to consume him, gnawing away at his focus. His practice sessions felt empty, as if he was just going through the motions. His energy had drained, and all he wanted to do was disappear. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t walk away from something he had fought so hard for, something that meant so much to him.

That night, after another round of rehearsals, Seungmin found himself sitting alone in the quiet dressing room, his head in his hands. He had been holding it in for so long, trying to push back the tears, but now, they came flooding out, unstoppable. He felt stupid for crying, for feeling this way, but he couldn’t help it. The loneliness, the confusion, the anxiety—it was all too much.

He didn’t hear the door open at first. It was only when a soft voice called out, "Seungmin?" that he looked up, startled.

It was Hyunjin. His usually bright face was filled with concern, and behind him stood the rest of the members. They all looked guilty, as if they had been caught doing something wrong.

"Seungmin… you’ve been so distant all week," Felix said softly, his voice breaking. "We’re so sorry."

Jisung stepped forward, eyes wide and filled with regret. "We didn’t mean for it to go this far. It’s just… we were upset with ourselves, not you. And we took it out on you without even realizing."

Minho clenched his fists, his voice tight with emotion. "We’ve been so caught up in our own stuff that we didn’t even notice how it affected you. We thought you were okay with the silence, but we were wrong."

Seungmin wiped his face with the back of his hand, still trying to process their words. "What… what do you mean?"

"We’ve been going through some personal struggles," Chan explained, his voice shaking. "We were all feeling overwhelmed, and instead of supporting each other like we should, we isolated ourselves. But in doing that, we shut you out."

Jeongin's eyes were brimming with tears. "We didn’t realize how badly we were hurting you. We should have been there for you. I’m so sorry."

Seungmin's heart ached. All this time, he had thought it was his fault. That maybe they just didn’t care anymore. But now, hearing them speak so sincerely, he felt a wave of relief and sadness. It wasn’t about him at all. It had never been about him.

"I—" Seungmin's voice cracked. "I thought you didn’t want me around anymore. I thought I messed up somehow."

The group was silent for a moment, and then Chan walked over to him, gently taking his hand. "We’re sorry for making you feel that way. We should’ve been more open with you. We let our own problems get in the way of our friendship."

Minho sat next to him, his voice soft but firm. "You’re not a burden, Seungmin. You’re our family. And we love you. We promise we’ll do better from now on."

Seungmin couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears came flooding back, but this time, they were accompanied by the warmth of their comfort. His bandmates were there, truly there for him. They weren’t perfect, but they were trying. And that meant everything to him.

Chan pulled him into a hug, and the rest joined in, enveloping him in a tight embrace. For the first time in a week, Seungmin felt like he could breathe again. The weight had lifted. It wasn’t over, of course—not yet—but it felt like they were ready to heal together.

And that, Seungmin realized, was all that mattered.

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AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thank you for your request! x