#backup dancer

[wonton88]

Still, You Choose Me

Pairing: idol!Jungwon x backupDancer!reader

Genre: Fluff, soft angst, idol AU, established relationship, Bite Me era

Synopsis: During Bite Me era rehearsals, you’re assigned as a backup dancer - professional, careful, and secretly Jungwon’s girlfriend. When partner pairings don’t go the way either of you expect, quiet jealousy settles in.

Word Count: ~1.8k+

A/N: Hai! So again, thank you @gatowon for assuring me of this idea! I was on the bridge of whether or not to write it, but I decided to! I really hope you guys enjoy! ‼️

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 

The practice room is colder than usual.

Or…maybe it just feels that way.

Mirrors line the walls, reflecting the same scene over and over - members stretching, dancers adjusting their shoes, staff murmuring quietly near the speakers. You roll your shoulders once, twice, grounding yourself.

This is just rehearsal.

This is normal.

This is work.

Still, you feel his eyes on you.

Jungwon stands a few feet away, listening as the choreographer explains spacing. He looks focused - jaw set, posture perfect - but the moment you move, his attention shifts.

It’s almost instinctive.

Every time you step into formation, his gaze follows. Not obvious enough to get him scolded. Just enough that you notice. Just enough that it makes your chest tighten.

You don’t look back.

You can’t.

Not yet.

The music starts.

Bite Me fills the room - dark, sharp, deliberate. Your body slips into muscle memory, movements precise and controlled. When the choreography brings you closer to him, your heart stutters despite yourself.

He’s steady. Professional.

But his hand hesitates - barely a fraction of a second—when it passes near yours.

Enough to notice.

Enough to hurt.

The music cuts.

“Alright,” the manager says. “We’ll announce pairings.”

You swallow.

Names are called one by one. Dancers move. Members nod. The room shifts as pairs fall into place.

Then your name.

“And you’ll be paired with-”

Not Jungwon.

It’s Jake.

Your eyes flick up before you can stop yourself.

He doesn’t react at first.

Then you see it - the subtle tightening of his shoulders. The way his lips press together. 

The way he doesn’t look at you at all.

Practice resumes, but something is off.

Jungwon dances cleanly, but the warmth is gone. When you’re near your assigned partner, Jake, his gaze hardens. When Jake laughs at something you say, Jungwon looks away completely

Practice continues.

No one says anything about the shift in energy, but you feel it. The air is heavier now. More deliberate.

“From the top,” the choreographer calls.

You take your place beside Jake.

He offers you a small, polite smile. 

Professional. Easy to work with. It should make this easier.

It doesn’t.

The music starts again.

This part of the choreography is closer- meant to be intimate, sharp in contrast to the distance built into the rest of the routine. 

Jake’s hand finds your waist when it’s supposed to. Firm. Correct. Nothing inappropriate.

Still, your body tenses on instinct.

You feel it immediately.

Across the room, Jungwon’s gaze sharpens.

You don’t look at him. You can’t. You focus on the counts, the timing, the way Jake’s grip shifts slightly as you turn. His thumb presses in for balance. It’s brief. Necessary.

Jungwon sees all of it.

His jaw tightens.

The mirror betrays him - his reflection a little too rigid, movements just a touch sharper than before. He’s still perfect. Always is.

But the warmth is gone.

Between takes, Jake leans in slightly. “You good?” he asks quietly.

You nod. “Yeah.”

“You’re really clean with this,” he adds, encouraging. “Makes it easy.”

You smile, grateful despite yourself. 

“Thanks.”

Across the room, Jungwon looks away.

The music starts again.

Jake’s hand returns to your waist. You pivot, step, fall into place like you’re supposed to. 

Your movements are fluid, practiced.

Professional.

Still, you feel Jungwon’s attention like a weight.

When rehearsal finally pauses, Jake lets go immediately, stepping back with a respectful distance.

“Nice work,” he says lightly.

You nod, exhaling. “You too.”

That’s when you see Jungwon sitting down -  closed off in a way you know too well. 

After a while, the choreographers ask to run it again.

Everyone got up, retreating into their positions.

♡ 

By the time rehearsal ends, he’s already sitting, leaning against the mirror, arms folded loosely over his knees.

You approach quietly, sitting beside him.

“You’re quiet,” you say softly.

He exhales. “Mm.”

You tilt your head, studying him. “Want to tell me why?”

A beat.

“I don’t like it,” he admits finally.

You smile gently. “You don’t like…what?”

“You dancing with him.” His voice is calm, but his fingers curl into the fabric of his pants. “I know it’s stupid.”

“It’s not.”

He looks at you then - eyes soft, conflicted. 

“I trust you. I just…hate watching it.”

Your heart melts a little.

You reach for his hand, squeezing once. “Do you want to switch partners?”

His eyes widen. “We can do that?”

You shrug lightly. “We’re dating. And I doubt he’ll mind.”

Jungwon stands immediately, resolve replacing the pout. He laces his fingers with yours without thinking.

“Come with me,” he says. “Please.”

The manager listens. Nods. Agrees.

Jake smiles easily. “No problem.”

When it’s settled, Jungwon exhales like he’s been holding his breath all day.

Practice restarts.

This time, when the choreography brings you close, his hand doesn’t hesitate.

He glances at you once - just once - and there’s relief there. Gratitude. Something softer.

Afterward, as the room empties, he pulls you into a quiet corner.

“Thank you,” he murmurs.

“For what?”

“For choosing me.”

You smile, brushing your thumb over his knuckles. “I always do, Won.”

He leans his forehead against yours, eyes closing briefly.

And for the first time all day, he relaxes.

♡

EPILOGUE — AFTER THE FRAT PERFORMANCE 

The hallway backstage hums with noise - staff moving quickly, voices overlapping, adrenaline still buzzing in the air.

The first performance is over.

The album is out.

Bite Me is real now.

You find Jungwon tucked away near a quieter corner, still in stage clothes, hair slightly damp, eyes brighter than usual. The moment he sees you, something in his shoulders loosens.

You smile before you can stop yourself.

“That was amazing,” you say softly.

He exhales a small laugh. “I was so nervous.”

“You didn’t look it.”

“That’s because I kept looking for you,” he admits.

You step closer, lowering your voice. “You did great, Won.”

He looks at you for a long moment- really looks at you - like he’s grounding himself in the fact that this is over. That you’re here. 

That everything went well.

“I kept thinking,” he says quietly, “about how this is the first time we’re performing it for real.”

“And?”

“And I didn’t feel jealous.” His lips curve into a small smile. “I just felt…proud.”

Your chest warms.

Later, when the noise dies down and the celebration becomes quieter - shared drinks, soft laughter, the kind of exhaustion that feels earned - he pulls you aside again.

This time, there’s no rush.

No mirrors. No counts. No watching eyes.

Just the both of you.

He cups your face gently, thumbs brushing your cheeks like he’s memorizing you all over again.

“We did it,” he murmurs.

“You did,” you correct softly.

He shakes his head. “We.”

Then he leans in and kisses you.

It’s slow. Unhurried. Familiar in the best way.

When he pulls back, his forehead rests against yours.

“Thank you,” he whispers. “For today. For everything.”

You smile, brushing your nose against his. 

“Always.”

He smiles back.

And for the first time since rehearsals began- 

since the album consumed every waking thought-

he lets himself just be truly happy.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 

A/N: Finally!! This draft that I’ve been thinking of is out to the public 🙏🙏. I really hope you guys loved it! I will truly try to venture out of always doing Jungwon fics but it’s hard… ☹️

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