[Hierarchies] 4/?
Title: Hierarchies
Chapter: 4/?
Genre: Ancient
Genre: Ancient Korea!AU, Drama, Angst, eventual Romance
Pairings: SiHan, more to come
Characters: Sungmin, Kyuhyun, Zhoumi, Ryeowook, Donghae, Henry. [Featuring: Siwon, Hankyung, Leeteuk]
Summary: Ryeowook wonders if he and Donghae are really more than just servants. Donghae and Zhoumi had a heart to heart talk, leading to unintentional turn of events. Kyuhyun's still a playful little brat, unaware that more than one kettle of trouble is brewing.
A/N: I'm surprised that I'm not stressing out about including an even distrubution of character appearances. As for the waiting Henry fans, do not worry, I speculate his entrance in a few chapters? More SiHan as well in the next chapters, since Haemin are going away for a while. I promise, I think.
Previous:
Prologue , One- Luminous , Two- Darkness , Three- Guardian
“Hae, what do you write anyways? If you spill ink again, I’m not going to wash the sheets. Do you have any idea how painfully annoying it is to wash out ink?”
“I know, I’ll be careful.” Donghae dabbed a bit more ink and continued making strokes on the bound sheets of papers.
“No you don’t know, because I do the washing here. And you didn’t answer my question.”
“Just stuff, little things that happened today, things that happen everyday.” Donghae looked up at the bottom of Ryeowook’s bed. There was a spot that lumped down, likely where Ryeowook was sitting, causing the bedding to crease downwards.
“Hae-ah, you’re so weird sometimes. How’s your foot feeling?”
“Why do you ask so many questions? My foot is fine if it weren’t for you and your stupid ideas.” Donghae breathed bitterly, caressing the throbbing pain delicately before he resumed with his limited penmanship and artistic skills.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sungmin found out, and he made a doctor come in to check up on me. I saw Dr. Kim’s face darken when he examined my heel.” Donghae whispered quietly inside their room. He reached for the brown wool blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders as he leaned against the wall. “You know how doctors like Dr. Kim aren’t supposed to treat servants, right?”
“Hae, do you really think we’re servants? I mean, Sungmin is so caring towards us-“ Donghae heard Ryeowook whisper from the top bunk, his voice gentle and soothing when it mixed with a symphony of chirping crickets outside.
“Wookie, what are you trying to say? You know who we are in this kingdom. Just because we grew up together does not make us in any way, connected with royalty.” Donghae was always the cautious one between the two.
“I know that. But, no, but it’s just that I feel bad because he treats us so well, Sungmin, and we just reject it and continue demeaning ourselves and I don’t think Sungmin appreciates it. Kyuhyun doesn’t care. He just wants someone to play with.”
Donghae credited that point. Sungmin had repeatedly made it clear that the four of them were equal, they were all friends and just because they were technically their servants, that label shouldn’t ever come between them. Kyuhyun was the youngest and most playful, his immaturity getting the best of him. But he never shunned away Ryeowook or his company, but rather he seemed happier whenever either of them was attending him for the day.
“I just think that, if that’s what Prince Sungmin wants, then as his servants we should follow his wish.” Ryeowook poked his head over the wooden bed and looked down at Donghae. “Do you understand me?”
“Yeah, I do...”
“And I mean if anything happens, we know Sungmin and Kyuhyun will have our backs.” Ryeowook joined him on the bed and held Donghae’s hands in his own palm. “Oh, and you have to meet Zhoumi someday. He’s really nice.”
Donghae gave Ryeowook a blank nod, trying to register who this Zhoumi was.
“You know, that boy from the city you carried back.”
“Donghae, can you carry him back to the palace.” Sungmin stated as he grabbed onto Kyuhyun’s robe, stopping him from running away.
Donghae nodded and tried blocking out the pain erupting from his foot. Each step he took, the pain incinereated
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing, Prince.” Sungmin arched his brows in concern before turning around.
“Hae, you don’t look so good.” Ryeowook went up offered a shoulder for support just as Donghae almost stumbled, his right foot spamming pulses of pain that shot up his spine. The boy definitely was heavier than he looked, despite his hollow cheeks and rags.
“Ah, yes. I remember him.” Donghae held his ankle, painful reminisces dancing in his head.
“We should have lunch together tomorrow. It’s not like Sungmin minds. You know he really likes Zhoumi.” Ryeowook chirped happily. Donghae nods, momentarily drowning in his thoughts as Ryeowook crawled up back the ladder, bidding him goodnight. Donghae looked down at his handmade notebook, his head drooping and hands shaking.
Outside, a droplet of dew fell off the leaves of a rose bush, landing gracefully on top of the soil. Gravity worked its magic, the dirt greedily absorbing the moisture as it mixed with the dry particles, creating a creek as it bled away slowly.
~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ж ~ ж ~
“Ryeowook said that he was here since a child, and he mentioned your name?”
“Oh, I’m Donghae, the one Ryeowook mentioned.” Zhoumi could tell that Donghae silently wished that Ryeowook would come back, his eyes were shifty and constantly gazing towards the pair of doors.
“Yeah, I know that.” Donghae smiled cheekily and reached for the clay kettle and a small brown cup.
“How’s your foot, Ryeowook told me that I worsened the swelling, and I want to apologize for that.”
“It’s fine, it’s a lot better now after the doctor appointed me some ointment.”
Another awkward pause of lingering silence.
“So you’ve also been here since a child?”
“My father also attended the king, and I pretty much grew up here. I was a bit younger than Prince Sungmin, and he wanted to play with me ever since we were little kids. He never really cared that I was supposedly a servant that was actually meant to look after him, he just, well, liked having a same age friend.”
“What about yourself, Donghae?”
“I just told you things about me.”
“No, I meant your relationship with Prince Sungmin, because I noticed you seemed uneasy mentioning him.”
“Oh, I always knew I was his servant. My father told me that no matter what happens, we must know our place, our position. Sungmin is the heir to the throne, and as much as he treats me as a friend, I always knew that I was his servant, his close attendant that accompanied him anywhere and everywhere.” Zhoumi noted his breathing, heavy and erratic, and his fingers were tapping lightly on the auburn wood.
“But are you happy?”
“Yes.” Donghae didn’t even hesitate to answer, sounding more like a rehearsed reflex rather than a genuine answer to Zhoumi.
“Really, you’re happy?” Zhoumi questioned again and Donghae’s face lost its affirmative nod. Silence ensued, dense and awkward.
“Zhoumi, can you tell me why are you so happy?”
“I’m not happy.” Zhoumi placed a hand on Donghae’s shoulder, their first instance of physical contact after Donghae had carried him back to the palace. “Why do you think I’m happy?”
“I don’t know, you’re just always smiling and bright. Prince Sungmin really likes that... the way how you’re always cheerful and all that.” Donghae whispered softly.
“I was never happy in my life. But like you, I always knew one thing. Life goes on, so why not smile through it.”
Donghae looked deep in thought, returning his statement with a simple nod as he absorbed said words.
“That day, there were two other slaves with you, did you know them?” Donghae looked up at Zhoumi, expecting another cheerful smile.
It was the first time Donghae had seen Zhoumi cry.
“My brother... my younger brother.” Zhoumi choked out and leaned onto Donghae for support. It was the first time since Zhoumi cried in a long time, especially since he could never show Henry the weaker side of him because he had to protect his brother.
~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ж ~ ж ~
“Hae-ah. How do you find Zhoumi?” Sungmin put down his brush before holding up his parchment, bringing it up towards the light.
“He’s really nice.” Donghae replied as he took the parchment from Sungmin and added it to a growing stack, each sheet illustrating Sungmin’s penmanship and artistic talent.
“I think so too.” Sungmin picked up a thinner brush and whipped a few fresh strokes onto the scroll. “I think he would be happy here, and I’m happy to have him stay here.”
“He’s not happy.” Donghae meekly stated. It was true, Zhoumi poured out his heart to him, tears and mucus, about his younger brother.
Sungmin looked momentarily stunned, a vibrant drop of onyx ink splattering on the parchment.
“What do you mean, he’s not happy?” Sungmin rested the brush atop the burgundy, hand crafted wood as the rip of silver housed itself in the wellow.
Donghae shifted his weight onto his left foot, relieving the momentary pain that bubbled within him before he told Prince Sungmin his earlier conversation with Zhoumi.
~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ ж ~ж ~ ж ~
“I think Zhoumi should stay here.” Sungmin placed a white piece onto the game board. “He’s getting along nicely with Donghae and Ryeowook, and personally I really like him.”
“So that’s his name? That slave you bought from the market.” Kyuhyun put down another black bead onto the gridded board.
“Kyu, he’s not a slave.” Kyuhyun gave him a sarcastic stare. “Well okay, he is, but have you even tried talking to him?”
“No, why would I do that. He’s a slave and I’m a Prince.”
“Kyu, you should try talking to him. He is actually a very nice person, good company too.”
“Does father know you’re actually talking to him?”
“Yes, and he doesn’t care.” Sungmin put another piece beside Kyuhyun’s freshly set black piece. “Listen, Kyu, I need to go out to the city for a while, and I’m bringing Donghae with me. Try not to make a mess while I’m gone, okay?”
Kyuhyun pouted and Sungmin pulled his younger brother into a tight hug, ruffling his hair fondly and patting him on the back.
“Hyung… I’m going to miss you.” Kyuhyun tightened his arms around Sungmin, pulling him closer. His normal voice, usually dripping with sarcasm, was gone and he sounded genuinely sad for a change.
“How long has it been since you used honorifics with me?” Sungmin chuckled and Kyuhyun pushed him away, shooting him another pout.
“I do use honorifics when I’m with Donghae and them.” Kyuhyun frowned, his hands throwing a black checker piece onto the table, his eyes tracing the little bead as it landed on the stone floor. If it weren’t for his towering height, he did look like and act like a young child. “I always call you hyung.”
“Nice try, Kyu. So what do you want me to bring back for you?”
“Hyung knows me best.” Kyuhyun smiled playfully and began listing random quirks only found in the city life.
“You think that little act still works on me? I’m not our father.” Sungmin gleamed as he noted as many things from Kyuhyun’s obnoxiously long list.
Kyuhyun whined and stomped his foot childishly.
“You still act like a child, how old are you again?”
“Hyung, I’m just 18. I’m still a child.” Kyuhyun stuck out his tongue in the most adorable way possible and Sungmin hugged his younger brother again. Kyuhyun buried his face comfortably near Sungmin’s shoulders.