fic: The Long Exile, chapter 13
Title: The Long Exile
Length: Chaptered, Chapter 13/?
Author: M_K Yujji
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Angst/Fantasy
Disclaimer: Though real people are used as characters, this fic bears no resemblance to Real Life and these people are not owned by me.
Notes: kenaressa is still amazing.
As always, the 'ie' is a cutsey shortening, not an intended honorific, though I suppose it fits as either here. The only real purpose for using any honorifics at all in this fic is to separate the AU side of the story from the more reality-based side. Also, to separate the paralleling differences between the characters.
Previous
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12
Summary:When the line between reality and dreaming begins to blur...
~*~*~
“Yo.”
Jaejoong could only gape at the four men who stood outside the door of the Dong Bang Shin Ki apartment. “Jay-hyung.... Minwoo... What on earth?”
It was weird enough to see them at all. To see them all together? In Tokyo? Jaejoong felt he could be forgiven for his less than articulate greeting.
The artist occasionally known as Rose laughed and slung an arm around Jaejoong. “On Earth... That's the crux of everything, isn't it?”
“Rose.”
“Oh hush. I know, I know. Mum's the word.”
“What-”
Jay sighed and gave the door jam an odd look before stepping inside the apartment.
“Paranoid, much?” JungMo muttered as he followed his lead singer.
JungWoo just grinned. “Well, it's not really paranoia if someone really is out to get them, is it?”
Rose laughed at Jaejoong's confused look and steered him around towards the interior. “So where's your fearless leader? We need to have a little chitchat with him.”
“Well, he's-”
“Not really in the mood for company. Even such... illustrious company as yours, Minwoo.” Yunho appeared in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face as he observed their guests. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Rose hanging on Jaejoong, but made no comment about it, turning his attention instead to Jay. “You should have called.”
“Yunho!” Jaejoong gaped at his lover's uncharacteristic rudeness. Very, very seldom was Jung Yunho ever anything less than the epitome of politeness - especially to anyone he didn't share a sibling style relationship with.
While showing up unexpectedly was hardly polite itself - especially given how tense and uncertain things had been lately - he couldn't really see that it was worth Yunho treating their fellow entertainers and label mates in such a manner.
Rose simply laughed again, seemingly delighted as he detatched himself from Jaejoong's shoulder and sidled up to Yunho's side. “As charming as ever, I see.”
“What mischief have you brought to my doorstep this time?”
Jaejoong couldn't tell who the question was directed at, but it was Jay who stepped forward and met Yunho's stare. “You know what we're here about, Yunho.”
If he didn't know Yunho as well as he did, he might not have noticed the tension as the man gritted his teeth slightly before nodding. “Let me grab my coat. We can talk as I walk you back down to your car.”
They were filing back out the door before Jaejoong could even gather his wits enough about him to remember that there was a proper way to treat guests, etiquette that involved tea and food and being nice.
“Who was that and what did they want?” Changmin asked as he stepped out of the music room, a trouble frown on his face.
As disturbed as he was by Yunho's behavior, Jaejoong couldn't bring himself to trot it out in front of Changmin for censure. He shrugged and headed for the kitchen to see if there was any alcohol sitting around. “I have no idea.”
~*~*~
“Yunnie....” Jaejoong bit his lip slightly as he considered how best to broach the subject.
His lover just made a face before sighing and pulling him close. “It was nothing, Boo. They asked questions they already knew my answers to and left.”
Given what little of the conversation he'd been privy too, that wasn't a surprise to Jaejoong. There'd been something there, a sense of iron will and determination on Yunho's part, an aura of resignation on the others. While he was curious about the details, he'd known how the general sense of conversation would go.
It wasn't what he was interested in just that moment, though. “No, I know... I mean... I figured. It's just... Well...”
“well?” Yunho drawled out, his tone prodding Jaejoong with light teasing now that he knew he wasn't being made to reveal details of something he obviously didn't want to talk about..
It was hard for Jaejoong to concentrate on what he was trying to say though with Yunho's fingers tracing his back, just below his waistband. It made his mind wander to other things.
He reached back and stilled Yunho's hands for a moment. This was something he honestly needed to know and he wasn't going to let Yunho distract him.
Yunho pouted slightly, but obediently stilled.
Jaejoong shook his head to clear his thoughts and frowned at him slightly. “First BoA, now Trax. Why are all our label mates cornering you? Is Soo Min-sshi pressuring you about something? I won't let him do that, you know. We leak it to the Cassies.... He won't even know what hit him.”
For a moment there was cloudy confusion on Yunho's face, then he laughed. He laughed so hard, he had to hold on to Jaejoong to stay on his feet. He laughed and laughed until Jaejoong was torn between indignation that his concern was so funny and fear that his lover was going to choke to death on his own laughter.
When he finally had some control over himself again, Yunho wrapped Jaejoong up in a tight, hard hug, lifting him off the ground with the enthusiasm. “I fucking love you, Kim Jaejoong. Don't ever change.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes, but hugged Yunho back. “I love you too, asshole.”
~*~*~
“Youngwoong.”
Jaejoong's face tightened into a grimace that he quickly stifled as he turned to face his love's sister. The smile he offered wasn't exactly his best effort, but it wasn't as if he actually liked her. Or she him, for that matter. Civilities had to be observed, but they didn't have to be enjoyed. “Your highness.”
Just his bad luck to run into her on one of the very few days she lowered herself to grace the palace with her presence.
She arched a brow slightly and he wondered, not for the first time, if being an oracle meant she could read his thoughts as well as read the flow of time.
It wouldn't have surprised him in the least.
“Things are going well?” She asked, turning away to gaze out one of the long, ornate windows that lined the room, filling it with light and warmth. “You are.... happy? With my brother?”
“Of course,” Jaejoong responded, unease creeping up his spine at her questions. “I love him.”
“And he loves you.” He didn't like the faint air of resignation and sadness that clung to her at the otherwise bland statement.
He knew the prophecy as well as anyone. He hated the idea that Yunho's love for him might be what destroyed the king and brought the kingdom crashing down with him. “I would never hurt Yunho.”
It was a fruitless protest, of course. She sighed and shook her head. “You will. You may not want to, but you will.” It would be easier to hate her for the proclamation if she didn't look so damned sad and regretful about it. “But it is too late to change that, now. The time for altering the future has passed. Now we simply... adapt.”
On steps as soft as butterfly wings, she was by his side, gentle hands patting his shoulders. “Love him now as well as you can. May you both be happy for as long as you are able.”
Then she was gone and all Jaejoong could do was stare after her, more disturbed than ever.
~*~*~
“How long are we going to be in lock down?” Yoochun groused, throwing himself onto the couch with a disgruntled look. “Because this fucking sucks.”
Junsu yelped and shoved Yoochun's head off his lap where it had landed most painfully. “Jackass.”
Rolling his eyes at the ensuing scuffle, Changmin moved his feet off the floor before they got tangled up in the wrestling bodies, and dug into a bag of cookies. “Hopefully it's soon. I don't think I can stand being stuck in this apartment with you guys 24/7 much longer.”
“Guys, can you not do that in the apartment?” Jaejoong asked, not terribly surprised when he was completely ignored in favor of Junsu trying to smother Yoochun with a cushion.
“It's not like they can take it outside,” Changmin pointed out snidely, shoving Junsu's butt with a foot when the older man got a little too close to the table he had his milk sitting on.
Sighing, Jaejoong had to concede the point even though he didn't like it any better than they did. Being cooped up inside with nothing to occupy their attention had lost it's appeal within the first day. There was still no word on who had sent their attackers and the upper management was adamant that they stay where they could be properly protected.
The one time Junsu and Yoochun had attempted to escape, it hadn't ended well. Each blamed the other for the argument that had gotten them caught by security before they'd even gotten out of the building, but Changmin had simply snorted and rolled his eyes, insisting it was more likely their joint stupidity had done it than anything else.
Arms slid around his waist and he sighed as Yunho's chin settled on his shoulder. “It could be worse.”
Junsu paused in his murder attempt to glare at Yunho. “How could this possibly be any worse? We are stuck here. We can't walk out the fucking door without ten security guards materializing to shuffle us back in. The only outside face we see at all is our manager and quite frankly, he's so ugly he makes Yoochun look pretty.”
“Hey!” Yoochun protested with a pout, still huffing slightly as he caught his breath. “I'm pretty!”
Junsu scoffed and smacked Yoochun in the face with the pillow. “No you're not. You're ...” He paused, obviously grasping for the word he wanted. He snapped his fingers and smacked Yoochun again. “Fugly!” he crowed in English. “You a fugly ho.”
Yoochun looked torn between outrage at the insult and bubbling laughter at Junsu's butchered attempt at English. “Oh my god, who's been trying to teach you English again? Hasn't everyone learned by now?”
“I've got nothing to do but surf the net, jackass,” Junsu snapped, pouting when everyone looked more amused at him than his clever insult.
Chuckling, Yunho shook his head and answered the question Junsu had posed before. “Ten security guards could be camped out in here, instead of out there. Or management could have moved us to a tiny unfamiliar safe house with ten security guards camped out with us. Or they could have separated us and put us each in tiny unfamiliar safe house with ten security guards camped out with each us. Or Jaejoong and I could have died and it would just be the three of you camped out in here with ten security guards. Or-”
“Okay, okay! Shut up! I get the point. This isn't as bad as it could possibly be.” Junsu sighed and rolled off of Yoochun, pointedly ignoring the exaggerated expressions and gestures of relief and 'oh! Oxygen!' the other was making. He sat on the floor with his arms propped on his spread knees and frowned at Yunho. “You have to admit it still fucking sucks.”
“It does suck,” Yunho agreed with a slight nod. “But we're all alive and if keeping us in this apartment while they figure out what's going on keeps us that way, then I'm willing to deal with it.”
Yoochun pushed himself up to flop against Junsu's back. “Easy for you to say. You're getting laid every night.” Then he grinned impishly and bit Junsu's ear. “Hey, Su-”
Whatever inappropriateness he was going to suggest was lost under Junsu's cry of outrage and the pillow that immediately found itself back over Yoochun's face.
Changmin sighed and moved his feet again. “Can't we just let them out of the apartment?”
“Changmin. Assassins, remember?”
Changmin just gave them a look. “Exactly.”
Jaejoong was pretty sure he was kidding.
~*~*~
Go on inChapter 14
Length: Chaptered, Chapter 13/?
Author: M_K Yujji
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Angst/Fantasy
Disclaimer: Though real people are used as characters, this fic bears no resemblance to Real Life and these people are not owned by me.
Notes: kenaressa is still amazing.
As always, the 'ie' is a cutsey shortening, not an intended honorific, though I suppose it fits as either here. The only real purpose for using any honorifics at all in this fic is to separate the AU side of the story from the more reality-based side. Also, to separate the paralleling differences between the characters.
Previous
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12
Summary:When the line between reality and dreaming begins to blur...
~*~*~
“Yo.”
Jaejoong could only gape at the four men who stood outside the door of the Dong Bang Shin Ki apartment. “Jay-hyung.... Minwoo... What on earth?”
It was weird enough to see them at all. To see them all together? In Tokyo? Jaejoong felt he could be forgiven for his less than articulate greeting.
The artist occasionally known as Rose laughed and slung an arm around Jaejoong. “On Earth... That's the crux of everything, isn't it?”
“Rose.”
“Oh hush. I know, I know. Mum's the word.”
“What-”
Jay sighed and gave the door jam an odd look before stepping inside the apartment.
“Paranoid, much?” JungMo muttered as he followed his lead singer.
JungWoo just grinned. “Well, it's not really paranoia if someone really is out to get them, is it?”
Rose laughed at Jaejoong's confused look and steered him around towards the interior. “So where's your fearless leader? We need to have a little chitchat with him.”
“Well, he's-”
“Not really in the mood for company. Even such... illustrious company as yours, Minwoo.” Yunho appeared in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face as he observed their guests. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of Rose hanging on Jaejoong, but made no comment about it, turning his attention instead to Jay. “You should have called.”
“Yunho!” Jaejoong gaped at his lover's uncharacteristic rudeness. Very, very seldom was Jung Yunho ever anything less than the epitome of politeness - especially to anyone he didn't share a sibling style relationship with.
While showing up unexpectedly was hardly polite itself - especially given how tense and uncertain things had been lately - he couldn't really see that it was worth Yunho treating their fellow entertainers and label mates in such a manner.
Rose simply laughed again, seemingly delighted as he detatched himself from Jaejoong's shoulder and sidled up to Yunho's side. “As charming as ever, I see.”
“What mischief have you brought to my doorstep this time?”
Jaejoong couldn't tell who the question was directed at, but it was Jay who stepped forward and met Yunho's stare. “You know what we're here about, Yunho.”
If he didn't know Yunho as well as he did, he might not have noticed the tension as the man gritted his teeth slightly before nodding. “Let me grab my coat. We can talk as I walk you back down to your car.”
They were filing back out the door before Jaejoong could even gather his wits enough about him to remember that there was a proper way to treat guests, etiquette that involved tea and food and being nice.
“Who was that and what did they want?” Changmin asked as he stepped out of the music room, a trouble frown on his face.
As disturbed as he was by Yunho's behavior, Jaejoong couldn't bring himself to trot it out in front of Changmin for censure. He shrugged and headed for the kitchen to see if there was any alcohol sitting around. “I have no idea.”
~*~*~
“Yunnie....” Jaejoong bit his lip slightly as he considered how best to broach the subject.
His lover just made a face before sighing and pulling him close. “It was nothing, Boo. They asked questions they already knew my answers to and left.”
Given what little of the conversation he'd been privy too, that wasn't a surprise to Jaejoong. There'd been something there, a sense of iron will and determination on Yunho's part, an aura of resignation on the others. While he was curious about the details, he'd known how the general sense of conversation would go.
It wasn't what he was interested in just that moment, though. “No, I know... I mean... I figured. It's just... Well...”
“well?” Yunho drawled out, his tone prodding Jaejoong with light teasing now that he knew he wasn't being made to reveal details of something he obviously didn't want to talk about..
It was hard for Jaejoong to concentrate on what he was trying to say though with Yunho's fingers tracing his back, just below his waistband. It made his mind wander to other things.
He reached back and stilled Yunho's hands for a moment. This was something he honestly needed to know and he wasn't going to let Yunho distract him.
Yunho pouted slightly, but obediently stilled.
Jaejoong shook his head to clear his thoughts and frowned at him slightly. “First BoA, now Trax. Why are all our label mates cornering you? Is Soo Min-sshi pressuring you about something? I won't let him do that, you know. We leak it to the Cassies.... He won't even know what hit him.”
For a moment there was cloudy confusion on Yunho's face, then he laughed. He laughed so hard, he had to hold on to Jaejoong to stay on his feet. He laughed and laughed until Jaejoong was torn between indignation that his concern was so funny and fear that his lover was going to choke to death on his own laughter.
When he finally had some control over himself again, Yunho wrapped Jaejoong up in a tight, hard hug, lifting him off the ground with the enthusiasm. “I fucking love you, Kim Jaejoong. Don't ever change.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes, but hugged Yunho back. “I love you too, asshole.”
~*~*~
“Youngwoong.”
Jaejoong's face tightened into a grimace that he quickly stifled as he turned to face his love's sister. The smile he offered wasn't exactly his best effort, but it wasn't as if he actually liked her. Or she him, for that matter. Civilities had to be observed, but they didn't have to be enjoyed. “Your highness.”
Just his bad luck to run into her on one of the very few days she lowered herself to grace the palace with her presence.
She arched a brow slightly and he wondered, not for the first time, if being an oracle meant she could read his thoughts as well as read the flow of time.
It wouldn't have surprised him in the least.
“Things are going well?” She asked, turning away to gaze out one of the long, ornate windows that lined the room, filling it with light and warmth. “You are.... happy? With my brother?”
“Of course,” Jaejoong responded, unease creeping up his spine at her questions. “I love him.”
“And he loves you.” He didn't like the faint air of resignation and sadness that clung to her at the otherwise bland statement.
He knew the prophecy as well as anyone. He hated the idea that Yunho's love for him might be what destroyed the king and brought the kingdom crashing down with him. “I would never hurt Yunho.”
It was a fruitless protest, of course. She sighed and shook her head. “You will. You may not want to, but you will.” It would be easier to hate her for the proclamation if she didn't look so damned sad and regretful about it. “But it is too late to change that, now. The time for altering the future has passed. Now we simply... adapt.”
On steps as soft as butterfly wings, she was by his side, gentle hands patting his shoulders. “Love him now as well as you can. May you both be happy for as long as you are able.”
Then she was gone and all Jaejoong could do was stare after her, more disturbed than ever.
~*~*~
“How long are we going to be in lock down?” Yoochun groused, throwing himself onto the couch with a disgruntled look. “Because this fucking sucks.”
Junsu yelped and shoved Yoochun's head off his lap where it had landed most painfully. “Jackass.”
Rolling his eyes at the ensuing scuffle, Changmin moved his feet off the floor before they got tangled up in the wrestling bodies, and dug into a bag of cookies. “Hopefully it's soon. I don't think I can stand being stuck in this apartment with you guys 24/7 much longer.”
“Guys, can you not do that in the apartment?” Jaejoong asked, not terribly surprised when he was completely ignored in favor of Junsu trying to smother Yoochun with a cushion.
“It's not like they can take it outside,” Changmin pointed out snidely, shoving Junsu's butt with a foot when the older man got a little too close to the table he had his milk sitting on.
Sighing, Jaejoong had to concede the point even though he didn't like it any better than they did. Being cooped up inside with nothing to occupy their attention had lost it's appeal within the first day. There was still no word on who had sent their attackers and the upper management was adamant that they stay where they could be properly protected.
The one time Junsu and Yoochun had attempted to escape, it hadn't ended well. Each blamed the other for the argument that had gotten them caught by security before they'd even gotten out of the building, but Changmin had simply snorted and rolled his eyes, insisting it was more likely their joint stupidity had done it than anything else.
Arms slid around his waist and he sighed as Yunho's chin settled on his shoulder. “It could be worse.”
Junsu paused in his murder attempt to glare at Yunho. “How could this possibly be any worse? We are stuck here. We can't walk out the fucking door without ten security guards materializing to shuffle us back in. The only outside face we see at all is our manager and quite frankly, he's so ugly he makes Yoochun look pretty.”
“Hey!” Yoochun protested with a pout, still huffing slightly as he caught his breath. “I'm pretty!”
Junsu scoffed and smacked Yoochun in the face with the pillow. “No you're not. You're ...” He paused, obviously grasping for the word he wanted. He snapped his fingers and smacked Yoochun again. “Fugly!” he crowed in English. “You a fugly ho.”
Yoochun looked torn between outrage at the insult and bubbling laughter at Junsu's butchered attempt at English. “Oh my god, who's been trying to teach you English again? Hasn't everyone learned by now?”
“I've got nothing to do but surf the net, jackass,” Junsu snapped, pouting when everyone looked more amused at him than his clever insult.
Chuckling, Yunho shook his head and answered the question Junsu had posed before. “Ten security guards could be camped out in here, instead of out there. Or management could have moved us to a tiny unfamiliar safe house with ten security guards camped out with us. Or they could have separated us and put us each in tiny unfamiliar safe house with ten security guards camped out with each us. Or Jaejoong and I could have died and it would just be the three of you camped out in here with ten security guards. Or-”
“Okay, okay! Shut up! I get the point. This isn't as bad as it could possibly be.” Junsu sighed and rolled off of Yoochun, pointedly ignoring the exaggerated expressions and gestures of relief and 'oh! Oxygen!' the other was making. He sat on the floor with his arms propped on his spread knees and frowned at Yunho. “You have to admit it still fucking sucks.”
“It does suck,” Yunho agreed with a slight nod. “But we're all alive and if keeping us in this apartment while they figure out what's going on keeps us that way, then I'm willing to deal with it.”
Yoochun pushed himself up to flop against Junsu's back. “Easy for you to say. You're getting laid every night.” Then he grinned impishly and bit Junsu's ear. “Hey, Su-”
Whatever inappropriateness he was going to suggest was lost under Junsu's cry of outrage and the pillow that immediately found itself back over Yoochun's face.
Changmin sighed and moved his feet again. “Can't we just let them out of the apartment?”
“Changmin. Assassins, remember?”
Changmin just gave them a look. “Exactly.”
Jaejoong was pretty sure he was kidding.
~*~*~
Go on inChapter 14