Stardust - House of Eros chapter 5 PG15
Title: Stardust Chapter 5
Pairing: Onew/Taemin, glimpses of Key/Minho, Heechul/Kyuhyun
Length: 4263
Genre: BDSM/drama/romance/angst
Rating: PG15
Summary: Onew takes action against Taemin's abuser/Also flashbacks of the time immediately following the scene in Chapter 4.
Warnings: swearing, angst, lots of exposition, ending of chapter may make you sad - trust me, all will be well by end of the fic
Disclaimer: See my Disclaimer of Doom if you wish
Notes: This chapter is almost as pivotal as the one before it. Onew's suit looks like this - Kim Jae Wook looks like this and the office looks a bit like this and this.
Using my lovely new Banner for this fic made for me by the equally lovely anapp
"There's a gentleman to see you, Sir. He says he doesn't have an appointment but he's quite forceful about it. He gave me this note for you."
Kim Jae Wook, international financier, looks up with an expression full of venom and irritation as he gazes at his unfortunate secretary. "Give me the note, then go down to Human Resources. Tell them I need a new secretary and you are to be placed elsewhere," he says. His voice is cool, calm, but it's his eyes that burn despite the faint hint of a smile on his face.
He takes the note from the girl and if he notices there are tears sparkling in his ex-secretary's eyes, Kim doesn't make any sign of it. He opens the sealed envelope and reads the few words written there, shifting slightly in his seat. Kim's manner changes, something about the set of his shoulders, the line of his mouth is indicative of a shift in mood.
"Usher Onew in before you leave, Miss Lee," he says and pushes away from his desk. He's looking out of the long windows that allow him to see over the city below him with a sense of conquering the world by the time the door shuts behind her.
...
Onew has to struggle hard to maintain his outer appearance of complete calm; fingertips running lightly over the silver embossed numbers on the briefcase he carries with him as he sits in the most comfortable chair in the room. He's not surprised when the secretary all but runs out of the inner office. Everything he knows about the man he has come to visit tells him that Kim is entirely unpleasant. He catches the glimmer of tears in her eyes as she ushers him back to the office, and wishes he could do something to help her. Not yet, he tells himself, but soon.
He's silent as he crosses the plush pale tan carpeting to stand a short distance from the well polished desk to one side of the room. It's not a large space, dominated by a row of windows and the desk. There's a seating area to one side waiting for a small group to discuss whatever people discuss in here. Onew glances around once again and waits. He's familiar with these games; the one who speaks first loses.
The owner of the office is a handsome man, Onew concedes to himself while he waits. Sculpted features, fit body, overlong coal black hair waving to one side of his face. His suit is custom tailored, the jacket draped over the back of his desk chair at the moment. Jae Wook's shirt is snow white, fastened at the wrist with platinum cuff links. He watches with a distant disdain as the man sips coffee from a porcelain cup.
Onew is quite confident; he's spent both time and money in the last few weeks gathering quite a file on the other man. The vise will close on Kim Jae Wook like the snap of a steel trap and that will be only the least of the man's worries. He doesn't fidget, doesn't pace, simply stands as if he has all day to wait for the other man to move away from the windows and speak.
...
Jae Wook finds himself coming to the end of his patience and shrugs off the little sense of having lost something to his visitor. He turns on his heel and faces the other man, noting with pleasure that he stands a little taller than Onew. Cocking his head slightly to one side, he observes his well dressed guest and decides that whatever else is true about this man - he's definitely no one to take lightly.
The man is solid, but sleek, the beautifully tailored suit he's wearing quietly screaming the beauty of the form beneath it at the same time it telegraphs a sense of both money and power. His hair has slight chestnut gleam and brushes his collar, his eyes a cool hazel staring into the middle distance as though his guest has infinite patience.
"Hello, Onew," he says, making no move to shake the other man's hand. "Your note said you know the whereabouts of a certain item that belongs to me."
Onew pauses for a moment, not flinching though his heart twists at the idea of Taemin being referred to as an item, a thing. "I know where he is, yes," he answers, putting slight emphasis on the pronoun as if correcting Kim with his simple statement.
"And, what do you want for revealing that information then?" Jae Wook tucks his hands in his pockets and leans casually against the wall. There's something about this man that makes the hair stand up on the back of his neck, and that alone is an unusual sensation.
"I didn't say I'd be telling you where he is," Onew retorts pleasantly, the tone of his voice ever so slightly sarcastic. "I want you to let him go. I'm willing to pay for his release." He smiles as he says the words, doing all he can to make it clear that the money really doesn't mean anything to him at all.
Jae Wook considers the offer, studying Onew with a hard but more straight-forward gaze than before. It would seem the gloves are off from the outset, which is fine with him. "You do know the little fuck toy ran away from me don't you? I have his signature on a contract, which he broke, and left me." He bites out the words and it's clear from the faint dark red blush on his cheeks and the harsh look in his eyes that he's not at all forgiving about Taemin's supposed sins against him.
Onew, however, retains his cold as ice facade. He lifts an eyebrow at the other man's use of language then shrugs a little. "I don't care about any of that. I'm asking you a simple question; how much for his release?"
Jae Wook's eyes narrow and he glares at Onew, and shakes his head. "I don't think you understand. He's mine, and what's mine, I keep." A faint smirk passes over his face. "Besides, it's in the contract. I can't sell him elsewhere."
Tilting his head in a scant acknowledgement, Onew simply sets his brief case down on the desk and snaps the locks open and lets the case open. From within it, he draws out a file of pictures and begins spilling them over the desk one after the other in a lazily sloppy manner calculated to disturb and annoy.
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?" Onew straightens and smiles at Kim, flashing a row of white teeth in a predator's grin. "I do have more. And sworn statements."
Jae Wook blinks, at first his gaze doesn't focus on any one picture but then he begins to note details on this photo and that one and realizes they must have come from some kind of hidden security camera. As he paws through them, he also notices that some of them were taken on his own property - which means someone has to have been spying on him.
Taking a deep breath, he manages a smirk. "He never safe worded. Never said no. If you know where he is...you must know how eager he is to please."
"But you did sell him," Onew says, maintaining his cool by a sheer effort of will. All he wants to do at this point is to rip this fucker's dick off and feed it to him. Slowly. "And I can prove it, which breaks both your contract and the letter of the law," he continues smoothly.
There's a long silence in the quiet of the office. Jae Wook's face twists into a rictus grin and he crumples some of the pictures in his fists. "Fine, have him. I release him. He never was any good anyway. You're welcome to the little shit. Now where are the negatives?"
"Not so fast," Onew replies and pulls a sheaf of papers out of his briefcase, placing them squarely in the middle of the desk. "I'll be happy to witness your signature."
As he leans back, and folds his arms, watching his adversary sharply - his mind drifts back to the night he finally knew what Taemin had suffered at this vulture's hands.
... Flashback ...
By the time Onew stepped out of the shower, his leathers were ruined, his knuckles were bleeding but he was calm again. He slithered out of the wet hide and dropped it on the floor to be tossed away later, and dried off. For a moment, Onew had to pause and look at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and swollen. And yet, even so... all he felt, was strong. Not invincible, but strong - determined. He'd said from the beginning that he'd take care of Taemin, the next days and weeks would just be part of that.
There were clean sweats waiting for him to dress in and he was just pulling a tee shirt over his head when there was a knock on the bathroom door. Assuming it was Key or Minho and that they would be knocking a lot more furiously if something was wrong; he ran his fingers through his hair and picked up the hoodie.
"It's open," he said, clearing his throat and repeating himself a bit more loudly.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Onew had a very clear view of the man who stepped into the small room and closed the door behind him. He was a slight man, less solidly built that Onew himself though about the same height. His eyes were wide and knowing, girlishly rimmed with a fine line of kohl and long lashes that owed nothing at all to artifice. He was dressed in a loose unconstructed blazer in dark blue that looked rich against his porcelain skin tone, along with a pair of comfortable slacks. His long fingered perfectly manicured hands were tucked into his pockets as he looked Onew over from head to foot.
"Hello, Heechul hyung," Onew said, turning away from the mirror and ducking his head a little in acknowledgement of who this man really was...especially to him. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry it's so late."
Heechul made a dismissive gesture with one of those graceful hands that Onew knew from personal experience was much more powerful than it looked. "I will come when you call, you do it so rarely," he explained and shrugged. "Anyway, I am the official medical practitioner here at the house, so who else would you call?"
Stepping forward, Heechul suddenly hugged Onew in a fierce almost painful grip that still was very comforting. "You did a good job," he commented close to Onew's ear.
"He...I...will he scar?" Onew stuttered for a moment, leaning into the hard hug as well before the two of them stepped apart. "He has so many scars already, on the inside."
"I don't think so. The welts aren't that deep and only a few of them crossed each other and bled. I've already applied some medicated salve and given him a small dose of pain killers. Nothing too extreme, just something to take the edge off." Heechul patted Onew's jaw as he spoke then stepped back to give them both more breathing room.
"I'll come back tomorrow and I want him to stay here at least until then. The less moving while they begin to clot up properly, the better."
Onew listened and just nodded. He ran his fingers through his damp hair and felt a wave of tiredness wash over him, as strong as a high tide. "Good, good...that's all good news."
"Also..." Heechul's face grew suddenly harsher and somehow older though nothing about him really changed. "The ever lovely Kibum has seen fit to give me a general outline of our Taemin's suffering. I have some offers of help. Beginning with my own divine Kyuhyun, who in his spare time likes to crack into places he's not supposed to go...Call him tomorrow and we'll see if we can't arrange a little exploration of your adversary's files, eh?"
A faint incredulous smile curved Onew's lips as Heechul talked and he finally grinned outright. "Trust you to come up with a plan in five minutes, hyung," he said softly.
"You're too close to this. A cool head is a good thing. Besides, in your shoes if I knew something like this had happened to my boy, I'd be beside myself with rage and pain...and I know you well enough to know you are no different." Heechul answered with a hint of smugness, patting Onew's cheek again.
He pulled a card case from his inside breast pocket and opened it. "Now, you may want someone to guard Taemin for a while or you may just need a little muscle. Sungmin and Siwon run a very private investigations service and as my personal friends, I'm sure they'd be happy to take on a special case like this." As Heechul spoke, he offered Onew a card. "Here is their number."
Onew was rarely comfortable with having anyone else seemingly so aggressively in control of his life as Heechul seemed to be planning to be. Then again, someone like Heechul just naturally assumed he was in control - it hung around him like a kind of smoke. Onew frowned slightly and accepted the card, giving the older man his respectful attention for the moment.
"You may not be aware of it, but my sources suggest this dick head has been under surveilance before. Let's ask Kyuhyun to check into police records as well. And Onew, do you have enough money?"
Onew rolled his eyes. That last question was unnecessary and Heechul knew it. Somehow the amusement he felt eased off his sense of having his toes stepped on. "You know you're really bossy, hyung," he teased softly.
"Yes, well...I'm having one of those days," Heechul responded with a vaguely apologetic shrug. "Let me help you...without you...my divine Kyuhyun and I...might not be where we are. It's my turn to pay the debt." Clear dark eyes suddenly held warmth and a hint of pleading.
"Oh fine, more time for me to spend with Taemin," Onew agreed with a quirk of his lips.
"Good boy," Heechul teased, stepping lightly away to pull open the door of the bathroom. "Lets get out of here, I'm dying of heat stroke."
.... End Flashback ....
Onew watches the quick and angry strokes of the pen over each copy of the contract release forms that he brought with him with a rising sense of elation. Still, he maintains his outwardly stoic and cool facade. There's something about Kim's twisted expression that tells him this man still has something up his sleeve. He's suddenly very grateful for the small extremely high tech little box in his pocket and he pushes the button atop it with a casual movement of his arm.
"There, it's done. Now, give me the negatives and then get out of my office." Jae Wook pushes the papers across his desk roughly. He's highly displeased with the way this little interview has gone and he has a lot of research to do about just who this Onew person actually is...or rather someone in his employ will do the researching.
Onew doesn't speak as he takes the stack of signed forms into his hands, straightening the pile with careful attention before he places them back in the briefcase. He makes a show of closing the case and spinning the lock tumbles before he lifts his brows questioningly.
"Negatives? I never said I was giving you the negatives, Mr Kim. When these forms are filed and the item is legally free of you, then we can negotiate terms for the negatives." This is a lie and Onew lies freely in the face of a man whom he considers barely a half step up from a beast. A short half step.
He's actually pleased to see the other man's face darken and his fists clench, so far this situation has been a little bloodless for his taste. Onew doesn't back down, just cocks his head to one side as if Kim is a orangutang which has learned an interesting trick. "I wouldn't be hasty if I were you, Mr. Kim," he adds.
Jae Wook glares at Onew. He'd really like to bloody the man's face at the least as anger suffuses his being and shows as a faint flush on his own visage. He tells himself he has plenty of options left, including calling security after Onew has left his office. Jae Wook forces himself to shrug and spread his hands.
"Don't flatter yourself," he tells Onew icily.
At that point, the door opens on the outer office and a man stands there quietly. He's a little short and stocky, handsome with dark hair and an expression that looks as if it could go stern or smile depending on the circumstances. Clad simply in dark jeans, sneakers and a pale pink dress shirt, he says nothing.
"This is my escort," Onew explains. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure to do business with you, Mr. Kim." He tilts his head in a slight acknowledgement of the other man, still seething with the desire to do him grievous bodily harm beneath his cool exterior.
"Prompt as always," he tells the silent man and turns away from the desk and starts walking at a comfortably brisk pace to the door.
"You..." Jae Wook nearly chokes on the rage waiting to get out. He doesn't need to recognize Onew's escort to understand that the man is there to see him safely from Jae Wook's office and out of the building. One more avenue is now closed to him without causing much more of a disturbance than seems prudent right now.
Onew doesn't look around, he simply walks out the door, hearing it close a few paces later. Taemin is all but legally free of Kim, and then the fun really begins. He allows himself a small grin as he and his escort emerge from the building a few minutes later.
...Flashback...
Onew walks out with Heechul into the bedroom. He smiles a little when he finds Minho sitting in one of the comfortable easy chairs with Kibum curled up on his lap. The almighty Key might be the more dominant of the two in the relationship but Key is a law unto himself. If he wants the taller and very muscular Minho to cuddle him, he'll be cuddled damn it.
Without speaking, Key lifts his hand as Onew comes close to where he's seated and Onew takes it in his own. "Thank you for being here, for sitting with him while I..." he begins.
"Shut Up." Kibum orders and squeezes his hand. "You know how I feel about thanks when there's none necessary," He sighs and lets go of Onew's hand, wiggling a little to get out of Minho's lap which prompts a low voiced chuckle from the quiet man.
"Taemin seems to be sleeping quietly. Well, Heechul hyung can tell you that. We're going to bed," Key says, taking Minho's arm as his companion rises to his feet.
"Don't forget, if I can help you in any way, please call," Minho says quietly to Onew, offering his free hand to shake.
"I appreciate...everything," Onew answers, his throat a little tight.
"Call me soon, Jinki," Key whispers, pressing his cheek lightly to Onew's before he and Minho leave the room.
"You do inspire loyalty, Onew," Heechul comments.
At that point, the door into the dungeon part of the suite opens and a platinum blonde head pokes in. "My Prince? I think I have something," he says. A smile breaks over handsome features and he tips his head to acknowledge Onew. "Evening, Sir. You might want to look at this, if you can leave Taemin a moment."
"I knew you would, lovely," Heechul responds, moving swiftly towards the door and the only man in the world who addresses him as their prince. The only one with the right to call him that.
"Just a moment please," Onew answers, stepping over to the bed and gazing intently down at his boy's small face. He seems relaxed, and Onew thinks he sees even the slight curve of a smile on pale chapped lips. Resisting the urge to comb his fingers through Taemin's hair, Onew sighs deeply and steps to the door.
"Can you show me from here, Kyuhyun? I don't want to leave Taemin, if he should wake up and feel frightened or..."
"Oh, sure. It's on my laptop. Basically, it seems as though someone's been watching this jerk's house for months, evne years. I don't know what they are doing or planning to do with the information but they're storing it on a hard drive on the premises. It's even wired in through a back door to the main security system - that's how I found it. I found a lot of ..." Kyuhyun pauses and drops his eyes. "I found quite a lot of Taemin...from the little bit I watched, it's pretty obvious he was resistant and being coerced. I think he might have even been drugged."
As he finishes, Kyuhyun, moves back across the bare floor to where he'd set up his computer and unplugs the laptop from the wall. He brings it across the floor and offers it to Onew. "Just um...just click the button," he says, shifting uncomfortably.
Heechul reaches out and lightly strokes blonde hair away from Kyuhyun's face. "You've done really well, lovely," he says in an undertone as Onew watches a small bit of the movie his boy has found for him to watch.
Onew feels ill watching the movie. The picture is a bit fuzzy but it's clearly Taemin, being manhandled roughly by three others and the focus of the activity is becoming obvious. He can hear Taemin's voice clearly, and a drink is pressed to his boy's lips. At that point, he clicks off the movie.
"I can't watch this," he says quietly, offering the laptop back to Kyuhyun. "But, we need to do whatever we can to find whatever else there is to find, and then get the picture cleared up and make hard copies. This might be the leverage I need to get Taemin legally released from this man."
He smiles at Kyuhyun warmly as he finishes speaking then continues. "Thank you for your hard work. I'm amazed at how quickly you were able to find something useful."
Kyuhyun looks a little sheepish. "Well...to be honest, like I said, it looks like someone's been there before me. I just sort of..followed the tracks. "
"Still, I couldn't have done it." Onew smiles again then looks to Heechul. "I hope you both will excuse me, I need to spend some time with my boy now."
Heechul nods understandingly. "Of course, Onew. We'll return to our own suite. Kyuhyun has much more equipment and programs at his disposal there. If you need me, call me at once, please."
"Yes, of course. Goodnight, hyung. Kyuhyun, goodnight."
Onew turns away then and lets the door shut as he walks back to the bed. Sitting down where Key and Minho were seated before, he takes Taemin's fine boned hand in his own and watches his boy's sleeping face as if that sleep needs to be guarded against all manner of foes.
...End Flashback...
Onew and his escort are nearly back to Eros where Taemin is resting when Onew's phone rings. He frowns, there are only a few people who have this private number and an icy chill spears through his heart.
"Onew," he says as calmly as he can into the device after clicking it on.
"Onew...I don't know how to tell you this." It's Donghae's voice and Onew doesn't think he's ever heard the owner of Eros sound so disturbed and anxious.
"Donghae? Is Taemin all right?" Onew reaches over and grabs his escort's hand, hanging onto it tightly for dear life. His blood seems to have frozen in his veins and his heart jumps in his chest painfully. Surely Kim couldn't have worked so fast, he tells himself.
"I...he was fine but...he's gone. There's a note for you."
"What do you mean gone...he can't be gone, there's security in the building," Onew snaps, a nasty thread of fear making his voice sharp.
"No, I mean, he left. Evidently. Of his own accord."
"I'll be there in ten minutes," Onew answers numbly. Taemin has left him? Impossible. And yet...
Pairing: Onew/Taemin, glimpses of Key/Minho, Heechul/Kyuhyun
Length: 4263
Genre: BDSM/drama/romance/angst
Rating: PG15
Summary: Onew takes action against Taemin's abuser/Also flashbacks of the time immediately following the scene in Chapter 4.
Warnings: swearing, angst, lots of exposition, ending of chapter may make you sad - trust me, all will be well by end of the fic
Disclaimer: See my Disclaimer of Doom if you wish
Notes: This chapter is almost as pivotal as the one before it. Onew's suit looks like this - Kim Jae Wook looks like this and the office looks a bit like this and this.
Using my lovely new Banner for this fic made for me by the equally lovely anapp
"There's a gentleman to see you, Sir. He says he doesn't have an appointment but he's quite forceful about it. He gave me this note for you."
Kim Jae Wook, international financier, looks up with an expression full of venom and irritation as he gazes at his unfortunate secretary. "Give me the note, then go down to Human Resources. Tell them I need a new secretary and you are to be placed elsewhere," he says. His voice is cool, calm, but it's his eyes that burn despite the faint hint of a smile on his face.
He takes the note from the girl and if he notices there are tears sparkling in his ex-secretary's eyes, Kim doesn't make any sign of it. He opens the sealed envelope and reads the few words written there, shifting slightly in his seat. Kim's manner changes, something about the set of his shoulders, the line of his mouth is indicative of a shift in mood.
"Usher Onew in before you leave, Miss Lee," he says and pushes away from his desk. He's looking out of the long windows that allow him to see over the city below him with a sense of conquering the world by the time the door shuts behind her.
...
Onew has to struggle hard to maintain his outer appearance of complete calm; fingertips running lightly over the silver embossed numbers on the briefcase he carries with him as he sits in the most comfortable chair in the room. He's not surprised when the secretary all but runs out of the inner office. Everything he knows about the man he has come to visit tells him that Kim is entirely unpleasant. He catches the glimmer of tears in her eyes as she ushers him back to the office, and wishes he could do something to help her. Not yet, he tells himself, but soon.
He's silent as he crosses the plush pale tan carpeting to stand a short distance from the well polished desk to one side of the room. It's not a large space, dominated by a row of windows and the desk. There's a seating area to one side waiting for a small group to discuss whatever people discuss in here. Onew glances around once again and waits. He's familiar with these games; the one who speaks first loses.
The owner of the office is a handsome man, Onew concedes to himself while he waits. Sculpted features, fit body, overlong coal black hair waving to one side of his face. His suit is custom tailored, the jacket draped over the back of his desk chair at the moment. Jae Wook's shirt is snow white, fastened at the wrist with platinum cuff links. He watches with a distant disdain as the man sips coffee from a porcelain cup.
Onew is quite confident; he's spent both time and money in the last few weeks gathering quite a file on the other man. The vise will close on Kim Jae Wook like the snap of a steel trap and that will be only the least of the man's worries. He doesn't fidget, doesn't pace, simply stands as if he has all day to wait for the other man to move away from the windows and speak.
...
Jae Wook finds himself coming to the end of his patience and shrugs off the little sense of having lost something to his visitor. He turns on his heel and faces the other man, noting with pleasure that he stands a little taller than Onew. Cocking his head slightly to one side, he observes his well dressed guest and decides that whatever else is true about this man - he's definitely no one to take lightly.
The man is solid, but sleek, the beautifully tailored suit he's wearing quietly screaming the beauty of the form beneath it at the same time it telegraphs a sense of both money and power. His hair has slight chestnut gleam and brushes his collar, his eyes a cool hazel staring into the middle distance as though his guest has infinite patience.
"Hello, Onew," he says, making no move to shake the other man's hand. "Your note said you know the whereabouts of a certain item that belongs to me."
Onew pauses for a moment, not flinching though his heart twists at the idea of Taemin being referred to as an item, a thing. "I know where he is, yes," he answers, putting slight emphasis on the pronoun as if correcting Kim with his simple statement.
"And, what do you want for revealing that information then?" Jae Wook tucks his hands in his pockets and leans casually against the wall. There's something about this man that makes the hair stand up on the back of his neck, and that alone is an unusual sensation.
"I didn't say I'd be telling you where he is," Onew retorts pleasantly, the tone of his voice ever so slightly sarcastic. "I want you to let him go. I'm willing to pay for his release." He smiles as he says the words, doing all he can to make it clear that the money really doesn't mean anything to him at all.
Jae Wook considers the offer, studying Onew with a hard but more straight-forward gaze than before. It would seem the gloves are off from the outset, which is fine with him. "You do know the little fuck toy ran away from me don't you? I have his signature on a contract, which he broke, and left me." He bites out the words and it's clear from the faint dark red blush on his cheeks and the harsh look in his eyes that he's not at all forgiving about Taemin's supposed sins against him.
Onew, however, retains his cold as ice facade. He lifts an eyebrow at the other man's use of language then shrugs a little. "I don't care about any of that. I'm asking you a simple question; how much for his release?"
Jae Wook's eyes narrow and he glares at Onew, and shakes his head. "I don't think you understand. He's mine, and what's mine, I keep." A faint smirk passes over his face. "Besides, it's in the contract. I can't sell him elsewhere."
Tilting his head in a scant acknowledgement, Onew simply sets his brief case down on the desk and snaps the locks open and lets the case open. From within it, he draws out a file of pictures and begins spilling them over the desk one after the other in a lazily sloppy manner calculated to disturb and annoy.
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?" Onew straightens and smiles at Kim, flashing a row of white teeth in a predator's grin. "I do have more. And sworn statements."
Jae Wook blinks, at first his gaze doesn't focus on any one picture but then he begins to note details on this photo and that one and realizes they must have come from some kind of hidden security camera. As he paws through them, he also notices that some of them were taken on his own property - which means someone has to have been spying on him.
Taking a deep breath, he manages a smirk. "He never safe worded. Never said no. If you know where he is...you must know how eager he is to please."
"But you did sell him," Onew says, maintaining his cool by a sheer effort of will. All he wants to do at this point is to rip this fucker's dick off and feed it to him. Slowly. "And I can prove it, which breaks both your contract and the letter of the law," he continues smoothly.
There's a long silence in the quiet of the office. Jae Wook's face twists into a rictus grin and he crumples some of the pictures in his fists. "Fine, have him. I release him. He never was any good anyway. You're welcome to the little shit. Now where are the negatives?"
"Not so fast," Onew replies and pulls a sheaf of papers out of his briefcase, placing them squarely in the middle of the desk. "I'll be happy to witness your signature."
As he leans back, and folds his arms, watching his adversary sharply - his mind drifts back to the night he finally knew what Taemin had suffered at this vulture's hands.
... Flashback ...
By the time Onew stepped out of the shower, his leathers were ruined, his knuckles were bleeding but he was calm again. He slithered out of the wet hide and dropped it on the floor to be tossed away later, and dried off. For a moment, Onew had to pause and look at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and swollen. And yet, even so... all he felt, was strong. Not invincible, but strong - determined. He'd said from the beginning that he'd take care of Taemin, the next days and weeks would just be part of that.
There were clean sweats waiting for him to dress in and he was just pulling a tee shirt over his head when there was a knock on the bathroom door. Assuming it was Key or Minho and that they would be knocking a lot more furiously if something was wrong; he ran his fingers through his hair and picked up the hoodie.
"It's open," he said, clearing his throat and repeating himself a bit more loudly.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Onew had a very clear view of the man who stepped into the small room and closed the door behind him. He was a slight man, less solidly built that Onew himself though about the same height. His eyes were wide and knowing, girlishly rimmed with a fine line of kohl and long lashes that owed nothing at all to artifice. He was dressed in a loose unconstructed blazer in dark blue that looked rich against his porcelain skin tone, along with a pair of comfortable slacks. His long fingered perfectly manicured hands were tucked into his pockets as he looked Onew over from head to foot.
"Hello, Heechul hyung," Onew said, turning away from the mirror and ducking his head a little in acknowledgement of who this man really was...especially to him. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry it's so late."
Heechul made a dismissive gesture with one of those graceful hands that Onew knew from personal experience was much more powerful than it looked. "I will come when you call, you do it so rarely," he explained and shrugged. "Anyway, I am the official medical practitioner here at the house, so who else would you call?"
Stepping forward, Heechul suddenly hugged Onew in a fierce almost painful grip that still was very comforting. "You did a good job," he commented close to Onew's ear.
"He...I...will he scar?" Onew stuttered for a moment, leaning into the hard hug as well before the two of them stepped apart. "He has so many scars already, on the inside."
"I don't think so. The welts aren't that deep and only a few of them crossed each other and bled. I've already applied some medicated salve and given him a small dose of pain killers. Nothing too extreme, just something to take the edge off." Heechul patted Onew's jaw as he spoke then stepped back to give them both more breathing room.
"I'll come back tomorrow and I want him to stay here at least until then. The less moving while they begin to clot up properly, the better."
Onew listened and just nodded. He ran his fingers through his damp hair and felt a wave of tiredness wash over him, as strong as a high tide. "Good, good...that's all good news."
"Also..." Heechul's face grew suddenly harsher and somehow older though nothing about him really changed. "The ever lovely Kibum has seen fit to give me a general outline of our Taemin's suffering. I have some offers of help. Beginning with my own divine Kyuhyun, who in his spare time likes to crack into places he's not supposed to go...Call him tomorrow and we'll see if we can't arrange a little exploration of your adversary's files, eh?"
A faint incredulous smile curved Onew's lips as Heechul talked and he finally grinned outright. "Trust you to come up with a plan in five minutes, hyung," he said softly.
"You're too close to this. A cool head is a good thing. Besides, in your shoes if I knew something like this had happened to my boy, I'd be beside myself with rage and pain...and I know you well enough to know you are no different." Heechul answered with a hint of smugness, patting Onew's cheek again.
He pulled a card case from his inside breast pocket and opened it. "Now, you may want someone to guard Taemin for a while or you may just need a little muscle. Sungmin and Siwon run a very private investigations service and as my personal friends, I'm sure they'd be happy to take on a special case like this." As Heechul spoke, he offered Onew a card. "Here is their number."
Onew was rarely comfortable with having anyone else seemingly so aggressively in control of his life as Heechul seemed to be planning to be. Then again, someone like Heechul just naturally assumed he was in control - it hung around him like a kind of smoke. Onew frowned slightly and accepted the card, giving the older man his respectful attention for the moment.
"You may not be aware of it, but my sources suggest this dick head has been under surveilance before. Let's ask Kyuhyun to check into police records as well. And Onew, do you have enough money?"
Onew rolled his eyes. That last question was unnecessary and Heechul knew it. Somehow the amusement he felt eased off his sense of having his toes stepped on. "You know you're really bossy, hyung," he teased softly.
"Yes, well...I'm having one of those days," Heechul responded with a vaguely apologetic shrug. "Let me help you...without you...my divine Kyuhyun and I...might not be where we are. It's my turn to pay the debt." Clear dark eyes suddenly held warmth and a hint of pleading.
"Oh fine, more time for me to spend with Taemin," Onew agreed with a quirk of his lips.
"Good boy," Heechul teased, stepping lightly away to pull open the door of the bathroom. "Lets get out of here, I'm dying of heat stroke."
.... End Flashback ....
Onew watches the quick and angry strokes of the pen over each copy of the contract release forms that he brought with him with a rising sense of elation. Still, he maintains his outwardly stoic and cool facade. There's something about Kim's twisted expression that tells him this man still has something up his sleeve. He's suddenly very grateful for the small extremely high tech little box in his pocket and he pushes the button atop it with a casual movement of his arm.
"There, it's done. Now, give me the negatives and then get out of my office." Jae Wook pushes the papers across his desk roughly. He's highly displeased with the way this little interview has gone and he has a lot of research to do about just who this Onew person actually is...or rather someone in his employ will do the researching.
Onew doesn't speak as he takes the stack of signed forms into his hands, straightening the pile with careful attention before he places them back in the briefcase. He makes a show of closing the case and spinning the lock tumbles before he lifts his brows questioningly.
"Negatives? I never said I was giving you the negatives, Mr Kim. When these forms are filed and the item is legally free of you, then we can negotiate terms for the negatives." This is a lie and Onew lies freely in the face of a man whom he considers barely a half step up from a beast. A short half step.
He's actually pleased to see the other man's face darken and his fists clench, so far this situation has been a little bloodless for his taste. Onew doesn't back down, just cocks his head to one side as if Kim is a orangutang which has learned an interesting trick. "I wouldn't be hasty if I were you, Mr. Kim," he adds.
Jae Wook glares at Onew. He'd really like to bloody the man's face at the least as anger suffuses his being and shows as a faint flush on his own visage. He tells himself he has plenty of options left, including calling security after Onew has left his office. Jae Wook forces himself to shrug and spread his hands.
"Don't flatter yourself," he tells Onew icily.
At that point, the door opens on the outer office and a man stands there quietly. He's a little short and stocky, handsome with dark hair and an expression that looks as if it could go stern or smile depending on the circumstances. Clad simply in dark jeans, sneakers and a pale pink dress shirt, he says nothing.
"This is my escort," Onew explains. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure to do business with you, Mr. Kim." He tilts his head in a slight acknowledgement of the other man, still seething with the desire to do him grievous bodily harm beneath his cool exterior.
"Prompt as always," he tells the silent man and turns away from the desk and starts walking at a comfortably brisk pace to the door.
"You..." Jae Wook nearly chokes on the rage waiting to get out. He doesn't need to recognize Onew's escort to understand that the man is there to see him safely from Jae Wook's office and out of the building. One more avenue is now closed to him without causing much more of a disturbance than seems prudent right now.
Onew doesn't look around, he simply walks out the door, hearing it close a few paces later. Taemin is all but legally free of Kim, and then the fun really begins. He allows himself a small grin as he and his escort emerge from the building a few minutes later.
...Flashback...
Onew walks out with Heechul into the bedroom. He smiles a little when he finds Minho sitting in one of the comfortable easy chairs with Kibum curled up on his lap. The almighty Key might be the more dominant of the two in the relationship but Key is a law unto himself. If he wants the taller and very muscular Minho to cuddle him, he'll be cuddled damn it.
Without speaking, Key lifts his hand as Onew comes close to where he's seated and Onew takes it in his own. "Thank you for being here, for sitting with him while I..." he begins.
"Shut Up." Kibum orders and squeezes his hand. "You know how I feel about thanks when there's none necessary," He sighs and lets go of Onew's hand, wiggling a little to get out of Minho's lap which prompts a low voiced chuckle from the quiet man.
"Taemin seems to be sleeping quietly. Well, Heechul hyung can tell you that. We're going to bed," Key says, taking Minho's arm as his companion rises to his feet.
"Don't forget, if I can help you in any way, please call," Minho says quietly to Onew, offering his free hand to shake.
"I appreciate...everything," Onew answers, his throat a little tight.
"Call me soon, Jinki," Key whispers, pressing his cheek lightly to Onew's before he and Minho leave the room.
"You do inspire loyalty, Onew," Heechul comments.
At that point, the door into the dungeon part of the suite opens and a platinum blonde head pokes in. "My Prince? I think I have something," he says. A smile breaks over handsome features and he tips his head to acknowledge Onew. "Evening, Sir. You might want to look at this, if you can leave Taemin a moment."
"I knew you would, lovely," Heechul responds, moving swiftly towards the door and the only man in the world who addresses him as their prince. The only one with the right to call him that.
"Just a moment please," Onew answers, stepping over to the bed and gazing intently down at his boy's small face. He seems relaxed, and Onew thinks he sees even the slight curve of a smile on pale chapped lips. Resisting the urge to comb his fingers through Taemin's hair, Onew sighs deeply and steps to the door.
"Can you show me from here, Kyuhyun? I don't want to leave Taemin, if he should wake up and feel frightened or..."
"Oh, sure. It's on my laptop. Basically, it seems as though someone's been watching this jerk's house for months, evne years. I don't know what they are doing or planning to do with the information but they're storing it on a hard drive on the premises. It's even wired in through a back door to the main security system - that's how I found it. I found a lot of ..." Kyuhyun pauses and drops his eyes. "I found quite a lot of Taemin...from the little bit I watched, it's pretty obvious he was resistant and being coerced. I think he might have even been drugged."
As he finishes, Kyuhyun, moves back across the bare floor to where he'd set up his computer and unplugs the laptop from the wall. He brings it across the floor and offers it to Onew. "Just um...just click the button," he says, shifting uncomfortably.
Heechul reaches out and lightly strokes blonde hair away from Kyuhyun's face. "You've done really well, lovely," he says in an undertone as Onew watches a small bit of the movie his boy has found for him to watch.
Onew feels ill watching the movie. The picture is a bit fuzzy but it's clearly Taemin, being manhandled roughly by three others and the focus of the activity is becoming obvious. He can hear Taemin's voice clearly, and a drink is pressed to his boy's lips. At that point, he clicks off the movie.
"I can't watch this," he says quietly, offering the laptop back to Kyuhyun. "But, we need to do whatever we can to find whatever else there is to find, and then get the picture cleared up and make hard copies. This might be the leverage I need to get Taemin legally released from this man."
He smiles at Kyuhyun warmly as he finishes speaking then continues. "Thank you for your hard work. I'm amazed at how quickly you were able to find something useful."
Kyuhyun looks a little sheepish. "Well...to be honest, like I said, it looks like someone's been there before me. I just sort of..followed the tracks. "
"Still, I couldn't have done it." Onew smiles again then looks to Heechul. "I hope you both will excuse me, I need to spend some time with my boy now."
Heechul nods understandingly. "Of course, Onew. We'll return to our own suite. Kyuhyun has much more equipment and programs at his disposal there. If you need me, call me at once, please."
"Yes, of course. Goodnight, hyung. Kyuhyun, goodnight."
Onew turns away then and lets the door shut as he walks back to the bed. Sitting down where Key and Minho were seated before, he takes Taemin's fine boned hand in his own and watches his boy's sleeping face as if that sleep needs to be guarded against all manner of foes.
...End Flashback...
Onew and his escort are nearly back to Eros where Taemin is resting when Onew's phone rings. He frowns, there are only a few people who have this private number and an icy chill spears through his heart.
"Onew," he says as calmly as he can into the device after clicking it on.
"Onew...I don't know how to tell you this." It's Donghae's voice and Onew doesn't think he's ever heard the owner of Eros sound so disturbed and anxious.
"Donghae? Is Taemin all right?" Onew reaches over and grabs his escort's hand, hanging onto it tightly for dear life. His blood seems to have frozen in his veins and his heart jumps in his chest painfully. Surely Kim couldn't have worked so fast, he tells himself.
"I...he was fine but...he's gone. There's a note for you."
"What do you mean gone...he can't be gone, there's security in the building," Onew snaps, a nasty thread of fear making his voice sharp.
"No, I mean, he left. Evidently. Of his own accord."
"I'll be there in ten minutes," Onew answers numbly. Taemin has left him? Impossible. And yet...