Jeno felt like something was off.
After the walk from the relaxing Spring, no one shared words, and even if they did, it was a quick whisper that wasn't to distract from the calming silence. But there was something pricking at the back of Jeno's mind, making something shift out of the balance, making Jeno feel offset.
He tried shaking it off, trying to relax before the next day for training.
Each step, he could hear fallen leaves crunch, each 'snap' of a stick would echo in his mind, everything seemingly heightened. He closed his eyes, eyebrows furrowed, forcing out the echoing noises, calming his breathing, and continued walking.
That seemed to work for the rest of the walk, as he looked up at the sky. The wonderful view of soft pinks and purples showed that it was nearing the end of the day.
They had been at the Spring for the whole day, without even knowing it.
Jeno could notice the tiredness from his friends, snickering lightly when Renjun stumbled a little from almost falling asleep when walking, earning a playful glare from the older.
They went through Yuta's illusion, feeling the damp grass under their bare feet, as they were too lazy to actually put their shoes back on at the Spring, and they continued to their home.
It felt weird to think of the large building that they had just starting living in home.
But it was already home to the rest of Neo City, so why not add seven more?
It comforted everyone that they finally had a place to call home. All the previous dorms weren't quite the right setting to be able to call it a home, but the large building sitting in front of them was more than enough.
Although they had some awkward moments with the rest of the boys throughout their meeting, Renjun couldn't help but feel that they were going to be just fine in this new place.
Why?
Because he finally had people he could confidently call family, and the others feel the same way.
They've always had comradery, no question about it, and they've always called each other family, save for Renjun though.
It wasn't until they started to live together, the initial plan of Project Dream, that they could feel a part of them fill with completeness, that they were a family.
Their addition to the Neo City population, they finally felt that they fit somewhere. Not the constant lessons, or long and tiring school days, where they already knew they were going to get an equally disappointing and tiring job in the future. They were just another body in Abigail's perfect dream of a perfect society.
Mark smiled at the thought.
We've ruined that for her now.
They finally got to the building, standing in front of the building, the dying sun reflecting its warm colors on the metallic surface.
Ten opened the seamless door, and let the boys go inside, telling the boys that dinner had already been fixed, and everyone was waiting in the dining area. Quickly, Mark grabbed their stuff, and hastily placed it on one of the three couches in the living room, and ushered the others to the kitchen, making them wash their hands as they were in there.
After finishing, they quickly walked in the dining area, where they others were indeed sitting, the food still steaming on the table.
Renjun caught Taeyong's eyes, and quickly bowed as he took a seat next to YangYang, who was trying to get the older boy's attention. Renjun smiled lightly at the attention, scratching his nape as he took his seat.
"You speak Mandarin, right?" YangYang asked him excitedly, looking at the older boy with complete adoration.
"Y-yes. I do," Renjun answered, when Jaemin sat on his other side, Jeno sitting beside Jaemin.
YangYang's eyes lit up, causing Renjun to laugh lightly at the younger.
"Yes! Another Chinese friend!"
Renjun smiled again, before remembering that Chenle, too, was Chinese.
"Chenle is Chinese too. He was raised by a Chinese caretaker, but technically was raised in the Seoul Province. I myself was born in the Jilin Province, so I learned both Chinese and Korean there," Renjun explained, watching YangYang get a little confused on the provinces, but otherwise nodded his head, happy that there was one more Chinese boy he had to meet.
Jaemin had been listening in, and naturally Jeno as well, but immediately was confused as the conversation started and stayed in Chinese.
It was cute when Renjun spoke in Chinese, but still so ever confusing because they only words they caught were Chenle, and the Chinese word for Korean.
Soon after a little bit more of small talk between everyone, dinner was passed around. The food that made its way around was definitely influenced by the many cultures that sat in their seats.
There was a Thai dish, although Ten couldn't make it so Johnny took the chore instead, remembering how Ten had shown him before.
The Korean classic of Tteokbokkie, and some white rice bowls sitting in the middle for whoever wanted any.
There was also the Chinese hotpot, made from Kun's specialty.
Jaemin reached forward for the small bowls of rice, getting one for each boyfriend and one for himself, making sure that they others were well-fed.
Renjun had gotten some of the mysterious Thai food that sat on the table, excited to try it.
They had all eaten in a joyous atmosphere, great feelings bouncing on the walls, and everyone was happy.
The conversations flowed, and everyone ate well that night.
When everyone was finished, the sun had long went behind the treeline, making the sky a dark night, signalling that they should get some sleep before the big day tomorrow.
They all had made their way to their rooms, Dream trying to figure sleeping arrangements since there were three small beds.
Renjun knew that only two people, at most, could fit on each bed.
Sighing, Renjun offered to sleep on the floor, immediately making everyone protest.
"Are you kidding? You're the one who needs the most rest," Jaemin said, making an 'X' with his arms and shaking his head 'no'.
Renjun sighed, before another idea came into his head.
"Move it everyone! Go outside, I have an idea, and I'll show you when I'm finished," he said, pushing everyone outside the door and locking.
Taeyong had told him at some point about their second room they were given, and how the two rooms were connected by a wall that could be taken down.
Moving one of the small beds out of his way, he found a latch on the wall and pulled, making the wall become loose, and pushed it on the track it was set on. He watched as it folded by his action, looking triumphantly into the other room that also had three small beds.
Taeyong must've taken one of the bigger beds to put the smaller ones in here.
Before the others could be brilliant, he rushed to the other door, locking it quickly.
He turned the light on, before blocking the glass that could see into the room. He went to the first side, pushing the beds a little over the track for the wall that was on the floor, before going to the other side, and putting those beds together.
Smiling, he took one of the sheets from the larger beds that he found in the cabinet, and rushed to pull the six blankets off the beds and put the sheet on, making sure the beds were connecting without any chance of anyone falling off.
He put the blankets and pillows back, and stood away from his masterpiece, hands on his hips, smiling widely.
He turned the lights on low, giving the room a mystic feel, before unlocking both doors, letting the boys in.
"Oh my god Renjun! It's almost as bed as your old bed!" Chenle all but yelled.
Renjun smiled lightly, before telling them to get to bed.
Jaemin and Jeno went on one side, pulling the slightly reluctant Renjun in between them, surrounding the elder in warmth.
Jisung and Chenle were already laying down, cuddling into each other as soft snores could be heard from the both.
Donghyuck laid down, waiting for Mark as the older turned the lights off the rest of the way, and joined everyone on the bed.
Their warmth surrounding each other as they drifted to sleep.
. . .
Renjun could feel something tugging on his body, but sleepily refused, turning to the direction he was being pulled from, and wrapping his arms tightly around whoever it was, trying to stop them.
Then there was a quick flash of light, and then Renjun heard it.
Jeno was screaming in his sleep, although it sounded distant, Jeno was right beside Renjun.
Renjun opened his eyes quickly, only to see a distorted image of Jeno at his side, with his white eyes blazing and white hair everywhere.
Renjun let go of the boy, who seemed to be still sleeping with his eyes open.
Renjun still couldn't see clearly, his eyes focusing and unfocusing.
He realized after he tried to hold Jeno, when his gaze suddenly clarified, that Jeno was causing the disturbance of his senses. His vision blurring and focusing along with his hearing not quite being able to hear Jeno's screams.
After quickly waking Jaemin up, he reassured the boy that Jeno was of no harm, and told him to hold the older boy, to try and calm him down.
"Where are you going?" Jaemin asked, eyes wide with concern as he looked at Jeno, but quickly glanced up to meet Renjun's eyes.
"I'm getting Taeyong," he answered, before his vision blurred once more.
"Shit," he whispered to himself as he tried to make his way to the door, hoping that his vision would clear.
Unfortunately his prayers weren't answered, but he still had to get Taeyong.
He wandered down the hall, holding the wall as he went, blinking when his vision would focus every couple of seconds, only to blur once more.
He finally reached the familiar door, and struggled to read the familiar 'Taeyong' on the door.
He quickly held onto the door as he pounded on it, hoping that the older would wake up quickly.
The door opened, and a figure appeared. Renjun, thinking that it was Taeyong, immediately asked for help, trying to get him to help.
"Renjun," the figure said, making Renjun immediately identified Jaehyun, not Taeyong.
"You're Jaehyun," Renjun said softly, looking at the ground.
"Renjun, why didn't you know it was me?" Jaehyun asked, holding the younger's shoulders, trying to keep the boy still. It surprised Renjun, as he couldn't tell that it was going to happen, even though Jaehyun did it at a pace that would've been seen.
"I-I can't see," Renjun said, not wanting to explain, but instead get help for Jeno.
"Why not?"
"J-Jeno. I-I think he's having an attack. I-I don't know what for, but when I woke up, I couldn't see well, and I could barely hear his screams. Can you p-please get Taeyong?"
Jaehyun cursed to himself, and turned around, pulling a stumbling Renjun as he walked back into the room.
"Taeyong," Jaehyun said softly, making the other wake up quickly, who immediately spotting Renjun beside Jaehyun.
"Renjun, what are you doing in here?" he asked softly, rubbing his eyes.
Renjun, who was facing the wrong way, started to explain, until Taeyong cut him off.
"Renjun, you're facing the wrong way," Taeyong said, standing up quickly and went to the boy, checking him to make sure he was alright.
Renjun quickly apologized and restarted his explanation.
"Jeno's having an attack, and I can't see well right now," he said, before starting to walk to the door, catching himself before he ran into the doorway.
"That was close," he whispered.
Taeyong sent a look to Jaehyun, who only nodded and left the room, dodging Renjun.
"Who was that!" the younger said, raising his fists in defense.
Taeyong giggled lightly at the boy's antics, but quickly picked the boy up on his back, walking quickly to the rooms.
He opened the door, and immediately Renjun covered his ears.
Taeyong saw Jaemin look at him with pleading eyes, as Jeno still lay screaming, although no sound was coming out of his mouth, making Taeyong look in confusion as he let Renjun down, who still was covering his ears.
Taeyong sent a mental message to Renjun.
What do you hear?
Renjun looked at the older, eyes wide, before speaking loudly.
"Do you not hear his screams?"
No. And you do?
Renjun only nodded in confirmation, before giving a pained look at Jeno, tears started to roll down his face.
Taeyong walked closer to Jeno, until his vision started to blur. Blinking furiously, he willed himself to wake Jeno up.
What the hell?
He thought as his vision blurred once more, before picking Jeno up, successfully waking the younger up.
Jeno's white eyes were wide, white hair bright for all to see.
Others had woken up, some hearing Jeno's screams, or from Renjun accidentally bumping into their door.
Sicheng, Yuta, Johnny, Lucas, and Xiao Jun stood at the door, looking with eyes wide at the sight of Jeno.
Jaehyun came through them, quickly picking up Jeno, who immediately protested, until Jaehyun had left the room.
Taeyong followed, until his arm was caught by Renjun.
"Where is he going?"
"We're going to figure out his ability," Taeyong reassured, patting the boy's head as he, too, left.
All Renjun could do was join Jaemin on the bed, and cuddle into the younger until Jeno would be able to come back.
. . .
"Jeno, you should be proud," Taeyong says, looking at the data going through the computer, "very proud."
Jeno sat, confused.
"What is it saying?" Jeno asked, starting to take off the wires that surrounded him.
A mighty friend indeed, Taeyong thought, looking directly at the younger, a look of awe written on his face.