[KPOP RPS] One shot: Greyscale {super junior}
Jungsu’s handler smirked at him as Youngwoon stalked over.
“A fine purchase, Sir.” The handler said, his voice dripping a smarmy sincerity that made Youngwoon’s eyes twitch. “I’m sure you will be very pleased, would you like to look him over?” The handler stepped to one side and gestured for Youngwoon to go ahead, to look, to touch. Youngwoon didn’t want to, he didn’t want to go and poke and prod, he didn’t want to touch Jungsu the way he was now. It felt wrong. It felt too much like taking advantage…no, it was exactly like taking advantage. Jungsu couldn’t say no, wouldn’t say no. Jungsu wouldn’t slap his hand away and smile that dimpled smile of his. Jungsu wouldn’t laugh if Youngwoon were to touch that sensitive spot on his neck, the one that never failed to make Jungsu shiver in delight.
Oh god. Youngwoon wasn’t going to cry, he wasn’t.
The handler’s expression took on a patronising lilt and he sneered at Youngwoon like he thought Youngwoon was touched in the head. Youngwoon took a deep breath, and another one. He could do this, he could. He coughed, cleared his throat and took one step forward and then another and then another, walking was easy once he remembered how. And then he was standing in front of Jungsu. Youngwoon reached out a faltering hand and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Jungsu’s ear. A gentle, tender touch. Jungsu’s hair was soft and fashionably cut. Whoever had styled him had dyed his hair brown, it had been a honey blonde before. Not his natural colour but it had suited him, Youngwoon had always liked it.
A sudden hand on his shoulder made him start and he cursed under his breath, embarrassed.
“Something’s wrong.” Kibum said. Yeah, this whole situation was wrong. Kibum hadn’t been long with the accountant, Youngwoon didn’t know if that was a bad sign or not. Youngwoon turned around to look at Kibum, out of the corner of his eye Youngwoon could see the handler, hovering, looking almost like he was waiting to snatch Jungsu back from him. Concern marred Kibum’s expression, Youngwoon’s heart dropped into his stomach.
“What is it?” Youngwoon asked, he pitched his voice low so that the handler wouldn’t over hear, but the awful mad leaned in closer to them, his expression eager.
“It should have happened by now.” Kibum’s voice sounded strained, worried. Shit.
“Is there a problem, Sirs’?” The handler asked, stepping forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture.
“No.” Kibum said firmly. He grabbed hold of Youngwoon’s arm and pulled him away. Youngwoon didn’t want to go too far from Jungsu so he dug in his heals and jerked out of Kibum’s grip.
“What the fuck are you talking about? It should have happened by now? What should have happened by now?”
Kibum shrugged. A jerky, helpless little motion that looked wrong coming from Kibum, Kibum who was usually so calmly confident.
“Kyuhyun’s virus.” Kibum said. “It should have taken hold by now, I don’t know what’s going on up there but if all went to plan then Kyuhyun’s virus should have overloaded the main process server and…”
There was a bot lying on the mound of cushions piled next to them. A girl, she had to be no more than eighteen years old, Youngwoon had noticed her when he’d come in, but only because he’d almost tripped over her. He’d dismissed her almost instantly because she wasn’t Jungsu. He paid attention to her now, though. She started to cry. At first it was a low keening that grew to a wail. Youngwoon could only stare at her, unsure of what to do. She sounded like she was in pain. Other bots around her started to cry, to keen, to wail, to sob. Youngwoon looked at Jungsu, fear stole his breath as Jungsu brought his hands up to his ears and screamed.
“Huh.” Kibum huffed. “False alarm. It’s working now.”
“What’s happening to them?”
“They’re waking up.”
The noise was painful. Worst of all was listening to Jungsu screaming. Youngwoon crossed back to him in just a few steps, he moved to grab Jungsu’s arms, to pull Jungsu to him. The handler tried to intercept him and so Youngwoon took this opportunity to kick the fucker in the balls. The handler fell to his knees, the perfect position for Youngwoon to knee him in the face. The handler went down and he didn’t get up. Youngwoon pulled Jungsu to him, Jungsu didn’t resist but he didn’t stop screaming either. He trembled in Youngwoon’s arms and he screamed and screamed until his voice was raw and the endless cry came out as only a hiss.
Youngwoon fumbled in his shirt, tried to reach for his concealed gun without jostling Jungsu too much. His fingers curled around the cool metal of the barrel and he pulled it out and fired twice. Downing two bodyguards before they could get within reach of them. Youngwoon didn’t know if they were Tower security or some rich shit’s private guard. He didn’t care. He held the gun up and steady, daring anyone else to try and take him, to try and take Jungsu from him. People were running, people were screaming and Kibum was in the middle of the melee, knives out, blood dripping from the blades.
Shit, the guy was scary.
“Youngwoon!” Kibum called out. “It’s time to go.”
Kibum slipped one of his knives into a sheath on his belt, freeing up one of his hands. He reached down gripped the arm of the crying girl, hauling her up from her bed of pillows. Kibum pushed the girl forward, she stumbled, looking around herself in wide eyed fright.
“Run.” Kibum ordered. The girl whimpered then took off running for the door.
Youngwoon’s world was in chaos, the only thing that felt remotely real was the warm body quivering in his arms. Jungsu had stopped screaming now and for that Youngwoon would be forever grateful. The room was starting to clear, the newly awakened bots were starting to calm down, but some still sat shuddering and crying, some stared into space like nothing was happening. The Tower security were either dead or running to find the security breach. The private security and bodyguards were more concerned with getting their charges out and they hustled out of the room, out of the Tower, leaving their purchases behind. Kibum started shoving the abandoned bots towards the exit, Youngwoon followed behind, carefully pulling Jungsu along with him.
“We have to find the others.” Kibum called out. Kibum was clear across the small auction room before Youngwoon had cleared the door and the younger man was off through the exit door and down the cramped corridor. Youngwoon had no hope of catching up to him, not without forcibly dragging Jungsu along. He caught a fleeting look at Kibum’s back just as he turned a corner, Kibum had his phone pressed to his ear and Youngwoon assumed (hoped) he was calling Donghae to come and get them. Youngwoon remembered Donghae’s determined wish to get all the bots out of the Tower, not just their friends-but Youngwoon had no idea how they were going to do that. Youngwoon held Jungsu tighter, he’d got what he’d come for.
Youngwoon found Kibum in the main lobby, he’d been joined by Siwon and the two of them were engaged in a knock down, drag out fight with half of Tower security. Youngwoon looked around, he didn’t see any sign of Kyuhyun or Jongwoon.
“Where are they?” Youngwoon called out, he didn’t have to say who he was looking for.
No one answered him, they didn’t need to. There was a shout from the main entrance and Donghae fought his way through the retreating crowd to get to them. Two security goons broke of from the fight to attack him but with a few lightning quick punches Donghae downed the both of them.
“Donghae, get out of here. You‘re supposed to wait at the delivery entrance.” Kibum shouted, Donghae just flipped him off. “Shit.” Kibum cursed as he slashed at another guard. Pushing the body away from him he grabbed hold of Donghae’s hand and took off running. “Go, go, go.” He shouted and Youngwoon made to follow, to run almost back the way he had come. The delivery entrance was at the back of the building, it was next to the way that Siwon and Jongwoon had brought Kyuhyun in. The delivery entrance was located on the basement floor, the stairwell that would lead down to that floor was next to the auction room and that’s where Youngwoon tried to head. Jungsu tripped, stumbled and went down. Youngwoon still had his arms around Jungsu’s waist, he wasn’t expecting the sudden fall and he hit the floor along with Jungsu. Jungsu whimpered and curled in on himself, one hand went out to clutch at the lapel of Youngwoon’s suit coat. The touch was exploratory, unsure. Trembling, slender fingers gripped at the soft material, Jungsu squinted his eyes in confusion, like he wasn’t sure what he was seeing. Jungsu blinked, shook his head, looked up, looked at Youngwoon.
“Youngwoon?” He mouthed, his voice a barely there whisper.
“Oh god.” Youngwoon felt his breath coming in short gasps, his hands, his whole body began to shake with relief. “Jungsu.”
“Youngwoon? What’s going on?”
Youngwoon opened his mouth to answer, but he wasn’t sure what to say. How was he supposed to explain this now, they were supposed to be escaping.
“Hi.” Kibum said with a tight smile, he gripped Jungsu under the arm and hauled him up. Siwon gripped Youngwoon’s shoulder and pulled him up as well. “Jungsu, right?” Jungsu nodded, the motion was jerky and awkward. “Welcome back, we have to go now.” Then Kibum was off and running, Youngwoon grabbed Jungsu’s arm and followed. It wasn’t until he’d reached the stairwell that he noticed that Siwon hadn’t followed with them. He stopped and turned, Jungsu pressed close to him. He looked down the corridor but saw nothing. He knew he should keep going, he had to get Jungsu out of here, it was what he’d come to do, it was all he came to do. He looked at Jungsu, looked into his confused and terrified eyes and he knew that Jungsu would never forgive him if he just left the rest of them behind. Youngwoon faltered, he didn’t know what he should do, he couldn’t go back there and take Jungsu with him and he couldn’t leave Jungsu behind on his own. Jungsu was still half out of it, scared, confused. Youngwoon couldn’t leave him, didn’t want to.
He heard the sound of running feet coming from somewhere just out of sight. The corridor was long with many turns, this whole place was one fucking maze, he couldn’t see who was coming. Fearful of it being more guards trying to stop them Youngwoon pushed Jungsu behind him, pulled out his gun stood ready to face whoever was coming for them. It was Jongwoon and Kyuhyun. They had three men with them, though they were more like boys to Youngwoon. Youngwoon recognized one of them as Sungmin. Youngwoon had only met him briefly before Sungmin had been caught and pressed into bot service and had become their spy in the Tower. One of the remaining two had to be Ryeowook, whom Youngwoon had never met. Youngwoon guessed that Ryeowook was the one being pulled along in Jongwoon’s wake. The Third man with them was clinging to Kyuhyun like he was a lifeline, he was awkwardly tall and stumbled as he tried to keep up. Coming up fast behind them was a group of young men and women. They were running haphazardly, arms flailing, they had the lost look of sheep being herded and sure enough there was Siwon running behind them, urging them forward.
Shit, there was a lot of them. All they had for transport was Heechul’s van and the car. Both were a good size but there wasn’t going to be enough room for everyone if they took all of these newly awakened bots with them.
“Go.” Siwon ordered when he reached them, he urged everyone through the stairwell doors and down to the delivery entrance.
||
Youngwoon should have known that between them Kibum and Donghae would have it covered. Even now, even amidst the battle chaos Youngwoon didn’t fully trust them, probably because he didn’t fully trust himself.
There was a Tower transport vehicle running and ready to go. Youngwoon thought that someone-probably Kibum-had hotwired it, transport vehicles needed a special key that only the Transport guards had and Youngwoon hadn’t’ seen any Transport guards. That worried him. The glorified truck idled at the loading bay, it’s giant doors yawned open and Kibum started hustling people inside. Jongwoon and Ryeowook went in quickly, Siwon had to take Sungmin’s hand and guide him in. Kid was skittish, almost afraid to take those final steps to freedom, like he didn’t really believe this was happening. Kyuhyun had the most trouble getting into the vehicle, his newly acquired charge seemed reluctant to let go of Kyuhyun’s arm so they had to scramble up the metal steps together in a collection of ungainly limbs.
Youngwoon hesitated. Kibum saw him, watched him from his position next to the open doors and he nodded grimly, his hands sliding down towards the knives sheathed on his belt. Youngwoon knew that Kibum understood his hesitation. This was too easy.
“Let’s get out of here, quickly.” Kibum said and Youngwoon jerked his head in the affirmative.
He couldn’t see Donghae, he must be up front in the truck’s cab. Youngwoon could see by the clenched expression on Kibum’s face that he didn’t like having Donghae so far out of his sight. Youngwoon stood back from the group while Kibum finished loading the freed bots onto the truck, he stood there holding Jungsu. Jungsu smelled like soap and sweat and fear, it stirred something deep in Youngwoon’s gut, a primal, dangerous feeling. It made Youngwoon want to go back and kill anyone who had even thought about touching what was his.
“Youngwoon?” Jungsu said, his voice quiet and unsure. “What’s going on.”
“I came to get you.” Youngwoon said, whispered the words in Jungsu’s ear. “I promised I would. I’m sorry it took so long.”
Jungsu pulled away from him, expression tight. His eyes crinkled in confusion and he seemed to shrink in on himself, pulling away from Youngwoon and looking at his hands.
“I…it was.” Jungsu started to say but his words faltered and faded, he looked down at hands again and then away, looked off to the side, looked of at something Youngwoon couldn’t see. Jungsu started to shake and Youngwoon was suddenly very aware that Jungsu wasn’t wearing very much of anything at all. He slipped off his jacket, wrapped it around Jungsu’s shoulders, Jungsu leaned into it’s warmth. It was far too big, it enveloped Jungsu making him look small and frail, two things Youngwoon knew that Jungsu wasn’t. “I remember all of it.” Jungsu said, his voice was small. Youngwoon didn’t think he wanted to hear this, wasn’t sure that he could keep control of himself if Jungsu told him this. “I waited for you.”
Youngwoon wanted to pull him close, hold him, hold him tight. Fuck the world it could burn down around them, Youngwoon didn’t care.
“Youngwoon!” He heard Kibum call out to him a split second too late. “Get down.”
Time slowed, Youngwoon spun his hands reaching out to push Jungsu down. He didn’t hear the shot but he felt the bullet as it slammed into him, a familiar burning pain. He’d been shot before, it wasn’t fun.
“Shit.” Youngwoon heard Kibum say, but the sound was dulled through his haze of pain, Kibum’s voice sounded muffled and far away. “Fucking perfect.” Kibum grumbled. Youngwoon felt strong hands pull him up, he felt Jungsu clutch at his arm, not really helping to get him up and to the truck but not hindering either. Youngwoon was unceremoniously shoved into the back of the truck, the movement jostled his wounded leg and he groaned, his face mashed into the cold metal floor. Someone else pulled him further inside, he felt hands on his leg staunching the flow of blood with something that felt soft but scratchy, Youngwoon thought it might have been the jacket he’d just given Jungsu.
“Youngwoon.” Jungsu was kneeling close to him, he clutched his hand in a tight grip that almost hurt. “Youngwoon, stay with me, don’t leave me. Not now.”
Youngwoon tried to stay awake, he really did, but the world around him fuzzed out and faded to black.
||
He came too feeling like he’d been shot in the chest instead of the leg. He couldn’t breathe, a heavy weight rested on his chest and Youngwoon tried to push it off, push it away. The weight groaned and batted at his hand.
“Jungsu?” Youngwoon mumbled, he tried to push himself up but didn’t get to move far with Jungsu lying on him the way he was. Moving hurt. Moving hurt a lot. His leg felt like it was on fire, he shifted slightly, tried to accommodate Jungsu’s weight. He hissed in pain when that small movement jolted his leg.
“Ahh, sleeping beauty is awake.” Heechul said. Youngwoon opened his eyes when Heechul pressed a cup into his hand. The cup was warm, the liquid inside was hot, he had no idea what it was but he drank it when Heechul told him to. He set the cup aside when it was empty, the drink felt good as it went down, it didn’t taste that bad and Youngwoon felt better for having drunk something.
Wait, Heechul…?
Youngwoon looked around, he was still in the Tower’s transport vehicle. Now that he was aware of his surroundings he could feel the truck moving, it wasn’t a smooth ride. If he was still in the truck where the hell did Heechul come from? He should be in his van.
“What?” Youngwoon murmured, he tried to push himself up again but Jungsu who was slumped against him protested again, but this time Jungsu shifted his weight off Youngwoon, allowing him to sit up properly.
“How are you feeling?” Heechul asked him.
Youngwoon only grunted. He felt like he’d been shot but he didn’t feel the need to say that, his words would only come out as uncharitable and sarcastic. Instead he said,
“What are you doing here?”
“Lovely to see you too asshole.” Heechul shot back and he walked back up the truck to where Siwon and Sungmin lay curled together. Heechul stood over them for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face, then he turned away, looked back at Youngwoon. “We have to ditch this truck before we head back to base.” Heechul gestured to Youngwoon’s injured leg. “The bullet just grazed you, do you think you’ll be able to walk?”
Youngwoon nodded, he pulled Jungsu to him, relishing the feel of Jungsu in his arms knowing that they were heading away from the Tower and towards…he didn’t know.
Get in, get Jungsu, get out.
He’d done that, he’d done it. He just didn’t know what he was going to do now.
The truck was packed with people, there were more bots then Youngwoon had first thought and now they were all crammed into this small space. Jongwoon and Ryeowook sat together, arms wrapped around each other. Jongwoon looked more at peace than Youngwoon had ever seen him. There was no sign of Kibum among the crowd, Youngwoon figured that he must still be up front with Donghae. Kyuhyun sat opposite him, a small smile on his face. His new charge, the guy that refused to leave Kyuhyun’s side was nestled against him, his face pressed into the curve of Kyuhyun’s shoulder. Youngwoon had to smile, Kyuhyun’s new friend looked to be drooling.
“What happened?” Youngwoon asked Heechul, but it was Jongwoon that answered.
“You were shot by the guards. We got you into the truck and booked it out of there. They followed for a while but then we lost them.”
“We didn’t lose them.” Heechul said irritably. “They stopped following. This thing probably has a tracking device on it hence the ditching of it as soon as we can.” Heechul turned back to Youngwoon. “We’ll be dropping off the bots in about five minutes, Yunho and Jaejoong are taking half, Hongki is taking the other half. Ryeowook, Sungmin are coming with us. Do I even need to ask you if you are going to…” Heechul let the rest of his question trail off, he gestured to Jungsu and Youngwoon understood. Youngwoon glared at him and held Jungsu tighter. “Of course, the more the merrier.” He gave Youngwoon a tight smile and settled himself down next to Siwon. Siwon put an arm around Heechul’s shoulders, kissed his hair. Heechul closed his eyes and leaned briefly into the touch.
“Who’s your new friend?” Youngwoon asked Kyuhyun, Kyuhyun just shrugged.
“No idea, I don’t think he even speaks Korean all that well. Heechul said I could keep him if I wanted, I’m not sure if he was joking or not.” Kyuhyun frowned a little and looked down at the man drooling all over his shoulder.
From the way that the guy was draped all over Kyuhyun, Youngwoon didn’t think that the kid would have any choice in the matter. Kyuhyun reached out and scratched at the back of his neck.
“Stop that.” Youngwoon warned, he made to reach out and slap Kyuhyun’s hand away, an instinctive motion. But Kyuhyun was too far away and Jungsu was too warm against him. He didn’t want to move, his leg hurt, his head hurt, he wanted to back to sleep.
“It won’t take them long to get the main server back online.” Heechul said. “We’ve freed some of the Tower’s victims but there will be more soon, sooner than we’d like to think.”
There was silence. Youngwoon really hadn’t given any thought at all to what he was going to do once he’d got Jungsu back. It was like he’d had blinders on to anything else, to any other possibility. And now…
And now?
“So what do we do now?” Jongwoon asked.
Heechul shrugged, he looked at Youngwoon, he looked determined.
“We go to ground, we recover and then we do this all again.”
Youngwoon nodded. Jungsu was warm, someone had given him a shirt, some warmer pants. It felt good to hold him again. Youngwoon looked down at his leg, it had been crudely bandaged with Youngwoon’s jacket-he’d been right then. It had been shredded into pieces and wrapped around the wound. Youngwoon looked at Jungsu and he smiled. He knew that he could do anything if Jungsu was with him, anything at all.
.end