fic: A Hundred and One little Complications, Chapter 10
Title: A Hundred and One Little Complications, Chapter 10
Length: chaptered
Author: M_K Yujji
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Pairing/Characters: DooSeob, Heechul, mentions of all the other characters.
Warnings: RPS
Disclaimer: Though real people are used as characters, this fic bears no resemblance to Real Life and these people are not owned by me.
Comments/Notes: Partially inspired by snb123's spy prompt and this picture.
I've been working on it off and on pretty much ever since I posted the last chapter (you might remember that I said I'd had to break the chapter in two because it was threatening to go insanely long? combined it would have been 8.5k words) The last month or so, I've been struggling with Heechul. Yes, Heechul is finally introduced in person.
A big thanks to my beta, kenaressa. You guys have no idea how much you owe her. ^_^
Previously: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9
Side Shots: Second Chances | Guardian | Aftermath | Til I Fell in Love
Summary: Doojoon is a gay reporter with too many enemies in too many places, the divorced father of a beautiful little girl. Gikwang is his deceased ex-wife’s last husband and the closest thing he has to family since his blood relatives disowned him. When an assassination attempt almost kills them all, Gikwang calls in a favor.
As if Doojoon's life isn't already complicated enough...
~*~*~*~
When Yoseob followed him into the building that housed the biggest news publication in the country, Doojoon didn’t say anything. He wanted to know how the mercenary intended to stay at his side the entire day - and the days to come if this wasn’t wrapped up sooner rather than later - but he trusted Yoseob to know what he was doing.
A small smile curled on his lips as he considered that.
He trusted Yoseob.
“What are you grinning about?” Yoseob asked, amusement coloring his voice as he stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the elevator wall.
Doojoon just leaned in and snuck a quick kiss. “Just a stray thought.”
“Mmhmm…” Though he looked doubtful, the blonde let it go. The elevator doors opened and he followed Doojoon out into the open office of the newsroom.
“Yoon! Hey, I heard you were dead!” Someone called out from one of the cubicles.
Heads turned after that and if Doojoon were any less confident in himself, he’d have shrunk back and hid behind Yoseob as the horde descended.
There was a lot of back slapping and long looks, but everyone seemed genuinely relieved to see that he’d survived the accident in one piece.
He expected to have to explain Yoseob’s presence, but the mercenary was greeted just as warmly as he was. And everyone already seemed to know him. It made Doojoon wonder exactly how deeply entrenched in his life Yoseob was and how the hell he’d managed to not know this person that everyone accepted as a staple in his life.
Jihyun, the woman who’d been writing the cooking column for the weekend edition of the paper, even tried to get Yoseob to agree to an interview. Doojoon was a little preoccupied by his other co-workers, but what he could hear made it sound like she’d tried before, more than once. Yoseob just laughed and shook his head, promising her he’d think about it.
Before Doojoon could question either of them about it, another voice caught everyone’s attention. “Yoon! My office, now. Everyone, get back to work!”
He garnered a few sympathetic looks at the boss’s unhappy face, but the crowd dispersed.
“Hey,” Yoseob tugged him close for a minute. “I’m going to make myself scarce, but I’ll be in the building, okay?”
“All right.” Doojoon sighed and glanced around before leaning in and stealing a kiss that made Yoseob’s lips curl into a sweet smile. “You are so explaining why Jihyun is trying to interview you later, understand.”
Yoseob laughed and shoved him away. “Go. Before you get into trouble your first day back.”
Being called into Hong Seungsung’s office always reminded Doojoon a little of being called into the principal’s office at his highschool. There was always that sense of ’What did I do this time?’ accompanied by the expectation of being scolded, even if one was relatively sure that they hadn’t actually done anything wrong. It wasn’t even that Hong was cruel or an unpleasant boss to work for. Exactly the opposite, in fact. Doojoon had worked his way up at Cube Publications and he’d learned everything he knew about the business from Hong.
If anything, it was because Hong was such a great boss that everyone worried about disappointing him and Doojoon was no exception.
“Sir,” he said quietly as he let himself into the office behind the older man. “I’m sorry if my recent absence has caused any difficulties.”
Hong waved away his apology and motioned for him to sit. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Doojoon. You’ve more than earned your share of sick leave over the years and family comes before work.”
Nodding, Doojoon took the offered seat and relaxed slightly. “Thank you, sir. I did manage to finish the financial corruption piece while I was on leave.”
“Excellent,” Hong nodded his approval. “Be certain to turn it over to the editing department. Once you’re both happy with it, submit it. If everything looks good, we’ll run it in Friday’s edition.”
In his early days, Doojoon had resented the need for running his work through the editing department. He was a skilled writer and he wasn’t fond of other people messing around with his work. When he’d complained, Hong had listened and nodded along and then stuck him in the editing department for a few weeks. That was when he’d learned that even the best writers made mistakes and that what made sense to the writer, didn’t always translate properly on paper.
Three weeks of arguing with his fellow writers about the glaring mistakes that they simply could not see had been eye opening and humbling.
He’d never complained about it again. The guys in the editing department were nice but brutally honest and some of his best work had come from sitting down with them and letting them rip it to shreds.
“I have a few ideas for some other pieces, but I’m still working on the research side of things.”
“Good, good.” Hong sighed and pushed back in his chair, giving Doojoon a steady look over the desk. “Doojoon, you’ve been with us a long time. They’ve been good years, yes?”
“Yes, sir…” Doojoon shifted, unease creeping up his spine at the look on Hong’s face. “I’ve always been thankful to have a place here.”
The older man nodded. “And we’ve always been happy to have you. You’re a damned talented writer and we’ve never had to worry about you making mistakes in your research or getting the paper sued for libel despite some of the topics you cover.”
He paused for a long moment then sighed. “I’d like to put you on a freelance capacity, Doojoon. You can write for other publications, but I’d rather we got the first crack at anything you intend to publish.”
Doojoon went numb, shock rolling through his system. “You’re firing me?”
“Not… exactly.” Hong sighed again and leaned forward. “I’ve been asked to release you from our employment so that you could find a ‘higher’ calling.” He grimaced slightly at the phrasing. “I will never fire you. Your pieces will always find a home in my publications. Period. But… I think that as a freelance writer, you’ll have the freedom to accept any offer that comes your way that you’re interested in or tell him to shove it.”
“I… I don’t understand, sir.” In truth, Doojoon had seldom been so confused in his life.
Hong’s look was sympathetic. “I have a feeling you will soon. See accounting on your way out and have Namjoo cut your final salary check. She’ll be switching your file over to freelance instead. You do remember that freelancers get paid by story rather than by salary, yes? Good, good.”
“I… Yes, Sir…” Doojoon rubbed a hand through his hair, feeling lost.
Hong hesitated, then smiled. “Perhaps you can write your young man’s next book? I’ve heard they’ve been asking him to publish another since the first was so wildly successful. Jihyun has been tearing her hair out since you’ve been gone, wanting to see if you could talk him into doing an interview.”
“He- she has?”
“You can’t tell me you’re actually surprised,” Hong laughed and shook his head. “My own wife was hoping Yang sshi would include the recipe for those little pastry things he brings in. She quite likes them. And I wouldn’t mind it myself.” He stood and patted his stomach. “They’re quite tasty.”
“I. Um..” Doojoon blinked and stood automatically as the older man did. “I’ll see?”
He had no idea what they were talking about anymore. He’d lost track of the conversation somewhere around ‘freelance’ and had never found his way back. He knew, of course, that Hong had known of his sexual orientation. After his divorce from Gina, pretty much everyone knew, but to have Yoseob referred to so openly as ‘his young man’ was mind boggling enough. All the talk of pastries and books and interviews just went right over his head.
Apparently he and Yoseob were going to have to have a long talk about what everyone else knew that he didn’t.
Right after they figured out why the fuck he’d just been fired by a boss who flat out said he was welcome anytime.
Hong ushered him out, but paused at the threshold. “Doojoon. I think it’s best for now that we just say that you’ve decided you want to try your hand at the freelance life so that you can spend more time with your family in light of the accident. That way there’ll be no questions asked if you want to come back later, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good man,” Hong smiled and shook his hand before clapping his back and turning to focus on the office that had gotten abnormally quiet with their appearance. “Ladies and gentlemen. Let’s all wish Yoon a fond farewell and good luck in his future endeavors. We all understand that family comes first, but we hope that he’ll keep us in mind if he decides to come back.”
Everyone else seemed just as confused as Doojoon felt, but they wished him well as he headed to his desk to get his things. A new intern he only barely recognized brought him some office boxes and bowed, saying something about wishing she’d had a chance to work with him. He thanked her and stared at the desk he’d called his own for years.
He didn’t want to give up his desk and he hated not knowing why he had to.
Yoseob seemed to materialize out of no where, and the half-formed thought that the mercenary had somehow engineered the situation dissipated. The blonde seemed just as surprised and even more disgruntled, making Doojoon wonder if this disturbed some part of his protective net. “Doojoon-”
“I had nothing to do with this,” Doojoon offered in a quiet undertone, careful not to let anyone else over hear. “I was kind of hoping you’d know what was going on.”
Yoseob shook his head and started helping Doojoon. “No. He didn’t give you a reason?”
“Something about finding out soon.”
“Hmm..” Yoseob frowned, glancing back at the office Hong had vanished back into. “I’ll have DW-” He cut himself off, biting his lip. “I mean.. I’ll look into it.”
“He’ll be okay,” Doojoon said quietly, reaching out to squeeze Yoseob’s shoulder.
Sighing, Yoseob nodded. He smiled at a picture of Cheon that Doojoon kept on his desk before taking it and placing it gently in the box. “I know. It’s just… He’s never actually been a target before. I should have had more failsafes in place to protect him. I shouldn’t have trusted Taec with our real location.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Doojoonie…” Yoseob offered him a soft smile and a pat to his cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
“It could be. We don’t know really, not yet.”
Yoseob laughed and shook his head. “You didn’t beat him up and you didn’t tell the bad guys where to find him. It’s not your fault.” He tucked a few more odds and ends into his box before setting back and looking around the office. “I’m going to have to move him someplace else, though. He’s going to miss easy access to Anh’s noodle shop.”
One of Doojoon’s fellow writers came up to say good bye and wish him luck and Yoseob went quiet as people came and went, smiling and greeting those who acknowledged him, but not interfering otherwise.
The reporter could tell several of his co-workers thought Yoseob was as much the cause of his sudden resignation as anything else. He also noticed that several of the women had shy smiles of interest for the blonde, interest that Yoseob either didn’t notice or was politely ignoring. It wasn’t until they’d actually gotten everything and were about to leave that he finally had any clue what book Hong had been talking about.
Namjoo from accounting was a shy little thing who looked like she belonged behind a library desk somewhere helping kids find books. Doojoon knew several of the guys in the office who talked about her behind her back, wondering if the bookworm exterior hid something wild or if she was really as boring as she seemed, but whe’d always been kind to him and he liked her.
She edged up to them before they could actually get out of Doojoon’s cubicle and bowed low in front of Yoseob, holding a book out. Her voice was barely audible. “Could… could you… please?”
Yoseob smiled sweetly and grabbed one of Doojoon’s markers - a bright highlighter - before he took the book from her. “Someone actually bought my book? I thought the publisher’s were lying so as not to hurt my feelings~”
“Oh, no! It’s a good book! It’s, it’s funny and easy to read and the recipes are really amazing!” Namjoo gushed, her eyes wide as looked up finally. “I really like it.”
“Thank you very much for your kind words,” Yoseob said, flipping to a page in the back. He smiled up out of the page, dressed in a brightly colored chef’s coat with a funny hat and kerchief on and a whisk in his hand. The real Yoseob smiled at Namjoo. “What’s your name?”
“N-namjoo. Park Namjoo.”
“Park Namjoo… What a lovely name…” He scrawled out a message that Doojoon couldn’t quite read before signing the page with a flourish. He handed it back, his smile the sunny blinding thing that a person couldn’t help but respond to. “Please keep supporting me!”
“Th-thank you, Yang sshi. Thank you very much!” She bowed low again, clutching the book to her chest like it was the most precious thing she’d ever been given. Doojoon was half afraid she was going to trip as she backed away, still bowing.
He managed to wait until they were in the elevator again, but only barely. “So what are you? Some kind of celebrity chef who moonlights as a bodyguard?”
Yoseob just laughed and shifted closer, bumping shoulders with him. “More like a merc who moonlights as a celebrity chef.” Then he shrugged. “At first it was part of my rehabilitation. We weren’t sure what I was actually going to be able to do, but the cooking came back easily enough. The book was Nana’s idea. We weren’t expecting it to be as popular as it was.”
“Am I going to get blindsided by anything else?” Because it seemed for every bit of Yoseob that he discovered, there seemed to be something else lurking around the corner.
It was disconcerting to realize how thoroughly the blonde had weaved himself through Doojoon’s life without Doojoon ever realizing it.
The doors opened and Yoseob smiled as he got out. “Hard to say. The key to being successful - and alive - in my line of work is very careful layering and attention to detail. And I did warn you that I’ve spent years cultivating my place in your life.”
Doojoon sighed and shifted the box in his arms. Actually, a lot of strange things made a lot more sense all of a sudden. He’d been ignoring random comments and stray innuendo for years. “Is there anyone besides Gikwang and I that didn’t know you were there?”
As they stepped out into the sun, Yoseob tilted his head and shrugged. “Cheon.”
Before he could respond to that, he was distracted. Two familiar figures stepped in front of them and took their boxes.
“Hey, guys,” Donghae said as he ushered them towards the short limousine parked, quite illegally, in front of the building. “Boss man wants to talk to you.”
“But-”
“He insists. Siwon will take your boxes to your car. Isn’t that right, Siwon?”
Siwon just gave them an apologetic smile, though he scowled at his companion a little when the shorter man cheerfully stacked the second box on the one already in his arms.
“I’m not giving him the keys,” Yoseob said, his stance loose-limbed but poised to act.
If either of the other men noticed, neither remarked on it. Donghae arched a brow and shrugged. “It’s not necessary. He can just watch the boxes ‘til your meeting with Heechul is done.”
“Hae-” The taller man cut off his own protest with an unhappy expression and sighed. “It’s not a problem. Caution is probably wise, all things considered.”
The back door opened and Doojoon caught a glimpse of garish red before the arm that had opened it was retracted. “Oh, just get in the car. I don’t have all day.”
Doojoon and Yoseob glanced at each other. The mercenary nodded slightly, encouraging, and Doojoon remembered that Yoseob had actually done work for Kim Heechul.
He didn’t particularly want to deal with this, not after the night they’d had, not after the way his morning was shaping up, but hopefully they’d at least find out why Kim had people following them.
Doojoon crawled into the back seat and found himself sitting across from Kim Heechul for the first time in his life. It was probably strange, given the way that Kim seemed to have fingers in every pot in the city, for a man of Doojoon’s chosen profession to have never run across him.
The pictures he’d seen hadn’t really prepared him for the way the sharp smile made him want to lean away or the intelligence in eyes that seemed to see everything.
“So. Yoon Doojoon. Finally. And Yang Yoseob. That is what you’re going by these days, yes?”
Yoseob crawled in beside him and Doojoon relaxed slightly, having the mercenary pressed against his side. They both shifted uneasily as the door shut behind them and the car started moving. “Kim. What do you want?”
“Always so abrupt,” Kim said with a vaguely disappointed pout that Doojoon thought was entierly false. Especially when he gave an airy wave of his hands. “Fine, fine. Straight down to business it is, then. ”
He rifled through a briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers before handing them across to Doojoon.
“What-”
“Now that you find yourself unemployed, I just happen to have a position that you are uniquely qualified to fill.” Heechul looked smug as he he settled back into the seat to watch them with knowing eyes.
“You’re the reason I just got fired.” It didn’t take a genius to make the leap. Hong’s veiled, annoyed references to an outside party made sense. The man had never cared for Kim Heechul or the power that he wielded.
Heechul waved the accusation away. “Oh please. We both know Hong would never fire you. More likely, he gave you an extended leave or something. He likes to keep his strays, after all.”
“Look, I don’t care-”
“What’s the job?” Yoseob asked, his voice overriding Doojoon’s protest.
Heechul’s grin grew sharp. “Elections are coming up. An investigative reporter is the ideal person to nose around the backgrounds of all the potentials and report to the public at large.” His smile dropped to something more benign and cajoling as his gaze swung to Doojoon. “Really, you’d be doing more good than you are now. All the papers and magazines will be clamoring for you. Although I’m sure you’ll give Hong first dibs. That’s fine.”
“Why are you trying to rig the elections, why not just run yourself?”
“Please,” the man scoffed. “The power isn’t in the puppet. The power is in being the puppeteer. I’d expect you to know that, even if our friend here is too naive.”
Doojoon pressed closer to Yoseob’s side, scowling. “I am not going to help you fix elections.”
“You misinterpret me, Yoon.” Heechul gestured out the window. “Look at them, scurrying along, living their lives with no concern for the big picture. Do you know the problem with democracy, Yoon?”
They remained silent and he sighed and stared out the window. “People are sheep. Individuals can be intelligent, can make smart choices. But they won’t go looking for the information to make those choices. They simply allow someone else to do their thinking for them. They vote on who has the shiniest adds, the most support in the media, the fancier car, the prettier wife. Have you never noticed?”
“Politics isn’t really my area.”
“But that’s why you’re perfect for this. You don’t come pre-packaged with party loyalty. You’ve never shied away from the truth. And that’s what I need. Contrary to popular opinion, I do care what happens to this country, Yoon. I curry power and favor with the sole purpose of bettering their lives.” He gestured out the window again, at the faceless masses scurrying around - to and from work, shopping, to school. “If the people will not educate themselves, then I will see that they are educated. I will find the ideal candidates and I will give them their shiny adds and pretty wives and all the media coverage I can manage.” He paused for a moment and the shark-like smile was back. “And believe me, Yoon. I can manage quite a lot.”
“You got me fired.”
Heechul shrugged. “And Hong will rehire you the moment you tire of the job I’m offering and we both know it. Or, given the payday you’ll be pocketing, you can spend the time enjoying the life of a family man. Money can buy a certain amount of acceptance, Yoon. You lost that when your parents disowned you, but I can give it back. And you get to keep your lovely guard dog. It’s not a bad deal, Yoon.”
There was temptation there. Plenty of people knew he was gay, but for the most part, it was ignored. He was accepted only as long as he didn’t flaunt it. Even then, there were those who would see Cheon taken from him and he knew the second he began openly acknowledging Yoseob, there would be more. His parents weren’t the only intolerant people out there.
He hesitated for a moment and glanced at Yoseob. The mercenary was looking back, silent but supportive. Doojoon knew that he would accept whatever decision was made.
“Let me think about it,” Doojoon said finally, taking a deep breath and looking back at Heechul. “I’ll get back to you.”
With a dip of his head, Heechul knocked on the limo’s partition. “Do your thinking quickly, Yoon. There’s only so much time before elections begin again.”
A block or two passed in relative silence before Yoseob spoke again. “This is why you’ve had people following him?”
“I protect my investments, Yang. You should know that.” His face tightened slightly. “The cut brake lines were an oversight. I apologize.”
“Do you know why Choi wants me dead?”
Heechul shrugged again. “As best I can tell? I believe she was originally under the impression that you had some data on some of her lieutenants. You were spending so much time at the clubs they frequent, it was an understandable assumption that you’d found a bigger story than the simple underbelly of Seoul’s club life. She’s since realized her error, but she can’t seem to get a handle on her own dog. Now killing you is more an issue of principles than a priority.”
“Yoseob’s not a dog,” Doojoon said, cold anger edging into his own voice. He’d ignored the implication once, but he refused to do it again. Yoseob was so much more than his job.
“I apologize,” Heechul said again, hands raised in a calming gesture. The limousine came to a halt beside Doojoon’s SUV where Siwon was leaning, Doojoon’s boxes still in his hands. “I meant no offense. You really couldn’t have gotten better protection.”
“Thanks for the help,” Yoseob added as he opened the door and hopped out. “They still gonna be hanging around?”
“Until the threat is eliminated or he turns me down,” Heechul replied cheekily. “An added incentive to say yes, eh, Yoon? They came in handy yesterday, didn’t they?”
Doojoon followed Yoseob and took the boxes from the big man, “I’ll think about it.”
“Call me, then. Soon.”
Siwon passed Yoseob a card, then gave Doojoon a little salute before getting back into the car they’d just vacated.
The pair stood for a moment, watching the limousine merge into traffic.
He thought about the complicated twists and turns his life seemed to be taking lately, about Dongwoon in the hospital and Cheon calling Yosoeb Yopa. He thought about the job he'd loved for so long and the offer he'd just been made.
Doojoon sighed. “I need a drink.”
Yoseob just laughed and pushed him towards the passenger seat.
~*~*~
tbc
Length: chaptered
Author: M_K Yujji
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Pairing/Characters: DooSeob, Heechul, mentions of all the other characters.
Warnings: RPS
Disclaimer: Though real people are used as characters, this fic bears no resemblance to Real Life and these people are not owned by me.
Comments/Notes: Partially inspired by snb123's spy prompt and this picture.
I've been working on it off and on pretty much ever since I posted the last chapter (you might remember that I said I'd had to break the chapter in two because it was threatening to go insanely long? combined it would have been 8.5k words) The last month or so, I've been struggling with Heechul. Yes, Heechul is finally introduced in person.
A big thanks to my beta, kenaressa. You guys have no idea how much you owe her. ^_^
Previously: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9
Side Shots: Second Chances | Guardian | Aftermath | Til I Fell in Love
Summary: Doojoon is a gay reporter with too many enemies in too many places, the divorced father of a beautiful little girl. Gikwang is his deceased ex-wife’s last husband and the closest thing he has to family since his blood relatives disowned him. When an assassination attempt almost kills them all, Gikwang calls in a favor.
As if Doojoon's life isn't already complicated enough...
~*~*~*~
When Yoseob followed him into the building that housed the biggest news publication in the country, Doojoon didn’t say anything. He wanted to know how the mercenary intended to stay at his side the entire day - and the days to come if this wasn’t wrapped up sooner rather than later - but he trusted Yoseob to know what he was doing.
A small smile curled on his lips as he considered that.
He trusted Yoseob.
“What are you grinning about?” Yoseob asked, amusement coloring his voice as he stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the elevator wall.
Doojoon just leaned in and snuck a quick kiss. “Just a stray thought.”
“Mmhmm…” Though he looked doubtful, the blonde let it go. The elevator doors opened and he followed Doojoon out into the open office of the newsroom.
“Yoon! Hey, I heard you were dead!” Someone called out from one of the cubicles.
Heads turned after that and if Doojoon were any less confident in himself, he’d have shrunk back and hid behind Yoseob as the horde descended.
There was a lot of back slapping and long looks, but everyone seemed genuinely relieved to see that he’d survived the accident in one piece.
He expected to have to explain Yoseob’s presence, but the mercenary was greeted just as warmly as he was. And everyone already seemed to know him. It made Doojoon wonder exactly how deeply entrenched in his life Yoseob was and how the hell he’d managed to not know this person that everyone accepted as a staple in his life.
Jihyun, the woman who’d been writing the cooking column for the weekend edition of the paper, even tried to get Yoseob to agree to an interview. Doojoon was a little preoccupied by his other co-workers, but what he could hear made it sound like she’d tried before, more than once. Yoseob just laughed and shook his head, promising her he’d think about it.
Before Doojoon could question either of them about it, another voice caught everyone’s attention. “Yoon! My office, now. Everyone, get back to work!”
He garnered a few sympathetic looks at the boss’s unhappy face, but the crowd dispersed.
“Hey,” Yoseob tugged him close for a minute. “I’m going to make myself scarce, but I’ll be in the building, okay?”
“All right.” Doojoon sighed and glanced around before leaning in and stealing a kiss that made Yoseob’s lips curl into a sweet smile. “You are so explaining why Jihyun is trying to interview you later, understand.”
Yoseob laughed and shoved him away. “Go. Before you get into trouble your first day back.”
Being called into Hong Seungsung’s office always reminded Doojoon a little of being called into the principal’s office at his highschool. There was always that sense of ’What did I do this time?’ accompanied by the expectation of being scolded, even if one was relatively sure that they hadn’t actually done anything wrong. It wasn’t even that Hong was cruel or an unpleasant boss to work for. Exactly the opposite, in fact. Doojoon had worked his way up at Cube Publications and he’d learned everything he knew about the business from Hong.
If anything, it was because Hong was such a great boss that everyone worried about disappointing him and Doojoon was no exception.
“Sir,” he said quietly as he let himself into the office behind the older man. “I’m sorry if my recent absence has caused any difficulties.”
Hong waved away his apology and motioned for him to sit. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Doojoon. You’ve more than earned your share of sick leave over the years and family comes before work.”
Nodding, Doojoon took the offered seat and relaxed slightly. “Thank you, sir. I did manage to finish the financial corruption piece while I was on leave.”
“Excellent,” Hong nodded his approval. “Be certain to turn it over to the editing department. Once you’re both happy with it, submit it. If everything looks good, we’ll run it in Friday’s edition.”
In his early days, Doojoon had resented the need for running his work through the editing department. He was a skilled writer and he wasn’t fond of other people messing around with his work. When he’d complained, Hong had listened and nodded along and then stuck him in the editing department for a few weeks. That was when he’d learned that even the best writers made mistakes and that what made sense to the writer, didn’t always translate properly on paper.
Three weeks of arguing with his fellow writers about the glaring mistakes that they simply could not see had been eye opening and humbling.
He’d never complained about it again. The guys in the editing department were nice but brutally honest and some of his best work had come from sitting down with them and letting them rip it to shreds.
“I have a few ideas for some other pieces, but I’m still working on the research side of things.”
“Good, good.” Hong sighed and pushed back in his chair, giving Doojoon a steady look over the desk. “Doojoon, you’ve been with us a long time. They’ve been good years, yes?”
“Yes, sir…” Doojoon shifted, unease creeping up his spine at the look on Hong’s face. “I’ve always been thankful to have a place here.”
The older man nodded. “And we’ve always been happy to have you. You’re a damned talented writer and we’ve never had to worry about you making mistakes in your research or getting the paper sued for libel despite some of the topics you cover.”
He paused for a long moment then sighed. “I’d like to put you on a freelance capacity, Doojoon. You can write for other publications, but I’d rather we got the first crack at anything you intend to publish.”
Doojoon went numb, shock rolling through his system. “You’re firing me?”
“Not… exactly.” Hong sighed again and leaned forward. “I’ve been asked to release you from our employment so that you could find a ‘higher’ calling.” He grimaced slightly at the phrasing. “I will never fire you. Your pieces will always find a home in my publications. Period. But… I think that as a freelance writer, you’ll have the freedom to accept any offer that comes your way that you’re interested in or tell him to shove it.”
“I… I don’t understand, sir.” In truth, Doojoon had seldom been so confused in his life.
Hong’s look was sympathetic. “I have a feeling you will soon. See accounting on your way out and have Namjoo cut your final salary check. She’ll be switching your file over to freelance instead. You do remember that freelancers get paid by story rather than by salary, yes? Good, good.”
“I… Yes, Sir…” Doojoon rubbed a hand through his hair, feeling lost.
Hong hesitated, then smiled. “Perhaps you can write your young man’s next book? I’ve heard they’ve been asking him to publish another since the first was so wildly successful. Jihyun has been tearing her hair out since you’ve been gone, wanting to see if you could talk him into doing an interview.”
“He- she has?”
“You can’t tell me you’re actually surprised,” Hong laughed and shook his head. “My own wife was hoping Yang sshi would include the recipe for those little pastry things he brings in. She quite likes them. And I wouldn’t mind it myself.” He stood and patted his stomach. “They’re quite tasty.”
“I. Um..” Doojoon blinked and stood automatically as the older man did. “I’ll see?”
He had no idea what they were talking about anymore. He’d lost track of the conversation somewhere around ‘freelance’ and had never found his way back. He knew, of course, that Hong had known of his sexual orientation. After his divorce from Gina, pretty much everyone knew, but to have Yoseob referred to so openly as ‘his young man’ was mind boggling enough. All the talk of pastries and books and interviews just went right over his head.
Apparently he and Yoseob were going to have to have a long talk about what everyone else knew that he didn’t.
Right after they figured out why the fuck he’d just been fired by a boss who flat out said he was welcome anytime.
Hong ushered him out, but paused at the threshold. “Doojoon. I think it’s best for now that we just say that you’ve decided you want to try your hand at the freelance life so that you can spend more time with your family in light of the accident. That way there’ll be no questions asked if you want to come back later, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good man,” Hong smiled and shook his hand before clapping his back and turning to focus on the office that had gotten abnormally quiet with their appearance. “Ladies and gentlemen. Let’s all wish Yoon a fond farewell and good luck in his future endeavors. We all understand that family comes first, but we hope that he’ll keep us in mind if he decides to come back.”
Everyone else seemed just as confused as Doojoon felt, but they wished him well as he headed to his desk to get his things. A new intern he only barely recognized brought him some office boxes and bowed, saying something about wishing she’d had a chance to work with him. He thanked her and stared at the desk he’d called his own for years.
He didn’t want to give up his desk and he hated not knowing why he had to.
Yoseob seemed to materialize out of no where, and the half-formed thought that the mercenary had somehow engineered the situation dissipated. The blonde seemed just as surprised and even more disgruntled, making Doojoon wonder if this disturbed some part of his protective net. “Doojoon-”
“I had nothing to do with this,” Doojoon offered in a quiet undertone, careful not to let anyone else over hear. “I was kind of hoping you’d know what was going on.”
Yoseob shook his head and started helping Doojoon. “No. He didn’t give you a reason?”
“Something about finding out soon.”
“Hmm..” Yoseob frowned, glancing back at the office Hong had vanished back into. “I’ll have DW-” He cut himself off, biting his lip. “I mean.. I’ll look into it.”
“He’ll be okay,” Doojoon said quietly, reaching out to squeeze Yoseob’s shoulder.
Sighing, Yoseob nodded. He smiled at a picture of Cheon that Doojoon kept on his desk before taking it and placing it gently in the box. “I know. It’s just… He’s never actually been a target before. I should have had more failsafes in place to protect him. I shouldn’t have trusted Taec with our real location.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Doojoonie…” Yoseob offered him a soft smile and a pat to his cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
“It could be. We don’t know really, not yet.”
Yoseob laughed and shook his head. “You didn’t beat him up and you didn’t tell the bad guys where to find him. It’s not your fault.” He tucked a few more odds and ends into his box before setting back and looking around the office. “I’m going to have to move him someplace else, though. He’s going to miss easy access to Anh’s noodle shop.”
One of Doojoon’s fellow writers came up to say good bye and wish him luck and Yoseob went quiet as people came and went, smiling and greeting those who acknowledged him, but not interfering otherwise.
The reporter could tell several of his co-workers thought Yoseob was as much the cause of his sudden resignation as anything else. He also noticed that several of the women had shy smiles of interest for the blonde, interest that Yoseob either didn’t notice or was politely ignoring. It wasn’t until they’d actually gotten everything and were about to leave that he finally had any clue what book Hong had been talking about.
Namjoo from accounting was a shy little thing who looked like she belonged behind a library desk somewhere helping kids find books. Doojoon knew several of the guys in the office who talked about her behind her back, wondering if the bookworm exterior hid something wild or if she was really as boring as she seemed, but whe’d always been kind to him and he liked her.
She edged up to them before they could actually get out of Doojoon’s cubicle and bowed low in front of Yoseob, holding a book out. Her voice was barely audible. “Could… could you… please?”
Yoseob smiled sweetly and grabbed one of Doojoon’s markers - a bright highlighter - before he took the book from her. “Someone actually bought my book? I thought the publisher’s were lying so as not to hurt my feelings~”
“Oh, no! It’s a good book! It’s, it’s funny and easy to read and the recipes are really amazing!” Namjoo gushed, her eyes wide as looked up finally. “I really like it.”
“Thank you very much for your kind words,” Yoseob said, flipping to a page in the back. He smiled up out of the page, dressed in a brightly colored chef’s coat with a funny hat and kerchief on and a whisk in his hand. The real Yoseob smiled at Namjoo. “What’s your name?”
“N-namjoo. Park Namjoo.”
“Park Namjoo… What a lovely name…” He scrawled out a message that Doojoon couldn’t quite read before signing the page with a flourish. He handed it back, his smile the sunny blinding thing that a person couldn’t help but respond to. “Please keep supporting me!”
“Th-thank you, Yang sshi. Thank you very much!” She bowed low again, clutching the book to her chest like it was the most precious thing she’d ever been given. Doojoon was half afraid she was going to trip as she backed away, still bowing.
He managed to wait until they were in the elevator again, but only barely. “So what are you? Some kind of celebrity chef who moonlights as a bodyguard?”
Yoseob just laughed and shifted closer, bumping shoulders with him. “More like a merc who moonlights as a celebrity chef.” Then he shrugged. “At first it was part of my rehabilitation. We weren’t sure what I was actually going to be able to do, but the cooking came back easily enough. The book was Nana’s idea. We weren’t expecting it to be as popular as it was.”
“Am I going to get blindsided by anything else?” Because it seemed for every bit of Yoseob that he discovered, there seemed to be something else lurking around the corner.
It was disconcerting to realize how thoroughly the blonde had weaved himself through Doojoon’s life without Doojoon ever realizing it.
The doors opened and Yoseob smiled as he got out. “Hard to say. The key to being successful - and alive - in my line of work is very careful layering and attention to detail. And I did warn you that I’ve spent years cultivating my place in your life.”
Doojoon sighed and shifted the box in his arms. Actually, a lot of strange things made a lot more sense all of a sudden. He’d been ignoring random comments and stray innuendo for years. “Is there anyone besides Gikwang and I that didn’t know you were there?”
As they stepped out into the sun, Yoseob tilted his head and shrugged. “Cheon.”
Before he could respond to that, he was distracted. Two familiar figures stepped in front of them and took their boxes.
“Hey, guys,” Donghae said as he ushered them towards the short limousine parked, quite illegally, in front of the building. “Boss man wants to talk to you.”
“But-”
“He insists. Siwon will take your boxes to your car. Isn’t that right, Siwon?”
Siwon just gave them an apologetic smile, though he scowled at his companion a little when the shorter man cheerfully stacked the second box on the one already in his arms.
“I’m not giving him the keys,” Yoseob said, his stance loose-limbed but poised to act.
If either of the other men noticed, neither remarked on it. Donghae arched a brow and shrugged. “It’s not necessary. He can just watch the boxes ‘til your meeting with Heechul is done.”
“Hae-” The taller man cut off his own protest with an unhappy expression and sighed. “It’s not a problem. Caution is probably wise, all things considered.”
The back door opened and Doojoon caught a glimpse of garish red before the arm that had opened it was retracted. “Oh, just get in the car. I don’t have all day.”
Doojoon and Yoseob glanced at each other. The mercenary nodded slightly, encouraging, and Doojoon remembered that Yoseob had actually done work for Kim Heechul.
He didn’t particularly want to deal with this, not after the night they’d had, not after the way his morning was shaping up, but hopefully they’d at least find out why Kim had people following them.
Doojoon crawled into the back seat and found himself sitting across from Kim Heechul for the first time in his life. It was probably strange, given the way that Kim seemed to have fingers in every pot in the city, for a man of Doojoon’s chosen profession to have never run across him.
The pictures he’d seen hadn’t really prepared him for the way the sharp smile made him want to lean away or the intelligence in eyes that seemed to see everything.
“So. Yoon Doojoon. Finally. And Yang Yoseob. That is what you’re going by these days, yes?”
Yoseob crawled in beside him and Doojoon relaxed slightly, having the mercenary pressed against his side. They both shifted uneasily as the door shut behind them and the car started moving. “Kim. What do you want?”
“Always so abrupt,” Kim said with a vaguely disappointed pout that Doojoon thought was entierly false. Especially when he gave an airy wave of his hands. “Fine, fine. Straight down to business it is, then. ”
He rifled through a briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers before handing them across to Doojoon.
“What-”
“Now that you find yourself unemployed, I just happen to have a position that you are uniquely qualified to fill.” Heechul looked smug as he he settled back into the seat to watch them with knowing eyes.
“You’re the reason I just got fired.” It didn’t take a genius to make the leap. Hong’s veiled, annoyed references to an outside party made sense. The man had never cared for Kim Heechul or the power that he wielded.
Heechul waved the accusation away. “Oh please. We both know Hong would never fire you. More likely, he gave you an extended leave or something. He likes to keep his strays, after all.”
“Look, I don’t care-”
“What’s the job?” Yoseob asked, his voice overriding Doojoon’s protest.
Heechul’s grin grew sharp. “Elections are coming up. An investigative reporter is the ideal person to nose around the backgrounds of all the potentials and report to the public at large.” His smile dropped to something more benign and cajoling as his gaze swung to Doojoon. “Really, you’d be doing more good than you are now. All the papers and magazines will be clamoring for you. Although I’m sure you’ll give Hong first dibs. That’s fine.”
“Why are you trying to rig the elections, why not just run yourself?”
“Please,” the man scoffed. “The power isn’t in the puppet. The power is in being the puppeteer. I’d expect you to know that, even if our friend here is too naive.”
Doojoon pressed closer to Yoseob’s side, scowling. “I am not going to help you fix elections.”
“You misinterpret me, Yoon.” Heechul gestured out the window. “Look at them, scurrying along, living their lives with no concern for the big picture. Do you know the problem with democracy, Yoon?”
They remained silent and he sighed and stared out the window. “People are sheep. Individuals can be intelligent, can make smart choices. But they won’t go looking for the information to make those choices. They simply allow someone else to do their thinking for them. They vote on who has the shiniest adds, the most support in the media, the fancier car, the prettier wife. Have you never noticed?”
“Politics isn’t really my area.”
“But that’s why you’re perfect for this. You don’t come pre-packaged with party loyalty. You’ve never shied away from the truth. And that’s what I need. Contrary to popular opinion, I do care what happens to this country, Yoon. I curry power and favor with the sole purpose of bettering their lives.” He gestured out the window again, at the faceless masses scurrying around - to and from work, shopping, to school. “If the people will not educate themselves, then I will see that they are educated. I will find the ideal candidates and I will give them their shiny adds and pretty wives and all the media coverage I can manage.” He paused for a moment and the shark-like smile was back. “And believe me, Yoon. I can manage quite a lot.”
“You got me fired.”
Heechul shrugged. “And Hong will rehire you the moment you tire of the job I’m offering and we both know it. Or, given the payday you’ll be pocketing, you can spend the time enjoying the life of a family man. Money can buy a certain amount of acceptance, Yoon. You lost that when your parents disowned you, but I can give it back. And you get to keep your lovely guard dog. It’s not a bad deal, Yoon.”
There was temptation there. Plenty of people knew he was gay, but for the most part, it was ignored. He was accepted only as long as he didn’t flaunt it. Even then, there were those who would see Cheon taken from him and he knew the second he began openly acknowledging Yoseob, there would be more. His parents weren’t the only intolerant people out there.
He hesitated for a moment and glanced at Yoseob. The mercenary was looking back, silent but supportive. Doojoon knew that he would accept whatever decision was made.
“Let me think about it,” Doojoon said finally, taking a deep breath and looking back at Heechul. “I’ll get back to you.”
With a dip of his head, Heechul knocked on the limo’s partition. “Do your thinking quickly, Yoon. There’s only so much time before elections begin again.”
A block or two passed in relative silence before Yoseob spoke again. “This is why you’ve had people following him?”
“I protect my investments, Yang. You should know that.” His face tightened slightly. “The cut brake lines were an oversight. I apologize.”
“Do you know why Choi wants me dead?”
Heechul shrugged again. “As best I can tell? I believe she was originally under the impression that you had some data on some of her lieutenants. You were spending so much time at the clubs they frequent, it was an understandable assumption that you’d found a bigger story than the simple underbelly of Seoul’s club life. She’s since realized her error, but she can’t seem to get a handle on her own dog. Now killing you is more an issue of principles than a priority.”
“Yoseob’s not a dog,” Doojoon said, cold anger edging into his own voice. He’d ignored the implication once, but he refused to do it again. Yoseob was so much more than his job.
“I apologize,” Heechul said again, hands raised in a calming gesture. The limousine came to a halt beside Doojoon’s SUV where Siwon was leaning, Doojoon’s boxes still in his hands. “I meant no offense. You really couldn’t have gotten better protection.”
“Thanks for the help,” Yoseob added as he opened the door and hopped out. “They still gonna be hanging around?”
“Until the threat is eliminated or he turns me down,” Heechul replied cheekily. “An added incentive to say yes, eh, Yoon? They came in handy yesterday, didn’t they?”
Doojoon followed Yoseob and took the boxes from the big man, “I’ll think about it.”
“Call me, then. Soon.”
Siwon passed Yoseob a card, then gave Doojoon a little salute before getting back into the car they’d just vacated.
The pair stood for a moment, watching the limousine merge into traffic.
He thought about the complicated twists and turns his life seemed to be taking lately, about Dongwoon in the hospital and Cheon calling Yosoeb Yopa. He thought about the job he'd loved for so long and the offer he'd just been made.
Doojoon sighed. “I need a drink.”
Yoseob just laughed and pushed him towards the passenger seat.
~*~*~
tbc