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“Gyuvinnie!!!” Matthew cooed as Gyuvin laughed and wrapped his hands around Matthew’s smaller one.
“Our cute little Matthew hyung!” Gyuvin exclaimed as he swung Matthew’s sweater paws around excitedly. Matthew giggled happily as he joked around with Gyuvin around the pool.
They were filming their debut concept trailer, and to say Matthew was enjoying it was an understatement. Matthew watched in fascination as the members played around with water guns and jumped on the trampolines in happiness.
“The CGI is going to so call!” Ricky called out, in English as Matthew wrapped his hands around the blonde’s shoulder, lifting his feet slightly to whisper “it will be.. and happy birthday Ricky!” Ricky froze as Matthew ran away giggling, leaving Ricky standing there and touching his cheek with awe.
“Mattdu! Let me try this trust fall in the water with you!” Jiwoong whined as Matthew backed away slowly, not believing WAKEONE was rich enough to afford another pair of his outfit.
“Jiwoon hyung…” Matthew said with a pout as Jiwoong’s eyes softened.
“Do you not trust me Matthew ah?” Jiwoong said with puppy eyes as Matthew straight up said “no.”
Jiwoong gasped, betrayed as Gunwook laughed at him and slapped Gyuvin hard, “Jiwoong hyung! Stand up!” Gyuvin called out as Matthew and Jiwoong looked at him in confusion.
“Teenager things,” Jiwoong muttered rolling his eyes. “Boomer-“ Yujin cut in as Jiwoong lunged to him. Matthew held him back to spare their eldest member a losing fight against the Maknae as he bit out “Hyung! Let’s do the water into the trust fall thingy!"
Jiwoong’s eyes glistened as he beamed, holding onto Matthew’s hands as he looked into his eyes. “Matthew ah. I will. Not. Let. You. Go.”
Matthew laughed nervously as everyone surrounded them, Hanbin looking especially scared as Jiwoong slowly lowered Matthew to the edge of the cold pool.
Matthew’s heart sped up as he made crying eyes towards Zhang hao, who just nodded at him encouragingly.
“Jiwoon hyung! I trust you!” Matthew exclaimed as he teetered off the edge of the pool. Jiwoong held him tightly as Gyuvin shoved his phone into Jiwoong’s face with a menacing smile.
It was Seok Matthew. From their Mcountdown Love Killa stage. In a red suit with his lithe waist and abs exposed.
“Oh my- give me that!” Jiwoong said in a rush as he let go off Matthew to grab onto Gyuvin’s phone.
“HYUNG!” Matthew screeched as gravity caused him to teeter off the edge. Many pairs of hands reached out to him, as he flailed aimlessly, losing balance.
“Matthew hyung!” Yujin screamed as Matthew felt a hand sneaking out and grabbing him, pulling Matthew into a hard chest. Matthew’s heart beat rapidly as he felt hands wrapped around him, whispering “you’re safe Seokmae, you’re safe.”
Hanbin held him tightly and patted his back, as they stood by the edge, slowly rocking back and forth as chaos ensued behind him.
“YAH KIM JIWOONG HYUNG!” Zhang Hao screeched as he lifted up a torch and chased Jiwoong around with it. “Ah! Zhang Hao stop! And Matthew ah I’m sorry!!” Jiwoong whined as he ran around the complex with a very angry protective foreigner chasing him.
“And you… Kim Gyuvin,” Ricky said slowly as Gyuvin gulped. “What Kim Ricky?” He teased back as Ricky raised a perfectly sculpted eye brow.
“If Matthew can’t celebrate my birthday with cuddles tonight because he nearly got sick, I’m going to slaughter you,” Ricky said seriously as Gyuvin laughed it off.
Taerae snuck up to Gyuvin and nudged him hard, “your phone Gyuvinnie,” he said in a commanding tone as he discreetly airdropped the photo onto his phone.
“Send it on the group chat please hyung!” Gunwook called out as Gyuvin gasped. “No that photo was mine first-“ Ricky shut him up with a glare.
“Seokmae, you feeling alright now?” Hanbin whispered into Matthew’s ear as the younger buried his head into Hanbin’s jumper.
“Yeah hyung, I’m fine. Thank you though,” he mumbled as he saw a blur rushing towards him. A staff member ran towards them at full force as Hanbin stepped in front of Matthew shouting “hey hey, you should stop!”
The staff member ignored Hanbin’s alarmed shouts as she pushed hard into Matthew, causing him to lose balance and fall into the pool.
“Matthew!” Hanbin screamed as he lunged for Matthew, pulling him in tight as they both ended up in the freezing cold water.
“What the fuck was that?” Zhang Hao seethed as the staff member just ran away. “I don’t know what it is but it was too dark to tell who it was,” Ricky mumbled darkly. The members kneeled down at the edge of the pool watching as Matthew and Hanbin treaded their way to the ledge.
“Hyung, are you okay?” Matthew asked as strands of water fell onto Hanbin’s perfectly sculpted face. Hanbin laughed and pulled Matthew into him, hands falling to his waist below the water as he kept them both afloat.
Matthew laughed happily as he connecting their soaked foreheads together. “Hyung! Are you ok?” Gunwook asked as Matthew laughed and replied “of cour- ACHOO!”
Everyone froze as Matthew swam around sheepishly.
"Matthew ah! Grab my hand!” Taerae exclaimed as everyone crowded around, pulling the two members up. Ricky looked around observantly as he spotted a staff member glare at them from behind the cameras. He frowned as he locked it away to the back of his mind.
“Ugh, we’re soaked” Matthew laughed, looking at his and Hanbin’s white outfits dripping in water. Zhang Hao wrapped a towel around them both in trepidation as it swallowed Matthew completely. “Here hyung, are you cold?” Gyuvin asked as he peeled off his jumper and wrapped it around Matthew.
“Ah- no I’m fin-“
“Matthew hyung is freezing!” Yujin screeched as they all clambered to dry him down and warm him up. Ricky opting with ‘holding his hands incase they felt too heavy’.
"Mattdu-“ Jiwoong said sadly as he watched Matthew glance at him, huff, then turn away. "Mattdu…” he repeated with puppy dog eyes as he reached out to Matthew. Matthew dodged his hands as he wrapped the towel around himself further.
"Yes? Jiwoong hyung ?” Matthew emphasised the words as he saw Jiwoong falter and genuinely look apologetic. “Don’t fall for it Seokmae… don’t fall for it,” Hanbin whispered evilly in his ear as Zhang hao added “you shouldn’t trust him!”
Matthew pouted as he stared at Jiwoong’s sad expression and he opened his arms. “Come ‘ere hyung,” Matthew sighed as Jiwoong brightened up and ran to embrace Matthew tightly.
“damn, our Matthew is too angelic and forgiving” Taerae sobbed as he wiped fake tears from his eyes. “I agree,” Gyuvin cried, tears coming out for real at how his gatekeeped photo somehow got leaked to their whole team. “Bleach makes you scary in the head sometimes,” he muttered earnestly as Ricky turned his head slowly to him.
“Yah, Kim Gyuvin what did you just say?” Ricky asked scarily as Gyuvin squeaked and ran away, hiding behind Hanbin. “Geh, Hanbin hyung is still wet!” He shrieked, causing their leader to laugh. Ricky looked one second from pushing him into the pool.
“Come on Seokmae, let’s go get changed into something warmer and more comfortable before you get sick,” Hanbin said kindly as he linked hands with Matthew and went to talk with the staff.
“But who was that girl who pushed them into the pool?” Jiwoong said thoughtfully, his face darkening. “It didn’t seem like it was an accident cause she didn’t apologise…” Zhang Hao added as the members glanced warily at each other.
“We’ll have to look out for her, she probably doesn’t have good intentions,” Taerae said slowly as everyone nodded and agreed.
“Hanbinnie hyung! Are you done yet?” Matthew called out as he tapped his foot impatiently, staring back at the set and not wanting to miss their shoots. “Nearly Matthew, gimme a sec!” Hanbin replied as Matthew nodded.
“Seok Matthew?” A staff member called out to him as his head came up, reacting to his name. The girl had a familiar silhouette, but Matthew couldn’t shake off the bad feeling.
“I need to discuss some ideas about your shots with you, can you come with me for a moment?” She said with a smile as Matthew loosened up and followed her to a quieter spot in the room. She just wanted to discuss his scene, it was harmless.
“Yes, uh what was it you wanted to talk abou…t?” Matthew trailed off as he saw her kind gaze morph from gentleness to annoyance. “Um-“ He started as her next words shocked him.
“You know you’re an annoyance to the team?”
Matthew reeled back as his eyes widened. “I’m-I’m sorry what-?” Matthew stuttered as her gaze hardened. She gripped his wrist tightly, as Matthew made no move to pull away, in fear that he would hurt her.
Matthew sat there in shock, as he subjected himself to her harsh words.
“You’re clingy, you’re rude, you’re really too attached to them. If you knew what was good for your members you’d give them personal space ” she sneered. “Don’t you see how annoyed they are when you’re always half on top of them?”
“Um- not really?” Matthew replied sheepishly as he rubbed his next. Matthew hissed as her nails dug into him. “Seok Matthew, for your benefit, and everyone else’s, stop being like this. You’re the one who always initiates it anyways.” She smirked as her next line hit him hard.
“They only put up with it cause they’re stuck with your talentless self for two and a half years.”
Matthew paused, tears springing to his eyes as he froze, not noticing her triumphant grin. “Seok Matthew ah, don’t be so weak. This is your idol life , so don’t drag others into your annoying personal needs,” she whispered as his hands started shaking.
“Seokmae? Matthew ah?” Hanbin emerged from the changing room as he spotted a staff member gripping onto Matthew tightly. He pulled Matthew up and away from her as he gave her a polite smile “I’m going to take him to our shooting now if you don’t mind,” pulling Matthew’s shivering form slightly behind him.
Matthew made eye contact with the staff member as her words burned into him.
Don’t be annoying.
“I’m fine Hanbin hyung,” Matthew whispered, shrugging himself out of Hanbin’s grasp. “I’ll meet you there,” he mumbled as he left without Hanbin, leaving their leader frowning.
“Wierd…” Hanbin mumbled as he bowed to the staff with faux kindness, internally glaring at her.
They gathered back in the room, where Matthew sluggishly sat down on the couch. He smiled when they placed a dog in his lap. His mind was still whirling as he whispered “Leo? Hi Leo..” he cooed as he sighed, coming up with a decision to not be an annoyance to his members
“Mashu hyung, are you alright?” Gunwook asked worriedly as he noticed Matthew’s damp mood. Matthew forced a smile on his face as he shook his head, his smile not reaching his eyes.
Matthew started to doze off as the day caught up to him, leaning his head on Gunwook’s shoulder. Gunwook laughed at his childish antics and patted Matthew’s head.
“Our Matthew is so cute!” Taerae exclaimed as Matthew heard a hissing sound from behind the camera. He saw the staff member staring at him with a pointed look as he stiffened, moving his head off the younger’s shoulder.
“Ah- sorry Gunwook,” Matthew said sheepishly as Gunwook frowned. “No Matthew hyung, it’s fine-“ he paused when he saw Matthew’s dimmed expression as Matthew forced out a smile.
“I’ll see you guys later” he bit out as he left them hanging on the couch. “That was weird…” Taerae said slowly as Gunwook nodded. “Very uncharacteristic of him.”
Taerae squinted and noticed a gleaming smile in the distance- one very unusual for how tired everyone was- as he narrowed his eyes. “Wierd…”
It continued like that for the rest of the shoot. Matthew would bounce up to Yujin, yet he wouldn’t drape himself all over him like he usually did.
“Hyung! Matthew hyung!” Yujin pouted as he noticed Matthew staring absently into the distance. "Ah- Yujin ah,” Matthew with a small smile as he avoided eye contact with their Maknae. Yujin opened his arms, forcefully pulling Matthew into a hug as Matthew let out a squeak in response.
Matthew patted his back awkwardly as he stiffened, noticing someone mouthing in the distance “stuck. with. you” she whispered as Matthew teared himself away from Yujin. He placed a protein bar in Yujin’s hand as Yujin stared at him, confused as he said “Yujin ah, eat well for hyung ok!” Matthew mumbled out of breath as he left.
"Matthew hyung…” Yujin pouted, missing the warmth of his hugs. Gyuvin back hugged him, feeling his distress as Yujin shook his head. “It’s not the same as hyung’s…” He mumbled sadly.
They returned back to the dorms, the car ride silent expect for a few of Gyuvin and Ricky’s bickering. Matthew sat in his own thoughts as her words resounded through his mind.
Jiwoong shifted uncomfortable at the unsual quiet atmosphere, as Matthew would usually be the member who cheered everyone up with his random extrovertedness.
“Good night guys! I’ll get going to bed first!” Matthew said, rushed, as he teared his eyes away from the questioning gazes and ran toward his and Hanbin’s shared dorm room. “Sleep well everyone,” Zhang Hao said softly as they all nodded and retired to their rooms after the long days of shooting.
“Seokmae, do you want to watch a little bit of your favourite movie?” Hanbin softly asked as he approached Matthew’s blanket burrito. Matthew stiffened as he felt himself becoming a bigger burden to their leader. “I’m fine hyung, sweet dreams” Matthew said from under the blanket.
Hanbin frowned as he heard Matthew’s raw throat, evident that he had been crying. Matthew never refused a little snippet of Howls Moving Castle, nor a little cuddle before bed.
“If you say so Seokmae ah, sleep well,” Hanbin muttered as he flicked off the lights and decided to give Matthew the space he needed.
Hyung must be glad that he doesn’t have to entertain me anymore…
Matthew wiped his tears away as he closed his eyes, and fell into an uncomfortable sleep. His brightness dimmed as harsh words filtered through his brain.
You’re an annoyance to the team…
——
“Ooh there’s a letter for Matthew hyung," Ricky said as he checked their mail the next morning. He squinted at the sender, noticing that it was from the suspicious staff from earlier.
“What’s this Ricky ah?” Zhang Hao said sleepily as he came out from his dorm with bed hair. “A letter for Matthew hyung” Ricky shrugged as Zhang hao narrowed his eyes.
“Letters should come through the staff, not straight to our dorms” Zhang Hao said suspiciously as Ricky handed it over to Zhang hao.
“It doesn’t look to suspicious but… if it’s a love letter then we have the right to burn it before he sees right?” Ricky said mischievously as Zhang hao smirked and nodded, pulling the note out of the envelope.
Seok Matthew. Are your members seeming happier without you hanging off their backs? See I told you, you’re an annoyance to them. Learn to be less weak, or your team will turn their back on you. Just a gentle reminder to keep it up.
XX
“What the fuck is this?” Ricky yelled as he smacked his hand over his mouth. Zhang Hao reread the note, “he’s being threatened?”
“Who’s being threatened?” Jiwoong asked in a deep voice as he spotted the two Chinese men huddled around something suspiciously.
“Jiwoong hyung.. look at this,” Zhang Hao told their oldest member as Jiwoong read over it with a shocked expression, his face clouding more and more in anger.
“We’ll keep this for blackmail purposes,” Jiwoong said in a deep tone as they huddled together. “Let’s put an end to this before Matthew gets too many misunderstandings,” Zhang Hao said seriously as Ricky grinned “i’m going to bash her.”
“In our live tonight.” They all said unanimously as they went to discuss their plans with the rest of the members.
“I will make sure she never shows her face in public again,” Hanbin said with a scolding smile. Taerae, their resident singer for once had a scary expression as Gunwook cracked his fist. “I’ll show her what it’s like to be a wild idol,” he said with a scary tone as they all nodded with hidden whispers.
“G’morning guys,” Matthew yawned as he stepped into the kitchen. His sweater paws came up to rub his swollen eyes as his pyjamas lay loosely on his body.
“Hyungs stop staring,” Gyuvin elbowed Hanbin and Jiwoong as Zhang Hao ran up to Matthew and hugged him tightly.
“Our Matthew!! Good morning!” Zhang Hao exclaimed as he started pinching Matthew’s cheeks, causing the younger to flame red in embarrassment. The words still echoed through his mind as Matthew hesitated in hugging Zhang hao back.
Ricky noticed and went up to cup Matthew’s face. “Hyung. We all love you. Don’t ever forget that,” Ricky said as Matthew made a confused expression. “Hyung don’t you love us as well?” Yujin asked with puppy eyes as Matthew gave in.
“Yujin ah! Of course I love all of you!” He exclaimed with a bright smile. The members felt their energy returning at the sunshine in the room, however Matthew soon dimmed again as he thought about seeing the staff member.
Hanbin narrowed his eyes. “Step one; we gotta make Matthew know that we love him for who he is,” he whispered to Jiwoong as the eldest cracked his neck and nodded.
“Step 2; we bring her down battle style”
Matthew smiled sheepishly as Hanbin yet again put his hand over his shoulder and brought him close. “Matthew, todays a good day isn’t it,” Hanbin whispered in his ear as Matthew shivered. They were filming their debut video and Matthew had not been left alone.
He loved spending time with his members, but there was always someone stuck to his side. Always. When he had gone to the bathroom, Gunwook had exclaimed “I’ll come with!” As Matthew stared at him weirdly. It was as if Matthew was a child needing to be escorted.
“Matthew say ah!” Zhang Hao prodded as he brought his spoon to Matthew’s mouth. Matthew opened his mouth as he saw a glare from behind the cameras and saw the girl staring pointedly at him. “Ah hyung I’m-“ Zhang Hao followed his train of sight and force fed him, laughing in satisfaction at Matthew’s cute puffed cheeks.
“Our Matthew is the cutest,” Jiwoong said adoringly as he leant over to pinch Matthew’s cheeks. “He is isn’t he!” Taerae added as they all stared at Matthew. Matthew burned red at the attention as he hid his face into Hanbin’s shirt.
“Don’t be embarrassed hyung,” Gunwook chuckled victoriously as he spotted the staff member clenching her clip board with a death grip. He then saw her talking with their stylists with a smirk as Gunwook felt a bad feeling stir in his gut.
“Alright guys it’s time to get changed into your outfits for the live tonight!” Their manager yelled out as everyone locked eyes as telepathically communicated.
“Ah!! That’s right, we have a live for our debut showcase tonight!” Gyuvin exclaimed, bouncing around as he put all his weight on Matthew. Matthew groaned and stumbled back, only to be steadied by Jiwoong’s strong hands.
“Thanks Jiwoon hyung,” Matthew mumbled sheepishly as he smiled softly.
“Here Seok Matthew, this is for you,” the stylist said with a glint as she handed him a very uncomfortable outfit. Matthew stuttered as he saw the staff member grinning triumphantly. “Y-you want me to wear this?” Matthew asked as he stared at the cropped shirt that would most likely reveal lots of things he didn’t want shown to the fans. Yet.
“Is there a problem?” The stylist raised her eyebrows as the cunning staff member came over and spat out “don’t be picky.”
Matthew shied away as he stared at his outfit in disdain. “Seokmae is not wearing that” Hanbin said in disgust as the two girls whipped to their leader.
Hanbin had an angry expression on his face as he stood in front of Matthew. “That is completely inappropriate for this live, and your job is to make us feel comfortable,” he spat out as Matthew grabbed his hand. The staff member eyed the hands in menace as the stylist said “it’s our job to make you appealing to the fans.”
“Yah. As the leader, you should be the responsible one who follows orders” the staff member jeered as she leaned closer to Hanbin. Matthew could feel Hanbin starting to get heated up as he held Hanbin back, not wanting to be the cause of Hanbin getting in trouble.
“Hyung, it’s fine, I’ll just cover up with your or Jiwoon hyung’s jumper later” Matthew whispered into Hanbin’s ear as the leader called down and nodded.
“That’s more like it,” The staff member smiled as they went to get changed. Matthew shifted uncomfortably as he peeked out the door. “What wrong Mattchu ah?” Jiwoong asked as he saw Matthew frowning uncomfortably.
His eyes trailed down to Matthew’s outfit as he frowned, taking in Matthew’s shivering and suppressed discomfort. “Damn those stylists, here Matthew ah,” Jiwoong said softly as he took off his jumper and wrapped it around Matthew, covering him up.
Matthew let out a huge sigh of relief as he whispered “thanks hyung.” Jiwoong nodded, satisfied, as Matthew looked much more lively and happy- not because the thought of Matthew swimming in his sweater made him giddy.
“Matthew ah, you look good!” Zhang Hao complimented him as Matthew shyly thanked him. “It’s mine,” Jiwoong smirked as he pulled Matthew in closer, watching their faces drop. “Woah hyung- the live’s about to start. We don’t want dispatch on our heels” Gyuvin said as he moved Matthew away from Jiwoong’s wandering hands.
Matthew laughed as he saw their pouts, happy that there was no time for him to meet the staff member and stylists beforehand. He spotted the staff member behind the camera gritting her teeth, with an angry aura emitting from her.
Hanbin noticed and held his hand discreetly on his thigh, whispering “we’ve got you Matthew”.
“Two three. D1 BE THE ONE!” Hanbin lead as their live began. Throughout the time, Matthew’s smile grew more and more as the members focused on the funner questions.
“Matthew hyung. Are you a cat person or a dog person?” Gunwook asked as everyone focused on Matthew.
“Have you seen our cute Leo? How could I not say dog!” Matthew exclaimed as everyone agreed. He saw Ricky pouting as Matthew leaned over to the blonde, “I’m a sucker for blonde cats though,” his unfiltered mouth came through as Ricky brightened up and engulfed him in a hug.
“Matthew hyung! What’s your favourite food?” Gyuvin asked from the iPad as Matthew opened his mouth. Zhang Hao stopped him as he smiled brightly, “We already know it’s chicken!!” They all screamed as the studio was filled with laughter and excitement.
Hanbin saw the staff member’s movements become more sharp and agitated as she watched Matthew receiving all the love. “Time to enact the plan…” he whispered as everyone nodded. No one had the power to stop them whilst on live.
“As you all can see, we love and cherish all our members oh so very much,” Hanbin said with an angelic smile as the cameraman tilted his head at their randomness. “And there’s no way that we would ever let one of our members be mistreated…” Zhang Hao continued as their centre let out fake tears.
Matthew raised his eye brows at their terrible acting. “But we would like to share with Zeroses a staff member who has been mistreating a member.” Jiwoong finished off as Matthew’s eyes widened and his heart started palpitating rapidly.
His palms became sweaty as Hanbin and Gyuvin held his hands tightly.
“What are you doing?” The staff member said as Jiwoong pulled out a crumpled letter and showed it to the camera, exposing it but without showing it to Matthew’s eyes.
The staff member paled as their manager blocked the exit.
"Yah! What do you crazy lunatics think you’re doing!” The staff member yelled as she came on screen. She glanced at the exploding comments and Matthew being protected as she shrieked “WHAT DO YOU GUYS LIKE ABOUT HIM ANYWAYS?!”
“You’re just insecure, and jealous that you’ll never receive this amount of love, and that you’ll never be as amazing as Matthew” Taerae sassed as the staff member raised her hand in a fit. Matthew shied away as Jiwoong stopped her, showing the fans that she initiated it.
“I suggest you stop.” Ricky said with dead stare as he showed his phone to the camera. “Zeroses take screenshots. Her number, her address, her bank account, we’ve hacked it all… so if you love us than publicly humiliate her,” Ricky said with a smile as the comments showed many fans who were already planning her break in.
“You-you little!” She seethed as their manager pulled her off the set. He bowed apologetically to them as he said “you’ll never see her again,” in a decisive tone. “Fire the stylists while you’re at it as well!” Zhang Hao yelled out as their staff nodded guilty.
Matthew sat there, frozen as they shut off the live and called it a day. They stood there in silence, no one knowing what to do as Matthew burst into tears.
“Matthew ah?” Jiwoong said worriedly as they all crowded him.
“Seokmae what’s wrong?” Hanbin asked worriedly as he dabbed a tissue at Matthew’s teary eyes. Matthew shook his head, sobbing “I’m just so happy… and-and grateful that I have you guys!”
“Matthew hyung…” Yujin whispered as he too started crying. “Matthew we love you!” Gunwook dramatically sobbed as they all came in for a group hug.
“Thank y-you guys so much,” Matthew cried as Ricky laughed “don’t be a crybaby!”
Everyone cheered as they huddled together, seeking in the comfort of each other. “That’ll teach them not to mess with us,” Gyuvin smirked, as Hanbin rubbed circles on Matthew’s back comfortingly.
“Shes a goner,” Ricky giggled as he saw his Twitter feed already blowing up. Him and Zhang hao high fived each other as everyone squealed and jumped up and down.
“We’ll forever have each other’s back!” Jiwoong called out as Hanbin yelled “We’ll forever be Zerobaseone!”
Matthew felt himself melting into their embrace as waves of happiness rolled through him. ”I love you guys,” he whispered as everyone cooed and held him more tightly and Jiwoong rolled his eyes.
“Might as well rebrand to be the Matthew’s Protection Club”