Chapter Text
When Hyunjin first met Donatella, she gave off a pleasant vibe — warm, kind, and passionate about her brand. The way she spoke about fashion, about the identity she poured into every design, made Hyunjin feel honored to be part of it. Signing the two-year contract felt like a dream come true.
But dreams had a way of turning sour.
The change was subtle at first. A lingering gaze during fittings. Fingertips brushing over his biceps, trailing along his back — lower than necessary — under the guise of checking measurements.
The first few times, Hyunjin had brushed it off. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was just... affectionate. But then there were moments that left him stiff, skin prickling long after she had walked away.
One fitting, Donatella chuckled when she caught him trembling under her touch. Her fingers had squeezed his cheek, nails lightly grazing his skin.
"My Versace Prince is adorable when he's shy."
Hyunjin had forced a smile, heart hammering in his chest.
It became harder to ignore. He'd brought it up to the members during practice one day, voice low as if saying it out loud would make it more real.
"It's... weird sometimes, you know? The way she looks at me... touches me. It's like—"
"Jinnie, no offense, You are her model, of course she has to look at you, touch you. What were you expecting becoming the brand ambassador for Versace?" Minho cut in, arms crossed. "You signed the contract. Just finish what you started."
Minho was always right, practical. But it stung more than Hyunjin expected.
Han leaned back on the couch, smirking. "Such a drama queen. You squirm away even when ‘we’ touch you, well…except for I.N. and Channie hyung."
Hyunjin's eyes narrowed, placing his hand over his chest with a dramatic gasp living up to his nickname. "Mind you, Innie is my baby. And hyung is my life."
It earned him a few laughs, but the discomfort kept bubbling underneath the surface. He felt disappointed in how easily they dismissed it. Or maybe they were right. Maybe he was overreacting. Maybe he was just being too sensitive.
But the feeling wouldn't go away.
Two events passed. The campaigns were massive successes, pushing Versace's name higher in the luxury world. Every time Hyunjin stood in front of cameras wearing those carefully crafted designs, people praised his beauty, his elegance — the perfect ambassador.
Behind closed doors, Donatella's touches lingered longer. The compliments got stranger.
"You were made to be worshipped, Hyunjin... Versace's perfect muse. I could take Versace branding to an unimaginable level with you."
He smiled politely every time, but the smile never reached his eyes. The once bright enthusiasm he felt had been chipped away, leaving behind something hollow. He couldn't quit.
There was too much at stake.
The group. The company. The contract. The fans.
He couldn't walk away.
In the quiet of his room at night, he'd stare at the ceiling, heart pounding as memories replayed. Donatella's perfume. The heat of her breath when she leaned in too close. Her fingers that always seemed to find a reason to touch, hold.
'Man up, Hyunjin. Just a few more events.'
He told himself that over and over, lying to himself knowing there is more than one year remaining — a desperate mantra as his once peaceful sleep turned into restless nights, haunted by things he couldn't quite name but felt deep in his bones.
This time, Donatella had requested Hyunjin from the company for two weeks — longer than the usual time per event. She had stated that she would come to Korea herself, offering generous compensation.
Hyunjin hesitated. The company agreed.
The day she arrived, Donatella had rented out an entire penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the rooms in golden sunlight. Everything was lavish, from marble floors to velvet furniture. The air carried a subtle floral fragrance, the kind that felt too heavy after a while.
She always said places like this fueled her imagination.
The door creaked open, and there she stood, arms wide, eyes shining.
"There you are... I missed you, my beautiful prince."
Hyunjin's breath caught as she wrapped him in a tight embrace. Her arms locked around his waist, pressing him close. He stiffened when she leaned in, inhaling deeply against his neck.
He barely hugged her back — a few small pats on her shoulder, nothing more.
"Hello, Donatella... it's been a while." His voice came out polite but distant.
She pulled back just enough to cup his face, her thumbs brushing over his cheekbones.
"Even more beautiful than I remember..."
"Love the hair. Just like the logo."
Donatella's voice cooed, fingers brushing through Hyunjin's black strands before pulling away. He swallowed, offering a small smile.
"This... is the new design. Come on, try it on."
She shooed him towards the fitting room without waiting for a response.
The outfit was... stunning.
The back was made from sheer, transparent fabric — soft against his skin, almost too delicate. The sleeves were crafted from pinkish-red velvet, wrapping snugly around his arms. The torso clung to him, the neckline dipping deeper to expose his collarbones and a hint of muscle. Dark black pants hugged his legs, perfectly tailored to match his long black hair.
But what really caught his eye were the accessories — delicate silver threads woven into jewelry, glinting under the lights. The shoes mirrored the same pinkish-red shade streaked over black, with the Versace logo shining proudly at the back. All Donatella's handmade work.
Hyunjin sighed softly.
At least the clothes are beautiful.
When he stepped out, Donatella's gasp echoed through the room.
"Oh Heavens!!! Absolutely PERFECT! Finally, finally, I can achieve the branding I have always dreamed about."
Hyunjin's lips curved into a toothy smile — but it froze the moment her hand found his back. Under the thin fabric. Fingers brushing slowly, deliberately.
"Love, what do you think about having something to represent Versace... right here? A tattoo, maybe?"
Her hand stopped in the middle of his shoulder blades, pressing lightly.
"The world needs to see the beauty of it. How my brand can make my prince shine."
Hyunjin's breath caught. His eyes flicked toward the translator standing nearby. She gave him a small nod — the kind that said just go along with it.
"Um... I'll have to confirm with the company. If it's temporary, I don't think there will be an issue."
Donatella's smile widened.
"Sure. Go ahead. Tell them it's just the Versace logo."
Hyunjin nodded slowly, fingers curling into his palms. The call to the company was brief. His manager's voice sounded tired — frustrated, even.
"Why are you making things difficult, Hyunjin? The contract is already signed giving her authority to do what she sees fit. How could you embarrass her like this, calling here and there!!? You are not that important to act like this! Just cooperate. Let me apologize to her."
Hyunjin clenched his jaw. He handed the phone back, heart sinking. Donatella took it with a satisfied smile, voice low and smooth as she spoke. Whatever she said made the manager agree without hesitation.
When she ended the call, her smile stretched wider — like a cat that finally caught its prey.
"Okay, my prince. We're done for today. The concept is 'Drunk in Versace Towards the Silver Line.' All the makeup, the hair — everything will complement the theme."
Her fingers trailed down his back one last time, stopping just above his waistline.
"You'll have to put on a little tipsy act... I'm sure someone as talented as you can pull it off."
Hyunjin's stomach twisted.
‘You agreed to this. You signed the contract. Just a little longer…’
He forced another smile, bowing his head slightly.
"I'll do my best."
Her laugh was soft, almost affectionate — but the way it echoed through the penthouse made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
As soon as Hyunjin stepped into the dorm, the familiar warmth wrapped around him like a safety blanket. His body felt heavy — drained in a way that went deeper than just physical exhaustion. His feet carried him straight to I.N’s room without a second thought.
He didn’t speak. He just flopped onto the bed, wrapping his long limbs around the younger one, pulling him into a tight hug from behind. I.N stiffened for a second, surprised — but then relaxed, letting Hyunjin melt into him without a word.
He buried his face into the crook of I.N’s neck, the steady rhythm of his breath finally slowing down. The warmth — the scent of home — lulled him like a spell. Within minutes, he was fast asleep.
I.N stayed still, feeling the weight of Hyunjin's arm across his chest. His hyung never did this. Not without teasing or whining first or complementing how handsome or cute he looked.
He must be really tired... or something's wrong.
After a while, I.N’s stomach started growling. He shifted carefully, easing out of Hyunjin's grip without waking him. Before leaving the room, he pulled the blanket over him, tucking him in like a fragile ferret.
The smell of fried chicken and tteokbokki filled the air downstairs. Minho and Changbin were setting the table, peeling lids off plastic containers. I.N plopped onto a chair, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth.
"Jinnie hyung is very distressed today... and he fell asleep almost immediately."
That caught everyone's attention. The room went quiet for a beat.
"Really?" Seungmin leaned back against the counter, eyes narrowing.
Chan glanced towards the stairs, tapping his fingers against the table.
They waited.
It wasn’t long before Hyunjin finally appeared, hair damp and sticking to his forehead, eyes puffy from sleep. He sat down quietly, grabbing his chopsticks and nibbling at the food without looking up.
"Okay... what happened?" Chan's voice was soft but firm.
Hyunjin kept chewing, mumbling a small ‘Nothing Hyung’.
Han grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
"Did the amazing Donatella manage to fluster you with her sweet, sweet touch? Oh my god... do you have a thing for older wo—"
The sharp smack to the back of Han’s head from Minho cut him off — but it was already too late.
Hyunjin's hand froze midair. His face went blank, but not quick enough to hide the flicker of hurt in his eyes. Slowly, he placed the chopsticks down and stood up.
"Sorry, sorry... I was just joking!" Han scrambled to his feet, genuine regret in his voice.
They always teased each other — Hyunjin especially. He was dramatic, sensitive, and he always laughed it off.
Not this time.
Hyunjin’s lips trembled, but he quickly bit down on them, forcing a tight smile.
"It's okay... it's natural for models, right?"
The words cut through the room like a knife — light on the surface, but heavy underneath.
No one knew what to say.
Hyunjin turned on his heels and walked out, leaving the air thick and suffocating behind him.
He locked himself inside his room, pressing his forehead against the door as the tears finally broke free. His shoulders shook silently, biting down on the sobs clawing at his throat.
No one understood.
They thought he was being dramatic. They thought it was just harmless touching — compliments wrapped in designer silk. They didn't feel the way her breath lingered too close. The way her fingers traced too low. How the smile behind her praise made his skin crawl.
'Stop Hyunjin… You are overthinking. You signed up for this…'
The thoughts gnawed at him, tearing him apart and no one could see.
When the storm inside him finally calmed, he wiped his face roughly and grabbed his phone.
[I'll leave tomorrow morning. Donatella requested no distractions before the event. I'll text to keep you updated.]
The message was short and the replies came instantly encouraging him, cheering him up.
He packed his things, took a hot shower, and climbed into bed. His eyes stayed wide open, staring at the ceiling while his heart thudded in his chest.
Morning came sooner than he liked.