Jisung woke up and turned to his side to look at Chenle. Except, he was met with one small problem:

Chenle wasn't there.

Jisung sighed. Chenle was to energetic. He was probably in the kitchen with Jaemin and that Renjun guy making breakfast. He yawned and got out of bed, running a hand through his hair and throwing on pants. He walked out and saw no one in the kitchen. No one was in the living room. Maybe Chenle was talking with Jaemin in his room. Jisung walked to Jaemins room. He froze in the doorway when he saw the scene in front of him.

Chenle was on his knees crying by the small dresser in Jaemin's room. On the dresser was a small sticky note. Jisung didn't bother reading and instead went to comfort Chenle.

"Shh.. Shhh.... Hey it's okay.. I'm here Lele... It's alright..."Chenle sniffled.

"No it's not Jisung! Hes gone! He left me!... Just like they always do.." He stopped crying and enjoyed Jisung's comforting presence. Jisung took this opportunity to read the note..

Dear Chenle,

Hey. You probably already figured it out but if you're reading this, I'm already gone. I left you for reasons that can't be said in a note. Please don't tell the cops and if anyone asks about me Jeno or Renjun act as if you dont know me. I know it will be hard, but I also need you to hide anything that clearly belongs to me. That includes my guitar and journal. So yeah you have my permission to take my stuff you little dolphin. I love you and believe me when I say I'm not leaving because I want to. It's for your saftey and mine. I love you dolphin bro! And I love your chicken bf as if you two were already married.:) I love you kid

~Jaemin

After reading the note, Jisung trailed a finger under Chenle's chin and raised his head so they were looking at eachother. He then smiled a bit when he spoke.

"I guess we should go find him."

"What?! But he said-"

"Nothing about us never finding him.. We still have a chance if we're quick." Chenle turned and grabbed the note. He stood up and was about to put the note in his pocket when Jisung saw something.

"Wait!" Jisung said, stopping Chenle and taking the note. He flipped it over and laughed a bit.

Written on the note was the address of an old parking garage that they used to play at with Jeno and Jaemin as kid's. He showed Chenle and smiled.

"I guess he wanted to be found."

Jaemin tilted his head at the man before them.

"What do you mean initiation? And since when did we agree to be recruits? What are we recruits for?"

"The revolution." Taeil said calmly. Renjun who hadn't spoke much the whole time, stood up and walked over to his friends. He pouted and reached out his arms for one of them to hug him. The first one to move was Jeno, who grabbed Renjun while Jaemin continued to babble. Renjun clutched onto Jeno's jacket as if it was the only thing keeping him alive. Jeno hugged back, taking note of how well Renjun fit in his arms. Renjun breathed in deeply, inhaling Jeno's fimiliar scent. Jeno played a bit with his hair before he leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"I know.. It's alright... I won't let them hurt you.. You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you anymore.." He trailed off when Jaemin raised his voice.

"Since when did we agree to be killed as a part of your child battalion!! We havent agreed to shit!"

"Jaemin!" Jeno spoke firmly, catching Jaemin's attention. "Stop! Renjun's scared! You're gonna bring it all back Jaemin.... You're gonna reopen a fresh wound.." Taeil suddenly snapped his finger and pointed to Jeno.

"Aha! That! That right there! Very good Renjun! That is empathy!" Renjun pulled away and smiled at Taeil. Jeno tilted his head.

"I'm sorry I scared you Jeno. He said doing this would help teach us empathy!"

"Empathy?" Jaemin looked from Renjun to Taeil. "What's empathy?"

"It's the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. What you just felt, Jeno, that was empathy."

"Why does this matter? This isn't 6th grade guidance class."

"You see, me and Renjun shared a dream last night. I found him because I could sense fear and pain in an individual nearby. So, through dreams, we connected. Through dreams, we empathized." Renjun nodded at Taeil.

Jeno looked at Renjun.

You mean you understand all this?" Renjun nodded then stopped abruptly.

"Sorta.. I mean, I really want to learn more but I have a general grasp of the concept." He looked at Jeno and Jaemin with puppy eyes. "Can we stay so Taeil can teach me more? Pleeease!!" Jeno looked at Jaemin who shrugged.

"Fine.. We can stay." Jeno said earning a cheer from Renjun.

"I'm afraid that's not your choice to make... Taeyong is our leader, you'll have to ask him. But if he allows for you to stay, I would love to have Renjun as my pupil. How about you go ask." Taeil said. Renjun loved Taeils voice. It was so fluent and smooth. He could listen to it drone on for hours. Jeno smiled.

"Then I geuss we should go ask him."

They walked out of the room, Renjun having a huge smile on his face while Jeno and Jaemin just watched the boy fondly. Jeno led the way and since Taeyong was nowhere in sight, he walked over to Haechan who was now alone while Johnny and Ten were talking.

"Excuse us.. Do you know where we can find Taeyong?" Haechan looked up and glanced at each boy in turn before he burst out laughing. The three had to admit that it was adorable. The way his face scrunched up and the beautiful laugh like tinsel. But Jeno was already annoyed. He was trying to be polite but he asked a question and isn't gaining an answer. Haechan stopped laughing and wiped tears from his eyes.

"I'm sorry it's just, your clearly not one of us! I haven't been spoken to this formally since the orphanage!" He laughed a bit more before straightening. "Yes, I do know where you can talk to good old TY. Follow me!" He said leading them back up the stairs and out to the garage.

"Well, you already seem to know my name.. But I wanna know yours! Tell me." He said as they began to head upwards in levels.

"I'm Jaemin. Na Jaemin."

"How old?" Haechan asked.

"Um.. 18... Why?" Haechan gasped.

"No way! How about you two?" He said. Both Renjun and Jeno spoke at once.

"18" Haechan threw his hands up.

"Same! We can all be like 2000 line buddies or somethin! Dude, imagen if Taeyong gave us our own special legion called '#2000'!! Yooo that would be LIT!" Haechan said. Renjun giggled and Jaemin laughed a bit while Jeno smiled. Haechan stopped. They were almost at the top of the garage. He smiled.

"I hope you get to stay." He said before leading them up. He stopped abruptly and waljed backwards, causing the other three to do the same.

"The-"

"Shh...." Haechan said, silencing Jaemin. They all listened carefully.

"Taeyong we can't just leave them on the streets-"

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't."

"Taeyong, they will die out there! Cold and hungry or brutally murdered by another gang! They will die!"

"And you know what Jaehyun they'll die if they stay too!... Just like my sister.. Jaehyun, it is no easier here then on the streets. We're fighting for a cause these kid's will never believe in. It's bad enough we have to make Haechan fight battles that aren't even his.."

"Haechan believes in the cause. Haechan experienced the governments experiments firsthand! This is his battle more then anyone else's! He is a result of there merciless experiments!!"

"Exactly Jaehyun. He believes in the cause."

"And who's to say they don't!" There was a long silence before the wind picked up a bit. "Look I know your scared.. Your scared to lose them... Just like your sister.. You know they are still young and deserve better.... But I also know that you wouldn't send them away without a chance.. So please give them one....." Haechan stood up straight and walked out as if he had just arrived, clearing his throat to gain their attention. He gave a fake smile and bowed, addressing Jaehyun with a brief greeting before speaking to Taeyong.

"Sir, these boys wanted to speak with you. I think you should really consider them. They seem like they could be a great addition to our team!" Haechan said. He smiled a bit. "Plus maybe then I could have more friends in our gang!" Haechan said with a bright smile as he threw an arm around Jeno's shoulder. Jeno couldn't help the smile forming on his lips at the boys persuasive ways. He knew it was manipulative, but maybe it would give them just the boost they needed to stay.

"Fine.. You are dismissed." He said to Jaehyun before looking at Haechan. He didn't even seem phased by the boy doing aegyo to beg for them to stay. "That means you too." He said in a calm voice. Haechan frowned and nodded, his eyes becoming a bit dull. He began to walk back. As he walked by Renjun he made sure to put emphasise on the fact that they had been holding hands for a bit. Jeno, Jaemin, and Renjun watched him go.

They turned back to Taeyong who had gone back to mindlessly watching the cityscape before him. Jeno looked at the two boys. Renjun was lost in thought, still starring after Haechan and Jaemin just shrugged. So, Jeno walked forward until he was by Taeyong and followed Taeyong's eyes across the horizon. The sun was close to setting and the streets were busy. People below heading home from work or whatever they had done that day rushed to cars or apartments, most skirting the large garage. In the distance Jeno could barely make out the warm glow of the sun reflecting off the river. He sighed.

"We would be greatly honored to-"

Taeyong silenced him with a hand gesture and turned to Renjun and Jaemin.

"Leave.. I want to speak to him privately." Jaemin's eyes widened and Renjun just absently nodded, slowly heading towards where Haechan had gone. Jaemin followed, leading Renjun away. Once they were out of sight Taeyong sighed. He turned his back to the sun and walked a bit. Jeno followed him with his eyes, watching the wind blow through the mans red hair. Taeyong watched the clouds moving slowly in the sky.

"Do you know why we are all here."

Jeno was silent.

"What we all have in common? What we are all fighting against?" Jeno shook his head.

"No sir." Taeyong chuckled.

"Let me guess, you ran away because you wanted to be in love with them? You wanted to be free? You didn't get your way?"

Jeno shook his head.

"No sir."

Taeyong turned and walked over to Jeno, towering a bit over the boy.

"Then why?" Jeno paused, meeting Taeyong's gaze evenly. He raised his head.

"I killed a man." Jeno said, voice unwavering. Taeyong paused.

"Who."

"Renjun's father. He was beating him, using him as a sex tool, starving him. His mother was killed by him. So I thought, that was it. I was done just standing by. So I killed him." Taeyong pulled away, turning his back and taking a few steps forward.

"A switch to the stomach can kill a man right quick." Jeno said. Taeyong looked back at Jeno.

"Can you use a gun?"

"Yes."

"What use are your friends to me?"

"Jaemin is very good at finding what you need, even if you had no clue you needed it, and Renjun seems rather interested in all that stuff about 'empathy' that Taeil told us." Taeyong nodded and sighed.

"It's not easy living here.." Jeno stayed silent. "We never get a good meal. Heck, it's rare to get a meal in the first place. We argue, we fight.. I've even lost men.... But if the cause is something you agree with... Then you can join."

"May I ask the cause before I go all gung ho joining a gang that I may die in?" Taeyong smiled a bit. It was nice to know that this boy wasn't arrogant and didn't just want to join for fame and glory.

"The government.. They took there experiments to far... They are attempting to weed out and eliminate something that humanity needs. That humanity can't live without..."

"And what is that?"

"Empathy."

A short boy with pink hair ran frantically down the hall, not worrying about the countless people he ran into. He opened the office door and looked at the tall man who was starring out the large window overlooking the city. He cleared his throat, catching the attention of the man.

"Sir, I was told to inform you about the status of the enemy." The man stayed silent, turning his head to watch the boy approach.

"And?"

"They have gained significantly in size sir. I'm afraid we are out numbered."

"Hm.." The man looked across to a small abandoned car garage in the distance and he saw a fimiliar sturdy figure on the horizon.

"Cancel my plans for tommorow.." He said simply, turning around and heading towards the door. He smirked.

"I have to pay a visit to an old friend."

-tbc-