Nada

Things Don't Just Go Back to Normal

She tried but they could all tell something was wrong. Y/N was quieter, more thoughtful, randomly staring off into space. She missed steps in the choreography and instead of shrugging it off Hoseok could tell she was taking it to heart. But she wouldn't say what was wrong. She just dismissed it with a brilliant smile or a sarcastic snip when they attempted to ask.
-

"It's okay, we'll try again." Hoseok said quickly, hoping to not see her face fall as she misstepped again. She nodded, her face down, as he walked to the side to grab his water. She looked up into the mirror, chewing her lip, her eyes taking on a far away look.

It wasn't okay. Nothing was okay. She'd failed. She'd failed at everything. She had been so stupid to think that she could ever get away, ever design a life. You never won against evil, it just let you have your fun until it suddenly surprised you, ripping from your grasp everything you cared about...

Y/N blinked and looked up at Hoseok, then down at his hand which was resting on her shoulder.

"You okay?" She nodded and quickly shrugged him off, shutting down once again. His face fell as he saw her readying herself to try again.

He didn't like this. He didn't know this person. He wanted his Y/N back.

When she left he slumped against the mirror, eyeing the door. It was hard to believe eight months ago the only thing he'd thought was that she'd be an easy fuck and now here he was wondering what was wrong with her.

He'd been shocked when she walked back into the studio the next day. Even more shocked when the professor had tentatively paired them up again and Y/N hadn't protested. The professor had been surprised too and looked at Hoseok suspiciously.

Hoseok had underestimated her. Despite her size, the moment the door closed behind them he was up against the wall with her arm against his throat.

"You will listen and listen good." She hissed at him. "Stop struggling or I'll knee you again." Hoseok went still immediately. "I'm here to dance. I'm here to learn. I'm here because you're supposed to be the best. I don't want you to touch me like that ever again, no means no, you jackass. Is that understood?" Hoseok had nodded emphatically, too shocked to say anything.

"Are you going to pull that shit again?" Emphatic shaking of the head. Y/N had studied him for a moment, so intensely he'd tried to look away. And she used her other hand to pull his head back to look at her. She'd cocked her head as she examined his eyes, like....she was looking for something.

"You're a fuckboy. You don't do relationships. Spoiled. But you're passionate about your art. Probably decent grades. You feel lucky because your family lets you pursue what you want to do. But then that leaves you wondering what to do with yourself since your path isn't obviously laid out for you. You like people, you like making them happy. Why? Who knows. Maybe you're truly kind at heart. Or maybe you know if they like you they won't hurt you." She'd shrugged and let him go. Hoseok had stared at her, rubbing his jaw and neck. She wasn't....wrong. And it was a little scary. He felt like he was being analyzed.

"How did you know all that?" He asked quietly.

"I can see it." She'd said simply, motioning to the dance floor. "Now are you going to make yourself useful and teach me or what?"

Hoseok laughed softly at the memory and shook his head, climbing to his feet. He had been surprised. He didn't find her off-putting. He found her intriguing. She had a strength.

And it was changing him. Sometimes they would have contests, who could rack up the most notches in their belts. Hoseok usually either won or came close. But this semester he had had the fewest conquests of all of them. It just....it honestly made him feel tired. He just wasn't feeling it anymore.

He'd rather spend time with Y/N. Sometimes he asked himself why he bothered. He'd try to deny it for a long time but the reality was there was only one conquest he wanted to make. And he was pretty sure that conquest would soundly reject him once again.