AN: I was informed Jo Kwon is not Fei’s oppa, but let’s pretend he is, okay?

ps: both this graphic and the fic’s poster were done by me. I grew to love editing, so you guys will probably see more of my graphics here because I want to do character posters :)

So I leave you to the second chapter:

Chapter 2

Junho delivered himself to dancing. Sorrow became movement, his body fueled by music and memories. In that dark place, he was only emotion. Ballet was all about gracefulness, but there he was heavy, intensity the only thing that mattered when he did his poignant spins, his heartfelt steps. There, in the dark, he let himself go, his façade painfully cracking. So he danced his pain away.

In those moments, he remembered things he tried to forget. And very often, he cried. It was his way to let it all out and tell himself that could cry right there on the spot, but he better toughen up later because the world wasn't interested in a crying little boy. It was his only moment of vulnerability, of letting go of his pain. So he danced, his mind focused on nothing and everything at the same time. He was so focused he failed to see a person by the door. He stopped suddenly when he saw a silhouette in the dark.

“Who's there?” Junho asked, wiping out a single tear that fell from his face. He tried to sound manly, angry, but inside he trembled, very afraid someone would how vulnerable he really was. “I said, who's there?” he repeated when his question was answered with silence.

“Sorry, it's Hwang Chansung.” Junho walked towards the stereo and the light switch when he was composed enough. After his eyes adjusted, he saw him. The boy stood by the entrance, his feet fidgeting a little. He had brown hair reaching his shoulders, his doe eyes wide.

“Oh, the boy that will replace Jo Kwon,” he finally said after analyzing him from head to toe. So this was the one who would replace their group leader. He was tall, his body strong and built and his eyes were warm and innocent. In other words, Hwang Chansung was danger.

“Yes, I guess. And your name is?” he said, smiling brightly.

“My name is Lee Junho,” he turned, still a little upset someone saw him dancing on his dark corner, hating that he almost saw how frail he really was. He wanted to yell in exasperation, but he kept his cool. “What are you doing here so early?” said, turning the stereo back on.

“I came here to warm up and got a feel of the place,” the boy explained, his words a little unsure.

“You can stay. But don't get in the way.” The sweet notes of the piano finally resonated in the room. Junho could feel the eyes watching his every move, but he didn't turn. No more distractions.

“Errr. Okay,” he said, his voice lacking any confidence. “Are you sure though? I can come back later,” he added.

“Stay. People are probably arriving anyway.” He went back to his task of loosening his muscles. Honestly, he was done stretching, but he needed to do something to run away from those eyes.

True to his words, the group started to arrive. Chansung tried to keep his smile, but everyone responded coldly. They went stretching, despite his bows and salutations. No wonder people called them the 'Mean girls'.

After being ignored by a few dancers, a hurricane in form of small man came to him raging like a bull. A bull with a cast on his foot. He looked furious.

“You are Hwang Chansung, right?”

“Right,” he answered with a bow.

“I'm Jo Kwon,” the small man said. He looked so wired up and tense, Chansung couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

“Is something funny?”

“Not really, no. So what do you need me for?”

“Let's get one thing straight,” Jo Kwon said, pointing his finger at Chansung. Even though he had his foot injured, he bounced up and down, tension coming from him in waves. “You are only here to fill a spot. I will be on that end of the year recital. And you are only here because we couldn't find anything better.”

Ouch. So this is how this was going to be. Chansung was a respectful person, but he was never one to be bullied around. “Okay, hyung. It's not like I picked to be here. I got my own recital and grades to worry about, but instead I'm here to help.” That made the small man pause. He opened and closed his mouth a few time, as if not used to people responding to his insults.

“Alright,” he finally said, still a little dumbfounded, his voice calmer. But it didn't last long because seconds later that nervous energy come back. “So don't screw up. Your partner is Fei, but she just called and she will be late. For today you just keep watch.” He looked around and added with a yell, “Jinwoonie. Come here.”

A boy that was clearly too big and tall for ballet came running wearing a bright smile of his face. He looked out of place in this room full of cold people, but it was to soon to judge. “Yes, hyung,” he said cheerfully, bowing quickly to Chansung.

“Jinwoonie, you sit out with Chansung for today and give him some pointers. Fei is going to be a little late today, so you just tell him about the choreography and when they will be front and center.” And off the man went without a proper goodbye.

“Wow, he seems angry,” Chansung added when they sat down against the wall.

“Ah, don't mind hyung. By the way, my name is Jeong Jinwoon. Nice to meet you.”

“I'm Hwang Chansung. Nice to meet you.” They shook hands and smiled at each other, a comfortable atmosphere immediately taking over them. It settled a little bit of his nerves because he knew at least someone was friendly. “So, everyone here is a little tense,” he tried to initiate a conversation.

“You mean JoKwon? Yeah, he's a little like that. Recently got worse with his injury, so just.. yeah, just don't take it too badly.”

“I don't plan to. And what about him?” With his chin he showed who the him was. Lee Junho. The dancer has long abandoned the stretching part, now he spun around on the tip of his toes, his face up and proud.

“Oh, The Emperor?”

“The Emperor?” he scoffed.

“Yes. He's all regal. I mean, in ballet we are all elegant, but there is something about him. He's a prodigy. Impressed everyone right from the start on the first semester. Don't know much more though. He's part of the group, but at the same time he isn't. Can't really explain.” Jinwoon seemed lost in thought, so Chansung wanted to bring the boy back on topic, but was interrupted.

“So who's the newbie?” A friendly voice coming from above asked. A tall and slim - but built - guy was hovering over them, a devilish grin on his face. He had honey-brown hair and thick eyebrows and a face that probably made girls faint. He also looked like a foreigner, but Chansung couldn’t pin the nationality.

“Hi, hyung. This is Hwang Chansung. Chansung, this is Nichkhun hyung.” Said man sat down close to them. So close his thighs touched Chansung's. He felt a little uncomfortable, but didn't move afraid that he would seem unfriendly.

“Nice to meet you.” Nichkhun extended his hand, that cheshire cat grin still on his face.

“Nice to meet you,” Chansung replied a little too shyly, but he felt that piercing gaze on him.

“What brings you here, Chansung?”

“I'm here to replace Jo Kwon while he's injured,” Chansung replied, but his eyes looked elsewhere. The other man was too close for comfort, so he avoided his gaze. In that moment, he noticed Junho was looking at them closely. But suddenly lean fingers grabbed his chin putting him face to face with dark eyes.

“Welcome, Hwang Chansung. Something tells me your stay here will be fun,” the foreigner said, his words full of malice and who knows what else. He dropped his face and got up, walking slowly - like a cat looking for prey – towards a piano that was found in the back of the room. Jinwoon and Chansung couldn't help but look at him, but when the foreigner caught them staring, they embarrassingly looked away.

“Whoa, he seems...”

“Yeah, don't mind this hyung either,” Jinwoon offered with an embarrassed tone. So far, Jinwoon was the only one who seemed... normal.

“And who is him by the way? He doesn't look ready to dance since he's wearing jeans.”

“Oh, he's in the music department. Piano major. He's preparing the song for the recital. He's making the music arrangements and creating new stuff since this will be count as his grade too. We will have The Nutcracker, but with a twist,” Jinwoon added excitedly.

“Pretty cool. For our recital we have our friend Kim Minjun composing stuff for us too. But since it will be modern dance, the music might be a little different from this.”

They chatted about the presentations and other details he needed to know. Jinwoon was a pretty cool kid, always offering help and assistance while they watched the intense dance practice. They bonded so much he invited the kid to hang out with his friends later that night, which he happily agreed on.

As for the practice, Chansung paid attention to every little detail, making mental notes on the things he needed to pick. But somehow there was something he couldn't stop looking. Lee Junho was indeed a force to be reckoned with. He had amazing technique, but also something else Chansung couldn't put a finger on.

“He's really good, right? You can't look away,” Jinwoon said to Chansung or maybe to himself.

“Indeed,” he muttered, eyes glued to Junho who raised his partner with grace and strength.

“Oh, there is your partner right there. Fei.” Jinwoon pointed at a girl who entered the room in a hurry. She quickly dropped her bag and started warming up. She wore pink tight and a delicate shirt, her hair twisted in a loose bun.

They watched how Jo Kwon approached her in the middle of her stretching to point out at Chansung. This was really angry at him and he couldn't figure it out why. Upon hearing the surely nasty words, the girl looked at him with a confused look, but since they were on opposite ends of the room, she ignored him and went back to her routine. Soon enough she joined the rest of the dancing ballerinas.

When the dance was over, everyone gathered their things and quickly went away. Except the girl, the foreigner and the little hurricane. Lee Junho was one of the last to leave, but never looked back.

“Hwang Chansung. This is Fei. Fei, this is Hwang Chansung,” Jo Kwon approached them and said with impatience. The girl looked wide eyed, maybe because her friend looked like a bomb ready to explode. Who knows. Nichkhun said nothing, only looked at them with a smirk.

“He-hello.” She bowed quickly and Chansung mirrored her action in response. “Welcome,” she said coyly. Jo Kwon eye rolled at her, which made her blush intensively.

“Thanks. I hope I can be of help.”

“Oh, I'm sure. You are really tall,” she added in wonder. Chansung chuckled, but said nothing. What could he say to that after all.

“Jinwoon will help me with the adaptation. So I hope I don't screw up.”

“Oh, I can help too,” Fei offered.

“What?” a bug eyed Jo Kwon asked.

“Oh yeah, he will be my partner. I have to help. Arrive everyday one hour early. Is that good?”

“That's good. Listen, guys. I got another practice to attend,” Chansung offered. “Jinwoon, see you later at the Twin bar?”

“Surely, hyung.”

He left them there talking. From a distance I could see Jo Kwon saying you are really tall in woman's voice and loudly asking what the hell Jinwoon would do at a bar.

When he was stepping on foot out of the door, Jo Kwon adding, “Hwang Chansung, don’t forget your tights next time.”

He couldn't help but chuckle. He didn’t need to see the man to realize he was smiling, probably getting some twisted pleasure in having a man like Chansung in tights. But soon, the small laugh turned into the deepest sigh. This ballet people... they would give him trouble, he was sure of it.

AN: What do you guys think? So far it’s mostly character introduction, but I hope you guys like it.

By the way, decided who is going to be couple numero 2. Guesses? I guess we will have hints next chapter. It's something I never wrote, so I'm looking forward to it.

Bye, bye <3