Love needs no words - Chapter 14
You guys are lucky that I love you, because I am losing my advance in writing by posting everyday! Cheer fo me to finally finish Chapter 16!
Title: Love needs no words
Part: 14 of 18
Pairing: Sihan, QMi, Kangteuk + another one unrevealed!
Rating: PG-13 aside from specified chapters
Disclamer: I own no one!
Summary: What happens when the heir of one the most powerful families discovers something he shouldn’t have? Years-long traditions are changed and family secrets are revealed.
Siwon freezed on spot when he heard his father’s sudden announcement. What? No presentation ceremony, what the hell was that?! Heechul looked utterly exasperated, hands on his hips and about to scream at the next one who would speak.
“But… father… why?”
“Your father is being stupid because he doesn’t want to pay the Hans since he thinks that Geng is not worth what my evaluation said!” Sighed Heechul.
Seriously, that one was getting scarier than even with each passing second. He clearly was on the edge of ripping Mr. Choi’s head off. Siwon knew his childhood friend way too much to know that he could be hard on people when angered. He also knew that Geng was worried, according to the little whimpering from Rider who was still in his master’s arms. Geng had not left the bed and Siwon had no intentions of seeing him going somewhere else.
“Serious, what worth does he have?!”
“Mr.Choi!” snarled Kyuhyun, who was also getting aggressive.
Mi had been quick to reach the bed, putting a comforting arm around Geng’s now shaking shoulders. Who deserved to be told that they are worth nothing… that they mean nothing? Certainly not the jewel with whom Siwon was spending nights for a few weeks now. If it wasn’t Siwon’s father who said such an atrocity, Siwon would probably have smashed him into a wall.
“There WILL be a presentation ceremony whether you like it or not! My family and the Kims are coming over; they will be there from one moment to another, thinking everything will be fine, happy to see Siwon’s chosen one. How DARE you try to go against traditions!”
Siwon had never seen Kyuhyun this angry. He never thought the man could speak that much when pissed, either. Kyuhyun seemed like the type pf person to use short, sarcastic sentences, not to say a whole speech full of hatred. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one. Mi’s eyes were huge and Geng shuddered as the little husky whimpered even louder. Heechul seemed shocked for a while, then smiled.
“You know what my family exists for, Mr. Choi. Kyuhyun’s right, the tradition has to go on… you don’t want shame to fall on your son by your fault, don’t you? The prestige of the Choi family reduced to dust because the father couldn’t respect his heir’s Choice… Not surprising from your type of person.”
Why did it seem as if Heechul was speaking of something else entirely? Maybe Siwon was thinking too much… As the whimpering of the dog got even worse, he knew that Geng was probably shaking by now. However, he felt as if he had to stay between his father and his lover. Who knew what the Choi father do to the sick, foreign man.
“I refuse to pay for him! Make another Choice, Siwon!”
“No!”
The shout had been said at once, but by four voices: Siwon, Heechul, Kyuhyun and Mi. A look at Geng and Siwon saw the tears in those beautiful eyes. No… he wouldn’t choose anyone else. He wanted Geng by his side, wanted to protect him, and to help him heal. He had already started to show great signs of amelioration; there was no way they would stop now.
Heechul was the one to rush to Geng’s side, letting Mi pick the puppy as he held the man who was now furiously shaking from fear. He rubbed the sensible back with care, muttering soft words of reassurance, shooting dirty looks at the Choi head who send them back at them.
“Why is it so difficult to accept your son’s Choice, Mr.Choi?” Kyuhyun asked in a glacial tone, making everyone else shiver in the room.
“Those damn foreigners! Ever since they came here I tried to make them go away! Only troubles! The wife was pregnant when they arrived… I wondered where the child had been, thought it was dead, and now I know… Parasites… only the father works and they wish they could live here without efforts… did all I could so they would go away…! I never repaired the house in hope that they would go! Now I understand, their own son was holding them here! Too weak to do anything else than take profit of what people were doing for him!”
Kyuhyun had to hold Siwon from jumping at his own father’s throat. Geng was crying by now, Heechul trying his best to calm him down, but the more he heard about his family and himself, the more the foreign man was crying. It was as if Siwon’s father was doing it on purpose, trying to destroy Geng, trying to make him cry so much he would turn sick.
“WILL YOU STOP?!”
Siwon had never yelled at his father before, but for him, right now, enough was enough. Geng’s breath was loud as he was crying so much he had problems taking the air in. Kyuhyun was still holding Siwon, and Rider was growling, also being held, this time by Mi.
“Kyuhyun, get off me!”
“Don’t jump at his throat on your presentation ceremony day, Siwon, he will never pay Geng’s family!”
Siwon’s father looked as if he was waiting for his son to smash him into a wall… oh, how Siwon wanted to do it… He had always respected his dad, but now, he had enough. How dare he put such a judgement about the Hans? They were the sweetest people Siwon met. Okay, he had yet to meet with Mr. Han, he would do so today, but Geng and his mother were too kind and lovely for the other family member not to be the same.
“I’m telling you, I won’t pay! You do a presentation ceremony if you want, but without the money!”
With such words, he left the room. Everyone was angry and Siwon smashed his fist into the wall, happily not breaking it.
“Wonnie… he kind of needs you right now” whispered Heechul.
The traditions executor had difficulties holding Geng who seemed in a total panic. Mi had to let go of Rider, the small dog barking with an offended way, disliking the way his owner was in pain. His growls were so menacing, Siwon hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with the full grown animal in such a state.
Reaching for his shaken lover, Siwon cradled him in his arms, taking the blanket Heechul gave him and wrapping the ill one in it. Geng was in deep emotional pain, and who could blame him… Siwon’s father had been screaming the chosen one’s worst insecurities and complexes all at once.
Heechul sighed, patted Geng’s back one last time before muttering something about putting some sense into a too-thick head and leaving the room at his turn. He was probably off to deal the money problem with Siwon’s father. During that time, Mi had fetched a hug from Kyuhyun who, strangely, gave it without a single complaint.
“What’s the problem with being a foreigner?” came the whisper from the only one who applied to the term and could speak.
“There’s no problem… the problem is Siwon’s father… not where you come from.”
Kyuhyun’s tone was cold… icy even. He had restrained Siwon, but it had taken all of his own will not to instead let him do as he wish and even helping him. Mi and Geng were two marvellous people, how could someone hate them only by their origins.
Siwon was walking in the room with Geng clutching at him in despair. He was holding his precious treasure as close he could but he was totally unable to say a single thing. He couldn’t come with something to say that would calm down the still shaking and crying man. He could only hope that it would end soon… because Geng would be totally exhausted for the ceremony.
“Kyuhyunnie? Mimi?”
Mr. Cho had arrived, entering the room slowly. He apparently knew something was wrong as he asked no questions about Siwon holding a man as old as himself in his arms like he would do with a child. Geng was still weeping, shaking just as much, but his sobs were weaker, which gave some hope to Siwon. For Kyuhyun and Mi, the arrival of the Cho head was a huge relief.
“Hey, Appa…”
“Appa! You came earlier than what Kuixian told about!”
Siwon bit his lip and looked elsewhere. He was almost jealous of the relation between Kyuhyun and his father… the way Mr. Cho was open toward the Choice, the way he accepted Mi, who even had the right to call him “Appa”, as if he was family. How Siwon wished that he could offer that to Geng…
“I know I shouldn’t be here as Siwon haven’t presented his chosen one to us yet… but I heard an argument between Mr. Choi and our dear, dear Heechul… Something about money?”
“He doesn’t want to pay Geng’s parents…”
Siwon had been covering Geng’s head with the blanket, knowing about the fact that tradition wanted the chosen one to be kept the most secret possible until the presentation ceremony was made. However, if the presentation ceremony wasn’t to be held…
“Do you mind… if I saw him?”
Right before Siwon had the time to say that Geng needed time and some tranquility, Heechul barged in the room, his famous “victory smirk” flashing all around.
“Get ready, folks, we are having both a ceremony AND full payment to the parents of this marvel…. And damn, Wonnie… stop cooing at him like with a baby!”
“I’m not cooing at him, ‘chul…” Siwon sighed
“I know… but look at his face now that I said it…”
Geng pouted, getting calmer although his eyes were still watery. Heechul really always knew what to say whatever the situation and Siwon was envious of that capacity.
Mr. Cho cleared his throat and pointed the door, indicating that him and the other members of his family would go so Heechul could finish planning with the two lovers. As soon as they were the three of us on their own, they took place on Siwon’s bed, Geng being held protectively by the heir as Heechul got a sheet out.
“So now we have to go to the carriage. The both of you will sit in it… it’s a bit windy, so it’s the best occasion for Geng to keep his blanket with him…”
The three of them smiled at the mention of the blanket, as they all knew how meaningful and important it was. They needed it to make sure that Geng would be at ease during the day, and he also needed Siwon,s presence by his side.
“I decided that it would be better for people to see you pass as you go to Geng’s parents’ house than making a use meeting at the market place… I think you prefer it that way, don’t you, Geng?”.
The nod was quick and overly made, the interrogated wanting to show very clearly what he wanted. It made Heechul laugh and Siwon whispered in the ear closest to his mouth that Geng was totally irresistible, which made the concerned one shiver. Couldn’t Siwon choose another word than that? The tradition executor hadn’t seemed to see what happened between the lovers as he went on.
“We guys will be waiting for your arrival at the corner of the Hans’ house. I’ll go meet your parents before, Geng… you mind?”
The interrogated man shook his head slowly, which surprised Siwon. Geng wasn’t the type to trust easily… he trusted Siwon a little bit too much, that was true… but he was incredibly wary of Kyuhyun and even more of Mi. Leeteuk had bought his love by bringing Rider. But Heechul? It is true that he did protect Geng against Mr.Choi…
But Geng’s face was showing something that Heechul certainly couldn’t see… but Siwon could. Something was scaring Geng…
“Heechul… We… we don’t know what Geng’s father thinks of Geng leaving the house to come with me… I fear that he may have excessive reactions…”
A smirk and a more than assured look.
“I’ll deal with it”
Siwon’s father had stayed with that unpleasant expression on his face for the entire trip to and inside the village, people getting out of their house to see who got chosen. Boys who had been kept in the secret about the Choice now knew about it and were envious of Geng. Quite a normal reaction, everyone would have wanted to be chosen so they would be able to get their families out of misery… Some girls had been crying, saying that losing Siwon like that was such a waste and how they would have wanted him to kiss them a least once before he had to follow traditions.
Heechul and Geng’s parents had been waiting in front of the house. Siwon blinked a few times when he spotted Geng’s father… they almost looked the same! There was no way Mr. Han could have said that the sick man nest to Siwon wasn’t his own son, it would have been the worst lie on Earth. Siwon couldn’t help thinking that he was handsome… he wouldn’t mind his lover to look like that when he would be older!
Geng had instantly started crying when the carriage stopped, arms raised toward his father who barely looked at Siwon before taking his son in his arms. There had been some whispering and a few moves as he saw the both of them smile. Geng was clutching at his father’s clothes, crying from the happiness of seeing him after a long time. Han Mama had stayed close, rubbing her son’s back. She then let the two men together, reaching for Siwon with teary eyes.
“He looks so well… you’re taking amazing care of him…”
He took the woman’s hands in his, squeezing a little bit in a way to say thank you.
“Not as much as I hoped I would when I took him with me…”
“He’s so lively… and he looks healthier… and have I seen right?”
Showing the carriage with her chin, her message got straight to her interlocutor who smiled. Surely she would have seen that, she knew her son like no one else could. Siwon smiled instantly, she seemed as surprised as himself had been.
“Yes, he’s able to stay seated on his own. It’s not a long time since he does, though. He still lose his balance now and then.”
“Does he sit by himself too?”
The hope in the woman’s eyes was so evident, so strong… such a will to see her only child have a better condition; Siwon couldn’t help but keep his smile on, even if he was to break those hopes a little bit.
“Currently, no, he doesn’t. However, the person I employed to take care of him when I’m not there told me that he will probably be able to do so with training. His muscles were atrophied, somehow…”
Mrs.Han had no time no answer that her husband called for her.
“Xiaoyun, have you seen how healthy he is? I’m not forcing as much as I used to when I was holding him like that!”
Everyone smiled, aside from Siwon’s father who decided to destroy the family moment. He cleared his throat with lots of exaggeration, which owe him a dark look from Heechul. This simple act seemed to put both Han parents on a “protective mode” of some sort, Mrs. Han being near her husband who was holding his son a little bit tighter. Siwon would have found it rude, if only his father hadn’t been so hard with the Hans over the last two decades. He kind of deserved it.
“There, take the damn money and let’s be over with it.”
He threw a pouch at their feet in a disgusted manner, as if they weren’t worth that he got near them. Mr.Han looked as if he wanted to rip Mr. Choi’s head off, but Geng’s hold on his father calmed the man down. He couldn’t risk doing something that could become harmful to his son.
Heechul sighed and took the pouch from the ground, giving it to Mrs. Han in a delicate banner, smiling at her as if he was trying to be forgiven for Siwon’s father ways to act. However, Heechul’s efforts were in vain as the disgusted, cold tone of the Choi family head came back into their ears.
“Siwon, take him back and we go.”
He closed his eyes when he saw Geng’s eyes filling out with tears once more. The chosen one didn’t seem to like the idea of letting go of his dad… who wasn’t letting him go either. Siwon showed Heechul to go ahead with his father. He would give the family some time together.
“Siwon?”
Turning back towards the Hans, he first spotted the way Geng was smiling at him, soft tears tracks showing on his cheeks. Mrs. Han was smiling at him. Her hand was stretched for him to join them. As he came closer, Geng was put into his arms. Surprised, he nearly dropped his precious one who choked down a laughter fit. Mr. Han patted Siwon’s shoulder with an encouraging smile.
“Take great care of our son. I see that you did so since the beginning… but I swear, if your father does something to him…”
He shivered and felt Geng do the same as Han Mama seemed on the verge of putting her fingers in her ears, clearly not liking the idea that her dearest son could be harmed somehow.
“… I’m taking him back home, and you won’t have anything to say.”
“I understand…”
Geng’s affirmative nod seemed as if he was forcing himself to do so. Siwon smiled, his eyes falling on the blanket which had stayed on the seat of the carriage all along. It only meant that the ill one felt truly safe, how couldn’t he, anyway, while being with both his parents and his lover?
We go now?
“You’re ready?”
He didn’t want Geng to go until he was really ready. Who knows when was the next time he would be able to see his father… Both Han parents, however, were making gestures of “go away”, and smiled. It made Geng drop a laugh.
I’m ready… If I stay longer, I’ll want to stay.
As Siwon was seating Geng back in the carriage, placing the blanket on the man’s shoulders, Mrs. Han opened the pouch thrown at them by Siwon’s father. Siwon shivered when he heard some sort of growl get out of Han Papa’s throat.
“Horrible Chois… Why am I not surprised? Such jerks…”
Walking past his wife, the tall man gripped Siwon’s shoulder in a very violent way, turning him around with force that surprised the Choi heir.
Papa, stop it!
Geng looked horrified, wondering why his father was suddenly so aggressive with kind and calm Siwon, who had done nothing to piss off anyone. Siwon himself seemed terrorised, thinking he had done something to Geng had he had no idea about, after all, who could know Geng better than his own parents?
“Have you checked the content of the pouch?!”
No, and he should have. He had no time to answer than Mrs. Han took control of the situation, trying to pull her husband away from Siwon. Geng seemed terrified at the sight of such a scene. How Siwon wished he would never have had to see that…
“Darling, stop it, Siwon has nothing to do with it… you already know everything he did for us! And you also know that his father is a monster!”
“There are only pieces of metal that aren’t coins! You are taking away what we hold the most precious, and we decided to accept the money because we know how much Geng wants to be with you and how much he wishes that the given money makes us live better… so can we at least have that money our son wants us so much to have?!”
Siwon was the one who wanted to smash someone in a wall and that someone was his own father. Seeing that sudden boost of anger in the eyes of the Choi heir, Mr.Han let go of him, evaluating the danger. However, Siwon climbed in the carriage next to Geng, the money-lacking pouch in his hand.
“I’ll bring back the money… or I’ll bring back Geng… but there is no way that I’ll let you be poor in the two senses of the term.”
Geng was gripping his hand and Mr.Han’s features got softer as Mrs. Han wiped the tears that formed in her eyes. No, there had to be some way to help them… He vowed that he would do so, he promised to both Geng and himself that life would be better… and it will be, when he’ll be done with his father.
The ride back home had been quick, but Siwon had been whispering soothing words to his significant one, his other half, who had started crying as soon as they had been away from his parents’ vision. How Siwon wished that Geng wouldn’t have to cry this much… was it the prize to have Geng with him? Making him suffer?
When they arrived at the mansion, Heechul and Leeteuk had been waiting for them to arrive. Leeteuk rushed to see Geng’s state, checking if he was still fit to go to the ballroom to be presented to the Chos and Kims; and wiping his tears, while Siwon was setting things with Heechul.
“He gave no money. Nothing, Heechul… the pouch has meaningless pieces of metal in them… he was supposed to pay Geng’s parents!”
“We’ll have to find a way to convince him another time, then.”
“I’ll convince him… by smashing him into a wall!”
Siwon’s sudden aggressively seemed to shake even Heechul, who slapped him with such strength that the tallest’s head turned at the force of the impact. Siwon held his cheek, wondering what that was for. It wasn’t as if he intended to push his childhood friend into the wall; that was his father he wanted to do that to.
“You idiot! You’re terrifying Geng! Can you please calm yourself down? Aish! So troublesome”
Geng was indeed looking at him with wide eyes, Leeteuk holding the foreigner by his shoulders, the two of them waiting for Siwon to pick Geng up to take him inside the house. Even if Heechul and Siwon were at a good distance from them, it hadn’t been enough for the two to be unheard. The Choi heir sighed and went to the carriage with a soft smile.
“It’s okay, Geng… let’s go?”
Where is Rider?
“You’re afraid of my father now, aren’t you?”
Yes…
“Leeteuk, is the dog in my quarters?”
“Yes”
Geng crossed his arms and shot Siwon a dark look when he heard his lover say “the dog” instead of the puppy’s name. To be forgiven, Siwon gave him a soft kiss as he picked him up, rubbing his back in an attempt to blow the stress away. Geng was still as tense, and Siwon knew that all the kisses and backrubs in the world would change nothing in the current situation.
“I’ll go change Geng into his second set of clothes, and we’ll find you guys at the ballroom. Heechul, please tell everyone that they don’t have to wait for long. Leeteuk, you are off until tonight, you can go spend some time at home.”
The two others nodded and went in their respective directions. Siwon, however, took the time to put the blanket on his lover, both to calm him down and to hide him from the people they could meet while reaching for the heir’s quarters. They had no right to see him until they entered the huge ballroom.
As soon as Siwon opened the main door of his quarters, he heard the sounds of those paws coming very quickly, before the puppy appeared at his feet, yapping and tail swinging like no end. His front paws were on Siwon’s leg, as if he was saying “Give me my owner back!”.
“There, there, Rider… Geng needs to be changed… You be a good boy and wait. We’ll bring you downstairs with us, okay?”
If there was something Siwon couldn’t complain about, it was how bright and obedient the little fur ball was. He had followed them to the bedroom, and as soon as Siwon laid Geng on the bed, Rider climbed on the foot of it and curled up on himself, waiting.
Letting his lover gain some rest, the Choi heir started by changing his own clothes. He didn’t have much to do, he only needed to change his shirt and coat, and his pants remained the same. Geng was the one who changed his outfit for a completely different one. From formal yet not a little bit casual clothes, the chosen one was now wearing white from head to toe. Even the little slippers Mi had found for Geng were white. He looked like and angel… or a human miracle? Nevermind… he looked absolutely perfect.
You look like you want to eat me…
“You let me give you a kiss, then?”
Silly…
Their kiss at been long but soft, Geng trying to keep Siwon very close, but they had to go. Siwon gave a sad smile to his love before taking the blanket and put it around the frail shoulders of the one who depended on it so much. The soft colors of the fabric fitted perfectly with Geng’s white clothes. Even sick… the man now cradled in Siwon’s arms arm was the incarnation of perfection.
As soon as Siwon got up from the bed, Rider jumped down from the piece of furniture, following very closely, the heir swore he felt those little paws fall on his heels a couple of times. He wouldn’t mind the dog presence, though… Geng would need an extra protection.
Their entrance in the ballroom had been greeted with a lot of claps, people congratulating Siwon for finally being a man, having chosen someone. Geng seemed terrified when they entered, his agoraphobia kicking in. Siwon knew it would happen, and that was the principal reason why both the blanket and the puppy were there. Geng needed as much support as he could have.
Siwon’s mother, dressed in the most sumptuous dress Siwon ever saw her in, reached for them first, putting a hand on her son’s cheek. Were those…tears in her eyes?
“Mother…?”
“It’s okay… You’re just… growing up quicker than I thought…”
From Geng’s frown, Siwon had the confirmation that his mother was lying… she was hiding something. Great, more stuff to stress up the frail foreigner. However, the woman smiled before taking one of Geng’s hands and muttering, so her husband won’t hear her:
“My son did an incredible Choice… you are perfectly suited for him…”
Both lovers’ eyes opened wide, which made the woman laugh a little bit behind her hand. She then put the other hand on her son’s arm, showing him a huge seat in the corner of the room.
“You told be that you wanted somewhere for Geng to rest… but it’s more like you will need to rest, you won’t be able to carry him around for the whole evening…”
“I will”
Geng’s breath showed that he was laughing, which made Rider bark happily. Siwon’s mother spotted the little beast presence and started laughing.
“You think he can bite your father?”
“Probably?”
“Okay”
Why was his mother saying bad things about his father? Did they had an argument? It was known that they usually didn’t think the same way, and Siwon’s mother was acting very capricious when her husband wasn’t doing what she wanted. They probably had an argument before the ceremony…
People finally calmed down with their clapping and Siwon took it as the cue to go to the huge, comfy seat that had been prepared for Geng. His careful sat his lover, taking his hands in a reassuring manner (he heard a few ladies sigh at the sight), and waited for the trembling to calm down. Why was Geng so afraid? Because Siwon wouldn’t hold him all along?
Kyuhyun was the first to appear behind them, Mi by his side. Taking the tall foreigner hand, however, was a little girl, looking all shy.
“Ahra, sweetie, there’s nothing to be afraid of… look, there’s a puppy there!”
Both Siwon and Geng looked surprised. Was Kyuhyun… turning into goo when he had his little sister with him? What was that soft voice and the little names?! Mi crouched himself with the little girl, Rider coming to them with curiosity, sniffing hands and licking, making the little girl laugh. Siwon remembered when his own little sister had that age… where was Jiwon, to begin with?
Kyuhyun had just left them that Siwon saw his father. Determined to tell him what he thought in front of everyone, so his father would really act the right way, caring for his image, Siwon patted the puppy who was proudly guarding and told him.
“Now, Rider, you watch over Geng for me, okay? If anyone does something that can harm Geng, you bite… I won’t be angry at you… you bite and you don’t let go, okay?”
An affirmative bark. That dog was truly intelligent.
“I’ll be back Geng, no worry… hold your blanket, ‘kay?”
An affirmative nod this time. No wonder why dog and owner where canalising so much…
“Father!”
It didn’t took long for Siwon to end up face to face with his father. He raised his voice on purpose…
“Why did you trick Geng’s parents?! You didn’t pay them!”
Offended whispers rose in the room, Heechul’s sigh clearly audible in the mass of sounds. Siwon saw Kyuhyun, who had been chatting with the Kim heir, Yesung… he looked as much pissed as Siwon was. Yesung, holding close a petite man who had feminine features, had a scandalised look written all over his face.
“Can you talk about it later?!”
“NO! You’ve been in the way ever since my Choice had been made”
“It’s my right!”
“IT ISN’T!”
“Oh yeah, then my boy, if you think that I don’t know how to get rid of your so precious chosen one of yours…”
Shoving Siwon aside, the tall young man falling on the ground, the Choi head walked ‘til he reached Geng’s seat. The foreign man looked terrified, and everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath. Even Rider was growling menacingly.
“and do you think seriously that they are poor? Have you not seen THAT?!”
With his exclamation, he tugged at the blanket, taking it away from Geng. Siwon felt his world crumble as a panic attack hit his lover before he had the time to reach for him.
“GENG!”