NCT Oneshots {ot23} | open

Shadow: NoRenMin {Part 2}

▹prompt: shadow
▹word count: 2135
▹genre: angst
▹warnings: homophobia + previous warnings

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹❀◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

Jaemin froze. No one had ever found their hideout before, so the sight of the trembling boy made him nearly drop the shopping bag.

Bella's energy didn't diminish and she bounded up to him to bark and paw at his body, tail wagging and wanting to play with a new friend. The boy squeezed his knees tighter to his chest. His eyes widened and his mouth hung open, breaths wheezing, and a strangled shout forced its way from his lips. Jaemin didn't know what to do. Strangers tended to be mean. The only person he had ever truly confided in was the lady from the shop, and that was only because she offered him free food.

The boy didn't have any food. Or any belongings at all, for that matter, save for the clothes on his back. He wore a grey hoodie that didn't protect him from the cold so his shoulders shook and his jaw chattered. The rain continued to pelt down. Bella stopped her yaps and drank from the puddle of water in the middle of the garage floor, more drops landing on her fur, then she went to chew on a leg of her rabbit toy. The boy's eyes darted between Jaemin and the dog.

"Hi?" Jaemin spoke first. The boy's head snapped up to stare at him, mouth still parted as though he were surprised that someone had acknowledged his presence in the dingy garage. Jaemin placed the bag of food in the corner and awaited a response. The stranger ran a hand through his blond hair, which fell in gentle waves and Jaemin couldn't tell if it was styled that way or knotted from the rain.

"Hello." The boy whispered. His voice was quiet but smooth and Jaemin could tell he was well-spoken just from the way he enunciated each syllable with clarity so unlike the muddiness of his eyes.

Jaemin gave him another scan. He was skinny, his jeans loose around his knees, but nowhere near as bony as himself.

"Who are you?"

"R-Renjun."

The persistent raindrops were the only sound to be heard for a minute until Jaemin suffered another coughing fit. He staggered over to the plastic bag and plucked out the medicine. He had attended school long enough to know how to read, so he poured the correct number drops of the viscous liquid into the little spoon, then winced as it slid down his throat. Bella jumped up, thinking it was food. Jaemin opened a packet of chicken and threw her a morsel. She barked with happiness.

"Is... that your dog?" Renjun questioned. He was still cowering in the shadows of the corner, but Jaemin didn't want to force him out of his comfort zone.

"Yeah. Her name's Bella." Jaemin replied, bending down to ruffle her fur and tickle her chin. "You can stroke her, if you want." His chest tightened when he struggled to stand back up, and dizziness filled his vision for a horrible second. He hoped the medicine would help.

"I'm fine." Renjun muttered, eyeing the puppy with a cautious stare.

"Not a dog person, then?" Jaemin chuckled but Renjun didn't seem at all amused, and his smile died away. He scratched at the back of his neck.

"I have... I had a dog... back at home." The weight of Renjun's frown tugged his forehead into deep creases.

"Where do you live? Why are you even here? This is hardly a suitable hiding place for someone like you. Your clothes are nice and clean, you look well-fed, and your hair is even dyed!" Renjun flinched at each point Jaemin listed, making him trail off and remember he shouldn't be so nosy.

"I don't live anywhere." Renjun spat. His fists clenched and his nostrils flared, both signs of his frustration towards his current situation, which Jaemin itched to learn about. "Not anymore." The final statement was barely audible and Jaemin stuttered to find an appropriate response.