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Chan didn't like the dark.
It was scary, hid what could be lurking in the darkness, made him believe there were figures staring at him even if it was just a coat hanging in the distance...Chan hated the dark. This just elaborated when he was little, Felix bought him a nightlight a few months back and that had solved the problem. The light made stars dance across the ceiling and around the walls, Chan liked to count them as they passed by imagining he was in outer space, it certainly took his mind off the darkness. Well, that and his plushies.
That's why when he found out what they'd be doing for skz code he may or may not have dreaded the entire day ahead...
Who thought it was a good idea to do a haunted house themed episode? Chan wanted to scream at them. In fairness, Minho had seemed to enjoy it and watching Hyunjin on the cameras had given him a bit of a laugh even if he was still recovering from their escapade down those unlit hallways. Being with the other members had made him forget all about it, it hadn't bothered him overly much given he wasn't little during the recording.
They'd gotten back to the dorms at around 9 PM after having gone out for dinner instead of having to make something themselves, it had been enjoyable and full of laughs. The normal events when the boys were together. Since they'd all gotten back, the tv had been switched onto whatever channel it had been on last but nobody was really paying all that much attention to it, Changbin and Jeongin had disappeared off to bed for an early night whereas the others decided to stay up. Felix and Jisung were off gaming in the younger's bedroom probably annoying the hell out of Changbin who was trying to sleep and everyone else was watching Chan.
"Aren't you tired baby?" Hyunjin brings up seeing as Chan had yawned about three times in the past five minutes, little Chan adored his sleep and today was no exception. Chan nods holding his arms out for Hyunjin to pick him up, walking always seemed like such a task almost as if they were asking him to climb Mount Everest. The boys never minded playing taxi and taking Chan to his destination, carrying Chan was always a 10 out of 10 experience anyway. Sleepy Chan would quietly rest his head on the shoulder of the carrier, eyes fluttering shut and refusing to let go once placed down on his bed. Adorable.
He finds himself being tucked into his bed, the light from outside creeping into the room illuminating 70 per cent of the bedroom providing some comfort to the little. It’s warm under the covers, pulling him into a deep sleep in record time to the point he doesn’t even hear Hyunjin telling the gamers to shut it off for the night.
“He’s sleeping already?” Felix gasps as he spins around in his chair facing Chan’s bed, “That’s shocking…”
Changbin grunts from his bed muttering something along the lines of wishing that could be him but due to a certain someone…Cough cough Felix (and in sorts, Jisung) he couldn’t. Luckily, the two left the room as soon as Chan had been tucked into bed. Anything for little Chan.
The night continued on, each member eventually went to bed leaving the dorm in complete silence, only the sound of rain tapping against the windows could be heard amongst snoring coming from one of the bedrooms. Chan blinks his eyes open trying to find a hint of light in the void room, it almost reminds him of when he’d hide under his covers seeing nothing other than the blanket of darkness clouding his view. Every snore that sounded throughout the dorm, Chan would visibly jump and clutch his blanket tighter with an audible whimper leaving his mouth each and every time. It was a wonder how Felix or Changbin hadn't woken up with the sobs starting to grow louder as each second passed.
What he wanted was his plushie, what he didn't have was also...His plushie. He remembers having it at the recording stuffed away in his bag, knows he had it on their way back since he had it on his lap but why wasn't it on his bed like it should be? Ever since they'd come out with the skzoo plushes he'd become a little too attached to lee know's plushie, Leebit. Big Chan would call it Devil Bunny but little Chan would claim it as his best friend, comforter, and possibly the best hugger. Though nobody could replace Jisung's hugs, they were so warm like home to him.
A muffled groan could be heard somewhere in the room, Chan couldn't pinpoint its exact location given he was too preoccupied hiding from what he assumes is a ghost just like the ones that had been coming after them in the episode from earlier. In reality, it was just Changbin slowly waking up after finally registering the sound of crying from within the room. He was neither a deep nor light sleeper, it seemed to work to his advantage for now.
"Chan Hy- Channie?" Changbin rasps out in a half-asleep voice, his mind was still trying to configure what on Earth was going on in the middle of the night and why he could hear sniffing and whimpers. He clambers out of his bed turning the bright light on making Felix whine out before he came to his senses and properly woke up.
"What's- What's going on?" He yawns trying to adjust to the blinding lights shining in his eyes in comparison to the dark comforting room he had been once dreaming in. Changbin mutters something about crying, Felix only just catching onto what he's saying. They both make their way over to Chan's bed seeing a lump under the sheets rather than his head poking out of the covers or any limbs for that matter.
Chan doesn't see the lights on not with his eyes being held tightly shut and his hands clasped over his ears, any noise caused a series of thoughts concerning monsters and ghosts to break through. Due to this, when Felix rested a hand on his back, he screamed jumping right out of his skin at the sudden contact. Thankfully, Changbin had quickly pulled the sheets back alerting the little that it was them, no one else, just them. Chan stills for a moment, looking at the two through his wet, teary eyes before falling into a pile of his own tears again.
"What's wrong baby?" Felix quietly asks still running his hand comfortingly up and down his back, it looked to be working a bit and that was a good enough reason for him to keep repeating the action, "Are you scared of the dark? Did something happen?" It would make sense if it was the dark causing all of this, his nightlight had been forgotten left abandoned and not switched on.
Chan swallows moving so he could cuddle up to Changbin, his cries neverending as he shakes his head, "Bit bit bit!" He cries in search of the ever so popular Devil Bunny- ah no, Lee bit- it should be here, his mind was going into overdrive trying to work out where it is.
Felix and Changbin stare at one another silently asking each other what "Bit" meant, "What's he talking about?" Changbin whispers all while trying his absolute best to get the crying to subside, it wasn't all too effective. Felix shrugs mentally going through everything Chan liked in his head, it couldn't be his bottle, paci, or another member... Despite knowing it couldn't be those things, Felix grabs the little's paci of the side knowing it might calm him down. If not by much, at least a little. He looks at the paci in his hand with a small smile, they had gotten it custom made just for Chan. It had loads of beautiful pale coloured beads adorning the surface of the plastic, a paw in the middle feeding into Chan's favourite nickname Pup and to top it off, a small crown.
He shows the item to Chan who instantly takes it into his mouth, his crying died down a tad allowing Felix to have time to actually process what Chan could be wanting. With the little resting his head on Changbin's shoulder still hiccuping and asking for Bit, it was clear it was important to him.
"The only thing he cares about so much is Minho Hyung's skzoo plush...What's its name?" Changbin wonders out loud thinking nothing too much of it but with one look at Felix's wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression, he finally pieced it together.
"Leebit!" They practically shout at the same time a little too loud for the middle of the night, it wouldn't be shocking if it had woken up someone else. For about five minutes they raid Chan's bed, pillows flying in all directions, blankets dislodged and Changbin glaring at Felix for accidentally smacking him in the face...More than once. Chan had giggled so Felix really couldn't have cared less, at least Chan got some amusement out of it.
It soon became clear that it wasn't here.
While Felix stayed and comforted Chan, Changbin staggered out of the room almost tripping over his own feet as he did so. While searching the front room, under the cushions, behind the tv, and even in everyone's bags...He still couldn't find it.
"Changbin? Are you sleepwalking? Earth to Changbin!" Changbin lifts his head slightly from his awkward position where he lays flat on his stomach looking under the couch, he hadn't found Leebit but he had found some spare change and a dirty sock. He kept the change and left the sock.
Minho stares quizzingly down at him, one eyebrow quirked up which would have looked somehow intimidating if it wasn't for the sleep mask that seemed to be sporting ears...He must have taken it back when they'd had that pyjama party. Not only did he have a cat sleep mask acting as if it were a headband, but he also had the world's messiest hair...He looked cute more than anything, though Changbin wouldn't ever say that aloud.
"I'm looking for Chan's plushie, have you seen it?" He mumbles out continuing to search under every piece of furniture they own. Minho shakes his head mentioning something about it being 4:30 in the morning like Changbin was unaware of that or something, he almost wanted to roll his eyes. Almost. Minho wasn't scary in the slightest, well...Okay, he could be a bit scary when he glared but it was always as a joke unless he was genuinely angry. At that point, Changbin would just pack up his stuff and leave Minho to be angry alone. However, when Minho had just woken up and was attempting to glare, it came across as a lot less scary and more amusing.
"Isn't it in someone's bag? He put it in there or something after-" Minho stops talking taking his time to yawn and rub the sleep out of his eyes, Changbin stares expectantly at him wanting- No, needing him to continue talking, he certain Chan is still crying.
"After? After what, hurry up and say it!" Changbin practically whines, impatiently tapping his foot against the floor while Minho holds his hands up defensively.
He vaguely points down the hall, "Should be in Seungmin's bag, he gave it to him when we went to dinner," Minho says already trudging off back towards his room to go through Seungmin's bag, Changbin jogged on after him not wanting to delay this any longer.
"Seungmin," Changbin shakes him before Minho held his arm out with an audible huff.
"You really think he's going to appreciate being woken up for this?" Minho laughs heading towards Seungmin's bag himself getting ready to search through it, he found his wallet, journal, bottles of water but no plush. Where was this damned thing?
Back in Chan's bed, Felix had managed to get the little to stop crying but every so often he'd bring up Leebit and they'd be back at square one. It had only been around ten minutes since Changbin had left and Felix is half convinced that he'd fallen asleep while looking for it. Though, no matter how much he tried to get Chan to fall asleep, it was a lost cause.
...
"Seungmin!" Changbin cries out poking at his cheeks, not the most effective way of waking someone up but it was better than repeating his name over and over again. Seungmin hadn't woken up but Hyunjin had, severely confused and disorientated.
"Go back to sleep Jinnie~" Minho had sung, a bittersweet smile on his face in comparison to his actions while he searched every drawer in their bedroom. There was no way Hyunjin was going to go back to sleep when he could see Changbin pestering Seungmin and Minho acting as if he were burgling them.
"What the..." He trails off seeing as Minho had clearly found what he was looking for, he fell back asleep...In the morning he would believe it was all a dream.
"Got it!" Minho grins throwing the plush over to Changbin who sighed loudly coincidently waking Seungmin up who gave Changbin the most angered expression he thinks he's ever seen. It was a real shame he didn't need his help anymore.
He sits up getting ready to pounce at Changbin for disrupting his precious sleep but he was already out of the door, "Night night!" Minho smiles shutting the door and following Changbin back to his room where he sees Chan curled up on Felix's lap, red face stained with tear tracks and a prominent frown resting on his lips.
"Look what Binnie found," Changbin smiles settling down next to Chan pulling out the Leebit plushie from behind his back, Chan gasps lunging forwards cuddling Changbin to bits.
He takes the plush hugging it close with a soft smile, "Love Binnie," He whispers, Minho would beg a differ that Changbin was the one that found it but he chose to let that go in favour of watching Chan fall back asleep now with the plushie tucked under his arm.
"Well...That was eventful," Felix sighs deciding just to stay in Chan's bed and cuddle up to the little. Changbin hummed before settling back down in his bed to sleep only to feel his bed dip and another body laying next to him.
"Night Binnie," Minho giggles.
Changbin groans shuffling forward to put some space between the two of them, "Go back to your own bed," He grumbles out attempting to kick his legs but it wasn't really that successful given Minho just shut his eyes with a content sigh.
Thankfully, the night went on by and the sun soon blessed the dorms with its presence lighting up the place. Changbin squinted his eyes open once again glad that it was actually the morning this time, Felix too had woken up around the same time laughing at Minho who had taken up most of Changbin's bed much to his dismay.
"Wakey wakey Channie," He sings chuckling at the little who nuzzled his face into the plushie, "We should really get you a life-sized version of that," Felix humours before realising Chan would take that seriously. Luckily, he didn't pay much attention to his words.
Changbin stares at the plushie and Chan, "Does he protect you from all the monsters and the ghosts?" He smiles at Chan who wordlessly nods, the protector of the dark in the shape of a skzoo plush. Felix laughs knowing Chan probably actually believed Leebit helped, either way, he was more than happy to keep his imagination at top-notch.
Jeongin was the first one up confused at all his belongings all messed up in his once organised bag, he ignored it deciding to grab some breakfast and before long, everyone was eating around the table. Chan was still little gripping Leebit as if it were going to disappear again, his fear of the ghosts getting to him was long gone now that he had his plushie with him.
Jisung, having been caught up with the events of last night, asked, "Is Leebit your favourite?"
Chan nodded shyly smiling at everyone who lightheartedly complained about it not being them, of course, Chan knew they were joking. Even so, he made sure to tell each member just how much eh loves and appreciates them.
After all, who bought the Leebit plush for him in the first place...