Renjun turned to Jaemin and held up a hand.

"Jaemin, I'll do the talking. Yangyang doesn't have a very... Good past with Mark and that business... I used to be really good friends with him when I first started helping Mark and I got to know him pretty well but..... Mark changed him." Renjun said, picking his words carefully. Jaemin nodded quickly. He just wanted to get on with this so they could save Jeno.

He wanted his sunshine back.

As the warm golden glow of the evening sun glared off the horizon, the dark grey clouds slowly covering parts of it, it was like the finale of a big cinematic event. But Jaemin knew that everything at that moment was far from over...

Jaemin followed eagerly behind Renjun as they finished their approach on the house and stood in the step.

Renjun knocked a few times on the door and they waited, the silence taking over. It only accentuated the time they were wasting as they stood on the porch, the smell of rain tinging the now thick air as clouds continued to look overhead.

There was a clicking noise as a small metal slat on the door slid open, a pair of sharp eyes looking out at them. The eyes narrowed in on Renjun.

"Who are you two and what do you want." Renjun smiled up at the eyes.

"Yangyang, it's me, Renjun. Remember me?" Yangyang's eyes widened a bit, fear beginning to cloud them.

"R-Renjun.. Are y-you here to t-take me back?" Yangyang asked slowly. Renjun shook his head quickly.

"No Yangyang. I'm not here to take you back. And neither is he." Renjun said, gesturing to Jaemin. "We need a favor from you though. Two friends of ours are in huge trouble, and we need your help." Yangyang sighed, closing his eyes for a second before leaning away from the slat that slid closed with a click.

There was silence for a moment before they heard the twisting and clicking of metal, the sliding and pushing of bolts as Yangyang slowly unlocked his door.

Finally, it swung open. The man before them did not look to Jaemin like someone who would be of much help to them anymore. His hair looked disheveled, the glasses that sat on the bridge of his nose being slightly crooked.

"Please come in.. I'm sorry about the mess. I wasn't expecting any guests..." Yangyang explained as they carefully walked through the entryway and into the kitchen. The floors were littered with books and papers, the kitchen covered in small Styrofoam containers of half-eaten takeout food. Despite the trash and the scattered piles of papers, books, notebooks, and pencils, the house didn't smell bad. It just smelled like an old library.

The living room, which Yangyang lead them to next, seemed the cleanest so far. It was as if he hadn't allowed for his work to pollute this area. Instead, beanbags sat in front of the television, countless gaming consoles hooked up to the screen. Too many soda and beer bottles for one person laid around the room in various places, Yangyang moving some of them to make a good spot on the couch for them to sit.

Renjun and Jaemin sat down slowly, the youngest of the three sitting down on one of the beanbags.

"So, what can I do for you." He asked with a bright grin, very contrasting to the nervous look he had been showing before. Renjun seemed to lighten up a bit at the boy's expression as if he hadn't even noticed the sudden change.

"Yangyang, we were wondering if there was any chance you could help us. See, his boyfriend and my cousin were... Kidnapped by-"

"They were kidnapped by Mark weren't they.." Yangyang interrupted, his posture falling. Renjun nodded gently and Yangyang let out a sigh, reaching up to push his glasses up his nose. "Renjun, I want nothing more to do with him. He ruined everything for me... For us! I can't stand him and I won't go anywhere near that place ever again." Yangyang said sternly, standing up and heading back to the kitchen. Renjun and Jaemin quickly stood as well, following him there.

"Please Yangyang! If we don't hurry something horrible is going to happen! Mark has something big planned for our friend and if we don't act on it then-"

"Renjun who is this little friend of yours anyway, huh? Why does it matter to you so much?" Yangyang yelled back. "Cause I sure as hell know that when it was me in that situation, I wasn't nearly as important to you." Both of the boys froze, Renjun's hands that were balled in fists slowly opening as he looked back at Yangyang, his expression painted with regret. The younger looked hurt beyond words, the look of pain that had been bottled up for years twisting on his face. Renjun watched painfully as the younger reached up to wipe the tears that had begun to fall.

"You.. You left me Renjun.... You let them hurt me." Renjun stood, watching for only a moment longer before he stepped forward, reaching out and embracing the boy who cried hard into his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry.." Renjun whispered. Jaemin watched the moment unfold, wondering what was happening while also noticing how much this seemed to matter to the both of them. Something had happened between the two, something painful, and the wound it left had never healed over.

Renjun slowly pulled away after a moment and looked into Yangyang's watery eyes.

"I'm sorry that I left you behind... I never wanted to, but I didn't have much of another choice... Mark wouldn't let me see you no matter how hard I tried, and I'm sorry for what you had to see in there. But right now there is a boy who is about to go through what you saw. There is a boy carrying a child who is about to be torn apart by Mark if we don't do something Yangyang, I don't want to force you or awaken your traumas, but, just this once, will you help us?"

Yangyang slowly looked from Renjun to Jaemin, seeing the broken, hurt, and worried expression on the boy's face. He looked back at Renjun and saw the same emotions, a reflection of something he had felt years ago as he watched Mark slowly destroy his boyfriend until he was nothing but an empty shell of what he once was until he was broken beyond repair.

An experiment gone wrong.

Yangyang nodded slowly.

"Yes.. I'll help you. Who exactly are we saving?" Renjun looked briefly at Jaemin before slowly replying.

"Well, one of them is my cousin, but the other one... You have to promise me you won't back out on this." Yangyang nodded unsurely.

"Okay, I promise."

"Lee Jeno.."

The two boys watched as Yangyang's eyes widened, his entire body freezing up like a deer in headlights. He looked over at Jaemin and slowly raised a shaking finger.

"Y-you're... Na Jaemin....." Jaemin nodded slowly, unsure why that was such a big deal. It wasn't him they were worried about, it was Jeno. Jeno who as they were speaking was probably already being taken away from them slowly.

"Yeah what about it?" Yangyang scoffed.

"What about it?! Mark hates you. He always used you as a reason to keep us working." Jaemin furrowed his brows.

"What do you mean?" The youngest shook his head.

"Mark always used to say 'remember that this is for the Lee name.' And he always used to make comments about how everything we did to Jeno was to 'make sure that Na never gets in the way of my work ever again.' He never really explained it to us further but he has something really against you. Or your family." Jaemin's eyes widened and he turned to Renjun.

"Jun, my parents.."

"What about 'em?"

"You guys all said they must be back for a reason... What if this was that reason." Renjun tilted his head.

"So you think your parents are involved in this too?" Jaemin shrugged.

"Why not. Pull a random name out of the hat and I'm sure they're involved too at this point." Jaemin said sarcastically. Yangyang sighed.

"Okay, how are we doing this then?" He asked. Renjun looked between the two.

"I think we should split up. Jaemin, you go to your parent's house, me and Yangyang will stay here to work out our plans and I'll call Haechan to tell him what's going on. Jaemin, if you need help, call me first then call Jisung if I don't answer." Jaemin nodded and turned to make his way to the door, only to be stopped by an unfamiliar hand grabbing his wrist. He turned to see Yangyang looking him in the eye, the grip on his wrist pleading and desperate.

"Jaemin, be careful. Sometimes questions about the past are best left behind.. I imagine you're about to awaken some pretty dark ones for your family." The youngest sighed. "Just be careful with your words." Jaemin nodded.

"Thank you... You two be cautious as well. I'll see you guys later." Jaemin said with a nod before heading out of the house, getting in his car, and driving back.

Back to the place that he used to call home.

🍰

Jeno couldn't sleep.

Chenle had woken up after about 20 minutes and had told Jeno that he needed to rest. Jeno had tried, he really had. Chenle's arms were comfortable and made him feel safer, but he longed for something more. He wished to be back home. He wanted to go back.

"Lele.." He mumbled to the boy who was holding his hand tightly. Jeno was currently laying in the younger's arms, their legs both sprawled together in front of them. "I can't sleep.."

"You need to Jeno. Mark's going to come back soon and you're going to need your strength for what he's going to do." Jeno looked up at Chenle, fear clouding over his vision.

"What is he going to do to me.." He muttered, his voice barely carrying in the stuffy air of the cell. Chenle smiled sadly and ran a hand through Jeno's hair.

"I'm so sorry Jeno.. I promise you we'll be okay... I don't know what he's going to do to you. But I know it's not good." Jeno felt his body begin to shake in fear as he imagined what might happen to him. He curled closer to Chenle and shuddered, closing his eyes tightly to try and get the ideas out of his head.

"L-Lele... Don't let them hurt me.. Don't let them kill my child....." Jeno cried, one of his hands placed on his stomach. Chenle heald Jeno tightly.

"There's nothing I can do baby.. I'm so sorry...." Chenle muttered. As if on queue, the metal cell door swung open, Mark walking in with Sicheng standing quietly at the door. Mark stormed up to them, crouching down in front of the two. Jeno scrambled further up Chenle's chest, pulling his legs up to his own chest as he watched Mark carefully. The older reached out to grab Jeno's wrist, the boy twisting free easily. Mark grumbled.

"Come on. You need to come with me. I have something for you." Jeno shook his head and gripped Chenle's shirt tighter.

"I-I don't w-wanna. P-please...." He whimpered. Mark scoffed, standing up straight and looking back to Sicheng.

"Sicheng, come get him up for me." The mentioned man nodded, walking over to them and reaching down. He grabbed harshly at the younger boys arms, causing Jeno to yelp as he was pulled up from Chenle. He let go easily, not wanting to hurt Chenle any, but he wasn't going to go that easily. He reached down and grabbed one of Sicheng's hands, taking it in his own. The older, purely out of confusion, loosened his grip on Jeno as the younger boy turned to face him. He froze when the young took him in a hug and cried.

"Mm- I'm s-sorry..." He mumbled against Sicheng's chest. The older couldn't help but soften.

"I-it's okay.. What are you apologizing for?" He asked, his deep voice surprising Jeno. But the younger kept his composure as he looked up at Sicheng with wide, sad eyes.

"This.." He said before he stomped harshly on Sicheng's barefoot. He then lifted the olders hand and harshly bit into the boy's arm.

"What the fuck?!" Sicheng yelled as Jeno released his grip and pushed the older to the ground.

"Don't touch me. I can hold my own." Jeno spat down at the man. He took steps forward, feeling so much power by having Sicheng on the ground. He felt so much stronger than before.

Then he felt a strong arms wrap around his waist and pull him back. He let out a yelp and stumbled back as the arms pulled him back. He was whipped around to see Mark, the older landing a harsh smack to Jeno's face.

"The more you struggle, the more pain I will be sure you feel." Jeno shuttered at the words as he was forced to look into Mark's dark eyes. He nodded meekly before finally giving up. He turned and watched Chenle slowly disappear around the corner as he was dragged to elsewhere by Mark.

Mark stopped and threw Jeno into an empty room, shutting the door behind them and staring at Jeno before him who was shaking, the fear getting the best of him. Mark crossed his arms and looked at Jeno who slowly sunk down to his knees and closed his eyes.

"Jeno," Mark called out, his voice now softer than before. When the younger didn't turn to face him, he sighed, sitting down on the floor a few feet from him. The room wasn't very big. It had no windows and only one light fixture to dimly illuminate the dark walls. Jeno continued to shake as he sat there, soft whimpers leaving his mouth. It was strange how fast he had gone from being assertive and bold to be so submissive and fearful.

"Jeno.." He called out again, the slightest hint of desperation lacing his tone. The younger slowly turned his head, his eyes meeting Mark's harsh gaze carefully.

"I- I don't want you... I don't want you here." Jeno whimpered, shaking his head softly. Mark raised a brow.

"Then who do you want?" Mark asked.

"I want Jaeminie.." He mumbled, looking back at the floor in front of him. Mark scoffed.

"Why would you want that coward. He hasn't made a single attempt to save you yet. Usually, by now, I've had at least three visits from the caretaker. I haven't had a single one from yours." Mark muttered, his voice low but still gentle. Jeno swallowed harshly. That wasn't true. It couldn't be true. Jaemin would come for him. He just needed to give him time.

Right?

"Jeno, what if it's time you forgot about him?" Mark asked softly. The tears began to fall faster down Jeno's face at the words. What if Mark was right? What if Jaemin had realized how much easier life was without him? What if he had never wanted the child?

"N-no.." He cried. "Jaemin wouldn't do that!" He yelled, turning to look at Mark with pleading eyes, soft and vulnerable. "Would he..?" His expression looked scared, nervous about the answer. Mark reached out his arms.

"Come here darling.." Mark beckoned. His voice sounded so soft, so comforting,

So cunning.

And Jeno was so desperate for warmth. So desperate for safety. He crawled forward slowly until Mark could take hold of him, pulling him into his lap and holding him close, gently stroking his hair and hushing the shaking boy.

"I don't know Jeno. Maybe it's better for you to start trusting in someone else. Maybe it's better for you to start trusting in me." Mark's words sent new bouts of fear flowing through his veins, the tone of sweetness in his voice feeling intoxicating and his alluring voice beginning to take advantage of Jeno's desperate thoughts. "I'll take good care of you dear.. You and," he paused, rubbing his hand over Jeno's stomach gently. "Our child?" He asked. Jeno felt his throat tighten at the suggestion. He didn't love Mark. He didn't feel fully safe around Mark. But he was the closest Jeno had gotten to having someone dominant by his side. Someone who he felt was strong enough to save his life.

Jeno clutched Mark's shirt tighter before fighting against every message his brain sent, and nodding his head slowly. Mark chuckled lowly.

"I'm glad.. You've made a very good decision baby...." He muttered as he ran his hands under Jeno's shirt. Jeno shivered at the feeling. He really didn't want this. He didn't want this at all.

"M-Mark..." He squeaked out. "C-can we take things a bit slower...?" He asked carefully. He didn't want this. Thus wasn't Jaemin.

Mark nodded.

"Of course baby. We don't have to do it now.. I just really like to touch what's mine."

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