Red Strings // JaeNoRen

7

"When did WW3 happen..?" Renjun questioned.

"Oh, WW3 happens every time Kris and Tao go at it," Sehun shrugged.

"Yah!" Kris glared.

"TMI..." Renjun sighed.

"Guys, have you seen my newest Gucci wallet? I thought I put it next to my YSL coat but it vanished along with my latest Too Faced makeup set," Tao pranced into the room.

Kris softened up at the sight of his boyfriend in an oversized white sweater, and promptly forgot to be annoyed at the bunch.

"I dunno. Ask Baekhyun. He's been wearing a new eyeliner and it might have been in that set. As for the wallet..." Junmyeon said.

"Did you check your designer bag you got from Paris?" Luhan scratched his head. "If I remember correctly, that was the bag you came home with yesterday. Maybe the wallet is in there?"

"Umm guys..." Yixing sighed. "Renjun is gonna fall asleep on us..."

"....mghhhh.. I'm sorry wha?" Renjun lifted his head up, yawning.

It was late, and he was getting a bit sleepy. He was determined to find out about his ability still.

"Oh sweetie, we should let you talk privately," Junmyeon said warmly. "Okay, let's go boys!"

Junmyeon then forced the rest of the crew out of Yixing's room like the mom he is, shutting the door behind them.

"How did you sleep through that?" Yixing laughed, amazed.

"The question is how you live with that," Renjun shot back.

The unicorn just shrugged and laughed.

Currently, Junmyeon, Kris, Tao, Sehun, Luhan, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun had followed Yixing to China. The friends decided to live together and stay there until Yixing was returning to promote in Korea. They were having a lot of fun, going by the Instagram updates.

"So what did you need to ask?" Yixing adjusted the phone so Renjun could see him better.

"Ge, there's something strange-- or rather... I met some guys who are strange."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ge... I can't see their strings. And they  don't have bands!"

Yixing wrinkled his brows.
The usually happy-go-lucky unicorn flipped upside down and have him a serious look.

"I think there's an answer for that," Yixing said.

"Really?!" Renjun excitedly squealled, accidently dropping his phone.

Had he not moved in to the new dorm, his parents at home in China would have told him to hush by now.

"But first, tell me about these two 'strange' guys," Yixing said.

"Well... I have new dorm mates. They're  both my new dorm mates. One is named Na Jaemin. The other is named Lee Jeno. They're the same age as me. They're really nice, though Jaemin is a flirt. Jeno's really shy, but he used to be a child actor. He's really good at it, and Jaemin is really athletic too! He's the popular boy in school and both of them are really pretty--"

"You're whipped."

"WHAT?! No."

Yixing sighed, "Your eyes are sparkling like fireworks. You've been observing them too much."

"But ge, that's the point," Renjun said. "I keep on observing them because the fact that they have no bands or strings is weird. They're definitely not dead, ge. So why can't I see theirs?"

"Do you know why we see what we do?"

Renjun shook his head.
His mother only told him from a young age that his ability was special, and that he should help make people happy. She also told him that his ability would make bad people come after him, so he should keep quiet.
Otherwise, he learned everything else by himself.

"You're familiar with Greek mythology right?" Yixing asked.

"Well, yes. We had a unit on it in Literature class and I've read plenty of Percy Jackson."

"So who's the goddess of love?"

"Aphrodite."

"Well," Yixing adjusted his bangs. "There's a tiny legend that was told to our ancestor by a Greek traveller."

"What was it?"

(Incoming: Important ass story)

"Back in the ancient times, there was a pair of lovers named Leuvanphria and Aphius. Leuvanphira was a beautiful young girl. Aphius was a servant of Aphrodite.

One day, Leuvanphria's mother had offended the goddess of love by boasting that she was far more beautiful.
The goddess was furious.
She cursed the woman, turning her into a thornbush.
Leuvanphria wanted to help her mother, so she asked the goddess what it would take to set her free.

Aphrodite casted her into one of the darkest caves and told her to make it out without any light.
The goddess then told Aphius to guard  the cave, should anyone come to Leuvanphria's aid.

The servant fell in love with Leuvanphria at first sight and admired her courage.
Aphius then decided to enter the cave by himself and help the girl.
They had no source of light, so Aphius tied a red string around their fingers.
He lead them back out, only to be caught by the goddess.

Rather than being outraged, Aphrodite was rather moved by their courage and love.
The goddess blessed the couple and freed Leuvanphria's mother.
From then on, the couple's bloodline was blessed to see soul mates.
The strings were then tied to all mortals by the goddess Harmonia, who took Aphrodite's request."

Renjun listened tentatively.
But that was strange.
How did the Greek blessing end up in their Chinese family?

"Oh by the way, the Greek traveler married into our Chinese family generations ago. He must have been blessed, so now we have his blessing," Yixing explained.

"Oh, okay," Renjun absorbed the information. "But how does this connect to Jeno and Jaemin not having any strings or bands?"

"Balance."

"What do you mean?" Renjun asked.

"WHEN YOU NOD YOUR HEAD YES, BUT YOU REALLY MEAN NO!" Lucas shouted from somewhere in the dorm.

Renjun face palmed out of embarrassment from his Lucas Bieber reference.

"Shut up!" Kun screamed at him in chinese.

"So what were you saying?" Renjun reverted his attention back to Yixing.

"Balance," Yixing simply said. "Our blessing is to help people find their soulmates. But, there are those who do the opposite. We have been given connection to people by the goddess of concord, Harmonia. But Harmonia does have an opposite. Can you guess who...?"

"Eris..." Renjun mumbled. "The goddess of discord."

"Exactly," Yixing nodded. "You may find this hard to believe, but Jeno and Jaemin are very special."

"What do you mean?" Renjun half expected Lucas to shamelessly shout again.

"Renjun, Jeno and Jaemin are blessed by the goddess of discord.
You can't see their strings because their ability is to cut them off."

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(A/n:

Just a more detailed chapter so you all understand whats up in this AU.

I promise a more interesting chapter next update!

By the way, the story about Aphius (aye-FEE-us) and Leuvanphria (Lu-van-FREE-uh) is actually not a Greek legend or tale. I just made it up so don't get confused.

See you next chapter, my lovlies! ❤)