Pick Me Up - 5/5
Title: Pick Me Up 5/5
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: 3773
Everyone deserves a second chance.
YOOCHUN
“Would you calm down?”
Yoochun smiled and shook his head. “Sorry.”
“It’s not like you’ve never met Donghae before.”
Yoochun rolled his eyes. He took a few deep breaths, but continued to tug at the sleeves of his sport coat. Living with Jae the last two months had been a definite improvement on his life. Nice clothes and good food had done a number on his body. The constant attention and praise Jae laved on him did a number on him mentally. Jae was helping him go back to school so he could get a job.
They’d been back in Busan for two days. Jae had business meetings and then after dealing with what Jae called “a personal insult”, they were going back to Seoul.
After dinner, of course.
“Jae, I can’t do this,” Yoochun said, nerves picking up again.
“Calm down. His wife is gone, he’s alone, a situation you should be familiar with.”
“I especially can’t do this if you’re going to be making jokes about it.”
Jae laughed and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll be good.”
Yoochun grunted. The last time he’d seen Lee Donghae, the man had pinned him up against the front door, too eager to move to the bedroom.
Jae pulled his car up to a familiar gate, entered a code that Yoochun had memorized and drove down the cobbled driveway to the gorgeous, three-story home beyond. He parked at the edge of the circular drive and turned the car off.
Yoochun let out a deep breath.
“One more thing you should know,” Jae said while opening his car door. “I didn’t tell Donghae you were coming.”
Yoochun stared at him, open mouthed and then climbed out of the car. “What do you mean?”
The side of Jae’s lips quirked in a smile. “I thought it’d be more fun.”
“I am not going in that house.”
“Oh, come on. Stop acting like a child.”
“Says the man who thinks my emotional turmoil is entertaining.”
“What? I do not. Although I don’t understand why this is so emotional for you. Donghae likes you, you know. And more than just something to shove his dick into, which he is totally not allowed to do anymore.”
Yoochun smiled and shook his head. He leaned against the car, but when Jae held out his hand, he sighed and took it.
“This is part of my past,” Yoochun whispered, as the walked up the front path. “Just being in Busan is hard.”
Jae squeezed his hand and placed another kiss on Yoochun’s cheek. He rang the doorbell, and Yoochun fidgeted in the ten seconds it took for footsteps to sound on the other side and for the door to fly open.
Yoochun’s heart leaped and he fought back a grin.
Donghae was adorable. Short brown hair, playful dark eyes. He wore a nice set of a slacks and a button down blue shirt. Donghae’s mouth, usually turned in a smile, was open in shock.
“Micky,” he whispered.
Yoochun inhaled sharply, that name taking away any good feeling he had. No one had called him that for two months.
Jae’s hand tightened. “Um, I think you’re mistaken, Hae,” Jae said with a smile. “This is Park Yoochun.”
That smile came back. “Park Yoochun, really?” Donghae said and held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
Yoochun stared at the hand for a moment, and then shook it.
Donghae tugged, and Yoochun stumbled and found himself wrapped in a hug, body frozen.
“Finally,” Donghae whispered in his ear.
Yoochun had to take one more deep breath, and then he returned the hug.
“Alright, alright,” Jae said. “My boyfriend, if you’ll remember.”
Donghae leaned back, but didn’t let Yoochun go. “Sorry,” he said, staring at Yoochun. “You look good. God, your eyes are gorgeous. And your body, I mean, you’ve always had a nice body, but you’ve got some muscle on you now.” Donghae squeezed his arms, pulling their bodies closer.
Yoochun blushed.
“Hey,” Jae said, this time pulling Yoochun away from him. “Hands off. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.”
Donghae laughed. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“You were always good,” Yoochun said, but looked away.
Donghae laughed more and Jae started pulling him back to the car.
Yoochun resisted and said, “Hey, Mr. Business Man, this was your idea, not mine.”
Donghae grabbed his other hand and pulled back. “Oh, Jae, come on. You know I’m good, too.”
Yoochun raised his eyebrows at Jae. “You never told me about that. What happened to honesty in all things?”
Jae smirked. “What?” he demanded. “Donghae is gorgeous. But I at least I had sex with him before he was married.”
“And I didn’t have to pay for you.”
Yoochun gasped.
“Eh, sorry,” Donghae said quickly.
“It’s okay,” Yoochun said. “I wouldn’t have charged you if I didn’t have to.”
Donghae smiled and touched Yoochun’s cheek. “I would have paid you more if you had let me.”
Yoochun leaned into it with a sigh. “I know.”
“Come on. Dinner was almost ready, but now I have to add food for a third person.”
Donghae didn’t let go of Yoochun’s hand as they walked into the house.
Yoochun took a deep breath, remembering the first time he’d been taken there. Donghae had picked him up, much like Jae had, just to drive him somewhere, but back then Yoochun had no problems at all throwing out hints to what he would do. Donghae hadn’t even hesitated.
The only reason Junsu allowed him to continue to go to Donghae was that after realizing Donghae was rich, Yoochun charged him double, claiming it was his regular rate, and he never once complained.
Yoochun felt bad about it now. It’s not like he ever saw any of that money.
He sighed.
“You okay?” Jae asked.
Yoochun grinned. “Yeah. It’s just weird to be in this house and have clothes on.”
JAEJOONG
Jaejoong needed a cigarette. Needed badly.
Not a good time for it. He hadn’t been this nervous since the judge had made his decision about Yunho’s lawsuit. Of course, Yunho had no case. The companies he had been running while Jae’s partner all had to be redone and revamped and fixed after he left. All ten of them had disappointing quarters.
No, he amended. This was worse than that day.
Yoochun leaned against the wall next to him. Only his breathing proved he was even there.
Jae was glad again that he’d taken Yoochun to dinner at Donghae’s. Yoochun had been incredibly nervous about coming back to Busan and what they had to do tonight. After the initial awkwardness at Donghae’s, Yoochun had relaxed and smiled and laughed. It was a relief, especially now because if they ever saw Donghae at a business function it wouldn’t be awkward.
They both kept their eyes on a second story window across the narrow street. A light was burning, shadows moving. When a man briefly walked through their line of vision, Yoochun gasped. His hand grabbed Jae’s shoulder. Jae moved back and let Yoochun lean on him.
“That’s him.”
Like Jae couldn’t have guessed.
Kim Junsu looked like he had been hot once. While his shoulders still held muscles, his stomach was going, and as Jae watched the man chug a bear, he knew why. He wore only sweat pants. His eyes were cold and calculating. As Jae thought about what this monster had done to Yoochun, what he was doing to those other boys, he snarled.
Yoochun chuckled, low and it vibrated down Jae’s skin. Jae shivered. Yoochun’s other arm snaked around his waist and pulled their bodies closer. Jae leaned his head on Yoochun’s shoulder.
“Not the best place for cuddling,” a voice said practically in his ear.
They both jumped.
“Damn it, Changmin,” Jaejoong said. “Warn a guy.”
“I wouldn’t be doing my job if you knew I was coming.”
Jae smiled.
Shim Changmin was his best private investigator. Best at resolving issues. If you knew who Changmin was, or who Changmin worked for, you were either Jae or you were Changmin. Or you were really good at hiding. Well, and now Yoochun. Not that Jae told him what Changmin’s job description was, but Yoochun was smart and figured it out on his own.
Jae had been alone in one of his offices one day, and then suddenly Changmin was there, a gun in his face, telling him about the work he did for his father and the secret compartment he could find all the information in.
“I’m here so you don’t have to pull the trigger,” is first thing Changmin had said to him.
It had been an interesting job interview.
The only setback to Changmin was his height. He managed to stand out wherever he went. But he had an honest face and eyes that made even the most closed-mouthed person start talking.
“All four boys are in there. One is currently unconscious in the bedroom.”
Yoochun made a noise of distress.
“He has one gun that he keeps loaded and is on the side table where he’s watching TV.”
“There’s one in the bedroom closet too,” Yoochun said.
“He’s not going to have time to get to it.”
The arm around Jae’s middle tightened and Jae prepared himself for the inevitable question.
“Are you going to kill him?”
Changmin looked at Jae. Jae met his stare. After a silent minute, Yoochun said, “Please don’t.”
Jae turned around in his arms. “You do remember who we’re dealing with, right? Who hurt you? Who is hurting them? He deserves it.”
“And,” Changmin said, “if he doesn’t do it to them, he’s going to do it to others.”
“I know,” Yoochun said, “but-” He made a strangled noise.
Jae hugged him close and then whispered, “I know that you love him, but he’s dangerous.”
“No, Jae. Let the police handle him.”
Jae looked over at Changmin, who was shaking his head in disbelief. “Okay, Yoochun. No bodies.”
A wicked grin morphed Changmin’s face. Changmin had only gotten that command twice in the seven years he’d worked for Jaejoong.
“Thank you,” Yoochun muttered.
“Do it,” Jae said.
And Changmin disappeared.
They waited the allotted five minutes, and then headed to the apartment. Yoochun clutched at Jae’s hand. They had talked this over for the last three weeks, and Yoochun promised him he’d be alright. Now Jae wasn’t so sure. It’d been two months since Yoochun left, and ever since they stationed themselves in Yoochun’s old neighborhood, he had been jerky and twitchy.
“You don’t have to do this,” Jae whispered.
“Yes, I do.”
They moved up the rickety stair case. A square of dim light fell onto the hallway from the open door.
As they got closer, Changmin’s voice said, “You reach for that gun and I’m going to pull this trigger. Put your hands on your head and stand up.”
“Who are you? What do you want?”
Yoochun whimpered.
“Chunnie, be strong. You understand me,” Jae whispered harshly. “Be strong.”
Yoochun took a deep breath.
“Stand up,” Changmin said again. “Good.”
Their cue. Jae stepped into the door. Yoochun right behind him.
“Micky,” a young voice said in disbelief. Jae didn’t turn to it.
Junsu snarled at him. “You little traitor.”
Changmin pressed the gun harder against his temple. “It would be a good idea if you shut the hell up.”
Jae smiled. “Well, well, Xiah. Finally, we meet.”
“Who are you?”
“You don’t know?” Jae tsked. “You need to get out into the real world a bit more often, Kim Junsu.”
“What do you want?”
“You to stand there and shut the hell up.” Jae smiled at Yoochun. “Go ahead.”
Yoochun moved past him to the three boys huddled on the floor and gave them all hugs and kisses. “Where’s Taemin?”
“He’s hurt.”
Yoochun nodded. “Okay. Go get all your stuff. We’re getting out of here.”
“Really?” another asked.
Yoochun smiled. “You think I was going to abandon you here? Yes, really. Come on. I’ll get Taemin. Just pack what’s yours, okay? We’ll get everything we need later.”
“They’re mine,” Junsu snarled.
Yoochun turned and for the first time met Junsu’s eyes. “You can’t own someone, Su,” he whispered and stood up.
He went into Junsu’s bedroom. And then there was a sudden intake of breath, almost a whimper, and then nothing but the rustle of clothing as the boys scrambled around and over each other gathering things. Jae wanted to go make sure Yoochun was okay. Finding one of your brothers unconscious and injured on a bed couldn’t have been easy.
Yoochun emerged, face pained, carrying a bundle wrapped in a bloody sheet. Legs and arms hung limp from it, but the face had been covered. Dried blood caked the skin.
“He’s alive, but barely” Yoochun said.
“Get him downstairs.”
“Come on, guys,” Yoochun said and led the boys out of the apartment.
“I won’t forget this,” Junsu snarled. “You traitorous bastard, Micky. I hope you find a hiding spot because I’ll come and find you and then you’ll all die.”
Changmin hit him in the back of the head. “I thought I told you to shut up.”
Jae waited until all the footsteps on the stairs faded.
“You’re a bastard, Kim Junsu-shi,” Jaejoong said with a head shake, “but hey, we’re both business men. I don’t want to leave you completely uncompensated since I just took your livelihood away.”
Jae reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a pair of black gloves. After putting them on, Changmin reached into his pocket and threw a brick at him. Jae caught it, and then tossed it from hand to hand. Junsu’s eyes went wide. Yep, just what Jae wanted him to believe. There was cocaine in it, but not much. Selling shit like this on the street would get someone killed.
Perfect.
“Sell all this and I’m sure you’ll be able to make enough money until you can manipulate other boys to serve under you.”
Jae set the brick down on the side table. He turned around and then smirked over his shoulder. “I’ll leave Changmin here to go over the details with you.”
Jae left the apartment and headed down the stairs. The quite flltt of a silencer was followed quickly by a deep thud.
One less bastard in the world.
YOOCHUN
Yoochun carefully rearranged the blankets around Taemin’s sleeping body. They had taken him to the emergency room there in Busan, but as soon as he was able, Jae ordered him to be airlifted to Seoul. The doctors held him for three days for observations. The other three boys had been examined in Busan, but besides a few deep welts on Jonghyun’s back, they were okay.
Not one of them could believe what had happened.
They stared in awe at the private jet that took them to Seoul. They stared in awe at the high rise building Jae and Yoochun lived in. They stared in awe at the two-story condo with its rooms and TVs and two kitchens! None of them were quite comfortable with the fact that they had their own rooms, and every night, Yoochun found them curled up in one bed together.
After the first night, he smiled at Jae and said, “I told you they only needed one room.”
“No,” Jae said, “they need their own rooms, but it’s up to them if they want to use it.”
The cuts on Taemin’s face had been superficial, the ones on his back stitched up. His internal injuries were the worst. Of everything Yoochun had seen, walking into the room and finding Taemin covered in blood and come with a bat shoved … Yoochun swallowed the taste of bile and took a deep breath.
Taemin is okay now. He’s okay.
Just to be sure, Yoochun touched his cheek again. He kicked off his slippers and lay down, holding Taemin’s hand. In his sleep, the younger boy shifted toward him.
Seeing Junsu, facing him was probably the hardest thing Yoochun had done in his life. Well, maybe second. Leaving in the first place had been more difficult. Junsu was his life, his purpose, his heart.
And he betrayed and hurt you and almost killed Taemin.
Even reminding himself of that didn’t make the feelings go away. It wasn’t the same love that he felt for Jae. Hell, the love he felt for Jae was more confusing than the love he felt for some sadistic bastard. But at least Jae never hurt him.
“Mic-sorry, Yoochun.”
Yoochun turned and wasn’t surprised to see Jinki (formally known as Onew) at the door.
“Um, is it okay if we sleep in here tonight, so Taemin isn’t alone?”
“Of course.” Yoochun said.
Jinki came forward and was followed quickly by Jonghyun and Minho. Yoochun didn’t give up his position next to Taemin. None of the boys were certain where to go, Jonghyun holding onto Jinki and Minho holding onto Jonghyun.
“Just come on,” Yoochun said.
Jinki climbed in on the other side of Taemin, followed by Jonghyun. Minho nervously moved beside Yoochun. Yoochun held his arm out and Minho settled against his side.
“There you go.”
Silence settled, and Yoochun listened to them breathe. None seemed too relaxed. And Jinki kept shoving Jonghyun in the ribs.
“Um, Yoochun ,” Jonghyun said.
“Yeah?”
“I lost the paper, rock, scissors game, so I have to ask you something.”
Yoochun grinned and looked over at the boy. “I’m not going to like this question, am I?”
Jonghyun met his eyes for a brief moment and then mumbled something.
“What?”
“We want to know why you left,” Jinki demanded.
Yoochun sighed and looked at the ceiling. “Cowardice.”
“No,” Minho said. “You were always brave.”
“And I couldn’t take it anymore,” Yoochun said.
“It was brave to leave.”
“It was foolish,” Yoochun said vehemently. “I left you there.”
“But you came back,” Jonghyun whispered. “We never thought we’d see you again.”
Yoochun held Minho more tightly with one arm, and then draped his other arm over Taemin to Jinki’s body. Jonghyun’s hand was there and he grabbed it. “I’m sorry that I left you there.”
“Thanks for coming back,” Minho whispered, and it was echoed by the other two.
The tense energy in the room dissipated. Minho was the first to fall asleep. And then Jonghyun started snoring.
Jinki kept his eyes on Taemin, the youngest of them all.
“I did my best,” he said, “after you left. But-”
“Don’t blame yourself for any of it,” Yoochun said. “I had to learn that. Jae had to teach me that. You held yourselves together.”
“We hated you for leaving,” he whispered.
Yoochun nodded. “I hated myself for leaving, too.”
Soon Jinki fell asleep. Yoochun stared at the ceiling. Both arms were numb. His legs twitched because he needed to move them, and Minho drooled on his chest. He smiled.
Jaejoong found him there a couple hours later. He leaned against the door jamb and grinned.
“You didn’t tell me I’d have some competition for your affections,” he said.
“A smart guy like you should have seen it coming,” Yoochun replied.
“You always forget the beautiful part.”
Yoochun sat up, careful not to jostle Taemin. Minho curled up around him, and suddenly the whole pile shifted and then relaxed again. Jinki was almost buried under Jonghyun’s body and his hand was clutched into the blanket at Minho’s hip.
“Cuddly little things,” Jaejoong said.
Yoochun kissed him. “It’s the touching thing. It reminds us that there are some things in this world that are real and worth fighting for.”
They left the room, leaving the door ajar in case Jonghyun woke up screaming from nightmares again.
“They should go talk to the therapist with you.”
Yoochun nodded. “Yeah. I was going to ask if that was okay.”
“Of course it is.” Jae stopped their progress down the hall and pinned Yoochun to the wall. “They’re your family. And your family is my family.”
“Speaking of which, have you called your mom yet?”
Jae frowned. “No, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“In the words of your therapist, your need to protect everyone stems from the fact that you didn’t feel protected or wanted as a child.”
Jae waved him silent. “Yes, yes, doctor. I know. Leave me alone to my issues.”
Yoochun laughed and kissed him. Softly, tongues reaching, and then his body felt that need. It still didn’t happen often, but Yoochun was getting used to this thing called desire. Want. Need. This sharing of something that used to be so impersonal.
Love. Not that the act of sex itself was love, but being with Jae, sharing his body with Jae. Not Jae taking and demanding it, but Yoochun giving it to him. That felt like love to him. Or part of it.
And Jae never pressured him. Never forced him to have sex more than he wanted, and as Jae showed him more and more of what sex could be like, Yoochun was finding it harder and harder to keep his hands to himself.
Yoochun stopped the kiss and smiled at Jae’s confused look. “First, we’re in the hallway and we have four new housemates, so sex wherever is no longer an option. And second, I don’t really think this is the appropriate place for declarations of love.”
Jae’s eyes widened and then he smiled. Jae had told him many times that he loved him, but Yoochun had yet to say it back.
“Love is everywhere,” Jae said. “Love is in this hallway, in that bedroom, in the kitchen where I make you breakfast and where you make me coffee. Love is in the study where you watch me work and in the music room where I watch you play.”
“Yes, but right now, love wants to be naked in our bed with you begging me for more.”
Jae smiled. “Okay. Love can be there, too.”
Jae kissed him again. A kiss that left him breathless and wanting more and more and more. Jae slid a leg between his knees and Yoochun’s head thunked against the wall with a moan.
“That would be my cue to drag you to said bed,” Jae said and did just that.
With clothes discarded and hands and lips and tongues, Jae did in fact beg Yoochun for more. And more and more.
Finally sated, they lay in a tangle of sweaty limbs, gasping kisses and lazy touches.
Yoochun stared up at him, loopy grin, eyes half lidded. “I love you, Jae.”
Jae smiled. “I know. I love you, too.”
---
THE END!!!
.
Part 1: Highways
Part 2: Mood Swings
Part 3: Hurt
Part 4: Phone Calls
.
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: 3773
Everyone deserves a second chance.
YOOCHUN
“Would you calm down?”
Yoochun smiled and shook his head. “Sorry.”
“It’s not like you’ve never met Donghae before.”
Yoochun rolled his eyes. He took a few deep breaths, but continued to tug at the sleeves of his sport coat. Living with Jae the last two months had been a definite improvement on his life. Nice clothes and good food had done a number on his body. The constant attention and praise Jae laved on him did a number on him mentally. Jae was helping him go back to school so he could get a job.
They’d been back in Busan for two days. Jae had business meetings and then after dealing with what Jae called “a personal insult”, they were going back to Seoul.
After dinner, of course.
“Jae, I can’t do this,” Yoochun said, nerves picking up again.
“Calm down. His wife is gone, he’s alone, a situation you should be familiar with.”
“I especially can’t do this if you’re going to be making jokes about it.”
Jae laughed and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry. I’ll be good.”
Yoochun grunted. The last time he’d seen Lee Donghae, the man had pinned him up against the front door, too eager to move to the bedroom.
Jae pulled his car up to a familiar gate, entered a code that Yoochun had memorized and drove down the cobbled driveway to the gorgeous, three-story home beyond. He parked at the edge of the circular drive and turned the car off.
Yoochun let out a deep breath.
“One more thing you should know,” Jae said while opening his car door. “I didn’t tell Donghae you were coming.”
Yoochun stared at him, open mouthed and then climbed out of the car. “What do you mean?”
The side of Jae’s lips quirked in a smile. “I thought it’d be more fun.”
“I am not going in that house.”
“Oh, come on. Stop acting like a child.”
“Says the man who thinks my emotional turmoil is entertaining.”
“What? I do not. Although I don’t understand why this is so emotional for you. Donghae likes you, you know. And more than just something to shove his dick into, which he is totally not allowed to do anymore.”
Yoochun smiled and shook his head. He leaned against the car, but when Jae held out his hand, he sighed and took it.
“This is part of my past,” Yoochun whispered, as the walked up the front path. “Just being in Busan is hard.”
Jae squeezed his hand and placed another kiss on Yoochun’s cheek. He rang the doorbell, and Yoochun fidgeted in the ten seconds it took for footsteps to sound on the other side and for the door to fly open.
Yoochun’s heart leaped and he fought back a grin.
Donghae was adorable. Short brown hair, playful dark eyes. He wore a nice set of a slacks and a button down blue shirt. Donghae’s mouth, usually turned in a smile, was open in shock.
“Micky,” he whispered.
Yoochun inhaled sharply, that name taking away any good feeling he had. No one had called him that for two months.
Jae’s hand tightened. “Um, I think you’re mistaken, Hae,” Jae said with a smile. “This is Park Yoochun.”
That smile came back. “Park Yoochun, really?” Donghae said and held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
Yoochun stared at the hand for a moment, and then shook it.
Donghae tugged, and Yoochun stumbled and found himself wrapped in a hug, body frozen.
“Finally,” Donghae whispered in his ear.
Yoochun had to take one more deep breath, and then he returned the hug.
“Alright, alright,” Jae said. “My boyfriend, if you’ll remember.”
Donghae leaned back, but didn’t let Yoochun go. “Sorry,” he said, staring at Yoochun. “You look good. God, your eyes are gorgeous. And your body, I mean, you’ve always had a nice body, but you’ve got some muscle on you now.” Donghae squeezed his arms, pulling their bodies closer.
Yoochun blushed.
“Hey,” Jae said, this time pulling Yoochun away from him. “Hands off. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.”
Donghae laughed. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“You were always good,” Yoochun said, but looked away.
Donghae laughed more and Jae started pulling him back to the car.
Yoochun resisted and said, “Hey, Mr. Business Man, this was your idea, not mine.”
Donghae grabbed his other hand and pulled back. “Oh, Jae, come on. You know I’m good, too.”
Yoochun raised his eyebrows at Jae. “You never told me about that. What happened to honesty in all things?”
Jae smirked. “What?” he demanded. “Donghae is gorgeous. But I at least I had sex with him before he was married.”
“And I didn’t have to pay for you.”
Yoochun gasped.
“Eh, sorry,” Donghae said quickly.
“It’s okay,” Yoochun said. “I wouldn’t have charged you if I didn’t have to.”
Donghae smiled and touched Yoochun’s cheek. “I would have paid you more if you had let me.”
Yoochun leaned into it with a sigh. “I know.”
“Come on. Dinner was almost ready, but now I have to add food for a third person.”
Donghae didn’t let go of Yoochun’s hand as they walked into the house.
Yoochun took a deep breath, remembering the first time he’d been taken there. Donghae had picked him up, much like Jae had, just to drive him somewhere, but back then Yoochun had no problems at all throwing out hints to what he would do. Donghae hadn’t even hesitated.
The only reason Junsu allowed him to continue to go to Donghae was that after realizing Donghae was rich, Yoochun charged him double, claiming it was his regular rate, and he never once complained.
Yoochun felt bad about it now. It’s not like he ever saw any of that money.
He sighed.
“You okay?” Jae asked.
Yoochun grinned. “Yeah. It’s just weird to be in this house and have clothes on.”
JAEJOONG
Jaejoong needed a cigarette. Needed badly.
Not a good time for it. He hadn’t been this nervous since the judge had made his decision about Yunho’s lawsuit. Of course, Yunho had no case. The companies he had been running while Jae’s partner all had to be redone and revamped and fixed after he left. All ten of them had disappointing quarters.
No, he amended. This was worse than that day.
Yoochun leaned against the wall next to him. Only his breathing proved he was even there.
Jae was glad again that he’d taken Yoochun to dinner at Donghae’s. Yoochun had been incredibly nervous about coming back to Busan and what they had to do tonight. After the initial awkwardness at Donghae’s, Yoochun had relaxed and smiled and laughed. It was a relief, especially now because if they ever saw Donghae at a business function it wouldn’t be awkward.
They both kept their eyes on a second story window across the narrow street. A light was burning, shadows moving. When a man briefly walked through their line of vision, Yoochun gasped. His hand grabbed Jae’s shoulder. Jae moved back and let Yoochun lean on him.
“That’s him.”
Like Jae couldn’t have guessed.
Kim Junsu looked like he had been hot once. While his shoulders still held muscles, his stomach was going, and as Jae watched the man chug a bear, he knew why. He wore only sweat pants. His eyes were cold and calculating. As Jae thought about what this monster had done to Yoochun, what he was doing to those other boys, he snarled.
Yoochun chuckled, low and it vibrated down Jae’s skin. Jae shivered. Yoochun’s other arm snaked around his waist and pulled their bodies closer. Jae leaned his head on Yoochun’s shoulder.
“Not the best place for cuddling,” a voice said practically in his ear.
They both jumped.
“Damn it, Changmin,” Jaejoong said. “Warn a guy.”
“I wouldn’t be doing my job if you knew I was coming.”
Jae smiled.
Shim Changmin was his best private investigator. Best at resolving issues. If you knew who Changmin was, or who Changmin worked for, you were either Jae or you were Changmin. Or you were really good at hiding. Well, and now Yoochun. Not that Jae told him what Changmin’s job description was, but Yoochun was smart and figured it out on his own.
Jae had been alone in one of his offices one day, and then suddenly Changmin was there, a gun in his face, telling him about the work he did for his father and the secret compartment he could find all the information in.
“I’m here so you don’t have to pull the trigger,” is first thing Changmin had said to him.
It had been an interesting job interview.
The only setback to Changmin was his height. He managed to stand out wherever he went. But he had an honest face and eyes that made even the most closed-mouthed person start talking.
“All four boys are in there. One is currently unconscious in the bedroom.”
Yoochun made a noise of distress.
“He has one gun that he keeps loaded and is on the side table where he’s watching TV.”
“There’s one in the bedroom closet too,” Yoochun said.
“He’s not going to have time to get to it.”
The arm around Jae’s middle tightened and Jae prepared himself for the inevitable question.
“Are you going to kill him?”
Changmin looked at Jae. Jae met his stare. After a silent minute, Yoochun said, “Please don’t.”
Jae turned around in his arms. “You do remember who we’re dealing with, right? Who hurt you? Who is hurting them? He deserves it.”
“And,” Changmin said, “if he doesn’t do it to them, he’s going to do it to others.”
“I know,” Yoochun said, “but-” He made a strangled noise.
Jae hugged him close and then whispered, “I know that you love him, but he’s dangerous.”
“No, Jae. Let the police handle him.”
Jae looked over at Changmin, who was shaking his head in disbelief. “Okay, Yoochun. No bodies.”
A wicked grin morphed Changmin’s face. Changmin had only gotten that command twice in the seven years he’d worked for Jaejoong.
“Thank you,” Yoochun muttered.
“Do it,” Jae said.
And Changmin disappeared.
They waited the allotted five minutes, and then headed to the apartment. Yoochun clutched at Jae’s hand. They had talked this over for the last three weeks, and Yoochun promised him he’d be alright. Now Jae wasn’t so sure. It’d been two months since Yoochun left, and ever since they stationed themselves in Yoochun’s old neighborhood, he had been jerky and twitchy.
“You don’t have to do this,” Jae whispered.
“Yes, I do.”
They moved up the rickety stair case. A square of dim light fell onto the hallway from the open door.
As they got closer, Changmin’s voice said, “You reach for that gun and I’m going to pull this trigger. Put your hands on your head and stand up.”
“Who are you? What do you want?”
Yoochun whimpered.
“Chunnie, be strong. You understand me,” Jae whispered harshly. “Be strong.”
Yoochun took a deep breath.
“Stand up,” Changmin said again. “Good.”
Their cue. Jae stepped into the door. Yoochun right behind him.
“Micky,” a young voice said in disbelief. Jae didn’t turn to it.
Junsu snarled at him. “You little traitor.”
Changmin pressed the gun harder against his temple. “It would be a good idea if you shut the hell up.”
Jae smiled. “Well, well, Xiah. Finally, we meet.”
“Who are you?”
“You don’t know?” Jae tsked. “You need to get out into the real world a bit more often, Kim Junsu.”
“What do you want?”
“You to stand there and shut the hell up.” Jae smiled at Yoochun. “Go ahead.”
Yoochun moved past him to the three boys huddled on the floor and gave them all hugs and kisses. “Where’s Taemin?”
“He’s hurt.”
Yoochun nodded. “Okay. Go get all your stuff. We’re getting out of here.”
“Really?” another asked.
Yoochun smiled. “You think I was going to abandon you here? Yes, really. Come on. I’ll get Taemin. Just pack what’s yours, okay? We’ll get everything we need later.”
“They’re mine,” Junsu snarled.
Yoochun turned and for the first time met Junsu’s eyes. “You can’t own someone, Su,” he whispered and stood up.
He went into Junsu’s bedroom. And then there was a sudden intake of breath, almost a whimper, and then nothing but the rustle of clothing as the boys scrambled around and over each other gathering things. Jae wanted to go make sure Yoochun was okay. Finding one of your brothers unconscious and injured on a bed couldn’t have been easy.
Yoochun emerged, face pained, carrying a bundle wrapped in a bloody sheet. Legs and arms hung limp from it, but the face had been covered. Dried blood caked the skin.
“He’s alive, but barely” Yoochun said.
“Get him downstairs.”
“Come on, guys,” Yoochun said and led the boys out of the apartment.
“I won’t forget this,” Junsu snarled. “You traitorous bastard, Micky. I hope you find a hiding spot because I’ll come and find you and then you’ll all die.”
Changmin hit him in the back of the head. “I thought I told you to shut up.”
Jae waited until all the footsteps on the stairs faded.
“You’re a bastard, Kim Junsu-shi,” Jaejoong said with a head shake, “but hey, we’re both business men. I don’t want to leave you completely uncompensated since I just took your livelihood away.”
Jae reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a pair of black gloves. After putting them on, Changmin reached into his pocket and threw a brick at him. Jae caught it, and then tossed it from hand to hand. Junsu’s eyes went wide. Yep, just what Jae wanted him to believe. There was cocaine in it, but not much. Selling shit like this on the street would get someone killed.
Perfect.
“Sell all this and I’m sure you’ll be able to make enough money until you can manipulate other boys to serve under you.”
Jae set the brick down on the side table. He turned around and then smirked over his shoulder. “I’ll leave Changmin here to go over the details with you.”
Jae left the apartment and headed down the stairs. The quite flltt of a silencer was followed quickly by a deep thud.
One less bastard in the world.
YOOCHUN
Yoochun carefully rearranged the blankets around Taemin’s sleeping body. They had taken him to the emergency room there in Busan, but as soon as he was able, Jae ordered him to be airlifted to Seoul. The doctors held him for three days for observations. The other three boys had been examined in Busan, but besides a few deep welts on Jonghyun’s back, they were okay.
Not one of them could believe what had happened.
They stared in awe at the private jet that took them to Seoul. They stared in awe at the high rise building Jae and Yoochun lived in. They stared in awe at the two-story condo with its rooms and TVs and two kitchens! None of them were quite comfortable with the fact that they had their own rooms, and every night, Yoochun found them curled up in one bed together.
After the first night, he smiled at Jae and said, “I told you they only needed one room.”
“No,” Jae said, “they need their own rooms, but it’s up to them if they want to use it.”
The cuts on Taemin’s face had been superficial, the ones on his back stitched up. His internal injuries were the worst. Of everything Yoochun had seen, walking into the room and finding Taemin covered in blood and come with a bat shoved … Yoochun swallowed the taste of bile and took a deep breath.
Taemin is okay now. He’s okay.
Just to be sure, Yoochun touched his cheek again. He kicked off his slippers and lay down, holding Taemin’s hand. In his sleep, the younger boy shifted toward him.
Seeing Junsu, facing him was probably the hardest thing Yoochun had done in his life. Well, maybe second. Leaving in the first place had been more difficult. Junsu was his life, his purpose, his heart.
And he betrayed and hurt you and almost killed Taemin.
Even reminding himself of that didn’t make the feelings go away. It wasn’t the same love that he felt for Jae. Hell, the love he felt for Jae was more confusing than the love he felt for some sadistic bastard. But at least Jae never hurt him.
“Mic-sorry, Yoochun.”
Yoochun turned and wasn’t surprised to see Jinki (formally known as Onew) at the door.
“Um, is it okay if we sleep in here tonight, so Taemin isn’t alone?”
“Of course.” Yoochun said.
Jinki came forward and was followed quickly by Jonghyun and Minho. Yoochun didn’t give up his position next to Taemin. None of the boys were certain where to go, Jonghyun holding onto Jinki and Minho holding onto Jonghyun.
“Just come on,” Yoochun said.
Jinki climbed in on the other side of Taemin, followed by Jonghyun. Minho nervously moved beside Yoochun. Yoochun held his arm out and Minho settled against his side.
“There you go.”
Silence settled, and Yoochun listened to them breathe. None seemed too relaxed. And Jinki kept shoving Jonghyun in the ribs.
“Um, Yoochun ,” Jonghyun said.
“Yeah?”
“I lost the paper, rock, scissors game, so I have to ask you something.”
Yoochun grinned and looked over at the boy. “I’m not going to like this question, am I?”
Jonghyun met his eyes for a brief moment and then mumbled something.
“What?”
“We want to know why you left,” Jinki demanded.
Yoochun sighed and looked at the ceiling. “Cowardice.”
“No,” Minho said. “You were always brave.”
“And I couldn’t take it anymore,” Yoochun said.
“It was brave to leave.”
“It was foolish,” Yoochun said vehemently. “I left you there.”
“But you came back,” Jonghyun whispered. “We never thought we’d see you again.”
Yoochun held Minho more tightly with one arm, and then draped his other arm over Taemin to Jinki’s body. Jonghyun’s hand was there and he grabbed it. “I’m sorry that I left you there.”
“Thanks for coming back,” Minho whispered, and it was echoed by the other two.
The tense energy in the room dissipated. Minho was the first to fall asleep. And then Jonghyun started snoring.
Jinki kept his eyes on Taemin, the youngest of them all.
“I did my best,” he said, “after you left. But-”
“Don’t blame yourself for any of it,” Yoochun said. “I had to learn that. Jae had to teach me that. You held yourselves together.”
“We hated you for leaving,” he whispered.
Yoochun nodded. “I hated myself for leaving, too.”
Soon Jinki fell asleep. Yoochun stared at the ceiling. Both arms were numb. His legs twitched because he needed to move them, and Minho drooled on his chest. He smiled.
Jaejoong found him there a couple hours later. He leaned against the door jamb and grinned.
“You didn’t tell me I’d have some competition for your affections,” he said.
“A smart guy like you should have seen it coming,” Yoochun replied.
“You always forget the beautiful part.”
Yoochun sat up, careful not to jostle Taemin. Minho curled up around him, and suddenly the whole pile shifted and then relaxed again. Jinki was almost buried under Jonghyun’s body and his hand was clutched into the blanket at Minho’s hip.
“Cuddly little things,” Jaejoong said.
Yoochun kissed him. “It’s the touching thing. It reminds us that there are some things in this world that are real and worth fighting for.”
They left the room, leaving the door ajar in case Jonghyun woke up screaming from nightmares again.
“They should go talk to the therapist with you.”
Yoochun nodded. “Yeah. I was going to ask if that was okay.”
“Of course it is.” Jae stopped their progress down the hall and pinned Yoochun to the wall. “They’re your family. And your family is my family.”
“Speaking of which, have you called your mom yet?”
Jae frowned. “No, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
“In the words of your therapist, your need to protect everyone stems from the fact that you didn’t feel protected or wanted as a child.”
Jae waved him silent. “Yes, yes, doctor. I know. Leave me alone to my issues.”
Yoochun laughed and kissed him. Softly, tongues reaching, and then his body felt that need. It still didn’t happen often, but Yoochun was getting used to this thing called desire. Want. Need. This sharing of something that used to be so impersonal.
Love. Not that the act of sex itself was love, but being with Jae, sharing his body with Jae. Not Jae taking and demanding it, but Yoochun giving it to him. That felt like love to him. Or part of it.
And Jae never pressured him. Never forced him to have sex more than he wanted, and as Jae showed him more and more of what sex could be like, Yoochun was finding it harder and harder to keep his hands to himself.
Yoochun stopped the kiss and smiled at Jae’s confused look. “First, we’re in the hallway and we have four new housemates, so sex wherever is no longer an option. And second, I don’t really think this is the appropriate place for declarations of love.”
Jae’s eyes widened and then he smiled. Jae had told him many times that he loved him, but Yoochun had yet to say it back.
“Love is everywhere,” Jae said. “Love is in this hallway, in that bedroom, in the kitchen where I make you breakfast and where you make me coffee. Love is in the study where you watch me work and in the music room where I watch you play.”
“Yes, but right now, love wants to be naked in our bed with you begging me for more.”
Jae smiled. “Okay. Love can be there, too.”
Jae kissed him again. A kiss that left him breathless and wanting more and more and more. Jae slid a leg between his knees and Yoochun’s head thunked against the wall with a moan.
“That would be my cue to drag you to said bed,” Jae said and did just that.
With clothes discarded and hands and lips and tongues, Jae did in fact beg Yoochun for more. And more and more.
Finally sated, they lay in a tangle of sweaty limbs, gasping kisses and lazy touches.
Yoochun stared up at him, loopy grin, eyes half lidded. “I love you, Jae.”
Jae smiled. “I know. I love you, too.”
---
THE END!!!
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Part 1: Highways
Part 2: Mood Swings
Part 3: Hurt
Part 4: Phone Calls
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