Smile Again Ch. 7b
Title: Smile Again Ch. 7b
Pairing: KiHae
Genre: Drama?
Rating R
Word count: 1278
Around seven that morning, Sohye knocked on the door, holding clothes for both Donghae and Eunhyuk. Eunhyuk and Kibum were still asleep. Donghae sat up, and thanked her and she set them on the desk.
“Are you ready for this?” She asked. Donghae shook his head and looked down, messing with his bracelet.
“You know…” she continued, “Both Eunhyuk and Kibum believe in you. You’re going to be just fine.” He nodded, and she left. She had a lot to do still before the trial. Donghae lay back down, trying to fight off exhaustion, but his eyelids grew heavy, and it wasn’t long before he was fast asleep. For once, he slept peacefully, and when Eunhyuk shook him away a couple hours later, he actually felt rested.
When he was getting dressed, his hands were shaking so hard that Kibum brushed them away and did the buttons himself, then pulled Donghae into a hug.
“Shhh…it’s ok…We’re going to take great care of you, and you’ll be fine. I promise.” He whispered, stroking the back of Donghae’s head. Donghae nodded, but Kibum could still feel his heart racing. He hugged Donghae tighter, and said, “I promise. Other than the witness stand, I’ll be with you the whole time.”
***
They finally got to the courthouse, and there was a crowd of reporters standing with cameras on the steps. Donghae seemed to shrink into Kibum, who hugged him. The older boy looked at Eunhyuk, worried. It was the first time Donghae had been out of the house in more than a month, and he got stressed out easily.
“I’ll go first, and you follow with him. Eunhyuk said after thinking for a minute.
They got out of the car, and were immediately assaulted by the reporters. Questions came from every direction, and Donghae pressed himself, terrified, into Kibum, who held him close, and whispered, “Once we get inside, they won’t be able to follow us.” Donghae nodded, and they went as fast as they could up the steps and in through the heavy doors. Once inside, Eunhyuk turned and hugged his brother tight, and said, “You did great…they won’t hurt you. They’re gone now.” Donghae took a shaky breath and nodded.
Once Sohye had parked the car and found them, they made their way to the courtroom. They settled Donghae into his chair, and Kibum sat with him. Donghae wouldn’t stop shaking and looking around, and Kibum could see his cheeks were flushed. He was sick again. Crap. Kibum handed him a pen and a legal pad, and said, “Let’s play a game. You start drawing for 30 seconds, and then I’ll continue the drawing for 30 seconds, and let’s see what we can come up with.”
Donghae took the pen and started drawing the basic outline of a fish. Kibum took the drawing, and added fins and a decorated tail. Donghae added scales. Kibum shaded until it looked like the fish was swimming, catching the light. Donghae was almost too distracted to notice that his father had come into the courtroom. Almost. He started shaking again, and carefully lengthened the fish’s face, and added a row of sharp teeth. Kibum wrote out under the drawing, “No one will let him hurt you. There’s no way he can win.” Donghae nodded, and then wrote, “Can they have security or someone stand between the two tables?” Kibum nodded, started to get up, and whispered, “I’ll go ask.” Donghae shook his head and grabbed his hand, tears in his eyes. “Y-you can’t leave…not yet. You said you wouldn’t.”
Kibum sat back down, but turned around to find his mother, and caught her eye. She came over, and he repeated Donghae’s request. She nodded, and went to go find security. Donghae finally started to relax once he had a literal human wall between him and his father. He stiffened, though, when they got the signal that the trial was about to start. Kibum reached in his pocket, and pulled out a letter, and handed it to Donghae with a hug, and an “I’m right behind you. When they ask you questions, focus on my face. You can do this.”
Donghae nodded, and reluctantly let Kibum go. Sohye took his seat, placing her notes on the table.
“All rise for the Honorable Judge Lee Seunghwan.”
Donghae stood next to Sohye, feeling the eyes of the entire courtroom on him. He was grateful when he could sit down. He fiddled with the pen, not looking up, not making eye contact. Then he remembered the letter Kibum had given him. Quietly, while Yesung was speaking, he unfolded it.
“Dear Donghae,
I know you’re scared to go up there are talk, but everyone in this courtroom knows that your father doesn’t stand a chance. You can do this. You’re so brave, and after this, you won’t have a reason to be afraid anymore. After the trial, my parents are going to officially adopt you. My mom says she already feels like you and Eunhyuk are her own kids, and she loves you as much as I do.
After the trial, we want to do something to celebrate. Think on it, and let me know what you come up with, okay? Please believe me that no matter what happens, you’ll be okay. You’re safe, and no one’s going to hurt you.
Last thing. I love you, Donghae. I love you, and I’m always going to be here for you, and I’ll never leave you.
I love you. Forever.
Kibum”
Donghae read the letter several times. He looked back at Kibum, who met his eyes with a confident expression. Donghae couldn’t tell what his own expression looked like, but turning back around, he caught his father’s eyes for the first time. He felt transfixed, as if he was hypnotized, and he only looked away when Sohye sat down, breaking their eye contact. He looked down quickly, swallowing, and she asked if he was okay. He nodded, and instantly regretted it, feeling sick.
Hearing Kibum’s name, he gasped and looked up. He’d forgotten that Kibum had to testify. Kibum gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze as he walked passed, and Donghae stared at him, silently begging him to take him away. He jumped as Sohye gave his hand a squeeze before standing up to swear Kibum in.
Kibum’s eyes met his, and his brows furrowed in concern before he started to talk, looking at Donghae the entire time, but addressing the whole court. Donghae met his eyes, but then leaned forward and started to write on the paper in front of him.
“No further questions.” He heard Siwon say, and he quickly ended the letter.
Kibum stood and walked back to his seat. As he passed Donghae, the younger boy subtly handed it to him.
Eunhyuk was called to the stand next, and he passed Kibum, who mouthed “Good luck” to him. He nodded, and kept walking.
Kibum sat down, and unfolded Donghae’s note.
“Kibum. Thanks for your letter, and your confidence. I wish I had it. I don’t think I can do this. I feel like I’m gonna be sick. I’m not brave like you think I am…I keep feeling like, even if we win this trial, someday, he’ll get out, and come after me again. Please…don’t make me do this… I just want to go home.
I love you, too. Thank you.”
Kibum pressed his lips together. He knew Donghae was scared, but he knew there wasn’t any way Donghae could get hurt again. Eunhyuk came back and sat next to him. Kibum handed him the letter, and Eunhyuk nodded.
“The court calls Lee Myung-bak to the stand.”
Pairing: KiHae
Genre: Drama?
Rating R
Word count: 1278
Around seven that morning, Sohye knocked on the door, holding clothes for both Donghae and Eunhyuk. Eunhyuk and Kibum were still asleep. Donghae sat up, and thanked her and she set them on the desk.
“Are you ready for this?” She asked. Donghae shook his head and looked down, messing with his bracelet.
“You know…” she continued, “Both Eunhyuk and Kibum believe in you. You’re going to be just fine.” He nodded, and she left. She had a lot to do still before the trial. Donghae lay back down, trying to fight off exhaustion, but his eyelids grew heavy, and it wasn’t long before he was fast asleep. For once, he slept peacefully, and when Eunhyuk shook him away a couple hours later, he actually felt rested.
When he was getting dressed, his hands were shaking so hard that Kibum brushed them away and did the buttons himself, then pulled Donghae into a hug.
“Shhh…it’s ok…We’re going to take great care of you, and you’ll be fine. I promise.” He whispered, stroking the back of Donghae’s head. Donghae nodded, but Kibum could still feel his heart racing. He hugged Donghae tighter, and said, “I promise. Other than the witness stand, I’ll be with you the whole time.”
***
They finally got to the courthouse, and there was a crowd of reporters standing with cameras on the steps. Donghae seemed to shrink into Kibum, who hugged him. The older boy looked at Eunhyuk, worried. It was the first time Donghae had been out of the house in more than a month, and he got stressed out easily.
“I’ll go first, and you follow with him. Eunhyuk said after thinking for a minute.
They got out of the car, and were immediately assaulted by the reporters. Questions came from every direction, and Donghae pressed himself, terrified, into Kibum, who held him close, and whispered, “Once we get inside, they won’t be able to follow us.” Donghae nodded, and they went as fast as they could up the steps and in through the heavy doors. Once inside, Eunhyuk turned and hugged his brother tight, and said, “You did great…they won’t hurt you. They’re gone now.” Donghae took a shaky breath and nodded.
Once Sohye had parked the car and found them, they made their way to the courtroom. They settled Donghae into his chair, and Kibum sat with him. Donghae wouldn’t stop shaking and looking around, and Kibum could see his cheeks were flushed. He was sick again. Crap. Kibum handed him a pen and a legal pad, and said, “Let’s play a game. You start drawing for 30 seconds, and then I’ll continue the drawing for 30 seconds, and let’s see what we can come up with.”
Donghae took the pen and started drawing the basic outline of a fish. Kibum took the drawing, and added fins and a decorated tail. Donghae added scales. Kibum shaded until it looked like the fish was swimming, catching the light. Donghae was almost too distracted to notice that his father had come into the courtroom. Almost. He started shaking again, and carefully lengthened the fish’s face, and added a row of sharp teeth. Kibum wrote out under the drawing, “No one will let him hurt you. There’s no way he can win.” Donghae nodded, and then wrote, “Can they have security or someone stand between the two tables?” Kibum nodded, started to get up, and whispered, “I’ll go ask.” Donghae shook his head and grabbed his hand, tears in his eyes. “Y-you can’t leave…not yet. You said you wouldn’t.”
Kibum sat back down, but turned around to find his mother, and caught her eye. She came over, and he repeated Donghae’s request. She nodded, and went to go find security. Donghae finally started to relax once he had a literal human wall between him and his father. He stiffened, though, when they got the signal that the trial was about to start. Kibum reached in his pocket, and pulled out a letter, and handed it to Donghae with a hug, and an “I’m right behind you. When they ask you questions, focus on my face. You can do this.”
Donghae nodded, and reluctantly let Kibum go. Sohye took his seat, placing her notes on the table.
“All rise for the Honorable Judge Lee Seunghwan.”
Donghae stood next to Sohye, feeling the eyes of the entire courtroom on him. He was grateful when he could sit down. He fiddled with the pen, not looking up, not making eye contact. Then he remembered the letter Kibum had given him. Quietly, while Yesung was speaking, he unfolded it.
“Dear Donghae,
I know you’re scared to go up there are talk, but everyone in this courtroom knows that your father doesn’t stand a chance. You can do this. You’re so brave, and after this, you won’t have a reason to be afraid anymore. After the trial, my parents are going to officially adopt you. My mom says she already feels like you and Eunhyuk are her own kids, and she loves you as much as I do.
After the trial, we want to do something to celebrate. Think on it, and let me know what you come up with, okay? Please believe me that no matter what happens, you’ll be okay. You’re safe, and no one’s going to hurt you.
Last thing. I love you, Donghae. I love you, and I’m always going to be here for you, and I’ll never leave you.
I love you. Forever.
Kibum”
Donghae read the letter several times. He looked back at Kibum, who met his eyes with a confident expression. Donghae couldn’t tell what his own expression looked like, but turning back around, he caught his father’s eyes for the first time. He felt transfixed, as if he was hypnotized, and he only looked away when Sohye sat down, breaking their eye contact. He looked down quickly, swallowing, and she asked if he was okay. He nodded, and instantly regretted it, feeling sick.
Hearing Kibum’s name, he gasped and looked up. He’d forgotten that Kibum had to testify. Kibum gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze as he walked passed, and Donghae stared at him, silently begging him to take him away. He jumped as Sohye gave his hand a squeeze before standing up to swear Kibum in.
Kibum’s eyes met his, and his brows furrowed in concern before he started to talk, looking at Donghae the entire time, but addressing the whole court. Donghae met his eyes, but then leaned forward and started to write on the paper in front of him.
“No further questions.” He heard Siwon say, and he quickly ended the letter.
Kibum stood and walked back to his seat. As he passed Donghae, the younger boy subtly handed it to him.
Eunhyuk was called to the stand next, and he passed Kibum, who mouthed “Good luck” to him. He nodded, and kept walking.
Kibum sat down, and unfolded Donghae’s note.
“Kibum. Thanks for your letter, and your confidence. I wish I had it. I don’t think I can do this. I feel like I’m gonna be sick. I’m not brave like you think I am…I keep feeling like, even if we win this trial, someday, he’ll get out, and come after me again. Please…don’t make me do this… I just want to go home.
I love you, too. Thank you.”
Kibum pressed his lips together. He knew Donghae was scared, but he knew there wasn’t any way Donghae could get hurt again. Eunhyuk came back and sat next to him. Kibum handed him the letter, and Eunhyuk nodded.
“The court calls Lee Myung-bak to the stand.”