Sanctuary - Chapter Eight
Title: Sanctuary
Chapter: 8/?
Authors: renichifreak and yeonah
Fandom: SS501
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning:Angst, AU
Summary: In this era, people are bought and sold as though they are cattle. The human life is only worth what one is willing to pay for it. What happens when two such people end up in the possession of two brothers who refuse to follow the very practices they were raised to believe?
A/N: Another roleplay story by us for your enjoyment~! Yes, Unlock is still going XD We’re going back and forth. HyunJoong and JungMin are played by me (yeonah ) and KyuJong and YoungSaeng are played by renichifreak . Credit for the original plot goes to renichifreak and hakkais_shadow ~ <3 This chapter was NOT betaed, so you might find several mistakes, I'm sorry >.<;;;
HyunJoong looked up at the music store in front of him. "This is the place." He'd been coming here for years, ever since he got his first guitar. Sometimes he would come here when bored and just browse through the different wares.
Stepping inside, the atmosphere was calm and soothing, with a gentle instrumental playing in the background. There were very few people in sight, even employees, so HyunJoong turned to YoungSaeng with a smile. "Let's look around?"
Walking inside, YoungSaeng felt himself relax, if only slightly. The soft music and the feel of the instruments seemed to calm him considerably. Nodding to HyunJoong, he followed the man as he was supposed to, all the while keeping an eye out for the score sheets.
The instruments they sold were beautiful, and in excellent condition. HyunJoong's gaze wandered to the guitars on display as they walked by, taking in the many different kinds. He kept an eye on YoungSaeng as well, watching to see where the man's eyes went. He was curious about the slave's tastes in music.
On their way around the store, HyunJoong absently poked around the guitar picks on sale before picking up a few. He kept on losing his, but he didn't exactly mind; it gave him another reason to come back to the store.
YoungSaeng watched HyunJoong as the man wandered the shop, focusing on the guitars. As he thought about it, he did recall seeing a guitar case in the corner of the room. They had just passed an aisle when YoungSaeng stopped, eyes falling on a gorgeous piano in the middle of the store. It had been so many years since he'd played, yet he knew that he would still be able to play. Sighing, he continued to look around before finding what he was looking for.
HyunJoong looked back as YoungSaeng's footsteps faded out momentarily, then followed the younger man's eyes to the piano on display. Glancing between the slave and the piano, his lips quirked upwards slightly.
He knew that piano manufacturer. There actually was a piano of theirs back in the manor, a few versions old but still in perfect condition and could have come right off the shelves yesterday. No one had played it for years though.
14 years in fact.
"What are you looking for?" he asked curiously, turning away from the piano and continuing to walk.
Turning to look at HyunJoong, YoungSaeng pointed at the score sheets and composition paper. "This, actually," he replied, knowing that as long as he answered the question, the people around, scarce as they were, could say nothing.
The older man hummed slightly in acknowledgement, nodding. So YoungSaeng could compose? "Was that what you were doing in that notebook before?" He wondered how good YoungSaeng was at it. It had been a while since he'd seen any original compositions.
YoungSaeng looked at the man before nodding. "It's the only thing I have left that no one's been able to take from me," he finally answered.
HyunJoong met the slave's eyes, silent before a moment before he smiled. "It would be a waste to not use a talent like that. I hope you'll show me some of your work when you're finished? It's been a long time since I've seen any hand-written compositions." He wasn't going to take this away from YoungSaeng. He didn't want to take anything away from YoungSaeng. He doubted the man would believe him if he said that though, so he just hoped he could show it with time.
YoungSaeng regarded the man warily. Writing and composing was extremely private to him, being the only way that he could release everything he felt over his years of forced servitude. After a minute to think, he simply shrugged. "We'll see."
Nodding at that, HyunJoong turned to continue walking. He wondered if YoungSaeng actually would show him. Maybe he was feeling a little nostalgic, wanting to see compositions again, but he was also genuinely curious about the other man's skills.
"Anything else catching your interest? What kind of music do you like?" he asked, finding something to talk about in the interest they held in common.
"I more or less like anything as long as I can feel it," YoungSaeng replied, holding the sheet packets against his chest almost protectively.
HyunJoong nodded again, noting the protective grip on the sheets. "I'm not going to snatch them away from you, you know," he commented absently, going down the last aisle. "Though you will need to put them down long enough for the poor cashier to scan them."
Blinking, YoungSaeng loosened his grip a bit. "It wouldn't be the first time," he responded slowly. "And I'll put them down when we get there."
"Actually, it would be the first time if I did, since I've never taken something away from you before." And didn't plan to in the future.
Pausing in the last row, HyunJoong's gaze went to the different cleaning kits for sale as well. He always made sure both his guitar and the piano were well-kept, even though he was sure the majority of the household had forgotten about the latter. His brother had been too young when the piano had been last used.
Scanning over the different cleaning kits, he picked up one for his guitar, and another one for the piano, the picture of the piano keys hidden behind the other kit.
YoungSaeng simply smiled at HyunJoong before turning his attention to other things in the shop. Sympathizing with his severe lack of trust was one thing, but understanding it was something else all together.
HyunJoong glanced over at YoungSaeng out of the corner of his eyes, lips quirking upwards slightly. He was perfectly alright with not being trusted. He knew how trust worked...far more than anyone knew.
Finally they were done browsing, HyunJoong starting towards the cash to pay. He used a small sleight of hand to ensure the cover of the piano cleaning kit wasn't exposed.
YoungSaeng blinked. He could have sworn he'd seen HyunJoong pick something up. Shaking it off, he followed his master to the register, ignoring the look he got from the teenager ringing them out. HyunJoong seemed to be quite familiar with the place, so he decided to be good and not say a word.
Conversing idly with the cashier, HyunJoong didn't so much as give YoungSaeng a second glance, slipping into the attitude of a slave master easily. He may have had no idea about the rules of owning a slave, but if there was one thing HyunJoong truly prided himself on, it was his acting. There was something to be said about the ability to pull on masks as if they were a second skin, the transition so flawless it would take someone who truly knew him to even be aware the face he showed wasn't who he truly was.
Once everything had been paid for, HyunJoong turned towards the door. "Let's go." He stepped out of the music store, suppressing all urges like holding the door for YoungSaeng. The area outside was more crowded than before as it drew closer to noon. Glancing back at YoungSaeng, HyunJoong started towards the stylist, walking at a leisurely pace.
YoungSaeng had to admit that he was impressed by HyunJoong. Having heard that he knew very little about slave ownership, he worried that the man would screw up and he'd have to pay the price for it. YoungSaeng supposed that being raised in the household he was, he must have picked up a few things without knowing.
Following the man down the street, a familiar feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as he fought the urge to play with his hair.
It only took a few minutes for them to reach the hair salon, a trendy place owned by an ajhumma who loved dragging the Kim brothers into her various experiments. HyunJoong had been coming here for years, and she still complained that he should let his hair grow out again. And he told her every time that if he did, he'd be going to see her in need of a wig instead when he burned it all off by accident.
She enjoyed stringing him into weird hairstyles more than he liked, but she was the only mother figure he had left.
As he expected, she accosted them both the second they entered the salon. There were two other stylists there, working under her, and both occupied with clients already. "Joongie~! You haven't come to see me for so long, I was wondering if you were actually growing your hair out this time." She tugged playfully on his locks of hair. "Hm, longer, but not by much. You break my heart."
Then she noticed YoungSaeng behind him. "And who is this?" Her sharp eyes took in YoungSaeng's long hair, and the collar fully visible around his neck.
"This is YoungSaeng," HyunJoong said dismissively. "We're here for him, not for me, ajhumma."
"Hm..." she looked back at YoungSaeng, considering his hair again with a thoughtful expression.
Walking into the salon, YoungSaeng was startled by the older woman who all but pounced on HyunJoong. Looking closer, he saw the clear affection between the two and assumed that they'd known each other for a long time. He was proven right when they began talking.
He fought the urge to back away when she began looking at him with her intense gaze, as if sizing him up.
"Hm...very well-kept hair, though I shouldn't be surprised. I have a bit of time before the next customer is due. What style should it be cut into?" She paused then, and quirked a smile at HyunJoong. "I suppose I should be asking you that?"
There was amusement in her eyes; she knew KyuJong, knew his stance on slavery, and assumed HyunJoong's little brother had tried to take his head off for owning one. She'd find out eventually through the grapevine what had really happened.
"Do whatever he likes," HyunJoong replied, waving one hand absently. "You know I'm no good with hair styles."
Another reason why he'd brought YoungSaeng here. His familiarity with the stylist ajhumma ensured she wouldn't be asking too many questions about why he was giving a pleasure slave such a long leash.
"Which is why I choose your styles for you, sweetie," she told him and patted his head like he was a simple-minded child. "It's safer that way. Well, come along, come along, it's been ages since I've had such magnificent hair to play with!" She went to an empty chair and motioned to YoungSaeng.
HyunJoong leaned in to whisper in YoungSaeng's ear, looking all the world like a master telling his slave to behave with threats. "She's slightly insane, but don't worry, she's good at what she does." He straightened with an amused smile.
YoungSaeng followed the woman's direction immediately, taking a seat before her. Looking at himself in the mirror, he had to blink. Had his hair really gotten that long? In all his years as a slave, he had grown to despise mirrors. He hated seeing the reason why people felt they could do as they pleased to him.
Looking, he noticed that he was far paler than HyunJoong and the woman behind him, and he nearly jumped at how guarded his eyes were. Before he could see anything else, he quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to see anything more.
Watching them both, HyunJoong took a seat at the back of the room, settling in to wait. He was interested to see what they would come up with.
"So how would you like your hair cut?" The hairstylist ajhumma asked, observing the long locks of hair with a thoughtful expression. "Aigoo~, I haven't seen such long hair for so long I'm at a loss. Do you fancy a dye job as well?"
"...Just cut. I'll let you figure out what should be done," YoungSaeng answered before looking at her, head tilted when she commented about dying. "Well, I suppose so..."
"Alright, will do," she laughed, taking up her scissors. She took a long moment to observe YoungSaeng's face in the mirror, absently fixing his hair with a brush first and humming to herself. Then she smiled and started to cut.
YoungSaeng found it so odd to feel the scissors cut through his hair. For years, his hair was both chains and security, so to have it cut off was extremely disconcerting.
The ajhumma chattered with the other two hair stylists as she worked, managing YoungSaeng's hair expertly. It wasn't long before piles of black locks littered the floor, and the plastic covering she'd wrapped the young man in to make sure no hair got into his clothing.
She cut it short, to YoungSaeng's ears, before switching scissors and carefully styling it. Tweaking here and there, layering small bits at a time and spraying with water to help her work. HyunJoong watched from behind them, out of sight of the mirror, and smiled to himself.
Finally she was done, and started to dry YoungSaeng's hair before applying a bit of spray and sculpting wax. Snipping away a few strays, she stood back with a bright smile.
"Tada~, what do you think?"
When she finished, YoungSaeng managed to look in the mirror, only to stare in shock. Slowly, he reached up and brushed his now short bangs out of his eye, only to have them fall back into place. He...really liked it.
She took a hand mirror and held it behind YoungSaeng so he could see his new style from all angles, beaming. "As nice as having long hair is, it was taking too much focus away from your adorable face," she chuckled, poking his cheek before starting to tidy up. Once her hands were free, she removed the plastic covering and then the towel around his neck. And barely restrained a sharp inhale.
HyunJoong sat up straight, seeing the upper half of a branding mark in YoungSaeng's skin between his shoulder blades, the lower half hidden by the collar. Even so, he recognized the family crest instantly. He knew that family, too well.
Sharp anger flashed in his eyes before he hid it behind a look of indifference. It helped that his cell phone vibrated at that instant, and he checked it to find a message from KyuJong. Sending one back telling his younger brother where they were, he straightened and avoided looking at the brand again.
Hearing the gasp, YoungSaeng's eyes widened as his hand shot to the mark he knew was there. That was another reason for the long hair. The brand left by the man who'd convinced his parents to give him up for money.
After a moment, the hairstylist gave a weak smile. "Well, off with you, I have another customer coming soon. If we make Joongie wait any longer, he may fall asleep, and then we'll never get him out of here."
HyunJoong smiled absently at that, standing up and walking over to the counter to pay. "I haven't done that in years."
"Ever since I threatened to shave all your hair off, yes, I remember dear," she teased, walking over as well and punching in the total.
KyuJong opened the door to see the two paying. He had to blink at the extremely short hair YoungSaeng now sported. "Wow...as amazing as always, Ajhumma," he complimented, smiling.
"Isn't it?" the hairstylist chirped, fluffed up like a bird at the compliment. "Oh, before I forget! Dear, could you stand over at the wall over there?" She pointed to one of the walls not filled with posters and snatched up the camera sitting on the counter. "I always take pictures of my favorites," she beamed happily. HyunJoong knew she had kept every single picture of them ever since they had enough hair on their heads to need a stylist.
JungMin stopped beside KyuJong, looking around with interest and blinking at YoungSaeng's hairstyle. HyunJoong cast KyuJong a smile, but there was a slight distress hidden in his eyes. He knew KyuJong would recognize the brand mark as well, and there was no way to hide it from him.
Tilting his head-something he'd been doing a lot lately-, YoungSaeng nodded and went where she'd asked.
KyuJong chuckled at the look of confusion. "She has every picture of us since we needed our first haircuts," he explained. It was then that he caught the look in his brother's eyes. Confused, he watched YoungSaeng walk over.
His breath caught in his throat as he caught a flash of an extremely familiar mark on the back of the slave, by his shoulder blades. He only hoped that HyunJoong missed the color drain from his face.
"U-um, I'll be outside, okay?" he said before walking outside without waiting for an answer.
HyunJoong watched KyuJong leave the salon, sighing inwardly. He wanted to go after his brother, but it would look odd if he were to leave YoungSaeng in here.
Then he saw JungMin look back and forth between YoungSaeng and the door before slipping out after him, and smiled sadly to himself.
Once outside, KyuJong leaned against the wall and released a deep, shaky breath. It had been how many months since he'd gotten away? Yet no matter what, he just couldn't get away.
JungMin glanced around, spotting KyuJong just outside the doors. About to call out, he paused when he noticed the stance his master was in. Blinking, he took in slightly hunched body, and the shaky rise and fall of his shoulders with the breath he exhaled.
It was familiar.
That was what made JungMin stop and, instead of approaching the other man to ask what in the world his problem was, just watch him instead through a curtain of red bangs.
After a moment, he had calmed enough to realize that he wasn't alone. Looking up, KyuJong saw JungMin doing little more than observing him. "Sorry," he murmured, yet he didn't move. He had to fight reaching to the spot that was suddenly aching, though he knew that it was just in his head.
JungMin watched him, lips pressed firmly together as his eyes took in the other man's expression. "What's up?" he asked finally.
Looking at JungMin for a moment, he smiled slightly. "Memories that won't leave me alone," he finally answered. "No matter how much I want them to."
Tilting his head slightly at that, JungMin frowned. That was a cryptic reply if he'd ever heard one. "Why can't you just forget about them?" he asked, ignoring the looks he got from passerby at a labor slave talking informally to his master.
"Things keep happening to bring it all back up," KyuJong explained quietly, looking blankly at the passersby.
JungMin nodded slowly, but before he could say anything, HyunJoong and YoungSaeng reappeared and the slave closed his mouth again. "Ready for lunch?" HyunJoong asked with a smile, though his eyes held worry as he looked at KyuJong.
When HyunJoong and YoungSaeng came out, KyuJong forced it all back and nodded. "Yeah. I could go for something to eat."
"Alright then." HyunJoong eyed KyuJong for a moment before turning to take them all in with a smile. "Anything you guys want in particular? There's quite a few places to eat here."
JungMin shook his head, baffled when he realized that they were actually being taken out to eat. He was used to scraps, not something with an actual price tag attached.
YoungSaeng was just as confused as JungMin. "Um, whatever, I suppose," he said finally.
KyuJong noticed the reactions. "Don't be so surprised. You're both too damn thin, so expect to have food ordered for you." He paused before chuckling. "And help us tease HyungJoon with the fact that we didn't bring him anything."
Even though they probably would anyway.
"I'm not thin," JungMin grumbled to himself, though he knew that he was. Sure, compared to someone like YoungSaeng who was literally a stick he wasn't, but for someone expected to do heavy labor all day every day he was too far on the lean side.
"You pick the place then," HyunJoong told KyuJong with a wave of one hand as he started to walk towards the main square where all the restaurants were. "I picked last time."
"Yes, you are," KyuJong stated before turning back toward HyunJoong. "Not true. I chose last time. Remember? Joonie hit on the waitress before her husband tried to rip his head off."
"In that case, you pick again, since the places you choose are the most entertaining," HyunJoong declared with a smile.
"Well, it'll be fine as long as neither of them hit on a married waitress...or waiter. And the same goes for you, Hyung. I go to school with the last guy you hit on, and don't remind me of the amount of alcohol you had."
"And I won't remind you about you and Joonie switching my drink when I wasn't looking," HyunJoong retaliated, grinning. "I don't need alcohol to fall over things, it wasn't necessary."
Remembering the older man falling through the bathroom door, JungMin bit back a snicker.
KyuJong smiled brightly at the memory. "We may have switched one, but that sure as hell didn't stop you from ordering six more."
"That first one had enough alcohol to waste me for the rest of the night, you should have been a concerned little brother and stopped your thoroughly intoxicated hyung from having more," HyunJoong pouted playfully.
"I chose to be the amused little brother who got to watch his big brother dance on the bar. And yes, I still have the pictures," KyuJong said, laughing.
HyunJoong gave a dramatic sigh. "See what I have to put up with?" he asked YoungSaeng behind him, pout still firmly in place. "I nearly have alcohol poisoning and they blackmail me."
YoungSaeng snickered at the adorable pout on HyunJoong's face. "I seriously doubt six glasses of alcohol will kill you. You're still alive, right?"
"Thank you, YoungSaeng," KyuJong said before smirking. "See, hyung?"
A forlorn sigh left HyunJoong. "You didn't see the alcohol percentage of the first one. Why is it no one's ever on my si-"
TWANG!
HyunJoong nearly fell back onto YoungSaeng after the sudden collision with the pole.
YoungSaeng was thankful that no one was around, because he couldn't stop the sudden burst of laughter from escaping as HyunJoong slammed into the pole.
Balancing himself again, HyunJoong winced, rubbing his sore head. "...Ow." Everything was ringing in his ears. No, wait, that was laughter.
He turned reproachfully to his brother. "You could have warned me there was a pole there."
JungMin was beginning to understand why no one warned the elder about anything. The result was just too hilarious.
"Why should I stop you? I find it ridiculously entertaining, and apparently, YoungSaeng agrees," KyuJong forced through his own laughter.
"You are all heartless," HyunJoong sighed depressively, sulking as he continued to walk, leaving them all behind. After nearly banging into the pole again, that is.
Snickering, YoungSaeng was the first to follow, as was his duty. Perhaps HyunJoong wasn't nearly as boring as he thought. KyuJong laughed openly. "Oh come on, Hyung! It was funny, and you know it! You know that you would have laughed if it was me of Joonie."
"But it so rarely happens to either of you, of course I would laugh," HyunJoong protested, aware he wasn't making any sense. "Whereas it happens to me all the time so you should be used to it by now."
They arrived in the main square, HyunJoong looking around at the different restaurants and cafes.
"Being used to it doesn't make it any less amusing, HyunJoongie," KyuJong rationalized.
HyunJoong's lips pressed into a pout before he motioned towards the restaurants. "So where are we going? My head's still ringing so you'll need to decide for me," he deducted.
"How about we just hit the cafe we usually go to?" KyuJong suggested. "It's got the best food around here, right?" He paused. "And the owner is far nicer to slaves than anyone else around here..."
"Sounds good to me," HyunJoong nodded, looking behind them at said slaves before starting to a cafe at the corner of the square.
Chapter: 8/?
Authors: renichifreak and yeonah
Fandom: SS501
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning:Angst, AU
Summary: In this era, people are bought and sold as though they are cattle. The human life is only worth what one is willing to pay for it. What happens when two such people end up in the possession of two brothers who refuse to follow the very practices they were raised to believe?
A/N: Another roleplay story by us for your enjoyment~! Yes, Unlock is still going XD We’re going back and forth. HyunJoong and JungMin are played by me (yeonah ) and KyuJong and YoungSaeng are played by renichifreak . Credit for the original plot goes to renichifreak and hakkais_shadow ~ <3 This chapter was NOT betaed, so you might find several mistakes, I'm sorry >.<;;;
HyunJoong looked up at the music store in front of him. "This is the place." He'd been coming here for years, ever since he got his first guitar. Sometimes he would come here when bored and just browse through the different wares.
Stepping inside, the atmosphere was calm and soothing, with a gentle instrumental playing in the background. There were very few people in sight, even employees, so HyunJoong turned to YoungSaeng with a smile. "Let's look around?"
Walking inside, YoungSaeng felt himself relax, if only slightly. The soft music and the feel of the instruments seemed to calm him considerably. Nodding to HyunJoong, he followed the man as he was supposed to, all the while keeping an eye out for the score sheets.
The instruments they sold were beautiful, and in excellent condition. HyunJoong's gaze wandered to the guitars on display as they walked by, taking in the many different kinds. He kept an eye on YoungSaeng as well, watching to see where the man's eyes went. He was curious about the slave's tastes in music.
On their way around the store, HyunJoong absently poked around the guitar picks on sale before picking up a few. He kept on losing his, but he didn't exactly mind; it gave him another reason to come back to the store.
YoungSaeng watched HyunJoong as the man wandered the shop, focusing on the guitars. As he thought about it, he did recall seeing a guitar case in the corner of the room. They had just passed an aisle when YoungSaeng stopped, eyes falling on a gorgeous piano in the middle of the store. It had been so many years since he'd played, yet he knew that he would still be able to play. Sighing, he continued to look around before finding what he was looking for.
HyunJoong looked back as YoungSaeng's footsteps faded out momentarily, then followed the younger man's eyes to the piano on display. Glancing between the slave and the piano, his lips quirked upwards slightly.
He knew that piano manufacturer. There actually was a piano of theirs back in the manor, a few versions old but still in perfect condition and could have come right off the shelves yesterday. No one had played it for years though.
14 years in fact.
"What are you looking for?" he asked curiously, turning away from the piano and continuing to walk.
Turning to look at HyunJoong, YoungSaeng pointed at the score sheets and composition paper. "This, actually," he replied, knowing that as long as he answered the question, the people around, scarce as they were, could say nothing.
The older man hummed slightly in acknowledgement, nodding. So YoungSaeng could compose? "Was that what you were doing in that notebook before?" He wondered how good YoungSaeng was at it. It had been a while since he'd seen any original compositions.
YoungSaeng looked at the man before nodding. "It's the only thing I have left that no one's been able to take from me," he finally answered.
HyunJoong met the slave's eyes, silent before a moment before he smiled. "It would be a waste to not use a talent like that. I hope you'll show me some of your work when you're finished? It's been a long time since I've seen any hand-written compositions." He wasn't going to take this away from YoungSaeng. He didn't want to take anything away from YoungSaeng. He doubted the man would believe him if he said that though, so he just hoped he could show it with time.
YoungSaeng regarded the man warily. Writing and composing was extremely private to him, being the only way that he could release everything he felt over his years of forced servitude. After a minute to think, he simply shrugged. "We'll see."
Nodding at that, HyunJoong turned to continue walking. He wondered if YoungSaeng actually would show him. Maybe he was feeling a little nostalgic, wanting to see compositions again, but he was also genuinely curious about the other man's skills.
"Anything else catching your interest? What kind of music do you like?" he asked, finding something to talk about in the interest they held in common.
"I more or less like anything as long as I can feel it," YoungSaeng replied, holding the sheet packets against his chest almost protectively.
HyunJoong nodded again, noting the protective grip on the sheets. "I'm not going to snatch them away from you, you know," he commented absently, going down the last aisle. "Though you will need to put them down long enough for the poor cashier to scan them."
Blinking, YoungSaeng loosened his grip a bit. "It wouldn't be the first time," he responded slowly. "And I'll put them down when we get there."
"Actually, it would be the first time if I did, since I've never taken something away from you before." And didn't plan to in the future.
Pausing in the last row, HyunJoong's gaze went to the different cleaning kits for sale as well. He always made sure both his guitar and the piano were well-kept, even though he was sure the majority of the household had forgotten about the latter. His brother had been too young when the piano had been last used.
Scanning over the different cleaning kits, he picked up one for his guitar, and another one for the piano, the picture of the piano keys hidden behind the other kit.
YoungSaeng simply smiled at HyunJoong before turning his attention to other things in the shop. Sympathizing with his severe lack of trust was one thing, but understanding it was something else all together.
HyunJoong glanced over at YoungSaeng out of the corner of his eyes, lips quirking upwards slightly. He was perfectly alright with not being trusted. He knew how trust worked...far more than anyone knew.
Finally they were done browsing, HyunJoong starting towards the cash to pay. He used a small sleight of hand to ensure the cover of the piano cleaning kit wasn't exposed.
YoungSaeng blinked. He could have sworn he'd seen HyunJoong pick something up. Shaking it off, he followed his master to the register, ignoring the look he got from the teenager ringing them out. HyunJoong seemed to be quite familiar with the place, so he decided to be good and not say a word.
Conversing idly with the cashier, HyunJoong didn't so much as give YoungSaeng a second glance, slipping into the attitude of a slave master easily. He may have had no idea about the rules of owning a slave, but if there was one thing HyunJoong truly prided himself on, it was his acting. There was something to be said about the ability to pull on masks as if they were a second skin, the transition so flawless it would take someone who truly knew him to even be aware the face he showed wasn't who he truly was.
Once everything had been paid for, HyunJoong turned towards the door. "Let's go." He stepped out of the music store, suppressing all urges like holding the door for YoungSaeng. The area outside was more crowded than before as it drew closer to noon. Glancing back at YoungSaeng, HyunJoong started towards the stylist, walking at a leisurely pace.
YoungSaeng had to admit that he was impressed by HyunJoong. Having heard that he knew very little about slave ownership, he worried that the man would screw up and he'd have to pay the price for it. YoungSaeng supposed that being raised in the household he was, he must have picked up a few things without knowing.
Following the man down the street, a familiar feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as he fought the urge to play with his hair.
It only took a few minutes for them to reach the hair salon, a trendy place owned by an ajhumma who loved dragging the Kim brothers into her various experiments. HyunJoong had been coming here for years, and she still complained that he should let his hair grow out again. And he told her every time that if he did, he'd be going to see her in need of a wig instead when he burned it all off by accident.
She enjoyed stringing him into weird hairstyles more than he liked, but she was the only mother figure he had left.
As he expected, she accosted them both the second they entered the salon. There were two other stylists there, working under her, and both occupied with clients already. "Joongie~! You haven't come to see me for so long, I was wondering if you were actually growing your hair out this time." She tugged playfully on his locks of hair. "Hm, longer, but not by much. You break my heart."
Then she noticed YoungSaeng behind him. "And who is this?" Her sharp eyes took in YoungSaeng's long hair, and the collar fully visible around his neck.
"This is YoungSaeng," HyunJoong said dismissively. "We're here for him, not for me, ajhumma."
"Hm..." she looked back at YoungSaeng, considering his hair again with a thoughtful expression.
Walking into the salon, YoungSaeng was startled by the older woman who all but pounced on HyunJoong. Looking closer, he saw the clear affection between the two and assumed that they'd known each other for a long time. He was proven right when they began talking.
He fought the urge to back away when she began looking at him with her intense gaze, as if sizing him up.
"Hm...very well-kept hair, though I shouldn't be surprised. I have a bit of time before the next customer is due. What style should it be cut into?" She paused then, and quirked a smile at HyunJoong. "I suppose I should be asking you that?"
There was amusement in her eyes; she knew KyuJong, knew his stance on slavery, and assumed HyunJoong's little brother had tried to take his head off for owning one. She'd find out eventually through the grapevine what had really happened.
"Do whatever he likes," HyunJoong replied, waving one hand absently. "You know I'm no good with hair styles."
Another reason why he'd brought YoungSaeng here. His familiarity with the stylist ajhumma ensured she wouldn't be asking too many questions about why he was giving a pleasure slave such a long leash.
"Which is why I choose your styles for you, sweetie," she told him and patted his head like he was a simple-minded child. "It's safer that way. Well, come along, come along, it's been ages since I've had such magnificent hair to play with!" She went to an empty chair and motioned to YoungSaeng.
HyunJoong leaned in to whisper in YoungSaeng's ear, looking all the world like a master telling his slave to behave with threats. "She's slightly insane, but don't worry, she's good at what she does." He straightened with an amused smile.
YoungSaeng followed the woman's direction immediately, taking a seat before her. Looking at himself in the mirror, he had to blink. Had his hair really gotten that long? In all his years as a slave, he had grown to despise mirrors. He hated seeing the reason why people felt they could do as they pleased to him.
Looking, he noticed that he was far paler than HyunJoong and the woman behind him, and he nearly jumped at how guarded his eyes were. Before he could see anything else, he quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to see anything more.
Watching them both, HyunJoong took a seat at the back of the room, settling in to wait. He was interested to see what they would come up with.
"So how would you like your hair cut?" The hairstylist ajhumma asked, observing the long locks of hair with a thoughtful expression. "Aigoo~, I haven't seen such long hair for so long I'm at a loss. Do you fancy a dye job as well?"
"...Just cut. I'll let you figure out what should be done," YoungSaeng answered before looking at her, head tilted when she commented about dying. "Well, I suppose so..."
"Alright, will do," she laughed, taking up her scissors. She took a long moment to observe YoungSaeng's face in the mirror, absently fixing his hair with a brush first and humming to herself. Then she smiled and started to cut.
YoungSaeng found it so odd to feel the scissors cut through his hair. For years, his hair was both chains and security, so to have it cut off was extremely disconcerting.
The ajhumma chattered with the other two hair stylists as she worked, managing YoungSaeng's hair expertly. It wasn't long before piles of black locks littered the floor, and the plastic covering she'd wrapped the young man in to make sure no hair got into his clothing.
She cut it short, to YoungSaeng's ears, before switching scissors and carefully styling it. Tweaking here and there, layering small bits at a time and spraying with water to help her work. HyunJoong watched from behind them, out of sight of the mirror, and smiled to himself.
Finally she was done, and started to dry YoungSaeng's hair before applying a bit of spray and sculpting wax. Snipping away a few strays, she stood back with a bright smile.
"Tada~, what do you think?"
When she finished, YoungSaeng managed to look in the mirror, only to stare in shock. Slowly, he reached up and brushed his now short bangs out of his eye, only to have them fall back into place. He...really liked it.
She took a hand mirror and held it behind YoungSaeng so he could see his new style from all angles, beaming. "As nice as having long hair is, it was taking too much focus away from your adorable face," she chuckled, poking his cheek before starting to tidy up. Once her hands were free, she removed the plastic covering and then the towel around his neck. And barely restrained a sharp inhale.
HyunJoong sat up straight, seeing the upper half of a branding mark in YoungSaeng's skin between his shoulder blades, the lower half hidden by the collar. Even so, he recognized the family crest instantly. He knew that family, too well.
Sharp anger flashed in his eyes before he hid it behind a look of indifference. It helped that his cell phone vibrated at that instant, and he checked it to find a message from KyuJong. Sending one back telling his younger brother where they were, he straightened and avoided looking at the brand again.
Hearing the gasp, YoungSaeng's eyes widened as his hand shot to the mark he knew was there. That was another reason for the long hair. The brand left by the man who'd convinced his parents to give him up for money.
After a moment, the hairstylist gave a weak smile. "Well, off with you, I have another customer coming soon. If we make Joongie wait any longer, he may fall asleep, and then we'll never get him out of here."
HyunJoong smiled absently at that, standing up and walking over to the counter to pay. "I haven't done that in years."
"Ever since I threatened to shave all your hair off, yes, I remember dear," she teased, walking over as well and punching in the total.
KyuJong opened the door to see the two paying. He had to blink at the extremely short hair YoungSaeng now sported. "Wow...as amazing as always, Ajhumma," he complimented, smiling.
"Isn't it?" the hairstylist chirped, fluffed up like a bird at the compliment. "Oh, before I forget! Dear, could you stand over at the wall over there?" She pointed to one of the walls not filled with posters and snatched up the camera sitting on the counter. "I always take pictures of my favorites," she beamed happily. HyunJoong knew she had kept every single picture of them ever since they had enough hair on their heads to need a stylist.
JungMin stopped beside KyuJong, looking around with interest and blinking at YoungSaeng's hairstyle. HyunJoong cast KyuJong a smile, but there was a slight distress hidden in his eyes. He knew KyuJong would recognize the brand mark as well, and there was no way to hide it from him.
Tilting his head-something he'd been doing a lot lately-, YoungSaeng nodded and went where she'd asked.
KyuJong chuckled at the look of confusion. "She has every picture of us since we needed our first haircuts," he explained. It was then that he caught the look in his brother's eyes. Confused, he watched YoungSaeng walk over.
His breath caught in his throat as he caught a flash of an extremely familiar mark on the back of the slave, by his shoulder blades. He only hoped that HyunJoong missed the color drain from his face.
"U-um, I'll be outside, okay?" he said before walking outside without waiting for an answer.
HyunJoong watched KyuJong leave the salon, sighing inwardly. He wanted to go after his brother, but it would look odd if he were to leave YoungSaeng in here.
Then he saw JungMin look back and forth between YoungSaeng and the door before slipping out after him, and smiled sadly to himself.
Once outside, KyuJong leaned against the wall and released a deep, shaky breath. It had been how many months since he'd gotten away? Yet no matter what, he just couldn't get away.
JungMin glanced around, spotting KyuJong just outside the doors. About to call out, he paused when he noticed the stance his master was in. Blinking, he took in slightly hunched body, and the shaky rise and fall of his shoulders with the breath he exhaled.
It was familiar.
That was what made JungMin stop and, instead of approaching the other man to ask what in the world his problem was, just watch him instead through a curtain of red bangs.
After a moment, he had calmed enough to realize that he wasn't alone. Looking up, KyuJong saw JungMin doing little more than observing him. "Sorry," he murmured, yet he didn't move. He had to fight reaching to the spot that was suddenly aching, though he knew that it was just in his head.
JungMin watched him, lips pressed firmly together as his eyes took in the other man's expression. "What's up?" he asked finally.
Looking at JungMin for a moment, he smiled slightly. "Memories that won't leave me alone," he finally answered. "No matter how much I want them to."
Tilting his head slightly at that, JungMin frowned. That was a cryptic reply if he'd ever heard one. "Why can't you just forget about them?" he asked, ignoring the looks he got from passerby at a labor slave talking informally to his master.
"Things keep happening to bring it all back up," KyuJong explained quietly, looking blankly at the passersby.
JungMin nodded slowly, but before he could say anything, HyunJoong and YoungSaeng reappeared and the slave closed his mouth again. "Ready for lunch?" HyunJoong asked with a smile, though his eyes held worry as he looked at KyuJong.
When HyunJoong and YoungSaeng came out, KyuJong forced it all back and nodded. "Yeah. I could go for something to eat."
"Alright then." HyunJoong eyed KyuJong for a moment before turning to take them all in with a smile. "Anything you guys want in particular? There's quite a few places to eat here."
JungMin shook his head, baffled when he realized that they were actually being taken out to eat. He was used to scraps, not something with an actual price tag attached.
YoungSaeng was just as confused as JungMin. "Um, whatever, I suppose," he said finally.
KyuJong noticed the reactions. "Don't be so surprised. You're both too damn thin, so expect to have food ordered for you." He paused before chuckling. "And help us tease HyungJoon with the fact that we didn't bring him anything."
Even though they probably would anyway.
"I'm not thin," JungMin grumbled to himself, though he knew that he was. Sure, compared to someone like YoungSaeng who was literally a stick he wasn't, but for someone expected to do heavy labor all day every day he was too far on the lean side.
"You pick the place then," HyunJoong told KyuJong with a wave of one hand as he started to walk towards the main square where all the restaurants were. "I picked last time."
"Yes, you are," KyuJong stated before turning back toward HyunJoong. "Not true. I chose last time. Remember? Joonie hit on the waitress before her husband tried to rip his head off."
"In that case, you pick again, since the places you choose are the most entertaining," HyunJoong declared with a smile.
"Well, it'll be fine as long as neither of them hit on a married waitress...or waiter. And the same goes for you, Hyung. I go to school with the last guy you hit on, and don't remind me of the amount of alcohol you had."
"And I won't remind you about you and Joonie switching my drink when I wasn't looking," HyunJoong retaliated, grinning. "I don't need alcohol to fall over things, it wasn't necessary."
Remembering the older man falling through the bathroom door, JungMin bit back a snicker.
KyuJong smiled brightly at the memory. "We may have switched one, but that sure as hell didn't stop you from ordering six more."
"That first one had enough alcohol to waste me for the rest of the night, you should have been a concerned little brother and stopped your thoroughly intoxicated hyung from having more," HyunJoong pouted playfully.
"I chose to be the amused little brother who got to watch his big brother dance on the bar. And yes, I still have the pictures," KyuJong said, laughing.
HyunJoong gave a dramatic sigh. "See what I have to put up with?" he asked YoungSaeng behind him, pout still firmly in place. "I nearly have alcohol poisoning and they blackmail me."
YoungSaeng snickered at the adorable pout on HyunJoong's face. "I seriously doubt six glasses of alcohol will kill you. You're still alive, right?"
"Thank you, YoungSaeng," KyuJong said before smirking. "See, hyung?"
A forlorn sigh left HyunJoong. "You didn't see the alcohol percentage of the first one. Why is it no one's ever on my si-"
TWANG!
HyunJoong nearly fell back onto YoungSaeng after the sudden collision with the pole.
YoungSaeng was thankful that no one was around, because he couldn't stop the sudden burst of laughter from escaping as HyunJoong slammed into the pole.
Balancing himself again, HyunJoong winced, rubbing his sore head. "...Ow." Everything was ringing in his ears. No, wait, that was laughter.
He turned reproachfully to his brother. "You could have warned me there was a pole there."
JungMin was beginning to understand why no one warned the elder about anything. The result was just too hilarious.
"Why should I stop you? I find it ridiculously entertaining, and apparently, YoungSaeng agrees," KyuJong forced through his own laughter.
"You are all heartless," HyunJoong sighed depressively, sulking as he continued to walk, leaving them all behind. After nearly banging into the pole again, that is.
Snickering, YoungSaeng was the first to follow, as was his duty. Perhaps HyunJoong wasn't nearly as boring as he thought. KyuJong laughed openly. "Oh come on, Hyung! It was funny, and you know it! You know that you would have laughed if it was me of Joonie."
"But it so rarely happens to either of you, of course I would laugh," HyunJoong protested, aware he wasn't making any sense. "Whereas it happens to me all the time so you should be used to it by now."
They arrived in the main square, HyunJoong looking around at the different restaurants and cafes.
"Being used to it doesn't make it any less amusing, HyunJoongie," KyuJong rationalized.
HyunJoong's lips pressed into a pout before he motioned towards the restaurants. "So where are we going? My head's still ringing so you'll need to decide for me," he deducted.
"How about we just hit the cafe we usually go to?" KyuJong suggested. "It's got the best food around here, right?" He paused. "And the owner is far nicer to slaves than anyone else around here..."
"Sounds good to me," HyunJoong nodded, looking behind them at said slaves before starting to a cafe at the corner of the square.