Hobi ran around the dance studio cheering and clapping after his members executed the choreography to their new dance perfectly. He was always full of so much cheer and excitement for his members even when they got the simplest steps right, so he was ecstatic when they'd land the hard stuff.

"Yahhhh! We did it! You guys did it! It's perfect!" He cheered as he ran up to Jin and hugged him, and then the others.

"It's all thanks to you, hyung!" Taehyung said with a big smile. The others also thanked Hobi for being such a great dance leader. He was strict when he needed to be but also gave so much positive reassurance and high energy that always had the others feeling confident.

Until Hiko showed up.

Hiko was a new dance instructor that the company hired and he was in charge of teaching the band new dances to some of their new releases. He had more authority than Hobi did when it came to dance instruction.

Hobi had a hard time with the idea of someone unknown stepping in and having more power than him when it came to their dancing, but he tried to give the new guy the benefit of the doubt and think positively, telling himself that having two in charge may turn out better than only having one.

Hobi quickly learned that it was not better.

Hiko was tough and strict, and mostly on Hobi. He was a bit stern with the members and always barking orders at them when they got a move wrong. On his first day working with the group, after the others had left, Hiko asked Hobi to talk alone for a moment.

"Sure, what's going on?" Hobi asked.

"You need to do better with them, they're terrible," Hiko spat.

Hobi froze for a second. He didn't understand how someone could call his group terrible, he thought they were absolutely amazing. He instantly got defensive. "I do great with them, and they're the best. So what if they aren't perfect on day one? They're all at different skill levels but we always get there."

Without warning Hiko smacked Hobi across the face and the rapper stumbled backwards. He stared at Hiko with fear in his eyes.

"Are you saying I'm lying?" Hiko said angrily.

"What? No..No..I.." Hobi was speechless. Hiko walked over to him and got in his face. He was so close Hobi could feel the mans hot breath on him. "Make them better, and if you don't, then I will."

Hobi stared at him wide eyed. He didn't know what Hiko meant by that. Hiko gave him a hard pat on the shoulder that made him flinch in pain before leaving. He stood there dazed and confused for a moment wondering what the hell just happened before gathering his stuff up and heading home. He didn't bring up what happened. The entire ordeal had made him anxious and he didn't want to talk about it. He figured Hiko must've just been in a bad mood or something, but he really hoped he didn't get hit again.

His wish was not granted, as Hiko ended up hitting him a lot. The members would practice new moves under Hiko's control and if they ever messed up, they didn't know it but Hiko would beat on Hobi after they were all gone. Hiko was constantly screaming at Hobi to be harder on them, to be meaner to them, to threaten them, whatever it took to make them dance better.

Hobi didn't have it in him to do that so he took the punishments instead.

One day at practice Jungkook was having a hard time with the moves and Hobi looked over at Hiko. Hiko gave him warning glares and Hobi felt the anxiety course through his body. He knew what Hiko wanted. Hiko wanted him to go over and smack Jungkook for not learning more quickly. He gulped and walked up to his maknae and could see the frustration in the youngests face.

"I'm sorry hyungie, it's just hard today but I promise I will practice a whole lot for you!" Jungkook said in a sulky manner. Hobi took a deep breath, knowing Hiko was watching. But he just couldn't be mean to his maknae. He patted Jungkook on the shoulder, "Learning takes time, it's alright bunny. Like you said, you just have to keep practicing." Jungkook smiled at his hyung and told him he was glad that his dance leader had so much faith in him.

Hobi turned to see Hiko's face red with anger. He knew what would be coming for him later. A whipping with a belt, a beating with Hiko's fist, kicks in the ribs, being strangled. That's usually what would happen.

He got good at hiding his bruises. He started wearing long sleeves a lot, and hoodies. He felt safe in hoodies for some reason. The members noticed his sudden wardrobe change and at first teased him about it but then began to notice that their sunshine seemed quite distant and sad lately. As the days went on he stopped giving such cheerful compliments the way he used to. He seemed jaded, like he didn't even care if anyone messed up. Things he used to call the members out on he would just ignore now.

One day Jin had asked him if they were disappointing him because they were having a hard time learning.

"Disappointing me?" Hobi asked confused.

"You know..I mean..we aren't getting this dance as easily as others and you seem down. Please know we're trying hard to impress you! You seem so down lately and I was just wondering if you're angry with us," Jin asked.

"Of course not hyung, I'm not angry. You guys are great."

"Then why do you seem so sad lately?" Jin asked.

"I'm just tired. It's a lot of dancing," Hobi lied. A lot of dancing, and a lot of beatings. Jin took Hobi's response for what it was and decided not to press on the issue. After practice was over, Hiko made Hobi stay back. He pushed the rapper straight down to the floor.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Hiko said aggressively. "Is it so damn hard for you to let them know they suck? To yell at them for fucking up? I mean Jungkook for God's sake couldn't get the steps right to save his life and it was like Jimin wasn't even doing the correct dance!"

Hobi lay on the floor in tears. He was emotionally and physically exhausted. "I won't lie to or hurt them. They're doing fine!"

Hiko kicked Hobi in the chest and he curled up in a ball and whimpered in pain. He started to hyperventilate as his anxiety picked up. Hiko started hitting him in the stomach and ribs repeatedly, screaming about how Hobi was the worst dance leader he's ever met and shouldn't even have the job.

"Please..p-p-please...stop..it hurts," Hobi begged as he felt a foot continuously digging into his body.

"Then put them in their place and lay down the law!" Hiko screamed.

"I do!" Hobi cried out.

"Bullshit! You know what I mean!" Hiko screamed.

"I-I-I can't hurt them. I can't. I won't hurt them." Hobi's tears were spilling all over the dance floor. His heart was aching for his members. He couldn't imagine ever hurting one of them, and especially not because some abusive asshole like this is trying to force him to.

"If you dont," Hiko said, "Then maybe it's time I do."

Hiko started walking away but Hobi grabbed his ankle, "No! You can't hurt them! Keep your hands off them!"

"Then do your job." Hiko spat in Hobi's face and then retreated from the room. Hobi felt like the walls were closing in on him as he sobbed on the floor. He didn't understand how he ended up in this nightmare. Surely he couldn't harm them, but he couldn't imagine letting Hiko harm them either. He was extremely confused and didn't know what to do. He was too scared to ever tell anyone what was going on because he was both embarrassed and terrified of the abuse getting worse. He never wanted to intentionally make the man angry, not that that seemed to matter. The man was always angry anyway.

Hobi picked his bruised and beaten body up off the floor and made his way home to the others. He got home just in time for Yoongi and Namjoon to finish setting the table for dinner. He sat down with everyone for dinner but he was in no mood to eat. He saw everyone else cheerfully talking and playing around and suddenly felt very isolated and alone even in a room full of people. His anxiety took over again and he asked if he could be excused.

"I'm not feeling very well, I'd like to sleep early tonight," Hobi told the members.

"Everything okay?" Yoongi asked as worry flashed behind his eyes. It wasn't like Hobi to look and act so down all the time.

"Yeah of course, I'm just tired."

"You're really not hungry?" Taehyung asked. "You haven't eaten almost all day."

"Yeah hyung you should have a few bites," Jimin added.

"No I just need sleep," Hobi replied. The members said okay and wished him a good night. After he was gone they talked about how they noticed Hobi acting different recently and they were both worried and sad for him. They figured it must be all this choreography practice and hopefully once things calmed down at work he'd be feeling like his happy self again.

Later that night, Jimin came into the room to get going to bed. He lay down in his bed that was across the room and swore on his life he could hear Hobi quietly crying. He got up and walked over.

"Hyung?" Jimin said as he placed his hand on Hobi's back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Hobi whispered. He didn't want to be loud. He didn't want Jimin to know he was upset.

Jimin didn't take that for an answer. He curled up with Hobi in his bed and hugged him. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm not," Hobi whispered. He was curled up in his blankets and had it covering his face so his words were muffled. Jimin took his hand and gently rubbed it on Hobi's cheek. "You can't tell me you're not crying when I can feel the tears on your face."

Hobi was silent.

"Hyung? Tell me what's wrong." Jimin felt his heart breaking knowing his hyung was sad about something. He could tell for days but his hyung was always so good at hiding it. He didn't want him to hide it anymore.

"I'm okay, Jiminie, just tired."

"I don't believe you." Jimin frowned. He wrapped his arm around Hobi and snuggled up close to him. As soon as he hugged his hyung tightly he could feel him starting to cry harder. He kissed back of his head.

"Please tell me," Jimin said.

Hobi was feeling both frustrated for getting caught crying and also a bit vulnerable. He accidentally blurted out, "I'd rather just die."

Instant panic shot through Jimin's entire body. "What? What do you mean by that?" It was never like Hobi to speak words like that. The rapper instantly regretted what he'd said. "Nothing. I didn't say anything."

"Hyung you can't lie to me. I heard you say you'd rather die. Why? Why would you say that?"

Hobi was silent again. Jimin leaned up on one arm and used the arm he had wrapped around Hobi to start turning his body to face him.

"Just leave me alone please," Hobi pleaded as he wiped his tears.

"Talk to me. What's wrong? I'm worried for you. We all are. We can tell you've been sad and now you're saying these things? Please tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing, okay?" Hobi lied.

"It's something. You know you can talk to me. I love you and more than anything just want to help." Jimin lay there waiting for his hyung to say something. He could feel Hobi start to shake and he pressed his forehead up against his brothers, "Tell me what's wrong."

"I-I can't," Hobi said. He felt the walls he had built to keep his secret safe slowly start shaking and crumbling down because of Jimin's comfort. Jimin somehow managed to get everyone to open up about everything.

"Yes you can. I want to help you," Jimin said. Jimin felt his own tears form and slide down his face. He hated seeing any of his members hurting, especially knowing they were carrying it inside all alone.

Hobi's walls fell.

"Can you keep a secret?" Hobi sniffled. His heart was racing. He was nervous to tell Jimin about Hiko but he was also nervous about what might happen to everyone if he didn't tell somebody.

"Of course." Jimin started running his fingers through Hobi's hair. "What is it?"

"It's..it's..Hiko." Hobi immediately burst into tears and threw his body against Jimin's. It's like he instinctively wanted some kind of protection and comfort.

"Oh hyungie, what about him?" Jimin asked. He felt his own anxiety growing as he started to fear the worst. Hobi didn't say anything but he slowly pulled the blanket off himself and he pulled his shirt up, revealing trails of bruises and marks all up his stomach to his chest.

Jimin had no words. He felt his body shake with anger and fear. Hobi cried harder into his dongsaengs chest.

"He...Hobi hyung...he.." Jimin started. He didn't even know what to say. He wanted that terrible man caught and murdered. He wanted him tortured for putting his hands on his hyung.

"He hurts you.." Jimin had to take deep breaths or else he felt like he'd suffocate.

"Please don't tell," Hobi begged.

"Don't tell?!" Jimin screamed, "He's been hurting you this whole time and you don't want me to tell?! We have to tell! He can't get away with this! I'll kill him my damn self! Oh my God my poor hyungie!" Jimin held Hobi tightly and the two cried together. Jimin rubbed Hobi's back and Hobi kept begging Jimin not to say anything out of fear of what might happen.

Jimin promised not to tell, but he was lying. He was definitely going to tell first thing tomorrow.

"Why didn't you say something?" Jimin asked. His entire soul was heavy and broken. He wondered why Hobi didn't confide in any of them or seek help sooner.

"I was scared." Hobi wiped his tears with the blankets. Jimin had a lot more questions and Hobi only had the answers to a few. Hobi explained everything that was going on and why. The two lay and cried together for a long time until the sound of the rain outside lured Hobi to sleep. Jimin couldn't sleep that night. A million worries raced through his head.

The next morning, he was already up while Hobi was still fast asleep. He went out into the kitchen where everyone was already getting ready to leave. He stood there and took a deep breath, nervously playing with the hem of his shirt.

Yoongi turned to him and noticed he looked off. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" He chuckled.

"I-I...have to tell you guys something." Jimin was clearly tense and it worried the others.

Namjoon walked over to him and placed a gentle hand on his back, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"It's not me. It's Hobi."

Everyone stared at him.

"Is Hobi hyungie okay?" Jungkook asked.

Tears welled up in Jimin's eyes. He turned back to the room and then back to his members, "He asked me not to tell but I can't keep it a secret. Hiko has been hurting him. A lot. Badly. He has a lot of bruises." Jimin's tears fell hard. The rest of the members didn't understand what was going on.

"What the hell do you mean Hiko is hurting him?" Namjoon asked. Jimin spoke fast to update them because he wanted them to get all the information before Hobi woke up. He was a mess as he explained everything Hobi told him.

"He gets hit when we leave. Because he's the dance leader and Hiko is always saying we suck. He said Hiko told him to hurt us but he couldn't bring himself to do something like that so he gets hurt instead."

Jungkook and Taehyung were holding eachother crying.

"I don't know what to do. We have to get rid of him before he hurts Hobi hyungie again!" Jimin cried.

The members came up with a plan that would keep Hobi safe while also getting rid of this monster.

When Hobi woke up, the members could tell how sad and drained he looked. He couldn't hide it anymore now that they were aware of the situation. They tried to act normal, like they didn't know, and tried to help him smile. He didn't want breakfast that morning claiming his stomach hurt a bit. The members played it off like surely that was what the issue must be.

They got to the practice studio early and spent a little more time stretching. When Hiko walked in, everyone's eyes immediately went to Hobi. They saw his body react and tense up. The members lined up next to eachother but when Hiko started the music none of them moved a muscle. They stood there with their arms crossed staring at Hiko.

Hobi was panicking. He wondered what the hell they were thinking not listening. He looked at Jimin with terrified eyes, because he knew Jimin knew what would happen if they didn't listen.

"What the hell is this?" Hiko asked as he stopped the music.

"We don't listen to anyone who puts their hands on one of us," Jungkook said angrily. Hobi's eyes went wide as he felt like he was going to pass out. He glared at Jimin.

"I had to," Jimin mouthed silently to Hobi.

"I'm sorry I don't know what they're talking about," Hobi said to Hiko in a desperate attempt to not get beaten.

"Bullshit, Hobi-ah. We know what he's been doing to you. And you know what? We have decided we'd love to return the favor," Jin said. Hiko stared at them confused, but backed away as the members started rushing at him. They all started pushing him and hitting him screaming about how he was never to put his hands on Hobi again or show his face in that studio.

"You may think you can get away with hurting one of us, but when one becomes seven the last thing you'll ever do is hurt us!" Yoongi screamed. They continued to physically and verbally fight with Hiko. Hobi retreated to a corner and dropped to the floor. He tried to control his breathing before he threw up.

No way. No way.

He covered his ears and clenched his eyes shut until the nightmare was over.

The nightmare lasted a while as the members made sure to do a number on Hiko. They got him to the point of begging for mercy as he bled. The members screamed at him to get lost and never show his face in their lives again or else they'd kill him. He got up and ran, cursing all of them. They chased him out into the hall and saw him run for the exit.

Afterwards, they immediately ran to Hobi and crouched down around him. He was still curled up with his eyes closed and ears covered. Jin grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.

"No. Don't hurt me," Hobi cried.

"Shh, it's us. He'll never hurt you again," Jin cooed as he rubbed Hobi's back. Hobi gripped onto Jin's shirt and continued to cry. "He's..he's gone?"

"And he'll stay that way, because he knows exactly what will happen if he doesn't," Yoongi replied. Hobi couldn't believe that his members had done something so incredibly scary and courageous for him.

"I would say I'm sorry for telling, but if I'm being honest, I'm not sorry hyungie. I had to say something. I couldn't just sit by knowing you were being hurt," Jimin said.

Hobi wiped his tears. He wasn't angry. "It's o-okay."

The members gathered around Hobi and held him in a group hug for a long time. This was the first time he felt safe in weeks.

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Yoongi asked. Jimin answered for him, "He was scared. I think we can all understand that."

The members nodded, they understood. Jungkook was crying and thanking Hobi for never turning for the worst on them. It came to light that Hiko had threatened Hobi, telling him to hurt his own members.

"I could never hurt you," Hobi frowned. Jungkook kissed Hobi's cheek. "I love you," the youngest said.

The members talked with Hobi for a long time about the whole situation and if he was feeling okay now. They discussed how to handle it if something like that ever happened again, someone coming in and hurting them.

"I guess I don't have to worry about it all that much, I didn't realize you were all such fighters." Hobi couldn't help but chuckle. He had really seen a new side to his members.

"We'd always fight for you. We'd fight for eachother," Taehyung said.

The mood mellowed out as everyone's nerves calmed down. Hobi didn't feel like being any kind of strict dance instructor today so they didn't practice much. They spent more time making sure the rapper was okay and offering words of reassurances. Hobi showed them his bruises and they all decided to just go home so he could rest.

They saw no sign of Hiko on their way out. They saw no sign of him ever again.

Because that man underestimated the love the members had for eachother and he knew what would happen if he returned or messed with any of them ever again.

[The End]