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Baby was sprawled across the greenroom couch like he owned it, because being completely honest, he believed he did.
Or well at least, no one had ever successfully made him move. Not even Abby, and that guy was basically a wall.
He twirled a gummy bear between his fingers, squishing it gently to see the colours and air bubbles inside mixing together. Glancing at the clock, it showed they had twenty minutes until they had to go onstage for the next promo performance with Huntr/x. Twenty minutes of unbearable boredom .
Abby and Romance were seated nearby, bickering over who looked better in the new stage outfits, Mystery was lounging in a bean bag thinking about who-knows-what, and Jinu was off to who-knows-where doing boring-leader-stuff.
Abby flexed – twice, for no one in particular – as a gust of wind magically appears to gently blow his shirt up. Romance, smirking, brushed an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder and tilted his head so his heart-shaped bangs framed his face perfectly.
“You’re delusional if you think that jacket hides your lack of definition,” Abby taunted, flashing even more of his muscles.
Romance gasped like he’d been shot. “Lack of definition? These arms are art, Abs. Your eyes just don’t deserve them.”
Baby popped the now mutilated gummy bear into his mouth and grinned. “ Wow . This is like watching two uncles fight over the last fishcake at a tteokbokki stand.” His deeper voice immediately made the 2 idols aware of his presence once more.
Both heads turned toward him in sync – predator and prey, except Baby was neither. He was the maknae. The Untouchable, as he liked to put it.
“You’ve been quiet all morning,” Romance purred, crossing the room with calculated grace. “Makes me nervous. What’s the Little Baby plotting?”
Baby shrugged, stretching out like a cat in a sunbeam. “Plotting my post-stage nap. And maybe a snack raid. Why?” He basically melted like a puddle into the couch, as he reached for more gummy bears from the plastic baggie.
Abby snorted, coming over too – of course he couldn’t let Romance have the floor. “Kid’s just jealous that we’re the ones pulling all the fan cams lately.”
Baby smirked, slow and dangerous. “Please. You think they come for you? Humans nowadays love when men act like toddlers. They’re obsessed with me. You’re just the.. appetizers. The main course is all here,” He drawled out, gesturing up and down to himself.
There was a beat of silence before Abby laughed, deep and loud, while Romance’s eyes narrowed – Baby returned the look, smirking.
Romance leaned in until Baby could see the faint shimmer of yellow light in his irises. “Careful, Baby. Keep talking like that and we might just have to… remind you who’s in charge.”
Baby didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Just popped another gummy bear and held his gaze. “You can try.”
And that – that was the last thing the two older idols saw of Baby before he disappeared in a puff of red smoke. Then, exactly on cue, Jinu came into the room telling them about the time.
Ah… It was time for the promo.
Behind the curtains ready to go, stood Baby, chewing on the rest of his gummy worms as if he was standing on top of the world.
———
The dressing room after the promo was chaos. Glitter had somehow made its way onto everything and hairspray wafted around the room. Costume racks lined the walls, still swaying from people darting past them, stage smoke lingering in the air. A couple of the stylists were running around with lint rollers and bobby pins, trying to herd the Saja Boys into something resembling post-performance order.
Baby had claimed the corner couch before anyone else could. One leg was up on the armrest, his oversized cardigan halfway off one shoulder, hair still perfect despite the sweat. He was scrolling on his phone, earbuds in but no music playing – a little trick he used so people wouldn’t talk to him unless they really wanted to.
Romance flopped down next to him, draping himself over Baby’s lap like a cat, while Mira and Abby lounged together on the couch next to them.
“Tell me,” Romance said, fanning himself dramatically with one hand, “did I look incredible out there, or did I look unbelievably incredible?”
“You looked sweaty,” Baby replied without looking up, thumbs still flicking across his phone screen.
Romance clutched his heart as if struck. “Cruel. Cruel and uncalled for. You wound me, Baby.”
From across the room, Jinu laughed while tugging off his rings. “You were sweaty, though.”
Rumi was leaning in close to help Jinu with a stubborn chain necklace, murmuring something that made Jinu’s grin widen, that stupid dopey grin. Baby caught the look they shared in the mirror – that quiet, familiar thing the two had going – and felt the tiniest pang in his chest. Not jealousy, exactly. Just… curiosity.
Mystery was perched on the makeup counter, ignoring the stylists telling him to get down, talking low to Zoey, who was in full hair-and-makeup touch-up mode. Zoey was pretending to be annoyed, but the corner of her mouth kept twitching like she was holding back a smile.
The thing was – they all had someone. Everyone had a thing with someone else. Except him. And Baby didn’t need a thing. He was the youngest, the “cute” one, the one who could just float through without worrying about romance or drama. That was the story everyone liked, anyway.
Romance nudged him in the ribs. “You were killing it tonight, by the way. Crowd loved you.”
“Obviously,” Baby said, finally putting his phone down. “They always love me.” His tone was deadpan, but the little smirk that tugged at his mouth gave him away.
“Cocky,” Romance said, but it sounded affectionate. He shifted so his head was resting on Baby’s thigh, eyes half-lidded in the warm dressing room glow. “You know, if you ever did decide to date someone, I think half the group would be in trouble.”
Baby raised an eyebrow. “Half the group?”
Jinu piped up from across the room. “He’s saying we’d fight over you.”
“Not me,” Rumi said, but she didn’t sound convincing. She was smiling faintly in that way she did when she didn’t want to admit something.
Mystery finally turned around, lips downturned but amused. “If we’re being real, it’s all of us.”
Zoey made a quiet noise of agreement without looking up from her compact mirror.
Baby blinked at them, unsure if they were messing with him or not. His instinct was to deflect – maybe roll his eyes, say something dry, get them off this weird sentimental kick. But the warmth in their voices… it was different. Playful, but not a joke.
Romance was still sprawled comfortably on Baby as he played some mobile game with Abby and Mira, Jinu and Rumi now sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the opposite couch, and Mystery and Zoey trading glances in the mirror. The air between all of them felt soft, the hum of backstage activity fading into a quieter, private little bubble.
And maybe – Baby let himself imagine it.
Not being someone’s “baby.” Not being the cute mascot. But being theirs, in that effortless way the others seemed to belong to each other. Something warm, something low-maintenance, something that didn’t demand he change who he was.
He didn’t say any of that out loud, of course. He just leaned back, stretching his legs so that they brushed against Jinu’s knee, his hand resting lazily on Romance’s arm. “Well,” he said finally, voice light but steady, “lucky for you guys, I’m not looking to date anyone.”
“Yet,” Mystery murmured.
Baby smirked, eyes closed. “Yet.”
And just like that, the bubble popped – Jinu cracked a joke about Rumi’s sweaty hair, Zoey threw a makeup sponge at Mystery, and Mira turned the radio back on. But the thought stayed with Baby, tucked away under that calm, detached surface.
Maybe he was already in the middle of something, and none of them had bothered to label it yet.
———
The Saja Boys’ dance studio looked different at night. The harsh overheads had been switched off, leaving only the neon wall lights to bathe the room in soft purple and blue. Mirrors reflected the glow, stretching it into infinity. The polished floor was littered with half-empty water bottles and a heap of jackets tossed into a corner, the girls gone to their penthouse.
Baby was on the floor in the middle, hood up, legs crossed comfortably. He was twirling his phone in one hand, a faint pleasant smile on his face.
Jinu was leaning against the wall, scrolling through choreography notes on his tablet, glancing at Baby every so often with that look—half fond, half I don’t know how you get away with this much slacking . Abby was sitting close to Jinu, idly spinning his snapback in his hands.
Romance was sitting on a foldable chair eating chocolate some fans got for him earlier, while Mystery sat cross-legged across from Baby, face fixed on him with an unreadable smirk.
Baby noticed, of course. He always noticed when eyes were on him, even if he couldn’t see them.
“What?” Baby asked, raising an eyebrow. “I’m radiating excellence, is that it?”
Romance snorted. “You’re radiating laziness, bro.”
“Same thing,” Baby said as he leaned back on his palms, head tilted in that lazy, deliberate way.
Mystery chuckled under his breath, and it was the kind of sound that made the air feel heavier. “You really think the world spins because you’re in it, huh?”
Baby gave him a slow once-over, eyes sharpening just slightly. “Doesn’t it?”
Jinu shook his head with a small smile. “We’re supposed to be practicing, Baby.”
“And we are,” Baby said, stretching his arms behind his head, shimmying his hips as if he was getting comfortable. “I’m practicing… my aura.”
The boys groaned. They all knew Baby’s antics were part of the rhythm of their group – he’d mess around, they’d pretend to be annoyed, and somehow, when it came time to perform, he’d still nail it effortlessly.
Romance stood and stepped closer, looking down at Baby with a grin. “Alright, fine. Show me this ‘aura’ you’re bragging about.”
Baby’s smirk deepened. Without standing, he grabbed Romance’s wrist and tugged him down until they were eye level. “Careful,” Baby murmured. “You might get addicted.”
The tension was playful, but there was something else threading through it – something that made Jinu glance away for a second, and Abby’s ears went just a little pink.
“Bold words for someone who couldn’t even keep up in rehearsal earlier,” Mystery teased.
Baby shifted his gaze toward him, not letting go of Romance’s wrist. “Oh, I kept up. I just made it look like I wasn’t trying so the rest of you didn’t feel bad.”
Romance laughed, pulling back and ruffling Baby’s hair in a rare show of casual affection. “You’re impossible.”
The moment might have fizzled into more banter, but then Jinu’s voice cut in, low and a little reluctant. “You know… he’s not wrong.”
All eyes turned toward him.
Jinu shrugged, still looking down at his tablet like it wasn’t a big deal. “He’s got that… thing. You can’t teach it.”
Romance raised a brow. “What, the ego?”
Jinu glanced at Baby, a small smile tugging at his lips. “No. The… pull.”
Baby didn’t say anything for a beat. Then his smirk softened into something smaller, almost smug but touched with warmth. “See? Jinu gets it.”
Mystery leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Oh, I get it too. I just don’t think you’ve ever had someone call your bluff.”
The challenge hung there. Baby leaned forward too, meeting Mystery’s stare without flinching. “Try me.”
The room shifted. The teasing had turned into something heavier – not quite romantic, but alive with the kind of chemistry that made it clear why the fans would lose their minds over moments like this.
Romance clapped his hands, breaking the tension with a grin. “Alright, before you two start a duel or something, let’s actually dance.”
Baby stood, brushing imaginary dust off his hoodie. “Fine. But remember – when I look better than all of you, it’s not my fault.”
Jinu rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the smile. Mystery just gave that knowing half-smirk. Abby blew a kiss towards Baby, Romance shoved Baby’s shoulder on his way past, and Baby – still entirely in control of the room – let himself be pushed, a smug smile plastered on his face.
And when the music started, he proved Jinu right.
———
The studio was quiet now, the echoes of laughter and music still clinging to the walls. Baby sat cross-legged on the scuffed dance floor, idly twirling a bottle of water between his fingers while Mystery and Romance packed up their things. Jinu was still at the far side of the room, headphones in, quietly going over vocal warm-ups like he was afraid to leave.
Abby stayed behind too, pretending to scroll his phone while obviously watching Baby from the corner of his eye.
“You’re not heading out?” Baby asked, tilting his head back until his hair brushed the floor.
Abby smiled faintly. “Not yet. Kinda nice when it’s quiet.”
“Quiet’s boring,” Baby replied, pushing himself upright. “Unless you’ve got something to make it fun.”
Mystery let out a short laugh from across the room. “Careful. Last time he said that, we lost a week’s worth of costumes.”
“That was an accident!” Baby shot back, grinning, but his gaze didn’t leave Abby. “C’mon. What’s your idea of fun?”
Abby tapped the side of his water bottle thoughtfully. “Honestly? Hanging out here with you isn’t so bad.”
The casual weight of those words made Baby’s pulse skip. He covered it with a smirk. “That’s because you’ve got good taste.”
When the others finally left, the atmosphere shifted. No more background chatter. No more shuffling of bags or squeak of sneakers. Just the two of them in the open space, framed by the tall windows and fading sunlight.
Baby stood, stretching his arms over his head, the hem of his shirt lifting just enough to draw Abby’s attention before he looked away, a little too quickly. Baby noticed.
“You keep looking at me like that, Abs,” Baby teased, stepping closer, “people are gonna start talking.”
Abby’s lips curled, but his voice stayed soft. “Let ‘em talk.”
That stopped Baby for half a second. He was used to pushback, to someone laughing off his flirting. Not this – this quiet certainty that hit just under his ribs.
“Dangerous thing to say,” Baby murmured.
Abby didn’t back away when Baby stepped into his space. They were close enough now to feel the heat between them, the faint scent of sweat and Abby's cologne mixing in the air. Baby tilted his head, like he was measuring how far he could push before Abby would move.
“You’re the dangerous one,” Abby said, voice barely above a whisper. “You just hide it under that smile.”
Baby’s grin faltered – not because he didn’t like hearing it, but because it felt like Abby saw something other people didn’t bother to look for.
“You think you’ve got me figured out?”
“Maybe,” Abby replied, eyes flicking from Baby’s to his mouth and back again.
The pause stretched just long enough for Baby to hear his own heartbeat. Then Abby stepped past him – only to stop, close enough that his shoulder brushed Baby’s.
“You coming?” Abby asked, glancing back over his shoulder with a smirk that made it very clear he knew exactly what he was doing.
Baby followed, matching his pace until they hit the hallway. The fluorescent lights were less forgiving here, but somehow that made it easier to drop the performance. Baby nudged Abby’s arm with his own.
“You always this hard to read?”
“Depends who’s asking,” Abby said. Then, after a beat, “Depends.. if I want them to keep trying.”
Baby’s grin came back, sharper this time. “Guess I’m trying, then.”
They walked side by side until they reached the doors, the night air spilling in cool and crisp. Baby reached out without thinking, catching Abby’s wrist before they could part ways.
“You free tomorrow?” Baby asked. It wasn’t loud, but the weight in his voice made it sound like more than a casual question. They didn’t have any shows tomorrow.
Abby studied him for a moment, eyes searching. “Yeah. I’m free.”
The corner of Baby’s mouth lifted. “Good. Don’t make me chase you down.”
Abby’s answering smile was small but warm. “You might like chasing me.”
Baby let him go, watching him walk off, even though they’re both going back to their apartment. His pulse was still racing, but it wasn’t from the rehearsal anymore.
———
Back home, all the lights were off besides the warm dimmed lamp gently lighting the living room. Outside, the distant echoes of the city and the occasional whisper of unrest reminded them that this moment was a rare pause in the storm.
the storm being…
When Baby and Abby had caught up with the others, the boys had run into a stray.. raccoon. Abby had jumped onto Romance’s back in fright, and Mystery had started some sort of dominance show by barking at it. Jinu however, managed to easily scare it off with some demon theatrics.
Baby leaned back against the worn sofa, a bottle of water loosely held in one hand. Sweat still clung to his brow, damp strands of hair sticking to his forehead. His usual playful smirk softened as he glanced over at Jinu, who was quietly tending to a scratch on Romance’s arm with a tender focus that seemed out of place for someone so stoic. Romance sat close, his eyes half-lidded, watching the two with an unreadable expression. Abby and Mystery had left to their respective rooms, tuckered out from the day and the raccoon escapade.
The tension in the room was palpable, was quiet, charged with something unspoken.
“Not bad,” Baby drawled, voice low, watching Jinu’s careful movements. “I didn’t think you had it in you,” He joked.
Jinu’s eyes flicked up, meeting Baby’s gaze. “Don’t underestimate me.”
Romance chuckled softly. “See? He’s full of surprises.”
Baby shifted forward, closing the small distance between himself and the others. The faint scent of leather and faint traces of cologne mingled in the air, making the space between them feel warmer.
“I like this,” Baby said, voice husky, “when it’s just us.”
Romance gave a small smile, reaching out to rest his fingers lightly on Baby’s forearm. “Me too.”
Jinu’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the weight of their shared history and struggles filled the room. Then, almost hesitantly, Jinu reached out, his hand brushing against Baby’s in a gentle, deliberate touch.
The contact sent a ripple through Baby, who didn’t pull away. Instead, he let himself lean into the connection, his smirk turning into something more sincere.
“Seems like we’re all overdue for a moment like this,” Baby murmured.
Romance leaned closer, his breath warm against Baby’s neck. “Then let’s not waste it.”
The three of them settled into the quiet intimacy of the moment, the world outside fading away. Here, in the glowing warm light and soft shadows, they found a space to be more than idols, more than demons, more than fighters.
They found each other, and the five of them have until the end of the world.