The Halfling - Part 8
Title: The Halfling
Pairing(s): Onkey, side 2min
Rating: PG-13 (overall)
Genre: Romance, sci-fi (?)
Disclaimer: I don't own SHINee, I don't own any of the members. Their souls and bodies belong to SM, I am only a lowly, foreign fanfic writer.
Onew never got a chance to ask Key about his sleeping habits.
It never felt quite like the right time to bring it up, especially because Onew found words were never his strong point when it came to awkward situations.
Instead the pair continued on for the next week much as they had before the day Jonghyun implicated the feline boy in the mystery of Onew’s room. When the young heir had called his friend to admit he was right, Jonghyun’s explanation for how he knew left the elder just as confused as before - You’ll see, hyung.
That hadn’t helped at all.
But, Onew had decided to let it rest. He would find out soon enough, he decided. Key must have had his reasons and in time, hopefully, the Halfling would tell him. Every night Onew lay in bed feigning sleep until the door cracked open and two blonde ears poked through. He moved the laptop, turned the fireplace off and curled up in the armchair. Every night, the same. And it seemed almost as if Onew’s body were growing accustomed to it. He found even if he wanted to, he could never fall asleep before he watched Key go through his evening ritual.
Patience was something the caramel haired young man found himself cultivating rather frequently. After all, what he was trying to win from Key was the hardest thing a master could get from their slave; friendship.
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The day of Onew’s birthday rolled around quietly. With his parents out of town and no one else in the house but Key and servants, Onew didn’t receive much fanfare for the event and he preferred it that way, never being much for attention. Onew was more than content to live out the day as if it were any other.
Key, however, seemed to be acting strange. He avoided eye contact even more than usual and kept an extra amount of distance from his master. He had muttered a quiet “happy birthday, my lord” and then remained silent the rest of the morning. Onew was so surprised he had even tried to strike up a conversation and he only ever received a slight nod, shake of the head or a one word answer.
If Key were any other Halfling with any other owner he would have been severely punished. In fact, he would have been beaten after the things he had said to Onew about Jonghyun only days earlier. But the fact was that Onew knew from the beginning that Key was not any other Halfling. He’d been told at the Keeper’s that Key had railed against all his training and was still not what most would consider purchase ready. Most importantly, however, was the Onew was not just any master. He had no instinct to hurt, own or exploit. He wouldn’t raise a hand to Key, even if his life depended on it. And, really, who could blame Key for acting oddly after all he’d been through?
Perhaps Key was simply nervous to meet Taemin, Onew thought. He was prince after all. So, when Key acted so strangely Onew ignored it completely - his favored way of dealing with things that made him uncomfortable.
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Taemin and Minho entered Onew’s room at half past noon with a flurry of balloons, presents and cheering.
Onew had never seen Key jump so quickly and run clear across a room before. It almost made him laugh if he didn’t remember the feline boy’s natural aversion to humans. Key settled just behind Onew, as usual, as the boy turned around from putting a book back on his shelf.
“Happy birthday, hyung!” Taemin called cheerfully, his arms waving in the air, the sounds of balloons bouncing off one another distinct in the air. “And this must be Kibum!” Taemin exclaimed excitedly, making to step forward.
Key instantly moved as if to shield himself more behind Onew and, before he even realized it, Onew moved to hide his Halfling more effectively. It was a reaction he’d never before experienced. Being an only child he’d felt protective instincts only for Taemin who, as heir to the throne, had plenty of protection to begin with. Taemin was stopped in his actions by a soft but urgent, “my Prince,” from the bull Halfling behind him. Onew assumed that Minho, having been one himself, knew the face of a Halfling terrified of humans. Taemin stopped walking immediately.
“Well,” Taemin began after a moment, seemingly chastised, “My name is Taemin, and this is Minho.”
Key stepped out from behind Onew slowly, eyes growing wide. “Prince Taemin?” he questioned softly.
“Yes,” the younger smiled cheerily.
“Your Majesty,” the Halfling responded immediately, bending into a ninety-degree bow and remaining there.
“Oh, Kibum, you can stand. It’s fine, really.”
Key straightened slowly and nodded. “Yes, my Prince.” He then turned toward Minho and placed his closed right fist over his heart and bowed his head. “Minho.”
“Kibum,” Minho returned the gesture. Onew watched on silently with great interest. He’d never seen any greeting like it before.
“Do you two know each other?” he questioned.
“No, my lord,” Minho answered. “That is how my people greet each other. Kibum must have learned it on our home planet.”
“How interesting!” Taemin exclaimed. “I’m so glad you’ve come to join our group, Kibum.”
“My Prince,” Key bowed in acknowledgement.
Key fell into silence once again after that. The other three arranged the packages Taemin and Minho had brought with them on the small dining table in the room and settled in front of the fireplace. Minho and Taemin sat together, keeping a respectable distance due to Minho’s infallible sense of manners, and Onew settled in one of the armchairs. Key, on the other hand, kept his distance and perched himself on one of the large windowsills. An easy conversation flowed between Onew and his cousin as Minho sat by as he usually did, quiet but attentive.
Onew was amazed at the differences between Minho and Key. Minho had been captured with the intent of being sold as a labor slave. He’d received only the most cursory of Korean language instruction and had been given no etiquette training whatsoever. He’d been forced into daily strength training in anticipation for hard labor. Key, however, had undergone extensive language and manner instruction for as long as he had been at the Keeper’s. What was so striking to Onew was that Minho, who had only been trained in etiquette after he was sold had taken to it so strongly while Key had not.
That was apparent enough in the way Key had spoken of his feelings about Jonghyun. All of his training would have taught him not to have said the things he did and Minho surely would never have said anything ill of anyone. Again, Onew chalked it up to the way Key had refused to adhere to his training. His training had infiltrated his brain in only the main ways and he could not control certain responses. Onew found himself thinking, as he watched Minho beside his cousin, that he rather preferred the way Key was.
“Hello, all!” Jonghyun’s voice broke up the conversation. “Happy birthday, Onew hyung,” he smiled and held up a large wrapped gift.
“Thank you, Jonghyun,” Onew smiled warmly.
Jonghyun placed his gift on the table with the others and said hello to the other three in the room. When he got to Key, the feline boy responded with only standing from his position and bowing with a quiet, “Jonghyun-ssi.” Taemin raised his eyebrows at Key’s obvious forced civility and Minho looked downright alarmed at just the thought of a Halfling being so improper. Onew held back a chuckle at the bull Halfing’s horror.
Jonghyun, seemingly unfazed, joined the group in the sitting area and Key resumed his spot on the windowsill, paying attention but removed. The three humans continued their conversation as the two Halflings sat by silently for quite a while. It was all talk Key found uninteresting; politics, the latest gossip among the nobles, human sports at which point Minho became an active participant in the conversation. They were broken up again by the arrival of carts bearing food.
“My Lord,” one of the servants who had brought them in bowed to Onew. “There is a visitor for you in the sitting room downstairs.”
“A visitor?” Onew repeated confusedly.
“Lord Dongwan, heir to Chagang,” the servant informed. A tight silence fell over the room and Onew’s eyes met Taemin’s instantly. It was as if all of the comfort and ease of the previous moments had been sucked from the room.
“Thank you, Junsil. I’ll be down in a moment.”
The servants bowed and left, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence. Key watched as Onew exchanged looks with Jonghyun and Taemin. Even Minho seemed to understand what was wrong as he stiffened beside the prince. The feline Halfling sat in confusion, his ears perking up attentively in his blonde hair.
“I’ll go down. You all can wait here,” Onew said and stood from his seat.
“Hyung,” Taemin stopped his cousin hesitantly. “You must bring him.”
Onew froze in his spot immediately and shot Taemin an angry glance. He rejected even the thought of it.
“I won’t,” the young lord answered coldly.
“Onew-“
“I refuse to expose him to that creature,” he hissed.
“You have to listen to Taemin,” Jonghyun added gently. “He’ll just keep coming back if you don’t.”
“I’ll come with you, Cousin. He won’t be as brave in front of the Crown Prince,” Taemin smiled mischievously.
Onew let out a sigh, but nodded after a moment. “Kibum,” he addressed the Halfling who stood from the windowsill promptly. “Follow us, please.”
“My Lord,” Key bowed slightly in response and followed the two men out of the room, noting that Minho and Jonghyun stayed where they were.
The walk down to the sitting room was awkward at best. Onew could feel the confusion radiating off Key but what else could he do. Dongwan was from a politically active, noble family that had been involved in Halfling law from its inception. Dongwan himself had strong control over Halfling disciplinary files. He oversaw what happened to those who could not be tamed, who committed crimes, whose owners decided they no longer cared for them. Dongwan knew Halfling laws like the back of his hand and, as such, knew how to twist them to take away anyone’s Halfling at any given moment. For most that meant they would lose an expensive plaything. For people like Onew and Taemin, it meant something very different. Just as they reached the door to the sitting room, Onew paused and glanced at Key. He wanted to say something, wanted to warn him, but he didn’t know how. Instead he shot Key an apologizing glance and barely caught two confused black eyes looking back at him before he continued through the door.
“Jinki-yah,” a voice boomed from inside immediately.
Dongwan was a tall man of about twenty-six years with sharp features and a strong build. He was a young man that would make Onew’s father proud to call him a son. Dongwan was driven by money and status and he enjoyed, above all else, power. It was sickening to see how much Choi Dongwan enjoyed taking things from others; how much he enjoyed watching Halflings suffer. Onew had seen Dongwan’s Halflings and it always brought his blood to a boil. He liked showing them off and always had a new one every couple months. They were always silent, shy, scantily clad and gave the impression they’d recently been hurt. It was nothing too outward but Onew caught a wince here, a limp there. It made him sick.
“Dongwan hyung,” Onew bowed quickly. Taemin simply nodded at the other man. As Prince he did not have to bow to anyone aside from his parents and took advantage of that fact with people he was not fond of.
“Prince Taemin, I didn’t know you would be here,” Dongwan smiled from his seat on the couch but did not stand. His dislike for Taemin was no secret and barely hidden only because he was, of course, royal. In private settings like this where others couldn’t see him, he rarely even bowed. Taemin made no comment on the lack of propriety.
“It’s my cousin’s birthday. I’m spending the day with him.”
“That’s why I came! Happy birthday, Jinki-yah,” Dongwan finally stood and faced the two younger men. “I also heard you gave yourself an exceptional gift this year. That must be him.”
The look that came over Dongwan’s face was surely meant to be a smile but came across more as a greasy smirk. It made Onew uncomfortable immediately and he turned to see Key standing by the door with a concerned look on his face. His tail kept twitching and his eyes shifted between Onew and Dongwan quickly.
“Yes, this is my Halfling,” Onew responded stiffly. His discomfort was unmistakable and his mind ran through every possible way to keep Dongwan away from Key.
“He’s a feline, my favorite,” Dongwan commented. Onew’s heart began racing but he forced himself to remain calm. Taemin watched the two carefully. “May I?” Dongwan asked and made a move to approach Key who immediately looked alarmed.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” Onew blocked his path. Taemin shifted his weight knowing exactly how dangerous it was to refuse Dongwan.
“Really? Everyone says you’re so kind, Jinki-yah, but you won’t let your hyung look at your new plaything.”
Onew was a breath away from assuring him that Key was no thing when he was sidestepped and Dongwan continued on his way toward the Halfling. Taemin grabbed his cousin’s arm to stop him from moving after the other, giving a warning glance and shake of his head. Dongwan stopped in the middle of the room and gestured toward Key.
“Come here,” he said simply. Key hesitated and looked to Onew for guidance, who edged closer but could only let out a troubled sigh.
“It’s alright. Go ahead.”
Key stared at his master for another moment before walking toward Dongwan. His face remained blank but Onew couldn’t ignore the troubled look in his black eyes.
“He’s beautiful, Jinki-yah. Well chosen,” Dongwan murmured and began circling the feline boy before him. Key instantly stiffened, reminiscent of the day Jonghyun had brought him clothes. Suddenly, Key’s entire body went stock still. Onew watched his face tighten into a cold mask and his eyes become blank, black orbs. It wasn’t until Dongwan began to round Key that Onew understood why; the older man was running his hand across the Halfling’s back.
An odd sense of burning erupted in Onew’s chest. He had an unfathomable sense that someone touching Key was wrong, someone looking at Key with those desiring eyes was wrong. It wasn’t jealousy, it was something more. Ownership. These emotions partially scared Onew but he didn’t have time to focus on that. Taemin’s hand once again tightened on his cousin’s arm but when he glanced over Onew saw the younger boy’s face set in an angry expression.
“How old is he?” Dongwan asked but his eyes remained on the feline boy before him. To Key’s credit he remained expressionless, the only thing betraying his discomfort was the slight droop in his ears. If he was free to Onew was sure Key’s ears would be flat against his hair.
“He’s twenty-one,” Onew supplied tightly, watching as Dongwan’s hand now ran down Key’s arm, and lingered at his hip.
“Have you ever considered loaning him?” the eldest’s hand now grasped Key’s chin and moved his face back and forth as if to view it from all angles. Key only stood there, staring blankly into space. Onew had never seen the boy so shut down before and it was somewhat terrifying. Key didn’t even look scared; had things like this happened before? Worse? Onew shuddered to think about it.
He shook himself free from his cousin and took a few steps forward. “Never,” he hissed.
Dongwan paused in his examination and turned back to the honey-haired heir with a raised brow, a smirk barely quirking his lips.
“Are you sure? I have a lovely new Halfling I just got. He’s a bit younger but a feline as well, and with a lean body much like this one. We could trade for a few days. It seems we have similar taste, Jinki-yah.”
The ball of fire that had previously seemed to be floating in Onew’s chest felt as if it had exploded. He had never really talked back to someone in a serious manner, especially not someone like Choi Dongwan whose family held such clout. But he’d also never felt so much anger.
“I said no,” and it came out so cold and menacing that even Onew himself was shocked it had come from his own lips.
“My family is not keen on sharing, Dongwan-ssi,” Taemin supplied in a cold voice and walked up to stand beside his cousin. “I believe it’s time you leave.”
“Really?” the eldest’s hand traveled back to Key’s hip and slipped just under the hem of his shirt. “But I’m only just getting acquainted with - what did you say his name was?” Dongwan smirked at the two cousins and made a show of letting his fingers flirt with the waistband of the Halfling’s pants.
Onew didn’t even realize he had started toward the other until he felt Taemin’s arm shoot out to stop him.
“I think I said it’s time for you to leave,” the prince said calmly but with a warning to it. When the other made no move, the prince continued. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe you have a motion put in for more funding to your department. Veto power lies with the royal family, does it not?”
“Veto power lies with King Wongshik,” Dongwan said, but removed his hands from Key and began to look hesitant.
“As my father is out of the country that would make me, as next in line, rather influential in the situation wouldn’t it?” Taemin asked almost nonchalantly but with a somewhat terrifying glint in his eye. Onew knew that look only meant trouble. “I heard it was a large sum of money you’re looking for, too.”
“Very well,” Dongwan near hissed and stepped back. “I have somewhere to be anyway.”
Without another word, he gave a slight nod to both other boys and left the room. Taemin and Onew stood in a tense silence for a few moments. Taemin looked annoyed while Onew was channeling all of his energy into not following Dongwan and beating him senseless. A foreign feeling for someone usually so calm. The two turned toward Key at the same time and suddenly their personal anger melted.
The Halfling stood where he had been. His fluffy blonde tail was tucked tight between his legs, the brown tip peaking through to rest on his shin and his skin was now a concerning sickly pale color like all the blood had drained from his face. His arms were wrapped tight in front of his body as if he were hugging himself and his ears were drooped down into his two tone hair - but they didn’t droop just a bit like they usually did when he was concentrating on a book or small task; rather they were drooped deeply in a show of something else. Sadness? Defeat? Discomfort? Onew wasn’t totally sure. But it was Key’s eyes that really upset his young master. The spark in them was gone. They were now a flat black, staring at the wall across the room as if he could see universes away.
“Kibum,” Onew began softly, but in truth he didn’t know how to finish and instead the whisper hung empty in the air. After a few moments Key spoke.
“May I go to my room?”
“Kibum,” the young heir tried again. “I-“
“Please,” the feline boy begged, his voice cracking before it fell into a whisper, “Please, my lord.”
It wasn’t until then that Onew realized Key was trying not to cry; his eyes shown with unshed tears and his nose was just barely flushing red.
“Of course,” he conceded immediately.
Key bowed to both of them, “My lord, my Prince,” and left quickly.
Taemin waited a beat and then turned to his cousin, “Hyung… You couldn’t have stopped Dongwan.” It was as if he’d read his mind.
“Of course I could have. I should have ripped his hands off of him.”
“If you had they would be coming for Kibum tomorrow and Dongwan would have made sure he was treated terribly. He’s angry enough as it is,” Taemin assured.
“Did you see his face?” Onew questioned and trained his eyes on the floor. “He looked like he was going to cry.”
Taemin didn’t know what to say to that and instead let out a soft sigh. “You’ll have to speak with Kibum tomorrow, hyung. It’s not going to be easy but maybe if he understands what Dongwan is capable of…” the younger tried but it sounded more like a question than anything else.
How was one supposed to explain that the only options were to either let their Halfling be manhandled, or have their Halfling forcibly taken away and sent back to a Keeper?
“Come on, hyung, let’s go back. Jonghyun probably thinks we’re trying to kill Dongwan without him. You know how jealous he gets,” the prince tried for a joke. Onew smiled sadly and nodded.
Minho and Jonghyun looked alarmed when they realized Key wasn’t with them but calmed slightly after the events of the visit were recounted to them. Both still seemed concerned but didn’t broach the subject further. Conversation resumed among the group but Onew was notably not as active a participant. His mind was clearly elsewhere and when the sun started to go down the other three left with sympathetic smiles. Onew hadn’t even opened any of his gifts and though he had stacks of financial reports for the estate and its surrounding lands to go over, he decided to prepare for bed early. He, surprisingly, fell asleep almost immediately.
When Onew awoke the next morning he found his fireplace still burning and his laptop sitting in his armchair, just where he’d left it.
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Ohhh my god, guys i am so sorry this took so long!! i just... life happened and then i was torn over this chapter, trying to figure out if i should put off the introduction of dongwan until later. i hope it turned out alright?? it's pretty long, as well. please please please tell me what you think - comments give me inspiration to keep writing! i hope my writing hasn't deteriorated too terribly!
next
Pairing(s): Onkey, side 2min
Rating: PG-13 (overall)
Genre: Romance, sci-fi (?)
Disclaimer: I don't own SHINee, I don't own any of the members. Their souls and bodies belong to SM, I am only a lowly, foreign fanfic writer.
Onew never got a chance to ask Key about his sleeping habits.
It never felt quite like the right time to bring it up, especially because Onew found words were never his strong point when it came to awkward situations.
Instead the pair continued on for the next week much as they had before the day Jonghyun implicated the feline boy in the mystery of Onew’s room. When the young heir had called his friend to admit he was right, Jonghyun’s explanation for how he knew left the elder just as confused as before - You’ll see, hyung.
That hadn’t helped at all.
But, Onew had decided to let it rest. He would find out soon enough, he decided. Key must have had his reasons and in time, hopefully, the Halfling would tell him. Every night Onew lay in bed feigning sleep until the door cracked open and two blonde ears poked through. He moved the laptop, turned the fireplace off and curled up in the armchair. Every night, the same. And it seemed almost as if Onew’s body were growing accustomed to it. He found even if he wanted to, he could never fall asleep before he watched Key go through his evening ritual.
Patience was something the caramel haired young man found himself cultivating rather frequently. After all, what he was trying to win from Key was the hardest thing a master could get from their slave; friendship.
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The day of Onew’s birthday rolled around quietly. With his parents out of town and no one else in the house but Key and servants, Onew didn’t receive much fanfare for the event and he preferred it that way, never being much for attention. Onew was more than content to live out the day as if it were any other.
Key, however, seemed to be acting strange. He avoided eye contact even more than usual and kept an extra amount of distance from his master. He had muttered a quiet “happy birthday, my lord” and then remained silent the rest of the morning. Onew was so surprised he had even tried to strike up a conversation and he only ever received a slight nod, shake of the head or a one word answer.
If Key were any other Halfling with any other owner he would have been severely punished. In fact, he would have been beaten after the things he had said to Onew about Jonghyun only days earlier. But the fact was that Onew knew from the beginning that Key was not any other Halfling. He’d been told at the Keeper’s that Key had railed against all his training and was still not what most would consider purchase ready. Most importantly, however, was the Onew was not just any master. He had no instinct to hurt, own or exploit. He wouldn’t raise a hand to Key, even if his life depended on it. And, really, who could blame Key for acting oddly after all he’d been through?
Perhaps Key was simply nervous to meet Taemin, Onew thought. He was prince after all. So, when Key acted so strangely Onew ignored it completely - his favored way of dealing with things that made him uncomfortable.
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Taemin and Minho entered Onew’s room at half past noon with a flurry of balloons, presents and cheering.
Onew had never seen Key jump so quickly and run clear across a room before. It almost made him laugh if he didn’t remember the feline boy’s natural aversion to humans. Key settled just behind Onew, as usual, as the boy turned around from putting a book back on his shelf.
“Happy birthday, hyung!” Taemin called cheerfully, his arms waving in the air, the sounds of balloons bouncing off one another distinct in the air. “And this must be Kibum!” Taemin exclaimed excitedly, making to step forward.
Key instantly moved as if to shield himself more behind Onew and, before he even realized it, Onew moved to hide his Halfling more effectively. It was a reaction he’d never before experienced. Being an only child he’d felt protective instincts only for Taemin who, as heir to the throne, had plenty of protection to begin with. Taemin was stopped in his actions by a soft but urgent, “my Prince,” from the bull Halfling behind him. Onew assumed that Minho, having been one himself, knew the face of a Halfling terrified of humans. Taemin stopped walking immediately.
“Well,” Taemin began after a moment, seemingly chastised, “My name is Taemin, and this is Minho.”
Key stepped out from behind Onew slowly, eyes growing wide. “Prince Taemin?” he questioned softly.
“Yes,” the younger smiled cheerily.
“Your Majesty,” the Halfling responded immediately, bending into a ninety-degree bow and remaining there.
“Oh, Kibum, you can stand. It’s fine, really.”
Key straightened slowly and nodded. “Yes, my Prince.” He then turned toward Minho and placed his closed right fist over his heart and bowed his head. “Minho.”
“Kibum,” Minho returned the gesture. Onew watched on silently with great interest. He’d never seen any greeting like it before.
“Do you two know each other?” he questioned.
“No, my lord,” Minho answered. “That is how my people greet each other. Kibum must have learned it on our home planet.”
“How interesting!” Taemin exclaimed. “I’m so glad you’ve come to join our group, Kibum.”
“My Prince,” Key bowed in acknowledgement.
Key fell into silence once again after that. The other three arranged the packages Taemin and Minho had brought with them on the small dining table in the room and settled in front of the fireplace. Minho and Taemin sat together, keeping a respectable distance due to Minho’s infallible sense of manners, and Onew settled in one of the armchairs. Key, on the other hand, kept his distance and perched himself on one of the large windowsills. An easy conversation flowed between Onew and his cousin as Minho sat by as he usually did, quiet but attentive.
Onew was amazed at the differences between Minho and Key. Minho had been captured with the intent of being sold as a labor slave. He’d received only the most cursory of Korean language instruction and had been given no etiquette training whatsoever. He’d been forced into daily strength training in anticipation for hard labor. Key, however, had undergone extensive language and manner instruction for as long as he had been at the Keeper’s. What was so striking to Onew was that Minho, who had only been trained in etiquette after he was sold had taken to it so strongly while Key had not.
That was apparent enough in the way Key had spoken of his feelings about Jonghyun. All of his training would have taught him not to have said the things he did and Minho surely would never have said anything ill of anyone. Again, Onew chalked it up to the way Key had refused to adhere to his training. His training had infiltrated his brain in only the main ways and he could not control certain responses. Onew found himself thinking, as he watched Minho beside his cousin, that he rather preferred the way Key was.
“Hello, all!” Jonghyun’s voice broke up the conversation. “Happy birthday, Onew hyung,” he smiled and held up a large wrapped gift.
“Thank you, Jonghyun,” Onew smiled warmly.
Jonghyun placed his gift on the table with the others and said hello to the other three in the room. When he got to Key, the feline boy responded with only standing from his position and bowing with a quiet, “Jonghyun-ssi.” Taemin raised his eyebrows at Key’s obvious forced civility and Minho looked downright alarmed at just the thought of a Halfling being so improper. Onew held back a chuckle at the bull Halfing’s horror.
Jonghyun, seemingly unfazed, joined the group in the sitting area and Key resumed his spot on the windowsill, paying attention but removed. The three humans continued their conversation as the two Halflings sat by silently for quite a while. It was all talk Key found uninteresting; politics, the latest gossip among the nobles, human sports at which point Minho became an active participant in the conversation. They were broken up again by the arrival of carts bearing food.
“My Lord,” one of the servants who had brought them in bowed to Onew. “There is a visitor for you in the sitting room downstairs.”
“A visitor?” Onew repeated confusedly.
“Lord Dongwan, heir to Chagang,” the servant informed. A tight silence fell over the room and Onew’s eyes met Taemin’s instantly. It was as if all of the comfort and ease of the previous moments had been sucked from the room.
“Thank you, Junsil. I’ll be down in a moment.”
The servants bowed and left, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence. Key watched as Onew exchanged looks with Jonghyun and Taemin. Even Minho seemed to understand what was wrong as he stiffened beside the prince. The feline Halfling sat in confusion, his ears perking up attentively in his blonde hair.
“I’ll go down. You all can wait here,” Onew said and stood from his seat.
“Hyung,” Taemin stopped his cousin hesitantly. “You must bring him.”
Onew froze in his spot immediately and shot Taemin an angry glance. He rejected even the thought of it.
“I won’t,” the young lord answered coldly.
“Onew-“
“I refuse to expose him to that creature,” he hissed.
“You have to listen to Taemin,” Jonghyun added gently. “He’ll just keep coming back if you don’t.”
“I’ll come with you, Cousin. He won’t be as brave in front of the Crown Prince,” Taemin smiled mischievously.
Onew let out a sigh, but nodded after a moment. “Kibum,” he addressed the Halfling who stood from the windowsill promptly. “Follow us, please.”
“My Lord,” Key bowed slightly in response and followed the two men out of the room, noting that Minho and Jonghyun stayed where they were.
The walk down to the sitting room was awkward at best. Onew could feel the confusion radiating off Key but what else could he do. Dongwan was from a politically active, noble family that had been involved in Halfling law from its inception. Dongwan himself had strong control over Halfling disciplinary files. He oversaw what happened to those who could not be tamed, who committed crimes, whose owners decided they no longer cared for them. Dongwan knew Halfling laws like the back of his hand and, as such, knew how to twist them to take away anyone’s Halfling at any given moment. For most that meant they would lose an expensive plaything. For people like Onew and Taemin, it meant something very different. Just as they reached the door to the sitting room, Onew paused and glanced at Key. He wanted to say something, wanted to warn him, but he didn’t know how. Instead he shot Key an apologizing glance and barely caught two confused black eyes looking back at him before he continued through the door.
“Jinki-yah,” a voice boomed from inside immediately.
Dongwan was a tall man of about twenty-six years with sharp features and a strong build. He was a young man that would make Onew’s father proud to call him a son. Dongwan was driven by money and status and he enjoyed, above all else, power. It was sickening to see how much Choi Dongwan enjoyed taking things from others; how much he enjoyed watching Halflings suffer. Onew had seen Dongwan’s Halflings and it always brought his blood to a boil. He liked showing them off and always had a new one every couple months. They were always silent, shy, scantily clad and gave the impression they’d recently been hurt. It was nothing too outward but Onew caught a wince here, a limp there. It made him sick.
“Dongwan hyung,” Onew bowed quickly. Taemin simply nodded at the other man. As Prince he did not have to bow to anyone aside from his parents and took advantage of that fact with people he was not fond of.
“Prince Taemin, I didn’t know you would be here,” Dongwan smiled from his seat on the couch but did not stand. His dislike for Taemin was no secret and barely hidden only because he was, of course, royal. In private settings like this where others couldn’t see him, he rarely even bowed. Taemin made no comment on the lack of propriety.
“It’s my cousin’s birthday. I’m spending the day with him.”
“That’s why I came! Happy birthday, Jinki-yah,” Dongwan finally stood and faced the two younger men. “I also heard you gave yourself an exceptional gift this year. That must be him.”
The look that came over Dongwan’s face was surely meant to be a smile but came across more as a greasy smirk. It made Onew uncomfortable immediately and he turned to see Key standing by the door with a concerned look on his face. His tail kept twitching and his eyes shifted between Onew and Dongwan quickly.
“Yes, this is my Halfling,” Onew responded stiffly. His discomfort was unmistakable and his mind ran through every possible way to keep Dongwan away from Key.
“He’s a feline, my favorite,” Dongwan commented. Onew’s heart began racing but he forced himself to remain calm. Taemin watched the two carefully. “May I?” Dongwan asked and made a move to approach Key who immediately looked alarmed.
“I’d rather you didn’t,” Onew blocked his path. Taemin shifted his weight knowing exactly how dangerous it was to refuse Dongwan.
“Really? Everyone says you’re so kind, Jinki-yah, but you won’t let your hyung look at your new plaything.”
Onew was a breath away from assuring him that Key was no thing when he was sidestepped and Dongwan continued on his way toward the Halfling. Taemin grabbed his cousin’s arm to stop him from moving after the other, giving a warning glance and shake of his head. Dongwan stopped in the middle of the room and gestured toward Key.
“Come here,” he said simply. Key hesitated and looked to Onew for guidance, who edged closer but could only let out a troubled sigh.
“It’s alright. Go ahead.”
Key stared at his master for another moment before walking toward Dongwan. His face remained blank but Onew couldn’t ignore the troubled look in his black eyes.
“He’s beautiful, Jinki-yah. Well chosen,” Dongwan murmured and began circling the feline boy before him. Key instantly stiffened, reminiscent of the day Jonghyun had brought him clothes. Suddenly, Key’s entire body went stock still. Onew watched his face tighten into a cold mask and his eyes become blank, black orbs. It wasn’t until Dongwan began to round Key that Onew understood why; the older man was running his hand across the Halfling’s back.
An odd sense of burning erupted in Onew’s chest. He had an unfathomable sense that someone touching Key was wrong, someone looking at Key with those desiring eyes was wrong. It wasn’t jealousy, it was something more. Ownership. These emotions partially scared Onew but he didn’t have time to focus on that. Taemin’s hand once again tightened on his cousin’s arm but when he glanced over Onew saw the younger boy’s face set in an angry expression.
“How old is he?” Dongwan asked but his eyes remained on the feline boy before him. To Key’s credit he remained expressionless, the only thing betraying his discomfort was the slight droop in his ears. If he was free to Onew was sure Key’s ears would be flat against his hair.
“He’s twenty-one,” Onew supplied tightly, watching as Dongwan’s hand now ran down Key’s arm, and lingered at his hip.
“Have you ever considered loaning him?” the eldest’s hand now grasped Key’s chin and moved his face back and forth as if to view it from all angles. Key only stood there, staring blankly into space. Onew had never seen the boy so shut down before and it was somewhat terrifying. Key didn’t even look scared; had things like this happened before? Worse? Onew shuddered to think about it.
He shook himself free from his cousin and took a few steps forward. “Never,” he hissed.
Dongwan paused in his examination and turned back to the honey-haired heir with a raised brow, a smirk barely quirking his lips.
“Are you sure? I have a lovely new Halfling I just got. He’s a bit younger but a feline as well, and with a lean body much like this one. We could trade for a few days. It seems we have similar taste, Jinki-yah.”
The ball of fire that had previously seemed to be floating in Onew’s chest felt as if it had exploded. He had never really talked back to someone in a serious manner, especially not someone like Choi Dongwan whose family held such clout. But he’d also never felt so much anger.
“I said no,” and it came out so cold and menacing that even Onew himself was shocked it had come from his own lips.
“My family is not keen on sharing, Dongwan-ssi,” Taemin supplied in a cold voice and walked up to stand beside his cousin. “I believe it’s time you leave.”
“Really?” the eldest’s hand traveled back to Key’s hip and slipped just under the hem of his shirt. “But I’m only just getting acquainted with - what did you say his name was?” Dongwan smirked at the two cousins and made a show of letting his fingers flirt with the waistband of the Halfling’s pants.
Onew didn’t even realize he had started toward the other until he felt Taemin’s arm shoot out to stop him.
“I think I said it’s time for you to leave,” the prince said calmly but with a warning to it. When the other made no move, the prince continued. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe you have a motion put in for more funding to your department. Veto power lies with the royal family, does it not?”
“Veto power lies with King Wongshik,” Dongwan said, but removed his hands from Key and began to look hesitant.
“As my father is out of the country that would make me, as next in line, rather influential in the situation wouldn’t it?” Taemin asked almost nonchalantly but with a somewhat terrifying glint in his eye. Onew knew that look only meant trouble. “I heard it was a large sum of money you’re looking for, too.”
“Very well,” Dongwan near hissed and stepped back. “I have somewhere to be anyway.”
Without another word, he gave a slight nod to both other boys and left the room. Taemin and Onew stood in a tense silence for a few moments. Taemin looked annoyed while Onew was channeling all of his energy into not following Dongwan and beating him senseless. A foreign feeling for someone usually so calm. The two turned toward Key at the same time and suddenly their personal anger melted.
The Halfling stood where he had been. His fluffy blonde tail was tucked tight between his legs, the brown tip peaking through to rest on his shin and his skin was now a concerning sickly pale color like all the blood had drained from his face. His arms were wrapped tight in front of his body as if he were hugging himself and his ears were drooped down into his two tone hair - but they didn’t droop just a bit like they usually did when he was concentrating on a book or small task; rather they were drooped deeply in a show of something else. Sadness? Defeat? Discomfort? Onew wasn’t totally sure. But it was Key’s eyes that really upset his young master. The spark in them was gone. They were now a flat black, staring at the wall across the room as if he could see universes away.
“Kibum,” Onew began softly, but in truth he didn’t know how to finish and instead the whisper hung empty in the air. After a few moments Key spoke.
“May I go to my room?”
“Kibum,” the young heir tried again. “I-“
“Please,” the feline boy begged, his voice cracking before it fell into a whisper, “Please, my lord.”
It wasn’t until then that Onew realized Key was trying not to cry; his eyes shown with unshed tears and his nose was just barely flushing red.
“Of course,” he conceded immediately.
Key bowed to both of them, “My lord, my Prince,” and left quickly.
Taemin waited a beat and then turned to his cousin, “Hyung… You couldn’t have stopped Dongwan.” It was as if he’d read his mind.
“Of course I could have. I should have ripped his hands off of him.”
“If you had they would be coming for Kibum tomorrow and Dongwan would have made sure he was treated terribly. He’s angry enough as it is,” Taemin assured.
“Did you see his face?” Onew questioned and trained his eyes on the floor. “He looked like he was going to cry.”
Taemin didn’t know what to say to that and instead let out a soft sigh. “You’ll have to speak with Kibum tomorrow, hyung. It’s not going to be easy but maybe if he understands what Dongwan is capable of…” the younger tried but it sounded more like a question than anything else.
How was one supposed to explain that the only options were to either let their Halfling be manhandled, or have their Halfling forcibly taken away and sent back to a Keeper?
“Come on, hyung, let’s go back. Jonghyun probably thinks we’re trying to kill Dongwan without him. You know how jealous he gets,” the prince tried for a joke. Onew smiled sadly and nodded.
Minho and Jonghyun looked alarmed when they realized Key wasn’t with them but calmed slightly after the events of the visit were recounted to them. Both still seemed concerned but didn’t broach the subject further. Conversation resumed among the group but Onew was notably not as active a participant. His mind was clearly elsewhere and when the sun started to go down the other three left with sympathetic smiles. Onew hadn’t even opened any of his gifts and though he had stacks of financial reports for the estate and its surrounding lands to go over, he decided to prepare for bed early. He, surprisingly, fell asleep almost immediately.
When Onew awoke the next morning he found his fireplace still burning and his laptop sitting in his armchair, just where he’d left it.
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Ohhh my god, guys i am so sorry this took so long!! i just... life happened and then i was torn over this chapter, trying to figure out if i should put off the introduction of dongwan until later. i hope it turned out alright?? it's pretty long, as well. please please please tell me what you think - comments give me inspiration to keep writing! i hope my writing hasn't deteriorated too terribly!
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