Fatal Attraction (Part 3a)
Title: Fatal Attraction
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: NC-17
Length: Two-shot
Summary: Jaejoong is an assassin: Yunho, his target. But what happens when the hunter falls for his charming prey?
N/B: Inspired by, but not based on, the character of YeoWoon from Warrior Baek Dong Soo.
“Open up.”
Jaejoong couldn’t prevent the flush that flooded his cheeks as he opened his mouth and accepted the mouthful of fruit compote Yunho held out to him. He’d never been fed before. He kinda liked it.
“How is it?”
He nodded, savoring the complex flavors. “Good. I’ve never had it before.”
Yunho grinned. “Well, you’ll have a never-ending supply from now on.”
Jaejoong’s blush deepened, his gaze dropping to the tabletop. It amazed him how easily Yunho could talk about them, their future, as if there wasn’t a sword hanging over their heads, literally.
“Don’t,” Yunho said sternly.
Jaejoong looked up in surprise. “Don’t what?”
“I can see you thinking. Whatever’s on your mind, put it away right now.”
They’d been having a lovely morning up until then. Yunho had awakened first then woke him up, using a method he promised to utilize as often as he was able, before they’d slipped into a pair of robes and Yunho ordered breakfast for them. He’d never heard of a condominium with its own hotel-esque kitchen but the residents got what they paid for, he supposed. Heaven knew that Yunho’s apartment probably cost his father a small fortune, though it was the cheapest of the options his father had offered him, according to Yunho.
Looking out over the view, Jaejoong took a deep breath and released it slowly. He couldn’t believe he’d thought it wasn’t anything special. The inky blackness of night had hidden its beauty. A stone’s throw away, a couple of blocks actually, there was a park. A lush, green park teeming with life. Even from that distance, he could see small colorful dots creeping along. But the trees, the fact that there was nature at its very best in the middle of the city, mesmerized him. The compound was located at the foot of a mountain so he was used to nature but he’d always thought of the city as a cesspit, an ugly breeding ground for greed, immorality and evil, and yet he had found beauty and goodness in it.
In more ways than one, he thought, turning his gaze back to Yunho, who’d been staring at him for some time it seemed.
“Can I ask you a question?” Yunho asked slowly.
Jaejoong stilled. There were a million questions Yunho could ask but he wasn’t prepared for most of them.
Still, he nodded for him to continue.
“How long have you been a part of the clan?”
Jaejoong’s gaze dropped to the table, where he was surprised to find his hands clasped tightly.
“Since I was born,” he replied softly.
“So you’ve never known any other way of life?”
He shook his head.
“What about family?”
His gaze met Yunho’s. “The clan is my family.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to refute that statement but Yunho held it back. Instead, he asked,
“How old were you when you became an… active member?”
Jaejoong relaxed a little. This line of questioning was a bit easier. “18. We start training from young, pretty much as soon as we’re able to walk and have mastered our basic motor skills, but we don’t get officially initiated into the clan until our 18th birthday.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Four years.”
22, Yunho thought. Too young to be so broken and defeated. Well, not if he had any say in the matter. Things were about to change.
The next question came out of his mouth before he’d even finished thinking it through and he immediately wished he could take it back.
“How many people have you killed?”
Jaejoong’s head snapped back as if he’d been slapped, horror and shock reflected in the eyes that met Yunho’s.
Swearing beneath his breath, Yunho reached across the table and took his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
He’d killed a lot of people and their ghosts would follow him for the rest of his days, Jaejoong knew. Even though they were bad people, they were still human beings and their lives weren’t his to take. He wasn’t God.
The shocked, fear-filled eyes of Heo Minji popped into his mind, a reminder that they hadn’t all been monsters. He’d killed an innocent too.
He was trying to save Yunho, another innocent, but his life wouldn’t make up for her death. And he couldn’t help wondering if he was really doing what was best for Yunho. His brothers would come for him and with him there he could protect Yunho but it would also put Yunho at greater risk. The sheer numbers would be higher.
He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. They were out there, watching, waiting. He could feel them, their eyes, their intent, their hatred. The longer he stayed, the worse things would be for Yunho. He’d have a better chance with Jaejoong gone.
Opening his eyes, he pulled his hand out of Yunho’s grasp and stood. “I should leave.”
Yunho jumped to his feet. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Jaejoong sighed. “Yunho…”
Yunho stepped in front of him, wrapped his arms tightly around his waist and kissed him soundly on his mouth.
“The only place you’re going is back to bed,” Yunho said throatily, already backing him up across the threshold into the bedroom.
“Yunho…” Jaejoong’s expression was serious, though his body was already humming in anticipation. “It would be easier for you without me here. You might actually have a chance of surviving.”
Yunho stopped at the side of the bed and smiled down at him. “Lucky for you, I don’t do easy. I’ve always loved a challenge.” He pressed a hard kiss to Jaejoong’s lips. “Besides. Who’s going to feed you fruit compote if I’m gone?”
Jaejoong couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He couldn’t believe how silly Yunho was at times. They were talking about life and death yet all he could think about was sex and food. How could Jaejoong possibly pass that up?
“See,” Yunho teased. “You know I make perfect sense.”
He caught Jaejoong’s lips again and tumbled him onto the bed, flipping their positions so that Jaejoong lay on top of him. His hands slid beneath Jaejoong’s robe, caressing the silky smoothness of his skin. He reached between them and undid the knot of the robe, parting it so that his hands could feast on the rest of Jaejoong’s luscious body. Breaking off the kiss, he nibbled his way up the side of Jaejoong’s neck to his ear, sinking his teeth deep into the lobe as Jaejoong groaned loudly when he gripped his erection. He delved his tongue into Jaejoong’s inner ear, then whispered,
“I wonder what you’d feel like inside me. What do you think?”
Jaejoong gasped, his eyes locking with Yunho’s as heat suffused his entire body. Doing to Yunho what Yunho had done to him? Touching him, stroking him, being inside him? His face was so hot just thinking about it that he thought his head might explode.
Unable to control himself, Yunho threw his head back and laughed. Jaejoong’s expression was priceless. Kissing him softly on the mouth, he said gently, “We have lots of time to get to that, don’t worry. It’s not as scary as you think. Why don’t I show you again?”
With that, he rolled so that Jaejoong was beneath him, gazing up at him with lust and wonder in his eyes, and taught him just how exciting and pleasurable being in charge could be.
*************
Jaejoong’s eyes swept the long, wide, richly decorated hallway.
The building was a mire of class and elegance, glass and marble. They’d ascended sixty floors in an elevator before being led down this hallway, accompanied by Yunho’s guards as well as private escorts, to President Jung Kwon’s office. Jaejoong didn’t have to pretend to be awed this time, he truly was. And the fact that Yunho had been holding his hand the entire time didn’t even register to him.
“Don’t be afraid,” Yunho soothed when they stopped outside two huge, shiny wooden doors. “My dad looks a lot more ferocious than he actually is. His bark is way worse than his bite. Just leave the talking to me.”
Jaejoong nodded, his eyes growing even wider at the warning. He was nervous about meeting Yunho’s father, simply because he was Yunho’s father. Whatever was going on between them, Yunho was close to his dad so his opinion would mean a lot to him.
The doors opened and he found himself standing in the middle of a large office. Like the rest of the building, it was richly and elegantly decorated with wooden paneling and heavy wooden furniture throughout, colors that echoed of nature and weren’t remotely flashy. There were huge floor-to-ceiling windows hidden behind thick drapes in the same earthy tones as the rest of the office. Jaejoong had to admire his taste. It was understated but class and wealth were stamped into every single piece.
“Yunho,” his father greeted, coming around his desk to meet them. His eyes flashed to the smaller figure beside his son, widening slightly when he realized that the pretty face actually belonged to a boy. “I was surprised to get your call.”
“Thanks for meeting with me, dad,” Yunho began. “I won’t take up much of your time but I do need to speak with you privately. It’s important.” He looked pointedly over his shoulder at the guards who still stood behind them.
Mr. Jung nodded and all of the security exited the office, closing the doors behind them.
“What’s up?”
Yunho hesitated for a second. He’d thought about what he was going to say on the way over but nothing he’d come up with seemed right so he decided to wing it.
“I’m going to ask you a favor and I need you to do it but you can’t ask me why.”
The senior Jung frowned. “Yunho… That sounds rather cryptic. You can’t expect me to do whatever it is you want without a proper explanation.”
Yunho gulped. “I can and I do. You know me, dad. I’m independent. I learned that from you. I wouldn’t come to you unless it was important and there was no other option so the fact that I’m here speaks volumes.”
“I know that and it does but if you want my help…”
“Please,” Yunho pleaded. “I will tell you everything, when I can, but for now, I need you to trust me. You’ve trusted me before so please, trust me on this too.”
Silence hung in the air as Mr. Jung battled between his concerned fatherly instincts and wanting to support his son’s attempt to handle things on his own.
Finally, he nodded his ascent. “Okay. You have my cooperation.”
Yunho smiled gratefully. “Thank you, dad.” Expelling the breath he didn’t know he was holding, he forged ahead. “First, I need you to increase my security. As many as you can spare but not so many that it becomes a public spectacle. And bodyguards with martial arts training would be best.”
Mr. Jung’s eyebrows shot up but he simply said, “Okay, next?”
Yunho took a deep breath. “I want a birth certificate, national ID and passport in the name Kim Jaejoong.”
Jaejoong gasped, his eyes shooting up to Yunho’s face, unaware that his shocked expression mirrored the man in front of them.
“Yunho, what is going on?” his father demanded.
Yunho shook his head. “No… No questions, dad. Please, I know you can do this through proper channels without having to resort to anything illegal.”
Mr. Jung stared intently at his son, wondering what on earth had happened to lead him to such a bizarre request. His gaze then switched to the silent figure beside him. The boy hadn’t said a word since he’d entered, had barely even met his gaze, yet there was something about him that made him think he was on guard, bracing, for what, he didn’t know.
Kim Jaejoong, no doubt, he thought. What exactly had this boy gotten his son involved in? The fact that Yunho hadn’t introduced him meant that either he’d done it on purpose to avoid questions or he’d been so preoccupied that he’d forgotten proper greeting etiquette.
He couldn’t help but notice that when they’d entered, they’d been holding hands but now Yunho’s arm was wrapped possessively around the smaller boy’s tiny waist. Mr. Jung was sure that Yunho was completely unaware of how fierce and protective he looked. It made it all the more frightening.
Finally, he said, “Fine. I will do everything you’ve asked of me but Yunho, I want a detailed explanation when all of this is over.”
Yunho finally allowed himself to relax a little. He smiled. “Thank you, dad. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Mr. Jung glanced at Jaejoong. I can hazard a guess.
“I’ll step up your security immediately. They’ll be waiting down in the lobby for you when you get there. The documents may take a few days, a week at best.”
Yunho nodded. “That’s fine.” He released Jaejoong momentarily to step forward and give his father a tight hug. “Thank you so much.”
Mr. Jung had no idea why it was so important to Yunho but he felt like he’d just saved his son’s life. It only increased his worry.
When they separated, he asked, “Yunho…should I be concerned?”
Yunho stepped back to Jaejoong’s side, looking down at him as he took his hand before returning his gaze to his father. “I’d be lying if I said no but I want you to trust that I can handle it on my own.”
Mr. Jung’s worry tripled at his son’s alarming words but he stamped it down. He wasn’t about to step on the boy’s pride.
“If anything happens, if you need my help, let me know immediately.”
Yunho smiled widely. “Of course, dad. There’s no one else I would ever turn to.”
They said their goodbyes and Yunho promised to be in touch soon.
As Mr. Jung watched them go, he let out a long sigh. Walking over to his desk, he flipped through his Rolodex and selected the numbers he would need to fulfill Yunho’s wishes.
But first, he had to call his wife and tell her that their son had apparently chosen sides and it wasn’t the one they’d hoped for.
One week later…
“This is so good,” Yunho raved. “I can’t believe you’re this good after only a week.”
Jaejoong blushed, setting another platter on the counter in front of Yunho.
“I’ve always liked cooking,” he admitted, turning back to the stove. “At the compound, there’s a huge kitchen but meals are pretty basic so there’s not much versatility, nothing fancy. When I was growing up there was an old woman who used to run the kitchen. She lived in the village just outside the compound and she used to bring her grandchildren to work with her sometimes. They were forbidden from leaving the kitchen but to ease their suffering, I guess you could say, she would whip up little treats for them using leftover ingredients. Sometimes, I would sneak into the kitchen to watch her cook and she’d slip me a cake or a piece of candy or something. As I got older, training became more rigorous so there wasn’t much alone time but I would still go by when I could. One day, she stopped coming to the compound. I later found out that she’d had a stroke and couldn’t work anymore. When I got older, one of the chores I volunteered for was helping out in the kitchen.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be able to create stuff from scratch, to give life to it. I’m glad the kitchen staff here lets me watch them. They’re very nice. They don’t seem at all annoyed by my presence.”
Yunho listened to him as he spoke, his heart aching for the lonely child he must have been. Even now, the way he’d said that last sentence implied that he’d expected to be rejected. They wouldn’t have dared, for one, considering that he was now a resident of the building. And secondly, Jaejoong was so sweet and pure: who would ever say no to him? He remembered how he’d had to drag him downstairs and introduce him to the head chef because he’d been too shy to do it himself. He marveled at the fact that Jaejoong could probably kill a man in at least one hundred different ways but he couldn’t introduce himself to a stranger. It was rather endearing.
Smiling, he watched as Jaejoong continued to putter around the kitchen. He was incredibly precious to him.
When Jaejoong finally finished setting out the dishes and sat across the counter from him, he asked, “What do you think they’re waiting on?”
Jaejoong paused for a second, then picked up a platter and started spooning rice into their plates.
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “It’s possible they don’t want to take the chance with all the security around. They could also be waiting for me to go somewhere alone. We’re always together and where you are, the security follows so that’s bound to throw a wrench in their plans. But they are out there, of that I am sure.”
“Why don’t they just do it from afar?” Yunho asked, genuinely curious. “Like, use a sniper rifle or something. There are tons of ways to get us without coming into close proximity.”
Jaejoong smiled. “That is true and if it were you alone, they probably would. But with me…it’s personal. I’m the primary target now, your death warrant has been put on the back-burner. If they killed you first, it’d only be to get to me. To affect me. It’s a matter of pride, of avenging the clan and regaining their sterling reputation. To do that, they’d need to get me alone. They’d want me to see it coming, know exactly what was going to be done to me.”
“To torture you, you mean,” Yunho said frankly.
Jaejoong didn’t deny it, couldn’t. He was sure that whenever they finally got their hands on him, they would make sure he suffered. Repayment was utmost when a clan was betrayed by one of its own. It was the only way to balance the scales.
“Jaejoong…”
Jaejoong smiled again. “There’s no point in worrying about it now. Let’s eat, huh?”
Yunho ate what was put in front of him but he couldn’t stop the thoughts that raced through his head. Protecting Jaejoong was his number one priority and so far everything was going well but he knew, as Jaejoong knew, that it was only a matter of time. They were simply delaying the inevitable. He’d wanted to leave the country and his father had come through with the documents for Jaejoong, but Jaejoong refused to leave. He didn’t want to run away, he said. And truthfully, Yunho didn’t want to go on the run either. He’d have to leave everyone and everything he knew behind without the assurance that the move would even work. From what Jaejoong had told him, the clan had branches, contacts with other similar international organizations, so they would most likely be found wherever they went anyway.
He didn’t regret making Jaejoong a part of his life but he was starting to feel hopeless about being able to keep him alive.
Part 3b
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: NC-17
Length: Two-shot
Summary: Jaejoong is an assassin: Yunho, his target. But what happens when the hunter falls for his charming prey?
N/B: Inspired by, but not based on, the character of YeoWoon from Warrior Baek Dong Soo.
“Open up.”
Jaejoong couldn’t prevent the flush that flooded his cheeks as he opened his mouth and accepted the mouthful of fruit compote Yunho held out to him. He’d never been fed before. He kinda liked it.
“How is it?”
He nodded, savoring the complex flavors. “Good. I’ve never had it before.”
Yunho grinned. “Well, you’ll have a never-ending supply from now on.”
Jaejoong’s blush deepened, his gaze dropping to the tabletop. It amazed him how easily Yunho could talk about them, their future, as if there wasn’t a sword hanging over their heads, literally.
“Don’t,” Yunho said sternly.
Jaejoong looked up in surprise. “Don’t what?”
“I can see you thinking. Whatever’s on your mind, put it away right now.”
They’d been having a lovely morning up until then. Yunho had awakened first then woke him up, using a method he promised to utilize as often as he was able, before they’d slipped into a pair of robes and Yunho ordered breakfast for them. He’d never heard of a condominium with its own hotel-esque kitchen but the residents got what they paid for, he supposed. Heaven knew that Yunho’s apartment probably cost his father a small fortune, though it was the cheapest of the options his father had offered him, according to Yunho.
Looking out over the view, Jaejoong took a deep breath and released it slowly. He couldn’t believe he’d thought it wasn’t anything special. The inky blackness of night had hidden its beauty. A stone’s throw away, a couple of blocks actually, there was a park. A lush, green park teeming with life. Even from that distance, he could see small colorful dots creeping along. But the trees, the fact that there was nature at its very best in the middle of the city, mesmerized him. The compound was located at the foot of a mountain so he was used to nature but he’d always thought of the city as a cesspit, an ugly breeding ground for greed, immorality and evil, and yet he had found beauty and goodness in it.
In more ways than one, he thought, turning his gaze back to Yunho, who’d been staring at him for some time it seemed.
“Can I ask you a question?” Yunho asked slowly.
Jaejoong stilled. There were a million questions Yunho could ask but he wasn’t prepared for most of them.
Still, he nodded for him to continue.
“How long have you been a part of the clan?”
Jaejoong’s gaze dropped to the table, where he was surprised to find his hands clasped tightly.
“Since I was born,” he replied softly.
“So you’ve never known any other way of life?”
He shook his head.
“What about family?”
His gaze met Yunho’s. “The clan is my family.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to refute that statement but Yunho held it back. Instead, he asked,
“How old were you when you became an… active member?”
Jaejoong relaxed a little. This line of questioning was a bit easier. “18. We start training from young, pretty much as soon as we’re able to walk and have mastered our basic motor skills, but we don’t get officially initiated into the clan until our 18th birthday.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Four years.”
22, Yunho thought. Too young to be so broken and defeated. Well, not if he had any say in the matter. Things were about to change.
The next question came out of his mouth before he’d even finished thinking it through and he immediately wished he could take it back.
“How many people have you killed?”
Jaejoong’s head snapped back as if he’d been slapped, horror and shock reflected in the eyes that met Yunho’s.
Swearing beneath his breath, Yunho reached across the table and took his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
He’d killed a lot of people and their ghosts would follow him for the rest of his days, Jaejoong knew. Even though they were bad people, they were still human beings and their lives weren’t his to take. He wasn’t God.
The shocked, fear-filled eyes of Heo Minji popped into his mind, a reminder that they hadn’t all been monsters. He’d killed an innocent too.
He was trying to save Yunho, another innocent, but his life wouldn’t make up for her death. And he couldn’t help wondering if he was really doing what was best for Yunho. His brothers would come for him and with him there he could protect Yunho but it would also put Yunho at greater risk. The sheer numbers would be higher.
He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. They were out there, watching, waiting. He could feel them, their eyes, their intent, their hatred. The longer he stayed, the worse things would be for Yunho. He’d have a better chance with Jaejoong gone.
Opening his eyes, he pulled his hand out of Yunho’s grasp and stood. “I should leave.”
Yunho jumped to his feet. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Jaejoong sighed. “Yunho…”
Yunho stepped in front of him, wrapped his arms tightly around his waist and kissed him soundly on his mouth.
“The only place you’re going is back to bed,” Yunho said throatily, already backing him up across the threshold into the bedroom.
“Yunho…” Jaejoong’s expression was serious, though his body was already humming in anticipation. “It would be easier for you without me here. You might actually have a chance of surviving.”
Yunho stopped at the side of the bed and smiled down at him. “Lucky for you, I don’t do easy. I’ve always loved a challenge.” He pressed a hard kiss to Jaejoong’s lips. “Besides. Who’s going to feed you fruit compote if I’m gone?”
Jaejoong couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He couldn’t believe how silly Yunho was at times. They were talking about life and death yet all he could think about was sex and food. How could Jaejoong possibly pass that up?
“See,” Yunho teased. “You know I make perfect sense.”
He caught Jaejoong’s lips again and tumbled him onto the bed, flipping their positions so that Jaejoong lay on top of him. His hands slid beneath Jaejoong’s robe, caressing the silky smoothness of his skin. He reached between them and undid the knot of the robe, parting it so that his hands could feast on the rest of Jaejoong’s luscious body. Breaking off the kiss, he nibbled his way up the side of Jaejoong’s neck to his ear, sinking his teeth deep into the lobe as Jaejoong groaned loudly when he gripped his erection. He delved his tongue into Jaejoong’s inner ear, then whispered,
“I wonder what you’d feel like inside me. What do you think?”
Jaejoong gasped, his eyes locking with Yunho’s as heat suffused his entire body. Doing to Yunho what Yunho had done to him? Touching him, stroking him, being inside him? His face was so hot just thinking about it that he thought his head might explode.
Unable to control himself, Yunho threw his head back and laughed. Jaejoong’s expression was priceless. Kissing him softly on the mouth, he said gently, “We have lots of time to get to that, don’t worry. It’s not as scary as you think. Why don’t I show you again?”
With that, he rolled so that Jaejoong was beneath him, gazing up at him with lust and wonder in his eyes, and taught him just how exciting and pleasurable being in charge could be.
*************
Jaejoong’s eyes swept the long, wide, richly decorated hallway.
The building was a mire of class and elegance, glass and marble. They’d ascended sixty floors in an elevator before being led down this hallway, accompanied by Yunho’s guards as well as private escorts, to President Jung Kwon’s office. Jaejoong didn’t have to pretend to be awed this time, he truly was. And the fact that Yunho had been holding his hand the entire time didn’t even register to him.
“Don’t be afraid,” Yunho soothed when they stopped outside two huge, shiny wooden doors. “My dad looks a lot more ferocious than he actually is. His bark is way worse than his bite. Just leave the talking to me.”
Jaejoong nodded, his eyes growing even wider at the warning. He was nervous about meeting Yunho’s father, simply because he was Yunho’s father. Whatever was going on between them, Yunho was close to his dad so his opinion would mean a lot to him.
The doors opened and he found himself standing in the middle of a large office. Like the rest of the building, it was richly and elegantly decorated with wooden paneling and heavy wooden furniture throughout, colors that echoed of nature and weren’t remotely flashy. There were huge floor-to-ceiling windows hidden behind thick drapes in the same earthy tones as the rest of the office. Jaejoong had to admire his taste. It was understated but class and wealth were stamped into every single piece.
“Yunho,” his father greeted, coming around his desk to meet them. His eyes flashed to the smaller figure beside his son, widening slightly when he realized that the pretty face actually belonged to a boy. “I was surprised to get your call.”
“Thanks for meeting with me, dad,” Yunho began. “I won’t take up much of your time but I do need to speak with you privately. It’s important.” He looked pointedly over his shoulder at the guards who still stood behind them.
Mr. Jung nodded and all of the security exited the office, closing the doors behind them.
“What’s up?”
Yunho hesitated for a second. He’d thought about what he was going to say on the way over but nothing he’d come up with seemed right so he decided to wing it.
“I’m going to ask you a favor and I need you to do it but you can’t ask me why.”
The senior Jung frowned. “Yunho… That sounds rather cryptic. You can’t expect me to do whatever it is you want without a proper explanation.”
Yunho gulped. “I can and I do. You know me, dad. I’m independent. I learned that from you. I wouldn’t come to you unless it was important and there was no other option so the fact that I’m here speaks volumes.”
“I know that and it does but if you want my help…”
“Please,” Yunho pleaded. “I will tell you everything, when I can, but for now, I need you to trust me. You’ve trusted me before so please, trust me on this too.”
Silence hung in the air as Mr. Jung battled between his concerned fatherly instincts and wanting to support his son’s attempt to handle things on his own.
Finally, he nodded his ascent. “Okay. You have my cooperation.”
Yunho smiled gratefully. “Thank you, dad.” Expelling the breath he didn’t know he was holding, he forged ahead. “First, I need you to increase my security. As many as you can spare but not so many that it becomes a public spectacle. And bodyguards with martial arts training would be best.”
Mr. Jung’s eyebrows shot up but he simply said, “Okay, next?”
Yunho took a deep breath. “I want a birth certificate, national ID and passport in the name Kim Jaejoong.”
Jaejoong gasped, his eyes shooting up to Yunho’s face, unaware that his shocked expression mirrored the man in front of them.
“Yunho, what is going on?” his father demanded.
Yunho shook his head. “No… No questions, dad. Please, I know you can do this through proper channels without having to resort to anything illegal.”
Mr. Jung stared intently at his son, wondering what on earth had happened to lead him to such a bizarre request. His gaze then switched to the silent figure beside him. The boy hadn’t said a word since he’d entered, had barely even met his gaze, yet there was something about him that made him think he was on guard, bracing, for what, he didn’t know.
Kim Jaejoong, no doubt, he thought. What exactly had this boy gotten his son involved in? The fact that Yunho hadn’t introduced him meant that either he’d done it on purpose to avoid questions or he’d been so preoccupied that he’d forgotten proper greeting etiquette.
He couldn’t help but notice that when they’d entered, they’d been holding hands but now Yunho’s arm was wrapped possessively around the smaller boy’s tiny waist. Mr. Jung was sure that Yunho was completely unaware of how fierce and protective he looked. It made it all the more frightening.
Finally, he said, “Fine. I will do everything you’ve asked of me but Yunho, I want a detailed explanation when all of this is over.”
Yunho finally allowed himself to relax a little. He smiled. “Thank you, dad. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Mr. Jung glanced at Jaejoong. I can hazard a guess.
“I’ll step up your security immediately. They’ll be waiting down in the lobby for you when you get there. The documents may take a few days, a week at best.”
Yunho nodded. “That’s fine.” He released Jaejoong momentarily to step forward and give his father a tight hug. “Thank you so much.”
Mr. Jung had no idea why it was so important to Yunho but he felt like he’d just saved his son’s life. It only increased his worry.
When they separated, he asked, “Yunho…should I be concerned?”
Yunho stepped back to Jaejoong’s side, looking down at him as he took his hand before returning his gaze to his father. “I’d be lying if I said no but I want you to trust that I can handle it on my own.”
Mr. Jung’s worry tripled at his son’s alarming words but he stamped it down. He wasn’t about to step on the boy’s pride.
“If anything happens, if you need my help, let me know immediately.”
Yunho smiled widely. “Of course, dad. There’s no one else I would ever turn to.”
They said their goodbyes and Yunho promised to be in touch soon.
As Mr. Jung watched them go, he let out a long sigh. Walking over to his desk, he flipped through his Rolodex and selected the numbers he would need to fulfill Yunho’s wishes.
But first, he had to call his wife and tell her that their son had apparently chosen sides and it wasn’t the one they’d hoped for.
One week later…
“This is so good,” Yunho raved. “I can’t believe you’re this good after only a week.”
Jaejoong blushed, setting another platter on the counter in front of Yunho.
“I’ve always liked cooking,” he admitted, turning back to the stove. “At the compound, there’s a huge kitchen but meals are pretty basic so there’s not much versatility, nothing fancy. When I was growing up there was an old woman who used to run the kitchen. She lived in the village just outside the compound and she used to bring her grandchildren to work with her sometimes. They were forbidden from leaving the kitchen but to ease their suffering, I guess you could say, she would whip up little treats for them using leftover ingredients. Sometimes, I would sneak into the kitchen to watch her cook and she’d slip me a cake or a piece of candy or something. As I got older, training became more rigorous so there wasn’t much alone time but I would still go by when I could. One day, she stopped coming to the compound. I later found out that she’d had a stroke and couldn’t work anymore. When I got older, one of the chores I volunteered for was helping out in the kitchen.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be able to create stuff from scratch, to give life to it. I’m glad the kitchen staff here lets me watch them. They’re very nice. They don’t seem at all annoyed by my presence.”
Yunho listened to him as he spoke, his heart aching for the lonely child he must have been. Even now, the way he’d said that last sentence implied that he’d expected to be rejected. They wouldn’t have dared, for one, considering that he was now a resident of the building. And secondly, Jaejoong was so sweet and pure: who would ever say no to him? He remembered how he’d had to drag him downstairs and introduce him to the head chef because he’d been too shy to do it himself. He marveled at the fact that Jaejoong could probably kill a man in at least one hundred different ways but he couldn’t introduce himself to a stranger. It was rather endearing.
Smiling, he watched as Jaejoong continued to putter around the kitchen. He was incredibly precious to him.
When Jaejoong finally finished setting out the dishes and sat across the counter from him, he asked, “What do you think they’re waiting on?”
Jaejoong paused for a second, then picked up a platter and started spooning rice into their plates.
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “It’s possible they don’t want to take the chance with all the security around. They could also be waiting for me to go somewhere alone. We’re always together and where you are, the security follows so that’s bound to throw a wrench in their plans. But they are out there, of that I am sure.”
“Why don’t they just do it from afar?” Yunho asked, genuinely curious. “Like, use a sniper rifle or something. There are tons of ways to get us without coming into close proximity.”
Jaejoong smiled. “That is true and if it were you alone, they probably would. But with me…it’s personal. I’m the primary target now, your death warrant has been put on the back-burner. If they killed you first, it’d only be to get to me. To affect me. It’s a matter of pride, of avenging the clan and regaining their sterling reputation. To do that, they’d need to get me alone. They’d want me to see it coming, know exactly what was going to be done to me.”
“To torture you, you mean,” Yunho said frankly.
Jaejoong didn’t deny it, couldn’t. He was sure that whenever they finally got their hands on him, they would make sure he suffered. Repayment was utmost when a clan was betrayed by one of its own. It was the only way to balance the scales.
“Jaejoong…”
Jaejoong smiled again. “There’s no point in worrying about it now. Let’s eat, huh?”
Yunho ate what was put in front of him but he couldn’t stop the thoughts that raced through his head. Protecting Jaejoong was his number one priority and so far everything was going well but he knew, as Jaejoong knew, that it was only a matter of time. They were simply delaying the inevitable. He’d wanted to leave the country and his father had come through with the documents for Jaejoong, but Jaejoong refused to leave. He didn’t want to run away, he said. And truthfully, Yunho didn’t want to go on the run either. He’d have to leave everyone and everything he knew behind without the assurance that the move would even work. From what Jaejoong had told him, the clan had branches, contacts with other similar international organizations, so they would most likely be found wherever they went anyway.
He didn’t regret making Jaejoong a part of his life but he was starting to feel hopeless about being able to keep him alive.
Part 3b