Risky Business (Chapter 8b)
Title: Risky Business
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: JongKey, OnHyun, MinKey, OnTae
Rating: PG13
Summary: Onew's out of the way and Jong has messed up. Will he and Key ever find their way back to each other?
“I guess if we’re sharing then it’s only fair that I tell you this. It might give you some insight on who Key is and why he’s so affected by what happened.” Minho smiled sadly. “You might also understand that he never intended to hurt you when he got involved with Jong. It wasn’t about stealing what was yours. The last thing he’d ever wanted was to get involved with someone who wasn’t free to love him…again.”
Onew’s eyes widened. “Again?”
Minho took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he began. “When Key was sixteen, he met this man. He was older, handsome, successful, came from a well-known family back home. He was also married and he worked with Key’s father. I’m going to skip over the details but, needless to say, they got involved. The situation wasn’t ideal but Key was over the moon because he’d finally connected with someone and he’d never had that before. He wasn’t openly gay back then, although it’s not like he was exactly hiding it being as flamboyant as he is, but other than me, there was no one that he felt truly knew or accepted him. Until he met Hyun.
The sneaking around was part of the appeal, I think. Being together right under everyone’s noses but without Key’s dad, his business associates or Hyun’s wife having a clue. They were…intimate. It wasn’t an easy decision for Key to make. As much as he considered sneaking around an adventure, he still had his own morals and values but Hyun usually managed to convince him into doing whatever he wanted him to do. Eventually, however, Key wanted more. It was his first relationship and he thought he’d met the one. A year had already passed, he had to start making preparations for college and he included Hyun in those preparations. He honestly considered him a part of his future. And he hated all the lying. He said that sneaking around made him feel dirty, like their love was something to be ashamed of. At first Hyun waylaid him with comforting words and promises but I think Key started to realize that he may have been in a one-sided love affair all along. Hyun never intended to leave his wife, his family, his position.
One day in the midst of an argument Key threatened to blow the lid on their relationship and expose all their dirty little secrets to Hyun’s wife and Key’s father, and their business contacts by association. He never intended to, never would’ve gone through with it, he was just angry and wanted to lash out and that was the only thing he could think of that would unnerve him.”
Minho paused, swallowed thickly. “He didn’t see it coming. One minute he was on the other side of the room, back turned so Hyun wouldn’t see that he was bluffing, the next he’d been slammed into the wall. The wind knocked out of him and he got dizzy but when his head cleared, he was flat on his back on the bed and Hyun was on top of him pummeling his face.”
Onew gasped, a hand coming to his mouth in disbelief and horror. “Oh my g…”
“He didn’t stop there,” Minho continued. “Key tried to protect himself, raised his hands to shield his face and body, but Hyun grabbed his hand and wrenched it away. I don’t think he realized how much force was in it, he was probably too fargone by then, but he broke his arm. He clawed at him, hyun, tore his clothes and…” Minho paused, taking another deep breath as he was about to say something he’d never allowed himself to before. “He never said, never admitted, but I know, I know he raped him. When I saw Key in the hospital after, he looked like he’d been attacked by a wild animal. I couldn’t recognise him at all. He was covered in bandages everywhere and what wasn’t covered was swollen and torn. My heart ached to see him like that, much like it did that night when I pulled Jong off of him. I couldn’t do anything to save him back then but I’m not powerless anymore and I swear, hyung, if Key hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve killed Jong.
He was in the hospital for a while…and hated every second of it. The nurses and doctors kind of gave him a hard time. Their looks were very judgmental and their attitudes were terrible. You have to understand that we come from a small town. Homosexuality is pretty unheard of. If it exists, it’s kept on the down low, but because of the extent of Key’s injuries by the time Hyun was done with him, patching him up and sending him home wasn’t an option. The housekeeper had found him, called the ambulance and the whole sordid affair unfolded. Or it should have. Instead, a lot of money exchanged hands to make the whole thing go away. The doctors and nurses who treated him looked at him with scorn but they couldn’t utter a word. Likewise, the housekeeper was silenced. Hyun’s father had stepped in and “took care” of it all. Hyun was sent away to “rehab” for a drinking problem, his wife went with him for moral support. Key was left behind to bear the brunt of it. Not only was he gay but he’d an affair with a married man. The way Hyun’s father painted it, Key had corrupted his son, seduced him, and Hyun had, unfortunately, used his fists to get himself out of Key’s clutches.
But the most hurtful part of the entire situation was that Key’s father had accepted money to not press charges, to let it all be swept under the rug. Key knew his father didn’t approve of him, as a person and most definitely not as a gay man, but he never thought his father would sell him out like that. His relationship with his father pretty much ended then and there. When he got out of the hospital, he had no choice but to return home since he was underage but he never spoke to his father again. He recuperated and returned to school, did everything he had to until graduation and on his 18th birthday, he packed all of his stuff, emptied his savings, said goodbye to his mother and left. He went to live with his aunt in Seoul until school started and when I came up, we got our apartment and we’ve been together since. He’s never gone back home. His mom comes to visit him every three or four months but he never goes home. He says he doesn’t have one. His parents pay his tuition, rent, etc., and it tears him up inside that he’s living off of what he calls their “blood money” but it made more sense to focus on school and not have to worry about paying bills. He can’t wait to be independent.”
Minho stopped, breathed in and let it out on a sigh. He smiled. “I guess the moral of the story is that having gone through what he did and having shared it with Jong, who is the only person who knew besides me, and, well, you now, he never thought that Jong would ever lay a hand on him or ever use his past to hurt him. He didn’t tell me himself but he talks in his sleep sometimes and I heard him mumbling, begging Jong not to say “those things”, some of which he repeated. It was easy enough to put two and two together. I’m pretty sure that hurts more than the physical pain because as divalicious as Key is and as much as he loves attention, he never bares his heart and soul to anyone. But he did to Jong and to have that used against him, even if Jong was drunk or hurting himself, cuts deep, you know? I think he’s questioning himself and if he really knew Jong or if he’d just blinded himself, for the second time, to who the person he loved really was.”
“Poor Key…” Onew whispered, his heart full with sorry and sympathy.
Minho smiled slightly. “He really likes you, hyung. He truly never meant to hurt you. I think he fought it in the beginning, the attraction, but when he couldn’t anymore he tried to get Jong to break up with you to save you from being even more hurt than you would have been if it dragged on. In the end, as these stories usually go, you all ended up hurt but hopefully you’re wiser for it.”
Onew sighed. “Those idiots… I’m finally out of the way but they still aren’t together.” He case Minho a sideways glance. “Do you suppose it would help if he locked them in a room together?”
Minho chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re a good man, hyung.”
Onew grinned. “I try.” His grin slipped into a gentle smile. “They’ll be okay. I know you’re worried about Key but when Jong come back, he’ll do what he has to. There’s no way he’ll let Key get away. He loves him too much.” He was surprised that he didn’t experience the usual tug on his heart. Perhaps he was finally letting go.
“I guess that means I’m going to have to look for somewhere to stay then,” Minho joked.
“You could always move in with me,” Onew offered spontaneously. Where had that come from?
Minho’s eyes widened in surprise. “What about Taemin?”
Onew’s grin returned. “Well, he can either let you move in with us or I can move out and get a place with you, maybe take over Jong’s apartment or yours and Key’s, whichever the lovebirds decide they’re not going to live in.” He rolled his eyes but his grin stayed in place. “I’m sure if I threaten to leave, we’ll find that Taemin can be very agreeable.”
Minho laughed. “That’s evil, hyung.”
Onew shrugged. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
Next Chapter: 9a
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: JongKey, OnHyun, MinKey, OnTae
Rating: PG13
Summary: Onew's out of the way and Jong has messed up. Will he and Key ever find their way back to each other?
“I guess if we’re sharing then it’s only fair that I tell you this. It might give you some insight on who Key is and why he’s so affected by what happened.” Minho smiled sadly. “You might also understand that he never intended to hurt you when he got involved with Jong. It wasn’t about stealing what was yours. The last thing he’d ever wanted was to get involved with someone who wasn’t free to love him…again.”
Onew’s eyes widened. “Again?”
Minho took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he began. “When Key was sixteen, he met this man. He was older, handsome, successful, came from a well-known family back home. He was also married and he worked with Key’s father. I’m going to skip over the details but, needless to say, they got involved. The situation wasn’t ideal but Key was over the moon because he’d finally connected with someone and he’d never had that before. He wasn’t openly gay back then, although it’s not like he was exactly hiding it being as flamboyant as he is, but other than me, there was no one that he felt truly knew or accepted him. Until he met Hyun.
The sneaking around was part of the appeal, I think. Being together right under everyone’s noses but without Key’s dad, his business associates or Hyun’s wife having a clue. They were…intimate. It wasn’t an easy decision for Key to make. As much as he considered sneaking around an adventure, he still had his own morals and values but Hyun usually managed to convince him into doing whatever he wanted him to do. Eventually, however, Key wanted more. It was his first relationship and he thought he’d met the one. A year had already passed, he had to start making preparations for college and he included Hyun in those preparations. He honestly considered him a part of his future. And he hated all the lying. He said that sneaking around made him feel dirty, like their love was something to be ashamed of. At first Hyun waylaid him with comforting words and promises but I think Key started to realize that he may have been in a one-sided love affair all along. Hyun never intended to leave his wife, his family, his position.
One day in the midst of an argument Key threatened to blow the lid on their relationship and expose all their dirty little secrets to Hyun’s wife and Key’s father, and their business contacts by association. He never intended to, never would’ve gone through with it, he was just angry and wanted to lash out and that was the only thing he could think of that would unnerve him.”
Minho paused, swallowed thickly. “He didn’t see it coming. One minute he was on the other side of the room, back turned so Hyun wouldn’t see that he was bluffing, the next he’d been slammed into the wall. The wind knocked out of him and he got dizzy but when his head cleared, he was flat on his back on the bed and Hyun was on top of him pummeling his face.”
Onew gasped, a hand coming to his mouth in disbelief and horror. “Oh my g…”
“He didn’t stop there,” Minho continued. “Key tried to protect himself, raised his hands to shield his face and body, but Hyun grabbed his hand and wrenched it away. I don’t think he realized how much force was in it, he was probably too fargone by then, but he broke his arm. He clawed at him, hyun, tore his clothes and…” Minho paused, taking another deep breath as he was about to say something he’d never allowed himself to before. “He never said, never admitted, but I know, I know he raped him. When I saw Key in the hospital after, he looked like he’d been attacked by a wild animal. I couldn’t recognise him at all. He was covered in bandages everywhere and what wasn’t covered was swollen and torn. My heart ached to see him like that, much like it did that night when I pulled Jong off of him. I couldn’t do anything to save him back then but I’m not powerless anymore and I swear, hyung, if Key hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve killed Jong.
He was in the hospital for a while…and hated every second of it. The nurses and doctors kind of gave him a hard time. Their looks were very judgmental and their attitudes were terrible. You have to understand that we come from a small town. Homosexuality is pretty unheard of. If it exists, it’s kept on the down low, but because of the extent of Key’s injuries by the time Hyun was done with him, patching him up and sending him home wasn’t an option. The housekeeper had found him, called the ambulance and the whole sordid affair unfolded. Or it should have. Instead, a lot of money exchanged hands to make the whole thing go away. The doctors and nurses who treated him looked at him with scorn but they couldn’t utter a word. Likewise, the housekeeper was silenced. Hyun’s father had stepped in and “took care” of it all. Hyun was sent away to “rehab” for a drinking problem, his wife went with him for moral support. Key was left behind to bear the brunt of it. Not only was he gay but he’d an affair with a married man. The way Hyun’s father painted it, Key had corrupted his son, seduced him, and Hyun had, unfortunately, used his fists to get himself out of Key’s clutches.
But the most hurtful part of the entire situation was that Key’s father had accepted money to not press charges, to let it all be swept under the rug. Key knew his father didn’t approve of him, as a person and most definitely not as a gay man, but he never thought his father would sell him out like that. His relationship with his father pretty much ended then and there. When he got out of the hospital, he had no choice but to return home since he was underage but he never spoke to his father again. He recuperated and returned to school, did everything he had to until graduation and on his 18th birthday, he packed all of his stuff, emptied his savings, said goodbye to his mother and left. He went to live with his aunt in Seoul until school started and when I came up, we got our apartment and we’ve been together since. He’s never gone back home. His mom comes to visit him every three or four months but he never goes home. He says he doesn’t have one. His parents pay his tuition, rent, etc., and it tears him up inside that he’s living off of what he calls their “blood money” but it made more sense to focus on school and not have to worry about paying bills. He can’t wait to be independent.”
Minho stopped, breathed in and let it out on a sigh. He smiled. “I guess the moral of the story is that having gone through what he did and having shared it with Jong, who is the only person who knew besides me, and, well, you now, he never thought that Jong would ever lay a hand on him or ever use his past to hurt him. He didn’t tell me himself but he talks in his sleep sometimes and I heard him mumbling, begging Jong not to say “those things”, some of which he repeated. It was easy enough to put two and two together. I’m pretty sure that hurts more than the physical pain because as divalicious as Key is and as much as he loves attention, he never bares his heart and soul to anyone. But he did to Jong and to have that used against him, even if Jong was drunk or hurting himself, cuts deep, you know? I think he’s questioning himself and if he really knew Jong or if he’d just blinded himself, for the second time, to who the person he loved really was.”
“Poor Key…” Onew whispered, his heart full with sorry and sympathy.
Minho smiled slightly. “He really likes you, hyung. He truly never meant to hurt you. I think he fought it in the beginning, the attraction, but when he couldn’t anymore he tried to get Jong to break up with you to save you from being even more hurt than you would have been if it dragged on. In the end, as these stories usually go, you all ended up hurt but hopefully you’re wiser for it.”
Onew sighed. “Those idiots… I’m finally out of the way but they still aren’t together.” He case Minho a sideways glance. “Do you suppose it would help if he locked them in a room together?”
Minho chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re a good man, hyung.”
Onew grinned. “I try.” His grin slipped into a gentle smile. “They’ll be okay. I know you’re worried about Key but when Jong come back, he’ll do what he has to. There’s no way he’ll let Key get away. He loves him too much.” He was surprised that he didn’t experience the usual tug on his heart. Perhaps he was finally letting go.
“I guess that means I’m going to have to look for somewhere to stay then,” Minho joked.
“You could always move in with me,” Onew offered spontaneously. Where had that come from?
Minho’s eyes widened in surprise. “What about Taemin?”
Onew’s grin returned. “Well, he can either let you move in with us or I can move out and get a place with you, maybe take over Jong’s apartment or yours and Key’s, whichever the lovebirds decide they’re not going to live in.” He rolled his eyes but his grin stayed in place. “I’m sure if I threaten to leave, we’ll find that Taemin can be very agreeable.”
Minho laughed. “That’s evil, hyung.”
Onew shrugged. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
Next Chapter: 9a