Villain kids

36

Today was a special day for one of the Isle kids.

They were all excited as they made their way toward the sports field.

It was Jeno's first official practice with the basketball team-his chance to prove he was worth a permanent spot.

Jisung: "You nervous?"
Jeno: "Just a little..." he admitted, voice shaky.

That made the youngest snicker.

Jisung: "Tough guy's nervous."
Cue immediate snickering from the others.

Jeno: "Oh shut up." He smacked the back of Jisung's head lightly, earning a dramatic groan.

Hyuck: "Alright, calm down, you two. We don't need the entire school thinking you're aggressive before you even start playing."

Jisung: "But he is..."

He earned a sharp glare from the bulkier male. Jisung threw up his hands in defense.

Sungchan: "So basically... if you do good, you're on the team?"

Jeno: "Yeah. Mark said once he gets crowned, he won't have time to play anymore. So he's letting me try out in his place... He also told me to find one more person to fill the spot of someone he suspended. I don't know why he asked me to do that."

He scratched the back of his neck.

Jeno (cont'd): "Like, the only people I know are you guys. Sungchan hasn't touched a ball in his life. Jisung has four left feet. Jaemin's allergic to sports. I know Hyuck used to play, but that was years ago. And Chenle just gives off 'I don't even know what a sport is' energy."

Sungchan: "Maybe the prince thought Jisung could play?"

They all cackled.

Jisung: "I think the goal is for your team to win, not be carried off the court in stretchers."

Jaemin: "Hellooo?" he called, strutting toward them. "Are we forming a hazardous waste unit or a basketball team?"

He giggled and threw his arms around Jeno in a tight hug.

Jeno: "No Jaem, just pointing out how Jisung's court presence would be a health violation."

Jaemin: "Are you really that bad?"

Jisung: "Four left feet. It's a medical mystery."

Chenle: "Ew. Who has four left feet? That's disgusting."

Sungchan: "Sweetie... it's a metaphor."

Chenle made an 'o' shape with his mouth, then nodded solemnly like he'd discovered gravity.

Jaemin: "Anyway, my baby is gonna do amazing. When he played with Mark last time, he was a total natural."

Jeno: "I wouldn't say that."

Hyuck: "You wouldn't, but that doesn't make it any less true."

Jeno: "Yeah, yeah, okay. Wish me luck."

Jaemin gently grabbed Jeno's hand and guided it to his waist, leaning in to kiss him softly-slow, sweet, reassuring.

The others smiled. The moment was cute. Maybe too cute.

Chenle: "I can't believe I was ever mad at you... You guys are so adorable. Ugh. I literally got butterflies watching you kiss. ME. Why me?"

They all burst out laughing. Jeno slipped an arm around Chenle's shoulders and pulled him into a hug.

Jaemin: "You're adorable, Lele."

The fairy blushed as he peeked shyly at the black-haired boy beside him.

Hyuck: "You know, I think Lele has a type... tall, bulky guys who look like they could carry him and a full-size piano."

Chenle: "What the hell, Hyuck?"

Hyuck: "Don't act surprised. You blush when Jeno talks to you. You blush when Jaemin talks to you."

Chenle: "Okay, maybe I get a little flustered around ridiculously good-looking people, but that doesn't mean I have a thing for tall bulky guys!"

Hyuck: "Mmm. Nah. I got it now. Tall. Nice. But slightly intimidating. Boom. That's the winner."

Chenle turned an alarming shade of tomato and covered his face with both hands.

Sungchan: "You nailed it, Dongie."

Jaemin: "'Dongie'?" He squinted. "What is that?"

Hyuck: "He always calls me that when I guess something right."

Sungchan: "'Dong' is the sound a bell makes when you get a correct answer. And his name is Donghyuck. So... Dongie."

Jaemin: "...Shouldn't it be 'DINGhyuck'? 'Cause a bell goes ding, not dong."

Sungchan: "...Huh?"

Jaemin: "Mhm."

And just like that, they were bickering. Again. The others shook their heads and followed the group to the field.

What did surprise them?

Mark was there-already in uniform, bouncing a basketball and smiling like a Disney prince on his lunch break.

He spotted them, specifically one of them, and waved. First directly at the purple-haired boy, then at the rest of the group.

Jaemin: "Whipped."

Chenle: "Totally whipped."

Jisung: "They both are, honestly."

Jeno, meanwhile, had slumped slightly, watching Jaemin look everywhere except at him.

Hyuck: "Oop-Jaem, your man's sulking."

Jaemin: "JENO BABY! I LOVE YOU! YOU'RE GONNA KILL IT OUT THERE!" he hollered, cupping his hands like a megaphone.

Jeno perked up immediately, smiling so wide his eyes disappeared.

And just like that, the game was on.