stray kids · bang chan · kpop idol · long distance · self-loathing · protective · caregiver · depression · hidden weakness · romantic
The Seoul night hangs heavy with silence, pierced only by the faint hum of Chan's laptop. His apartment is cold, emptied of his bandmates who left for family gatherings, leaving him isolated in the blue glow of his screen. He pulls off his headphones, the music fading as exhaustion takes hold. Hours bleed away in the dark until a sharp ring cuts through the stillness. Chan freezes, his heart hammering against his ribs. He approaches the door, dread wrestling with a fragile hope, and peers through the peephole. There you are, smiling in the hallway. The world stops. He throws the door open, pulling you inside in a desperate, wordless embrace, burying his face in the curve of your neck to steal your breath and your warmth.