Zinnia [Part Three]
Title: Zinnia
Pairing: Hyukjae/Donghae
Rating: PG-13 [for mentions of the sex-trade, drugs and violence]
Genre: Romance, Drama, AU
Summary: The floating world is a candy-coloured place where dreams come true. Only, these dreams come at a cost. On the side of the customer, it is copious sums of money… but what of the side of the provider? What exactly do they give?
[A/N: Dedicated to tees2mai because it was her birthday and she gave me an *-ing paid account! <3]
| Part Two|
Part Three
It is nearly Market Day again. And Donghae waits in anticipation of that day to come. He’s been going through the motions, behaving so that Mama-san won’t be able to threaten him, so that Mama-san will take Hyukjae’s bid, and they can spend those few precious hours together.
He is ritual in his actions - praise them, butter them up a bit, moan when they want it, scream when they want it. But no one seems to notice Donghae’s distracted demeanour - or at least there were no complaints. But then again, Mama-san has been careful not to allow the same customer to have Donghae two days in a row, and not more than three times - after that, their names would be placed on the black-list, so that they didn’t get too familiar with Donghae’s mannerisms.
Mama-san is always very shrewd when it came to these sort of things.
The day comes, and Donghae can barely conceal his excitement. Helping Donghae dress that night, Leeteuk tries to calm him with an amused smile, saying that although Hyukjae has seen Donghae many times, he should still take care not to show up in front of the prince with smudges of make-up everywhere. And he would, Leeteuk promised, the way Donghae is practically vibrating in his seat.
Mortified at the thought of appearing in front of Hyukjae with less than his best, Donghae forces himself to sit still, allowing Leeteuk to help him put up makeup in peace.
He sits normally enough in the cage, but his eyes are darting, looking for that crop of fine blond hair amongst the black, and Bara casts an amused glance to him, knowing who Donghae is looking out for.
Then it’s Donghae’s turn to snigger at Bara, because his attention is caught by someone in the crowd. And Donghae sees Bara’s face fall in disappointment when it doesn’t turn out to be the one the white rose is looking for.
Bara gives Donghae a dirty glare as the lotus holds up his sleeve elegantly as if to cough or sneeze, but in truth is hiding a very un-Rengelike grin.
But slowly, as time passes, the excitement and anticipation that hold the both of them slowly wanes, and worry takes over. Bidding time is nearly over and neither Hyukjae nor Yesung has turned up yet.
Donghae and Bara exchange worried looks, and Donghae tries to reassure himself that Hyukjae is just running late.
But then the bidding closes, and there is still no sign of Hyukjae or Yesung. And Donghae has to content himself with the faith that Hyukjae isn’t here because he can’t be.
That night Donghae goes to a skinny man, newly rich, who doesn’t know half of what he’s doing. Donghae has to lead and cajole him half the time and the process makes him sick.
Halfway, pulling his mouth out of the man’s cock, he suddenly realizes that he can’t do this anymore.
He runs out of the room, pulling on his garments on the way and runs back up to his own.
He locks himself in, refusing to come out, while Leeteuk and a few others come and bang on his door. This is until Mama-san hears what happen, and in a thunderous mood tells everyone to leave Donghae alone and attend to the spurned customer instead.
She would deal with Donghae once the time was right.
~*~
Mama-san is threatening to knock down Donghae’s door if his doesn’t come out soon, and he knows she will do it. And he rather likes his door where it was, and thus reluctantly comes out of his room. It doesn’t really make much of a difference except that this way, Donghae could at least retain some of his pride.
She beckons him to follow her and he does, haughtily. They walk down to the main hall, where a crowd has already gathered - some in worry, some in curiosity, and yet others in anticipation.
They stop, and Mama-san turns around, eyeing Donghae with a displeased scowl.
“Hold him.” Mama-san’s voice is almost toneless in her orders, and the people around hesitate for a moment before following, whether they really want to or not. It is no good opposing Mama-san in such a circumstance.
Donghae manages to shake off the first two, but then a third manages to hit him in the stomach and a fourth takes advantage of his momentary breathlessness to pin him down. More join and soon, Donghae can’t move, held down by a tangle of limbs and heaving bodies.
“Donghae, Donghae, Donghae. Why do you persist in being difficult?” There’s disappointment in Mama-san’s voice, and it makes the hair on the back of Donghae’s neck crawl. He knows what’s coming up next, and he wonders for a moment why he had come back here instead of running far away.
Oh right. Because it is of no use anyway…
“I like your ‘no ambrosia’ policy…” Mama-san sighs as she reaches into her pouch and pulls out the candy-like drug, rolling it between her index and thumb. “But when you’re like this… I have no choice. We can’t have you upsetting the customers after all.”
Then she pinches Donghae’s nose until he opens his mouth to breath, popping the drug in. She places a hand over Donghae’s mouth and nose, pushing - forcing Donghae to swallow the drug. She signals for the rest not to move, expecting a struggle.
And struggle Donghae does, but it is only a token struggle - less violent than any of the times before. Somehow, today, he just can’t seem to summon the strength to really try to break free.
He is held there until he has no choice but to let the ambrosia travel down his throat. Until he stops struggling, and the rebellion in his eyes turns to glazed blankness. It is only then that Mama-san gives the signal for everyone to let go, and Donghae falls bonelessly to the floor and seems entirely happy about it.
Mama-san tilts Donghae’s head up and looks into those dazed eyes. Donghae smiles widely at her and she pets him, receiving a deep-throated purr in return.
“…” She stares at him a little longer before she let goes, knowing that Donghae isn’t faking it. The boy is too proud even for such a thing. Curling a finger at one of the maids of the house, she orders her. “Go call Mr Zen. He’ll be pleased to hear that Donghae’s on ambrosia tonight.”
~*~
Hyukjae hums happily as he walks down the street. He has a clear plastic bag filled with fresh water and a beautiful pair of guppies swimming inside - it is a gift for Donghae. An apology gift for not having been able to make their appointment yesterday.
There has been some trouble with the embassy from Xing, and Siwon had sent Hyukjae to deal with it, since the crown prince himself was busy entertaining those blasted westerners.
Hyukjae usually wouldn’t have minded since Siwon rarely dumped such work on him, but this time, he only agreed on the compromise that he could take his usual leave for the next day. And Siwon had allowed it, which is why Hyukjae is now scripting in his mind how to give the guppies to Donghae.
From behind someone taps him, and Hyukjae turns to see a panting Yesung glaring at him. “Yah! I know you’re excited, but there’s no need to make your poor guards chase you… I wanted to buy something for Ryeowook too…”
“Ryeowook?” Hyukjae blinks, the name is unfamiliar to him.
“Ah… Bara... Ryeowook is his real name.” Yesung explains and Hyukjae blinks.
“Ah.” Hyukjae lets out a noise of understanding and is amused by Yesung’s slow transition into a tomato. “The white rose… Ryeowook, huh? I see…”
Hyukjae chuckles when Yesung turns into a beet root and bursts out. Being the blabbermouth that he is, Yesung begins pouring out every single thing he did with Ryeowook since the first time he met him. Every thing from taking the boy out for movies, playing videogames in an arcade together, sneaking Ryeowook out of the floating world one of the time, and of their first kiss.
It’s more interesting than most things go, but Hyukjae isn’t really paying attention. He’s too busy staring at the guppies he’s bought, imagining the smile on Donghae’s face when he sees them. Donghae would like them - he was sure. And Hyukjae would tease this liking based on the affinity of sea creatures with his name.
“It was really awkward after that, and the next meeting we kind of just sat around, and I made an ass of myself talking about things that didn’t make sense, but then everything was alright again after we went to the park, we chased squirrels - well I did. Ryeowook just sat there and the- What in the world?”
Hyukjae blinks, registering the last few words, and he stops when he realized Yesung has. “Yesung? What’s wr-”
And then, his eyes following Yesung’s line of sight, he too sees what’s wrong.
“D-Donghae…?” the name slips from Hyukjae’s mouth as he staggers forward for a better look. The person sitting where Donghae usually does looks like him, but he certainly doesn’t act like him.
For one, Donghae usually sits ram-rod straight during bidding time - this Donghae slouches and half-lies on the floor, head lolling seductively. Donghae usually keeps quiet - this Donghae calls out to the crowd that is gathered in front of him, urging them closer. Donghae usually is alert and awake, his eyes bright and intelligent - this Donghae’s eyes arehalf-lidded and glazed.
It is obvious that this Donghae has taken ambrosia… but then this wouldn’t make him Donghae, right?
A part of him hopes that that is not Donghae, but someone who just looks similar. And for a moment, his mind believes it, urged on by his heart. Donghae had told him that he’d never take ambrosia out of his own choice… right?
“Oh, my… aren’t you that customer who keeps coming back for Master Renge?” a female voice drags Hyukjae out of his thoughts, and he forces his eyes away from the appalling behaviour that the Donghae who isn’t Donghae is displaying. “Don’t you usually come on Market day? Oh dear… Master Renge didn’t know you were coming today, did he?”
“What?” He asks, turning to the girl who has spoken. It is a maid of the establishment - Hyukjae has seen her before. Jessica? He thinks? She introduced herself to him one time he was waiting for Donghae…
“Well, I mean, if he had known you were coming today, Master Renge wouldn’t have taken the ambrosia like he does the days he knows you’re coming.” Jessica lets the implication of her words sink in before she continues. “…Oops. I’ve said too much haven’t I?”
Hyukjae ignores the rest of her apologies, his eyes narrowing as he watches Donghae flirt shamelessly with the crowd. He doesn’t know what to think now, and his hand clutches at the bag which contains the fish.
Yesung opens his mouth, concerned, but his words are halted by a raised hand, and the feeling that if he does say something, his head would end up somewhere high and stuck on a pike.
Hyukjae doesn’t do anything except watch for the next few moments.
He watches as the bid ends, and Donghae claps frivolously as if congratulating however who won. He watches a rich and smart looking gentleman with salt and pepper hair goes up to the cage and the Mama-san unlocks it. He watches as Donghae is pulled up and led away.
He watches as Donghae snuggles into the gentleman’s hold even as muscled bodyguards clear the way, shouting for people to let ‘Mr Zen’ get through.
There is a splash as the bag Hyukjae is holding falls to the ground. And startled, Yesung takes a while to react when Hyukjae starts off after them. He is about to go after his prince, but then he hears a call for the last bids on Bara and he freezes, torn between his love and his duty.
A hand pushes him towards the cages and he yelps, turning around with saucer eyes when he sees that it is Kangin.
“Go.” The other guard says quietly. “I’ll take care of the prince. Go and get your love.”
Yesung bits his lip before he nods and crashes through the crowd, calling to make a bid. Kangin, good to his word, starts off in the direction Hyukjae went in a run. He’s lost sight of the prince, but that is of little consequence. He has to find Hyukjae no matter what.
Forgotten, the two guppies flounder on the floor, gasping as they are slowly strangled by air.
~*~
“I’ve never seen a Zinnia this high on ambrosia before.” One of Mr Zen’s bodyguards comments as they lead Donghae down one of the posher, less crowded streets in the floating world.
“Yes, most Zinnia take the ambrosia so much, that after a while, their body builds up a resistance.” Mr Zen smiles, running a loving hand on Donghae’s cheek and receiving a happy mewl in return. “But Renge so rarely takes it, he doesn’t have that resistance… and so when he does, its effect is just marvellous on him.”
Donghae stumbles over a stone on the ground, but smiles happily, clinging on to the fabric of Mr Zen’s jacket. Behind a wall, Hyukjae’s hands tighten further in their fists - the Donghae he knows would have never done such a thing. Something doesn’t add up in Hyukjae’s head, but righteous anger curls up in his stomach and stops his brain from being logical.
“Why’d he take it today then?” another guard asks the question which is in Hyukjae’s mind.
“He didn’t.” Mr Zen replies to the confusion of everyone listening. “The Mama-san of the establishment probably forced him to… This boy’s a feisty little thing normally, but too feisty isn’t good in this trade. He probably threw a tantrum or something, so when that happens, it’s ambrosia time… and I always come happily when the Mama-san informs me of it.”
The righteous anger is strangled by the sudden lack of its fuel, and horror curls up in its place. Now he knows what is wrong - the girl had told him that Donghae took the ambrosia every day he wasn’t there. Mr Zen however, said that Donghae rarely took it. He remembers now, a time when he asked Donghae about the unhappy stares the Zinnia got sometimes as they walked through the hallways of the establishment. Donghae just smiles and shrugs it off, but Hyukjae realizes it is the jealousy borne of seeing rich silks and jewellery without knowing the price paid to wear them.
“See…” Mr Zen pulls a round ball of happy-coloured drug from Donghae’s pouch and pops it into the Zinnia’s innocent mouth. “Even when he’s like this, he doesn’t take the ambrosia himself… you always have to feed it to him. He isn’t used to taking it himself, I think, so he doesn’t when he’s in this state.”
“Are you sure you should be giving him that much?” A bodyguard questions - a female one, which explains the snorts and derogatory comments which ensure after the question. “He can barely walk.”
But Mr Zen answers, smiling at the woman in a way which suggests that she wasn’t just a bodyguard. “Oh… yes…” the hand around Donghae’s waist tightens cruelly, but Donghae only gives Mr Zen a small whine before he goes back to contentedly sucking on the ambrosia. “I find it highly arousing when Renge begs for more of it in the bedroom… but in order to get to that scenario, I’ve found that the best way is to feed him as much as possible first.”
Hyukjae feels so stupid, and a cold anger wells up inside him. And before he knows it, he’s behind Mr Zen, pulling the man around and punching his face in. The bodyguards stare, absolutely stunned at the way Mr Zen is clutching at his nose and howling in bloody murder.
He grabs Donghae and runs before the bodyguards can react. By the time they do, he’s already long gone.
Donghae is light in his hands - too light. And Hyukjae can only hold him tight, muttering “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” over and over again to a man who can only grin at him foolishly.
Kangin finds him on the way to the palace. The guard takes one look at his prince and shuts up, instead asking if Hyukjae needs help to carry Donghae. Hyukjae shakes his head and they continue to the palace in silence.
He brings Donghae to his room, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the palace staff and the occasional noble. But any questions are halted by the menacing stare of his guard, which promises regret if the questions were ever aired.
When the door closes behind the prince, the whole palace shrugs. This is the only second prince after all, not the crown prince. And Hyukjae has been notorious for doing unprincely acts.
They all act unsurprised and pretend that they had expected such a thing all along.
~*~
Later, Hyukjae can only hold Donghae tight in his arms when the withdrawal comes and Donghae screams and shakes, begging for Hyukjae to take pity on him and feed him the drug.
“Please… please….” Donghae screams in a broken voice, fingers digging into the fabric of Hyukjae’s shirt. “Give it to me. The candy… please… just one piece! It won’t hurt!”
It takes all of Hyukjae’s rationality and all of his willpower not to. And he bit down on his lip when Donghae eyes turn frantic and wet. “Please! It hurts… it hurts… It hurts so much!”
And Hyukjae wraps tight arms around him and apologizes again.
He doesn’t let go, even after the pleas stop, and Donghae falls into unconsciousness in Hyukjae’s arms.
~*~
The next morning, Donghae wakes with a pounding headache and finds that he cannot move.
He has no idea of where he was, and what he had been doing the night before - which is worrying. But not as worrying as the fact that there is a pair of arms wound tightly around him and his face is pushed into a man’s chest until he can barely breathe. He shifts, trying to pull away so that he can, and almost immediately, he is let go. Dazed, he looks up and can only stare.
“…Hyukjae…?” His eyes widen as he blinks at the prince. And Donghae’s mind fails to come up with a rational explanation as to why he is here. “W-what? You… Last night…?”
Hyukjae’s eyes harden a little, and his expression turns a little grim, and Donghae knows that Hyukjae had seen everything.
“I-I can explain.” Donghae tries to speak, but is stopped by a gentle finger to his lips.
“There is nothing to explain, Donghae.” Hyukjae smiles reassuringly. “I know that you were forced to take the ambrosia. Everything that happened was my fault. I would have called two nights ago when I couldn’t come, but the palace is strict about things like that. They’re paranoid the press will trace the calls and have ammunition against the royal family, but I still should have at least sent a messenger.”
Donghae looks up in wonder as Hyukjae comes up with excuses, and Donghae wonders why. You only need to do so when you’re in the wrong, and Hyukjae definitely isn’t in Donghae’s eyes.
He lifts up a hand and traces the bags that are apparent under Hyukjae’s eyes. “How bad were they… my withdrawal symptoms? So bad that they kept you awake all night?”
Hyukjae shakes his head and smiles a smile that warms away the fears that had gathered in Donghae’s heart since the night before. “No… I was just worried.”
“Then it’s still my fault.” Donghae reasons, unsure why he is arguing about this. “I made you worried.”
“Hae…” Hyukjae says gently, taking Donghae’s hands in his. “I want to worry about you. And it’s not your fault - I broke a promise that I made with you… I’m sorry.”
Donghae admits that Hyukjae has a point, but his stubborn mouth opens again before he can even stop it. “But-”
Then Hyukjae presses a warm mouth to his and Donghae can barely remember his name, let alone the irrational arguments behind whose fault this whole wonderful thing is.
~*~
That evening, Leeteuk ushers in Yesung, who hands over an insane amount of money to Mama-san in exchange for Donghae.
“The second prince is buying Donghae for his uses… until the near foreseeable future.” Yesung belays. “If this money is not enough, then you may request for more. However, do bear in mind that the request will be reviewed by an exchequer of the treasurer before we decide if to allow that much more money.”
He leaves a stunned Mama-san behind, staring at the cheque she holds in her hand, and quickly sneaks upstairs to see Ryeowook. Leeteuk sees it and doesn’t interfere. He doubts that they will be open for business tonight anyway.
And everything… is good.
~*~
| Part Four|
Pairing: Hyukjae/Donghae
Rating: PG-13 [for mentions of the sex-trade, drugs and violence]
Genre: Romance, Drama, AU
Summary: The floating world is a candy-coloured place where dreams come true. Only, these dreams come at a cost. On the side of the customer, it is copious sums of money… but what of the side of the provider? What exactly do they give?
[A/N: Dedicated to tees2mai because it was her birthday and she gave me an *-ing paid account! <3]
| Part Two|
Part Three
It is nearly Market Day again. And Donghae waits in anticipation of that day to come. He’s been going through the motions, behaving so that Mama-san won’t be able to threaten him, so that Mama-san will take Hyukjae’s bid, and they can spend those few precious hours together.
He is ritual in his actions - praise them, butter them up a bit, moan when they want it, scream when they want it. But no one seems to notice Donghae’s distracted demeanour - or at least there were no complaints. But then again, Mama-san has been careful not to allow the same customer to have Donghae two days in a row, and not more than three times - after that, their names would be placed on the black-list, so that they didn’t get too familiar with Donghae’s mannerisms.
Mama-san is always very shrewd when it came to these sort of things.
The day comes, and Donghae can barely conceal his excitement. Helping Donghae dress that night, Leeteuk tries to calm him with an amused smile, saying that although Hyukjae has seen Donghae many times, he should still take care not to show up in front of the prince with smudges of make-up everywhere. And he would, Leeteuk promised, the way Donghae is practically vibrating in his seat.
Mortified at the thought of appearing in front of Hyukjae with less than his best, Donghae forces himself to sit still, allowing Leeteuk to help him put up makeup in peace.
He sits normally enough in the cage, but his eyes are darting, looking for that crop of fine blond hair amongst the black, and Bara casts an amused glance to him, knowing who Donghae is looking out for.
Then it’s Donghae’s turn to snigger at Bara, because his attention is caught by someone in the crowd. And Donghae sees Bara’s face fall in disappointment when it doesn’t turn out to be the one the white rose is looking for.
Bara gives Donghae a dirty glare as the lotus holds up his sleeve elegantly as if to cough or sneeze, but in truth is hiding a very un-Rengelike grin.
But slowly, as time passes, the excitement and anticipation that hold the both of them slowly wanes, and worry takes over. Bidding time is nearly over and neither Hyukjae nor Yesung has turned up yet.
Donghae and Bara exchange worried looks, and Donghae tries to reassure himself that Hyukjae is just running late.
But then the bidding closes, and there is still no sign of Hyukjae or Yesung. And Donghae has to content himself with the faith that Hyukjae isn’t here because he can’t be.
That night Donghae goes to a skinny man, newly rich, who doesn’t know half of what he’s doing. Donghae has to lead and cajole him half the time and the process makes him sick.
Halfway, pulling his mouth out of the man’s cock, he suddenly realizes that he can’t do this anymore.
He runs out of the room, pulling on his garments on the way and runs back up to his own.
He locks himself in, refusing to come out, while Leeteuk and a few others come and bang on his door. This is until Mama-san hears what happen, and in a thunderous mood tells everyone to leave Donghae alone and attend to the spurned customer instead.
She would deal with Donghae once the time was right.
~*~
Mama-san is threatening to knock down Donghae’s door if his doesn’t come out soon, and he knows she will do it. And he rather likes his door where it was, and thus reluctantly comes out of his room. It doesn’t really make much of a difference except that this way, Donghae could at least retain some of his pride.
She beckons him to follow her and he does, haughtily. They walk down to the main hall, where a crowd has already gathered - some in worry, some in curiosity, and yet others in anticipation.
They stop, and Mama-san turns around, eyeing Donghae with a displeased scowl.
“Hold him.” Mama-san’s voice is almost toneless in her orders, and the people around hesitate for a moment before following, whether they really want to or not. It is no good opposing Mama-san in such a circumstance.
Donghae manages to shake off the first two, but then a third manages to hit him in the stomach and a fourth takes advantage of his momentary breathlessness to pin him down. More join and soon, Donghae can’t move, held down by a tangle of limbs and heaving bodies.
“Donghae, Donghae, Donghae. Why do you persist in being difficult?” There’s disappointment in Mama-san’s voice, and it makes the hair on the back of Donghae’s neck crawl. He knows what’s coming up next, and he wonders for a moment why he had come back here instead of running far away.
Oh right. Because it is of no use anyway…
“I like your ‘no ambrosia’ policy…” Mama-san sighs as she reaches into her pouch and pulls out the candy-like drug, rolling it between her index and thumb. “But when you’re like this… I have no choice. We can’t have you upsetting the customers after all.”
Then she pinches Donghae’s nose until he opens his mouth to breath, popping the drug in. She places a hand over Donghae’s mouth and nose, pushing - forcing Donghae to swallow the drug. She signals for the rest not to move, expecting a struggle.
And struggle Donghae does, but it is only a token struggle - less violent than any of the times before. Somehow, today, he just can’t seem to summon the strength to really try to break free.
He is held there until he has no choice but to let the ambrosia travel down his throat. Until he stops struggling, and the rebellion in his eyes turns to glazed blankness. It is only then that Mama-san gives the signal for everyone to let go, and Donghae falls bonelessly to the floor and seems entirely happy about it.
Mama-san tilts Donghae’s head up and looks into those dazed eyes. Donghae smiles widely at her and she pets him, receiving a deep-throated purr in return.
“…” She stares at him a little longer before she let goes, knowing that Donghae isn’t faking it. The boy is too proud even for such a thing. Curling a finger at one of the maids of the house, she orders her. “Go call Mr Zen. He’ll be pleased to hear that Donghae’s on ambrosia tonight.”
~*~
Hyukjae hums happily as he walks down the street. He has a clear plastic bag filled with fresh water and a beautiful pair of guppies swimming inside - it is a gift for Donghae. An apology gift for not having been able to make their appointment yesterday.
There has been some trouble with the embassy from Xing, and Siwon had sent Hyukjae to deal with it, since the crown prince himself was busy entertaining those blasted westerners.
Hyukjae usually wouldn’t have minded since Siwon rarely dumped such work on him, but this time, he only agreed on the compromise that he could take his usual leave for the next day. And Siwon had allowed it, which is why Hyukjae is now scripting in his mind how to give the guppies to Donghae.
From behind someone taps him, and Hyukjae turns to see a panting Yesung glaring at him. “Yah! I know you’re excited, but there’s no need to make your poor guards chase you… I wanted to buy something for Ryeowook too…”
“Ryeowook?” Hyukjae blinks, the name is unfamiliar to him.
“Ah… Bara... Ryeowook is his real name.” Yesung explains and Hyukjae blinks.
“Ah.” Hyukjae lets out a noise of understanding and is amused by Yesung’s slow transition into a tomato. “The white rose… Ryeowook, huh? I see…”
Hyukjae chuckles when Yesung turns into a beet root and bursts out. Being the blabbermouth that he is, Yesung begins pouring out every single thing he did with Ryeowook since the first time he met him. Every thing from taking the boy out for movies, playing videogames in an arcade together, sneaking Ryeowook out of the floating world one of the time, and of their first kiss.
It’s more interesting than most things go, but Hyukjae isn’t really paying attention. He’s too busy staring at the guppies he’s bought, imagining the smile on Donghae’s face when he sees them. Donghae would like them - he was sure. And Hyukjae would tease this liking based on the affinity of sea creatures with his name.
“It was really awkward after that, and the next meeting we kind of just sat around, and I made an ass of myself talking about things that didn’t make sense, but then everything was alright again after we went to the park, we chased squirrels - well I did. Ryeowook just sat there and the- What in the world?”
Hyukjae blinks, registering the last few words, and he stops when he realized Yesung has. “Yesung? What’s wr-”
And then, his eyes following Yesung’s line of sight, he too sees what’s wrong.
“D-Donghae…?” the name slips from Hyukjae’s mouth as he staggers forward for a better look. The person sitting where Donghae usually does looks like him, but he certainly doesn’t act like him.
For one, Donghae usually sits ram-rod straight during bidding time - this Donghae slouches and half-lies on the floor, head lolling seductively. Donghae usually keeps quiet - this Donghae calls out to the crowd that is gathered in front of him, urging them closer. Donghae usually is alert and awake, his eyes bright and intelligent - this Donghae’s eyes arehalf-lidded and glazed.
It is obvious that this Donghae has taken ambrosia… but then this wouldn’t make him Donghae, right?
A part of him hopes that that is not Donghae, but someone who just looks similar. And for a moment, his mind believes it, urged on by his heart. Donghae had told him that he’d never take ambrosia out of his own choice… right?
“Oh, my… aren’t you that customer who keeps coming back for Master Renge?” a female voice drags Hyukjae out of his thoughts, and he forces his eyes away from the appalling behaviour that the Donghae who isn’t Donghae is displaying. “Don’t you usually come on Market day? Oh dear… Master Renge didn’t know you were coming today, did he?”
“What?” He asks, turning to the girl who has spoken. It is a maid of the establishment - Hyukjae has seen her before. Jessica? He thinks? She introduced herself to him one time he was waiting for Donghae…
“Well, I mean, if he had known you were coming today, Master Renge wouldn’t have taken the ambrosia like he does the days he knows you’re coming.” Jessica lets the implication of her words sink in before she continues. “…Oops. I’ve said too much haven’t I?”
Hyukjae ignores the rest of her apologies, his eyes narrowing as he watches Donghae flirt shamelessly with the crowd. He doesn’t know what to think now, and his hand clutches at the bag which contains the fish.
Yesung opens his mouth, concerned, but his words are halted by a raised hand, and the feeling that if he does say something, his head would end up somewhere high and stuck on a pike.
Hyukjae doesn’t do anything except watch for the next few moments.
He watches as the bid ends, and Donghae claps frivolously as if congratulating however who won. He watches a rich and smart looking gentleman with salt and pepper hair goes up to the cage and the Mama-san unlocks it. He watches as Donghae is pulled up and led away.
He watches as Donghae snuggles into the gentleman’s hold even as muscled bodyguards clear the way, shouting for people to let ‘Mr Zen’ get through.
There is a splash as the bag Hyukjae is holding falls to the ground. And startled, Yesung takes a while to react when Hyukjae starts off after them. He is about to go after his prince, but then he hears a call for the last bids on Bara and he freezes, torn between his love and his duty.
A hand pushes him towards the cages and he yelps, turning around with saucer eyes when he sees that it is Kangin.
“Go.” The other guard says quietly. “I’ll take care of the prince. Go and get your love.”
Yesung bits his lip before he nods and crashes through the crowd, calling to make a bid. Kangin, good to his word, starts off in the direction Hyukjae went in a run. He’s lost sight of the prince, but that is of little consequence. He has to find Hyukjae no matter what.
Forgotten, the two guppies flounder on the floor, gasping as they are slowly strangled by air.
~*~
“I’ve never seen a Zinnia this high on ambrosia before.” One of Mr Zen’s bodyguards comments as they lead Donghae down one of the posher, less crowded streets in the floating world.
“Yes, most Zinnia take the ambrosia so much, that after a while, their body builds up a resistance.” Mr Zen smiles, running a loving hand on Donghae’s cheek and receiving a happy mewl in return. “But Renge so rarely takes it, he doesn’t have that resistance… and so when he does, its effect is just marvellous on him.”
Donghae stumbles over a stone on the ground, but smiles happily, clinging on to the fabric of Mr Zen’s jacket. Behind a wall, Hyukjae’s hands tighten further in their fists - the Donghae he knows would have never done such a thing. Something doesn’t add up in Hyukjae’s head, but righteous anger curls up in his stomach and stops his brain from being logical.
“Why’d he take it today then?” another guard asks the question which is in Hyukjae’s mind.
“He didn’t.” Mr Zen replies to the confusion of everyone listening. “The Mama-san of the establishment probably forced him to… This boy’s a feisty little thing normally, but too feisty isn’t good in this trade. He probably threw a tantrum or something, so when that happens, it’s ambrosia time… and I always come happily when the Mama-san informs me of it.”
The righteous anger is strangled by the sudden lack of its fuel, and horror curls up in its place. Now he knows what is wrong - the girl had told him that Donghae took the ambrosia every day he wasn’t there. Mr Zen however, said that Donghae rarely took it. He remembers now, a time when he asked Donghae about the unhappy stares the Zinnia got sometimes as they walked through the hallways of the establishment. Donghae just smiles and shrugs it off, but Hyukjae realizes it is the jealousy borne of seeing rich silks and jewellery without knowing the price paid to wear them.
“See…” Mr Zen pulls a round ball of happy-coloured drug from Donghae’s pouch and pops it into the Zinnia’s innocent mouth. “Even when he’s like this, he doesn’t take the ambrosia himself… you always have to feed it to him. He isn’t used to taking it himself, I think, so he doesn’t when he’s in this state.”
“Are you sure you should be giving him that much?” A bodyguard questions - a female one, which explains the snorts and derogatory comments which ensure after the question. “He can barely walk.”
But Mr Zen answers, smiling at the woman in a way which suggests that she wasn’t just a bodyguard. “Oh… yes…” the hand around Donghae’s waist tightens cruelly, but Donghae only gives Mr Zen a small whine before he goes back to contentedly sucking on the ambrosia. “I find it highly arousing when Renge begs for more of it in the bedroom… but in order to get to that scenario, I’ve found that the best way is to feed him as much as possible first.”
Hyukjae feels so stupid, and a cold anger wells up inside him. And before he knows it, he’s behind Mr Zen, pulling the man around and punching his face in. The bodyguards stare, absolutely stunned at the way Mr Zen is clutching at his nose and howling in bloody murder.
He grabs Donghae and runs before the bodyguards can react. By the time they do, he’s already long gone.
Donghae is light in his hands - too light. And Hyukjae can only hold him tight, muttering “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” over and over again to a man who can only grin at him foolishly.
Kangin finds him on the way to the palace. The guard takes one look at his prince and shuts up, instead asking if Hyukjae needs help to carry Donghae. Hyukjae shakes his head and they continue to the palace in silence.
He brings Donghae to his room, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the palace staff and the occasional noble. But any questions are halted by the menacing stare of his guard, which promises regret if the questions were ever aired.
When the door closes behind the prince, the whole palace shrugs. This is the only second prince after all, not the crown prince. And Hyukjae has been notorious for doing unprincely acts.
They all act unsurprised and pretend that they had expected such a thing all along.
~*~
Later, Hyukjae can only hold Donghae tight in his arms when the withdrawal comes and Donghae screams and shakes, begging for Hyukjae to take pity on him and feed him the drug.
“Please… please….” Donghae screams in a broken voice, fingers digging into the fabric of Hyukjae’s shirt. “Give it to me. The candy… please… just one piece! It won’t hurt!”
It takes all of Hyukjae’s rationality and all of his willpower not to. And he bit down on his lip when Donghae eyes turn frantic and wet. “Please! It hurts… it hurts… It hurts so much!”
And Hyukjae wraps tight arms around him and apologizes again.
He doesn’t let go, even after the pleas stop, and Donghae falls into unconsciousness in Hyukjae’s arms.
~*~
The next morning, Donghae wakes with a pounding headache and finds that he cannot move.
He has no idea of where he was, and what he had been doing the night before - which is worrying. But not as worrying as the fact that there is a pair of arms wound tightly around him and his face is pushed into a man’s chest until he can barely breathe. He shifts, trying to pull away so that he can, and almost immediately, he is let go. Dazed, he looks up and can only stare.
“…Hyukjae…?” His eyes widen as he blinks at the prince. And Donghae’s mind fails to come up with a rational explanation as to why he is here. “W-what? You… Last night…?”
Hyukjae’s eyes harden a little, and his expression turns a little grim, and Donghae knows that Hyukjae had seen everything.
“I-I can explain.” Donghae tries to speak, but is stopped by a gentle finger to his lips.
“There is nothing to explain, Donghae.” Hyukjae smiles reassuringly. “I know that you were forced to take the ambrosia. Everything that happened was my fault. I would have called two nights ago when I couldn’t come, but the palace is strict about things like that. They’re paranoid the press will trace the calls and have ammunition against the royal family, but I still should have at least sent a messenger.”
Donghae looks up in wonder as Hyukjae comes up with excuses, and Donghae wonders why. You only need to do so when you’re in the wrong, and Hyukjae definitely isn’t in Donghae’s eyes.
He lifts up a hand and traces the bags that are apparent under Hyukjae’s eyes. “How bad were they… my withdrawal symptoms? So bad that they kept you awake all night?”
Hyukjae shakes his head and smiles a smile that warms away the fears that had gathered in Donghae’s heart since the night before. “No… I was just worried.”
“Then it’s still my fault.” Donghae reasons, unsure why he is arguing about this. “I made you worried.”
“Hae…” Hyukjae says gently, taking Donghae’s hands in his. “I want to worry about you. And it’s not your fault - I broke a promise that I made with you… I’m sorry.”
Donghae admits that Hyukjae has a point, but his stubborn mouth opens again before he can even stop it. “But-”
Then Hyukjae presses a warm mouth to his and Donghae can barely remember his name, let alone the irrational arguments behind whose fault this whole wonderful thing is.
~*~
That evening, Leeteuk ushers in Yesung, who hands over an insane amount of money to Mama-san in exchange for Donghae.
“The second prince is buying Donghae for his uses… until the near foreseeable future.” Yesung belays. “If this money is not enough, then you may request for more. However, do bear in mind that the request will be reviewed by an exchequer of the treasurer before we decide if to allow that much more money.”
He leaves a stunned Mama-san behind, staring at the cheque she holds in her hand, and quickly sneaks upstairs to see Ryeowook. Leeteuk sees it and doesn’t interfere. He doubts that they will be open for business tonight anyway.
And everything… is good.
~*~
| Part Four|