Kpop Sickfics and Hurtfics Part 2

Locked in the Rhythm (Haechan)

Arabella02EJ
The dormitory was unusually quiet that night. The other members of NCT had retired early, exhausted from the day's grueling schedule. Haechan lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying the missteps he had made during rehearsal. A particular dance move had eluded him, and the frustration gnawed at his insides.

He turned his head to glance at the clock on his nightstand: 11:47 PM. Sleep was a distant prospect, especially with the nagging thought of imperfection. Ignoring the slight ache in his throat and the warmth radiating from his forehead, he made a decision.

Quietly, so as not to disturb his roommates, Haechan slipped out of bed and dressed in comfortable practice attire. He grabbed his keycard and a water bottle, leaving his phone behind to avoid any distractions. The practice room was only a short walk away, and he was confident he wouldn't need it.

The cool night air greeted him as he stepped outside, providing temporary relief from the heat he felt. The corridors were dimly lit, and his footsteps echoed softly as he made his way to the practice building. Swiping his keycard, he entered the familiar space, the scent of polished wood and faint traces of cologne welcoming him.

He approached the sound system, connecting it to play the track that had been the bane of his existence that day. As the music filled the room, he positioned himself before the mirror, determination etched on his face.

For the first few minutes, adrenaline masked his discomfort. He moved with precision, analyzing each motion, correcting angles, and adjusting his timing. But as time wore on, the room seemed to grow warmer, and his vision blurred at the edges.

Ignoring the signs, Haechan pushed himself harder. He executed the challenging move repeatedly, each attempt draining more of his energy. His breaths became labored, and a sheen of sweat covered his skin.

Suddenly, the lights flickered. The music warped and then ceased as the room was plunged into darkness. Haechan froze, disoriented. A power outage? He waited, expecting the backup generators to kick in, but the silence stretched on.

He made his way to the door, intending to return to the dorm, but as he tried the handle, it wouldn't budge. Panic set in as he realized the security system had activated, locking all doors automatically during power failures to prevent unauthorized access.

"Great," he muttered, his voice sounding unnaturally loud in the darkness. He patted his pockets, cursing himself for leaving his phone behind. The only option was to wait until the power was restored.

Minutes felt like hours. The room's temperature seemed to rise, or perhaps it was just his fever worsening. He sat against the mirrored wall, knees drawn to his chest, trying to conserve his dwindling energy.

Back at the dorm, Mark tossed and turned in his bed. A nagging feeling kept him from falling into a deep sleep. He glanced at the clock: 12:30 AM. Something felt off. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and noticed that Haechan's bed was empty.

Frowning, he got up and checked the bathroom, but it was vacant. He knocked on Jeno's door, and after a moment, a sleepy voice responded.

"Mark-hyung? What's up?"

"Have you seen Haechan?"

Jeno blinked, processing the question. "Not since we all went to bed. Why?"

"He's not in his room, and I have a bad feeling."

Jeno's concern grew. "Let's check the practice rooms. You know how he gets when he's fixated on something."

The two made their way to the practice building, only to find the entrance locked and the power out. Mark's worry intensified.

"If he's in there and the power's out..."

"He could be trapped," Jeno finished, his eyes widening.

They circled the building, looking for any signs of entry. Through a small window, they spotted a faint silhouette slumped against the wall.

"Haechan!" Mark shouted, banging on the glass.

Inside, Haechan's head lolled towards the sound. He tried to respond, but his voice was barely a whisper.

"We need to get him out, now," Jeno said urgently.

Mark nodded, scanning the area. He noticed an emergency breaker box near the entrance. "If we can reset the system, maybe the doors will unlock."

Jeno pried open the breaker box, revealing a series of switches and a manual override lever. He hesitated, unsure of which switch controlled the door locks.

"Try the manual override," Mark suggested, pointing to the lever labeled 'Emergency Release.'

Jeno pulled the lever, and they heard a faint click as the door's locking mechanism disengaged. They rushed inside, the beam of Mark's flashlight cutting through the darkness.

Haechan was barely conscious, his skin pale and clammy. Mark knelt beside him, gently shaking his shoulder.

"Haechan, can you hear me?"

Haechan's eyes fluttered open, and he managed a weak nod.

"We need to get him back to the dorm," Jeno said, concern evident in his voice.

Mark and Jeno supported Haechan between them, guiding him back through the darkened corridors to their dormitory. Once inside, they laid him on his bed and took his temperature.

"He's burning up," Mark said, worry etched on his face.

Jeno fetched a cold compress and placed it on Haechan's forehead. "We should call a doctor."

Mark nodded and reached for his phone, dialing the number for their on-call physician.

The doctor arrived promptly, examining Haechan thoroughly. After administering medication to reduce the fever, he turned to Mark and Jeno.

"He has a high fever, likely due to overexertion and not recognizing the early signs of illness. He needs rest and plenty of fluids. Monitor him closely, and if his condition doesn't improve or worsens, contact me immediately."

Over the next few days, Mark and Jeno took turns caring for Haechan, ensuring he stayed hydrated and took his medication. Gradually, his fever subsided, and his strength returned.

One afternoon, as Haechan sat up in bed, sipping on some broth, he looked at his friends with gratitude.

"Thank you, both of you. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Mark smiled, patting his shoulder. "Just promise us you'll listen to your body next time and not push yourself too hard."

Haechan nodded, a sheepish grin on his face. "I promise."

The bond between the three friends grew stronger through the ordeal, a testament to their unwavering support for one another.