stray kids imagines

jisung | you're safe with me

ʳᵉᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᵉᵈ ᵇʸ Delulu_skzfan
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angst. fluff / 1041
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the apartment was too quiet. normally, that wouldn't bother you - silence could be peaceful, a rare moment of calm.

but tonight, it felt suffocating. the shadows stretched too far, the air too thick, the weight on your chest too heavy.

you weren't sure what had triggered it. maybe it was the overwhelming stress of the week, or maybe it was just one of those nights when everything felt too much. either way, your thoughts wouldn't slow down. they raced in circles, spiralling into a storm of self-doubt and exhaustion.

you curled up on the couch, wrapping your arms around yourself as if that could hold you together. your breathing was uneven, shallow gasps that never quite felt like enough. your hands trembled against your knees.

panic was creeping in, sharp and relentless.

you didn't hear the front door open, didn't hear the sound of keys jingling as they were set down. it wasn't until you felt a warm hand on your shoulder that you flinched, sucking in a sharp breath.

"whoa- hey, it's just me," jisung's voice was soft, careful. his brows furrowed in concern as he crouched in front of you, searching your eyes. "you okay?"

you tried to nod, but it wasn't convincing. the panic was still there, clawing at your ribs, making your throat tighten.

jisung's expression softened further. he knew. he always knew.

without hesitation, he sat beside you on the couch, pulling you into his arms. "come here," he murmured, gently guiding you so that your head rested against his chest. his hoodie was soft, smelling faintly of his cologne - warm, familiar, safe.

his hand found yours, fingers threading together, grounding you. "it's okay," he whispered. "I've got you."

you focused on the steady rise and fall of his chest, the rhythmic sound of his breathing. slow, deep, controlled. you tried to match it, inhaling when he did, exhaling when he did.

"that's it," he praised softly, his thumb rubbing soothing circles against the back of your hand. "you're doing so well."

tears pricked at your eyes. you hadn't realized how much you needed this- needed him.

jisung pressed a kiss to the top of your head, lingering there. "I wish I could take this away for you," he whispered, his voice laced with emotion. "but I'll stay here for as long as you need."

you closed your eyes, focusing on the warmth of his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against your ear. the panic wasn't gone completely, but it was quieter now, dulled by the presence of the person who always made you feel safe.

"thank you," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

jisung tightened his hold around you, his lips brushing against your temple. "always."

and just like that, you weren't alone anymore.

you were safe.

-
jisung didn't let go. not even when your breathing evened out, not even when the shaking in your hands faded into stillness. he just held you, one arm wrapped securely around your back, the other tracing slow, absentminded patterns on your arm.

minutes passed in comfortable silence, and the weight that had pressed so heavily against your chest began to lighten. the storm inside you hadn't completely disappeared, but it no longer felt like it would swallow you whole.

jisung shifted slightly, adjusting you both on the couch so that you were practically curled up in his lap. "do you wanna talk about it?" he asked gently, voice just above a whisper. "or do you just wanna stay like this?"

you hesitated, fingers gripping the fabric of his hoodie. you weren't sure where to start. it wasn't just one thing - it was everything. the stress, the overthinking, the feeling of not being enough. but putting it into words felt impossible.

"I... I don't know," you admitted, voice small.

jisung hummed, nodding as if he understood without needing further explanation. "that's okay," he said. "you don't have to explain anything. I just want you to know I'm here."

you swallowed hard, your throat tight with unshed tears. "I hate feeling like this," you whispered.

"I know, baby." jisung's grip on you tightened, protective and reassuring. "but you're not alone, okay? you're never alone in this."

his words were a lifeline, pulling you back from the edge of the overwhelming thoughts that had been consuming you all night.

a lump formed in your throat, but this time it wasn't from anxiety - it was from something softer, something warm. love.

jisung pressed another soft kiss to your forehead before resting his chin atop your head. "you wanna lay down with me?" he asked. "I can put on one of those dumb shows you like to make fun of."

that made you smile, just a little. "you mean the ones you secretly like?"

he gasped dramatically. "excuse me? I have never enjoyed a single trashy reality tv show in my life."

"you cried when they eliminated your favourite contestant last week."

jisung groaned, flopping back against the couch. "I was emotional, okay? it was a betrayal."

a soft giggle slipped past your lips before you could stop it. and just like that, the weight on your chest lifted a little more.

jisung grinned, nudging his nose against your temple. "there's my favourite sound."

your cheeks warmed, but before you could say anything, he was already standing, easily lifting you with him. "come on," he said, carrying you toward the bedroom. "we're getting comfy, and i'm forcing you to eat something because I know you haven't today."

you opened your mouth to protest, but jisung gave you a knowing look. "nope. no arguments. I'm taking care of you, and you're gonna let me."

his determination was adorable, and honestly, you were too exhausted to fight him on it. so instead, you let yourself be guided into bed, the blankets pulled up around you as jisung settled in beside you. he wrapped himself around you like a human blanket, warm and safe.

"I'm not letting go until you feel better," he murmured against your hair.

you exhaled slowly, sinking into his hold. the panic wasn't completely gone, and maybe it would come back another day. but right now, in jisung's arms, you felt safe. you felt loved.

and that was enough.