Family (Mafia Stray Kids AU)

that was when I was happy,

Author's Note: This is back to the regular timeline. We aren't in Chan's prospective. We are now back when Stray Kids banned Dae from seeing Jinyoung.

Nobody ever thought Dae could be so stubborn. As a small child, if Dae was upset, she would ignore them before giving in because she was hungry and wanted Jeongin's mac and cheese. But now, Dae knows how to cook, so ignoring them is a lot easier.

Stray Kids were shocked at how determined she was to avoid them. She changed her sleep schedule, now sleeping during waking hours and being lively when they sleep to avoid contact.

The first time she didn't come out of her room for the whole day, Chan thought she ran away, or worse, killed herself. So at around 6 PM, he burst into her room, only to find her peacefully asleep. Her room blacked out.

He did try to wake her up, but either she was in a deep sleep, or she was ignoring him. And she's a really light sleeper.

It felt the same as when Dae slept in the dorms, except half worse, because she was still there, but unable to be reasoned with.

The Sunday before they went back to work, they snapped. Moreover, because they were worried she would continue this sleeping habit when they went to teach. Meaning she would skip school only to avoid Stray Kids.

So, again, around 6 PM, Chan burst into her room. But relentlessly annoyed her until he got a response.

"Dae, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not leaving."

"Chan, fuck off," Dae mumbled raspily, covering her face with a pillow.

Chan jumped up, exclaiming happily. "Ha! You're awake."

"Chan, fuck off."

"That's no way to treat your father."

"Brother," Dae bluntly corrected.

"Oh shut it, I've been your father up until a few months ago."

"Doesn't change that you're my brother. Can you go away now?"

Chan clicked his tongue, shaking his head even if she couldn't see it. "I need you to get up and eat now."

Dae uncovered the pillow from her face, peering slightly at Chan with an annoyed expression.

"I'll do it tonight, as I usually," She replied sarcastically, turning away from him.

Chan grabbed her shoulder, turning her back over to him.

"No, Felix made you food, you will come down and eat it."

She shook her head, attempting to turn away from Chan, but his grip on her was strong.

"No, I'll make my own food later. Tell Jisung they can have it. Or you can have it, you like food."

Chan shook his head, gesturing her to get up.

"You are going to eat."

"I've been doing this for a while now. Why are you so upset about it now?"

"Because you're going back to school tomorrow. I need you to get back into the swing of things."

Dae shot up from her bed, looking at Chan furiously.

"I know school is tomorrow, I know what time I need to be up tomorrow. Let me go back to bed and I'll work things out." Her words were harsh, and sharp, making Chan confused and annoyed in return.

"I don't care. Just go down and eat. I'm not asking you to converse with anyone. I just want you to eat please."

She ended up going downstairs, refusing eye contact with everyone, taking her food, and going upstairs back to her room.

"At least she's eating at a normal time," Hyunjin sighed. It hurt him seeing her like this. He didn't want her to hate them, or him in specific. He wanted Dae happy, everyone in her family did. But they had different ways of trying to achieve that goal. It was a matter of authority who had control over Dae.

Dae dreaded today more than anything. She got ready at a slow pace, being too tired for anything quicker.

"Dae if I come upstairs and you are asleep, you'll be in a lot of trouble," Chan threatened, them being about to leave and she hasn't left her room yet.

She comes out of her room, bags deep under her eyes. Her hair was in a less than aesthetic messy bun and it's the first time ever that she's actually wearing her glasses they got her about a year ago.

"I'm here," She mumbles slowly coming down the stairs.

"Are you going to work like that?" Minho questions unsurely.

"Yeah, it's not like I work most days anyways. I'll spend today sleeping or something.

"I didn't mean to come off rude. You just usually put a lot of effort into your outfit for school."

"Yeah, that was when I was happy, Lee Know."

He jumped at his work name.

"We're not at work yet," Minho attempted to joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"I know."

Dae tried so hard to avoid Jinyoung. She didn't want to break down when she sees him. She didn't want to face her problems. And she didn't want to face him when she tells him she can't see him anymore.

So she ran to her classroom as soon as she got to school, slamming closed the door, ignoring Dahyun and Chaeyoung and just crashing at her desk. Putting her hands to her face, she attempted to dose off and rest there before class started, but fate wasn't on her side.

"Dae!" Jinyoung exclaimed, bursting through the door happily. he spots her at her desk in her depressed state and immediately gets worried. "Are you alright? I was going to tease you for not visiting me but it seems there's an actual reason for that and-"

Dae cuts off his adorable ranting with harsh acidic words she wishes she could take back.

"Get out, Jinyoung."

Jinyoung stops in his tracks. Looking at Dahyun and Chaeyoung, who were just as confused as him, they shrugged their shoulders.

"Are you alright? Did something happen over break? We can go on a walk or something to talk about it. I'm here for you."

"Jinyoung, not now. Go away."

Dae is refusing to look up, instead of keeping her head in her hands on the desk. He can't see her hurt and she can't see his.

But she could hear it.

"Did I do something?"

"Yes. No. I don't know! Just go."

"Will I see you at lunch?"

Anyone could hear the heartbreak in his tone. Dae felt all of his heartbreak and more.

Dae needed to put on a brave mask. She needed to go through with her father's wishes.

She lifted her head and glared and Jinyoung with hard eyes.

"No. We're done Jinyoung."

Jinyoung's eyes widened as he saw how serious Dae was about this.

Before a single tear fell on his face, traveling until it fell like a raindrop on the wooden floor.

It was the first time Dae saw Jinyoung cry. And it was because of her.

The one tear turned into many as he started sobbing in front of her. She wanted so desperately to tell him it was because of her parents, or at least cry with him. But she kept a scowl as he broke down.

"Can you go now?" She harshly commanded. She didn't want to see him go but also didn't want to see him cry any longer. This was the only way of getting him to leave.

Jinyoung looked at her heartbrokenly.

"I don't know what changed in you. But I'm still going to work hard and keep my side of the deal. I'll be here if you ever want me again."

Running out the door, Dae broke down, choked sobs ripping out of her as she blamed herself for everything that is happening.