Take a Break || Ateez
FANDOM: Ateez
PAIRING: Jung Wooyoung x afab!Reader
WORD COUNT: 2,031
RATING: PG-13
POTENTIAL TRIGGERS: Mentions of anxiety, depression, sensory overload
SUMMARY: Burnout is coming on hard and fast, and being stuck in a thunderstorm is the worst way to feel everything all at once. Luckily, Wooyoung is there to help remind you it's okay to step away.
TAGLIST: @spookidema, @no1likemybbgcharlie, @gottalovethegeeks
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
The work week had drained you to the last shred of your sanity. It had taken every ounce of your energy to go in today, and when you came out to find your car had a dead battery, it was the last straw. You had called your boyfriend in a panic, stranded in a thunderstorm at work. You were sitting in the driver's seat, crying with the downpour. Everything was too much, and all you had left in you were the wrecked sobs escaping your throat as you leaned forward on the steering wheel. The knock on your window startled you, head lifting with a quiet shout to find Wooyoung and Seonghwa at your door. The rain slowed for the moment, but you could see how drenched they already were. You moved to roll the window down, but Wooyoung shook his head.
“Pop the hood,” he instructed softly, giving you a look when you opened your mouth to protest. You withheld the comment and reached to pull the small lever, watching the two men move to the front of your car, the hood opening and blocking your view of them. You took in the familiar Jeep pulled next to your car, listening as the guys hook the cables to your car and then Wooyoung’s Jeep. A fresh wave of tears overtook you and you leaned back in your seat to cry. When the passenger door opened, you did not have it in you to see, but the cold skin of Wooyoung's hand gently touching yours made your eyes open.
“Are you hurt?”
Confusion was plain on your face as you looked at him. “What?”
“Are. You. Hurt?” Wooyoung spoke slower on purpose, giving your mind time to wrap around it.
“N-no. No, I'm okay, Woo,” you promised.
The relieved sigh that escaped Wooyoung made your vision blur with fresh tears, and he leaned to kiss your forehead gently. “Hey, it's okay. I'm right here, you're safe, so I need you to breathe, okay, baby? Breathe with me.” He guided you to breathe, and as your trembling slowed, he rested his forehead on yours. “That's it, just breathe, baby.” He was gentle as you relaxed into his touch, an ache beginning to form in and between your shoulders. A tap on the window made you flinch, but Wooyoung petted his hand over your hair soothingly. You reluctantly pulled away, turning to look at Seonghwa and rolling down the window.
“Try it now,” Seonghwa offered, and you reached to turn the key. When the ignition rolled over and came to life, you let out a mix between a sob and sigh, leaning back in the seat before opening the door to get out and hug Seonghwa.
“Thank you, Hwa. You didn't have to come.”
“I was not about to let Wooyoung drive in this weather when he was panicking,” Seonghwa replied, his fingers petting over your hair like a brother. “I'm just glad you're okay, Y/N. Wooyoung would have lost his mind if you were hurt. I’ll leave you to your boyfriend now, alright?” The sound of the hoods closing caught your attention and you spotted Wooyoung going to put the jumper cable back in its place in his trunk. “Wooyoung, are you okay with getting your darling here home?”
“Yeah. Just let me know when you make it back to the dorm, okay?” Wooyoung forced a hug on the older male before letting Seonghwa get in the Jeep to drive off. When he turned to face you, he caught sight of you shaking your head. “What?”
“You didn't have to-”
Wooyoung cut you off without a thought. “Yes, actually, I did. You called me in the middle of a breakdown, baby. You've been working almost nonstop, you're overwhelmed and need a break. Hongjoong and the others understand that right now, I need to be with you.” He took your hand, lifting it to kiss your knuckles. “Now get in the car before it starts raining again.” He led you to the passenger side, making sure you were inside before closing the door and going to get into the driver's seat. He turned the heater on, lowering the volume of the radio as he reversed out. He drove to your apartment, one hand reaching to thread his fingers through yours so his thumb could get my caress the back of your hand. Neither of you spoke - Wooyoung to simply give you his presence and you from exhaustion. The warmth of the heater helped with the chill from your soaked clothes, and somewhere in the back of your mind, you reminded yourself that you would have to get the car seats cleaned. Your mind tuned out everything except the gentle brush of Wooyoung's thumb over your skin. Wooyoung had been a safe place for a while now, and you managed to fall asleep against the window as Wooyoung took you home.
You woke with a start at the sound of a door closing, eyes wide as you tried to register your surroundings until your door opened and Wooyoung leaned in. “Hey,”
“Hey yourself, beautiful. Did you sleep okay?” Wooyoung cooed as he unbuckled your seat belt and helped you out of the car. You hummed an assent, clinging to his side as the two of you walked to your door. He used his key to unlock it, both of you removing your shoes before he guided you to the bathroom. “Sit,” He said, softly, but firmly., motioning to the toilet as he opened the curtain of your shower.
“Woo-”
“Please don't argue with me.” Wooyoung half begged, turning brown eyes to you with a pout trying to curl his lips. You watched as he turned on the water, and once he's satisfied with the temperature, he nodded. “Go ahead and get in. I'll get us fresh clothes and join you in a minute.”
Before you could protest, your boyfriend was gone, and you sighed with a fond chuckle. Stripping of your semi-dry clothing, you placed the articles in the sink, intending to put them in the wash after your shower. The contact of the hot water stung as you stepped in, but you adjusted fairly quickly. You stood under the spray, letting the warmth seep into your body. Over the sound of the water, you heard the door open and spotted Wooyoung's silhouette as he brought a stack of clothes in before leaving again. You knew your boyfriend well enough to guess what he was doing and you let him while you focused back on the shower. The door opened again, and this time, Wooyoung gently opened the shower curtain to join you. You stepped forward so he could stand beneath the shower, a low hiss escaping him.
“What did you do?” you asked, leaning into him so you could rest your forehead on his chest away from the water.
“I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about, my love.” he replied, his hands running over your shoulders and back. He reached over to pick up your shampoo and pour some into his hand to wash your hair.
“You took the clothes to the washer, didn't you?”
Wooyoung gently massaged your head as he lathered the shampoo. “I think you shouldn't worry yourself over it,” he countered. “You've had a ridiculous week, you're on the verge of burnout, and we haven't had any time together in like a month. I'm going to take care of you all weekend.”
“You have practice.” You mumbled, trying to make sure no soap got in your mouth as your boyfriend rinsed your hair out.
“It's like three hours, four at most.” Wooyoung replied. “The rest of the time I will be with you.”
“And how are you-”
“Joong and Yunho are going to bring my car tomorrow,” Wooyoung assured. “But you should not be concerned about it right now.” He continued washing your body, making sure to rinse you off properly before going about cleaning himself, keeping you under the water so you stayed warm. When you were both clean, he helped you get out, grabbing a fresh towel to hand to you, wrapping another around his waist. “Now let’s get you dried off and in bed.”
“Wooyoung, really?”
“Yes. I already ordered dinner.” Wooyoung grinned as you gave him a look, reaching over to cup your cheek and lay his lips over yours. “Stop being a brat and let me take care of you,” he teased, and despite wanting to stay agitated, his choice of words made you laugh, leaning into his hand.
“What am I going to do with you?”
Wooyoung continued to grin, leaning to kiss you again. “Love me as I love you, of course. Don’t be silly. Now get dried off and get dressed, I’m going to make you something warm to drink.”
“In a towel?”
“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it,” Wooyoung winked, and you rolled your eyes at your boyfriend.
“Go, you bubble of chaos.”
“I’m your bubble of chaos!” Wooyoung sing-songed as he left the bathroom, the door remaining cracked behind him as you dried off. You slid into the clothes he had brought for you, keeping the towel to run it through your hair as you left the steamed room. Looking down the hall, you spotted Wooyoung working the keurig, two mugs on the counter as he hummed to himself. You leaned against the wall at the end of the hall, just watching him. He quickly felt your eyes on him, looking up and walking over. He pulls you into his arms, hands at the small of your back as he pressed another kiss on your lips. “Get settled, I’ll bring you your drink.”
You didn’t immediately move, instead tucking your face into the crook of his neck as you just held him. “Can we stay in the living room?”
“You want to lay on the chaise?” Wooyoung offered. “I can go move the blankets real quick.”
“I can get them, Woo. You’re working on our drinks,” you offered, kissing his cheek as you pulled away. You can tell he wanted to protest, but he also knew you well enough to know you were feeling at least a little bit better, so he let you gather the blankets he’d pulled out. When you returned from the bedroom, you could see where Wooyoung was switching out the mugs and hitting the button again. You went to the oversized chaise and adjusted the pillows, curling up under a blanket and reaching for the remote as Wooyoung went to get dressed. “What do you wanna watch?”
“Anything you want,” Wooyoung cooed as he brought your mug over, and you were unable to keep the smile from your lips as you noticed he had picked your favorite mug to use. When you took it between your hands and set it on your lap, Wooyoung pressed a kiss to your forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Wooyoung.” You relaxed into the chaise as you sipped from your mug. Wooyoung finished his own drink and joined you, letting you curl into his side. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, my love,” Wooyoung replied. When the food arrived, he got up and made sure you both ate, putting the leftovers away before he returned to your side. It was an easy, relaxing thing that allowed you to lay down and drape your arm over his waist. “Now you get rest. I’ll be here in the morning.”
“Just like this?” You asked, smiling as his body shook with his laughter.
“Just like this - by your side, loving you.” Wooyoung assured, resting his head gently on your own. “I am at your beck and call all weekend to help you relax and get the rest you desperately need. You need a break.”
You hummed in assent, your eyes feeling heavy as your fingers brush idly over his side. “Just having you here is enough.”
“It’s not enough until you feel better,” Wooyoung countered, fingers petting through your hair. “It’s okay to sleep, my love. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I love you so much, Jung Wooyoung.”
“Never doubt that I love you more, Y/F/N.”