K-pop sickfics/hurtfics

Wooyoung ateez - aquaphobia

@FutureOaks here's your request. Hope it was what you wanted.
900 words.

⚠️ Drowning, resuscitation, childhood trauma

Wooyoung had always been sunshine in human form — laughter spilling from him like confetti, smiles too big for his face, arms thrown around shoulders like the world wasn't heavy at all.

But he never swam. Never got in the pool. Never let himself be near water unless he had a firm grip on the edge — and even then, only long enough to make a joke and slip away.

To most of the group, it was just another Wooyoung quirk. Like his obsession with matching socks or his impromptu dance-offs in the kitchen. Hongjoong teased him about being "hydrophobic," Seonghwa offered him floaties once with a laugh. Even Yunho didn't push, just assumed Wooyoung wasn't much of a swimmer.

Only San knew.

He never said anything. Just made space. Changed plans before Wooyoung had to twist himself into another performance. It wasn't always easy — Wooyoung was good at acting fine. Too good.

~~~

"We should film at the water park," Jongho suggested one afternoon, flipping through their upcoming schedule. "They offered to shut down the wave pool for us."

"Let's do the lazy river," Mingi grinned. "I'll bring the water guns."

Wooyoung immediately perked up. "Only if we get matching duck floaties. I want mine to have sunglasses."

The room laughed. Yeosang threw a pillow at him.

San, seated off to the side, watched the familiar flicker behind Wooyoung's eyes. The way he clutched his phone a little tighter. The moment his gaze darted toward the window — away from the conversation.

Later, when the others were gone, San found him alone in the practice room, slumped on the floor with his head tilted back against the wall, eyes closed.

"You're gonna have to keep making jokes," San said gently, sliding down beside him.

"I know." Wooyoung didn't open his eyes. "They're gonna notice eventually."

"You don't have to go."

"I do. Or they'll ask why."

"Let them ask."

Wooyoung swallowed, his throat tight. "They'll look at me different."

San didn't reply right away. Just let the silence sit, solid between them.

"They won't," he said at last. "But even if they do — I won't."

Flashback : Ten Years Ago

The pool was loud — kids splashing, whistles blowing, water slapping tile. Wooyoung had always hated it. The way his skin felt raw from chlorine, the slippery floor, the echo that made it impossible to think.

He stood on the edge of the deep end, arms wrapped around his stomach. The rest of the class was already in, bobbing like buoys. Coach Lee shouted at him.

"Wooyoung, you're up!"

He shook his head. "Can I stay in the shallow end today?"

"You've been avoiding this for two weeks. It's just floating."

"I don't feel good..."

"You'll be fine. Just jump in and kick."

So he jumped.

For a moment, it was okay. Just cold. But then his foot slipped — and there was nothing beneath him. He kicked, but his body tilted sideways, water rushing up his nose. He tried to gasp — and inhaled.

Panic hit like a truck. His chest clenched. He flailed, tried to scream, but the sound never made it out. Water forced its way into his lungs, heavy and sharp. Everything blurred — sound, color, direction.

He sank.

The last thing he saw before blacking out was a shape diving toward him — then nothing.

When he came to, he was on the pool deck, on his side, coughing violently as water poured from his mouth. A lifeguard knelt beside him, eyes wide and hands trembling. A teacher was shouting. His shirt was soaked, stuck to his chest. His throat burned. His whole body shook.

Someone had done chest compressions.

He remembered the feeling of it — being nothing more than weight beneath their hands. The pressure, the pain, the terrifying emptiness before breath came back.

He'd cried until they had to carry him to the nurse's office.

He never got back in the water again.

End of flashback

~~~

The day of the water park shoot arrived. San was already trying to plan an excuse. A fake injury. A scheduling conflict. Anything to keep Wooyoung from having to lie again.

But Wooyoung showed up early, in swim trunks and a ridiculous floatie he'd stolen from the prop closet.

"Captain Quack is ready to go," he announced, striking a pose.

San stared. "You don't have to..."

"I know."

They filmed for two hours. The others splashed and screamed and wrestled in the water. Wooyoung never went deeper than his ankles.

He danced on the pool deck, sprayed Mingi with a water gun, flirted shamelessly with the camera crew. No one noticed how pale he was. How his hands trembled when he passed too close to the edge.

San noticed.

And when the others rushed off to change, San stayed behind. Found Wooyoung seated by himself, staring at the still water of the lazy river.

"I'm proud of you," he said softly.

Wooyoung didn't speak, but his eyes filled. He looked away quickly, scrubbing at his face.

"It's not stupid, right?" he asked. "To still be scared?"

"No," San said. "It's not."

Later that night the dorm was quiet. Everyone else was asleep. Wooyoung knocked on San's door, hoodie pulled tight around him like armor.

"Can I stay in here?" he asked.

San moved over without a word.

As they lay in the dark, Wooyoung whispered, "Sometimes I still dream about it. Not the drowning part. The moment after. When I was back — and everything hurt — and I didn't know why I wasn't dead."

San reached for his hand beneath the blanket.

"You're here now," he said simply.

And Wooyoung let himself believe it — just for a little while.

Thanks for reading. Hoped you enjoyed