Super Junior AU; Various Pairings; Love/War
Title: Love/War (14/?)
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: Siwon/Hankyung/Heechul, Kangin/Eeteuk
Word Count: 3,371
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: Last post in this journal of 2008 - here's a slightly early Happy New Year's wish :D
Oooh, exciting~ I've been waiting to post this chapter since the beginning kasjlkakljsd
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14
Heechul frowned and crossed one leg over the other, the picture of boredom. “Choi Sikyu is coming?” he asked, looking at his nails. “Why?”
“He wants to talk about the building of a casino just outside the city boundary,” said Kangin.
“I don’t why he’s bothering,” said Heechul with a shrug. “He’s just going to do it anyway.”
“At least this way he can claim to have consulted us on it.” Kangin sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. “The man’s a snake, but he’s fucking smart with it.”
“And you want me there?” asked Heechul. He didn’t think that he would be needed - his past dealings with Choi members hadn’t exactly endeared him to the head of the family. Kangin shook his head.
“No,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know. You are the heir now; you have a right to know these things. It’s tomorrow, around midday. I need you ready in case of a problem.”
“Got it,” said Heechul, and made to stand up. “Can I go now? I have a hot date.”
“Ah, that’s right,” said Kangin, grinning at him. “I heard about that - the new boy, isn’t it?”
“Hey,” said Heechul with a smirk and a wave of the hand. “If you’re going to recruit hot new members to the family, I might as well give them the full experience, right?”
Kangin squinted at him. “I don’t know what you just said,” he said. “It sounded like - fuck, are you the family bicycle?”
“God, I fucking hate you,” said Heechul, punching him in the shoulder. “No, that’s not what I meant. He wanted me - so I let him have what he wanted. I’m just being a good big brother.”
Kangin snorted. “And there’s nothing in it for you?”
“You mean beyond the gorgeous guy who apparently worships the ground I walk on?”
“I know you, Heechul,” said Kangin with a grin. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“He worships the ground I walk on, Kangin. I fucking adore him.”
“Cradle-snatcher.”
“Grave-robber.”
Kangin frowned. “Hey,” he said. “Eeteuk’s not old!”
“Practically an old man,” said Heechul. “Listen to him; joints aching and creaking.”
“Fuck off,” said Kangin, waving a hand of dismissal at him. “Get lost.”
“Who the hell are you, God?” asked Heechul, though he made to leave the room anyway.
“Heechul,” said Kangin sharply, looking up. Heechul turned to him expectantly. “You already know, right - you can’t tell anyone about this meeting. Not even Hankyung.”
“I know,” said Heechul with a snort of laughter at Kangin’s expense. “What do you think I am, stupid? No, wait - who do you think I am, you?”
***
Eeteuk sighed heavily, one leg brought up to press his foot against the wall behind him. In his hand he held a report that he had paid to have done privately, on the evils of having yet another all-night casino. Kangin glanced at him with some surprise. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I hate it when Choi Sikyu comes over,” said Eeteuk, sighing again. “You know perfectly well what he thinks of me.”
In the Choi family, there was no concept of treating the other families as your equal - to the Choi family, only Choi members mattered and were important. Although the members of the family with some stature bordered on civil when they dealt with the Kim family, the youngest members had been known to shoot at any Kim member that was on the street. As such, it had never been likely that they would treat someone who had taken over a family which no longer existed very well. Over the years it had became obvious that Choi Sikyu was under the distinct impression that the only reason Eeteuk was there was because he was Kangin’s lover, toy, and the Choi family certainly knew about toys. There was no doubt that Choi Sikyu derided Eeteuk, thought that he was just a whore on the pretence and pantomime of a fellow leader - and treated him as such.
“I swear,” said Kangin, voice almost a growl as he remembered the last meeting. “If he says something like that again, I’m going to-”
“No, you aren’t,” said Eeteuk firmly. “It was bad enough when Heechul punched that bastard Sun-young. If you hit the head of the Choi family, it would be like declaring war.”
“I just don’t like the way he looks at you,” said Kangin heavily. “Like he’s pricing you.”
“I don’t like it either,” said Eeteuk. “I told you, I wish we could get away with never having to talk to him. The man’s a monster. Sometimes I wish we could just-”
“We will,” said Kangin, determined. “But just not now.”
A long black limo pulled through the gates and up the driveway to the front door. Eeteuk rolled his eyes inwardly at the unnecessary show of wealth - the Choi family usually drove in similar black cars to the ones that the Kim family used. This sudden change to a limousine was simply Choi Sikyu’s way of showing the apparent superior position of the Choi family.
“Wow,” said Kangin. “Fuelled on the blood of those he’s had murdered, do you think?”
“Probably,” said Eeteuk, snorting.
A man jumped out of the front passenger seat of the car and ran around to open the door: Choi Sikyu stepped out of it with just the slightest swagger in his step. Heechul had been right to call him a snake - a handsome man in his youth, he retained some of his good looks, and knew that those, his wealth and his reputation were enough to get him whatever he wanted in his life. He would do anything in his power (and quite a few things that shouldn’t have been in his power) to get it. Eeteuk felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle at the very sight of him.
“Kim Youngwoon-shi,” said Sikyu, after he had climbed the stairs to the entrance and met them. He glanced at Eeteuk and paused before he said, “Park Jungsu-shi,” with a hint of laughter in his voice. Eeteuk winced inwardly - the man would insist on using that name simply as a reminder that he was no longer part of that family - but didn’t allow the annoyance to show on his face. Weakness in the face of a man like that could be fatal.
“We have a meeting room set up for you,” said Eeteuk calmly.
“I’ll take you there,” said Kangin.
“In the Choi house,” said Sikyu coolly as he followed on - following Eeteuk rather than Kangin, “we have servants to greet our guests.”
Eeteuk reached out and wrapped his fingers around Kangin’s wrist to cause him to relax the fist he had made. He sighed; it was going to be a long afternoon.
***
Heechul threw the door to the kitchen open like a member of royalty playing a sudden visit on their servants. He stood and glared at Siwon, who was the only person there, sitting at the table with a sandwich raised halfway to his mouth. Siwon blinked at him. “I’m bored,” announced Heechul.
Siwon placed his sandwich back on the plate. “What do you want to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” said Heechul, tapping his foot against the floor. “Well, I do, but you’re a bit of a prude.”
Siwon bit his bottom lip. “Don’t tell me,” he said quickly.
“No fun,” said Heechul - it sounded like a judgment, especially when accompanied by that glare. He slipped into a chair and rested his head on his hands, pouting, as Siwon took a subtle bite of his sandwich. Heechul reached over and stole the food straight out of his hands. Siwon sighed.
“Where’s Hankyung-hyung?” he asked.
“Out,” said Heechul, peering thoughtfully at what was inside the sandwich - chicken salad. He frowned and then took a bite.
“Out where?” prompted Siwon.
Heechul shrugged. “I think he’s giving Henry a driving lesson.”
“Oh,” said Siwon. That was strange - he’d never seen Hankyung actually drive before. Heechul always seemed to drive. Although, now that he thought about it, that was probably through Heechul’s choice and had nothing to do with Hankyung.
“So you see,” said Heechul, picking at the piece of bread but not actually eating any more of it. “I am bored and he is out - clearly you were my next choice.”
“Zhou Mi’s out with Kyuhyun, isn’t he?” asked Siwon, slightly amused.
“Yeah.”
“Well.” Siwon glanced around but wasn’t struck by inspiration. “What do you want to do?”
“I feel like we have had this conversation before,” said Heechul with a smirk. Siwon just buried his face in his hands and groaned.
Luckily, before he could either have a breakdown or be pulled into whatever nefarious plan Heechul had thought up, the door from the courtyard into the kitchen opened and Hankyung and Henry came through, laughing. Hankyung blinked at them before he grinned.
“Hi,” he said.
“I’m bored,” said Heechul promptly.
“Really?” Hankyung raised an eyebrow. “What do you want to do?”
Heechul grinned dirtily. “Don’t,” said Siwon pleadingly. “Please, just don’t.”
Hankyung frowned and then just shook his head, clearly deciding that on the whole, he’d rather not know. “Come on,” he said, dangling the car keys enticingly in the air. “I’ll take you out.”
“Finally,” said Heechul with great feeling. “Someone fun!” He stood up and stood behind Siwon, draping his arms around his shoulders, and talking directly into his ear. “Coming?” he purred.
Siwon smiled but said; “I can’t. I’ve got to actually start my work for the day in half an hour.”
“You are seriously no fun,” said Heechul, disappointed, as he straightened back up. He left his hand trail over Siwon’s shoulder, and then he was pulling Hankyung by the arm out of the door, saying loudly that he had to do something before he died of boredom.
“Um,” said Henry. Siwon blinked - he had forgotten Henry was even in the room. “I’m going to my room.”
“Okay,” said Siwon with a pleasant smile. Henry left; Siwon picked up what remained of his sandwich, sighed, threw it in the bin and made a new one.
Ten minutes later, the intercom system that they had installed around the house buzzed insistently. Siwon had never actually answered it before, believing that he wasn’t exactly one of the family enough attempt it, but as it buzzed and buzzed without an answer, he got up and pressed the speaker button.
“Yeah?”
“Siwon?” It was Kangin. “Get Heechul to bring some tea to the formal meeting room.”
“But he’s-”
“Just do it,” snapped Kangin, sounding angry.
“Not here,” finished Siwon as the system went down. He sighed, and glanced around him. From what he could work out, it was only him, Henry and Shindong in the house - Shindong was outside going over the care of the grounds with the gardener that came three times a week, and Henry had clearly gone to his room - anyway, he didn’t know where they stood with Henry meeting visitors. It was clearly someone important if they were using the formal room. He decided to just take the tea up himself.
“Excuse me,” he said, and opened the door to take it through. Eeteuk glanced up from the paper he was reading and frowned, clearly confused at seeing him and not Heechul. Siwon glanced at the man who was visiting - a man with greying hair and shocked eyes which were clouding over with angry confusion with every growing second - and dropped the tray.
Kangin cursed and stood up. “What are you doing?” he demanded, as the tea slowly stained into the thick carpet. Siwon just stood there, before he clutched desperately at the door frame in an attempt at keeping himself upright as his legs threatened to give out from underneath him.
“What are you doing here?” asked Choi Sikyu quietly, the shaking tone in his voice through sheer, undiluted anger.
“Please,” whispered Siwon, “Please, don’t-”
“Fuck,” said Kangin. “I forgot-” He turned to Eeteuk and hissed, “He’s from Choi territory, isn’t he?”
“Oh, god, yes,” said Eeteuk, and turned with a firm look to Choi Sikyu. “I know that this boy’s family lives on your territory, but he is part of our family and as such is under our protection.”
“Part of your family?” asked Choi Sikyu softly, with a cool glance at Eeteuk. “This boy has joined your family?” Eeteuk nodded a little, confused, and Sikyu turned back to look at Siwon. “That’s interesting,” he said softly.
“No,” whispered Siwon, voice almost so quiet as to be inaudible.
“Yes,” said Sikyu silkily, his voice causing shivers to run up Eeteuk’s spine. “For how long, Siwon? All those times I thought you were just out studying somewhere like the spineless intellectual you are - you are literally a pathetic waste of space.”
“Hey,” said Kangin sharply. “That’s a Kim family member you’re talking to.”
Eeteuk had picked up on something that Kangin had missed. “How do you know his name?” he asked cautiously.
“That boy,” spat Choi Sikyu. “That waste of space, that traitor - I don’t know what name he’s given you that’s allowed him to join this family, but whatever it is, it isn’t the correct one. He’s Choi Siwon - my only son.”
Eeteuk stood up slowly, staring at Siwon. Siwon’s gaze was horrified, staring at Choi Sikyu. “Choi Siwon?” he repeated wonderingly, glancing across in confusion at Kangin. He turned to Siwon. “Siwon?”
“How did you do it?” asked Choi Sikyu. “You gave a different name, I suppose. Clever of you. But then, that was all you were ever good for.”
“Siwon,” snapped Kangin. “Answer us! Is he speaking the truth?”
Siwon, face white and eyes terrified, didn’t answer him; there was a pause, and then he turned and shot out of the room. It was answer enough for Kangin and Eeteuk. Kangin opened his mobile and punched in a number.
“Shindong? Stop Siwon.”
***
“Well, how was I supposed to know that the restaurant would be closed?” asked Hankyung as he flashed his ID card at the man on duty on the gates. Heechul sat next to him, arms folded over his chest. “Anyway, if you’d just picked a different place to eat at, then this wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I didn’t want to eat somewhere else,” said Heechul as they pulled smoothly through the gates and started up the driveway. “I wanted the noodles that they do there.”
“Well, I don’t see why it’s my fault,” said Hankyung.
“Everything is your fault,” said Heechul breezily. “There’s this thing, you see - it’s because you’re a bit of a moron, and it’s easy to-”
He stopped as Hankyung bit the brakes of the car suddenly, causing him to jolt forward with the shock of it. “What the fuck are you doing?” he yelled, hand pulling at the seatbelt where it had almost choked him. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”
Hankyung just wordlessly pointed at something past the windscreen, up at the driveway that led to the front door. Heechul glanced out - the long black limo of the Choi family was still there (the members of the Kim family weren’t stupid, they had realised as soon as they’d seen the car who had come to see Eeteuk and Kangin) meaning that the man himself still was there - and then he spotted what Hankyung was pointing to, near the door.
He shot out of the car but came to a half after a metre or so, turning to look at Hankyung. Hankyung slowly got out, almost missing his footing as he stared at the scene being played out in front of him: Choi Sikyu walking just in front of the steps that led up the front door; behind him, two men were dragging Siwon down the stairs, holding onto his arms as he tried to get away. Choi Sikyu looked angry but was paying no attention to the struggle going on behind him.
Heechul looked to the house, and saw Eeteuk watching from the window of his office. For a second, their eyes met; then Eeteuk shook his head helplessly and disappeared from view. Heechul looked at Hankyung in confusion, and then started over to the other group on the driveway. Siwon was now being forced into the car.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Heechul yelled. Siwon looked up, eyes wide and terrified, and struggled to get free, attempting to get closer to where Heechul was.
“Hyung!” he shouted desperately, managing to get one of his arms free for a split second before one of the men pulled him back. “Hyung, please, you have to - trust me, believe me, I couldn’t-”
Heechul stopped, confusion reigning supreme over his anger. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I’m sorry,” said Siwon pleadingly. “Please, hyung - I’m sorry, I lo-”
An almost sickening thud echoed around the driveway as one of the men tried to force him into the car and his head connected with the metal above the car door hard - his body suddenly fell slack as his eyes fluttered shut. The men acted as though nothing had happened and just pushed him into the car, and slammed the door shut after him. The noise spurred Heechul and Hankyung into action: Heechul shouted out in anger, and Hankyung started forward.
“Stop it,” said Shindong’s voice loudly. They turned; he was leaning against one of the pillars behind them, arms folded. The two men got into the front of the car and shut the doors. The engine sounded out. Hankyung looked desperately at the tinted windows but could see no movement from within. He took a step forward. “Don’t, Hankyung,” said Shindong, voice soft and sad.
“What the fuck is going on, Shindong?” spat Heechul.
“You’ll have to ask Kangin,” said Shindong with a shrug. “He’ll tell you.”
“Don’t worry,” said Heechul with a glare. “I plan on it.”
He left Hankyung watching the car fade out of sight, too in shock to move, and burst into the main office to find only Eeteuk, his head buried in his hands. He looked up when the door opened, groaned at the sight of Heechul, and then laid his head on the table.
“What the fuck is going on?” yelled Heechul, kicking the desk to get Eeteuk to actually look at him. “I just watched fucking Choi Sikyu pull Siwon into his car and drive away!”
The door banged open again; Kangin stormed through, paused at the sight of Heechul, yelled in anger, and then pulled open a drawer in the filing cabinet. He pulled a brown file out, and flung it on the desk in front of Eeteuk.
“Kangin!” shouted Heechul, angry at being ignored. “What the fuck just happened?”
“I don’t suppose you knew, did you?” asked Kangin, slightly sneering. “About your little - adorer, your fucking lover. You didn’t know the truth, did you?”
“What-”
“They’ll be all fakes,” Kangin said to Eeteuk, flipping open the file to reveal the birth certificate, education certificates and other paperwork that related to Siwon. “I don’t know how he’s managed to pull it off - and for so long, he’s been here for three months already.”
“Siwon,” said Heechul. “What’s happened with Siwon?”
“Do you mean Han Siwon?” Eeteuk looked at him for the first time, dark shadows under his eyes.
“Of course I do,” snapped Heechul. “What other Siwon is there?”
“Han Siwon,” said Kangin, bitterness rife and on the verge of shouting. “The eldest son of a trading family. That person doesn’t exist. No, our Siwon, your Siwon - although he doesn’t belong to any of us, not really - that’s Choi Siwon.”
“Choi?” Heechul scowled at him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“He’s not Han Siwon,” said Eeteuk heavily. “He’s Choi Siwon - the eldest son - the only son, of Choi Sikyu.”
Heechul took a stumbling step backwards. “He’s not,” he said. “He’s Han Siwon!”
“He’s not, Heechul,” said Kangin. “He just confirmed it. He’s Choi Siwon, he’s been lying to us all this time.”
“But - Kangin, that means - fuck, Kangin. Fuck.”
“I know,” said Kangin. He sat down and buried his face in his own hands. “I know, Heechul.”
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: Siwon/Hankyung/Heechul, Kangin/Eeteuk
Word Count: 3,371
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: Last post in this journal of 2008 - here's a slightly early Happy New Year's wish :D
Oooh, exciting~ I've been waiting to post this chapter since the beginning kasjlkakljsd
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14
Heechul frowned and crossed one leg over the other, the picture of boredom. “Choi Sikyu is coming?” he asked, looking at his nails. “Why?”
“He wants to talk about the building of a casino just outside the city boundary,” said Kangin.
“I don’t why he’s bothering,” said Heechul with a shrug. “He’s just going to do it anyway.”
“At least this way he can claim to have consulted us on it.” Kangin sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. “The man’s a snake, but he’s fucking smart with it.”
“And you want me there?” asked Heechul. He didn’t think that he would be needed - his past dealings with Choi members hadn’t exactly endeared him to the head of the family. Kangin shook his head.
“No,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know. You are the heir now; you have a right to know these things. It’s tomorrow, around midday. I need you ready in case of a problem.”
“Got it,” said Heechul, and made to stand up. “Can I go now? I have a hot date.”
“Ah, that’s right,” said Kangin, grinning at him. “I heard about that - the new boy, isn’t it?”
“Hey,” said Heechul with a smirk and a wave of the hand. “If you’re going to recruit hot new members to the family, I might as well give them the full experience, right?”
Kangin squinted at him. “I don’t know what you just said,” he said. “It sounded like - fuck, are you the family bicycle?”
“God, I fucking hate you,” said Heechul, punching him in the shoulder. “No, that’s not what I meant. He wanted me - so I let him have what he wanted. I’m just being a good big brother.”
Kangin snorted. “And there’s nothing in it for you?”
“You mean beyond the gorgeous guy who apparently worships the ground I walk on?”
“I know you, Heechul,” said Kangin with a grin. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“He worships the ground I walk on, Kangin. I fucking adore him.”
“Cradle-snatcher.”
“Grave-robber.”
Kangin frowned. “Hey,” he said. “Eeteuk’s not old!”
“Practically an old man,” said Heechul. “Listen to him; joints aching and creaking.”
“Fuck off,” said Kangin, waving a hand of dismissal at him. “Get lost.”
“Who the hell are you, God?” asked Heechul, though he made to leave the room anyway.
“Heechul,” said Kangin sharply, looking up. Heechul turned to him expectantly. “You already know, right - you can’t tell anyone about this meeting. Not even Hankyung.”
“I know,” said Heechul with a snort of laughter at Kangin’s expense. “What do you think I am, stupid? No, wait - who do you think I am, you?”
***
Eeteuk sighed heavily, one leg brought up to press his foot against the wall behind him. In his hand he held a report that he had paid to have done privately, on the evils of having yet another all-night casino. Kangin glanced at him with some surprise. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I hate it when Choi Sikyu comes over,” said Eeteuk, sighing again. “You know perfectly well what he thinks of me.”
In the Choi family, there was no concept of treating the other families as your equal - to the Choi family, only Choi members mattered and were important. Although the members of the family with some stature bordered on civil when they dealt with the Kim family, the youngest members had been known to shoot at any Kim member that was on the street. As such, it had never been likely that they would treat someone who had taken over a family which no longer existed very well. Over the years it had became obvious that Choi Sikyu was under the distinct impression that the only reason Eeteuk was there was because he was Kangin’s lover, toy, and the Choi family certainly knew about toys. There was no doubt that Choi Sikyu derided Eeteuk, thought that he was just a whore on the pretence and pantomime of a fellow leader - and treated him as such.
“I swear,” said Kangin, voice almost a growl as he remembered the last meeting. “If he says something like that again, I’m going to-”
“No, you aren’t,” said Eeteuk firmly. “It was bad enough when Heechul punched that bastard Sun-young. If you hit the head of the Choi family, it would be like declaring war.”
“I just don’t like the way he looks at you,” said Kangin heavily. “Like he’s pricing you.”
“I don’t like it either,” said Eeteuk. “I told you, I wish we could get away with never having to talk to him. The man’s a monster. Sometimes I wish we could just-”
“We will,” said Kangin, determined. “But just not now.”
A long black limo pulled through the gates and up the driveway to the front door. Eeteuk rolled his eyes inwardly at the unnecessary show of wealth - the Choi family usually drove in similar black cars to the ones that the Kim family used. This sudden change to a limousine was simply Choi Sikyu’s way of showing the apparent superior position of the Choi family.
“Wow,” said Kangin. “Fuelled on the blood of those he’s had murdered, do you think?”
“Probably,” said Eeteuk, snorting.
A man jumped out of the front passenger seat of the car and ran around to open the door: Choi Sikyu stepped out of it with just the slightest swagger in his step. Heechul had been right to call him a snake - a handsome man in his youth, he retained some of his good looks, and knew that those, his wealth and his reputation were enough to get him whatever he wanted in his life. He would do anything in his power (and quite a few things that shouldn’t have been in his power) to get it. Eeteuk felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle at the very sight of him.
“Kim Youngwoon-shi,” said Sikyu, after he had climbed the stairs to the entrance and met them. He glanced at Eeteuk and paused before he said, “Park Jungsu-shi,” with a hint of laughter in his voice. Eeteuk winced inwardly - the man would insist on using that name simply as a reminder that he was no longer part of that family - but didn’t allow the annoyance to show on his face. Weakness in the face of a man like that could be fatal.
“We have a meeting room set up for you,” said Eeteuk calmly.
“I’ll take you there,” said Kangin.
“In the Choi house,” said Sikyu coolly as he followed on - following Eeteuk rather than Kangin, “we have servants to greet our guests.”
Eeteuk reached out and wrapped his fingers around Kangin’s wrist to cause him to relax the fist he had made. He sighed; it was going to be a long afternoon.
***
Heechul threw the door to the kitchen open like a member of royalty playing a sudden visit on their servants. He stood and glared at Siwon, who was the only person there, sitting at the table with a sandwich raised halfway to his mouth. Siwon blinked at him. “I’m bored,” announced Heechul.
Siwon placed his sandwich back on the plate. “What do you want to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” said Heechul, tapping his foot against the floor. “Well, I do, but you’re a bit of a prude.”
Siwon bit his bottom lip. “Don’t tell me,” he said quickly.
“No fun,” said Heechul - it sounded like a judgment, especially when accompanied by that glare. He slipped into a chair and rested his head on his hands, pouting, as Siwon took a subtle bite of his sandwich. Heechul reached over and stole the food straight out of his hands. Siwon sighed.
“Where’s Hankyung-hyung?” he asked.
“Out,” said Heechul, peering thoughtfully at what was inside the sandwich - chicken salad. He frowned and then took a bite.
“Out where?” prompted Siwon.
Heechul shrugged. “I think he’s giving Henry a driving lesson.”
“Oh,” said Siwon. That was strange - he’d never seen Hankyung actually drive before. Heechul always seemed to drive. Although, now that he thought about it, that was probably through Heechul’s choice and had nothing to do with Hankyung.
“So you see,” said Heechul, picking at the piece of bread but not actually eating any more of it. “I am bored and he is out - clearly you were my next choice.”
“Zhou Mi’s out with Kyuhyun, isn’t he?” asked Siwon, slightly amused.
“Yeah.”
“Well.” Siwon glanced around but wasn’t struck by inspiration. “What do you want to do?”
“I feel like we have had this conversation before,” said Heechul with a smirk. Siwon just buried his face in his hands and groaned.
Luckily, before he could either have a breakdown or be pulled into whatever nefarious plan Heechul had thought up, the door from the courtyard into the kitchen opened and Hankyung and Henry came through, laughing. Hankyung blinked at them before he grinned.
“Hi,” he said.
“I’m bored,” said Heechul promptly.
“Really?” Hankyung raised an eyebrow. “What do you want to do?”
Heechul grinned dirtily. “Don’t,” said Siwon pleadingly. “Please, just don’t.”
Hankyung frowned and then just shook his head, clearly deciding that on the whole, he’d rather not know. “Come on,” he said, dangling the car keys enticingly in the air. “I’ll take you out.”
“Finally,” said Heechul with great feeling. “Someone fun!” He stood up and stood behind Siwon, draping his arms around his shoulders, and talking directly into his ear. “Coming?” he purred.
Siwon smiled but said; “I can’t. I’ve got to actually start my work for the day in half an hour.”
“You are seriously no fun,” said Heechul, disappointed, as he straightened back up. He left his hand trail over Siwon’s shoulder, and then he was pulling Hankyung by the arm out of the door, saying loudly that he had to do something before he died of boredom.
“Um,” said Henry. Siwon blinked - he had forgotten Henry was even in the room. “I’m going to my room.”
“Okay,” said Siwon with a pleasant smile. Henry left; Siwon picked up what remained of his sandwich, sighed, threw it in the bin and made a new one.
Ten minutes later, the intercom system that they had installed around the house buzzed insistently. Siwon had never actually answered it before, believing that he wasn’t exactly one of the family enough attempt it, but as it buzzed and buzzed without an answer, he got up and pressed the speaker button.
“Yeah?”
“Siwon?” It was Kangin. “Get Heechul to bring some tea to the formal meeting room.”
“But he’s-”
“Just do it,” snapped Kangin, sounding angry.
“Not here,” finished Siwon as the system went down. He sighed, and glanced around him. From what he could work out, it was only him, Henry and Shindong in the house - Shindong was outside going over the care of the grounds with the gardener that came three times a week, and Henry had clearly gone to his room - anyway, he didn’t know where they stood with Henry meeting visitors. It was clearly someone important if they were using the formal room. He decided to just take the tea up himself.
“Excuse me,” he said, and opened the door to take it through. Eeteuk glanced up from the paper he was reading and frowned, clearly confused at seeing him and not Heechul. Siwon glanced at the man who was visiting - a man with greying hair and shocked eyes which were clouding over with angry confusion with every growing second - and dropped the tray.
Kangin cursed and stood up. “What are you doing?” he demanded, as the tea slowly stained into the thick carpet. Siwon just stood there, before he clutched desperately at the door frame in an attempt at keeping himself upright as his legs threatened to give out from underneath him.
“What are you doing here?” asked Choi Sikyu quietly, the shaking tone in his voice through sheer, undiluted anger.
“Please,” whispered Siwon, “Please, don’t-”
“Fuck,” said Kangin. “I forgot-” He turned to Eeteuk and hissed, “He’s from Choi territory, isn’t he?”
“Oh, god, yes,” said Eeteuk, and turned with a firm look to Choi Sikyu. “I know that this boy’s family lives on your territory, but he is part of our family and as such is under our protection.”
“Part of your family?” asked Choi Sikyu softly, with a cool glance at Eeteuk. “This boy has joined your family?” Eeteuk nodded a little, confused, and Sikyu turned back to look at Siwon. “That’s interesting,” he said softly.
“No,” whispered Siwon, voice almost so quiet as to be inaudible.
“Yes,” said Sikyu silkily, his voice causing shivers to run up Eeteuk’s spine. “For how long, Siwon? All those times I thought you were just out studying somewhere like the spineless intellectual you are - you are literally a pathetic waste of space.”
“Hey,” said Kangin sharply. “That’s a Kim family member you’re talking to.”
Eeteuk had picked up on something that Kangin had missed. “How do you know his name?” he asked cautiously.
“That boy,” spat Choi Sikyu. “That waste of space, that traitor - I don’t know what name he’s given you that’s allowed him to join this family, but whatever it is, it isn’t the correct one. He’s Choi Siwon - my only son.”
Eeteuk stood up slowly, staring at Siwon. Siwon’s gaze was horrified, staring at Choi Sikyu. “Choi Siwon?” he repeated wonderingly, glancing across in confusion at Kangin. He turned to Siwon. “Siwon?”
“How did you do it?” asked Choi Sikyu. “You gave a different name, I suppose. Clever of you. But then, that was all you were ever good for.”
“Siwon,” snapped Kangin. “Answer us! Is he speaking the truth?”
Siwon, face white and eyes terrified, didn’t answer him; there was a pause, and then he turned and shot out of the room. It was answer enough for Kangin and Eeteuk. Kangin opened his mobile and punched in a number.
“Shindong? Stop Siwon.”
***
“Well, how was I supposed to know that the restaurant would be closed?” asked Hankyung as he flashed his ID card at the man on duty on the gates. Heechul sat next to him, arms folded over his chest. “Anyway, if you’d just picked a different place to eat at, then this wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I didn’t want to eat somewhere else,” said Heechul as they pulled smoothly through the gates and started up the driveway. “I wanted the noodles that they do there.”
“Well, I don’t see why it’s my fault,” said Hankyung.
“Everything is your fault,” said Heechul breezily. “There’s this thing, you see - it’s because you’re a bit of a moron, and it’s easy to-”
He stopped as Hankyung bit the brakes of the car suddenly, causing him to jolt forward with the shock of it. “What the fuck are you doing?” he yelled, hand pulling at the seatbelt where it had almost choked him. “You almost gave me a heart attack!”
Hankyung just wordlessly pointed at something past the windscreen, up at the driveway that led to the front door. Heechul glanced out - the long black limo of the Choi family was still there (the members of the Kim family weren’t stupid, they had realised as soon as they’d seen the car who had come to see Eeteuk and Kangin) meaning that the man himself still was there - and then he spotted what Hankyung was pointing to, near the door.
He shot out of the car but came to a half after a metre or so, turning to look at Hankyung. Hankyung slowly got out, almost missing his footing as he stared at the scene being played out in front of him: Choi Sikyu walking just in front of the steps that led up the front door; behind him, two men were dragging Siwon down the stairs, holding onto his arms as he tried to get away. Choi Sikyu looked angry but was paying no attention to the struggle going on behind him.
Heechul looked to the house, and saw Eeteuk watching from the window of his office. For a second, their eyes met; then Eeteuk shook his head helplessly and disappeared from view. Heechul looked at Hankyung in confusion, and then started over to the other group on the driveway. Siwon was now being forced into the car.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Heechul yelled. Siwon looked up, eyes wide and terrified, and struggled to get free, attempting to get closer to where Heechul was.
“Hyung!” he shouted desperately, managing to get one of his arms free for a split second before one of the men pulled him back. “Hyung, please, you have to - trust me, believe me, I couldn’t-”
Heechul stopped, confusion reigning supreme over his anger. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I’m sorry,” said Siwon pleadingly. “Please, hyung - I’m sorry, I lo-”
An almost sickening thud echoed around the driveway as one of the men tried to force him into the car and his head connected with the metal above the car door hard - his body suddenly fell slack as his eyes fluttered shut. The men acted as though nothing had happened and just pushed him into the car, and slammed the door shut after him. The noise spurred Heechul and Hankyung into action: Heechul shouted out in anger, and Hankyung started forward.
“Stop it,” said Shindong’s voice loudly. They turned; he was leaning against one of the pillars behind them, arms folded. The two men got into the front of the car and shut the doors. The engine sounded out. Hankyung looked desperately at the tinted windows but could see no movement from within. He took a step forward. “Don’t, Hankyung,” said Shindong, voice soft and sad.
“What the fuck is going on, Shindong?” spat Heechul.
“You’ll have to ask Kangin,” said Shindong with a shrug. “He’ll tell you.”
“Don’t worry,” said Heechul with a glare. “I plan on it.”
He left Hankyung watching the car fade out of sight, too in shock to move, and burst into the main office to find only Eeteuk, his head buried in his hands. He looked up when the door opened, groaned at the sight of Heechul, and then laid his head on the table.
“What the fuck is going on?” yelled Heechul, kicking the desk to get Eeteuk to actually look at him. “I just watched fucking Choi Sikyu pull Siwon into his car and drive away!”
The door banged open again; Kangin stormed through, paused at the sight of Heechul, yelled in anger, and then pulled open a drawer in the filing cabinet. He pulled a brown file out, and flung it on the desk in front of Eeteuk.
“Kangin!” shouted Heechul, angry at being ignored. “What the fuck just happened?”
“I don’t suppose you knew, did you?” asked Kangin, slightly sneering. “About your little - adorer, your fucking lover. You didn’t know the truth, did you?”
“What-”
“They’ll be all fakes,” Kangin said to Eeteuk, flipping open the file to reveal the birth certificate, education certificates and other paperwork that related to Siwon. “I don’t know how he’s managed to pull it off - and for so long, he’s been here for three months already.”
“Siwon,” said Heechul. “What’s happened with Siwon?”
“Do you mean Han Siwon?” Eeteuk looked at him for the first time, dark shadows under his eyes.
“Of course I do,” snapped Heechul. “What other Siwon is there?”
“Han Siwon,” said Kangin, bitterness rife and on the verge of shouting. “The eldest son of a trading family. That person doesn’t exist. No, our Siwon, your Siwon - although he doesn’t belong to any of us, not really - that’s Choi Siwon.”
“Choi?” Heechul scowled at him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“He’s not Han Siwon,” said Eeteuk heavily. “He’s Choi Siwon - the eldest son - the only son, of Choi Sikyu.”
Heechul took a stumbling step backwards. “He’s not,” he said. “He’s Han Siwon!”
“He’s not, Heechul,” said Kangin. “He just confirmed it. He’s Choi Siwon, he’s been lying to us all this time.”
“But - Kangin, that means - fuck, Kangin. Fuck.”
“I know,” said Kangin. He sat down and buried his face in his own hands. “I know, Heechul.”