Eternal- Chapter 6

[meheartyunho]

Title: Eternal
Author: meheartyunho
Length: Chaptered (6/?)
Pairing: Yunjae
Genre: Angst, Romance, AU, Supernatrual, Violence, Drama
Rating: Nc-17
Summary: When you get the impossible and reached a point where you wanted, needed to claim it, what were you to do? Especially when the impossible was the love and affair of your sister’s fiancé, when the year was 1873 and men shouldn’t feel anything but the urge for a family and wealth.
But what if you ran away and got another shot at the impossible? What if you had no other choice? You just had to learn how to live with the thirst, the hormones, the fights and the bloody, lusty, animalistic sex.
Beta: hubby fi_chan <3
Banner made by my sweetheart steorie <3

Previous:
Prologue 1 2 3 4 5

A/N: Two weeks have passed and I’m now back! ^^ So we left off with yunjae teasing each other whilst on the run~ Here’s the next chappie :D

Chapter 6

They wandered for hours-a tough and quite boring hike that only led them forward. Climbing high rocks and thickets would have been better than this, but if the positions were reversed they would probably rather walk on a road. The grass was always greener on the other side, after all.

Jaejoong was starting to breathe more heavily next to him, the luggage on their shoulders weighing them down.

“God,” he panted, but kept moving anyway, muscles pushing him forward. “My feet are starting to swell,” he complained, feeling the otherwise comfortable shoes being a bit too small. Yunho wanted nothing more than to tell him that he could lie down and rest, but he knew he couldn’t. They had to keep moving, and it would be good for him not to give in to Jaejoong’s every whim for a while.

“I know, baby. Just a bit more, okay?” he let out between the bone-breaking clench of his jaw. He was pretty sure his toe was starting to bleed by now, but he didn’t want to say it out loud. If he did Jaejoong would firmly sit down on the ground and not move until Yunho had complied in resting and taken care of his wound. It wasn’t like it was life threatening-they could take care of that later.

Jaejoong didn’t answer; it was a waste of energy by now. He was grumpy-yes. Tired, exhausted, hungry and thirsty. His neck and shoulders ached from the weight bringing him down. But he knew that in the end it was all worth it… What was a bit of cramp when he got to spend all his time with Yunho? What was a little sweat when he could finally and wholeheartedly love this man? He smiled to himself, pushing the last of his aching thighs up the slant. It was starting to darken, the birds’ chatter slowly replaced by the ones that only crawled up with the moon.

They both fell forward for the last bit, using their hands and knees to get up the hill. Their hands scraped the ground, skin breaking under contact and dirt sticking to the sweat. But they were up, finally there. The house was right there, presented by a sign and looking a bit rundown with the slightly rusty hinges of a thick door. But despite that the windows were intact and the house actually very cosy. Spending a night there felt like heaven right now. They pushed themselves up and walked up to the white painted fence, walking around it until they found an entry. Jaejoong traced the crimson red roses with the tips of his fingers. The touch was fleeting and cool, and very appreciated on his hand. It was like he could finally relax.

They looked slightly out of place-the house was idyllic while the roses belonged somewhere more…boring? Something exclusive maybe-it was so common. Out here he imagined purple, white, pink and blue. Small flowers that grew like they wanted and wished. Something that wasn’t so neat, but still perfect.

“Thank God,” Jaejoong breathed out, dropping his heavy bag from his aching, sore shoulders by his feet. He rolled them a few times while Yunho knocked on the door, the wood not moving an inch under his fist. The place seemed ready for anything, despite looking slightly rundown on the outside. Jaejoong was pretty sure he could scrape off the paint on the fence, and he wished someone had. He also wished the roses away. It somehow felt safer that way, like they were far, far away from where their families wanted them-closer to their own place and dreams.

He looked around, a bit uneasy with his surroundings. It was getting darker faster than he had noticed at home. When you feared it time always moved faster. He envisioned the forest-foxes, snakes and god knows what crawling out and around his feet. Probably hungry for flesh to tear apart, legs to seize and screams to mute. He shuddered at his own thoughts, feeling the cold getting to him.

Yunho knocked impatiently again, this time louder. A low mumble and shuffling was heard and the door clicked open from a key. A small woman looked at them, dressed in a surprisingly clean, casual dress and an apron. With keys in one hand and a spoon in another she smiled at them and waved them inside, the wrinkles on her face making her smile adorable.

“Welcome, welcome,” she gushed, closing and locking the door behind them and Yunho dropped his bag to the floor too, sighing and cracking his back. “Are you here to eat, rent a room or both?” She looked at them, eyes going from one to another. Her eyelids were slightly hanging, but Yunho imagined her eyes had been quite beautiful in her younger years. They were sharp, smart but very kind. She could tell they were no threat. They looked at each other, both agreeing quickly.

“Both, please,” Yunho answered, receiving a smile he gladly returned. Something about her made him like the old woman. She was round in appearance, making her come across as someone doing very good. She looked like the type that enjoyed life, something they were both just learning to do.

“Very well.” She clapped her hands together and turned, gesturing them to follow her. They grabbed their bags and walked after her to a small reception. She moved around, wrote down their names (fake ones, of course) on a piece of paper and selected their room. “Here’s your key, and dinner will be served in an hour. There’s a washtub in your room that you may use. Hot water is available, but only a one-time use I’m afraid.” She looked at them apologetically, obviously not thinking that sharing it was an option for the two males. This time Jaejoong smiled and wound his pinkie around Yunho’s behind the wooden table.

“That’s okay, Ahjumma. We’ll work it out.” She smiled and they paid her, grabbing the key before heading upstairs. The inside was bigger than it looked from the outside-three floors high and had a lot of space. They looked around from the stairs, spotting the dining room and in the other corner a crackling fire along with a rug and comfortable couches. Yunho saw something that looked like a bar, bottle after bottle lined up, making the house a bit more comfortable. He made a mental note to order something for them later on. They had some money to spare.

Guests were quite spread out, some taking their time relaxing with a book and some enjoying others’ company. Most of them were elderly, of middle class or higher. Their carts were parked right outside with horses in a small but secured stable, making sure that no predators with teeth and claws sharp enough to kill them could get through to their prey. It seemed like they had reached a bit of a luxurious place to stay.

“I like this,” Jaejoong said, treading up the steady stairs, face glowing just a bit more from the environment. “I’ve never liked any mansion as much as this house. It’s homey.” He turned back to smile at Yunho who caught up with him once they were up the stairs, Jaejoong leaning up to kiss his cheek in a nostalgic, happy sense of peace.

They found their room quickly-number 15. The lock was easy and the door willingly opened up the room for them. It didn’t disappoint either one of them, and Jaejoong almost had to bite his lip when he smiled. It was clean, not at all like he had expected it. There were paraffin lamps on both sides of the bed and they moved forward to light them. The floor held a rug that the bed was situated on, the wooden floor slightly creaking, but steady. In the corner was the tub and something that…well, neither of them was used to for their needs. Jaejoong took off his shoes and lay down on the bed while Yunho blocked any sight into their room with the curtains. The lamps cast a wonderful yellow glow over everything in the room, instantly warming Jaejoong up with the light.

“Ahh,” Jaejoong sighed and closed his eyes. The bed might not be very big, or particularly soft-it didn’t exactly follow the curves of his body, but for such a cheap room and his tired body it felt like he was floating on clouds. It was soft enough for them. Another weight joined his and he popped an eye open, seeing Yunho toss away his shoes and lie down next to him. Yunho moaned in approval, snuggling further into the covers while Jaejoong was on his back, trying to get the blood away from his feet and up to the rest of his body. “It’s nice isn’t it?” he murmured, sucking his tummy in as a reaction to Yunho’s fingers lightly drawing on it outside his shirt.

“It’s perfect… God, It feels like I just ran a marathon,” he mumbled back, opening his eyes to stare at Jaejoong’s relaxed face. His fingers were now under the cotton, feeling the light heaving and the soft graze of hairs on the flat stomach. He had successfully played half a song on an imaginary piano on Jaejoong’s stomach with one hand when someone knocked on their door, waking Jaejoong up from his haze. “I’ll get it,” Yunho said tiredly, forcing his exhausted body up so that Jaejoong could stay put and rest some more before it was time to get down for the warm meal they had yearned for.

He unlocked the door and opened up to three men, no doubt working there. They bowed in greeting, each one carrying a bucket of smoking hot water. A towel was thrown over the last man’s shoulder.

“For the tub, sir,” they said and Yunho instantly moved out of the way, hearing Jaejoong react behind him at the mention of a bath. A chance to get clean and warm.

They filled the oval tub up and then quickly left, Jaejoong already barefoot when they were out the door. Yunho locked it and wasted no time himself, sitting down on a small stool to get rid of his left sock. He winced when he pulled it off. His toe was missing a layer of skin, and he wrinkled his nose and discarded the dry blood that clung to him and inside the sock. Dipping that one in hot water wouldn’t exactly be an orgasm.

He looked up at the splashing of water, a naked Jaejoong already sinking into the tub. It didn’t exactly help him focus, but his clothes came off a whole lot quicker that way. Jaejoong was leaning back against the edge, his head the only thing that was over the surface. Yunho walked up behind him and Jaejoong willingly moved forward to make room for him. He never missed a chance to lean back against him; it was more comfortable than the nicest bed. Yunho sank down, hissing when the water burned the open flesh on his toe. The pain subsided and he leaned back, Jaejoong following quickly to warm him up even more.

He took the liberty to wash Jaejoong himself, hands scooping water to pour over Jaejoong’s torso, quickly followed by soft and large hands half washing, half caressing him. They went from his chest down his sides and hips, stomach and up again, past his nipples and up his throat, neck and cheeks. They wet his hair and his aching temples, and he moaned when the skilled fingers rubbed away the tenseness straining his scalp and temples.

“You will so…” Jaejoong spoke, eyes closed and head lightly swaying with Yunho’s fingers, “get something special tonight.” Yunho chuckled, hands leaving his hair to massage Jaejoong’s open palms and fingers, successfully getting rid of all the dirt. He kissed his cheek and his tilted neck, mouth surprisingly aching for kisses.

“Looking forward to that,” he mumbled back, pressing his mouth against his ear.

“You really should…” Yunho chuckled and entwined their fingers under the water, silently showing the end of his massage and looked at the weight on top of him instead. Naked, he was the most vulnerable thing he had seen, and also the most precious thing he had ever been given to protect. Especially now, leaning so dependently on his chest.

They stayed a few more minutes, resting and splashing the surface around, creating waves in amusement.

“We should get up; dinner is probably ready any minute now.”

Jaejoong hummed in reply but didn’t move, only shifted deeper down into the water. He really wasn’t ready to leave just yet. He finally had Yunho all to himself in a bath. His two favourite things in the world. Only one of those things decided to ruin the moment by being quite annoying. “Hey,” Yunho poked the side of his head, trying to make him open his eyes. “I didn’t say fall asleep, lazy bum.” Jaejoong sighed and slowly opened his sleepy eyes, rubbing them with a wet palm.

“I’m up, I’m up.” He yawned and stood up in a lazy manner before grabbing a towel and stepping out and over the edge. Yunho too stood up, drying himself with the same towel Jaejoong just used, watching as the man got dressed. He observed the way his curves moved and when his muscles flexed; how his cheeks looked just a tad bit rosier when he was tired, eyes a bit darker. In the lamp’s light his hair looked inky blue and his skin took a more ivory glow. In any light, at any time he could look so different, and still stay gorgeous just the same.

He envied that in a way-no matter how handsome or gorgeous Jaejoong claimed he was in return. Personally, he just thought he looked awkward, with too much going on. Jaw too defined, eyes too small, face too small. Jaejoong saw nothing of what Yunho was seeing, claiming he was criticizing himself too hard. In his eyes, Yunho was perfection. No exaggeration, and nothing he said just because he was already in love with the man. The very first time he saw him, he had to look twice, thrice, even more. He was manly, kept his posture and smiled like something perfect God must have let slip through his fingers. Jaejoong sighed and sat down, drying his hair tousled while Yunho finished putting his pants back on.

They walked down, sadly not hand in hand-they were trying to look a bit nonchalant about the other’s presence. Yunho went down first, followed by a wincing Jaejoong-his feet were still sore. Yunho really wanted nothing else but to hoist him up on his back and carry him to the table, but Jaejoong gave him a small stare and went past him to the dining room, mumbling something about Yunho being too worried.

“I’m not dying, Yunho,” he said, a small smile tugging on his lips when Yunho’s eyebrows still wouldn’t loosen up by the light ache in Jaejoong’s feet.

“Well, I certainly hope not.” His voice sounded serious enough for Jaejoong to sigh and he sat down on a chair, stopping himself from pulling out Jaejoong’s as well. Jaejoong’s hand spread out on his knee, trying to keep himself occupied with his chopsticks while Yunho just looked around the room, nodding to the other guests dining with them. Jaejoong inwardly smiled-it was typical Yunho, befriending everyone there was to befriend. There wasn’t a soul that didn’t like Yunho. Well, except for maybe his parents. It was sad to see, how Yunho sought out their approval in almost everything he did. He had tried to make Yunho see that it really didn’t matter-whatever he did his father would always want more. It didn’t mean there was anything wrong with him. He was perfect…

“I’m not annoying you, am I?” Yunho spoke up after a while and Jaejoong turned his head to stare at him, wondering where the sudden question came from.

“What? Why would you ask that?”

Yunho lightly shrugged, not really meeting his eyes. “I’m just…always scared that you will realise that this was a bad idea after all… And just now you sound really…”

“Tired. Tired, Yunho. But not of you, and I never will. I thought I told you that already?” He looked around, making sure no one was watching before raising his hand to lightly graze Yunho’s stubble-coated cheek with his knuckles.

Yunho looked down, closing his eyes tight and breathed out a small sigh of frustration at himself. Why did he have to be so childishly insecure? “I know… I just want your best a little too bad I guess…”

Jaejoong smiled, hiding his hands in his lap again. “I know you do. Yunho, you’ve been like this since I first met you, do you really think I will get tired of a trait I love just like that?” Yunho thought it over, it was true. There was nothing about himself that Jaejoong didn’t already know. And he wasn’t getting tired of Jaejoong, even if he could be a bit too much at times. But it was a part of Jaejoong, and by running away with this amazing man he had already accepted that, and begun to love it, because it was honestly him. Jaejoong, seeing the change of expression on Yunho’s handsome face, smiled again and leaned in to graze the tip of his nose against Yunho’s cheekbone. “Exactly. Now stop worrying and just enjoy this, okay? We’re on our way to someplace better…”

Was it possible to melt when the love of your life spoke honest truth? His eyes sought the now still lips, not quite able to control his words anymore.

“If I could kiss you right now, I really would.” His words were a hushed murmur, but filled with a meaning that had no trouble hitting home with Jaejoong. He closed his eyes, and to the outside world it would have looked like a tired man resting his eyes, but Yunho saw more than that. In fact, Jaejoong had changed most of his views.

“I’m imagining it…” he said, smiling to himself without opening his eyes. Yunho felt his heart thud, the image in his head making things just a bit harder to focus on. When his instincts screamed at him to do one thing, he was usually a man that could shut them off, but Jaejoong pulled out his worst sides. He even took his good ones and flipped them until he drove himself crazy with want. “It’s nice.” Jaejoong opened them again, staring right into Yunho’s dumfounded, spellbound ones. “You should try,” he said again, a finger stroking his knee, their backs hunched and faces a bit too close. “You should know it well enough by now.”

Yunho hooked the caressing finger with his own, surprising Jaejoong. Yunho was always the careful one in public. Before any of them could say anything else the old lady came in, followed by their meal for the night. Kimchi had never looked so good. The guests sat down, served one by one a portion of delicious, warm food, stomachs growling by the smell. Bread was served on the side, along with a big glass of water.

Everybody dug in, chattering exploding all at the same time. Yunho and Jaejoong soon found themselves dragged into the conversations, for once having a great time with someone else other than each other. Knowing that they would never see these people again didn’t make them sad-no matter how great of a time they had, it only made them relax further and let loose until the real them finally talked again. It was refreshing for them both; it was nice to see the true side of the other among other people.

“So where are you heading?” a particularly curious man asked. He seemed suspicious of their ‘just friends’ relationship, and it also seemed like the type of man that they really didn’t want to find out the truth about them.

“We’re not sure just yet. Somewhere bigger than where we came from.”

Yunho answered almost all of his questions, being the limelight person that could handle pressure when it was thrown at him.

“Any job in particular you’re looking for?” This time it was his companion asking. He seemed kinder than the other man, and definitely not as nosy. He had probably gotten the hint by now that their past was not a subject they wanted to share. This, however, they didn’t know how to answer. Neither of them had worked before, so finding a job wouldn’t be the easiest thing.

“Well…” Jaejoong started, quietly and with insecurity, drawing the attention to him, including Yunho’s worried gaze. If he told the truth about their lifetime of unemployment they would probably begin to wonder even more. The fact that they were wealthy was not something they wanted others to know, not if they were looked for. “I’m good at the piano, and cooking. I’m sure I could find a job with that.” They nodded, accepting his answer even though a man that could cook was out of the question for some-judging by their expressions. The ‘evil man’ that he had been named between them, also called Jungmo, swallowed the last of his strong drink and looked at Jaejoong up and down. He was about to open his mouth, no doubt something unacceptable coming out to give Yunho a reason to punch him, when Heungsoo interrupted him with the same question for Yunho. Or, Yunbok as they thought he was called.

“And you? Any specialities up your sleeve?”

“Maybe you can sew while your husband over there cooks! One hell of a fag couple, huh?” Jungmo barged in between, nodding toward Jaejoong’s now humiliated form and shook with laughter when Jaejoong bent his head down to hide what everyone had already seen-cheeks angry-red and ashamed. Apparently you couldn’t be yourself wherever you travelled or rested. They made a good choice running away. Heungsoo didn’t make a comment this time, only looked down on the glass in his hand and looked apologetically up at the two mute men, one seemingly more angered than the other.

“Let’s just go,” Yunho said quietly, never taking his eyes of the man he wanted to chop into pieces. He didn’t care if he made fun of him, but calling Jaejoong a…fag. He never wanted words like those to reach Jaejoong’s ears-that’s why he wanted to get away from anyone who could possibly find out in the first place.

He held onto Jaejoong’s upper arm, lightly guiding him away from the four men’s curious gazes and now silent mouths. He really hoped they had ruined their great time by taking offence. Jaejoong still wasn’t saying anything, and he wasn’t looking at anything else but the floor. Yunho was walking to the couches and sat down in the one furthest away from the warm fire, eyeing the bar for something interesting.

“Sit, baby,” he murmured and Jaejoong complied, snuggling up to Yunho’s relaxed form against the armrest. No one could see them from the dining table, but the man by the bar could catch something-even though he wasn’t looking directly at them. “Why won’t you talk?” Jaejoong sighed and looked up, eyes taking focus again. But it didn’t feel better at all, if anything it made him sadder. He felt…like a disappointment.

“I embarrass you…” The words were no whisper; they were an insecure but determined saying. Like he knew it was true. It shocked Yunho, confused him. How could he say that?

“What? Jae-”

“I am, Yun! I-” he broke off, leaned his head back and then opened them again, this time an even sadder emotion in there. “Is it that obvious? What I am?” Yunho took a deep breath, trying to regain his control. Not only was he getting angrier at the man for putting these thoughts in his head, he was getting frustrated with the way Jaejoong saw himself. Viewed himself as something unworthy.

“And what are you? Gay? In love?” Jaejoong didn’t answer and Yunho took that as his cue, knowing that Jaejoong wanted his words right now. “Jaejoong… Even if it is obvious, I won’t love you any less. If anything you’re brave. I’m the scared little girl afraid to show who I really am, to show my true personality.” Jaejoong scoffed, eyes glaring at the roof with tears in his eyes.

“And look where my true self got us. Across of the room from everyone else. Shunned…”

“You know, if I remember this correctly, I was the one who brought us here. And is this what it’s all about? Being pushed away?” he paused, feeling like he solved the puzzle. “Your family?” his words were quiet, but made Jaejoong bite his lip quickly, knowing that something in his body was bound to react.

He sniffed, blinking hard a few times. “I think so…”

Yunho brought him closer as subtly as he could with his arm, trying to make it look like a friendly gesture. Jaejoong in return leaned his head on his arm, rubbing his hot cheek against his relaxed bicep. “It’s okay to miss them…”

Jaejoong shook his head, closing his eyes again when Yunho’s thumb came to wipe away his tears. “I don’t think I do… I’m just scared of what they think… If they think badly of us-my own family, imagine the rest of the world…”

Yunho sighed; subtly looking over Jaejoong’s crying face to make sure the man wasn’t watching them. He wasn’t, and even if he was he probably wouldn’t see too much anyway. So he leaned down, stroking his nose against Jaejoong’s and dared a small peck to his lips.

“That’s why I took you away from there, Jaejoong-ah. A bigger town will be better. I won’t let you live unhappily with me, trust me on that.”

A/N: Ah~ Already 6 chapters up! I'm starting to feel stressed now XD I hope you liked it enough to leave me a small comment <3