Killer Concepts

Ravi Part One: FIVE .....

A/N     this is an edited version of my original story.  When I first considered uploading  to Wattpad  I was mistakenly under the impression that there was a word limit as to how long each chapter could be so I pared down what I had written.  Though the essence of what I wanted to say was still here, I felt that some of the flavor had been watered down.  After doing a lot of research with many of the helpful How To articles here, I realized my mistake.  Now I am restoring a few chapters to their original lengths.  If you have already started reading I hope you will consider giving these new chapters a look and let me know how you feel about the changes. Since my story isn't complete yet, there are only a few chapters that have to be changed.         Thank you all for your concideration. 

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 "Who do those guys think they're fucking with," Ravi growled, slamming his way through the front door of their group dorm apartment. N followed close behind, catching the door before it could bounce back in his face. The others filed in behind him. It was after midnight. Everyone was tired. They had just wrapped filming the final dance sequence for their debut MV. The song chosen by their management team was a bright and colorful song called "Super Star". It was full of glitz and glamour and the management felt it would make a splashy introduction for their new group. Everyone at the company was excited and the members of the group should have been too.

No one was.

Especially Ravi.

"After everything they put us through, they want us to be just another fluffy pretty boy band!" Ravi vented his frustration by kicking a small table across the room. He continued to rant, pacing back and forth through the living room.

"They all thought I was someone they could pick on. It's my dream to raise the value of my star, to be recognized as someone different. It's finally time for my name to see the light of the world." His low pitched rapper voice naturally picked up the tempo of his pacing. Within seconds he had slipped out of his super cool rapper persona into the true beast that raged within. His cursing turned into a personal battle rap.

"Here we go again." Hongbin rolled his eyes as he walked past Ravi heading for his room. Leo and Ken just shrugged their shoulders as they followed him. They were unfazed by what they recognized as the start of another of Ravi's black moods. It wasn't the first time for any of them.

N went to the small kitchen just off the livingroom. After putting a pot of water on the stove to heat, he waited.

Hyuk ran to sit in the far corner of the livingroom. He slumped into his usual position at times like this, knees pulled up tight to his chest, face buried in his knees, hands covering his eyes.

"Who the HELL do they think they are? What gives them the right to decide what songs we produce?" Ravi ranted to no one in particular.

"They are the ones who hold our contracts," N replied in a calm voice from the kitchen. "The contracts we all agreed to sign. So we have to play along."

"Contracts! Might as well have signed them in blood seeing how we ended up selling our souls. What do they know about real music?"

N's attempt to pacify Ravi's growing anger only seemed to enrage him more. He didn't say anything more and kept busy in the kitchen. After wrapping a slim parcel in newspaper, N stood patiently by the front door, his ears picking up the timber of Ravi's rage. He could tell it would be futile to try and calm Ravi down at this point.

"All those bastards see is the dollar signs at the end of the bottom line. Holding their power over our heads like Gods."

Suddenly Ravi headed for the front door, grabbing a black knit cap off the rack by the door. He pulled it down low. His face was contorted into a grimace with pent up emotions. As he reaches for the doorknob, N presses the paper wrapped parcel into his chest. Ravi stared at the package for a second before stuffing it into the front pouch of the dark gray hoodie he was wearing under his black leather jacket. N gently grabbed Ravi's upper arm, holding him in place. The two exchanged a knowing look.

"Do what you need to do." N whispered to Ravi. "Just be smart about."

With a sniff and a huff, Ravi stormed out of the apartment.

After Ravi left, N turned to the corner of the room where Hyuk still sat, tightly curled in on himself. Squatting next to Hyuk, N soothingly stroked his soft, baby fine hair.

"Why don't you go to bed little maknae, everything will be ok in the morning," N told him.

"Will it?" Hyuk murmured, his voice so rich and deep for one so young. He looked up at N's smiling face, his innocent eyes full of bewilderment. "Will it really be ok?"

N nodded with reassurance. He helped Hyuk to his feet and guided him to his bedroom. Once inside his room, Hyuk fell into bed, still fully clothed, and cocooned himself in his blankets. His whole body was trembling. Not with fear as you might expect. Ravi's black moods didn't frighten him. What Ravi did on these outings didn't frighten him. What did frighten him was the excitement; the yearning he felt within himself. Hyuk squeezed his eyes tightly closed, refusing to acknowledge the desire in his heart.

N could see him trembling under the blanket and sat on the floor next to the bed. Like he was comforting a small child, N pat Hyuk's back until the trembling stopped and Hyuk fell asleep.

"You'll soon come to accept who you are," N whispered to Hyuk's sleeping form. He got up to head to his own room. "Just like we all have."

Instead of getting ready for bed, N changed his clothes. He dressed in a set of old, tattered clothes, an oversize shabby coat and a large hat. Silently he slipped out of the dorm on an outing of his own.  

A/N

What, dear readers, do you think Ravi plans to do with all that pent-up anger?

What is in the mystery package N handed to him?

If Ravi doesn't scare him, what is Hyuk so afraid of?

And where could N be sneaking off to in the middle of the night?

In time all these questions will be answered. In the meantime, I am interested in hearing your thoughts.

I know it's just a start but if you like the story so far, please take the time to give me a vote. It will be greatly appreciated.

All of you take care and in this time of global crisis, be safe and stay healthy.