Storm Chaser

[his_angel16]

Title: Storm Chaser (Part One)
Author: his_angel16
Characters: Jongdae, Sehun, Kyungsoo, Yixing, Kris, Tao, Joonmyeon, Minseok, Luhan
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Angst
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own the plot, not the people. Any actual likeness to any given person is purely coincidental.
Summary: Kim Jongdae was able to suppress his gift for many years. It isn't until he runs into others like him that he finally realizes that he's not alone. He begins to harness his power along with his new friends. Just when things seemed good in his life, someone had to come along and wreck it.


Jongdae grinned as he ran through the streets. His new friends were chasing him, calling after him as they played this new, dangerous game of theirs. It was simple really. They took the game of tag and improved it, changing the rules from simply touching the person to having to use their power to trap them. Only then did you win the game. They usually teamed up until they caught one person before turning to get the other. This round, Jongdae was by himself. He dodged angry pedestrians, each one cursing him until the other two ran into them. They were known as a problematic trio, but they didn’t mind. It just meant that others tried to stay away from them. He was only mildly surprised that Sehun could keep up with him. He was pretty fast for only being twelve. Kyungsoo, however, was very capable of keeping up with him. He used his power over the earth as leverage, propelling himself forward with every step. It began to close the gap between them very quickly, not leaving Jongdae enough time to think.
  “Take this!” he shouted, turning around abruptly. He clapped his hands together, pulling them apart to reveal bolts of lightning. The two pursuing him halted, eyes wide. “Ha!” Jongdae threw the lightning at them, smirking to himself. It wasn't enough to harm them, but enough to leave marks on them if it connected.
  Kyungsoo pulled Sehun against himself, throwing up a sheet of solid rock. It neutralized the bolts, falling back into its place. “You have to be faster than that!” he replied, lifting the earth under Jongdae's feet. He watched as the elder staggered upon the unstable rock before jumping off. He landed smoothly on his feet, staring at them.
  “Not bad, Kyungsoo, but can you handle this?” Jongdae concentrated before spinning once, lightning shooting out of his body in a ring. He maneuvered it to surround the younger two, smile back on his face. “It'll occupy you long enough for me to reach the safe point.”
  Kyungsoo looked at Sehun, finding him trembling. He hated lightning, but he preferred to be with them instead of being holed up in his room alone. He clutched at the elder's shirt, fisting the fabric in his small hands. Pursing his lips, Kyungsoo tightened his arm around the younger's slim frame.
  “Sehun, hold onto me, okay?” Gaining a nod, Kyungsoo looked back at Jongdae. “Hyung, you better start running! We're going to get you!”
  “I doubt that!” Jongdae waved his hand, the lightning zooming inward.
  Inhaling deeply, Kyungsoo crouched, pushing off of the ground with his feet as hard as he could. They shot into the air, Sehun shrieking before screwing his eyes shut. Landing on the roof of the building next to them, Kyungsoo swiped his hand through the air, stepping stones floating up to them. He jumped from each one, feeling Sehun's teeth dig into his shoulder from fear. They landed safely back on the ground and he frowned as Sehun's legs buckled under him.
  “Hey, it's okay.” He ran his hand through Sehun's hair, trying to calm him. When the younger started sobbing, he looked at Jongdae. “Hyung, I think we have to call it a draw for now.”
  Nodding, Jongdae hurried over to them, crouching in front of Sehun. “Sehun, want hyung to buy you something yummy to eat?”
  Sehun sniffled. “I want Napoleon ice cream,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
  Jongdae and Kyungsoo exchanged a look before it dawned on them. “Oh! You mean Neapolitan ice cream?” Jongdae gave him a thumbs up. “I can do that.” He offered the younger his hand, helping him stand. His legs were wobbly, but with the elder two on either side of him, Sehun managed to walk.
  The trio held hands as they walked, Kyungsoo speaking to Sehun as Jongdae remained silent for the duration of their short trip to the ice cream parlor. Truth be told, Jongdae was happy it only took ice cream to cheer Sehun up. He wouldn't go as far as to call his friend a chicken, but he was frightened by a lot of things. Ordering one Neapolitan ice cream cone, one vanilla with caramel, and one rocky road with extra fudge, he handed over his money. Taking the frozen treats, he handed Sehun his multicolored one before handing the rocky road one to Kyungsoo. He nipped at his as he received his change, pocketing what little money remained. They thanked the man in the small booth before turning to head to a nearby bench.
  “What should we do after this?” Kyungsoo asked. His palm was sweaty from Sehun gripping it too tightly, but he didn’t complain. And he didn’t try to pull away. He only made that mistake once. Sehun had nearly fallen to pieces, thinking Kyungsoo hated him for some reason.
  “We can always go back to the orphanage,” Sehun stated. He took another lick of his ice cream, licking is lips happily afterward. “Thanks, Jongdae hyung, for buying me ice cream.”
  Jongdae reached over to ruffle his hair. “No problem, Sehunnie.” He looked over, eyes falling on a little display of stuffed animals in a shop window. “You two stay here for a moment. I'll be right back.” He got up, hurrying across the street. He dumped the remainder of his ice cream cone into the trashcan outside the door before entering the store. He went to where he saw the display, eyes lighting up at seeing a multicolored bunny and a brown and white stuffed cow. He frowned at seeing that he was going to be a little short in paying for both of them. Biting his lip, he stared at the two animals in his hands. He felt tears filling his eyes because he wanted to buy both. His friends deserved cute little presents for putting up with him.
  “Excuse me,” someone said, drawing his attention. He looked slightly older than Jongdae, perhaps only by a couple of years. “Are you okay?”
  Jongdae rubbed at his eyes before nodding. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just really want to buy my friends each something, but I don't have enough money for both.” He looked up as the elder smiled at him.
  “Would you like me to give you the rest of the money?”
  “You would do that?” Jongdae was hopeful until the other older kid with him nudged him.
  “Don't talk to him, Yixing. Little kids are like cats. Pay attention to them and they'll keep pestering you,” he muttered. He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking away.
Jongdae puffed his cheeks out. “What makes you decide who he can pay attention to?”
“Look, kid, I’m older than you. Show some respect.”
  Yixing stuck his hand out. “Kris, calm down. He's harmless.” He smiled again at Jongdae. “Would you like me to help pay for those?” At Jongdae's small nod, he held his hand out, offering him to take it. “My name is Yixing. What's yours?”
  “Kim Jongdae.” He took the elder's hand without hesitation, walking with him to the counter. He placed the toys on it, reaching for his pocket until Yixing placed a hand on his shoulder. He watched in awe as the elder payed the total amount, turning to give him the small decorative bag.
  “Here you go.” He ruffled the younger's hair. “I suppose those are for your friends?”
Jongdae felt his face flush, nodding quickly. “It's for them always putting up with me and my silly games. They're really cool! Maybe I'll introduce you if we meet again!” He bowed, smiling. “Thanks, Yixing hyung!” He turned toward Kris, frowning at him. “Bye, grumpy hyung.” He darted outside, nearly tripping over his own feet as he raced back to the bench.
  “Grumpy hyung? I’m not grumpy!” Kris whined, pouting at Yixing.
  They looked over when Tao came back from the restroom, wiping his hands on his thighs. “You ready to go?” he asked, looking at the two of them. They nodded.
  “Yeah, I’m ready to leave. Yixing just bought some kid stupid toys.” Kris crossed his arms over his chest. “And the brat called me grumpy.”
  Tao chuckled. “Kris, no offense, but it wouldn't kill you to crack a smile every once in a while. I think a your frown is permanently frozen onto your face.”
  Yixing led the way out, turning to look over at the bench the three kids were at. He frowned when he didn’t see them. He nonchalantly began walking that way, worry getting the better of him. They continued for a few minutes, something a little farther down catching his eye. He gasped, running ahead of the others. Kneeling beside the bag, he frowned at seeing the bunny and cow inside. Grabbing the straps, he stood up, looking all around in search of the kids.
  “What's wrong?” Tao asked, looking around, too. The only problem was that he didn’t know what he was looking for.
  “Isn't that the bag that kid had? Why would he dump it on the ground?” Kris frowned, slowly looking around them.
  “Let us go, you bullies!” someone shouted.
  “Jongdae?” Yixing followed his voice, frantically trying to find them. He was beginning to panic, and for what? Kids he didn’t even know? But there was more to it than that. He felt as if something connected them, as if they were meant to cross paths.
  “Come on, leave those two,” one guy muttered, throwing Sehun over his shoulder. He was sobbing, trying to scramble away. “This one will fetch us a pretty penny.”
  Jongdae huffed as he and Kyungsoo were shoved to the ground. He pushed himself up, lightning spiraling in his hand before Kyungsoo stopped him.
  “Hyung, no,” Kyungsoo stated. “What if you accidentally hit Sehun?”
  Jongdae hit his fist on the ground. “Damn it!”
  “Kyungsoo hyung! Jongdae hyung! Help me!” Sehun shouted through his tears. He was trying to reach out to them, trying to find some way to grab hold so he wouldn't be taken.
  Hearing the fear in their friend's voice, they both sprang to their feet. They darted passed the first guy only to get hit by the second and third. Kyungsoo coughed as he hit the ground, the air whooshing out of his lungs. His lip was split, blood staining it red. Jongdae kept getting up, trying to get to Sehun. Every time he was knocked down, he would climb back up on shaky legs. He wasn't counting on being stepped on the last time he was knocked down. He grunted, struggling to get up. The teenager grabbed his arm, smirking as he brought his foot down on his elbow.
  There was a loud snap before pain shot through his entire body. He screamed so loud it hurt his own ears. He clutched at his heart, unable to breathe properly. Tears ran down his face as the guy laughed, dropping his arm. He cried out again as it hit the ground, another painful stab shooting through his body.
  Yixing had turned toward the alley in time to see the guy break Jongdae's arm. Tears spilled from his eyes upon hearing him scream. Tao and Kris stopped next to him, both staring forward as the three guys ganged up on the other kid on the ground, figuring Jongdae wouldn't give up much of a fight.
  “S-Sehun,” Jongdae mumbled, trying to roll over. He watched through blurry eyes as they stuffed Sehun into a van before speeding off. His head lolled to the side and he could see Kyungsoo getting stomped on. He managed to raise his good arm from the ground, closing his eyes as a cluster of lightning bolts streaked through the sky. They shot downward rapidly, hitting his raised arm like a lightning rod. He let out another blood curdling cry as it moved him across the ground, dragging his broken arm along. The impact had blown the three guys away from Kyungsoo. He looked over, eyes dark around the edges to see his friend staring back at him.
  “We have to protect Sehun,” Kyungsoo said, his own eyes getting heavy. He began to push himself up, shaking his head in an attempt to clear it. He gasped as one guy picked up a board, running back at them. Adrenaline surging through him, he stood up, rocks spiraling around his right arm like armor. He blocked as the guy swung at him, board snapping in two. “My turn!” He pulled back his arm, letting it snap forward. He heard several bones snap in the guy's face at he went flying backward.
  When the other two stood up after shaking themselves off, they both charged Kyungsoo. Yixing knew he couldn't stand by any longer. He tossed the small bag at Kris before running forward, vision tinged with red. He punched the guy behind Kyungsoo in the face, causing him to stagger. He turned, spinning around the younger, blocking his fist easily with his hand. He kicked him in the knee, hearing it snap before the man screeched. He hobbled backward, clutching his knee.
  “This is too much,” he grumbled. “Let's leave.”
  “Oh, hell no,” Yixing spat, eyes fiery. “You've put these kids through all this shit and expect me to let you leave?” He narrowed his eyes, seeing the fear in the other's. “I may not look like much and I might have the most feminine power out of the twelve, but I’m no pushover.”
  “What the hell are you talking about?”
  Yixing didn’t reply. He simply picked up half of the broken board, advancing on the man. He turned to the side, swinging the board back before putting all his strength into swinging it forward. It smacked into the side of the guy's head, splintering against his skin. He howled and writhed in pain as Yixing dropped the board next to him. He turned to the last guy standing, a dark smile gracing his face.
  “Your turn.” He took a few steps forward, watching as the guy turned and ran away. He would have chased after him, but he knew it wouldn't be worth his time. Tao and Kris hurried over, both going to Jongdae as Yixing turned to Kyungsoo. He reached out to place his hand on the younger's head, frowning when he flinched away. “It's okay. I won't hurt you.”
  Kyungsoo shut his eyes as Yixing placed his hand on his head. He cracked an eye open a moment later, startled to see he wasn't being harmed. He looked down, seeing that the bruises beginning to dot his arms had vanished. He looked up at Yixing with wide eyes. “Are you...?”
  “Yixing!” Tao shouted, gaining their attention. He was sitting with Jongdae's head in his lap. “You have to get over here. The pain is too much for him.”
  Rushing over, Yixing dropped to his knees. He placed his hand on Jongdae's forehead. “He's burning up. Kris, give me my bag.” He gently grabbed Jongdae's wrist, knowing this was going to hurt. “Tao, talk to him, keep him calm.” He looked at Kris. “Get him something to bite down on. I need to straighten his arm out before I can heal it properly.”
  Kris pulled one of the clean towels from Yixing's bag, leaning over Jongdae. “Hey, bite down on this.” He was relieved when the younger was able to open his mouth enough to actually bite down on it. “Do you want so hold my hand? You can squeeze it as hard as you want whenever it hurts, okay?” He gently gripped Jongdae's hand, turning worried eyes on Yixing. “Do it.”
    Yixing nodded, straightening out the younger's arm. His screams were muffled by the towel and his back arched off of the ground. Tao ran his fingers through Jongdae's hair, trying to calm him. “It's okay, it's okay. Try to relax. If you struggle, you'll be in even more pain.” He kept repeating his words as Yixing gently pulled on his arm. Once it was out to where he could start healing it, it placed it gently on the ground.
  “This might take a few minutes. I think the break is pretty bad and I don't want to make direct contact. I don't want to hurt him.” He let his hands hover above the broken bones, concentrating on mending them. Tao was still hushing Jongdae, wiping the sweat from his brow as he whimpered. Kris bit down on his lip, eyebrows pulled together with worry.
  After what seemed like forever, Yixing sat back, sighing. Kyungsoo inched his way over, panicking as Jongdae didn’t move. “Is he...?”
  “He'll be fine.” Yixing looked up at him, sweat beading on his own forehead. “He's just sleeping right now. The pain knocked him out, but his arm isn't broken anymore.”
  Kyungsoo was relieved only for a moment. “They took Sehun! I have to go get him before Jongdae hyung wakes up!” He turned to where the black van was, frowning as he didn’t know where to start.
  “Leave your friend to us,” Kris said, placing Jongdae's hand on the ground. He flexed his fingers, surprised that he could still move them. “Tao and I will find him. You go back with Yixing to our apartment.”
  Kyungsoo wanted to protest, but he nodded. He watched as they carefully put Jongdae on Yixing's back before packing up the towel and zipping the bag up. They handed it to Kyungsoo to carry along with the gift bag. “How will you guys find Sehun?”
  Tao reached out, ruffling Kyungsoo's hair. “We have our ways,” he replied before looking at Kris. “Are you ready?” Upon the other nodding, they turned before sprinting away.
  Kyungsoo watched as Tao sprang through the air, eyes going wide at seeing him shift into a wolf. Kris waved once behind him before soaring into the sky. “Whoa! You guys are incredible!”
  Yixing laughed slightly, looking over at Kyungsoo. “Come on. I'll show you where we live. Jongdae can rest there until he's fully healed again.”
  They walked back down the alley, Yixing turning back the way he and the other two had walked. They passed the ice cream parlor and the little shop Jongdae bought the toys in, going two blocks down and one block over. It was a quiet little neighborhood, but they didn’t mind. They entered the apartment complex, going straight up to the second floor apartment. Yixing pushed the door open, letting Kyungsoo enter the place first. It wasn't a fancy dwelling, but it was nicer than the orphanage they all lived at. Kyungsoo closed the door behind Yixing as they both toed off their shoes, Kyungsoo hurrying to untie Jongdae's and pull them off. He set them down as the elder took his friend to a bedroom, setting him down on the bed. Returning to the living room, Yixing looked at Kyungsoo.
  “Would you like something to drink while we wait?” he asked, reaching out to slide the backpack from Kyungsoo's shoulders.
  “Yes, please,” Kyungsoo replied, looking around. He noticed that they didn’t really have any pictures on their walls, only a map with little pushpins stuck into it. There was a city a good distance away that had a blue, a black, and a white pin poked into it. He noticed that a small city in China had an orange pin and a gold pin placed there. He frowned when Yixing brought him out a cup of tea. “What does that mean?” He pointed at the map.
  Following the younger's gaze, Yixing smiled. “It's where Tao found each of us. We're just missing a few more people. They could be anywhere in the world.” He handed the tea to Kyungsoo before he walked over to the map. He picked up the purple pin, placing it delicately into the map at their current location.
  Kyungsoo walked over, pointing at the purple pin. “Is that because you saw Jongdae use his lightning power?” He pursed his lips. “Which one is for earth?”
  “The brown one.” Yixing watched as Kyungsoo picked up the brown pin before sticking it next to Jongdae's pin. He looked down at the remaining pins. Red, yellow, clear, and green were left. “Does your friend Sehun have a special gift, too?”
  “Yes.” Kyungsoo set the cup down on the desk before fingering the green pin. “He can control the wind. He's not very good at it, which is why he usually stays with me when we play tag with Jongdae, but whenever he gets really mad or really scared, it just sort of happens.” He sniffled as he picked up the pin, shoving it next to his and Jongdae's on the map. “If only it was that easy to put all three of us together again.”
  Yixing blinked as Kyungsoo practically dove at him, crying into his shirt. He pat the younger on the back, using his other hand to play with his hair. “It'll be okay. Kris and Tao will find him. They'll be back in no time.” He pulled away slightly, smiling down at him. “Want to sit on the couch while we wait?” When Kyungsoo nodded, he towed him to the couch, pulling him down next to himself. “We haven't been formally introduced. I’m Zhang Yixing. My gift is healing.”
  “I'm Do Kyungsoo and I control the earth.” He paused for a moment before hastily continuing. “Oh! And I somehow have super strength. Jongdae hyung claims it's because I throw boulders around for fun.”
  Yixing laughed. “How long have you guys known each other?”
  “A few years. Sehun and I grew up at the orphanage together. His parents died in a house fire. And my mom didn’t want me anymore. She left me there eight years ago. Jongdae hyung showed up around five years ago. He was a runaway that the cops picked up off the street. Other kids said he was kidnapped from a neighboring city, but no one ever supplied any proof.”
  “You're orphans?” Yixing frowned, reaching out absently to run his fingers through Kyungsoo's hair.
  Kyungsoo nodded, scooting closer to Yixing so he could lean against him. He felt safe in the elder's presence. “After Jongdae hyung came, the other kids stopped picking on Sehun and me. He kept them from bullying us.” He looked toward the bedroom door, silently wishing his friend would wake up soon. “It wasn't until about three years ago that we found out he had powers like us.”
  “How old were you when they surfaced?” Yixing waited patiently for a reply, watching as Kyungsoo wiggled across the couch, lying down and placing his head on the elder's thighs.
  “I was five. It's why my mom left me. She was afraid that I was some sort of monster. Sehun's was active when he came to the orphanage, too. It's what saved him in his house fire.” Kyungsoo stared up at Yixing. “When did you notice your power?”
  Yixing thought for a moment, the memory finally coming back to him. “Ah, I was in elementary school. I was playing on the swings when I slipped off of the seat. I was really high up and I fell in gravel. Everyone started freaking out as I sat there. And then, I stood up, not a single scratch on me. You see, whenever I get hurt, my body automatically begins to mend itself, like everyone's bodies, but it's accelerated.” He chuckled, coming his fingers through Kyungsoo's hair again as he stared at the wall. “After that, I used to get hurt on purpose just so I could watch my body heal itself. Things that should have taken years to fully heal, took mere minutes. It was incredible.” He looked down, finding the younger had fallen asleep. He shook his head, wondering if he should move or not.

Kris followed Tao from way overhead, spotting the black van parked at a warehouse. He dove down, stopping right before he hit the ground. “Let's go in.” He watched as Tao nodded, the large wolf hurrying in through the open door. He flew up again, peering in all of the windows. He found the boy curled in on himself, trembling as the men in the room smoked and played a game of cards. What were they waiting for exactly? Deciding he didn’t really want to know, he pried open a window, slipping inside soundlessly. He could see Tao lurking in the shadows, eyes gleaming in the dim light. He howled, Kris’s eyes going wide as he sprang forward. The men scattered, Sehun scooting back until he bumped into the wall. Taking it as a sign to get him, Kris flew down to the floor. He landed softly in front of Sehun.
  A gust of wind hit him, making him stagger. “S-stay away from me,” he said, trying to sound brave. His voice cracked and he was too little to be intimidating.
  “It's okay,” Kris murmured, holding his hands up in surrender. “I'm not here to hurt you. I’m here to take you away from this place.”
  “I don't believe you. You're going to let them sell me to some strange person!”
  Kris frowned, finding tears staining Sehun's face. “What do you mean? They're trying to sell you?” he glanced over his shoulder as Tao growled, the men having corralled him into a corner. “Tao!”
  Sehun watched as the men turned toward them, eyes dangerously dark. He tried to back up more, but he was already against the wall. A few of the men advanced on them, knives pulled from their pockets.
  “Look, fellas, we have ourselves a kid trying to play hero,” one of them cackled. He smiled, showing his rotting, blackened teeth. “Is this your pup, boy?”
  Kris glared at them, moving to shield Sehun from their view. “Go to hell,” he growled. He knew he could change into a wolf, but he was going to need to stay human so Sehun didn’t run away. He watched carefully as Tao tackled the three guys by him to the ground, sinking his teeth into their shoulders and going so far as to rip one man's throat out. He cringed, the very image making his stomach churn. It was something he had never seen Tao do before, but he was sure it wouldn't be the last.
  “Look, kid, if you don't want to get hurt, leave. We won't have to hurt you.”
  “I'm not going anywhere.” Kris glanced at Sehun, finding that he was okay for the moment. He shifted his weight, acting like he was going to charge them. He smiled when Tao lunged forward, taking one out by his leg. He nearly snapped it off before hurling him through the air. He lowered himself, getting ready to attack again. The two remaining men turned on him, slashing their knives in the air.
  “Stay back! We'll kill you, too!”
  Kris took the chance Tao had given him, diving forward. He tackled one of them to the ground, wrestling his knife away from him. He wrapped his hands around the man's neck, watching as his eyes bugged out of his head, his fingers clawing at the ground as he struggled. He heard the other man shift, coming right at him. He knew he wouldn't make it out of the way in time, so he braced himself for impact. Hearing Tao yelp before he snarled, snapping his jaws down on the man's arm, he turned around.
  Tao had a gash in his side, but he seemed okay enough as he took down the last guy. Kris looked down, finding that the man under him had blacked out. He scrambled away from him, stopping in front of Sehun. He knelt in front of him, holding his hand out. He sighed when the kid refused to move.
  “Tao, you go ahead and get back home. Have Yixing heal you.” He tore his eyes away from Sehun long enough to bump heads with Tao. Once the wolf left, he looked back at Sehun. “Your friends are waiting for you. The kid that shoots lightning and the one that uses rocks as a freaking armor. They're really worried about you.”
  “You know Jongdae hyung and Kyungsoo hyung?” Sehun shifted an inch closer to Kris at hearing his friends mentioned.
  Kris nodded. “Yeah, and they're waiting for you.” Hearing a howl, he looked over. It was a warning, signaling that the men had people coming. “Shit.” He looked at Sehun. “Do you trust me?”
  Searching the elder's eyes, Sehun nodded. That was all Kris needed. He scooped Sehun off of the ground as a group of men burst through the door. He shot through the air, turning to exit a window back first, shielding Sehun from the spray of glass. He felt the younger's nails dig into his arms, eyes screwed shut in fear.
  “It's okay,” he whispered, lips brushing against his forehead. He could feel the smaller boy shaking in his hold. “We'll be home soon. Just keep holding on tight, okay? I won't drop you.”
  He soared through the darkening sky, seeing Tao running at the same pace below, dodging trees and zigzagging through the shadows. They reached their apartment in record time, Kris landing out back in the parking lot as Tao came trotting up. He ran over to a dumpster, shifting back into human form before pulling his hidden stash of clothes from under the large chuck of metal. He dressed quickly, hurrying back to Kris and Sehun.
  “Are you two okay?” he asked, breathless.
  “Yeah, we're fine. What about you?” Kris peered at Tao’s side, seeing blood seeping into his shirt already. “Come on. Let's get inside.”
  Kris continued to carry Sehun, the younger boy still clutching at him tightly, as they nearly ran up the stairs. They burst through the door of their apartment finding Kyungsoo asleep on the couch. They took off their shoes, kicking the door shut before entering the apartment. Yixing came out of the bedroom, peering around the corner.
  “Oh! You're back!” he grinned, stopping short when he saw the blood seeping from Tao’s side and Kris’s hair glittering in the light. “What happened? Are you okay?”
  “We're fine.” Tao looked at the couch before looking back at Yixing. “Having fun babysitting?”
  Yixing walked toward them, cautiously lifting up Tao’s shirt. Sehun's eyes went wide at seeing the gash. Pressing his palm against the wound, Yixing smiled when Tao hissed at him. “Mhm. Which definition of fine are you referring to?”
  “Okay, so they're fine.” Tao swatted Yixing's hand away. “It'll heal.”
  “Kris, go get me my bag. It's in the bedroom.” Yixing watched as Kris tried to put Sehun down, the younger clinging to him.
  “Okay, I guess you're coming with me,” Kris mumbled. He took Sehun into the bedroom, going to Yixing's desk and picking up his bag. Sehun slipped down as soon as he saw Jongdae. He ran over to the bed, trying to shake him awake. “Hey, hey, hey.” Kris gently grabbed his hands, pulling them away. “Let him rest, okay?”
  “What's wrong with him?” Sehun stared at Jongdae, worry ringing in his voice.
  “He just needs to sleep. Yixing healed his arm, but he still might have a fever. Let's go into the living room and you can jump on your other friend, okay?”
  Sehun nodded, reaching out and taking Kris’s hand. He gripped it tightly as they left the bedroom. Upon reentering the living room, they found Tao’s shirt pulled over his head while he sat on the floor. Yixing had spread a dark sheet out so they wouldn't stain the carpet. Immediately seeing Kyungsoo, Sehun ran over, hopping onto his friend and waking him up.
  “Sehun!” Kyungsoo nearly squealed, hugging the younger to his chest.
  “Hyung, you're squishing me,” Sehun whined, pushing against him. Being released, Sehun inhaled deeply. “Are you okay, hyung?”
  Kyungsoo nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?” He pulled at Sehun's arms, inspecting them for any bruises and cuts. He frowned at seeing a few purple spots forming on his wrists.
  “I'm okay.” Sehun pulled his arms away. “How's Jongdae hyung?”
  Remembering their unconscious friend in the other room, Kyungsoo's eyes widened. “Oh! One of the scary men broke his arm! And they were beating me up, but hyung used his lightning and distracted them. And then Yixing hyung appeared out of nowhere! He was all like pow, wham, and the one guy went down. Then he took a board the other guy had and smacked him in the face with it! And, and, and he busted the guy's knee! Snap! Right in two!”
  Yixing rolled his eyes as he pressed an alcohol drenched cotton ball to Tao’s side. He hissed, pulling away from it. “Tao, sit still.” He dabbed at it again, watching at the other tried to back up. Tossing the ball aside, he looked at Kris. “Will you please hold him still? He's such a baby!”
  Kyungsoo snickered into his hands as Kris moved behind Tao, placing his knee into his back. Yixing took another cotton ball, soaking it with alcohol before pressing it against Tao’s side. He pressed it flat to the wound with his hand, applying pressure.
  “Ow,” Tao hissed, trying to scoot away from him. He fidgeted, trying to squirm away from Kris’s hold. “Ow, Yixing, ow.” He yelped. “Ow!”
  Satisfied, Yixing pulled the cotton ball away, tossing it next to the other one. He peeled the paper off of an adhesive bandage, smoothing it over the gash on Tao’s side. “There, you baby, I’m done.” He crinkled up the paper, picking up the cotton balls as he headed for the kitchen. “Kris, don't go anywhere, you're next.”
  Tao eased his shirt back down, moving to sit beside Sehun. He was certain the younger would have shied away from him, but he seemed rather calm. Yixing came back into the room, a plastic cup in his hands. He pointed to the sheet, waiting for Kris to move into the center of it. He leaned over him, chewing on his lip as he began to pick little pieces of glass out of his hair.
  “Is this really necessary?” Kris asked, already bored.
  “Yes, it is.” Yixing dropped another shard into the cup, combing his fingers through Kris’s hair. “There's three younger people in this house now and I will not have them stepping on glass.” He thought for a moment, glancing at Sehun. “Tao, go through Sehun's hair and make sure he doesn't have any glass in his hair, please.”
  “He doesn't have any glass in his hair.” Kris picked at his nails, frowning. “I went out the window backwards so he wouldn't get scratched.”
  Yixing nodded. “Good thinking.” He looked at Tao as he dropped another piece of glass into the cup. “Go through his hair anyway. Kris means well, but his execution can be pretty shaky.”
  “Hey! I’m not that bad at following through on my plans!” He looked at Tao. “You won't find any glass in his hair!”
  Tao quickly shook his hand through Sehun's hair, frowning. “Wow, he really doesn't have any glass in his hair.” He looked at Kris. “Good job.”
  Yixing ruffled Kris’s hair, nodding to himself. “I think I got it all. Go change your shirt in case there are a few stragglers.”
  Kris nodded, getting up to go into the bathroom. He pulled his shirt off, hearing small little clinks as the shards bounced on the counter. Balling up his shirt, he left it there, returning to the living room. He walked by the others, heading into the bedroom.
  Kyungsoo frowned. “How did he get those scars on his back?” he whispered to Tao, pointing at the bedroom door.
  Tao shrugged. “He won't tell any of us about it. Any time we bring it up, he just walks away.” He looked at Kyungsoo over the top of Sehun's head. “Yixing and I assume it had to do with his grandfather dying.”