Chapter Text
It should’ve been a normal day for the fighter and physio, only it wasn’t when Jaekyung started coughing during breakfast.
Dan turns around, panic flashing in his eyes as he examines the other man, “Are you feeling alright, Sir?” He asks, concern evident in his voice.
A million thoughts and possibilities swam through his head at the prospect of Jaekyung being unwell.
“It’s nothing,” Jaekyung says, his voice hoarse and tone a warning for Dan not to say too much.
“Okay…” Dan takes the hint, sucking up any further questions and instead choosing to bite his bottom lip and play with his fingers anxiously, he is worried but seeing as his concern is very much unwanted he can’t do anything about it.
The car ride to the gym is the same awkward one they usually have with tense silences and not-so-subtle glances at one another. Dan was grateful that Jaekyung wasn’t really the talkative type when he started living with him because he struggled to keep up conversations and it wasn’t like they had much to talk about.
The usual flutters in his stomach that came from looking at Jaekyung were replaced with knots and a heavy heart. He could already see evidence of red bruising under his eyes and his nose, the athlete was very attractive in an intimidatingly mysterious way but now he looked more tired than the norm.
Dan wondered if he may have been pushing his limits in training but the thought didn’t linger when Jaekyung pressed the brakes on a red traffic light and trailed his gaze to Dan who instantly turned away, not wanting to be confronted by steel-gray eyes that did bad things to his heart.
It was enough being surrounded by him all the time, causing the brunette’s feelings to overflow more than half the time but eye contact was dangerous on a different kind of level because it reminded him of times when their skins brushed against each other, the atmosphere filled with tension, lustful gazes and a place inside him that throbbed with need to reach out and connect with the other man.
It was a craving he never allowed himself to indulge in.
His heart squeezes a little harder when the traffic light turns green and Jaekyung stops looking.
Dan keeps his gaze firmly fixated on the cloudy sky he can see through the glass frame the entire drive though not once do his thoughts revolve around them.
•••
Entering the gym always felt somewhat surreal, especially with the happy faces that were there to greet him every day with a chorus of ‘Doc Dan!’ It gave him a sense of pride to have somewhere he belonged, somewhere he was welcomed so warmly.
Jaekyung couldn’t say the same because he usually showed up with a glare but Dan supposed it was something the members of team black had adapted to considering they respected and admired him as much as they did.
Dan watched as Jaekyung followed his usual routine of sitting on the bench, removing his shoulder bag, and taking out the tape that he used to wrap around his fingers and the palm of his hand, something he usually did quickly and efficiently but this time, he sneezed twice into the pit of his arm, nose red and twitching in irritation.
“You feelin’ okay, Hyung?” Yoongu asked, worry drawn out on his features.
The fighter only glared in response, causing the youngest to sweat nervously as he got up and muttered his way to the restroom.
The urge to follow him was stomped by Namwook who came to greet him with a pat on his head.
“How’s it going, Doc?” He asks, enthusiasm painting his tone.
Dan, though startled by the sudden physical contact, greets him with a smile and a bow, “I’m good, thanks for asking.”
The Coach laughs, “Well someone has to, I know that stubborn punk won’t.” He points at Jaekyung who seems to have returned from the restroom and is now in the process of warming up for training with Daehyun.
“Yeah…” he trails off, gazes subconsciously returning to the fighter in question, brows knitted in concern.
“Is something wrong?”
Dan twists his head around to find Namwook giving him a troubled look.
He quickly jumps to deny the accusation, “No! Nothing’s wrong at all!”
The older man’s expression does not seem the least bit concerned, he narrows his eyes. “Dan, are you sure? You can talk to me if Jaekyung’s giving you a hard time, I’ll punch some sense back into that thick skull of his.”
Dan assumes he means to be funny but he can’t bring himself to laugh when he’s become the cause of having others worry for him. He knows he hasn’t always been the most honest but he appreciates the coach treating him like a son especially with his father dying when he was too young to even remember.
It made him feel bad lying.
“I don’t wanna make it a big deal but I’m actually worried about Mr. Joo, he’s been coughing all morning and I even saw him sneeze earlier. I think he might be feeling a little under the weather.”
Namwook nodded in understanding, squeezing the pad of his shoulder. “I appreciate your concern for the jerk but you know Dan you aren’t obligated to wipe his ass for him, he’s a grown man. You should start looking after yourself more, okay? And I promise you if I see him acting up, I’ll send him straight home myself.”
Dan chuckled, bowing his head in gratitude.
“I can’t imagine how tough it must be living with the punk. Are you sure it’s what’s best?” The coach’s tone sounded pitiful.
Dan nodded. “It’s what’s most convenient for Mr. Joo.” He’d be the first to say that living with the fighter wasn’t an easy thing, but after growing accustomed to his diet, routine, and overall habits of Joo Jaekyung, it had gotten better for him.
Sure there were times when he wished to be back in his own home with his grandmother’s warm presence by his side. He missed her dearly, rarely having the chance to visit her much these days with how busy he was, and hoped that she knew he hadn’t forgotten her.
Jaekyung, as grumpy as he was, sorta made up for the loneliness Dan felt in her place.
“I see, well I should probably get going before I bother you too much.” The coach teased as he walked away.
Dan sighed in relief.
•••
Thankfully, the rest of the day went by smoothly as Dan updated his work files on the athlete’s current condition while ‘secretly’ keeping an eye on him as he continued his training and even later on when it was time for his physical therapy treatment.
After hours of bandaging up and massaging the injured limbs of many fighters, it was finally time to go home. Dan had to wave off the offer to go drinking with the rest of the excited bunch when Changmin asked him because he was already too exhausted. well, that and the fact that Jaekyung wouldn’t stop glaring at him the entire time they were talking.

It was only after everyone had left, loud voices turning into echoes until it was just dead silence that Jaekyung finished packing everything back into his bag and walked out to the parking lot, Dan almost had to run because of the fighter’s quick and long strides.
He unlocked his car, throwing his duffle bag in the trunk before getting in the driver’s seat, Dan joining him seconds later.
The drive back to the penthouse was tense.
Dan gulped in fear when he saw Jaekyung gripping the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles were white.
“Why didn’t you go?” He asks voice still having that hoarseness to it that made the older man want to cringe because he sounded ill.
Dan blinks in confusion, “What are you talking about, Sir?”
There’s a pregnant silence where cars pass and they beep their horns at them.
“Drinking. You didn’t go when Changmin asked you.”
Oh.
“That’s because I’m too tired Sir, and I don’t like drinking that much anyway.”
He hoped the response would calm him down, Dan couldn’t fathom what had bothered Jaekyung but he really didn’t have the energy to put up with it right now.
The fighter did not respond, however, his hands loosed on the wheel, regaining their color.
•••
The next morning, Jaekyung wakes up with a fever.
Dan is cooking up breakfast in the kitchen, chopping up tomatoes and other vegetables for Jaekyung’s usual meal.
He’s in the process of pouring oil into the frying pan when a heavyweight presses onto his back.
Dan flinches, gasping so hard from the shock that he drops the plastic cap on the floor and it rolls away to god knows where.
“S-sir, is that you?”
Jaekyung makes an annoyed sound and Dan thinks hears him mumble something but it’s hard to tell because Jaekyung’s voice is incoherent before he nuzzles Dan’s neck, breathing hot air over it and making the Older man shiver.
“W-what are you doing, Sir?” Dan asks, voice high-pitched as Jaekyung drags one of his hands under the front of Dan’s shirt and tickles his chest before gliding down to his belly.
“Hmm… I feel… hot. Really hot.” Jaekyung says, voice half-broken then leans closer to kiss the space on Dan’s neck.
It wakes Dan up, making his ears flush red and he turns around, mortified until he takes Jaekyung’s state.
The man is sweating hard, his eyes look glazed over, the edges of his nose are red-rimmed, and he smells like fresh moss from outside. He still has his hoodie on too, the one he always uses for his morning jogs Dan quickly realizes.
“Sir, you don’t look well at all.”
“I feel like sh*t,” Jaekyung murmurs eyes shifting all over the place he places a hand on his head, his eyebrows furrowed. “f*ck, my head.”
“D- Did you drink anything, Sir??”
Jaekyung looks at Dan, face frowning. “No, I don’t drink. You know that.”
Dan nods apologetically, “Sorry, that was stupid of me to ask.” He turns off the stove behind him and circles back to place a hand on the fighter’s forehead to check his temperature. The skin under his palm is burning up and Dan cringes for not noticing earlier as he removes his hand.
“I think you may be coming down with a fever, Sir,” Dan speaks, worry ringing in his tone.
Jaekyung starts coughing, “Bullsh*t, it’s just hot. Now give me some water, my throat’s parched.
Dan complies, opening the fridge and grabbing a water bottle that he hands to Jaekyung, their fingers brushing lightly.
He removes his apron as Jaekyung unscrews the bottle cap and takes long sips from it, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he does.
Dan proceeds to eye him critically, playing with a loose thread from his shirt.
Jaekyung sets the bottle back down on the counter, scrutinizing him again he says, “Get ready for work.”
“But, Sir, you haven't had your break-”
“I'm not feeling hungry today; don’t make me repeat myself.” Gray eyes warned.
Dan gulped down the uneasiness welling up in his throat, “As you wish.” he said at last, clipped and practiced.
The sound of footsteps faded away as Dan dragged his feet up to the second floor, his gut told him it was a bad idea but he was nothing if not obedient. Throwing on his blue uniform, zipped up his gray sweater and prepared his work supplies.
Just as he was coming down the stairs, a loud thud sounds that instantly has him alert, running down and making a turn.
“Sir?” He calls out, voice echoing through the walls.
When he steps into Jaekyung’s bedroom, his heart drops as he finds the fighter there, sprawled on the floor, face burning up and body left unresponsive.
Falling to his knees, Dan cradles his head in his lap and rubs a palm across his boiling forehead.
He needs water to cool his body down.
Dan picks Jaekyung up the best he can, dragging one gigantic limb after the other until he’s able to stand him long enough to reach his bed, he lays him down gently on the mattress, head on the pillow. The zipper of the athlete’s jacket is pulled down and off him so he isn’t suffocating in extra sweat and heat as he waits for the physio to return with some wet towels.
