"Like Cinderella" (The Second Part)

[towelettepower]

Title: Like Cinderella
Author: Jes & Lee (@ pokokihcikisik)
Pairing/Focus: TaeKey (Taemin/Key), OnTae (Onew/Taemin),
Rating: PG
Summary: Just like Cinderella, Taemin had to do all the house chores but it didn't stop there, whenever he made a mistake or for whatever reason he would be beaten by his step-mother. One night, as soon as Taemin's step-mother had finished her foul entertainment, he finally mustered up the courage to run away...
Previous Part(s): 01 |

A/N: Changed the summary. Sorry, there's not much TaeKey in this part. :( Enjoy the craziness! And I only beta-ed this part.

"O-O-Onew," Taemin looked up to see Sulli's older brother.

Onew looked down at Taemin and just smiled, his smile was captivating and enchanting ever since they first met. It wasn't Sulli that Taemin first encountered, but it was when Onew when he was cleaning the door step three years ago.

"Hey!" Taemin looked over his shoulder to see an older boy at the gate of his home.

"Yes?" Taemin put aside the broom and walked down the steps then up to the gate.

"...Good morning," Taemin soon noticed the boy had a milk hat on.

"G-g-good morning," Taemin lowered his head as a smile came across his face showing how clearly embarrassed he was of how attractive the boy in front of him was.

"My name is Onew and I'm the new milk man... I have an extra newspaper but I don't really like hearing about mainstream things like this. Do you want it?" Onew questioned holding out a fresh newspaper that was still in a plastic bag with a rubber band wrapped tightly around it to keep it closed.

"Uhm... I don't... really," Taemin simply nodded and was graced with the presence of Onew to the door everyday with the newspaper.

Taemin looked up at Onew and felt an overwhelming sense of reassurance, he genuinely leaped off the couch and attacked Onew with a hug.

Taemin couldn't help but compare from the events that last night to right now at the very moment. The feeling of Onew in his arms verses the muscles and the soft texture of Key's skin.

It wasn't fair to compare, Onew was fully clothed...in heavy cotton.

Onew blinked and laughed, patting Taemin on the head while the other hand held the cup of tea that was unspilled.

Sulli sat on the couch pouting looking up at Taemin getting all closely and lovely with her brother, leaving her alone. "Taemin!" She cursed, he quickly drew his attention away from Onew and sat next to her. "So...who did you sleep with last night?" She whispered.

Taemin lowered his head as his bangs covered his eyes, trying to shield them away from his crimson face.

"What did she say?" Onew asked, interested in what was being whispered behind closed doors.

Taemin shook his head.

"C'mon... Tell me. You know I'm always here for you..." Onew pointed out. Once again, Taemin buried himself in his arms bringing his knees up to his chest.

"...She must be important," Onew sighed, scratching the side of his head. Onew had the face of a child taking away their favorite toy then a breaking off the head of it. A lost puppy, but he turned away not wanting his sister or Taemin to see his weak state.

"It--" Taemin was cut off by Onew slamming the door and walking out of the house to deliver the rest of the crates of milk before the sun had time to rise.

The sudden large outburst frightened Sulli but she quickly erased it from her face and mind. "Don't worry about him... He's just...been emotional lately," she put on a fake facade of a happy family so Taemin would feel safer.

"O-oh... I thought I got him mad..." He paused, "uhm... well, it wasn't a girl I slept with last night," Taemin took a deep breath in between his statement before in an almost whimper he verbally admitted he had intercourse with a man.

Taemin felt expose, his secret that had eaten him away for the night had been told like the sands of time passing by. He soon realised that Sulli's expression had changed from the of panic and fright to something he couldn't understand, it was a face full of hurt, sadness and regret like she knew something and he did not.

"...Sulli," he softened his voice, lightly touching her on the hand to see her have a tear travel down her face. "Are you okay?" He asked clearly not knowing what was happening to her.

"...He...he loves you," she could barely make the words audible for Taemin to get what she meant.

The thought of Onew and himself together sent a shiver down his spine. The unknown reason why he compared the feeling of Key's chest against Onew's. Taemin shook his head not accepting it.

"I... can't be with him. I'm already tainted..." Taemin rubbed his eyes feeling stress embark body. A pain in his heart showed regret while leaving Sulli in the loneliness.

"He won't care...he loves you," his best friend sat in front of him with tears falling from her eyes. Taemin didn't know what to do, without him knowing he had ruined two peoples lives.

Hearing a thud against the hardwood door he drew his attention away from his friend. A continuation of thuds,

Bang, bang, bang.

Scared, Taemin had gotten up and gently brushed the stray pieces of hair out of Sulli's eyes behind her ear and smiled at her. "I'm not perfect for him...he deserves much better," he whispered in an almost prince like manner. Pulling the blanket off of himself, he tossed it overtop of Sulli's small frame and walked towards the door.

As he took each step closer the door became a symbol of fear. Taemin had summoned his courage and opened the door.

"Ma'am, is this your son?" Taemin look terrified as he looked over to see his step-mother with a smug look on her face. In the background he saw Onew pinned with three cops holding him down with cuffs bringing him up to the door step of his home.

"Yes, that is my son," Taemin's mother smirked, her eyes dusted with the orbs of satan.

Onew struggled and grunted as his face had showed bruises and cuts. "Taemin!!!" He shouted, "RUN!" He yelled loudly.

Taemin quickly slammed the door and shook Sulli. She fell limp on the couch. Taemin quickly ran back to the door locking and shutting it tight before dashing back to his friend.

"Sulli!" He shouted taking her by the shoulder and desperately tried to awaken her.

Yet, she laid unresponsive.

"F-fuck..." He cursed, it took little time to realise the drink she had was filled a knock out syrom.

It took almost no time for the guards to begin on pounding on the doors in an act to break it completely.

Taemin thought hard and quickly, had Sulli tried to drug him, but took the wrong tea and drank it? Or did she purposely took it an act to save him. It was all too confusing.

He quickly spoke sweet words to her then ran up the stairs.

Looking in two rooms, he then opened one of the most promising windows.

"Check all of the rooms!" The head guard shouted. Taemin gasped and shot his head where the voice was coming from.

The sounds of marching echoed in the hallways, Taemin thought of a quick prayer before jumping out of the window and into a garbage pile below. Without much to do, he climbed out of the heap and hid closely to the wall.

"Where did he go?!" He heard a guard shout, he then heard a sound of skin contact and a grunt.

"...Onew," he bit the bottom of his lip before he ran.

Taemin could feel his chest about to burst from how far he had ran into the forest. The sounds of dogs in the background were the only thing keeping him going in fear he may get captured and punished for running away.

He wasn't treated as a human in his step mothers house, all his rights were ripped away. His social status was low as slaves.

The sounds of barking were getting closer, leaving Taemin with the only salutation was to jump into the river to get away from those scent orientated animals. Redirecting them to the water was simple, run.

His once soft to the touch skin was now filled with scratches, bruises, cuts, rashes from his step mother but also in his 1000 meter dash for freedom. His body ached, begging him to stop, but he constantly reassured himself that freedom was just at the river.

Once Taemin had finally made it to the river he heard on of the guards shout, "He's over there!"

Taemin felt a sharp pain of fierce pierce his heart. "Come on...for Sulli and Onew," he convinced himself as he jumped side of the cliff into the uncharted waters below. The barks were drowned out by the sound of rushing water tossing him around like a raggedy doll. He was convinced in his swimming abilities at the time of the jump but as of right now, it didn't seem a good idea.

Gasping for breaths Taemin held onto his life with a weak strength. His body shriveling into itself trying to contain it's own warmth. The waves in the current were too strong for Taemin to even struggle.

On his last whim, Taemin felt the soft feeling of freedom, the taste of being free from his chains. There was no slavery there was a pain in his chest, he was safe. He took one look at the blue sky then everything went black.

Suddenly, there was a pain in Taemin's chest, a gargle then the feeling of nausea. His first reaction was to turn and throw up as he coughed up the water that had been trapped in his lungs. "ugh..." He groaned in utter pain.

He rubbed his eyes and looked onto the river he narrowly escaped from. Looking around he saw nobody, he must've drifted away from the current up against to the river bank.

Questions layered in more, Taemin struggled to pull himself from the ground and looked for shelter.

Judging by where the sun was he might have been passed out for over a few hours or he had been passed out for a few days.

There was no telling how much luck he had or how much bad luck he had experienced.

Coughing mixed with heavily laboured breathing he followed a trial that seemed to be rarely used.

Taemin felt hot tears travel down his face, freezing cold while worried if Onew and Sulli were safe.

He then thought this time yesterday, he was also running away but it wasn't for his life. He was running away from his step mother and was picked up by a prince. His name was Key. Charming and helpful. That night he laid in bed for his very first time.

He wiped his tears, biting his bottom lip. "I-it's no use crying," convincing himself it was useless, he still couldn't stop the tears falling from his eyes as he walked the path by himself.

It was a constant reminder he felt alone and afraid in his broken state of mind and body. The warmth he felt with Prince Key was... something he couldn't explain. He longed to feel that warmth against his body once again but he doubted it. He felt that he wasn't good enough for Prince Key or Onew.

Onew was everything he wanted and needed. Onew always treated Taemin as a friend but at times even more. He was cherished above Onew's own needs. If Taemin was hungry, Onew would give him extra milk or bring over something to eat. If Taemin was hurt, Onew would cover for him to get treatment. Which meant he would sacrifice himself to his sisters and mother in order for Taemin to go see the doctor without being reeducated for being weak and useless.

More tears traveled down his face, "I miss you, Onew..." was all he thought, anything he could fathom.

Taemin stopped when heard sounds of galloping. "...what"

He then quickly jumped slamming his back against the ground behind a fallen tree with a rotting trunk next to his leg. "A-ah," he groaned in pain, curling his fists bringing his body close. He prayed he wasn't noticed. "...What was that?" his sudden outburst caused the birds in the surrounding area to fly away. "Well fuck..." the young 17 year old cursed to himself as his breathing became harder.

The sounds of galloping slowly turned to trotting down to a horse simple walk. Though, each step was another to step to hell in his own mind. The contact from the hoof to the ground crunching the twigs below left Taemin in fear.

Everything that had happen, lead up to now... Taemin was going to get captured then killed.

"Hey..." Taemin looked up to be greeted by a white horse staring down at him. The sun was setting behind the unknown man on the horse but his silhouette was magnificent.

"W-who are you?" Taemin could barely keep his eyes fixated on who the man was.

Before he heard a chuckle, the man had jumped off of the horse, dressed in a while expensive royal attire. "You forgot this,"

Taemin felt a soft expensive silk wrapped around his throat, expecting it to be a rope, he shook in fear. "Why are you so scared?" Hearing the soft voice, he knew who it was.

"...Key," (TBC)

>>Part Three>>