"So," Changkyun approached in a slow and casual manner, his eyes on his fingers.

"What?" Hoseok turned to him with a roll of his eyes, leaning on the wall next to him, Changkyun raised his eyes to meet Hoseok's taking the same casual stance as him as he leant on the wall as well. Changkyun smiled, one that made his eyes pinch shut as he pulled a face that looked anything but innocent like he was pretending to be.

"I just wanted to ask you some questions" He blinked so that his eyes were open again and Hoseok merely breathed in at his words.

"Will you be continuing to sit at our table with us at meal time?" He asked his first question in a pondering tone and Hoseok bobbed his head.

"I wasn't planning to go anywhere else" He admitted and Changkyun hummed, smiling once again.

"I see, so, if you're planning to sit with us from now on, that would mean you don't have a problem with any of us. Am I correct to assume that? Or are you going to try and make life hard for us?" He raised an eyebrow and Hoseok let out a heavy breath, looking away with a roll of his eyes.

"Are you saying I look like I'm that immature?" He answered with a question and Changkyun shrugged, turning so his back was on the wall.

"Looks can be deceiving" He responded as Hoseok looked down the hall.

"I have no bad intentions if it's really that important to you" A long silence had taken place between them before Hoseok gave up with a hiss, his dark eyes looking to Changkyun to see if he was satisfied with his answer.

"Good, because it is that important to me. Which leads me to my next question, do you or do you not hate us?"

"I feel like I am being interrogated by some dumb toddler" Hoseok snapped back and Changkyun gave another raise of his eyebrow towards Hoseok.

"I thought you weren't going to be a hassle for any of us?" He reminded him and Hoseok sighed, looking down at his feet.

"I obviously don't hate any of you Changkyun" 

"Good so are you willing to be our friend then?" Changkyun perked up and Hoseok's head jolted back in confusion.

"What?"

"Oh, Jooheon is out on some weird mission to make friends and Somi and Hyunwoo doesn't really mind it so I figured I wouldn't mind giving it a go either" Changkyun explained with a shrug of his shoulders and a smile on his face.

"Right" Hoseok's head nodded slowly and Changkyun stood straight, pushing off the wall and turning to face Hoseok again.

"So, friends?" He stuck his hand out between them and Hosoek's eyes dropped to look at it before looking back up at Changkyun to give him a long and hard stare, his eyes unblinking. But Changkyun's smile didn't falter, determined to stick this conversation through right until its very end. Hoseok made a sound similar to a groan as his hand met Changkyun's with a slap, he gripped hard and Changkyun gripped back, vigorously shaking their hands as his smile only widened.

"I look forward to you being a member of our friendship group, you can go to dorm 202 to deposit your payment for your one year starting subscription of just two thousand dollars and four paid meals at McDonald's" Changkyun tightened his grip on Hoseok's hand when he tried to escape.

"Excuse you?" Hoseok hissed and Changkyun laughed.

"It's just a joke, settle big fella" Changkuyun released Hoseok's hand before the other male could and probably would rip him into several pieces or more.

"Right" Hoseok eyed Changkyun sceptically and Changkyun gave him a smile, bowing and quickly standing straight.

"Well, that's all I had to say, I'll be going now" Changkyun spun on his heels to leave and Hoseok perked up.

"Wait" He called out and Changkyun came to a stop haphazardly, he looked back at Hoseok, the sudden rise of his voice shocking him.

"Where are you going?" Hoseok questioned him and Changkyun blinked, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he looked around.

"Hyunwoo and I are going shopping" He told him and Hoseok's face scrunched up with judgement.

"You're going shopping?" He questioned and Changkyun gave a nod of his head.

"He needs new sneakers and I need a new school bag" Changkyun informed Hoseok.

"Ok then" Hoseok approached him, stopping at his side and looking at him expectantly.

"You're coming?" Changkyun blinked at him, flustered and Hoseok nodded, shrugging his shoulders.

"Friends join in on outings don't they?" Hoseok inquired and Changkyun's brows furrowed as he looked ahead, walking slowly.

"I mean, I think they do? I've never really had friends before" Changkyun admitted and Hoseok let out a snort that had Changkyun looking at him again.

"You're a bit of a loser, aren't you? He mocked and Changkyun let his face turn down in a scowl.

"And you've had friends before?" He shot back, making Hoseok's eyes widen, which he covered with a scoff and a coy look as he shoved his hands in his pockets. As they made it outside he looked away, making Changkyun smirk.

"Of course I have" He snapped and Changkyun chortled.

"Ok then, whatever you say"

"You going somewhere?" Changkyun and Hoseok froze, looking at a blank faced Kihyun who stared back at them. Kihyun rose an eyebrow and Hoseok looked to Changkyun, who looked back to him in confusion.

"Why are you concerned about what we're doing?" Hoseok eyed him with suspicion and Kihyun shrugged.

"I'll come too" He informed them and Changkyun choked on his own breath as Hoseok rolled his eyes, looking away with a scoff.

"Who said we want you following us around?" He sneered, walking again and Changkyun sputtered on his feet to follow behind him quickly. Kihyun walked by their side, shrugging as he put his hands in his pockets.

"I don't see why I can't join in on the fun"

"We're not that fun" Changkyun spoke up in an attempt to make themselves look unappealing to Kihyun but Kihyun saw right through his words and his wide eyes. They approached the school gate where a figure stood leaning against it. Hyunwoo looked up when he sensed them approached, blinking and remaining still in his place when he made eye contact with Kihyun and Hoseok.

"You're coming too?" He asked and Hoseok nodded, looking at Changkyun briefly.

"We shook on it so apparently I'm his friend now" He jabbed his thumb towards Changkyun. Hyunwoo nodded, not saying anything as he looked at Kihyun.

"Hi" Kihyun gave a flick of his chin casually and Hyunwoo's brows pinched together.

"Let's go then, this is awkward already" He commented, turning and walking off the school grounds.

"Well, I hope you're happy you decided to join us" Changkyun shrugged, looking at Hoseok and Kihyun before jogging to catch up with Hyunwoo, Hoseok moved after him silently and Kihyun puffed out a breath of air as he stomped after them.

"This better be greater than sitting on my couch with cheese and crackers" He grumbled and Hoseok overheard him, letting out another snort.

"What are you some sort of rat or something?" He accused and Kihyun glared at him.

"Wouldn't you just love to find out" He shot back.

"I don't think I like friendship if this is what it means" Changkyun whispered hurried words to Hyunwoo who looked over his shoulder at the bickering pair.

"Give them time and maybe they'll tolerate each other"

------------

He was terrified, looking around with wide eyes. His hands spread out in front of him and his mouth open, heavy pants escaping him. He knew this was a bad idea, when was it ever a good idea to go straight for the most demonic of your demons? He shouldn't have come here, he knew he shouldn't have, shouldn't have tried to make things better, he should have just left things the way they were, as if his past wasn't really his own. There had to be four motorbikes circling him at that moment and despite the adrenaline running through him, the strength he knew he had, he couldn't find any of that strength to make him move from his spot, to fight back. He wanted to tear them apart, to find his mother and start over again. But they're faces mocked him, memories of trauma and abuse, of his mother screaming and crying out his father's name, begging for them to be let go, for their freedom back. The images covered his eyes like a veil, he could hardly see the bikes circling him and he could hardly hear the revving of their engines over the memories of his own screams, of his own mother crying out desperately for remorse, to not be taken away.

"The freak has returned!"

"Looking for your mummy big boy?!"

Changkyun couldn't believe what he was seeing