I wrote this a while ago, and it's just sitting in my notes, so I'll share. I'm lowkey nervous sharing, but uh, yes.
It's kind of angsty, but eventually there will be fluff.
CHAPTER ONE: Cracks in the Mirror
It's kind of angsty, but eventually there will be fluff.
CHAPTER ONE: Cracks in the Mirror
The mirror was merciless.
Felix stood in front of it, sweat dripping down his temples as he replayed the chorus for what felt like the hundredth time. The music blared from the speakers, but no matter how hard he tried, his steps felt a second too late, his movements stiff, his expression fading.
“Again,” he whispered to himself, pressing the replay button on the remote with shaky hands.
His chest ached, lungs burning, but the thought of stopping made his stomach twist. Everyone else picked things up so quickly. Everyone else looked sharp. He was supposed to match them. He needed to match them.
From the doorway, Hyunjin leaned silently against the frame, arms crossed. He’d been watching for several minutes, unnoticed. At first, he thought Felix just wanted extra practice, but now… now he could see the way Felix’s shoulders sagged, how his jaw tightened every time he glanced at his own reflection like it was an enemy.
“Lixie.”
Felix startled, the music cutting off abruptly. He turned, breathless, strands of blond hair plastered to his forehead. “Oh—Hyunjin. I didn’t know you were still here.”
Hyunjin stepped into the room, his expression unreadable. “What are you doing? It’s past midnight.”
Felix forced a laugh. “Just… fixing a few things. I’ll be done soon.”
“You’ve been in here since practice ended.” Hyunjin’s voice was firm, but not harsh. His eyes softened as he stepped closer. “You’re overworking yourself.”
Felix looked away, hugging his arms around himself. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Hyunjin’s tone dropped lower, quiet but sharp enough to cut through the silence. “I can see it, Felix. The way you’re pushing yourself until you break.”
Something inside Felix wavered. His throat tightened, but he forced the words out anyway. “I have to. If I don’t get it right, I’ll hold everyone back. I’ll hold you back.”
Hyunjin froze, staring at him like the words had knocked the air out of him. He took a step closer, closing the distance until Felix couldn’t avoid his gaze. “Don’t you ever say that again.”
Felix blinked, startled by the intensity in Hyunjin’s voice.
“You don’t hold me back,” Hyunjin continued, his voice trembling slightly. “You’re the reason I push myself harder. You’re the one who keeps me grounded. Without you—” He stopped, biting down on the words, afraid of saying too much.
The silence between them was heavy, filled with everything neither of them dared to say. Felix’s chest ached, but for the first time that night, it wasn’t from dancing.
Hyunjin sighed, softer this time, and reached out. His fingers brushed Felix’s wrist, tentative, as if asking permission. “Please… don’t tear yourself apart like this.”
Felix swallowed hard, fighting the sting in his eyes. He wanted to argue, to tell Hyunjin he was fine, but the way Hyunjin was looking at him, like he mattered, like he was more than his mistakes, made the words crumble on his tongue.
For a moment, Felix let himself lean into the warmth of Hyunjin’s touch. Just a moment, before pulling away.
“I’ll… try”
Hyunjin didn’t push further. He just nodded, but the worry in his eyes lingered.
As they walked out of the practice room together, Felix glanced at the mirror one last time. The cracks he thought he saw in his reflection earlier felt a little less sharp, if only because Hyunjin had seen through them.
