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Their manager came into their dorm as they were eating lunch one evening—after an hour-long drive filled with bickering and insults, they finally decided that they’d just order separately.
“Your image is everything.” he had said from where he stood at the end of their table. “Where you are, who you're with—the media sees everything.”
Martin could agree with that (although he’d have been even more in agreement if his long-awaited lunch hadn't been interrupted). Since they debuted, he’s been reminded on numerous occasions that all eyes are on them. People had dug up baby photos that not even he himself had seen.
“Under no circumstances should any of you be breaking curfew. No matter how much older you are, and especially not to meet someone.” he said, eyes quickly cutting to James before looking away.
Martin had noticed that look, because of course he did. He'd known that it was James who snuck out, but to meet someone? Why? Who? He tried to catch the older’s eyes, but he wouldn't look up from his bowl.
Their manager sighed and clapped his hands together with a sense of finality. “With that being said… all of you must download Life360. ASAP.”
Keonho quickly swallowed the piece of meat he had been chewing to open his mouth fast enough to complain.
“Are you for real? Manager-nim, that app sucks! Don't I reserve the right to at least keep my battery percentage secret?”
—--
As it turns out, he doesn't. That was the end of that, and Martin was tasked with making sure that everyone had the app installed and set up to where their managers could see them. A few nights later, he walked into the kitchen for water and found James washing dishes.
“'scuse me,” he muttered politely as he grabbed a freshly-rinsed glass. He shuffled to the fridge and set it under the water dispenser, yawning as he waited for the glass to fill. “So, why didn't you tell me?”
James didn't respond for a moment, drying his hands. “What are you talking about?”
“James. C’mon, man. Don't be like that.”
“You guys are just kids. It's none of your business what I’m doing.” James sighed.
Martin picked up his now-full glass, turning to face him. “I’m not talking about them. Why didn’t you tell me? I tell you everything.”
“Not all of us like sharing, bro. I’m allowed to keep secrets—I’m twenty.” he said, crossing his arms.
“You don't have to like it! We’re friends!” Martin countered. “Who was it? A girl? A guy? Is that why you didn't tell me?”
“What? No.”
“Then why?”
“Martin.” James warned, looking him in the eye. Even with just the hallway light illuminating the kitchen, he could see the younger’s upset in the crease of his brow and downturn of his lips. “Drop it, okay? I don't owe you an explanation. It happened, and it's over. Move on.”
Martin’s eyes widened in disbelief before he schooled his expression into something less hurt-looking. “Yeah, man. Whatever.”
And with that, he turned away and stalked back down the hall. James sighed, running a hand through his hair.
—--
The following days are… Weird, to say the least. Martin ignores him, and the group notices. The twins burst into James and Juhoon’s room to find answers.
“What the hell did you do to Martin-hyung?” Keonho asks, kicking at a stray jacket on the floor.
“Yeah,” Seonghyeon chimes in. “He said you called him immature and a jackass who can't keep his mouth shut.” Juhoon doesn't say anything but looks up from his phone, awaiting his answer, too.
“Huh?” James says, sitting up. “I didn't say that?”
“Are you asking or telling us?” Juhoon questions.
He huffs, leaning against the headboard. “Telling. He was being nosy, man. You know how he is.”
“So what did you say?” Seonghyeon asks. “Like, word for word.”
“Bar for bar.” Keonho nods.
“He asked me about that thing I got in trouble for. He was being really insistent, and it was like.. 2am, so I was already tired. I told him that I didn’t owe him an explanation and that he should move on.”
“...So you told him to kill himself.” Keonho concludes.
James can only throw up his hands in confusion, because that is not at all what he just said.
“Martin-hyung’s dramatic, dude.”
“Sensitive.” Juhoon corrects.
“Yeah. You practically kicked a puppy, hyung. He defended you with his life when they asked if we knew anything.” Seonghyeon added. “All, ‘What? James-hyung would never!’”
“Yeah, I see that, now.” James mutters, rubbing his forehead.
“Welp.” Keonho starts, stretching his arms above his head. “You should probably get on that before management notices.”
The other two agree, slowly filing out the room to raid the pantry for snacks.
Before he shuts the door, Juhoon turns to look at James one last time.
“Fix it.”
—--
As their last official practice of the week ends, Martin is just about to walk out the studio with Juhoon when James catches up with them, weakly reaching out.
“Martin-ah. Stay back for a bit?”
The taller looks down at Juhoon apologetically, but he just nudges him forward.
“I’ll see you later.” he hums.
Then it's just the two of them alone. Martin doesn't meet his eyes at first—for someone so big, he’s great at looking so small.
“If this is about my performance this week, I know. I’ve been kept back for extra practice, so I’m working on it.” he mumbles.
“What? No. Martin, I’m talking about the whole… me-sneaking-out-and-lowkey-yelling thing.”
Martin stares at him, and James’s heart drops as he sees tears begin to well up in his eyes.
“Yeah, ‘cause you really hurt my feelings. If you wanted space, you coulda just said that, but you shut me out completely. You're one of my best friends and I just wanna support you, but if you think I’m too much and you need me to back off a little, then—”
“Martin…” James starts, ending his tearful rant. “I-I’m really sorry for pushing you away. You aren't too much. Breaking curfew felt like the one thing in my life I could keep private, so… I don't know. I got defensive when you kept prying. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”
The younger sniffles, wiping his eyes. “Yeah. It's fine. I'm sorry for being so pushy, and I understand what you're saying. I just.. You can talk to me, y’know? I’d rather you tell me to fuck off than pretend as if I’m incapable of listening.”
“I know. I’ll do better in the future.” James promises. “..It was a friend I was meeting up with. A really close friend. That's all we are for now."
Martin's eyes widen and he immediately wants to know more, but he just nods. "That's what's up, hyung. Just... be careful, okay? Don't get in trouble."
James melts a bit at his concern. He's a good kid and an even better leader (if not a bit too intrusive at times). "Got it. So... We cool?"
“Yeah, man. We cool.”
—--
Later on, when Martin sobs for a second time into Juhoon’s shoulder (this time just for the hell of it), Juhoon gently pats his hair with one hand and holds his phone with the other.
“There, there, big guy.” he soothes.
He finds the setting in Life360 that allows users to hide their location after a certain hour and disables it. James is a long way from home, and he's sure they'll hear about it from their manager tomorrow.