They finally got to the dance studio so they could rehearse. The dance studio that they went to was one that they weren't familiar with.

They had to borrow this one for awhile since theirs was being repaired after some weird mailing incident.

This dance studio was a little bigger and a little fancier, having little lights attached to the walls and a chandelier hanging from the cieling.
Apparently, the studio used to be a dining hall before it got changed. No one was complaining about the new environment.

They even seemed to feel comfortable in the new location despite it not being theirs and this being their first time there. Everyone started to stretch, being silly, using their own 'techniques'.

"Alright everyone!" their dance instructor clapped his hands together. "It's time to start!"

It was a long and tiring rehearsal, but it was a good one. Everything went well, that was until Taeil and Johnny keep making a mistake in a particular move that was quite difficult and therefore they did that move multiple times because of them.

Yuta started to get impatient and decided to correct them, but surprisingly it happened to be none other than Donghyuck.

Yuta made Donghyuck loop the move but the maknae still couldn't get it right.

"Maybe he should stop" Johnny said.

"Yeah, maybe he's tired. We have been dancing for five hours straight afterall" Taeil added.

"No, he can do it, right Donghyuck?"

Donghyuck nodded in response, too tired to give a vocal one.

"Everyone can take a break. Go get a drink of water and come back" the dance instructor said.

Donghyuck did just that. As soon as he came back, Yuta had him continue looping the move.

After awhile of little improvement, Yuta had just settled with putting his hands on the maknae, guiding his body to where it should be.

Little did he know that there was another great dancer like himself, seething in the corner, cursing him.

"That's right! There you go Donghyuck! Again, but this time hit the moves a little harder, okay? Like this" Yuta showed him what he meant, hitting the moves harder, making the ground and chandelier shake a little with each stomp.

No one really paid much attention to it other than the one sitting in the corner. Mark looked up at the chandelier and noticed a few screws that were loose, but said nothing.

After Donghyuck got the move down, rehearsal continued for a few more hours until it was time to record.

"Donghyuck, you're the only one that I need for today. Everyone else can go home because honestly, I know that everyone, including myself is tired. I don't want everyone to over work themselves so let's just do a little bit for today, okay ?" Taeyong said.

Donghyuck nodded in response.

"Hyung do you mind if I stay?" Mark asked with his best puppy eyes.

"Sure"

"I'm gonna stay too. I'm gonna work more on the dance" Yuta said. Everyone nodded.

Taeyong, Mark and Donghyuck finally left for the recording studio. They were happy that it wasn't too far to walk. Donghyuck headed right into the recording booth while Taeyong sat at the controls, Mark plopping down in the seat next to him.

"Alright Donghyuck, let's do this. If you feel like you can't do anymore then don't push yourself"

"Okay hyung"

They recorded a few times, because Donghyuck needed time to warm up his voice. After he was done warming up, he sang his parts without a problem. 

"Very good! Your voice sounds so good"

Donghyuck blushed and smiled. "Thanks hyung"

"It's so nice and smooth. It's like silk. Everything was perfect, just like you" Taeyong winked, laughing as the younger's blush deepened as he looked down.

Mark just sat quietly, watching as his leader flirted with his Donghyuck. He watched Taeyong praise and burry Donghyuck in a tsunami of compliments.

Donghyuck left the booth and walked over to Mark and Taeyong, wanting to give them goodbye kiss. He pecked Taeyong's cheek and turned to give Mark a kiss but Mark refused it.

Yes, he wants to be kissed by Donghyuck so much but not now. He might couldn't control himself when the younger's lips touch his skin. That would be too much for him.

Donghyuck wrapped his arms around Mark's neck and tried his best to kiss him but Mark pushed him gently.

"Maybe later Donghyuckie" he said to the pouting maknae.

"Why? Why is it so hard to give Mark hyung a kiss?" he mumbled to himself as he walked off.

"Hey, Taeyong hyung can you help me with my writing assignment?"

"Sure. What do you need help with?"

"Well, my writing assignment is on making a story of how a man is going to leave his loved ones behind and his way of saying goodbye is going to be through his song"

"Jesus, Mark. That's...depressing..."

"Yeah, I know. But I need help"

"How can I help?"

"You're good at writing things. I mean, you're like a genius and all"

Taeyong blushed at that statement.

"I've read your lyrics and it seems like you have issues right?"

"I guess..." Taeyong answered, not quite sure where the other was going with this.

"So just to give me inspiration, could you write a suicide note. Please? I know it sounds outrageous but I promise I won't show it to anyone. It'll just be between you and me. Think of this as a bonding moment, a way for us to get closer. I know it's asking for a lot and it's not really a great way to start getting closer to someone, you know, asking to write a suicide note, but I need it. If I don't do this, I'll let my teacher down and I don't want him to be disappointed with me. It's due tomorrow and I'm struggling. Please hyung...." Mark explained himself with tears in his eyes.

Taeyong sighed. "Alright. But this gets shown to no one. If I find out that you showed this to someone, you're dead. This suicide note will be yours and I'll make it look like an accident"

"Thanks hyung" Mark smiled and wiped his tears. Thanks hyung....he said in his head, in a darker tone.

~

"Here"

Mark read it over and smiled. "Thank you so much hyung! I feel inspired already"

"Wow, you sure seem happy for someone who just read a depressing as fuck suicide note"

"That's because now I know that I won't disappoint my teacher, and it's all thanks to you"

Taeyong smiled, feeling proud of himself. "Anytime Mark. But please try not to ask me for anymore depressing favors"

"It will never happen again. I promise"

"Okay, I gotta record now"

"Okay Taeyong hyung. I'll be here when you come back"

Taeyong made his way into the booth, choosing to sit on the highest chair, not wanting to put anymore pressure on his feet in fear of collapsing.

Taeyong is a kind of short guy, so the chair was really tall enough for his feet to dangle was quite an interesting and rare sight to see.

He grabbed a pair of headphones that were dangling from the cieling and put them on.

"Wow hyung, you're dangling!" Mark laughed.

"Oh, shut up"

"Hey, hyung. You know what the cord for the headphones remind me of? The ropes we used to climb in gym" Mark laughed again.

"These cords are really strong. It's said that almost nothing can bring them down" Taeyong said.

"Wow, really?"

"Yep"

"You know what it also looks like?"

"What?"

"A fashionable scarf that only you would wear" Mark said giggling.

Taeyong wrapped the cord around his neck, turning it into a scarf. This made Mark laugh even more.

"Okay, okay, now let me start"

"Okay hyung"

"Don't worry Mark, I'll keep my scarf on just for you" he laughed.

"Gee, thanks hyung. You're so generous"

"Start the music for me please. I'll do a quick run through to warm up and then I'll get into it"

"Okay hyung" Mark said, turning the music on and increasing the volume.

Taeyong started to get into the flow, rapping his heart out, doing his part in what was going to be yet another great work of nct.

The music was loud, the beats and bass booming throughout his body, going in almost perfect time with his heartbeat.

This is what he loves, what he was born to do. Although it came with a price of being exhausted and having to be a certain way at times for the media, he never lost sight of who he really was and what his passion was. This is his life. Even though he struggled, he loves it.

Not only this but who he considered his family, his members, his brothers. He loves it all and wouldn't trade any for it. If he could go back and change anything, he wouldn't change a thing. 

Taeyong was so in his own little world that he didn't know that there was something or rather someone missing from their original spot. Mark had gotten up from his seat and made his way into the recording booth.

Slowly making his way towards his leader, he remembered all the good times he and his Taeyong hyung had shared, almost making him stop in his tracks.

But then he thought back to moments ago and kept walking until he was behind the older.

'I like you Taeyong hyung, I really do...' he continued to stare at the other.

'...but unfortunately for you, you have to pay the price for flirting with that's not yours, especially what's mine' Mark smirked as he placed his hands on the chair.

He pulled the chair from under the older, suddenly hearing sounds of choking, wheezing, and every once and awhile, a desperate choked out cry for help while music played in the background.

To anyone else this would have been hard to watch, sick ever, but not to Mark. Oh no, the said person was enjoying every minute of watching his hyung suffer, watching him squirm.

It almost made him hard, especially since he saw Donghyuck's face and hear his voice for a split second instead of Taeyong's.

His eyes fluttered at the thought but didn't close. He let out a shaky breath, palming himself while watching Taeyong's life wither away.

Taeyong finally noticed Mark, reaching his hand out for the other to help him. Mark's smirk grew. He chuckled,

"Ah, ah, ah, Taeyong hyung" he said in a mock, disapproving tone. "This is punishment. Of course none of this would have happened if you hadn't flirted with what wasn't yours"

Taeyong had tears in his eyes, not because he was choking, but because he felt hurt and betrayed.

'The...the suicide note..h-he wanted to make it...look....like I did....this....that bastard... how could he.....' Taeyong thought, as his face started to change color from lack of oxygen.

"Ma-...Mark.....pl....ease" Taeyong tried, unable to even form words properly.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everyone else, just like I did with you"  Mark said with a smile as if he was able to read the older's thoughts.

Taeyong's vision getting blurry. He was starting to black out. His time was almost up and he knew it.

'..Dear god....whoevers out there...please....please look after everyone, especially...Donghyuck... please....' Taeyong pleaded in his mind.

"Goodbye Taeyong hyung. You won't be alone forever. The other's will be with you soon" Mark grinned.

Taeyong's body finally went limp, the music stopping as if they were connected, as if to symbolize the life that left Taeyong's now lifeless body.

His eyes stayed open, staring at the person who had just taken his life. Mark did the same for awhile until he felt that it was time to go.

He left the booth, leaving the corpse behind. Walking to the door that led out of the recording studio, he opened it without looking back.

"One down, seven more to go" he giggled as he made his way back to the dance studio.