Chapter Text
In a group of thirteen members, talents and vocal ranges all unique, none of them could help but feel extra excited whenever one of the boys got to showcase his voice in a solo or duet.
That’s why today for DK and Jeonghan’s studio recording of “Bring It,” half of Seventeen were in attendance and crowded on the other side of the glass window. Neither boy minded. If anything, they worked better with an audience now, especially when that audience consisted of some of their best friends.
DK was first up and insisted he needed at least a minute to get into character before the music started to play. Anyone who wasn’t part of Seventeen might have teased him, but the others knew how intense the song was compared to his usually happy-go-lucky personality. DK loved to rap, of course, but this was a song that would have challenged even the members of the hip-hop team.
With the headphones on, he bobbed his head and moved his body jarringly to the music, all but throwing himself into the heavy rhythm. He played with the lyrics next, his pauses and inflections experimental until he was satisfied. When it was time to actually start recording, even just for a practice round, he went into what Vernon affectionately called “beast mode.”
“Do I sound angry?” he asked after running through the first verse, smile bright and bubbly and nowhere near reminiscent of the rapper from five seconds ago.
“Nah, man, you’re killing it!” Vernon encouraged him from the other side of the studio.
Woozi spoke up next. “Ya, you’re sounding really good, but don’t even think about leaving the vocal team!”
DK only grinned and reveled in their compliments for a moment, long enough for Jeonghan to enter the room with him to record their parts together.
Even though the blonde was older, Jeonghan’s confidence in his singing abilities always relied on a little guidance from the younger vocalists. “So you go ‘turn right,’ then I just go ‘turn left’?” he asked, studying the lyrics carefully as if he was afraid they’d change if he tore his eyes away.
“Yep, that’s it, hyung!” DK answered easily. “Do you want to try growling it like me?”
Jeonghan laughed, bashful, and pushed the other man gently. “You know I can’t growl. I can barely scream. I have no idea how this is going to sound.”
DK only shrugged, having no doubt the song would sound great no matter how Jeonghan returned his energy. “It’s okay if yours is a little softer than mine. We can practice a lot too.”
Jeonghan picked up the other set of headphones then signalled for their producer to start the music. They nodded along to the first few beats before starting again.
“SWAA, turn right!” DK yelled.
“Swaa, tuuurn left!”
No one had to comment on how contradicting their voices sounded. DK laughed lovingly while Jeonghan all but hid behind his own shoulder and giggled, suddenly much more aware of his soft, small voice. From the way his oversized sweater helped dwarf him, it was only a matter of seconds before he began to feel small in general.
“Oh my God, hyung, you sound so cute!” Seungkwan cried.
“I knew Hannie had a pretty voice, but it sounds even lighter after DK’s rapping,” Joshua agreed.
“Shut up, Shua,” Jeonghan whined, though his smile still lingered.
“He’s definitely a devil when he’s not performing, but he sure sounds like an angel when he sings,” Seungcheol spoke up. “Aren’t you, Hannie?”
There was a teasing lilt to the leader’s tone like all the others’. However, Seungcheol’s words had a way of reaching deep inside the blonde’s soul, causing butterflies to flutter around in his stomach aimlessly. Jeonghan only blushed and smiled appreciatively. Even though he could become shy under all their attention, the oldest man’s praises pleased him in ways he dared not speak aloud. The last thing Seungcheol’s ego needed was to know Jeonghan enjoyed it.
After a few more comments and suggestions, the duo continued their recording without much more interruption. They finished within the hour, and soon all of the members in the studio were piling into the van. DK was still buzzing with excitement, asking anyone who would listen if they thought he sounded rough enough, good enough. Of course, all the boys answered positively.
For Jeonghan though, his mind was faraway from the studio. He stared out the window and watched the traffic blur by, the day’s events causing his headspaces to blur as well. It was one thing to be admired, but being doted on as well made the child inside him feel like he could burst with happiness.
He didn’t say anything for several minutes, not until Siri spoke up over the noise of the boys’ chatter.
Turn left in two kilometers, the mechanical voice directed.
As simple as it had sounded, it made Jeonghan giggle loudly nonetheless. “Swaa, turn left!” the little squealed, the lyrics still in his mind and the members’ reaction in his heart.
The van turned silent instantly, but Jeonghan was too amused by the coincidence to notice.
The other Seventeen members all exchanged quick, questioning glances for a moment, but soon they all smiled endearingly upon realizing Jeonghan wasn’t their usual groupmate anymore. It was hard to tell at first, especially since Jeonghan’s regular voice and inner child’s singsong voice sounded almost identical. Of course, the way Jeonghan whined suddenly was a quick giveaway.
“What’s wrong, hyung?” Vernon asked, forgetting whom he was speaking to momentarily.
“You mean ‘Hannie,’” DK chuckled. “I guess the song made him drop?”
Joshua nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, and we don’t all usually call him cute at once.”
Jeonghan huffed and kicked his foot against the seat in front of him, bottom lip jutting into a pout at thinking he was ignored.
Deciding to forego scolding him for now, Seungcheol leaned forward and petted the other’s hair soothingly. “What’s wrong, baby? We’re here.”
“Hyungs so far awaaaaay,” he argued.
It was true--half of them had piled into the back of the van and left one of the aisle seats for Jeonghan since they knew the latter so often needed room to get comfortable and nap after a schedule. Yet, little Hannie didn’t understand their consideration. All he understood was distance, and in his eyes they were all much too far apart.
“I’ll switch with him,” Seungkwan offered, already unbuckling his seatbelt with a smile.
Seungcheol hurried and followed the younger man’s lead to unbuckle Jeonghan before the little could do it himself. As soon as they had switched and Jeonghan was resituated between the other two 95-liners, he beamed and hummed happily. “Thank you, Kwannie,” he offered, dragging the vowels out.
“You’re welcome, hyu-Hannie!” he answered back with just as much brightness. “Did you like today’s song?”
“Mhm! Hannie loves his part! ‘Turn left!’” Jeonghan giggled again to himself.
Joshua just chuckled and hugged the little into his side. “Baby’s so cute,” he cooed. “Cutest angel in the world.”
“When we get back to the dorm, do you want to sing your song for all the others?” Woozi asked. “It doesn’t seem fair to keep all this cuteness to ourselves.”
Jeonghan gasped and nodded eagerly. “A concert?” he asked. “Can we sing ‘Clap’ and ‘Home’ and ‘Turn Left’?”
DK laughed at the former’s renaming of their song. “We’re all going to start calling it ‘Turn Left’ now, aren’t we?” he sighed good-humoredly. “Next thing you know we’ll have a song called ‘Left and Right.’”
“Of course we can have a concert, baby,” Seungcheol replied, eyes and attention focused solely on the boy beside him. “I had honestly planned to do other things with you today that don’t involve everyone else, but we can save it for when you’re big again.”
“What kinda things?” the little asked curiously.
“Adult things.”
“Oh my God, hyung!” Seungkwan cried. He swatted the air, stretching and trying his best to smack their leader. “Don’t teach him these things when he’s little!”
As Jeonghan’s best friend everyone else might have expected Joshua to agree with the younger man. However, he only rolled his eyes and smiled at Seungcheol’s shameless smirk. “Jeonghan’s going to remember this and fuss at you when he’s big again,” Joshua guessed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Turn left at the next intersection.
Siri made the van silent again, save for Jeonghan’s delighted laughter.
“Turn left!” he repeated before looking toward his duet partner. “Dokie, your turn!”
DK wasted no time before humoring the little, his growl even louder than it was in the recording studio. Jeonghan cheered with many requests for “again, again” even after the twentieth time. The other boys couldn’t complain though. They were all weak when a member was little, but even more so when it was a member of the hyung line.
Jeonghan didn’t have to work hard to control anyone when in his usual headspace; but when he was little, he didn’t even have to lift a finger.