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Y/N L/N STOOD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CROWD, arms crossed, her jaw set tight as her eyes fixed on the captains standing front and center. Tory's smug posture and Kwon's trademark glower were impossible to miss. She didn't envy them-not exactly. It was more the isolation, the feeling of being sidelined, that gnawed at her. The captains basked in their spotlight, leaving the rest of the group to blend into the background like afterthoughts.
Tory managed a forced smile for the camera, though the y/h/c-haired girl could see her discomfort in the tightness of her jaw. Kwon, on the other hand, didn't even bother pretending. Arms crossed, head slightly tilted, he muttered something under his breath in Korean. Probably something disparaging about how the "skill-less peasants" didn't deserve to share the same space as him.
"Now everybody smile and say 'Barthelona!'" the photographer instructed, his voice painfully cheery.
A smattering of half-hearted voices echoed the word, save for Sam, whose enthusiastic "Barcelona!" rang above the rest like she was auditioning for a toothpaste commercial.
"Louder!" the photographer coaxed, waving his hand dramatically. The group complied begrudgingly.
"Sexy," the photographer added with a grin, snapping a few more shots. The captains endured the moment, Tory rolling her eyes so hard y/n swore she could hear it.
"Some of these boys are pretty cute, don't you think?" a short girl teased, nudging the blonde captain standing next to Kwon with a playful grin.
"Don't. Even. Think. About it." Kwon shot back sharply, his tone cutting through her excitement. Her smile vanished as he turned his glare toward the cameraman, his jaw tightening with irritation.
Behind the cluster, Eli leaned toward his friends, muttering loud enough to carry, "Wow. They're really going out of their way to make sure we know just how special the captains are."
Y/m, standing a few feet away, let out a quiet snort. "Special's one word for it. Interesting choices for captains, though. Kinda like that... new hairdo of yours, Eli. Really leaning into that mid-life crisis vibe, aren't we?"
Her voice sliced through the air like a whip. The unsuspecting trio jolted as if someone had physically shoved them. Their heads turned in unison, their expressions a mix of disbelief and guarded curiosity.
Eli's eyes narrowed, the sharp edges of his old Hawk persona rising to the surface. "y/n/n?" His voice was low, almost disbelieving.
Demetri, standing a step behind him, adjusted his glasses nervously. "Well, this is... unexpected. Even though we saw you a few hours ago and very much discussed your presence the entire time after."
