NCT Dream - The Wizarding Worlds Differences

Chapter 4. New acquaintances?

Chenle flopped down on his new bed and shifted his gaze to his roommate.

"You're Donghan or something right?"

Chenle smiled towards the tan boy who was unpacking his things, Chenle's things already being put in the right places by some servants.

"Yeah, Donghyuck actually." He took a small pause before adding. "Your highness..."

Chenle let out a laugh at Donghyuck's stiffness.

"I don't actually have that title, I'm only the king's nephew. I am still a prince though, but please don't treat me any differently."

The two Hufflepuffs talked a lot and found out that they have a lot in common. The boys didn't realize how dark it started to get outside, the lack of light a sign that they probably should be getting in bed as the classes started first thing tomorrow.

In the middle of their very serious conversation about what they think Donghyuck's cat Ater was up to, a frantic Renjun rushed into the room.

(I made it possible for the students to go into the other houses' dorms. The houses being more of a symbolism.)

Renjun threw himself on Chenle and buried his head in the younger's neck. Chenle could feel his cousin tremble in his embrace and started petting his head.

"Shh, everything is okay. Take deep breaths Renjun."

Chenle continued consoling Renjun while the latter was hyperventilating in his hold. Donghyuck only sat on his own bed, eyes wide, while watching the prince have an anxiety attack. He didn't know how to help and if he even was allowed to help considering that it was the prince, so he kept out of the way so as to not make it worse.

It took a little while until Renjun quieted down and fell asleep. The attack drained all the energy he had. Chenle laid him down on his bed and tucked him in.

"Hope you don't mind him sleeping here."

"No, of course not. Is he okay?"

Chenle heaved a deep breath and looked towards Renjun wondering if he would be okay with Donghyuck knowing. He deemed that Renjun could use more friends and that Donghyuck was a sweet enough person to not go around and spread rumors.

"He has severe anxiety."

Chenle said no more, believing that that was enough information. Renjun would have to tell Donghyuck himself if he wanted to.

♚

The prince having anxiety was something many people wouldn't think. Renjun always looks well collected and calm, in every situation. He looks confident and extroverted, the characteristics forced upon him.

The real Renjun is introverted and anxious, fearing confrontation and new environments. His princely duty made it hard for him to be himself. He at all times has to behave, he can't be nervous and is put in situations uncomfortable for himself. He can't show his fears and the people can never get to know that the prince they see is only a fake shell of a covering young boy.

Renjun is only sixteen and still is expected to behave more mature than most adults. Renjun's father, the king, is very strict with these things.

"A member of the royal family shall not be weakened under the gazes of others." As he would say.

The king didn't even know about his own sons' struggles, yes even Sicheng had problems.

The crown prince's problems are quite different, but still aren't, from Renjun's. Sicheng doesn't want the title of 'Crown Prince', he doesn't have a problem with the attention he gets but doesn't wish to live a life under control. Sicheng wants to be a free soul, travelling the world and going on adventures with his boyfriend. A boyfriend not even his own family knows about, him knowing that something bad would happen because of it.