Jaemin watched as Chenle pulled Jeno behind him into one of the spare bedrooms, frowning. He didn't mean to scare Jeno. He also never meant for his words about his parents to sound so harsh but thinking about it, he should've been more careful.

"Renjun I-"

"Jaemin, what do you want." Jaemin furrowed his brows.

"What?"

"What do you want from us? Why are you here? Besides your parents being back why are you here." Jaemin didn't fail to notice how Renjun was explicitly saying you and not you and Jeno. He must've pissed Renjun off worse than he thought.

"I just- I thought maybe me and Jeno could stay here until we can afford an apartment of our own. I mean, I'm job hunting right now so-"

"How long will you need to be here?" Haechan asked, sounding strangely dire as if Nomin being there would affect something.

"I don't know. Enough time to get a job and raise enough money for an apartment-" Renjun sighed.

"Jaemin, that's a lot more difficult than you think." Haechan nodded at his boyfriend's words.

"Yeah, it sometimes takes years to raise that kind of money, and we don't have years of time that you can stay here with Jeno." Renjun sighed and nodded his agreement at his lovers words.

"We'll have to talk to Chenle. He could rent you guys an apartment until you can get on your own two feet." Renjun said as he walked over to the table and picked up a small stack of papers, rifling through them until he eventually stopped on one, examining the print.

"June 5th. You have until June 5th to be out of this house." Renjun said, sounding more like an angry parent then a supportive friend. Jaemin tilted his head.

"What's happening on June 5th?" Haechan and Renjun exchanged a glance before Haechan gave a nod.

"Well, Jaemin, me and Renjun were given a very lucky and amazing opportunity, and as anyone like is would, we took it.." Haechan said before fiddling with his fingers.

"Well? Get on with it." Jaemin said encouragingly.

"Jaemin, me and Renjun are....."

🍰

"Look out!" Jeno looked up at Chenle. "That's what my pink dino shouted. Then there was a big huge explosion that was like, this big!" Jeno exclaimed, spreading his arms as wide as he could to demonstrate. "And there was lava, and falling rocks and everything was on fire!" Chenle heald back his smile.

"That's horrible!" Jeno nodded before he looked back down at the dinosaurs.

"And then this big pink cloud came down, and God was floating on it, and he was holding a baby, and it was a very muscular baby, and that's the true story that Jaemin told me of how I got here." Jeno said with a sure nod. Chenle's eyes widened.

"Really?" Jeno nodded quickly. "Wow. That's impressive."

"Mhm." Jeno agreed. He looked down at the toys, setting the pink dinosaur down carefully before crawling around the mat to sit beside Chenle. He tilted his head thoughtfully.

"How were you made? Did God deliver you too?" Chenle mentally panicked for a moment before nodding quickly.

"Of course I mean th-that's how all great people are brought here right?" Jeno looked at the younger thoughtfully for a moment.

"But, Jaemin's a great person, and he told me that he was sculpted by God and given to the devil, and the devil sent him back to God because Jaemin was too perfect and pure for hell but then God sent him down to earth and-" Jeno stopped talking when the door slowly opened, and there he was.

"Jaemin!" Jeno said happily, having obviously forgotten about the scenes from earlier as they had played. He stood up and went to the younger, enveloping him in a tight hug.

"Jeno."

"Hmm?"

"Could you go with uncle Hyuck for a little bit? Me Injun and Lele need to talk together. Is that alright." Jeno nodded, head still buried in the younger's chest as he hugged him tightly. "Is there something wrong Jeno?"

"Mm tired." Jeno said. Jaemin chuckled.

"Well, you and Haechanie could watch some cartoons and take a nap." Jaemin suggested. Jeno made a satisfied noise and pulled away with a nod before looking behind Jaemin to see Haechan standing with a gentle smile.

That gentle smile.

His smile was always gentle, filled with the intense and pure motherly love that the younger naturally radiated. Haechan took Jeno's hand and lead him to the couch, sitting down while Jeno cuddled into his side before finding a show to watch.

It was then that Jeno noticed just how much Haechan reminded him of his mother. His soft brown hair, dark hazel eyes, beautiful tan skin, soft gentle touches, and the feeling of secure safety that he gave off, made Jeno experience a feeling of nostalgia as he laid in Haechan's arms..

They were on his mother's bed, the five-year-old Jeno freshly bathed with fluffy hair after his mother had dried it, and she held him close to her as she hummed a song that was familiar to both of them, but was never from anything in particular. His mother had made it up for him, giving it words as well, however, at that moment she just hummed the notes. Jeno felt his eyes fluttering shut in her strong hold, but he blinked his eyes awake.

"Jen, you can sleep if you want." Jeno frowned at her.

"But then I might miss out on your singing.." His mother let out a beautiful, melodious laugh.

"Sweetie, I can sing it to you anytime. I can sing it tomorrow, and the day after that, and so on forever. For now, just sleep little one." She said, planting a kiss on his forehead. "You need your rest so you can grow up strong and healthy like your father.."

"Jeno?" Haechan exclaimed, looking at the older when he felt his shirt becoming wet with tears and the boy shaking beside him. "Jeno, are you alright? What's wrong? Baby.." Jeno shook his head.

"I-I'm sorry f-for crying H-Hyuckie.." Jeno managed between sobs and hiccups. Haechan's frown deepened.

"No no no it's alright, you can cry, but, can I know why you're crying so I know how to help you?" Haechan asked softly, not wanting to pressure Jeno into sharing if he didn't want to.

"I-I just miss my m-mama.. I miss mama a-a lot...." Haechan hugged the older tighter in an attempt to comfort him, but he didn't know that his actions just caused Jeno to become more of a mess.

These arms felt like the familiar ones from his childhood. It was almost like, if he just, let go of reality, he just might be able, to get her back..

He just needed to let go.

He just needed to slip.

So, he let himself.

"Nono, it's alright, Hyuckie's here now, it's alright." The younger felt Jeno suddenly melt in his hold, the shaking stopped and his breathing steadied, and Haechan thought that he had calmed him down. That he had truly helped him and he felt pride surge through him-

Until the older spoke up.

"M-mama, d-don't leave me... Please D-don't. You still have to sing me your s-song." Jeno muttered as he cuddled closer to Haechan, who watched in udder confusion.

"Jeno, Jen, I won't leave you. Hyuckie won't leave you." Haechan said, trying to subtly drop the hint that he wasn't the olders mother, but Jeno just clung closer, breathing in his fall sent with a content sigh before closing his eyes.

Haechan let the older drift off to sleep. If it made Jeno feel safer to believe that he was in his mother's arms, then what harm was there?

What's wrong with letting Jeno feel comfortable?

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