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Ricky wasn’t a bad dancer. At least that’s what he thought before learning choreo today. The group had started learning the moves to go along with their new song, and Ricky was struggling. Maybe it was the headache he couldn’t shake away, or the fact that he was just so tired , but the Chinese boy wasn’t picking up the moves at his usual pace. And everyone noticed it.
“Ricky, I’ve already told you, your leg comes down like this. ” Hanbin groans as he explains the move to the boy for what seems like the hundredth time. Ricky tries to copy, but for some reason, his limbs just can’t coordinate .
“No- Ricky it’s not that hard, you just did a move like this in our last choreo!” Taerae turns to face the younger, exhaustion clear on his face. Ricky looks down, tears threatening to fall as he attempts the move again. To his dismay, he still can’t get it. He hears multiple sighs come from around the room, and he stands still, aggressively trying to blink the tears away.
“Let’s just call a day for now, obviously some people need to catch up before we move on.” Jiwoong’s voice was cold, and Ricky felt his heart shatter as he felt everyone’s eyes on him. The room is silent for a moment before the members agree, and they start packing up. Ricky stands in his spot, fisting up his trembling hands to try and hide the fact that he was on the verge of tears from the members, even if they wouldn’t care.
“I’m going to stay behind…you guys can go without me.” Very few members respond as Ricky finally looks up, all of the older members moving in silence to the door as if he didn’t say anything. Gyuvin tells him to come home at a decent hour, Yujin gives him a thumbs up, exhaustion evident on all his features, and Gunwook tells him to call if he needs anything. Ricky nods to them and then he’s alone.
His knees give in as the tears make their way back, but this time there’s no resistance. Ricky picks himself up as he cries, trying to practice the moves again and again. With each step he takes, the harsh words of the members echo in his head, causing him to let out harsh sobs as he continues his fetal attempts at practicing.
Now Gunwook isn’t stupid. Him and Ricky may not be the closest, but he knew leaving the blonde alone was a dumb idea. After walking out with the other 2 maknaes, he tells them that he was going to head to an isolated room to practice his lines and get some alone time. The two just nod, clearly tired, and he bids them goodbye as he heads to the singing studios. He drops off his bag in one that’s close to the practice room he just left then heads to Ricky, determination evident in his aura and attitude.
Reaching the door, he hears no music but sobbing instead. He carefully opens the door, and his heart aches at the state the blonde is in. The boy was sobbing as he attempted to fix the move he was struggling with during practice. Every time he would make the same mistake, causing the tears to be harsher and for him to mumble the same words the older members told him.
“Come on Ricky, i-it’s not that hard! Do it right! Please do it right!” Ricky was so frustrated with himself, it was very evident, but Gunwook closes the door and walks over, not wanting this to go on any longer.
“Hyung.” The boy turns around, terrified at the sudden appearance of another. He realized it was Gunwook and made a feeble attempt to clean his face. The younger just clicks his tongue as he takes Ricky into his arms. “I know you’re hurt, it’s okay, just let it out.” And Ricky did.
The sobs come back, stronger and louder now that he has someone to comfort him. Gunwook guides them against a wall, where he maneuvers Ricky into his lap as he steadily holds onto the boy. He whispers words of comfort as Ricky clings onto his shirt so hard he thinks it will break.
“You’re such a good dancer angel, so talented.” Gunwook feels Ricky relax against him, and it clicks in his head; Ricky was slipping. The mentioned may not know it, but this wasn’t the first time Gunwook had to take care of a little. He had many trainee friends who had found comfort in littlespace, but this seemed like it was a first for Ricky, considering none of his prior actions had led to this and the boy was terrible at hiding things. He wasn’t fully shocked though, considering Ricky has always been an extra sensitive and soft boy. Gunwook took all of this into note, changing his words to talk down to Ricky’s headspace, wanting the boy to be able to relax fully.
“I know, hyungs were so mean earlier, but I’m here now, you don’t have to worry about it anymore.” The vice grip Ricky had on his shirt was loosening, sobs quieting down as Gunwook continued to talk him down.
“Poor angel, having to learn all this choreography while being so small, I’m so proud of you baby.” And that was it. Ricky felt his headache disappear and his mind felt foggy, not being able to think for himself as he looked at Gunwook.
Ricky blinks a little, taking in the feeling of whatever was happening. He tried to form words, but suddenly everything felt more difficult and none of his sentences would come out, a babble replacing the Korean he had been studying.
“Seems like I have a baby in my hands, hm?” The little one giggles, placing his sleeve in his mouth as he smiles up at Gunwook. A pacifier is apparently the first thing we need to buy, the boy notes as he stands up with Ricky in his arms, gathering the boy’s things.
“Ba!” Ricky exclaims, and Gunwook coos at how happy the little is to see things in the practice room. After mildly cleaning up and collecting Ricky’s things, which weren’t much, he turns the lights off as he closes the door and heads to the vocal studio his own stuff was in.
Gunwook now had the new little in his lap, who was ‘talking’ about whatever his heart desired. Ricky was adorable, a natural lisp taking over and he was more giggly than useful, and definitely happier compared to practice.
It had been 10 minutes before the young Chinese was yawning and struggling to keep his eyes open. Gunwook notices and smiles, running a hand through Ricky’s hair.
“Tired angel?” The little one gives a small sound in response, causing a coo to come from the ‘older.’
“Go to sleep baby, hyung will take care of you.” And with that, Ricky falls asleep, chewing on his hoodie sleeve in Gunwook’s arms. Waiting until he was sure Ricky was asleep, Gunwook confirms and immediately takes to his phone, creating a group chat with the older members.
‘ You guys are on thin ice when I get to the dorm.’ He then goes to the maknae group chat, sending a nicer message to them, considering they were innocent.
‘Something happened to Ricky, he’s fine but if you want more understanding before we come back, I suggest searching up ‘littlespace.’ Gunwook adds a smiling emoji and, being satisfied with his messages, picks up the little and their stuff then sets off for the dorm.
As he opens the door, he sees the younger dup hanging around in the living room, playing mario kart on the tv. Gunwook smiles and carefully takes off Ricky’s shoes, then his own. He walks over to the living room, and sets the sleeping boy next to Gyuvin, who looks away from the screen at the sudden movement.
“OMG- sorry…” Gyuvin shudders at Gunwook’s death stare, immediately lowering his volume. Yujin laughs as he easily wins against the distracted boy, then turns to face the others.
“Oh is he in that thing you sent in the groupchat?” Gunwook laughs and nods, finding it cute how the younger just bluntly asks questions. The trio talk about littlespace, and after a few minutes Gunwook excuses himself to go talk to the older members.
After making sure the two knew how to care for Ricky in case he woke up, he headed upstairs.
Gunwook took a breath before knocking on Hanbin’s door, where he knew the older members would be. He didn’t have to wait too long, as moments later a nervous looking Zhang Hao opened the door and moved over to let him into the room.
It was silent for a few moments as Gunwook stepped inside and looked at each of the members. He was disappointed, and a frown slipped onto his face thinking about how he found Ricky sobbing as he tried to practice. Taking a moment to collect himself as he started to address the older members, who seemed anxious as to what was going to happen.
“I’m disappointed in you hyungs. How you treated Ricky earlier was disgusting, and you guys caused some much mental pain on him. When I stayed back to ‘get my stuff’, I found him sobbing.” Gunwook’s tone was sharp and cold, eyes scanning each member as he felt his anger rise.
“What kind of hyung are you to not only glare and degrade him, but to also not show any remorse until I’m standing in front of you and scolding you! Do you know how I found him? How heartbreaking it was to open that door and see Ricky like that?” No one answered, and for once, Gunwook was glad that they weren’t talking.
“He was sobbing while trying to practice. Remember what you said Taerae hyung?” Taerae makes eye contact and slightly nods, but Gunwook continues saying it anyway.
“Ricky was doing the same move over and over, and everytime he messed up he said what Taerae said to him earlier. ‘Ricky it’s not that hard!’ ‘Ricky, do it right!” The members had tears on their face, thinking about the pain Ricky must’ve been in and the state Gunwook found him in.
“He slipped into littlespace for the first time. I’m not going to explain it because you guys don’t deserve it until he gets a proper apology. But just know that he entered a whole other headspace because you guys caused so much stress and gave him so many negative emotions that he couldn’t deal with it. I’m really disappointed, this isn’t how I thought we would treat our members.” Gunwook then walks out, leaving the older members with his words while he goes back downstairs to check on his baby.
Ricky was awake when he went downstairs, sitting in Gyuvin’s lap with his hoodie sleeve back in his mouth, resting his head on his chest. Yujin and Gyuvin had started playing the game, but they weren’t ignoring the little, instead explaining what’s going on or letting him play with the controller, even if they lost.
Gunwook smiles, being so grateful for his friends as he makes his presence known. Ricky notices first, hands going out and causing him to giggle.
“Baba!” He coos and picks the baby up, much to Gyuvin’s protest.
“Hi angel,” Gunwook kisses his forehead as he rubs his back, forgetting about the other two in that moment, “did you miss me?”
Ricky js snuggles closer, making a sound of content that has Gunwook giggling.
“Well it’s your bedtime baby, say night night to your hyungs.” He had suddenly remembered the two crackheads- he means friends- exists. Ricky waves and Gunwook takes him upstairs to his room.
Getting the little dressed in pajamas was easy for the most part, being too tired to protest, but getting Ricky to brush his teeth? Entirely different story.
“Angel, you have to brush your teeth, it’s good for you.” Ricky whines in protest.
“NO! NO NO NO!” Gunwook debates with himself, and ends up letting the little one win so that they can both go to sleep.
“Alright baby, but don’t blame me in the morning when your breath stinks.” He tickles the little, who starts squirming and giggling. The laughing quickly turns into yawning, and Gunwook is quick to turn the lights off and climb into the bed, pulling Ricky on top of him.
Kissing his forehead, Gunwook smiles as he feels the little relax against him. “Goodnight angel, sleep well.”