Chapter Text
Hyunjin hums happily to himself as he checks his phone once again, sending Minho a text wishing him luck for his MC job he’s doing today, not forgetting to complain about being left alone in the dance studio today, with Felix still recovering at home.
He smiles as he reads Minho’s snarky reply telling him to ‘hurry up and get to the studio’ and that he needs as much practice as he can get if he wants to dance as well as him. Hyunjin shakes his head with a smile on his lips and continues down the familiar hallways inside the company building, walking towards the practice room that’s reserved for Stray Kids.
His happy mood vanishes the second he hears three familiar voices leave the practice room to his left, dread making his heart stutter as the faces of three people he really didn't want to see appear in front of him.
Before he knows what's happening, a sharp pain hits his shoulder as his back’s pushed painfully into the wall, he squeezes his eyes shut tightly trying to stop himself from whining at the winded feeling in his chest
“Look who it is,” one voice says smugly.
“If it isn't Stray Kids very own pretty talentless Hwang Hyunjin,” another smirks.
“In his yellow uniform and everything, how cute,” the third voice mocks, punctuating his words with a hard kick to Hyunjin’s knee as he yelps out in pain, tears springing to his eyes.
“Oh that reminds me, did you like the little bruises we gave you last time, pretty boy?”
Hyunjin’s breath hitches as he remembers the agonising kicks to his ribs he’d recieved the last time he'd run the trio, he'd had trouble trying to hide the large purple bruises from his Hyungs. Hyunjin shakes his head, eyes still closed, head pressed against the wall as the three older boys surround him.
“Well that's just too bad, huh? Maybe you shouldnt flaunt that you're a rich kid or maybe if you had even an ounce of talent that told everyone that you actually belong here instead of using that pretty useless face of yours, then maybe we'd finally leave you alone. But that's not going to happen, is it Hyunjin?”
The other two boys laugh and high five as a single tear falls from Hyunjin’s eye. He didn't want this.
“It's a shame that your looks are mediocre at best,” the first boy sighs as he fiddles with his nails, “dunno why Chan’s so fond of you, it seems like there’s a hundred other people in this company better fitted to be in the group but he chose you,”
“you’re not even a nice person, maybe that's why I haven't seen any of the others with you this week,” he continues.
Hyunjin scrunches his eyes closed as he desperately tries to ignore their words, he knows they aren’t true, that Chan and the others love him and knows how hard he works. He knows they’re wrong so why do their words still cut him so deep?
Heavy footsteps approach from down the corridor and the three quickly step away from where they’re cornering him, “alright boys, let's get going we've got a lot to cover today!” their rap instructor greets them, shooing them away from where Hyunjin’s standing, his shoulders pressed up to his ears.
The boys disappear into the practice room, each one sending a threatening glare his way telling them that they’re not finished with him yet. The rap instructor approaches him with a worried smile, “you okay, Hyunjin? They're not giving you any trouble are they?” he asks cautiously.
“No Hyung, everythings fine, thank you,” Hyunjin says bowing politely, his eyes focusing on the floor before quickly walking away to his own practice room.
He slams the door closed, purposely locking it before ripping off his yellow blazer and throwing it to the floor as he connects his phone to the speakers making sure to play his music as loud as the speakers would go as he begins to dance, not giving his tears a change to spill from his eyes.
Hours later when Hyunjin’s playlist has long since finished and he’s lying on the floor, his chest heaving as he finally feels lighter, dancing always helps. He gathers up his things and checks the time on his phone, 7:30 pm, which he deems an acceptable time to return back to the dorm. He unplugs his phone, switches off the lights and pulls his yellow blazer back over his aching shoulders.
He leaves the building and walks down the streets of Seoul, it’s a beautiful evening, the sky’s pink and the sun’s beginning to set inbetween the high rise buildings as workers are bustling around him eager to go home. Hyunjin stumbles for a third time as yet another exhausted businessman pushes past him before deciding to take the quieter roads home, it only takes an extra 5 minutes and Hyunjin wants to enjoy the fresh air and let his body cool down after the hours of vigorous dancing.
As he walks, he thinks about his boyfriends, where they are, what they’re doing? He misses them, he realises. He hopes they’re all happy and not overworking themselves. A pang of guilt pulls at Hyunjin’s heart making him feel bad leaving the studio so early, especially when his Hyungs are all still working hard somewhere inside the building, composing or practicing. Then suddenly those dreaded words come back to haunt him as they echo inside his mind.
“it seems like there are a hundred other people in this company better fitted to be in the group...”
Hyunjin’s heart aches as he hears the truth in them. It had never bothered him before, the reason why Chan had chosen him to be a part of Stray Kids, he just assumed that he was lucky and hoped that Chan could see the effort he poured in each day to try and make his decision worthwhile.
He smiles a little wider as he thinks back to all his members, how hard they’ve worked, how they’d all promised that they were going to give this everything they had, and if the group didn't work out then it would be okay because they'd given it their all, leaving nothing on the stage but broken hearts and empty dreams. But Hyunjin’s confident, he knows that they'll make it big, it was Chan’s first promise to all of them right before their debut stage and he believes in Chan.
“The fuck is he doing out here, smiling to himself about? pfft idiot.”
Hyunjin freezes as he hears that same familiar voice behind him for a second time today, his heart pounding as he turns around to see the three boys once again.
“You thought that we’d just let you go home without finishing what we started earlier didn't you, Hyunjinnie?”
Hyunjin’s heart squeezes painfully as he hears the nickname, only his boyfriends and his fans call him ‘Hyunjinnie’ It's warm, soft and loving when they say it but now it’s stone cold, mocking and dangerous. It makes him feel sick.
“Can't you just leave me alone?” he sighs, to which the three laugh condescending, “please, just leave me alone, I don't want this,”
“Well, we don't want to be kicked to the curb by JYP but we can't always get what we want little Jinnie, though you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?” the one Hyunjin recalls to be named Jihoon says flickering his eyes over Hyunjin’s yellow uniform.
“I-I earned a scholarship though,” he says quietly, trying to get past the lump in his throat as he tries to stand up for himself.
“We all know that's not the truth Hyunjin, they'd never want someone like you,”
“Someone as useless as you,” another named Sungjin taunts.
Hyunjin tries to answer back but his voice gets stuck in his throat, his breath hitching as the boys take a step closer.
“We checked out your schedule today,”Juwon, the leader of their trio smirks.
“W-w-what how?!” Hyunjin splutters.
“we found out that you've got a cute little fansign tomorrow, is that right?” Juwon continues, ignoring Hyunjin’s question.
Hyunjin feels his heart drop to his stomach as he answers, “yes,”
“Yes Hyung,'' Sungjin corrects as he reaches out and grabs a fistful of Hyunjin’s hair tightly.
“Y-yes, Hyung,” Hyunjin repeats as shame floods through his body.
“A fansign you say? Well, wouldn't it be such a shame if your face didn't look as pretty as it does right now. That would be sad, I wonder how many fans would leave you if you didn't look pretty anymore,” Juwon wonders aloud as Sungjin and Jihoon chuckle under their breath.
“Most of them I bet,”Jihoon chimes in.
“Why don't we find out hmm? It's quiet enough out here, no one's going to find us,” Sungjin suggests, gripping Hyunjin’s hair tightly in his fist so his head tilts back, leaving his neck exposed.
“P-p-please Hyung, don't!” he cries out, trying desperately to break away from the raging mix of terror and unease that's paralyising his body with every second that passes.
“It's a little late for begging Jinnie, don't you think?” Jihoon responds with his fist aiming for Hyunjin’s lips.
Hyunjin squeezes his eyes shut tightly, heart thumping in his ears as he waits for the hit. When it finally lands, it sends Hyunjin flying backward as he lands on the hard concrete, he feels warm red liquid start to rush out of his mouth and he can only cry out as he registers the flood of pain as another fist hits.
“Oh don't cry yet, princess, we’re just getting started,” Sungjin grins as he grips Hyunjin’s chin harshly between his fingers, pinning him there. Hyunjin feels sick as he catches the sickly sweet smile Sungjin gives him as he readies his other fist.
Changbin runs his hands over his face in defeat as he drags his eyes away from his notebook and tunes back into the coffee shop around him. It’s small and cute, nearly always quiet, perfect for writing lyrics and sparking inspiration. Changbin loves this coffee shop, as does the rest of 3racha, they often hold meetings and workshops here when the walls of the studio become claustrophobic and counterproductive.
The sun’s just beginning to set, Changbin notes, as he starts to pack his notebook and pen back into his bag, he’s done enough for today. He checks the clock on the wall across from him. It reads 7:35 pm and his eyes widen a little in surprise, it’s later than he'd hoped. In his defense, this is much earlier than normal for him but he’d promised Felix that he'd be home earlier tonight to keep him company and help him cook dinner before everyone else gets home.
He thanks the waitresses as he leaves the cafe, shrugging his backpack on his shoulder as he decides to take the scenic route home today, the sunset’s so pretty and maybe it’ll give him a chance to unwind a little before he gets home and has to deal with an overly clingy Felix, don't get him wrong he loves Felix but that boy can cling, it’s probably where he gets his koala nickname from he guesses offhandledly.
As he walks, humming a tune to himself, he becomes increasingly aware of some kids messing around a little way in front of him, one of them with a yellow blazer on. Changbin recognises it as the same one that Hyunjin and Jeongin wear every day. His heart swells with pride at the knowledge that the two younger members are always working so hard and battling with school work aswell as idol life, it’s not easy on any of them, Seungmin included. He shrugs his bag further up his shoulder and thinks nothing of the kids ahead of him. But as he starts to get closer familiar sounds start to catch his attention, he doesn’t know why they’re familiar but he furrows his brow as he continues to get closer.
“P-p-please, don't, I-I can't... Stop! please...”
Something in his heart pulls as he hears the voice cry out again, a choked sob follows the strangers pleading. Changbin frowns and looks a little closer at the kids messing around.
The boy in yellow kneels on the floor having lost all of his strength to stand up, as the three other boys, all dressed in black sweatpants loom over him with wicked smiles, one of the boys propping him up as they taunt and throw kicks at him.
Everything about the picture in front of him screams wrong, Changbin keeps his eyes focused on the group of boys as he quietly sets his bag on the floor beside him as he slowly edges towards them, his heart stuck in his throat. He doesn’t want to get involved, he really doesnt. This isn’t even his fight but there’s something about the boy in yellow that he just can’t ignore.
As he inches closer he hears the boys say something which makes Changbin’s blood run cold in his veins.
“There there Hyunjinnie, this is what kids like you deserve,”
Changbin feels like he’s just been shot as he steals another glance at the boy that's collapsed on the floor, his head hanging low as bloody spit pools out of his slack jaw and lips painfully swollen. Changbin recognises him instantly, it’s Hyunjin, his Hyunjin, their baby. Stray Kids’ Hwang Hyunjinnie, sitting on the floor holding a hand to his chest as he coughs and heaves while the boys in front of him laugh like it’s the funniest thing they’ve seen all week.
A switch buried somewhere deep inside Changbin turns off, as all rational throught leaves him as he surges forward, his fists clenched as they collide with a cheek, sending them to the ground.
“Get the fuck away from him! Do you hear me, get away from him right now!” he roars, lurching forwards to deck the eldest looking one, their nose makes a stomach-churning crunch as his head tilts backward, taking his body with him as he hits the floor.
As Changbin waits for the third boy to make his move he gently presses his clean palm to the top of Hyunjin’s head, who violently flinches against him, he leans down and whispers, “Woah easy, easy angel. It’s okay baby, Hyung’s here now. Stay out of the way okay?”
Hyunjin manages to look up at him, eyes glazed over as Changbin tries not to scream at the state of his poor boyfriend’s face, “Binnie-Hyung?” he slurs.
“That’s right, baby. Give me a moment and I’ll be right back,” he says sweetly as he presses a quick kiss to Hyunjin’s head before standing up and turning to the third boy with a murderous glint in his eyes.
“So it’s you three, who’ve been giving him these bruises. You really didn't think we'd notice?” he says, taking a step towards the three, unable to hide his smile as they freeze in mix of fear and shock, “I think it goes without saying but you guys fucked up messing with him,”
One of them nods stiffly, visibly gulping as he finally manages to pull his friend up from the floor, their third friend still out cold against the concrete, “we were telling him what he needed to hear, he’s deluded for thinking that you guys actually want him on your team,”
Changbin kisses his teeth and offers them a tight smile as shakes his head, readying his fists again as he meet the eyes with the two standing before him, “you're going to wish that you hadn't laid a finger on him,”
“...nie, Jinnie, are you still with me, baby?”
Hyunjin hears a voice call for him through the fog in his brain, he winces as he tries to breathe, pain blooming all over his body. He cringes as he feels something warm and thick drip from his chin.
“Hyunjinnie, can you look at me?” Hyunjin sways a little, he doesn’t know where he is but his body hurts and he feels sick, the strong smell of iron making his stomach churn. He hears the voice call out his name again but can’t find it in himself to answer, he feels like he’s floating, his head feels heavy as he slowly hears the voice that's calling out to him fade away.
“Hyunjin? Look at me baby, Hyunjinnie!” Changbin cries holding the younger’s face gently in his hands, thumbs gently sweeping under the younger’s bruised eyes when they suddenly start to roll upwards, “no, no, no, don't do that! Stay with me baby, you can do it, come on-”
Changbin sighs as he feels Hyunjin’s head fall heavy in his hands. He gently lays Hyunjin down on the concrete, head resting in his lap as he’s mindful to keep him away from the various patches of blood that now litter the street. He brushes Hyunjin’s fringe away from his face, examining the bruising on his cheek, lips, and eyebrows.
“What a mess,” he sighs sadly to himself as his adrenaline begins to crash, the grazes on his fist and the ache in his eyebrow now at the forefront of his mind.
The sun’s much lower in the sky now, the pretty pink now mixed with deep oranges and reds. It’d taken longer than he’d first anticipated but he’d finally seen the three boys off, each one looking pathetic as they limped and scrambled away, though he couldn't find it in himself to be happy that he’d won the fight, nor was he proud of himself for doing so, losing wasn’t an option, not when Hyunjin was involved like this.
The younger boy stirrs a little, immediately catching Changbin’s attention as he starts to fuss over him, hands running through his blood-covered golden hair.
“Hey, Jinnie,” Changbin mumbles once Hyunjin manages to crack his swollen eyes open and blinks around confusedly.
Hyunjin’s eyes widen as he suddenly scrambles to stand up.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay baby, they aren't here,” Changbin tells him, hands on his shoulders as he steadies him, “you’re safe, it's just me and you,”
“Y-you saw?” is all that Hyunjin says and Changbin nods, watching as the younger’s lip wobbles as tears begin to down his cheeks mixing with the dried blood, “I’m sorry Hyung,”
“Let's get you home and safe, yeah?” Changbin says, wrapping his arm around Hyunjin’s waist being careful not to jostle the other too much, his other hand holding Hyunjin’s, as they slowly start to make their way home as a sad silence washes over them.