fic: Sea Service [chapter 1/8]
Eunhyuk/Tablo (+ Eli/Alexander) | PG-13 | 3371 words
Bad English
Eunhyuk had always wanted to protect the people he was close to. But protecting wasn’t enough. He came to realize, that sometimes, he had to look back, too.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
**
”Is Your long life desire to see the world sailing with Your abilities always by Your side? Our job is what You’re looking for. We can offer You all of what we’ve already promised and more. You get fed and paid well by serving us as a crewmember.
Spreading Your abilities like music, languages and acrobatics is all great service for us. We expect You to be motivated and have the ability of speaking fluent English and at least 25 years of age. Please do note that we’re only capable of taking in a few new members.
Send Your CV and well informed application to:
sailingcircus@sails.com”
Eunhyuk printed the site with trembling fingers. If there was anything he could possibly do, if he just… If dancing could be counted as an ability. In an instance, names popped into his head. He exhaled, grabbed his bag and the print and exited the hostel with pace.
Understanding only little parts of the text in English, Eunhyuk realized he needed help with writing the application letter. He was doing wrong in so many ways by offering to take the job but he wasn’t left with any options, really. If any of his friends could be of some help, it had to be Henry Lau.
The squishy cheeked Canadian eyed the print for a long while, nodding every now and then, and finally lifted his face up. “You’re not really going to do this? Dear Lord,” Henry showed a horrified expression but it faded as Eunhyuk glanced at him warningly. “The thing is that you have to know English.”
“I know English well enough,” he stated strongly.
“It’s not like I could tell if you know English at all.”
“Shut up and help me now.” Henry side eyed him but turned his eyes to the print again.
“It seems like it’s some kind of like a circus stopping at the biggest harbors in the world. Performing there. You would probably have to take… YAH! Listen to this; “…and at least 25 years of age”. See.”
“I know! I won’t let it bother. I know what I’ll do,” he sighed and snapped the paper from Henry’s hands. “I can’t believe you’re not helping.”
“Wait, I will! Just. Tell me what I have to do.”
Eunhyuk smirked in victory. “I want you to write an application letter for me. And send it to the e-mail address,” he spoke, shoving the job advertisement to his friend again, ignoring whatever the boy had to say quite shamelessly. “I’ll bring all the necessary stuff tomorrow. Like, my CV and stuff.”
“You don’t even have one.”
“But soon, I will.” The smirk that appeared to his lips was amused.
**
“Are you sure about this?” That was probably the 14th time Donghae was asking the question from him within the last half an hour. He tugged at the skinny ribs with an elbow.
“Mr. Obligation still speaking? Are you trying to help me or help me?” he laughed but got a serious look from Donghae. Kind of trying to tell him something like “don’t game with me” or “I’m not in this to kill you”.
“I’m trying to figure which one of the ways to help is better.”
“Donghae.” His voice was a tad bit desperate, like it was way too often nowadays. “I need the money. From working. You have nothing more to offer me but this. What you’re doing for me now is indispensable.” He stroked the lean coat of the black object in Donghae’s left hand. In the right one, there was some paperwork, a fake ID card and his fresh CV.
Donghae’s tired eyes scanned his with attention. There were just slight wrinkles along the lines of the eye bags and with Donghae getting thinner day by day, gently sloping dents on the sides of his cheeks. The breathing had gotten just a bit uneasy. The sigh escaping the lips threw Donghae against him. “Promise to be safe.”
It was uneasy, patting the now slender back and trying to figure the new state of Donghae’s mind. All he could promise was that things would get easier with time. But being safe, that, he couldn’t promise.
Saying his goodbyes, maybe pecking a longing kiss to Donghae’s lips, he grabbed what Donghae offered him and left the alley. He knew he could never forget about the help he got, the bonds he had built along the years. His stomach turned painfully as he realized he would leave a fleeting memory of himself inside everyone. But this was his decision. If he really loved the people he had learned to know, he’d leave and keep them safe instead.
Sleeping was an impossible idea. He didn’t cry, disturbing himself by listening to another hostel client jerk off through the thin walls of the building. Sighing, he considered it. Want was something that had vanished with the night’s happenings followed by many other feelings, only leaving void behind.
He opened the old fashioned TV for imaginary company and hid the most important and expensive stuff he had into the inner pockets of his bag. As in, all the stuff Donghae had given him, the little that was left of his money and a few pictures. A ring. His mobile would lie down next to his head, getting lifted up a few times for writing a text or making a quick call.
**
His phone buzzed beside his ear and he cracked one eye open. 8am, said the clock. He groaned and brought the phone lazily to his ear. “Yes?” Anticipating an answer, he realized it was just a wakeup call. Now get up and drag your big ass here, I got your application letter ready. Eunhyuk smirked. He still hadn’t changed his mind. Paying for the hostel stay, he was soon by Henry’s door, a CV ready in his hands.
“Not a good night? Looks like hell to you,” Henry greeted and Eunhyuk rolled his eyes. They still smiled at each other, slowly strengthening the bond they had. Henry boiled some water for tea before they both dropped onto the couch at Henry’s laptop with cups in their hands. Henry detailed him about what he had written in the application, making Eunhyuk very pleased with what it sounded like. Sending the application via his newly created e-mail wasn’t a big deal anymore so they grandiloquently leaned back against the couch cushions when it was done.
“Thank you so much, Henry,” he said and went careful with smiling at Henry’s sleepy eyes without laughing. “For everything.”
“It’s like you’re talking to me this one last time. Or asking if you could stay at my place again. So, before you make it to that, sure. Anytime,” Henry played a soothsayer, and Eunhyuk wanted to, had to laugh. As a gesture of thanks, he took Henry’s empty cup and carried it to the kitchen sink.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” he mumbled and reasoned that maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas. To stay at Henry’s. He really wished the boy was more like Donghae. Not too hopeful, more of the realistic type. The world was not Henry’s place. Too cruel, empty of dreams coming true. At least their world.
“It’s okay. You don’t even eat much, plus, how could I not help you?” Way too good of a person.
“Yeah, how not,” Eunhyuk muttered quietly. “How not.”
**
Of course he made it into a crewmember. It had taken only a bit less than a week for him to be approved. The mail was short but had all the details about where he had to go and when. The only thing he was worried about was his ability of speaking English. Henry had helped him out a bit earlier but it hadn’t really done much. If he had to find anything good out of it, it was that he could say his name and fake age and ask about where the bathroom was quite well, actually. But mostly, he had no hope.
It was the sunny spring morning that woke them up and Henry went straight outside to prepare his scooter for a bit longer drive, adding fuel and checking it in general. Eunhyuk had packed most of his belongings when Henry re-entered the apartment, looking at him questioningly. Damn, he thought while desperately trying to stuff his gun under the waistband of his jeans. Henry, you fast little brat.
“Look… No, don’t look.” Turning so that his back was facing Henry was a good idea. “This is not what it looks like.”
“Then what?” Silence, until he cleared his throat.
“I need to feel secure. I got no intentions to actually use it, just. You know what I mean.” He turned to look at Henry’s frozen face apologetically. “You have to understand.” Henry’s eyes were slowly ripped from the shining black gun to his gaze.
The silence was filled with searching, for any sign of disloyalty. Henry finally seemed to shrug it off and moved, grabbing Eunhyuk’s bag and heading back out. “I do. I really do. Let’s go.” The silence after was more than awkward.
**
“I was really shocked earlier on, you know,” Henry confessed and smiled a bit, taking the helmet off while doing so. “So, I’m sorry. I’d… I’d never think of you like that.” Eunhyuk felt relief shake him, hiding his closed eyes by keeping the helmet still on for a while, turning his face to the ground.
“I know,” was the simple answer and he smiled up at Henry. They didn’t have to separate in bad terms, fortunately. “I’m not that desperate.” The wordless promise could be read from Henry’s innocent face. That he’d always cheer for him.
“Take this,” Henry mumbled and handed him a packet of the most expensive brand of painkillers. “I figured it could be of help. When it gets too hard on you.” A wide grin. Totally knowing what he needed. Out of the blue, right after setting his helmet down onto the scooter, he caught Henry off guard with a big, warm hug.
“Crap. Why are you making me into something like this,” he cried into the crook of Henry’s neck. He could taste the salty tears wetting his lips already. “Watch out for Donghae.”
“Be careful,” Henry suggested. At least Henry wasn’t that difficult to deal with. He could promise to be careful, not safe. “Use that gun if you really need to.” Oh. What had he just said?
Henry left the harbor. It was about 11am. The sun burned serious as Eunhyuk prepared to say something smart in English. He started looking for the ship that was claimed to have the text “Map the Soul” written big on its wooden side. He found it unexpectedly easily, despite having to squint to see properly with the sun shining so bright above him. His bag wasn’t very heavy but it still managed to weigh his shoulder as he stared at the ship he was going to work at for who knew how long.
“Here we go, there’s no turning back,” he warned himself, slowly making his way to the quay. He immediately spotted two men talking by the steps leading up to the ship. Damn, where was his English now? With a shy “good morning”, he got the men’s attention to him.
“You’re probably Lee Hyukjae. Welcome! You’re early. Let me show the place around first, since there will still be some time until we leave,” the other one of them, black haired and very thin man said, English flowing quickly with a funny accent, Eunhyuk could tell at least. “We have to wait until our captain comes back.” He gave a glance to the western looking guy having his stare at him before heading after the talkative one with quick steps.
The water hitting the sides of the ship could almost be felt on the deck. He had to admit that the sea indeed was beautiful and he did anticipate his working time a bit. He brushed the dark rail with his fingertips as the guy, Alexander as he had introduced himself, told him about important things he had to know whilst work. He listened attentively, catching and memorizing everything he could, nodding every now and then to give the impression he got it.
“You look very young. How old are you?” Alexander asked all of a sudden, and he lifted his eyes to the big, attentive ones. Luckily, he caught the question.
“I turned 25 last week,” he voiced the well practiced sentence with a smile and felt confident for guessing that was the question he could be asked. That wasn’t true, of course. He had gotten older last week, on the fourth of April, but he was only 24. He couldn’t say there wasn’t any difference to 25. Too bad the year they now were living in was 2010.
“Wow. I’d think you would be about twenty. Ah, captain’s coming,” Alexander exclaimed as he peeked over the rails. Eunhyuk turned his head as well, just to see a man greet the guy by the steps. Smiling, and Eunhyuk immediately noted the great posture and fine black hair. “You can call him Tablo. He’s 29. Quite fine, huh? He’s a nice guy. No need to panic around him or anything.” Eunhyuk still panicked, slightly, as Alexander greeted Tablo over excitedly. In clumsy Korean. Tablo nodded and faced him next. “This is Lee Hyukjae. He came early.”
“Good. That means we can take off a bit earlier today. Welcome.” The smile was warm and for a while, Eunhyuk wondered if he had a brother. The cheeks, the chin, the mouth, maybe the nose, seemed familiar… Ah, but the smile was something. It made Eunhyuk less scared, even a bit calm. He didn’t feel like sweating anymore. “Can you bring him to my office? I’ll be right there. I have to take care of something.”
“Sure. He’s quite shy, by the way. I probably scared him with my talking,” Alexander stated apologetically. Eunhyuk was happy to understand every word of it and wondered if he would be talking Korean with Tablo as well. It would be more than a relief.
“As you do,” Tablo snorted, amused. “Call me Tablo, for now.” Nodding once more, he left, the guy Eunhyuk knew nothing about following behind. Alexander slightly brushed his elbow with a palm and smiled, switching to Korean with him as well.
“I’ll show you his office.”
The office wasn’t very big. There was only one tiny window, letting in some of the sunlight. It was understandable, the room locating under the deck. There were many candles instead, though. It was comfortable, an old sofa by the desk and a chair behind it. A bed in the corner. A bookshelf. Many pens, a map on the wall. Almost everything in dark brown, tiny droplets of other colors here and there.
“Do you need anything from your bag? I can take it to your room if you want,” Alexander cut the flow of his thoughts. He quickly took his fake ID card from the bag and passed the latter to Alexander. “Captain will probably give you something to eat if you’re hungry. Just ask.”
The door didn’t close behind Alexander so Eunhyuk thought he had to be a bit aware of the situation for a while. He tried if the gun was still under his waistband. It was.
He slowly started examining smaller details in the room. There was a lot of paper on the desk, in shelves. Empty and some that had beautiful handwriting on them. Lean and straight. Well divided. As if they were some song lyrics, the hooks of the many ys, js and gs going far down and back up in pretty joints to the following letters. He touched the smooth surface of the paper, feeling the slight patterns pressed by a pencil against his fingertips. Not knowing why, he closed his eyes and listened to the lonely silence.
A knock. Eunhyuk turned quickly and spotted Tablo leaning against the doorway, grinning. “I never knew I’d have to knock my own door before getting in,” Tablo joked genially in Korean. Eunhyuk hid his embarrassment with a bow. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone lurking through his employer’s personal property.
“I’m sorry, captain. I got carried away while… uh. I’m sorry,” he rambled, finally daring to look up and suggest a hesitant smile. Tablo laughed and walked past him to sit on the chair at the table.
“No need. Sit,” the captain ordered and Eunhyuk obeyed, slowly taking a seat on the couch. “You look stiff. Relax. Want nuts?” Eunhyuk looked confused as a full bowl of hazelnuts was in front of his face, so offering. He shyly straightened his hand and soon tasted the mild nut in his mouth. Oh, he was hungry. “So you have your identity card? Just a security checkup.”
“Yeah.” He slid his card on the table, hands grabbing it on the other end. He felt even more nervous, Tablo scanning the card with a frown.
“So you’re the dancer… Lee Hyukjae.” He nodded somewhat furiously. What if Donghae had messed and done something wrong? Actually, he didn’t even want to think about it. However, the eyes were so blind about the ID card that Tablo’s face brightened up and he started to look for something from one of the drawers. “Congratulations. You’re abroad.” Slapping a formal looking document on the desk at him, he smiled. “All you need to do is sign here.”
He slowly read the printed sentences but figured he wouldn’t understand the slightly more advanced English and just signed where he thought he should. Tablo leaned back in his chair, staring.
“I’ve never actually had a dancer in the ship. Everyone here is keen on acrobatics or languages, or weight lifting. Or music. I can’t dance at all, to be honest. But I decided to give it a try this time to see what it takes. So. Be good.”
Lee Hyukjae, the signature read. He wished he could be good enough to earn the trust of his employer. Earn the money he needed. “I will,” he stated strongly as Tablo accepted the document and gave his ID card in exchange.
There was a long silence. Tablo seemed to organize something on the desk with attention, as if in his own little world. Eunhyuk wanted to laugh but managed to hide a chuckle in a cough. “You know. You remind me a lot of someone. The person was a lot like you when he was younger.” Tablo finally looked at him again, quite serious this time. “I get this picture of you. You like peace. And when you like to do something, you keep quiet about it but do it with passion. Is that right?” Tablo stood up with a whiff, tapping the table in some rhythm while walking to sit beside him on the couch. He kept his eyes from following the movement, feeling the cushions sink downwards. And how in the hell could Tablo know him so well without actually… knowing him?
“Uh, I really like dancing,” he mumbled, making sure he kept his stare on his shoes.
“I know. I used to be like that. I still am. I love what I do,” Tablo said, happiness in his voice. “But there’s something else there, too…” His chin was gently grabbed and face turned in the dim light of the room. The studying gaze was held on his face, so slow and weird. “It’s the jawline. That looks very familiar to me. Compared to mine.”
Eunhyuk swallowed, wondering what to say when a man said they looked alike. Should he say he had noticed that earlier, too, or no, they didn’t resemble each other at all in his point of view…? He decided to stick with “Is that so?” with a blank expression. Despite that, Tablo’s smile was warm as he suggested him to eat something and he agreed, shoving all the thoughts of what had happened to the back of his mind and making himself forget about those for the rest of the day.
Still aware of them.
**
**
A/N: My growing love for BloHyuk started to show last spring and the outcome of it... Beautiful or not so beautiful. So, I hope you like it? It's my first finished chaptered fic in English and I feel very... accomplished? :D
Bad English
Eunhyuk had always wanted to protect the people he was close to. But protecting wasn’t enough. He came to realize, that sometimes, he had to look back, too.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
**
”Is Your long life desire to see the world sailing with Your abilities always by Your side? Our job is what You’re looking for. We can offer You all of what we’ve already promised and more. You get fed and paid well by serving us as a crewmember.
Spreading Your abilities like music, languages and acrobatics is all great service for us. We expect You to be motivated and have the ability of speaking fluent English and at least 25 years of age. Please do note that we’re only capable of taking in a few new members.
Send Your CV and well informed application to:
sailingcircus@sails.com”
Eunhyuk printed the site with trembling fingers. If there was anything he could possibly do, if he just… If dancing could be counted as an ability. In an instance, names popped into his head. He exhaled, grabbed his bag and the print and exited the hostel with pace.
Understanding only little parts of the text in English, Eunhyuk realized he needed help with writing the application letter. He was doing wrong in so many ways by offering to take the job but he wasn’t left with any options, really. If any of his friends could be of some help, it had to be Henry Lau.
The squishy cheeked Canadian eyed the print for a long while, nodding every now and then, and finally lifted his face up. “You’re not really going to do this? Dear Lord,” Henry showed a horrified expression but it faded as Eunhyuk glanced at him warningly. “The thing is that you have to know English.”
“I know English well enough,” he stated strongly.
“It’s not like I could tell if you know English at all.”
“Shut up and help me now.” Henry side eyed him but turned his eyes to the print again.
“It seems like it’s some kind of like a circus stopping at the biggest harbors in the world. Performing there. You would probably have to take… YAH! Listen to this; “…and at least 25 years of age”. See.”
“I know! I won’t let it bother. I know what I’ll do,” he sighed and snapped the paper from Henry’s hands. “I can’t believe you’re not helping.”
“Wait, I will! Just. Tell me what I have to do.”
Eunhyuk smirked in victory. “I want you to write an application letter for me. And send it to the e-mail address,” he spoke, shoving the job advertisement to his friend again, ignoring whatever the boy had to say quite shamelessly. “I’ll bring all the necessary stuff tomorrow. Like, my CV and stuff.”
“You don’t even have one.”
“But soon, I will.” The smirk that appeared to his lips was amused.
**
“Are you sure about this?” That was probably the 14th time Donghae was asking the question from him within the last half an hour. He tugged at the skinny ribs with an elbow.
“Mr. Obligation still speaking? Are you trying to help me or help me?” he laughed but got a serious look from Donghae. Kind of trying to tell him something like “don’t game with me” or “I’m not in this to kill you”.
“I’m trying to figure which one of the ways to help is better.”
“Donghae.” His voice was a tad bit desperate, like it was way too often nowadays. “I need the money. From working. You have nothing more to offer me but this. What you’re doing for me now is indispensable.” He stroked the lean coat of the black object in Donghae’s left hand. In the right one, there was some paperwork, a fake ID card and his fresh CV.
Donghae’s tired eyes scanned his with attention. There were just slight wrinkles along the lines of the eye bags and with Donghae getting thinner day by day, gently sloping dents on the sides of his cheeks. The breathing had gotten just a bit uneasy. The sigh escaping the lips threw Donghae against him. “Promise to be safe.”
It was uneasy, patting the now slender back and trying to figure the new state of Donghae’s mind. All he could promise was that things would get easier with time. But being safe, that, he couldn’t promise.
Saying his goodbyes, maybe pecking a longing kiss to Donghae’s lips, he grabbed what Donghae offered him and left the alley. He knew he could never forget about the help he got, the bonds he had built along the years. His stomach turned painfully as he realized he would leave a fleeting memory of himself inside everyone. But this was his decision. If he really loved the people he had learned to know, he’d leave and keep them safe instead.
Sleeping was an impossible idea. He didn’t cry, disturbing himself by listening to another hostel client jerk off through the thin walls of the building. Sighing, he considered it. Want was something that had vanished with the night’s happenings followed by many other feelings, only leaving void behind.
He opened the old fashioned TV for imaginary company and hid the most important and expensive stuff he had into the inner pockets of his bag. As in, all the stuff Donghae had given him, the little that was left of his money and a few pictures. A ring. His mobile would lie down next to his head, getting lifted up a few times for writing a text or making a quick call.
**
His phone buzzed beside his ear and he cracked one eye open. 8am, said the clock. He groaned and brought the phone lazily to his ear. “Yes?” Anticipating an answer, he realized it was just a wakeup call. Now get up and drag your big ass here, I got your application letter ready. Eunhyuk smirked. He still hadn’t changed his mind. Paying for the hostel stay, he was soon by Henry’s door, a CV ready in his hands.
“Not a good night? Looks like hell to you,” Henry greeted and Eunhyuk rolled his eyes. They still smiled at each other, slowly strengthening the bond they had. Henry boiled some water for tea before they both dropped onto the couch at Henry’s laptop with cups in their hands. Henry detailed him about what he had written in the application, making Eunhyuk very pleased with what it sounded like. Sending the application via his newly created e-mail wasn’t a big deal anymore so they grandiloquently leaned back against the couch cushions when it was done.
“Thank you so much, Henry,” he said and went careful with smiling at Henry’s sleepy eyes without laughing. “For everything.”
“It’s like you’re talking to me this one last time. Or asking if you could stay at my place again. So, before you make it to that, sure. Anytime,” Henry played a soothsayer, and Eunhyuk wanted to, had to laugh. As a gesture of thanks, he took Henry’s empty cup and carried it to the kitchen sink.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” he mumbled and reasoned that maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas. To stay at Henry’s. He really wished the boy was more like Donghae. Not too hopeful, more of the realistic type. The world was not Henry’s place. Too cruel, empty of dreams coming true. At least their world.
“It’s okay. You don’t even eat much, plus, how could I not help you?” Way too good of a person.
“Yeah, how not,” Eunhyuk muttered quietly. “How not.”
**
Of course he made it into a crewmember. It had taken only a bit less than a week for him to be approved. The mail was short but had all the details about where he had to go and when. The only thing he was worried about was his ability of speaking English. Henry had helped him out a bit earlier but it hadn’t really done much. If he had to find anything good out of it, it was that he could say his name and fake age and ask about where the bathroom was quite well, actually. But mostly, he had no hope.
It was the sunny spring morning that woke them up and Henry went straight outside to prepare his scooter for a bit longer drive, adding fuel and checking it in general. Eunhyuk had packed most of his belongings when Henry re-entered the apartment, looking at him questioningly. Damn, he thought while desperately trying to stuff his gun under the waistband of his jeans. Henry, you fast little brat.
“Look… No, don’t look.” Turning so that his back was facing Henry was a good idea. “This is not what it looks like.”
“Then what?” Silence, until he cleared his throat.
“I need to feel secure. I got no intentions to actually use it, just. You know what I mean.” He turned to look at Henry’s frozen face apologetically. “You have to understand.” Henry’s eyes were slowly ripped from the shining black gun to his gaze.
The silence was filled with searching, for any sign of disloyalty. Henry finally seemed to shrug it off and moved, grabbing Eunhyuk’s bag and heading back out. “I do. I really do. Let’s go.” The silence after was more than awkward.
**
“I was really shocked earlier on, you know,” Henry confessed and smiled a bit, taking the helmet off while doing so. “So, I’m sorry. I’d… I’d never think of you like that.” Eunhyuk felt relief shake him, hiding his closed eyes by keeping the helmet still on for a while, turning his face to the ground.
“I know,” was the simple answer and he smiled up at Henry. They didn’t have to separate in bad terms, fortunately. “I’m not that desperate.” The wordless promise could be read from Henry’s innocent face. That he’d always cheer for him.
“Take this,” Henry mumbled and handed him a packet of the most expensive brand of painkillers. “I figured it could be of help. When it gets too hard on you.” A wide grin. Totally knowing what he needed. Out of the blue, right after setting his helmet down onto the scooter, he caught Henry off guard with a big, warm hug.
“Crap. Why are you making me into something like this,” he cried into the crook of Henry’s neck. He could taste the salty tears wetting his lips already. “Watch out for Donghae.”
“Be careful,” Henry suggested. At least Henry wasn’t that difficult to deal with. He could promise to be careful, not safe. “Use that gun if you really need to.” Oh. What had he just said?
Henry left the harbor. It was about 11am. The sun burned serious as Eunhyuk prepared to say something smart in English. He started looking for the ship that was claimed to have the text “Map the Soul” written big on its wooden side. He found it unexpectedly easily, despite having to squint to see properly with the sun shining so bright above him. His bag wasn’t very heavy but it still managed to weigh his shoulder as he stared at the ship he was going to work at for who knew how long.
“Here we go, there’s no turning back,” he warned himself, slowly making his way to the quay. He immediately spotted two men talking by the steps leading up to the ship. Damn, where was his English now? With a shy “good morning”, he got the men’s attention to him.
“You’re probably Lee Hyukjae. Welcome! You’re early. Let me show the place around first, since there will still be some time until we leave,” the other one of them, black haired and very thin man said, English flowing quickly with a funny accent, Eunhyuk could tell at least. “We have to wait until our captain comes back.” He gave a glance to the western looking guy having his stare at him before heading after the talkative one with quick steps.
The water hitting the sides of the ship could almost be felt on the deck. He had to admit that the sea indeed was beautiful and he did anticipate his working time a bit. He brushed the dark rail with his fingertips as the guy, Alexander as he had introduced himself, told him about important things he had to know whilst work. He listened attentively, catching and memorizing everything he could, nodding every now and then to give the impression he got it.
“You look very young. How old are you?” Alexander asked all of a sudden, and he lifted his eyes to the big, attentive ones. Luckily, he caught the question.
“I turned 25 last week,” he voiced the well practiced sentence with a smile and felt confident for guessing that was the question he could be asked. That wasn’t true, of course. He had gotten older last week, on the fourth of April, but he was only 24. He couldn’t say there wasn’t any difference to 25. Too bad the year they now were living in was 2010.
“Wow. I’d think you would be about twenty. Ah, captain’s coming,” Alexander exclaimed as he peeked over the rails. Eunhyuk turned his head as well, just to see a man greet the guy by the steps. Smiling, and Eunhyuk immediately noted the great posture and fine black hair. “You can call him Tablo. He’s 29. Quite fine, huh? He’s a nice guy. No need to panic around him or anything.” Eunhyuk still panicked, slightly, as Alexander greeted Tablo over excitedly. In clumsy Korean. Tablo nodded and faced him next. “This is Lee Hyukjae. He came early.”
“Good. That means we can take off a bit earlier today. Welcome.” The smile was warm and for a while, Eunhyuk wondered if he had a brother. The cheeks, the chin, the mouth, maybe the nose, seemed familiar… Ah, but the smile was something. It made Eunhyuk less scared, even a bit calm. He didn’t feel like sweating anymore. “Can you bring him to my office? I’ll be right there. I have to take care of something.”
“Sure. He’s quite shy, by the way. I probably scared him with my talking,” Alexander stated apologetically. Eunhyuk was happy to understand every word of it and wondered if he would be talking Korean with Tablo as well. It would be more than a relief.
“As you do,” Tablo snorted, amused. “Call me Tablo, for now.” Nodding once more, he left, the guy Eunhyuk knew nothing about following behind. Alexander slightly brushed his elbow with a palm and smiled, switching to Korean with him as well.
“I’ll show you his office.”
The office wasn’t very big. There was only one tiny window, letting in some of the sunlight. It was understandable, the room locating under the deck. There were many candles instead, though. It was comfortable, an old sofa by the desk and a chair behind it. A bed in the corner. A bookshelf. Many pens, a map on the wall. Almost everything in dark brown, tiny droplets of other colors here and there.
“Do you need anything from your bag? I can take it to your room if you want,” Alexander cut the flow of his thoughts. He quickly took his fake ID card from the bag and passed the latter to Alexander. “Captain will probably give you something to eat if you’re hungry. Just ask.”
The door didn’t close behind Alexander so Eunhyuk thought he had to be a bit aware of the situation for a while. He tried if the gun was still under his waistband. It was.
He slowly started examining smaller details in the room. There was a lot of paper on the desk, in shelves. Empty and some that had beautiful handwriting on them. Lean and straight. Well divided. As if they were some song lyrics, the hooks of the many ys, js and gs going far down and back up in pretty joints to the following letters. He touched the smooth surface of the paper, feeling the slight patterns pressed by a pencil against his fingertips. Not knowing why, he closed his eyes and listened to the lonely silence.
A knock. Eunhyuk turned quickly and spotted Tablo leaning against the doorway, grinning. “I never knew I’d have to knock my own door before getting in,” Tablo joked genially in Korean. Eunhyuk hid his embarrassment with a bow. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone lurking through his employer’s personal property.
“I’m sorry, captain. I got carried away while… uh. I’m sorry,” he rambled, finally daring to look up and suggest a hesitant smile. Tablo laughed and walked past him to sit on the chair at the table.
“No need. Sit,” the captain ordered and Eunhyuk obeyed, slowly taking a seat on the couch. “You look stiff. Relax. Want nuts?” Eunhyuk looked confused as a full bowl of hazelnuts was in front of his face, so offering. He shyly straightened his hand and soon tasted the mild nut in his mouth. Oh, he was hungry. “So you have your identity card? Just a security checkup.”
“Yeah.” He slid his card on the table, hands grabbing it on the other end. He felt even more nervous, Tablo scanning the card with a frown.
“So you’re the dancer… Lee Hyukjae.” He nodded somewhat furiously. What if Donghae had messed and done something wrong? Actually, he didn’t even want to think about it. However, the eyes were so blind about the ID card that Tablo’s face brightened up and he started to look for something from one of the drawers. “Congratulations. You’re abroad.” Slapping a formal looking document on the desk at him, he smiled. “All you need to do is sign here.”
He slowly read the printed sentences but figured he wouldn’t understand the slightly more advanced English and just signed where he thought he should. Tablo leaned back in his chair, staring.
“I’ve never actually had a dancer in the ship. Everyone here is keen on acrobatics or languages, or weight lifting. Or music. I can’t dance at all, to be honest. But I decided to give it a try this time to see what it takes. So. Be good.”
Lee Hyukjae, the signature read. He wished he could be good enough to earn the trust of his employer. Earn the money he needed. “I will,” he stated strongly as Tablo accepted the document and gave his ID card in exchange.
There was a long silence. Tablo seemed to organize something on the desk with attention, as if in his own little world. Eunhyuk wanted to laugh but managed to hide a chuckle in a cough. “You know. You remind me a lot of someone. The person was a lot like you when he was younger.” Tablo finally looked at him again, quite serious this time. “I get this picture of you. You like peace. And when you like to do something, you keep quiet about it but do it with passion. Is that right?” Tablo stood up with a whiff, tapping the table in some rhythm while walking to sit beside him on the couch. He kept his eyes from following the movement, feeling the cushions sink downwards. And how in the hell could Tablo know him so well without actually… knowing him?
“Uh, I really like dancing,” he mumbled, making sure he kept his stare on his shoes.
“I know. I used to be like that. I still am. I love what I do,” Tablo said, happiness in his voice. “But there’s something else there, too…” His chin was gently grabbed and face turned in the dim light of the room. The studying gaze was held on his face, so slow and weird. “It’s the jawline. That looks very familiar to me. Compared to mine.”
Eunhyuk swallowed, wondering what to say when a man said they looked alike. Should he say he had noticed that earlier, too, or no, they didn’t resemble each other at all in his point of view…? He decided to stick with “Is that so?” with a blank expression. Despite that, Tablo’s smile was warm as he suggested him to eat something and he agreed, shoving all the thoughts of what had happened to the back of his mind and making himself forget about those for the rest of the day.
Still aware of them.
**
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A/N: My growing love for BloHyuk started to show last spring and the outcome of it... Beautiful or not so beautiful. So, I hope you like it? It's my first finished chaptered fic in English and I feel very... accomplished? :D