Fluffy ATEEZ Oneshots🧸

Know your limits🌡️

This was bad, Jongho realized. He tried not to show it but he was terrified. With how bad his throat hurt, he doubted he'd be able to have dinner. Even the tea was a challenge, burning his raw throat on the way down despite being only slightly warm, when he started to sip it. He tried to play it off but Seonghwa noticed how tense his face had become after the first sip. The crease between his dongsaeng's eyes brows and his tight jaw, telling him everything he needed to know. "Dinner for everyone is already prepared and just needs to be heated up. Do you want me to make you some rice porridge? It's soft and should go down easier", the oldest offered. Jongho hesitated. He didn't want anyone to go out of their way for him but at this point, he doubted he'd be able to eat whatever his friends were having. "We still have some cooked rice", Seonghwa reminded, sensing the younger's inner conflict, "It'll take no time at all." Biting his lip, Jongho nodded and mouthed: 'Please.' A smile spread on his hyung's face as the older patted his shoulder, promising: "I'll start right away and someone will come and get you once everyone's there to eat together." The maknae tiredly smiled back at him and nodded once again, this time a little more enthusiastically despite dreading having to eat. The tea was already a challenged, so even if it was soft, it'd still be painful.

With how exhausted he was, Jongho stretched out on his bed, only planning to rest his eyes for a bit but ending up falling asleep. It was Wooyoung, who woke him for dinner. His roommate had spent his entire day dancing and still looked way more energetic than Jongho had ever felt. The younger wondered whether it'd be possible to transfer some energy because right now, he'd really need it. "You coming?", Wooyoung asked, looking over his shoulder. He feared the other would just go right back to sleep the moment he left the room. Jongho gave a sleepy nod, before rolling out of bed and wincing at how sore his muscles had become. It hadn't been that bad before his nap. He weakly plopped down in his seat and tried to return Seonghwa's warm smile as the oldest placed a bowl of porridge in front of him. As it predicted it hurt badly trying to swallow the food, no matter how soft and plain it was. Every bite was a struggle to get past Jongho's swollen throat and at some point, Yeosang, who sat next to him even rubbed the maknae's back when he noticed his dongsaeng wince.

Since Jongho was more than aware that Seonghwa had gone out of his way to make a different dinner for him, he forced himself to finish all of it, no matter how bad it hurt. He was more than glad when everyone was done eating and they cleared the table, so he'd be able to escape back to his room. Sure, he loved his hyungs but their loud voices had made his head ache and he just wanted to go to sleep. No one was surprised when Jongho fled the second the table was cleared. "He never knows his limits, does he?", Hongjoong clicked his tongue. The leader knew he himself was bad when it came to overworking himself but his dongsaeng was at least as bad as him. The boy had looked so uncomfortable throughout the entire meal, so Yeosang couldn't help but go and check on him. The maknae sat on his bed, head in his hands as he sniffled softly. "Hey", Yeosang hummed quietly, taking a seat next to the younger, "You're really not feeling well, hm?" Jongho shook his head but regretted it immediately as it made the headache worse. He massaged his temples, which of course didn't go unnoticed by his hyung but the older didn't point it out right away.

After a few minutes of silence, Yeosang asked softly: "It's not only your throat is it?" Biting his lip, Jongho pointed at his head and avoided the other's eyes. Honestly, he just wanted to sleep. "How about I fetch you some painkillers and you can have an early bedtime? Maybe you just pushed yourself too hard and will feel better after a decent amount of sleep", Yeosang offered, getting to his feet when Jongho gave a small nod. He returned not much later with the medicine he had promised and the younger washed the pill down with some cold tea. After changing into a sleep shirt, the maknae slipped under his blanket and closed his eyes, massaging his temples. He really hoped he'd be able to sleep it off. Yeosang wished him a good rest and left their shared room, telling Wooyoung that their roommate had already gone to bed and to be quiet when entering their room. Both of them were very quiet and careful when going to bed, though Jongho seemed so deeply asleep that he probably wouldn't have woken up either way.

Jongho woke up at some point during the night, freezing despite being drenched with sweat. His breath caught in his throat, sending him into a harsh coughing fit. He tried to muffle it into his pillow but it barely quietened the sound. Tears pooled in his eyes as the cough tore at his already shredded throat and he couldn't help but claw at it from the outside. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch his breath and it made his head pound. There was a hand on his back, gently helping him sit up and removing the pillow, he so desperately clung to in hopes of not disturbing his hyungs. Yeosang had taken a seat on the edge of Jongho's mattress, rubbing his back. His heart ached as the throaty sound of the cough made it obvious how badly it had to hurt. The younger still tried to be somewhat quiet, despite both of his roommates already being awake. While Yeosang did his best to comfort their youngest, Wooyoung hurried to the kitchen to get the boy some water.

"Here, try to drink something", the dancer instructed, handing Jongho a glass filled with cool water. Though the maknae struggled to swallow the drink, it eased the pain a little. His vision was blurry with dark spots but he noticed another shadow in the doorframe and Wooyoung was talking to it. As Jongho's vision slowly cleared, it turned out that the shadow had been Seonghwa, who had woken out from the commotion and came to check on his dongsaengs. The oldest stepped closer, sighing: "You really need to know your limits, Jong. Now look where your perfectionism has gotten you." - "Hyung, I don't think Jongho over worked himself", Yeosang muttered, moving his hand from the maknae's sweaty back to the back of his neck, "He's burning with fever, so I think he managed to get a throat infection or something." Frowning, Seonghwa stepped closer and rested his palm on Jongho's hot forehead. He winced in sympathy as his dongsaeng leaned into the cool touch.

Glancing at the box of medicine on the nightstand, the oldest hummed: "When was the last time he took that?" Yeosang checked the time and realized that Jongho could have another dose now. Hopefully it would also help his fever. "Jong, can you take another pill?", Yeosang asked, handing the maknae his water before popping a pill into his palm. Jongho cringed. His throat felt so swollen, he doubted he'd be able to get that pill down. "Alright, Jong, you take your medicine. After that, maybe the two of you can help him into a fresh shirt and I'll go and fetch a cold washcloth, so we can bring his fever down", Seonghwa instructed, walking off to the bathroom. Wooyoung went over to his dongsaeng's closet and grabbed a fresh shirt for him. Noticing the fear in Jongho's eyes, Yeosang took his hand and squeezed it tightly as the younger downed the pill, tears spilling from his eyes almost instantly at the pain. Yeosang rubbed his thumb in circles on the back of the maknae's hand, whispering soft praises. Giving a soft sniffle, Jongho wiped his eyes before struggling out of his sweaty shirt. He shuddered as the air hit his feverish skin but was glad when Wooyoung slipped a dry shirt over his head and guided his shaky hands through the sleeves.

When he had changed his shirt, Jongho could finally lay down again. Yeosang pulled the blanket over him as the younger was to sore to do so himself. Seonghwa soon joined them and seeing that there was nothing more for him to do, Wooyoung went down to his own bed, watching his hyungs tend to Jongho. Yeosang too made room for their oldest, who sat down in the now unoccupied spot and gently dabbed the washcloth against the maknae's burning forehead. "Why don't you all go back to sleep now?", Seonghwa whispered, brushing the damp bangs out of Jongho's face. He himself didn't plan on going to sleep any time soon but there was nothing for his dongsaengs to do anymore and their youngest needed sleep more than anything anyway. Folding the washcloth and draping it across the youngest's forehead, Seonghwa cooed: "Do you need anything else?" He only realized his mistake a moment later and handed Jongho his phone so he could type his reply but the younger shook his head, placing the device back onto the nightstand. Jongho then took Seonghwa's hand and tugged on it lightly. "I was going to stay anyway", the oldest smiled. He waited for his dongsaeng to scoot over a bit and then took a seat with his back against the headboard. Seonghwa was willing to stay awake as long as it took to get their youngest comfortable enough to fall back asleep.