Ryu twisted and the couch, half covered with one of the blankets GD had pulled over her before he retreated to his own bed. She mumbled in her sleep, sweat dripping down her forehead leaving the cushions underneath her soaked. Her breathing quickened and her heart raced in her chest.

“No...No...Tabi…..”

“Your Tabi’s not here anymore! Remember? He left you here because he doesn’t care about you anymore little princess” A small boy, a few years older than her sneered down at the girl sitting in the corner of a building, completely surrounded by his gang.

“Yeah! And you should know better than to step foot on our property. Why don’t you go home and play with some dolls princess?” Another snickered. Riri panicked as tears trickled down the small girls face, easily resembling a waterfall.

“T-Tabi will c-come back! A-and when he does, all of you will be in t-trouble!” She threatened in a low tone, the tears never stopping.

“A-And I’m not a p-princess!”

The eldest of the bunch grinned as he stepped up to the kneeling girl, getting down on his knee to face her at eye level.

“Oh? You’re not?” He questioned, grabbing her chin and making her look at him. His eyes were filled with hatred for her, something she couldn’t understand. She didn’t even know the boy and had never done anything to him. Why would he hate her this much?

She could feel her heart pounding in her head as the waterfall showed no signs of stopping. She sniffed and put on the best threatening face she could manage but only ended in a rather cute pouting.

“Aww, look at the cute princess” the rest of the boys started to laugh and pointed their fingers at her. The boy in front of her smirked, grabbing both of her wrists with one hand and holding her up high in the air, leaving her feet dangling beneath her. Ryu’s eyes widened as she started to scream for help but only to have covered by another hand.

“Shut up will you?”

The tears trickled down her cheeks and halted at the other boys’ hand which covered .

“Do you want to die?” he questioned the small girl.

“Do you want to die?” another voice echoed. One that she didn’t recognize as any of theirs. The oldest boy slowly turned his head and his smile quickly faded at the sight. He dropped Riri back onto her feet and fully turned toward the figures behind him. Riri slid down the wall and watched closely.

“You. What the hell do you want now?” Her attacker questioned the new boy.

The boy smiled as he placed one of his hands to his side, revealing the handle of a gun. He looked older than her. Blonde braids which was accompanied by a stupid smile. Two other boys and a girl had joined his side.

“What gives you low lifes the right to mess with one of our friends?” The other boy questioned. Her attackers eyes widened as he looked from the stranger to Riri and back at him.

“Her? One of you?”

“Get out.” The blonde haired commanded.

“Before you end up dead in a ditch somewhere.” The boy hesitated for a moment but eventually counted his loss and gathered his crew, making his way past the strangers, never to be seen again.

The blonde was the first to make his way toward her. Holding out a hand toward her he smiled brightly.

“Get up and stop crying. You can’t let people see your weak side, ever. They’ll take advantage of it.” Riri sat there for a moment but calmly placed her hand into his. The boy sighed as he took the sleeve of his shirt and wiped the tears from her face after helping her back up to her feet.  

“Thank you” She mumbled with a small smile.

“Omo! She’s cute! Can we keep her?” The other boy now questioned as he joined their side, slowly followed by the rest of the crew.

“Yah!” The girl yelled as she punched his arm. He grinned as he rubbed the spot.

“You’re cute too!”

Riri couldn’t help but giggle at them and the two quickly stopped arguing, turning their attention back toward her with a smile.

“It’s up to her if she wants to hang out with us or not. What’s your name?” The blonde questioned her and she looked up at him.

“My name is Ryung but Tabi calls me Riri.”

“Ryung? Why Riri? Ryu sounds a lot better.” He pointed out. Riri tilted her head for a moment and he grinned.

“My name is Jiyong. Call me GD. So, Ryu...will you join us?”

“Ryu….”

“......Ryu…..”

“Ryu!”

Her eyes shot open and she inhaled deeply, jumping up into a sitting position.

“Ryu, are you okay?” A voice questioned. She blinked a few times and started to look around. GD had sat right beside her while Taeyang leaned over the back of the couch, looking down at her. Daesung sat in the hammock across the room staring at her and CL was on her way back from the kitchen with a glass of water. Handing it to Ryu, CL smiled.

Looking into each of their faces she found a concerned look in their eyes.  Her entire crew sat there watching over her, just as they had done ever since that day. She grinned brightly and nodded.

“Just had a bad dream. What time is it?”

“10:30 a.m” Daesung yelled from across the room. Ryu smiled as she turned her gaze on GD, who looked the most concerned out of everyone.

“Perfect. How about we go out. Have some fun. I need a few distractions.” The crew’s faces lit up as they nodded, smiling and making their way toward the door. Taeyang gathered a few guns and their appropriate ammo and took off after them. GD and Ryu sat there for a minute, him still kneeled down beside the couch watching her closely.

“Are you sure you’re-” He was cut off mid sentence as Ryu wrapped her arms around his neck. His eyes widened as he could hear her sniffing. Her tears started to trickle down her cheek and his. He sighed as he could feel the cold, wet tears on his cheek and wrapped his arms around her.

“Same dream again?” He questioned and he could feel her nodding into him.He smiled and tightened his grip on her.

“See, this is how tight I’m going to keep my grip around you. Forever and always. You’re one of us now no matter what and we’ll always protect you. Do you really think Taeyang would let something happen to you?” GD joked making her giggle. Letting go of the girl he used his sleeve to wipe away her tears.

“Now stop crying. You’re supposed to be tough not cute, you little princess.” Ryu’s mouth gaped open as she punched his chest making him wince but smile nonetheless.

“I’m not a princess.” She growled.

“Are you two coming?” Taeyang stuck his head back into the door and grinned.

Ryu looked at GD before turning on Taeyang. Pulling the blanket off of her she sat up. GD stood to his feet, holding his hand out toward her. She grinned and grabbed it without hesitation now.

“Yeah, let’s go have some fun”