𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 | nct dream

1.3

❝ have you ever stolen a car before, mark-hyung? ❞

❝ car? that's really out of my league. i prefer hoverboards. ❞ the black haired boy winces. ❝ stealing? uh.. i suppose i've stolen dozen candies or so from an old man who claimed himself as santa claus. wait, or was he legit santa claus? i can't bring myself to remember. ❞

renjun overreacts with his 'disappointed' face. ❝ and i thought we're here accompanied by an expert.. ❞

❝ yah, we do have one! ❞ mark says in defense. ❝ look at that, we got full-sun! lee donghyuck with his full attires and scary face! ❞

❝ donghyuck-ie? ❞ jaemin laughs. ❝ he may look like an absolute rebel on the outside, but in reality he's just a big softie who likes to show off his fancy motorcycle because he wants to intimidate everyone. he doesn't vandalize nor trespass anyone's private properties. ❞

❝ yeah, but i do look like the type, do i? ❞ donghyuck smirks. ❝ clockwise 20 degrees. i suppose we have found our target. ❞

the boys have left the building and are now sneaking towards the location of the car wash, awaiting for their moment to smuggle in. the place looks fairly empty, with only 3-4 cars parked alongside the venue. a man in his sixties sits in front of the terrace, his hands gripping a handful amount of screwdrivers, his eyes barely awake. to some extent his clothes turned out to be quite extravagant for someone with such a simple job, but they assume it's probably a normal thing to happen in 1992.

❝ for this grand idea, i assume you've already planned it? ❞ jeno asks cautiously, no means to offend the latter. ❝ considering how confident you look now? ❞

❝ step number one: do everything with confidence even if you have no plans. ❞ donghyuck says without hesitation. ❝ step number two: jisung chenle, would you mind to stay out of this one? our operation is only open for five. ❞

chenle gasps. ❝ but this is my mission! ❞

❝ i agree on having the hyungs do the work. ❞ renjun coincides. ❝ especially for something this wild, i really have no interest of staining our younger members. ❞

❝ we're barely even a few years younger than you guys! ❞ jisung is also disappointed. ❝ ah, i don't want to sit this one out.. ❞

❝ of course you won't, after the coast is clear and we gain his trust, you can come along, ❞ mark assures the dongsaengs. ❝ besides, trust me when i say that you should not invite chenle when you attempt on trespassing, the boy can't even keep a straight face. ❞

❝ yah, perhaps i've improved since the last time you saw me! ❞

❝ considering this is the earlier version of you and who i saw a few missions back is definitely you in the future, so no, your argument is invalid. ❞ he says nonchalantly.

chenle frowns as he's out of reasons to defend himself.

❝ renjun, grab chenle's camera, you'll be the camera guy. jeno, jaemin, mark-ssi, come with me. please remember that this really depends on your ability to lie. ❞ donghyuck gives them a sharp look. ❝ if you can't lie, don't say anything at all. just stand there and look pretty. ❞

mark nods. ❝ make sure you look convincing, kids. any likely scenarios? ❞

❝ i like doing things freestyle, ❞ donghyuck stands up from the place he's hiding and fixes his crumpled shirt. ❝ let's go, ❞

jaemin knows for sure donghyuck's spontaneous adventures usually fails before it even starts, but he has some sort of a good feeling for this one. the five boys approach the man in the car wash, with renjun fully indulging his role as the 'camera man', holding it up as if he's actually filming for something serious.