checkmate
Chess AU. “I push you against the wall, baby, checkmate...” - “Nobody Knows”, THSK
Pairings: Jaechun, Homin, slight Yunjae
Rated: PG-14 for suggestive themes
~
“My lord,” Junsu ventures cautiously, raising his head slightly from his kneeling position on the floor in front of the ebony thrones. His black-gloved hands twitch nervously, with no sword sheathed at his hip to grasp. He had removed it when he was granted an audience with the king, only to be forced to wait indefinitely as the king was occupied with the imminent battle.
Jaejoong looks up from scrutinizing the battle plans yet again. “Speak, rook."
Junsu swallows. “I...bring a message from your bishop Kibum.”
Jaejoong nods at him to go on, his full attention now focused on Junsu. “What does he say? Has he seen the culmination of the battle today?”
“I must beg your pardon for the tidings I bring, my lord.” Junsu bows his head again, his voice barely above a whisper. “They are cursed.”
The queen gasps. “My lord-” he starts, alarmed.
“Hush, Yoochun,” Jaejoong commands him, without looking away from Junsu. “Tell me the full message. There must be something else.”
“Black will not win the battle today,” Junsu reports with dread. “White has an audacious plan, one that no one can foresee. Kibum says it must have been sealed by both White Bishops. Yet...” Junsu trails off, equally curious about Kibum’s cryptic next words. “He says also...White will not triumph. Not today.”
Jaejoong considers the message, brows furrowed. “Very well,” he says finally, as the rising sun shines in through the tall narrow windows. “You may leave, Junsu.”
When the door has closed behind Junsu, Jaejoong turns back to Yoochun. “My queen, what do you think?”
Yoochun glances at the battle plans once again, long graceful fingers shifting the figurines back and forth. “I think... we should carry through. Perhaps there is some other development Kibum cannot foresee. And it would not do to appear as cowards.”
“Well spoken,” Jaejoong murmurs with pride, stroking gently down Yoochun’s back, over the scar that speaks of how Yoochun had long ago as a mere pawn taken a near-fatal blow for his king. Jaejoong was so moved by the sacrifice that he took Yoochun as queen.
“Will I lose you today, my lord?” Yoochun asks softly, gazing at Jaejoong with worry.
“I cannot promise you anything,” Jaejoong replies sadly, pressing a soft kiss to Yoochun’s full lips. “If I could I would never leave your side.”
“I know,” Yoochun whispers, and sighs. His crown materializes heavy and lustrous on his dark hair.
Outside, the troops are gathering. Today, they will march on White.
~
“My lord, the Black army approaches,” the knight reports, head bowed, kneeling before the twin ivory thrones. Ara is dressed in all white except for the gilded crimson splash of the insignia emblazoned on her shoulder that marks her as a powerful knight.
Yunho nods in acknowledgement and dismisses her. She leaves the room so that he can converse in private with his queen.
Changmin appears worried, sitting straight-backed in his throne with his hands resting gently over the sides. “My lord, you must not fight today,” he murmurs respectfully as he stands and turns to kneel before Yunho’s throne. He knows what Yunho wants to accomplish today. It is more than just guaranteeing the victory of the White, and it is infinitely more dangerous.
Yunho rises, drawing Changmin to him. “Have you no faith in me?” he asks gently. “Siwon has foretold that I will succeed in my endeavor, my queen.”
Changmin bows his head slightly, comforted by the searing warmth of Yunho’s large hands on the small of his back. “I believe in you,” he replies simply.
Yunho is silent in thought for a few moments, the castle around them bustling as the troops prepare for battle. “You must stay with me, at least in the beginning,” he tells Changmin decisively, tipping his queen’s chin up to look him in the eyes. “You are much too important. I cannot lose you.”
Changmin nods in understanding. He leans in and kisses Yunho gently as the White Queen’s mantle materializes around his slim body.
The troops are gathered already when Yunho strides out onto the field, his crown glittering in the noonday sun. A hush falls over the ranks as they quickly assume their rightful places. It looks almost as if there are strict squares drawn on the lush grass, invisible to the eyes of the soldiers.
Yunho looks out over his dominion and smiles when he notes the line of darkness on the horizon that marks the Black troops. Today, finally, White is ready to triumph.
~
Jaejoong draws his sword and the army follows, saluting White as is the custom.
Yunho lifts his sword, and it glitters in the sun as he orders his soldiers forward.
Junsu stills his trembling hands and charges forth, fighting valiantly.
Changmin holds back, standing next to Yunho tall and regal.
Yoochun lets Jaejoong’s hand fall from his own and steps out into the field.
Yunho looks out over the field, seeing his opening, and nods to Changmin.
Changmin takes his first step onto the field and lets Yunho slip past him.
Jaejoong watches with concern gleaming in his eyes as Yoochun fights for him.
Junsu bites his lip with fear as his adjacent rook falls at the hand of a bishop.
Yoochun fails to notice the rook behind him until Jaejoong shouts to him.
Jaejoong sacrifices a knight to spare Yoochun from the White attack.
~
Yunho slips through the ranks with Changmin and Ara behind him, protecting him from assault. His gaze never wavers from the target of his attack.
Jaejoong stays almost motionless, moving only when White threatens his position. Yoochun is wielding his power effectively out in the middle of the fighting, taking down soldier after soldier.
Junsu blocks Yunho’s path when he is less than five paces from Jaejoong. Changmin wordlessly engages the rook in a dance that keeps Yunho’s path open. Ara follows Yunho dutifully as he makes his way toward the Black King.
Jaejoong turns too late and backs away from Yunho’s advance. Yoochun is blocked by too many soldiers to make it back soon enough. Junsu is trapped against the other edge of the field by Changmin.
Yunho approaches Jaejoong calmly, backing him into the corner of the field. He can almost feel the fear tightening Jaejoong’s figure when he realizes he is trapped.
Yunho takes one last step, close enough for him to rest his hands on Jaejoong’s slim waist. “Checkmate,” he murmurs, as the colors of their armor swirl together.
Jaejoong closes his eyes and surrenders to Yunho’s touch. The body of the Black King shimmers and shifts as it meets the White King’s, and Yunho smiles in triumph. Never before has a king claimed the opposing king this way, and it will not happen again. Across the field, colors are shifting until the only smudge of black is Yoochun.
But just as Ara prepares to take Yoochun down, a dark mist sweeps through the field, obscuring her vision. She turns in surprise, searching in the darkness for the figures of her king and queen.
She hears Changmin’s shout of “Yunho!” high and terrified, before Junsu cries out as well. Running footsteps, a muffled heavy thump, and she falls into a deeper darkness.
~
Yunho tries to open his eyes, to move, but he finds that he can’t. He hears whispers around him, and tries to make sense of them.
He won’t die, someone says calmly. He’s too strong for that.
I told you he’s got too much will of his own, another voice mutters.
Well, what do you suggest we do? yet another voice retorts. Other than some admittedly foolish decisions he makes on his own, we’ve got no problem with his will. He needs it to act as a strong leader.
Take the others away from him, the previous voice suggests immediately. Yunho doesn’t know what they’re talking about, but he doesn’t like this idea at all.
No, the second voice says, and Yunho feels relief sweep through him. Somehow, he knows that this second voice is the one who will have the final say. I can’t do that. At least, not yet. Perhaps in a few years...
The first voice scoffs. You’ll never catch your opportunity if you keep waiting.
We shall see, the second voice says firmly, ending the argument. Yunho hears them move away, before he falls back into blissful darkness again.
Somewhere in the depths of his mind, he hears a familiar beautiful voice murmur to him. You’d better wake up soon, Jung Yunho. Junsu won’t stop crying and Changmin is refusing to eat anything. A quiet laugh as Yunho makes an attempt to stir when he hears Changmin’s name. It’s really hard being a single parent, yeobo. There’s silence for some time, and Yunho’s unable to tell if it’s a few seconds or several hours. I have something to give you when you wake up. I should’ve given it to you a long time ago.
~
When Yunho finally wakes up, he realizes that he is a mere pawn, at the mercy of his king. The only thing he can control is the promise ring tight on his little finger, and the love of the man who wears the other half of the ring.
Jaejoong is blindingly beautiful, with a voice sweet like honey. Yunho is almost jealous sometimes of the love Jaejoong has for Yoochun, the one that everyone jokes has a soul dark as night. Junsu is the exact opposite of his Yoochun, bright and cheerful even in the darkest of circumstances. And Changmin, their youngest, their baby, always wonders why he belongs with them but, in reality, is the one that holds them together.
The five of them are the head of every attack, and they bring home victory after victory.
Yet misfortune strikes when their king makes a deal with their opponent-a tribute in exchange for peace. The opposing king wants three of their vanguard pawns.
Yunho tries his hardest not to be separated from any of his group, but the king refuses to listen to his pleas.
Jaejoong smiles bravely at him, and turns to the king. “I’ll go,” he says.
Yoochun nods. “Me too.”
Junsu bites his lip. He glances back at Yunho and Changmin, seemingly torn. Then, slowly, he steps forward.
Changmin embraces Jaejoong for the first time in too long. “I’ll take care of Yunho for you,” he promises in a whisper.
Yunho holds back his tears. “Don’t look back,” he tells the others.
Changmin holds Yunho at his side protectively, and they watch as the other three disappear in the distance.
Yunho looks out over the field, and waits for the day when they will be reunited.