THE UNIVERSE IS OURS • 2ND ASTRO ONESHOT COLLECTION

empty hate • sanhyuk

Rocky wasn't sure how it came to this. Not that he was complaining. It was just fascinating how from the very beginning he wasn't overly fond at the idea that someone younger than him ran around the practice room without care about what they should be doing.

It felt so long ago that they were just trainees and Rocky had this hatred for one Yoon Sanha.

But, was it really hate? Maybe it was more annoyance, and frustration. Because he couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Sanha was so carefree while they had to practice and pass exams to be able to debut as idols one day. He felt as if the younger wasn't serious at all, as if he was doing this for shits and giggles. Maybe that was why they rarely had any time together when they were young.

Rocky learned though, that not everything has to be so sternly on a schedule. That sometimes he has to let go and have fun to be able to do well. The younger had taught him that there was a time to just goof around before they have to go back to the reality of their trainee lives.

After that, Rocky learned that it was all empty hate.

There really was no such thing in his heart, because the one emotion in it was opposite than that.

Rocky was always with Bin, being trainees together for so long, and with the older members, as their annoying dongsaeng. But with Sanha, there was rarely any time to be alone since there was always another member as a buffer. Maybe that's why sometimes their interactions were stilted at best, but it doesn't hide the fact that they work well together. Too well that the others were often quite in confusion at how they never fight. Sanha and he would just exchange looks and shrug. There was nothing to fight about. He understood Sanha in ways maybe the other's find it annoying at times, or maybe it was the one-year difference between them, but either way, fighting was never in their vocabulary. Bantering might be, but that's all for fun. The hyungs often tease him how he was too soft for the younger, but he just can't help himself.

"Who's the member that you have the best chemistry with?"

Rocky read the question and felt a tad flustered. Reaching a hand to his nose, a habit whenever he was nervous or was thinking, his mind ran through the possibilities of his answer. He turned to scan the rest of the members. He already knew the answer and yet, he was debating whether he should say it or lie.

But truly, each one of the members – who was basically family – got along well with him. They all did get along well with each other, it was obvious from the start. With Myungjun, the eldest, he brightens up everyone's day by being the sunshine of the group yet still manages to be stern when needed. Rocky can trust him to go along with anything, though he might have to push him a little bit when it came to ask him to randomly practice with him in the practice room. Eunwoo, who he knew as Dongmin the first time and will always be Dongmin to him, was someone serious when it comes to everything that needs all his focus. It was a great opportunity to work with him for a song, learned a lot from him then too. But at the same time, he was just the same regular imperfect guy who just made it look easy to do the things he does now and on things he needed help with, Rocky was always first in line to help him with anything just like how Eunwoo would help him. Bin was someone he trained with for so long, his literal best friend of all best friend (but don't tell Chani that). Late nights in the dance studio, practicing and dancing, making choreographies. And most of all, just eat. They can share whatever was bothering them, and he was basically the older brother he never had. He was sure in another lifetime, they might as well be blood brothers. But even in this era, blood doesn't determine that they aren't. They just are. Jinwoo was basically everyone's parent (though if you ask Myungjun, he'd probably say husband). Everyone, including Rocky, can go to him for advise or when they have problems. Not only that, but they can talk to him or rope him in any of their antics and the leader would go along with it. He's someone that Rocky can rely on for everything and anything and Jinwoo would do anything he could to help – that's why he was the leader.