A Knight of Fire 10/?
Title: A Knight of Fire 10/?
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong, Yoochun/Junsu, Changmin/Junho
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: They aren't mine and I can't even claim the idea as mine because it is all devilaugh's fault.
Summary: Jaejoong is a scribe in King Ahn Chilhyun's court. He is sent to small seaside village to teach the people how to read, and instead finds a lover who has a secret that will end up endangering the entire world.
A/N: This fic is all devilaugh's fault. It was her idea on the post about the picture of Jaejoong, so this fic was partially inspired by this picture
Part 10:
Fanfic poster by back_to_five!!! Perfection! <3 <3
The sun had yet to rise over the Eastern Mountains when the four of them packed up their belongings and headed out of the city. They had a hearty breakfast and real coffee, and stopped at the markets to replenish their supplies. The innkeeper did not say how far up the mountain the village was and they had no idea if they’d be able to find food. Jaejoong also bought extra cloaks and blankets because Western shores were warm and the others did not understand just how far the temperature could drop in the mountains.
Near the edge of the market, Jaejoong grew distracted by hanging parchments covered in artwork. The sunlight danced on one image in particular, making the flame look alive.
“You like ink?” a voice asked next to him.
Jaejoong turned and smiled at the proprietor of the tent. He was barefoot and bare-chested, showing off the scrolls of tattoos that covered his body.
“You’re very talented,” Jaejoong said.
“Do you have some?”
Jaejoong nodded and took off his tunic to show the man.
“Very good,” the man said, stepping close to see the details of the butterfly. “Steady hand, great coloring. Where did you get these done?”
“In the capital city.”
“Great artists there. The butterfly seems out of place with the rest on your skin.”
Jaejoong laughed, and noted Yunho glaring at him. He turned around, so the ink artist could see the ones on his back. “The castle gardens are beautiful this time of year, and butterflies just flock to the flowers. When you spend more time around butterflies than people, it isn’t out of place at all.”
The man was frowning when Jaejoong turned to look back at him.
“What?” he asked, putting his tunic back on just as Yunho came up next to him. Jaejoong smiled at him.
“When was the last time you were in the castle gardens?”
“A few months ago,” Jaejoong said. “Why?”
“Rumor has it that the king has locked down the city.”
“What?” Yunho said.
The man shrugged. “Yeah. No one is allowed in or out without permission. That’s just what we heard up here, though. People talk all the time.”
Jaejoong nodded. “Yeah, they do. That doesn’t sound like King Ahn though. He’s very open and very welcoming.”
Even as Jaejoong said the words, he knew that the king was changing.
“So you want another one?” the man asked, motioning to his art.
Jaejoong laughed. “If we weren’t on our way out of town, I would say yes. I really like the flame.”
“Too bad, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“I will.”
Yunho draped his arm around Jaejoong’s shoulders and led him away to where Junho and Junsu waited with their horses. “I didn’t destroy his tent in a fiery ball of jealousy when he looked at you. I have such great control.”
Jaejoong laughed and leaned his head on Yunho’s shoulder. They did not speak about anything else while they left the town gates. The soldiers guarding it glanced at them, but did not detain them. The road was mostly dirt and rocks on this side of the city, not the cobbled streets of the city. As they continued up and over hillocks and streams, Jaejoong understood why. It would have been very expensive to build a stable road this way. Their horses were sure footed, so Jaejoong did not worry.
“This is troubling,” Yunho said, and told the Kim Twins what they had heard from the ink master.
“So either Changmin left and he is on his way here,” Junho said.
“Or this is going to turn into a rescue mission,” Junsu finished.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
It rained their first night in the mountains. Junsu diverted the water around them, so their patch of land stayed dry, but he had to stay awake to do it.
“It is okay if we get a little wet,” Junho said in concern, sitting close to his brother.
“A little wet definitely is not the same as a whole lot of wet,” Junsu said. “I’m fine. I’ve done this before, you know. With like typhoons and hurricanes and cyclones in the middle of an ocean.”
“Well, if you are going to be stubborn and egotistical about it, I guess I’ll just have to stay awake and keep you company.” He put his arm around Junsu’s waist and leaned against him with a yawn.
Junsu smiled at him. “Thanks, brother.”
Jaejoong and Yunho were curled up under a thick blanket. The exchange between the brothers made him smile, but then he pouted when Yunho moved.
“Where are you going?”
“To stay awake with Junsu.”
“But Junho--”
“Is already asleep,” Junsu said fondly and pressed a kiss to his brother’s forehead.
Jaejoong continued to pout, but Yunho still got up and moved to the brothers. Together, they moved Junho to his bed and Yunho sat with Junsu, keeping him warm with a small fire. They did not talk and Jaejoong figured they did not need to. He was a little jealous of their friendship. He really did not have anyone that he was that close to, that knew him that well. His sisters were all older than him, and he had left home at such a young age.
Changmin had been the very first person who he could call his friend. Worry ate at him, but Changmin was a Knight of Earth. He was more capable of defending himself than Jaejoong was.
The rain petered out near dawn, and Junsu fell asleep just as soon as Jaejoong woke up. Yunho made sure the fire was strong before laying down himself to sleep for a couple hours.
Junho did not wake up until Junsu soaked him with water.
“Yah! Do you want to die?” Junho said, jumping to his feet.
Junsu smiled at him. “You fell asleep, you lazy puddle.”
Junho cursed and wiped water from his face. “Dry me off.”
“No. Suffer.”
“Dry me off!”
“Suffer!”
“I can dry you off,” Yunho said and conjured a spinning vortex of yellow fire.
Junho looked at him and then at his brother. “Wet? No. Nope. I am dry as a dead long. Perfectly good.”
“For kindling,” Yunho said.
Junsu laughed.
“Children,” Jaejoong said and shot a significant look at their camp that needed to be cleaned up.
Junho stomped away, grumbling under his breath.
Yunho and Junsu exchanged a look and Junsu laughed before lifting a hand. It was interesting, watching it in reverse. The water just lifted off Junho and shot back to Junsu. Junsu watched it roll in midair for a moment before letting it fall upon a patch of berry bushes.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
It took another two cold and rainy days in the mountains before they came across the first signs of habitation. Little shacks dotted the road, though there were no people living in them. Jaejoong surmised that they were for shelter, this far away from the village. The sides of mountains were terraced with large varieties of crops growing. Forests gave way to orchards, the trees just barely showing fruit at the beginning of summer.
Near noon on the next day, they saw their first workers. They looked at them in distrust, and Jaejoong smiled and hailed them, asking to speak with their Lord of their village.
“Who are you?” one man asked.
“We are friends of Changmin’s,” Jaejoong said.
The workers dropped their tools. “What?”
“We are friends of Changmin’s,” Jaejoong repeated. “Can we speak with your Lord? It’s very important.”
They nodded and a couple of them ran ahead, up the trail. Jaejoong kept the friendly smile on his face. He felt the trepidation of the other three though. The village was set into the side of the mountain. A large cliff face had holes and passageways cut into it, people walking in and out of the main entrance. Smaller houses were built of logs around a central water well and the houses stretched into the trees along small roads. The roads were not cobbled with stones, just dirt. Everything was green, or appeared green. Ivy tangled on the cliff face, trees grew out of cracks and through shelters. It was like the villagers adjusted to and built around what was already there, without hurting or destroying the landscape.
One of the workers that had rushed ahead emerged from a cavern, followed by a man who looked almost exactly like Changmin. He was an imposing man tall and broad shouldered, with long hair pulled back in a queue, and his face was covered in a beard that fell down his chest in a thick braid.
“I am the Lord Shim,” he said and bowed. “You have word of my son?”
Jaejoong swallowed. Son? He nodded and looked over at Yunho, who retrieved the letter from Changmin with the Knight of Earth seal.
The Lord took it with wide eyes and read it quickly. His eyes widened further and he looked at Jaejoong. “You are Knights?”
“I am,” Yunho said and let fire dance on his fingertips for proof.
Junsu did the same thing with water.
“Changmin sent us here to wait for him,” Jaejoong continued, “and to meet up with the Knight of Air.”
The Lord looked disgusted, and the other villagers mirrored that facial expression. Jaejoong even heard one of them curse.
“Is the Knight of Air here?” Junho asked.
“No,” the Lord said. “He left.”
“Thank the gods,” someone muttered.
Jaejoong glanced around. “What ...?”
“That man is not worthy to be a Knight,” Lord Shim said. “He cares nothing of the earth, nothing of the gift he has, nothing of the kingdom. He only cares about himself, about his drink and his carousing ways.”
“Oh good hell,” Junsu suddenly said.
“What?”
“This guy about my height, long hair, round face, dimple in his cheek?”
“That sounds like his description, yes.”
“Fuck,” Junsu said, causing a few of the villagers to gasp at his language.
Junho suddenly laughed. “Oh gods, it’s perfect.”
“What?” Yunho asked.
“Junsu’s admirer from the city is the Knight of Air.”
“The whore?” Yunho said.
The villagers winced collectively.
“Wait,” Junho said, turning to face his brother with a grin. “You noticed he had a dimple?”
Junsu glared at him.
Jaejoong sighed. “Well, that is just perfect. We are going to have to return to the city.”
“And then back up the mountain,” Junsu said.
“We can send for him,” The Lord Shim said.
Jaejoong shook his head. “We need the letter, and proof of who we are. We only spoke to him once and I can already tell that he’ll ignore anything you send.”
The man nodded. “Yes, he would. But please, come inside. Stay the night and have dinner. We will tell you of Changmin’s plans.”
Jaejoong was not surprised to learn that Changmin had a plan. He hoped it was a good one.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
Changmin did not have a helpful plan beyond what he told the villagers when he left almost eight years before.
Jaejoong lay awake that night, with Yunho curled against him, and tried to figure out what Changmin was planning. What came next?
Junho snorted from the other bed where he slept with his brother. The Earth Knights Village did not have many beds. Most preferred to sleep outdoors, against the ground. Even without being knights themselves, they enjoyed the feel of the Earth beneath their skin.
It gave Jaejoong a reason to sleep next to his lover. Though Yunho felt like a hearth blazing with fire in the middle of the winter when he slept.
Jaejoong turned on his side and watched him sleep.
Changmin’s only plans when he left the Earth Knights Village was to get to the city and do some research to fgure out where the other Knights lived. He had always been so studious, his father had said. He had stumbled upon Yoochun, the Knight of Air, and his little brother Yoohwan shortly after he left for the city. It had been pure coincidence, though Yoochun too had told Changmin that he felt and smelled the destruction of the Fire Knights Village upon the wind when it had happened.
The Earth Knights villagers did not know much about how and when they met, just that Changmin told him to go to their village to stay safe, and his little brother went with Changmin to the castle.
Yoochun had only been there a couple weeks before he left the village and said he’d rather live in the city by himself. The villagers did not stop him.
Yunho shifted beside him and lifted his head, eyes blinking open. “Sleep.”
“There are too many thoughts in my head.”
Yunho hummed and moved closer, arm across Jaejoong stomach, leg thrown over his thighs. His warm breath heated the skin at his neck. He ran his hand up and down Jaejoong’s side.
“Love you,” Yunho said and yawned.
Jaejoong smiled and held him tightly. “Love you, too.”
“Sleep. You need to sleep.”
Jaejoong nodded. He also needed a kiss. But he knew himself and one kiss would turn into two, and two kisses would turn into a hundred, and then hands would get involved, and bodies, and fire, and they would definitely wake up the Kim Twins and they were still teasing Yunho and Jaejoong about how silly in love they were.
He heard a disgruntled noise from the other bed and the sound of someone being kicked. A muffled curse and then shifting.
He smiled and focused on Yunho’s steady breathing to help him fall asleep.
Part 11: Blow
Part 9: Blaze
Part 8: Hot
Part 7: Rekindle
Part 6: Bloom
Part 5: Sprout
Part 4: Burn
Part 3: Flicker
Part 2: Flare
Part 1: Spark
.
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong, Yoochun/Junsu, Changmin/Junho
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: They aren't mine and I can't even claim the idea as mine because it is all devilaugh's fault.
Summary: Jaejoong is a scribe in King Ahn Chilhyun's court. He is sent to small seaside village to teach the people how to read, and instead finds a lover who has a secret that will end up endangering the entire world.
A/N: This fic is all devilaugh's fault. It was her idea on the post about the picture of Jaejoong, so this fic was partially inspired by this picture
Part 10:
Fanfic poster by back_to_five!!! Perfection! <3 <3
The sun had yet to rise over the Eastern Mountains when the four of them packed up their belongings and headed out of the city. They had a hearty breakfast and real coffee, and stopped at the markets to replenish their supplies. The innkeeper did not say how far up the mountain the village was and they had no idea if they’d be able to find food. Jaejoong also bought extra cloaks and blankets because Western shores were warm and the others did not understand just how far the temperature could drop in the mountains.
Near the edge of the market, Jaejoong grew distracted by hanging parchments covered in artwork. The sunlight danced on one image in particular, making the flame look alive.
“You like ink?” a voice asked next to him.
Jaejoong turned and smiled at the proprietor of the tent. He was barefoot and bare-chested, showing off the scrolls of tattoos that covered his body.
“You’re very talented,” Jaejoong said.
“Do you have some?”
Jaejoong nodded and took off his tunic to show the man.
“Very good,” the man said, stepping close to see the details of the butterfly. “Steady hand, great coloring. Where did you get these done?”
“In the capital city.”
“Great artists there. The butterfly seems out of place with the rest on your skin.”
Jaejoong laughed, and noted Yunho glaring at him. He turned around, so the ink artist could see the ones on his back. “The castle gardens are beautiful this time of year, and butterflies just flock to the flowers. When you spend more time around butterflies than people, it isn’t out of place at all.”
The man was frowning when Jaejoong turned to look back at him.
“What?” he asked, putting his tunic back on just as Yunho came up next to him. Jaejoong smiled at him.
“When was the last time you were in the castle gardens?”
“A few months ago,” Jaejoong said. “Why?”
“Rumor has it that the king has locked down the city.”
“What?” Yunho said.
The man shrugged. “Yeah. No one is allowed in or out without permission. That’s just what we heard up here, though. People talk all the time.”
Jaejoong nodded. “Yeah, they do. That doesn’t sound like King Ahn though. He’s very open and very welcoming.”
Even as Jaejoong said the words, he knew that the king was changing.
“So you want another one?” the man asked, motioning to his art.
Jaejoong laughed. “If we weren’t on our way out of town, I would say yes. I really like the flame.”
“Too bad, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“I will.”
Yunho draped his arm around Jaejoong’s shoulders and led him away to where Junho and Junsu waited with their horses. “I didn’t destroy his tent in a fiery ball of jealousy when he looked at you. I have such great control.”
Jaejoong laughed and leaned his head on Yunho’s shoulder. They did not speak about anything else while they left the town gates. The soldiers guarding it glanced at them, but did not detain them. The road was mostly dirt and rocks on this side of the city, not the cobbled streets of the city. As they continued up and over hillocks and streams, Jaejoong understood why. It would have been very expensive to build a stable road this way. Their horses were sure footed, so Jaejoong did not worry.
“This is troubling,” Yunho said, and told the Kim Twins what they had heard from the ink master.
“So either Changmin left and he is on his way here,” Junho said.
“Or this is going to turn into a rescue mission,” Junsu finished.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
It rained their first night in the mountains. Junsu diverted the water around them, so their patch of land stayed dry, but he had to stay awake to do it.
“It is okay if we get a little wet,” Junho said in concern, sitting close to his brother.
“A little wet definitely is not the same as a whole lot of wet,” Junsu said. “I’m fine. I’ve done this before, you know. With like typhoons and hurricanes and cyclones in the middle of an ocean.”
“Well, if you are going to be stubborn and egotistical about it, I guess I’ll just have to stay awake and keep you company.” He put his arm around Junsu’s waist and leaned against him with a yawn.
Junsu smiled at him. “Thanks, brother.”
Jaejoong and Yunho were curled up under a thick blanket. The exchange between the brothers made him smile, but then he pouted when Yunho moved.
“Where are you going?”
“To stay awake with Junsu.”
“But Junho--”
“Is already asleep,” Junsu said fondly and pressed a kiss to his brother’s forehead.
Jaejoong continued to pout, but Yunho still got up and moved to the brothers. Together, they moved Junho to his bed and Yunho sat with Junsu, keeping him warm with a small fire. They did not talk and Jaejoong figured they did not need to. He was a little jealous of their friendship. He really did not have anyone that he was that close to, that knew him that well. His sisters were all older than him, and he had left home at such a young age.
Changmin had been the very first person who he could call his friend. Worry ate at him, but Changmin was a Knight of Earth. He was more capable of defending himself than Jaejoong was.
The rain petered out near dawn, and Junsu fell asleep just as soon as Jaejoong woke up. Yunho made sure the fire was strong before laying down himself to sleep for a couple hours.
Junho did not wake up until Junsu soaked him with water.
“Yah! Do you want to die?” Junho said, jumping to his feet.
Junsu smiled at him. “You fell asleep, you lazy puddle.”
Junho cursed and wiped water from his face. “Dry me off.”
“No. Suffer.”
“Dry me off!”
“Suffer!”
“I can dry you off,” Yunho said and conjured a spinning vortex of yellow fire.
Junho looked at him and then at his brother. “Wet? No. Nope. I am dry as a dead long. Perfectly good.”
“For kindling,” Yunho said.
Junsu laughed.
“Children,” Jaejoong said and shot a significant look at their camp that needed to be cleaned up.
Junho stomped away, grumbling under his breath.
Yunho and Junsu exchanged a look and Junsu laughed before lifting a hand. It was interesting, watching it in reverse. The water just lifted off Junho and shot back to Junsu. Junsu watched it roll in midair for a moment before letting it fall upon a patch of berry bushes.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
It took another two cold and rainy days in the mountains before they came across the first signs of habitation. Little shacks dotted the road, though there were no people living in them. Jaejoong surmised that they were for shelter, this far away from the village. The sides of mountains were terraced with large varieties of crops growing. Forests gave way to orchards, the trees just barely showing fruit at the beginning of summer.
Near noon on the next day, they saw their first workers. They looked at them in distrust, and Jaejoong smiled and hailed them, asking to speak with their Lord of their village.
“Who are you?” one man asked.
“We are friends of Changmin’s,” Jaejoong said.
The workers dropped their tools. “What?”
“We are friends of Changmin’s,” Jaejoong repeated. “Can we speak with your Lord? It’s very important.”
They nodded and a couple of them ran ahead, up the trail. Jaejoong kept the friendly smile on his face. He felt the trepidation of the other three though. The village was set into the side of the mountain. A large cliff face had holes and passageways cut into it, people walking in and out of the main entrance. Smaller houses were built of logs around a central water well and the houses stretched into the trees along small roads. The roads were not cobbled with stones, just dirt. Everything was green, or appeared green. Ivy tangled on the cliff face, trees grew out of cracks and through shelters. It was like the villagers adjusted to and built around what was already there, without hurting or destroying the landscape.
One of the workers that had rushed ahead emerged from a cavern, followed by a man who looked almost exactly like Changmin. He was an imposing man tall and broad shouldered, with long hair pulled back in a queue, and his face was covered in a beard that fell down his chest in a thick braid.
“I am the Lord Shim,” he said and bowed. “You have word of my son?”
Jaejoong swallowed. Son? He nodded and looked over at Yunho, who retrieved the letter from Changmin with the Knight of Earth seal.
The Lord took it with wide eyes and read it quickly. His eyes widened further and he looked at Jaejoong. “You are Knights?”
“I am,” Yunho said and let fire dance on his fingertips for proof.
Junsu did the same thing with water.
“Changmin sent us here to wait for him,” Jaejoong continued, “and to meet up with the Knight of Air.”
The Lord looked disgusted, and the other villagers mirrored that facial expression. Jaejoong even heard one of them curse.
“Is the Knight of Air here?” Junho asked.
“No,” the Lord said. “He left.”
“Thank the gods,” someone muttered.
Jaejoong glanced around. “What ...?”
“That man is not worthy to be a Knight,” Lord Shim said. “He cares nothing of the earth, nothing of the gift he has, nothing of the kingdom. He only cares about himself, about his drink and his carousing ways.”
“Oh good hell,” Junsu suddenly said.
“What?”
“This guy about my height, long hair, round face, dimple in his cheek?”
“That sounds like his description, yes.”
“Fuck,” Junsu said, causing a few of the villagers to gasp at his language.
Junho suddenly laughed. “Oh gods, it’s perfect.”
“What?” Yunho asked.
“Junsu’s admirer from the city is the Knight of Air.”
“The whore?” Yunho said.
The villagers winced collectively.
“Wait,” Junho said, turning to face his brother with a grin. “You noticed he had a dimple?”
Junsu glared at him.
Jaejoong sighed. “Well, that is just perfect. We are going to have to return to the city.”
“And then back up the mountain,” Junsu said.
“We can send for him,” The Lord Shim said.
Jaejoong shook his head. “We need the letter, and proof of who we are. We only spoke to him once and I can already tell that he’ll ignore anything you send.”
The man nodded. “Yes, he would. But please, come inside. Stay the night and have dinner. We will tell you of Changmin’s plans.”
Jaejoong was not surprised to learn that Changmin had a plan. He hoped it was a good one.
_-\^\^_^/^/-_
Changmin did not have a helpful plan beyond what he told the villagers when he left almost eight years before.
Jaejoong lay awake that night, with Yunho curled against him, and tried to figure out what Changmin was planning. What came next?
Junho snorted from the other bed where he slept with his brother. The Earth Knights Village did not have many beds. Most preferred to sleep outdoors, against the ground. Even without being knights themselves, they enjoyed the feel of the Earth beneath their skin.
It gave Jaejoong a reason to sleep next to his lover. Though Yunho felt like a hearth blazing with fire in the middle of the winter when he slept.
Jaejoong turned on his side and watched him sleep.
Changmin’s only plans when he left the Earth Knights Village was to get to the city and do some research to fgure out where the other Knights lived. He had always been so studious, his father had said. He had stumbled upon Yoochun, the Knight of Air, and his little brother Yoohwan shortly after he left for the city. It had been pure coincidence, though Yoochun too had told Changmin that he felt and smelled the destruction of the Fire Knights Village upon the wind when it had happened.
The Earth Knights villagers did not know much about how and when they met, just that Changmin told him to go to their village to stay safe, and his little brother went with Changmin to the castle.
Yoochun had only been there a couple weeks before he left the village and said he’d rather live in the city by himself. The villagers did not stop him.
Yunho shifted beside him and lifted his head, eyes blinking open. “Sleep.”
“There are too many thoughts in my head.”
Yunho hummed and moved closer, arm across Jaejoong stomach, leg thrown over his thighs. His warm breath heated the skin at his neck. He ran his hand up and down Jaejoong’s side.
“Love you,” Yunho said and yawned.
Jaejoong smiled and held him tightly. “Love you, too.”
“Sleep. You need to sleep.”
Jaejoong nodded. He also needed a kiss. But he knew himself and one kiss would turn into two, and two kisses would turn into a hundred, and then hands would get involved, and bodies, and fire, and they would definitely wake up the Kim Twins and they were still teasing Yunho and Jaejoong about how silly in love they were.
He heard a disgruntled noise from the other bed and the sound of someone being kicked. A muffled curse and then shifting.
He smiled and focused on Yunho’s steady breathing to help him fall asleep.
Part 11: Blow
Part 9: Blaze
Part 8: Hot
Part 7: Rekindle
Part 6: Bloom
Part 5: Sprout
Part 4: Burn
Part 3: Flicker
Part 2: Flare
Part 1: Spark
.