— EDWARDS MARTIN, HEART IS YOURS, DESPITE THE BLUES.
CHAPTER 9!
TAGS: idol!martin x nonidol!reader | ennemies to bestfriends to lovers | slowburn | pure angst | lots of humor! | reader is bsf with Cortis! | fluff | kissing, cuddling, crying in each others arms!DOWNBAD!Martin!
IN WHICH... Blackmailing a K-pop idol was never part of the plan. Neither was spending weeks hanging around his studio, arguing over sneakers, or accidentally becoming friends with his members. It was supposed to be simple: keep his secret, admire his sneaker collection, steal a tiny comeback spoiler, and leave.
Alas, Y/N finds herself caught between Martin and the secrets he refuses to share. As their friendship deepens, so do the cracks beneath the surface-late-night arguments, quieter confessions, and feelings that absolutely weren't part of the deal progressively mish-mash their bond. They might definitely just be in way over their heads...
— Don’t forget the texts right before the written part of the chapter y’all 🧘🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️
<- PREVIOUS PART | NEXT PART ->
James sighed deeply, annoyed by his friend’s ignorance.
The group was in the lobby of HYBE’s headquarters, sprawled lazily on a couch, waiting for what felt like an eternity.
“Should we just go in the studio?” Juhoon proposed, only to be followed by a succession of sighs.
“I’m just too tired to go upstairs, man…” Keonho muttered, while dragging his feet up and down the couch.
“What, so you’re not excited to see what they’re doing?” Sean laughed.
“What are you implying here, kiddo?” The manager asked with a confused smile.
“Maybe they’re in a full make out session and that’s why he’s not responding.”
At that, everyone jolted so hard that Keonho bumped his injured pinky onto Juhoon’s head.
“AOUCH—” He mumbled.
“Okay, you’re CRAZY for assuming such a thing, Seonghyeon.” James replied, as serious as amused.
“What, so it’s unrealistic?” He asked with a smile.
“I mean… We all know what they say…” Juhoon muttered with a devilish grin.
“I’m not familiar. What do they say?” James said while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Hate is the closest emotion to love…”
“Okay, now you’re just making shit up.” The manager laughed, a bit startled.
“It wouldn’t be THAT unbelievable, though. Cause the plan is working.” James stated, this time with a hand on his chin.
“Yeah, we kinda ate on this one, y’all!” Keonho smiled, completely unbothered by the ache on his hand.
“And considering how he looks at her…”
“As in?” Juhoon asked.
“As in—” James continued. “The “I wanna kiss every part of your body” type look.”
“Pff. But he’s just so dumb. Acting all aggressive with her when it’s clear he likes her.” Seonghyeon muttered in his breath.
“Right, it’s definitely not a good move. I don’t even know WHY he’s doing this?”
“You kids are as oblivious as him.” The manager rambled, while looking at his phone. “You guys never even met a girl you liked already. Maybe you’d act the same if you did.”
“No we wouldn’t. Martin’s just emotionally constipated.” Juhoon laughed.
“He just never had to deal with those feelings before.”
“Still. He’s not smooth at all.” James grimaced. “Like, he’s always so bubbly and positive all the time, and then all of a sudden, she’s the difference?”
“So obvious, ugh!” Seonghyeon chuckled with a raspy voice.
“I wouldn’t nag him too much if I were you guys. You don’t know how it’ll be when you’ll find a girl you like.” The manager smiled.
“Okay. But still. He’s emotionally unstable whenever she’s with him.” Keonho stated.
The manager sighed deeply, before declaring one last protest for his leader.
“Martin is sick, kids.” He proclaimed with a serious tone. “You all know it.” And he looked at them gravely. “I’m not saying you can’t make fun of him, since it’s objectively funny. Just don’t push it into him.” He pinched the edge of his nose. “He’s already sick enough.”
And on these words, all of them closed their mouths.
It’s that, it was always difficult to deal with these kind of problems. Not only with the manager, but with Martin himself.
He’d never speak of his struggles. He’d just burst out on a random day, and throw up of disgust. He’d get scolded from his members for acting this stupidly, get reminded how pale and tired he looked time to time, but he’d always wake up the next morning with the biggest grin on earth plastered on his pale face, acting oblivious to the fact that he was putting himself in great danger.
They’d always made fun of him. He was an easy target, and he seemed to like being joked at. But they’d always try to add some distance, or to nag him on anything that wasn’t related to his physical appearance.
Sickness, that is, wasn’t something to take lightly. Even in the funniest of circumstances, just like shen he’d act aggressively towards Y/N.
Because what had to be taken into account, is that his attitude was maybe not pushed by the girl herself, but simply by his thoughts, his vision, his illness.
Not that it was officially one.
Well, in the industry, it had never really been one. But the members wished it was. So he’d get treated. It had never happened in the field.
Anyway.
“Should we go, then?” Juhoon finally asked for the second time, after the most agonizing and painful silence they’d ever shared.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Keonho rose from his seat on the couch, and dusted off his trousers with his cast.
All of the boys followed, rising up from the couch, slowly but surely.
“Just go, I’ll stay. Gotta make a call for Lolla.” The manager declared, with more ease than before. “I’m tryna negotiate for Juicy J to perform with you, kids.”
“WHAT!” James screamed loudly, his heart beating faster than ever.
“ARE YOU DEADASS?!” Keonho jumped at his turned.
“Hey, hey— But it’s secret. Go pick them up and we’ll talk about it later with Martin at the dorm.”
“ANIYAA! Please, let it be now—” Seonghyeon complained with his hands clasped.
“What, so you don’t wanna see your guy making out with his pretty opp?” The manager replied with a grin, desperately trying to make the group go.
Seonghyeon smiled with a disgusted face, and crossed his arms on his chest.
“That’s what I thought, kiddo.” The manager laughed. “C’mon. Go, I’ll stay right there anyway.”
•••
Keonho ran to the elevator as fast as he could, trying not to bump into some employees passing by in the process.
“What if they’re just not there?” He asked, his voice disturbed by his jumps.
“Where would they even go?” James furrowed his brows.
“I don’t know, the convenience store or som—”
“How could he even get somewhere in the street without being cornered by weird noonas— this is unrealistic.”
“Well, I don’t know, Seonghyeon.” Keonho rambled, as the elevator doors closed. “But he hasn’t responded and it’s concerning.”
“Maybe he’s just busy on his music, who knows. It’s not that deep.” Juhoon rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, except when there’s a possibility that he collapses in front of her.” James declared gravely.
“Hm.”
“And then, we’d actually be in deep shit.” He continued, as the other members went silent. “Cause there’s no way she doesn’t spread the rumor. Even her actually knowing about him is dangerous.”
“Yeah, well, he’d deserve it. Would make it stop him a bit.” Seonghyeon shrugged.
“Bro, do you ever think? Just look at what people are already saying about him. There’s no way it stops him from doing anything, if not, it would make it even worse.” Juhoon interrupted, with a hand on his chest.
“Do you think we should just take his phone away from him?” Keonho asked with concern.
“I don’t think we’re allowed to do that.” James chuckled quietly, and the elevator doors opened again.
“Well, then, let’s hope they’re just making out.” The youngest chuckled devilishly, and he began walking through the dim hallways of HYBE.
“Pff.” Juhoon laughed at his turn, and they all headed towards the studio at the end of the corridor.
It was true that these hallways were particularly dark, even hollow. No posters, no decorations, not even a single plant, mind you. HYBE’s headquarters genuinely felt like a gigantic, empty black box when you thought of it.
The boys’ walk was slow, steady, and a bit apprehending. Well, that was to say, Martin rarely not opened any messages. He’d been trying some digital detox for a few days because of the hate, so the only occasional notification he’d get were practically prices, and he’d open them on the spot. Consequently, there was to be concerned about. Him going silent was rather unusual, unless he’d fallen asleep, though he only did when his friends were with him, or in-between performances.
They reached the door of the studio after a few seconds, and immediately looked at each other in confusion.
“If he killed her, then we take his laptop.” James announced in a whisper.
“Okay.” Keonho simply responded, and on these words, he practically slammed the door open. “OYAAAA, MY KEBAB BOY—” He screamed, only to close his mouth immediately at the sight of his friends.
“Oh my god—” Juhoon said quietly.
“This is even BETTER than making out—” Seonghyeon added with the biggest smile.
“Yo shut up, you guys!” James whisper-shouted to his members.
“Okay, I’m never losing an argument EVER again with a situation like this.” Keonho said quietly at his turn, as the group settled slowly in front of the couch.
It was something.
Y/N was dead asleep, her head and hand resting somewhere between Martin’s shoulder and his back. She looked utterly comfortable, seeming to have the most recoverable sleep to ever exist.
And right sprawled on her, was Martin.
His laptop had been pushed on the floor right in front of his shoes, probably when he’d fallen asleep and fell on her lap. He was face plant to a place near her chest, belly, thigh, somewhere in between… And his arms were tightening around her waist, in a possessive yet purely instinctive manner.
His fingers lingered loosely on her bare skin revealed by the motion of her shirt as she slept, so did her lips slightly whiff the last piece of Martin she was still in touch with.
It didn’t really feel like they’d fallen asleep on each other. Rather that they’d fallen asleep together.
Seeing them like this felt somewhat familiar, domestic, and incredibly intimate. Because it clearly looked like, while falling asleep, they’d just opted for a merging, because it felt more comfortable.
“I’m definitely taking a picture of this.” Juhoon immediately took his phone out of his pocket, while trying to laugh as quietly as possible.
Seonghyeon giggled, as James desperately tried to stop him from making any more noise, but the sound was a tad too loud. Martin adjusted his position, while mumbling a sleepy and uncoordinated moan. As a reflex in his sleep, he immediately began tightening his grip on Y/N’s waist, almost as an instinctive gesture.
A click was heard, and the flashlight immediately turned on, without Juhoon controlling it.
“What! No— I swear I’d put it off—” He muttered, but it was too late.
A loud growl was heard from Martin, entirely inelegant and definitely not performative.
“Rrmmmpfff…” He whined with difficulty, and immediately turned his head straight onto Y/N’s stomach, to avoid the light from burning his eyes.
Followed to this movement, was the slight flicker of light Y/N caught as she slowly opened her eyes, still so tired she couldn’t intercept much of what was really going on in the room.
Martin lightly patted the pattern he was currently touching, trying to find his landmarks to determine where exactly he was. Just as his eyes rose from her lap to her face, so did hers lower right onto his head.
And that’s when they realized.
The boys had never seen a jolt this fast. It was like they were physically torn apart from each other, the whole phenomenon concluding to him, jumping as fast as he could to the further corner of the room, while she immediately sprinted on the end of the couch.
“Oh my god— Oh my god— Fuck— No!” She immediately screamed, utterly ashamed.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE—”
“We didn’t except THIS when we let you guys alone in here—”
“THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS!” Martin shouted, while almost falling to the ground.
He’s never trembled this much, nor had his heart ever beaten this fast. He was so embarrassed, so angry, so scared and nervous at the same time. All of these emotions, bottled up after he’d accidentally fallen asleep on her, while it was clear he’d wanted to control his behavior whenever she was around him.
His hands weren’t steady, his eyes darted from one of his friends to the other’s face, while completely avoiding Y/N’s, and his legs were like jelly.
Y/N, on the other hand, was strangely silent. Well, she wasn’t that woken up yet, for she’d frankly had one of the best sleeps of her night. Surely it was because of this incredible, soft and mellow couch.
Surely.
Still, she’d have difficulties to deny that her heart wasn’t dying on the inside, for some reason she didn’t want to determine. Mostly, she thought, it was because of the members, having to see their position.
She hadn’t even realized they’d shifted positions in her sleep. She was too tired, surely.
If she’d realized mid sleep, or if he’d woken up before his friends had arrived, she’d be less annoyed and ashamed. She’d probably just scold him, make a joke about it, and go back to sleep in the opposite corner of the couch.
But they’d witnessed the whole scene.
From her hands and lips gently caressing his skin, to his own fingers practically bracing her waist, and his head comfortably resting on the crook of her stomach.
“I told you, they’d almost be making out—” Seonghyeon nagged Keonho, trying to speak despite his laugh taking possession of his voice.
“WE WEREN’T MAKING—”
“IT’S NOT WHAT YOU—”
“I just believe what I see, man.”
“But it’s taken out of CONTEXT, Seonghyeon—”
“Guys… Stop making it this deep—”
“What, so you don’t think their position was DEEP??” Keonho shrugged with an amused face.
“I just think it’s time to go already. We were just supposed to pick them up, not expose them.” James declared, clearly aware of Martin and Y/N’s discomfort, and also on guard with his manager, who was probably waiting for them all to come back in the main lobby.
“YOU’RE NOT EXPOSING ANYTHING—”
“James, you can’t ruin a moment like that—”
“Right… I would’ve wanted a kiss—”
“BRO! YOU GUYS NEVER SHUT UP! THAT’S CRAZY, MAN!” Martin screamed again, with the most vulnerable voice she’d ever heard.
“Hey, Mars, calm down. We’re just joking.” Juhoon said, trying to ease growing tensions between the two youngest and his tall, nervous frame.
“I suggest we all get the damn out of here.” Y/N muttered at her turn, with a cracked and embarrassed voice.
“Yup. It’s getting awkward.” James responded.
“I’m never awkward when I watch people kiss—”
“Keonho— We weren’t fucking KISSING!” Martin shouted, more calmly this time, eager to finally close this door and bring Y/N back into her hotel, to finally call it a day.
“EW! EW, EW— EW!” Y/N screamed at her turn, and looked at all of the boys. “Just GO already! Your manager’s probably waiting for us!”
And all of them immediately slammed the door open again, while Martin sprinted as fast as he could to get his own elevator.
There was no way he was actually, even looking at her ever again, after he’d sprawled up on her like this.
Firstly, because he was deeply embarrassed. Sure, they’d made a truce, but it didn’t mean he liked her completely, nor did it mean he enjoyed being seen holding his prior enemy by the waist.
Secondly, because if he thought about it again, he’d want to do it more and more. And he didn’t have time for this.
•••
The van ride was the most awkward experience Y/N had ever had to go through.
It had been a succession of silences after brief, polite interactions between herself and the members, occasionally even the manager. A genuine circus spectacle, if you’d ask her, for it was palpable that four fifth of the van’s passengers knew of what had previously happened.
Martin had gone quiet during the whole ride. He’d nervously bit his lip, looked at the window for far too long, and pretended to listen to music while his earphones were purposely put on no-sound mode, since he still wanted to hear what she’d say.
Well, she didn’t say much. She talked of the weather time to time, and occasionally mentioned the song he’d made her listen to during their studio-time. She’d added absolutely no detail, for it was pretty understandable she’d never want to confess they’d practically shared their whole lives and goals to each other for three hours straight.
When the van finally pulled up next to her hotel, he didn’t look at her. Not even once. He knew he’d feel too ashamed, too nervous, too dazed. He kept fixing the opposite side of the road, while she politely waved at the passengers.
“So when am I seeing you guys again?” She asked, the van door still opened.
“Well, we’re gonna prepare for the tour tomorrow, it’ll probably be boring… But we have a little dance practice at noon the day after.” The manager declared.
“Yeah. If you wanna come…” Keonho smiled fondly.
“Sure! That’d be like… Super great, guys. I’m really grateful.” She smiled, a bit embarrassed.
“I’m just doing my job, kid.”
“And then, there’s Lolla.” James declared with a grin, staring intently at Y/N.
“What, so I’m coming too?” She pointed at herself, while the wind slightly disoriented the rhythm of her hair against her face.
At that, all of the members — Martin excluded, obviously — immediately gave a look to their manager, who simply gave a little nod, accompanied with a thumbs up.
“Oh my god.” She simply stated, almost frozen to place. “I actually can’t believe it, guys. I— It’s such an honor—”
“Hey, c’mon, you’re our friend now, aren’t you?” James smiled deeply.
“I wouldn’t say that, we’re not even—”
“You are from now on. Know it.” Juhoon added categorically.
And on these words, she’d gave all of them the biggest smile to ever exist, and she’d closed the door, in an awkward an rapid motion. She hadn’t given Martin the slightest glance, nor did he do it when she walked to her building.
When she was finally out of sight, the van started to move again, right in the direction of their dorm. The silence settled for approximately ten seconds.
That’s what it took.
“OKAY GUYS—” Martin immediately burst out. “I’M GONNA DIE.”
At that, Seonghyeon immediately began to laugh until he couldn’t breathe, and the manager, sensing the weird tension since the beginning of the ride, turned from his seat with a confused face.
“What’s wrong, my Martin?” He asked, as he discovered the greenish face of his member.
“IT’S JUST—”
“Okayyyy…” Keonho slowly interrupted with the most devilish of grins. “Let me explain what REALLY happeneddd…”
“NO! NO! KEONHO, JUST—” Martin shouted again, his voice muffled by Seonghyeon’s raspy laugh.
“We arrive at the studio…” The youngest started.
“AHN! YOU BETTER SHUT THE FUCK—”
“And the first thing we see…”
“YOU’RE GONNA TAKE THIS OUT OF CONTEXT—”
“Can anybody just like… Tell me what happened?” The manager interrupted at his turn, addressing to James and Juhoon. “Instead of dragging the thing like… Goddamn babies or something.”
“Ohhhh… But what we saw was NOT for babies…”
“THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN IMPLYING—”
“Just shut it, Keonho. Tell me, boys.”
“Okay, so…” Juhoon started, while Martin pressed his hands face plant on his face.
“Yeah.. We might have seen Y/N and Martin…” James followed.
“They were like, in a full cuddling session or something—”
“THAT’S NOT IT! THAT’S NOT IT!”
The manager shakes his head as he closed his eyes, trying to process the information, while having in sole memory the vision of Martin, absolutely despising the girl.
“Okay— What?!” He said with a confused tone.
“They just fell asleep on each other, guys…” James mumbled, while rolling his eyes.
“What do you mean… JUST?!” Keonho asked with a startled expression. “Do you also JUST fall asleep on your member’s lap and then use them as your plushie for the whole nap?”
“THAT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENED—”
“But it very much looked like that, though…” Juhoon declared gravely, his voice occasionally muffled by Seonghyeon’s unending laughter.
“I KNOW ! I KNOW—” He placed his face into his own lap, trying to erase himself completely. “And I’m like SO EMBARASSED, dude…”
The manager simply laughed and looked out the window, without the slightest reaction.
“I KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE SAT BESIDE HER! I KNEW IT!” Martin asked, confused. “God, I should’ve just stayed on that fucking desk…”
“Why were you two on the couch anyway? I thought you’d wanted to just work on music.” James demanded.
“Man, I have no idea— We just talked— And it was becoming deep and interesting — And—”
“What, so you actually interacted NORMALLY?” The manager asked with a big smile. “Damn. Finally. I was starting to get nervous she’d actually say something online.”
“No— But it was like…” He searched for his words.
They all watched him, waiting for his response, while he dug his grave even deeper in his mind.
“It was one of the greatest conversation I’ve ever had—“ He confessed, looking devastatingly embarrassed. “It was exactly like that time when we spent all night talking in the dorm— Like, until the sun came up… And all.”
“Oh wow. At this point, man?” Seonghyeon said, for the first time since he’d completely lost his breathing by practically dying of amusement.
“It was so good, I’m not even kidding… And then it got deeper—” He moved his head as he spoke, trying to erase his thoughts while speaking. “And I showed her my songs— and she laid on me and we kept talking—”
“What, so was it like… Friendly type shit? Or something more?” Keonho asked seriously, for the first time since the beginning of the ride.
“WE JUST FELL ASLEEP!”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“But I HATE her.” He crunched the air in pieces with his hands. “I HATE her SO MUCH, guys, you have no idea!”
“Oh, come on, stop lying to yourself…”
“Why don’t you accept for once, Martin, that maybe she’s worth being friends with you?” Juhoon proclaimed with a defensive tone. “Cause you want to have other conversations with her, no? At least conversations like this.”
“But I don’t wanna be her friend.” He admitted quietly, and he let the thought of her as something else linger into his mind.
“Oh.”
“Oh.”
“Oh.” The members and the manager replied blankly.
“I don’t like her. I don’t like her.” Martin corrected himself seriously, while making cross signs with his hands. “I’m serious. I don’t like her. She’s just not a friend.”
“Sure.” Juhoon nodded without hesitation.
“But we made a truce, though.” He shrugged lightly.
“A truce?” The manager asked.
“Yeah. Don’t really know what that means, but I guess we tolerate each other now…”
“That’s a good start, man.” Juhoon nodded again with a lazy smirk. “Next week, I bet you’ll be lovers already.”
“Let’s just shut up now. It’s getting awkward.”
“Leader said it.” Keonho mouthed quietly, before putting his phone up in his hand.
“Hey, Martin?” The manager simply asked, one last time.
“Hm.” The boy replied with no particular intention.
“At the dorm, we’re coming into your room before dinner. We’ll have a talk, just the two of us.” He announced, and Martin felt the embarrassment creep up even higher in his chest.
