Twirling Around Danger

24. I Would Do Anything

The brothers went outside, finding a confused and shocked Jisung waiting for him. Jisung had tagged along with Si Cheng, who frankly did not have the energy to fight with Jisung at that moment, too absorbed in rescuing his brothers. "Are you guys okay? What happened-"

"Guys, get in the car," Si Cheng instructed them, opening the driver seat's door. He put the gun between the two seats, where he could grab the gun easily just in case. "I'm taking you back to the apartment to grab your stuff-"

"Wait, what do you mean grab are stuff?" Renjun said, getting in the passenger seat. Jisung sat with Chen Le in the back, comforting his boyfriend. "Where are we going-"

"This is non-negotiable, Renjun." Si Cheng grabbed his phone from the cupholder (Jisung had grabbed it on the way out of the apartment - he was still surprised that it hadn't broken when Si Cheng threw it) and went through it, while putting the car on drive mode and driving back on the street. He didn't have his seat belt on. "I don't want to argue."

"Argue? Look, Si Cheng, I'm sorry about the outburst other day-"

"Renjun, not now." Si Cheng put the phone on his ear while driving, staring at the road while paying no attention to his brothers. "Please pick up, Yuta, please pick up."

Yuta picked up after the fourth ring, drowsy and half-awake. "Hello? Hey Si Cheng, how are-"

"Yuta, I need you to take them now." Si Cheng yelled into the receiver. "I can't wait anymore."

"Take us?" Renjun asked, confused. "Gege, what are you talking about-"

His brothers couldn't hear what Yuta was telling him, and he didn't care about hiding it or not; his brothers would have to find out eventually.

"Si Cheng, what's wrong, what's going on?" Yuta asked, fully awake now. It wasn't like Si Cheng to talk like this. "It's not-"

"Yuta, please, this is the only thing I'm asking you," Si Cheng said, his hand trembling. Tears started filling his eyes. "They were almost kidnapped, Yuta, I just need them to be safe."

Yuta didn't say anything. It wasn't his place to tell Si Cheng what to do about his brothers. This is exactly what Yuta did to his sister, Jitsuko, anyways - he left her alone in Japan, in a small town with no contact with anyone, only calling here monthly when he sent her money. Yuta was dealt in a lot of mess with all these mafias and gangs and ringleaders, and he was never going to put her in that position.

"I'll come by your house in ten," Yuta said, ending their phone call.

***

Si Cheng dropped Jisung off at the orphanage and told Chen Le to say goodbye, saying it would be a while until they saw each other again. Jisung had no idea what Si Cheng meant by that, but he wasn't about to argue with someone who had a gun, so he gave Chen Le the tightest and longest hug he had ever given someone and kissed his forehead, telling him that he would do his best to keep in contact and to call him if he was in any trouble.

When they arrived back at the apartment, Si Cheng told them to pack their stuff. His brothers kept asking questions about what was going on, but one glare from Si Cheng made them stop. They had never seen their brother like this before, and it was scaring them.

They stuffed some clothes and their CDs into their backpacks, with Renjun making sure not to pack anything Jaemin had given him. Chen Le added his sketchbook and charcoals as well, as well as his mother's drawing. They weren't sure about the situation, so it was best to bring everything that meant dear to them, just in case.

Chen Le had stopped crying, his eyes red and puffy. "What do you think gege is planning?" he asked Renjun quietly, zipping up his backpack. "I'm scared."