The moment Rubyโs new Running Man episode aired, the internet went feral โ and Taemin didnโt even know yet that his entire emotional stability was about to collapse.
The episode started harmlessly: Ruby running for missions, screaming dramatically whenever Haha chased her, roasting Yoo Jae Suk, and accidentally hitting Ji Sukjin with a foam bat so hard that even the editors replayed it three times with dramatic sound effects.
Ruby was adorable, hilarious, and competitive โ basically, the entire nation fell in love with her again.
But thenโฆ the incident happened.
During a chaotic chase scene, Ruby twisted her ankle while turning a corner. She yelped and fell onto the ground, clutching her ankle. The cast panicked, but ATEEZโs Hongjoong sprinted to her without hesitation. He crouched next to her, gently checked her ankle, and without even asking, scooped her up โ bridal-style โ as if heโd been waiting for this moment his whole life.
Ruby squeaked, slapped his shoulder lightly, and hid her face in embarrassment, which only made Hongjoong smile even softer.
โItโs okay, Ruby-ssi,โ he said in a low, oddly tender voice that shook the entire fandom. โIโve got you.โ
The cast screamed like it was a K-drama finale.
Hongjoong looked like he was carrying a princess.
And the editors added sparkles.
Twitter melted within minutes.
The next morning, Taemin finally woke up, completely unaware that the universe was about to personally attack him. He leaned back on his couch as he opened his phone, clicked a random trending clip, and froze when he heard Rubyโs laugh.
โOh?โ he murmured happily, clicking the video.
Three seconds in, his smile disappeared.
Ten seconds in, Taemin sat up like someone dumped cold water on him.
At the moment Hongjoong lifted Ruby bridal-style, Taeminโs jaw actually dropped.
It was offensively romantic.
Hongjoong looked like some sort of noble prince rescuing his beloved. And Rubyโฆ R U B Yโฆ was hiding her face in his shoulder.
Her hair brushing his collar. Her hands gripping his shirt.
Taemin replayed the clip.
โWhat theโ what theโ NO. No, no, no, no.โ He paused the video. โWHY IS HE CARRYING HER LIKE THAT?!โ
He restarted it, eyes narrowing even more.
โHeโs SMILINGโ why is he smiling like that?! WHY IS SHE HIDING HER FACE? OH MY GOD SHEโS BLUSHING. Noโฆ no, absolutely not. Delete this. Ban YouTube. Shut down television. Burn Running Man.โ
He threw his phone onto the couch dramatically.
He immediately snatched it back up because he needed more evidence to be mad about.
Scrolling the comments was a mistake.
Hongjoong really said romantic male leadโฆ
They looked so good together omg!!
Protect Ruby at all costs Hongjoong!!
This pairing is actually fire???
Taemin stared at the screen like the comments personally stabbed him.
โCHEMISTRY?? WHAT CHEMISTRY?? IโM GOING TO SUE THE NATION.โ
He paced back and forth in his apartment for a solid ninety seconds before calling Ruby with the speed of a man fed up with life.
She answered on the second ring, cheerful and unaware of the emotional damage she caused.
โOppa?โ she said sweetly.
Taemin immediately inhaled sharply.
โRuby,โ he began with the seriousness of someone announcing a presidential scandal. โWe need to talk.โ
โโฆOppa? Why do you sound like that?โ
โDid you twist your ankle?โ
โHuh? Ohโ yeah, in Running Manโโ
โAnd HONGJOONG carried you.โ
Ruby pulled the phone away to laugh but Taemin heard it.
โOh my God,โ she wheezed. โOppaโฆ are you jealous?โ
โIโm not jealous, Ruby. Iโm justโฆ analyzing. Monitoring. Observing suspicious activity.โ
Ruby had to cover her mouth. โOppaโโ
โHe picked you up like you two were in a wedding photoshoot! WHY DIDNโT YOU LIMP? WHY DIDNโT YOU CRAWL? Why did you go straight into a manโs arms?!โ
โI SAW YOU HID YOUR FACE IN HIS SHOULDERโโ
โYOU WERE EMBARRASSED INTO HIS SHOULDER?!โ
Ruby started laughing so hard she nearly dropped her phone.
Taemin finally sighed, deflated.
โโฆyou didnโt like it, right?โ
Ruby stopped laughing softly.
His voice sounded small. Worried. Cute.
โOppa,โ she said gently, โthe only idol I blush around is you.โ
Taemin perked up so fast, Ruby heard the hope return to his soul.
Then Taemin suddenly said:
โWhat are you doing right now?โ
โโฆat the SM dance studio?โ
โIโm already on my way.โ
โOPPA YOU LIVE 50 MINUTES AWAYโโ
Ruby stared at her phone.
Twenty minutes later โ faster than physics allowed โ Taemin kicked open the dance studio door like an action hero.
Ruby almost dropped her ice pack.
He marched toward her, kneeled like a K-drama male lead, inspected her ankle dramatically, whispered โโฆGood. Still attached.โ then stood up with the energy of a man about to fight someone.
Ruby giggled. โOppaโฆโ
Hongjoong lifting her gently.
Taemin clicked his tongue. โTch.โ
Taemin scoffed. โFake.โ
Taemin gasped. โRUBYโ YOUโโ
He turned the iPad face-down on the bench โ gently โ and finally focused on her.
โNext time you get hurtโฆ Iโm the one who carries you.โ
He crouched again, carefully taking the ice pack to check her ankle, his thumb brushing her skin for half a second before placing it back.
โAnd if Hongjoong tries again?โ she teased softly.
Taemin straightened slowly.
โRuby,โ he said calmly, โif Hongjoong touches you again, I will fight ATEEZ. All eight of them. I know Wooyoung kicks hard. I donโt care.โ
Taemin rolled his eyes, lips twitching.
โCome on,โ he said, holding his hand out. โYouโre not walking alone.โ
She slipped her hand into his.
He helped her stand, keeping her close when she wobbled, his arm instantly wrapping around her waist.
โSee?โ he muttered. โProfessional carrier.โ
Ruby laughed. โYou didnโt lift me.โ
Taemin grabbed her bag, slung it over his shoulder, and guided her toward the door, still mumbling.
โCaptain and Princessโฆ ridiculousโฆ Iโm clearly the male lead.โ
Ruby leaned into him as they walked out of the studio together, smiling the whole way.
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