SoS
Ironically enough it was two in the afternoon when the manager knocked on their door.
OK Taecyeon was sitting upstairs in his room when he heard the commotion. His members were all talking loudly and mixed up. He could even hear Nichkhun Horvejkul’s voice, although the Thai normally stayed still.
Irritated, he went down to see what happened. The first thing he saw was their manager staying in the door, constantly shouting something that totally went down in the excited talking he already heard from upstairs. Then he noticed his members, all staying around someone he couldn’t see.
Already pissed off, because of a tough night, Taecyeon gritted his teeth. His already present headache became even stronger and he narrowed his eyes. “YAH!” His outburst had the expected effect; everyone stilled.
After the manager’s loud sigh of relieve, Hwang Chansung was the first to speak. “Ah, hyung. Minjae hyung brought the new member.” The others sent glares in his direction. Chansung, always the one who couldn’t read the atmosphere. The truth was, they knew that a new member was to arrive for about a month now and everyone was happy to meet him. Everyone except for Taecyeon, who was the opposite - pissed.
Said person froze for a second. So he’s here, huh? Before he could say anything their manager finally spoke. “Yes, Minjae hyung brought the new member and now Minjae hyung wants to introduce him. Seriously guys, you’re scaring the poor guy.” He hissed.
“Ah, no it’s okay…” The new guy held his hands up in front of his chest. His voice was oddly deep for his appearance, Taecyeon noticed.
Minjae glared at him. “It’s not. These guys need to learn their manners.” One could clearly see ‘new guy’ sweat drop at that comment. The other’s smirked. Now who’s the one scaring him? Sighing after seeing the expressions on his protégés’ faces, the manager went on. “Alright. Introduce yourself, please, Wooyoung ah.”
Startling at his name ‘new guy’ - Wooyoung? - quickly bowed. “Yes, right. My name is Jang Wooyoung and it’s nice to meet you all. Please take care of me.” See, Taec thought, even his smile was annoying. All cheery and happy and… cute. No, gross. That’s the word. He had grey hair, he noticed. Not the old kind of grey since the boy was clearly young. It was a colour, a weird grey-ish colour. It suited him. Taecyeon once again narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like him, not one bit.
---
After the introducing and greeting was over, Minjae hyung disappeared as fast as possible. Wooyoung was now sitting alone in the kitchen with a glass of orange juice in his hands. They were trembling, he noticed. It was no wonder, he was nervous as fu… no, no cursing. “You promised you would change your behaviour.” He mumbled to his glass.
“Why are you all alone?” The glass almost slipped out of his hands when he heard the sudden voice. “Ah, sorry, didn’t want to scare you.” It was… Chansung. Yes, Chansung.
“No, I… I’m just a bit tired. It’s alright.” Wooyoung quickly hid his hands in the pocket of his yellow hoodie. He didn’t want any of them seeing him freaked like this.
“So? How do you like the house? It’s kinda big isn’t it?” The tall boy said in an amused tone.
Indeed, it was the first thing Wooyoung noticed when he saw the house. But he just smiled in agreement.
Chansung sat down opposite from him. “Yeah, I know. It took me a month to remember which door my room was. You can’t imagine how often I walked in on someone changing.” Against his own will Wooyoung had to grin. “Ah, that’s much better.” The other cheered. “You should smile like that more often.
A bit embarrassed, Wooyoung looked down. “Thanks, hyung.” He mumbled.
“Hyung? No, no, I think you are older than me.” Chansung said a bit puzzled.
Wooyoung looked up again. “Eh? No way. How old are you?” he asked amazed.
The younger - seriously? - grinned. “I’m 21.”
“Seriously? But you’re a giant.” Wooyoung didn’t even notice how rude that sounded, but Chansung just laughed it off.
“I know. Junho, too, by the way. Is younger than you, I mean.” At the confused look on the other’s face, he grinned. “The one who looks like he’s Rain hyung’s brother?” he explained and laughed when realization hit Wooyoung’s face. “You’re so sweet, hyung.”
Now the older blushed. It wasn’t the 'sweet’ that brought the colour to his cheeks; he heard that often enough actually. It was the ‘hyung’. It felt nice to be called that way.
---
Taecyeon, who stood in front of the kitchen entrance, frowned. Before Chansung passed him he could have sworn that the new guy - yes, he refused to call him by his name - looked kind of lost. But isn’t that what the boy wanted? Well, now he seemed pretty happy again, so there was no reason to worry. Not that he did worry. He didn’t. It’s just that it would be a bother if the guy didn’t give his best.
“What are you doing, Taec?” He jumped slightly when he heard Nichkhun’s voice.
“N… Nothing. I just wanted to get something to drink.” He quickly made up.
The Thai looked less than convinced. “Right, that’s why you stand here for about 5 minutes listening in on Chansung and Wooyoung ah.” He teased.
Gaping a bit, Taecyeon turned around and went away without saying anything else. Stupid Nichkhun and his stupid habit of observing people.
---
The foreign boy chuckled slightly and made his way into the kitchen. “Hey, I hope Chansung didn’t eat you up alive yet.” He smiled warmly at the new boy.
“Hyung!” The maknae puffed his cheeks in annoyance.
Wooyoung smiled slightly. “No, but should I be afraid?” he asked, grinning at him.
Nichkhun placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it assuringly when he felt him tensing and ruffled Chansung’s hair with the other. “Well, if its 10 minutes after mealtime and he still didn’t get anything I wouldn’t get too close to his teeth. Just a warning.”
Wooyoung smiled and relaxed again. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Alright, Chansung ah, I need you to clear the kitchen. I’m gonna cook now and you’ll just eat everything before it’s even on the table, so… scurry off.” With a shooing motion, Nichkhun sent a pouting maknae out of the room.
“I could help.” Surprised by the offer the Thai turned to the new boy.
“You don’t have to.” He said carefully. He didn’t want him to feel obligated.
But Wooyoung just smiled. “No, I want to. It’ll distract me from being too nervous.” By the surprised look on his face, Nichkhun guessed that he didn’t actually want to say that out loud.
He brushed it off with one of his prince like smiles. “Alright then. Thank you.”
After being assigned to chopping vegetables, Wooyoung tried his best to look like he knew what he was doing. Truth be told, he had no idea how to cook. He just really needed a distraction. But even then he couldn’t hold back the question that was lingering in his mind since the moment he heard the deep voice shouting. “Ne, Nik…” Huh? “Nich… Nik… Uh…” Shit, how do you pronounce it?
But the older just laughed. “Oh, just call me Khun. Don’t worry, all of them had their fair share of mispronouncing it.”
Wooyoung sighed relieved. He had hoped he didn’t offend the other. “Ah… alright, Khun hyung, then.”
“So what's your question?”
“Hmm… I don’t really know how to, uh, ask this. But the guy, who walked in later than all of you. Ok Taecyeon?”
“Yes?” Nichkhun was still stirring the kimchi, but he seemed a bit tenser.
“He… doesn’t like me, right?” Asking it was weird. The guy didn’t even know him, but he kept on glaring as if Wooyoung killed someone of his family.
Sighing, the Thai turned around and looked at him. “Taec… is a difficult type. He likes to have control of everything. He doesn’t like change.” Frowning he put a hand on Wooyoung’s shoulder, a gesture he always used when he wanted to connect with someone. “It’s not you, he doesn’t like. It’s just the change of his routine.” When he saw the troubled look on the younger’s face, he bit his lip. That didn’t really help much, huh? “But don’t worry. Taecyeon is a nice guy, he just needs to get used to you. He’s not a bad person, I swear. And you still have the rest of us, before he comes to his senses.” He joked.
Then he decided it was worth to comfort the younger one. The smile he received was more than enough as a ‘thank you’.
---
When the dinner was ready they called for everyone else. They all stormed into the kitchen like hungry wolves after a tough day. Wooyoung sat between Chansung and Junsu hyung, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere as everyone talked at the same time. Khun hyung talked to Junsu hyung, while Junsu hyung listened in on the conversation Junho and Chansung had. Chansung stuffed his mouth with food, but could still talk to Junho and Wooyoung at the same time. The only one who was rather quiet was Taecyeon.
Well, Wooyoung assumed it was hard to talk when you where busy glaring at innocent people who happened to sit in front of you. When he had enough of the chills that ran down his spine, he directed his look at the older one and raised an eyebrow. Against his judgement Taecyeon didn’t look down, but stared at him openly. It seemed like a little eternity went by when Chansung finally shook his shoulder, demanding his attention like a three year old.
Not that Wooyoung minded. He really loved it to be called ‘hyung’, since he had always be the youngest everywhere. He could still feel Taec’s glare on his face, though.
---
Taecyeon was annoyed with himself. To be honest, he didn’t even know why he was so awful to the boy. It wasn’t that he thought that Wooyoung didn’t fit in. It was that he fit in too much. And he just caught his attention too much.
That night he couldn’t sleep at all. And that pissed him off even more.
---
The next morning Kim Junsu woke up way too early, like usually. He took his notebook and a pencil, shuffled around his closet for some clothes - not caring about Taec; the guy slept like a bear in winter - and went into the bathroom as always. There he spent 25 minutes - 15 for his hair - and went down into the kitchen, again like usually.
Then came the unusual part: Someone was already in the kitchen, taking out a cup. And it wasn’t Nichkhun. “Ah, good morning, hyung.” Wooyoung took out a second cup and poured in something dark and delicious smelling. “Coffee?”
Grinning from ear to ear, Junsu took the offered cup. “You know, with this you just won my heart.” He said and ruffled his hair affectionately. He saw the surprise on the younger’s face, but didn’t withdraw his hand. The boy needed to get used to the skinship someday anyway. Better sooner than later.
They both sat down and drank their coffee in silence, but Junsu kept on humming the melody of his newest song, glancing at the notes from time to time.
“What are you doing, hyung?” Wooyoung asked, curisouly trying to look at the paper. The older smiled slightly and turned it around so the boy could see it. “Is that your own song?” he asked excited.
Junsu sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, well. It’s just an idea that popped into my mind.”
Without looking up, the younger hummed the tune, surprising the hell out of him. No one of the others beside Junho could read his notes. “It’s cool. Do you have any lyrics?”
“Uh… not yet. But I’m working on a few different ones. I could show you sometime.” He said, suddenly a bit embarrassed.
“I would like that.” Wow, the boy was awesome, Junsu thought. He didn’t imagine finding another one like Junho. Someone who understood his music. “But you could change this part slightly.”
…
And the bubble shattered.
Junsu was really proud when it came to his music. And stubborn. Wooyoung seemed to notice his irritation, because he looked up suddenly and blushed. “Ah… I’m sorry, hyung. That was rude of me.” He quickly said.
Chuckling, Junsu shook his head. “Ah, what the hell, I’ll give you a chance. Tell me.” He grinned challenging.
Wooyoung smiled and showed him a few changes and as much as he should be annoyed, Junsu was impressed about how the few notes improved the flow of the melody. Well, maybe he was a bit annoyed.
---
Noting to himself, that he shouldn’t correct Junsu hyung on his notes - he couldn’t have helped it though, he was too used to correct his real hyung’s notes - , Wooyoung drank up his coffee and asked him if they had any gym room. Showing him the way, the older brought him to a semi big dance studio. Delighted Wooyoung thanked him and rushed to his room to get one of his favourite CDs.
After finding out how the stereo worked, he quickly positioned himself in front of the mirror and started a few warm ups. The minute the music started playing, all of his tenseness disappeared. He was in his element.
Half an hour later someone entered the room. It was his roommate Lee Junho. The younger - Wooyoung trusted on Chansung’s information there - smiled at Wooyoung and swiftly joined into the choreography of the famous Korean song. Grinning they started to battle a bit for fun. Wooyoung had to admit that the boy was good, very good, but he could say without a bad conscious that he was just a tiny bit smoother, a tiny bit more connected to the music.
After the song ended, they both started to laugh and Junho handed him a bottle of water. “I really hoped that you would be a dancer like that.” He confessed a bit out of breath.
Wooyoung himself was panting slightly and gratefully took the bottle. “And I really hoped that you would have a dance studio. You’re awesome by the way.” He grinned.
Junho smiled back. “Thank you. You are not bad yourself.” He joked.
They played a few more songs, dancing and talking alternately, basically getting to know each other. Wooyoung found out that among all of 2pm’s members, Junho was the one, who resembled him the most. They liked the same music, the dame groups, the same dancers; it was kinda creepy actually, but in a good way. They were really similar.
---
Oh god, now he was observing him. Could he get any more pathetic?
Taecyeon huffed in annoyance and turned to take a walk when the door of the dance studio opened. Junho and Wooyoung came out laughing. But when he noticed Taec, the latter stilled.
It happened again. Just like the day before at the diner, Taec couldn’t avert his gaze. The eyes of the boy just mesmerized him. They were a normal brown shade, but they had something weird about them. Something broken. Yes, that was the reason why he felt so drawn to Wooyoung. The darkness in his eyes caught his attention the moment Wooyoung smiled at them all, introducing himself. The smile hadn’t reached his eyes at all back then. And even just a moment ago when the smile did reach his eyes, the darkness had still been there, hidden.
“Hyung!” Startled out of his thoughts, Taecyeon looked at Junho. “You won’t believe what a great dancer Wooyoung ah is.” The younger said cheerfully, missing the tension between his fellow members. Or was he trying to break it? Taec couldn’t be sure, so he just averted his look and walked away.
---
After five days, Wooyoung started to have a loose routine. He woke up before everyone else, tiptoed out of his room to let Junho sleep and took about 10 minutes to freshen up. Then he went down into the kitchen and boiled the water for coffee. Normally around this time either Junsu or Nichkhun would join him. He was lucky; he came at a time where they had no schedules at all. So he would drink his coffee and talk to the present member. After that he would help either of them with breakfast - just cutting things, he still didn’t dare to touch any difficult stuff - and they would go wake up the others.
He would laugh with Chansung, talk about dancing with Junho, about music with Junsu or about fashion with Nichkhun. Taec would still glare at him from across the table.
---
Two weeks later and the situation didn’t change. Wooyoung tried to be patient with the older, he really did, but it was exhausting. So he just started to avoid him as best as possible. Which wasn’t easy. Suddenly the house didn’t seem so big anymore.
---
What was wrong with the kid? Whenever he saw him alone, he was always texting someone on his phone with a stupid - adorable - smile on his face. It’s been two weeks and Taecyeon never saw Wooyoung without that thing. What’s worse is that, while being on that stupid mobile, the darkness in Wooyoung’s eyes vanished completely. Well, not exactly worse, Taec’s no sadist after all, but it was weird. Who was he texting and why did it make him so happy.
Not that Taec wanted to know. It was just… distracting. And annoying. And damn him if he didn’t want to know who the reason for Wooyoung’s smiling face was.
---
“Would you stop staring him down, already?” He really should’ve known that it wouldn’t be easy to hide in his room. Nichkhun was just too persistent.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He said in a bored tone and flopped down on his bed.
The Thai huffed. “Yeah, right. Look, I know you don’t like it when something destroys your pattern, but don’t you think you’re a bit too hard on him? Just try and get to know him. He’s a nice boy!”
Growling, Taec looked up at him. “Leave it, already. So what if I’m not kissing and welcoming him. You guys are doing enough of that.”
Folding his hands in front of his face, Nichkhun tired to calm down. “Why are you such an asshole all of a sudden?” he asked slowly.
Jumping up, Taecyeon invaded his personal space. The Thai didn’t even flinch, he was used to this behaviour after all. “Why am I an asshole just because I don’t like ‘New Guy’?”
“Because, you don’t even try to like him. You don’t even know him, idiot.” He didn’t know when they started talking English, but they always did when they fought, so it wasn’t unusual.
“I don’t like his guts!”
“What guts? He’s been nothing but nice since he came here.”
“That he came here is enough!”
“What are you talking about? It’s not like he chose to get into 2pm! He didn’t have it easy either!”
Silence.
“What do you mean?” Taecyeon asked, suddenly unsure. Maybe the Thai knew something about the darkness in Wooyoung’s eyes. “How would you know?”
Sighing Nichkhun sat down on his bed. “He told Chansung. Two days ago. He didn’t say the reason, but his old group disbanded.” Looking up with a troubled expression he continued, “Everyone knows the reason, though.”
With a bad feeling, Taec frowned. “What group?” he asked, unconsciously already knowing the answer.
“SoS.”
Releasing the breath he’s been holding, he sat down next to the Thai. “Damn…” Everyone in Korea knew what had happened to this particular band. Then he looked up again. “But how can that be? No one of SoS was named Jang Wooyoung.”
“I guess he changed is name. Or someone made him change it.”
---
The next day, Wooyoung was startled to be greeted by Taecyeon. Greeted. No irony, no mocking, just a normal - well maybe a bit mumbled - ‘Good Morning’. He was so startled that he automatically greeted back. Huh…
But that little moment of niceness didn’t hold on. Wooyoung was in his room when he heard loud shouting coming from the entrance. He knew that Nichkhun and Taecyeon were the only ones home. Curious, he went down and was shocked to see his brother staying pressed up against a wall with Taecyeon towering above him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” The tall boy growled.
The older just stared at him with a half annoyed and half confused look. “Who the hell are you? I’m just here to see my brother!”
Then Nichkhun joined in. “Well, I guess he doesn’t want to see you.”
What? What in hell? “Maybe you should let me decide that.” All of them turned around, surprised to hear his voice.
His hyung sighed. “Wooyoung ah, tell these freaks to let me go, would you?”
By then Taecyeon seemed ready to jump him, so Wooyoung quickly went in between. “Taecyeon what the hell are you doing to my brother?” he asked puzzled, looking at Nichkhun as well, who seemed as raged as the tall guy did. “What is going on here?”
Before Taecyeon could say anything, Nichkhun frowned. “Wooyoung ah, why is he here?” he asked pointing at his brother.
The older went around Wooyoung and huffed. “Why the hell not? Aren’t I allowed to see my own brother?”
Taecyeon grabbed the front of his shirt. “Not after what you did to them! And what the hell do you mean brother?”
“Wait what?” Wooyoung quickly released Jay from Taec’s grip, noting how his hyung froze and pushed the tall guy back slightly. “What do you mean, what he did to us? You don’t even know him!”
Taec looked at him like he was crazy. “Well, I’ve heard enough!”
Now Wooyoung understood the whole situation and even though he knew he should understand Taecyeon’s behaviour, he was still furious. “What you heard were rumours, pabo!” This time he pushed him harder, making him stumble back. “Come on, hyung.” Grabbing his hand, he quickly left the house with him.