Reflects was the word I chose.

It was one thing for Yongguk to be hurt, to have to go to the hospital, to have to get his hand operated on.  It was completely different when one of his dongsaengs were hurt somehow.  Yes, he might have used his hand injury against the younger band mates, making them do things for him, getting him food and doing his chores.  But none of that was not harmful to any of them.

Himchan hurting his hand was an accident, he knew this, but part of him wondered if it wasn’t for the sleepless nights, would it have happened at all?  And the fact that, even though Himchan did his best to be part of promotions, the company still added on years to his contract.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if they hadn’t been lied to.  I wasn’t just about the money, it was the fact that the company wouldn’t even have to ask or even tell them, like they usually did, to stay late, to practice.  They wanted to do that all on their own.

They wanted to show what they could do, but as time went on, they all started to feel trapped.  But they couldn’t try to leave, not yet.  Zelo was still young and they would have to wait, and wait they did.  It had been hard, they gritted their teeth and pushed through the toughest times, their manager had tried to help but his hands were tied along with theirs.  The fans made it easier, the cheers, the smiles, even the tears helped them forget about all the nasty things going on behind the scene. 

Even if it was a tight schedule, going to America for their second time was blissful.  Being able to see another country, seeing fans that most likely didn’t even know their language at all.  It warmed them and showed them that they could push through.  That they could get through the next few months, give them hope that their company would, just maybe, be truthful with them when they returned.  With packed out concerts, and merchandise being bought like crazy, they had to be making some type of money.

But after all was said and done, after returning to South Korea, they had been told they didn’t make enough money to pay them.  Yongguk held back his fury, having to grab Himchan’s arm, worried he might have a few of his own choice words to their CEO.  He hard hurried the group to their dorms, tears were shed by some, Himchan cuddling between Daehyun and Jongup, the elder of the three seemed to always know how to calm both of them.  Youngjae and Zelo had somehow jammed themselves in an oversized chair, the smaller of the two trying to keep a smile on the taller boy’s face.

Yongguk talked to them then, told them what he thought they should do.  They listened to him and agreed with him, not just because he was the leader and the oldest of the group, but because they were friends and they trusted each other.  Yongguk forced a smile, not knowing why, because they all could tell when another wasn’t being true with their feelings, but he did anyways and tried to find something positive out of all the bad.  They had learned a lot, they knew how to work hard for something they really wanted, and in the end, they had each other.

Daehyun being pulled from the hospital was the last straw for the group.  Yongguk couldn’t even put words to his anger.  Anyone could physically see that Daehyun was sick, the usual light in his eyes was gone and he didn’t smile like he had before.  They were all used to hiding how they were truly feeling, it almost because like an art to them.  Which told the rest of the group just how bad Daehyun had been feeling.

Yongguk stayed in Daehyun’s bed that night, when the company wouldn’t let him go back to the hospital.  Yongguk held him, letting Daehyun cry from the physical and mental pain he was going through.  Himchan was always close by, the slightly younger male always wanting to make sure the younger ones were cared for.  He brought them food, drinks, even more blankets, as well as keeping the others in the living room.  Himchan understood that even though they all wanted to comfort Daehyun, the younger male needed his space too, and comfort that, at that moment, only Yongguk could give.

“Yah,” Yongguk was brought from his thoughts, a gently flick of someone’s fingers on the side of his head.  He turned, smiling when he noticed Himchan had sat next to him.  Himchan had just gotten back from his visit to New York and it had been a big deal when he had come back.  Even Zelo had cuddled up next to him, letting the elder mother him and kiss his cheek, the boy sitting at Himchan’s feet even then.  “Stop thinking so much.  You’ll get wrinkles.”

“Sorry,” Yongguk scratched the back of his head, chuckling when the rest gathered around him.  Jongup sat next to him, the quiet boy smiling at him and patting his shoulder.  Daehyun had somehow pushed Youngjae to the floor and was laying on top of his back, arms around his shoulders.  Youngjae didn’t protest, just situated himself before peering up at Yongguk.  “I was just thinking about how we got here, where we are now.”

“Like you usually do,” Zelo joked, looking content with Himchan’s fingers threading through his bushy hair.  “Did you think up our next move yet?”  Yongguk glanced around to the others around him, all eyes on him. 

“I think we go with the plan,” Yongguk stated, leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees.  “We do small projects with this new company until the lawsuit is finally over.  And once it is, we will come back as one again.  This is NOT the end of BAP, if we can’t keep the name, we will invent a new one and that name will because just as, if not MORE, popular.

“Are you guys up to it?” Yongguk knew they were, but he looked around, watching as excited faces stared back at him.  Daehyun and Youngjae were first to their feet, pulling Zelo and Jongup with them.  Himchan chuckled before grabbing Yongguk’s arm, yanking him up and into the large cluster of bodies.  He wasn’t sure who through of the chant, nor did he pay much attention to the words, but he joined in, jumping along with the rest.

They were going to get through this, and they were going to do it together.  No matter what anyone else did, or said, they would stay together as friends… no… as brothers.