Forward and Counting
Title: Forward and Counting [Part 3 of the Stage it Out Loud series; 1: No More Secrets and 2:Intermission]
Pairing: YunJae; YooMin
Length: 1/50
Genre: Romance; Humor; Angst
Warning(s): Homophobia
Rating: NC17 / PG15
Disclaimer: Seriously?
Summary: Out of a loop and into the future, how can TVXQ survive a shift in cultures and societal viewpoints as they move back home to brave the uncertain waters that are their Korean careers? Jaejoong can't exactly focus on the bleakness of their work, however, if he is too distracted by the bleakness of their home. Yunho and Changmin, though now separate, find it difficult to distance their bond, Yoochun knows the lack of argument in his and Changmin's relationship is unhealthy, and Jaejoong wonders how he and Yunho will fair the rocky undertones of their dysfunctional relationship. And what of Junsu? What of their families?
00
CHAPTER ONE
July 18, 2011; 11:16
The airport is alive with the screams and protests of fans and extremists. They stand divided, supporters on the right of the aisle, persecutors on the left.
Yunho doesn't pay either group any heed as he joins the bodyguards in shepherding his members forward.
“My son just told me he's gay! This is your fault!”
“Yoochun-oppa! Sign my shirt!”
Changmin is first, more accustomed to Yunho's handling than the others. The force of Yunho's push doesn't falter him in the slightest.
~
“Yunho and Changmin broke up,” Matsuura says, climbing out from behind his desk and approaching the wall length window at his office's back.
On the other line, Baek Changju chokes on his coffee. “Why?” he asks.
“It doesn't matter why,” Matsuura says. “Just know that they broke up.”
~
Yoochun is stiff and unwelcoming at Yunho's guiding hand but he tries to mask it and Yunho doesn't bring it to attention. Yunho nearly flings him forward in the pass from bodyguard to bodyguard.
Yoochun stumbles into Changmin, who looks at him.
“Yoochun!” someone shouts from the wrong side of the aisle. “Don't do it!”
~
“And Yoochun?”
Matsuura looks away from the tour bus parked across the road. “Yoochun?”
“I've seen the fan-cams.”
Matsuura sighs. “He's over his vendetta, so you needn't worry about that.
“No,” Changju clarifies, “I mean I've seen the fan-cams. With Changmin.”
Matsuura rolls his eyes. “Tell him to keep it in his pants.”
Changju gasps. “You aren't implying-”
“I'm implying that whatever it is-pride, testosterone, his penis-he needs to watch where he flashes it. He's worse than Jaejoong.”
~
Yunho grabs for Jaejoong while nodding at Changmin to lead the way to the car out front, but Jaejoong steps out of reach. Yunho bumps him into a bodyguard's hold anyway.
Jaejoong tuts his annoyance.
~
“Oh, and while we're on the subject of Jaejoong.” Matsuura leans against the window. “There's something going on between him and Yunho. Just so you know to be aware of it.”
“A romantic something?” Changju asks. “This band isn't going to last over here if all of them are-”
“It appears to be more hostile than anything else,” Matsuura cuts him off, flattening his forehead against the glass. “It's not too much of a threat, but keep an eye on them.”
~
Yunho is most gentle with Junsu, and Junsu is the most complacent with Yunho's nudging. He smiles at the guards, then the fans, and moves down the aisle with determined grace. He makes a point to not look at the protesters. A very strong, obvious point.
Yunho sighs at the effort.
~
“And Junsu.”
“Junsu?”
Matsuura lets a long pause drag between the lines. “Just try... I don't know,” he says, turning away from the window. “Try to put him back together. Not even for sales, just for... him.”
Changju doesn't speak for several moments. “I'll do my best.”
~
They pile into the car, half the airport in tow and begin moving down the road. The car's back seats face each other, and Yunho sits nearest the door. Changmin sits beside him. Yoochun and Junsu sit across from them. Jaejoong's seating is awkward and aloof but Jaejoong is looking out the window. Yunho ignores him and slides a manilla folder out of his satchel.
“So,” Yunho says.
Changmin, Yoochun, and Junsu sit forward in their seats.
“We're going straight to C-JES,” Yunho says, flipping through their schedule. “A meeting about... well, our survival, I guess.”
“We're not going to the hotel to drop off our stuff?” Yoochun asks.
Yunho shakes his head. “There's no hotel this time,” he says. “They already have a furnished apartment waiting for us after the meeting.”
“Already?” Changmin asks incredulously.
Yunho shrugs.
“What's the file for, hyung?” Junsu asks quietly from his corner.
“Sales,” Yunho replies. He licks his thumb and slips a page out of its protector. “No More Secrets is really popular, apparently.”
“What are the numbers?” Changmin asks.
“The album sold out within 2.6 minutes,” Yunho says.
Yoochun gives a low whistle.
“They'll want a Korean version, won't they?” Changmin asks.
Yunho smiles at him. “That's based on how it was received by the public. The fact that it was sold out only means that they're excited we released an album.”
“Oh,” Changmin says, nodding.
“The public likes it, though,” Junsu says, smiling at Changmin.
“Yeah,” Yunho says, “they do.” He slips out another page and hands it to Changmin. “See? 94% of Japan loved it.”
“That's amazing,” Yoochun says.
Yunho hums his agreement. “And that's not including the international ratings,” he says.
Changmin holds one sheet of paper in each hand, looking between them interestedly. “Are the international numbers good?” he asks.
“They're great,” Yunho replies. He points at one of the pages. “86% popularity in Europe. 74% in North America. 76% in South America.”
“2% in the Middle East,” Junsu adds, squeezing into the space on Changmin's other side.
“Which sounds bad,” Yunho says, “but trust me, it's good.”
Changmin nods, looking closer at the numbers.
~
Jaejoong nudges Yoochun after they shift to sit more comfortably on their side. Yoochun looks at him curiously.
Jaejoong jerks his head at Yunho and Junsu pointing out various numbers to Changmin. Changmin nods at everything they tell him, his glasses making him look studious and eager.
“Changmin said something about thinking of being a manager after TVXQ breaks up,” Yoochun says, taking a swig from his soda. “He asked if Yunho would include him more in the decision making process, like a shadow. Yunho agreed, I guess.”
Jaejoong frowns and returns his attention to his window.
~
“And if you look here,” Junsu says, “South Korea actually gave it 67%, so they'd probably be more receptive to a Korean version than we thought.”
Changmin hums, but his hand curls around Yunho's and he presses his lips to Yunho's ear. “I think he's moved on to the bargaining stage,” he whispers.
Yunho nods, making a mental note of that.
Yunho's focus shifts to Jaejoong when Jaejoong makes the slightest movement in Yunho's peripheral vision. The slightest twitch of anger.
“Jaejoong-ah,” Yunho calls.
Junsu pauses mid-sentence.
Jaejoong glares at Yunho challengingly.
Yunho ignores the rising tension in the car. “Welcome home,” he says.
Jaejoong drops his eyes.
~
The C-JES building isn't any bigger than that of SM, but Changmin finds its girth oddly unsettling. Its size, its color. The moment Changmin's feet step onto the pavement, he's rooted to the spot. He flattens against the car door.
Yunho climbs out next to him, and Changmin supposes that Yunho sees the distress in the flicker of Changmin's eyes.
Oblivious to the absence of two of their party, Jaejoong leads the way toward the building. Yoochun and Junsu begin to follow before glancing back at the car. Yoochun stops. Junsu touches Jaejoong's shoulder.
Changmin's hand clasps Yunho's again as the others turn to look at them. Neither he nor Yunho has taken one step away from the car, both of them staring up at the building apprehensively.
“Guys,” Yoochun says, soothing.
“What's the problem?” Jaejoong asks.
Junsu looks at him in disbelief. “They're scared, hyung,” he says.
Jaejoong grimaces.
Changmin squeezes Yunho's hand. Yunho lets him press closer to his side.
“Well,” Yoochun says, exchanging looks with Junsu, “would you like to go check out the apartment first? We can do this later.”
Yunho shakes his head, not moving from Changmin's side. “Baek Changju is expecting us,” he says.
Changmin doesn't budge.
Yunho glances at him. “Just, uh...” He looks at Yoochun. “Just give us a minute. You three go ahead.”
Yoochun only steps closer. “No,” he says, as if it should be obvious of him.
Jaejoong sighs. Changmin can see Jaejoong's internal struggle with himself, but Jaejoong moves to Yoochun's side and nods, hands in his pockets. “Take all the time you need, guys,” Jaejoong says.
Changmin licks his lips, ignoring the way that Yunho and Jaejoong lock gazes.
~
Changju embraces Jaejoong when the band steps into his office. He's warm, familiar, kind. A stark contrast to their Japanese manager.
“Welcome, welcome,” he says, hugging Yoochun, then Junsu. “So good to see all of you.”
Changmin lingers in the doorway.
Yunho all but yanks him into the room with a tug on Changmin's sleeve.
Changju pauses in front of the ex-couple. His familiarity lapses into practiced professionalism, his hands folding behind his back. He bows.
“Jung Yunho,” he says. “I've been looking forward to meeting you.”
Yunho returns the bow, taking Changju's lead. “Baek Changju,” he says. He holds out a hand.
Changju shakes it. “Yes, yes.”
Changmin looks uncomfortable behind Yunho.
“Shim Changmin,” Changju says with smile. He bows again. “A pleasure.”
Biting his lip, Changmin bows back.
Changju beams. “Alright,” he says, turning to the others. “I'm ready to begin when you are, but I'd like a word with Yunho first.”
Again, Yunho locks eyes with Jaejoong.
Changju notices. “Jaejoong may join us, if he likes,” he says to no one in particular.
Jaejoong looks away from Yunho. “I'm not the leader anymore,” he says. “It's fine.”
Changju raises his eyebrows at Yunho.
Yunho nods, and they leave the room.
~
Yunho smiles politely as he and Changju stroll aimlessly through the halls of C-JES Entertainment.
“I want to begin by expressing my grievances for what happened to you,” Changju says. He nods at a pretty associate passing by them. “And to Changmin, of course. S.M. Entertainment wasn't at all ceremonious about the way they handled your situation.”
“They were just doing what they felt had to be done,” Yunho says.
Changju frowns. “They could have been a little nicer.”
“Well,” Yunho says, “if you're going to rip a man's heart out, might as well do it correctly.”
Changju laughs. “Tough week?”
“Tougher than most,” Yunho replies.
The afternoon that Yunho asked Jaejoong to dinner, the manager informed Yunho that the date for their move back to Korea had been bumped up to a couple of weeks from then. Yunho asked, but the manager didn't know why.
“It's not that you've overstayed your welcome,” Matsuura told him an hour later, when Yunho had driven to Avex Group by himself for an emergency meeting. “It's just that there's nothing else you can do.”
They'd reached their maximum popularity in Japan for the time. If they didn't want to endanger what was left of their Korean popularity, they needed to move. The entire album was recorded, edited, touched up, and released within forty eight hours. The lawsuit was ended within the week.
And here they are.
“Just to give you a brief summary,” Changju says, “we're not a record label. We're a managing agency.”
Yunho nods.
“We were created primarily for JYJ,” Changju continues. “Since the entire entertainment industry shut their doors on them. I suppose that now your and Changmin's situation is similar.”
“Yes,” Yunho says.
Changju pats Yunho's shoulder. “C-JES will now look after TVXQ. No contracts or anything. Just fellowship.”
“Sounds like the Mafia,” Yunho says. He turns to Changju, bringing their walk to a halt. “I'm not entirely clear on how you do things here, but you're our only option.”
Changju's head cocks at the phrasing of that sentence. “But when another comes along,” Changju translates, “we won't be of favor?”
Yunho holds his gaze. “You might be, you might not be. It all depends on the better offer.”
“Oh, of course,” Changju says. He begins walking again. “I don't expect anything less from the man Jaejoong returned the leadership to.”
Yunho takes a moment to reply. “A long time ago,” he says, “I made a promise to take care of this band.”
“Jaejoong tells me that you were even planning on leaving it,” Changju muses.
Yunho frowns. “We-me and Changmin-were dropping the popularity,” he explains. “If leaving the band meant preserving it, we would have.”
“But Jaejoong wouldn't let you,” Changju says. He smiles. “He has a good head on him.”
“When it counts,” Yunho mutters.
“Isn't that worth something, though?” Changju asks. “The reason JYJ sued was to be free, to make the music they wanted to make.”
“The music wasn't a problem,” Yunho corrects. “The freedom was.”
“Are you so desperate to return to a company that's going to walk all over you?” Changju asks.
“S.M. Entertainment is one of a few record labels that have such intense contracts,” Yunho says, unfazed. “There are others. Besides, Changmin is aspiring to be a manager when TVXQ is over, and we want to get him into a good company before then.”
Changju nods, as if something just dawned on him. “Oh.”
It's the way he says it that makes Yunho glance at him.
“Is Changmin your reason for doing everything?” Changju asks. It's an attempt to rile Yunho up, but it's much too obvious.
“Just about,” Yunho says, ignoring the bait. He looks around, eyeing the flashy decor. “What are we doing here?” he asks.
Changju looks at him. “I'm sorry?”
“You said no contracts,” Yunho says. “So no paperwork. What are we doing here?”
“Chatting,” Changju replies. He's the one to stop them this time. He does so in an intersection of a red hallway and a gray hallway, and for reasons Yunho can't specify, it looks like the stroll was meant to end here. “I like to like my clients,” Changju says.
“Do you like me?” Yunho asks, facing him.
“Something tells me you won't care if I don't,” Changju replies.
“I'm jet-lagged,” is Yunho's excuse.
“You judge me for my past,” Changju says.
“And you would prefer to be talking to Jaejoong right now,” Yunho counters. “Sir, I respect you as a manager, but if you aren't my boss, how am I supposed to define our relationship?”
Changju shrugs. “How did you define your relationship with your Japanese manager?”
“A friend,” Yunho replies.
“Can't we be friends?” Changju asks. “I'm trying to get along with you here, Yunho. Throw me a bone or something, please.”
“Sure,” Yunho says. He jerks his head in the direction whence they came. “Should we get back, then?”
Changju doesn't look like he takes that well. He nods.
When they re-enter Changju's office, now immersed in stony silence, Changmin steps toward Yunho.
“What's going on?” Changmin asks.
Changju slides behind his desk and engages Yoochun in a music debate. Jaejoong and Junsu move away from the wall to chime in their two cents.
“He'd prefer Jaejoong as the leader,” Yunho tells Changmin, eyes on Jaejoong's amused smile.
“Not that again,” Changmin says, frowning.
Yunho shrugs. “I think it's just that he really likes Jaejoong.”
“Feeling jealous?” Changmin asks.
“Maybe,” Yunho replies, looking away from the four across the room. “We'll grow on Changju. I think he just showed off his most trendy hallways to me, so he wants us to like him, but it'll take some time for him to like us, I guess. You'll be his favorite soon enough.”
“Oh,” Changmin says, sarcastic, “yay.”
Yunho smiles.
Changmin returns the gesture.
“Alright, seats, gentlemen, please,” Changju says, engaging the room at large. He gives Yunho and Changmin pointed looks. “And if the ex-boyfriends could stop giving each other googly-eyes, that would be perfect.”
Changmin doesn't move immediately. “Is he supposed to be my favorite as well?” he whispers to Yunho.
“Think of him as a foster dad who tries too hard,” Yunho replies.
Changmin rolls his eyes.
They take their seats in front of Changju's desk, Yunho between Jaejoong and Junsu, Changmin between Junsu and Yoochun.
Jaejoong glances between Yunho and Changmin.
Yunho touches Jaejoong's shoe with his own and he hopes that it's enough to calm Jaejoong's nerves.
Jaejoong relaxes the slightest bit.
~
“Korean versions of every song on the album?” Yoochun asks in the elevator.
“It just gets more and more shocking every time you ask that,” Changmin says dryly.
“Since they're written by us,” Yunho says, “we have to be the ones to write the alternative lyrics.”
“Should only take about a week for all of us, right?” Junsu asks.
The others nod.
The doors slide open and they file into the hallway, luggage in tow.
“We should try fitting into a clown car while we're still in shape,” Changmin says as he flings his bag over his shoulder.
Yoochun laughs.
Changmin smiles at him shyly.
“Well, here we go,” Yunho says. They come to a stop in front of a red door. Yunho pulls the key out of his pocket.
A collective sigh of appreciation washes out of them when they enter one by one.
The apartment is larger than the one they had in Tokyo, with a living room twice the size and an open kitchen that spans half the floor space. Yunho is surprised Jaejoong doesn't kiss the tile floor.
Yoochun, Junsu, and Changmin rush toward the hallway to place dibs on bedrooms, but Jaejoong wanders into the living room.
Yunho follows Jaejoong, watching him inspect the furniture with a stylist's eye. Yunho approaches his back.
Jaejoong stills.
Yunho stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Jaejoong-ah,” he says, “how long is this attitude going to last?”
Jaejoong's shoulders stiffen. He turns to leave the room, but Yunho steps in his path.
“Jae-yah, talk to me,” Yunho says. He pulls Jaejoong closer by the hand, gentle. “I thought we were past this leader thing.”
“You think that's what this is about?” Jaejoong asks with a disgusted grimace. “Don't be stupid.”
“I'm trying not to be,” Yunho says. “Care to lend a hand?”
Jaejoong glares at Yunho's chest.
Yunho nods, cups Jaejoong's cheek.
Despite his anger, Jaejoong softens under the touch.
Yunho tries not to show his relief. “What's up, baby?” he asks. “I thought you wanted us to be something.”
“I-” Jaejoong clucks his tongue, pushing Yunho away. “You can't just drop that bomb on my head and expect me to not react.”
Yunho cocks his head to the side. He knows exactly what Jaejoong is referring to.
~
“Want to catch dinner later?”
“What?” Jaejoong asks intelligently.
Yunho smiles, stepping back. He doesn't let go of Jaejoong's hands, only lifts them to his lips to kiss Jaejoong's knuckles, but he lets Jaejoong regain his balance.
“Would you like dinner?” Yunho asks more eloquently.
“The two of us?” Jaejoong asks. “Like a date?”
“Yeah,” Yunho says. “A date.”
“Why?” Jaejoong asks.
Yunho's smile falters. “If you don't want to-”
“No!” Jaejoong says. “I want to, but it's just that you've been kind of against the thought for a while.”
“I haven't been thinking about the good side of it,” Yunho says. “I've been focusing on how bad it'll be.”
“This is supposed to woo me?” Jaejoong asks.
Yunho laughs. He lets Jaejoong go to run a hand through his hair. “We fight all the time now. How do you think it'll be when we're dating?”
Jaejoong stares at him. He connects the dots. “Well,” he says, frowning, “that seems to be our pattern.”
Yunho's smile widens. He wraps his hands around the back of Jaejoong's neck, pulling Jaejoong in. “But these last few days have pointed out a few things to me,” he says as their foreheads press together. “We listened to each other, Jae-yah. We listened to each other.”
Jaejoong nods, following along. “Yeah,” he says. “Yeah, we did, didn't we?”
“You asked why I wanted the lawsuit to end,” Yunho says. “You listened to my reasons.”
“I argued with you, though,” Jaejoong points out.
“And I listened to you,” Yunho replies. He pulls Jaejoong back just enough for their eyes to meet. “We had a conversation for the first time in months. Not a fight, a debate.”
“I didn't want to settle,” Jaejoong adds, “but I still asked Yoochun and Junsu to discuss it.”
“Exactly.” Yunho nods. “And even this morning, when I thought you weren't going to settle, I knew I was going to ask you to be mine.”
Jaejoong's eyes widen. He blushes.
“You were willing to make that decision with me and Changmin,” Yunho clarifies. “Not for me and Changmin. That's a big difference, especially when you still feel the same way about it. We all do.”
“We all do,” Jaejoong parrots.
Yunho nods again. “That we can think about each other and consider each other's feelings even when we see things differently. That's all I wanted. That's all we need to make this relationship work.”
Jaejoong studies his eyes for a moment. “Okay,” he says. He pries Yunho's hands off his neck. “Okay.”
Yunho stares at Jaejoong as Jaejoong pulls away, putting distance between their bodies.
“So tell me what I want to know,” Jaejoong says. “What's going on with you and Changmin?”
Yunho's smile fades.
~
“Yunho!”
Both Yunho and Jaejoong turn to the living room doorway.
Changmin trots in, pointing over his shoulder at Junsu. Junsu remains in the hallway.
“I want the room closest to the office,” Changmin says, “but Junsu-hyung wants it, too.”
“You're twenty-three,” Junsu argues. “Tattletaling is against the rules now.”
“I'm twenty-three and a half,” Changmin shouts over his shoulder.
Jaejoong turns toward the balcony window.
Yunho frowns at Changmin. “Has Yoochun picked a room yet?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Changmin says.
“Pick the room next to his,” Yunho says.
Junsu claps his hands.
Changmin looks like Yunho slapped him across the face. “But, Yunho-”
“Fine,” Yunho replies. “I get the room closest to the office. Is there one across from it?”
Junsu nods.
“Then that's Jaejoong's,” Yunho says.
Changmin groans and Junsu sighs but neither argues. They mumble something about dictators as they disappear down the hall.
“He still doesn't call you hyung,” Jaejoong mutters from behind Yunho.
Yunho takes a deep breath. He turns, joins Jaejoong at the window. “That's a balcony,” he says, indicating the sliding door.
“Thanks for pointing that out,” Jaejoong says, unamused. He moves toward the hallway.
“Jae-yah,” Yunho calls.
“Yunho,” Jaejoong says, turning back to him. “We'll talk later, okay? Let's just unpack right now.”
They hold eye contact for a few moments longer as Yunho searches for something to say.
“Am I still your friend?” he asks, at a complete loss.
Jaejoong smiles despite his obvious efforts not to. “Ass,” he says. He enters the hallway, leaving Yunho to himself.
Yunho laughs after him.
Finally, Yunho thinks, looking out the window. He admires the cityscape that is Seoul, their home. Things are changing.
A/N: So. “Am I still your friend?” is from Chapter One of NMS. The balcony thing is from Chapter Twenty Nine of NMS. The chapter plan is being a bitch because I have so much planned for the story but no idea when things happen, so work with me here.
Pairing: YunJae; YooMin
Length: 1/50
Genre: Romance; Humor; Angst
Warning(s): Homophobia
Rating: NC17 / PG15
Disclaimer: Seriously?
Summary: Out of a loop and into the future, how can TVXQ survive a shift in cultures and societal viewpoints as they move back home to brave the uncertain waters that are their Korean careers? Jaejoong can't exactly focus on the bleakness of their work, however, if he is too distracted by the bleakness of their home. Yunho and Changmin, though now separate, find it difficult to distance their bond, Yoochun knows the lack of argument in his and Changmin's relationship is unhealthy, and Jaejoong wonders how he and Yunho will fair the rocky undertones of their dysfunctional relationship. And what of Junsu? What of their families?
00
CHAPTER ONE
July 18, 2011; 11:16
The airport is alive with the screams and protests of fans and extremists. They stand divided, supporters on the right of the aisle, persecutors on the left.
Yunho doesn't pay either group any heed as he joins the bodyguards in shepherding his members forward.
“My son just told me he's gay! This is your fault!”
“Yoochun-oppa! Sign my shirt!”
Changmin is first, more accustomed to Yunho's handling than the others. The force of Yunho's push doesn't falter him in the slightest.
~
“Yunho and Changmin broke up,” Matsuura says, climbing out from behind his desk and approaching the wall length window at his office's back.
On the other line, Baek Changju chokes on his coffee. “Why?” he asks.
“It doesn't matter why,” Matsuura says. “Just know that they broke up.”
~
Yoochun is stiff and unwelcoming at Yunho's guiding hand but he tries to mask it and Yunho doesn't bring it to attention. Yunho nearly flings him forward in the pass from bodyguard to bodyguard.
Yoochun stumbles into Changmin, who looks at him.
“Yoochun!” someone shouts from the wrong side of the aisle. “Don't do it!”
~
“And Yoochun?”
Matsuura looks away from the tour bus parked across the road. “Yoochun?”
“I've seen the fan-cams.”
Matsuura sighs. “He's over his vendetta, so you needn't worry about that.
“No,” Changju clarifies, “I mean I've seen the fan-cams. With Changmin.”
Matsuura rolls his eyes. “Tell him to keep it in his pants.”
Changju gasps. “You aren't implying-”
“I'm implying that whatever it is-pride, testosterone, his penis-he needs to watch where he flashes it. He's worse than Jaejoong.”
~
Yunho grabs for Jaejoong while nodding at Changmin to lead the way to the car out front, but Jaejoong steps out of reach. Yunho bumps him into a bodyguard's hold anyway.
Jaejoong tuts his annoyance.
~
“Oh, and while we're on the subject of Jaejoong.” Matsuura leans against the window. “There's something going on between him and Yunho. Just so you know to be aware of it.”
“A romantic something?” Changju asks. “This band isn't going to last over here if all of them are-”
“It appears to be more hostile than anything else,” Matsuura cuts him off, flattening his forehead against the glass. “It's not too much of a threat, but keep an eye on them.”
~
Yunho is most gentle with Junsu, and Junsu is the most complacent with Yunho's nudging. He smiles at the guards, then the fans, and moves down the aisle with determined grace. He makes a point to not look at the protesters. A very strong, obvious point.
Yunho sighs at the effort.
~
“And Junsu.”
“Junsu?”
Matsuura lets a long pause drag between the lines. “Just try... I don't know,” he says, turning away from the window. “Try to put him back together. Not even for sales, just for... him.”
Changju doesn't speak for several moments. “I'll do my best.”
~
They pile into the car, half the airport in tow and begin moving down the road. The car's back seats face each other, and Yunho sits nearest the door. Changmin sits beside him. Yoochun and Junsu sit across from them. Jaejoong's seating is awkward and aloof but Jaejoong is looking out the window. Yunho ignores him and slides a manilla folder out of his satchel.
“So,” Yunho says.
Changmin, Yoochun, and Junsu sit forward in their seats.
“We're going straight to C-JES,” Yunho says, flipping through their schedule. “A meeting about... well, our survival, I guess.”
“We're not going to the hotel to drop off our stuff?” Yoochun asks.
Yunho shakes his head. “There's no hotel this time,” he says. “They already have a furnished apartment waiting for us after the meeting.”
“Already?” Changmin asks incredulously.
Yunho shrugs.
“What's the file for, hyung?” Junsu asks quietly from his corner.
“Sales,” Yunho replies. He licks his thumb and slips a page out of its protector. “No More Secrets is really popular, apparently.”
“What are the numbers?” Changmin asks.
“The album sold out within 2.6 minutes,” Yunho says.
Yoochun gives a low whistle.
“They'll want a Korean version, won't they?” Changmin asks.
Yunho smiles at him. “That's based on how it was received by the public. The fact that it was sold out only means that they're excited we released an album.”
“Oh,” Changmin says, nodding.
“The public likes it, though,” Junsu says, smiling at Changmin.
“Yeah,” Yunho says, “they do.” He slips out another page and hands it to Changmin. “See? 94% of Japan loved it.”
“That's amazing,” Yoochun says.
Yunho hums his agreement. “And that's not including the international ratings,” he says.
Changmin holds one sheet of paper in each hand, looking between them interestedly. “Are the international numbers good?” he asks.
“They're great,” Yunho replies. He points at one of the pages. “86% popularity in Europe. 74% in North America. 76% in South America.”
“2% in the Middle East,” Junsu adds, squeezing into the space on Changmin's other side.
“Which sounds bad,” Yunho says, “but trust me, it's good.”
Changmin nods, looking closer at the numbers.
~
Jaejoong nudges Yoochun after they shift to sit more comfortably on their side. Yoochun looks at him curiously.
Jaejoong jerks his head at Yunho and Junsu pointing out various numbers to Changmin. Changmin nods at everything they tell him, his glasses making him look studious and eager.
“Changmin said something about thinking of being a manager after TVXQ breaks up,” Yoochun says, taking a swig from his soda. “He asked if Yunho would include him more in the decision making process, like a shadow. Yunho agreed, I guess.”
Jaejoong frowns and returns his attention to his window.
~
“And if you look here,” Junsu says, “South Korea actually gave it 67%, so they'd probably be more receptive to a Korean version than we thought.”
Changmin hums, but his hand curls around Yunho's and he presses his lips to Yunho's ear. “I think he's moved on to the bargaining stage,” he whispers.
Yunho nods, making a mental note of that.
Yunho's focus shifts to Jaejoong when Jaejoong makes the slightest movement in Yunho's peripheral vision. The slightest twitch of anger.
“Jaejoong-ah,” Yunho calls.
Junsu pauses mid-sentence.
Jaejoong glares at Yunho challengingly.
Yunho ignores the rising tension in the car. “Welcome home,” he says.
Jaejoong drops his eyes.
~
The C-JES building isn't any bigger than that of SM, but Changmin finds its girth oddly unsettling. Its size, its color. The moment Changmin's feet step onto the pavement, he's rooted to the spot. He flattens against the car door.
Yunho climbs out next to him, and Changmin supposes that Yunho sees the distress in the flicker of Changmin's eyes.
Oblivious to the absence of two of their party, Jaejoong leads the way toward the building. Yoochun and Junsu begin to follow before glancing back at the car. Yoochun stops. Junsu touches Jaejoong's shoulder.
Changmin's hand clasps Yunho's again as the others turn to look at them. Neither he nor Yunho has taken one step away from the car, both of them staring up at the building apprehensively.
“Guys,” Yoochun says, soothing.
“What's the problem?” Jaejoong asks.
Junsu looks at him in disbelief. “They're scared, hyung,” he says.
Jaejoong grimaces.
Changmin squeezes Yunho's hand. Yunho lets him press closer to his side.
“Well,” Yoochun says, exchanging looks with Junsu, “would you like to go check out the apartment first? We can do this later.”
Yunho shakes his head, not moving from Changmin's side. “Baek Changju is expecting us,” he says.
Changmin doesn't budge.
Yunho glances at him. “Just, uh...” He looks at Yoochun. “Just give us a minute. You three go ahead.”
Yoochun only steps closer. “No,” he says, as if it should be obvious of him.
Jaejoong sighs. Changmin can see Jaejoong's internal struggle with himself, but Jaejoong moves to Yoochun's side and nods, hands in his pockets. “Take all the time you need, guys,” Jaejoong says.
Changmin licks his lips, ignoring the way that Yunho and Jaejoong lock gazes.
~
Changju embraces Jaejoong when the band steps into his office. He's warm, familiar, kind. A stark contrast to their Japanese manager.
“Welcome, welcome,” he says, hugging Yoochun, then Junsu. “So good to see all of you.”
Changmin lingers in the doorway.
Yunho all but yanks him into the room with a tug on Changmin's sleeve.
Changju pauses in front of the ex-couple. His familiarity lapses into practiced professionalism, his hands folding behind his back. He bows.
“Jung Yunho,” he says. “I've been looking forward to meeting you.”
Yunho returns the bow, taking Changju's lead. “Baek Changju,” he says. He holds out a hand.
Changju shakes it. “Yes, yes.”
Changmin looks uncomfortable behind Yunho.
“Shim Changmin,” Changju says with smile. He bows again. “A pleasure.”
Biting his lip, Changmin bows back.
Changju beams. “Alright,” he says, turning to the others. “I'm ready to begin when you are, but I'd like a word with Yunho first.”
Again, Yunho locks eyes with Jaejoong.
Changju notices. “Jaejoong may join us, if he likes,” he says to no one in particular.
Jaejoong looks away from Yunho. “I'm not the leader anymore,” he says. “It's fine.”
Changju raises his eyebrows at Yunho.
Yunho nods, and they leave the room.
~
Yunho smiles politely as he and Changju stroll aimlessly through the halls of C-JES Entertainment.
“I want to begin by expressing my grievances for what happened to you,” Changju says. He nods at a pretty associate passing by them. “And to Changmin, of course. S.M. Entertainment wasn't at all ceremonious about the way they handled your situation.”
“They were just doing what they felt had to be done,” Yunho says.
Changju frowns. “They could have been a little nicer.”
“Well,” Yunho says, “if you're going to rip a man's heart out, might as well do it correctly.”
Changju laughs. “Tough week?”
“Tougher than most,” Yunho replies.
The afternoon that Yunho asked Jaejoong to dinner, the manager informed Yunho that the date for their move back to Korea had been bumped up to a couple of weeks from then. Yunho asked, but the manager didn't know why.
“It's not that you've overstayed your welcome,” Matsuura told him an hour later, when Yunho had driven to Avex Group by himself for an emergency meeting. “It's just that there's nothing else you can do.”
They'd reached their maximum popularity in Japan for the time. If they didn't want to endanger what was left of their Korean popularity, they needed to move. The entire album was recorded, edited, touched up, and released within forty eight hours. The lawsuit was ended within the week.
And here they are.
“Just to give you a brief summary,” Changju says, “we're not a record label. We're a managing agency.”
Yunho nods.
“We were created primarily for JYJ,” Changju continues. “Since the entire entertainment industry shut their doors on them. I suppose that now your and Changmin's situation is similar.”
“Yes,” Yunho says.
Changju pats Yunho's shoulder. “C-JES will now look after TVXQ. No contracts or anything. Just fellowship.”
“Sounds like the Mafia,” Yunho says. He turns to Changju, bringing their walk to a halt. “I'm not entirely clear on how you do things here, but you're our only option.”
Changju's head cocks at the phrasing of that sentence. “But when another comes along,” Changju translates, “we won't be of favor?”
Yunho holds his gaze. “You might be, you might not be. It all depends on the better offer.”
“Oh, of course,” Changju says. He begins walking again. “I don't expect anything less from the man Jaejoong returned the leadership to.”
Yunho takes a moment to reply. “A long time ago,” he says, “I made a promise to take care of this band.”
“Jaejoong tells me that you were even planning on leaving it,” Changju muses.
Yunho frowns. “We-me and Changmin-were dropping the popularity,” he explains. “If leaving the band meant preserving it, we would have.”
“But Jaejoong wouldn't let you,” Changju says. He smiles. “He has a good head on him.”
“When it counts,” Yunho mutters.
“Isn't that worth something, though?” Changju asks. “The reason JYJ sued was to be free, to make the music they wanted to make.”
“The music wasn't a problem,” Yunho corrects. “The freedom was.”
“Are you so desperate to return to a company that's going to walk all over you?” Changju asks.
“S.M. Entertainment is one of a few record labels that have such intense contracts,” Yunho says, unfazed. “There are others. Besides, Changmin is aspiring to be a manager when TVXQ is over, and we want to get him into a good company before then.”
Changju nods, as if something just dawned on him. “Oh.”
It's the way he says it that makes Yunho glance at him.
“Is Changmin your reason for doing everything?” Changju asks. It's an attempt to rile Yunho up, but it's much too obvious.
“Just about,” Yunho says, ignoring the bait. He looks around, eyeing the flashy decor. “What are we doing here?” he asks.
Changju looks at him. “I'm sorry?”
“You said no contracts,” Yunho says. “So no paperwork. What are we doing here?”
“Chatting,” Changju replies. He's the one to stop them this time. He does so in an intersection of a red hallway and a gray hallway, and for reasons Yunho can't specify, it looks like the stroll was meant to end here. “I like to like my clients,” Changju says.
“Do you like me?” Yunho asks, facing him.
“Something tells me you won't care if I don't,” Changju replies.
“I'm jet-lagged,” is Yunho's excuse.
“You judge me for my past,” Changju says.
“And you would prefer to be talking to Jaejoong right now,” Yunho counters. “Sir, I respect you as a manager, but if you aren't my boss, how am I supposed to define our relationship?”
Changju shrugs. “How did you define your relationship with your Japanese manager?”
“A friend,” Yunho replies.
“Can't we be friends?” Changju asks. “I'm trying to get along with you here, Yunho. Throw me a bone or something, please.”
“Sure,” Yunho says. He jerks his head in the direction whence they came. “Should we get back, then?”
Changju doesn't look like he takes that well. He nods.
When they re-enter Changju's office, now immersed in stony silence, Changmin steps toward Yunho.
“What's going on?” Changmin asks.
Changju slides behind his desk and engages Yoochun in a music debate. Jaejoong and Junsu move away from the wall to chime in their two cents.
“He'd prefer Jaejoong as the leader,” Yunho tells Changmin, eyes on Jaejoong's amused smile.
“Not that again,” Changmin says, frowning.
Yunho shrugs. “I think it's just that he really likes Jaejoong.”
“Feeling jealous?” Changmin asks.
“Maybe,” Yunho replies, looking away from the four across the room. “We'll grow on Changju. I think he just showed off his most trendy hallways to me, so he wants us to like him, but it'll take some time for him to like us, I guess. You'll be his favorite soon enough.”
“Oh,” Changmin says, sarcastic, “yay.”
Yunho smiles.
Changmin returns the gesture.
“Alright, seats, gentlemen, please,” Changju says, engaging the room at large. He gives Yunho and Changmin pointed looks. “And if the ex-boyfriends could stop giving each other googly-eyes, that would be perfect.”
Changmin doesn't move immediately. “Is he supposed to be my favorite as well?” he whispers to Yunho.
“Think of him as a foster dad who tries too hard,” Yunho replies.
Changmin rolls his eyes.
They take their seats in front of Changju's desk, Yunho between Jaejoong and Junsu, Changmin between Junsu and Yoochun.
Jaejoong glances between Yunho and Changmin.
Yunho touches Jaejoong's shoe with his own and he hopes that it's enough to calm Jaejoong's nerves.
Jaejoong relaxes the slightest bit.
~
“Korean versions of every song on the album?” Yoochun asks in the elevator.
“It just gets more and more shocking every time you ask that,” Changmin says dryly.
“Since they're written by us,” Yunho says, “we have to be the ones to write the alternative lyrics.”
“Should only take about a week for all of us, right?” Junsu asks.
The others nod.
The doors slide open and they file into the hallway, luggage in tow.
“We should try fitting into a clown car while we're still in shape,” Changmin says as he flings his bag over his shoulder.
Yoochun laughs.
Changmin smiles at him shyly.
“Well, here we go,” Yunho says. They come to a stop in front of a red door. Yunho pulls the key out of his pocket.
A collective sigh of appreciation washes out of them when they enter one by one.
The apartment is larger than the one they had in Tokyo, with a living room twice the size and an open kitchen that spans half the floor space. Yunho is surprised Jaejoong doesn't kiss the tile floor.
Yoochun, Junsu, and Changmin rush toward the hallway to place dibs on bedrooms, but Jaejoong wanders into the living room.
Yunho follows Jaejoong, watching him inspect the furniture with a stylist's eye. Yunho approaches his back.
Jaejoong stills.
Yunho stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Jaejoong-ah,” he says, “how long is this attitude going to last?”
Jaejoong's shoulders stiffen. He turns to leave the room, but Yunho steps in his path.
“Jae-yah, talk to me,” Yunho says. He pulls Jaejoong closer by the hand, gentle. “I thought we were past this leader thing.”
“You think that's what this is about?” Jaejoong asks with a disgusted grimace. “Don't be stupid.”
“I'm trying not to be,” Yunho says. “Care to lend a hand?”
Jaejoong glares at Yunho's chest.
Yunho nods, cups Jaejoong's cheek.
Despite his anger, Jaejoong softens under the touch.
Yunho tries not to show his relief. “What's up, baby?” he asks. “I thought you wanted us to be something.”
“I-” Jaejoong clucks his tongue, pushing Yunho away. “You can't just drop that bomb on my head and expect me to not react.”
Yunho cocks his head to the side. He knows exactly what Jaejoong is referring to.
~
“Want to catch dinner later?”
“What?” Jaejoong asks intelligently.
Yunho smiles, stepping back. He doesn't let go of Jaejoong's hands, only lifts them to his lips to kiss Jaejoong's knuckles, but he lets Jaejoong regain his balance.
“Would you like dinner?” Yunho asks more eloquently.
“The two of us?” Jaejoong asks. “Like a date?”
“Yeah,” Yunho says. “A date.”
“Why?” Jaejoong asks.
Yunho's smile falters. “If you don't want to-”
“No!” Jaejoong says. “I want to, but it's just that you've been kind of against the thought for a while.”
“I haven't been thinking about the good side of it,” Yunho says. “I've been focusing on how bad it'll be.”
“This is supposed to woo me?” Jaejoong asks.
Yunho laughs. He lets Jaejoong go to run a hand through his hair. “We fight all the time now. How do you think it'll be when we're dating?”
Jaejoong stares at him. He connects the dots. “Well,” he says, frowning, “that seems to be our pattern.”
Yunho's smile widens. He wraps his hands around the back of Jaejoong's neck, pulling Jaejoong in. “But these last few days have pointed out a few things to me,” he says as their foreheads press together. “We listened to each other, Jae-yah. We listened to each other.”
Jaejoong nods, following along. “Yeah,” he says. “Yeah, we did, didn't we?”
“You asked why I wanted the lawsuit to end,” Yunho says. “You listened to my reasons.”
“I argued with you, though,” Jaejoong points out.
“And I listened to you,” Yunho replies. He pulls Jaejoong back just enough for their eyes to meet. “We had a conversation for the first time in months. Not a fight, a debate.”
“I didn't want to settle,” Jaejoong adds, “but I still asked Yoochun and Junsu to discuss it.”
“Exactly.” Yunho nods. “And even this morning, when I thought you weren't going to settle, I knew I was going to ask you to be mine.”
Jaejoong's eyes widen. He blushes.
“You were willing to make that decision with me and Changmin,” Yunho clarifies. “Not for me and Changmin. That's a big difference, especially when you still feel the same way about it. We all do.”
“We all do,” Jaejoong parrots.
Yunho nods again. “That we can think about each other and consider each other's feelings even when we see things differently. That's all I wanted. That's all we need to make this relationship work.”
Jaejoong studies his eyes for a moment. “Okay,” he says. He pries Yunho's hands off his neck. “Okay.”
Yunho stares at Jaejoong as Jaejoong pulls away, putting distance between their bodies.
“So tell me what I want to know,” Jaejoong says. “What's going on with you and Changmin?”
Yunho's smile fades.
~
“Yunho!”
Both Yunho and Jaejoong turn to the living room doorway.
Changmin trots in, pointing over his shoulder at Junsu. Junsu remains in the hallway.
“I want the room closest to the office,” Changmin says, “but Junsu-hyung wants it, too.”
“You're twenty-three,” Junsu argues. “Tattletaling is against the rules now.”
“I'm twenty-three and a half,” Changmin shouts over his shoulder.
Jaejoong turns toward the balcony window.
Yunho frowns at Changmin. “Has Yoochun picked a room yet?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Changmin says.
“Pick the room next to his,” Yunho says.
Junsu claps his hands.
Changmin looks like Yunho slapped him across the face. “But, Yunho-”
“Fine,” Yunho replies. “I get the room closest to the office. Is there one across from it?”
Junsu nods.
“Then that's Jaejoong's,” Yunho says.
Changmin groans and Junsu sighs but neither argues. They mumble something about dictators as they disappear down the hall.
“He still doesn't call you hyung,” Jaejoong mutters from behind Yunho.
Yunho takes a deep breath. He turns, joins Jaejoong at the window. “That's a balcony,” he says, indicating the sliding door.
“Thanks for pointing that out,” Jaejoong says, unamused. He moves toward the hallway.
“Jae-yah,” Yunho calls.
“Yunho,” Jaejoong says, turning back to him. “We'll talk later, okay? Let's just unpack right now.”
They hold eye contact for a few moments longer as Yunho searches for something to say.
“Am I still your friend?” he asks, at a complete loss.
Jaejoong smiles despite his obvious efforts not to. “Ass,” he says. He enters the hallway, leaving Yunho to himself.
Yunho laughs after him.
Finally, Yunho thinks, looking out the window. He admires the cityscape that is Seoul, their home. Things are changing.
A/N: So. “Am I still your friend?” is from Chapter One of NMS. The balcony thing is from Chapter Twenty Nine of NMS. The chapter plan is being a bitch because I have so much planned for the story but no idea when things happen, so work with me here.