Chapter Text
“A new recruit?” Baekhyun repeated. “Now?”
He’d exited the training room in the hopes of returning to his room for a shower with the promise of food, but Junmyeon had corned him just as he was about to make his escape. Sweating and irritable, the last thing Baekhyun needed was to discuss a new person. Thankfully, Junmyeon seemed to realise this, as he stepped aside to allow Baekhyun to walk out, instead falling into step with him as he explained the situation. Baekhyun caught a few sentences, but he was admittedly more focused on his initial goals.
“Tell me later,” he told Junmyeon as they reached his door. “He’s not arriving until next week at best, we both know that, and I’m not ignoring my own hygiene so I can plan him a welcome party right now.” He reached for the handle. “See you tonight.”
Baekhyun had joined EXO about eight months ago, a new recruit himself; filled with optimism and excitement. Typical of a light manipulator, Kyungsoo would say. Despite Kyungsoo’s first comments, Baekhyun felt as though his presence had been sorely needed. He’d managed to chip away at the walls each member had constructed, though the power of friendship, light, and on occasion, being slightly annoying (such as his largely successful attempts to share showers with the others - not that he planned on doing that right now). As he walked into his bathroom, he gestured to the lights in his sleeping space, letting them flicker out. Minseok had impressed on them all the importance of conserving electricity for the farms below the base, and Baekhyun was nothing if not obedient. To Minseok at least.
His shower time gave him the opportunity to consider who this new recruit might be. He hadn’t expected one to turn up so quickly, which increased the chances of said recruit being some kind of prodigy considered to be too important to keep in mere training. On the other hand, being some kind of whiz kid with your superpowers didn’t necessarily equate to good teamwork and maturity. Baekhyun wasn’t quite ready to babysit some thirteen year old kid with ideas of grandeur. He shook his head. He was being too negative.
Still, he found himself running through all the possibilities. They - EXO - were an eight member unit currently, four recruits off the full unit number. If Luhan and Tao and Kris had stuck around, this new person would be the final member. Instead they could be looking at a replacement for one of them, or someone completely new.
Baekhyun knew what he wanted. He’d worked with Luhan for a couple of months, but the other two were complete mysteries to him. He still missed Luhan, as much as he could miss someone who he’d known so briefly. Baekhyun wasn’t ready to see him replaced just yet. Which meant mystery man had to be either time, flight, or thunder. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, exactly. Yixing liked to impress on them the importance of each power, but it was like Chanyeol said, some were just much more interesting than others.
The water turned cold, and Baekhyun grimaced. It was difficult to know if it had been an actual fault, or if someone had messed with the temperature. Junmyeon could do that. Chanyeol and Minseok too, although Baekhyun wasn’t sure what he’d done to earn their ire. Then again, maybe it was just a sign from the universe that he’d spent too much time musing over someone he had yet to meet.
When Baekhyun walked out of the wet room, it was to find Chanyeol sitting on his bed. Unlike Baekhyun, Chanyeol hadn’t had the courtesy to shower, so his sweat still glistened and forced Baekhyun to wrinkle his nose.
“Off,” he told his friend. “If you stink up my sheets again, you wash them.” Chanyeol grinned in response.
There was something about Chanyeol that Baekhyun liked more than the rest. They didn’t get to spend much meaningful time together, since Baekhyun spent most of his with Junmyeon and Kyungsoo, and Chanyeol with Sehun and Jongin. Not to mention Junmyeon usually discouraged the relationship, ever since he’d become the main target of their pranks. But Chanyeol was fiercely protective of everyone, including Baekhyun. His loyalty was practically unmatched, and despite towering over the rest of them, in Baekhyun’s mind he often resembled an overlarge puppy more than anything else.
“Junmyeon says there’s a new recruit,” Chanyeol said as a means of hello. “Know anything?”
“There’s a new recruit,” Baekhyun told him. “I’m in the dark, Chanyeol. I told Junmyeon to talk about it later.”
“It’d be cool to have a time manipulator again,” Chanyeol said. He leaned back, ignoring Baekhyun’s protests. “Tao was always good for pranks.”
“And I’m not?” Baekhyun asked. He opened the wardrobe and selected a new, clean shirt. “Now go away.”
“I’ve already seen all there is,” Chanyeol said dismissively. He waved his hand. “But if it bothers you so much, I’ll turn round.”
Baekhyun took advantage of Chanyeol’s new perspective to find underwear, a fresh pair of pants, and a belt. Luckily, Junmyeon wasn’t too bothered about uniformity, so he could forgo the uncomfortable get up he would have to wear whilst on missions.
“Decent?” Chanyeol asked. When Baekhyun replied in the positive, he turned around to face him. “Ready to find out more?” He said jokingly.
At some point prior to Baekhyun’s arrival, Kyungsoo had initiated the rule that nobody was allowed to talk about ‘official business’ during mealtimes. It had garnered no arguments. Nobody wanted to talk about these things when they instead could sample whatever dishes Kyungsoo had managed to conjure from their somewhat meagre supply.
Baekhyun sometimes missed meat. He didn’t tell Kyungsoo this, because Kyungsoo really was an excellent chef, but it was hard not to think about it. Their base was an island in the middle of the vast sea, and beef, pork and chicken weren’t priorities, so they mainly lived off seafood and the farmed crops growing underneath their base. There was a small supply of beef in one of the freezers, but that was only for special occasions, birthdays and visits from their superiors. Jongin was due next - maybe Baekhyun could persuade him to give him a little more?
He soon found himself drawn into a conversation with Sehun, who was recounting the events of the training room after his departure. Sehun had apparently managed to disarm Jongin, which according to Sehun was a clear victory.
“You know exactly where I’m going to strike,” Jongin argued. “How am I meant to beat prophetic visions?”
“How am I meant to beat fucking teleportation?” Sehun retorted. “And I don’t have visions!”
“Language,” Baekhyun said mildly. He didn’t think swearing was too bad, but he knew Junmyeon worried about Sehun letting something slip in front of a superior one day. Talking of Junmyeon… Baekhyun glanced towards where was sitting, chatting amiably with Yixing. Was he telling Yixing they were getting a new member soon?
When the meal ended, the atmosphere changed. Minseok had taken their crockery away with the promise to clean them, and now they waited expectantly for any announcements to be made.
“We’re getting a new recruit?” Junmyeon offered. The people around Baekhyun reacted accordingly- Minseok and Jongin seemed genuinely surprised; Chanyeol looked relieved as though he’d thought he’d been lied to earlier ; Yixing and Kyungsoo made no reaction, and Sehun nodded as though Junmyeon made these types of declarations on the regular.
“I thought there would be a longer wait?” Yixing questioned. “There was nothing about a new recruit when Baekhyun came.”
“Well, a lot can change in a few months,” Minseok said. “Maybe this recruit is ready now. Did they say which power?” He added, directing his question at Junmyeon.
Junmyeon shook his head. Minseok looked slightly disappointed, as did the younger members.
“They won’t be an elemental, at least,” Kyungsoo pointed out. “Or a light or frost manipulator. Or healer.”
“Teleporter too,” Jongin added. Kyungsoo nodded in acknowledgement.
“Which leaves telekinesis, thunder, time, and flight,” Baekhyun said, counting them on his fingers. “Does anybody want to bet?”
Chanyeol was first. “They’ll be a time manipulator, I know it.”
“Just because you could persuade Tao to reverse time for pranks-“ Junmyeon began. Chanyeol shook his head frantically.
“They said we needed more ‘non-physical’ members, remember?” Chanyeol said, making air quotes. “Time control makes sense.”
“Whatever ‘non-physical’ means,” Baekhyun heard Minseok mutter. The older member raised his voice. “Put me down for flight. Sehun does not make a good scout.”
“Hey!” The youngest member protested. “I do my best!” Baekhyun laughed at Sehun’s tone. Sehun rarely got angry and despite his position as the youngest, was mature enough to understand that Minseok was not trying to be nasty. After Kris had been kicked out - well, the official story was resigned - they’d lost their assigned scout and as the designated spy (or head gossiper, according to Kyungsoo), Sehun had been given the role temporarily.
“That’s Chanyeol for time and Minseok hyung for flight, then,” Baekhyun said. “Anybody want to bet on thunder or telekinesis?”
As Baekhyun expected, Junmyeon and Yixing kept silent. The two often tried to display responsible behaviour. Jongin shifted in his seat and looked over at Kyungsoo, as though silently asking for permission. Kyungsoo said nothing.
“Thunder.” Sehun said suddenly. “If I win the bet, I want a public apology from Minseok hyung. And he can clean my room.”
Minseok looked at Sehun incredulously. “I’m not your house maid.”
“But you are the cleanest of us,” Chanyeol commented. “Come on, hyung, you’ll probably win anyway. Does it matter?”
Whatever Minseok was about to say, he never got the chance, as Baekhyun spoke first. “Three bets then. May the best man win!”
The next week was spent preparing the base for the new recruits arrival. Junmyeon had received a message only a few hours after the initial meeting informing him that his name was Jongdae, or Chen, with an affinity for thunder manipulation. “Sehun will be thrilled.” Baekhyun commented as he read through the message. Junmyeon had once again ambushed him, thankfully in his room, this time to apologise for apparently foisting all the responsibility on to him.
“Don’t worry,” Baekhyun reassured him. “Byun Baekhyun, light manipulator and the nation’s best friend, remember?” He grinned at his leader. “I’ll take him under my wing, and by evening you’ll know his entire life story.”
“They’ve been odd about him,” Junmyeon said, sitting down on Baekhyun’s bed. “Secretive, I mean. Kind of like they were for Jongin, and Kyungsoo.”
Baekhyun hadn’t been around for Jongin or Kyungsoo’s arrivals, so he felt the need to question Junmyeon’s statements.
“Withholding information, I mean,” Junmyeon said. “We didn’t find out Kyungsoo’s name until he got here, and it took until Yixing’s arrival for Jongin to reveal he could teleport other people, despite having utilised it in training before he even got here.”
One of the ‘special’ ones, then. Baekhyun wasn’t sure what singled someone out to be special - he’d once blinded an instructor (temporarily, to be clear) with his powers and never received the moniker. No, he wasn’t bitter. He had his intelligence. That was enough.
He knew about Jongin and Kyungsoo though. Jongin could teleport anything and everyone (and rumour had it, everywhere). Kyungsoo was apparently considered some kind of prophetic hero by his people in the north, though nobody knew the full details of that.
“Wonder what made them change their minds,” Baekhyun said aloud. “Now I want to know what they said about me.”
“You really want to know? I was told we would be getting a new recruit, a man called Baekhyun who would spend his entire time pulling pranks and annoying Kyungsoo to the point I got a lecture for apparently being too easy on you - and then after I tried to create some boundaries, you recruited Jongin and Sehun to join you in a coup and install Chanyeol as leader, which if I recall lead to Yixing’s room being burnt down.”
“You can’t blame me for everything,” Baekhyun protested. “I never told Chanyeol to burn down anything.” Junmyeon looked unconvinced.
“Just make sure you don’t involve him in any of your schemes.” He got up. “I promised Sehun I’d practice with him, so..”
“Kick butt,” Baekhyun finished. “Or get butt kicked. Whichever comes first.”
After Junmyeon left, Baekhyun turned to the rest of his duties. Which were mostly just figuring out where ‘Chen’ was going to sleep (next door to Yixing, they’d decided); who was going to show him the ropes (Baekhyun, duh), and what role he would fulfil (research assistant to Minseok, most likely). The different members had all added their own touches to Chen’s room; a teddy bear from Jongin, a book on the planet’s modern history from Chanyeol - which Baekhyun hadn’t even known about, a pretty good paint job from Junmyeon and Jongin one afternoon. They were all set to receive their new recruit.
Aside from that, the team went on as usual. Baekhyun met up with Junmyeon and Kyungsoo to discuss different strategies. He sparred with Chanyeol, helped Yixing to prepare more potions, and dragged Minseok away from his laboratory to come to dinner.
The day of Chen’s arrival was cold and wet. Baekhyun had chosen to believe that was due to Chen being a thunder manipulator. Or simply that he’d been forced to wake up far too early to greet said recruit and was suffering the consequences.
Usually, they’d all be waiting, but right now it was just Baekhyun and Junmyeon. The others had all declined invitations in favour of staying in bed. Which, honestly, sounded far more appealing than waiting in the cold; but Baekhyun knew if he tried to slip away it wouldn’t end well. Jonghyun was easygoing and extremely lax about proprieties, but even he’d have something to say if the only person there was Junmyeon. So Baekhyun gritted his teeth and tried not to think about how he could be asleep and warm at that moment.
Junmyeon moved over to him. “You okay?”
“When we get to retire from soldier life,” Baekhyun said, staring straight ahead. “I’m going to work my way up to the top of the government, and ban all island bases. We’ll turn them into museums, or theme parks. It’s freezing.”
He felt a sudden warmth, and looked at Junmyeon. The leader had an embarrassed look on his face, and it took Baekhyun a split-second to realise that the rise in temperature was courtesy of Junmyeon and his temperature control powers.
“I love you,” Baekhyun said. “Even more than Sehun, but don’t tell him that.”
“It won’t last,” Junmyeon warned. “I’m rubbish at controlling temperature out in the open, it’s easier in enclosed spaces or with water or- ”
“Sounds to me like you need to practice more, then,” a new voice called out. Baekhyun had turned round immediately at the sound. Jonghyun was making his way towards them, a smaller figure in tow.
“I- how?” Was Junmyeon’s first question. “How did we not hear you?”
“Maybe your situational awareness needs practicing?” Jonghyun suggested. “We circled the island twice before landing.”
Baekhyun grinned. Next to him, Junmyeon’s face had returned to the embarrassed expression Baekhyun had seen only moments ago.
“It’s the new model, see?” Jonghyun said, gesturing to the ship. “Faster, more efficient, and perfect for stealth missions. Higher ups said I could take Chen in it, give you and him a demonstration.”
“Minseok would be thrilled,” Junmyeon said. “He’ll be jealous when I tell him about this.”
“Chanyeol too,” Baekhyun added.
The two of them examined the ship further. It wasn’t particularly large, but it came equipped with all the necessities, Jonghyun assured them. “I’ll send the paper-work, and we can see about distributing one to your base.”
“Really?” Junmyeon asked. “But I thought-”
“You’re stuck on this island unless someone picks you up,” Jonghyun pointed out. “Losing the others wasn’t your fault, and you shouldn’t be punished for- “ He stopped, clearly aware of Chen behind him. “Shouldn’t be punished for his decisions.”
“Still, though…”. Baekhyun muttered. The vessel was high quality, he could tell that. And to think in a few months, maybe a few weeks, they’d have their own? He wasn’t sure how to react.
“You want to show your gratitude? Take Chen off my hands,” Jonghyun said. He had pushed Chen to stand a little further in front, so that Baekhyun and Junmyeon could actually see him. He was around Baekhyun’s height, perhaps a little shorter, with brown hair and twinkling eyes.
“You’re that eager to get rid of me?” Chen said. His voice was similar to Minseok and Yixing’s, but still slightly different. He’s from the western island, Baekhyun realised. He glanced towards Junmyeon to see if he’d noticed, but Junmyeon was busy smiling at Chen.
“I’m still not convinced it wasn’t you who fried the circuits last week,” Jonghyun retorted. “You’d better be glad I was in charge, you can’t go around doing that.” Chen grinned in response.
“Even if it was me, surely it’s good experience for future missions?” He suggested.
“And this is why I was against you spending any time with Taemin,” Jonghyun said.
“Taemin?” Baekhyun asked. He knew Taemin vaguely, though he hadn’t spent much time with him. But the stories of Taemin’s escapades were practically legendary.
“He’s been ‘helping’,” Jonghyun said. “Which for Taemin, means teaching all the recruits the best excuses for getting out of trouble.”
“That explains Jongin, then,” Junmyeon said dryly.
“Jongin?” Chen questioned.
“One of our team members,” Baekhyun explained. “He’s a teleporter, probably younger than you though. He’s got a massive collection of bear stuffies, so he gave you one.”
Chen nodded at this. “Did he also give me a padded jacket? It’s kind of cold.” It took Chen maybe five seconds to realise what he said. “Wait, no, sorry - I didn’t mean-“
“It’s fine,” Junmyeon interjected. “You’re right, it is cold. Inside?” He directed the last part at Jonghyun, who nodded his head in response and moved to follow Junmyeon down the stairs into the second level of the base. Baekhyun was left to pick up the rear with Chen. =
Junmyeon had already started chatting animatedly to Jonghyun, and Baekhyun could tell his input likely wasn’t needed. Junmyeon could handle things on that end himself, which left Baekhyun to give the best tour possible to the new recruit. The older two had entered the room used to host superiors, leaving Baekhyun with Chen.
“So… do you want to see your room?” He tried.
“I have a room?”
“We’re not that destitute,” Baekhyun rolled his eyes, but smiled to show Chen he wasn’t actually angry. “Yes, you’ve got your own room. We put you next to Yixing, but if you really can’t cope with his snoring you can move to a different room.”
“Yixing?” Chen questioned. He looked confused now. “I don’t remember reading about anyone called Yixing..”
“Lay,” Baekhyun said. “Sorry, I’m so used to calling the others by their real names… I forgot that a lot of us are down differently in official documents. Quick run through, Yixing is Lay, Junmyeon is Suho, Jongin is Kai, Kyungsoo is D.O., and Minseok is Xiumin. The rest of us use our real names, so hopefully you’ll get no confusion there.”
“Okay…”
“If you want someone to blame, blame me,” Baekhyun said. “I didn’t think people working together, friends,” he stressed, “should be walking about calling each other fake names. I mean, there are people like Jun- sorry, Suho - and Jo-Kai, who have been here for years. So I pushed for using real names.”
Chen nodded. “Does that mean I can use my real name?”
“Go ahead,” Baekhyun said. Things were going well.
“Jongdae” Chen said. Baekhyun grinned in response.
“Welcome to the base, Jongdae.”
The base that they resided on was located in the middle of a vast sea. They weren’t allowed to expand outwards, so they did so downwards, utilising the space below for storage and farms, Baekhyun explained. They imported certain essentials from the mainland, but anything they could get from the surrounding sea or the farms, they did.
The original building itself had three floors, including the roof. The highest floor was used mainly for arrivals and departures, but not much else. ‘Now that you’ve experienced how cold it can get, would you willingly spend time there?” Baekhyun had asked Jongdae. The second floor was where areas like the kitchen could be found, as well as a place to practice target shooting and view arena fights.
The ground floor was where they all slept. The outer rim was split into thirteen, one room for each of the members and an entrance for Minseok’s laboratory downstairs. The inner part was home to a more private community area and additional library, as well as the arena and meeting room, where Junmyeon and Jonghyun were currently.
By the time they reached the two, Baekhyun was convinced he’d shown Jongdae everything there was. He’d given Junmyeon enough time to handle affairs with Jonghyun, so hopefully when they entered the room, all the boring stuff would be completed and Baekhyun could simply enjoy chatting with someone who didn’t spend all his time on an island in the middle of nowhere.
“Will there be any more?” Baekhyun heard Junmyeon say. As he led Jongdae into the meeting room, he wondered what Junmyeon was asking about.
“Not as far as I know,” Jonghyun replied. “Like the report said, Chen here was more of a special case. We’ll contact you if we find anyone that we think would suit your team.” He got up. “Listen, I’d better go. If I stay too long I won’t make it back on time.”
“We haven’t even offered you anything!” Junmyeon said. “Do you have a freezer on the ship? I could grab some beef-“
“Save it,” Jonghyun said calmly. “I’m not going to report you just because you forgot food. It’s not like we have a shortage anyway.” His eyes shifted to Baekhyun, who attempted to change his expression. “And to answer your question, the ship has no freezer. Great for short and stealthy trips, not so much for survival.”
“Good to know,” Baekhyun couldn’t help but say. He turned to Jongdae. “Do you want a moment? You won’t be seeing Jonghyun hyung for a while.” When Jongdae nodded, Baekhyun turned to leave the room, pulling Junmyeon along with him.
“What did you talk about?” He whispered. Junmyeon’s eyes flickered to the closed door.
“Apparently Chen wasn’t exactly… liked back in training.” Junmyeon said finally. Baekhyun blinked in surprise. Okay, maybe Jongdae had been a bit quiet, but that was nothing new, let alone something to get disliked for. He prompted Junmyeon to continue.
“Part of it was, according to Jonghyun, bias.” Junmyeon continued. “I don’t know if you realised - he’s from the Western Island - and you know how some get about that.”
Oh, Baekhyun knew all right. Thankfully, he’d never been the victim of any bullying, but he’d had a friend during training who’d borne the brunt of a lot of it. Yoosung had eventually dropped out, despite his clear talent for water manipulation, and although he and Baekhyun still kept in touch, there had been some kind of line drawn.
“Not a problem,” he told Junmyeon, whilst telling his own mind to shut up. “Yixing and Minseok are both from the Western Island, and it’s not like we’re the type to dislike him for that.”
“I know, but-“
Junmyeon was interrupted by the door opening. Jonghyun stepped outside, Jongdae following him. The latter had a small smile on his face. Jonghyun, meanwhile, had already started upstairs.
“Don’t wait,” he called, as Junmyeon moved to walk after him. “It’s freezing!”
“Practice!” Baekhyun yelled after him. He could see Jongdae’s eyes widen in surprise and Junmyeon roll his, but the only answer he got from Jonghyun was the sound of laughter.
“Alright, then,” Baekhyun told the other two. “I’m going back to bed.”
He expected Junmyeon to protest, but instead the leader shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah… sleep sounds nice… Chen, did Baekhyun show you your room?” Jongdae’s confirmation was all they needed. Baekhyun walked back to his room, climbed into his bed, and fell fast asleep.