Crown Thief ch 3
Title: Crown Thief
Fandoms: SS501, Super Junior, JYJ, SNSD, Epik High
Chapter: 3/?
Pairing: TBA
Rating: R overall
Warning: AU, violence, angst
Summary: Different lives converge in the city of Highport, where one innocent crime has the potential to destroy a kingdom.
"I'm...I'm sorry to hear that," HyungJoon winced, pressing his back against the wall. "But surely you're only here for a small amount of time while they find the real killer."
Zhou Mi just laughed depressively, shaking his head. "The guards didn't find anyone, and with SiWon having to go through a coronation, I doubt he'll spend much time on it. I'm as good as dead. Once word gets out I've been arrested, everyone will be wanting my head."
"Ah." There was little HyungJoon could say to that; there was little reassurance for someone charged with killing the king. He knew he shouldn't feel so bad for this person who had probably grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth and had never needed to know hunger, or cold, or anything those in the lower ring had to deal with their entire lives...but he still felt bad. This man had been set up and would probably be executed for it.
"Well...at least they feed us decently here," the thief tried to say something vaguely helpful. "Pro'ly nowhere close to the palace, but I know of street folk who get themselves arrested in the cold season cause they're more fed here than in the slums."
"They can have my place then," Zhou Mi said, closing his eyes and burying his face in his knees. "What's the point of feeding me if they're just going to kill me?"
"Well it might give them time to find the real killer?" HyungJoon floundered a little; he was horrible at this cheering up thing. "If it makes you feel any better, maybe they'll kill us off together, I dunno if I'm just getting my hand lobbed off or my head." If YoungSaeng and KyuHyun didn't get here eventually. If they'd left him here for dead he swore he'd come back as a ghost to haunt them. "I'm sorry, I know I'm not that good at cheering people up."
"Better than my so called friends," Zhou Mi said. "Gods... I don't even know what they think of me now. They probably think I really did it.. even KyuJong. This is a nightmare, what did I do to deserve this?"
"Joon," a voice hissing from above them had Zhou Mi yelping and falling over.
Jumping, HyungJoon scrambled up to his feet, attention going to the small slit of a window overhead that just barely gave them any moonlight. That light was blocked now by a familiar face, and the thief brightened. "Saeng!" he whispered loudly, trying to reach up to the window and fingers just falling short. "I knew you wouldn't just leave me in here, the guttersnake tricked me!"
"I noticed," YoungSaeng muttered darkly. "You ready to go? KyuHyun'll be around to open the door in a minute, I get to go distract the guard. You picked a good time to get yourself nicked, all the guards took off."
"Oh, great," HyungJoon felt himself relax. He was getting out of here. Then he looked down at the Lord of Shadowrock. They'd probably have him executed before anyone figured out it wasn't him who killed the King. Maybe HyungJoon was just too soft, but he didn't take well to guilt.
"Saeng, there's someone else in here too," the young thief held his hands up to get YoungSaeng's attention. "We need to get him out too, he's here with me, he can just tag along right?"
"What? Why?" YoungSaeng frowned, readjusting his grip on the sill of the window. He couldn't stay up here forever. "We're not picking up strays, Joon."
Zhou Mi had scrambled up to his feet at that point, a small glimmer of hope from what his cellmate was saying. Being a little taller, he could see up into the window when he stood on his tiptoes. "Please, take me with you. I can pay you, I really can. Once I clear my name, you'll be rich, all of you."
YoungSaeng sighed irritably, not knowing what the hell the man was talking about. "Okay okay, just shut up," he said. "Be ready to go, and stay quiet. Joon, he's your responsibility," he said before he disappeared.
HyungJoon watched him disappear, drawing in a breath before turning back to Zhou Mi. He had no idea if what he was doing was a good thing or not, but there was only one way to find out. "Okay, listen, getting out of here isn't fun so you're gonna have to stay really quiet and keep up. My friends won't stop for you if you fall behind, they're risking both their heads getting us out."
Heart soaring, Zhou Mi barely heard, just nodding as he wrapped the man into a tight hug. "Yes, yes, I understand, thank you," he breathed. "You won't regret this, I promise. I'll make you all rich. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Squawking again, HyungJoon flailed before pushing out of the taller man's grip. "Don't thank me yet, we're not out of here." He felt awkward being thanked when it was thanks to them this guy was here in the first place. Besides, nobles didn't hug street rats. "Come on over here, we gotta be ready." He went to the door, standing back away from where it would swing when opened.
Shuffling up a little behind him, Zhou Mi was trembling with anticipation. It was blind luck he had ended up in this cell with this man, but he was going to take this opportunity as the golden shining bauble that it was. He could clear his name, and that was the only thing on his mind at that point.
It was a minute or two before there was a slight creak of the lock opening on the door. Then the metal door swung open, KyuHyun on the other side with his tattered scarf covering the lower half of his face and his hood up. "Come on, let's scram," he stepped out of the way. HyungJoon pulled his hood up (his scarf had been snatched off of him) and pulled Zhou Mi along behind him. The door was shut again behind them, the magician locking it.
KyuHyun eyed the noble cooly for a moment before turning and heading down the hallway. HyungJoon followed quickly and quietly, head ducked and looking around for guards.
Following, Zhou Mi kept his mouth shut, knowing that he could be shoved right back in that cell if he so much as made a peep. It was as YoungSaeng had said, there were no guards anywhere, the hallways empty, probably because most of the guards had been summoned to the palace. Led through the hallways to a side door, Zhou Mi shivered a little at the cold bite of air. Not having a coat anymore, he was going to freeze if they stuck around too long.
KyuHyun led them outside and made a beeline through the shadows to the edges of the prison district. The gates in and out were of course being watched, but they'd gotten in and out without any problems before.
They stopped at a gutter hole large enough for them to crawl through in the wall, the grill already broken around the edges and easy to pull out of place. "Go, we're meeting YoungSaeng on the other side," KyuHyun nodded to HyungJoon, who dropped to his hands and knees to crawl through the hole to the other side of the wall.
Zhou Mi balked, wrinkling his nose at the gutter slightly. There was nothing he could do though, he couldn't stay there at the prison. Steeling himself up, he dropped down to his hands and knees and picked his way through the hole and out to the other side. It was as bad as he imagined it would be, his hands covered in mud and grime and his pants ruined. Wiping his hands lightly on his shirt, he gave HyungJoon a tentative smile. "Never done that before," he tried a joke.
"Lucky you," HyungJoon wiped his hands on his pants and motioned for Zhou Mi to get out of the way as KyuHyun followed them out. The magician brought them a street over to where he and YoungSaeng had agreed to meet up.
"Now we just wait for Saeng," KyuHyun leaned against the wall, eyeing Zhou Mi. "So who's the silver spoon?"
"Uhh...this is...the Lord of Shadowrock," HyungJoon winced, seeing KyuHyun's eyes widen. "Can we wait until YoungSaeng gets here?"
"Wait for what?" Zhou Mi said, glancing between them, hugging his arms to ward off the chill.
"Yes, wait for what," a voice said behind him, a man shorter than all three of them with his hood up was approaching. Pushing the hood off, YoungSaeng looked Zhou Mi up and down, his expression blank. "You had better have a good reason for this Joon."
"I do, just listen," HyungJoon winced, shuffling from foot to foot as he looked between his friends. "Lord Zhou Mi, could you tell them how you ended up in there please?"
Pursing his lips slightly, Zhou Mi looked between the two other people, sighing inwardly at what kind of mess he was really in. These people were going to help him though, hopefully. "Umm...the King... was assassinated," he said, watching the two pairs of eyes widen. "They found my grandfather's dagger, though I don't know how it got there, so I've been accused of the murder. I didn't though, I didn't kill anyone. I don't know how my grandfather's dagger got here, it was in the armory, at home. You have to believe me."
YoungSaeng expression tightened, eyes narrowing. "Your grandfather's dagger?" he asked, Zhou Mi nodding like a bobblehead. "Just what are you lord of?"
"Shadowrock," Zhou Mi replied, not at all prepared for the reaction of YoungSaeng reaching forward to snag HyungJoon and KyuHyun by the collars and dragging them away.
"We'll be right with you," YoungSaeng said, pulling the other two a good distance away. "Shadowrock?" he hissed. "Do you understand what this means?"
Choking a little at the grip on his collar, HyungJoon tried to squirm out of it. "I know, I know," he winced, keeping his voice from carrying back to Zhou Mi. "We did it, we got the dagger for that guy who tricked us, and now whoever it was framed the Lord with killing the King."
"Pox take him, what are we supposed to do now," KyuHyun scowled, arms folding over his chest. "You should have just left him there Joon, we can all get our heads chopped off now."
"But it's our fault he was in there," HyungJoon whined, shuffling guiltily. "You know they would have executed the guy for treason."
"And that has nothing to do with us," YoungSaeng said, scowling at HyungJoon. "When he finds out it was us who took it, he'll go to the guards, accused or not! We're as good as dead if he hangs around us."
"What if we just don't tell him it was us," HyungJoon shrunk a little at the scowl, but held his ground. "I-I mean, I didn't tell him why I was in there, he doesn't have to know."
"And then what are we supposed to do with him? Nobles can't pull their own weight in the lower ring," KyuHyun rolled his eyes. "And he's not staying with us."
"You've got us in a right fix, Joon," YoungSaeng sighed, glancing over at Zhou Mi who looked like he was going to freeze to the ground where he was standing. "No, he's not staying with us. We'll take him to RyeoWook. He's a bleeding heart, he'll look after him for a bit. Go get the horses KyuHyun."
KyuHyun went to get them, grumbling under his breath. HyungJoon shuffled, head down and shoulders up before he looked up at YoungSaeng again. "I'm sorry Saeng...you know I couldn't just leave him there, it's not his fault, and he would have died."
"I know," YoungSaeng sighed, clapping HyungJoon lightly on the shoulder. "You're a nice kid, which is why I don't understand why you're even attempting at being a thief. Look, I'm not happy about this, but at the very least, maybe we can use him to figure out who swindled us and left you to rot. If it so happens we can clear this guy's name and get our payment? So be it."
"Okay," HyungJoon smiled a little at the older man, glad YoungSaeng wasn't too mad. And he'd already explained multiple times when asked why he decided to join them when he was a hopeless case; because it was the only way to keep his mother and brother's tiny little lodging, and keep them warm, clothed and fed. "Well, at least Wookie owes us so he won't protest too much."
He went back towards Zhou Mi with a hesitant smile. "My Lord? Our friend's gone to get the horses, but you can't stay with us. We're going to bring you to someone who can take care of you better than we can."
"Oh..." Zhou Mi slumped a little, but he nodded. "Okay, well thank you. I appreciate you letting me tag along at least. And, Zhou Mi, just call me Zhou Mi. I don't expect anyone to bow and scrape to me. Not when I don't even have proper shoes."
"Yeah...I'm sorry we don't really have any extras, or blankets or anything with us," HyungJoon sighed softly.
KyuHyun appeared, passing off the reins to HyungJoon's horse to the other man. HyungJoon patted the horse's mane and climbed on, looking at Zhou Mi. "Can you get on behind me? We'll get there faster riding, and I don't want to be anywhere near here when they find out we're gone."
"Of course, yes," Zhou Mi nodded, stepping up to the horse and waiting for HyungJoon to mount first. "You do know how to ride I hope."
"Just because we're poor doesn't mean we don't know how to ride," YoungSaeng said, already in his saddle. "Except for him, but he doesn't count," he snorted, nodding at KyuHyun. "Hurry up and get on, or I'm leaving you behind."
"Just watch, I'm going to learn how to teleport and won't need to bother with all this messy stuff," KyuHyun sniffed, awkwardly climbing on behind YoungSaeng.
"I think you need to know more than just three spells before you move on to teleportation," HyungJoon said, calming his horse when the animal pranced nervously at the stranger. "That's just me thinking aloud though, magic stuff gives me shivers." He nudged his horse's sides and set off down the streets at a good trot.
Making sure KyuHyun was on and not going to fall off the horses back end (again), YoungSaeng clucked to his horse and started off after HyungJoon. The prison district was at the far end of the lower ring from where their home was, and not being able to cut through the inner ring meant it was a good hour before they made their way around to familiar buildings and streets.
Not far from their own place, YoungSaeng turn his horse down a small alleyway, the horse not balking just from being used to going down the narrow space. Coming to a dead end, YoungSaeng dismounted and handed his reins up to KyuHyun. "We won't be long, keep an eye on the horses. Joon? Bring your friend."
HyungJoon waited for Zhou Mi to dismount before hopping down as well, passing the reins to an uncomfortable KyuHyun. "What do I do if they start wandering away?" The magician asked.
"Dismount and pull them back, they never wander Kyu, you'll be fine," HyungJoon sighed, looking up at Zhou Mi before turning to continue down the street.
"Really need to get him a pony," YoungSaeng muttered, making sure the other two were following as he went up to a door and knocked lightly once, then again.
There was a slight scrapping noise behind the door; HyungJoon could easily imagine tiny RyeoWook pulling over a stool so he could actually see through the peephole located far too high on the door for him. A minute later the door unlocked and opened slightly, a young man peeking through.
"YoungSaeng? HyungJoon? It's late, is everything okay?"
"Yes, and no," YoungSaeng said, glancing over his shoulder at the other two before returning a small smile to RyeoWook. "Can we come in? It's better if we talk in private."
RyeoWook looked from the two figures he recognized to the one he did not, before nodding and opening the door wider. He lived on the ground floor of an old building, the wood patched up and repaired in several areas where it had been damaged. The only stone part of the room beyond the door was the fireplace where a fire crackled.
"Come sit by the fire, you look cold." The tiny man gave Zhou Mi a wary look when they were all in, closing the door and locking it behind them before hurrying to pull chairs closer to the fire.
Zhou Mi gratefully sat down next to the fire, not bothering to sit in a chair and nearly thrusting his poor frozen toes right into the flames.
"Sorry for dropping by so late," YoungSaeng said, unbuttoning his cloak but not removing it. "We've got a bit of a problem. He needs a place to stay for a while, could you put him up?" he asked, pointing at Zhou Mi.
"Him?" RyeoWook looked at the stranger again, sharp eyes taking in the noble clothing that, even without the jewelry attached, looked far too grand for anyone here to have acquired. "Who is he? It's cold season Saeng, hard to get enough coin for even myself."
"His name, or so he says, is Zhou Mi, Lord of Shadowrock," YoungSaeng said quietly. "We had to spring HyungJoon from the prison and he was in there with him. Accused of murdering the King."
RyeoWook paled drastically. "The King's dead? Hyung, are you trying to get me hanged? If someone finds him here with me, they'll ship me off to the gallows."
"Then you're going to have to keep him hidden," YoungSaeng said. "I wouldn't ask this favor from you if it wasn't important, but we're all involved in whether or not he gets caught, and not just because we broke him from the cells. I'll cover any costs, okay? Here," pulling out a small change purse, he quickly counted out the coins inside and handed it to him. "Please?"
The younger man looked down at the coins in his hand, chewing on his lower lip as he thought. HyungJoon shuffled beside YoungSaeng, watching the other man's expression. RyeoWook never turned down a friend who needed help.
Finally RyeoWook closed his hand around the coins, looking up at YoungSaeng. "Is he...dangerous?" he whispered, looking towards the noble.
"He looks like you could blow him over with a strong wind," YoungSaeng snorted, tucking his coin purse back in his cloak. "I don't think he's dangerous. Do you HyungJoon?"
"No," HyungJoon shook his head. "He's a noble, I don't think he'd know how to be dangerous."
"Never know with nobles," RyeoWook sighed after a moment. "Okay...I'll look after him. How long?"
"Hopefully not long, but I can't give you a time table," YoungSaeng said, patting RyeoWook's shoulder lightly. "If he tries anything though, I think you can take him. You still have that present I got you? Keep it under your pillow."
"Okay hyung," RyeoWook nodded, looking up at him. "Are you both staying longer?"
"I wish we could, but we left Kyu outside with the horses so we need to get back before they mutiny on him," HyungJoon shook his head. "We'll be back to check on you, okay?"
The smaller man nodded. "Safe night."
"And to you," YoungSaeng said, buttoning his cloak back up and heading for the door.
"You're leaving?" Zhou Mi had looked up, scrambling back up to his feet now that he could feel them. "Thank you, again, for taking me with you. I intend to keep my promise, and make you all very rich men once this whole nasty business is taken care of."
"Just try not to give RyeoWook a headache, okay?" HyungJoon smiled apologetically at the guy. He wasn't going to hold his breath for the promise, especially if the noble found out what part they'd had in his arrest. "Things are way different in the lower ring, listen to him."
"Of course, of course, I'll be a dutiful student," Zhou Mi said, smiling brightly as he stepped forward and embraced HyungJoon in a tight hug.
"Oh, he's a hugger," YoungSaeng's eyebrow went up and he looked at RyeoWook. "He'll fit right in here then. Good luck."
"What do you mean?" RyeoWook protested, panicked. He was not a hugger.
"Uhh...yeah. Try not to freak him out too, he punches really hard for a little guy," HyungJoon patted Zhou Mi's shoulder awkwardly before squirming out of his hold. "We're going now, night."
YoungSaeng just chuckled to himself as he led the way out, closing the door behind HyungJoon. Which left Zhou Mi with RyeoWook. The nobleman looking at the younger man with a smile. "They told you my story I'm assuming. I'm sorry to be a bother, I'll try not to get in your way."
RyeoWook drew in a breath, looking at the nobleman before bowing his head a little. "It's no trouble, my Lord. I'm sorry if none of this is what you're used to, I don't have much here. Are you hungry?" He went to get a spare blanket from the shelf, patched like his clothing, and brought it to Zhou Mi.
"Anything is better than that cell," Zhou Mi said, accepting the blanket with a smile. "Thank you... and please, don't do that bowing and 'my Lord' stuff."
"I'm sorry my Lord, it's a habit I can't afford to lose if I like my fingers where they are," RyeoWook went to collect a half-loaf of bread from his pantry and placed it on a grill over the fire to warm. "I can make you tea, and get you socks. Are you warming up all right?"
"Yes, yes I'm fine," Zhou Mi said, looking down at his feet that were a nice healthy red instead of blue as they had been. "I'm not a lord right now though, and if we were to go out in public, not that I think we should, but if someone heard you saying that, it would draw attention. Attention I can't really afford right now. I'm an escaped criminal after all... did you need help with anything? I don't expect you to wait on me hand and foot, I can help."
"There is little to do," RyeoWook shook his head, fixing a small pot with a few leaves in it over the fire for tea. "It wouldn't be a good idea for you to leave here unless it is needed. During the day, people come in and out of here regularly, it would be best if you were to stay hidden." He went towards the back rooms.
"What is it that you do that people come in and out?" Zhou Mi asked, padding after him, the blanket wrapped over his shoulders. "I'm sorry, I really am. This isn't exactly how I imagined my day was going to go."
"No one expects their day to go like this," RyeoWook looked back at the taller man, going into one of the bedrooms and opening a rickety cupboard, pulling out a pair of socks. "I'm the only healer in this district, so it's oft very busy." He held out his findings to the older man.
"A healer? Aren't that many in the city at all," Zhou Mi said, taking the socks lightly from the man, nodding in thanks. "You could easily be in the inner ring, making twice what you'd be getting here."
"I could be, but that's not the point of a healer is it?" RyeoWook shook his head, closing the cupboard and slipping past the noble back towards the main room. "The people here need me, no one else will tend to those who don't have the coin for it."
"Oh..." Zhou Mi frowned a little, looking down at the careworn socks. "I guess I didn't think about it like that. But have you ever thought about it though? I mean, you could use what you make in the inner ring to help here."
"If that was true, then what of those in the inner ring now, those who said much the same as you then never came back?" RyeoWook went to crouch in front of the fire, checking on the bread. "We're the forgotten people here, out of sight, out of mind. They need me right where I am now."
Zhou Mi sighed a little to himself, sitting down gingerly in one of the chairs. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I'm not usually so insensitive. It's been a stressful day. Would it be best if I just... stay out of your way then?"
"When people start arriving tomorrow, I think so, yes." RyeoWook sighed softly, breaking off some of the warm bread and turning to offer it to Zhou Mi. "I have some books to keep you occupied, but not much else."
"It's okay, I can keep myself occupied," Zhou Mi said, looking at the bread and reaching forward for it, smiling gratefully. "I have to come up with a plan as to how to clear my name. Though I don't know how that's going to happen if I'm hiding in a back room."
"Maybe sleep will help," the healer said, turning to tend to the tea once Zhou Mi had the bread. Seeing it would need some more time, he sat down in a chair and picked up the bowl he'd been working on when the group arrived, grinding herbs into powder. "It is late."
"It is... where do I sleep?" Zhou Mi asked, picking at the bread and chewing on small pieces. It wasn't the best bread he'd ever eaten, but it was edible at least. "I can just curl up in a corner somewhere, stay out of the way."
"You can stay on the bed, I have a spare cot rolled up that I can use," RyeoWook replied, focused on what he was doing. "If you wake up and the room's door is closed, then I have visitors."
"I'm not pushing you out of your bed," Zhou Mi said, shaking his head. "I'll take the cot. I may be a noble but I'm not rude. Your bed is yours, and unless you plan on sleeping in the bed with me, I'm taking the cot."
"It's not being rude, I'm being hospitable," the healer shrugged. "Besides, it's easier this way. I may need the cot later for a patient, I don't want to wake you up to take it away."
"I'm not kicking you out of your bed," Zhou Mi said, insistent. "I don't know how long I'll be here, and if it's more than a week than it's just not right. No, you sleep in your bed, I'll just sleep on the floor. This blanket seems kind of plush enough, I can sleep on that."
RyeoWook sighed; someone used to the floor might have no problems sleeping on the blanket, but not a noble he knew. He'd toss and turn all night, and then be insufferable to deal with the following day. "...Oh fine, you can take the cot. It isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's better than the floor."
Zhou Mi smiled at that, picking at the bread some more. "Thank you, and don't worry about someone needing the cot tomorrow, I'll be up and out of your way early," he said, hunkering down in the blanket. "I guess it's good you didn't take me up on the sleeping in the same bed threat, I'm told I latch on like a leech."
The other man pinked a little at that, hunching slightly over the bowl he was working on. "No thank you." Thinking of something, he looked up at Zhou Mi again. "I'll have to find some clothes that fit you...those clothes will give you away in a blink. I doubt you'll fit into anything of mine, so I'll go out tomorrow."
"My... oh.." Zhou Mi looked down at his soiled clothes. It had been one of his favorites outfits, but no amount of cleaning would save them. His lower lip trembled slightly as he picked at the fabric of his pants. "I'm sorry," he sniffled. "I... I could buy a hundred outfits just yesterday, but I have nothing to give you to pay for it... I'm sorry."
Watching him, RyeoWook's eyes saddened. "It's fine. I know someone I can get clothes from. They won't be fancy like yours, but they'll be warm."
Zhou Mi just nodded, not trusting himself to speak right then as he curled up a little more under the blanket to stay warm. After a few minutes of utter self pity, he wiped his eyes and looked over at RyeoWook. "Would it be too much to ask about getting some shoes as well? I'll feel better if I have some proper shoes. I don't know why they took my shoes, they were good shoes."
"Pro'ly taking everything they could get away with since you were going to prison," RyeoWook said quietly, but nodded. "I can get you shoes." He placed the bowl aside and checked the pot over the fire again, judging it was warm enough. He poured some of the lightly-flavored tea into two cups, holding one out to Zhou Mi. "I have a spare cloak here if you need to head out for anything, though it's probably a little short on you."
"Thank you," Zhou Mi said, accepting the cup and cradling it in his arms. "I don't think I'll be going anywhere, not yet at least. I need time to figure things out. If there was anywhere else I could go, I would. But the majority of my friends think I'm a murderer about now. I know what you and the people in the lower ring must think of those like me, so I do appreciate this... I really do."
RyeoWook nodded slowly, curling up in his own chair and blowing softly on his tea. "Let's just say...your comment about it not being a good idea to be a visible noble here, is true. I hope for your sake this is resolved soon."
"I do too," Zhou Mi said, sipping lightly at the tea, his expression brightening. "This tea is delicious. Very fragrant, is it your own blend? I don't think I've ever had tea this good before, not even the expensive imports."
"Thank you, but you don't have to pretend for me," RyeoWook smiled a little, looking down at the cup in his hands. "It was my mother's blend."
"Pretend? Who's pretending? I'm being honest," Zhou Mi said, sipping at the tea again and making a soft moaning sound at the flavor, eyes closed. "I'm serious, best tea I've ever had, and you can tell your mother that."
A soft chuckle left RyeoWook at the moaning noise, before he shook his head and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he listened to the fire crackle. "My mother has been dead for years, but she would have appreciated the sentiment."
"Oh... I'm sorry," Zhou Mi sobered slightly, resting the cup on his lap. "We share something in common then. My parents died years ago as well."
The healer opened his eyes slightly at that, looking at Zhou Mi for a moment quietly. "I see...if you don't mind me inquiring, what happened?"
Zhou Mi looked down at the still liquid in his cup, lips pursed slightly. "When I was six, my father died in battle... he was a knight, as was my grandfather. He was helping deal with a border raid, and took an arrow to the throat. My mother lasted a few years after that, but she had been frail to begin with and just wasted away. I was raised by my grandfather until I was sixteen, and then he passed away."
RyeoWook listened to him quietly. "May the Black God keep them in peace," he murmured. A loss was a loss, noble or otherwise.
"Thank you," Zhou Mi inclined his head slightly at the sentiment. Taking another sip of the tea, he savored the taste before sighing. "Well, I don't want to keep you up any more than I have. Where is this cot? I promise to be out of it well before you get up and start to see patients."
"I'll set it up then," RyeoWook placed his cup of tea aside after a sip, standing. The healer went back to the bedroom, pulling the rolled-up mattress out of the closet and laying it in the corner of the room. He found a spare pillow to go with it.
Standing up and following him to the door, Zhou Mi chewed nervously on his lip. "I don't think I snore, if that helps any."
"It's fine, you learn to sleep through a lot here," RyeoWook smiled lightly up at him before standing with a few small towels. "Wait a moment." He went back out into the main room, carefully fetching a few stones out of the middle of the fire. Wrapping the hot stones in the towels, he brought them back to the bedroom in his arms.
"Here," he placed two wrapped stones on the cot, the other two on his own. "I have to lower the fire, so these will keep you from being cold."
"Oh... why thank you," Zhou Mi said, taking the warm blanket from around his shoulders to lay across the cot and over the warm stones. "I don't really make all that much body heat myself, not much meat on me," he said, looking down at his soiled clothes. "Oh... umm... you wouldn't possibly have something I could sleep in, do you? I smell like sewage and I don't want to get the cot all gross and sewage smelly. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just have to be... half naked."
"I've had worse smells in here, but I can lend you a pair of my clothes for the night," RyeoWook replied, going to a chest on the other side of the room and crouching beside it. "They'll pro'ly be too short, but they'll make you through the night." Finding a pair of patched-up clothes, he stood and held it out to Zhou Mi.
"Thank you... again," Zhou Mi chuckled, accepting the clothes and laying them down on the cot. "Do you often take strange men in and let them wear your clothes and sleep in your bed, or am I just a special?" he asked with a small laugh, glancing over his shoulder at the shorter man.
RyeoWook turned red, scowling a little at how the nobleman had put it. "I do what I need to help my friends and those who need it, nothing more. Please excuse me while I lock up." He went back out into the main room to lower the fire and double-check the door and windows.
Mentally chastising himself for that, Zhou Mi quickly changed into the fresh clothes. Although a little short, they weren't that small on him, RyeoWook's build similar to his except in the legs and arms. He dumped his soiled clothes on the floor and pushed them as far back under the cot as he could and quickly scooted up under the covers, shivering a little as his body heat warmed up the cold blanket.
Locking up everything and blowing out the candles around the room, RyeoWook returned to the bedroom, making sure the window was covered. He slipped off his boots at the foot of his bed, slipping under the covers. "Night," he said quietly, blowing out the candle by his bed and laying down, curling up. His fingers found the hilt of the thin blade YoungSaeng had given him under his pillow, just in case.
"Good night," Zhou Mi replied softly, trying to make himself comfortable. The cot was far too short for his lanky frame, but he was able to curl up enough so his feet weren't hanging off the edge. He'd probably have stiff joints in the morning, though that was better than a sore back. Neither of which he was remotely used to, or had experience with. Sighing to himself, he sniffled a little, trying to not start blubbering like a baby. Lords of Shadowrock didn't cry, that was what his grandfather had told him, and he tried to live up to his grandfather's expectations. It didn't help as much as he would have hoped as he cried himself to sleep.
Fandoms: SS501, Super Junior, JYJ, SNSD, Epik High
Chapter: 3/?
Pairing: TBA
Rating: R overall
Warning: AU, violence, angst
Summary: Different lives converge in the city of Highport, where one innocent crime has the potential to destroy a kingdom.
"I'm...I'm sorry to hear that," HyungJoon winced, pressing his back against the wall. "But surely you're only here for a small amount of time while they find the real killer."
Zhou Mi just laughed depressively, shaking his head. "The guards didn't find anyone, and with SiWon having to go through a coronation, I doubt he'll spend much time on it. I'm as good as dead. Once word gets out I've been arrested, everyone will be wanting my head."
"Ah." There was little HyungJoon could say to that; there was little reassurance for someone charged with killing the king. He knew he shouldn't feel so bad for this person who had probably grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth and had never needed to know hunger, or cold, or anything those in the lower ring had to deal with their entire lives...but he still felt bad. This man had been set up and would probably be executed for it.
"Well...at least they feed us decently here," the thief tried to say something vaguely helpful. "Pro'ly nowhere close to the palace, but I know of street folk who get themselves arrested in the cold season cause they're more fed here than in the slums."
"They can have my place then," Zhou Mi said, closing his eyes and burying his face in his knees. "What's the point of feeding me if they're just going to kill me?"
"Well it might give them time to find the real killer?" HyungJoon floundered a little; he was horrible at this cheering up thing. "If it makes you feel any better, maybe they'll kill us off together, I dunno if I'm just getting my hand lobbed off or my head." If YoungSaeng and KyuHyun didn't get here eventually. If they'd left him here for dead he swore he'd come back as a ghost to haunt them. "I'm sorry, I know I'm not that good at cheering people up."
"Better than my so called friends," Zhou Mi said. "Gods... I don't even know what they think of me now. They probably think I really did it.. even KyuJong. This is a nightmare, what did I do to deserve this?"
"Joon," a voice hissing from above them had Zhou Mi yelping and falling over.
Jumping, HyungJoon scrambled up to his feet, attention going to the small slit of a window overhead that just barely gave them any moonlight. That light was blocked now by a familiar face, and the thief brightened. "Saeng!" he whispered loudly, trying to reach up to the window and fingers just falling short. "I knew you wouldn't just leave me in here, the guttersnake tricked me!"
"I noticed," YoungSaeng muttered darkly. "You ready to go? KyuHyun'll be around to open the door in a minute, I get to go distract the guard. You picked a good time to get yourself nicked, all the guards took off."
"Oh, great," HyungJoon felt himself relax. He was getting out of here. Then he looked down at the Lord of Shadowrock. They'd probably have him executed before anyone figured out it wasn't him who killed the King. Maybe HyungJoon was just too soft, but he didn't take well to guilt.
"Saeng, there's someone else in here too," the young thief held his hands up to get YoungSaeng's attention. "We need to get him out too, he's here with me, he can just tag along right?"
"What? Why?" YoungSaeng frowned, readjusting his grip on the sill of the window. He couldn't stay up here forever. "We're not picking up strays, Joon."
Zhou Mi had scrambled up to his feet at that point, a small glimmer of hope from what his cellmate was saying. Being a little taller, he could see up into the window when he stood on his tiptoes. "Please, take me with you. I can pay you, I really can. Once I clear my name, you'll be rich, all of you."
YoungSaeng sighed irritably, not knowing what the hell the man was talking about. "Okay okay, just shut up," he said. "Be ready to go, and stay quiet. Joon, he's your responsibility," he said before he disappeared.
HyungJoon watched him disappear, drawing in a breath before turning back to Zhou Mi. He had no idea if what he was doing was a good thing or not, but there was only one way to find out. "Okay, listen, getting out of here isn't fun so you're gonna have to stay really quiet and keep up. My friends won't stop for you if you fall behind, they're risking both their heads getting us out."
Heart soaring, Zhou Mi barely heard, just nodding as he wrapped the man into a tight hug. "Yes, yes, I understand, thank you," he breathed. "You won't regret this, I promise. I'll make you all rich. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Squawking again, HyungJoon flailed before pushing out of the taller man's grip. "Don't thank me yet, we're not out of here." He felt awkward being thanked when it was thanks to them this guy was here in the first place. Besides, nobles didn't hug street rats. "Come on over here, we gotta be ready." He went to the door, standing back away from where it would swing when opened.
Shuffling up a little behind him, Zhou Mi was trembling with anticipation. It was blind luck he had ended up in this cell with this man, but he was going to take this opportunity as the golden shining bauble that it was. He could clear his name, and that was the only thing on his mind at that point.
It was a minute or two before there was a slight creak of the lock opening on the door. Then the metal door swung open, KyuHyun on the other side with his tattered scarf covering the lower half of his face and his hood up. "Come on, let's scram," he stepped out of the way. HyungJoon pulled his hood up (his scarf had been snatched off of him) and pulled Zhou Mi along behind him. The door was shut again behind them, the magician locking it.
KyuHyun eyed the noble cooly for a moment before turning and heading down the hallway. HyungJoon followed quickly and quietly, head ducked and looking around for guards.
Following, Zhou Mi kept his mouth shut, knowing that he could be shoved right back in that cell if he so much as made a peep. It was as YoungSaeng had said, there were no guards anywhere, the hallways empty, probably because most of the guards had been summoned to the palace. Led through the hallways to a side door, Zhou Mi shivered a little at the cold bite of air. Not having a coat anymore, he was going to freeze if they stuck around too long.
KyuHyun led them outside and made a beeline through the shadows to the edges of the prison district. The gates in and out were of course being watched, but they'd gotten in and out without any problems before.
They stopped at a gutter hole large enough for them to crawl through in the wall, the grill already broken around the edges and easy to pull out of place. "Go, we're meeting YoungSaeng on the other side," KyuHyun nodded to HyungJoon, who dropped to his hands and knees to crawl through the hole to the other side of the wall.
Zhou Mi balked, wrinkling his nose at the gutter slightly. There was nothing he could do though, he couldn't stay there at the prison. Steeling himself up, he dropped down to his hands and knees and picked his way through the hole and out to the other side. It was as bad as he imagined it would be, his hands covered in mud and grime and his pants ruined. Wiping his hands lightly on his shirt, he gave HyungJoon a tentative smile. "Never done that before," he tried a joke.
"Lucky you," HyungJoon wiped his hands on his pants and motioned for Zhou Mi to get out of the way as KyuHyun followed them out. The magician brought them a street over to where he and YoungSaeng had agreed to meet up.
"Now we just wait for Saeng," KyuHyun leaned against the wall, eyeing Zhou Mi. "So who's the silver spoon?"
"Uhh...this is...the Lord of Shadowrock," HyungJoon winced, seeing KyuHyun's eyes widen. "Can we wait until YoungSaeng gets here?"
"Wait for what?" Zhou Mi said, glancing between them, hugging his arms to ward off the chill.
"Yes, wait for what," a voice said behind him, a man shorter than all three of them with his hood up was approaching. Pushing the hood off, YoungSaeng looked Zhou Mi up and down, his expression blank. "You had better have a good reason for this Joon."
"I do, just listen," HyungJoon winced, shuffling from foot to foot as he looked between his friends. "Lord Zhou Mi, could you tell them how you ended up in there please?"
Pursing his lips slightly, Zhou Mi looked between the two other people, sighing inwardly at what kind of mess he was really in. These people were going to help him though, hopefully. "Umm...the King... was assassinated," he said, watching the two pairs of eyes widen. "They found my grandfather's dagger, though I don't know how it got there, so I've been accused of the murder. I didn't though, I didn't kill anyone. I don't know how my grandfather's dagger got here, it was in the armory, at home. You have to believe me."
YoungSaeng expression tightened, eyes narrowing. "Your grandfather's dagger?" he asked, Zhou Mi nodding like a bobblehead. "Just what are you lord of?"
"Shadowrock," Zhou Mi replied, not at all prepared for the reaction of YoungSaeng reaching forward to snag HyungJoon and KyuHyun by the collars and dragging them away.
"We'll be right with you," YoungSaeng said, pulling the other two a good distance away. "Shadowrock?" he hissed. "Do you understand what this means?"
Choking a little at the grip on his collar, HyungJoon tried to squirm out of it. "I know, I know," he winced, keeping his voice from carrying back to Zhou Mi. "We did it, we got the dagger for that guy who tricked us, and now whoever it was framed the Lord with killing the King."
"Pox take him, what are we supposed to do now," KyuHyun scowled, arms folding over his chest. "You should have just left him there Joon, we can all get our heads chopped off now."
"But it's our fault he was in there," HyungJoon whined, shuffling guiltily. "You know they would have executed the guy for treason."
"And that has nothing to do with us," YoungSaeng said, scowling at HyungJoon. "When he finds out it was us who took it, he'll go to the guards, accused or not! We're as good as dead if he hangs around us."
"What if we just don't tell him it was us," HyungJoon shrunk a little at the scowl, but held his ground. "I-I mean, I didn't tell him why I was in there, he doesn't have to know."
"And then what are we supposed to do with him? Nobles can't pull their own weight in the lower ring," KyuHyun rolled his eyes. "And he's not staying with us."
"You've got us in a right fix, Joon," YoungSaeng sighed, glancing over at Zhou Mi who looked like he was going to freeze to the ground where he was standing. "No, he's not staying with us. We'll take him to RyeoWook. He's a bleeding heart, he'll look after him for a bit. Go get the horses KyuHyun."
KyuHyun went to get them, grumbling under his breath. HyungJoon shuffled, head down and shoulders up before he looked up at YoungSaeng again. "I'm sorry Saeng...you know I couldn't just leave him there, it's not his fault, and he would have died."
"I know," YoungSaeng sighed, clapping HyungJoon lightly on the shoulder. "You're a nice kid, which is why I don't understand why you're even attempting at being a thief. Look, I'm not happy about this, but at the very least, maybe we can use him to figure out who swindled us and left you to rot. If it so happens we can clear this guy's name and get our payment? So be it."
"Okay," HyungJoon smiled a little at the older man, glad YoungSaeng wasn't too mad. And he'd already explained multiple times when asked why he decided to join them when he was a hopeless case; because it was the only way to keep his mother and brother's tiny little lodging, and keep them warm, clothed and fed. "Well, at least Wookie owes us so he won't protest too much."
He went back towards Zhou Mi with a hesitant smile. "My Lord? Our friend's gone to get the horses, but you can't stay with us. We're going to bring you to someone who can take care of you better than we can."
"Oh..." Zhou Mi slumped a little, but he nodded. "Okay, well thank you. I appreciate you letting me tag along at least. And, Zhou Mi, just call me Zhou Mi. I don't expect anyone to bow and scrape to me. Not when I don't even have proper shoes."
"Yeah...I'm sorry we don't really have any extras, or blankets or anything with us," HyungJoon sighed softly.
KyuHyun appeared, passing off the reins to HyungJoon's horse to the other man. HyungJoon patted the horse's mane and climbed on, looking at Zhou Mi. "Can you get on behind me? We'll get there faster riding, and I don't want to be anywhere near here when they find out we're gone."
"Of course, yes," Zhou Mi nodded, stepping up to the horse and waiting for HyungJoon to mount first. "You do know how to ride I hope."
"Just because we're poor doesn't mean we don't know how to ride," YoungSaeng said, already in his saddle. "Except for him, but he doesn't count," he snorted, nodding at KyuHyun. "Hurry up and get on, or I'm leaving you behind."
"Just watch, I'm going to learn how to teleport and won't need to bother with all this messy stuff," KyuHyun sniffed, awkwardly climbing on behind YoungSaeng.
"I think you need to know more than just three spells before you move on to teleportation," HyungJoon said, calming his horse when the animal pranced nervously at the stranger. "That's just me thinking aloud though, magic stuff gives me shivers." He nudged his horse's sides and set off down the streets at a good trot.
Making sure KyuHyun was on and not going to fall off the horses back end (again), YoungSaeng clucked to his horse and started off after HyungJoon. The prison district was at the far end of the lower ring from where their home was, and not being able to cut through the inner ring meant it was a good hour before they made their way around to familiar buildings and streets.
Not far from their own place, YoungSaeng turn his horse down a small alleyway, the horse not balking just from being used to going down the narrow space. Coming to a dead end, YoungSaeng dismounted and handed his reins up to KyuHyun. "We won't be long, keep an eye on the horses. Joon? Bring your friend."
HyungJoon waited for Zhou Mi to dismount before hopping down as well, passing the reins to an uncomfortable KyuHyun. "What do I do if they start wandering away?" The magician asked.
"Dismount and pull them back, they never wander Kyu, you'll be fine," HyungJoon sighed, looking up at Zhou Mi before turning to continue down the street.
"Really need to get him a pony," YoungSaeng muttered, making sure the other two were following as he went up to a door and knocked lightly once, then again.
There was a slight scrapping noise behind the door; HyungJoon could easily imagine tiny RyeoWook pulling over a stool so he could actually see through the peephole located far too high on the door for him. A minute later the door unlocked and opened slightly, a young man peeking through.
"YoungSaeng? HyungJoon? It's late, is everything okay?"
"Yes, and no," YoungSaeng said, glancing over his shoulder at the other two before returning a small smile to RyeoWook. "Can we come in? It's better if we talk in private."
RyeoWook looked from the two figures he recognized to the one he did not, before nodding and opening the door wider. He lived on the ground floor of an old building, the wood patched up and repaired in several areas where it had been damaged. The only stone part of the room beyond the door was the fireplace where a fire crackled.
"Come sit by the fire, you look cold." The tiny man gave Zhou Mi a wary look when they were all in, closing the door and locking it behind them before hurrying to pull chairs closer to the fire.
Zhou Mi gratefully sat down next to the fire, not bothering to sit in a chair and nearly thrusting his poor frozen toes right into the flames.
"Sorry for dropping by so late," YoungSaeng said, unbuttoning his cloak but not removing it. "We've got a bit of a problem. He needs a place to stay for a while, could you put him up?" he asked, pointing at Zhou Mi.
"Him?" RyeoWook looked at the stranger again, sharp eyes taking in the noble clothing that, even without the jewelry attached, looked far too grand for anyone here to have acquired. "Who is he? It's cold season Saeng, hard to get enough coin for even myself."
"His name, or so he says, is Zhou Mi, Lord of Shadowrock," YoungSaeng said quietly. "We had to spring HyungJoon from the prison and he was in there with him. Accused of murdering the King."
RyeoWook paled drastically. "The King's dead? Hyung, are you trying to get me hanged? If someone finds him here with me, they'll ship me off to the gallows."
"Then you're going to have to keep him hidden," YoungSaeng said. "I wouldn't ask this favor from you if it wasn't important, but we're all involved in whether or not he gets caught, and not just because we broke him from the cells. I'll cover any costs, okay? Here," pulling out a small change purse, he quickly counted out the coins inside and handed it to him. "Please?"
The younger man looked down at the coins in his hand, chewing on his lower lip as he thought. HyungJoon shuffled beside YoungSaeng, watching the other man's expression. RyeoWook never turned down a friend who needed help.
Finally RyeoWook closed his hand around the coins, looking up at YoungSaeng. "Is he...dangerous?" he whispered, looking towards the noble.
"He looks like you could blow him over with a strong wind," YoungSaeng snorted, tucking his coin purse back in his cloak. "I don't think he's dangerous. Do you HyungJoon?"
"No," HyungJoon shook his head. "He's a noble, I don't think he'd know how to be dangerous."
"Never know with nobles," RyeoWook sighed after a moment. "Okay...I'll look after him. How long?"
"Hopefully not long, but I can't give you a time table," YoungSaeng said, patting RyeoWook's shoulder lightly. "If he tries anything though, I think you can take him. You still have that present I got you? Keep it under your pillow."
"Okay hyung," RyeoWook nodded, looking up at him. "Are you both staying longer?"
"I wish we could, but we left Kyu outside with the horses so we need to get back before they mutiny on him," HyungJoon shook his head. "We'll be back to check on you, okay?"
The smaller man nodded. "Safe night."
"And to you," YoungSaeng said, buttoning his cloak back up and heading for the door.
"You're leaving?" Zhou Mi had looked up, scrambling back up to his feet now that he could feel them. "Thank you, again, for taking me with you. I intend to keep my promise, and make you all very rich men once this whole nasty business is taken care of."
"Just try not to give RyeoWook a headache, okay?" HyungJoon smiled apologetically at the guy. He wasn't going to hold his breath for the promise, especially if the noble found out what part they'd had in his arrest. "Things are way different in the lower ring, listen to him."
"Of course, of course, I'll be a dutiful student," Zhou Mi said, smiling brightly as he stepped forward and embraced HyungJoon in a tight hug.
"Oh, he's a hugger," YoungSaeng's eyebrow went up and he looked at RyeoWook. "He'll fit right in here then. Good luck."
"What do you mean?" RyeoWook protested, panicked. He was not a hugger.
"Uhh...yeah. Try not to freak him out too, he punches really hard for a little guy," HyungJoon patted Zhou Mi's shoulder awkwardly before squirming out of his hold. "We're going now, night."
YoungSaeng just chuckled to himself as he led the way out, closing the door behind HyungJoon. Which left Zhou Mi with RyeoWook. The nobleman looking at the younger man with a smile. "They told you my story I'm assuming. I'm sorry to be a bother, I'll try not to get in your way."
RyeoWook drew in a breath, looking at the nobleman before bowing his head a little. "It's no trouble, my Lord. I'm sorry if none of this is what you're used to, I don't have much here. Are you hungry?" He went to get a spare blanket from the shelf, patched like his clothing, and brought it to Zhou Mi.
"Anything is better than that cell," Zhou Mi said, accepting the blanket with a smile. "Thank you... and please, don't do that bowing and 'my Lord' stuff."
"I'm sorry my Lord, it's a habit I can't afford to lose if I like my fingers where they are," RyeoWook went to collect a half-loaf of bread from his pantry and placed it on a grill over the fire to warm. "I can make you tea, and get you socks. Are you warming up all right?"
"Yes, yes I'm fine," Zhou Mi said, looking down at his feet that were a nice healthy red instead of blue as they had been. "I'm not a lord right now though, and if we were to go out in public, not that I think we should, but if someone heard you saying that, it would draw attention. Attention I can't really afford right now. I'm an escaped criminal after all... did you need help with anything? I don't expect you to wait on me hand and foot, I can help."
"There is little to do," RyeoWook shook his head, fixing a small pot with a few leaves in it over the fire for tea. "It wouldn't be a good idea for you to leave here unless it is needed. During the day, people come in and out of here regularly, it would be best if you were to stay hidden." He went towards the back rooms.
"What is it that you do that people come in and out?" Zhou Mi asked, padding after him, the blanket wrapped over his shoulders. "I'm sorry, I really am. This isn't exactly how I imagined my day was going to go."
"No one expects their day to go like this," RyeoWook looked back at the taller man, going into one of the bedrooms and opening a rickety cupboard, pulling out a pair of socks. "I'm the only healer in this district, so it's oft very busy." He held out his findings to the older man.
"A healer? Aren't that many in the city at all," Zhou Mi said, taking the socks lightly from the man, nodding in thanks. "You could easily be in the inner ring, making twice what you'd be getting here."
"I could be, but that's not the point of a healer is it?" RyeoWook shook his head, closing the cupboard and slipping past the noble back towards the main room. "The people here need me, no one else will tend to those who don't have the coin for it."
"Oh..." Zhou Mi frowned a little, looking down at the careworn socks. "I guess I didn't think about it like that. But have you ever thought about it though? I mean, you could use what you make in the inner ring to help here."
"If that was true, then what of those in the inner ring now, those who said much the same as you then never came back?" RyeoWook went to crouch in front of the fire, checking on the bread. "We're the forgotten people here, out of sight, out of mind. They need me right where I am now."
Zhou Mi sighed a little to himself, sitting down gingerly in one of the chairs. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I'm not usually so insensitive. It's been a stressful day. Would it be best if I just... stay out of your way then?"
"When people start arriving tomorrow, I think so, yes." RyeoWook sighed softly, breaking off some of the warm bread and turning to offer it to Zhou Mi. "I have some books to keep you occupied, but not much else."
"It's okay, I can keep myself occupied," Zhou Mi said, looking at the bread and reaching forward for it, smiling gratefully. "I have to come up with a plan as to how to clear my name. Though I don't know how that's going to happen if I'm hiding in a back room."
"Maybe sleep will help," the healer said, turning to tend to the tea once Zhou Mi had the bread. Seeing it would need some more time, he sat down in a chair and picked up the bowl he'd been working on when the group arrived, grinding herbs into powder. "It is late."
"It is... where do I sleep?" Zhou Mi asked, picking at the bread and chewing on small pieces. It wasn't the best bread he'd ever eaten, but it was edible at least. "I can just curl up in a corner somewhere, stay out of the way."
"You can stay on the bed, I have a spare cot rolled up that I can use," RyeoWook replied, focused on what he was doing. "If you wake up and the room's door is closed, then I have visitors."
"I'm not pushing you out of your bed," Zhou Mi said, shaking his head. "I'll take the cot. I may be a noble but I'm not rude. Your bed is yours, and unless you plan on sleeping in the bed with me, I'm taking the cot."
"It's not being rude, I'm being hospitable," the healer shrugged. "Besides, it's easier this way. I may need the cot later for a patient, I don't want to wake you up to take it away."
"I'm not kicking you out of your bed," Zhou Mi said, insistent. "I don't know how long I'll be here, and if it's more than a week than it's just not right. No, you sleep in your bed, I'll just sleep on the floor. This blanket seems kind of plush enough, I can sleep on that."
RyeoWook sighed; someone used to the floor might have no problems sleeping on the blanket, but not a noble he knew. He'd toss and turn all night, and then be insufferable to deal with the following day. "...Oh fine, you can take the cot. It isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's better than the floor."
Zhou Mi smiled at that, picking at the bread some more. "Thank you, and don't worry about someone needing the cot tomorrow, I'll be up and out of your way early," he said, hunkering down in the blanket. "I guess it's good you didn't take me up on the sleeping in the same bed threat, I'm told I latch on like a leech."
The other man pinked a little at that, hunching slightly over the bowl he was working on. "No thank you." Thinking of something, he looked up at Zhou Mi again. "I'll have to find some clothes that fit you...those clothes will give you away in a blink. I doubt you'll fit into anything of mine, so I'll go out tomorrow."
"My... oh.." Zhou Mi looked down at his soiled clothes. It had been one of his favorites outfits, but no amount of cleaning would save them. His lower lip trembled slightly as he picked at the fabric of his pants. "I'm sorry," he sniffled. "I... I could buy a hundred outfits just yesterday, but I have nothing to give you to pay for it... I'm sorry."
Watching him, RyeoWook's eyes saddened. "It's fine. I know someone I can get clothes from. They won't be fancy like yours, but they'll be warm."
Zhou Mi just nodded, not trusting himself to speak right then as he curled up a little more under the blanket to stay warm. After a few minutes of utter self pity, he wiped his eyes and looked over at RyeoWook. "Would it be too much to ask about getting some shoes as well? I'll feel better if I have some proper shoes. I don't know why they took my shoes, they were good shoes."
"Pro'ly taking everything they could get away with since you were going to prison," RyeoWook said quietly, but nodded. "I can get you shoes." He placed the bowl aside and checked the pot over the fire again, judging it was warm enough. He poured some of the lightly-flavored tea into two cups, holding one out to Zhou Mi. "I have a spare cloak here if you need to head out for anything, though it's probably a little short on you."
"Thank you," Zhou Mi said, accepting the cup and cradling it in his arms. "I don't think I'll be going anywhere, not yet at least. I need time to figure things out. If there was anywhere else I could go, I would. But the majority of my friends think I'm a murderer about now. I know what you and the people in the lower ring must think of those like me, so I do appreciate this... I really do."
RyeoWook nodded slowly, curling up in his own chair and blowing softly on his tea. "Let's just say...your comment about it not being a good idea to be a visible noble here, is true. I hope for your sake this is resolved soon."
"I do too," Zhou Mi said, sipping lightly at the tea, his expression brightening. "This tea is delicious. Very fragrant, is it your own blend? I don't think I've ever had tea this good before, not even the expensive imports."
"Thank you, but you don't have to pretend for me," RyeoWook smiled a little, looking down at the cup in his hands. "It was my mother's blend."
"Pretend? Who's pretending? I'm being honest," Zhou Mi said, sipping at the tea again and making a soft moaning sound at the flavor, eyes closed. "I'm serious, best tea I've ever had, and you can tell your mother that."
A soft chuckle left RyeoWook at the moaning noise, before he shook his head and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he listened to the fire crackle. "My mother has been dead for years, but she would have appreciated the sentiment."
"Oh... I'm sorry," Zhou Mi sobered slightly, resting the cup on his lap. "We share something in common then. My parents died years ago as well."
The healer opened his eyes slightly at that, looking at Zhou Mi for a moment quietly. "I see...if you don't mind me inquiring, what happened?"
Zhou Mi looked down at the still liquid in his cup, lips pursed slightly. "When I was six, my father died in battle... he was a knight, as was my grandfather. He was helping deal with a border raid, and took an arrow to the throat. My mother lasted a few years after that, but she had been frail to begin with and just wasted away. I was raised by my grandfather until I was sixteen, and then he passed away."
RyeoWook listened to him quietly. "May the Black God keep them in peace," he murmured. A loss was a loss, noble or otherwise.
"Thank you," Zhou Mi inclined his head slightly at the sentiment. Taking another sip of the tea, he savored the taste before sighing. "Well, I don't want to keep you up any more than I have. Where is this cot? I promise to be out of it well before you get up and start to see patients."
"I'll set it up then," RyeoWook placed his cup of tea aside after a sip, standing. The healer went back to the bedroom, pulling the rolled-up mattress out of the closet and laying it in the corner of the room. He found a spare pillow to go with it.
Standing up and following him to the door, Zhou Mi chewed nervously on his lip. "I don't think I snore, if that helps any."
"It's fine, you learn to sleep through a lot here," RyeoWook smiled lightly up at him before standing with a few small towels. "Wait a moment." He went back out into the main room, carefully fetching a few stones out of the middle of the fire. Wrapping the hot stones in the towels, he brought them back to the bedroom in his arms.
"Here," he placed two wrapped stones on the cot, the other two on his own. "I have to lower the fire, so these will keep you from being cold."
"Oh... why thank you," Zhou Mi said, taking the warm blanket from around his shoulders to lay across the cot and over the warm stones. "I don't really make all that much body heat myself, not much meat on me," he said, looking down at his soiled clothes. "Oh... umm... you wouldn't possibly have something I could sleep in, do you? I smell like sewage and I don't want to get the cot all gross and sewage smelly. If you don't, that's fine, I'll just have to be... half naked."
"I've had worse smells in here, but I can lend you a pair of my clothes for the night," RyeoWook replied, going to a chest on the other side of the room and crouching beside it. "They'll pro'ly be too short, but they'll make you through the night." Finding a pair of patched-up clothes, he stood and held it out to Zhou Mi.
"Thank you... again," Zhou Mi chuckled, accepting the clothes and laying them down on the cot. "Do you often take strange men in and let them wear your clothes and sleep in your bed, or am I just a special?" he asked with a small laugh, glancing over his shoulder at the shorter man.
RyeoWook turned red, scowling a little at how the nobleman had put it. "I do what I need to help my friends and those who need it, nothing more. Please excuse me while I lock up." He went back out into the main room to lower the fire and double-check the door and windows.
Mentally chastising himself for that, Zhou Mi quickly changed into the fresh clothes. Although a little short, they weren't that small on him, RyeoWook's build similar to his except in the legs and arms. He dumped his soiled clothes on the floor and pushed them as far back under the cot as he could and quickly scooted up under the covers, shivering a little as his body heat warmed up the cold blanket.
Locking up everything and blowing out the candles around the room, RyeoWook returned to the bedroom, making sure the window was covered. He slipped off his boots at the foot of his bed, slipping under the covers. "Night," he said quietly, blowing out the candle by his bed and laying down, curling up. His fingers found the hilt of the thin blade YoungSaeng had given him under his pillow, just in case.
"Good night," Zhou Mi replied softly, trying to make himself comfortable. The cot was far too short for his lanky frame, but he was able to curl up enough so his feet weren't hanging off the edge. He'd probably have stiff joints in the morning, though that was better than a sore back. Neither of which he was remotely used to, or had experience with. Sighing to himself, he sniffled a little, trying to not start blubbering like a baby. Lords of Shadowrock didn't cry, that was what his grandfather had told him, and he tried to live up to his grandfather's expectations. It didn't help as much as he would have hoped as he cried himself to sleep.