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The dorm was quieter than usual. Not the comfortable kind of quiet, like late night study sessions or early morning stillness before schedules began. 

This was the heavy kind. The kind that pressed down on your chest and made every breath feel like a chore.

Woonhak had been carrying it for days. He hadn’t smiled in nearly a week. Not a real one, anyway. The corners of his mouth would twitch sometimes, out of habit or muscle memory, but the warmth never reached his eyes anymore.

The others noticed. Of course they did. They were a team, a family stitched together by shared dreams and cramped dorm rooms and the kind of pressure that would snap lesser people in half.

Taesan was in the studio, Sungho was on a call with his mom, Riwoo was napping, and Leehan had his nose buried in a book. 

Woonhak had been lying on the living room floor for the better part of an hour, staring at the ceiling as if the answers to everything were hidden in its white, unblemished surface.

Jaehyun watched from the doorway. He’d been watching a lot lately. He noticed how Woonhak’s laughter had gone hollow. How he picked at his food instead of inhaling it like he used to. How he flinched less at horror movies and smiled less at everything else.

Something has to give, Jaehyun thought. And then, because he was Jaehyun, because he loved his members with a fierce, protective kind of love that didn’t always know how to use words, he decided on a different approach.

Woonhak didn’t look up. Not even when Jaehyun sat on the coffee table in front of him, knees almost touching Woonhak’s folded legs. Not even when Jaehyun reached out and gently pulled the laptop closed, setting it aside.

“Hi,” Jaehyun said softly.

“Hey,” Woonhak echoed, voice flat. He still didn’t look up. His eyes were fixed on a loose thread in the sofa cushion.

Jaehyun studied him for a long moment. The dark circles under Woonhak’s eyes. The pale, pinched look around his mouth. The way his hands lay limp in his lap, fingers uncurled like he didn’t have the energy to even make fists.

“You haven’t smiled in days,” Jaehyun said. He wasn’t accusing. He said it as if it were a simple fact. 

Woonhak frowned. Or tried to. The expression felt strange on his face. "I'm fine."

"You haven't smiled since Monday."

Woonhak tipped his head back. “I…that’s not—”

Jaehyun stood, taking Woonhak’s hands in his. He pulled the youngest up and beckoned him to follow. Woonhak trailed behind him obediently as Jaehyun walked to the bedroom and closed the door behind them with a soft click. 

Woonhak sank into the bed, feeling the mattress and sheets envelop him. One moment he was breathing into the pillows. The next, his wrists were being pressed into the mattress above his head, gentle but firm.

Woonhak blinked, his brain lagging like an old computer trying to load a video. Jaehyun was above him now, knees bracketing Woonhak's hips, his weight settled comfortably over Woonhak's thighs.

“Hyung?” Woonhak croaked. 

Jaehyun was already wiggling his fingers in the space between them, and something cold and electric shot down Woonhak's spine.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

"Wait," Woonhak said, suddenly wide awake. "Hyung. Jaehyun-hyung. Don't."

"Don't what?" Jaehyun asked, all innocent confusion, even as his fingers twitched closer to Woonhak's ribs. "I'm not doing anything."

"Your fingers are literally—" Woonhak tried to jerk his hands down, but Jaehyun's grip on his wrists didn't budge. The leader was deceptively strong when he wanted to be. "I swear to god, hyung, if you tickle me—"

“Ohh I wasn’t planning on it,” Jaehyun replied. “But if you insist…” He teasingly spidered up Woonhak’s left side, watching as the maknae squeaked, squirming wildly under him. And then he began digging. 

“WAHAHAHAIT—!”

Jaehyun grinned, sharp and wolfish. “There it is.”

He didn’t let up. His fingers danced across Woonhak’s ribs with a merciless precision that spoke of experience—the kind of experience only older brothers (or brother adjacent leaders) could possess. 

Woonhak’s senses were overloaded with that horrible, wonderful, maddening sensation that short-circuited every rational thought in the brain and replaced it with helpless laughter.

“NOHOHOHOHOHO!!” Woonhak threw his head back against the pillow, wrists straining uselessly against Jaehyun’s grip. His legs kicked out, but Jaehyun’s weight on his hips kept him anchored. 

“HYUHUHUHUNG!!”

Woonhak dissolved into another fit of cackling as Jaehyun's fingers found the space between his ribs and hip. His vision was actually going spotty. 

He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed this hard. Maybe he'd never laughed this hard. It hurt—his stomach ached, his face hurt from smiling, and oh god, he was smiling, wasn't he? When had that happened?

“What’s wrong, WoonAgi?” Jaehyun cooed, all false innocence as he spidered his fingers up toward Woonhak’s underarms. “You were so quiet all week. I thought you lost your voice.”

“IHIHI HAHAAVEN’T!!” A particularly well aimed wiggle against a spot just below his armpit sent Woonhak into a fresh spiral of giggles. “THAHAHAT’S NOHOHOT—!”

“Not what?” Jaehyun’s grin widened. “Fair? Life’s not fair, maknae. That’s why you have hyungs to remind you how to have fun.”

He changed tactics suddenly, abandoning the ribs to scribble his fingers down Woonhak’s sides instead—light, fluttering touches that made the younger boy shriek and squirm. The bed creaked violently beneath them, and somewhere in the distance, a door opened.

“What’s going on in—oh.” Leehan appeared in the doorway, bleary-eyed and holding a glass of water. He took in the scene: Jaehyun on top of a hysterical, pinned-down Woonhak, both of them laughing for very different reasons. “Never mind.”

“LEEHAN HYUHUHUHUNG HEHEHEHELP!!” Woonhak shrieked. 

Leehan snorted into his cup. “Baby, you brought this on yourself.” 

Jaehyun laughed. “He’s right, you know,” Fingers digging into the spaces between the maknae’s ribs. “The poor little maknae is so weak~” 

Leehan looked up. “Now that, I don’t agree with.” He crossed the room. 

Jaehyun reacted far too late. “W-Wait!! I didn’t mean that!” But it was fruitless as Leehan grabbed both of his wrists and tugged him backwards off of Woonhak, who was still struggling to catch his breath but whose eyes were sparkling with mischief. 

“Guys c’mon!!” Jaehyun shrieks as he’s pinned. “Why should I get tickled for doing a good deed?” 

“Because it seems you, hyung, have gotten a huge ego.” Woonhak snarked back. 

“I don’t!!” 

Leehan snorted. “You just said maknaes were weak in front of two of them. You basically dug yourself a hole.” 

That's different," Jaehyun said quickly, trying to sit up straighter. "You're—I mean, technically you're a maknae, but you're not the maknae. There's a distinction."

“Really." Leehan's voice was flat. "What distinction?"

"Woonhak is the maknae maknae. The baby. Woonhak is the baby."

"And I'm what? The slightly older baby?"

Jaehyun opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Woonhak watched the realization dawn on his leader's face in slow motion—the widening eyes, the slight paling of his skin, the way he looked terrified.

"Leehan," Jaehyun said carefully. "Let's talk about this."

"No," Leehan said. "I don't think I will. You called us weak. And then you tickled our maknae until he cried."

"I did NOT cry—" Woonhak started, but neither of them was listening.

Leehan finished his tight grip on Jaehyun’s wrists. “So, agi, you gonna take your shot?”

Jaehyun blanched. 

“Woonhak," Jaehyun said, and his voice had gone slightly higher. "Woonhak, buddy, let's talk about this—"

"You didn't let me talk," Woonhak said, and then he dug in.

Jaehyun's reaction was instantaneous.

A squeal tore out of his throat, followed by a string of garbled protests that dissolved into giggles. 

Not the controlled, leaderly laughter he used during variety shows. This was helpless, breathless, almost childish laughter, the kind that came from somewhere deep and unguarded.

Jaehyun’s legs kicked uselessly, his heels digging into the mattress as Woonhak's fingers spidered up to his ribs. The older boy was ticklish, Woonhak realized with dawning delight. Not just a little ticklish—devastatingly ticklish.

“NOHOHOHOT THE RIHIHIHIHIHIBS!!”

"The ribs?" Woonhak's fingers found the spaces between Jaehyun's ribs and pressed. "You mean this spot? The one you attacked mercilessly not fifteen minutes ago?"

“OHMYGOHOHOHOHOHOHOSH!!” Jaehyun threw his head back and let out a stream of squeaky, adorable cackles. 

“Awhhhh~” Both Leehan and Woonhak chorused. 

The door flew open again. Sungho stares at the scene for five seconds before breaking into a delighted grin. “Oh my god, get the armpits. It’s absolutely horrid on him.”

"Don't you DAHAHAHAHARE!!" Jaehyun tried to sit up, but Leehan shoved him back down.

Woonhak's eyes lit up. "How do you know that?"

"I’m the oldest. I know everything." Sungho adjusted his phone angle. "Carry on."

Jaehyun's underarms, as it turned out, were a disaster zone.

“FUHUHUHUHUCK IHIHIM GOHOHONNA DIE!!” 

“Language,” Woonhak sang, while Leehan replied. “You’re not gonna die.”

After another 10 minutes of tickling, Leehan finally let go of the leader’s wrists. Woonhak flopped down on top of Jaehyun, laughing along with him. 

From the doorway, Leehan sighed. "You two are disgustingly codependent."

"Go away, Hannie," Jaehyun said, not looking up.

"You're on his bed."

"Yes. And we're going to cuddle now. Leave."

Woonhak snorted—actually snorted—and something warm bloomed in his chest. 

The fog had dissappated entirely.

LEE:

Genuinely where do I even start.

His laugh is probably one of the most contagious in Cortis

He probably curses accidentally

Mix some English into that too

I definitely see him as someone who has their bellybutton as their worst spot 😵‍💫

He’s probably ticklish everywhere, but acts like he’s invincible until he’s humbled by his four hyungs

Terrible Lee moods he’s so bad at handling being teased sometimes

His smile is cute according to members, but that doesn’t mean it’s an advantage, he always expect pokes

He squirms a lot a lot I guess

Thoughts:

JAMES:

I would assume that James might be the one that tickles him the most since most of the time Keonho’s just being cocky and himself.

James himself will probably tickle him whenever he gets to.

Because we can tell that Keonho’s basically his kid

The scene has Keonho napping peacefully on his bed when the eldest member suddenly goes into his room.

“what-?” Keonho would mumble almost incoherently, drifting in his sleep.

“I came here to see you.”

“no go awayyy”

When James heard that he’d grin and stand at the side of the bed, “That’s how you’ll talk to me?”

Before Keonho could respond he’d already have fingers kneading on his sides. Keonho would turn his body, but that didn’t do him any good.

Almost a millisecond later, James would go again, having slight giggles come out of his dongsaeng.

“Did your giggles run out? I wanted to hear more.” James would demand him teasingly, having Keonho whine under his fingers.

“Hyuhung pleheease, I’m stihihill rehesting.” He’d plead in hiccupy giggles. James would smile, pat the maknae’s head and go do some other things.

He’d definitely get him back.

JUHOON:

Maybe it’s because of that one time where Keonho got too close to him but hear me out🥺:

I SEE JUHOON OBSESSED WITH GIVING HIM NECK RASPBERRIES OMG🫣🫣

Juhoon constantly got teased by Keonho after that one show. “Princess of Cortis” Keonho would repeat.

Wandering around the company building just to end up in a practice room with the maknae.

“Seriously? Workaholic.”

“At least I’m not a— princesss.” Keonho repeats with a cheeky grin, it’d had been the nth time he stated that.

“If you really wanted it you can just ask.” Juhoon told him directly and Keonho’s could feel the sudden burning sensation on his ears.

“What?!— no! Never—!” he’d babble of some sort, then accuse, “you’re just being mean!”

“I’m being mean?” Juhoon questioned him and chased him around the practice room, “you’ve been bothering me since that interview.”

“I—”

Juhoon had caught the younger’s arm with a smirk, “You what hm?” Then pulled him right back into his arms.

Keonho of course tried escaping, but he wasn’t really looking to escape.

“Do you perhaps want this?” Juhoon would ask and blow a raspberry on the back of Keonho’s neck. The maknae will shriek and scrunch his head slightly.

He’d kick slightly, and the older would continue, “Answer the question Keonho-ssi~”

“I don’t!” Keonho argued back, but he was met with another raspberry, and another shriek, “HYUHUNGG!!”

Should’ve never practiced with one, next time Keonho would stay with the group for sure.

MARTIN:

They literally have never ending “beef” lmao 🤣

Anyways, I see Martin tickling him whenever he starts losing the argument

The setting is after the pool scene when Martin held his nose and when into a 4 foot pool. And you can hear Keonho’s soft laugh after he saw a video online.

Martin, being curious, went to look.

“Martin thinks his 6 foot tall self will drown in a 4 foot pool”

“You actually did that?” Keonho giggled, since during the recording he didn’t pay attention, “That’s so stupid—”

Well it was obvious that Keonho was a professional swimmer, but he found the idea of Martin holding his breath utterly hilarious.

“I—” Martin tried to defend himself, then just started lightly squishing Keonho’s sides.

Keonho dropped his phone and squealed in response.

“That’s nOHOT FAIR! YOHOU ALWAYS DOHO THIHIS!”

“And it works!” Martin says while poked his fingers into the youngest’s bellybutton.

Keonho let out more squeals and shrieks as Martin poked and then ditched repeatedly, “AHAAAHAHAH- HYUHUNGG PLEEEAAASE!! NOHOHO MOHOHOREE”

The leader still didn’t have a response, but oh well, he had his sassy maknae under his control for a while.

SEONGHYEON:

Dude I can just see Seonghyeon also being a menace to his twin

They both tease each other so much 😫😫

Literally just imagine this:

Keonho just continuously teases Seonghyeon and annoys him and everything when suddenly he chose he had enough.

Seonghyeon would just storm up to him and push him onto a couch and grip onto his wrists, pinning him perfectly with his torso exposed.

The Maknae will yelp slightly, “Seonghyeon-“

Seonghyeon would have no words or mercy for the younger and scribble right into the soft flesh of Keonho’s tummy with his free hand.

Keonho would burst into laughter and already start begging him, “NOHOHOO WAHAAHAITT!!”

And he did suddenly pause, and Keonho would look confused, actually waiting?

Until that is when Seonghyeon pulls a little bit of his shirt up which makes Keonho turn red and immediately start begging again.

“Please please please Seonghyeon, I didn’t mean to, just NO—!”

You could already tell that the first poke landed.

Seonghyeon would have an evil smile as Keonho squirms and wiggles around, “You wanted for this didn’t you?”

“WHAT? YOU’RE BEING RIDCULOUS-!”

His protests will be dismissed as Sean would lightly trace the nearby skin Keonho’s waist. Then he’d dip his finger into his bellybutton and you can already hear Keonho’s desperate “NOOOO!!”and a huge smile on his face.

:: Ok that’s it I think, feedback, comments, constructive criticism, suggestions, and requests are welcomed!!