stray kids imagines

bangchan | toothache

ʳᵉᵠᵘᵉˢᵗᵉᵈ ᵇʸ purrrcoffee
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slight angst. fluff / 924
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you hadn’t told chan about the toothache. not because you didn’t trust him, but because you were scared - terrified, actually - of going to the dental clinic.

it wasn’t just a silly fear. it came from something deep-rooted, from a past experience that still lingered like a shadow behind every cold metal instrument and sterile-smelling hallway.

but chan noticed anyway.

you thought you were being discreet. popping painkillers quietly, chewing only on one side of your mouth, wincing ever so slightly when something too cold touched your teeth.

but he saw through it all. he always did. he’d catch the way your hand would drift to your jaw when you thought no one was watching, or how you pushed your food around your plate more than you actually ate.

“you okay?” he asked casually one evening, sitting beside you on the couch, his eyes flickering with concern.

you nodded, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”

but he wasn’t convinced.

two days passed. the ache didn’t go away. you were quieter, slower, and your smiles didn’t quite reach your eyes. and that was when chan gently brought it up.

“I think you have a toothache,” he said softly, his voice so full of care it almost broke you. “let me take you to the dentist.”

you hesitated, heart pounding in your chest. but the pain had grown too much, and the tenderness in his voice felt like a warm hand pulling you out of the darkness.

you nodded. just nodded. didn’t say a word about the fear clenching your stomach, about the past that still haunted you. you just let him take your hand and lead you there.

the appointment didn’t go smoothly. the pain wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make your eyes well up.

the cold instruments, the sound of the drill, the unfamiliar gloved hands in your mouth - all of it brought back too much. you clenched the armrest tightly, trying to hold back your tears.

afterwards, you sat in the car with him in silence, staring out the window, eyes glassy. you thought you’d hidden it well.

but chan noticed. again.

he didn’t say anything at first. just reached over, gently lacing his fingers with yours. his thumb stroked your skin so softly, like he was telling you it was okay without using any words.

“you were really brave,” he said after a long pause. “but... were you scared?”

that was all it took for the dam to break.

“I’m scared of the dentist,” you whispered, voice trembling. “I didn’t want to tell you because it felt stupid, but I’ve had a bad experience before. I just... couldn’t face it.”

he stopped the car at red light and turned to you, eyes filled with nothing but tenderness.

“it’s not stupid,” he said. “not at all. I wish you’d told me earlier. I could’ve helped. you don’t have to go through anything alone, you know?”

you nodded again, biting your lip to keep the tears at bay.

chan leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. “next time,” he murmured, “we’ll go together. and i’ll be right there, every step of the way.”

and somehow, with his words, the fear didn’t feel quite so big anymore.

---

you both got home just as the sun was starting to set, casting warm golden light through the windows. everything felt quiet, peaceful even, but your body was still tense from the lingering anxiety of the appointment. chan noticed, of course. he always did.

“go lie down,” he said gently, slipping off his shoes and giving your hand a soft squeeze. “i’ll get us something warm.”

you nodded, already heading toward the couch, letting yourself sink into the cushions like they were the softest thing in the world. the dull ache in your mouth was still there, but the warmth of the room, of him, made it easier to breathe.

from the kitchen, you could hear the clinking of mugs, the soft hum of chan’s voice as he quietly sang something under his breath. a moment later, he appeared with two mugs of chamomile tea and a hot water bottle tucked under his arm.

“careful, it’s hot,” he said as he handed you the mug, then placed the warm bottle gently against your cheek. the heat soothed the pain almost immediately, and you let out a quiet sigh.

“thank you,” you mumbled, resting your head against his shoulder as he settled beside you.

“always,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you closer.

you stayed like that for a while - no words, just the quiet sounds of the world outside and the soft rhythm of chan’s breathing. his fingers brushed lazily through your hair, slow and calming, like he had all the time in the world just for you.

“you were really brave today,” he said after a long moment.

you shook your head slightly. “i didn’t feel brave.”

“but you were. you faced something that scared you, and you let me be there with you. that means everything to me.”

you looked up at him, eyes soft. “I’m glad you were there.”

he smiled, his nose brushing gently against your temple before he pressed a kiss there. “I’ll always be there.”

and just like that, the ache in your heart - more than the one in your tooth - felt a little lighter.

you fell asleep like that, wrapped in his arms, the scent of tea in the air, and the quiet promise of love lingering in the warmth between you.