Friendship Over Family 8
Title: Friendship over Family 8/?
Genre: Friendship, Romance (eventually)
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Pairing: Onew/Taemin
Summary: Jinki is a highschool student who gets caught by Taemin, a street kid, who is running from a group of thugs. Later Jinki runs into Taemin again and the two begin a dysfunction friendship. Just when Taemin thinks he can depend on the other, Jinki disappears with a depressing family secret.
Author's Notes: :I Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own SHINee or ... anything
Jinki's heart stopped, along with his feet, as Taemin stood in front of him, his back to the older boy. He smiled but then let it drop as he thought about the day before.
After dinner, Jinki pondered as to why he hadn't seen Taemin. Was it because he invited him over for two night? Was it because he insisted that the younger boy live with them? Because his mother comforted Taemin? Was Jinki getting too close? Was he scaring Taemin away because he wanted to save a boy that didn't want to be saved?
Jinki shook out of his daze as Taemin slammed a case down on the pavement. The older boy thought about walking away, walking right by Taemin without as so much as a hello. He frowned, knowing this wasn't the right thing to do. Taemin would have known Jinki would've expected to see him the day before so there was no reason to hide his disappointment or sadness that came with the younger boy not actually being there. There was no reason to smile and act oblivious. He sighed, closing his eyes.
"What're you doing?"
Jinki opened his eyes wide. Taemin was staring at him with his hands on his tiny hips.
"I..." The older boy's mouth moved up and down.
"What?"
"I was thinking."
"With your eyes closed?"
Jinki frowned. "Yeah... So what?"
Taemin shrugged, turning his back once again. The older boy couldn't feel any tension from Taemin but it oozed from him. He suddenly didn't want to be there. He didn't like how younger boy acted as if nothing had happened. He wanted Taemin to confront him or lash out or even explain where he had been. Jinki knew he didn't have the right to be angry. He didn't have the right to ask where the smaller boy was either. It was not like he had made plans with Taemin.
Taking a shaky step forward, Jinki decided to walk, his feet moving passed Taemin as he progressed down the street.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
The older boy swallowed hard, not turning his head. "Home. You look busy."
"Yah... Since when is a streetkid busy. Hey!" Taemin watched as Jinki started to walk again.
He caught the taller boy, swinging his arm around Jinki's neck and pulling him down. "Where do you think you're going? You didn't even say goodbye, let alone hello."
"W-we don't normally..."
Taemin sighed, unhooking his arm and punching the older boy's arm. "Since when did that stop you from talking to me before?"
"Y-you're busy... I forgot you had a life... I didn't m-mean to disturb it... I'm sure you had lots to do yesterday."
"What are you babbling about?" The younger boy took a step back, crossing his arms over his chest. "You aren't disturbing my life Jinki..."
The older boy stared at the ground.
"I... I ran into someone yesterday... So I was with them all day and didn't realize the time... I'm sorry I didn't meet you."
Jinki raised his head."I-it's okay... I-I came later too... I-it was dark then..."
"You came in the dark?" Taemin uncrossed his arms.
"M-mm..."
"Are you nuts?!"
Jinki jumped back.
"It's not safe here! You could've been attacked! Shin hangs around here when it gets dark that's why I'm never here!" Taemin paused. "You didn't run into him did you?"
The older boy looked away, biting his lip.
"Jinki! Did you?!" The smaller boy pressed Jinki into the wall behind them.
"I... He... M-mm..."
"Jinki, what did he do?!"
The taller boy blinked, moving his lips. "H-he had a knife..."
Taemin's eyes widened as he stepped back, examining Jinki's body before stepping close to him. "He didn't cut you... What did he say?"
"H-he asked me where you were... He kept saying I was lying so when he put the knife to my face but when he pulled it away, I kicked him and ran off."
"Did you see if he followed you?"
"N-no, I ran straight home."
The younger boy's lips tightened in a straight line. "That was dangerous Jinki... And very stupid! He could've killed you!"
Jinki suddenly fell to his knees, grabbing Taemin's hands.
"J-Jinki, what are you doing?"
"Taemin please... Please don't stay here."
"Jinki don't do this."
"Come live with me please."
"Jinki get up."
The older boy tugged on Taemin's hands. "Please leave all this."
"Knock it off." The younger boy tried to pull away.
"Please! I don't want you to stay here!"
Taemin threw Jinki around, trying to break free. The older boy suddenly looked up at him with tears in his eyes.
"I can't stand having you out here. It hurts me whenever I have to leave you! I hate it!"
"J-Jinki please..." Taemin knelt down. "Please don't... You can't ask this of me."
"I can!" Jinki looked at the younger boy, his eyes filled his anger. "I-I'll call the cops! I-I won't let you live here!"
Taemin ripped his hand away, slapping Jinki across the face.
"You don't know anything about me!" The younger boy screamed, tears flowing from his eyes. "How can you just accept me?! I never asked for this!"
"I care about you!" Jinki grabbed the smaller boy's hands again. "I don't ever want to leave you!"
Taemin broke free again from the older boy, bringing his hand back again.
"Taemin stop!"
The smaller boy's eyes widened as Mrs. Lee came running towards them. Taemin struggled against Jinki.
"Please... Please don't run."
Taemin suddenly stiffened as Jinki's mother wrapped her arms around him once more.
"N-no... Let me go... Let me go!"
He struggled against her arms. "I hate you! I hate you all! Just leave me alone!"
~
The words echoed in Jinki's head as he sat in the waiting room.
'I hate you!'
His frowned deepened as he played with his fingers. Every time his mind replayed the scene, the words etched into his skin with a razor blade.
'I hate you!'
Jinki could almost taste the blood as he swallowed. His body felt riddled with the words as they were written all over, it made him ache.
'Just leave me alone!'
He closed his eyes tight.
"Jinki?"
His mother stood in the doorway as he opened his eyes. He sighed, getting up and wiping his sweaty palms on his black dress pants.
"Hello Jinki." The man behind the large desk said as Jinki stepped into the room.
He didn't bother to look around, knowing that nothing else was relevant, nothing else mattered but why they were there.
"Now Jinki, we both know that this is very serious, don't we?"
"Yes sir."
"Why don't you start by telling me how you met Mr. Lee."
Jinki shivered, never hearing anyone call Taemin by his last name.
"I was walking home from school one day when we bumped into each other."
"Where were you when you saw him?"
"Downtown. I walk downtown when I walk home."
"Okay, please, continue."
"I... He dropped some of his stuff so I picked it up to hand it to him and he grabbed my arm and we ran."
"Why did you run?"
"Because someone was chasing Taemin."
"Do you know why?"
Jinki shook his head.
"We hid and then I looked around and realized I didn't know where I was. Taemin showed me the way back."
"How did you become friends after that?"
"I kept seeing Taemin in the same spot after school. I just started talking to him and... We became friends."
"Jinki... Has Mr. Lee ever hurt you in any way?"
"No."
"Has someone else hurt you because of him?"
Jinki swallowed. "N-no."
The large man in the tie sighed. "Jinki, everything you say here is completely confidential. No one else will know."
Jinki bit his lip and bowed his head. "Y-yes."
His mother gasped. "Jinki!"
The large man put his hand up and shook his head.
"How did he hurt you?"
"He punched me... I-in the nose."
Jinki's father suddenly stood, coming over to his son. "What did he look like? Can you identify him if you saw him?"
"Mr. Lee please, sit down. Your son is stressed."
"Now, did he break your nose? I will say he did because you have a small bruise."
Jinki nodded.
"Was Mr. Lee there?"
He nodded again.
"What did Mr. Lee do?"
"H-he punched Shin and then we ran."
"So he knew who it was that attacked you."
Jinki shuffled in his seat.
"Has their been any other times when this person attacked you or approached you?"
"Y-yes."
"What happened then? Was Mr. Lee there too?"
"N-no... After I left my friend's house, I went to look for Taemin because I didn't see him after school. Shin was there and..."
"Go on."
"H-he held a knife to my face."
Mrs. Lee gasped.
"Jesus Christ. Can't we put this kid in jail?!" Mr. Lee asked.
"What did he do after that?" The large man asked, ignoring Mr. Lee.
"I kicked him in the crotch and ran off."
"That's why you came home out of breath." Mrs. Lee whispered.
"So you can confirm that this is true?" The man asked Mrs. Lee.
She nodded. "He suddenly burst in the door out of breath but told us he just ran home because it was dangerous outside."
"Jinki, have you been close friends with Mr. Lee?"
Jinki nodded. "He came over to my house on the weekend."
"Did you have fun?"
Jinki raised his head, feeling that the question was somewhat out of place. "Yes."
"Was Mr. Lee unhappy or upset at all? Did he seem panicked?"
Jinki raised a brow. "No."
Mrs. Lee sighed. "He cried."
Jinki suddenly looked at his mother.
"Please go on."
"He was laying on the floor with his back to me when I came into the room. I noticed he had been crying so I hugged him. He continued to cry for a bit longer and I told him if he needed anything I'd do my best."
"Did he tell you why he was crying?"
"No, he didn't."
The large man cleared his throat. "Was anything missing after he left?"
Jinki looked at the man behind the desk with wide eyes.
"I-I don't think so."
"Did you leave any jewelry out that wasn't there when you looked again?"
"H-hey!"
"No, everything was where I left it. Nothing was missing."
The large man sighed, patting the table in front of Jinki. "We cannot be sure Jinki. Mr. Lee is from the streets, we do not know what he will do to survive."
"Please stop talking like that... He wasn't always a street kid."
The large man took a deep breath. "That is another thing we need to discuss. Has Mr. Lee ever talked about his past?"
Jinki shook his head.
The man nodded. "Mr. Lee is actually from a wealthy family. He went to quite an expensive school too. He was high ranked in all his classes. Smart kid for his age. Mr. Lee's father died while he was in middle school and a couple years later, Mrs. Lee remarried. Now we're not sure if this is true or not, it's still being looked into but, apparently Mr. Lee's stepfather used to beat him. Apparently one night the step father came home drunk and raped Mr. Lee. We don't have proof of this but..."
Jinki suddenly blocked out the man's voice, his vision becoming blurry.
"... Mr. Lee went to the police but nothing was ever proved so Mr. Lee went back to his family..."
Jinki felt the contents of his stomach turn like a washing machine, throwing his fluids around wildly.
"... It's odd but no one filled a missings report on this kid."
Jinki suddenly stood up, his head spinning as he slammed his hand against the table to steady himself. "I need to go to the bathroom."
"Honey... Do you need me to go with you? You look a little..."
"I'm fine mom..." Jinki turned to leave the room when his vision blacked and he hit the floor.
~
"I've never had anyone pass out for me."
Jinki blinked, opening his eyes. Taemin sat at his side, picking at his nails. He blinked and glared as if the younger boy was a mirage.
"Stop glaring at me babo."
"Taemin..."
"I heard what happened... You big dope. Why'd you faint? My story wasn't that horrible, was it?"
Jinki suddenly sat up, regretting it as his head reeled. He covered his mouth, feeling vile bubble in his throat. He opened his eyes as Taemin shoved a bucket by his mouth. He breathed deeply, taking his hand away from his mouth.
"Thanks." He smiled.
"Better the bucket than me... Or you."
"W-what's going on now? I mean..."
"When they realized that I wasn't going to kill you, they let me go... I guess the police aren't so bad after all..." Taemin sighed. "And I guess... Well I can't blame your mom that you're so stubborn and horrible but... I guess I'm your new brother."
Jinki smiled as he was about to jump out of the bed but then kept still. "What about your... Parents?"
"I heard my mom just handed over the papers. She didn't put up a fight, not surprised, why would she?"
"A-and your step father..?"
"He has no say what happens to me."
The older boy smiled. "So you're a Lee... Again."
Taemin laughed. " I guess I am."
"How do you feel... About joining our family?"
"Better already."
"How about school?" Mrs. Lee came into the room.
Taemin sighed. "I'm a little iffy on that."
"Well... Since you're so smart... You'll be bumped up a few grades. It puts you two years under Jinki which means you'll be going to the same school."
"Um...I-isn't that an expensive school?"
Mrs. Lee laughed. "Don't worry about it honey. Your father and I have it covered, just do well okay?"
She patted Taemin on the head and left the room.
"I think I like the part where I clean the house in your mom's apron idea better."
Jinki laughed. "You'll do fine."
Genre: Friendship, Romance (eventually)
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Pairing: Onew/Taemin
Summary: Jinki is a highschool student who gets caught by Taemin, a street kid, who is running from a group of thugs. Later Jinki runs into Taemin again and the two begin a dysfunction friendship. Just when Taemin thinks he can depend on the other, Jinki disappears with a depressing family secret.
Author's Notes: :I Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own SHINee or ... anything
Jinki's heart stopped, along with his feet, as Taemin stood in front of him, his back to the older boy. He smiled but then let it drop as he thought about the day before.
After dinner, Jinki pondered as to why he hadn't seen Taemin. Was it because he invited him over for two night? Was it because he insisted that the younger boy live with them? Because his mother comforted Taemin? Was Jinki getting too close? Was he scaring Taemin away because he wanted to save a boy that didn't want to be saved?
Jinki shook out of his daze as Taemin slammed a case down on the pavement. The older boy thought about walking away, walking right by Taemin without as so much as a hello. He frowned, knowing this wasn't the right thing to do. Taemin would have known Jinki would've expected to see him the day before so there was no reason to hide his disappointment or sadness that came with the younger boy not actually being there. There was no reason to smile and act oblivious. He sighed, closing his eyes.
"What're you doing?"
Jinki opened his eyes wide. Taemin was staring at him with his hands on his tiny hips.
"I..." The older boy's mouth moved up and down.
"What?"
"I was thinking."
"With your eyes closed?"
Jinki frowned. "Yeah... So what?"
Taemin shrugged, turning his back once again. The older boy couldn't feel any tension from Taemin but it oozed from him. He suddenly didn't want to be there. He didn't like how younger boy acted as if nothing had happened. He wanted Taemin to confront him or lash out or even explain where he had been. Jinki knew he didn't have the right to be angry. He didn't have the right to ask where the smaller boy was either. It was not like he had made plans with Taemin.
Taking a shaky step forward, Jinki decided to walk, his feet moving passed Taemin as he progressed down the street.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
The older boy swallowed hard, not turning his head. "Home. You look busy."
"Yah... Since when is a streetkid busy. Hey!" Taemin watched as Jinki started to walk again.
He caught the taller boy, swinging his arm around Jinki's neck and pulling him down. "Where do you think you're going? You didn't even say goodbye, let alone hello."
"W-we don't normally..."
Taemin sighed, unhooking his arm and punching the older boy's arm. "Since when did that stop you from talking to me before?"
"Y-you're busy... I forgot you had a life... I didn't m-mean to disturb it... I'm sure you had lots to do yesterday."
"What are you babbling about?" The younger boy took a step back, crossing his arms over his chest. "You aren't disturbing my life Jinki..."
The older boy stared at the ground.
"I... I ran into someone yesterday... So I was with them all day and didn't realize the time... I'm sorry I didn't meet you."
Jinki raised his head."I-it's okay... I-I came later too... I-it was dark then..."
"You came in the dark?" Taemin uncrossed his arms.
"M-mm..."
"Are you nuts?!"
Jinki jumped back.
"It's not safe here! You could've been attacked! Shin hangs around here when it gets dark that's why I'm never here!" Taemin paused. "You didn't run into him did you?"
The older boy looked away, biting his lip.
"Jinki! Did you?!" The smaller boy pressed Jinki into the wall behind them.
"I... He... M-mm..."
"Jinki, what did he do?!"
The taller boy blinked, moving his lips. "H-he had a knife..."
Taemin's eyes widened as he stepped back, examining Jinki's body before stepping close to him. "He didn't cut you... What did he say?"
"H-he asked me where you were... He kept saying I was lying so when he put the knife to my face but when he pulled it away, I kicked him and ran off."
"Did you see if he followed you?"
"N-no, I ran straight home."
The younger boy's lips tightened in a straight line. "That was dangerous Jinki... And very stupid! He could've killed you!"
Jinki suddenly fell to his knees, grabbing Taemin's hands.
"J-Jinki, what are you doing?"
"Taemin please... Please don't stay here."
"Jinki don't do this."
"Come live with me please."
"Jinki get up."
The older boy tugged on Taemin's hands. "Please leave all this."
"Knock it off." The younger boy tried to pull away.
"Please! I don't want you to stay here!"
Taemin threw Jinki around, trying to break free. The older boy suddenly looked up at him with tears in his eyes.
"I can't stand having you out here. It hurts me whenever I have to leave you! I hate it!"
"J-Jinki please..." Taemin knelt down. "Please don't... You can't ask this of me."
"I can!" Jinki looked at the younger boy, his eyes filled his anger. "I-I'll call the cops! I-I won't let you live here!"
Taemin ripped his hand away, slapping Jinki across the face.
"You don't know anything about me!" The younger boy screamed, tears flowing from his eyes. "How can you just accept me?! I never asked for this!"
"I care about you!" Jinki grabbed the smaller boy's hands again. "I don't ever want to leave you!"
Taemin broke free again from the older boy, bringing his hand back again.
"Taemin stop!"
The smaller boy's eyes widened as Mrs. Lee came running towards them. Taemin struggled against Jinki.
"Please... Please don't run."
Taemin suddenly stiffened as Jinki's mother wrapped her arms around him once more.
"N-no... Let me go... Let me go!"
He struggled against her arms. "I hate you! I hate you all! Just leave me alone!"
~
The words echoed in Jinki's head as he sat in the waiting room.
'I hate you!'
His frowned deepened as he played with his fingers. Every time his mind replayed the scene, the words etched into his skin with a razor blade.
'I hate you!'
Jinki could almost taste the blood as he swallowed. His body felt riddled with the words as they were written all over, it made him ache.
'Just leave me alone!'
He closed his eyes tight.
"Jinki?"
His mother stood in the doorway as he opened his eyes. He sighed, getting up and wiping his sweaty palms on his black dress pants.
"Hello Jinki." The man behind the large desk said as Jinki stepped into the room.
He didn't bother to look around, knowing that nothing else was relevant, nothing else mattered but why they were there.
"Now Jinki, we both know that this is very serious, don't we?"
"Yes sir."
"Why don't you start by telling me how you met Mr. Lee."
Jinki shivered, never hearing anyone call Taemin by his last name.
"I was walking home from school one day when we bumped into each other."
"Where were you when you saw him?"
"Downtown. I walk downtown when I walk home."
"Okay, please, continue."
"I... He dropped some of his stuff so I picked it up to hand it to him and he grabbed my arm and we ran."
"Why did you run?"
"Because someone was chasing Taemin."
"Do you know why?"
Jinki shook his head.
"We hid and then I looked around and realized I didn't know where I was. Taemin showed me the way back."
"How did you become friends after that?"
"I kept seeing Taemin in the same spot after school. I just started talking to him and... We became friends."
"Jinki... Has Mr. Lee ever hurt you in any way?"
"No."
"Has someone else hurt you because of him?"
Jinki swallowed. "N-no."
The large man in the tie sighed. "Jinki, everything you say here is completely confidential. No one else will know."
Jinki bit his lip and bowed his head. "Y-yes."
His mother gasped. "Jinki!"
The large man put his hand up and shook his head.
"How did he hurt you?"
"He punched me... I-in the nose."
Jinki's father suddenly stood, coming over to his son. "What did he look like? Can you identify him if you saw him?"
"Mr. Lee please, sit down. Your son is stressed."
"Now, did he break your nose? I will say he did because you have a small bruise."
Jinki nodded.
"Was Mr. Lee there?"
He nodded again.
"What did Mr. Lee do?"
"H-he punched Shin and then we ran."
"So he knew who it was that attacked you."
Jinki shuffled in his seat.
"Has their been any other times when this person attacked you or approached you?"
"Y-yes."
"What happened then? Was Mr. Lee there too?"
"N-no... After I left my friend's house, I went to look for Taemin because I didn't see him after school. Shin was there and..."
"Go on."
"H-he held a knife to my face."
Mrs. Lee gasped.
"Jesus Christ. Can't we put this kid in jail?!" Mr. Lee asked.
"What did he do after that?" The large man asked, ignoring Mr. Lee.
"I kicked him in the crotch and ran off."
"That's why you came home out of breath." Mrs. Lee whispered.
"So you can confirm that this is true?" The man asked Mrs. Lee.
She nodded. "He suddenly burst in the door out of breath but told us he just ran home because it was dangerous outside."
"Jinki, have you been close friends with Mr. Lee?"
Jinki nodded. "He came over to my house on the weekend."
"Did you have fun?"
Jinki raised his head, feeling that the question was somewhat out of place. "Yes."
"Was Mr. Lee unhappy or upset at all? Did he seem panicked?"
Jinki raised a brow. "No."
Mrs. Lee sighed. "He cried."
Jinki suddenly looked at his mother.
"Please go on."
"He was laying on the floor with his back to me when I came into the room. I noticed he had been crying so I hugged him. He continued to cry for a bit longer and I told him if he needed anything I'd do my best."
"Did he tell you why he was crying?"
"No, he didn't."
The large man cleared his throat. "Was anything missing after he left?"
Jinki looked at the man behind the desk with wide eyes.
"I-I don't think so."
"Did you leave any jewelry out that wasn't there when you looked again?"
"H-hey!"
"No, everything was where I left it. Nothing was missing."
The large man sighed, patting the table in front of Jinki. "We cannot be sure Jinki. Mr. Lee is from the streets, we do not know what he will do to survive."
"Please stop talking like that... He wasn't always a street kid."
The large man took a deep breath. "That is another thing we need to discuss. Has Mr. Lee ever talked about his past?"
Jinki shook his head.
The man nodded. "Mr. Lee is actually from a wealthy family. He went to quite an expensive school too. He was high ranked in all his classes. Smart kid for his age. Mr. Lee's father died while he was in middle school and a couple years later, Mrs. Lee remarried. Now we're not sure if this is true or not, it's still being looked into but, apparently Mr. Lee's stepfather used to beat him. Apparently one night the step father came home drunk and raped Mr. Lee. We don't have proof of this but..."
Jinki suddenly blocked out the man's voice, his vision becoming blurry.
"... Mr. Lee went to the police but nothing was ever proved so Mr. Lee went back to his family..."
Jinki felt the contents of his stomach turn like a washing machine, throwing his fluids around wildly.
"... It's odd but no one filled a missings report on this kid."
Jinki suddenly stood up, his head spinning as he slammed his hand against the table to steady himself. "I need to go to the bathroom."
"Honey... Do you need me to go with you? You look a little..."
"I'm fine mom..." Jinki turned to leave the room when his vision blacked and he hit the floor.
~
"I've never had anyone pass out for me."
Jinki blinked, opening his eyes. Taemin sat at his side, picking at his nails. He blinked and glared as if the younger boy was a mirage.
"Stop glaring at me babo."
"Taemin..."
"I heard what happened... You big dope. Why'd you faint? My story wasn't that horrible, was it?"
Jinki suddenly sat up, regretting it as his head reeled. He covered his mouth, feeling vile bubble in his throat. He opened his eyes as Taemin shoved a bucket by his mouth. He breathed deeply, taking his hand away from his mouth.
"Thanks." He smiled.
"Better the bucket than me... Or you."
"W-what's going on now? I mean..."
"When they realized that I wasn't going to kill you, they let me go... I guess the police aren't so bad after all..." Taemin sighed. "And I guess... Well I can't blame your mom that you're so stubborn and horrible but... I guess I'm your new brother."
Jinki smiled as he was about to jump out of the bed but then kept still. "What about your... Parents?"
"I heard my mom just handed over the papers. She didn't put up a fight, not surprised, why would she?"
"A-and your step father..?"
"He has no say what happens to me."
The older boy smiled. "So you're a Lee... Again."
Taemin laughed. " I guess I am."
"How do you feel... About joining our family?"
"Better already."
"How about school?" Mrs. Lee came into the room.
Taemin sighed. "I'm a little iffy on that."
"Well... Since you're so smart... You'll be bumped up a few grades. It puts you two years under Jinki which means you'll be going to the same school."
"Um...I-isn't that an expensive school?"
Mrs. Lee laughed. "Don't worry about it honey. Your father and I have it covered, just do well okay?"
She patted Taemin on the head and left the room.
"I think I like the part where I clean the house in your mom's apron idea better."
Jinki laughed. "You'll do fine."