The four of them made their way downstairs together, Soul lingering one step behind the boys, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her sleeve.
“Ah, you’re joining us for breakfast?” Doyoung’s smile warmed immediately. Soul nodded—small, uncertain, but willing.
The boys greeted her with gentle smiles as they settled back into their seats. Taeyong camr out of the kitchen into the dining room, scanned the table, then asked, “Is Hendery coming down today?” then he sat down at the head of the table.
Kun came out of the kitchen behind him, answering. “Yeah.” he placed the box with bread and buns on the table. “He said he’s sick of being stuck in bed and—his words, not mine—‘misses this chaotic household.’ Lucas and Jungwoo are helping him down.”
Soul hovered in the doorway, unsure whether she was allowed to move further without permission.
“Come on, Soul! Sit with us,” Jeno encouraged, gently resting a reassuring hand between her shoulder blades. She looked up at him, hesitant but comforted.
“We should get another chair next time,” Kun commented lightly, looking at the leader, standing next to him. “Otherwise someone’s always going to lose a spot.”
Taeyong looked back at him mid-chew, expression blank, toast halfway to his mouth.
“You can sit here, next to Taeyong hyung,” Mark said, pointing. “It’s usually Jaehyun’s seat, but… he’s upstairs.” YangYang offered.
She froze.
She opened her mouth to protest, then shut it again. Her shoulders tightened. Taeyong noticed. He knew exactly what that expression meant.
“Mark,” Taeyong said suddenly, voice crisp. “Sit in Jaehyun’s seat.”
“Huh?” Mark blinked, confused. The table fell still.
“You heard me.” Taeyong continued placing food on his plate. When no one moved, he looked up. Everyone was staring at him like he had spoken in another language.
“Am I speaking Klingon?! Mark—move.”
Mark nearly tripped over his own feet getting up.
The girl stood behind the chair Jaehyun usually occupied, glancing from Taeyong to Mark in confusion.
With Jaehyun’s seat now filled, the girl was guided nearly opposite of the space Taeyong sat; to the space between Haechan and an empty seat. Jeno gestured for Haechan to move to the spot Mark sat a few seconds ago and sat her in Haechan spot while he sat next to her.
Taeyong’s eyes followed her every move. His chest tightened slightly—not from jealousy, but from the realization of how fragile her sense of safety still was. She trusts them… but is still afraid of me, he thought, trying not to let it show.
They all turned when voices echoed down the stairs.
“You sure you don’t want to lie down again?” Lucas asked.
“If I stay in that bed one more minute, I’ll rot,” Hendery laughed weakly.
The boys quickly rose to make space as Lucas and Jungwoo helped Hendery to his chair.
Soul’s eyes dropped immediately to his injured leg when he went past her twin and Jeno, concern flickering across her face.
“Oh! Hello there!” he said, forcing the other two to stop right behind her chair. She looked up at him.
“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” Hendery said warmly. He held out a hand, smile bright despite his limp.
