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Ryujin doesn’t know how it happens. One minute she’s squatting down for a move in their pre-chorus, and the next thing she knows there’s a soft pop and an excruciating pain in her knee, one that has her rolling over regardless of the ongoing music and everyone else.
“Ryujin!”
“Unnie!”
“Ryujinnie!”
The other members rush over to her immediately, abandoning their positions.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she chokes out, trying to sit up. Her knee protests, sending out another wave that has her wincing. She’s pretty sure there are tears in the corner of her eyes, though she blinks them back immediately.
“Don’t try to move it, unnie.” Yuna tells her earnestly.
“Lia-yah, turn off the music, please.” She hears Yeji request, and the track stops playing a few seconds later. “Chaeryeong-ah, can you go get some ice packs?”
Said girl immediately responds, her footsteps fading out into the hallway. Ryujin tries to stand up. “Yeji unnie, I’m-”
“Just sit still, Ryujin.” Yeji says in a tone that allows no further argument, and sends her a look for good measure. “Where does it hurt?”
“My knee,” she relents, deflating. Yeji winces on her behalf, knowing that the joint had caused a few problems before, though none severe enough to make her stop in the middle of a move like that.
“How bad?”
“Four.”
The leader raises an eyebrow.
“Six and a half,” she says, more a statement than a question, and Ryujin nods reluctantly.
“You might have sprained it. Can you move to the couches?”
Ryujin nods, and Yeji moves to help her, looping an arm around her waist. Using her other leg, she stands up, the older’s arm supporting her.
“Yuna-yah, help me please.” The youngest complies, going to her other side.
“I’m not-”
“Unnie, just let us help you.” Yuna cuts her off, putting an arm around her. The two accompany her as she limps towards the back of the room, injured knee protesting with every slow step. Yeji sits her down and Yuna sits with her as Lia brings a foldable chair, placing it in front of her. Before anyone can say anything, Yeji taps her leg gently, giving her a warning, and gingerly guides it to the chair, straightening it slowly.
Ryujin bites back a grimace as her leg is placed on the chair, and Yeji pats her shoulder.
A few minutes later, Chaeryeong comes running back in. The younger drops an ice pack on her knee, already starting to swell, and Ryujin fights back an involuntary shudder as the cold object comes into contact with her skin.
“Does it hurt badly?”
“It’s slightly better now.”
“We can’t continue like this,” Yeji frowns, and Ryujin tries to tell her that it’s fine but everyone simply looks at her, unconvinced. “We’ll get manager-nim to explain to the others but we should get you home now. The rest of us can continue.”
“I’m not-”
“Already done,” Lia waves her phone, and Ryujin shoots her a sheepish smile as their manager enters the room.
“What happened?”
“She was squatting down for a move and her knee gave out.” Yeji demonstrates the move she was doing, stopping at the point she fell over.
The manager clicks her tongue, pulling out her phone. “Can the rest of you continue first? I’ll get a car to-”
“I’m staying here,” Ryujin tells them firmly.
“Ryujin,-”
“I’m not leaving earlier.” She insists, looking around at them. Yeji’s concerned gaze meets hers. “I won’t move from here, but I’m staying until practice is done.”
A pause, and their manager sighs.
“Alright, just make sure to keep the ice pack on your knee.”
“We’ll take five, guys. Go get some water.” Yeji tells the others, sitting down next to her. They dissipate understandingly, Lia leaving the room to refill her bottle, and Yuna and Chaeryeong going to the other side to get theirs. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back first?”
Ryujin smiles reassuringly at her.
“I’ll be fine here, unnie. The ice is doing its job.” The pain was slowly easing now, replaced by the numbing cold of the ice pack. “Besides, you’re here, aren’t you? Knowing our leader unnie, you won’t even let me leave my spot.”
“If you move so much as an inch,-”
“You’ll literally be able to see me the whole time, unnie.”
“Stubborn.” Yeji passes her her bottle, shaking her head. “Drink,” she tells her.
“Yes, eomma.” She teases, pressing on the furrow in the older’s eyebrows. “I’m fine, unnie. Don’t look like that.”
Yeji sighs. “You should be more careful, Ryujin-ah. You’re lucky we only have a fansign tomorrow. You can sit out during practice again, I suppose.”
“Who says I’m sitting out?”
“Yah, Shin Ryujin, a sprained knee isn’t going to recover overnight, stop being so stubborn.”
“I won’t, you know that.” Ryujin pats her shoulder. “There, Lia unnie’s back. Go do your job, leader-nim. I’ll be monitoring.”
Yeji glares at her halfheartedly, murmuring a should have known before she passes her the keyboard and turns back to the others. She gives the group a thumbs up, leaning back as her fingers hover over the keys.
Ryujin watches as they take their positions, leaving her spot empty, and starts the music. Being occupied with her own dancing and monitoring most of the time, she hasn’t really been able to appreciate the way they move in sync so seamlessly, and even if there’s a missing member, the formation still looks good. She admires her members as they dance through the beginning, noting the focused stare at the mirror of the oldest and chuckling. Yeji is always monitoring them, after all. Her feline eyes stay fixed on the mirror as she moves effortlessly, moves powerful but controlled.
Halfway through the chorus, she notices something, but Ryujin beats her to it.
“Stop there. Freeze.” The members comply, and she pauses the music. “See there? The way your arms are bent are different.” Ryujin imitates the way Yeji and Chaeryeong do it, then Lia and Yuna, arms bent at slightly different angles.
“Tiebreak. How do you do it, Ryujinnie?” Chaeryeong asks her.
“I do it how you and Yeji unnie do it.”
“Shoulda known that, Ryeong-ah.” Lia raises an eyebrow, rotating her arm slightly. “Like this, right?”
“Yes, unnie.” Yuna follows her, giving her a nod.
“Let’s try that again?”
The group lets out a sound of agreement, and Yeji nods at Ryujin. “From the beginning of the chorus please, Ryujin-ah.”
Ryujin rewinds the track, pressing play towards the end of the pre-chorus. The four of them move the same way this time, and as they continue, she swears she sees a hint of pride at the corner of Yeji’s lips despite the serious look on her face.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
When Yeji finally deems their choreography decent enough to call it a day, it’s close to midnight. The leader nods at their reflections in the mirror as the song ends, satisfied.
“Good job, girls.”
The other members smile tiredly, and Yuna starfishes on the floor as Lia takes a picture of their maknae with her limbs sprawled out across the ground, giggling despite the countless times they’ve seen it before.
“Leader unnie is scary when she’s serious,” Yuna jokes, and they laugh, the oldest shooting them a playful glare.
“I agree,” Ryujin chips in, moving her leg off the stool. Yeji gives her an actual glare this time, silently telling her to stay put (not that it works). “See? Scary.”
“That’s only ‘cause you’re stubborn, Ryujinnie.” Chaeryeong glances between the pair, gathering her things. “If you listened to her more, she’d be less scary.”
“See? Someone finally gets it.” Yeji says triumphantly. “Thank you, Chaeryeong-ah.”
“Please, unnie, as if you don’t always let Ryujin have her way at the end.”
Ryujin laughs out loud at the way their leader’s eyes widen, making to stand up despite the faint throb of her leg. “Admit it, unnie, you can’t resist me.”
“You idiot, Ryujin!” Instead of another quip, Yeji’s voice borders on exasperation as she rushes over, forgetting about her things as she grips her arm. Her bag tips over, contents spilling over the floor unceremoniously. She sighs.
“Lia-yah, could you help me put everything inside, please?”
Ryujin stares at her, confused. The older usually has everything in her bag in a specific place only she knows - she once told her it was why her bag had so many side pockets, that “her life would be chaos” if she had to rummage through all her stuff just to find something she needed. The members are mindful of this, and when Yeji lets them borrow something from her bag, they make sure that it’s put back in the same place they found it.
She watches now as Lia shoves everything back into the opening, and Yeji winces from next to her when her AirPods make a clunking noise as they go in. The other members do a good job at hiding their surprise when Yeji accepts her bag from Lia with a smile and thanks, looping an arm around Ryujin’s shoulder.
“Let’s go?” Before Ryujin can say anything, Yuna picks up her bag from the other side, taking her water bottle and putting it in before slinging it over her shoulder. Chaeryeong grabs her other arm and puts it around her shoulder, and Lia fixes her with a look as she opens the door.
She sighs, allowing the two next to her to help her walk out of the room and into the waiting car downstairs.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
The ride back is quiet, save the shuffling of items from next to her where Yeji is organising her bag. Ryujin looks behind them to make sure Lia and Chaeryeong are distracted by their soft conversation, and Yuna is sleeping in front, and leans over.
“Sorry,” she whispers.
“I didn’t bring much today, Ryujin-ah. It’s fine.” Yeji says, brow furrowed as she fishes out her keys and puts them back in the allocated pocket.
“I wasn’t talking about that, unnie.”
“Oh,” Yeji looks more surprised at that, lifting her hand to pat her on the head. “It’s all good.”
“You sure you’re not just letting me have my way again, unnie?” Ryujin can’t help it, teasing her.
“You aren’t the most stubborn person on earth for nothing, Ryujin.”
“That’s only ‘cause you can’t resist me.”
Yeji doesn’t respond, but from the soft curve of her lips, the fond look in her eyes, Ryujin knows she’s forgiven.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Yeji comes into her room as she’s limping out of her bathroom, hair freshly washed and dripping with water. She has an ice pack in hand as she watches her settle on her bed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Bringing someone an ice pack because they won’t do it themselves,” the older says, pressing the pack to her face teasingly before she walks over to take the hair dryer from her dresser.
“You don’t have to-”
“Just let me, Ryujinnie.” Yeji plugs the hair dryer in, then walks over to her and takes the towel from her. “Ice your knee.”
Ryujin complies, and Yeji begins towelling her hair, brushing a few strands from her face to dry it properly.
“You always take such good care of us, unnie,” she says as she turns on the hair dryer. The whirring takes over the room, drowning her voice out.
“What?” Yeji shouts over the noise, ruffling her hair. Ryujin chuckles.
“You’re so cute.”
“I can’t hear you, Ryujinnie.”
Ryujin shakes her head, and Yeji continues to rake her fingers through her hair, turning the hair dryer off after she’s done.
“What did you say just now?” She asks as she reaches for the socket.
“Nothing.” Ryujin raises her eyebrow teasingly, and she gets what she’s looking for when the leader’s eyebrows furrow in confusion and her lips form a pout.
“Tell me,” Yeji whines, as if Ryujin wasn’t going to tell her anyways.
“I said, “ she rests her hands on the older’s sides as Yeji stands in front of her. “Our leader unnie always takes such good care of us.”
Yeji smiles warmly, soothing a hand through her now dry hair.
“I’m happy to do it. You guys take care of me too, don’t you?”
“Do we?”
“You do, Ryujinnie. I couldn’t have asked for a better team for life.”
“Stay with me for a while?” Ryujin asks shyly, shifting over to make space for her. Yeji smiles teasingly, ruffles her hair before slipping under the covers. The younger throws a leg around her despite Yeji’s warning, and mumbles.
“Thank you, unnie.”
“I didn’t know you were this clingy, Ryujin-ah.” Yeji laughs as the younger scowls.
“Shush. As if you aren’t.”
(Halfway through the night, when Yeji slips out of the younger’s room discreetly, she finds Yuna in the hallway, holding a glass of water.
“Is she asleep?” The youngest asks. Yeji nods.
“I turned off her alarm. Tell the others not to wake her up tomorrow, I’ll wake her after Lia is up.”
“Unnie won’t be disappointed when she finds you’re not next to her?”
“It’s late, Yuna-yah. Go to sleep.” Yeji raises an eyebrow, and Yuna snorts quietly.
“I will. Goodnight, unnie.” She says before giving her a knowing smile and disappearing into her room.
Yeji looks through the crack in the door at the space she just evacuated, then at the sleeping person next to it, curled into a pillow. She smiles fondly, closing the door and padding to her own room to get some sleep.)
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Her alarm doesn’t ring the next day.
Instead, the bed dips next to her, and she turns over by instinct, burrowing deeper into her blanket to hide from the intruder. There’s a low chuckle, and then a shuffling noise as the room becomes a bit brighter.
“Ryujin-ah,”
“Hmm?”
“Wake up.”
She opens her eyes, met with the older sitting next to her on her bed.
“Hey,” Yeji smiles softly at her, running a hand through her hair. The room is still dark, the blackouts doing their job, but the older had opened it just a bit, letting some form of light in.
“What time is it?” She murmurs, halfway back to sleep.
“6:50. I got you another half an hour, just go wash up and change, okay?”
The time registers in her head, and she bolts up immediately, wincing as pain shoots up her knee.
“Easy on your knee, Ryujinnie!” Yeji scolds her.
“Did my alarm not ring?”
“I turned it off for you.”
“We’re supposed to leave at seven, unnie! I haven’t packed yet!” She stands up immediately and Yeji steadies her with a firm grip on her arm.
“We’ll be fine, Ryujin-ah. You can eat in the car, just go brush your teeth first.”
When she walks into the living room fully dressed a few minutes later, searching for her bag, Chaeryeong and Yuna are poring over something on the youngest’s phone screen, Lia is half asleep on the couch, and Yeji is putting things into her bag.
“Let’s go.” The oldest says, slinging the bag on her shoulder and walking towards her.
“Where’s my bag?”
“It’s there, your stuff is inside already.” Yeji gestures to the dining table, where her bag is sitting. “There’s a sandwich too, you can eat it in the car.”
“Lia unnie, it’s time to go.” Chaeryeong shakes the older girl, who startles.
“Okay, let’s go!”
While the others move towards the door, Ryujin grabs her bag and makes a beeline to the kitchen, opening their snack cabinet.
“Where are you going?” Yeji’s voice drifts in from the hallway.
“Give me a second!” She grabs a few bags of chips that the older likes and a handful of candies for herself, shoving it inside before going out again.
“Okay, let’s go.” Yeji takes her bag from her.
“I can do it, unnie.” She tries to take it back, but the older just shakes her head firmly.
“Careful on your knee.” Yeji is out of the door before she can protest, and she follows after, locking the door behind her.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Ryujin is seconds away from getting up and making Yeji sit down with her, sprained knee be damned.
The leader had made her sit on the couch when they came in, leg propped up on a chair with an ice pack on her knee, but she has been bouncing from one place to another ever since they entered the venue, alternating from speaking with the stylists and making sure she’s still in her seat and just pacing . Never mind they’d done countless fansigns for each comeback, will do so many more in the future. The thuds of her boots are endless as she moves from place to place.
Ryujin decides she’s had enough when Yeji adjusts her outfit yet again, moving to make her nth lap of the room.
“Unnie,”
“Hmm?” The older responds absently.
“Yeji unnie,” she says insistently, folding her arms.
“Give me a second, Ryujinnie-”
“Yeji.” She grits out, and the room freezes, startled at the sudden outburst. Yuna looks at her through the mirror, shocked, and Lia’s eyes snap open, wide and questioning. Chaeryeong stares at her, because none of them have ever used that kind of tone with each other before, much less with their leader.
Yeji freezes, momentarily flustered, and when she turns to look at Ryujin, she raises an eyebrow, ignoring everyone else.
“Come over, unnie,” Ryujin says, softening. Yeji complies, and the rest of the room watches as Ryujin tugs at her hand, pointing at the space in front of her. “Sit down.”
“Your leg-”
“I only hurt my knee, unnie, I’m not on the brink of death.”
The oldest looks like she’s about to argue, but takes one look at her face and sighs, complying with the request. Ryujin pats her shoulder, handing her a bag of snacks.
“You’re too tense, unnie,” She says as she presses on her shoulders. “Don’t worry so much. And stop flapping around, you’ll stress your back.”
She can already imagine the sheepish look on Yeji’s face. A beat, and then the older sighs, fidgeting with the bag in her hand.
“Is your knee okay?”
That’s enough to make her understand one of the root causes of her jitters. “I’m fine, unnie,” she tries as convincingly as possible, even as the chill on her knee acts as a reminder of yesterday. “We’re idols. Don’t worry about me.”
“How can I not?” The leader says quietly, placing her hand on hers. Ryujin squeezes her hand, running the other hand through her locks, and Yeji leans into her, nuzzling her face into the fur on her wristbands. “We’re in the middle of a comeback and we’re already preparing for the next one and there’s practice every day. You can’t stress it ‘cause it’ll only make it worse.”
“It’ll go well, unnie. I’ll rest after this, and it’ll be back to normal in no time.”
“Are you just saying that to placate me, or will you actually do it?”
“It depends on my mood.”
“I knew it.” Yeji tilts her head to glare at her. “You do need to rest, you know.”
“I won’t move from the couch during practice today, I promise. I’ll just be there to make sure you’re all stepping on the correct floorboards.”
Yuna groans from the other side of the room. “Unnie, they’re just floorboards.”
“There’s a big difference between being on the first and the second one!” Ryujin retorts.
“Ryujin is right, Yuna-yah.” Yeji chimes in, sounding infinitely amused.
“Of course you always take her side, unnie.”
“But you know I’m right, even if she’s annoying about it.” The older finally moves to sit down next to her, leaning her head on her shoulder.
“I am not!” Ryujin protests, even as she’s smiling.
“Don’t you lie, Ryujin. You’re insufferable about the floorboards.” Chaeryeong raises her eyebrow at her.
“I’m not!”
“You kind of are, Ryujin-ah.” The older whispers to her, even if the whole room can hear it.
“Fine,” she heaves a theatrical sigh. “I’ll try to be less insufferable about it today.”
“It’s fine, Ryujinnie, continue doing what you do. It means I can let up a bit.”
“Am I just your scapegoat now?”
“Have you finally figured it out?” Yeji grins at her, dimples making an appearance.
“I won’t say anything today then, leader unnie can do her work.”
Yuna snorts at that, standing up. “Please, if you can stay quiet and just sit there during the whole practice, Lia unnie will be able to wake up on time every day.”
“I heard that, Yuna.” Lia opens her eyes and sends her a glare through the mirror.
“Yuna-yah, you better count your days.” Chaeryeong says jokingly, and Yeji lets out a bright laugh, relaxing completely against her. Ryujin smiles to herself, glad that the members always seem to know how to lighten up the mood when it’s the five of them.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Despite Yeji’s worries, their fansign goes smoothly. The cheers are louder than ever, they interact with their fans as they always do, and Ryujin makes it a point not to move around too quickly or abruptly.
On the rare occasion she kneels down for a photo, a spark of pain flares when she makes to stand up, and she winces. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and Chaeryeong eyes her.
“Are you okay?” the younger whispers, back to the crowd.
“Completely fine,” she says through her teeth. From the other side of the room, Yeji tilts her head at her, and she nods, even though she knows Yeji can see through her.
“Sit down,” Yeji mutters to her when she next gets close. “On the table or something. Your aegyo is more effective that way, anyway.”
Ryujin laughs and complies, watching as Yeji sends an amused look over next time she does aegyo from the table, trying hard not to laugh. She doubles it up anyway, and the members laugh at her. Yeji slaps her playfully on the shoulder as she hops up next to her, reading out a question from a fan.
“What’s today’s TMI?”
“I got to sleep in a bit today,” Ryujin says smugly. “This unnie decided to turn off my alarm and I nearly woke up too late.”
“Well, you’re lucky that this unnie came to wake you up instead. A human alarm works too, doesn’t it?”
Their conversation about human alarms picks up with the other members, and Ryujin can’t resist sending a smirk Yeji’s way, making the older raise her eyebrows.
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
“Now, you remember what you said, don’t you?” Yeji says teasingly as they walk back into the practice room they’ve been using for years on end.
“Yes, leader unnie,” Ryujin rolls her eyes, falling onto the couches. “Go on, then.”
“I’m surprised you’re so compliant, Ryujin.” Chaeryeong remarks as they start stretching. “Stretch with us - it might help a bit.”
“Contrary to what you think, I’m not actually dumb, Ryeong.” Ryujin sticks her tongue out, joining them on the floor, but everyone sees her sneak a glance at Yeji, who’s setting up the music.
“You just don’t want Yeji-unnie to worry about you again,” Yuna says, and Yeji chuckles.
“Ryujin knows when she’s at her limit, Yuna-yah. She’s just doing it to be annoying.”
“Yah, keep it up and I’ll be dancing today too.”
“Not a chance, Ryujin.” Jisu glares at her.
“You have two unnies on you now.” Chaeryeong laughs.
“I was joking!” Ryujin protests, taking the keyboard. “I’m not letting anything slip today.”
It goes smoothly for the most part. Ryujin plays the role of assistant leader, monitoring them like a hawk, demonstrates a few hand movements and arm angles, and makes sure the formation is as perfect as it should be. Yeji glares at her first when she stands up, but relents when she makes clear she’s not doing any footwork-related exercises.
Yuna falls over trying to do the footwork on one of the verses, and Yeji’s hands had shook when helping her up, but the youngest was quick to reassure her that she was okay.
(Ryujin was the first one to laugh at her after that.
“Yuna-yah, having long legs is not so advantageous after all, is it?”
“Shut up.” Yuna retorts. “You can’t even reach the top shelf in the kitchen. It’s why we keep the good food there.”
“Okay, now that was just uncalled for.” Ryujin scowls.
“Yuna-yah,” Jisu says dangerously, and their maknae gulps.
“I didn’t say anything!”
Yeji simply laughs at their antics, and Ryujin shoots her a reassuring smile.
We’re okay, she mouths.)
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
“Is it better now?” Yeji plops an ice pack onto the younger’s knee, and Ryujin inhales as the cold spreads through her leg.
“It hurts more often than not.” She admits, and Yeji frowns.
“Why didn’t you say? You think you’ll need painkillers?”
“I hope not,” Ryujin shakes her head. “It should only get better from here, right?”
“As long as you don’t make it worse. Whenever you can, you’re not moving anywhere unless you have to.”
“Yes, mother.” Ryujin teases, and Yeji rolls her eyes good-naturedly.
“Rest now, child.”
“Can you lay with me like you did yesterday?” Ryujin looks at her hopefully, and Yeji pretends to contemplate it. After a while, Ryujin laughs.
“Asshole. Come on, unnie. Don’t act like it’s such a hard choice for you.” She shifts aside, letting the older slide in.
“Hi.”
“Hi yourself. You’ve been flapping around all day today.” Ryujin pokes the mole on her nose. “Don’t stress yourself too much over me.”
“Whatever you say, don’t tell me to do that,” Yeji glares at her. “You know I always worry about you, for good reason too.”
“Don’t worry so much, unnie. I can take care of myself. But it’s nice to know you’ll take care of me too.”
“Of course I will. We’re not Itzy for nothing, are we?”
“Just because we’re Itzy?”
“Because I love you guys.” Yeji taps Ryujin’s cheek. “You know that, don’t you?”
Ryujin hums sleepily.
“I know. Me too. Stay here tonight, okay?” She murmurs against her shoulder. “Don’t sneak out again.”
Yeji runs her fingers through the younger’s hair. “I will. Now sleep, Ryujin-ah. We have a long day tomorrow and everyone knows you get grumpy when you don’t get enough sleep.”
(Yeji doesn’t leave Ryujin’s room that night, and Chaeryeong raises a pointed eyebrow at her when she comes out of it the next day.
She makes a face at the younger, and Yuna giggles at her from the couch.)