Fic: Searching for... ... - Chapter 7B
Title: Searching for... ... - Chapter 7B
Author: vic_sim
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, anything, except for the plot.
Characters: Super Junior + Henry, Zhou Mi, DBSK
Category: General
Rating: PG-13
Archive
Jaejoong stared at the computer screen, the bright screen the only light in his dark room. What? This can’t be true.
He gaped at what he was reading, staying silent as he did not want to wake Leeteuk in the next room. He knew things were going on in the orphanage - he was lucky that he got away when he was still too young to be made to do any of those. He could not help but think of his dongsaeng. What if it’s really true? Did he get out of there in time?
Jaejoong promised to check out actual news article the next day in their school library.
Thoughts of his dongsaeng suffering the fate of those he read about haunted his mind the whole night.
The next morning, he wandered out of his room, dressed, but still sleepily rubbing his eyes. He tossed and turned the night away as his imaginative mind spurred on images he hoped were truly part of his imagination. Leeteuk frowned at him from the kitchen counter as he proceeded to gulp down a huge cup of coffee - never mind that it was black. Jaejoong shrugged at Leeteuk’s raised eye brow. Leeteuk backed off, but both of them had the understanding that each would be there for the other when needed. It was like a friendship between the two Ummas.
Jaejoong trooped to the library, dragging Yunho along for his boyfriend knew the layout of the library much better than him - for the younger boy was a law student.
“Jae, why are we going to the library?”
“Research.”
“Research? Are you sure you’re going to the correct library? This isn’t the music library.”
“Who said I was doing homework?”
Yunho was puzzled. “Huh?”
Finally they stopped in front of the library with Jaejoong letting go of Yunho’s hand.
“Wha…”
Yunho asked when Jaejoong pushed him in front.
“Lead the way to the newspaper archive.”
“Huh?”
“Newspaper archive Yunnie.”
Bewilderment bubbled within Yunho, but he obliged, walking in front. The two dodged in between shelves and went through numerous twists and turns that Jaejoong congratulated himself for dragging his boyfriend along. The newspaper archive was hidden at an inner corner of the library - somewhere he definitely would not have found on his own.
“So, what exactly are you doing with the archive Jae?”
“Re~search.”
This prompted Yunho to raise an eyebrow at his boyfriend’s secretiveness and pout.
Jaejoong quite liked the pout that was forming on his boyfriend’s face.
“Himitsu.” Jaejoong leaned in close, placing his pale finger on Yunho’s lips, almost purring the word. Yunho shuddered, unable to suppress his body’s natural reaction to the sexy voice. I really should stop Jae and Chullie-hyung from meeting too often. Though, Yunho was considering buying the kitten Heechul had inconspicuously shown him in their deliberate detour on the way to Heechul’s apartment.
“Jae…”
“Oh, look at the clock. Don’t you have a class now Yunja?” Scratch that thought. He’s going to get a nice handmade bomb from me.
Yunho looked at his watch, realizing that Jaejoong was being serious.
“I’ve got to go. Bye Jae,” Yunho planted a kiss of Jaejoong’s lips - the only reason he did it was because they were nicely hidden from view behind the towering shelves. “And no, I’ve not forgotten about this yet! You will tell me later!”
Yunho dashed out of the library, smiling sheepishly as the librarian shushed him for shouting and running in the library.
Jaejoong shook his head bemusedly at the actions of his supposedly more mature boyfriend - according to everyone around them. He turned his attention to the shelves of newspaper articles in front of him. I should have ask Yunnie about the filing system. As he resigned himself to spending his whole day buried in the pile of articles, Jaejoong made a mental note to make Leeteuk’s favourite food tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Emergency Meeting! Tomorrow at Lunch! Be there, or… we’ll set Kangin-hyung on you!”
Changmin blinked at the message on the screen of his phone. Huh? Henry’s phone beeped on the table, signaling the arrival of a message. Judging by the same confused look the smaller boy seemed to be showing him, it most probably would be the same message.
“Emergency Meeting?”
Henry nodded. “I wonder what emergency it is.”
“I think it’s most likely something to do with the competition.” That was the only thing that Changmin could think of in common with three of them. Three? Changmin looked around for their missing roommate.
“He’s still sleeping?”
When Changmin arrived back asking about their ill roommate, Henry had told him that Kyuhyun was sleeping in his room. Henry left out the parts about the strange man Brian and the even stranger words that were said to him. He was confused and he wanted to seek comfort in his music - something he did since he was young - but he was afraid of disturbing the other boy and he did not want to leave Kyuhyun alone in the house.
Henry had knocked softly at Kyuhyun’s door after an hour, getting no answer. Deciding to try his luck, Henry turned the door knob, which to his surprise, opened the door. The three of them had an unspoken agreement of not entering each other’s room without permission, but Henry thought that being sick warranted enough concern to slightly breach the agreement. After all, he did knock first. He peeked in, calling out Kyuhyun’s name softly. The words fell silent in his mouth as he saw the taller boy curled up in his bed fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb, Henry gently closed the door.
Henry looked at the still closed door. “Shall I check?”
Just then the door opened, Kyuhyun walked out with sleep tousled hair and a half-hidden yawn on his face. Changmin and Henry giggled slightly at the positively child-like appearance older boy. Come to think of it, we don’t actually know who’s the hyung and who’s the dongsaeng. Changmin thought. None of them had asked each other that. They had assumed that Kyuhyun was the oldest for he was a second year, then Changmin for he simply just looked older than Henry, and lastly Henry. That’s something I have to remember to ask at some point in time. Or his parents would likely to murder him or worse force him back home, being so picky about the seniority. Although it’s nice to think of everyone as a friend. It was Changmin’s little ways of breaking away from his father’s numerous rules. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
“Kyuhyun, are you feeling better?”
Henry asked as Kyuhyun settled on the chair. Changmin stood up and headed to the kitchen, coming out with a glass of water and some medicine. Kyuhyun nodded, running his fingers through his hair. Surprisingly, instead of making it messier, it seemed as if Kyuhyun had combed his hair slightly.
“Eeteuk-hyung told me to make sure that you take the medicine and drink lots of water.”
Changmin said, casting his worried eyes on Kyuhyun. He took in the pale and a little flushed face of Kyuhyun, subtly running through in his head the words his lecturer had told them. No cold sweat, no shivering, his colour looks alright. I think it was just a fever. A huge part of him felt relieved at the conclusion he reached, a smile gracing his face when Kyuhyun shot him an annoyed look. It was not the normal annoyed look that Kyuhyun always showed him when
Changmin started to bug the other for spending too much time in his room. But it was a Kyuhyun-copyrighted annoyed look nonetheless.
Changmin had spent most of his childhood being forced to study all the time by his over-achieving father. Even though his mother had tried to help him by allowing Changmin to rest a little when his father was at work, it was still only a minor portion of his life. He was determined to experience life more in his few years of freedom in university. He was glad that he moved into this dorm and met so many people - especially people who had no idea about his background. He liked to be treated like any other normal person. That was why he could not stand the fact that Kyuhyun kept himself in his room almost all the time when he was in the dorm. Besides, it’s fun to annoy him.
“You must be getting better! You’re even showing me your Kyu-patented annoyed look!”
Henry chuckled at those words. He might look young - which he was - but he was not naïve. He could see what Changmin had yet to figure out, but he was not going to say anything. It would spoil all the fun.
Henry spent the most time with Ryeowook, and in turn Hankyung, who came with Heechul by default who was usually with Jaejoong and Leeteuk (the three always seemed to be discussing ways to deal with their boyfriends from one conversation Henry managed to eavesdrop in. It was accidental!), Yunho and Kangin attached to their side, the rest of the group would somehow turn up at one point or another. This gave him the opportunity to observe everyone. It seemed to Henry that everyone was attracted to another person in the group, though he had vaguely wondered how he ended up being surrounded by gays, not that he had anything against them. How could I when I’m one myself?
“Kyu-patented? When did I apply for a patent?”
Kyuhyun’s question earned him wide eyes from the other two before laughter erupted from them. Changmin wiped the tears from his eyes, trying to stop his laughter when he caught sight of the annoyed look Kyuhyun was shooting at the two of them. Chuckles bubbled in him again.
“You’re too cute Kyuhyun.”
That gained Changmin a full-blast of Kyuhyun’s glare, while Henry’s laughter continued to ring in the background.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“See, I told you my suggestion of Kangin-hyung would surely work.”
Eunhyuk pumped his chest proudly, albeit saying that soft enough such that Kangin who was nearby was just outside the hearing distance. After all, he had learned that setting off Kangin, especially without the presence of Leeteuk, can be suicidal. The group of three was huddled together whispering amongst themselves as they waited for everyone to turn up. Too bad they set the time as lunch instead of an actual exact time. They only had themselves to blame for having to wait for everyone to slowly wander to the designated spot.
“I still say Heechul-hyung would be even better. They’ll all be here on time!” Junsu argued, causing Donghae to disagree.
“Chullie-hyung is not that scary. He can be really nice at times.”
Donghae earned himself two skeptical looks.
“Nice? Heechul-hyung? Are we talking about the same person?” Eunhyuk asked incredulously. There were a lot of words which he would use to Kim Heechul, but nice was definitely not at the top of his list.
“I heard my name.”
The three jumped at the sudden intrusion.
“Hecchul-hyung!”
“Well?”
Heechul stood in front of the three, arms on his hips.
“Eh..eh… nothing Hyung. We were just…” Eunhyuk stuttered.
“Er…just saying how nice a person you are!” Junsu fibbed, trying to hide his nervousness.
Heechul eyed them, contemplating whether to believe their words. Then he nodded, smirking.
“Of course I’m nice. Kim Heechul is always nice. Right Hannie?”
Heechul turned to his boyfriend who just arrived. Hankyung blinked confusedly at Heechul, but being Heechul’s boyfriend armed Hankyung with the necessary survival skills, specifically Heechul Survival Skills. And the guide book to Heechul Survival Skills clearly stated that when one had no clue what Heechul was saying, always agree. And agree was what Hankyung did.
Luckily for the three, Heechul was distracted by the appearance of Kyuhyun and immediately zoomed in on the younger boy. Eunhyuk and Junsu gave sighs of relief, thanking Kyuhyun for his timely appearance.
“I thought we were going to die.”
Eunhyuk nodded empathetically at that statement. Donghae was long distracted by the presence of his dongsaeng and wandered away after Heechul turned his attention.
“Is everyone here?”
Eunhyuk looked around, silently counting in his head. “We can start now.”
They started to get everyone’s attention - which was no mean feat but they managed - and flashed the letter Eunhyuk was holding yesterday.
“We’re supposed to produce a video for the competition.”
“And we have less than seven days.”