Title: Before You Go
Pairing(s): Jaemin, Yoosu (later),
Length: Chaptered 5/20?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: (gang) violence, language, abduction
Genre: AU, drama, angst
Summary: Jaejoong and his cousin have been swept up into the world of violence and gangs. The struggle and fight for his sanity is complicated greatly by the addition of a certain Shim Changmin into the mix. Will he be able to protect those he loves as well as save himself?
A/N: Back to present time. Switching POVs back and forth, sorry!! TT
****
Changmin didn’t realize he had dozed off until he was roused by the jangling jarring sound of the key in the lock. He shrunk back into the corner quickly as far as possible, hoping they were coming for any other reason than to finally kill him off…or worse, torture him for something.
He wished he could melt into the dark, just disappear and cease to exist at that moment.
The door was flung open, dark bulky silhouettes burning to the back of his eyelids, thick against the bright light behind them. The thicker of the pair stepped into the room, thankfully standing over the heap that was the black haired man.
Changmin didn’t even have the time to feel guilty for being thankful that the other body was attracting attention, as a boot connected with the form with a dull thud, in the man’s side. His body knocked against the wall limply. Changmin winced at the sound, trying to shrink even smaller, and pray they forget him.
“This one’s still out.” The man told the other. “Which leaves us this pretty little piece of cash…”
Changmin’s breath left his body sharply, panic rising as the figure turned slowly to loom over him. A dirty stench filled his nose as the man leaned down, thick fingers tangling firmly in changmin’s already half-pulled out hair. He couldn’t make out, didn’t want to see, the face mere inches from his own, he screwed his eyes closed tightly.
“Come on, little Shim…what are you afraid of?”
The hand pulled back on his hair, forcing his face up and toward the light streaming into the room.
“Hmm, looks like you need a little more attention.” he chuckled, the sound anything but kind.
The hand dropped from Changmin’s hair, tearing a few strands out, as it fell to Changmin’s shirt collar, lifting him bodily to his feet and slamming him roughly to the wall.
Against his will, Changmin’s eyes popped open, widening in further panic at the glint of something metal in his peripheral vision. No… it couldn’t end like this…
He felt the cool blade press against his cheek, against the still unhealed cut already there. He whimpered despite himself, straining his head away , but the man simply flicked the blade almost lazily against the unprotected skin. The burning line was followed almost immediately by a resounding slap. It knocked him sideways and the man let him fall to the floor, leaving him with an equally rough kick to the gut.
Changmin couldn’t suppress the sob that caught in this dry throat. It hurt, it burned, he couldn’t even begin to comprehend what he was going through.
He barely registered what the man did to him next, his body merely rocking and flopping obligingly as the blows connected. He couldn’t see for his eyes were full of water, couldn’t hear anything except for the dry choked sounds of his own desperate sobs.
It was dark and quiet by the time he finally became aware of himself again. He blearily identified a sound. Someone was talking. Changmin slowly raised his head to be met with a pair of large black eyes, looking down at him with something close to a glare. The man’s lips moved, and he was saying something again, but it fell as garbled noise on his ears again…the man waited, and then his frown deepened causing Changmin to shrink back slightly.
The cold fierce look instantly vanished, replaced with a faint concern, as he suddenly murmured, “Im not gona hurt you…”
*****
Jaejoong woke to the sound of crying, dry and hoarse. Right…that crybaby boy…
Although he still felt like shit, and quite honestly wouldn’t mind dying right then and there, the sound tore at his ears. He prided himself on his icy cold demeanor and stone heart. Nothing fazed him, no one could hurt him if there was nothing inside to hurt. But then, why was this sound causing his heart to constrict.
There was definitely just something…no, just everything about this guy.
Jaejoong pushed himself up painfully, slowly, but using his arms none the less, thank god. Once he was sitting more or less comfortably, he turned his attention to the heap that was shaking and filling the space with that awful sound.
Jaejoong tried glaring at him for a while, but he didn’t respond. No surprise there… but the sound was starting to grate on his nerves and he couldn’t stand it much longer.
“Hey, kid.” The boy didn’t seem to hear. “Hey, snap out of it, will you?” Jaejoong said louder, and finally the boy opened his eyes, blearily looking around himself before finally meeting Jaejoong’s gaze.
A face full of fresh tears, and a fresh cut dripping blood down his chin. Jaejoong’s heart twisted slightly as he stared at the lost expression on his face, at the way he timidly hung back from him. As if Jaejoong was going to hurt him. What did he take him for? Geez, this kid was hopeless…
“I’m not going to hurt you…” The strange words came out without him realizing, but he ignored the slip as remarkably the boy seemed to hear him finally, the flow of tears slowly coming to a stop. Those eyes were steady, almost sharp as Jaejoong held the stare.
Feeling unnerved by the look, and definitely out of his element, he fished for something to say. “Someone came in?” It seemed yet again the other didn't understand what he was saying, clearly, as there was no response.
Jaejoong couldn’t help but think again that it would be impossible for such a weak, innocent cry baby to be in one of the gangs… but then, you never know how somebody changed when they were pushed beyond their breaking point. And then there were people like his Junsu.
Jaejoong looked at him calculatingly, “Who’s your boss?” He was just too curious.
Those big eyes widened slightly, accompanied with a rather emphatic shake of the head. Mentally, Jaejoong smiled a little, he knew it.
“Then, why are you here?” He tried again. It was more like a statement than a question.
Jaejoong knew first hand that prisoners were few and far between, and usually ended up dead after being missing for weeks. Outsiders were ignored unless they knew something they shouldn’t, or provided something useful. He tried not to let his mind wander as to what this boy could possibly offer to meet either of those requirements. He focused instead on that again scared-looking face.
Now he was starting to wonder what a different expression would look like on those soft features.
He didn’t expect an answer, but after hesitating a bit the boy's mouth moved slightly, as if trying to reply. But no sound came out. He merely stared back at him, expression almost pleading, as if willing Jaejoong to understand. He didn't.
Jaejoong never felt so conversational in his life, and here he was having a one-sided conversation locked in a dark room with a kid who looked like he was about to pass out any moment.
“Not in a gang?” he asked although he knew the answer. He got a shake of the head. “You get in their way?” Again ‘no’ this time coupled with a helpless shrug. Jaejoong paused, at least the other was responding to him sort of. “You know the Jung group?” Shake of the head. “Kim?” Distractedly he noticed his heart unclench as the boy shook his head again. Why was he so tense? “You know any group?”
Jaejoong huffed a humorless laugh as the other stared blankly. Well this kid was certainly in trouble and his future didn’t seem too great. He didn’t envy him. Maybe he was just picked up as a play thing, but if he wasn't even in the business why was locked up here? At least Jaejoong knew why he himself was here, and his most likely fate…though honestly it probably was not much different than the kid’s now was it? Ironic… but damn, it would take short of a miracle to escape. Jaejoong knew only too well how this worked.
He remembered not feeling sympathy for the thug that was beaten to death in their own base hardly three weeks ago...and he had had a hand in that main’s demise. Though Jaejoong quite firmly believed the man had deserved it, as he had murdered another man’s whole family including their young children.
Jaejoong hadn’t done anything wrong per say, he’d just done the same as every other man. He’d just been a deaf idiot and hadn’t heard the recall to get out of there in time. He didn’t feel betrayed, not really, as it was each man for himself… and the only man who’d watch his back was his cousin, who Jaejoong had left safely at home that night.
He guessed Junsu must now be sick with worry, Jaejoong had never not returned, and none of the men would know what happened to him. Since they’d left him alone to die. And although Junsu was the Boss's son, he had no more power than anyone else…meaning no one cared that Jaejoong was missing, and even if they knew where he was, no one would be sent to rescue him.
Well, he didn’t plan on just sitting and taking it. He would get out of here at any cost. Those eyes were boring into him…maybe he’d just have to take the kid along…maybe his older brother instincts were kicking in after Junsu had crossed his mind.
“Don’t worry.” he heard his own voice somehow filling the room again, “We’ll get out of here.”
The other didn’t look like he believed him, or trusted him, or had any hope whatsoever. Hell, he didn’t even really trust himself, but it sounded more plausible when he stated it out loud…just a little.
Silence fell between them as they were carried away by their respective thoughts. Jaejoong drifted in and out of consciousness for what must have been hours. His body was aching with fatigue, screaming for healing sleep, but every small noise, every echo of sound from outside had him on edge and unable to let go.
Every time he spared a glance for the kid, he too seemed asleep or zoning out. He spent hours staring at the boy...spent hours staring at the blackness behind his own eyes.
It could have been days before there was finally a noise at the door.
Across from him, the other instantly receded back into towards the far corner, while Jaejoong turned tensely to face the door. It opened to reveal two burly men, dark against the light from the hall.
The bright lights blinded the unprepared Jaejoong, as the boy hid his face in the floor. All he could see was blinding white as the men entered, seizing his arms, dragging him up and into the hallway beyond.
They didn’t speak a word, but Jaejoong knew what was coming. At least a beating for sure, thought he honestly didn’t need much more, his body was so battered he couldn’t even support himself now, sagging his whole weight onto the men’s hands.
Then they’d question him about Boss Kim’s secrets and plans, which of course he knew nothing about and which of course they think he was lying… great…he’d give them information gladly if it meant he’d get out alive. But either way he was dispensable. Either way he was a dead man. But surely they wouldn't have taken the trouble to lock him up if they were just going to kill him now?
He tried to hang more heavily in their grasp, vision splotchy and eyes watering as he tried to adjust to the light. They threw him to the ground suddenly, a hand twisting into his long hair to pull his head up. His eyes burned as a light was tilted directly into his face, he squinted, trying to make out his location, his opponent, anything.
A steely voice suddenly spoke from somewhere behind the light. “Well, if it isn’t Kim’s dirty little nephew. Bring him closer.” The hand pulled him hair first toward that burning light. He hissed in pain but didn’t even try to resist.
The voice came again and Jaejoong would have reeled back if the hand didn’t keep him in place, as hot foul breath hit him in the face. “Rumor has it you’re shaping up to be his heir…”
Jaejoong squinted into the face, which he didn’t recognize. He mustn’t be important, but he was surprised the man knew him so well. The familial relationships within the gang was usually protected information, for the obvious fact that they would be ideal targets. Unfortunately he wasn’t close to his uncle, nor under his trust or confidence, making him useless among other things. Also as unfortunately this relation made him into said target at the moment.
“Also heard you killed our mate not too long ago…pretty thing like you, who’d have thought?” Jaejoong mentally frowned. Technically he wasn’t the one to finish the guy off… “and lucky for you, he was my best man.” The leering face slowly solidified as Jaejoong forced himself to focus.
This didn’t bode well, the guy obviously had his information wrong but Jaejoong wasn’t exactly in a position to correct him. It didn't matter, though, here in Jung's base this bastard had the power to do whatever he wanted, could say whatever he wanted and make it true.
“Now, I’d like to ask you… what can you possibly do to redeem yourself? What would you offer a man who wronged you…?”
Jaejoong stared coldly into the man’s beady eyes, not liking the scars that curled his upper lip into a nasty permanent sneer. “Asked you a question, boy! Too good to share a word with me, are you?”
No, he wasn’t really of the mind to share even the same air as this bastard, who was making it hard to breathe with the stench wafting off his body. Jaejoong was decidedly unprepared as a hand slapped him across the cheek. He bit back the cry of shock as the unyielding hand in his hair held his head in place, the blow glancing heavily against his face.
The slaps rained down on his unprotected face. Well, it was starting…but it could be a lot worse, he thought blearily, the image of the boy’s cut face rising unbidden in his mind.
After a surprisingly short while, the man seemed to be satisfied and signaled the other men to take him out. But not before his grimy hand gripped Jaejoong’s chin tightly.
“I think you know what’ll happen to you if you don’t give me what I want.”
The steel in his eyes made Jaejoong want to shiver, but for some reason he got the feeling something was off. The man must not have much power as Jaejoong got off with merely a handful of slaps and empty threats.
He hoped the man couldn’t do worse than that, but once they realized his value, which was nothing, he’d have to come up with a plan, anything to prolong his time. At least he’d hold out until they threatened cutting body parts off or the like…
They were dragging him across the small hallway, towards a dimly lit corridor with a door at the end. It took the men a minute to unlock it, and less than a second to shove him in face first, slamming and locking it after him.
Jaejoong fell directly into something warm and relatively soft that let out a small cry as they fell heavily to the floor, Jaejoong’s head cushioned by a chest.
A dull clunk rang in the room as the boy’s head cracked against the floor. Jaejoong froze in surprise, lifting his head slowly to look into that face, now twisted in pain as he moaned, bringing his hand up to clutch his skull.
Jaejoong couldn’t breathe. He could keenly feel the way their bodies pressed together…it sent a shiver down his whole body. Then the other’s eyes flew open, taking in the proximity of Jaejoong’s face. He stared wide eyed, shock slowly morphing into, strangely, relief.
Jaejoong stared back stupidly, brain too overloaded to form a single thought, but those full lips parted and the faintest voice whispered, “I thought…they’d…that…y-you wouldn’t come…back.”
Jaejoong blinked at him. What did he say? His heart was suddenly extremely loud in his own ears, it was practically thundering in his chest. He didn’t know what to say or do, and he felt confused as even in the dim light the boy’s cheeks unmistakably flushed lightly. The heat seemed to radiate up to Jaejoong as his own face felt rather hot.
He broke that gaze, eyes trailing down the cheek…to his jaw….down to the slender neck…collarbones just visible…
His cheeks felt very hot indeed, heck his whole body was burning oddly. Before he could think, he was rolling quickly off the boy, sticking his back to one wall as he tried to catch his breath.
“Sorry…” he mumbled.
Why didn’t he feel embarrassed? Or angry? He couldn’t identify this fluttery almost burning feeling coursing through his body. His eyes made their way back to the boy, who had also drawn himself up against the wall opposite. Seeming very interested in his hand which was twisting the hem of his shirt in his lap, the boy didn’t notice his stare.
Jaejoong found his eyes inexplicably locked on that face, again. This was starting to get a little ridiculous. He must have really been hit in the head too many times. He felt like he was starting to become… obsessed… it was the only word to describe it. He’d only ever been ’obsessed’ with fighting as long as he could remember. So what the hell was wrong with him now?
“I’m Changmin.”
The words promptly broke his musings. The boy, Changmin, still wasn’t looking at him. But Jaejoong felt that something had changed, some invisible wall had collapsed. The other had left the door wide open, inviting him in, and Jaejoong felt he was already moving to cross over. This was the most random situation he’d ever experienced in his short, crazy life.
“Jaejoong.” He replied. Breath hitching again as Changmin looked up. Looked up and smiled.
Yes. Jaejoong was…without a doubt…obsessed.
*****
Chapter 6 Ouch, thats's longer than I thought. :( Sorry!