“Where’s Ricky?” Teen Top’s leader asked, after stepping into Daniel’s hotel room and spotting that Ricky wasn’t there. The members were piled on someone’s bed, unwrapping a mountain of fangifts after another concert. Daniel was the only one who seemed to pay any attention to Minsoo.

“He said he was going to bed. Headache or something,” he shrugged before wrestling Jonghyun over a gift. Minsoo frowned. Changhyun with a headache and all alone? That didn’t sit right with him. And he wouldn't be doing his job as leader if he didn’t check on a member who has a ‘headache’.

Leaving as quietly as he came, he shuffles down the hall to Changhyun’s shared room. He knocks softly first before he quietly slides in. The lights are off, the city outside providing the only illumination through thin curtains. In the dim light, he can just about see a figure curled up in thick sheets.

“Changhyun-ah?” The eldest said barely above a whisper. There was no response from the body cocooned in the quilt. Minsoo inched closer tentatively. “Changhyun-ah,” he repeated louder and the covers twitched. Minsoo hoovered at the end of the bed. “Daniel said you had a headache, are you okay?” There was a whale like groan from the sheets and Minsoo scoffed. “That’s not an answer.”

A tuft of bleached hair appeared from the sheets. “Leave me alone, hyung, please. I don’t feel well.” Changhyun muttered, disappearing back into the white quilt.

“No can do until I know you’re going to be okay.”

The was a long suffering sigh from the bed before the quilt was thrown off, revealing a frowning Changhyun in pajamas. “Hyung, I’m fine,” Changhyun practically huffed, glaring at the leader through the darkness. Minsoo remained nonplussed, his hands sliding into the pockets of his joggers as he waited for Changhyun to spit it out. Minsoo knows him well enough to know when he’s lying.

“What’s wrong, really? And don’t say you’re ill cuz’ I know you’re lying.”

Changhyun looked desperately off into space, debating whether to tell Minsoo what really was on his mind. He breathed out a sigh again. He didn’t want to be seen like this, not now. Minsoo still waits patiently for an answer.

“I’m just being silly really. It’s stupid.” He throws an elbow over his eyes, trying to stop the threat of tears. He didn’t want to cry in front of Minsoo, especially over this. Not over homesickness. They’ve done this for too long, been further than Japan for him to be homesick.

“Tell me,” Minsoo prompts softly. Changhyun risks a glance under his arm. Minsoo hadn’t moved, still waiting. Changhyun swallows his pride, pulling out some courage from his heart.

“I just… Just want to see… Them,” Minsoo understands immediately. It’s been a while since any of them had seen their parents or family. They were so busy touring, there sometimes wasn’t even time for a quick katalk message. And some days, that wasn’t even enough. Minsoo slid down to sit on the corner of the bed, staring off into space.

“I’ll ask manager-hyung if we can go home when we finish, okay?” Changhyun’s first thought is ‘no, don’t put yourself out like that for me,’ but it’s been a while since he’s been selfish. He’s only allowed to be selfish on very rare occasions. His arm falls back to his side and he looks at the eldest, a small smile on his face saying everything without words.

Minsoo looked back at him through the darkness from the corner of his eye, a smirk ghosting on his lips. “Hey, smile more. You’re my favourite when you smile.”

Changhyun’s lips spread out in a full blown ‘Ricky’ grin automatically. Minsoo pinches his thighs through the covers, “You’re the cutest, Changhyun-ah.”

Minsoo maybe the charismatic rapper on stage and the sleepy, lazy leader off stage, but he looks after them all. Warmth filled Changhyun, leaving him feeling fluffy and content. He would remember to be a little nicer to his hyung after this. Minsoo stood up to leave which Changhyun found himself unhappy about.

“Hyung,” he said without thinking. Minsoo stopped mid-step, looking over his shoulder with a questioning hum. “Can you… Can you stay here tonight?” He brought the quilt up to his face to hide himself somewhat. Minsoo and Changhyun hadn’t really been that close since debut days and he almost felt pathetic for requesting such a thing. Minsoo resumed his way towards the door.

“Okay, lemme’ wash up.” The door shut softly behind him, leaving Changhyun smiling warmly to himself.

Later that night as they were drifting off to dreamland, Changhyun whispered ‘thank you’ into Minsoo’s chest.

‘Pay me back in smiles,’ was the rumble of a whisper in reply.

(Minsoo is his favourite hyung.)