Leeteuk finally comes back from the army. Thousands of fans around the world are waiting to see him on stage. But something's … different about him.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of super junior, other bands mentioned in this story and reference to any real-life persons, animals, events and stories is purely unintended. This story is also not factual and is told primarily from Leeteuk's POV. Rated M.

As Leeteuk walked out from his camp, he could see fans lined up along the street holding banners to welcome him back. Inside, he smiled. But outwardly, he looked down and ran towards a black van that had come to pick him up. It's been a long two years.

There was no one else in the van, except his manager who was driving. It was only five minutes later that his manager spoke up and broke the silence.

"It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back."

It was a fairly long drive back to the dorms. Silence fell again and it began to rain. Leeteuk looked out of the tinted windows, now dotted with raindrops. Leeteuk sighed inwardly.

Thirty minutes later, they quietly reached the dorms. Without a word spoken, they took the lift up.

"The boys will be back in two hours or so. Have some rest. Then we'll talk."

"Okay."

Leeteuk entered the dorm slowly. He had been back before on his off days and his room had been more or less kept the same. But it still felt surreal to be back. He took off his shoes, put them neatly in the cupboards, and then entered the living room. It was a mess, but a familiar, comforting mess. He walked into the kitchen and found a lunchbox sitting on the table.

"Hyung, have some food first! I made your favorite kimbap!"

Leeteuk smiled gingerly and picked up the lunchbox Ryeowook had made for him. He held it as he walked into the first room next to the kitchen. Standing at the door, he took in the whitewashed walls and bed sheets. Everything felt so comforting.

"Is hyung back? Is teukie-hyung back? Tell me manager-hyung! Pleaseeeeee?"

After dropping off Leeteuk at the dorms, the manager drove back to SM Entertainment. The moment he walked into the practice rooms, everyone inside stopped and turned to look at him. A second later, Ryeowook had pounced on him, his eyes big like a puppy's.

"Well, when you guys are done with practice, you can go back to the dorms and find out."

Ryeowook pouted and Eunhyuk patted the third-maknae's head.

"Yah, finish your dance practice first, then we can ALL go and see if hyung is back."

With renewed energy, the members got about to finishing their dance practice quickly.

Immediately after their practice, instead of going to their usual after-practice tteokboki place, the members rushed back to the dormitories, excited to see their leader.

"LEETEUK HYUNG!"

"Eh? Where is teukie hyung?"

"Yah! Did anyone see teukie hyung?"

"Is he in the bathroom?"

"He's not in the house"

"It's his release date today right?"

"He's been here! He took his lunchbox!"
"He's not in his room, but Ryeowook, I found your green lunchbox half empty on his bed."

"Eh? Where did he go?"

"Someone call him!"

"He's not picking up!"

"Yah guys! He left his phone in his room!"

"You guys start making dinner. I will go find him. He's probably somewhere around the neighbourhood. Call me if he comes back!"

Kangin wore his shoes, took the lift down and stepped out into the summer heat. Without really knowing where he was supposed to start looking, he took a turn and began to walk down a path leading towards the park.

Leaning against a big tree, Leeteuk stared into the sky, which was slowly turning dark. He closed his eyes and sighed. His head was pounding. He must have caught a cold from leaving the dormitories in the rain just a few hours before. Leeteuk always had a weak immune system, but he thought the rain looked especially welcoming that day. He wondered if the members had finished up their practice. He would take a short nap there, and then go back.

Kangin had been walking for fifteen minutes. He knew Leeteuk was somewhere in the park. He wouldn't go anywhere else. If he went on to the main streets, people would recognize him. Leeteuk may look like he loved being the centre of attention and seemed like an extrovert, but Kangin knew better.

The park was huge, but Kangin knew the park well. During their trainee days, when Leeteuk was stressed out, he would come to the park. Kangin was always the one to find him and bring him back to the dormitories. After they debuted, Leeteuk came here less often, but this was his safe haven.

Turning around another bend that led deep into a quite section of the park, Kangin spotted a figure lying against a big tree. The scene looked melancholic, but familiar. Kangin slowly walked over to the lone figure. He sighed as he looked at the leader's tired, sleeping face.

"Jungsu?"

"Poor guy must be exhausted."

Kangin muttered very softly to himself.

"I can hear you, you know?"

Leeteuk opened his eyes. He wasn't surprised that it was Kangin who had came to find him. It had always been Kangin who came to find him. He remembered the first time he had left the dormitories without telling anyone. It was Kangin who had found him.

Jungsu walked along the gravel path. He didn't know where he was headed. He had just finished practice and felt frustrated. He wasn't good enough. They were going to debut in less than a year. He was the leader. But he just couldn't get things right. That day had been the worst practice ever. The vocal instructor, the dance instructor and their managers had screamed at them.

"Twelve boys in a group. I told them it would never work. Did they listen? No! And now, look at you. Proving me right. You boys just can't get anything right can you? Park Jungsu, as their leader, tell me, have you done anything right today?"

Jungsu looked at the wooden floor, unable to utter a word in response.

"I will tell you, you guys are never going to succeed. Never! Your singing is weak and your dancing is un-coordinated. We've been at the same dance and song for the past two weeks! It's so simple! Why is it so hard to get it right?"

After a good hour of being lectured at, the boys were finally allowed to go back to their dormitories to "reflect" on their mistakes. Jungsu left the dormitories the first instance he could.

It was his entire fault. He couldn't rally the team together, and now the boys are demoralized and suffering even more, all because of him.

Jungsu kicked at the pebbles on the ground. He slipped his hands in his pockets and walked deeper into the park. It was dark, lighted up by the occasional lampposts dotted around the perimeter. But Jungsu embraced this darkness. He found a big tree and slumped against it.

"Jungsu… stop blaming yourself."

Jungsu looked up to see Kangin sliding down next to him.