Title: Bedridden
Author: realtimeturbo
Rating: G
Genre: It's pretty fluffy. Not quite tooth-rotting, but your dentist might be a bit apprehensive.
Wordcount: 1174
Prompt used: "For some reason, I’m trembling today
I think something good will happen…"
-Wowowow // SHINee
Disclaimer: If I owned SHINee, I would be doing much more than writing fanfics about them.
A/N: The temps. are in degrees Celsius
“Hyung, you get back in bed right now!” Key replaced the thermometer in its clear case, all but shoving Onew back into his bedroom.
“But Key, I have rehearsal today! And we have that meeting with manager hyung. I need-”
“All you need is to get some rest. You can't go gallivanting around with a 38 degree fever! I'll not stand by and let that happen.”
Onew continued protesting, despite the fact that Key had already removed his shoes and was guiding him back under the covers, “Thiry-eight degrees? Maybe the thermometer is malfunctioning. I feel just fine.” As if on cue, he was wracked with another fit of coughing, just like the ones that had been keeping everyone up the night before. He sighed, defeated, letting Key tuck him in and fluff his pillow.
“Now sleep. I'll wake you up when lunch is ready.”
The leader sat up on his elbow curiously, “Wait, aren't you going out today?”
“And leave you here with the others? They wouldn't know what to do. They'd probably end up killing you somehow. And my plans weren't that important anyway. Now stop worrying about me and go to sleep!” Key, gently yet forcibly, pushed Onew back down onto his pillow before leaving the room.
Onew sank into the linens gratefully, no longer having to hide the fact that his muscles ached or that his whole being felt exhausted. He didn't want to miss his commitments, but he wasn't sure he'd be much help to anyone in this state. In fact, he'd be quite happy not moving from this spot for the rest of the day.
“And where do you think you're going?” Key's agitated voice carried from the front room.
Jonghyun's response, though it was still audible from Onew's room, seemed like a whisper compared to Key, “Um, the gym?”
“Your leader is bedridden with the flu, and you want to go to the gym? I don't think so. You're staying right here, just like the rest of us.” The aforementioned leader couldn't help but smile a little to himself. He could imagine the look on Jonghyun's face; surprised at being caught sneaking out and embarrassed that his dongsaeng could so effectively order him about. “Stop sulking. You're a grown man. Now go keep Onew company.”
“But what if I get sick? Shouldn't we quarantine him or something?”
“Aigoo, hyung, at least pretend like you care.” The conversation ended there. Onew could hear the discouraged steps of the singer coming down the hall. He appeared in the doorway, his duffel bag still hanging from his shoulder.
“Sorry you're sick, hyung.”
“It's not your fault.”
“Not according to Key.” Jonghyun carelessly dropped his bag in the doorway and sat on the edge of Minho's bed, facing Onew. He opened his mouth, poised to speak, but was interrupted.
“Kim Jonghyun, don't you even think about leaving that bag in the middle of the floor!”
“How could he possibly know? Does he have eyes all over the house?” The singer scowled, crossing his arms over his chest and pushing his bottom lip out, giving him the appearance of a stubborn child. The sight made Onew want to laugh, but all that came out was another bout of coughing. He groaned and curled further under the covers, only to kick them off when he realized he was sweating. “Aish, hyung, you don't look so good.”
“Of course he doesn't. You don't look so hot when you're sick either.” Minho strode in, car keys dangling from his fingers and a plastic bag hanging around his wrist. He sat next to Jonghyun, nudging him with his elbow, “Move over.” Taemin, carrying a large shiny “Get Well Soon” balloon and a massive white teddy bear, was not far behind, though he was far more excited than the rest of the group. He was the only one with a grin spread across his face and a bounce in his step. His brightness was contagious to Onew, who hadn't expected such a pleasant bedside meeting. Just the fact that all his band mates were staying home, together, just for him, was enough medicine to last him for days.
Taemin skipped over to Onew, eagerly shoving his gifts in the leader's direction, “These should make you happy, hyung! And you have to get better quickly, okay?” He sat on the ground by Onew's bed, and pulled out his phone, fingers flying as he texted mystery friends determinedly and the tip of his tongue poking out just barely from between his lips.
Jonghyun rummaged through Minho's plastic bag, placing the cough medicine and box of tissues on the nightstand where Onew could reach. He pulled an orange-flavored lollipop out and discreetly popped it into his mouth. Minho, who'd been laughing quietly at Taemin's focused expression, suddenly turned to look at the singer, his own gaze disapproving. He yanked the candy out of Jonghyun's mouth, following up with a light smack on the back of his head, “Those are for Onew hyung, stupid.”
“Good, you two are back,” Key reappeared in the doorway, carrying a tray holding a bowl of pleasantly steaming soup and a warm cup of tea. He placed the tray in front of Onew, “It's chicken nood- Aigoo! You didn't even open the medicine for him? What, is he supposed to do that himself? And I assume he's going to blow his nose with this entire unopened box of tissues.”The three healthy boys shared an awkward glance as Key tore vigorously at the plastic packaging around the bottle of cough syrup. Onew couldn't help the stupid smile that was newly plastered on his face. For some reason, seeing Key nagging so concernedly made him almost giddy. He was not used to this kind of attention. Just the fact that they were all home together was one thing. But they'd all stayed home to take care of him. They were all willing to stay cooped up in this room if it meant he'd get better faster. Just the thought gave him chills. Or, wait, was that something else?
“Hyung! You're trembling! Are you cold? Why aren't you under your blankets?” Key dropped the half-opened bottle of medication, resuming his worried bustling around the house.
“I'll help, hyung!” Taemin stood and rushed out of the room, returning with the covers from his own bed. He tossed them onto Onew, which only upset Key more.
“No, not like that! You have to do it with care. Here, like this.”
In the next few minutes, Key attempted to teach Taemin how to tuck in a sick patient, Jonghyun stole more than a few bites of Onew's chicken noodle, Minho reminded the singer of the punishment for stealing, and Taemin eventually gave up on learning how to make beds and somehow ended up under the blankets cuddling up to his sick leader.
And Onew? He finally dozed off with a smile on his face, wondering how something so good could come from something so simple as the flu.