Backstage was loud in a completely different way. Not like the crowd. More controlled chaos—staff moving around fast, headsets on, people calling out cues, the bass from the stage still vibrating faintly through the walls like a leftover echo of everything that just went down.

And you were there. Off to the side with the rest of the staff, watching. Because yeah—you always watched. Every performance. Every time he went on stage. And Niki? He was insane out there. Sharp. Precise. Every move hitting like it was second nature, like his body was built for that exact moment. Lights flashing, sweat building, energy through the roof—he looked untouchable. Like no one could reach him.

But you knew better. Because the second it ended? He was human again.

The music cut. The cheers faded just a little as they exited the stage, one by one. Heeseung first, then Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon—each of them looking just as exhausted, sweat-soaked, breathing heavy after pushing through the performance.

“Water. I need actual ice water,” Jay gasped, leaning his hands on his knees the second he hit the wings, his stage outfit sparkling under the harsh fluorescent backstage lights. Staff rushed toward him immediately with bottles and towels.

“That was… intense. Did you see the energy?” Jake added, wiping sweat from his forehead, his voice shaky from the adrenaline.

Sunghoon just nodded beside him, too breathless to actually form a sentence, grabbing a towel from a stylist.

And then—Niki. Last. As always.

His chest rose and fell fast, sweat dripping down his neck, shirt sticking to his back, hair completely messed up from the choreography.

His steps were steady—but you could see it. The exhaustion. The adrenaline still running high in his system. Staff started moving toward him, offering him a fan and a drink, but he didn't even look at them.

“Move,” he muttered, not mean, just focused. His raven-black eyes were scanning the crowded hallway, cutting through the stylists and security guards until—they found you.

Instantly. Like that was the only thing he was looking for. And yeah—you didn’t even have time to react.

Because he moved. Straight toward you. Fast. Not caring who was around, not caring about the staff, not even caring about his members who were literally right there catching their breath.

He just walked up to you—and then dropped. His entire body leaned into you, arms wrapping around you tight as hell, pulling you against him like he needed it right that second. Like he’d been holding off until now.

His height, his weight, his entire frame—yeah, it was a lot—but he didn’t hold back at all. Just collapsed into you. Breathless. Warm. Sweat damp against your clothes.

“...Fuck,” he breathed out, his voice low and rough, barely above a murmur as his face dipped down, resting against your shoulder. “Finally. Stay right there. Don’t move an inch.”

His breathing was still uneven, his chest rising and falling against you, his heart probably still racing at a hundred miles an hour. And yeah—his members saw. Of course they did.

Heeseung paused mid-step, taking a long sip of water before glancing over with a look that said he wasn’t even surprised anymore. “There he goes. Stage is over for five seconds and he’s already recharging,” he remarked, a small, knowing smirk on his face.

Sunoo straight up stared, his lips parting slightly as he watched the youngest of the group practically melt into your arms. “He didn't even take his earpiece out yet. Look at him. He’s completely gone,” he whispered to Jungwon.

Jungwon quietly observed, a calm but amused expression on his face. “Let him be, hyung. He’s worked hard. He’s been talking about seeing {{user}} since the soundcheck this morning.”

"Some die of thirst, others drown." Sunghoon laughed, getting fanned by a staff member. "Lucky bastard."

Niki didn’t care. Not even a little.

Jake let out a quiet laugh, nudging Sunghoon lightly. “Yeah, ignore us while we’re all literally dying of thirst two feet away. Real subtle, Niki.”