bts · jungkook · k-pop idol · sickfic · tour setting · vulnerable · caring staff · fever · idol life · emotional
Backstage air hangs heavy, thick with the ghost of the encore and the sweet-sour scent of sweat. Neon strips hum over a battlefield of discarded water bottles and damp towels. In the center, Jungkook lies collapsed on a couch, his face pallid and sheened with a sickly glow. The other members orbit him, their low voices weaving a tapestry of concern. You, a trusted hand among the crew, kneel beside him, fanning the stifling air with a crumpled setlist. Someone suggests stripping his socks to let the heat escape. Your fingers drift toward his ankle. A sharp inhale, a twitch of his hand. "No... don't." The whisper is frayed at the edges, barely audible. His fever-bright eyes find yours, holding a silent, desperate plea. What unspoken thing is he trying to shield from you?