We’ve Got You - 2020
Dove walked through the halls of her company, grateful she had gotten there early today, coming straight from Min-jae’s apartment. Her eyes rimmed red, hands shaking. Slipping into their practice room she breathed out before dropping to the ground in the corner and breaking down. Shaking she pulled her sleeve up, crying harder at the red marks wrapped around her wrist. Glancing at herself in the floor length mirror she flinched, her hair a mess from MinJae grabbing it, she knew the mark on her face would bruise. Curling around herself she tucked her head and let the sobs out. Her phone still displaying the magazine article with her now ex-boyfriend’s engagement announcement on the cover. Body shaking from the sob she covered her mouth, trying to muffle the sound best she could. The fight replaying over in her head, how quickly everything had gone from bad to worse before she ran from the apartment. The sobs racked her body quickly turning into her gasping for air, panic filling the room.
Meanwhile Dino and Jun were walking down the hallway, coming in to go over some different pointers before practice, faint sounds coming from their dance room neither of them were prepared to find Dove curled up in the corner shaking and gasping for air. “Noona?” Chan asked running to her, trying to pull the older girl into his arms. “Dove What’s happened to you ?” Jun asked, running a hand over her head, “Dovey talk to us please. Are you hurt? Do we need to get a medic?” Shaking her head she tried to reign in the sobs but they burst out of her, tremors raking her body. “I – I can’t b-breathe.” She gasped, shoving out of Chan’s grip trying to push more air into her lungs. Jun keeping a hand on her back, “Deep breath Dove, just mimic my breathing okay.” She sucked in more air, trying to blow it out but letting out another sob. “it’s okay, it’s okay.” Jun said pulling the girl into his lap as her arms gave out under her. Chan seeing the red marks marring her skin paused, “what happened? Who did this to you?” Jun followed their youngest line of vision, rage searing through him as he gently pulled her sleeve up, the red hand print wrapping around Dove’s small arm. Scanning her face, his eyes focusing on the unnatural red around her eye and cheek.
Minghao and Soonyoung coming in as their youngest stands up enraged, “What is going on?” Hoshi calls, quickly making his way to Dove’s side, “We found her like this. We can’t get her calm enough to tell us what happened?” Jun answered, still holding Dove trying to soothe her as she gasped for air. “Dovey, little bird.” Minghao spoke calmy, meeting her eyes, “I need you to sit up so you can get more air in, okay. It’ll help you.” Taking her hands gently, all four of them seeing the evident red marks around her wrist. Protective anger flaring in Hoshi’s eyes, watching as Hao got her breathing stable, her sobs turning into smaller cries. “Do you want me to call Coups?” Hoshi asked, she shook her head, “He will lose it Soonyoung, please. Don’t.” Dove pleaded. “Dovey, we need to know what happened? Who hurt you?” Jun asked, trying to control the rage still flowing through him. the thought of anyone touching her, harming her had him seeing red. Dove’s eyes cut to the ground, “Min-jae.” She said hoarsely, Dino started walking to the door, ready to go find the man. “Chan-ah please.” Dove called after him, making him pause. “He put his hands on you noona?” he clarified, “Please stay with me Chan.” She begged, sighing the youngest walked back over, taking his favorite sibling’s hand in his. Dove pulled her phone out, showing them the news article, “He’s been seeing someone else, for over a year. And they are getting married.” She said bitterly, “I went to confront him over it, see if it was a rumor and it wasn’t.” Minghao’s eyes snapped to hers. “We got in a fight, he-he snapped. He grabbed me as I tried to leave. I shoved him and ran.” She recalled, voice wobbling. Tears silently streaming down her face, “I don’t understand what I did wrong? Why am I not en-enough?” she asked, breaking apart again. The four men looked at her, “Dove-ah this is not your fault. This is him being a terrible person, this is not a reflection of you at all.” Minghao answered gently.
Curled into Jun’s chest, she cried harder. “Chan-ah go get water and some snacks from the lobby.” Hoshi instructed, “If you go anywhere other than the lobby I will come get you myself.” The youngest nodded, bolting from the room. Hoshi’s eyes turned back to her, “Dove, we have to tell the company, or Coups at least. He put his hands on you. There are marks and you live with us. The others are going to know as soon as they see you.” Jun’s arms tightened around her as the shaking started again, “go get a blanket.” he whispered to Hao. “Coups is the better option; I’m going to have to tell everyone eventually unless they see the article before.” Dove said, “I’ll call him.” Hoshi said, patting her head before walking to the other side of the room, phone against his ear. Jun’s hand running along her back soothingly, “You know this isn’t your fault Dovey. You didn’t deserve this.” Another tremor went through her, “Why am I never enough?” she asked, voice breaking completely, “You are more than enough. You are kind, and smart, and funny.” Jun answered, squeezing her gently. “I’m not Junie, nobody ever stays, I’m just not enough. God my parents didn’t even think so.” She spat bitterly. Jun tensed, before pulling her up to his eye level. “Dove, you offer so much more than any of these people ever deserved of you. You are a light to be with and around. If they can’t handle that then it’s their loss, not yours. You are all things good. Beautiful on the inside and out, don’t ever let anyone tell you or treat you any differently. Promise me.” His eyes intently looking into hers, “promise me Dovey.” He said, full seriousness. She nodded, “if they do then clearly Chan will beat them up for you.” He teased, making Dove laugh. The sound better than any music he had heard. Minghao coming back over with a blanket and Chan entering with armfuls of her favorite snacks and drinks. “Thank you.” She said softly, after Hoshi had sat back down with them, “You scared the hell out of us.” Jun said, pinching her side lightly. “I’m sorry.” She replied, “You have nothing to apologize for, we love you so much Dovey, always come to us when somethings wrong.” Minghao asked, nodding she leaned into Hoshi’s side. “Does this get me out of practice today?” Chuckling he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, “Not a chance. But I’ll give you twenty minutes to pull it together.” Dove laughed, everything inside still broken and sore but in this moment, it felt lighter with her team around her.
A/N: I have a mini part for this story continuing when the performance team and Dove return home from practice if you guys would want that?!