Pick Me Up - 2/5
Title: Pick Me Up 2/5
Rating: R
Paring: Jaejoong/Yoochun
Disclaimer: If they were mine ... ... sorry, lost my train of thought. Imagining what I would do if they were mine. On to the story!
Word Count: 3409
a/n: ... um, yeah *hides from YunJae lovers*
JAEJOONG
An hour into driving, Jae turned to Yoochun and grinned. “You want to drive?”
Yoochun smirked. “No. I’ve never driven in my life.”
“Really? Never?”
“Nope. Not even the getaway car in all the many petty crimes that I’ve committed.”
Jae grimaced. “Look, sorry. I just-I’m glad I was wrong about you, alright?”
“Why set it up though?”
Jae shrugged. “I’m all about making things easier for people.”
Yoochun laughed, and Jae decided that he was going to do everything he could to get him to laugh like that all the time. Something told him that Yoochun didn’t laugh very often.
“I can teach you to drive,” Jae said.
Yoochun’s smile fell and he looked at him. Jae met his eyes, and then concentrated on the road. Yoochun settled deeper in the seat and crossed his arms. “Yeah, sure,” he said, but only just loud enough for Jae to hear.
Jae frowned. What did he say? It’s not like he said, “I’m going to push you out of the car when I have a chance.” How is offering him a chance to learn to drive upsetting? Unless …
He shot a glance at Yoochun’s face again. Anguish marred his features, furrowed his brow and turned his lips down.
He wouldn’t have time to teach Yoochun to drive on this trip. Maybe he’d find a parking lot in Seoul and show him.
Was Yoochun really planning on getting out of the car in Seoul and just saying goodbye, leaving without so much as a, ‘hey let’s be friends’? Jae wanted to keep in contact with him, if for any reason than to just figure him out. There were so many complications behind those eyes and so much pain in that body.
A thought went through his mind so fast and so forcefully that Jae actually gasped and jerked the wheel.
Yoochun grabbed the window. “What the hell was that?”
Jae glanced at him, gasping. “Just seeing if you were paying attention.”
He could tell that Yoochun knew he was lying, but the other man didn’t call him on it.
Jae didn’t want to believe, but everything was pointing right to that conclusion. Yoochun had been a prostitute.
Micky.
All prostitutes had nicknames.
God, and those welts on his back. Fuck. What kind of person would do that to someone else? Jae hoped that Yoochun got paid well for it. The welts didn’t look that old, maybe three, four days, but Yoochun didn’t have any money on him. How much did you get paid for letting someone beat the shit out of you?
Jae clenched the steering wheel, knuckles white, unconsciously stepping on the gas. Uncontrollable rage ripped through him. Anger at the person who would do that to someone, and anger at Yoochun for letting them.
The thought that Yoochun may have had no other choice just made Jae angrier.
“Jae,” Yoochun said and touched his arm.
“What?” Jae snapped, jerking his arm away.
“You’re going really fast.”
Jae glanced at the speedometer. “Shit.” He slowed down.
“What’s wrong?”
Jae’s lip curled. “Nothing.”
Yoochun swallowed and slid over as far as he could. He hunkered down, curled in on himself, further than Jae though possible in the confines of the seatbelt. Who knew though? He may have had a lot of practice being restrained.
Jae tried to calm himself down. These were just his own speculations, for all he knew, Yoochun could have been abused by an angry father, or teacher, or brother, or lover, or anything like that, and just ran away.
Jae didn’t think so. Sure, he’d been wrong to think that Yoochun was going to rob him and leave him deserted, but he hadn’t really believed that. Last night as he went to bed, he knew Yoochun was a decent guy. But something was nagging at him, something he couldn’t quite place. Like a small bit of information that he should have remembered. It felt important, so Jae knew he’d remember eventually.
No matter what, it wasn’t Yoochun’s fault and Jae was pretty sure that he was building a wall between them right now. He took a few more deep breaths, stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders to relax.
“Can I have a cigarette?” Yoochun asked, almost whispering.
“I fucking need one, too,” Jae said and pulled out his pack.
“I’ll light it for you,” Yoochun said, as he took the pack. “You’re still going insanely fast. I want you to concentrate on driving.”
That made Jae smile, and he slowed down more. He watched discretely as Yoochun stuck a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. Instead of lighting a new one off that one like Jae would have done, Yoochun pulled the smoke from his lips and then leaned over the console. Jae was about to reach for it, but Yoochun put it right to his lips. Jae opened his mouth a bit, and almost lost the cigarette when Yoochun’s thumb swiped along his jaw as he withdrew his hand. He took a deep drag.
“Thanks,” he said, blowing the smoke from his nose.
Yoochun lit his own cigarette. “Thanks for sharing with me. I’d like to say I’ll pay you back, but-”
“They’re just cigarettes, don’t worry about it.”
“They’re just cigarettes until you can’t afford them.”
“Point.” Jae thought for a minute about what it would be like to not be able to afford a cigarette. He shivered.
“Not a comforting thought, huh?”
“No.”
They drove in silence for almost another hour. The only time Yoochun ever reacted to anything was when a song came on the radio that he liked. He didn’t sing, but he’d smile and keep time with his fingers on his knee. Music was something they could maybe have in common.
Now that Jae had his suspicions, he was more determined than ever to make friends with Yoochun. He wouldn’t just toss him into Seoul with no where to go.
“I love this song,” Yoochun suddenly said.
Jae reached for the dial and turned it up.
“I’m all by myself,” Yoochun said, pronouncing the English perfectly. Right on key, he sang, “You’re my heartbreaker.”
Jae laughed and joined in and rapped the whole thing with Yoochun. Yoochun was actually dancing, bouncing in the seat and doing the arm movements of the dance.
“You’re my har har har har heartbreaker.”
On the last verse, Jae dropped his voice and harmonized with Yoochun. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and kept singing.
“Wow,” Jae said when the song was over. “You’re a good singer. Natural talent?”
Yoochun shrugged. “Yeah. I always sang well when I was little.”
“Mine’s a mixture. I had voice lessons up until I was eighteen.”
“Your voice is pretty.”
“Thanks.”
After commercials, Call Me from the popular singer Taegoon came on. They sang this one too, and Yoochun’s voice was damn near perfect. The last stretch of their trip flew by as they sang practically every song that came on the radio - even the ones by the female artists. They were still singing a song by the duo Davici when Jae pulled into the front of a hotel. They sang to the end of the song and then met each others eyes and laughed.
Yeah, Jae was determined to do everything he could to keep Yoochun laughing.
Yoochun looked out the side of the car, and Jae watched as the smile fell, the look darkened.
“Let’s go check in,” Jae said. “And then go to lunch. I’m starving.”
Yoochun met his eyes. Jae kept his face as blank as possible, and then he smirked. “I told you this morning that I was taking you to lunch, remember? Now, come on.”
He climbed out of the car. The valet bowed. “Welcome back, Kim Jaejoong-shi.”
“Thank you, Seunghyung. This is my friend Park Yoochun. Make sure he’s treated well.”
“All of Kim Jaejoong-shi’s guests are treated well,” he said and bowed to Yoochun. “Welcome, Park Yoochun-shi.”
“I just have a couple bags,” Jae said. “It’s going to be a short stay.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jae smiled at Yoochun. He almost held his hand out and then just started walking. Yoochun fell into step beside him. They were bowed through the doors, and then when they were in sight of the front desk, the hotel manager came over and started bowing and posturing. He handed Jae a keycard from inside his jacket pocket and then Jae waved him away with a thank you. He went to the elevator, and a bellhop followed them in.
When the elevator opened, Yoochun muttered, “Top floor. Shocking.”
“Hey, it’s one of the perks.” Jae opened the door and walked into the sitting room of the suite. The bellhop immediately took the luggage to the bedroom and then came back out. Jae tipped him, and then the door shut.
Jae sat in a chair, crossed his legs and watched Yoochun. He’d gone to the middle of the room and stood there, looking at the pristine cream furniture. The windows over looking the city. The fireplace. The small kitchenette.
“There are two bedrooms,” Jae said. “A master suite with its own bathroom, complete with a jetted tub and then a smaller room through that door. There’s a jaccuzi on the balcony and an office complete with its own computer set up. Any questions?”
Yoochun met his eyes. “This place is bigger than the apartment I shared with four other guys.”
“Do you want me to apologize?”
Yoochun scoffed. “Of course not. Just an observation.”
Jae stood back up and when he was sure Yoochun was watching him stalk over to him, he let his eyes wander the length of his body. He was skinny, but Jae was sure it wasn’t in a healthy way. When his eyes finally met Yoochun’s again, Jae was no more than a foot from him. Yoochun’s eyes were wide, they had this wild air and Jae knew he was on the verge of bolting.
“One issue,” Jae said and reached for Yoochun’s jacket.
Yoochun’s eyes shut and he took a deep, stabilizing breath, like he would take whatever Jae did to him without a sound.
And Jae confirmed his earlier thought, and that illusive bit of information crashed over him.
Micky.
He knew that name.
He swallowed and if his voice came out a bit huskier than he wanted it, then that was fine. After that look, Yoochun would think it was just desire. “The place I want to take you for lunch has a dress code, so you’re going to have to borrow some clothes.”
Yoochun’s eyes flew open, wide with the question.
“Suit jackets required,” Jae continued. He put both hands on Yoochun’s shoulders, carefully, and then nodded. “We’re about the same size. Let me show you what I have that you’ll look ravishing in.”
Jae turned quickly and walked toward the bedroom. He waited a few steps and then turned back. Yoochun hadn’t moved. Jae frowned and then said, “If that makes you uncomfortable, we can just call room service.”
Yoochun visibly shook himself and then smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes though, and Jae wondered at the thoughts in that head. “No, sorry. It’s just … overwhelming, I guess.”
“I’m not going to put you in a full tux,” Jae said and headed to the bedroom again. This time Yoochun’s footsteps followed him. Jae opened his suitcases and pulled out all the clothes. He only had one sport jacket in there. He frowned and then went to the closet. Good. There were a few outfits left from when he was here last month. He brought over a blue and a black jacket. He was going to wear the gray one.
“Here,” Jae said and handed Yoochun the blue one. “Put that on.”
Yoochun did and then Jae straightened it, took advantage of this moment to touch Yoochun’s shoulders and arms. Then he buttoned the two buttons and stepped back and looked at him. He grinned. “Almost perfect. If there was time, I’d have it tailored to fit you correctly.”
“Feels like it does.”
“My shoulders are a bit broader than yours, so it doesn’t quite fall right, and you’re just a smidge taller than I am. I hope the pants look alright.”
Jae pulled out a pair of dark wash jeans and then a green button up shirt. “Here, put these on. I have to go make a phone call, but come out when you’re done.”
Jae left without seeing if Yoochun would comply.
He went to the other side of the sitting room and called his best friend.
“Joongie-ah,” Lee Donghae answered.
“Hey, Fishy. What’s up?”
“Nothing. Your business a bit lighter yet?”
“Thanks for being tactful about it, but no. Not until tomorrow. I’ve only got a few seconds to talk, but I have a question for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“What’s the name of that prostitute you’re so addicted to?”
Donghae laughed. “Wow. That’s random.”
“Yeah, I know. But I can’t remember and it’s bugging me and you know how I get when I can’t remember something.”
“Yeah. The word is obsessive. His name’s Micky.”
Yoochun exited the room and Jae’s mouth went dry. Those jeans accented his thighs and his tiny waist and that green shirt made his skin deepen and his eyes practically glow.
“Fucking sucks, though,” Donghae said.
“Huh?” Jae couldn’t stop his eyes from roving that body, even when Yoochun blushed and looked down.
“I called for him last night and was told that he ran off. What the fuck? Who am I going to have sex with now?”
Jae shut his eyes. “Try your wife.”
“Jae.”
“Sorry. I have to go.”
Jae disconnected and then said to Yoochun, “Yeah, that will work. Let me go change and then we’ll leave.”
“You okay?” Yoochun asked.
Jae was still breathing heavily. “Yeah, just some bad news. I hate being right.”
YOOCHUN
Jae slammed the door. And Yoochun winced. He tugged on the sleeve of the jacket again. He wondered about what business brought Jae to Seoul, and wondered about all the looks Jae kept shooting him. He dismissed the lust-filled ones, there was no way a guy like Jae would be attracted to him. It was the frowns and the anger and the crassness that bothered him. He thought, hoped, they weren’t directed at him, but Yoochun couldn’t tell. One minute the man was smiling and the next he was slamming doors.
Yoochun headed to the balcony. He didn’t go outside but looked out over the city. He swallowed. Seoul was huge. Busan was big, but Seoul. He’d heard from some of the other guys about Seoul and the money that could be made up here, but Yoochun didn’t want to do that anymore.
How was he going to survive in this place?
“Deep thoughts?”
Yoochun jerked in surprise and then looked over at Jae. He’d changed to a pair of dark slacks, a shirt that wasn’t quite pink, and a gray sports coat. He looked good.
“Seoul is huge,” Yoochun said.
“Yep. Come on. Let’s go eat.”
“And now you’re in a good mood,” Yoochun muttered.
“What?”
Yoochun shook his head. “You have crazy mood swings.”
Jae frowned at him for a moment and then smiled. “Yeah. I know. All my friends tell me that you either get used to it, or you end up hating me.”
“I’ll get used to it then.”
Jae’s smile widened. “Good. And here I thought you were going to run off on me.”
Their eyes met. What did that mean? Jae gave him a ride up here, was taking him to lunch and then that was it, right? Well, he’d have to come back to return Jae’s clothes, but then what? He had to find somewhere to stay the night.
“Stop thinking,” Jae said, and headed to the door. “Look, I know what’s going through that head of yours, but don’t worry about it. At least not tonight. You can stay here. Fuck, Yoochun, this is my suite, you could live here if you wanted to. It’s not like I’m here all the time.”
Yoochun swallowed and followed after him. In the elevator, he crossed his arms and didn’t look at Jae. Live there? Was he kidding?
“Hey,” Jae whispered.
Yoochun made a noise to show he was listening.
“Just stay tonight okay? Really, no obligations or anything. I just … well, if you leave then I won’t know where you’re at and that scares me.”
“You have a hero complex.”
Jae chuckled. “Maybe. Please.”
“We’ll see,” Yoochun said.
The elevator dinged open. Jae led the way and smiled at the hotel staff who continually bowed to him. The doors were opened before he got there and outside at the curb was a black town car. Seunghyun opened the back door and Jae climbed inside, Yoochun after him.
Jae told the driver the name of the restaurant and they pulled away from the curb.
“Why am I surprised that you have a driver?” Yoochun asked and smiled at him.
Jae shrugged. “I get whatever I want, and sometimes what I don’t want because people think I want it.”
“You don’t want a driver?”
“I have a car, but this is his job. If I didn’t do this, then he wouldn’t be able to feed his family.”
“You don’t have to save everybody.”
Jae met his eyes. “If I don’t do everything I can for everyone I can, then I’m just another rich bastard.”
“Some people are going to look for hidden motivations in your actions though.”
Jae smiled. “I know. But whoever those some people are should realize that there aren’t any.”
“Someone with hidden motivations would say that.”
“You have a really hard time trusting people, don’t you, Yoochun?”
Yoochun looked out the window and didn’t answer. The car stopped. The driver opened the door for them and bowed them out. “Thank you, Jonghoon. We should be done in a couple of hours.”
“Yes, sir, Kim Jaejoong-shi.”
Jae walked up a set of stairs. A young woman opened the door and preened and smiled and flaunted over Jae. He took her hand and kissed it. “YooJi, how nice to see you. I know I didn’t call, but do you have a table for two?”
“For you, Kim Jaejoong-shi, of course.”
Jae stepped into the restaurant, and then stopped in his tracks. Yoochun almost ran into him. He looked past Jae to a taller man. Very good looking, short brown hair. A scantily clad female clung to his arm. He met Yoochun’s eyes for a brief moment, a sneer curling his lip.
“Joongie,” he said, but when he took a step forward, Jae took a step back, and into Yoochun. Out of the other man’s sight, Jae’s hand reached for something, so Yoochun took it, holding it between their bodies. Jae squeezed hard.
“Yunho,” Jae spat out.
Ah. That explains it.
“Oh, you don’t seem happy to see me.”
“Not particularly.”
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“No.”
Yunho smiled and then met Yoochun’s eyes. “I’m Jung Yunho. And you are?”
There was another squeeze on his hand. Yoochun leveled his stare at him, but didn’t say anything.
“Shame on you, Jaejoong. Your boyfriends are usually more well-behaved than this.”
“Until they go off and fuck everything with breasts.”
The girl simpered and giggled.
“Lovely as this is,” Jae said. “We’re going to be seated, and Yunho, don’t come here again. You may not find the wait staff so willing to let trash into their restaurant, and I don’t mean the girl.”
He turned a full watt smile to Yoochun, one that Yoochun could tell was fake, and then told the hostess to seat them. He didn’t look at Yunho again. Yoochun did though, and the man glared at them as they walked, still holding hands, to a table. It was a booth actually, secluded so they faced away from the rest of the dining room. Yoochun slid into the booth. Jae sat back with his eyes shut, breath gasping.
“Can you really get him banned from here?”
A smiled played at Jae’s lips.
“One of the perks, I take it.”
After another minute of silence, Jae squeezed his hand. “Thanks,” he whispered, “for backing me up.”
“Sometimes heroes need a bit of help.”
Jae laughed and finally let go of his hand. “Let’s get some food, yes?”
Part 3: Hurt
Part 1: Highways
.
Rating: R
Paring: Jaejoong/Yoochun
Disclaimer: If they were mine ... ... sorry, lost my train of thought. Imagining what I would do if they were mine. On to the story!
Word Count: 3409
a/n: ... um, yeah *hides from YunJae lovers*
JAEJOONG
An hour into driving, Jae turned to Yoochun and grinned. “You want to drive?”
Yoochun smirked. “No. I’ve never driven in my life.”
“Really? Never?”
“Nope. Not even the getaway car in all the many petty crimes that I’ve committed.”
Jae grimaced. “Look, sorry. I just-I’m glad I was wrong about you, alright?”
“Why set it up though?”
Jae shrugged. “I’m all about making things easier for people.”
Yoochun laughed, and Jae decided that he was going to do everything he could to get him to laugh like that all the time. Something told him that Yoochun didn’t laugh very often.
“I can teach you to drive,” Jae said.
Yoochun’s smile fell and he looked at him. Jae met his eyes, and then concentrated on the road. Yoochun settled deeper in the seat and crossed his arms. “Yeah, sure,” he said, but only just loud enough for Jae to hear.
Jae frowned. What did he say? It’s not like he said, “I’m going to push you out of the car when I have a chance.” How is offering him a chance to learn to drive upsetting? Unless …
He shot a glance at Yoochun’s face again. Anguish marred his features, furrowed his brow and turned his lips down.
He wouldn’t have time to teach Yoochun to drive on this trip. Maybe he’d find a parking lot in Seoul and show him.
Was Yoochun really planning on getting out of the car in Seoul and just saying goodbye, leaving without so much as a, ‘hey let’s be friends’? Jae wanted to keep in contact with him, if for any reason than to just figure him out. There were so many complications behind those eyes and so much pain in that body.
A thought went through his mind so fast and so forcefully that Jae actually gasped and jerked the wheel.
Yoochun grabbed the window. “What the hell was that?”
Jae glanced at him, gasping. “Just seeing if you were paying attention.”
He could tell that Yoochun knew he was lying, but the other man didn’t call him on it.
Jae didn’t want to believe, but everything was pointing right to that conclusion. Yoochun had been a prostitute.
Micky.
All prostitutes had nicknames.
God, and those welts on his back. Fuck. What kind of person would do that to someone else? Jae hoped that Yoochun got paid well for it. The welts didn’t look that old, maybe three, four days, but Yoochun didn’t have any money on him. How much did you get paid for letting someone beat the shit out of you?
Jae clenched the steering wheel, knuckles white, unconsciously stepping on the gas. Uncontrollable rage ripped through him. Anger at the person who would do that to someone, and anger at Yoochun for letting them.
The thought that Yoochun may have had no other choice just made Jae angrier.
“Jae,” Yoochun said and touched his arm.
“What?” Jae snapped, jerking his arm away.
“You’re going really fast.”
Jae glanced at the speedometer. “Shit.” He slowed down.
“What’s wrong?”
Jae’s lip curled. “Nothing.”
Yoochun swallowed and slid over as far as he could. He hunkered down, curled in on himself, further than Jae though possible in the confines of the seatbelt. Who knew though? He may have had a lot of practice being restrained.
Jae tried to calm himself down. These were just his own speculations, for all he knew, Yoochun could have been abused by an angry father, or teacher, or brother, or lover, or anything like that, and just ran away.
Jae didn’t think so. Sure, he’d been wrong to think that Yoochun was going to rob him and leave him deserted, but he hadn’t really believed that. Last night as he went to bed, he knew Yoochun was a decent guy. But something was nagging at him, something he couldn’t quite place. Like a small bit of information that he should have remembered. It felt important, so Jae knew he’d remember eventually.
No matter what, it wasn’t Yoochun’s fault and Jae was pretty sure that he was building a wall between them right now. He took a few more deep breaths, stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders to relax.
“Can I have a cigarette?” Yoochun asked, almost whispering.
“I fucking need one, too,” Jae said and pulled out his pack.
“I’ll light it for you,” Yoochun said, as he took the pack. “You’re still going insanely fast. I want you to concentrate on driving.”
That made Jae smile, and he slowed down more. He watched discretely as Yoochun stuck a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. Instead of lighting a new one off that one like Jae would have done, Yoochun pulled the smoke from his lips and then leaned over the console. Jae was about to reach for it, but Yoochun put it right to his lips. Jae opened his mouth a bit, and almost lost the cigarette when Yoochun’s thumb swiped along his jaw as he withdrew his hand. He took a deep drag.
“Thanks,” he said, blowing the smoke from his nose.
Yoochun lit his own cigarette. “Thanks for sharing with me. I’d like to say I’ll pay you back, but-”
“They’re just cigarettes, don’t worry about it.”
“They’re just cigarettes until you can’t afford them.”
“Point.” Jae thought for a minute about what it would be like to not be able to afford a cigarette. He shivered.
“Not a comforting thought, huh?”
“No.”
They drove in silence for almost another hour. The only time Yoochun ever reacted to anything was when a song came on the radio that he liked. He didn’t sing, but he’d smile and keep time with his fingers on his knee. Music was something they could maybe have in common.
Now that Jae had his suspicions, he was more determined than ever to make friends with Yoochun. He wouldn’t just toss him into Seoul with no where to go.
“I love this song,” Yoochun suddenly said.
Jae reached for the dial and turned it up.
“I’m all by myself,” Yoochun said, pronouncing the English perfectly. Right on key, he sang, “You’re my heartbreaker.”
Jae laughed and joined in and rapped the whole thing with Yoochun. Yoochun was actually dancing, bouncing in the seat and doing the arm movements of the dance.
“You’re my har har har har heartbreaker.”
On the last verse, Jae dropped his voice and harmonized with Yoochun. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and kept singing.
“Wow,” Jae said when the song was over. “You’re a good singer. Natural talent?”
Yoochun shrugged. “Yeah. I always sang well when I was little.”
“Mine’s a mixture. I had voice lessons up until I was eighteen.”
“Your voice is pretty.”
“Thanks.”
After commercials, Call Me from the popular singer Taegoon came on. They sang this one too, and Yoochun’s voice was damn near perfect. The last stretch of their trip flew by as they sang practically every song that came on the radio - even the ones by the female artists. They were still singing a song by the duo Davici when Jae pulled into the front of a hotel. They sang to the end of the song and then met each others eyes and laughed.
Yeah, Jae was determined to do everything he could to keep Yoochun laughing.
Yoochun looked out the side of the car, and Jae watched as the smile fell, the look darkened.
“Let’s go check in,” Jae said. “And then go to lunch. I’m starving.”
Yoochun met his eyes. Jae kept his face as blank as possible, and then he smirked. “I told you this morning that I was taking you to lunch, remember? Now, come on.”
He climbed out of the car. The valet bowed. “Welcome back, Kim Jaejoong-shi.”
“Thank you, Seunghyung. This is my friend Park Yoochun. Make sure he’s treated well.”
“All of Kim Jaejoong-shi’s guests are treated well,” he said and bowed to Yoochun. “Welcome, Park Yoochun-shi.”
“I just have a couple bags,” Jae said. “It’s going to be a short stay.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jae smiled at Yoochun. He almost held his hand out and then just started walking. Yoochun fell into step beside him. They were bowed through the doors, and then when they were in sight of the front desk, the hotel manager came over and started bowing and posturing. He handed Jae a keycard from inside his jacket pocket and then Jae waved him away with a thank you. He went to the elevator, and a bellhop followed them in.
When the elevator opened, Yoochun muttered, “Top floor. Shocking.”
“Hey, it’s one of the perks.” Jae opened the door and walked into the sitting room of the suite. The bellhop immediately took the luggage to the bedroom and then came back out. Jae tipped him, and then the door shut.
Jae sat in a chair, crossed his legs and watched Yoochun. He’d gone to the middle of the room and stood there, looking at the pristine cream furniture. The windows over looking the city. The fireplace. The small kitchenette.
“There are two bedrooms,” Jae said. “A master suite with its own bathroom, complete with a jetted tub and then a smaller room through that door. There’s a jaccuzi on the balcony and an office complete with its own computer set up. Any questions?”
Yoochun met his eyes. “This place is bigger than the apartment I shared with four other guys.”
“Do you want me to apologize?”
Yoochun scoffed. “Of course not. Just an observation.”
Jae stood back up and when he was sure Yoochun was watching him stalk over to him, he let his eyes wander the length of his body. He was skinny, but Jae was sure it wasn’t in a healthy way. When his eyes finally met Yoochun’s again, Jae was no more than a foot from him. Yoochun’s eyes were wide, they had this wild air and Jae knew he was on the verge of bolting.
“One issue,” Jae said and reached for Yoochun’s jacket.
Yoochun’s eyes shut and he took a deep, stabilizing breath, like he would take whatever Jae did to him without a sound.
And Jae confirmed his earlier thought, and that illusive bit of information crashed over him.
Micky.
He knew that name.
He swallowed and if his voice came out a bit huskier than he wanted it, then that was fine. After that look, Yoochun would think it was just desire. “The place I want to take you for lunch has a dress code, so you’re going to have to borrow some clothes.”
Yoochun’s eyes flew open, wide with the question.
“Suit jackets required,” Jae continued. He put both hands on Yoochun’s shoulders, carefully, and then nodded. “We’re about the same size. Let me show you what I have that you’ll look ravishing in.”
Jae turned quickly and walked toward the bedroom. He waited a few steps and then turned back. Yoochun hadn’t moved. Jae frowned and then said, “If that makes you uncomfortable, we can just call room service.”
Yoochun visibly shook himself and then smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes though, and Jae wondered at the thoughts in that head. “No, sorry. It’s just … overwhelming, I guess.”
“I’m not going to put you in a full tux,” Jae said and headed to the bedroom again. This time Yoochun’s footsteps followed him. Jae opened his suitcases and pulled out all the clothes. He only had one sport jacket in there. He frowned and then went to the closet. Good. There were a few outfits left from when he was here last month. He brought over a blue and a black jacket. He was going to wear the gray one.
“Here,” Jae said and handed Yoochun the blue one. “Put that on.”
Yoochun did and then Jae straightened it, took advantage of this moment to touch Yoochun’s shoulders and arms. Then he buttoned the two buttons and stepped back and looked at him. He grinned. “Almost perfect. If there was time, I’d have it tailored to fit you correctly.”
“Feels like it does.”
“My shoulders are a bit broader than yours, so it doesn’t quite fall right, and you’re just a smidge taller than I am. I hope the pants look alright.”
Jae pulled out a pair of dark wash jeans and then a green button up shirt. “Here, put these on. I have to go make a phone call, but come out when you’re done.”
Jae left without seeing if Yoochun would comply.
He went to the other side of the sitting room and called his best friend.
“Joongie-ah,” Lee Donghae answered.
“Hey, Fishy. What’s up?”
“Nothing. Your business a bit lighter yet?”
“Thanks for being tactful about it, but no. Not until tomorrow. I’ve only got a few seconds to talk, but I have a question for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“What’s the name of that prostitute you’re so addicted to?”
Donghae laughed. “Wow. That’s random.”
“Yeah, I know. But I can’t remember and it’s bugging me and you know how I get when I can’t remember something.”
“Yeah. The word is obsessive. His name’s Micky.”
Yoochun exited the room and Jae’s mouth went dry. Those jeans accented his thighs and his tiny waist and that green shirt made his skin deepen and his eyes practically glow.
“Fucking sucks, though,” Donghae said.
“Huh?” Jae couldn’t stop his eyes from roving that body, even when Yoochun blushed and looked down.
“I called for him last night and was told that he ran off. What the fuck? Who am I going to have sex with now?”
Jae shut his eyes. “Try your wife.”
“Jae.”
“Sorry. I have to go.”
Jae disconnected and then said to Yoochun, “Yeah, that will work. Let me go change and then we’ll leave.”
“You okay?” Yoochun asked.
Jae was still breathing heavily. “Yeah, just some bad news. I hate being right.”
YOOCHUN
Jae slammed the door. And Yoochun winced. He tugged on the sleeve of the jacket again. He wondered about what business brought Jae to Seoul, and wondered about all the looks Jae kept shooting him. He dismissed the lust-filled ones, there was no way a guy like Jae would be attracted to him. It was the frowns and the anger and the crassness that bothered him. He thought, hoped, they weren’t directed at him, but Yoochun couldn’t tell. One minute the man was smiling and the next he was slamming doors.
Yoochun headed to the balcony. He didn’t go outside but looked out over the city. He swallowed. Seoul was huge. Busan was big, but Seoul. He’d heard from some of the other guys about Seoul and the money that could be made up here, but Yoochun didn’t want to do that anymore.
How was he going to survive in this place?
“Deep thoughts?”
Yoochun jerked in surprise and then looked over at Jae. He’d changed to a pair of dark slacks, a shirt that wasn’t quite pink, and a gray sports coat. He looked good.
“Seoul is huge,” Yoochun said.
“Yep. Come on. Let’s go eat.”
“And now you’re in a good mood,” Yoochun muttered.
“What?”
Yoochun shook his head. “You have crazy mood swings.”
Jae frowned at him for a moment and then smiled. “Yeah. I know. All my friends tell me that you either get used to it, or you end up hating me.”
“I’ll get used to it then.”
Jae’s smile widened. “Good. And here I thought you were going to run off on me.”
Their eyes met. What did that mean? Jae gave him a ride up here, was taking him to lunch and then that was it, right? Well, he’d have to come back to return Jae’s clothes, but then what? He had to find somewhere to stay the night.
“Stop thinking,” Jae said, and headed to the door. “Look, I know what’s going through that head of yours, but don’t worry about it. At least not tonight. You can stay here. Fuck, Yoochun, this is my suite, you could live here if you wanted to. It’s not like I’m here all the time.”
Yoochun swallowed and followed after him. In the elevator, he crossed his arms and didn’t look at Jae. Live there? Was he kidding?
“Hey,” Jae whispered.
Yoochun made a noise to show he was listening.
“Just stay tonight okay? Really, no obligations or anything. I just … well, if you leave then I won’t know where you’re at and that scares me.”
“You have a hero complex.”
Jae chuckled. “Maybe. Please.”
“We’ll see,” Yoochun said.
The elevator dinged open. Jae led the way and smiled at the hotel staff who continually bowed to him. The doors were opened before he got there and outside at the curb was a black town car. Seunghyun opened the back door and Jae climbed inside, Yoochun after him.
Jae told the driver the name of the restaurant and they pulled away from the curb.
“Why am I surprised that you have a driver?” Yoochun asked and smiled at him.
Jae shrugged. “I get whatever I want, and sometimes what I don’t want because people think I want it.”
“You don’t want a driver?”
“I have a car, but this is his job. If I didn’t do this, then he wouldn’t be able to feed his family.”
“You don’t have to save everybody.”
Jae met his eyes. “If I don’t do everything I can for everyone I can, then I’m just another rich bastard.”
“Some people are going to look for hidden motivations in your actions though.”
Jae smiled. “I know. But whoever those some people are should realize that there aren’t any.”
“Someone with hidden motivations would say that.”
“You have a really hard time trusting people, don’t you, Yoochun?”
Yoochun looked out the window and didn’t answer. The car stopped. The driver opened the door for them and bowed them out. “Thank you, Jonghoon. We should be done in a couple of hours.”
“Yes, sir, Kim Jaejoong-shi.”
Jae walked up a set of stairs. A young woman opened the door and preened and smiled and flaunted over Jae. He took her hand and kissed it. “YooJi, how nice to see you. I know I didn’t call, but do you have a table for two?”
“For you, Kim Jaejoong-shi, of course.”
Jae stepped into the restaurant, and then stopped in his tracks. Yoochun almost ran into him. He looked past Jae to a taller man. Very good looking, short brown hair. A scantily clad female clung to his arm. He met Yoochun’s eyes for a brief moment, a sneer curling his lip.
“Joongie,” he said, but when he took a step forward, Jae took a step back, and into Yoochun. Out of the other man’s sight, Jae’s hand reached for something, so Yoochun took it, holding it between their bodies. Jae squeezed hard.
“Yunho,” Jae spat out.
Ah. That explains it.
“Oh, you don’t seem happy to see me.”
“Not particularly.”
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“No.”
Yunho smiled and then met Yoochun’s eyes. “I’m Jung Yunho. And you are?”
There was another squeeze on his hand. Yoochun leveled his stare at him, but didn’t say anything.
“Shame on you, Jaejoong. Your boyfriends are usually more well-behaved than this.”
“Until they go off and fuck everything with breasts.”
The girl simpered and giggled.
“Lovely as this is,” Jae said. “We’re going to be seated, and Yunho, don’t come here again. You may not find the wait staff so willing to let trash into their restaurant, and I don’t mean the girl.”
He turned a full watt smile to Yoochun, one that Yoochun could tell was fake, and then told the hostess to seat them. He didn’t look at Yunho again. Yoochun did though, and the man glared at them as they walked, still holding hands, to a table. It was a booth actually, secluded so they faced away from the rest of the dining room. Yoochun slid into the booth. Jae sat back with his eyes shut, breath gasping.
“Can you really get him banned from here?”
A smiled played at Jae’s lips.
“One of the perks, I take it.”
After another minute of silence, Jae squeezed his hand. “Thanks,” he whispered, “for backing me up.”
“Sometimes heroes need a bit of help.”
Jae laughed and finally let go of his hand. “Let’s get some food, yes?”
Part 3: Hurt
Part 1: Highways
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