Chapter Text
Inside the building where they just performed was hot .
He was sweaty because of the dancing, he was hungry, and he needed to go to the bathroom.
Soobin figured he could at least satisfy one of his needs, and told his bandmates he was going to go pee.
“I’ll be right back guys” he informed.
“Try not to get lost, hyung!”
“Yeah hyung, that would be very uncool”
“Aw guys, don’t tease him too much. We’ll be waiting closer to the entrance hyung!”
“Just go, Soobin-ah”
Soobin shaked his head. Sometimes his teammates' personalities could really be distinguished in the little things they did. He smiled fondly.
He shaked his head again. Now it was not the time to think about his love for his friends, he needed to go to the bathroom so they could go home and sleep a lot . They really gave it all in this show.
The other groups did fantastic though, at least the ones I could watch… I really wanted to see every sunbaenim tough-
His thought process was stopped when he arrived at the bathroom and opened the door, and flinched hard upon seeing someone literally crying on the floor.
He freezed. It wasn’t just anybody crying on the floor of some building for kpop idols to perform. It was fucking Hwang Hyunjin of Stray Kids of JYP. On the floor. And he hadn’t noticed him yet.
Soobin's first instinct was to run away, obviously. But while he was planning on finally turning around and leaving, his sunbaenim looked up and cried harder. He looked heartbroken.
Thus, Soobin instincts (what his members liked to call mom-reflexes, leader-reflexes or even one time “just your marshmallow-like personality acting up, Soobin-ah”) told him exactly what to do. He moved fast; locked the door behind him and kneeled very gently in front of his sunbaenim. Looked at him with the friendliest face he could make, even though he was nervous, and asked.
“Hey, umm… hey, sunbaenim?” Said sunbaenim did not move “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Hyunjin sniffled. He looked at him again and whimpered.
“Hey, no, it’s ok if you don’t want to tell me. But if there’s anything I can do…”
“......no… I’m- I’m feeling a little…bad”
And Soobin tried to not show it in his face, but he was surprised. His sunbaenim was speaking in a high tone of voice, or at least higher than what he assumed was normal for him. Soobin thought for a second and he realized something. Or might have. He decided to test it out.
“I see… how bad? What hurts? Please tell me so I can help”
“No, I- I can’t tell you. Channie will be mad at me…” He cried a little “Everyone will…”
“Oh. Hey! No, don’t say that! um- please. I’m sure nobody is mad at you, sunbaenim”
“No… no… they are… I’ve been very bad…”
“I’m sure you are just feeling that way, but in reality they love you very much, so even if you’ve been bad they’ll forgive you”
“No… daddy will be mad at me!” He cried. Then he stopped and gasped, as if he just realized what he had said.
Soobin smiled at him comfortably, he wanted to assure him it was okay.
“I’m sure he’s not. In fact, I think he’s just worried you are here all alone! Yeah?”
“....yeah?”
“Yeah! He must only want for you to go home with him and everyone. And if you stay here you can’t”
“But…”
“I, sadly, am not friends with your friends. But I know someone who is, I’ll tell him to bring them here so they can take you home”
“NO!” Hyunjin almost stood up “Wait, no! No one can know! Don’t do that!”
“Okay, okay… maybe I can- I’ll tell my hyung to just send them, he’s not coming. Only your teammates, okay? I need you to be with them”
“...Are you sure?”
“Yeah! No problem, let me text him”
Soobin turned around for a second and took out his phone. He pressed on his and Yeonjun’s chat and started writing.
Yeonjunniebesthyung4ever Me
do u want smth from the convi
No, thank you
k
;)
Hyung
Hyung
Yeonjun
yeah??
why r yu taking so long
in the bathroo m
Did u actualy get lost?
No
You are friends with Changbin-sunbaenim right? can you please text him
Tell him to come to the bathroom on the second floor
Tell him Hyunjin-sunbaenim is here
And don’t come pls just him or them if the rest of the group comes
what???? i mean
yeah sure
is everything ok ???
yeah
i mean you know
Just told him
Okay, thanks hyung
I’ll stay here until they come
Sure, i’ll tell the rest
Okay but don’t tell them about hyunjin
Sunbaenim
Is nor anything bad just
No yeh i got u
just saw skz going up the stairs
Ok thanks hyung
:)
<333
He looked up from his phone “Already told him, they are coming!” and gave him a small smile. Hyunjin just looked uncertain, but tried to smile somehow (it was more of a grimace).
“Do you… want to get off the floor? Maybe wash your face?”
Hyunjin looked at him with doe eyes (so cute!)
“I mean… only if you want…” He stood up and waited for a response
Hyunjin kept looking at him “...you… are not mad at me? For crying?”
Soobin tilted his head “What? No, I would never be. Why?”
“But… Binnie said it’s secret… because people can say mean things…”
Ahh… “Well, sunbaenim, I think if being, um- smaller? makes you happy, then go for it… If you are sad, you should cry and tell your group, too. And if you are sad on the bathroom floor, you should absolutely tell somebody so they can help you, and at the end, you can hug them!”
Now it was Hyunjin’s turn to tilt his head “I hug them?”
“Yeah! And, well, your friends are so muscly it feels like they could give great hugs… Ah!” His eyes widened “But don’t tell them that, please. I’m sorry, oh my god…”
Hyunjin giggled and put his hand over his mouth. “Skz big muscles!! Very big!!” and flexed his arms in a very cute way, which had Soobin smiling.
“Yeah” Soobin laughed too, with his ears a little red “Yeah, I guess so, huh”
They both startled when loud knocking came from the door.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
“YA! SOOBIN-AH ARE YOU IN THERE?? IF SO PLEASE RESPOND”
“Minho could you please not scream-”
“WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING, STUPID? WHAT IF YOU SCARE THE BABY?!”
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING IDIOT? You are fucking DEAD Han Jisung-”
“I don’t hear anything, shut it! Hello, anybody?”
Soobin and Hyunjin looked at each other and giggled before Soobin decided to stand up.
“Uh- yeah, Sunbaenim. It’s only me and Hyunjin-sunbaenim, I’ll open the door for you guys-”
But as soon as he did, the whole of Stray Kids was on top of him, trying to get through to Hyunjin. He moved (and made no sound when someone stepped on him accidentally) and now everyone was talking on top of each other, Felix drying Hyunjin’s tears, Han hugging him very tightly and Bang chan trying to talk to him. Overall it was a whole mess, and Soobin was awkwardly standing there seeing what obviously was a wholesome moment between the group. When Hyunjin gently smiled and everyone had a group hug Soobin decided it was time for him to leave.
He stopped when a loud voice called him “YAH!” Soobin turned slowly “Yeah..?”
“Soobin! Don’t leave, man. Where are you going?”
“Uhh… it seems like you guys have it all resolved, so…”
“Aw, don’t say that! Please stay” Felix looks at him with bright eyes
“Yeah! We might not hang out or anything, but I know a lot about you, Soobin-ah. Yeonjun just won’t shut up about you! He’s like, desperately in love with you dude”
“Haha… yeah…”
“Wait, is he actually? He didn’t say it, but if guys are in a relationship, I won’t say…”
“What? I- no! We aren’t going out!” Soobin reddens and shakes his head. Living with Choi Yeonjun definitely turns you into a different man, a very not straight man, but he at least knows he doesn’t like him that way. “We’re just friends, sunbaenim”
“Well, we can be friends now, too!” Says I.N, looking at him with a blinding smile
Soobin sputters and reddens even more. He’s never been a socially active guy “I, um. I mean, I don’t mind? But you guys don’t have to force yourselves… I’m not very fun or anything”
“Don’t say that, Soobin-ah! Have confidence in yourself” said Chan, grabbing him by the shoulders “You just saved our butts. And you made Hyunjin smile, that makes you part of my family, okay? Or at least, someone I deeply appreciate, now and forever. I know you are a nice kid, so don’t put yourself down like that. I owe you big, Soobin-ah”
Soobin doesn’t think he can get any redder, but somehow, he thinks he managed that just now. “Uh. It’s no problem, sunbaenim. T-thank you, by the way, you are being so nice, I just did what anyone would do…”
“Now, you know that’s not true” says Minho, eyebrow raised “In fact, it’s a miracle it was you of all people who found him. I won’t ask details, Soobin-ah, but there’s not as many people who know about this sort of thing”
Soobin shrugs, still hot-faced “It’s just… it seemed relevant. To learn. Or something, I don’t know…” he says, leaving out the part that his members and himself used little space.
Seungmin stares at him for a moment “...I’m thankful to you as well, Soobin-ah. Just to make sure, you won’t say a thing right? We don’t need problems, Soobin-ah, I think you know that”
And, okay. For being the puppy-like member, Kim Seungmin was terrifying! What was with that statement? He nodded hard, trying to convey his sincerity “O-of course I do. I won’t even tell my members. I didn’t tell Yeonjun-hyung”
I.N nudges Seungmin “Don’t do that, hyung! He’s helping us, you are being creepy” He turns back at Soobin “Thank you, Soobin-shi, you’ve been an angel” Soobin just nodded.
“Again, not a problem, really. I, um, you guys don’t need anything else, right? I kind of need to go… I think my members will start thinking I actually got locked in the bathroom or something” He shrugs, not wanting to be rude, but also trying to get out of there.
Bangchan nods “Of course. You have done enough, Soobin-ah, I seriously can’t thank you enough. I’ll send a food truck for your next shooting”
“No, oh my god! You don’t have to do that, what a waste of money. I’m not worth it sunbaenim, seriously, I don’t mind at all. This was nothing-”
“Nonsense!” yells Han “You are our bro now. Our family. We’ll pay for anything you need. Maybe we can add fireworks to the food truck?” he turns to Bangchan “Channie, do you think we can?”
The leader chuckles “Actually? I think we can, Han. But let’s not bother Soobin-ah if he doesn’t want them” He turns at Soobin “If you say no, I won’t insist, but I do hope you can tell me something you like so I can thank you accordingly, Soobin-ah”
Soobin nods. He probably won’t, but it’s nice that sunbaenim seems to care so much. He smiles at him “I’m fine with anything. Nothing is okay too, seriously. I’m just glad sunbaenim is better now, he was having a hard time before you guys came. I’m glad I could help”
Chan gives him a blinding smile at his answer, with dimples and all, and honestly? He thinks he understands his fans now. He genuinely wants to be adopted by the man and marry him at the same time, which is a disturbing image, so he gets rid of it immediately. He can watch Stray Kids videos later at home.
Felix smiles at him too, tugging at his shirt “Do you wanna say bye to him before leaving?” and Soobin blinks at him. Hyunjin looks at Soobin, eyes red from crying, and shyly smiles. Soobin smiles back, his sunbaenim was adorable, and if little space was helping him cope, who was he to disagree with his decisions? He’s an extremely busy man, all of them are. He just thinks it’s nice he’s being taken care of. “You seem better, sunbaenim, I’m glad. Be careful on your way back?” he says, not knowing if he’ll get an answer from the -mostly confirmed- little.
Hyunjin scrunches his nose as he smiles, nodding. “Mhm. Thank’, Soobi. Remember, Skz big muscles!” He flexes cutely, somehow considering that joke important enough to remind Soobin “Bye bye!” he says as he waves. The members coo and then start waving goodbye at the leader too. A chorus of “thank you!”’s and “see you”’s and then he’s exiting the building bathroom.
He eventually goes back to his members. Upon seeing him, Beomgyu cackles “Soobin, did you actually get lost? You are unbelievable! I’m gonna have to go with you to the bathroom now?”
“It’s hyung for you, you menace ” the boy just sticks his tongue out at him, and Taehyun joins him laughing, the traitor. Soobin scoffs.
“I’ll be the one following Soobinie. He wants to spend more time with me , not you, gremlin child” says Yeonjun, winking at him. Taehyun makes a comment and so does Beomgyu, the trio having already started some banter between them.
As they do, Huening Kai gets close to him and speaks lowly “You alright, right? Hyung kept writing on his phone, so I assume you guys were talking?”
Soobin nods, speaking in a shushed voice as well “Don’t worry. Someone needed help upstairs, nothing bad. Thank you though, Hueningie”
The maknae smiles at him “Okay, I’m glad hyung. Let’s just go home?”
Soobin smiles back fondly and nods “Sounds great”
“What are you guys whispering about! I’m hungry!” Whines Beomgyu “Whatever secrets you are sharing aren’t as important as me dying of starvation”
“Aish. You are so dramatic, brat. You’ll die when I kill you”
“I wanna see you try, grandpa !”
“I’m rooting for you, hyung. Yeonjun-hyung must be dethroned, viva la revolution” says Taehyun, and the group dissolves into their normal silly banter. Huening Kai cackles, high pitched, and Yeonjun pouts, and Soobin consoles him. Beomgyu tries to bite him, as Beomgyu does.
Soobin laughs softly at his members, forgetting momentarily the crazy experience he had a few moments before.
—----------------
While he did want to forget it, not because it was uncomfortable for him or something, but out of respect for his sunbaenim’s privacy, he couldn’t forget it.
It’s not something you can easily forget! It was a very private fact about people he fully admires, and now he can’t seem to get it out of his head.
As he puts on his pijamas and brushes his teeth, he can’t help but look over the image of a sad sunbaenim being lovingly hugged by his teammates over and over again.
When he finally decides to go to sleep (meaning, watching his phone on bed), he thinks about something he noticed and couldn’t stop noticing, and will never forget.
Soobin can’t stop thinking about how much Stray kids seemed to love Hyunjin. How much they adored him and took care of him. Like he was a tiny human, like he was the most precious thing on the planet, drying his tears, petting his hair, tickling him softly…
Soobin thought it must feel pretty amazing. He tried to hide the bad emotions back where they came from, because, maybe, he was… a little jealous…
Or not. Because he was the leader of one of the biggest K-Pop groups right now, because he had responsibilities. Maybe because he had to take care of 4 chaotic but incredibly talented children. Maybe because he was too embarrassed to ask anybody to take care of him like that. But, he also thought, he was a little stressed these days…
He decided to just go to sleep. Before closing his eyes though, he heard the voice of his hyung through the wall.
“SOOBIN! WHY IS CHANGBIN ASKING ME IF WE ARE GOING OUT?”
Yep. Definitely stressed.