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When Yuehua sent 8 trainees onto the show, many people thought they barely trained with each other. That was far from the truth. these 8 boys lived and trained together for years, so they weren't scared nor uncomfortable with each. many were in fact, best friends.
A pair people seemed to overlook was Ricky and Yujin. they had been training together for about a year, but were very close. if they weren't with their groupmates, they were together, and ended up gravitating towards the same things.
Now the two had multiple reasons to be close, but there was a secret that the two kept hidden from the other trainees. Ricky was a little, and Yujin, despite being 3 years younger, was his caregiver.
It started 5 months ago, Yujin being a relatively new trainee, rooming with Ricky. the boy had a nightmare, waking up in littlespace and to a very confused Yujin. however, Yujin quickly figured it out, and came to realize that he enjoys having someone who confides in him. Taking care of someone was in his nature, no matter how young he was.
So now here they were, the two had made it through boys planet were now in Zerobaseone. Their members didn't know, not even their company mates, and it was going to stay like that.
Or so they thought.
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The past few weeks have been rough, endless practices and meetings about their concept and branding. The group was exhausted, but they had 1 more day of schedules then a week break, which seemed like heaven so close to their debut date.
It was time to film their trailer, back to zerobase, and they were excited. This was their first official content shooting as Zerobaseone. Although tired, they had ended practices really early, if 8pm is considered early, to get enough sleep for the long shooting.
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Arriving to the shoot, the members were chatting away, wondering what they were going to be doing, what the outfits looked like and so forth.
Ricky had had a long night, and decided against sitting with Gyuvin, who seemed to have a lot of energy. Scanning quickly, he sat with Yujin, who was in the last row, near Zhang hao and Hanbin.
'Perfect.' Ricky thought, those members had some braincells, he would be able to relax on the way there in peace.
As the car ride started, Ricky couldn't seem to keep his eyes open. His head felt heavy, and kept jerking awake.
Yujin, of course, noticed this, so he just gently guides Ricky's head to his shoulder, who then curled into his side, like a cat. Yujin smiles and goes back to talking to Hanbin, who didn't even mentioned the interaction.
Every few minutes or so, Ricky would jerk and whine under his breath. Yujin in return would shush the boy and card his fingers through Ricky's white hair, effectively calming him down.
After the 3rd time, hanbin ask a question.
"Ricky likes physical touch? He told me he was 'allergic' to it." laughing, Yujin just smiles and shakes his head, making Hanbin even more confused. he turns to Zhang hao, who is now invested in their conversation, previously looking out the window.
"Wait what?" the Chinese tilts his head, causing Hanbin to coo but then remember to say his statement again.
"Oh no, he despises it, at least to everyone else he does. seems like he doesn't mind Yujinnie though." wiggling his eyebrows at the youngest, who rolls his eyes.
Hanbin and Zhang hao kept teasing, lightly shoving him at one point. the white haired Chinese stirs, whining as he wakes up. Yujin glares at the older two, who give him sorry looks, and turn back to Ricky.
"I know, I know, they were just playing around. go back to sleep baby." Yujin cards a hand through Ricky's hair and whispers to him. Ricky tugs on his sleeve, and the younger laughs a little.
"You want my jacket?" he sees the boy do a tiny nod, cooing and taking off the hoodie he was wearing, realizing the bus was a little chilly. Not that he minded, he'd rather Ricky be warm than cold.
Zoning back in, he sees Ricky struggling with getting his head out the hoodie, causing a tiny sound of distress to be let out.
"I got you baby hold on," fixing the jacket, he helps Ricky get his head out. it wasn't too big on him, but it made him look adorable, causing Yujin to coo at the older. "See, you're fine baby, now go back to sleep."
Ricky hums in content, and cuddles back into Yujin, falling asleep quickly. the maknae turns back to his hyungs, who were looking at him confused, especially Zhang hao.
"How- when- are you two dating? And you guys didn't tell me?" he hold his heart, and Yujin laughs.
"No hyung, we aren't dating, just forget about it and please don't bring it up today." Yujin knew if they brought it up to Ricky, he would shut down and refuse to slip for months. It happened before, and it wasn't a fun time, for the both of them.
The two look confused but promise to not say anything as long as Yujin gives them at least one reason why Ricky was acting like that. The youngest sighs, and gives a vague answer.
"Ricky hyung is just a feeling a little...tired. he had a long night." Yujin knew, as the two shared a room, that Ricky had been very nervous for today, and had anxiety induced nightmares.
Hanbin and Zhang hao nod and let it go, conversing on their own as Yujin goes on Instagram for the last few minutes of their journey.
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They had finally arrived, so Yujin starts to wake up Ricky.
"Baby, you gotta wake up." The Chinese male whines, trying to push his head into Yujin's chest.
"Baby I can't carry you into the building, you gotta get up so we can go inside." Ricky whines again.
"I no wanna" Yujin sighs, using one of his plans that never failed.
"Well i guess i'm going to have to go all by myself." he starts acting like he's gonna get up. Ricky clings to his arm.
"We hold hands?" Yujin smiles, nodding and him and Ricky exit the van.
"Now we have to be big when filming, okay baby?" Ricky starts to whine, but stops when Yujin gives him a look. they walk into the building, Ricky still holding Yujin's hand.
when they enter, the other members are buzzing with energy and be the hyper group that everyone knew them for. Gyuvin almost broke a lamp, Taerae was cackling at whatever joke Gunwook made, and Jiwoong was making random sounds with Hanbin. only Zhang hao was at a decent energy level, dancing to whatever music was in his head.
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"Break!" The members cheered, the shoot had been going great, and wasn't too tiring, but nothing is better than a break during filming. They all headed to the break room, a space where no cameras or staff would be.
Yujin had entered the room first, sitting on one of the comfy chairs in the corner. Scrolling on TikTok, he feels a weight on top of him, and smiles when he sees his baby.
"Hi butterfly." Ricky just curls up in Yujin's lap, letting out a soft sound in response.
"Tired." Ricky mumbles, face in the crook of Yujin's neck, eyes fluttering as he tries to keep himself awake.
"You can rest sweetheart, I'll be here." pulling him closer, Yujin sneaks a forehead kiss, lulling the little to sleep by humming 'say my name.'
Yujin, feeling Ricky's breathing even out, goes back to what he was doing. At some point, the room gets quieter and then Gunwook cracks a joke and it gets loud abruptly, laughter and yelling filling the room.
Ricky jumps awake, looking at Yujin scared and confused.
"You're okay butterfly, they're just laughing. no one's hurt, it's fine." The poor boy is still shaken up, breathing irregular and holding onto Yujin for dear life.
"Baby you're okay, focus on me okay?" Yujin takes Ricky's face into his hands, locking eyes with the Chinese.
"Deep breaths butterfly, follow me." Yujin takes a slow deep breath, Ricky doing his best to follow.
"You're doing so good baby, keep breathing just like that." Ricky calms down and Yujin takes him further in his hold, quietly praising him, as the 'younger' boy falls asleep in his hold.
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The boys are wrapping up the filming, its dark out and they have 1 more scene to film.
They were by a lake, set to act like they were going to jump in. The boys quickly get started, and laugh while running towards the lake.
Finishing the last scene, the boys played around the lake while the directors decide if they want any extra shots.
Ricky had a little more energy, giggling and playing around with Gyuvin and Gunwook. They were near the edge, lightly teasing about throwing one another in the water.
Well Ricky thought they were playing, but suddenly he's trapped on the edge and Gyuvin and Gunwook lightly push his shoulders into the water. Ricky hates water, especially dark water, which he was in right now.
He tries to stand up, but his body and mind are doing two different things right now. He lets out a sob, water filling his throat. now Ricky's fully panicking, wanting nothing more but to get out.
All of a sudden, a pair of hands pull him out and he hears Yujin's voice.
"I got you baby, it's okay, you're okay." Yujin's voice is calm, comforting and providing Ricky calm.
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Yujin was pissed. He wanted to murder the two idiots, but his baby needed him, so his focus was on Ricky. For now.
"Baby I got you, you're okay." He's carrying the boy, not caring about the members right now.
"Breathe butterfly, I got you." Hanbin and Zhang hao try to come closer, but Yujin steps away further, delivering the hint.
Ricky coughs, crying harder as water spills out and burns his throat. Yujin rubs his back, and eventually he stops coughing up water and just cries in his caregiver's hold.
"D-daddy, no like Vinnie or Gunwookie, they mean" Ricky's sobbing had died down, but he's still crying in the crook of Yujin's neck.
"I know butterfly, I know." if looks could kill, Gyuvin and Gunwook would definitely be six feet under.Tthe members have never seen Yujin like this. their sweet, calm maknae had a dangerous look in his eye, one that screamed I will kill you if you hurt him.
After a few minutes, Ricky falls asleep in Yujin's hold, eyes puffy and nose stuffy. Jiwoong had volunteered to hold the little, long enough for Yujin to change, but the boy curtly said no.
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The ride back home was no better, Yujin having successfully changed both himself and Ricky back into their original clothes. Yujin has also managed to dry Ricky off, hair messy and back in Yujin's hoodie. He sat in the back, eying Gunwook and Gyuvin when they entered the bus and had take a step too close to the back for his liking. Hanbin and Zhang hao sat next to Yujin and Ricky like last time, Jiwoong, Taerae and Matthew in the seat in front of the four in the back.
It was quiet for the most part, the members scared of the youngest breaking his calm and cold demanor by lashing out.
The ride went by quickly, at least they said it did, most of the group slept, waking up just in time to hear Hanbin called an emergency team meeting as they leave the bus to enter their dorm.
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In their semi-circle, it was also quiet. no one moved a muscle or wanted to break the ice. Ricky was curled up into Yujin's lap like a cat, peacefully sleeping and sucking on the pacifier that Yujin had asked Zhang hao to get from his dresser.
Jiwoong was the one to break the silence. He turns to Yujin and awkwardly laughs. "Yujin, you can't keep looking at them like you want to kill them."
"Why not? I do." The 2 boys the glares were directed at trembled a little. Zhang hao gasps and lightly flicks Yujin's forehead.
"Yujinnie! don't say that." Yujin just looks at Zhang hao with a deadpan face.
"Right i shouldn't be upset that they purposely pushed Ricky into the water, in the dark, laughed, and then decided to panic. All while they knew Ricky is scared of being in water." Yujin locks eyes with Gyuvin. "You know Ricky can't swim. why would you do that?"
Gyuvin looks down, and Yujin continues.
"Ricky is fragile and he's very important to me. I made a promise to not let anything happen to him, and I will keep that promise." They nod and Hanbin is the one speaking instead of the maknae.
"Yujin, what really is going on with Ricky?" The members look at him and he realizes that his words came out wrong. Yujin understands though, and explains what littlespace is and how Ricky acts.
While he's wrapping up the explanation, Ricky wakes up, babbling about something. Yujin's entire demeanor changes, face lighting up as he speaks to Ricky.
"Hi sweetheart, you're so small hm? All cozy?" Ricky giggles, and all the members coo. The little tries to sit up, whining when he can't by himself.
Yujin smiles at the little and helps him sit up, mind completely forgetting about the other 7 members watching them.
Mentioning the members, their hearts were full of love seeing Yujin treat Ricky so softly. He looked at the little with nothing but love and admiration is his eyes, Ricky obviously trusting the boy with every part of him. They finally were understanding just why Yujin was so adamant about keeping Ricky safe. Ricky trusted him enough to be vulnerable and let his guard down completely, and Yujin wanted to keep Ricky safe and comfortable at all times. It was endearing.
"You must be really small huh baby." Rubbing their noses together, Yujin gets another giggle out of his baby, which is then followed by a yawn.
"It's time for bed butterfly, let's get you all warm in your onesie." Yujin then remembers his hyungs, bidding them goodnight and going upstairs with Ricky in his arms.
Ricky was his little hyung, and Yujin loved him to the moon and back.