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Renjun loses his balance. Not again! he thinks. But, it’s too late. He’s fallen right onto his butt on the cold ice.
It’s his fiftieth attempt just that week trying to learn how to coordinate his movements along with his powers. It’s a lot more difficult than it looks. It doesn’t help that no one else knows about his newfound abilities. It’s not like he can exactly confide in just anyone. He would just sound ridiculous— nevermind look ridiculous trying to demonstrate it to anyone.
His ability to move objects appeared one day after waking up to his room shaking with no cause. Renjun thinks it might have been because he just had had a vivid dream but his careless gestures proved otherwise that morning. Without meaning to, everything on the walls and his desk flew off after waving his arms in panic. With every other wave, he was throwing something across the room and in even greater panic, Renjun realized he needed to find a way to control it and found himself acting a little “too” cautious with his movements with the excuse that he had strained himself while trying to exercise.
There seemed to be just no rational explanation to it in his mind.
But back to the task at hand.
Renjun hones in on the twig lying in front of him and takes a few deep breaths. But before he can focus on controlling it, a familiar voice calls out behind him.
“Renjunnie? What are you doing here? It’s freezing, you’re going to get sick if you don’t come inside,” Younghoon frowns.
Renjun carefully spins on his feet, shifting his eyes uncomfortably. “N-nothing! I’m on my way!” he chatters through the cold.
Younghoon laughs with a smug grin. “Alright, don’t forget you owe me hot cocoa and churros at the hockey game tomorrow!”
The hockey game.
Hockey game!? It’s happening tomorrow already?!
Renjun quietly laments the promise he made to his friend last week— before all this happened to him.
When Younghoon disappears around the corner, Renjun puts his mind back into gear. As he tries to focus his mind again, the sound of branches rustling in his periphery makes him stand on alert.
There’s no one else around in the small clearing that he’s in. Younghoon is nowhere to be seen and Renjun’s irrational fear of serial killers lurking in the forest suddenly rises. As the bush continues to rattle, he holds his breath, his blood starting to run cold.
“Who’s there?”
“Renjun, I finally found you again!”
“Huh?!”
Ugh, it’s that silly fluffy bunny that can not stop following him ever since his powers appeared. Renjun half-thinks he’s been hallucinating, must be a side effect of having telekinesis or whatever it is he has. After all, bunnies can’t talk or be pink for that matter.
But, then a familiar name comes to the front of his mind at the sight of the fantastical rabbit.
“Doyoung!?”
“That’s my name! I have an urgent message! You need to leave now, you’re in danger! There are two very bad guys heading this way!”
Renjun’s eyes widen in surprise. “What? First you tell me that there are talking animals and now you’re saying that I did something really wrong that is making bad guys come after me?”
“I really am losing my mind…” he mumbles, falling onto his butt and clutching his head. He feels a tickle on his chin as he realizes Doyoung the Bunny has rested his paws on his knees, looking up at him with those big round eyes.
“Renjun, just trust me okay?” The bunny’s nose wriggles in anticipation.
Suddenly something in the air has shifted and Doyoung hops off alarmingly, fur raising on end.
“I’ve got to go! You need to come with me, they’re near!”
“But what about my friends at the lodge?” Renjun asks frantically as Doyoung tries to tug him along, nipping the hem of his pants.
“You will have no friends if you don’t come with me now!”
Renjun doesn’t know what to believe right now. Just a week ago, his life was completely normal; school, friends, and skating, but now, he’s stuck in a fantastical world of odd powers and talking bunnies.
“Quick, we don’t have time! They can catch up at any time!”
Oh what’s to lose?
Renjun groans and nods before quickly following after Doyoung’s small hopping form over the hills.
After a grueling five hours (or what it felt like), Doyoung finally comes to a halt in front of an elegant archway. Renjun hunches over on his knees, panting, as sweat uncomfortably settles in between his skin and winter coat.
“I cannot go any further, but past these arches you will find the one you are looking for.”
Arches? Wh-
Just as Renjun opens his mouth to reply a strong gust of wind knocks him off his feet and into the snow. Suddenly, as if gravity is no longer existent, he falls up, or down, he doesn't know, but it feels like an eternity before he lands with a thud on a soft pile of feathers.
“Who opened a portal here?”
The voice echoes, like it’s coming from a place through the tunnel that seems to glow with daylight. In the not-so-far distance, he spots two disgruntled men dressed in long dark flowing gowns, whispering loudly.
“We weren't expecting Renjun so soon,” a third voice chirps, quieting the commotion just as Renjun stares up and sees a turquoise dragon fly towards them. It’s so majestic looking and Renjun begins to wonder if he’s fallen into a dream.
A chill spreads throughout his body when the three figures turn their eyes directly on him.
“I thought the Emperor declared that the barrier would block any type of portal,” he can hear the one wearing a headband and ponytail say; sharp gaze and with arms crossed tightly.
“Well apparently that’s not true,” the one next to him says, clearly gesturing to Renjun, still stunned on top of the feathers.
Is this real??
Renjun gets up and cautiously walks towards the end of the tunnel where the figures stand.
“Um... h-hello?”
“Come hither, Renjun! You’re safe with us now,” says the (apparently) amicable dragon with big round eyes.
“Are you the one I am supposed to find?” Renjun asks, eyes darting all around as he takes in the lush green scenery, a stark contrast from the snowy hills that he had just stepped foot from. He starts to regret following Doyoung here, facing an enigmatic dragon and two menacing guys.
Renjun’s gulps and cowers under the judgemental gazes of the two men. When there is no response, he continues, asking, “Are you able to teach me how to use my powers?”
The dragon lands on its feet lightly, its long serpentine body winding around as it lowers its neck around in front of Renjun.
“Let’s head to the palace first, then we can explain everything,” the dragon says.
He hesitates, still feeling the intense stare of the other two, before carefully climbing onto the dragon’s back. It lifts off the ground and flies away.
As Renjun clutches onto the dragon, he wills himself to open his eyes as they fly over fields of green. He notices the two men are effortlessly flying alongside them as they glide over the treetops and past sloping valleys.
They soon approach a magnificent building situated on a mountain peak, pagoda tops reaching into the clouds and facade shimmering against the sunlight. If the stories about the homes belonging to the divine gods in the heavens were to be real, then it looked like everything that he had heard from his grandmother’s fairytales. Now, he must be really dreaming, right?
They land in what appears to be a large courtyard and Renjun carefully clambers off the dragon, whose name he has yet to know so he turns towards the dragon but the dragon beats him to it.
“My name is Chittaphoncoolonysosdo, or just Ten,” the dragon replies as the two men land seconds after to join them in the courtyard.
Ten, who was once a big dragon, suddenly transforms into a human— sans the flecks of scales that climb his forearms and two long horns that remain on his head— and turns to greet Renjun properly before leading him inside the palace.
“I know you are wondering why you are here,” Ten begins as he guides him inside with the two guys trailing behind. “Since the disappearance of the spirit of our Holy Maiden, mysterious occurrences have filled this world and yours. I’m glad we were able to reach you before someone else did. As one of the only remaining Guardians of the realm, it is my responsibility to ensure that chaos doesn’t fall upon the citizens here.”
They climb up a grand staircase that opens up to a luxurious balcony overlooking the valley below.
“For over a hundred years, the Emperor ruling this realm has done irreparable damage to people’s livelihoods and quality of life by forcing us to give up all our resources and making us work tirelessly to support the tyrannical agenda of the Emperor. And when we noticed the absence of the spirit of the Holy Maiden in our realm, we had to act fast. As with the presence of her spirit, even through the harshest conditions, our people were able to pray to her for even the simplest things and she would always answer.”
Holy Maiden?
A scoff comes from behind as Renjun turns his head to see one of the guys with crossed arms.
“Why bother explaining everything to him, Ten, if we’re only here to see if he possesses the spirit?” the guy with the headband scowls.
“Way to give our mission away, Jeno!” the other guy scolds with a weak shove at Jeno’s shoulder.
“Ten, just let Jaemin and I take him to the Truth-Revealing Stone and get it over with so we don’t end up wasting our time,” Jeno says crassly, swatting the other guys’ hand, Jaemin presumably, away.
“Do tell Renjun the rest of the story then, but I should go,” Ten says sweetly, his tone a clear contrast of the other two’s more ill tempers.
“Whatever…” Jeno puffs before he surges forward to grab Renjun’s arm.
Renjun gets startled, “What’s the Truth-Revealing Stone? And who is this Holy Maiden?”
And why would he possess it? Did it also somehow have something to do with his powers? He had many questions.
Before Renjun can get another word out, Jaemin comes up to take a hold of his other arm and a flash of cold wind and bright lights blind him just as he opens his eyes and sees that they’re next to a waterfall near a large glowing stone altar. On top of the altar sits a diamond-shaped gem that levitates and slowly spins, casting scattering beams of light. A myriad of colors illuminate the entire altar and he quickly gets shaken out of his reverie when the two men forcibly drag him towards the magical stone.
“W-Wait-!”
“Lay both hands on it and ask if the Holy Maiden’s spirit is within you,” Jaemin instructs, pushing him forward.
Renjun is getting irritated by the second, stomping his foot and turning to face the two guys, “I want to go home! You guys won’t tell me anything!”
“No can do. We need to determine if you’re a threat first and if you are then… Ten will decide what to do with you,” Jeno tuts, eagle eyes trained on his every movement.
“Don’t scare the poor thing too much, Jeno,” Jaemin says as a forked tongue flickers out and his pupils turn to slits.
He must actually be hallucinating, he finally thinks.
But with a frustrated huff, he turns back around and peers at the sparkling gem before he finally places his hands along its smooth facets.
The rays of light emitting from the stone fluctuate as if responding to the presence of his palms before it ultimately recedes until the light turns from prismatic to pure white like it’s waiting for a command.
“Wait, what was I supposed to say?” Renjun stutters, eliciting a groan from both men.
“Ask the stone if the Holy Maiden’s spirit is within you,” Jaemin says.
Okay… Ask if the Holy Maiden’s spirit is within him… That should be easy.
Renjun feels silly touching this glowing stone with two strange men behind him waiting for him to ask if some spirit is inside him—it feels like some kind of odd dream.
“Are you- Is the- Is the Holy Maiden spirit inside me?” Renjun swallows nervously.
For a good while, nothing happens and Renjun’s face starts to flush out of embarrassment for asking such a ridiculous question.
Then a bright chromatic beam bursts out from the stone, blinding Renjun’s vision, engulfing the whole room accompanied by a strong gust that makes the ground tremble and makes everything go completely quiet.
“I knew it!” Jeno says. “I told you we got the wrong person!” he scolds with a “tsk.”
With the extravagant light show, Renjun would’ve thought the opposite but he’s just relieved that he won’t have to deal with the tense climate brewing in this realm. He might actually get to go home!
Huh, what now? Renjun sighs resignedly, removing his hands from the dazzling stone.
It’s at this time Renjun remembers he has powers—albeit not knowing how to use them—but could come in handy right about now.
What if I can escape? he thinks for a split second as Jeno and Jaemin come up behind him.
Before either of them could take him away again, Renjun lifts his hands, concentrating on moving anything, and somehow manages to make the stone fly off the altar in their direction and shatter into a million pieces.
Renjun cringes with a mortified gasp. He wrings his hands in fear as he hears both Jeno and Jaemin shout angrily in exclamation.
“Take me home or I will shatter you as well!” He tries to threaten, but finds himself shaking in front of them just as he starts to feel two abnormal protrusions forming on top of his head and a sneeze tickling the back of his throat.
It’s like the world becomes a hundred times louder as he discovers he can move the newly formed—ears!—around to pinpoint certain sounds. And then he feels another growing protrusion coming from the back that he can feel flicker awkwardly— a tail!?
“Oh,” Jaemin expresses, his face becoming slightly amused. “Jeno, he looks so cute—almost as cute as you with your ears, but with a not as fluffy tail.”
Renjun and Jeno both squawk in surprise and Renjun lets out a cry as his hands flutter around trying to take in his new transformation— What happened to him!? I’m becoming one of these freaks! Renjun cries internally, trying to wrap his head around the ways of this world.
“So it was true all along... the spirit of the Truth-Revealing Stone was indeed a cat and now that you’ve gone and destroyed it you’ve now become its host,” Jeno sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose while Jaemin stands beside Renjun, cooing over him.
Renjun swats Jaemin’s hand away after he tries to pet one of his ears. “Great, so can I go home now?”
Jeno barks out a laugh and puts his hands on his hips, “Do you think you can return to the human world with the Truth-Revealing Stone spirit inside you without causing havoc?”
“How can I get this thing out of me then?” Renjun says, his voice raising.
“Well about that,” Jaemin says, “the stone you so-conveniently destroyed was forged from the heart of the Holy Maiden when she sacrificed herself to stop the Great War a millennium ago… so finding an equally suitable host for it will be difficult. Though as I’m seeing now, it seems like you’d be perfectly suitable as one-“
Renjun takes a step back, feeling his ears pin to the side of his head. Jaemin’s odd smile returns with another flicker of his tongue which he now knows he was not imagining before.
“Though… I do recall Guardian Ten saying that some of the remnants of the Holy Maiden reside in the Emperor’s Imperial Study. And considering the fact that- erhem- someone committed a grave offense of destroying the stone, the punishment is quite severe,” Jeno mutters seriously.
“Will you help me find it then so I can go back to my normal life?” Renjun asks with pleading eyes, wanting to see an ounce of sympathy from either of them. “I’m really, really sorry- I- I didn’t think that would happen!” he continues, bottom lip jutting out.
Jaemin takes a step forward placing a somewhat comforting hand on his shoulder and reassures, “Not to worry, kitten, I know just the place to start!”
Kitten??
“Jaemin- do you understand that we can be tried for treason!” Jeno hisses and Renjun just notices the canine ears and tail attached to him both standing on alert.
“This is not his world, Nono, we need to bring him back to restore the stone so we can find the true Holy Maiden’s spirit and be set free,” Jaemin says.
Jeno stands unmoving, scowl still adorning his sharp features. But as he keeps looking at Renjun’s pitiful state, Renjun notices him falter ever so slightly.
“Fine,” he concedes. “We’ll help you, but only if you follow our instructions, understand?”
Renjun nods eagerly and his ears perk back up instinctively at approval, “Understood!”
Jaemin claps his hands and slings his arms around Jeno and Renjun’s shoulders exclaiming, “Let’s go get ourselves freedom! It’s been a while since we’ve been on a true adventure,” Jaemin cheers.
Renjun’s not sure who possesses the teleportation ability, but a second later, they are at the edge of a forest where a small meadow leads to a large mansion. However, surrounding the mansion is a moat swirling with mysterious red liquid which makes him shudder along with large fortified walls that seem so high and hostile. Paired with countless intimidating guards, it is truly worthy of its title as the Emperor’s home.
“This looks promising,” Jaemin whispers as they scan the perimeter. “Know of any secret passage into the Emperor’s mansion, Jeno?”
“Wha- I thought you did!” Jeno grumbles. “Weren’t you the one that spent time being a guard escort for the Emperor’s son?”
“Yes but they wouldn’t have told me about any secret passages.”
Jeno rolls his eyes, “Well, you’re not exactly the type to ask for permission for those kinds of things.”
They are not getting anywhere bickering like that so Renjun takes the initiative to make the first move, towards a door to the left of them that the other two so obviously missed. It’s an old wooden, small porthole-shaped entrance hidden beneath the tall wiry grasses.
”Found one,” Renjun announces as he brushes past the two bickering and opens the door.
“How do you know where that leads– it might be a trap!” Jeno hisses at him, trying to grapple at Renjun’s tail to pull him back.
“Come on, Jeno, don’t worry so much,” Jaemin calls after him, already following Renjun through the door.
“This cannot be the plan,” Jeno wallows as he watches them disappear into the dark tunnel before he conjures a small fire in his palm and follows after.
Inside, the tunnel stretches out so far that Renjun cannot see anything except the grey walls on either side thanks to Jeno’s small fire. Jeno ends up taking him over to lead the way, as they pass by large murals depicting some kind of battle along with numerous figures that closely resemble Jeno and Jaemin’s kind.
Renjun admires the scene and stops in his tracks to ask, “Are these you two?” He points to the two figures that appear to be fighting some giant monster with a spear and sword. They have Jeno’s distinctive ears and Jaemin’s unique eyes.
“No, those are our ancestors that were cursed,” Jeno says, his tail dropping.
The air in the tunnel becomes chillier and Renjun feels like he’s intruded a little too much into their past, but he decides to press on and ask, “What happened?”
“When our leader the Holy Maiden died to save the realm from falling apart after powerful evil spirits escaped from the underworld, the Emperor, who was our Holy Maiden’s former advisor, assumed the position of supreme leader amidst the turbulence and forced all inhabitants to serve and revere him, arguing that our lives were eternally in debt for his so-called ‘generosity’ for leading us to salvation.
“His rule was generational and many of us still suffer through his wrath and corruption today. Up until recently, thanks to Guardian Ten, we have formed a secret alliance to rally against this injustice,” Jaemin grimaces.
So the Holy Maiden was really important to them, huh? Renjun surmises, watching the expressions on their faces turn somber. He feels a bit guilty for not taking all of this seriously; it may not be his world, but to Jeno and Jaemin it’s very real. Renjun lets a hand linger on the peeling walls before he pulls away to continue on.
“So tell me, Renjun, how did you acquire your powers?” Jaemin asks.
The human stared at the back of their heads in confusion, You mean to tell me they don’t even know?
“I don’t know, I thought you guys would know!”
Jeno and Jaemin send him a wayward glance before Jaemin pipes up, “Well… I assumed some humans were just born like that! There are only a few people who can manipulate things with their minds.”
“Yeah, he does remind me of-“
Before Jeno can complete his sentence, the earth around them rumbles and debris and dust lightly fall all around them. The three of them shout as they run as fast as they can to stay out of the destruction and finally make it to another door at the end.
“Quick, get inside!” Jeno yells, forcing the door open with a blast from his palm.
They stumble into a dark dungeon-looking room with broken glass and chains littering the floor. The tunnel collapses behind them, closing their only other way out. They all take a moment to catch their breaths, hunched over and coughing from the heavy dust. In the distance, a slow dripping is the only sound that fills the silence between them. Renjun feebly stands up to dust himself off and try to observe his surroundings.
“If I’m correct, we’re in the dungeon,” Captain Obvious says.
“Prison— more precisely— the old wing of the Emperor’s mansions’ prison,” Jaemin corrects, after looking around in the dark. “The Emperor’s Imperial Study is at the top on the fifth floor located in the East Wing.”
Renjun can now see quite well, aided by the enhancement of the Truth stone spirit, through the dark and he spots skeletons and bones confined in several cages hanging from the ceiling. The sight disturbs him and he wants to get out of here quickly, urging the two to find another way out.
“Do you happen to know of a secret passage from here?” Renjun asks.
Jaemin’s eyes suddenly light up as if he remembers something, grabbing both him and Jeno and they are transported to a lavish, bright room. Jaemin quickly pulls them behind a shelf as a few guards pass through and Renjun finds himself pressed up between their bodies.
“Where did you take us?” Renjun whisper-shouts, as they seem to be in more danger than before.
Jaemin hushes them before he motions them to follow him down a hallway. Then, he promptly grabs both Jeno and Renjun and drags them through a large portrait of a man wearing luxurious robes and an even haughtier expression (which must be this Emperor no doubt). The sensation of walking through the portal feels akin to passing through layers of wet and heavy curtains, transporting them into another, much quieter, hallway.
“When I was the escort for the Emperor’s son, I had come across an interesting area somewhere around here and I knew it was hiding something,” Jaemin says. “Turns out this secret passage still exists,” he chuckles.
As they maneuver their way through the empty hall, Renjun can’t help but wonder what kind of lives these inhabitants of this world have. With so much magic and elaborate powers, he wonders how controlling this Emperor can be to instill fear into such magical beings.
“So is the Emperor looking for the Holy M-” a hand clamps over Renjun’s mouth and Jeno glares at him.
“You cannot speak that name here,” he scolds in a hushed voice.
Renjun looks at him bewilderingly and slowly nods his head perplexedly.
“Don’t worry, kitten. We’ll explain once we finish this. But, first, let’s retrieve the core from the study and get out of here as soon as possible,” Jaemin whispers, signaling for them to lie low as guard shadows loom around the corner and they come upon a large, elegant, wooden door with golden sigils on it. With a wave of his hands, Renjun watches with amazement as Jaemin easily bypasses the intricate barrier.
When they make it inside, the sound of metal armor quickly approaches and to Renjun’s horror, Jaemin goes back into the hall and closes the door behind him.
What!? Renjun panics.
“Come on, the stone should be in here somewhere,” Jeno says, immediately scanning along the walls.
“But, Jaemin-” Renjun tries to protest but Jeno gives him a look of reassurance.
“Jaemin can handle himself. All we need to focus on is finding the core and getting out as soon as possible.”
The study is large and there are multiple high shelves housing scrolls and various academic materials and cabinets lined with all sorts of valuables and priceless ornaments. It’s difficult to concentrate on finding a “core” that he has no clue what it looks like when the commotion just outside is so intense.
Renjun is searching high and low when his foot gets caught along the edge of a rug and he yelps, losing his balance and bumping into a panel in the wall. In the very next moment, he ends up getting pulled through the wall.
Renjun falls on his knees and he dizzily stands up in what appears to be a room the size of a pantry.
“Are you okay?” he can hear Jeno call.
“I’m okay,” he replies as he looks around.
The room is sparse except for the large glowing orb sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room. It seems to be surrounded by a translucent veil barrier to which he carefully reaches out to, but the barrier feels solid and he cannot easily retrieve the orb.
What do I do now– that must be the Holy Maiden’s core…!
Maybe Jeno’s fire powers can burn the barrier down.
“Jeno-! Come here!” Renjun calls, “Through here!”
Seconds later, the sound of Jeno’s boots come to a halt behind the wall and a shout, “Duck down!”
Renjun ducks and feels the heat of the fire blast from Jeno but it does little to penetrate the door. He hears a low whine from the other side.
“It won’t budge!” Jeno says, banging on the wall and trying to blast it with more fire.
“Jeno stop, you’re making it hot in here!” Renjun shouts, wiping the sweat forming on his forehead. “It’s here but I can't get it.”
“Huh?”
“There’s some kind of barrier,” Renjun explains.
“Well… can you use your powers to break it open?” Jeno asks.
“I can move things, not break them, and besides, I really don’t know how to use them,” he replies defeated.
There’s a moment of silence as they both try to think of what to do next when Jeno suddenly pipes up, “Why don’t you try bringing the core to you?”
“I don't want to break it like the Truth stone! I barely know how to use my powers. What if I mess this up again? What if we lose our only chance?” he rambles nervously.
“It’s okay, I’ll talk you through it. Just take a deep breath and concentrate on the object at hand.”
Renjun does as he’s instructed, taking a deep breath and imagining the orb in his mind.
“Now, imagine slowly reaching out to the object and holding it firmly in your grasp.”
He reaches his hand out, sensing the object, and somehow feeling the object in his hand.
“Okay… good, now slowly pull the object towards you while focusing on the object,” Jeno continues.
He takes a deep breath, Jeno’s words lingering in his mind, as he slowly starts to see the orb wriggle out of its place on the pedestal. Renjun focuses harder on grabbing and pulling the orb, breaking out into sweat in the process. As if the barrier was never there, the orb finally phases past it and flies right into his hand!
A wave of relief washes over him and he basks in the delight of achieving such a minor, but major accomplishment.
“I got it!” Renjun exclaims.
“Good job, Renjun!” and the genuinity in Jeno’s praise lifts the weight off of Renjun’s chest.
Renjun tries to push the door from inside, which works surprisingly (he should have done that in the first place, but oh well). But, in between the rush of finally getting something right and leaving, he trips again and his feline reflexes can’t save him this time, but a pair of strong arms catch him.
“Careful there, you don’t want to drop the orb,” Jeno chuckles.
The room suddenly feels ten times warmer and he scrambles back up on his own two feet with the orb nestled safely in his hands. Just when he thought he was safe however, Renjun jumps back screaming, “Look out, a snake!!!!”
Behind Jeno is a snake so large it’s the same size of the desk behind them, slithering up to them with pearly white scales and red eyes.
“Oh, it’s okay it’s just Jaemin,” Jeno reassures.
Just then, true to Jeno’s word, the snake quickly transforms into human Jaemin and he greets them with a look of relief.
“Renjun, you got it!” he smiles, fangs visible to Renjun now.
“Yeah- yeah, I did it,” Renjun smiles back, tail curled happily, as he holds the orb to his chest. “What’s the plan now?”
“Well, we go back to the Emerald Palace and discuss what to do from there,” Jeno replies, nodding at Jaemin so that they can finally leave the mansion.
When they step out of the study, they find a group of subdued guards standing perfectly with aimless looks. It seems like Jaemin was able to hypnotize them into submission and they snuck back through the portrait portal.
“Okay, down this hall should be a passage to the kitchens in the lower levels. And from there, we’ll be able to teleport out of here,” Jaemin says.
After dodging past more palace personnel, they hurriedly make their way to the lower levels. Just as Jaemin carefully nudges the door open, they hear voices approaching.
“Now!”
Renjun grabs onto Jaemin’s hand as Jeno holds onto his other one, and in a flash, they are back on the balcony of the Emerald Palace. The sun has moved lower in the sky now and they quickly head inside the palace where they bump into a servant.
“Move along, pipsqueak, we haven’t got all day,” Jeno says to a young man with large round ears.
“Jeno be nice– Jisung, is Guardian Ten around right now?” Jaemin asks, placing a hand on the servant's shoulder.
With a big gulp, the servant replies, “Yes, just down the hall he returned from a small trip to the markets along with Doyoung.”
Doyoung! The mention of his name makes Renjun feel all irritated again as that bunny was the thing to put him through all this in the first place! So he can’t help the involuntary growl that leaves his throat and Jeno and Jaemin both turn to him in surprise.
“What’s wrong, kitten?” Jaemin asks. A hand comes up to soothingly stroke Renjun’s twitching cat ear as he scowls.
“I think he’s the one who cursed me!” Renjun complains.
This time, it’s Jeno who can’t help but snicker as he pinches Renjun’s cheek. Renjun has half the heart to swat his hand away but eventually relents. “Silly, Doyoung doesn’t have that kind of power. He’s just a rabbit deity.”
“Then how did I get my powers—our worlds are completely different!” Renjun scoffs.
Before anyone can speculate anything else, Ten’s voice rings from down the hall catching their attention.
“You’re back! We have some important things to discuss,” Ten says, ushering them away into a side room.
Inside, Renjun spots an unfamiliar face, but as he had been getting accustomed to this world, he guesses that it’s the infamous Doyoung. The man has pink rabbit ears that lay on the sides of his head, so it has to be the same bunny that led him here.
“Gather round everyone, I believe we are close to finding our Holy Maiden’s spirit,” Ten says as Renjun finds a seat between Jeno and Jaemin. “Since it is connected to our dear Renjun’s powers, Doyoung and I have reasonable suspicion to believe that he… may be able to summon her spirit as only the Holy Maiden and her devout followers were able to wield such powers.
“Now were you three able to use the Truth-Revealing Stone? Does Renjun have the spirit of the Holy Maiden within him?” Ten asks eagerly, leaning over the table.
“About that…” Jaemin says a bit embarrassed.
The three of them exchange anxious glances before Jaemin continues, “It was damaged… But we do know Renjun in fact does not have the spirit of the Holy Maiden within him.”
The tension leaves Renjun’s body when he realizes that they’ve decided to omit the fact that he likely committed a grave crime. Renjun feels his cat ears stand upright again and the fur along his tail relaxing.
“How will we ever find out if someone has the spirit now?” Doyoung asks.
The disappointment is visible on Ten and Doyoung’s faces as they slump back down in their seats with more pensive expressions.
“But, we were able to find the orb of the Holy Maiden’s core!” Jeno pipes up.
Instantly, Ten’s expression turns bright again and he stands up to clap. “Amazing, how did you manage to find it?”
Doyoung doesn’t appear as amused and stands up lividly, “Find it? More like steal it from the Emperor! Great, now we’re all fugitives!”
“We’ve been fugitives, Doyoung, since the beginning,” Jeno retorts.
Doyoung glares at Jeno and huffs, “But now, even more so!”
“Quiet, none of that matters now as we are so close to finding the spirit thanks to the orb,” Ten says before anything gets too intense.
Renjun nervously bites his lip and tenses back up again, gripping the fabric of his pants tightly, when two hands gently take each of his hands and squeeze it. He doesn’t need to look down to know that both Jeno and Jaemin are trying to reassure him in front of their Guardian and it makes his heart all warm and fuzzy. Before he knows it a low purr comes out of him, catching them off guard, and he quickly slaps a hand over his mouth to stop it, flushing red.
As Ten resumes to talk about some ritual, Renjun feels Jaemin lean in close to his ear and whisper, “Don’t hide your purr, kitten—it’s cute.”
Renjun hears Jeno’s quiet laughter beside him and he chokes on a cough, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
“...so, if you wouldn’t mind, could you place the orb in the center?”
“It hasn’t reacted to anything, though. It might be because the Truth-Revealing Stone’s spirit went inside Renjun after it got damaged,” Jeno informs.
“Oh, is that so?” Ten asks curiously, tapping his chin.
Suddenly, Renjun is grabbed by big, fluffy, pink paws, and a very recognizable voice from behind booms, “I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE SPIRIT IN ME, NOT YOU!!!!”
“Ahhhh!” Renjun squirms as he feels himself being squeezed in Doyoung’s vice and lifted off the ground. Doyoung transforms into a giant rabbit form and breaks through the ceiling of the palace.
“Renjun!” Jeno and Jaemin yell all the while trying to avoid the crumbling structure.
“Doyoung, stop this instant!” Ten tries to bring some sense into the bunny. As Renjun continues to scream, Ten transforms into his dragon form.
Meanwhile, Jeno and Jaemin try to figure out how to bring Renjun back down to safety.
“I’ll try to loosen Doyoung’s hold, just be ready to catch him, Jaemin,” Jeno says as he shoots off, latching onto Doyoung’s paw as tries to use brute strength to pry him off of Renjun.
Jaemin nods and transforms into his serpent form, getting into position, while Ten tries to placate a threatening Doyoung.
“I won’t yield! Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? My family has been very patient and we have done absolutely everything in our power to get us to this moment. As direct descendants of the Holy Maiden, I am the rightful heir!”
Jaemin stares up anxiously and after noticing Jeno struggling, decides to slither up around the giant rabbit to try and hypnotize him to stop. He wraps himself around his other arm and tries to enter Doyoung’s consciousness, but being levels apart in terms of power, he finds himself struggling, too.
Doyoung hisses at all the obstructions and he tries to swat Jeno and Jaemin away. To their horror, he conjures up a storm of pink blossom petals and sends them raining down on both of them as sharp arrows.
Ten easily intercepts Doyoung’s attack with an ice shield but Doyoung redirects a new wave of petal daggers towards Ten who counters it with lightning zaps.
“Let me go and I will let you use the orb after! I just need to get the stone’s spirit out of me first!” Renjun pleads. “I don’t have your maiden’s spirit!”
“Silly human! After years of searching, I discovered that the Holy Maiden’s spirit didn’t simply disappear- it was here all along, disguised within the Truth-Seeking Stone! And I’m here to get back what is rightfully mine!”
Everyone is stunned by the revelation that even Ten temporarily halts his assault to narrow his eyes at Doyoung.
“Then you should do what’s right and let Renjun go. Greed will only destroy you, where are your senses? What ‘peace’ can you achieve by keeping the spirit to yourself?” Ten accuses.
“You’d be no better than the Emperor,” Jeno growls, holding up a large threatening ball of fire.
“I’ve waited too long for you imbeciles to do anything! And now I will make things right– by reinstating a Rabbit Deity as the next Holy Maiden for this era! Only then will prosperity spread across the land,” Doyoung cackles maniacally.
Renjun suddenly feels himself getting squeezed even tighter and he cries out. “Jeno, Jaemin, help!”
Doyoung has become a fully savage rabbit, stomping around trying to climb out of the palace walls. Ten tries his best to keep him contained as he casts a giant force field to surround the raging rabbit while he continues his assault in subduing him. Meanwhile, Jaemin is doing his best to concentrate and Jeno continues to dodge the debris falling around to study the temporary battlefield.
Just then, he spots a giant pillar to the left. Coming around the front of the rabbit, he gets Renjun’s attention.
“Renjun! There!” he shouts, pointing to the pillar. “Remember what I taught you? Use your powers to topple it down. I’ll catch you, I’m quick.”
In the tight grip of the rabbit paw, Renjun manages to find the pillar Jeno pointed out. “It’s too big! I don't know how to move things that well, still!”
“You can do it! I believe in you, Renjun. Just take a deep breath and imagine it in your palm.”
Renjun observes the havoc. He wants to help them out!
Closing his eyes, he concentrates on the pillar, feeling the object’s heaviness in his hands, and pulls!
Everything happens at once: the pillar topples down, crashing right on top of Doyoung’s head, and the grasp around Renjun slackens and he’s falling, down, down, down.
He suddenly gets deja vu and he tightly shuts his eyes. Except this time around, there isn’t a pile of feathers to break his fall. He’s going to die here, isn’t he?
“Ahhhh–” his scream is cut short as he lands in two strong arms.
“Told you I’m fast,” Jeno winks.
Renjun’s heart almost falls out of his chest and he notices that Jeno is standing atop Jaemin’s serpentine head, who is standing up at his full height, and Jaemin slowly lowers his head so they can softly land on the ground.
“You did it, kitten,” Jaemin grins, holding his face affectionately after he promptly transforms back.
Renjun feels warm and even though he’s not falling anymore, his heart still feels like it’s floating, thumping louder than ever.
A groan in the distance catches their attention and they watch as Ten descends from the sky upon the now battered human form of Doyoung’s ambitions.
“T-the… spirit… m-mine-” Doyoung croaks but Ten just shakes his head. He conjures silver chains which bind his wrist and feet with a swish.
Grateful that the chaos has ended, Renjun goes to take a step forward when a heavy thumping sensation in Renjun’s chest makes him gasp and hunch over. Beads of sweat roll off his forehead and an uncomfortable heat grows in his chest. It feels like his heart is about to claw out from his ribcage.
“Renjun!” “Kitten, what’s wrong!?” The two of them fret, settling him down on the ground as they try to find the cause of his pain.
Renjun bites down on his tongue in an attempt to hold back a scream but the sound of his heart beating gets louder and louder and louder. Everything feels too loud and he feels his senses being overwhelmed as he writhes in anguish.
“Ten, help!” Jeno shouts, as he clutches Renjun tighter. Jaemin desperately holds onto his hand to soothe him but to no avail until Ten runs over and points at his chest. “The orb!”
Renjun barely registers Ten’s words before he uses the last of his willpower to thrust out the burning orb from his pocket.
And just like that, the heavy weight has been lifted from his chest. Renjun feels himself let out a sigh of relief.
He then watches as a glowing wisp of smoke seemingly lifts off of his body and swirls until it meets the cast orb. With a dazzling flash, the outline of a woman springs up and twirls until Renjun can clearly make out her features and exquisite garments.
She holds a magical staff that illuminates in multicolors and she wears a kind smile as she lands in front of them.
Everyone goes stockstill before they quickly avert her eyes to properly kneel before her, stuttering.
“Our Holy Maiden! It’s an honor to be in your presence!” they all exclaim. Renjun weakly tries to dip his head in greeting but his body is exhausted. So he can only suffice a meek nod. Even Guardian Ten is kneeling on the ground in a formal greeting.
“My children,” she says warmly. “Thank you for freeing me.”
“We have awaited your return, and now that you are here, we are at your service,” Ten bows.
“Freeing me is enough. I have much work to do—I’ve heard about the terrible things my former advisor has put upon you.” Her presence is calming and warm, and it feels as if the world has already become so much more bright.
The Holy Maiden finally looks Renjun directly in the eye. “You, I do not know. Tell me, child, what is your name?”
“Re-Renjun,” he stutters, awe struck by such grace.
“You are not from here, are you? Yet you saved me. For that, I am indebted to you,” and she bows her head. “If you did not break the stone, I would have not been able to be free. You see, long ago it was the Rabbit Deity that helped keep me safe by hiding me within the Truth-Revealing Stone. However, much time has passed and after being promised a proper return, it seems like there were others who had more ambitious personal plans to pursue.”
She then extends out a hand and soft pink glow emits from her palm as a warm yet cooling sensation overtakes him and he feels his strength return once again. It’s like a breath of fresh air and he slowly extends and retracts his limbs. Then he feels the two feline ears atop his head disappear along with the tail.
“I shall go now, but I believe these two have one last task,” the Holy Maiden says with a smile, before she also disappears in a puff.
“I’ll take care of Doyoung. You two— Jeno, Jaemin— take Renjun home,” Ten instructs as he transforms back into a dragon and picks up the chained Doyoung, flying off.
It’s just the three of them now, and despite the destruction around them, the sun shines brightly and the air is warm.
This journey has finally come to an end. Yet somehow, Renjun can’t help but feel a little sad now that he has to leave this realm. He’s almost become attached to it— the magic, the sights, and especially… the people.
What will happen after they send him back? Will he ever get to see them again?
Renjun feels a gentle hand on his lower back.
“Let’s get you home, kitten.”
His heart feels like it’s floating again, but for a different reason.
The arena is chilly and the sounds of skates on ice echo inside. Younghoon is ahead as Renjun follows behind to get to their seats. He’s happy he’s home, but there is a hole in his heart that he hadn’t noticed before. He wonders how Jeno and Jaemin are doing in that magical world of theirs.
After they had taken him to the portal he had come through, they barely got to exchange proper goodbyes before Jisung appeared to urgently tell them that neighboring towns were in chaos and Guardian Ten needed their help. With the reappearance of the Holy Maiden, it was expected that things wouldn’t go so smoothly in the beginning…
However, Renjun wishes that he had what little time they had for farewells to say what he really felt— about how grateful to them he was for believing in him. And just like that, Jeno and Jaemin’s lingering stares made Renjun regret not speaking up even more. Though they promised that their existence would remain true in Renjun's heart and memories, it did nothing to ease his worries. Maybe because internally he was afraid that if he said goodbye aloud, it would mean goodbye… forever.
In addition, he had even begun to miss those feline features. It was a constant reminder of the adventure he had inside the portal and he would oftentimes find himself instinctively reaching up to grab at the phantom ears.
“You’re going to get my hot chocolate and churros, right?” Younghoon teases, bumping into his shoulder.
“Yeah yeah, I’ll go get them now. Find our seats and I’ll meet you there,” Renjun says, dismissing his friend who sticks a tongue out at him.
Heading in the opposite direction, he can smell the churros before even spotting the stand as his mouth starts to water. It reminds him of the bet he made in the first place with Younghoon. Which was…
His train of thought is cut off when he hears a commotion just around the entrance.
“No, calm down, don’t show your ears; I don't think they are familiar with people like us. We need to find him first.”
If Renjun still had his cat ears, they would probably perk right up after hearing that familiar voice that starts to make his heart flutter.
No… he must be imagining it.
Forgetting about the bet, his legs take him to where he heard that voice, and if his eyes are not deceiving him, right there are Jeno and Jaemin!
But before he can get their attention, clattering in the distance disrupts his train of thought. Two men dressed in clothing akin to what looked like the Emperor’s guards are currently interrogating a vendor.
What are they doing here?? It can’t be… the portal was sealed after I came back!
They look very out of place at a hockey game of all places and several passersby whisper about their strange appearances.
“Have you seen a short man with a pink bunny?” the more burly one out of the two asks gruffly.
The vendor just shakes his head confusedly yet the two men continue to pester the poor seller, attracting some more unwanted attention.
Short man and pink bunny-?
And then a flashback plays through his mind from what Doyoung had said to him in the beginning and he ducks behind a wall. He peaks around the corner to where he last saw the snake and canine duo and Renjun blinks once, twice, and suddenly Jeno and Jaemin are no longer visible.
So he was imagining it all along. Renjun frowns.
Poof!
“Hey, kitten!”
Renjun jumps out of his skin, suddenly feeling a comforting presence behind.
“Thankfully we spotted you before they did,” Jeno says under his breath, tilting his head to the two big guys. “Such a feat for a small kitty like you in a crowded place.”
“Jeno- Jaemin-!” Renjun gasps, not being able to help himself from jumping into their arms with excitement. They both hold onto him happily before setting him down.
Is this a dream?
But, it can’t be, he thinks dazedly as his hands trail down to grab each of their warm hands. He gently holds onto their fingers and his heart is beating erratically. Renjun can suddenly feel their eyes on him and he quickly lets go.
It feels nice like this. Renjun wishes he can cherish this moment longer.
“Yeah what is going on here? A coordination? And what magic do you humans use to make your pictures move like that?" Jaemin blinks, grinning curiously at an overhead LED board.
“A game on ice,” Renjun explains simply. “But what are you guys doing here? Who are these guys?”
Jaemin looks like he has more questions to ask but his expression turns serious.
“Lost guards of the Emperor. We are tasked to bring them back, but I don’t know how we’ll do that without causing a big commotion. Jaemin says humans are not familiar with powers like ours,” Jeno answers.
Renjun nods, as he starts to form an idea about how to help them.
“How about I bait them to a secluded area then you guys can capture him?”
“No-!” They both begin to protest but Renjun holds up a hand.
“Did you guys forget? I survived a giant berserk rabbit. So I think I can manage setting up a trap. Besides, you’ll both be there to help me if anything happens, right?” Renjun says with a small smile.
The two of them exchange wary looks before turning to Renjun with a firm nod.
“Okay… but shout our names immediately if you feel like something is off.”
Renjun ends up choosing the back parking lot as the ideal place for ambush, far from any crowd. He’ll get their attention and take the emergency back door to lure them out where Jeno and Jaemin will emerge from the side to take them down.
He shoots a quick text to Younghoon that he’s going to the bathroom before sending one last confident nod to Jeno and Jaemin and setting off.
It’s not hard to catch their attention as he deliberately runs into them and acts startled before whipping around and making a beeline to the parking lot. Two pairs of footsteps sound close behind and he confidently walks outside where the chill winter air stings his face. Still, he has a mission and pays little mind.
He quickens his pace as the steps start to become bolder, catching up rapidly. Soon enough, he reaches the far end of the lot where only a few cars remain and turns around, giving all trust that Jeno and Jaemin are not far behind.
“Silly human, you just made our job easy,” one of the gruff men said. But before they can leap towards him, a deep growl is carried with the wind.
“Wha—“
“Not today!” Jaemin’s voice comes from high within the branches of a nearby tree. “The Rabbit Deity’s reign is over, the Holy Maiden is your leader now!”
Renjun dodges as a fireball is hurled at one of the men. It’s another start to a stunning brawl. The two men are caught off-guard but quickly draw up small balls of energy to throw back. But, Jeno and Jaemin are quicker.
It seems Jeno and Jaemin are confident enough that no humans are around as they have fully transformed. Renjun has to remind himself to stay put and resist his urge to pet the fully fluffy canine Jeno.
“Gah—get off mutt!” “Let me go!” The men cry out as Jaemin wraps his slithery body around the two, binding their arms and legs together.
“On the count of three: one, two, three-”
Renjun squeezes his eyes shut against a spark of light before he opens them again to see a familiar portal. Through the portal he can just make out a cell which appears much more forgiving compared to the one from the Emperor’s mansion.
In one fell swoop, Jeno and Jaemin toss the two guards in, the portal swallowing them up.
The atmosphere is still full of adrenaline as the three of them catch their breaths.
“Mission—“
“-success!” Jeno finishes as they both turn back into their human forms and he high-fives Jaemin.
They spot Renjun still stunned, leaning behind the fence in anticipation and run up to engulf him in a big hug.
“We did it thanks to you,” Jeno praises with a huge smile.
“I never doubted you, kitten,” Jaemin adds, kissing the top of his head.
Oh!
Renjun blushes as Jeno gently caresses his warm cheek. A smile easily forms on his face and Renjun finds himself comfortably nestled between the two of them.
What is all this? Do they…?
It’s Jeno who pulls back first, suddenly looking solemn.
“What’s wrong?” Renjun asks, dreading the answer.
“Now that your human world is safe, we must return to maintain the balance between our worlds. The Holy Maiden’s ascension has not been an easy feat, many rebel forces still side with the Emperor’s cause," Jeno says with a frown.
Jaemin gives Renjun’s shoulder a squeeze before also releasing his hug. Renjun immediately feels cold where his touch once was.
Another portal starts to form, but their surprised faces tell Renjun they weren’t the ones to open one. Soon enough, the silhouette of long flowing white hair and a white crown appears in the opening.
“I appreciate your loyal service,” The Holy Maiden starts, bowing her head towards them.
“Holy Maiden-!” Jaemin and Jeno rush to kneel before her in impromptu greeting and Renjun politely bows before she waves them off in acknowledgement.
“You’ve done well to help restore our realm. I would like to reward you with an important choice. I see how your lives are connected through this journey, and it pains me to see any of you three in despair. Though my dear Renjun must stay in his human world, I have an ultimatum for you two.”
Jeno and Jaemin finally look up at the Holy Maiden expectantly, wondering what kind of reward she is willing to offer.
The Holy Maiden continues, “I will grant you a life here. On one condition, however: As you know, the human world lacks such powers as grandeur as you two possess. If you decide to join his life, you must completely sever yourselves from the life you have come to know.”
Renjun lets out a quiet gasp. They can’t do that for him! Their powers are a special gift—it would be silly for them to get rid of them for a mere human. Not to mention their way of life and all their friends and family and- and everything!
Would they really do that?
“You can’t!” He finds himself protesting in their place and both Jaemin and Jeno look at him in surprise.
“Would you guys… really give up on your life back home?” Renjun swallows nervously, finding himself grabbing onto the hems of sleeves for comfort. The situation feels all too familiar except he’s not sure whether or not the two men he’s grown to be fond of would reach out to him out of their own will. After all, they had dedicated almost their whole lives to helping find the Holy Maiden and helping to set their people free— free from the suffering carried by their ancestors.
Surely they wouldn’t just give all that up?
Jeno and Jaemin give each other knowing looks, smiles slowly forming on their faces.
“Holy Maiden, though we are obliged to continue to help you with maintaining peace in Saixi… Jaemin and I would be fools to decline such a proposal. It’s been the highest honor serving the people of the realm by your side and have fulfilled the mission passed onto us by our ancestors...”
Renjun feels lightheaded.
“We’ll join Renjun and live as humans,” Jeno says, eyes catching Renjun’s.
“No! You can’t, I–”
“Kitten, you don’t know how lucky we are to have this offer,” Jaemin says, patting his head affectionately. Then, he grabs Jeno’s hand in one and grabs Renjun’s with his other. “Our lives back in Saixi were full of sleepless nights and laborious days. We’ve been completing mission after mission, our paths chosen for us. With this opportunity, we can finally carve out our own paths, and,” he looks over at Jeno, “we want to be by your side.”
“Really?”
Do they truly mean it?
“Really.” “Really.”
Jeno and Jaemin squeeze his hand and he hears a quiet chuckle and that’s when he remembers that the Holy Maiden is still standing there. Renjun stifles a cough yet the small smile on her face says it all.
“Well, then I can do nothing but respect your wishes. The honor has been mine. Thank you for all your efforts and setting me free. And worry not, as the four Guardians of the realm have united under my guidance and will aid me in defending the people. I promise that your people will be safe under my care now. Farewell Jeno and Jaemin,” she says, placing a hand over her heart and dipping her head.
She swishes her staff over their heads and mutters a spell which washes over the two in a light green haze. They shutter, appearing to feel the effect of the spell taking away their powers and abilities.
Then, she seamlessly melds back through the opening that connects their two worlds, the portal slowly rippling close.
“Wow,” Jaemin breathes, “So this is how it feels to be human.”
Renjun giggles and turns to them excitedly. “Wanna see how hockey, the game on ice, plays out?”
Inside, having two more shadows following him is certainly new, but one he could get used to. He finally gets Younghoon the hot chocolate and churros he owed him, finding his way back to the seats.
When Younghoon spots them, his eyebrows furrow in confusion.
Renjun finds a seat between his friend and Jeno, giving Younghoon the hot chocolate cup.
“Who are they?” his friend asks, just as a body comes between them. Renjun has to scoot over as Jaemin insists on squeezing in the middle.
But before Renjun can introduce them to Younghoon, he spots Jaemin gobbling up the churros he had handed to him to carry over! “NO!” On his other side, Jeno seems to have gotten a hand on one, too, as he suddenly freezes mid-bite.
Younghoon laughs, clearly enjoying Renjun’s demise, “Now you owe me the whole stand!”
Renjun pouts as the game officially begins. He manages to introduce his newfound partners to Younghoon who is immediately welcoming. Renjun also ends up finding himself explaining the rules of the game to Jeno and Jaemin, who continuously lean over to hear him talk. Their curious faces and genuine surprise makes Renjun giggle endearingly.
Suddenly, cheers erupt and Renjun looks up to the jumbotron to see himself! The screen has a digital pink heart around him and to either side of his face, are Jeno and Jaemin.
Renjun’s face turns red as he reads the words: “Kiss Cam!”
“What is that? What is the kiss?” Jeno asks, pointing up cluelessly.
“Kitten, how come our faces are showing up there? Is that some kind of portal?” Jaemin adds on and Renjun wants to bury his face in his hands and squeal.
The crowd starts to stare and mutter and he looks up to see a countdown next to the heart frame around them. Oh, no. What should he do??
Are they… okay with kisses?
Younghoon smirks from the side. “It means you need to give our little friend here a kiss!”
It seems like Jeno and Jaemin exchange a knowing look between themselves, unbeknownst to Renjun’s current panicked state and then he feels two pairs of lips on him. *peck*! Renjun gasps and feels his heart bloom. He gets two kisses on either side of his cheeks and the crowd goes wild!
Jeno and Jaemin giggle into the sides of his face and Renjun can’t stop the smile from spreading on his face, too. So he spontaneously makes up his mind and quickly turns his face on both sides and returns the peck, placing one on Jaemin’s lips and one on Jeno’s lips.
This time it’s their turn to be pleasantly surprised and wrap their arms around him, entrapping him in a tight embrace, nuzzling their faces into his neck with laughter. Even long after the Kiss Cam has moved on, Jeno and Jaemin stay stuck to his side like glue.
“Kitty, we like you so much.”
“Yes, yes. Very much!”
Renjun leans into both their sides and laughs along. The noise of the game drowned out from his loudly beating heart, which beats not just for one person but two.
“And I… like you both very much, too.”