Chapter Text
It’s well after 3 am when he finally pulls out of the studio’s garage.
Because of some technical problems the team couldn't solve right away, the filming session for the new show had been pushed back considerably. But Leeteuk, of course, doesn’t hold it against them. These things tend to happen, and he doesn’t want to start to imagine how much time Super Junior had already wasted with their antics.
Still, he would be lying to himself, if he said that he wasn’t happy to finally be able to go home. Especially after being on his feet since 6am.
As he drives down the road, only the faint whirring of his Tesla and the flickering of the streetlights rushing past him accompany him on his way home. He barely stifles a yawn and blinks away the sudden tears in his eyes.
With the high of the spotlight fading, reality comes crashing down on him fast.
He is tired. There is no point in denying that. But he knows he has no right to complain when the staff and his manager sleep even less than him.
Still, there's a haziness in his head that started to muffle his thoughts in the last weeks, that he cannot shake off. He isn’t as quick-witted as he usually is, and his performance suffers for it.
Like in today’s recording . His muddied brain oh-so-helpfully provides. Hopefully the editors can salvage something out of it.
But he can’t just take a day off when his schedule was still this packed and so many depended on him. And on top of that, the preparation for SuJu's new album would start soon too!
He blinks the exhaustion from his burning eyes.
He’ll pull through this like he always does. There is no point in lamenting the past when there is so much ahead of him. Speaking of which, tomorrow’s – no, today’s schedule – was filled to the brim too.
Dance practice starts at 8am. But with Seoul’s morning traffic he’d probably take at least an hour to get there. So, if he’s quick with his shower and with getting all the makeup off his face (that he knows is keeping getting thicker and thicker with every day to hide the deep shadows underneath his eyes), he could maybe catch two hours of sleep.
Leeteuk sighs inwardly. It’s fine . After all, he’s managed to run on less for longer.
And if he’s honest with himself, he doesn’t even remember when he last slept more than four hours at a time anyway.
Another yawn manages to spill out of him.
His shaking fingers reach for the radio switch, maybe a bit of music could keep him entertained until he’s home. And when did it become so cold anyway?
A night show is on and Leeteuk is pretty sure he recognises the two hosts from somewhere, but their names evade him just as their words do.
With every blink, his eyelids grow heavier and heavier. His vision doesn’t clear anymore, the blurry tears in his bloodshot eyes stubbornly hold on. Suddenly he registers a familiar song blasting through the speakers. When did they even start playing music?
He blinks and nearly misses his exit. Has the road always been so short?
The streetlight rush past him. He doesn’t know.
He blinks again and has to hit the brakes hard to not run the red light.
Has the stoplight always been this close to the exit?
Only then does he recognize the little park to his left, the one he takes Shimkoong to. Only a short walk away from his apartment complex there’s a nice little brook passing through it.
Ah, yes, he has to get his little princess from his sister’s place too. Maybe after dance practice he can sneak out for a while and bring her to the saloon too. It’s high time for her spa day…
He blinks again.
The headlights of the truck are heading straight for him.