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Glimmering stars and bright neon lights scattered around the place as they filled out the remaining darkness surrounding him.
In the middle of the road, a bright pink-haired male is dancing slowly.
'You're lost in the moment, wake me up.'
Bamby hummed in a soft, sweet tone that everyone seemed to like. Hands slowly go around his body like water.
'Being with you every morning, that's enough.'
He smiled when the lyrics flowed out of his mouth. The memories of his fellow members flash across his mind. The word ‘you’ in the song is definitely not just meant for one person. In Bamby’s current life, the word ‘you’ is for his fellow members, his newly found family.
How would he be a person who lives in another realm, specifically in a futuristic setting (as Noah has mentioned since he belongs to the past) where flying cars exist and eternal night consumes the sky, forcing everyone to rely on neon light as their source of safety?
Bamby's hands glowed a light pink when he snapped his fingers, slowly starting to move his body around as he warmed himself up. Concentrating enough to turn the light pink aura on his hands into a light blue.
Nam Yejun, their sweet, caring, and responsible leader from another realm where aquatic animals fly into the sky instead of the sea, even has a grandpa vibe due to being locked away in his own little world for his research. After all, he was chosen by the Asterum to be here with them and reach their dreams of being seen by the world.
With the help of the Asterum and their benefactor VLAST, they managed to create a new way of communication to meet their PLLIs (fans) that shows them for who they are (with restrictions for their safety) in the form of what they call ‘livestreams’. VLAST gave them disguised roles as ‘idols that come from different realms’. Half truth, half lie, but who is Bamby to judge?
With Hamin’s intellect on technologies that aid VLAST, they managed to create their very own ‘fancafe' website, where they can interact with the PLLIs and with themselves.
'Yejun really loves us', Bamby thought to himself as the second oldest hyung to give them through clingy hugs and to the peuldoongies/pllis their everyday "I love you"s on the fancafe website.
He can never give up their leader over any other ‘idol’ group out there.
Bamby snaps his fingers again to change the neon color on his palms from light blue to light purple. He suddenly flexed his wrist out and mimicked having to sway his long hair around with his head, making a wink like someone else.
Han Noah, their eldest hyung, the angelic prince whom everyone adores, has many contradicting qualities that he slowly exposes to the public through the so-called ‘livestreams’ by their benefactor, who called themselves VLAST. His vocal range could have been enough to be loved by everyone, but he still shows a side of him that you don’t expect to pay a price for: his love of working out and being able to smoothly gaslight everyone at every opportunity. Similar to Yejun, he is just as responsible as ever for each member’s wellbeing and health.
‘He is definitely someone refreshing to interact with’. Bamby decided, his legs going through a practiced motion and his right hand swinging upwards, doing a gun gesture.
"Pew!"
That definitely reminds him of Yoo Hamin, their beloved maknae. Bamby remembered one of the scenes from their debut song, "Wait for You," where the portal above him cracked open to send them to Asterum, where all of them had ‘met’. Hamin is very talented and easy to adapt to all the teachings of his hyungs when they teach him stuff, but in return, this tall man teaches the hyungs who aren’t good at dancing and following the choreo (Yejun and Eunho) much along with Bamby’s assistance.
Bamby has had fun spending time with Hamin a lot lately due to the choreography making and practice for their upcoming songs, while lately VLAST pairs them together with the weekly livestreams for their peeps. Lately, they have been more chummy with each other, and the other members are getting suspicious and teasing them. Even Bamby himself doesn't know what their maknae thinks of him or his feelings either.
I've got nothing to lose.
'I shouldn't be thinking about these things'. The pink-haired man shakes out the confusing feelings in his head, halting his dancing. Bamby shouldn't assume anyone's feelings that aren't his own after all.
He already has his own mess of feelings for someone.
A loud rumble from a vehicle has stopped nearby. Bamby is the only one who has the guts to be near him without getting blasted with his light powers.
"Chae Bonggu!"
Step
"Bamby!’
Step
"Bongbi!"
Step
"Bamduck!"
Step
"Banggu"
Step
"Bab-"
"You better stop listing all the nicknames that you can think of, Eunho-ya".
The white boy with black underneath his hair whined like a hurt puppy as he approached the older one, who had stopped dancing already.
"So heartless of me!". Eunho crossed his arms as he finally reached the pink-haired woman, towering over her with his unfair height. "I gave all my affections to you!". Bamby remembers all the 'simp' posts (that the plli and peulodoongies have gushingly mentioned) that this pesky wolf has been doing. For example, like yapping about himself wearing a bucket hat, the crop top, and recently the eyeglasses being cute to Bamby only if HE actually dared to wear all three in one succession. After all, only the eyeglasses happen to be true due to their live streams together.
"I gave mine in return already".
"Where?"
Bamby huffs and kicks Eunho's right knee lightly, causing the younger to dramatically go down as if he is hurt for real. When the white-haired male finally reaches the forgivable height, Bamby uses both his hands to hold the other's head lightly and let the annoyingly handsome face face towards him.
"!" Glowing red eyes stared back at his own bright magenta ones in return; such colors had almost a luring effect on both individuals.
"Me".
"You?".
"Of course". Bamby responded with a soft look, saying that Eunho secretly enjoys himself. Such cold beauty that only triggers emotional outbursts when provoked or doing an act on stage, having it contradict the natural aegyo of the pink color palette that surrounds him, finally let out an endearing action?
Who but Do Eunho himself has finally cracked the code after so many years of friendship? Such a reward!
"Who else?". The bright magenta pair of eyes blinked and looked at the taller man's forehead. "Unless... He leaned his own forehead in a slow motion towards Eunho's.
"?".
"!"
"OWWwww!" Eunho whined again after a collision hit his poor head. Bongbi is so mean to me! We are the same age! He finally stood up to stop getting teased by her. "Bambull! I'm calling you Bam-b-ulll! Your head is hard as a bull!".
"I'm going to be older by a year again later, you know". The pink-haired man completely ignored another nickname on his growing list, both from the other members and from Pllis too. "Besides, you haven't answered my question!".
"You haven't asked a question yet!".
"Who do you belong to? You always choose Yeline and Noline. I know it's Hyungs' gimmick to Hamin and you." Bamby started "And we have Yataz, but I'm still independent, Bamline".
Eunho chuckled and grabbed Bamby by the shoulder with his right arms, earning a startled noise." My Dear Bamby is so cute!" Bright magenta eyes glared in response. With a fond look, Eunho added in a very declarative tone, "I may be part of the YeNoline, but my heart still belongs to you!" As he left, his arms patted his spot, where the heart is, repeatedly.
A silent noise comes after such a sudden confession.
"That's right." Bamby smiled, cheeks blooming pink like those squishy peaches that Eunho wants to devour. "That heart is mine".
This young wolf cub, Do Eunho, is someone that Bamby cherishes in his poor heart while also wanting to make him a punching bag for his extreme annoying traits that clash with his aloof attitude. A very talented man who loves to compose music and nagged the Asterum out of him with testing if such compositions make sense.
Years of friendship definitely made his inner walls crumble with this younger, taller man.
" I don't mind if we do debut together in any way possible". Eunho said back then, when he invited Bamby to also accept the benefactor's offer to see the other world, "As long as we are together on this so-called stage for the people to see us".
"Together?".
"Together".
The two fondly look at each other as they still stand on this empty road with the eternal night sky above them. Warm arms were still entangled around each other, their hearts beating fast and almost in sync.
"Aigooo, as much as I want to have this moment, my dear bamby, we need to go back now and celebrate!". Eunho slowly entangles himself but keeps his right arms intact in the same place. "The others are waiting, and so are our dear fans.".
"Ah right, the birthday livestream is like 2 hours away".
Eunho hummed happily "We would rather be the first one to celebrate your birthday before our pllis! I want to be selfish sometimes".
"Do you know Ssi is selfish sometimes?"
"Of course it's normal. I have emotions." He pouted and moved his arms to hold Bamby's hands instead. "Come on, we have a cake to be cut! Don't you want me to be calling you Bamby-hyung again?".
Chae Bonggu sighed and looked at their intertwined hands. "I do want that formality back, So I can order you around again".
You're already bossing me around even without that, though". They already started to walk towards Eunho's vehicle." I mean, I like it when you boss me around." he ended it with such a flirty tone.
"Shameless!". Bamby punched the wolf cub side lightly, earning a 'owww~' in a very fake tone. "Stop teasing me, or you will not get any reward from me later".
An excited noise came out of Eunho's mouth as they suddenly reached the motorcycle faster than normal, and the white-haired male put on his helmet and summoned another helmet to give it to Bamby.
"Not recreating the 'Yataz' scene today?".
"And have the wrath of Yejun-hyung and Noah-hyung? Not today, Bongbi".
Bamby hopped in at the back with his helmet already protecting his head. Both of his hands securely hug Eunho from where he is.
"Aigooo, this is already one of the many rewards that I am receiving today!". The motorcycle rumbled to life. "I'm excited for the other ones later.".
"Drive now, or you won't get it".
The vehicle glowed in red and slowly moved towards the road from where it came. "Operation: Bamby gives me kisses has now started!".
"Who are you again?".
"Gaaahh! So mean! TuT.".
--
"The human peach has arrived!"
"Pfft. Bampeach"
"Bamby-hyung, you're here!".
The Yataz duo have finally appeared from the place where both his birthday and the livestream will take place. VLASTs' staff has the whole place decorated in pink items that are not overbearing to the eyes. Chae Bonggu fixed his soft pink hair and clothing before going inside. Eunho's wild hair is perfect as it is; there is no need for extreme hair treatment (unlike some blond princes who do hair treatment five times a week).
Happy Birthday banners, balloons, and other party-related things were perfectly scattered around while a fresh-baked strawberry tanghulu cream cake was covered in a light pink fondant on top. With sugar crystal peach blossoms surrounding the cake, while a chibi Bamby cake topper is beside the number candles of "21" that are already lit.
"You guys….".
Yejun, Noah, and Hamin slowly picked up the cake and approached him while singing. Vlast staffs surround them, clapping their hands. Eunho, who is beside him, is smiling softly as he also joins the others.
"Happy Birthday, Chae Bonggu!".
"Happy Birthday, Chae Bonggu!".
"Happy Birthday, Chae Bonggu!".
"Happy Birthday, Chae Bonggu!".
"Happy Birthday, Chae Bonggu!".
Sounds of joy and love engulfed the smaller male as he whispered his wishes to the wind before he blew out the number candles. The cake is slowly put back in the spot where it was before while the four males surround him in a group hug.
"Thank you everyone for this wonderful time." Bamby is definitely not crying! His eyes are just itchy from imaginary dust!
"Aw! So cute, our dear Bamby!".
"You're welcome, Bamby-ya".
"You deserve this, Bamby-hyung!".
"Where are the rest of my rewards?".
Bamby shyly pulls away from the group hug and gives every member an embarrassed forehead kiss. When he reached Eunho, he just flicked his forehead. 'Gahhh, Bamby-hyung is so mean! '. But the younger male knows he will get an exclusive moment later, after the livestream.
"Bamby-hyung". The giant maknae has appeared, holding a fan-made Bamby plush from a fan. "What did you wish for?".
Bamby smiled and winked at them. "Wishes don't come true if I say them out loud after all". Earning an understanding but a pouty look back.
A VLAST staffer approaches him. "Bamby-ssi, the live stream will start in 30 minutes". He nodded back and let them go, focusing on his newly found family in this world.
(My wish is that everyone will be together forever and reach for our dreams together.)