Chapter 14 - Free Yourself
Title: Quasimodo
Rating: PG-13 (NC17 later)
Pairing: 2min
Genre: AU, angst, romance, humor, fluff
Summary: Up in the bell tower, high above the town, one lone boy rang the bells. One lone boy watched those who passed by on the streets below. One lone boy fell in love with another boy whose smile lit up his dark world
In the morning, Taemin and Minho got ready to leave the dorm. Neither had felt up to spending the night in the bell tower and for that Minho was slightly grateful. The night before he slept with Taemin in his bed again, holding the boy close in his sleep. When he had a nightmare that loneliness and darkness threatened to overtake him, he had woken up in a panic only to be greeted by the sight of Taemin snoozing soundly on his shoulder. The calm, serene face that the maknae possessed let the elder male's heart return to its normal pace and he was able to relax again and fall back to sleep without much difficulty.
Key had prepared breakfast for both boys, refusing to let them leave the dorm unfeed. After the small breakfast, the pair continued down the sidewalk, Taemin carrying his book bag and Minho with the younger's overnight bag tucked over his shoulder securely. Between them their hands hung together, fingers intertwined intimately as they walked. They had decided that morning that Minho would walk Taemin to school just to prolong their time together and had left the dorm a bit earlier so the elder male could make it back to the bell tower in time to toll the bells.
At the school's gate, the two were reluctant to part ways. Minho watched as Taemin let go of his hand and he felt a little piece of him cry out for their hands to touch again. But he was pleasantly surprised as the shorter boy pulled him in for a hug, letting Minho's long arms wrap around his small waist and pull him close for the much needed comfort. They stood like that for a moment, drawing some attention as Minho buried his face in the side of Taemin's neck, but he needed it in that moment. But he eventually pulled back, kissing the boy's forehead softly, smiling slightly as he let him go.
Students watched Taemin as he walked to the front door of the school. Several of the girls felt jealousy as they wished they had an elder boyfriend that would shower them with affectionately as the tall, handsome college-aged male just did for the boy. It wasn't often that high schoolers got to date older boys. But Taemin held his head high, refusing to become meek in front of his peers, though the blush on his cheeks gave away his slight embarrassment. He had to be strong for his hyung.
Minho watched as Taemin disappeared into the school before turning on his heel and heading back at towards the bell tower. He kept a slow pace, not too eager to return to his home. He knew once he was there the hurt would over come him and he would be rendered useless to the world. But he held onto the fact that Taemin was coming to stay with him that night and made his way into the tower and up the creaky stairs. Upon entry into his room, after depositing the younger male's over night bag onto the bed, he saw the clock above his desk and knew it was time to toll the bells.
The tall boy was half tempted to leave them silent, but he wandered over to them, grabbing the seventh lever and pulling it to make the bells sound out. As soon as the sweet sound reverberated through the tower, Minho felt his resolve collapse. He sunk to the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest and burying his face in them to sob. Memories tinted in a golden hue played in his mind, making his heart clench painfully. As the sound of the chiming rang out through the air, he felt the depression he kept at bay wash over him repeatedly, each crash symbolized by the clapper hammering against the brass innards of the bells. He finally let himself realize that his father would never come back, that he was left alone in this world. He could not console himself with thoughts of Taemin, because there was always that possibility. What if Taemin left him for good and never came back?
Minho allowed himself to wallow in the self anguish, allowed himself to feel the pent up pain and frustration. His sobs were covered by the tolling bells and his fists were clenched so tightly on his jean's legs that his knuckles turned white. But he began to allow himself thoughts of Taemin's sweet smile and his sobs began to subside with his tears. He knew that Taemin wouldn't abandon him, it just wasn't the type of person the maknae was. Taemin was too kind and caring to leave someone who needed him as support. That knowledge alone soothed away Minho's fears and pains and he stood shakily, taking a heavy breath before he headed back over to his room. On the way, he bent down, picking up his father's old leather bag.
The bell keeper sat at the desk, laying the bag before him, scared to look inside and fearful of the fresh memories that would crop up again. But with shaking fingers, he opened the bag slowly and pulled out all of his father's worldly possessions. A metal water canteen, a small prayer book, a cloth bag filled with a few coins, and a dog earred journal, the one that his father asked him to read. Minho's hands shook as he set aside everything else and slowly opened the old, worn journal. A small envelope with Minho's name scrawled across it lay beyond the first cover and he grasped it with delicate touches.
Minho felt emotions roll over him in waves, but he pushed them aside as he opened the envelope slowly and pulled out a handwritten letter. It was addressed to him and it came from his father, the tell-tale scrawl of his penmenship on the paper gave indication that this was written to him from the old man. With great trepidation, he began to read the letter adressed to him on the small, yellowed sheets of paper.
My son,
My time has drawn to a close and you are mourning my passing. I know this because you have a kind heart Minho. You would do well to socialize amongst the others in the world, spreading the love that resides deep inside your chest. You are young and you are bright my son. I wanted to protect you against all the evils that resided deep within this world and I have come to realize I was wrong in these actions. You need to step outside of this shell and become who you are, not what I have molded you to become. Every person has their destiny Minho, and though I was part of your beginning, I cannot continue on through your story my son. You are mature enough to live outside of the bell tower and you can become someone that will achieve great things. I believe in you and everything that makes you who you are. Do not forget where you have come from, these humble beginnings will continue on with you, making your heart still as kind as ever. Please my son, realize that this that you know is not all that there is and one day you will have to move beyond that. I relinquish you of your duties to me my child and do not feel obligated to carry on my memory. As long as I reside within your heart and you think upon me with the fondness I know you possess, then I will continue to live on. Live your life my son and enjoy it.
The letter ended there, leaving the male's heart aching with pain before soothing it yet again. His father had died a wise man, knowing full well that his son could not continue to live the way he did. It made Minho smile slowly, his eyes watering slightly. He had his own father's permission to live a life he wished to live. But he wanted to continue to toll the bells, it was all he knew. If not for his father or himself, but for Taemin who loved to hear them chiming over the city. Minho would do whatever it took to keep the smile upon the boy's beautiful face. But his thoughts were interupted when the sound of people walking into the tower stopped him from processing it even further.
Rating: PG-13 (NC17 later)
Pairing: 2min
Genre: AU, angst, romance, humor, fluff
Summary: Up in the bell tower, high above the town, one lone boy rang the bells. One lone boy watched those who passed by on the streets below. One lone boy fell in love with another boy whose smile lit up his dark world
In the morning, Taemin and Minho got ready to leave the dorm. Neither had felt up to spending the night in the bell tower and for that Minho was slightly grateful. The night before he slept with Taemin in his bed again, holding the boy close in his sleep. When he had a nightmare that loneliness and darkness threatened to overtake him, he had woken up in a panic only to be greeted by the sight of Taemin snoozing soundly on his shoulder. The calm, serene face that the maknae possessed let the elder male's heart return to its normal pace and he was able to relax again and fall back to sleep without much difficulty.
Key had prepared breakfast for both boys, refusing to let them leave the dorm unfeed. After the small breakfast, the pair continued down the sidewalk, Taemin carrying his book bag and Minho with the younger's overnight bag tucked over his shoulder securely. Between them their hands hung together, fingers intertwined intimately as they walked. They had decided that morning that Minho would walk Taemin to school just to prolong their time together and had left the dorm a bit earlier so the elder male could make it back to the bell tower in time to toll the bells.
At the school's gate, the two were reluctant to part ways. Minho watched as Taemin let go of his hand and he felt a little piece of him cry out for their hands to touch again. But he was pleasantly surprised as the shorter boy pulled him in for a hug, letting Minho's long arms wrap around his small waist and pull him close for the much needed comfort. They stood like that for a moment, drawing some attention as Minho buried his face in the side of Taemin's neck, but he needed it in that moment. But he eventually pulled back, kissing the boy's forehead softly, smiling slightly as he let him go.
Students watched Taemin as he walked to the front door of the school. Several of the girls felt jealousy as they wished they had an elder boyfriend that would shower them with affectionately as the tall, handsome college-aged male just did for the boy. It wasn't often that high schoolers got to date older boys. But Taemin held his head high, refusing to become meek in front of his peers, though the blush on his cheeks gave away his slight embarrassment. He had to be strong for his hyung.
Minho watched as Taemin disappeared into the school before turning on his heel and heading back at towards the bell tower. He kept a slow pace, not too eager to return to his home. He knew once he was there the hurt would over come him and he would be rendered useless to the world. But he held onto the fact that Taemin was coming to stay with him that night and made his way into the tower and up the creaky stairs. Upon entry into his room, after depositing the younger male's over night bag onto the bed, he saw the clock above his desk and knew it was time to toll the bells.
The tall boy was half tempted to leave them silent, but he wandered over to them, grabbing the seventh lever and pulling it to make the bells sound out. As soon as the sweet sound reverberated through the tower, Minho felt his resolve collapse. He sunk to the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest and burying his face in them to sob. Memories tinted in a golden hue played in his mind, making his heart clench painfully. As the sound of the chiming rang out through the air, he felt the depression he kept at bay wash over him repeatedly, each crash symbolized by the clapper hammering against the brass innards of the bells. He finally let himself realize that his father would never come back, that he was left alone in this world. He could not console himself with thoughts of Taemin, because there was always that possibility. What if Taemin left him for good and never came back?
Minho allowed himself to wallow in the self anguish, allowed himself to feel the pent up pain and frustration. His sobs were covered by the tolling bells and his fists were clenched so tightly on his jean's legs that his knuckles turned white. But he began to allow himself thoughts of Taemin's sweet smile and his sobs began to subside with his tears. He knew that Taemin wouldn't abandon him, it just wasn't the type of person the maknae was. Taemin was too kind and caring to leave someone who needed him as support. That knowledge alone soothed away Minho's fears and pains and he stood shakily, taking a heavy breath before he headed back over to his room. On the way, he bent down, picking up his father's old leather bag.
The bell keeper sat at the desk, laying the bag before him, scared to look inside and fearful of the fresh memories that would crop up again. But with shaking fingers, he opened the bag slowly and pulled out all of his father's worldly possessions. A metal water canteen, a small prayer book, a cloth bag filled with a few coins, and a dog earred journal, the one that his father asked him to read. Minho's hands shook as he set aside everything else and slowly opened the old, worn journal. A small envelope with Minho's name scrawled across it lay beyond the first cover and he grasped it with delicate touches.
Minho felt emotions roll over him in waves, but he pushed them aside as he opened the envelope slowly and pulled out a handwritten letter. It was addressed to him and it came from his father, the tell-tale scrawl of his penmenship on the paper gave indication that this was written to him from the old man. With great trepidation, he began to read the letter adressed to him on the small, yellowed sheets of paper.
My son,
My time has drawn to a close and you are mourning my passing. I know this because you have a kind heart Minho. You would do well to socialize amongst the others in the world, spreading the love that resides deep inside your chest. You are young and you are bright my son. I wanted to protect you against all the evils that resided deep within this world and I have come to realize I was wrong in these actions. You need to step outside of this shell and become who you are, not what I have molded you to become. Every person has their destiny Minho, and though I was part of your beginning, I cannot continue on through your story my son. You are mature enough to live outside of the bell tower and you can become someone that will achieve great things. I believe in you and everything that makes you who you are. Do not forget where you have come from, these humble beginnings will continue on with you, making your heart still as kind as ever. Please my son, realize that this that you know is not all that there is and one day you will have to move beyond that. I relinquish you of your duties to me my child and do not feel obligated to carry on my memory. As long as I reside within your heart and you think upon me with the fondness I know you possess, then I will continue to live on. Live your life my son and enjoy it.
The letter ended there, leaving the male's heart aching with pain before soothing it yet again. His father had died a wise man, knowing full well that his son could not continue to live the way he did. It made Minho smile slowly, his eyes watering slightly. He had his own father's permission to live a life he wished to live. But he wanted to continue to toll the bells, it was all he knew. If not for his father or himself, but for Taemin who loved to hear them chiming over the city. Minho would do whatever it took to keep the smile upon the boy's beautiful face. But his thoughts were interupted when the sound of people walking into the tower stopped him from processing it even further.