Echo || NCTau ||

Part 2: Prelude

"Well, it looks like no one has plans for that Monday", Renjun noted, pointing towards the kitchen wall where they'd hung a family-sized calendar. Most days in March were filled with all kinds of activities and social gatherings for those still living in the apartment, and in the entire month, only one day was left untouched.

Jisung swallowed.

"We can't do that day."

Renjun lifted his eyebrows. "Because it's a Monday? It's not my fault that you people have overly active social lives."

"You mean that Haechan and Jaemin have overly active social lives", Chenle corrected him without lifting his eyes from his Nintendo Switch. "I have like a maximum of three things coming up this month. Two of them are things I promised to do with my mom."

While he was talking, Jaemin and Jisung exchanged a glance before Jisung turned to look towards the hallway.

Haechan was asleep, right? According to Renjun, he hadn't stumbled home until early morning and that often meant that he would sleep until someone dragged him out of bed.

Coming to the same conclusion about Haechan most likely being knocked out cold and, thus, unable to hear their conversation, Jaemin leaned over the table.

"We've left the day empty because it's been one year since... you know, she, well, uh, since she died", he whispered, conflicted look in his eyes.

Renjun's face remained impassive for a good while. "What do you – oh." He blinked a couple of times, finally understanding what Jaemin meant. "Because of that assassin girl? Seriously?" His eyes traveled between his friends, expecting one of them to tell him that Jaemin was joking.

Chenle lifted one shoulder without breaking his eye contact with the gaming console.

Annoyance flashed through Renjun's eyes. "Are you telling me that he's still hung up on some chick who lied, tried to kill Jisung multiple times and then blew up a building?" His nostrils flared. "That is the dumbest shit I've heard in a while."

Jaemin shushed him. "We don't know, okay? It doesn't feel right to force him to talk about it so we don't know how he's coping. He seems to be fine in a way but... you know, you've seen how he is. We're just trying to be considerate in case he needs some support."

Jisung nodded. "And no matter how he feels, she was still friends with Sungchan and Shotaro so we should be respectful." He paused to hesitate for a second before continuing, "I'd like to think that she was my friend, too."

Jaemin grimaced. "She did try to kill you, though."

"This is insanity", Renjun announced, his voice growing loud. "You can't be serious that you're planning to mourn an assassin who tried to destroy our pack. Do you do that to everyone who has tried to hurt us or is she the only special case?"

Jaemin shushed him again, more aggressively than before.

Jisung frowned. "She did what she did because she had no choice! Even if – "

"Good morning, everyone", a groggy voice greeted them from the doorway, interrupting Jisung's moment as a defense attorney.

All heads turned towards Haechan, who leaned against the wall with sleepy eyes and messy hair. The fading stamp on the back of his hand explained why he hadn't come home until sunrise but at least he had come home after his night out. That was a recent improvement.

Jaemin's eyes softened and Jisung could only hope that Haechan hadn't heard what they were talking about. Out of the corner of his eye, Jisung saw that, despite feigning nonchalance, Chenle looked awkward as well.

There were very few topics that were too sensitive to be mentioned in their household but just now they had stumbled over one of them.

Renjun was the first one to speak up.

"We were planning to have a big dinner with the entire pack and there's only one day when you all are available. I checked." he nodded towards the calendar. "How's that one for you? It's a Monday but it's the only day when none of you have other plans."

Haechan stepped in front of the calendar to see what Renjun was talking about.

He shrugged. "Whatever. Works for me." He headed towards the fridge without giving the empty date a second glance. "There's nothing important happening on that day anyway."

The strain in his voice didn't go unnoticed, making Jaemin and Jisung exchange another look.

***
Author's note: We're back! Kinda. I'm still very busy figuring things out so it might take me a couple of weeks before I can start uploading chapters again but I just wanted to give you a little bit of something to snack on while waiting. Hopefully you have been well. I've been so touched by all the lovely (and funny) things you've written and how much love you have shown towards Echo. I appreciate it, truly. And I'm hoping that I can get more or less back to normal publishing schedule soon but we'll see how it goes. Anyway, see you soon :)