Super Junior AU; Various Pairings; Love/War
Title: Love/War (5/?)
Fandom: Super Junior AU (Mafia)
Pairings: Siwon/Hankyung/Heechul (Hankyung/Heechul), Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Kibum/Donghae, Yehsung/Ryeowook, Kangin/Eeteuk, Tablo/Eunhyuk
Pairings in Chapter: Hankyung/Heechul
Word Count: 3,677
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Kim family and the Choi family are the two oldest families in Seoul: where other families have been born, grown, and then fell apart, they remain strong. Unfortunately, they are mortal enemies, and where one lives alongside the law, the other is beyond any control. It's up to the new generation of members to destroy the violence between them - even if it means destroying one family in the process.
A/N: Whoever told me that this was a good idea should be ashamed of themselves.
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5
Ryeowook slumped down onto the bed in Donghae’s bedroom, hugging a pillow to his chest as he watched Donghae and Eunhyuk battle each other on the latest video game that Eunhyuk had been sent (It was something that happened a lot, because video game manufacturers liked to have the backing of a family - it stopped too many complaints). “Hyung,” he said, whining. “You’re supposed to be helping me with my problem.”
“What problem?” asked Donghae, tongue poking between his teeth in concentration.
“Yehsung-hyung,” said Ryeowook.
“Oh,” said Eunhyuk, pressing violently on his controller. “Not that, again?”
“Are you playing video games?” Ryeowook asked scornfully. “Again?”
“That’s different,” said Eunhyuk, turning to glare at Ryeowook for a brief second before he turned back to the screen.
“Well, I’ll be sure to be as sympathetic to you when you’ve got love problems,” said Ryeowook angrily, throwing the pillow he was holding at Eunhyuk’s head. It hit him square on the back and knocked him forward. With a yell of triumph, Donghae won the game.
“I much preferred you when you never spoke to me,” said Eunhyuk furiously, making a gesture in Ryeowook’s direction. Ryeowook stuck his tongue out at him.
“So,” said Donghae He leant forward to turn the television off and then turned to Ryeowook. “What am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Ryeowook. “I just wanted to talk to someone about it and I think everyone else is out.”
“You’ve been out with Henry all day!” said Eunhyuk indignantly. “Why didn’t you bend his ear about it?”
“I did,” said Ryeowook sadly. “He didn’t understand a lot of what I said.”
“Bully for Henry,” said Eunhyuk.
“I think I preferred it when I didn’t talk to you too,” said Ryeowook with an angry look. “Seriously, you’ve never had to go through this so don’t get snippy with me!”
“I don’t know whether to be annoyed that you don’t think I’ve ever had a relationship,” said Eunhyuk, “or happy that I’ve never had to go through what you go through.”
“Just stop sleeping with him, Wookie,” said Donghae. “It’s as easy as that.”
“I know,” said Ryeowook, grabbing another pillow and hugging that close to his chest again. “I just - it’s hard.”
“I know,” said Donghae, standing up and hugging him. Ryeowook wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged him harder, and Eunhyuk smiled to see it - it was strange how willing Donghae was, nowadays, to show his affection, to touch other people, when once, he had avoiding contact so thoroughly that it was painful to watch, flinching if anyone accidently touched him.
He had just straightened back up when there was a loud knock at the door. “Come in,” he shouted, turning to see how it was. The door opened and Kibum stuck his head in, smiling slightly.
Eunhyuk watched with growing dismay as Donghae tensed, shoulders becoming stiff, as his head lowered, deferring and submissive. His hands clenched at his sides for a few seconds, then he relaxed them, even as the rest of him grew more stiff. Eunhyuk glanced at Kibum, who sighed and frowned.
“Eeteuk sent me to tell you that none of you have to come to the formal dinner tonight,” he said. “Only Heechul and I have to go.”
“You are so lucky,” said Eunhyuk with an attempt at a grin, as Ryeowook reached up and took hold of Donghae’s hand fearfully.
Kibum noticed the movement, glanced at Donghae - and then nodded tensely and said softly, “Donghae? Did you hear?”
It was only like this that Kibum was ever able to communicate with Donghae; Ryeowook pulled on Donghae’s hand, and Donghae nodded slowly, still without looking up or at Kibum. Kibum looked at Eunhyuk, who just shook his head helplessly, and then Kibum left the room.
It was as if a switch had been flicked - Donghae immediately relaxed, smiling at Ryeowook and picking up the empty case for the video game as if nothing had happened. As he walked to the console to retrieve the game, Ryeowook and Eunhyuk exchanged glances.
Eunhyuk reached out and took him by the arm, forcing Donghae to stop. “Still?” he asked quietly. Donghae avoided his eyes.
“Don’t, Hyuk,” he said. “You know - it’s hard.”
“Like my problem, but not quite as hard, hyung,” said Ryeowook in an attempt at lightening the atmosphere, although he was blinking rapidly - he hated being around when this happened. Donghae grinned thankfully at him.
“Good though, isn’t it?” he asked. “About not having to go to that stupid dinner tonight. Senator Hwang is the most boring man I have ever had to sit with.”
“Donghae…”
“Yeah,” said Ryeowook determinedly, sending a Look in Eunhyuk direction. Shut up, it said. Eunhyuk frowned - he definitely preferred it when Ryeowook had never spoken, although that time had been just as hard as when Donghae had first arrived. Reluctantly he let go of Donghae’s arm, who walked away as if Eunhyuk had not just had hold of him.
“You know, Wookie,” he said, sitting down and wrapping an arm around Ryeowook’s shoulder in a comradely fashion. “You could always ask Yehsung if he wants to go out for dinner, and you could talk about how you feel there.”
Ryeowook stared at him. “I don’t care about whatever anyone else says,” he said. “Hyung, you are a genius.”
“What do-” began Donghae, frowning, but Ryeowook had already thrown the pillow down next to him and was rushing out of the door. Donghae looked curiously at Eunhyuk, clearly wanting to know what people said about him. Eunhyuk shrugged uneasily and laughed.
“Sometimes,” he said, “Ryeowook can be incredibly naïve?”
“Oh,” said Donghae, frowning for a second before his face went completely blank. “I’m sorry, Hyuk,” he said. “I can’t - it’s just.”
“I know,” said Eunhyuk. “It’ll take time, I understand.”
“I don’t want to be like that,” said Donghae. “Kibum - he-”
“Come on,” said Eunhyuk, punching him on the shoulder, attempting to bolster him up. “We should be celebrating that we don’t have to sit through another boring formal dinner, watching the politicians and Kangin and Eeteuk dance around each other trying to not make promises that they might regret. We should go out somewhere!”
Donghae smiled, though it was a little weak. “Is it okay if I don’t?” he asked. “I’m - kind of tired.”
“Oh,” said Eunhyuk, blinking a little. “Oh, okay.” He smiled at Donghae, and left the room. He lay against the door and sighed - to be honest, he didn’t want Donghae to be like that either. No one did.
***
Kangin watched impassively as Heechul put a large pile of papers down on the desk in front of him and took a step back to rest on his right leg, arms folded across his chest. Heechul appeared to be waiting for some sort of a reaction, though what, Kangin had no clue.
“What is this?” he asked. “If it’s more paper work, do it yourself, you lazy bastard.”
“No,” said Heechul, and he sounded serious, which was enough for Kangin to actually look at him for the first time. Heechul looked angry, which was usually a clear indication that he was either nervous, or had done something he had need to be nervous about. “It’s information.”
“Information on what?” Kangin picked up the paper that lay on top of the pile - it was a birth certificate. ‘Han Siwon’, it read. Kangin looked up at Heechul, eyebrows raised. “Did you kill someone? Are you using me to get rid of the evidence?”
“No,” said Heechul, looking like he’d like to strangle him. “Han Siwon. He wants to join our family.”
That certainly caught Kangin’s attention. He stared in shock at Heechul for a minute or so. “Close your mouth,” said Heechul, smug in being able to get him back for his ‘killed someone’ joke. “You’ll catch flies.”
Kangin looked again at the birth certificate, and then at the picture that had been hidden underneath it. The young man it portrayed was good looking, so much so that he looked back at Heechul with narrowed eyes.
“Are you sleeping with him?” he asked suspiciously.
“No,” said Heechul, tossing his hair back angrily.
“Is Hankyung?”
“Well, I fucking hope not.”
“Okay,” said Kangin, putting the paper down and leaning forward. “Tell me why I should let him in the family. How did you even meet him, anyway?”
“We met him that day that Min-young didn’t turn up,” said Heechul. “Hankyung and I, we ran into him at that bar.”
“And?”
“We kept bumping into him - it was weird, Kangin, really weird. We couldn’t get away from him, but neither me nor Hankyung were planning it, and we don’t think Siwon was planning it either. We wouldn’t tell him who we were. We’re not stupid.” He glared at Kangin, as if daring him to disagree. “We’d met him on Choi territory, we weren’t about to tell him that we actually from the Kim family, and then - he researched us of his own accord, found out about us from the people who live in our area.”
“Impressive,” said Kangin. “He’s able to use the public to his own advantage. He took his own initiative. I’m not sure whether I like that we’re so easy to find out about, but it’s impressive.”
“Exactly,” said Heechul. “He said that he wanted to meet you and Eeteuk. Hankyung and I investigated him and got his personal details before we came to see you, or before we brought him to see you.”
“It sounds like you’ve thought this through,” said Kangin musingly. Heechul didn’t say anything, just stood tensely upright. “I take it then that you want him to join the family?”
“What I want doesn’t matter one jot, does it?” Heechul shrugged. “I’m not the head; you and Eeteuk are the heads.”
“Don’t give me that,” said Kangin, glaring at him. “You’re the heir now, of course it matters what you think. If you think that he should join, then that’s important.”
“I want him to join,” said Heechul, “and I don’t remember you ever taking want over need.”
“Unlike you, I suppose, who always thinks that your wants are more important than anyone else’s needs.” Kangin flicked through the pile again, noting the extensive collection of education certificates.
“Hankyung,” said Heechul slowly, and Kangin stopped inspecting the high school-level diploma. “He said to tell you that he thinks that Siwon should be allowed to join the family. It’s his instinct, he says.”
Heechul looked levelly at him - Kangin knew, just as much and perhaps even more, how important Hankyung’s instincts were. Knowing when something was going wrong, knowing which people to trust and which people not to trust - it was Hankyung’s speciality, and it had saved many lives over the years, including Hankyung’s own a fair few times. If Hankyung thought that they could trust this Han Siwon, then they probably could.
“I’ll think about it,” said Kangin, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll have to discuss it with Eeteuk, of course. If we think he’s suitable, you can call him in for an interview.”
“I don’t do this very often, so you had better relish it,” said Heechul, and he bowed his head. “Thank you, Kangin,” he said seriously.
Kangin looked at him carefully for a minute or so, and then asked, “Are you sure you’re not sleeping with him?”
Heechul stuck his middle finger up at him. “Shut the fuck up, you bastard.”
***
“How did it go?” Hankyung asked, the moment Heechul stepped through into their room.
“I’m fine, thanks,” said Heechul sarcastically. “I’m sure having to try to convince Kangin that a small addition to the family in the shape of a previously unknown twenty one year old from Choi territory is just a walk in the park. That’s why I haven’t asked how you are, and just jumped straight to the business.”
“That well?” asked Hankyung, standing up slowly.
“He’s going to discuss it with Eeteuk and get back to us,” said Heechul, wrenching his tie from around his neck. “And then they’ll let us know whether or not Siwon gets an interview.” He stopped suddenly, looking at Hankyung, strangely helpless. “I don’t understand why we’re going so far to help this man that we barely know,” he said.
“I don’t understand it either,” said Hankyung, coming closer. “I figured you were just in it for the eye candy.”
“I don’t know whether I should be jealous or not,” grumbled Heechul. “You think he’s eye candy.”
“We should just forget about it until Kangin and Eeteuk let us know of their decision,” said Hankyung, and he pushed Heechul against the wall, one hand pressed down next to Heechul’s left ear; Heechul smirked at him.
“I don’t know,” he drawled, hand pulling Hankyung’s shirt out from where it was tucked into the waistband. “My mind is pretty much preoccupied by it.”
“Really?” Hankyung grinned at him. “I figure I can change that.”
“God, your Korean sucks when you’re trying to be seductive,” said Heechul with a frown.
“Hmm,” said Hankyung, switching rapidly to Mandarin. “Sometimes I think you say that just so I’ll speak in Chinese.”
“That’s much better,” said Heechul, nodding as if he actually understood when he honestly hadn’t understood a word.
“I think I like your fetishes,” Hankyung whispered into his ear, still in Mandarin, and he dragged his teeth across the lobe; Heechul shuddered and his hands, sliding under Hankyung’s shirt, went still. Hankyung grinned - it always gave him some sort of strange satisfaction to be able to do that.
***
Kangin was tapping his pen thoughtfully on the table when Eeteuk came back from his business meeting with one of the politicians that lived in the neutral area in town, a circular area that housed all the police sector headquarters, the government buildings and the houses of the people who worked there.
“What’s up?” asked Eeteuk with a grin as he placed his briefcase on the desk. “You look like you’re thinking - you can always tell, you look like you’re in pain.”
“I hate you,” said Kangin, with not an inconsiderable amount of feeling, and Eeteuk just fluttered his fingers at him. “I am thinking, and no, it doesn’t hurt.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Heechul came to me with a request.”
“What kind of a request?”
“He wants us to allow someone to join the family.”
Eeteuk, who had just been about to rest his elbow on the table, misjudged it from shock and fell off - his head shot back up to stare at Kangin. “What?” he asked, voice a little hoarse. “He wants what?”
“Someone came to him asking him to let them meet with us,” said Kangin. “And Heechul came to me.”
“Who?” asked Eeteuk, frowning.
“Han Siwon,” said Kangin. “Some merchant’s son - but get this, he lives in Choi territory.”
“No,” said Eeteuk promptly. “He can’t join.”
“I don’t know,” said Kangin sceptically. “Remember, Heechul and Hankyung have met with him, and I’d say that they already trust him. Hankyung even said that he trusted him simply on instinct.”
“Oh,” said Eeteuk.
“Exactly,” said Kangin.
“I trust Hankyung,” said Eeteuk. “You know I do - he knows what’s what, he knows this business. But I’m not sure whether I can accept this.”
“Here,” said Kangin, and handed him a small slip of paper, expensive looking writing paper, with a message written in well-written script. The message said that as Siwon’s father, Mr Han was willing for his son to join the family, in spite of the dangers that such a move posed. Eeteuk raised his eyebrows.
“I think he’s the real deal,” said Kangin.
Eeteuk sighed and sat down at his desk. “Okay,” he said. “Tell me about him.”
***
Ryeowook came to live in the family house when he was ten. Small, thin, almost nondescript, he was loved by his parents but rather disliked by anyone else simply for the fact that he faded into the background and they almost always forgot about him whenever they left. His parents were Kim only in name - in fact, his father carried the name, and he had been disowned by the old leader when he chose to ignore the arranged marriage (which was in fashion back then) that had been set up and instead eloped with a girl who worked in one of the hotels that they owned.
They lived in a small town about two hours out of Seoul, and Ryeowook had never met any of the family who shared his bloodline. His father refused to speak of his old family, of old friends or brothers, and his mother shushed him whenever Ryeowook tried to ask why he had no cousins or grandparents, unlike his classmates. Ryeowook didn’t have any other family, just his parents, so when they died in a car accident that he was the sole survivor of, Ryeowook didn’t think it was an exaggeration to say that his whole world had fallen apart.
They talked about him while he lay on his hospital bed, talked over his head - what will we do with the boy? - as if he couldn’t hear them or understand what they were saying. He knows that they thought he was stupid, taking his quiet nature as a child as ignorance. He listened, fear growing in his chest, as they discussed sending him to an orphanage, but he couldn’t speak - it was as if his voice had been lost along with his parents.No, he wanted to shout, no! and he couldn’t, chest constricting at the very thought of speaking.
One day a doctor came to see him, patted him on the head and looked at him as if he wasn’t quite seeing him, as if he was just another person to deal with - and he was, Ryeowook supposed. “We’ve managed to track down your family,” said the doctor, and Ryeowook had looked at him, confused, head cocked to the side, because he had no family any longer.
It was two teenagers who came to see him, one tall and well built, looking uncomfortable as he was let into the private suite that Ryeowook occupied, immediately positioning himself in the corner and folding his arms, the other smiling and beautiful, taking the seat next to Ryeowook’s bed.
“Hello,” said the boy next to his bed. Ryeowook just stared at him. “I’m Eeteuk. You’re Ryeowook, right?”
Ryeowook didn’t answer - he never answered. This boy didn’t understand that Ryeowook couldn’t answer, that he couldn’t speak, not now that he had nothing left. Eeteuk continued to smile at him. “This is Kangin,” he said, waving at the boy standing in the corner. “We’re from the Kim family. We’re here to take you home.”
I don’t have a home, Ryeowook thought. He shook his head wordlessly, and Eeteuk frowned.
“Don’t you want to come live with us?” he asked. Ryeowook just looked at him; Eeteuk turned helplessly to Kangin, who sighed and pushed off the wall. He walked up to them, lay a hand on Ryeowook’s head, and said, “Ryeowook, you can come home with us if you want, no one is forcing you. But we want what’s best for you, and we think that coming to live with us is best. We’re your family, you see.”
It took a while for Ryeowook to see that. They took him by train to Seoul, and led him into a grand house, the biggest that Ryeowook had ever seen, with gates and cameras everywhere, and a security building near the front to check ID. Eeteuk led him in by the hand, while Kangin walked by his other side, and they took him to a room at the back of the house, where a teenager was arguing with another one, while a boy his own age sat and read a book silently in the corner.
Kangin immediately raised an arm to cuff one of the arguing boys across the head; the boy simply folded his arms and glared up at him, and Kangin lowered his arm rather sheepishly. He turned to the other, whose face was scrunched up in annoyance.
“Yehsung,” he said, without even asking what was happening - he seemed to know by instinct. “Give Heechul his notebook back.”
“I don’t have his notebook,” said the boy, sulking.
“It’s behind your back,” said Kangin helpfully.
It seemed strange to think that at the time, this group of weird, rather scary looking boys - because Kangin and Eeteuk were still boys, for all that they seemed older and wiser than him - would become his family, would help him find his voice again. But at the time, he just clutched Eeteuk’s hand, not wanting to lean on this stranger, but needing that comfort all the same.
It took six months for Ryeowook to speak. His world was full of external noise: the sounds of the family going about their business; Heechul shrieking about things; Yehsung complaining and shouting; Kibum quietly laughing at him; Kangin yelling over the top; Eeteuk trying to help; but through it all Ryeowook was silent. They didn’t try to change that, apart from Yehsung, who thought that being quiet was a form of punishment and didn’t understand why Ryeowook would put himself through it. Kibum understood, because he knew the value of silence. Heechul just thought he was stupid.
Eventually he spoke. It took a while, but eventually, he did. Short words, then phrases, and then full conversations - it was like being a child, having to re-learn. With each sentence he could see the others inwardly shouting over the achievement. He doesn’t think that they understand how much they helped him get over his loss. Only with the addition of a new family could the wounds of his grief heal.
So even though Heechul complains that he talks too much, and Yehsung doesn’t like that fact that they argue, he knows that they like that he came back from that dark place of silence - and really, they only have themselves to blame.
Fandom: Super Junior AU (Mafia)
Pairings: Siwon/Hankyung/Heechul (Hankyung/Heechul), Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Kibum/Donghae, Yehsung/Ryeowook, Kangin/Eeteuk, Tablo/Eunhyuk
Pairings in Chapter: Hankyung/Heechul
Word Count: 3,677
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Kim family and the Choi family are the two oldest families in Seoul: where other families have been born, grown, and then fell apart, they remain strong. Unfortunately, they are mortal enemies, and where one lives alongside the law, the other is beyond any control. It's up to the new generation of members to destroy the violence between them - even if it means destroying one family in the process.
A/N: Whoever told me that this was a good idea should be ashamed of themselves.
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5
Ryeowook slumped down onto the bed in Donghae’s bedroom, hugging a pillow to his chest as he watched Donghae and Eunhyuk battle each other on the latest video game that Eunhyuk had been sent (It was something that happened a lot, because video game manufacturers liked to have the backing of a family - it stopped too many complaints). “Hyung,” he said, whining. “You’re supposed to be helping me with my problem.”
“What problem?” asked Donghae, tongue poking between his teeth in concentration.
“Yehsung-hyung,” said Ryeowook.
“Oh,” said Eunhyuk, pressing violently on his controller. “Not that, again?”
“Are you playing video games?” Ryeowook asked scornfully. “Again?”
“That’s different,” said Eunhyuk, turning to glare at Ryeowook for a brief second before he turned back to the screen.
“Well, I’ll be sure to be as sympathetic to you when you’ve got love problems,” said Ryeowook angrily, throwing the pillow he was holding at Eunhyuk’s head. It hit him square on the back and knocked him forward. With a yell of triumph, Donghae won the game.
“I much preferred you when you never spoke to me,” said Eunhyuk furiously, making a gesture in Ryeowook’s direction. Ryeowook stuck his tongue out at him.
“So,” said Donghae He leant forward to turn the television off and then turned to Ryeowook. “What am I supposed to do about it?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Ryeowook. “I just wanted to talk to someone about it and I think everyone else is out.”
“You’ve been out with Henry all day!” said Eunhyuk indignantly. “Why didn’t you bend his ear about it?”
“I did,” said Ryeowook sadly. “He didn’t understand a lot of what I said.”
“Bully for Henry,” said Eunhyuk.
“I think I preferred it when I didn’t talk to you too,” said Ryeowook with an angry look. “Seriously, you’ve never had to go through this so don’t get snippy with me!”
“I don’t know whether to be annoyed that you don’t think I’ve ever had a relationship,” said Eunhyuk, “or happy that I’ve never had to go through what you go through.”
“Just stop sleeping with him, Wookie,” said Donghae. “It’s as easy as that.”
“I know,” said Ryeowook, grabbing another pillow and hugging that close to his chest again. “I just - it’s hard.”
“I know,” said Donghae, standing up and hugging him. Ryeowook wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged him harder, and Eunhyuk smiled to see it - it was strange how willing Donghae was, nowadays, to show his affection, to touch other people, when once, he had avoiding contact so thoroughly that it was painful to watch, flinching if anyone accidently touched him.
He had just straightened back up when there was a loud knock at the door. “Come in,” he shouted, turning to see how it was. The door opened and Kibum stuck his head in, smiling slightly.
Eunhyuk watched with growing dismay as Donghae tensed, shoulders becoming stiff, as his head lowered, deferring and submissive. His hands clenched at his sides for a few seconds, then he relaxed them, even as the rest of him grew more stiff. Eunhyuk glanced at Kibum, who sighed and frowned.
“Eeteuk sent me to tell you that none of you have to come to the formal dinner tonight,” he said. “Only Heechul and I have to go.”
“You are so lucky,” said Eunhyuk with an attempt at a grin, as Ryeowook reached up and took hold of Donghae’s hand fearfully.
Kibum noticed the movement, glanced at Donghae - and then nodded tensely and said softly, “Donghae? Did you hear?”
It was only like this that Kibum was ever able to communicate with Donghae; Ryeowook pulled on Donghae’s hand, and Donghae nodded slowly, still without looking up or at Kibum. Kibum looked at Eunhyuk, who just shook his head helplessly, and then Kibum left the room.
It was as if a switch had been flicked - Donghae immediately relaxed, smiling at Ryeowook and picking up the empty case for the video game as if nothing had happened. As he walked to the console to retrieve the game, Ryeowook and Eunhyuk exchanged glances.
Eunhyuk reached out and took him by the arm, forcing Donghae to stop. “Still?” he asked quietly. Donghae avoided his eyes.
“Don’t, Hyuk,” he said. “You know - it’s hard.”
“Like my problem, but not quite as hard, hyung,” said Ryeowook in an attempt at lightening the atmosphere, although he was blinking rapidly - he hated being around when this happened. Donghae grinned thankfully at him.
“Good though, isn’t it?” he asked. “About not having to go to that stupid dinner tonight. Senator Hwang is the most boring man I have ever had to sit with.”
“Donghae…”
“Yeah,” said Ryeowook determinedly, sending a Look in Eunhyuk direction. Shut up, it said. Eunhyuk frowned - he definitely preferred it when Ryeowook had never spoken, although that time had been just as hard as when Donghae had first arrived. Reluctantly he let go of Donghae’s arm, who walked away as if Eunhyuk had not just had hold of him.
“You know, Wookie,” he said, sitting down and wrapping an arm around Ryeowook’s shoulder in a comradely fashion. “You could always ask Yehsung if he wants to go out for dinner, and you could talk about how you feel there.”
Ryeowook stared at him. “I don’t care about whatever anyone else says,” he said. “Hyung, you are a genius.”
“What do-” began Donghae, frowning, but Ryeowook had already thrown the pillow down next to him and was rushing out of the door. Donghae looked curiously at Eunhyuk, clearly wanting to know what people said about him. Eunhyuk shrugged uneasily and laughed.
“Sometimes,” he said, “Ryeowook can be incredibly naïve?”
“Oh,” said Donghae, frowning for a second before his face went completely blank. “I’m sorry, Hyuk,” he said. “I can’t - it’s just.”
“I know,” said Eunhyuk. “It’ll take time, I understand.”
“I don’t want to be like that,” said Donghae. “Kibum - he-”
“Come on,” said Eunhyuk, punching him on the shoulder, attempting to bolster him up. “We should be celebrating that we don’t have to sit through another boring formal dinner, watching the politicians and Kangin and Eeteuk dance around each other trying to not make promises that they might regret. We should go out somewhere!”
Donghae smiled, though it was a little weak. “Is it okay if I don’t?” he asked. “I’m - kind of tired.”
“Oh,” said Eunhyuk, blinking a little. “Oh, okay.” He smiled at Donghae, and left the room. He lay against the door and sighed - to be honest, he didn’t want Donghae to be like that either. No one did.
***
Kangin watched impassively as Heechul put a large pile of papers down on the desk in front of him and took a step back to rest on his right leg, arms folded across his chest. Heechul appeared to be waiting for some sort of a reaction, though what, Kangin had no clue.
“What is this?” he asked. “If it’s more paper work, do it yourself, you lazy bastard.”
“No,” said Heechul, and he sounded serious, which was enough for Kangin to actually look at him for the first time. Heechul looked angry, which was usually a clear indication that he was either nervous, or had done something he had need to be nervous about. “It’s information.”
“Information on what?” Kangin picked up the paper that lay on top of the pile - it was a birth certificate. ‘Han Siwon’, it read. Kangin looked up at Heechul, eyebrows raised. “Did you kill someone? Are you using me to get rid of the evidence?”
“No,” said Heechul, looking like he’d like to strangle him. “Han Siwon. He wants to join our family.”
That certainly caught Kangin’s attention. He stared in shock at Heechul for a minute or so. “Close your mouth,” said Heechul, smug in being able to get him back for his ‘killed someone’ joke. “You’ll catch flies.”
Kangin looked again at the birth certificate, and then at the picture that had been hidden underneath it. The young man it portrayed was good looking, so much so that he looked back at Heechul with narrowed eyes.
“Are you sleeping with him?” he asked suspiciously.
“No,” said Heechul, tossing his hair back angrily.
“Is Hankyung?”
“Well, I fucking hope not.”
“Okay,” said Kangin, putting the paper down and leaning forward. “Tell me why I should let him in the family. How did you even meet him, anyway?”
“We met him that day that Min-young didn’t turn up,” said Heechul. “Hankyung and I, we ran into him at that bar.”
“And?”
“We kept bumping into him - it was weird, Kangin, really weird. We couldn’t get away from him, but neither me nor Hankyung were planning it, and we don’t think Siwon was planning it either. We wouldn’t tell him who we were. We’re not stupid.” He glared at Kangin, as if daring him to disagree. “We’d met him on Choi territory, we weren’t about to tell him that we actually from the Kim family, and then - he researched us of his own accord, found out about us from the people who live in our area.”
“Impressive,” said Kangin. “He’s able to use the public to his own advantage. He took his own initiative. I’m not sure whether I like that we’re so easy to find out about, but it’s impressive.”
“Exactly,” said Heechul. “He said that he wanted to meet you and Eeteuk. Hankyung and I investigated him and got his personal details before we came to see you, or before we brought him to see you.”
“It sounds like you’ve thought this through,” said Kangin musingly. Heechul didn’t say anything, just stood tensely upright. “I take it then that you want him to join the family?”
“What I want doesn’t matter one jot, does it?” Heechul shrugged. “I’m not the head; you and Eeteuk are the heads.”
“Don’t give me that,” said Kangin, glaring at him. “You’re the heir now, of course it matters what you think. If you think that he should join, then that’s important.”
“I want him to join,” said Heechul, “and I don’t remember you ever taking want over need.”
“Unlike you, I suppose, who always thinks that your wants are more important than anyone else’s needs.” Kangin flicked through the pile again, noting the extensive collection of education certificates.
“Hankyung,” said Heechul slowly, and Kangin stopped inspecting the high school-level diploma. “He said to tell you that he thinks that Siwon should be allowed to join the family. It’s his instinct, he says.”
Heechul looked levelly at him - Kangin knew, just as much and perhaps even more, how important Hankyung’s instincts were. Knowing when something was going wrong, knowing which people to trust and which people not to trust - it was Hankyung’s speciality, and it had saved many lives over the years, including Hankyung’s own a fair few times. If Hankyung thought that they could trust this Han Siwon, then they probably could.
“I’ll think about it,” said Kangin, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll have to discuss it with Eeteuk, of course. If we think he’s suitable, you can call him in for an interview.”
“I don’t do this very often, so you had better relish it,” said Heechul, and he bowed his head. “Thank you, Kangin,” he said seriously.
Kangin looked at him carefully for a minute or so, and then asked, “Are you sure you’re not sleeping with him?”
Heechul stuck his middle finger up at him. “Shut the fuck up, you bastard.”
***
“How did it go?” Hankyung asked, the moment Heechul stepped through into their room.
“I’m fine, thanks,” said Heechul sarcastically. “I’m sure having to try to convince Kangin that a small addition to the family in the shape of a previously unknown twenty one year old from Choi territory is just a walk in the park. That’s why I haven’t asked how you are, and just jumped straight to the business.”
“That well?” asked Hankyung, standing up slowly.
“He’s going to discuss it with Eeteuk and get back to us,” said Heechul, wrenching his tie from around his neck. “And then they’ll let us know whether or not Siwon gets an interview.” He stopped suddenly, looking at Hankyung, strangely helpless. “I don’t understand why we’re going so far to help this man that we barely know,” he said.
“I don’t understand it either,” said Hankyung, coming closer. “I figured you were just in it for the eye candy.”
“I don’t know whether I should be jealous or not,” grumbled Heechul. “You think he’s eye candy.”
“We should just forget about it until Kangin and Eeteuk let us know of their decision,” said Hankyung, and he pushed Heechul against the wall, one hand pressed down next to Heechul’s left ear; Heechul smirked at him.
“I don’t know,” he drawled, hand pulling Hankyung’s shirt out from where it was tucked into the waistband. “My mind is pretty much preoccupied by it.”
“Really?” Hankyung grinned at him. “I figure I can change that.”
“God, your Korean sucks when you’re trying to be seductive,” said Heechul with a frown.
“Hmm,” said Hankyung, switching rapidly to Mandarin. “Sometimes I think you say that just so I’ll speak in Chinese.”
“That’s much better,” said Heechul, nodding as if he actually understood when he honestly hadn’t understood a word.
“I think I like your fetishes,” Hankyung whispered into his ear, still in Mandarin, and he dragged his teeth across the lobe; Heechul shuddered and his hands, sliding under Hankyung’s shirt, went still. Hankyung grinned - it always gave him some sort of strange satisfaction to be able to do that.
***
Kangin was tapping his pen thoughtfully on the table when Eeteuk came back from his business meeting with one of the politicians that lived in the neutral area in town, a circular area that housed all the police sector headquarters, the government buildings and the houses of the people who worked there.
“What’s up?” asked Eeteuk with a grin as he placed his briefcase on the desk. “You look like you’re thinking - you can always tell, you look like you’re in pain.”
“I hate you,” said Kangin, with not an inconsiderable amount of feeling, and Eeteuk just fluttered his fingers at him. “I am thinking, and no, it doesn’t hurt.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Heechul came to me with a request.”
“What kind of a request?”
“He wants us to allow someone to join the family.”
Eeteuk, who had just been about to rest his elbow on the table, misjudged it from shock and fell off - his head shot back up to stare at Kangin. “What?” he asked, voice a little hoarse. “He wants what?”
“Someone came to him asking him to let them meet with us,” said Kangin. “And Heechul came to me.”
“Who?” asked Eeteuk, frowning.
“Han Siwon,” said Kangin. “Some merchant’s son - but get this, he lives in Choi territory.”
“No,” said Eeteuk promptly. “He can’t join.”
“I don’t know,” said Kangin sceptically. “Remember, Heechul and Hankyung have met with him, and I’d say that they already trust him. Hankyung even said that he trusted him simply on instinct.”
“Oh,” said Eeteuk.
“Exactly,” said Kangin.
“I trust Hankyung,” said Eeteuk. “You know I do - he knows what’s what, he knows this business. But I’m not sure whether I can accept this.”
“Here,” said Kangin, and handed him a small slip of paper, expensive looking writing paper, with a message written in well-written script. The message said that as Siwon’s father, Mr Han was willing for his son to join the family, in spite of the dangers that such a move posed. Eeteuk raised his eyebrows.
“I think he’s the real deal,” said Kangin.
Eeteuk sighed and sat down at his desk. “Okay,” he said. “Tell me about him.”
***
Ryeowook came to live in the family house when he was ten. Small, thin, almost nondescript, he was loved by his parents but rather disliked by anyone else simply for the fact that he faded into the background and they almost always forgot about him whenever they left. His parents were Kim only in name - in fact, his father carried the name, and he had been disowned by the old leader when he chose to ignore the arranged marriage (which was in fashion back then) that had been set up and instead eloped with a girl who worked in one of the hotels that they owned.
They lived in a small town about two hours out of Seoul, and Ryeowook had never met any of the family who shared his bloodline. His father refused to speak of his old family, of old friends or brothers, and his mother shushed him whenever Ryeowook tried to ask why he had no cousins or grandparents, unlike his classmates. Ryeowook didn’t have any other family, just his parents, so when they died in a car accident that he was the sole survivor of, Ryeowook didn’t think it was an exaggeration to say that his whole world had fallen apart.
They talked about him while he lay on his hospital bed, talked over his head - what will we do with the boy? - as if he couldn’t hear them or understand what they were saying. He knows that they thought he was stupid, taking his quiet nature as a child as ignorance. He listened, fear growing in his chest, as they discussed sending him to an orphanage, but he couldn’t speak - it was as if his voice had been lost along with his parents.No, he wanted to shout, no! and he couldn’t, chest constricting at the very thought of speaking.
One day a doctor came to see him, patted him on the head and looked at him as if he wasn’t quite seeing him, as if he was just another person to deal with - and he was, Ryeowook supposed. “We’ve managed to track down your family,” said the doctor, and Ryeowook had looked at him, confused, head cocked to the side, because he had no family any longer.
It was two teenagers who came to see him, one tall and well built, looking uncomfortable as he was let into the private suite that Ryeowook occupied, immediately positioning himself in the corner and folding his arms, the other smiling and beautiful, taking the seat next to Ryeowook’s bed.
“Hello,” said the boy next to his bed. Ryeowook just stared at him. “I’m Eeteuk. You’re Ryeowook, right?”
Ryeowook didn’t answer - he never answered. This boy didn’t understand that Ryeowook couldn’t answer, that he couldn’t speak, not now that he had nothing left. Eeteuk continued to smile at him. “This is Kangin,” he said, waving at the boy standing in the corner. “We’re from the Kim family. We’re here to take you home.”
I don’t have a home, Ryeowook thought. He shook his head wordlessly, and Eeteuk frowned.
“Don’t you want to come live with us?” he asked. Ryeowook just looked at him; Eeteuk turned helplessly to Kangin, who sighed and pushed off the wall. He walked up to them, lay a hand on Ryeowook’s head, and said, “Ryeowook, you can come home with us if you want, no one is forcing you. But we want what’s best for you, and we think that coming to live with us is best. We’re your family, you see.”
It took a while for Ryeowook to see that. They took him by train to Seoul, and led him into a grand house, the biggest that Ryeowook had ever seen, with gates and cameras everywhere, and a security building near the front to check ID. Eeteuk led him in by the hand, while Kangin walked by his other side, and they took him to a room at the back of the house, where a teenager was arguing with another one, while a boy his own age sat and read a book silently in the corner.
Kangin immediately raised an arm to cuff one of the arguing boys across the head; the boy simply folded his arms and glared up at him, and Kangin lowered his arm rather sheepishly. He turned to the other, whose face was scrunched up in annoyance.
“Yehsung,” he said, without even asking what was happening - he seemed to know by instinct. “Give Heechul his notebook back.”
“I don’t have his notebook,” said the boy, sulking.
“It’s behind your back,” said Kangin helpfully.
It seemed strange to think that at the time, this group of weird, rather scary looking boys - because Kangin and Eeteuk were still boys, for all that they seemed older and wiser than him - would become his family, would help him find his voice again. But at the time, he just clutched Eeteuk’s hand, not wanting to lean on this stranger, but needing that comfort all the same.
It took six months for Ryeowook to speak. His world was full of external noise: the sounds of the family going about their business; Heechul shrieking about things; Yehsung complaining and shouting; Kibum quietly laughing at him; Kangin yelling over the top; Eeteuk trying to help; but through it all Ryeowook was silent. They didn’t try to change that, apart from Yehsung, who thought that being quiet was a form of punishment and didn’t understand why Ryeowook would put himself through it. Kibum understood, because he knew the value of silence. Heechul just thought he was stupid.
Eventually he spoke. It took a while, but eventually, he did. Short words, then phrases, and then full conversations - it was like being a child, having to re-learn. With each sentence he could see the others inwardly shouting over the achievement. He doesn’t think that they understand how much they helped him get over his loss. Only with the addition of a new family could the wounds of his grief heal.
So even though Heechul complains that he talks too much, and Yehsung doesn’t like that fact that they argue, he knows that they like that he came back from that dark place of silence - and really, they only have themselves to blame.