Chapter One:

Jiyong didn't want to open the letters that were placed before him on the kitchen table. All he wanted to do was finish eating breakfast and get back to the company building so they can get in more time to finish up their new routine. Is that so much to ask? he wondered as he took another bite of toast.

"Fan mail?" Youngbae asked, coming up behind him, grabbing one of the bright red envelopes from the pile.

"I think they're all from the same person," the leader said, taking another bite of food, almost glaring at the items on the table, "They've been showing up for months now."

"You don't sound flattered," the other boy commented, plucking the last piece of toast off of Jiyong's plate.

"Hey!" he tried to snatch back what was his from the older boy, but Youngbae was already smiling around a giant bite of food, "You're awful."

"You love me."

Jiyong rolled his eyes as he placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his hands, "I'm not flattered because these letters keep coming. At first I thought it was sweet, a little naive maybe. I thought it would stop but more show up, like someone's writing me love letters day in and day out. Besides..."

"What?"

"They started off kind of mushy, but recently... I haven't been able to bring myself to read them."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What's what supposed to mean?" the two boys turned from their place at the table to see their maknae approaching, ever eager to get in on an interesting conversation. The youngest boy's eyes were immediately draw to the items on the table, "Fan mail?"

"Don't get excited, they're all for our precious leader," Youngbae teased, poking said boy in the ribs.

"Stop!" Jiyong swatted away his friend's hands, glaring.

Seungri, always curious, picked up one of the letters and opened it. Before the leader could stop him, he was already reading aloud, mimicking a high pitched schoolgirl voice, "My Jiyong! How I wish I can be with you, so that I may touch your face and smell your hair! My Jiyong, I can't wait until..."

Youngbae gave the maknae a look, noticing how the younger boy's brows were furrowed in confusion as his voice trailed off. Jiyong simply sighed.

"Hyung, this is really... I'm not sure I want to even say what else is written in here," Seungri made a face, one of distaste.

The leader grabbed the letter out of the younger boy's hands and crumpled it up, annoyance and embarrassment making his face burn hot, "This is exactly what I meant, Youngbae. These stupid letters are getting weird!"

"I'm just going to wake the others," the youngest said, making a quick exit.

Jiyong grabbed all the letters, at least a dozen in total from just the last week alone, and threw them in the trash. He made sure to shove them as far down as they would go, hoping the other garbage would cover it.

"That bad?" Youngbae asked.

"Yeah."

-

"You need to sharpen those movements at the end, Daesung," Jiyong huffed, striding to the center of the practice room to demonstrate, "Make the motions snap."

The younger boy was concentrating, trying to take in the moves, Jiyong knew this, but he couldn't help but feel frustrated. They had several broadcasts lined up, including award shows. They had to be perfect.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" the leader snapped his fingers.

"Yes, hyung. I'll try harder," Daesung answered, a flush of color rushing to his cheeks.

"Come on, lighten up," Seunghyun placed a hand on Jiyong's shoulder, a calming presence, gripping him firmly, "It's getting late. We're all tired."

"We wouldn't still be here if they can just get it," the leader pointed to the two youngest.

"What did I do?" Seungri asked in disbelief.

"You can't get anything right because all you know how to do is act like a damn child!"

The youngest shrank back at those words, a look of hurt clear and present across his features. But as quickly as those furrowed brows and frown lines appeared, they were gone, his face becoming an unreadable mask.

"Jiyong!" This time it was Youngbae placing a hand on his shoulder, trying to ground him, "Stop."

The maknae lowered his head, voice soft, "Sorry, hyung."

And Jiyong felt like an absolute jerk.

-

Daesung and Seungri seemed to both have mutually agreed to storm into their rooms once they arrived home. Jiyong couldn't help but feel even more like an , seeing the way his dongsaengs were avoiding him.

"Don't be so harsh with them," Youngbae said, taking his hat off to scratch at his scalp, unsure of what else to say.

"What was that back there?" Seunghyun asked, throwing his bag on the couch.

Jiyong made a sound of frustration. He really didn't want to talk about it.

"Please don't tell me it's about those fan letters," Youngbae said.

"Fan letters?" the oldest asked, looking at the leader expectantly.

"Guys, I really do not want to do this right now."

Seunghyun looked like he was about to say something, but Youngbae stopped him with a shake of his head. The rapper put up his hands in defeat, heading toward the room he shared with Daesung and Youngbae.

Jiyong looked at his oldest friend for a long moment before waving his hand dismissively and heading to the room he shared with Seungri. He needed to talk to the younger boy, possibly apologize a few times for how testy he was being the entire day.

Seungri was already curled up in bed, facing the wall, when the leader entered. Jiyong sighed, hoping to get the younger boy's attention, but the maknae didn't move. So he moved closer, crawling onto the bed. Placing a hand on Seungri's shoulder, he gave the boy a gentle shake.

"Hey."

"Leave me alone, hyung."

"Seungri..."

"Stop it."

"Come on, look at me. Please." The maknae hesitantly turned, looking up at the leader. Seeing Seungri's face made Jiyong feel only worse about the words he had said earlier. The younger boy's eyes were red and puffy. He had obviously been crying or trying to keep himself from doing so. Jiyong pulled Seungri into a hug, "I'm so sorry."

"Why did you have to be so mean?" the younger boy asked, voice shaky.

"I didn't mean it. I really didn't." Jiyong felt the other boy nod against his shoulder, but he refused to let go. For a moment, when they hugged, everything felt normal. Everything felt as it should be. So he held onto the maknae and kept whispering, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

-

There had been a loud knocking on the door that woke them all.

Jiyong looked about his room, seeing the first rays of light filter in through the window. Seungri was doing the same, rubbing his tired eyes, giving the leader a confused look. Without a word, the leader simply threw his arm around the maknae and pulled them both back into bed.

It was too early. Someone else can get the door.

Another knock, this time closer, made Jiyong grunt in frustration. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, trying to ignore whoever was trying to gain access to his room. He just wanted to sleep.

"Ji," a hand was shaking him.

"What?!" he exclaimed, sitting up so fast Seungri yelped in surprise. He blinked several times before he realized that Youngbae was standing at the side of the bed. He rubbed his eyes, upset that his head wasn't still resting on the pillows, "This better be good."

"I think you need to see this," his friend shoved an unmarked envelope into his hand.

Jiyong gave his teammate a questioning look. He could feel Seungri's eyes on his back, probably asking the same question he was. What is this?

Youngbae had obviously already opened it and saw the contents. Now it was his turn. He gave his friend another look, but the younger boy wasn't revealing anything. So, with a sigh, he reached in and pulled out the items.

He felt his heart seize in his chest for a moment and the items in his hand dropped to the floor, scattering about.

They were pictures of him. Dozens of them. Some were taken in rapid succession. Others taken from a view he couldn't even fathom how this person got. They were all his private moments, either on his own or with his team.

It felt like a violation of his space, an intrusion into his life.

A slip of paper fell from the envelope, landing face up. Three large letters, each one bright red glared up at him:

I C U