Red Velvet is known for their harmonies and unique voices of each member, and that includes the main rapper. The leader of the group has an incredible voice that can make someone feel all warm and fuzzy but a lot of people don't realise that, and this time it would change. Irene got a chance to showcase her voice in her first solo song with DJ Raiden and she couldn't be more excited. She loved EDM and would love to have Red Velvet try this genre, so this electro-pop song would be the closest to EDM she could get for now. She could finally show her voice and the people that doubt her talent would finally see that she could actually sing.

Despite feeling ecstatic, she couldn't help but feel nervous because this would be the first time she sang a solo, without any of her members, singing a genre she never tried singing in before so she didn't know how people would react. 

"Unnie, did I hear that right?!" You literally shouted in astonishment, causing Irene to flinch due to the loudness but she giggled nonetheless. Your eyes were wide with surprise but she could see the clear happiness you were radiating. 

She nodded, eyes twinkling in excitement. "Yes! I'll be singing my first solo!" 

With that you screamed, running over to her side to bring her into a hug and spinning her around, causing her to squeal albeit happily. 

"Yah! Put me down, you're making me dizzy!" Not wanting her to actually have a headache you stopped, still trapping her in your embrace. 

You stared at her lovingly. "I'm so happy for you, Unnie," you smiled sweetly, causing her to blush. "I'm proud of you, you deserve this." 

She stared up at you with her doe eyes, blush still evident on her cheeks. "Thank you, Eli-ah. That means a lot to me." She stayed quiet for a bit, looking down and playing with the hem of your hoodie causing you to frown slightly. She's unsure about something. 

You waited for her to say something. "But don't you think it should be you?" She eventually let out, looking up at you again, concerned. 

You scrunched your face in confusion. "Why do you think that?" 

She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Well, it fits your image more and I know you like that kind of genre, right? Maybe you would be better at singing this song." 

You frowned, cupping her cheeks. "Hyun-unnie, all of us know how much you actually like EDM, even though this is not it but it's close," you couldn't help but add, making her giggle softly. She couldn't help but find it adorable when you ramble. "And we know how much you love singing. Plus, the fans had been waiting for you to come out with your own solo, right?" You smiled reassuringly at her, trying to convince her that she was the right woman for the song. "You fit any kind of image, Unnie, you'll sound great."

She pouted cutely, looking up at you adorably. Honestly, who's the younger one here? "You're just saying that to make me feel better." 

You rolled your eyes, putting both hands on top of her shoulders. "Unnie," you said seriously. "Listen to me carefully. Raiden actually chose you to sing this song and the company agreed because they knew how talented you are and how you're the perfect one for this."

You continued to stare at her, no hint of humour present in your gaze. "You deserve this, Unnie, and no one can take that away from you."

It was silent before she eventually let out her breathtaking smile, kissing your cheek softly. "Thank you, Eli-ah. You always know what to say." 

You winked playfully, causing her to slap your arm. "I learnt from the best." 

It was a few weeks after that Irene began to struggle with the song. Red Velvet had been busy with touring and the preparation for the new comeback that she barely had any time to actually contribute to the song. Or that's what she thought. She had been offering ideas for the melodies here and there and was keeping in contact with Raiden but she couldn't help but feel like she wasn't doing enough which was a problem in her books.

Irene was sitting in her hotel room at the second stop of the tour, iPad in hand and headphones on to listen to the halfway-done song better. She was sent the latest sample version of the song and she loved it, but there was something missing that she couldn't put her hands on. She needed help but she knew the members were tired from their tour and she didn't want to disturb their rest. Plus, she felt like this was something she could deal with alone so she didn't want to burden anyone. 

You, on the other hand, had noticed Irene's struggles even though she had tried to be silent about it, knowing she didn't want to burden any of you when the rest of you actually had wanted to help her so badly. They had noticed, too, and they wanted to help but they didn't want to offend her so they wanted to wait for her to actually ask for their help. That aside, they were also tired from the touring so it somehow slipped their minds, which didn't make anything easier. 

Taking the initiative, you left your hotel room to go to hers. As always, everything was so quiet so you weren't sure if she was asleep; knowing the inner turmoil she was going through you could guess sleep wasn't coming so easy for her. 

You knocked on the door in your signature series of knocks, letting her know it was you. You were lucky that she didn't actually have any audio playing that she could hear the knocks. With eyebrows furrowed she went to open the door and came face-to-face with your smiling one, despite the worry shining through your eyes. 

"Hyun-unnie!" You greeted her cheerily, taking her into your arms. She squeaked in surprise before melting under your touch, actually craving the warmth. For the past few days, she couldn't focus on much, except during the concerts, so she didn't know how touchy-deprived she had become. 

"What are you doing here, Eli-ah? Shouldn't you be resting?" She couldn't help but worry, pulling back slightly from the hug to detect any sign of restlessness that you might be emitting. 

You gave her a warm smile, pushing her inside so both of you were away from any peering eyes. "I'm not tired yet so I thought why not come to my sister's room?" You gave her a nonchalant shrug, sitting on her bed comfortably. 

Irene squinted her eyes in suspicion. "I don't believe you." 

You gasped dramatically, a hand on your heart. "The audacity! I came to your room to check on you and this is how I'm being treated?!" 

What could you say, you could be dramatic when the moment came to it and Irene, being used to your antics, just rolled her eyes in reply.

"Go to bed, Eli-ah. I'm working on my music." That was the cue you needed. 

"How's it going?" You tried to be as sly as possible, not wanting to trigger anything. 

She stayed silent for a bit before shrugging. "It's going okay, I think. I tried to come up with melodies but there's nothing that I love, you know?" She sighed heavily, dropping her body on the bed, face down. 

You looked at her with sympathy, running your hand down her hair soothingly. "What's missing?" 

She stayed silent before turning her head towards you, face exhausted. She closed her eyes in contentment, snuggling closer to your leg. You chuckled at her childish tendencies. 

"I don't know... I just felt like I haven't done enough and couldn't get everything perfect, you know? I want this to be so perfect I couldn't even enjoy it anymore and I don't want that." 

You frowned, hands now caressing her cheeks. "Have you asked Wendy-unnie or Yeri? They might be able to help." 

Her silence kind of answered your question. 

"Unnie..." 

"They've been so busy and they must be tired!" She eventually spluttered, face flushed in embarrassment. "I just didn't want them to feel burdened and I really thought I could just figure this out myself. It's my song after all." She ended her rants with a pout on her lips, looking so adorable you couldn't help but chuckle.

"Unnie, did you know that everyone wanted to offer you help but they didn't want to offend you?" Her face scrunched up in confusion. 

"Really?" 

You scoffed. "Of course. We've all noticed how tired and quiet you've been and we figured it was the song," you explained softly, looking at her in the eyes to make sure she knew you were serious. "They wanted to help but didn't know how to approach you, so I took the initiative to come to you." You left out the parts where they forgot to actually ask her due to them being tired cos that definitely would make her feel even more guilty. 

Besides, you weren't lying. 

She stayed quiet for a bit, head lying comfortably on your lap. You ran your fingers down her hair again, caressing her head in light massages. You hoped this would help your guardian feel more relaxed. 

"I guess asking Yeri or Seungwan wouldn't hurt..." She mumbled, finally looking up at you. 

You smiled warmly. "I'm sure you would come up with something eventually but there's no harm in getting other's opinions." Yeri had published her own songs after all, she knew what she was doing. 

"Okay, I'll go to her and maybe Seungwan tomorrow. We'll see." You smiled at each other. 

"Thank you, Eli-ah. For always knowing what I need." 

You grinned. "Of course, Unnie. You'd do the same for me." 

That night she fell asleep cuddling with you, finally able to rest peacefully after numerous restless nights of sleep. 

After her song dropped and the fans' reactions were so positive, Irene couldn't help but barge into your room and hug you tightly out of excitement. 

You groaned on impact, hugging her back nonetheless. "Yes?" 

She squealed. "My song is out! And the fans love it I'm so happy!" 

You gasped. "Why didn't you tell me it was out already? I would've been blasting it so the whole dorm could hear!" 

She slapped your arm and pulled back from the hug, a little breathless but with eyes sparkling with excitement and happiness. You'd hope for her to never lose this spark. 

"Do you like the song?" She couldn't help but ask, her voice small to show her shyness. 

You smiled, patting her head with affection. She had let you hear the song much earlier but she didn't get to see your reaction yet so she had to ask. "I heard it and I loved it, Unnie. I told you, you'd sound great." 

She blushed. "Do you really? Tell me the truth, Eli-ah. Is there something you don't like?" 

You cooled your face, watching her face drop. "You could sing more, I would love to hear those high notes more often." 

"Eli~" She whined, dropping her body with her arms around your neck, her whole weight on top of you in a hug. You fell back on the bed, laughing. 

"I'm serious," her voice slightly muffled by her. You hoped she would get to sing more and show how amazing her voice is. 

It was silent for a bit. "Thank you," she said quietly, making you pull back to stare up at her. 

"For what?" 

She smiled. "For making me see that asking for help is okay and that all of you always have my back." 

"Of course we do, Hyun-unnie," you frowned. "Do we not show you enough that you have to doubt it?" 

She shook her head fervently, eyes wide in panic. "No, no! It's not your fault, I promise. You've shown me enough but it's me who didn't want to acknowledge it. I see it now." 

"Tell me if we don't support you enough as we should, okay? I mean it." 

She smiled warmly at you, hand caressing your cheek. "I promise. Thank you for always being there for me." 

You grinned cheekily. "What can I say, you're my only." You referred to her song, teasing her. 

She let out a cute noise before dropping her body again and burying her face in your neck. 

"I love you." 

You closed your eyes in contentment. "I love you too."