NCT's Starlight - NCT 22nd Male Member

4.

I walked into the practice room and saw that all of the new members were already there. My eyes widened slightly and I checked my watch. It read 8:30. I looked up at the eight males in question and just shook my head.
"How long have you all been here?"

Kai shyly smiled and held up ten fingers.
"About ten minutes. We already started stretching and warming up."

I set down my stuff and connected my laptop to the sound system.
"At least I don't have to worry about you guys being late to practice."

Minseok and Taejoon laughed and I looked for the list of songs they had given me yesterday.
"First song for dance is Taejoon."

He moved swiftly and fluidly, making it hard for me to even notice his transitions into the next move. We all clapped and I noted his clean transitions. I scrolled though the playlist and landed on the next persons.
"Yashi you're next."

He had a rougher way of moving but it suited his personality and style very well. Another round of applause was heard and I looked for the next person on my list once again.
"Yeongjun you're up."

He had some trouble with smoother movements but his sharp moves were all on point. I nodded and scrolled again.
"Jackson."

Jackson molded himself into different shapes and stances throughout the dance. I was shocked by how much he was able to do. Next up was Joshua. He waddled up kind of slowly but ended up with an amazing show.

"Next up is Sungbin."

I noted his clean footwork and flexibility and moved on to the next member.
"Kai. Show us what you've got."

He ended with a wide smile and I nodded before calling up Minseok who was the last one to perform for the dance section. He stumbled once in the dance but kept on going so it was almost unnoticed.

"Okay. Everyone did great. I see that each of you really put emphasis on the things I told you to work on. That's very impressive and I give you all props for that. Now we just have vocal and rap to go over for today."

Everyone nodded and I let them all have a ten minute break to cool down and drink some water. Their practice in general had gone very well so I felt pride swell in my chest. They are going to do great things.

"Hyung."

I turned and saw Kai standing behind me.
"Yeah?"

He held out a water bottle for me and smiled.
"You should drink some water too."

I thanked him and drank some of the water before glancing around the room. Everyone seemed to be close with each other already so I didn't have to worry about them all getting acquainted. Now I just needed to get to know them.

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We finished up practice and it was about 3pm. I gathered up the new members and we walked out of the practice room to be met with one of the managers for our group. He was down the hall and looked like he was getting onto someone about something. I didn't think anything of it until I saw him drag Haechan and Renjun into the practice room nearest to them. The newer members didn't seem to notice.

"Guys I'll be back in just a second. I need to go check on something."

They nodded and walked over to the snack machines. I took large steps to the last practice room on this hallway. The door was closed but wasn't locked, so I threw it open. Once I was inside I saw the manager shove Haechan to the ground and then hit Renjun. Every fiber of my being ignited with pure rage at the sight before me. Haechan's cries for the man to stop and Renjun's tears were all I saw and heard in that moment. It was like someone lit a firework and they were just waiting for the right time for it to explode. None of them seemed to notice that I was standing there in the doorway, so I used this to my advantage. The moment the guy turned to look at Haechan on the floor and I was out of his line of sight I bolted towards him. My fast steps seemed to slow as I saw Haechan's abdomen that was now revealed from his shirt sliding up. Bruises littered his stomache area and I am sure they weren't by accident. While I was distracted by the horrid sight before me, the manager turned and saw me. I was still spaced out and too shocked at what I was seeing to realize that he had charged at me. A punch was thrown at my stomache and I saw the two younger males widen their eyes in fear. This only made my rage grow inside of me. The next punch he threw was coming towards my face so I slightly dodged it and grabbed his hand. Within a second I had his arm behind his back and he was kneeling on the floor.

"What do you think you're doing, kid? You really think that a stupid half bred mix like yourself could save these two? You can't even save yourself from your own thoughts. What are you going to be able to do for them?"

While I was distracted he pinned me to the ground. His fists kept hitting my face over and over again. I was sure that I was bleeding by now. Haechan was lying almost motionless on the ground and Renjun was by his side examining his wounds and looking back at me from now and then. In that moment, I did the one thing that no one expected. I smiled. The love they have for one another through their hardships and hard work showing in the times they needed it. That is a true blessing for anyone to see. Once I was injured enough that I was slipping out of consciousness, the guy got off of me and walked towards the other two. He grabbed Renjun and threw him across the room with ease. He cried out in pain and as the man walked closer to him I felt a sudden adrenaline rush. I was then on my feet and moving at a rate I didn't know I was capable of. The guy went falling to the floor as I tackled him and I landed a few punches on him in his shocked state. Once he was to the point of passing out I spoke out in a low and threatening tone.

"If you ever come near my members again, I will not hesitate to do the unimaginable to you."

He passed out and I got up and walked over to Renjun. He was crying in a balled up position in the corner and I hugged him.
"Hey, you're safe now. It's just me, Kyu."

Renjun looked up at me and cried louder. His small arms wrapped around me and I carefully caressed his hair.
"Haechannie-"

We both practically ran over to Haechan and saw his motionless state. Renjun grasped his hands and tugged them.
"Hey, get up you dummy. We're safe. Haechan?"

I looked over at Renjun and ordered him to go get help.
"Go get someone. Anyone. Go!"

He ran out of the room and down the halls and I placed Haechan in my lap.
"Lee Donghyuck I swear to God if you die on me I will not let your ghost self live it down."

A small chuckle left Haechan's body and he smiled a little bit.
"I'm not planning on it."

I stroked his hair and held his hand while the medics came in and took him away. Renjun went with him and I went along as well to fill out the paper work once we got there. I told the members of 9toU to go ahead and go home. They saw my bruised and bloodied face and some of them asked questions, but all I knew was that I needed to go with Renjun and Haechan. That was all I could think about. I left the newer members swiftly and saw the police picking up the manager. One specific police man came over to the three of us as we were loading into the ambulance.

"Don't worry about him. He won't be around to bother you guys anymore."

I nodded and we left to the hospital. Now all I had to do was figure out how to explain this to the other members of NCT.