Chapter Text
Comeback season is tiring—Members barely getting sleep, struggling with the new song style, and most importantly the choreography. This time they were including voguing and Haru had their own little solo part with it.
However, they've had to go over parts of the dance multiple times, why? Maybe Haru hasn’t noticed it themselves yet but the members certainly have. Haru had been stumbling and missing their cues in the song. Maybe it was the lack of sleep?
Haru thought to themselves “The light is so strong and I feel like throwing up..”
Haru wants to push through whatever sickness they're going through, they didn’t want to stop, they didn’t want to drag everyone behind.
Ru…
“Haru!” Wumuti raised a little bit higher trying to capture Haru’s attention, “We’re gonna have you go over your solo part again, kay?”
“Huh.. oh! Yeah okay!” Haru’s voice cracked.
Wumuti stared at Haru, kind of like a worried mom.
Haru centers up and waits for the music to turn on. Once the music starts haru starts their part but before Haru can move a bit more, Their knees buckle causing Haru to fall down to their palms, breathing heavily and face flushed red–
“Haru!” Wumuti yells out running towards the poor little fox.
The music was still blasting, but Wumuti didn’t shut it off as she ran to Haru before anything. Lowering herself down to Haru’s level, gently grabbing them. “Haru? Haru, look at me, let me see,” Wumuti pressed her hand onto Haru’s forehead and let out a whining sound while gently wrapping her arms around Haru. “Oh, sweetie, why didn’t you say anything? You’re literally on fire!”
Hyun and Rui stepped forward looking concerned but also lost, hyun speaks up, “Should we pause the practice or–”
“We’re not pausing anything, we are done,” Wumuti snapped, her voice sharp with this protective-mother tone that the members rarely heard in places other than the dorm. While rubbing Haru’s back she looked up at Rui and Hyun. “Shut the music off. Rui, go grab me my jacket that is on the couch. Hyun, start putting our things in the car. We are going home right now”
Haru let out a weak whine, trying to stand up for themselves but failing to, “hyung… what about the comeback… I can push through…”
“Shh, The comeback is not the priority right now, don't worry about that,” Wumuti hushed them softly, gently pulling Haru closer and in response, Haru wrapped their arms around Wumuti, sniffling and gently closing their eyes. “You can barely keep your eyes open, don’t worry Haru, I’ve got you. You’re safe.” Before Haru could drift off into a deep sleep, they could smell Wumuti’s perfume that she put on, it wasn’t strong and Haru liked that, it was comforting.
Hyun walked towards Wumuti, reaching out his arms. “Hyung, let me carry them, You’ve been dancing for hours—”
“No,” Wumuti said. Not to argue with Hyun, but just as a little fact. “Go get the doors for me. Rui, wrap the jacket around their shoulders like a blanket please.”
Wumuti gently moved one arm to Haru’s upper back while sliding her other arm just beneath Haru’s now bruising knees. Wumuti took a deep breath in and lifted the sleeping Haru off the floor. Haru wakes up a little, gasping at the sudden shift in gravity, burying their face into Wumuti’s chest—clutching onto her shirt. Haru felt so small and weak, shivering violently despite dripping in sweat. “Don’t worry Haru, I’ve got you, we’re going home” Wumuti tells Haru before they finally close their eyes once again, drifting off to sleep.
The moment the dorm doors unlocked, Wumuti carried haru straight past the living room and into Haru’s shared room. Gently laying them down on the bed as if they were made of glass.
“Hyun, get the thermometer and fever patches from the medicine cabinet please,” Wumuti ordered. Gently taking off Haru's damp and sweaty jacket. “Rui, grab a thick blanket, if you can’t find one, grab like 5 blankets.”
Haru grounded, burying their face into their pillows. The voice sounded small and miserable. “Hyung… I’m sticky and gross… I want a shower…” Haru whined.
“Absolutely Not,” Wumuti said without hesitation, Her inner mom kicking in. “You can barely keep your eyes open, love. Your balance is off as well, if you slip and hit your head, I’ll have a heart attack.”
“Please,” Haru croaked, tears watering from their eyes. “I’m fully covered in sweat. I feel disgusting.”
Wumuti looked at the helpless fox, Haru’s flushed, pathetic face and Wumuti could help but just melt. She let out a soft sigh running a hand in her messy blonde hair. “Okay. Okay, fine. But I'm coming in with you, I am not leaving you alone in there for a single second.” Haru was too exhausted to argue back or even embarrassed. Wumuti scooped Haru back up, supporting most of their weight while guiding their trembling legs into the bathroom.
Wumuti turned on the water, waiting until a soothing steam filled the small room, testing the water's temperature making sure it wasn’t too hot but not too cold. “Here, sit on the stool.” Wumuti instructed gently, helping Haru sit down. Wumuti used the detachable shower head to gently rinse off the dried sweat off Haru’s skin. The warm water made Haru sigh, relaxing their shoulders. Wumuti kept one hand anchored on Haru's shoulder the entire time, keeping them from leaning forward too far.
When they were done showering, Wumuti shut off the water and immediately draped a towel over Haru’s shivering frame, quickly rubbing them dry before the cold bathroom hair could make the fever worse. She carefully dressed the sleepy fox in an oversized cotton t-shirt and sweatpants before blow drying their light auburn hair.
“Alright, look at you! All nice and clean,” Wumuti whispered proudly, kissing the top of Haru’s head without a second thought. “Now, let’s get you into bed.”
The moment Haru's head hit the pillow, they let out a tiny congested sigh, finally rolling their eyes shut to get some rest. Wumuti didn’t stop there however. She peeled off a fresh blue gel patch and pressed it gently onto Haru’s forehead, smoothing it down with her thumb gently. She pulled the thick blanket all the way up to Haru’s chin, tucking the edges tightly around their shoulders until they were nice and bundled.
Hyun watched from his own bed across the small room, his chest tightening at the sight. Wumuti looked so exhausted but her eyes held nothing but soft, motherly devotion. “They should sleep through the night now,” Wumuti murmured softly, finally standing up and stretching her aching back. She turned to hyun, keeping her voice silent. “Hyun-i, I put a thermometer and a water bottle on their nightstand. If they wake up crying or shivering, come get me immediately. Don’t try to handle it alone.”
“I won’t, Hyung. Go get some rest yourself,” Hyun replied, giving Wumuti a reassuring smile.
Wumuti stepped over, leaning down to press a brief, fond kiss to the top of Hyun’s head too—a protective gesture she did without thinking. “Good night, Call me if you need anything.” Wumuti said before closing the door shut, finally getting some rest.