All That Glitters part 1
Title: All That Glitters
Chapter: 1/?
Pairing: past!HyunJoong/KyuJong
Warnings: AU, angst
Rating: R overall
Summary: HyunJoong is a man of society who must have the latest things, but keeping his latest find could be far more than he had bargained for.
A/N: Christmas present for yeonah <333 Hopefully I'll have this all finished by Christmas xD
If there was one thing that HyunJoong detested it was being outdone. Call it a Jones effect if you will, wanting to make sure you were up to date on the latest and greatest in technology or the newest fads. Not that HyunJoong would ever admit to that of course but when faced with something new that someone else had, he wanted it as well. It wouldn't do if he was the last on the block to have whatever shiny new thing that was popular. He had a reputation to keep of course.
That was the situation he was faced with right at that moment, having been invited to a viewing by someone in his social circle.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, eyeing the fine stringed cage that didn't look like it would hold a mouse let alone what was sitting inside.
"They're calling them Songbirds," was the reply from his left, a younger man with close cropped hair that was constantly falling in his eyes. HyunJoong was sure that was the new hair fashion; he'd have to remember that.
"But what are they, KyuJong," HyunJoong said, stepping closer, eyeing what was inside. "Surely they're not just painting and sticking feathers on a human now are they?"
"I doubt it, but I know nothing of what it is or where it's come from," KyuJong said, leaning up against the wall. "He doesn't speak, he doesn't even move from that seat unless it's to eat."
"It doesn't try to escape? These are just silver strings," HyunJoong said. "I just don't understand how this could hold something so big."
"No, like I said, he doesn't move," KyuJong said. "All he does is sing."
"Huh, how much did you pay for it?" HyunJoong asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He hadn't been there but an hour and already knew he wanted one.
"A tidy sum, but I think it was worth it," KyuJong answered, smiling softly at the Songbird. "He's beautiful, don't you think?"
"Very exotic," HyunJoong agreed, nodding slowly. "I'm not usually a pet person, but this is far too exquisite to pass up."
"I'll get you in touch with the seller then," KyuJong said. "Would you like to hear him sing?"
"Of course," HyunJoong nodded, lips curling upwards when the sharp black eyes looked up at the words. "It understands?"
"Yes, he is very, very smart," KyuJong chuckled. "YoungSaeng, could you sing for us?"
"You named it?" HyunJoong raised an eyebrow. "Careful, you might get attached."
"I didn't name him, he came with a name," KyuJong said softly, touching HyunJoong's arm to quiet him and motioned for YoungSaeng to begin.
The Songbird slowly got to his feet, wings of a gorgeous azure and turquoise spreading out behind him and rustling slightly. His eyes closed briefly as he took a breath before he began to sing.
The voice was unlike anything HyunJoong had ever heard before. There was depth and heights to the music as low as any canyon and high as any mountain. It was the single most hypnotizing and enrapturing thing he had ever bore witness to, and even when the song ended, HyunJoong couldn't help but stare in awe. His heart yearned to hear ore, moving closer unconciously.
"That was amazing," he murmured when he caught his breath, watching the Songbird retake his seat. Light bounced off of the skin, iridescent greens and indigos shimmering and playing tricks with his eyes. How could something be so beautiful?
"Well worth every penny I paid for him," KyuJong nodded slowly.
"I would still like to know what it is though, where it came from," HyunJoong said, glancing at his friend. "And how it is that this cage can hold it."
"Some questions are best left unanswered my friend," KyuJong said solemnly, returning the look. "You may not like the answer."
"You make a fair point," HyunJoong nodded, but it would be a question that would plague him for months to come. "I still want one."
"Come then, I'll get the sellers information and we can have a drink," KyuJong said, motioning HyunJoong toward the door, the older man nodding slowly.
As he took a step towards the door on the side of the room, his eyes caught the Songbird's black eyes. For just the briefest of moments, he heard a song whispering in his mind. The song was heavy, like a dirge, nearly bringing tears to his eyes at the depth of the sadness. It was a song he understood, one he tried not to think about. A song of being alone.
Then it was over. The Songbird's eyes turned away and looked down and HyunJoong nearly staggered at the emotions being bounced around so quickly in his head.
"HyunJoong?" KyuJong was at his side, touching his arm lightly. "Are you ill?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern, and just slightly... expecting.
"No.... no, I'm fine," HyunJoong nodded slowly, finally looking away from the Songbird and back at KyuJong. "Apologies, have been under far too much stress lately. Let's have that drink." He could tell KyuJong didn't buy that response, but ever the gentleman, he said nothing.
Through the rest of the evening, HyunJoong's thoughts were on something other than what was in his drink, or on his plate, or the words coming from KyuJong. Other guests had begun to arrive shortly thereafter, though strangely, KyuJong showed no one else the prized gem he had added to his collection.
If it had been anyone else, HyunJoong would wonder, but KyuJong had always been far too modest in his status. A son born of a wealthy statesman, KyuJong had been shuttled between nannies and boarding school for the better part of his youth, much the same as HyunJoong who had a family legacy in society.
The two had grown close as friends in their preparatory schools, often getting into mischief under the guise of 'youth'. It was a time that HyunJoong cherished in his life, when he truly had been happy and doing as he wished to do, with KyuJong at his side.
None of the attendees of KyuJong's small gathering had no idea that on one winters night, the two boys had lost their innocence to each other in the wood shed. It was a time HyunJoong thought of often when he was around KyuJong in high society, and how casually the man could beguile someone with his kindness and charm. It was one of the few things that HyunJoong envied of the younger, that ability to see the good in everything around him.
How things had changed from those days when they were just kids, playing at being men.
At some point during the evening, HyunJoong had wandered away from the crowd and found himself back in that secluded room, where his only companion was a dark eyed Songbird. Sipping lightly at his drink, HyunJoong walked the perimeter of the cage, feeling that sharp gaze on him. He stopped again in front of the bird, meeting his eyes again. There was no music, no despair, no feeling of loneliness, just a look of intrigue on both their parts, as if they were trying to understand what the other was.
HyunJoong took a small step forward, closer to the stringed web that was the barrier between the. How could something so beautiful, so majestic be confined by simple strings? He lifted his free hand, hesitantly reaching towards the strings, wondering what they were made of.
It was the only reaction he had ever seen from the Songbird, a sharp rustling of feathers as he stood up and reached a hand out toward him. HyunJoong met his eyes again, this time wide and worried as the bird shook its head slowly.
"No? I shouldn't touch?" he asked quietly, his hand stilling, but not dropping.
The bird shook it's head again, wings flapping back and down, a nonverbal cue he didn't understand.
"What happens if I touch it?" he asked.
The birds hands folded against his chest, dropping his chin down and his wings closed around him.
"I'll die?" HyunJoong continued to question, moving his hand away. The Songbird nodded grimly, flapping his wings again in that same back and downward motion. "I don't understand, what does that mean when you do that?"
"Have you ever watched a bird in flight?" A voice from the side startled HyunJoong, nearly dropping his glass. KyuJong was stepping into the room, closing the door behind him.
"No, can't say I have," HyunJoong said, stepping away from the cage.
"If you had, then you would understand what he's saying," KyuJong said, slowly walking towards them, his hands in his pants pockets. "When a bird needs to change direction, or move away from something in midflight, they pump their wings forward, much as he is doing. He's saying, move away. I think it would be wise to do as he says."
"I'll take your word for it," HyunJoong murmured, looking back at the Songbird who had retaken his seat. "Why does it care if I'm hurt?"
KyuJong sighed softly, just enough that HyunJoong could hear it. "You think of him as an animal, but obviously he is not. Even if he's kept in a cage, made to sing on command and sit completely still for hours on end, he still has compassion."
"What is he KyuJong?" HyunJoong asked, watching the other man's expression. "You seem to know more than you're saying."
"Ah, but that's always been the case, hasn't it, HyunJoong?" KyuJong chuckled, glancing over at him. "The party's over, everyone is leaving. I think it's time I retire for the night."
"Are you kicking me out?" HyunJoong's lip quirked slightly as he finished off his drink. "Ah well, I should go anyway. Long dreary day of meetings ahead of me. I had a pleasant time KyuJong, thank you."
"You're welcome, HyunJoong," KyuJong replied, bowing his head slightly. "Good luck in your meetings tomorrow, that is one part of your life I shall never envy."
HyunJoong chuckled softly, stepping towards the door. "Maybe one day I can be like you Kyu, do as I please without a sense of obligation. I should have listened to you."
"It's never too late Hyun," KyuJong replied, hands clasped in front of him as he watched HyunJoong go, his eyes sad. "You can still be what you want to be, but it's your choice."
HyunJoong stopped in the doorway, glancing back at KyuJong with a wry smile. "I know, but I made my choice a long time ago. I'm sorry KyuJong."
"It's all in the past, you don't need to keep apologizing for it," KyuJong said, shaking his head. "I understood then, and I understand now. I'll just always wish more for you."
"I know," HyunJoong said, inclining his head politely to the other man again. "Good night KyuJong," he said, opening the door and stepping out into the hall.
"Goodnight HyunJoong," KyuJong replied, sighing heavily as he turned around. The songbird had stood up again, his head tilted to the side in question. "No, I'm not explaining," he said to the bird, shaking his head. "All I'm going to say is I fall in love with the wrong ones."
That saddened the Songbird, his wings drooping to touch the floor. KyuJong just chuckled softly. "It's okay, it's not your fault. But I think he'll do well, don't you?" A small smile curled on the bird's face and he nodded, feathers fluffing up on his wings. "Well, I'm going to bed, are you sure you are comfortable here? I can have other arrangements made."
Eyes closing, the bird shook his head slowly before looking up out the window above their heads. He made a soft trilling noise in despair, wings wrapping around his body as he sat back down on his chair.
"I know, soon though. Goodnight, YoungSaeng," KyuJong said, sighing heavily as he turned away and left the bird gazing forlornly up at the stars overhead.
**********
The next few days for HyunJoong was a dizzying amount of meetings and paperwork and all kinds of other things he had no desire to deal with. His work was boring, and mindless, but it was the family business. A business started generations ago by his grandfather's grandfather. What had started as a small accounting office had turned into a billion dollar empire, his company owning everything from banks to department stores and brokerages in several different countries. He was sure there was a list somewhere of all the subsidiaries he owned, but he knew it listed in the hundreds.
Sometimes, he thought about liquidating it all and returning to that small office where they had got their start. Unfortunately, that wasn't his call to make.
Fortunately for him, his day at the office was ending early thanks to his secretary being clever enough to set up an appointment with the Songbird dealer during a board of trustees meeting that he probably needed to attend (though would have slept through it as usual).
"I'll be out for the rest of the day," he said to the man holding his schedule book, signing some last minute papers before getting up. "I'll call you to let you know if I'll be in at all tomorrow, though I doubt it."
"You do have meetings scheduled though, sir," the man said, frowning down at his book.
"Guess you'll have to cancel them," HyunJoong said, closing the folder file he'd been working on and getting to his feet. "Have any messages forwarded to the house, but don't interrupt me unless it's an emergency."
"Very well, sir," the assistant sighed, bowing at the waist. "The checkbook, as you have asked for," he said, handing HyunJoong a thin leather bound book. "What do I say if your father asks...?"
HyunJoong frowned, pulling on his coat before taking the book. "Tell him it's a personal matter, and if he presses the matter, then you can tell him I'm making an investment."
"Understood, though I hope for all our sakes he doesn't notice your absence," the assistant said, following HyunJoong to the door.
"He's too busy flirting with his secretary these days to notice anything," HyunJoong rolled his eyes. "It's a good thing he doesn't actually do anything around here anymore or nothing would get done."
"Yes, but he's still technically your boss, and mine," the assistant said, pursing his lips a little. "One of these times he's going to figure out that you've gone behind his back and rehired everyone he's fired over the past year."
"One of these times is not today, no need to worry," HyunJoong laughed. "You're just lucky he's bad with remembering faces. How many times has he fired you now? Three?"
"Twice, and I do not want to make it a third," the other man huffed, falling in step just behind him as they headed to the elevators. "After three times, I'm sure he'll remember my face at that point."
"Don't worry, I won't let him fire you permanently, you're too essential in my office," HyunJoong said, pressing the call button. "You know if we keep talking about him he's going to show up. Go back to work, keep pushing those papers around your desk. I'll see you in a few days."
"Yes, sir," the other man said, bowing again, leaving HyunJoong to enter the elevator alone. Leaning up against the wall, he rubbed at his eyes, willing the tiredness to ease. So much expected from him, yet constantly being shadowed by his father was starting to wear on him. It was times like these he really missed his mother.
She probably would have told him to stop feeling sorry for himself, but she had had a sweetness about her that after telling all your problems, she would make it seem not so bad, even if it was.
KyuJong reminded him a lot of his mother. Maybe that was why it hadn't worked.
A short car trip later (as well as a stiff drink in his limo), HyunJoong was led into a room of a warehouse somewhere on a side of town he rarely visited. Buttoning up his coat and making sure his gloves were on, HyunJoong looked around the room in disdain.
"Ah, welcome! You must be... HyunJoong?" A pretty looking man had come out of a side door. Black hair, slightly wavy and a face that would turn even HyunJoong's head, the man stepped towards him and gave a bow just on the side of respectful enough. "Welcome, my name is HeeChul. Your assistant said that Master KyuJong referred you to me, and my services."
"Yes... he came into possession of a certain... pet. I was hoping you had more," HyunJoong said, inclining his head to the man.
"A pet? Ah, you're interested in the Songbird. But of course." Even HeeChul's smile was pretty as he crooked a finger towards him. "Follow me, I have a few to choose from."
HyunJoong followed him from the small lobby type room down a corridor into what HeeChul called the menagerie. Cages of exotic animals lined up along the walls. Some HyunJoong recognized, some he could name, and then others he had never even heard of. All the while, HeeChul talked about how the Songbirds were becoming very popular with the social elite, and it wouldn't be long before there was one in each high society house.
"They're all unique of course, different colorings, different songs," HeeChul said, going to yet another door and opening it. He flicked on the light switch inside and opened the door for HyunJoong to go in first. "And all exclusively sold by me."
HyunJoong frowned slightly at that but stepped inside, looking around the small room. There were six cages, all made of the same silver webbing that HyunJoong had seen before at KyuJong's house. The way the cages were positioned with barriers between, the Songbirds were unable to see each other, and a reinforced plastic barrier around the silver webbing meant that the songs they sung couldn't be heard by each other either.
"We tried to keep them together, but it became impossibly loud back here," HeeChul said. "They all start singing at once and you can go deaf."
"What are they?" HyunJoong asked, stepping towards one of the cages. The bird in that cage was very tall, he could tell that just from how it was sitting with his knees up higher than his lap on the low seat. His skin coloring was like how YoungSaeng's was, iridescent and shimmery, though the colors were a rosy purple, and his wings were violet and black.
"They're Songbirds," was HeeChul's vague reply. "They were discovered hidden in the high reaches of the mountains in China. Some of the local villages had been keeping them secret for generations, but the government of China wanted to mine the mountains so the Songbirds had to be moved. I was just lucky enough to get my hands on a few of them."
"What happened to the rest? You only have the... five?" HyunJoong asked, noticing one of the cages was empty, probably had been YoungSaeng's cage.
"To start with, yes," HeeChul nodded. "I am attempting to get my hands on a couple of females to breed, but waiting on the paperwork. The Chinese government has no idea what to do with them as far as I'm aware. Probably trying to dissect them. Such a waste."
HyunJoong had moved on, looking in the other cages. One was yellow, with a beautiful shade of orange tipped wings, another was green, and there was one that was black and white. He almost chose that one, liking how regal it sat in the chair as it watched him. But something else caught his eye. Red.
"Wow..." HyunJoong murmured, coming to the last cage. The Songbird inside was a magnificent shade of red, he could see different facets of orange and pink in how the bird flapped it's wings. "I'll take this one."
"Uh..." HeeChul balked at that, shaking his head slowly. "I... no, this one is not ready to be in a home, not yet. He is quite unlike the others. Willful, loud, and refuses to sing on command. I have to do some training with this one still."
"I'll do the training myself," HyunJoong said, pulling the checkbook out of his coat. "How much?"
"I insist, sir," HeeChul said, taking a step back. "This one would be far more suited to your taste. His name is RyeoWook. He has a lively, but friendly personality," he said, motioning to the black and white winged bird.
"No, I'll take this one," HyunJoong said, eyeing the red songbird who was glaring at him. The bird flapped it's wings sharply and rustled them before turning around. "What is the name?"
HeeChul could see HyunJoong wasn't going to change his mind, and so he sighed and stepped back over to stand next to him.
"His name, is JungMin."
Chapter: 1/?
Pairing: past!HyunJoong/KyuJong
Warnings: AU, angst
Rating: R overall
Summary: HyunJoong is a man of society who must have the latest things, but keeping his latest find could be far more than he had bargained for.
A/N: Christmas present for yeonah <333 Hopefully I'll have this all finished by Christmas xD
If there was one thing that HyunJoong detested it was being outdone. Call it a Jones effect if you will, wanting to make sure you were up to date on the latest and greatest in technology or the newest fads. Not that HyunJoong would ever admit to that of course but when faced with something new that someone else had, he wanted it as well. It wouldn't do if he was the last on the block to have whatever shiny new thing that was popular. He had a reputation to keep of course.
That was the situation he was faced with right at that moment, having been invited to a viewing by someone in his social circle.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, eyeing the fine stringed cage that didn't look like it would hold a mouse let alone what was sitting inside.
"They're calling them Songbirds," was the reply from his left, a younger man with close cropped hair that was constantly falling in his eyes. HyunJoong was sure that was the new hair fashion; he'd have to remember that.
"But what are they, KyuJong," HyunJoong said, stepping closer, eyeing what was inside. "Surely they're not just painting and sticking feathers on a human now are they?"
"I doubt it, but I know nothing of what it is or where it's come from," KyuJong said, leaning up against the wall. "He doesn't speak, he doesn't even move from that seat unless it's to eat."
"It doesn't try to escape? These are just silver strings," HyunJoong said. "I just don't understand how this could hold something so big."
"No, like I said, he doesn't move," KyuJong said. "All he does is sing."
"Huh, how much did you pay for it?" HyunJoong asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He hadn't been there but an hour and already knew he wanted one.
"A tidy sum, but I think it was worth it," KyuJong answered, smiling softly at the Songbird. "He's beautiful, don't you think?"
"Very exotic," HyunJoong agreed, nodding slowly. "I'm not usually a pet person, but this is far too exquisite to pass up."
"I'll get you in touch with the seller then," KyuJong said. "Would you like to hear him sing?"
"Of course," HyunJoong nodded, lips curling upwards when the sharp black eyes looked up at the words. "It understands?"
"Yes, he is very, very smart," KyuJong chuckled. "YoungSaeng, could you sing for us?"
"You named it?" HyunJoong raised an eyebrow. "Careful, you might get attached."
"I didn't name him, he came with a name," KyuJong said softly, touching HyunJoong's arm to quiet him and motioned for YoungSaeng to begin.
The Songbird slowly got to his feet, wings of a gorgeous azure and turquoise spreading out behind him and rustling slightly. His eyes closed briefly as he took a breath before he began to sing.
The voice was unlike anything HyunJoong had ever heard before. There was depth and heights to the music as low as any canyon and high as any mountain. It was the single most hypnotizing and enrapturing thing he had ever bore witness to, and even when the song ended, HyunJoong couldn't help but stare in awe. His heart yearned to hear ore, moving closer unconciously.
"That was amazing," he murmured when he caught his breath, watching the Songbird retake his seat. Light bounced off of the skin, iridescent greens and indigos shimmering and playing tricks with his eyes. How could something be so beautiful?
"Well worth every penny I paid for him," KyuJong nodded slowly.
"I would still like to know what it is though, where it came from," HyunJoong said, glancing at his friend. "And how it is that this cage can hold it."
"Some questions are best left unanswered my friend," KyuJong said solemnly, returning the look. "You may not like the answer."
"You make a fair point," HyunJoong nodded, but it would be a question that would plague him for months to come. "I still want one."
"Come then, I'll get the sellers information and we can have a drink," KyuJong said, motioning HyunJoong toward the door, the older man nodding slowly.
As he took a step towards the door on the side of the room, his eyes caught the Songbird's black eyes. For just the briefest of moments, he heard a song whispering in his mind. The song was heavy, like a dirge, nearly bringing tears to his eyes at the depth of the sadness. It was a song he understood, one he tried not to think about. A song of being alone.
Then it was over. The Songbird's eyes turned away and looked down and HyunJoong nearly staggered at the emotions being bounced around so quickly in his head.
"HyunJoong?" KyuJong was at his side, touching his arm lightly. "Are you ill?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern, and just slightly... expecting.
"No.... no, I'm fine," HyunJoong nodded slowly, finally looking away from the Songbird and back at KyuJong. "Apologies, have been under far too much stress lately. Let's have that drink." He could tell KyuJong didn't buy that response, but ever the gentleman, he said nothing.
Through the rest of the evening, HyunJoong's thoughts were on something other than what was in his drink, or on his plate, or the words coming from KyuJong. Other guests had begun to arrive shortly thereafter, though strangely, KyuJong showed no one else the prized gem he had added to his collection.
If it had been anyone else, HyunJoong would wonder, but KyuJong had always been far too modest in his status. A son born of a wealthy statesman, KyuJong had been shuttled between nannies and boarding school for the better part of his youth, much the same as HyunJoong who had a family legacy in society.
The two had grown close as friends in their preparatory schools, often getting into mischief under the guise of 'youth'. It was a time that HyunJoong cherished in his life, when he truly had been happy and doing as he wished to do, with KyuJong at his side.
None of the attendees of KyuJong's small gathering had no idea that on one winters night, the two boys had lost their innocence to each other in the wood shed. It was a time HyunJoong thought of often when he was around KyuJong in high society, and how casually the man could beguile someone with his kindness and charm. It was one of the few things that HyunJoong envied of the younger, that ability to see the good in everything around him.
How things had changed from those days when they were just kids, playing at being men.
At some point during the evening, HyunJoong had wandered away from the crowd and found himself back in that secluded room, where his only companion was a dark eyed Songbird. Sipping lightly at his drink, HyunJoong walked the perimeter of the cage, feeling that sharp gaze on him. He stopped again in front of the bird, meeting his eyes again. There was no music, no despair, no feeling of loneliness, just a look of intrigue on both their parts, as if they were trying to understand what the other was.
HyunJoong took a small step forward, closer to the stringed web that was the barrier between the. How could something so beautiful, so majestic be confined by simple strings? He lifted his free hand, hesitantly reaching towards the strings, wondering what they were made of.
It was the only reaction he had ever seen from the Songbird, a sharp rustling of feathers as he stood up and reached a hand out toward him. HyunJoong met his eyes again, this time wide and worried as the bird shook its head slowly.
"No? I shouldn't touch?" he asked quietly, his hand stilling, but not dropping.
The bird shook it's head again, wings flapping back and down, a nonverbal cue he didn't understand.
"What happens if I touch it?" he asked.
The birds hands folded against his chest, dropping his chin down and his wings closed around him.
"I'll die?" HyunJoong continued to question, moving his hand away. The Songbird nodded grimly, flapping his wings again in that same back and downward motion. "I don't understand, what does that mean when you do that?"
"Have you ever watched a bird in flight?" A voice from the side startled HyunJoong, nearly dropping his glass. KyuJong was stepping into the room, closing the door behind him.
"No, can't say I have," HyunJoong said, stepping away from the cage.
"If you had, then you would understand what he's saying," KyuJong said, slowly walking towards them, his hands in his pants pockets. "When a bird needs to change direction, or move away from something in midflight, they pump their wings forward, much as he is doing. He's saying, move away. I think it would be wise to do as he says."
"I'll take your word for it," HyunJoong murmured, looking back at the Songbird who had retaken his seat. "Why does it care if I'm hurt?"
KyuJong sighed softly, just enough that HyunJoong could hear it. "You think of him as an animal, but obviously he is not. Even if he's kept in a cage, made to sing on command and sit completely still for hours on end, he still has compassion."
"What is he KyuJong?" HyunJoong asked, watching the other man's expression. "You seem to know more than you're saying."
"Ah, but that's always been the case, hasn't it, HyunJoong?" KyuJong chuckled, glancing over at him. "The party's over, everyone is leaving. I think it's time I retire for the night."
"Are you kicking me out?" HyunJoong's lip quirked slightly as he finished off his drink. "Ah well, I should go anyway. Long dreary day of meetings ahead of me. I had a pleasant time KyuJong, thank you."
"You're welcome, HyunJoong," KyuJong replied, bowing his head slightly. "Good luck in your meetings tomorrow, that is one part of your life I shall never envy."
HyunJoong chuckled softly, stepping towards the door. "Maybe one day I can be like you Kyu, do as I please without a sense of obligation. I should have listened to you."
"It's never too late Hyun," KyuJong replied, hands clasped in front of him as he watched HyunJoong go, his eyes sad. "You can still be what you want to be, but it's your choice."
HyunJoong stopped in the doorway, glancing back at KyuJong with a wry smile. "I know, but I made my choice a long time ago. I'm sorry KyuJong."
"It's all in the past, you don't need to keep apologizing for it," KyuJong said, shaking his head. "I understood then, and I understand now. I'll just always wish more for you."
"I know," HyunJoong said, inclining his head politely to the other man again. "Good night KyuJong," he said, opening the door and stepping out into the hall.
"Goodnight HyunJoong," KyuJong replied, sighing heavily as he turned around. The songbird had stood up again, his head tilted to the side in question. "No, I'm not explaining," he said to the bird, shaking his head. "All I'm going to say is I fall in love with the wrong ones."
That saddened the Songbird, his wings drooping to touch the floor. KyuJong just chuckled softly. "It's okay, it's not your fault. But I think he'll do well, don't you?" A small smile curled on the bird's face and he nodded, feathers fluffing up on his wings. "Well, I'm going to bed, are you sure you are comfortable here? I can have other arrangements made."
Eyes closing, the bird shook his head slowly before looking up out the window above their heads. He made a soft trilling noise in despair, wings wrapping around his body as he sat back down on his chair.
"I know, soon though. Goodnight, YoungSaeng," KyuJong said, sighing heavily as he turned away and left the bird gazing forlornly up at the stars overhead.
**********
The next few days for HyunJoong was a dizzying amount of meetings and paperwork and all kinds of other things he had no desire to deal with. His work was boring, and mindless, but it was the family business. A business started generations ago by his grandfather's grandfather. What had started as a small accounting office had turned into a billion dollar empire, his company owning everything from banks to department stores and brokerages in several different countries. He was sure there was a list somewhere of all the subsidiaries he owned, but he knew it listed in the hundreds.
Sometimes, he thought about liquidating it all and returning to that small office where they had got their start. Unfortunately, that wasn't his call to make.
Fortunately for him, his day at the office was ending early thanks to his secretary being clever enough to set up an appointment with the Songbird dealer during a board of trustees meeting that he probably needed to attend (though would have slept through it as usual).
"I'll be out for the rest of the day," he said to the man holding his schedule book, signing some last minute papers before getting up. "I'll call you to let you know if I'll be in at all tomorrow, though I doubt it."
"You do have meetings scheduled though, sir," the man said, frowning down at his book.
"Guess you'll have to cancel them," HyunJoong said, closing the folder file he'd been working on and getting to his feet. "Have any messages forwarded to the house, but don't interrupt me unless it's an emergency."
"Very well, sir," the assistant sighed, bowing at the waist. "The checkbook, as you have asked for," he said, handing HyunJoong a thin leather bound book. "What do I say if your father asks...?"
HyunJoong frowned, pulling on his coat before taking the book. "Tell him it's a personal matter, and if he presses the matter, then you can tell him I'm making an investment."
"Understood, though I hope for all our sakes he doesn't notice your absence," the assistant said, following HyunJoong to the door.
"He's too busy flirting with his secretary these days to notice anything," HyunJoong rolled his eyes. "It's a good thing he doesn't actually do anything around here anymore or nothing would get done."
"Yes, but he's still technically your boss, and mine," the assistant said, pursing his lips a little. "One of these times he's going to figure out that you've gone behind his back and rehired everyone he's fired over the past year."
"One of these times is not today, no need to worry," HyunJoong laughed. "You're just lucky he's bad with remembering faces. How many times has he fired you now? Three?"
"Twice, and I do not want to make it a third," the other man huffed, falling in step just behind him as they headed to the elevators. "After three times, I'm sure he'll remember my face at that point."
"Don't worry, I won't let him fire you permanently, you're too essential in my office," HyunJoong said, pressing the call button. "You know if we keep talking about him he's going to show up. Go back to work, keep pushing those papers around your desk. I'll see you in a few days."
"Yes, sir," the other man said, bowing again, leaving HyunJoong to enter the elevator alone. Leaning up against the wall, he rubbed at his eyes, willing the tiredness to ease. So much expected from him, yet constantly being shadowed by his father was starting to wear on him. It was times like these he really missed his mother.
She probably would have told him to stop feeling sorry for himself, but she had had a sweetness about her that after telling all your problems, she would make it seem not so bad, even if it was.
KyuJong reminded him a lot of his mother. Maybe that was why it hadn't worked.
A short car trip later (as well as a stiff drink in his limo), HyunJoong was led into a room of a warehouse somewhere on a side of town he rarely visited. Buttoning up his coat and making sure his gloves were on, HyunJoong looked around the room in disdain.
"Ah, welcome! You must be... HyunJoong?" A pretty looking man had come out of a side door. Black hair, slightly wavy and a face that would turn even HyunJoong's head, the man stepped towards him and gave a bow just on the side of respectful enough. "Welcome, my name is HeeChul. Your assistant said that Master KyuJong referred you to me, and my services."
"Yes... he came into possession of a certain... pet. I was hoping you had more," HyunJoong said, inclining his head to the man.
"A pet? Ah, you're interested in the Songbird. But of course." Even HeeChul's smile was pretty as he crooked a finger towards him. "Follow me, I have a few to choose from."
HyunJoong followed him from the small lobby type room down a corridor into what HeeChul called the menagerie. Cages of exotic animals lined up along the walls. Some HyunJoong recognized, some he could name, and then others he had never even heard of. All the while, HeeChul talked about how the Songbirds were becoming very popular with the social elite, and it wouldn't be long before there was one in each high society house.
"They're all unique of course, different colorings, different songs," HeeChul said, going to yet another door and opening it. He flicked on the light switch inside and opened the door for HyunJoong to go in first. "And all exclusively sold by me."
HyunJoong frowned slightly at that but stepped inside, looking around the small room. There were six cages, all made of the same silver webbing that HyunJoong had seen before at KyuJong's house. The way the cages were positioned with barriers between, the Songbirds were unable to see each other, and a reinforced plastic barrier around the silver webbing meant that the songs they sung couldn't be heard by each other either.
"We tried to keep them together, but it became impossibly loud back here," HeeChul said. "They all start singing at once and you can go deaf."
"What are they?" HyunJoong asked, stepping towards one of the cages. The bird in that cage was very tall, he could tell that just from how it was sitting with his knees up higher than his lap on the low seat. His skin coloring was like how YoungSaeng's was, iridescent and shimmery, though the colors were a rosy purple, and his wings were violet and black.
"They're Songbirds," was HeeChul's vague reply. "They were discovered hidden in the high reaches of the mountains in China. Some of the local villages had been keeping them secret for generations, but the government of China wanted to mine the mountains so the Songbirds had to be moved. I was just lucky enough to get my hands on a few of them."
"What happened to the rest? You only have the... five?" HyunJoong asked, noticing one of the cages was empty, probably had been YoungSaeng's cage.
"To start with, yes," HeeChul nodded. "I am attempting to get my hands on a couple of females to breed, but waiting on the paperwork. The Chinese government has no idea what to do with them as far as I'm aware. Probably trying to dissect them. Such a waste."
HyunJoong had moved on, looking in the other cages. One was yellow, with a beautiful shade of orange tipped wings, another was green, and there was one that was black and white. He almost chose that one, liking how regal it sat in the chair as it watched him. But something else caught his eye. Red.
"Wow..." HyunJoong murmured, coming to the last cage. The Songbird inside was a magnificent shade of red, he could see different facets of orange and pink in how the bird flapped it's wings. "I'll take this one."
"Uh..." HeeChul balked at that, shaking his head slowly. "I... no, this one is not ready to be in a home, not yet. He is quite unlike the others. Willful, loud, and refuses to sing on command. I have to do some training with this one still."
"I'll do the training myself," HyunJoong said, pulling the checkbook out of his coat. "How much?"
"I insist, sir," HeeChul said, taking a step back. "This one would be far more suited to your taste. His name is RyeoWook. He has a lively, but friendly personality," he said, motioning to the black and white winged bird.
"No, I'll take this one," HyunJoong said, eyeing the red songbird who was glaring at him. The bird flapped it's wings sharply and rustled them before turning around. "What is the name?"
HeeChul could see HyunJoong wasn't going to change his mind, and so he sighed and stepped back over to stand next to him.
"His name, is JungMin."