K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Mingyu seventeen - pneumonia

@Min_nie_06 thanks for the request, hope you like it.
900 words

Mingyu had always been the strong one.

He was the one who carried the mood in the group, the one who made others laugh even when they were exhausted, the one who gave piggyback rides when the members whined about being too tired. He wasn't the best dancer, nor the best singer, nor the best rapper  — but he worked harder than anyone to prove he belonged in Seventeen. To prove that he wasn't just a tall, clumsy guy with a pretty face. (A/N : he's amazing, and super talented. What I write is fictional, I don't believe what I wrote)

So when he first felt the tightness in his chest and the dull ache in his muscles, he brushed it off. Just a cold, nothing serious. A few vitamins, some extra sleep —he'd be fine. The thought of telling anyone didn't even cross his mind. The others had their own problems: Woozi barely left the studio, Jeonghan looked more exhausted every day, and Seungcheol had too much weight on his shoulders as leader. Mingyu couldn't add to that. He wouldn't.

But as the days passed, his symptoms worsened.

What started as a slight fever became something more. His body ached all over, every step during practice feeling like he was wading through quicksand. The tightness in his chest grew into something sharp, something that made him breathless after a few moves. His throat burned, and coughing fits started stealing his sleep. But still, he told himself he could handle it.

Then came the mistakes.

Mingyu was known for being a little clumsy, but this was different. His limbs felt heavy, his reaction time slower. He missed beats he usually hit perfectly, stumbled when trying to keep up with the choreo. The others noticed, of course.

"Mingyu, are you okay?" Joshua asked one day, frowning as Mingyu caught himself against the mirror.

Mingyu forced a smile, straightening up. "Just tired. Didn't sleep well."

"Maybe you should sit out for a bit..."

"I'm fine," he cut in, too quickly. He needed to prove himself. If he sat out, if he showed weakness, they'd worry. Worse, they might think he wasn't reliable. The thought made his stomach churn. "Let's keep going."

Joshua looked unconvinced, but he let it go. For now.

The sickness continued to eat away at him.

His appetite vanished. Even when they had group meals, he only picked at his food, forcing down bites just so no one would comment on it. His body was running on empty, but he couldn't stop. Couldn't let them see how weak he was.

But the coughing wouldn't stop. Each night, he bit down on his pillow to muffle the sounds, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He felt like he was drowning. The fever burned through him, sweat soaking his sheets, but still, he forced himself up every morning, masking the shaking in his hands as best he could.

He was slipping, and he knew it.

~~~~

That day, the practice room felt suffocating.

Mingyu had barely slept, his fever higher than ever, but he showed up as always. His body screamed at him to stop, but he didn't. Couldn't. The others were pushing themselves just as hard—if he sat out now, he'd just prove what he feared most: that he was weaker than them.

His vision blurred. His chest felt like it was caving in. He was dizzy, his breathing shallow, but he forced himself through the choreo, his limbs moving on autopilot. Just a little longer. Just one more rep...

The room tilted. Someone shouted his name.

Then everything went black.

~~~~

Mingyu woke up to the smell of antiseptic and the sound of quiet murmurs. His body ached, but more than that, he felt light—like the weight he'd been carrying had been lifted, if only slightly.

It took a moment for his vision to clear. Seungcheol, Jeonghan, Wonwoo, and Joshua were sitting beside his bed, their faces tense with worry. (A/N : who loves Meanie as much as me ?)

"Idiot," Jeonghan muttered, voice tight. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Mingyu blinked. His throat was dry, and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse. "Tell you... what?"

Seungcheol exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "That you were this sick. The doctor said you have pneumonia, Mingyu. Do you even realize how serious that is?"

Pneumonia.

The word settled heavily in his chest. He had known he was sick, but he hadn't realized it was that bad.

Wonwoo was staring at him, his usual calm expression replaced by something unreadable. "Why did you hide it?"

Mingyu swallowed hard, guilt curling in his stomach. "I... I didn't want to be a burden," he admitted, barely above a whisper. "You guys already have so much going on. I didn't want to slow anyone down."

There was silence. Then Joshua sighed. "Mingyu, you're not just a member of Seventeen. You're our family." His voice was gentle, but firm. "We'd rather have you rest than push yourself until you collapse."

Jeonghan's eyes softened. "We can't perform without you if you're in the hospital, can we?"

Mingyu felt his throat tighten, not from sickness, but from the overwhelming warmth of their words. He had spent so much time trying to prove his strength that he had forgotten. Strength wasn't just about enduring pain alone, it was also about trusting the people around you.

"Sorry," he mumbled, looking away.

Seungcheol ruffled his hair. "Don't apologize. Just get better. That's all we need from you right now."

Mingyu nodded, and for the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to rest.

Because he wasn't alone. He never had been and he will never be.

A/ N: What's your favorite seventeen ship? Personally mine's soonhoon's.

Thanks for reading. If you have any story in mind don't hesitate, I take requests.