Work Text:
“Team Rhythm! Congratulations!”
Their team name was called, the confetti fell, and everyone cheered but Steven could only look to his right—at JL—and he swears he can see everything that happened the past months flash right before his eyes. From practicing prior to the start of filming, to being assigned in teams and finding their teammates now close friends, to losing those said teammates and gaining new ones. From crying tears of joy, of pain, of regret, to celebrating wins and mourning losses—big or small.
He sees every late night practice session, every vocal and dance lessons, every filming and playing and teasing and fighting and—
He feels tears well up in his eyes as he locked eyes with JL who is also getting teary eyed, probably thinking and feeling the same thing as he is. They have spent months being in this team and practicing with this team, after all.
He feels someone drag his arm (Jeongwoo, probably because he's sensible like that) and suddenly he's surrounded by the people he unexpectedly became close with. He snaps to reality and realizes he should be saying something; he's the leader and the eldest after all.
“I'm so proud of you,” Steven manages to croak despite the lump in his throat. His voice is a bit low but he doesn't worry they can't hear him. They're in a huddle, arms tightly wrapped around each other. He smiles at each of the guys on his team:
At Juwon, the younger brother he so loves to tease but admires for his dancing skills. Steven wonders whether Juwon will ever find out how hard they worked so they could have a chance to get him back to the team.
At Daisuke, their youngest member, who probably have a hard time because his elder brothers could be quite a handful to handle. Steven feels both sorry and thankful to their beloved maknae.
At Chih En, their ‘emotionless’ member. But all of them know just how soft Chih En is. Steven even caught him slipping tissue inside his pockets earlier, already predicting a lot of crying tonight.
At Jeongwoo, their newest addition to the group. Steven cannot help but feel a bit sorry towards him. It's a bit hard keeping up with their team (what with having a literal ace in it; Steven admits he has a hard time keeping up with JL and he knows it's the same with the others). He hopes he was able to help Jeongwoo ease up a bit while preparing for the finals.
At Shuaibo, who's probably the softest member of the group. Steven remembers how easily the guy tears up. And he also remembers how he worries for each of them: Is Chih En not feeling out of place? Did Daisuke not eat his vegetables again? Who pissed Juwon again? Is Jeongwoo hyung not going home yet? Are you okay, hyung? Is JL okay? Steven is grateful for Shuaibo and his soft and caring heart.
At JL…
Steven can't even begin to form words inside his mind about what to say to JL. So he tightens his grip on the latter's back and instead says, “I'm so glad I'm with all of you.”
Juwon now bursts out crying and with the way JL's shoulders are shaking under his grip, he knows JL is crying, too. There are tears in Ibo's eyes while Jeongwoo smiles warmly at him. Chih En smiles and gives him a nod while Daisuke looks like he's holding his tears back.
Steven fights back the lump in his throat. No, he doesn't want to cry yet. There's still a speech he needs to say and then there's still a lot more things that have to happen. The other two trainees will still be announced and he still has to worry about whether Han will debut with them. There's Hanseo, too. And Heejun. And Kyungho. He remembers he has to check on Sirin's condition later and—
There is so much to think and worry about.
But as they announced Han and Woongki's names, and more tears are shed, (and Steven has to hold a few more trainees to his arms, offering as much comfort and warmth as he can) he finds himself feeling a bit of relief in his heart. He's hurt—so, so hurt for the ones that couldn't make it with them—of course, but he also finds relief inside his heart.
He stands in front of the fans, with eight more people beside him, and finds himself feeling unbelievably relieved. When he turns to his side, he finds JL beside him and realizes why he's so, so relieved.
“JL acted as our beacon.”
He remembers saying that during the Represent Round. Back then, when everyone was feeling down after a bad evaluation from the mentors, JL literally acted as their beacon.
“Hyung, I will teach you.”
JL did more than just teach them how to sing better. He offered more than just helping them with their vocals.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
The day before the filming for the R round, JL approached him as they were wrapping their practices. He was drinking from his water bottle while watching the other members fix their bags, getting ready to leave. Steven thought of their practices and recalled his mistakes. Yep, not going home yet .
“Of course! Why?” He had answered JL, almost nonchalantly, while putting his water bottle down.
At the time JL had shook his head at him and said, “Nothing. Nevermind.” and went back to Juwon. But he remembers JL not going home with the others that time. JL stayed behind with him and practiced for two more hours with him.
Now, a few months later, he's standing hand in hand with the same guy in front of a crowd of cheering fans. He can hear Mac, Ayumu, and Eito's cheers and has seen Director Ten and Director Yangyang give them thumbs up. The lights are blinding but Steven is sure if there is anyone shining the brightest inside this hall right now, it would be the guy beside him.
He almost chuckles at the thought. That's what it means to be a three-pick, I guess?
If JL hears what he's thinking about right now, he's sure to get a slap on the arm. (JL's hands feel like they're made of steel and it wasn't until when they were filming the holiday episode did Steven find out why: the guy is a fricking volleyball player. Steven glared at JL for approximately three hours after he had found out, nursing his arm. JL laughed at him. The evil bastard.)
So, he tugs at JL's hand to get the latter's attention. He turns to him with eyebrows raised but Steven only gives him a look. What look, he doesn't know, but it must be something because JL gave him one of those rare soft and reassuring smiles he only ever gives to Steven every after a performance was done. JL sways their arms together, gives him a wide smile, and mouths something at him.
“We did it.”
And Steven feels his tears forming again but he smiles instead. He smiles because wow, JL is really getting better at Korean now?
He smiles because JL's right.
They all faced the crowd, hands clasped together for a deep bow.
Steven knows this isn't the end. No, in fact, it is far from the end. This is only the start. They will have a long way to go after this. But he smiles because JL's right. They did it.
They really did it. And they did it together.