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Mark hates this. Now don’t get Mark wrong. He absolutely loves how all of his members are here and performing together. He loves being able to hang out, play, and perform with all of his brothers. No that's not what Mark hates. What Mark hates is the choreography. Specifically, the part where he has to get on top of Jaemin’s back and stand there. On top. Of Jaemin’s back. Now any other member, he wouldn’t have minded. Heck it could’ve been Jisung. But no, this was Jaemin. Specifically the person who had missed a WHOLE comeback to get surgery on his BACK. Do you see Mark’s dilemma now?
And it’s not like the other members don’t care. They know. They understand. Especially Jaemin for some reason. But they somehow all have hope that Jaemin is cured and that Mark won’t hurt him. They say Jaemin is fine, even the man himself, and for Mark not to worry.
But how could he not? This was his member. He was his dream leader. How could he as his leader do this with the guilt looming over his head that he could be the cause of Jaemin’s next downfall.
Ever since learning the choreography, guilt and anxiety has been plaguing Mark’s mind and occupying Mark’s nights. He literally has a countdown to their next rehearsal, worry filling his every being for the dangers and possibilities that could happen during that move. He starts losing sleep over it, which doesn’t render in his mind until a member points it out.
“Mark hyung, what are those things under your eyes?” Jisung innocently points out during breakfast together one day.
“Bags, Jisung,” Chenle rolls his eyes. “They’re bags, you dimwit. Never seen them before?” Jisung sputters out at the insult, drawing more attention to Mark than he would have liked.
“Hyung, have you not been sleeping well?” Jeno asks worriedly, peering over from his spot.
“I-I am! Don’t worry about it,” Mark nervously says, mentally scolding himself. He’s never let himself get to this point before, even while managing multiple units at once. He can’t let himself ruin this comeback for all of them, their first one as an NCT whole unit.
“You sure? You look like you lost weight.” Donghyuck side comments. “They didn’t put you on a diet, did they? It didn’t look like you would need it.”
“I…” Mark starts to form a reply when the idea suddenly hits him. He wants to face palm heavily on himself that he hadn’t thought of it before! He could lose weight so that he wouldn’t be a heavy burden on Jaemin’s back! That would definitely lessen the pressure for sure! On both him and Jaemin.
“...I am, yeah,” Mark covers up quickly,
“Really? Why would they do that? You’re already so skinny hyung,” Renjun disapprovingly shakes his head.
Mark shrugs, not wanting to say anything to lie even more to his members but deciding this was the best route to take.
“Well, don’t let it affect your sleep too, hyung,” Jaemin mentions on the side, still looking worriedly over at him. As long as it was in worry and not in pain, Mark resolved in his head.
“Don’t worry, I’m just adjusting. I’ll make sure to get enough sleep guys.” Mark is sure that is true from now on since some peace had entered his mind at his newfound plan.
The members look over at him warily but as it’s not uncommon for their company to impose diets with their members, they pay no more attention to him with his reassuring remarks. They each find it unusual that it’s Mark who’s subject to it, given his high metabolism, but figures it might have to do with a full comeback this time and decides to trust him and their company. Little did they know…