Work Text:
I’m Fine
Minho, already in a bad mood, made his way to Chan's desk to drop off some paperwork. As he approached, he saw Chan hovering around Y/N. Minho frowned, irritated by how they always seemed to be in each other's personal space. As he got closer, they noticed him, and Minho observed that Y/N's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Her face was flushed, and she had a sheen of sweat on her forehead.
"What's wrong?" Minho asked stiffly, his eyes narrowing.
"Y/N's sick and has a fever." Chan replied, touching her forehead to check her temperature again. Y/N swatted his hand away, insisting she was fine.
"I'm fine." Y/N said firmly. "I don't want to miss work."
Minho scowled, his tone sharp. "You shouldn't be here if you're sick. You'll just put others behind."
Chan sighed, shaking his head. "Or you'll collapse." He added, clearly worried.
Y/N looked at Minho, her smile warm despite his cold demeanor. "I'm fine, Mr. Lee."
Minho felt a pang of guilt and concern, hidden beneath his stern exterior. Y/N smiled at Minho, even though it was clear she wasn't feeling well. As if sensing his inner turmoil she stated softly, "I'm fine, really. But thanks for worrying about me."
Minho huffed, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. "You're ridiculous. If you insist on staying, make sure you don't fall behind or cause others to as well."
"I promise." She said, her smile weak and lacking her usual enthusiasm.
Minho's irritation masked a deeper worry. Her lack of energy and the absence of her usual playful banter unsettled him more than he cared to admit. As he handed over the paperwork, he found himself watching her closely, every sign of her illness gnawing at his composure.
He turned to leave but couldn't help himself from glancing back one more time. "If you get worse, go home. Don't be stubborn." His eyes, a mask of cold annoyance.
Y/N nodded, her eyes meeting his. "I will, Mr. Lee. Don't worry."
Minho left the desk, his mind occupied by Y/N's condition. Her insistence on staying despite being unwell troubled him deeply. He tried to focus on his work, but the image of her flushed face and tired smile kept intruding on his thoughts.
Unable to resist the urge to check on Y/N, Minho found himself heading back to Chan's desk later that day. Y/N had been occupying his thoughts, and it was affecting his ability to focus on his work. His concern for her sat heavily on his chest, making him feel uneasy. As he approached, he noticed Chan's surprised expression.
"Minho, what brings you here?" Chan asked, clearly taken aback. "You usually just have me drop everything off on my way out."
Minho scoffed, trying to mask his concern. "I was up and decided to get it myself." He said nonchalantly, his eyes already drifting towards Y/N.
She was asleep at her desk, her head resting uncomfortably on her arms. Minho's irritation spiked as he took in her pale face, her heavy and raspy breathing, and the way she trembled slightly tugged on his heart.
"She's still here?" Minho snapped, his voice low but sharp. "She looks worse." He said, his voice filled with frustration.
Chan nodded, concern etched on his face. "Yeah, she's not doing great. I've been trying to convince her to go home, but you know how stubborn she is."
"She shouldn't be working like this." Minho felt a surge of frustration and protectiveness. "This is ridiculous." He muttered under his breath as he stood by Chan's desk, his concern for Y/N growing by the minute. Chan sighed and looked at him, clearly understanding Minho's frustration.
"She fell asleep about an hour ago." Chan informed him. "She's been pushing herself too hard."
Minho's initial reaction was to criticize. "She's being careless with work, falling behind like this." He said, though the worry in his voice was evident.
Chan shook his head. "She didn't fall behind, Minho. Not that I would blame her if she did.” He handed Minho the folders, a silent plea for Minho to understand in his eyes. “I finished her work for the day. I figured it was better to let her rest."
Minho watched as Chan softly approached Y/N and crouched down, gently waking her. "Hey, Y/N," Chan said quietly, "it's the end of the day."
Y/N stirred, groggy and disoriented. "My work... I need to finish my work." She mumbled, starting to panic.
Minho stepped forward, his stern expression softening slightly. "Chan finished it for you." He scolded, his tone less harsh than usual. "You need to take better care of yourself."
Y/N looked guilty, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm sorry… " she whispered, looking down. “I didn't mean to be a burden."
Minho felt a pang in his chest and tried to keep his voice steady, though it came out softer than he wanted. "Go home, Y/N. That’s an order." He said, his voice gentler. "You're not helping anyone by pushing yourself this hard."
Y/N looked like she was about to cry, her lower lip trembling. Minho took a deep breath, ready to offer to take her home himself. But before he could speak, Chan stepped forward, his concern evident.
"I'll take you home, Y/N." Chan offered warmly. "You need to get some rest. Let me help."
Y/N smiled gratefully at Chan, the warmth in her eyes breaking Minho's heart. "Thank you, Chan. I really appreciate it."
Minho watched, the words dying on his tongue as Chan gently helped Y/N gather her things. Once again, he felt like an outsider, the invisible barrier between his emotions and his actions more apparent than ever. He stood there, torn between his concern for Y/N and the bitter realization that Chan was the one she turned to.
As Chan and Y/N made their way to the door, Y/N glanced back at Minho. "Thank you, Minho." she said softly, her voice sincere despite her exhaustion.
Minho forced a small nod. "Just get better, Y/N."
She nodded, and with Chan's support, she left the office. Minho stood there, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. The drive to protect her, to be the one she relied on, clashed painfully with the reality of his own emotional barriers.
Back at his desk, Minho tried to focus on his work, but his mind kept drifting back to Y/N. He hated feeling this way—so conflicted, so out of control. It was easier to be cold, to keep everyone at arm's length. But Y/N had a way of breaking through his defenses, leaving him vulnerable in a way he hadn't been in years.
Minho's mind was still clouded with worry days later. He made his way to Chan's desk, hoping to see some sign that Y/N had returned. Instead, he found her desk still empty, a stark reminder of her absence. Chan leaned back in his chair, the concern etched on his face mirroring Minho's own feelings.
"It's been two days." Chan said, his voice heavy with worry. "I'm really starting to get concerned."
Minho felt like he was going crazy. Every moment she was away, his anxiety grew. He nodded silently, not trusting himself to speak without revealing the depth of his worry.
Minho felt his stomach churn. He had been trying to keep his mind off Y/N, but her continued absence made it impossible. "Yeah," he said quietly, his eyes lingering on the empty desk. "I noticed."
Chan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't like this. She said she was fine, but she clearly wasn't.
Minho nodded silently, his jaw clenched. "It's... it's strange not seeing her here."
"I’m going to check on her after work." Chan continued, his eyes fixed on Minho. "Make sure she's alright."
Minho nodded again, a lump forming in his throat. He wanted to be the one to check on her, to make sure she was okay, but he knew that Chan had every right to be concerned too. "Good idea." He finally managed to say, his voice strained. "Let me know how she is."
Chan gave him a reassuring smile, though his eyes were still filled with concern. "Will do. I'm sure she'll be fine, Minho. She just needs some time to recover."
Minho nodded once more and turned to leave, feeling more helpless than ever. The rest of the day passed in a blur, his thoughts constantly drifting back to Y/N. He couldn't concentrate on his work, his mind occupied with images of her sick and in need of care.
He needed to go to her. He had to make sure she was okay. So Minho grabbed his keys and left.
Doubts plagued his mind as he drove, questioning whether this was a good idea. But the worry for Y/N overpowered his hesitation. When he arrived at her apartment complex, he saw a woman walking out of Y/N's unit who he didn't recognize.
"Excuse me." Minho began, trying to keep his voice steady. "Is Y/N here?"
The woman shook her head, offering him a sympathetic smile. "No, she's not. I'm her neighbor. Can I help you with something?"
Minho's confusion deepened. "I was just checking on her. She hasn't been at work in a few days, and I was worried. She said she was fine, but..."
The neighbor nodded understandingly. "I'm taking care of Victor for her."
Minho blinked, more confused than ever. "Victor?"
"Her cat," the neighbor explained. "She asked me to look after him while she's... away."
Minho's heart sank, a sense of dread settling in. "Where is she?"
The neighbor's expression turned serious, her eyes filled with sympathy, and she looked at him with a touch of pity. "She's in the hospital. She's been there for a couple of days now."
Minho felt as though the ground had dropped out from under him. "The- the hospital?" he repeated, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Why didn't she tell me?" He felt his stomach churn, his mind racing. "But she said she was fine."
The neighbor looked at him sympathetically. "She was really sick. I don't know all the details." The neighbor sighed, patting his arm gently. "She's a strong one, that girl. Always trying to handle everything on her own.”
Minho felt a wave of nausea and panic. "Do you know which hospital?"
She nodded. "Yes, it's the St. Mary's Hospital. You should be able to find her there."
"Thank you," Minho said, barely able to get the words out. He turned and hurried back to his car, his mind racing. He had to see Y/N, to make sure she was okay.
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity. His thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and guilt. When he finally arrived, he rushed to the front desk, asking for Y/N's room. The receptionist gave him the room number, and he hurried down the hallway, his heart pounding.
When he reached her room, he paused for a moment to collect himself. Taking a deep breath, he gently knocked on the door and pushed it open. Inside, Y/N lay in a hospital bed, looking pale and weak, but her color had returned. Her eyes were closed, and an IV was attached to her arm. Minho's heart ached at the sight.
She opened her eyes and noticed him standing in the doorway and offered him a warm smile. "Minho," she said softly.
Suddenly, Minho felt like he could breathe again. Relief washed over him, but it was quickly followed by a surge of anger. He stormed into the room, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.
"What were you thinking, Y/N?" he scolded, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why didn't you tell anyone how bad it was?"
Y/N's smile didn't falter. She seemed almost amused by his reaction. "Minho, calm down. I'm okay now."
"Calm down?" Minho repeated, his voice rising. "You were in the hospital, and you didn't think to tell anyone? What happened?"
She sighed, her expression becoming more serious. "My appendix ruptured. That’s it.”
Minho's hands were shaking. “That’s it?” He could barely contain the mix of emotions swirling inside him. "You're an idiot." he said, his voice harsh. But Y/N could see the truth in his eyes. Behind the anger, the truth was evident in his eyes—he was deeply worried about her.
Y/N, despite her weakened state, managed a teasing smile. "The fever must have made me delusional, but it almost sounds like you care about me."
Minho tried to keep his mask in place, but her laughter broke through his defenses. Seeing her laugh, even in her condition, made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time—pure, unfiltered joy.
Minho couldn't help but smile, a rare and genuine expression. "You're insufferable." he muttered, but the relief and affection in his eyes were undeniable.
Y/N laughed, the sound light and melodic, and Minho felt a surge of joy knowing he was the one who made her laugh, to bring some light into her eyes. "When are you getting out of here?" he asked, trying to shift the focus.
"Tomorrow," she replied, her smile lingering. "The doctor said I just need one more night of observation."
Minho nodded, trying to put his cold mask back on. "Good. We need you back at work. Things are getting backed up."
Y/N saw through his attempt to distance himself. She reached out and grabbed his hand, her touch warm and comforting. "You're a terrible liar, Minho." she teased gently. "But I appreciate you checking on me."
He looked down at their joined hands, feeling a strange mix of vulnerability and comfort. "It's just because Chan and the others are incompetent." He lied, but his voice lacked conviction.
Y/N's smile softened, and she squeezed his hand gently. "Sure, Minho. Whatever you say." Her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know, Minho, your mask is slipping, and I really like what I see."
He looked at her, his tough exterior faltering. "Y/N..."