Donghyuck couldn't find Mark, and he swore he looked everywhere.
He didn't start this 'training,' did he?
Shaking his head, he headed to the dining room, thinking he might be there to just think over some things. That's what the older boy would usually do when he's introduced to a new topic.
Maybe this plan has him thinking the same way?
He frowned when he reached the door frame of the dining room, only to find it empty.
Just the large round table, and the sunlight that seemed to shine intricate figures on the table.
Sighing, he walked further in the room, sitting in the nearest chair.
Resting his chin in his hand, he tried to think of where the older boy could possibly be.
Faintly, a 'clink' sounded, making Donghyuck cock his head at the sound.
Another muted 'clink' sounded, followed by several more. There was also a muted slosh of water, and it finally hit the younger.
Laughing to himself, he couldn't help but remember.
He's actually doing the dishes.
Laughing softly to himself, he got up and walked to the closed door the connected the dining area and the kitchen.
He couldn't help but stifle his laughter as he went to open the connecting door, before opening it slightly, and peeking through the light space he created himself.
He smiled softly at the older boy, who somehow managed to get soap subs on his nose, furiously washing the dishes.
Donghyuck slipped through the opening after making the door open more, and hid from Mark's sight, and continued to sneak into the kitchen.
The older had noticed the door open, and the familiar auburn-orangish hair, but pretended to notice nothing. But nothing could stop the small smile that rose on his lips at the sight of the younger boy trying to be mischievous.
Donghyuck was still creeping in the kitchen, trying to find the ideal spot to attack.
He finally made his way to that spot, and quickly pounced on the older boy, shaking his shoulders.
Mark was a little startled, not expecting to wait so long for the actual attack, and a dish slipped from his hand, but safely into the water.
"Oh god!" Mark said, feigning surprise with his hand.
Donghyuck pouted, before wiping the suds that still remained on the older's nose.
Mark smiled, before turning back around to continue his chore.
Donghyuck whined, before wrapping his arms around Mark's waist, back hugging him as he did the dishes. He could feel the muscles moving underneath his cheek as the older moved, relishing in the warmth of Mark.
Mark couldn't help but to grin, enjoying the silence of the kitchen and the warmth of Donghyuck's hold.
Reluctantly, Donghyuck let go, before peeking into Mark's peripheral vision, smiling brightly once more at the older.
"Want me to help?"
Mark answered with scooping a little bit of bubbles on his and playfully placing in onto Donghyuck's nose.
...
When Taeyong had said 'training' everyone thought of the actual physical training, and that they were going to start that day.
Boy, were they wrong.
After asking them if they were ready, Taeyong led them to the living room, everyone had settled down, waiting for him to speak again and tell them what they were going to do.
"O.K., so technically we aren't starting training today actually. We are going to plan the next few weeks as to what we are to train. Today is our first and last relax day, enough for you all to prepare for the upcoming time, because you'll need it," Taeyong said, informing everyone, "for now I'm going to need Jaehyun, Lucas, Johnny, Mark, and Kun to help me plan a schedule for all of you," he finished, the called members standing up to go to his side.
Mark got up hesitantly, not actually expecting to be called by Taeyong. Shyly, he made it to the older boys, standing a little beside Johnny.
"What will the rest of us do?" Ten spoke up, sitting next Hendery.
Taeyong, smiling, simply told him, "show Dream to the Spring. They probably want to get clean, and it'll help them prepare as well."
Ten smiled back, and looked at the younger boys who were looking at the older boy in confusion.
Ten stood up gathering Dream, before looking at Taeyong, who was silently talking to the boys he had called.
"Taeyong," he said, gaining the older's attention, "what about Mark?"
Taeyong's face lit with realization, seeing his error.
"I can talk to him later, go ahead and take him with you," he said, looking at Mark after and letting the younger boy go to his friends and Ten.
Everyone else was standing up at these, and went their separate ways as Dream stood next to Ten.
"The Spring?"
Ten nodded at the question, before pulling all the boys up to their currently shared room, the same 'clink' and groaning of the metal sounding quickly under all of their quick steps.
Ten opened the door, letting them all in their room, standing at their door frame.
"Pack anything you think you'll need, especially clothing, but if you have a few snacks, you should bring those too. Since there is seven of you, it's gonna be a long day," he trailed off at the last sentence holding the bridge of his nose in a teasing matter.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," he finished, and started back down the hallway.
They made their packing short and quiet. Taking an obvious change of clothes, and some leftover snacks from before their trip over the Cliffs.
Although they weren't too sure what the Spring was, but they it knew it had something to do with cleansing, so they weren't too terrified.
After all of them packed their bag, they slung them on their back, walking down the stairs, no one daring to speak a word so they don't interrupt Taeyong's...whatever the meeting was with the others.
Jeno couldn't remember what it was, because he zoned out on the older when he was on the couch with Jaemin and Renjun.
Ah, whatever.
They all headed to the kitchen, hearing Ten making noises in there.
They hesitantly peeked in, seeing what the older could possibly be doing with all that noise in there.
"No, Johnny!"
Jisung's eyes widened, not too keen to see what could possibly be happening.
Making a silent gesture, he kept shaking his head 'no,' eyes still widened.
"Jisung, they can't be doing anything in there right now. They're living with nineteen other people," Donghyuck whispered, looking at Jisung with a pointed finger in the youngest's direction.
Right after Donghyuck had said that, a deep groan sounded outside the door, making everyone stiffen. Jaemin had been ready to knock, but was now frozen.
After about point five seconds, everyone held a blush, slightly rubbing either the back of their neck, or trying to cover their newly reddened cheeks.
"-I swear you can't do anything- Oh! Here you guys are!" Ten said after the door was ripped open by the boy.
Nothing but shaky smiles were returned, but he managed to get them into the kitchen. No one was surprised to see the tall Johnny sitting at a chair smiling brightly at them.
Donghyuck didn't know if it was just him, but Johnny seemed to have a bit of a teasing look hidden in that smile. He narrowed his eyes at the older, before standing protectively next to Mark.
"Johnny here was supposed to help me make sandwiches for our trip today, but he got jelly everywhere," he sighed, going to one of the drawers and pulling out a rag to clean the jelly off of the island before it would stain.
"So are all of you ready?" he asked after tossing the rag into the sink, not bothering to do anything else with the cloth.
A series of 'yes's came from the younger boys, making Ten nod.
"Johnny?" Mark asked tentatively.
Johnny looked at Mark with wide eyes, not expecting the younger to call for him.
"Yea?"
"Didn't Taeyong need you?"
"Oh, well yeah, but we're done now," Johnny said, licking a little bit of jelly he had left on his fingers off.
"Oh," was the only thing that Mark could say.
Ten walked up to the group with a basket and his own bag before smiling at the boys.
"We're all set!"