A/N: Hi, guys! When I was starting to write this chapter, I couldn’t believe that I opened the document file for this story again, let alone that I was adding more to it. But here’s the next chapter! (And to those who haven’t seen my previous announcement and are wondering why I’m back and continuing this fic, please read the previous chapter.)

Heads up: this a VERY LONG- AND HEAVY chapter! It took about 20 pages on MS Word.

Book 4: Blast from the Past

Chapter 15: Fandoms

To say that ELFs were stunned speechless was an understatement.

After Ryeowook had jumped out onto the stage, all the fans had expected the concert to truly start. Not a single ELF had been prepared for an eleventh person to jump out onto the stage. Especially not if that eleventh person was Super Junior’s evil maknae who had been missing for almost five years.

Being shocked as they were, it took ELFs a few good moments before their minds finally processed that Cho Kyuhyun was there.

Cho Kyuhyun was finally in front of ELFs again. Super Junior’s evil maknae was finally back again on stage with s.

But ELFs soon realized that they weren’t just dreaming. This was really happening. Their greatest wish of the maknae being found and returning was finally granted by some higher power. And the fans’ wild screaming finally started—

“AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

“KYUHYUN!!!!! KYUHYUN!!!!”

“CHO KYUHYUN!”

“THE EVIL MAKNAE’S BACK!!!”

“KYYYYUUUUUUUUUU!!”

“WELCOME BACK, KYU!!!”

“WE LOVE YOU, KYUHYUN!”

The venue seemed to have exploded—so loud were the shouts. The background music could barely be heard. Heck, even the Super Junior members’ voices as they started singing could barely be heard. But who could blame the fans? They were finally seeing the beloved maknae again after so many years! Of course they were going to be loud and wild about it!

As Super Junior performed the first few songs on the set list, fans screamed and cheered so much. Cheered so much for the maknae, mostly. Joyful shouts. Crying shouts. Some that were just hysterical shouts with the fans not making much sense even to themselves, so filled with emotions at the maknae’s return. It was only the beginning of the concert, but the fans were already pushing their vocal cords to the limit. They would for sure have sore throats from the hoarse screaming, but they didn’t really care about that. All they cared about was that the maknae was back with s.

Apart from the screaming, though, the start of the concert was filled with tears. After the maknae had disappeared, the following Super Shows had also been filled with tears, but those tears back then were because of worry and sadness over the missing maknae. Now, there were tears again, but this time, they were joyous tears. Triumphant tears. Grateful tears. Grateful that the maknae was safe and back with Super Junior and with ELFs.

Even when the maknae had been missing, fans had taken to bringing paraphernalia and merchandise of Cho Kyuhyun to concerts and events. And now, the ELFs with such merch were raising and waving their items with exultation. No one was expecting Kyuhyun to suddenly appear during this concert, but thank God that they were at least prepared with Kyuhyun posters, pictures, banners, cheering towels, and various other items. They could at least properly celebrate and welcome back the maknae.

After the first few songs, it was time for the first segment talk. Leeteuk greeted the ELFs and welcomed everyone to the concert.

“Hello, everyone!” the leader said loudly. “Welcome to our special concert! We are Super Juni—”

“-or!” the other members continued, raising their hands.

“We are ELF!” the fans shouted back, copying the gesture and raising their hands as well.

“Now, as I said before, this is a special concert for Super Junior and for ELF as well,” Leeteuk continued with being the MC. “Why is it special? Well, as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, tonight, we finally have someone very special back with us!”

“AHHHHHH!!! KYUHYUN! KYUHYUN!!!!” the fans screamed their lungs out.

Since the members were once again standing in line according to age, Kyuhyun was at the end of the line, and Ryeowook, who was of course beside him due to their ages, put an arm around Kyuhyun’s shoulders and pulled the maknae close. Just like how the ELFs were so pleased and emotional, the Super Junior hyungs were also quite pleased and emotional to finally have their baby maknae back with them during a concert.

Then, one by one, the members introduced themselves. And of course, it was save the best for last—as the last person in the line, Kyuhyun was the last member to introduce himself. The ELFs were going absolutely wild and insane at this point. When Kyuhyun held the mic up to his mouth and opened his mouth to speak, the venue exploded again with fangirl screams.

“Aish, so noisy!” Kyuhyun pretended to shake his head in disapproval at the fans’ behavior and loudness. “After so many years, you guys are still so noisy!”

Of course the evil maknae’s first words to fans after so many years were words that playfully scolded and teased the fans. It was sooo Kyuhyun.

Despite being “scolded” for being noisy, the ELFs just screamed louder. And cried even more. Kyuhyun was teasing them. Thank God on high, they finally got to experience Kyuhyun teasing them again! Call them masochists, but just like the Super Junior hyungs, the ELFs actually missed experiencing Kyuhyun’s evilness during the years that the maknae was gone.

Kyuhyun then started to talk more seriously, though he still kept the cheeky grin on his face. “Ahhh, it’s been a while since we last saw each other, hasn’t it?”

“YES!” ELFs shouted back in reply.

“Did you guys miss me???”

“YESSSSS!!!!”

“Of course you did. How can you not miss someone like me?” Kyuhyun pretended to say proudly and arrogantly.

The hyungs rolled their eyes. Kyuhyun will be Kyuhyun.

“I miss you guys, too,” Kyuhyun told the fans more sincerely. And as expected, the fans shouted wildly again in response. Then, Kyuhyun smirked evilly as he continued, “I missed you guys a lot more than my pabo hyungs, at least. Actually, you know, I didn’t miss these pabo hyungs at all. They’re annoying.”

And Kyuhyun’s talk was interrupted as the members crowded around him and tried to kill their beloved but very evil maknae. 

After being wrestled and head-locked by some members (such as Eunhae), being slapped by others (Sungmin and Ryeowook), being hit at the back of his head (Heechul and Shindong), and even being kicked (courtesy of Yesung), Kyuhyun composed himself as though s hadn’t just assaulted him, and he continued talking to ELFs.

“It’s been a while since I last stood on stage as a part of Super Junior. Since I last stood in front of ELFs. I’ll be honest and say that I really missed all of this. So, let’s all enjoy this concert tonight, shall we? Let’s all have fun and sing and dance together, okay?”

The ELFs, of course, yelled in approval. As if they would ever say no to an offer like that!

Kyuhyun’s talk part offered no explanations for his disappearance. He, Super Junior, and the company had decided to keep the concert clean and free from the drama and issues. Super Junior would simply enjoy the concert with their beloved ELFs, celebrating the maknae’s return.

All the heavy and serious stuff were to be saved for the press conference after the concert.

Kyuhyun, for his part, was having another surreal moment. Just like how he seemed to be having an out of body experience when he first returned to the Super Junior dorm after many years, he couldn’t quite believe now that he was again on stage as Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, performing in front of ELFs.

Kyuhyun sang, danced, and performed with all his heart during the special concert. He was happy to perform as a member of Super Junior once again. He was happy to be with his hyungs on stage again. He was happy to be in front of the ELFs again. He was grateful that the fans had waited for him. 

So, he gave his best during his performance in the concert.

Especially since he didn’t even know if he would still be able to do it all (being with Super Junior on stage and performing in front of fans) again after he made his announcement later on at the press conference.

The special concert had been a success. 

Even after the concert, the ELFs were experiencing a kind of high feeling. Post-concert syndrome, if you will. And the high feeling wasn’t just the usual bliss after a concert, but Kyuhyun’s return added even more to the high feeling.

And even after the concert, most ELFs still didn’t leave the venue. The press conference was going to be held in a smaller hall in the same arena, and ELFs with the VIP tickets and passes could watch. Even ELFs who wouldn’t be able to enter the hall to watch the press conference were still sticking around in the venue. ELFs were excited for the press conference. Before the concert, they were worried about the press conference, but now that Kyuhyun had shown  up again, ELFs were excited for the press conference.

The fans assumed that the press conference would be about Kyuhyun’s return to Super Junior.

They were right with this assumption. But only partly.

While ELFs were feeling excited about the press conference, Super Junior, on the other hand, was feeling quite anxious. And it wasn’t the good kind of anxiety either.

The Super Junior members had also been experiencing a high feeling after the concert. However, after they had gotten off the stage and made their way back to the dressing room, the high feeling slowly but steadily turned into nervousness. The Super Junior members were worried about the press conference. Especially Kyuhyun. Heck, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud, the evil maknae was dead scared about the press conference.

It would change everything. And surely, everything would become chaotic.

But they had already decided. There was no turning back now.

So, Kyuhyun tried to calm his nerves as he changed out of his concert clothes into more formal ones for the press conference. There would be about two hours between the concert’s end and the conference’s start, to let the members prepare and to let the staff herd the media and fans to the conference’s venue. 

Kyuhyun had just finished showering and was letting the stylists fix his suit and hair when the dressing room’s door burst open, and a little ball of pure energy came running in.

“Umma! Umma! Umma!” Minhyun shouted as he headed straight toward Kyuhyun’s leg, clinging onto his mother like a little koala.

“Minhyunnie, I said don’t run!” Changmin said as he entered the room after his son. He look slightly harassed. Ahhh, the “joys” of being the father of the little evil minion.

“Careful, Minhyun,” Kyuhyun chuckled, his worries about the press conference momentarily set aside as he gently ruffled his son’s hair. “And you don’t want to crease umma’s slacks. The stylist noonas will be upset.”

“Oh,” Minhyun said as he let go of his mother’s leg. “Sorry,” he said to the stylists, looking up at them and flashing them with a toothy, charming grin.

The stylists’ hearts melted at once. Minhyun could have burned Kyuhyun’s suit, and the stylists wouldn’t have minded and would just coo over him (and they would ust kill Kyuhyun instead later). 

“Did you enjoy the concert, dumpling?” Kyuhyun now asked his son.

Minhyun’s eyes brightened. “Yes, umma! It was amazing!”

He had really enjoyed the concert. Minhyun, together with his appa, had been watching the concert at the backstage, where a wide screen had been setup so that the staff can monitor what’s going on at the stage. Minhyun really enjoyed watching his mother and his uncles perform. Though he wished that the staff members didn’t constantly pinch his cheeks and call him “cute” when he would clap and cheer and jump around as he watched…

“And what did you think of umma’s performance? Umma did great, right?”

“Yes!” As if Minhyun would ever answer no to a question like that. His umma was amazing!

“And umma was the best, right? Umma did much better than the uncles?” the evil maknae asked just to infuriate his hyungs.

“Yes! Umma was the best! Umma was the best singer! And the best dancer!”

Kyuhyun smirked, and Changmin chuckled, but all the Super Junior hyungs had to disagree and protest against such statements. Especially the lead vocalist and the lead dancer, Yesung and Eunhyuk respectively.

“Your umma has a great voice, but it’s not better than mine, Minhyunnie,” Yesung told his nephew. “I’m the one with the art-like voice.”

“Yeah, and your umma’s so-called ‘dancing’ is nothing to compared to mine! Everyone knows that I do this part much better than him!” Eunhyuk insisted and started dancing the part in “Bonamana” where Kyuhyun intensely dances with the main dancers Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Shindong.

“Umma is the best!” Minhyun insisted to his uncles.

“I sing better than him!”

“I dance better than him!”

“But even if you do, umma is still better than you, Uncle Yesungie, Uncle Hyukie. Because umma is the best at everything by default!”

The Super Junior hyungs as well as the staff members present were all just speechless for a while.

“You really have totally corrupted your son, Kyuhyun,” Sungmin sighed after a while, shaking his head in dismay.

“‘Brainwashed his son’ is more like it,” Eunhyuk grumbled, crossing his arms and looking irritated. Seriously, he was a better dancer than the evil maknae!

The press conference was about to start. The fans as well as representatives from media companies were all seated in the hall. Up front, there was a long table where the Super Junior members would be sitting.

The Super Junior members entered the hall. Fans started clapping excitedly. However, the excited applause was punctured here and there with confused mutterings. The fans were confused, for TVXQ’s Changmin had entered the room as well. ELFs had come to greatly love Changmin over the years, since DBSK and Super Junior were close, but right now, the fans just couldn’t understand why there was a TVXQ member during a Super Junior press conference.

And to add even more to the confusion was the fact that Changmin was carrying a little boy.

Who on earth was the child? Why was there even a child there in the first place?

The Super Junior members sat at the table up front. They were joined by their manager and a few SM executives, including Lee Soo Man himself.

Ignoring the confused whispers from the fans (they would have the answers soon enough, anyway), Kyuhyun sat at the very middle of the long table. The press conference centered around him, after all. To his right sat his leader, Leeteuk. To his left was Changmin, with the kid sitting on Changmin’s lap.

Fans were even more confused. Okay, it was one thing for a DBSK member to be present during a Super Junior press conference. But with Changmin sitting up there at the table, it seemed like that the DBSK member wouldn’t simply be watching the press conference. What on earth was going on?

Leeteuk, being the leader, started the press conference. He welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the conference. Then, he handed the reins over to Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun took in a deep breath. 

This was it. His life—his family’s life—would be changing from now on. He only hoped that the change would be for the better in the end.

Similar to Leeteuk, Kyuhyun first politely greeted everyone and thanked them for their time and attendance. Then, he began.

He talked about being gone for almost five years. He sincerely apologized for worrying s, the company, and, most of all, the fans. Then, he explained why he had disappeared. 

The whole truth.

The fans had been greatly worried over the years, and they still showed a lot of love and support for Kyuhyun when he appeared again during the special concert. Super Junior’s ELFs deserved nothing less than the whole truth.

Kyuhyun talked about being in a relationship with Changmin. A romantic relationship. The maknaes of two of SM’s most famous groups admitted to being in a romantic, homoual relationship with each other. Ignoring the exclamations of surprise around the hall, Kyuhyun continued with his explanation. He talked about becoming pregnant with Changmin’s child. The child who was currently sitting on Changmin’s lap, to be exact. The Super Junior maknae talked about fleeing to China, asking his former member Hangeng for help, and living in hiding with his son there for the past years.

He went on to talk about seeing the Super Junior members and Changmin again. About getting back together with Changmin. About his and Changmin’s decision to be a proper family with their son. About Super Junior getting its maknae back. About Super Junior and TVXQ having not just their maknaes but also now their honorary nephew.

The exclamations and questions had been progressively growing louder and wilder as Kyuhyun’s speech went on. By the time that Kyuhyun had finished talking, the noise from the audience was tumultuous. Media reporters were firing questions at rapid fire to Kyuhyun.

However, Kyuhyun just set down his mic. He had said his part. It was time for the management to take over.

And the SM executives then confirmed what Kyuhyun had said. They even presented DNA test results that had been done before to prove that the boy really was biologically both Kyuhyun and Changmin’s son. After confirming the child’s parentage, the executives then moved on to the business aspect. They announced that Kyuhyun would be resuming his schedules and rejoining Super Junior as an active member once more.

And that was that. The press conference was over.

The reporters continued to fire questions, but the SM idols and executives refused to answer. After all, most of the questions all revolved on “How is that possible?!” They were all mainly questioning how Kyuhyun, a male idol, was able to conceive a child. No one could really answer such questions. Even Kyuhyun was unsure on how it had happened until now.

As for the ELFs, they were still shell-shocked and confused. Which was to be expected from such an announcement. Never, even in their wildest imaginations (and fangirls can have pretty wild imaginations), had they imagined that the reason for the evil maknae’s disappearance was something like that. After the press conference, the main thought in the ELFs’ minds was ‘Changkyu is real?! And they have a biological child together?!’ Yes, the fans were indeed very shocked.

The Super Junior members, plus Changmin and Minhyun, were ushered out of the venue and into the van. The drive back to the Super Junior dormitory was quiet but tensed. 

Minhyun had initially been on Changmin’s lap when they got in the van. However, he crawled over to sit on his mother’s lap instead. Minhyun snuggled against his umma and buried his nose into his umma’s shirt, and Kyuhyun wrapped his arms tightly around his little dumpling. Both mother and son needed to be close to each other in that moment. Changmin put an arm around Kyuhyun and held his family close to him.

The Super Junior members watched the three of them, the scene tugging at their heartstrings.

The four older DBSK members were waiting for them in the Super Junior dorm. Yunho, Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu couldn’t be at the press conference, so they waited for their maknae and the others in the Super Junior dorm instead. They had already seen the video of the conference, and it was chaotic. So, when Super Junior, Changmin, and Minhyun arrived, the four older DBSK members immediately rushed to their baby maknae and pulled Changmin into a hug.

“I’ll order some dinner for you all,” the Super Junior manager said. “Then, you guys should get some rest. You all have schedules tomorrow. Plus, given the conference, things will be… difficult.”

They all had to wince slightly at the last part.

“They’re already talking about it on social media,” Jaejoong murmured, idly twirling his phone in his hand. He had been checking various platforms and websites just before the others had arrived.

“How is it?” Changmin had to ask. He couldn’t stop himself from inquiring, but he knew that he probably wouldn’t like the answer.

“…Bad.”

Actually, “bad” was an understatement. The press conference announcing Kyuhyun and Changmin’s relationship, plus their biological child, had caused social media platforms to go wild. Heck, the world was going insane with the implications of such news. Jaejoong had seen his fair share of craziness on social media, but this was really something else entirely.

The DBSK maknae sighed. “Great.”

Kyuhyun, Changmin, and their members braced themselves for the hell that they were about to face.

And hell it was.

First and foremost, despite it being the 21st century already, South Korea was still very traditional and archaic on some aspects. Such as homoual relationships. Sure, K-pop idols did fan service pairings that were malexmale or femalexfemale, but those were just fan service. The audience, and the rest of Korean society, knew that it was mostly done for entertainment. To make fans squeal and to bring more profit to the idols’ agencies. But now, Kyuhyun and Changmin were confirmed to be in a real relationship with each other. That was an entirely different matter from regular fan service pairings.

Some fangirls (especially those who were already Changkyu shippers to begin with), once they had gotten over their shock about the revelation, felt giddy and happy, genuinely glad that the pairing was real and that Kyuhyun and Changmin had found love in each other. And even had a child together!

But not all were so happy and so accepting about the relationship.

For starters, there were also other fangirls who hated the relationship. They were against homouality. And many of them wanted Changmin or Kyuhyun for themselves. They were, of course, pissed off that another person had taken “the man of their dreams”! Especially when that other person wasn’t even a woman like them but a man instead.

Then, there was Korean society as a whole. Some people who had heard of the news accepted the relationship. Some simply didn’t care about K-pop idols and didn’t really give a damn one way or the other. But there were still many who expressed outright opposition to the relationship. They weren’t into the K-pop world, but they were definitely against homouality. 

Though it was usual for idols to have anti-fans, what Kyuhyun and Changmin, along with their groups, experienced was a whole new level. Harassment from anti-fans was,