Shifting Fortunes 8/19
Title: Shifting Fortunes 8/19
Rating: NC -17
Pairings: Yunho/Jaejoong, Yoochun/Junsu, Changmin/Fic OC, Past!Jaejoong/Heechul, Eunhyuk/Donghae, Kyuhyun/Sungmin, Yesung/Ryeowook, ninja!Leeteuk/Kangin
Disclaimer: If I owned them, I'd make them act this out.
Summary: Jaejoong was raised in riches. Yunho has struggled most of his life just to keep food in his stomach. Jaejoong leaves his family and ends up working beside Yunho at a farm in the mountains. In a world of uncertainties, what is Jaejoong willing to give up in order to have everything?
A/N: Anything in italics is the present day, and then the fic goes back in time.
Part 8: Yunho's First Taste of Luxury
Poster credit goes to sahmin I love you, my Failverto! ♥♥♥
YUNHO
Yunho had been to Seoul maybe twice in his entire life. And now, he had been twice in the last month. And rubbing shoulders with people he didn’t feel comfortable with.
Sahar was an adorable girl. Her head barely came up to Changmin’s shoulder, but as soon as they exited the cab, Changmin and Sahar only had eyes for each other. She flung herself into his arms, and they held on tightly until a butler cleared his throat. Sahar had greeted each of them formally. But her eyes widened when she saw Jaejoong.
“Jaejoong?” She turned to Changmin and slapped his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that you knew Kim Jaejoong?”
“I told you about Jae,” Changmin insisted while rubbing his arm.
“Yeah, but you didn’t tell me he was Kim Jaejoong.”
Changmin shrugged. “Sorry. He’s just Jae to me.”
Jae smiled at him, then took Sahar’s hand and bowed over it. “Lee Sahar, nice to meet you. I don’t believe we were ever formally introduced.”
“No, but it’s nice to finally meet you. I wasn’t really expecting you to show up at the reception on Friday.”
“I won’t be at the reception on Friday. Family problems, as you know.”
Sahar looked a bit put out, but she let it pass. “Okay, now, Minnie, take these boys to the fitting, please. You know we don’t have much time to waste, and god, the tailors are going to be working all day.”
“Fitting?” Yoochun said.
“Well, yes,” Sahar said. “Didn’t Changmin mention it? You four are part of the wedding party and we can’t have you looking like farmers, now can we?”
Yoochun turned a dirty look to Changmin.
He had the grace to look sheepish. “Did I forget to mention that?”
“Yes,” Yunho and YooSu said.
“You can yell at him later. Now, go,” Sahar said. “Changmin, darling, dinner with my parents is at seven. Please don’t be late.”
With a swish of curly hair, Sahar left them.
“I can’t believe this,” Yoochun said as they followed Changmin. A servant led them through the house to an upper bedroom. Almost immediately there were servants pulling at their clothes.
“Hey,” Yoochun said and slapped away the hands of a man pulling at his scarf.
Jae laughed. He stood still, his arms outspread, as a man removed his coat and unbuttoned his shirt. Changmin also was letting them undress him, although he didn’t look nearly as relaxed as Jae was.
“They get paid to do this,” Jae said.
Yunho didn’t care. He stopped the man next to him and divested himself of his own clothes. Yoochun did the same.
Junsu giggled and let the man undress him. “I feel like a prince.”
Another man brought in a pile of clothes and handed each servant a pair of slacks. Yunho watched as Jae allowed the man to bend in front of him. Jae put his hands on the man’s back for support as he stepped into the slacks.
“Sorry,” Yunho said and took the pants form him, “but the only man getting that close to me is Jae.”
“It’s fun!” Junsu shouted again.
Yoochun looked down right murderous as he snatched the pants and tugged them on.
“Sir,” a servant said, “be careful. You’ll compromise the integrity of the fabric.”
Yoochun scoffed. “Yeah, sure.”
“He’s right, you know,” Jae said. “These pants feel like the eight hundred count cotton.”
“One thousand, sir.”
“Huh,” Jae said. “I must be losing my touch.”
As soon as the pants were on, another man came around each of them, measuring their inseams and leg lines, pinning the cuffs.
Yunho tried his best to hold still as Jae kept instructing him. Yoochun was being down right rebellious.
“I don’t care. I want to wear my jeans.”
Junsu stopped the man and went to his boyfriend. Yoochun brushed him off at first, but then visibly relaxed when Junsu hugged him from behind and started whispering.
Yoochun shuddered, and then pointed to the tailor. “Okay, you, hurry up, and watch where your hands go.”
“What did you say to him?” Jae whispered.
Junsu winked. “Oh something about how hot his ass would look in tailored trousers.”
Changmin blanched. “Oh, god. You two are going to keep your hands to yourself, right? I mean, this is like high-”
Junsu waved him silent. “We know, we know.”
“And you two?” Changmin asked, turning pleading eyes to Yunho.
Yunho shrugged. “Sure, I’ll keep my hands to Jaejoong’s ass.”
“Yunnie!”
Jae laughed. “We’ll behave, Changmin, I promise.”
Next came the silk shirts. Junsu practically crooned as the fabric flowed across his skin. Yunho was impressed. It did feel rather nice.
“Silk,” Jae groaned. “God, I haven’t worn silk in so long.”
Yunho turned away from him, trying to push down his thoughts. He’d never be able to afford to buy Jaejoong silk shirts.
“Yunnie?” Jae said, and Yunho looked up. Jae gave him a small smile, almost like he understood what suddenly made Yunho quiet. He probably did. They’d talked more about what their future would hold and what they may do later in life. Nothing either of them said included the purchasing of silk shirts.
Sports jackets were next. Yunho had never worn a sports jacket. He kept shifting trying to settle it comfortably.
“Stand still,” Jae reminded him. “As soon as he done tailoring it, it’ll feel like a second skin.”
Yunho shut his eyes. The sooner this ended the better. He had to admit though, as he glanced at one of the many mirrors in the room, he looked good.
Yoochun was scrunching his nose at his reflection, but not in distaste. Finally he said, “A man could get used to this.”
“I know,” Jae said.
“All finished, sirs,” the main tailor said. The other servants were there to take the clothes back. Yunho let the man undress him, but again, drew the line at putting his clothes back on.
“Changmin, sir. Please make sure you’re all back here before midnight tonight for a final fitting. Miss Sahar has us rushing these clothes.”
“We will. Thank you.”
Right outside the door, a servant bowed and said, “This way, sirs.”
“Hey, Changmin,” Yoochun said and put a stiff arm around his shoulders. “Buddy, pal, brother. Friend. When this is over, I hope you and Sahar hide, because I may have to kill you.”
Changmin let out a shaky laugh.
Junsu pulled Yoochun away from him. “Aw, Chunnie, it’s so much fun. Just go with it.”
Jae met Yunho’s eyes and smiled. “It is pretty fun,” Jae said. “Just like old times. I used to get fitted for new clothes once a week.”
Yunho scoffed. “Pampered prince, you were.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you miss it?”
Jae was quiet for a long time. Yunho thought he was going to ignore the question, so he followed the butler in silence.
In a soft whisper, Jae said, “There are things about it I miss. The convenience, the good meals. Sometimes I miss the money, but I’m a lot happier now. I don’t feel like I’m just going through the motions. I feel like life has some purpose to it. I’m happier sharing a twin bed with you than I ever was sleeping alone in a king-sized bed.”
Yunho smiled. Their hands briefly touched, and despite the promise to Changmin, Yunho laced their fingers together.
The butler led them into a sitting room, reminiscent of the one that Donghae had chewed him out in.
“Lunch will be served momentarily,” he said and bowed.
“So what?” Yoochun demanded. “We’re just to sit here, out of sight, and wait?”
“Welcome to the life of the rich and famous,” Jae said and plopped down on a sofa. “All the money in the world, but nothing to do.”
He picked up a control and pushed a button. With a soft swoosh, the doors of an armoire opened, revealing the largest TV Yunho had ever seen. Jae flipped it on and started scrolling through the channels. Yunho sat next to him.
“Sweet. A football game.”
Junsu was immediately in their laps. “Ooh, I love football.”
Yoochun sat in a chair and brooded by himself.
“You need to relax, Chunnie,” Jae said. He stood and deposited Junsu in his place. He walked to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of something and some glasses.
“Um, Jae,” Yunho said. “Should we-”
“Courtesy laws of the rich, Yunnie. These are the guest suites, which means you can do what you want and take what has been provided.”
Yoochun smirked. “Is there a drawer of lube and dildos?”
Jae laughed. “Probably not in this room.” He poured a couple of fingers into each glass and then carried them to the guys.
Yoochun downed his and then sputtered. “What the fuck? Are you trying to kill me?”
Jae smirked. “Maybe.” He went back to sofa and sat in Yunho’s lap. Yunho took the offered drink and remembering his experience from before, sipped at it.
There was a knock on the door, and then it opened. A few servants pushed in rolling carts. “Your lunch, gentleman. Would you prefer to eat in the dining room, or on the verandah?”
Yunho turned a confused look to Jae.
“Inside or outside?” Jae asked.
“Out,” Yoochun said immediately.
“Very well, sirs.”
Yunho rose and followed the carts, the others trailing behind them. Yunho was surprised at the warmth outside, and then saw all the heating vents around the patio. A waste of energy. How many luxuries did this place hold?
As lunch was spread out on a large table, Yoochun sat down hard and glared at them all. Jae shook his head and picked up a pack of cigarettes that had been lying next to an ashtray. He pulled one out, lit it and exhaled through his nose.
“Since when did you smoke?” Yunho demanded.
Jae grinned. “Forever, but when money is tight, the pleasantries go away.”
Yoochun was eyeing the cigarettes, so Jae tossed them to him. “Same as the liquor, man. They’ve been provided for us. Smoke it up. And these are better than those cheap ones that Kangin shares with you.”
Yoochun took a smoke and lit it. He coughed on the first inhale, but then proceeded to suck it down after that. He lit another one. Junsu made a face at him. “Don’t expect me to kiss you after you’ve been smoking.”
Yunho had to admit that Jae looked good smoking a cigarette. His elbows rested against the railing. His feet were crossed at the ankles. An exhale of smoke blurred the landscape of sloping lawns, trees and ponds. He definitely looked like he belonged here. The elegance that he carried himself with stood out when they were on the farm, but here he looked right at home. His fingers held the cigarette loosely, he brought it to his lips casually, and then those lips closed around it. Yunho had to fight back a shudder of desire when Jae’s cheeks concaved for a moment and he inhaled.
“What the hell is this?” Yoochun suddenly demanded, pointing at their food.
“It’s called lox,” Jae replied and stubbed out his cigarette. “Salmon. Stop being a jackass and just eat it.”
The wait staff suddenly disappeared. Jae dug right in. Yoochun spooned the soup for a while before tentatively taking a bite. He grunted but kept eating. Junsu was already past the soup, eating the Korean beef and vegetables. Yunho followed Jae’s example and ate everything that he did.
“Shit, guys,” Changmin suddenly said and put his head in his hands.
“What’s wrong, Minnie?” Junsu asked.
“I can’t do this. I can’t live like this.” He pushed away from the chair and started pacing. “This isn’t me, and well, I know Sahar deserves the very best, but that isn’t me. You should have seen her father when we were introduced. He flat out refused to shake my hand, but Sahar has defended me and refused to listen to reason and even went so far as to pack her bags to move out and live with me when her father finally gave in. God, I don’t deserve her.”
Yunho smiled and stood up. He stopped Changmin pacing and said, “Look, you deserve her because she loves you. She loved you since the day you saw her.”
“But I’m nothing.”
“To her, you’re everything.”
Jae suddenly asked, “How did you meet her? I don’t think I’ve heard that story.”
“I’m sure I told you,” Changmin said and sat back down. “She went to my university. She gave a presentation about music once, and I happened to be walking by the auditorium. I couldn’t stop staring at her. When it was over, I made a fool of myself, stuttering out some sort of congratulations. She nodded at me, then suddenly, she was everywhere I went, and one day she sat at my table in the cafeteria and introduced herself.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Two years or so,” Changmin said.
“So why are you on the farm?” Jae said.
“I think Mr. Lee SooMan did it just to try to get rid of me, but I was told I had to prove that I could work hard and earn money.”
“That’s right. I remember you saying that.”
Changmin launched to his feet again. “But I haven’t really proven anything, have I? This wedding is just another show of how indulgent her father is. I don’t belong here at all.”
“Oh, Minnie,” a girl’s voice squealed and curly brown hair flew past Yunho. She launched herself at Changmin and held him tightly. “Don’t you say stuff like that. Father does like you, and I love you and I’m so proud of you, and you have proven yourself.”
“I’m just so scared,” Changmin whispered. “This is all so much.”
“Do you love me?”
“Of course, I do.”
“That’s all that matters to me, Minnie.” Changmin bent down and kissed her.
Yunho caught Jae’s eyes and smiled.
Love you, Jae mouthed.
Yunho returned it.
“Oh, come on,” Yoochun said with a groan. “Hetero-kissing. Gross.”
Sahar broke away with a giggle. “My poor Minnie, all those letters filled with grumblings about you four making out everywhere.”
“Hey!” YooSu said.
Changmin blushed.
-----
After their scheduled refitting, they were ushered back to the suite. Four rooms were provided for them, but Jae shook his head when Junsu asked if they had to sleep separately.
“Good,” Junsu said. “I can’t sleep without my Chunnie.”
Yoochun had rolled his eyes, but looked damned pleased with himself. “There better be a drawer stocked with the necessities in that bedroom,” Yoochun said as he dragged Junsu across the suite.
Jae laughed. “There should be.”
Yunho lay awake, it was very hard to sleep. The bed was too soft, the sheets too silky and his head kept sliding off the pillow. And Jae was so far away. Yunho thought he was asleep until, at about three am, Jae sighed and rolled over.
“Can’t sleep?” Yunho whispered.
“No. You either?”
“This bed is … elegant. I can’t get comfortable. What about you?”
“I’m just so nervous about who’s going to be here tomorrow.”
“Like I said before, we’ll deal with that when it comes.”
Jae sighed. He ran a hand along Yunho’s bare chest and then down to his stomach. “Let me help you relax.” He tugged at the waistband of Yunho’s shorts.
“Not here, Jae.”
“Please? I need a distraction.”
“I’m not in the-” He broke off with a hiss when Jae’s hand grabbed his crotch.
After a few seconds, Jae grinned. “Not in the mood, huh?”
“I don’t feel comfortable here,” Yunho protested as Jae hooked fingers around the bottoms of the shorts and tugged.
“I know.” Jae leaned over him and kissed down his stomach. “Let me help you forget that.”
Any further protests were turned into groans when Jae engulfed him.
-----
The door flew open at six a.m.
“Come on, guys,” Changmin said. “Time to get up.”
Yunho pulled himself out of sleep. Yeah, Jae got him to sleep, but after a fantastic blow job, he needed at least eight hours to recover.
“Sahar has you guys scheduled to eat breakfast at seven and to be in front of the designer by eight am.”
“Designer?” Yunho mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah, something about looking spectacular and all that.”
“You mean looking like we belong.”
“Hey, she didn’t mean it like that.”
Yunho waved him away. Jae kissed his shoulder and chuckled.
“Man, now I have to go try to wake Yoochun up,” Changmin said with a grimace. “Like there’s not enough pressure on me right now.”
Yunho was half way to the bathroom when he heard Changmin scream, “Next time, fucking lock the door!”
Jae laughed. “I guess they’re awake.”
Yunho used the bathroom and then turned the shower on. He jumped when Jae’s hands encircled his waist and started pushing his boxers down.
“We don’t have time to make use of that Jacuzzi, but I think some morning shower sex is needed.”
Yunho shivered. He was pretty sure they didn’t have time for morning shower sex either, but he let himself be pushed into the spray.
They were late for breakfast, and facing an irate Sahar was something that Yunho never wanted to experience again. She shuffled them off, and Yunho finally got a good idea of what “the designer” meant.
The room they entered looked more like the backstage areas that singers stayed in before performing. One wall had a line of chairs, mirrors and bright lights. The other had more mirrors and racks and racks of clothing. There were a few prestigious looking gentlemen being fitted into tuxes. Yunho swallowed.
“Good god,” Jae muttered, and turned his head to the side.
“What?”
“That is Gu JoonPyo, in the middle. He’s one of my father’s closest business associates.”
A woman in a dress suit with her hair pulled tight into a bun came at them. “You five over to wardrobe, now.” She clapped her hands. “And you better pray that these outfits fit because we don’t have time to send them back to the tailor.”
They were herded to the racks of clothes. Another group of harassed looking men started pulling their clothes off. Yoochun started to protest, but Jae grabbed his arm. He whispered something, nodded his head toward the three other gentlemen, and gave him pleading eyes.
Surprisingly, Yoochun kept his mouth shut. The men had them changed in record time.
Junsu jacket didn’t quite fit, so a lady dug through the racks of clothes until she found one that did. Junsu strutted around and struck poses in the mirror, showing off the leather jacket. “I look like a biker.”
Yunho tried not to laugh, but had to join in with the others.
“Okay, boys,” the first woman said. “You are looking awesome, but now, sit, sit, sit, sit. Hair and make up.”
“Make up?” Yoochun shouted.
The woman stuck her tongue in the side of her mouth and tapped her foot. “Yes, young man, make up. You think beautiful people are beautiful by themselves? No, and there will be nothing but beautiful people at this wedding. Sit.”
Yoochun glared at her, but she didn’t back down. He grumbled and sat. Junsu giggled next to him, and his face softened a little bit.
Jae was already seated, one girl dabbing his face with a pad of some sort and another tugging on his hair. Jae waited until Stuck-Up Woman was gone and then turned to the girls. “Go easy on them, alright. Little as possible.” The girls nodded.
After the first brush of makeup on his face, Yoochun turned to Changmin with an evil grin. “You are definitely dead.”
-----
The ceremony had been simple. It was as Changmin had said, only friends and family. Sahar had four of her best friends next to her. Despite Jaejoong’s fears, he was welcomed by everyone that recognized him, but after the obligatory greeting, none of the guests approached him, which suited Jae just fine. They stared and whispered though. Yunho could tell that it bothered Jae a bit.
The four of them sat at a table and watched as Changmin and his new bride had their pictures taken. Changmin couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’ve never seen him this happy,” Junsu said.
Suddenly Changmin gestured over to their table. The photographer turned and grinned. As Changmin walked over to them, Yoochun muttered, “This kid really has a death wish.”
“Photos?” Jae asked before Changmin could.
He nodded.
Jae stood up. “What we do for our friendships, huh?”
Yoochun snarled at Changmin.
“Come on, Chunnie,” Junsu whined. “You’ve been in a bad mood all day, and I’m trying to have fun and you’re ruining it.” He ended with a pout and foot stamp.
Yoochun shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Junsu’s pout turned into a victorious smile, and then was back to a pout just as quickly when Yoochun looked at him.
“I’m sorry, honey.” He looked at Changmin. “Can I give him a hug?”
“Yeah.”
Yoochun wrapped Junsu up in a hug. Junsu winked at Changmin and grinned again.
Yunho choked back his laughter. He had a feeling that Yoochun wouldn’t cause any more problems today.
The photos weren’t all that bad. Jae of course required the least direction of them, but Yunho felt that by the end of it, he was doing pretty well.
“You boys look amazing,” the photographer said. “Changmin, sir, I’m going to do a few extras, free of charge, because I can’t let this opportunity pass up.”
“You better clear it with Sahar. She’s the one in charge.”
The photographer ran off to find Sahar.
He was right though. They all did look pretty good. Besides the silk shirts, and slacks and jackets, the designer had added a few accessories to their outfits. Yunho had to wear a tie and she had thrown a scarf around Jae’s neck, commenting that he had the neck for scarves. Both Yoochun and Junsu got little bow ties, yet another reason why Changmin was soon to die. The hairstylist had done an amazing job on Yoochun’s hair too. At first she was a bit upset because it was so uneven, but with some work (and the help of some scissors), Yoochun’s hair fell into his eyes and curled around his cheeks. Junsu’s hair had just been spiked. Changmin looked the best, being the groom. But that also meant that he had to wear a dark purple shirt and a dark pink vest to complement the colors of the wedding.
Jae knocked him in the shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
“We look good.”
“You guys have always looked good. Just remember, Yunho, from someone that knows, clothes don’t make the man.”
“I know that. You looked like nothing more than a stuck up, rich boy when I first saw you.”
“I was a stuck up, rich boy when you first saw me.”
The photographer returned, followed closely by Sahar. Apparently, she wasn’t going to give up this chance to get more photos of them either. They were shuttled from one area of the garden to another. Posed by statues, on benches, on the ground.
Yoochun’s patience was wearing thin. But the angrier he got, the more the photographer praised his eyes or facial expression or body language.
Yunho felt that the entire thing was terribly uncomfortable.
Finally, Sahar was satisfied, and she pulled Changmin away and back to the circle of her family, and the four of them found their way back to their table.
“That wasn’t so bad, now was it, Chunnie?” Jae asked.
Yoochun snarled at him. A waiter appeared with champagne and Yoochun downed it.
Jae scoffed. “Finesse, Yoochun-shi.”
“Finesse can kiss my ass. I want to go home.”
“Me, too,” Junsu said, “so I can kiss your ass and tell finesse to go get it elsewhere.”
Yoochun laughed and relaxed when Junsu took his hand on the table.
“Thank you, Chunnie,” Junsu said. “I’ve had a lot fun today, but it wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
Jae suddenly stood and bowed. Yunho turned and saw a man just behind him. He too rose, and YooSu was quick to follow.
Lee SooMan was an imposing man with calculating eyes and elegant air. He inclined his head and then said, “Kim Jaejoong-shi, it’s been a long time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Still singing?”
“No, sir.”
“That’s too bad. You were really quite good.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“So you’re friends with my new son-in-law.”
“Yes, sir. We met up at the farm.”
“And how is life up there?”
“Fulfilling, sir.”
Lee SooMan’s eyes settled on Yunho and then Yoosu. “It’s good that Changmin-shi had men such as yourselves to look after him while he was earning his place in our world. Will your family be at the reception on Friday?”
“Considering that I haven’t talked to my family for awhile, I have no idea, sir.”
“And how long do you plan on not being part of your family?”
“I was disowned, sir, so forever.”
“Well, feel free to drink as much as you want. Good day, gentlemen.”
They all bowed as he walked way.
Jae collapsed in his chair. “Ten thousand won says he’s going to call my father as soon it’s appropriate.”
“Joongie, what did he mean?” Junsu asked. “About the singing.”
Jae waved his hand in dismissal. “My friends and I used to sing and dance to popular songs. Lee Sooman was in a meeting with my father and heard us. He tried for a good six months to sign me, but my father refused.”
“Really? That’s cool.”
Jae shrugged. “We were young, spoiled teenagers. I wanted to and then pouted and didn’t talk to my father for weeks when he told me I wasn’t allowed.”
“Will you sing for us?”
Jae smiled. “No, I don’t sing anymore.”
“So? Kangin can’t sing and that doesn’t stop him.”
“Maybe when we get home,” Jae said. “Is it time to go home yet?”
“No,” Yoochun spat and pouted.
Part 9: Jaejoong's Invitation
Part 7: Jaejoong's Confession
Part 6: Yunho's Culture Shock
Part 5: Jaejoong's Past
Part 4: Yunho's Sanctuary
Part 3: Jaejoong's New Life
Part 2: Yunho's New Roommate
Part 1: Jaejoong's Predicament
.
Rating: NC -17
Pairings: Yunho/Jaejoong, Yoochun/Junsu, Changmin/Fic OC, Past!Jaejoong/Heechul, Eunhyuk/Donghae, Kyuhyun/Sungmin, Yesung/Ryeowook, ninja!Leeteuk/Kangin
Disclaimer: If I owned them, I'd make them act this out.
Summary: Jaejoong was raised in riches. Yunho has struggled most of his life just to keep food in his stomach. Jaejoong leaves his family and ends up working beside Yunho at a farm in the mountains. In a world of uncertainties, what is Jaejoong willing to give up in order to have everything?
A/N: Anything in italics is the present day, and then the fic goes back in time.
Part 8: Yunho's First Taste of Luxury
Poster credit goes to sahmin I love you, my Failverto! ♥♥♥
YUNHO
Yunho had been to Seoul maybe twice in his entire life. And now, he had been twice in the last month. And rubbing shoulders with people he didn’t feel comfortable with.
Sahar was an adorable girl. Her head barely came up to Changmin’s shoulder, but as soon as they exited the cab, Changmin and Sahar only had eyes for each other. She flung herself into his arms, and they held on tightly until a butler cleared his throat. Sahar had greeted each of them formally. But her eyes widened when she saw Jaejoong.
“Jaejoong?” She turned to Changmin and slapped his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that you knew Kim Jaejoong?”
“I told you about Jae,” Changmin insisted while rubbing his arm.
“Yeah, but you didn’t tell me he was Kim Jaejoong.”
Changmin shrugged. “Sorry. He’s just Jae to me.”
Jae smiled at him, then took Sahar’s hand and bowed over it. “Lee Sahar, nice to meet you. I don’t believe we were ever formally introduced.”
“No, but it’s nice to finally meet you. I wasn’t really expecting you to show up at the reception on Friday.”
“I won’t be at the reception on Friday. Family problems, as you know.”
Sahar looked a bit put out, but she let it pass. “Okay, now, Minnie, take these boys to the fitting, please. You know we don’t have much time to waste, and god, the tailors are going to be working all day.”
“Fitting?” Yoochun said.
“Well, yes,” Sahar said. “Didn’t Changmin mention it? You four are part of the wedding party and we can’t have you looking like farmers, now can we?”
Yoochun turned a dirty look to Changmin.
He had the grace to look sheepish. “Did I forget to mention that?”
“Yes,” Yunho and YooSu said.
“You can yell at him later. Now, go,” Sahar said. “Changmin, darling, dinner with my parents is at seven. Please don’t be late.”
With a swish of curly hair, Sahar left them.
“I can’t believe this,” Yoochun said as they followed Changmin. A servant led them through the house to an upper bedroom. Almost immediately there were servants pulling at their clothes.
“Hey,” Yoochun said and slapped away the hands of a man pulling at his scarf.
Jae laughed. He stood still, his arms outspread, as a man removed his coat and unbuttoned his shirt. Changmin also was letting them undress him, although he didn’t look nearly as relaxed as Jae was.
“They get paid to do this,” Jae said.
Yunho didn’t care. He stopped the man next to him and divested himself of his own clothes. Yoochun did the same.
Junsu giggled and let the man undress him. “I feel like a prince.”
Another man brought in a pile of clothes and handed each servant a pair of slacks. Yunho watched as Jae allowed the man to bend in front of him. Jae put his hands on the man’s back for support as he stepped into the slacks.
“Sorry,” Yunho said and took the pants form him, “but the only man getting that close to me is Jae.”
“It’s fun!” Junsu shouted again.
Yoochun looked down right murderous as he snatched the pants and tugged them on.
“Sir,” a servant said, “be careful. You’ll compromise the integrity of the fabric.”
Yoochun scoffed. “Yeah, sure.”
“He’s right, you know,” Jae said. “These pants feel like the eight hundred count cotton.”
“One thousand, sir.”
“Huh,” Jae said. “I must be losing my touch.”
As soon as the pants were on, another man came around each of them, measuring their inseams and leg lines, pinning the cuffs.
Yunho tried his best to hold still as Jae kept instructing him. Yoochun was being down right rebellious.
“I don’t care. I want to wear my jeans.”
Junsu stopped the man and went to his boyfriend. Yoochun brushed him off at first, but then visibly relaxed when Junsu hugged him from behind and started whispering.
Yoochun shuddered, and then pointed to the tailor. “Okay, you, hurry up, and watch where your hands go.”
“What did you say to him?” Jae whispered.
Junsu winked. “Oh something about how hot his ass would look in tailored trousers.”
Changmin blanched. “Oh, god. You two are going to keep your hands to yourself, right? I mean, this is like high-”
Junsu waved him silent. “We know, we know.”
“And you two?” Changmin asked, turning pleading eyes to Yunho.
Yunho shrugged. “Sure, I’ll keep my hands to Jaejoong’s ass.”
“Yunnie!”
Jae laughed. “We’ll behave, Changmin, I promise.”
Next came the silk shirts. Junsu practically crooned as the fabric flowed across his skin. Yunho was impressed. It did feel rather nice.
“Silk,” Jae groaned. “God, I haven’t worn silk in so long.”
Yunho turned away from him, trying to push down his thoughts. He’d never be able to afford to buy Jaejoong silk shirts.
“Yunnie?” Jae said, and Yunho looked up. Jae gave him a small smile, almost like he understood what suddenly made Yunho quiet. He probably did. They’d talked more about what their future would hold and what they may do later in life. Nothing either of them said included the purchasing of silk shirts.
Sports jackets were next. Yunho had never worn a sports jacket. He kept shifting trying to settle it comfortably.
“Stand still,” Jae reminded him. “As soon as he done tailoring it, it’ll feel like a second skin.”
Yunho shut his eyes. The sooner this ended the better. He had to admit though, as he glanced at one of the many mirrors in the room, he looked good.
Yoochun was scrunching his nose at his reflection, but not in distaste. Finally he said, “A man could get used to this.”
“I know,” Jae said.
“All finished, sirs,” the main tailor said. The other servants were there to take the clothes back. Yunho let the man undress him, but again, drew the line at putting his clothes back on.
“Changmin, sir. Please make sure you’re all back here before midnight tonight for a final fitting. Miss Sahar has us rushing these clothes.”
“We will. Thank you.”
Right outside the door, a servant bowed and said, “This way, sirs.”
“Hey, Changmin,” Yoochun said and put a stiff arm around his shoulders. “Buddy, pal, brother. Friend. When this is over, I hope you and Sahar hide, because I may have to kill you.”
Changmin let out a shaky laugh.
Junsu pulled Yoochun away from him. “Aw, Chunnie, it’s so much fun. Just go with it.”
Jae met Yunho’s eyes and smiled. “It is pretty fun,” Jae said. “Just like old times. I used to get fitted for new clothes once a week.”
Yunho scoffed. “Pampered prince, you were.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you miss it?”
Jae was quiet for a long time. Yunho thought he was going to ignore the question, so he followed the butler in silence.
In a soft whisper, Jae said, “There are things about it I miss. The convenience, the good meals. Sometimes I miss the money, but I’m a lot happier now. I don’t feel like I’m just going through the motions. I feel like life has some purpose to it. I’m happier sharing a twin bed with you than I ever was sleeping alone in a king-sized bed.”
Yunho smiled. Their hands briefly touched, and despite the promise to Changmin, Yunho laced their fingers together.
The butler led them into a sitting room, reminiscent of the one that Donghae had chewed him out in.
“Lunch will be served momentarily,” he said and bowed.
“So what?” Yoochun demanded. “We’re just to sit here, out of sight, and wait?”
“Welcome to the life of the rich and famous,” Jae said and plopped down on a sofa. “All the money in the world, but nothing to do.”
He picked up a control and pushed a button. With a soft swoosh, the doors of an armoire opened, revealing the largest TV Yunho had ever seen. Jae flipped it on and started scrolling through the channels. Yunho sat next to him.
“Sweet. A football game.”
Junsu was immediately in their laps. “Ooh, I love football.”
Yoochun sat in a chair and brooded by himself.
“You need to relax, Chunnie,” Jae said. He stood and deposited Junsu in his place. He walked to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of something and some glasses.
“Um, Jae,” Yunho said. “Should we-”
“Courtesy laws of the rich, Yunnie. These are the guest suites, which means you can do what you want and take what has been provided.”
Yoochun smirked. “Is there a drawer of lube and dildos?”
Jae laughed. “Probably not in this room.” He poured a couple of fingers into each glass and then carried them to the guys.
Yoochun downed his and then sputtered. “What the fuck? Are you trying to kill me?”
Jae smirked. “Maybe.” He went back to sofa and sat in Yunho’s lap. Yunho took the offered drink and remembering his experience from before, sipped at it.
There was a knock on the door, and then it opened. A few servants pushed in rolling carts. “Your lunch, gentleman. Would you prefer to eat in the dining room, or on the verandah?”
Yunho turned a confused look to Jae.
“Inside or outside?” Jae asked.
“Out,” Yoochun said immediately.
“Very well, sirs.”
Yunho rose and followed the carts, the others trailing behind them. Yunho was surprised at the warmth outside, and then saw all the heating vents around the patio. A waste of energy. How many luxuries did this place hold?
As lunch was spread out on a large table, Yoochun sat down hard and glared at them all. Jae shook his head and picked up a pack of cigarettes that had been lying next to an ashtray. He pulled one out, lit it and exhaled through his nose.
“Since when did you smoke?” Yunho demanded.
Jae grinned. “Forever, but when money is tight, the pleasantries go away.”
Yoochun was eyeing the cigarettes, so Jae tossed them to him. “Same as the liquor, man. They’ve been provided for us. Smoke it up. And these are better than those cheap ones that Kangin shares with you.”
Yoochun took a smoke and lit it. He coughed on the first inhale, but then proceeded to suck it down after that. He lit another one. Junsu made a face at him. “Don’t expect me to kiss you after you’ve been smoking.”
Yunho had to admit that Jae looked good smoking a cigarette. His elbows rested against the railing. His feet were crossed at the ankles. An exhale of smoke blurred the landscape of sloping lawns, trees and ponds. He definitely looked like he belonged here. The elegance that he carried himself with stood out when they were on the farm, but here he looked right at home. His fingers held the cigarette loosely, he brought it to his lips casually, and then those lips closed around it. Yunho had to fight back a shudder of desire when Jae’s cheeks concaved for a moment and he inhaled.
“What the hell is this?” Yoochun suddenly demanded, pointing at their food.
“It’s called lox,” Jae replied and stubbed out his cigarette. “Salmon. Stop being a jackass and just eat it.”
The wait staff suddenly disappeared. Jae dug right in. Yoochun spooned the soup for a while before tentatively taking a bite. He grunted but kept eating. Junsu was already past the soup, eating the Korean beef and vegetables. Yunho followed Jae’s example and ate everything that he did.
“Shit, guys,” Changmin suddenly said and put his head in his hands.
“What’s wrong, Minnie?” Junsu asked.
“I can’t do this. I can’t live like this.” He pushed away from the chair and started pacing. “This isn’t me, and well, I know Sahar deserves the very best, but that isn’t me. You should have seen her father when we were introduced. He flat out refused to shake my hand, but Sahar has defended me and refused to listen to reason and even went so far as to pack her bags to move out and live with me when her father finally gave in. God, I don’t deserve her.”
Yunho smiled and stood up. He stopped Changmin pacing and said, “Look, you deserve her because she loves you. She loved you since the day you saw her.”
“But I’m nothing.”
“To her, you’re everything.”
Jae suddenly asked, “How did you meet her? I don’t think I’ve heard that story.”
“I’m sure I told you,” Changmin said and sat back down. “She went to my university. She gave a presentation about music once, and I happened to be walking by the auditorium. I couldn’t stop staring at her. When it was over, I made a fool of myself, stuttering out some sort of congratulations. She nodded at me, then suddenly, she was everywhere I went, and one day she sat at my table in the cafeteria and introduced herself.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Two years or so,” Changmin said.
“So why are you on the farm?” Jae said.
“I think Mr. Lee SooMan did it just to try to get rid of me, but I was told I had to prove that I could work hard and earn money.”
“That’s right. I remember you saying that.”
Changmin launched to his feet again. “But I haven’t really proven anything, have I? This wedding is just another show of how indulgent her father is. I don’t belong here at all.”
“Oh, Minnie,” a girl’s voice squealed and curly brown hair flew past Yunho. She launched herself at Changmin and held him tightly. “Don’t you say stuff like that. Father does like you, and I love you and I’m so proud of you, and you have proven yourself.”
“I’m just so scared,” Changmin whispered. “This is all so much.”
“Do you love me?”
“Of course, I do.”
“That’s all that matters to me, Minnie.” Changmin bent down and kissed her.
Yunho caught Jae’s eyes and smiled.
Love you, Jae mouthed.
Yunho returned it.
“Oh, come on,” Yoochun said with a groan. “Hetero-kissing. Gross.”
Sahar broke away with a giggle. “My poor Minnie, all those letters filled with grumblings about you four making out everywhere.”
“Hey!” YooSu said.
Changmin blushed.
-----
After their scheduled refitting, they were ushered back to the suite. Four rooms were provided for them, but Jae shook his head when Junsu asked if they had to sleep separately.
“Good,” Junsu said. “I can’t sleep without my Chunnie.”
Yoochun had rolled his eyes, but looked damned pleased with himself. “There better be a drawer stocked with the necessities in that bedroom,” Yoochun said as he dragged Junsu across the suite.
Jae laughed. “There should be.”
Yunho lay awake, it was very hard to sleep. The bed was too soft, the sheets too silky and his head kept sliding off the pillow. And Jae was so far away. Yunho thought he was asleep until, at about three am, Jae sighed and rolled over.
“Can’t sleep?” Yunho whispered.
“No. You either?”
“This bed is … elegant. I can’t get comfortable. What about you?”
“I’m just so nervous about who’s going to be here tomorrow.”
“Like I said before, we’ll deal with that when it comes.”
Jae sighed. He ran a hand along Yunho’s bare chest and then down to his stomach. “Let me help you relax.” He tugged at the waistband of Yunho’s shorts.
“Not here, Jae.”
“Please? I need a distraction.”
“I’m not in the-” He broke off with a hiss when Jae’s hand grabbed his crotch.
After a few seconds, Jae grinned. “Not in the mood, huh?”
“I don’t feel comfortable here,” Yunho protested as Jae hooked fingers around the bottoms of the shorts and tugged.
“I know.” Jae leaned over him and kissed down his stomach. “Let me help you forget that.”
Any further protests were turned into groans when Jae engulfed him.
-----
The door flew open at six a.m.
“Come on, guys,” Changmin said. “Time to get up.”
Yunho pulled himself out of sleep. Yeah, Jae got him to sleep, but after a fantastic blow job, he needed at least eight hours to recover.
“Sahar has you guys scheduled to eat breakfast at seven and to be in front of the designer by eight am.”
“Designer?” Yunho mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah, something about looking spectacular and all that.”
“You mean looking like we belong.”
“Hey, she didn’t mean it like that.”
Yunho waved him away. Jae kissed his shoulder and chuckled.
“Man, now I have to go try to wake Yoochun up,” Changmin said with a grimace. “Like there’s not enough pressure on me right now.”
Yunho was half way to the bathroom when he heard Changmin scream, “Next time, fucking lock the door!”
Jae laughed. “I guess they’re awake.”
Yunho used the bathroom and then turned the shower on. He jumped when Jae’s hands encircled his waist and started pushing his boxers down.
“We don’t have time to make use of that Jacuzzi, but I think some morning shower sex is needed.”
Yunho shivered. He was pretty sure they didn’t have time for morning shower sex either, but he let himself be pushed into the spray.
They were late for breakfast, and facing an irate Sahar was something that Yunho never wanted to experience again. She shuffled them off, and Yunho finally got a good idea of what “the designer” meant.
The room they entered looked more like the backstage areas that singers stayed in before performing. One wall had a line of chairs, mirrors and bright lights. The other had more mirrors and racks and racks of clothing. There were a few prestigious looking gentlemen being fitted into tuxes. Yunho swallowed.
“Good god,” Jae muttered, and turned his head to the side.
“What?”
“That is Gu JoonPyo, in the middle. He’s one of my father’s closest business associates.”
A woman in a dress suit with her hair pulled tight into a bun came at them. “You five over to wardrobe, now.” She clapped her hands. “And you better pray that these outfits fit because we don’t have time to send them back to the tailor.”
They were herded to the racks of clothes. Another group of harassed looking men started pulling their clothes off. Yoochun started to protest, but Jae grabbed his arm. He whispered something, nodded his head toward the three other gentlemen, and gave him pleading eyes.
Surprisingly, Yoochun kept his mouth shut. The men had them changed in record time.
Junsu jacket didn’t quite fit, so a lady dug through the racks of clothes until she found one that did. Junsu strutted around and struck poses in the mirror, showing off the leather jacket. “I look like a biker.”
Yunho tried not to laugh, but had to join in with the others.
“Okay, boys,” the first woman said. “You are looking awesome, but now, sit, sit, sit, sit. Hair and make up.”
“Make up?” Yoochun shouted.
The woman stuck her tongue in the side of her mouth and tapped her foot. “Yes, young man, make up. You think beautiful people are beautiful by themselves? No, and there will be nothing but beautiful people at this wedding. Sit.”
Yoochun glared at her, but she didn’t back down. He grumbled and sat. Junsu giggled next to him, and his face softened a little bit.
Jae was already seated, one girl dabbing his face with a pad of some sort and another tugging on his hair. Jae waited until Stuck-Up Woman was gone and then turned to the girls. “Go easy on them, alright. Little as possible.” The girls nodded.
After the first brush of makeup on his face, Yoochun turned to Changmin with an evil grin. “You are definitely dead.”
-----
The ceremony had been simple. It was as Changmin had said, only friends and family. Sahar had four of her best friends next to her. Despite Jaejoong’s fears, he was welcomed by everyone that recognized him, but after the obligatory greeting, none of the guests approached him, which suited Jae just fine. They stared and whispered though. Yunho could tell that it bothered Jae a bit.
The four of them sat at a table and watched as Changmin and his new bride had their pictures taken. Changmin couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’ve never seen him this happy,” Junsu said.
Suddenly Changmin gestured over to their table. The photographer turned and grinned. As Changmin walked over to them, Yoochun muttered, “This kid really has a death wish.”
“Photos?” Jae asked before Changmin could.
He nodded.
Jae stood up. “What we do for our friendships, huh?”
Yoochun snarled at Changmin.
“Come on, Chunnie,” Junsu whined. “You’ve been in a bad mood all day, and I’m trying to have fun and you’re ruining it.” He ended with a pout and foot stamp.
Yoochun shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Junsu’s pout turned into a victorious smile, and then was back to a pout just as quickly when Yoochun looked at him.
“I’m sorry, honey.” He looked at Changmin. “Can I give him a hug?”
“Yeah.”
Yoochun wrapped Junsu up in a hug. Junsu winked at Changmin and grinned again.
Yunho choked back his laughter. He had a feeling that Yoochun wouldn’t cause any more problems today.
The photos weren’t all that bad. Jae of course required the least direction of them, but Yunho felt that by the end of it, he was doing pretty well.
“You boys look amazing,” the photographer said. “Changmin, sir, I’m going to do a few extras, free of charge, because I can’t let this opportunity pass up.”
“You better clear it with Sahar. She’s the one in charge.”
The photographer ran off to find Sahar.
He was right though. They all did look pretty good. Besides the silk shirts, and slacks and jackets, the designer had added a few accessories to their outfits. Yunho had to wear a tie and she had thrown a scarf around Jae’s neck, commenting that he had the neck for scarves. Both Yoochun and Junsu got little bow ties, yet another reason why Changmin was soon to die. The hairstylist had done an amazing job on Yoochun’s hair too. At first she was a bit upset because it was so uneven, but with some work (and the help of some scissors), Yoochun’s hair fell into his eyes and curled around his cheeks. Junsu’s hair had just been spiked. Changmin looked the best, being the groom. But that also meant that he had to wear a dark purple shirt and a dark pink vest to complement the colors of the wedding.
Jae knocked him in the shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
“We look good.”
“You guys have always looked good. Just remember, Yunho, from someone that knows, clothes don’t make the man.”
“I know that. You looked like nothing more than a stuck up, rich boy when I first saw you.”
“I was a stuck up, rich boy when you first saw me.”
The photographer returned, followed closely by Sahar. Apparently, she wasn’t going to give up this chance to get more photos of them either. They were shuttled from one area of the garden to another. Posed by statues, on benches, on the ground.
Yoochun’s patience was wearing thin. But the angrier he got, the more the photographer praised his eyes or facial expression or body language.
Yunho felt that the entire thing was terribly uncomfortable.
Finally, Sahar was satisfied, and she pulled Changmin away and back to the circle of her family, and the four of them found their way back to their table.
“That wasn’t so bad, now was it, Chunnie?” Jae asked.
Yoochun snarled at him. A waiter appeared with champagne and Yoochun downed it.
Jae scoffed. “Finesse, Yoochun-shi.”
“Finesse can kiss my ass. I want to go home.”
“Me, too,” Junsu said, “so I can kiss your ass and tell finesse to go get it elsewhere.”
Yoochun laughed and relaxed when Junsu took his hand on the table.
“Thank you, Chunnie,” Junsu said. “I’ve had a lot fun today, but it wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
Jae suddenly stood and bowed. Yunho turned and saw a man just behind him. He too rose, and YooSu was quick to follow.
Lee SooMan was an imposing man with calculating eyes and elegant air. He inclined his head and then said, “Kim Jaejoong-shi, it’s been a long time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Still singing?”
“No, sir.”
“That’s too bad. You were really quite good.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“So you’re friends with my new son-in-law.”
“Yes, sir. We met up at the farm.”
“And how is life up there?”
“Fulfilling, sir.”
Lee SooMan’s eyes settled on Yunho and then Yoosu. “It’s good that Changmin-shi had men such as yourselves to look after him while he was earning his place in our world. Will your family be at the reception on Friday?”
“Considering that I haven’t talked to my family for awhile, I have no idea, sir.”
“And how long do you plan on not being part of your family?”
“I was disowned, sir, so forever.”
“Well, feel free to drink as much as you want. Good day, gentlemen.”
They all bowed as he walked way.
Jae collapsed in his chair. “Ten thousand won says he’s going to call my father as soon it’s appropriate.”
“Joongie, what did he mean?” Junsu asked. “About the singing.”
Jae waved his hand in dismissal. “My friends and I used to sing and dance to popular songs. Lee Sooman was in a meeting with my father and heard us. He tried for a good six months to sign me, but my father refused.”
“Really? That’s cool.”
Jae shrugged. “We were young, spoiled teenagers. I wanted to and then pouted and didn’t talk to my father for weeks when he told me I wasn’t allowed.”
“Will you sing for us?”
Jae smiled. “No, I don’t sing anymore.”
“So? Kangin can’t sing and that doesn’t stop him.”
“Maybe when we get home,” Jae said. “Is it time to go home yet?”
“No,” Yoochun spat and pouted.
Part 9: Jaejoong's Invitation
Part 7: Jaejoong's Confession
Part 6: Yunho's Culture Shock
Part 5: Jaejoong's Past
Part 4: Yunho's Sanctuary
Part 3: Jaejoong's New Life
Part 2: Yunho's New Roommate
Part 1: Jaejoong's Predicament
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