Chapter Text
When the first human developed special abilities, headlines were made worldwide as news reporters and scientists alike marvelled at this new record in human evolution. For the first time, mankind itself had taken a step - and whether it was a step in the right direction, remained yet to be seen. As more and more individuals began presenting abilities or ‘warps’, the world held their breath as the international organisations discussed: were these abilities a threat, or a sign of hope and progression? Fans of sci-fi fantasy novels had read enough fiction in their lifetimes to know that whatever, beneficial or not, had a means to disturb the already precarious power balance in place currently, all held would break loose. Thankfully, after a decade or so of observation, it was declared that because these ‘warps’ were typically insignificant, they would not be of threat to anyone (or any body of power). There were whispers though, of law enforcement capturing teens from their homes when word went around that their warps were too powerful and could potentially threaten the local democracy. They were sent to facilities to be tested, never to be seen again. Either their abilities had been weaponised, or forcefully removed with little care for the victim.
Sunwoo had lived his entire childhood fearing for his and later on, his younger sister’s lives. There was always this worry resonating in his head as his and his friends’ 16th birthdays neared: What if he had a power too strong, and everyone around him sounded him out to the authorities? Would he ever see his family again? What if his sister ended up just like him?
But his 16th birthday came and went and unlike what the scientists, news journals and doctors said, he did not manifest any warps on that day, even after a whole day of constant worrying. With a sinking feeling in his chest, Sunwoo numbly headed off to school the next day. Every question he was bombarded with, he simply replied with a casual grin and a shake of his head.
“You don’t have any?” His soccer captain glanced down at him, his lips pressed into a thin line. Behind him, Sunwoo could see and hear the giggles erupting from the ones he once considered his closest friends. Before everything, he had been a star player, one in talks of becoming the next captain even. But now…
“I’m afraid we can’t keep you on the team, Sunwoo. I’m sorry.
We can’t have any biological lowlives on this team.”
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Sunwoo had always been the popular one in school. His grades were not the best, but he was a respectful student and well-liked by staff and his fellow students alike. The week after his 16th birthday, he finally got to experience the cruel reality of growing up.
For the 6 months following his forced departure from the team, Sunwoo suffered in school. He truly got to see who his actual friends were and those who were simply using him for popularity. It hurt, but he learned to get over these betrayals. Good riddance, he thought as he waved yet another friendship goodbye, a bitter smile attached to his face. More time to spend on being actually productive with my life .
With his dreams of being a soccer player for his country dashed and the school he once called his second home resembling something more like a prison cell, Sunwoo somehow found solace in music. On the surface, he seemed fine - the last thing he wanted was his parents to be disappointed in him for not doing well in school because he was affected by this. They didn’t express it, but he was sure they were upset enough wondering why their son was so...untalented. He needed an outlet, an unseen one for him to let his feelings out before they destroyed him from within. The last thing he wanted to do was to even fail at being a normal, functioning human being. So, Sunwoo picked up a pen and an old notebook and started writing. The words he scribbled in his diary out of anger and frustration seemed to morph into lyrics whenever a beat was playing. In the comfort of his room, with no judgemental eyes watching him, he made his first rap. And the first time he read the lyrics aloud, an uncontrollable sob wrenched itself from his throat. He wasn’t awful, but his lyrics...where had his confidence gone? What was all this pain he felt? What had he done to deserve this...defeat?
Then, his school held a talent competition. It was open to all, but in reality, all the older students were going to exploit their useless warps and put on some kind of show to win over the judges. A popular vote, Sunwoo sighed internally when he read the poster. Guess I have no chance.
“Hey, Kim Sunwoo,” A voice crowed from over his shoulder. The snark in it made Sunwoo roll his eyes internally. He had no idea who it was, but it was probably some popular dude who wanted to make his life even more of a hell than it already was. “All of us are auditioning, are you?”
Sunwoo turned, raising an unamused eyebrow at the boy behind him. It was almost like a scene from an angsty, teenage drama - a group of scrawny attention-seekers behind the main idiot, smirking at him like they had him cornered.
“Oh sorry, we forgot you don’t have anything special to show off.” At that, the whole group roared with laughter, as though the funniest joke in the world had just been dropped. Yeah. To them, Sunwoo’s lack of a useless warp like being able to uncap one pen telekinetically was the biggest laugh. “Loser.”
Biting back a scathing retort (he was sure none of their pea-sized brains would be able to comprehend it anyway), Sunwoo simply jerked around with a smile plastered on his face and stalked off. Any other reaction, he would probably just goad them on even more.
If the bullies knew the effect that their actions would have on him that day, they probably wold have regretted saying anything at all. Spite was now Sunwoo’s best friend. He didn’t know how or why, but a silent determination had gripped him. This shitty, twisted system needed to go down. He probably wouldn’t be able to do it, but he at least wanted to prove those idiots wrong. Sunwoo could rap. His mom told him his singing was nice. Why did he need to be able to do something unnatural but useless to be deemed as talented?
Why was everything else he was born and blessed with simply incomparable now, because of this change?
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Just a month later, Sunwoo found himself sitting beside 2 others at a small company, watching as their existing trainees showed off their skills. There was no showcasing of warps, tricks or illusions. Just pure talent and an outpouring of passion into their dancing, singing and rapping. Nothing else. The boy in the center of the performance group of the trainee showcase, in particular, was stunning. Perhaps it was the long hair that had first caught his attention, but the focus and steely determination radiating off the other that had kept his eyes trained in rapt attention, I want to be like him, he thought, enraptured. Not just in his exquisite dance moves, but his soft and mellow vocals and natural charisma, even performing in front of a bunch of judgemental teenagers. No warps, just years of practice and natural talent.
Perhaps it was because of this trainee that Sunwoo signed the contract with this small company immediately. And perhaps he owed it all to this trainee for boosting his confidence during his performance in front of the judges. Because if it were not for how outstanding his performance had been, Sunwoo would not have been able to sit in this makeshift circle before his first official dance practice session, doing icebreakers with the other new trainees. It was awkward, yes, but it was like a breath of fresh air compared to the suffocating environment he was now stuck in at school.
“As idols, warps are pretty much useless. Even more so than they are to begin with, that is. They only have entertainment value in variety or comedy.” One of the hyungs (later, he found out his name was Sangyeon) piped up. There were only a few of the older trainees around, most of the more experienced ones tucked away in a corner of the room, deep in the throes of their self-initiated hardcore practice session. “You still have to perform on stage and fans will only see your dance, rap or vocals.”
“But they are still fun for introductions. Especially if they’re useful at the dorm or during practices.” Sangyeon hyung seemed to heave a heavy sigh. He probably was one of those with a ‘useful’ warp, Sunwoo mused. “So...do you have any abilities?”
There was silence around, just as expected. Sangyeon seemed on the brink of heaving yet another sigh. “Maybe to start off, I can clean up coffee spills with a wave of my hand.”
Whoa...Sangyeon hyung had a ‘useful’ one indeed. Sunwoo felt a wave of pity for the older trainee wash over him. Better than having none, though. He reminded himself bitterly, the small grin slipping off his features quietly.
Wanting to take attention off himself, Sangyeon hyung quickly turned his gaze to someone else. Unfortunately, that lucky person was Sunwoo himself. “What about you...Sunwoo, right?”
“I…” Sunwoo’s face paled, trailing off. “I haven’t got one.”
The confession ended off in a hushed whisper. Sunwoo kept his gaze trained on his fingers, afraid that he would look up and see the judgemental glances the other trainees were giving him. This was it. He was going to end up in the same situation again.
“Oh, that’s alright. Some of us don’t have any either.” Sangyeon hyung’s voice seemed to pierce through even the darkest of his internal turmoil. The elder was looking at him with a grin, eyes clear of any shock or disgust. It seemed as though Sunwoo had just stated a fact, not something that had caused him to be a victim of months of emotional manipulation and rejection. He...wasn’t an outcast. “No need to be so worried.”
The realisation seemed to bring a sour note to his nose, lower lip trembling amidst the forced attempt at a smile. Anything to prevent himself from bawling on his literal first day at the company. “Thank you, hyung.”
“It must have been difficult.” The elder simply replied, reaching out to pat Sunwoo’s head lightly. They had known each other properly for barely five minutes, but Sunwoo already decided he would follow and trust this guy to the ends of the earth. If he were to debut in a group, this hyung had better be his leader. No one except for his parents had made him cry so easily and in the best way possible. The silence that followed though, made Sunwoo want to take back his thoughts. No, the awkwardness would bring him to tears first.
“Does it work for coffee only? Or can you clean up all spills?” Another trainee asked from beside Sunwoo, clearly unable to take the silence any longer. His name...Sunwoo could not remember to save his life.
“Uhh,” Sangyeon hyung paused, awkwardly scratching the back of his nape. It seemed this too was the first time he had thought about it. “The kids seem to only have Iced Americano running in their veins and it works for that. Tried it on a latte once for Changmin but only the coffee part disappeared - the milk was still on the ground so…”
As the other new trainee and this hyung’s chatter continued in the background, Sunwoo’s gaze couldn’t help but wander to the long-haired trainee in the back of the practice room, immersed in his dance routine. The same sharp movements and intense look of concentration had really struck a deep impression with Sunwoo when he first auditioned for the company. There was no sign of a warp or any other means of entertainment. He was simply entranced by the skill and charisma of the trainee’s performance. A true idol. The trainee paused and glanced up, his eyes suddenly meeting Sunwoo’s wide ones in the mirror.
Fuck. Sunwoo swore, quickly ripping his gaze away and back towards Sangyeon hyung. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. My first impression was to impress, not to be caught staring - Kim Sunwoo you absolute idiot.
Praying the long-haired trainee would just forget about the brief eye-contact they made and ignore his weird reaction, Sunwoo tried his very best to be an active participant for the rest of his first day. Especially since warps were not taken into consideration, if he were to be a good trainee and make it onto the debut list, these would be his potential members. And he so desperately wanted to be as impressive as that trainee, or debut with him.
Sunwoo thankfully adjusted quickly to the routine of trainee life, reporting for lessons and group practice sessions at regular timings after school. His extroverted nature naturally helped him gain many friends very quickly too, Eric and Chanhee hyung (who had arrived a week after him) becoming his closest friends at the company. It was truly a new experience for him, in the best way possible. An escape, perhaps, from the mess he had to face in school But he couldn’t help but feel that...something was missing.
Perhaps it was also that long-haired trainee - ...sunbaenim (because they weren’t close enough for him to call the elder hyung ) - that he still couldn’t get closer to, despite now having the same group dance lessons. Changmin was a sturdy figure in guiding all the trainees, true to his performance capabilities that were showcased during Sunwoo’s audition. He was their teacher, guide and somewhat a mentor, even if they barely knew him personally. Changmin had been at the company for the longest duration of time, Sunwoo soon learned, just waiting for his time to debut and helping his juniors in the meantime. Whether he had a warp or not, no one knew. The trainee himself had never said and had never needed to declare it - the others respected him for his talent and finesse during performances, not for a useless ability. If anything, this just further fueled Sunwoo’s own drive to do well . After facing such a huge change in his schoolmates’ attitude towards him because of a warp, this was a golden opportunity for him to prove them all wrong. That he could be even more successful than they could even dream of.
Sunwoo also desperately wanted to get to know this senior of his better - he was always seen practicing alone or with Juyeon hyung, never really making an effort to get to know the newer trainees (like himself) outside of group lessons. Dispiritedly, Sunwoo supposed that camaraderie came with time, but he couldn’t help but feel rather disappointed in himself. He had always been the funny, outgoing and well-liked one in class. Why was this person so different?
So, Sunwoo tried a variety of ways to get closer to this unmoving wall of talent. Jokes during their group sessions, lighthearted chatter with Juyeon hyung and Sangyeon hyung, who seemed closer to Changmin and finally, finally his efforts paid off when their dance leader stepped forward and gave him a pat the shoulder saying “good work!” with a small smile!! When Changmin walked out of the practice room for their break, Sunwoo remained standing there for a moment or so, shell shocked. It took a questioning nudge from Eric before he broke out of his stupor and let loose a whoop of pure glee.
“Hyung!” He yelled at Changmin’s departing back, completely ignoring the fact that one: they were barely even talking, much less close enough to be friends and two: they had only exchanged two words in that poor excuse of a conversation. The elder was evidently surprised too, swiveling his head around with a furrow in his brow. To Sunwoo’s relief, the corners of his lips were slightly upturned, not a single look of irritation in his rather perturbed gaze. “Wanna go get some coffee later?”
“Sure,” the reply can easily. “I’ll meet you downstairs at 3pm...Sunwoo.”
He knows my name!
Sunwoo’s inner voice positively sounded like a squealing excited schoolgirl screaming over her crush at the moment, and he sure hoped he didn’t have as ridiculous an expression on his face, but it was thrilling. A breakthrough. Coffee with his trainee-life role model and hopefully, a blossoming friendship.
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Who would’ve thought that in barely a year’s time, Sunwoo debuted in his company’s first idol group - a boy group with 11 other brothers of his - as their Main Rapper. In spite of his lack of a warp, he still made it. He debuted in a group despite a relatively shorter training period, effectively proving all his schoolmates wrong. That warps didn’t matter. And he could still achieve great things.
As for another milestone that Sunwoo celebrated internally, he had finally debuted in the same group as Changmin hyung - or Q hyung, as was his new stage name. After that first initial coffee ‘date’, he and Changmin hyung had become fast friends. He didn’t really know or understand why, but something about Changmin hyung’s presence was so reliable and just...comforting. It wasn’t too long later when Sunwoo eventually began opening up to the elder and telling him everything - from his troubles in school because of his warp (or lack thereof) and his dreams of being a soccer player, to small and rather insignificant things like what his younger sister had scolded him for the day before. With Changmin hyung, Sunwoo felt like he hadn’t a thing to worry excessively about in the world. He didn’t have anything to hide, because he knew the elder wouldn’t judge him for anything he said, lighthearted or not. This hyung’s presence was warm and reassuring, amidst the jokes and even mock-fights they had every so often. And Sunwoo was very much grateful for his presence in his life, especially to have been able to debut in the same team as him, to achieve their common dreams together. From being someone he’d idolized for their passion and talent, to a friend he could trust and rely on whenever.
But even amidst all that they have gone through together as trainees and thereafter as The Boyz members, Sunwoo couldn’t help but feel that Changmin hyung was hiding something. Perhaps not from himself specifically, but from everyone. The first time Sunwoo had attempted to ask Changmin hyung about his warp, out of genuine curiosity, he only realized after they had parted ways that his question had never been answered. The elder was as much of a smooth talker as he was an extraordinary dancer and had easily avoided the question, smoothly directing the focus of the conversation back onto Sunwoo himself. Of course, Sunwoo was never one to press for details, especially not when he himself had rather troubled experiences with warps and their social stigma. But it did trouble him for a while - Was he not someone Changmin trusted? Had his entire perception that they were close friends, entirely one-sided on Sunwoo’s end? No one knew about Changmin hyung’s warp, not even Sangyeon hyung . What makes you think you’re special enough?
That thought stung a little more than Sunwoo would admit. Perhaps a small part of him desperately hoped that he could somehow be that special someone to Changmin hyung- what are you even thinking??
Sunwoo let out an agitated huff of air at the thought, frantically waving the thought away before it could perpetuate even further. This garnered him a few strange looks from his members - after all, it would be weird to just suddenly sigh angrily at nothing in the middle of their rest time at the dorms. But it still hurt his brain to even question why he had those thoughts to begin with and he would rather not bother at all. (He was afraid of what he would uncover if he truly attempted to understand what he meant.)