KOOK POV:

(Y/N) steps through the dance studio, silently but waves as she catches my gaze- smiling as she enters, slowly making her way over.

Her face expressions confusion, the most adorable scrunch between her brows and head tilted slightly, as she takes in the fact the studio is empty save for the two of us.

"Hobi hyung and Jiminie hyung are on their way, they just went to grab some props." I say, watching as the confusion melts off her face and she nods.

She goes to put her bag on the side, returning to the centre as she begins to stretch and warm-up. I take my customary space opposite her, grinning as she shoots me a warning look- silently making sure she's ready to dance. But that doesn't stop me from mirroring her actions completely, even going so far as to exaggerate the imitation- making faces of it being strenuous and tiring. For some reason, teasing her gives me a satisfaction and happiness beyond the one I sometimes get for teasing the hyungs, especially Jiminie hyung. Something so satisfactory about her response and the way that she rises to challenge me back, that she doesn't get tired or seem put off by it- but accepts it in her stride easily. She challenges me in every way and that in itself makes her all the easier to want to be with, adds to her allure and the silent appeal she has. And I don't know whether I'm imagining it but her silent shy nature seems to be slowly replacing with more expressiveness, with more animated expressions. Even in her silence I can see the shyness slowly ebb away as she grows more comfortable and in that alone I find myself happy and excited and pleased for her.

And I'm so drawn in taking in every little detail in the way her expression shifts, in the way she turns from amused to challenged to competitive that I don't even realise the hyungs have returned until their loud bright voices fill the air as they greet (Y/N).

Both hyungs have their arms full with the wildest and obscurest range of props I've seen and I can see the bemusement mirrored in (Y/N)'s eyes too as she takes in the jackets, the hats and oddly enough ribbons that stream down their arms.

Her eyes brighten though as she takes in the ribbon, smile curving up at the corners but then rove up to meet their gazes, the barely repressed excitement.

"How about we just experiment and have some fun today?" Hobi hyung proposes, face lit with his sunny enthusiasm, energy felt in the way he seems to constantly shift- as if he can't stand still because of how excited he is.

She nods, her own returning smile is beaming and bright- lighting up her features, hand reaching forward to empty some of the weight in Jiminie hyung's hands.

But becomes puzzled when it seems like a ribbon seems to have wrapped and gotten entangled around several of the props, tying them together. I step forward to help, hands undoing the weaved ribbon and as I do so my hand brushes against (Y/N)'s. For some reason, the small touch sends the feeling of sparks where our hands touched briefly and when I look at her I find myself drawn to the wide inviting depths of her eyes, the way she blinks uncertainly- her eyelashes brushing against the skin at the high of her cheeks, cheeks that have pinkened. Her full lips part in surprise, rose petals of colour.

And then her hand gently untangles the last slip of ribbon, letting the pale thin material flutter down, distracting my gaze from her. I step back feeling my cheeks warm, eyes averting suddenly, feeling conscious of how close I'd been- worried all of a sudden that I might've made her feel uncomfortable.

But she just gives a small smile, stepping back- ribbon trailing over her fingers, fluttering as it drifts to the ground.

"You know how to use that (Y/N)?" Jiminie hyung asks, eyes observing the way she seems to hold it close, how her eyes flutter down to it, and how it seems to intertwine between her fingers with a casual grace, with a familiarity.

"I bet she's great at it." Hobi hyung quips, immediately taking her side before she even gives an answer.

She makes a shaky hand motion. Kind of.

But I've noticed whenever we get that response, her kind of ends up being one of her strongest performances, her strongest suits- her kind of when we dance comes across as if she's well-versed in the genre as if she'd trained her entire life for it.

Her passion and ease that she picks up choreo and executes it has me shocked silently, just how powerful and captivating she is as a performer. When she dances, she doesn't dance to the music, she becomes one with the music instead.

It seems like she downplays herself, doesn't give herself enough credit and it pains me to watch. To see her silently seem uncertain or unconfident when really I am beginning to have no doubt that she could wipe the floor with the three of us, if she ever wanted to.

I want her to see just how strong and powerful and capable she is. I want her to see herself as we do- as someone so passionate and entrancing and captivating.

Maybe she truly doesn't know the silent effect she has on people.

"Why don't you try it out for a bit and if you want to, show us?" I say, not wanting her to feel pressurised into showing us something she doesn't want to, sharing a part of her that is perhaps treasured and kept safe.

She gives me a grateful smile, dipping her head into a small imperceptible nod and almost as quickly moves to the corner of the room, turning away from us as she focuses on the ribbon in her hand.

I smile at her turned figure; at the way she seems to cradle with the ribbon with a reverence.

Jiminie hyung nudges me.

I quickly turn to him, focusing on him.

"So what do you want to use Kookie?" he asks, holding the arms filled with props towards me.

"I don't know hyung, depends on the style of dance." I reply.

The three of us decide to perform together, having attuned ourselves to each other's style and personal twists as dancers to create something that we'll dance to together.

And though initially my eyes drift to her reflection in the mirror, in the way she slowly begins to try and work with the ribbon, my focus is soon drawn back completely into our dance, into pouring our efforts into.

And we don't realise how much time has gone by until the music is suddenly cut off, paused and we turn our eyes to see (Y/N) looking at us, straightening up and moving close to give us water and towels.

Her own face is flushed, skin shining with the slight sheen of sweat, but for some odd reason all I can think of in that moment is how it only seems to make her glisten, light catching on her features.

She wipes her face up, dabbing at her neck before drinking water, head arched and throat bobbing...I look away, feeling a prickle of shame curl around my gut- feeling bad for staring.

She gestures for us to dance first after our break, taking seat in front of the mirrors.

She takes Hobi hyung's nod as the cue to replay the song and we soon begin to dance, everything else shifting to the back- entire focus on the dance and the way our bodies move in rhythm and sync, executing the moves with perfect unison and harmony. And as we finish, breathing heavily, all of us look at her- silently awaiting her reaction. She claps excitedly, face lit up and each feature expressing joy.

"You liked it?" Hobi hyung asks eagerly.

She shakes her head smiling.

And then makes a heart, hands coming together to make the shape.

She loved it. She even mouths it.

And it makes my heart burst with pride and warmth and satisfaction. That she loved our dance, that our efforts paid off. That we were able to show her the dynamic and harmony we had as dancers.

We switch places, she comes to stand in the centre. I eagerly look at her, this will be the first time I'll have ever seen her perform solo. My first time to see her dance as an individual and the way hyungs had described her audition- I was excited and waiting with anticipation, heart pounding loudly- as if it was me about to step up and perform, not her.

My eyes take in the way she grasps the stick where the ribbon flows from, pale lilac flowing down to the ground, pooling near her feet.

Jimin hyung looks up from his phone, at the song she'd asked him to play.

"Are you sure?" he asks, gently- voice full of meaning, understanding even.

She gives a firm resolute nod.

The music begins to play, gentle notes that pour out of the speakers and fill the studio.

I've heard the song.

She'll be dancing to Butterfly?

I look at the hyungs for confirmation but their eyes are glued intently to her, quickly my eyes return to her- not wanting to miss a single moment of her performance.

As the song begins, the hand that was holding the ribbon begins to move, controlling the movement of it. As she dances, each move flawless, poised, and controlled- spinning and twirling and moving across the floor- the ribbon continues to be controlled and manipulated to her dance moves, swirling around her in a fluttery breeze of lilac satin. The ease and control she has over the ribbon causes it to trail after her at some points- as if in pursuit of her, other times seems to envelope her before fluttering away. The ribbon has become a part of her performance, an extension of herself and the dance she performs is simply beautiful. Captivating.

With the way she seems to express emotions so profoundly, the way each move is executed with fluidity and the way when she dances- the music and her become one.

I don't realise I'd been holding my breath in as she performed until she finished and the ribbon came drifting to the ground, floating gently through the air before coming to a stop in front of her and she stills- performance complete. The air rushes out of me and my eyes which hadn't dared blink, now blink in rapid succession- as if trying to process what I'd just seen. That the sensational performance had actually occurred and not been a figment of a beautiful illusion that would now melt away.

"Wow..." I breathe, mind still flashing the image of the lilac ribbon swirling around her black fitted dance apparel as she'd moved.

"(Y/N)...you. You're just so..." Hobi hyung says stepping forward, eyes wide and mouth parted in surprise.

She looks anxiously towards him, silently waiting and needing him to say something, anything.

"Perfect. How did we get so lucky with you?" Jiminie hyung completes, moving away from the mirror to get close.

Her hands fidget, wrapping them into the lilac ribbon.

"Just wow..." I echo.

"You performed even better than your audition, you took the same song and transformed the choreography...all with a ribbon." Hobi hyung says disbelievingly.

The two of them look star-struck, and I wonder just how much change they can see from her first performance to this performance of the same song.

It makes me feel envious that I didn't get to see her audition, makes me feel as if I lost out on something monumental.

The proud looks they give her seem to make her fluster, her heavy breathing couples with her flushed cheeks- the pink deepening makes my eyes remain captured by her silent form. At the way her fingers still, her worries put to rest.

"(Y/N)...you were playing when you came to sign for dance lessons." I say accusingly, but the teasing challenging tone is lost in the way my words come out slightly breathless.

And as I say it, I wonder what made her sign up and not join a professional team. What made her want to start with basics when she has this capability, this talent.

She shoots a sheepish smile but doesn't elaborate.

"Is this why the man...Habaek said lilac? Because he'd seen you perform with the ribbon before? You've been holding out on us for that long?" Jiminie hyung asks, eyes narrowed suspiciously onto her frame.

Lilac. The colour her ribbon was.

Her face shifts, a flash of something unreadable crossing her features- causing the shyness to vanish, a moment of hesitation or pause in her eyes. And then it's gone. So quickly I wonder whether I imagined it.

But she nods, giving in under hyung's sharp eyes.

And when he lets out a strangled indignant sound her eyes crease as she silently laughs.

When her silent laughter is this beautiful and alluring, I wonder just how powerful and sweet her laugh would be if we ever heard it.

But I find myself not largely bothered by the possibility, because even silent (Y/N) is an amazing person- she doesn't need words to convey her personality, her mannerisms do that automatically.

And she allows Jiminie hyung to storm forward. He grasps the ribbon between his hands, tugging it upwards to show but the action makes her stumble a step forward- the sudden force dislodging her footing. Unconsciously I find that I'd jerked forward instinctually in response but hyung's hand already had landed on her shoulder to stabilise her.

"Sorry...I shouldn't have done that." He mumbles, face slightly closer to hers.

But before she can do anything, say it's fine, the studio door opens and there's a joyous bark, and the sound of a deep voice calling into the studio.

"Jimin-ah...why does it look like you're about to threaten my pretty photographer friend?" Tae hyung calls somewhat suspiciously as he heads into the room.

(Y/N) POV:

I feel my cheeks burn with the way Taehyung had just addressed me, with the way Jimin had been so close to me and the way Jungkook had earlier been nothing but kind as he'd helped me untangle the ribbon but I'd felt a shameful set of sparks when our hands had brushed.

They had all been nothing but friendly, kind and welcoming to me and for some reason I couldn't help feel slightly flustered in their presence.

The sound of an excited yip is what makes me look down, ribbon sliding off my fingers as I bend towards the fluffy Pomeranian.

I silently coo over Tannie, at the way his tongue wags and his tail swooshes quickly behind him. I kneel onto the ground, the gesture causing Tannie to lift his front paws up to rest against my knees, trying to scrabble onto my lap. I silently gush when Tannie's attempts appear to be futile but when on his fourth attempt he successfully manages to hop onto my lap, he lets out a joyous bark, scrabbling closer and pressing those paws against my stomach as he looks up. I bend my head towards him, pressing small kisses to his fur, hands petting him, running through the fur on his back. I can't help but smile when he seems to press forward, small happy barks as I pet him or the way when my head bends over him- he tries to lick my face, tongue only managing to get the slight bit of skin on my neck.

He's adorable.

"Jiminie...well?" Taehyung asks. I can't bring myself to look up, focusing and investing all my attention and efforts in cooing over Tannie who is excitedly bounding around on my lap.

"Did you just refer to (Y/N) as your pretty photographer friend?" he echoes, slightly shocked.

Shocked at whether Taehyung can refer to me like that, or that he considered me pretty I don't know. I don't think I want to know either.

"Yeah so? Can't I call pretty people pretty? And she's my friend, she doesn't mind." Taehyung retorts, I can practically hear the proud smile I don't doubt he's sporting.

And when I hesitantly raise my head, my eyes meet his immediately because he's not standing too far away from me, gaze on Tannie and me.

"Do you mind (Y/N)?" he asks as he kneels in front of me and Tannie, fingers gently scratching behind Tannie's ears but gaze fixed on me. He asks quietly, voice low and gentle- eyes warm and considerate.

Do I mind?

That someone so kind, gentle and not to mention handsome, distractingly so, compliments me?

No. It makes a rush of warmth fan out, especially when he uses the word 'my'- makes me feel as if I belong. As if for him, I'm someone close to him.

It makes me feel as if the friendship and the way our bond grows with each interaction, with each day is reciprocated, is felt in him too.

A small shake of my head.

But it makes a boxy grin appear on his lips, the same grin that had greeted me when we'd first met. It's safe and familiar.

And the gently whispered thank you he gives before leaning back is equally as warming.

"I was just...I was just asking her something. Hey! Why are you questioning me?" Jimin suddenly retorts, voice going from confused to adorably indignant and the answering giggle he gets makes me instinctively smile.

"I have every right to protect her from you Jiminie." He playfully quips.

Their ease and comfort with each other is felt in every word, every action- as well as their love for each other.

It makes me part wistful, part happy.

I get to my feet, cradling Tannie's wriggling body to my chest and smiling when he finally yips in satisfaction that he can lave over my skin with his tongue, snuffling happily.

"Ahh...it seems like Tannie is most attached to you. I don't think he's that happy to ever see me either." Taehyung laments, reaching his hands out to scoop Tannie away from my arms.

And I very almost let out a little huff of laughter when Tannie barks, paws scrabbling frantically for purchase as he plasters himself against me- tail wagging behind him.

Taehyung's arms fall back, shooting Tannie a betrayed look, a loud sigh falling past his lips.

And as I'm about to put Tannie down or at least hand him over to the others, feeling as if I'm overstaying- veering into their personal time, that they'd want to spend with each other Hoseok turns to Taehyung to share his reaction of my dance, and his gaze goes to the ribbon in Jimin's hands.

"I wish I could've seen it." He says sincerely.

I open my mouth and close it. How to go about saying goodbye? How do I silently slip out of this moment now that the dance lesson is over?

"(Y/N) do you want to go to the cake shop near the diner? My treat...for your amazing performance." Jungkook says suddenly, shy sweet voice breaking through my internal struggle.

I raise my head to meet his eyes, see the way his doe-eyes shine with excitement and hopefulness, the way his lips quirk up in a small smile and he looks at me, awaiting my response.

To be honest the cake shop sounds great.

Whether or not he'd offered to treat me.

"Aigoo baby's all grown up now, now he's doing the treating." Jimin says, planting an exaggerated smack of his lips against Jungkook's cheek- ruffling his hair.

Jungkook protests with a whine of 'hyung' but he's grinning at the small affectionate gesture.

"Treat me too." Hoseok pipes up.

"And me." Jimin adds.

"Me three." Taehyung adds.

And then to top it all Tannie lets out a bark too, echoing all of them.

Then their eyes turn to me- soft, inviting, and happy. Happy to extend their hand that brings warmth to me, yet again.

And with the combined intensity of the puppy-eyes they all seem to be shooting me, silently persuasive. How can I say no?

So I find myself nodding, smiling when they react loudly and happily. As if my nod had made all the difference.

(THERE YOU GO! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER! AND IS ANYONE SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING? IS ANYONE SEEING THE WAY KOOKIE IS GETTING DRAWN FURTHER AND FURTHER- OUR BABY IS GETTING A CRUSH ON THE BABY SIREN AND I AM HERE LIVING FOR IT! IT MAKES ME ALL WARM AND FUZZY- ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE BOND THEY SHARE IS DIFFERENT, HE'S HER SAFE SPACE AND THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS HER SO EASILY! AND ALSO! TAE SO EASILY AND HAPPILY CALLING HER HIS PRETTY PHOTOGRAPHER FRIEND- HE'S NOT HOLDING BACK OH NO!! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND ALL YOUR REACTIONS TOO- I LOVE HEARING AND READING THEM ALL! AND WE HAVE A RIBBON PERFORMANCE OF BUTTERFLY!! ACK! SO MUCH HAPPENING SO MUCH TO COME! I DEFINITELY AND SINCERELY HOPE IT'S NOT BORING ANY OF YOU MY LOVES!! STAY SAFE AND ENJOY!)

QUESTION...YOUR LATEST MATTER OF CONFUSION/CONFLICT?

Mine is...I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT JK'S HAIR IN A MANBUN AND THE LONG HAIR IN THE LATEST PERFORMANCES! And I am so confused- on one hand, JK's deep necklines and shirts are super distracting but I keep getting the urge of wanting to cover the baby up. And seeing a bun on the bunny is just life.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3