Run Away| Seongjoong and Yunsanhwa

I'm doing fine, I swear it's not a lie~

cw// trauma and panic attacks

"How would you feel about becoming the new leader of Ateez?"

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"T-the new leader? B-but H-H-H-Ho-he's the leader? I'm just the oldest?" Seonghwa stutters in shock, his voice catching on Hongjoong's name like he's trying to say it but can't force it out of his lips.

"Well, that's the thing. After Kingdom, we're terminating Hongjoong's contract. In between the time of his departure and your return, Ateez is also going on hiatus. Schedules during Kingdom are packed and the boys will need a break anyways, so it's ideal." Eden says, still smiling.

"B-b-b-but he's the leader! He's one of only two rappers and with Min's anxiety he can't handle being the sole rapper, what are we going to do in future comebacks when we need rapping, a 1 to six ratio? He could produce and he's not that bad of a singer and he's a lyricist and I'm none of those things. He's so much more talented than me, everyone is more talented, why would I be the next choice—"

"Seonghwa-yah, take some deep breaths. It's okay, you're talented. Don't compare yourself to anyone, especially not him. Do you need to take a break?" Hyunjoo says, getting up from her chair in the corner and sitting down beside him.

Seonghwa pauses and slumps down, pressing his head to the cold table.

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He sits up.

"I'm sorry. That was unprofessional." All the more reason why he can't be the leader. He can barely hold a conversation without having a panic attack apparently.

"That was not unprofessional, those were serious concerns. We did consider the group ratio, and it will be rearranged, the positions were already out of date and needed to be updated. You are far more talented than you believe. You're a great dancer, better than him. You're a better singer than him. And, it may not seem like it, but Hongjoong did far less good producing than you probably thought. The reason why most of his instrumentals aren't used in songs is that they mostly aren't that good. Maddox, Mingi and I pull far more weight when producing. You are a good rapper, there's a reason why you passed your audition with rap. You haven't written your parts but we can always help you." Eden says, hesitantly rubbing Seonghwa's hand.

"If anything, your concerns only show how fit you would be to be a leader. The first thing you worried about wasn't yourself, it was how it would affect Mingi's anxiety to be the only rapper in the group and the effect on the group's music. You've always been very empathetic and perceiving, it's why the others have said on multiple occasions that when you enter their room they expect that you're comforting them. The others look up to you, you're very level-headed and calm, unlike Hongjoong. You're good at holding your own in meetings, and you're good at advocating for everyone. You have the qualities of a leader, and your members all individually said that if they had to pick someone, you'd be their first choice."

"I-I don't know...what other groups have kicked out their leaders? I'm scared it will really mess up the way people view us...or what if people find out that he was my a-a-abuser?"

"To answer your first question, I'm sure you're familiar with 2 pm and iKon. Jay Park and B.I were both the leaders of their groups before they terminated their contracts. To answer your second question, they would assume it. We never have to come out as a company and confirm it, but having someone mention being abused by a person in the company and then removing another member sounds suspicious. Though it wouldn't matter. Hongjoong will pursue a career as a soloist inevitably, but we're going to attempt to blacklist him after everything he's done."