Of French Customs and Old Times. Part 5
Title: Of French Customs and Old Times.
Status: Part 5 of ?
Author: xxqod
Pairing: Jonghyun/Taemin/Minho
Rating: PG-13
A/N: For bopeep_achu who requested this, it takes place in France of the 18th Century. Incorrect use of the French language XD lol, I only had basic French. It's not historically correct and I used their Korean names, cause I can't bring myself to change them. (Don't bash me for it! >.< )
~There's a wordlist at the end of each part, stating the French words and their translation.~
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Back to previous Part
~Flashback~
The guards shoved him roughly back into his room and Jonghyun banged on the door, but it didn't open. He screamed at the guards he knew were on the other side, blocking his way out. But nothing happened, so he turned around and his eyes fell on the bed where he slept.
He remembered the times Taemin would sneak in, warming his cold feet on his warm legs and snuggling in his embrace to shut off the noise of the thunderstorms outside. But now it would never happen again and Jonghyun was furious. He kicked the chair by the desk, sending it flying into his closet with a loud crack. He winced at the pain in his foot, but hopped over to the mirror to smash it to bits.
At that moment the guards came in with his mother crying hysterical at his behaviour. He shrugged and yelled back at her.
"How can you just send your own son off like that?!" It cost him a slap on the cheek and his dad to calm him down, threatening on not letting Jonghyun visit Taemin at the Château de Versailles.
"Learn to behave yourself. We're attending the wedding next week. You're getting a new costume for the ceremony. As family of the… bride… we have to look our best." With that they left Jonghyun alone.
"Taemin…" Jonghyun fell down on his bed, using the pillow to muffle his cries of pain and sadness and to absorb his tears. After a sleepless night he decided to train more dedicated, using his power and words to convince Taemin to run away with him once again. He learned riding on Tonnerre in that short week and gave Foudre as much attention as possible taking the horse by the reins while he rode Tonnerre.
His sword skills were lacking big time, but he didn't really had the spirit to learn it diligently. He missed Taemin's presence after all those years being together. He cried when his teacher disarmed him, running towards the stalls where the large tree stood. He sunk down against the trunk where Taemin sat on that unblessed day staring at the same blue sky. He imagined Taemin comforting him and pressing a light kiss to his lips, but it only caused him to cry harder.
That's how his mother found him at midnight after a long search in and around the castle. She lifted him up and walked him back to the castle straight to his room. She put him in bed and hung his new attire on the chair.
"Tomorrow's the big day. Please let Taemin see you're happy for him." She smiled lightly but it didn't reach her eyes for she felt the loss of Jonghyun's happiness. She sat on the bed and gave him a goodnight kiss, something she didn't do anymore when he turned twelve.
"Bonne nuit." She covered his eyes with her hand and he automatically closed his eyes, sleep came right at after.
"Jonghyun, hurry! Or else we're leaving without you!" His father shouted up the stairs.
"That's alright! I'll take Tonnerre for a ride!" Jonghyun came running down the stairs, dressed in his new clothes and flew past his dad running to the meadow were Tonnerre stood, waiting for him. He saddled him, strapping the bands tight, but not too tight. After checking if everything was alright Jonghyun mounted his horse and sped off after the carriage with Taemin's parents in it.
He slowed down beside them and they waved at him before Jonghyun said he'll go ahead. His father nodded and Jonghyun spurred his horse, going into gallop. He felt the breeze around him on this sunny day and he felt happy he could see Taemin again. He slowed Tonnerre down when he reached the more occupied part of the city and made his way through the crowd, to the Notre Dame.
The reins securely tied to the metal ring in the wall he waited till his parents arrived. They went in all together and took seats at the front. Jonghyun was so nervous sitting there and waiting for Taemin, he didn't notice other guests to fill in the other chairs. He failed to greet the other royalty, instead concentrated on the door, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. He vaguely heard his father give his apologies to some about his behaviour, but further he totally zoned out.
What seemed eternity to him the door finally opened again to reveal a beautiful girl and Jonghyun almost choked when he recognized that nose, those eyes and especially those lips, those soft looking lips. Taemin. He opened his mouth to say something, but his voice failed him when Taemin smiled at his parents, who clearly didn't recognize him. Before the boy locked eyes with him.
His throat has gone dry and his eyes watery from staring so much at the beauty walking in the aisle. He knew right at that moment he wanted to take Taemin away, kidnap him even. Just make sure he didn't land in the clutches of the King's son. He wondered if this feeling was called true love. He snapped back when Taemin father bumped against him and he pulled the sleeve of his father.
"T-that's Tae…min…" Jonghyun swallowed hard, his throat had gone dry seeing his friend dressed so prettily and feminine, he thought back to their kiss. Taemin's lips were soft, like a girl's lips would be, but he wouldn't know because he never kissed a girl before.
He watched the happy faces of his and Taemin's parents at the sight of their son and he felt betrayed. Didn't they think it was wrong to make him act like a girl? Only for stupid money. He scoffed, directing his gaze on the floor when Minho walked up to the front sitting beside Taemin with a huge smile on his face. Jonghyun gritted his teeth in response.
He watched Taemin carefully as the ceremony went on and when a tear slipped down Taemin's cheek, Jonghyun had to heavily breath in and out to control himself not to stomp over and punch le connard in the face.
Jonghyun gripped the armrest hard when Minho leaned in to kiss Taemin, sealing their bond as man and 'wife'. He did a mental victory yell when Taemin slightly turned his head, so Minho's lips landed on his cheek.
Now came the part where he had to watch the archbishop crown Minho and Taemin as 'Roi et Reine de France'. After the crowning Jonghyun slipped past everyone, going outside. He breathed in the fresh air and that was all it took for him to let his emotions run free. Through his tears he saw Taemin and Minho coming out and he quickly rounded the corner not wanting Taemin, but especially Minho to see him so weak.
He heard steps coming closer and he knew who it was. His gut feeling never let him alone. He pinned the person to the wall, maybe a little too rough, but he only cried more when he saw it was indeed Taemin. Taemin, who looked at him like he didn’t care about him.
Jonghyun's brain made a short cut, he forgot to say anything to Taemin and just pressed his lips against the younger boy's. No asking "Come with me" or "Leave him, stay with me", but Jonghyun tried desperately to pour his feelings in that kiss. He pulled away when Taemin didn't respond to him at all and he felt his heart break at the face of indifference Taemin had on him. Jonghyun's eyes grew larger, more moist and he begged silently, "Please stay with me. Don't leave me".
"I can't love you, Jonghyun." He heard Taemin's voice crack at the end and his vision blurred.
"I belong to Minho now." Jonghyun froze at the words. Didn't he mean anything to Taemin? Would Taemin really forget about him like that? He loosened the grip on the small wrists he had in his hands and Taemin instantly pushed away from him.
"No." Jonghyun fell on his knees forcing his voice to work, but there wasn't any sound. Instead he found himself crying as Taemin hurriedly walked away from him back to Minho, without even sparing him a glance.
He cried harder when the carriage moved away and that's how his, Taemin's parents found him.
"Jonghyun? Son? Are you alright?" His mother crouched down and hugged him close. She moved her hand through his hair, pressing a kiss on top of his head.
"Hey son! I don't raise you to be crying, be a man like how you fight with your sword and how you ride horse!" His father gave him a firm pat on the back, not realizing Jonghyun's sword fighting wasn't much to brag about.
"Don't worry too much, mon chéri. We'll still visit him in Versailles. It's not like you'll never see him again." Her voice was sweet and Jonghyun couldn't help but calm down and nod at her words.
"Let me wipe your tears." She lifted Jonghyun's head and froze momentarily at the red on her son's lips. She dried his tears, making sure to brush her sleeve against his lips, cleaning them of the red visible. Jonghyun didn't look like he noticed it. She threw her husband a concerned look and he looked back with equal worry in his eyes.
"Come, we will tie Tonnerre to the carriage so you sit with us." Father said, taking the horse and his mother hoisted him up. They settled in the vehicle without much disturbance, Jonghyun laying down on the bench with his head in his mother's lap. She stroked his hair and wiped the tears still flowing.
That evening Jonghyun didn't eat anything and locked himself in his room. He stripped himself of his clothes, before he made an igloo out of the blankets and buried himself underneath, wanting to stay there forever. Feelings overwhelmed him again and he tugged his own hair cursing himself for crying about it and not being a man.
His mother stood on the other side of the door, listening to the screams and sobbing coming from inside. Her prediction was right when she heard a particular sentence.
"Taemin, je t'aime…"
[At the age of fifteen Jonghyun knew true love. And he got to know true heartbreak.]
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A/N: Phew. I hope everyone likes it so far ^^ I had a little trouble writing this, but it turned out okay? To clear confusion: Taemin's parents are to Jonghyun much like his own parents, which he lost in an accident when he was young. So I write 'his' mother/father and 'son', while they are biological not related.
Next part is still the flashback. Should write a proper chapter for that ^^.
List of French words with translation:
- Château de Versailles - Palace of Versailles
- Tonnerre - Thunder
- Foudre - Lightning
- Bonne nuit - sleep well / Good night
- le connard - the asshole (This makes my life happy, cussing sound way better in French. XD )
- mon chéri - sweetie
- je t'aime - I love you