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It was early winter, the air cold enough for Riki to see his breath but not cold enough for snow yet.
He had stayed at practice later than he should have, trying to nail down small details so he could help his members when they struggled.
So he got stuck walking back to the dorm.
Normally they’d have a driver since it was agreed to be simply too dangerous to be walking around alone, especially at night—but looking at his phone it read 1:43am, he didn’t want to inconvenience anyone by having to drive him home. so here he was.
There was a convenience store nearby that he and his members went to frequently since it wasn’t far from the dorm.
His stomach had grumbled and he had realized how hungry he had been, he decided he’d just stop at the convenience store because it was on the way.
He stepped into the convenience store and looked through the rows of food, he’s been here plenty of times to know what they have and where but he does it anyway. He ended up deciding on a triangle kimbap, kinda hard to go wrong with kimbap.
The cashier mumbled some small talk to him as he run him up but he wasn’t really listening, just humming occasionally and the other seemed to get the hint and waved bye.
walking back to the dorm he passed by an alley, he turned back when he heard some noises coming out from said alley.
Riki wasn’t dumb, he knows not to investigate random sounds from dark creepy alleyways—but he was curious and if there really was danger he’d just run away.
Walking further into the alleyway, he saw a small scruffy dog curled behind the dumpster. it had huge dark eyes, thin ribs that quite frankly made riki’s own ribs hurt looking at, and patchy fur the color of old caramel.. at least he thinks, it’s far to dark to tell.
He didn’t try to touch it, didn’t want to. Whatever this dog had whether it be fleas or rabies he wasn’t getting it. the dog definitely was hungry though… and riki being the person he is he can’t just leave a hungry dog when he has food.
Riki crouched down, placed his half eaten kimbap on ground and scooted back.
“Eat well, okay?” he mumbled.
The dog reluctantly took the food and riki walked away.
He didn’t expect the dog to be there the next day, he checked anyways.
In the same spot it was in the day before, there the dog was.
He hadn’t expected this dog to become such a big part of his life.
at first things were normal, he’d see the same dog in the alley and feel bad enough to give it food. but he soon found himself looking forward to seeing the dog, still far too skinny but looking more healthy (well as healthy a stray dog can look..)
days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. 2 months he had been feeding this stray dog and even petting it (yeah ok he said he wouldn’t touch it but it was simply too cute not to.)
Riki had started talking to the dog, giving a run down of his usual exhausting day.
“practice sucked today”
“sunghoon-hyung said i’m too loud when i eat.”
“i really wish i could fly to mexico on a seagull and have a lifetime vacation.”
the members weren’t very happy about riki coming home late every night so to say, but they got used to it.
They never asked why… actually they have, like a lot. but riki would just say the same thing “i wanted to stay longer to perfect the moves” or “i fell asleep in the practice room.” they were obviously lies. The members just stopped trying to get an answer because it clearly wasn’t happening anytime soon.
why doesn’t riki tell them? well because they’d be the classic “parents” as normal. they’d scold him for touching a unsafe dog that could have some type of virus or something…. and maybe he just wanted to keep it for himself, one simple thing for himself. he shares everything with his members, or with the media. having one thing a secret wouldn’t hurt right?
Practice ended late again—for riki at least, the others went home hours ago.
the streets were mostly empty. the air was cold enough to sting his nose when he breathed.
Riki shoved his hands into his pockets and walked the familiar route that was mainly muscle memory rather than actually knowing the way.
before he could even turn the corner into the alley, he heard shouting. and the dog half barking half whining.
riki froze.
“…stupid mutt.”
“kick it—!”
something in his chest dropped. he ran towards the voices.
the streetlights that barely ever worked flickered on—and that’s when he saw them. two men standing near the dumpster, swaying slightly and reeked of alcohol.
the dog was backed against the wall, growling low but trembling.
one man lifted his foot. riki didn’t even think.
“hey!”
both men turned.
riki stepped between them and the dog before his mind could even catch up to what he was doing, but the second he was standing there, he realized just how bad of an idea this had been. both men looked so angry and definitely not a reasonable type— but nonetheless he did it so he can’t back down now.
“leave it alone.” his voice sounded stronger then he felt.
the taller man squinted at him
“…kid. move.”
“no.” it came out sharp. he was proud his voice didn’t shake.
the other man laughed “you serious right now?”
his heart was hammering in his throat, but he refused to move.
“just go,” he said. “it’s just a dog.”
“yeah,” the tall one said slowly “exactly.”
then he shoved him. hard.
riki stumbled back, almost losing balance when he had to avoid stepping on the dog that was seemly too scared to move—sending his shoulder slamming into the brick wall. pain shot down his arm, but he pushed himself forward again without thinking.
“stop! what do you even think you’re doing?”
the second man grabbed the front of riki’s hoodie
“kid do you wanna get hurt?”
riki tried to break free “let go.”
the shove that followed sent him crashing to the ground. His elbow scraped hard against the cold pavement, skin burning instantly. for a second his vision blurred.
the dog lunged forward towards the men, barking wildly.
“stupid!-“
one of the men lifted his foot again. but this time it wasn’t toward the dog.
riki curled slightly, bracing himself—
A sharp whistle cut through the alley.
“hey!”
a car door slammed somewhere nearby.
voices.
“call the police!”
the men cursed under their breath
“whatever,” one muttered “not worth it.”
their footsteps staggered away, disappearing around the corner.
silence fell over the alley.
riki stayed laying on the ground for a second, breathing hard. his elbow stung and his shoulder was throbbing. he was already exhausted from practice. so god forbid a man wants to rest.
something warm nudged his arm.
“..hey,” he whispered hoarsely
the dog whined softly, licking at his scrapped hand—which honestly he hadn’t even realize he scrapped his hand as well.
he huffed out a soft laugh
“…guess we both kinda suck at fighting, huh?”
multiple rushed footsteps were coming towards him.
“are you ok?” it was a women’s voice, maybe in her early 30s?
riki had looked up at her “..yeah. just got the wind knocked out of me.”
her expression displayed concern as she scanned him before it switched to relief once she realized the boy in front of her wasn’t severely injured.
“do you want a ride back to your place? me and my husband,” she gestured to a tall man next to her “would be more then glad to give you one.”
riki quickly shook his head. even though they saved him from being juiced alive he wasn’t about to get into some stranger’s car.
“i’m alright.” he slowly got off the ground once he realized they were quite literally hovering over him while talking
standing up straight he patted his jacket down even though there wasn’t really much on it except for the tear where his elbow rubbed against the concrete causing it to rip. it kinda sucked, this is his favorite hoodie, or at least was.
“thank you though… i really should get going. my… family must be very worried.”
“i bet they are. you get going, and try not get in trouble again aye?” the man beside the women finally spoke, and man was his voice deep.
riki bowed deeply to them before walking out the alley and back towards his shared dorm. how is he going to explain this one?
he heard the car doors open and close behind him before the car drove off. however that wasn’t the only thing he heard, he heard patting coming from right behind him.
he turned around and what he saw confirmed his suspicions—the dog was following him.
he sighed “you’re… not supposed to come with me.”
the dog continued to follow him.
“…you’re going to get me in trouble.”
once he realized the dog wasn’t backing down, he just accepted it. he always wanted a dog anyways. let’s just hope the others think the same, yeah?
The dorm lights were still on when he finally reached the building.
riki stopped outside their dorm door and looked down at the dog. the dog looked up at him as well and they just stared at each other for while.
“…okay listen,” riki whispered, crouching slightly “you can’t bark. at all. ever. if you bark, i’m doomed.”
the dog just tilted its head in response which riki sighed at
“yeah didn’t think you’d understand..”
he stood up straight and pushed the door open silently after entering the pin. the dorm was quiet… which meant the others were out like a light
or someone was waiting… hopefully it’s the first one.
riki slipped his shoes off quietly as possible, wincing slightly when he bent his arm wrong.
the dog however, wasn’t trying to be silent at all. it was padding around and sniffing everything quite loudly.
“Shhh,” riki whispered urgently to which the dog just ignored him. of course.
he was halfway to his room when—
“ni-ki?..”
fuck.
riki froze before he turned around so painfully slow.
jungwon stood at the end of the hallway, hair messy from sleep and a shirt that was definitely too big to be his.
and he was staring directly at—
the dog.
there was a long silence. and riki briefly considered if getting juiced alive earlier might’ve been the easier option.
jungwon blinked. he looked at riki, then the dog, then back at riki.
“…why,” jungwon said slowly, “is there a dog in our dorm.”
riki opened his mouth to reply but ended up closing it again only after a few seconds.
“technically, it followed me.”
jungwon was about to say something, and then his eyes shifted to riki’s elbow. his hoodie was ripped only slightly but it was a light color, making the blood more then visible.
“why are you bleeding?”
riki immediately covered the spot with his (scraped) hand. ouch. “i’m not.”
“you are.”
when did jungwon get closer?
who seemed to be half sleep before was now fully awake with that leader look.
he grabbed the hand that riki was using to cover the whole scene when he noticed that there had been scrapes there too.
“ok something definitely happened. don’t try to bullshit me and say you fell. you’ve been staying out late for weeks and now you show up at,” he checked his phone “2:58am, almost 3.” the phone was pocketed before he continued “—and now you show up looking like you got mauled and with some random dog.”
riki shifted his weight uncomfortably
“well it’s not exactly random…”
jungwon blinked “what?”
wow the ceiling looked quite interesting.
riki was seriously thinking of just staring at the ceiling the whole time until jungwon dropped it— but jungwon wasn’t backing down.
jungwon gently grabbed riki’s uninjured hand, squeezing it lightly. riki slowly looked back to jungwon’s face.
“riki, baby, i’m not mad. please i just want to know what happened. i’m worried— i have been worried. so has everyone else.” jungwons eyes glazed over with the threat of unshed tears, and riki could feel his own eyes start to burn at the sound of his birth name
“riki…”
but before jungwon could say anything else, a door burst open down the hallway
“why are you guys awake—“
sunoo stopped mid-sentence. he blinked once. twice. then gasped like someone had handed him the greatest gift on earth.
“IS THAT A DOG?” okay so he definitely half asleep anymore.
the dogs tail wagged like crazy and sunoo rushed forward before either jungwon or riki could even react and dropped straight to his knees in front of it
“Oh my god hi hello who are you???”
the dog licked his hand excitedly
sunoo looked up at riki with wide eyes “where did you get it??”
riki cleared his throat “long story actually..”
sunoo tilted his head, still way too interested in the dog who he was now petting like he’s never seen one before.
“short version?”
“i might’ve accidentally brought him home..”
“how did you accidentally bring a dog home?”
jungwon rubbed at his temples
“ni-ki.”
riki winced slightly. right… he was supposed to be in trouble.
“he followed me home i didn’t have a choice.”
sunoo looked down at the dog
“… you chose us?..” he whispered dramatically to it
the dog licked his hand again, to which sunoo clutched his chest
“oh my god he did.”
jungwon looked like he was losing years off his life each passing second.
“sunoo, please focus.”
“i am focusing,” sunoo argued “on the dog.”
meanwhile the dog had wandered back over to riki and nudged his leg
sunoo noticed. his smile faded slowly.
“wait.”
his eyes moved to riki’s elbow, where the fabric was torn (which riki is still pissed that his favorite hoodie had perished in this battle.)
“why is your hoodie ripped?” sunoo gasped “and why are you bleeding?”
riki tried to immediately turn his arm away
“it’s nothing.”
sunoo stood up instantly
“it’s not nothing.”
jungwon sighed, “see? this is what i was trying to ask before you very rudely interrupted.”
sunoo paid no mind to jungwon as he grabbed riki’s wrist and turned his arm so he had perfect view
the scrape along his elbow wasn’t fully visible since it’s not like the hoodie ripped completely (thank god.) but what sunoo could see he definitely didn’t like.
“ni-ki.”
sunoo looked between the dog and riki
“…did you fight someone over this dog.”
sunoo had let go of riki’s arm when riki hesitated to answer, apparently it answered enough.
“HE FOUGHT SOMEONE OVER A DOG?”
sunoo’s voice echoed throughout the dorm. gosh riki wanted to dig his own grave right here and just lay in it forever.
“shhhhh! do you want to wake everyone else up?!”
too late.
a door creaked open down the hall. great.
“why are you yelling…” a voice laced with sleep which was instantly recognizable as jake’s.
jake walked silently into the living room where the other three already were.
he squinted at the dog and then shifted his gaze to the maknae line
“you know … i might be hallucinating but i think there’s a dog in our living room.”
riki slowly dragged a hand down his face
“no jake there is a dog in our living room.”
“…why?”
yep. that confirmed it. riki was going insane. every time someone comes out it’s just going to be never ending loop of questions. riki was looking at the floor for god knows how long when he was snapped out of his thoughts
“earth to ni-ki?..” heeseung’s voice called out.
riki blinked and lifted his head. he seriously didn’t notice the others coming out. everyone was now here. and he’s sure they’re depending answers.
“i’ll explain,” riki sighed “but can someone help me get this,“ he gestured to his elbow “cleaned up. you know not to sound like a baby or anything but it kinda hurts.”
after jay and sunghoon helped riki dress his injuries they all sat on the couch while riki was standing in front of them, he explained everything—from the day he met the dog to the day he got attached. (leaving out the part where he’d gossip about them of course) and led it up to what happened today.
they weren’t very happy that the reason he stayed out so late was a dog but they understood. riki had to grow up to fast and it wasn’t that surprising he clung to the one thing he thought was his.
“so….” sunoo added once riki was done explaining “are we going to keep it?”
“no.” jungwon, heeseung, and sunghoon all said at the same time. much to riki’s and sunoo’s dismay.
“think about it, we’re idols. we hardly have enough time to keep ourselves healthy let along a dog who can’t care for itself.” heeseung added on
riki hated that he was right.
jake seemed to notice the disappointment on riki’s face “we can take it to the shelter and make sure it gets a good family though.”
with the pouty face riki was making he looked like an adorable duck, the members almost cooed at it but quickly stopped themselves.
“right.. as long as it’s safe.”
he’d never even named the dog. he thought that if he did he’d get attached and be sad when the dog was no longer in the same spot it normally was. turns out you don’t need to name something to become attached.