The City of Seoul || Bang Chan [EDITING]

✧.* Chapter 13 *.✧

"Here," Chan handed Danbi a pair of slippers. The entrance was overflowing with sneakers in various colours and sizes. Except for this, everything was pretty organized and clean. The leader hat told her in what state their old dorm had been when all eight lived together, even sharing rooms. A true man gave.

Danbi shook her head at his words and reassured him that this seemed to be normal for young males around that age and with such a hectic schedule. The first apartment of SHINee had been no different.

Chatter and laughter could be heard from down the hallway.

"There you are," Minho stood in front of the stove, stirring in four different pots. A big rice cocker next to it. "We started to be concerned if you got lost." He showed his bunny-like smile.

"Chan offered to drive. So," Danbi shrugged with a smile. Before the male had a chance to say something, the youngest appeared next to Minho.

"That explains everything then," he winked and immediately started to run. Chan growled his name jokingly and went after Jeongin, eventually tackling him to the ground in the living room to punish him by tickling him.

The members watched it with fond eyes, stopping whatever they were doing for a moment.

"Can I help you?" Danbi peaked into the pots over Minhos arm. It smelled and looked delicious. He shook his head.

"You are our guest, Bi." Hyungjin appeared at the door of the living room. In his arms were various bottles of liquor and non-alcoholic beverages. She pouted.

"But I want to," she crossed her arms. "You had a busy schedule today. Let me help, please."

Felix padded the chair next to him at the table.
„Come and help me cut up the remaining vegetables and fruit," he offered with a smile. Minho shrugged and took out a knife and cutting board for her and handed it to Danbi.

The female sat with a smile and nudged his shoulder before getting to work, following the older male's direction on how to cut the food.

After they had finished chopping everything up - with a short interruption because Chan decided to steal a piece from her cutting board - Danbi got to show off her gimbap rolling skills and together they rolled over a dozen pieces.

Danbi didn't notice the gaze of a certain person watching her interact with the other eight Idols fondly.
His eyes always wandered back to her, his heart swelling with the sound of her smiles and giggles.

And he was oblivious to his members catching on.

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

"God, this is amazing." Danbi covered her mouth with her hands, eyes big. Minho couldn't help himself and show one of the rarer bunny-like smiles. Felix seemed to glow even more, making his eyes crinkle.

"Can you teach me how to cook like that," Danbi was in awe. It's been a while since she tasted home-cooked Korean food. This reminded her of her mother's dishes. A bittersweet feeling crept into her chest.

"Gladly." Minho smiled, failing to hide the blush on his cheeks.

"Does that mean, you are coming over more often?" The youngest beamed, showing his dimples after he chuckled as a reaction to the flustered member.
He especially had grown fond of her after releasing they had a lot in common.

While they waited for the last dishes to finish cooking, Jeongin joined Felix and her at the table, listening to her explaining her study and showing some of her photographs and the short film she had taken for it. A lot of them are fashion-related.

With his love for fashion and taking photos, they started to chat away until Minho called everyone for dinner.

Danbi felt comfortable around every single member, talking to them was easy. She understood their concerns, anxiety and worries because she had other people go through the same first-hand.

For them, she immediately became a safe space as they simply told her everything without fearing judgment.
She always tried to say something encouraging and uplifting to remind them of the tiniest positive in a bad moment.

They knew what had happened to her family over a year ago but hearing her take about for the first time with tears in her eyes but still a smile on her lips, was truly inspiring. Every day, no matter how hard it was, had a good moment even if it was just getting to see a cute dog on the street.

"I would love to," her eyes found the Chans.
His eyes were already on her. A soft smile on her lips. "But I don't want to distract or interrupt anything."

Chan's eyes widened at her words. Everyone simultaneously shook their head.

"Please, don't think like this. You are not." Chan reassured her, the member humming. Even with her older brother being an Idol, it surprised them how considered the younger Choi sibling was.

"You know first-hand how everything works, what it means to be close to someone with a job like us. We find always time for our friends and loved ones." Changbin added with a smile.

"I- okay." Danbi sighed but gave in, seeing their hopeful smiles. Maybe she needed a little bit more time to get used to being around Idols or working in the entertainment industry and late schedules.

Hyunjin was quick to capture the moment, Jeongin pulled Danbi into his side while resting his cheek on her head. Danbi looked surprised but grateful and patted the hand on her shoulder with a grin.