Dangerous Beauty 2
Title: Dangerous Beauty: Chapter 2
Pairings: YunJae
Summary: The place is Venice, paradise. The city of sin and temptation. The year is 1500, a time of struggling morality and passion. In an era filled with hopeless religion and equally hopeless passion, how can two men find each other and love?
Disclaimer: Totally based on the movie Dangerous Beauty, which is based on a book about the famous Venetian courtesan Veronica Franco... plus I don't own the boys, so really I have nothing. Heh.
Chapter 2
A month later…
It was the event of the year. Two great families of Venice united through the bond of holy matrimony. The young and beautiful Kim Junsu was the second son of the wealthy Senator Kim. His husband-to-be was a powerful man: rich, with blood as blue as they come. Some whispered that, at 65, he was more of a walking corpse than a man; but Junsu’s father assured him that Signore Sooman was as virile as a man of 20. Yunho, who had met Signore Sooman on his travels, refused to tell either Jaejoong or Junsu anything about the man.
And so Junsu’s first meeting with Signore Sooman was at the end of the aisle, on his wedding day. To his credit, no mark of dissatisfaction was seen on his face. Nothing, except a sweet smile, graced his features as he walked down the long aisle of the church to his future husband. But Jaejoong watched, heartbroken, as his sweet and bubbly best friend promised to be forever faithful to a man who looked like he belonged in a museum next to King Tut’s mummies.
“You’d think your parents could have foregone a few ducats for a man better fitted to Junsu?” Jaejoong hissed to Yunho later, at the wedding celebration in the Kim estate.
Yunho laughed at his lover, snagging some wine from a passing server and giving him a cup. “A man better fitted? Lee Sooman is a counselor of the Emperor, confidant of the Pope, and he owns half of Pisa. This is a magnificent match. The Roman court loves the man”
Jaejoong glared at Yunho, subtly so as not to attract the attention of the other revelers. “The Roman court doesn’t have to sleep next to him every night.”
Yunho raised an eyebrow. “You’d be surprised.” He tugged Jaejoong’s hand to the dance floor, hoping to distract his lover with a dance. Jaejoong loved to dance.
Jaejoong would not be distracted. “Junsu deserves better. He’s your brother! Don’t you feel the slightest bit of pity for him?”
“Junsu is a Kim, through and through.” Yunho said, looking Jaejoong in the eye. “He will marry who he is told.”
“I’d sooner be wed to God then that man.” Jaejoong fumed.
“God isn’t as rich as Lee Sooman.” Yunho laughed into his ear. “Now enough of this, my love, my father is glaring at me so I must attend to him. Meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes.”
Jaejoong gave him a look that said he wasn’t finished, but he complied with a little smile. Their little nook in the Kim’s courtyard was their usual trysting place, where they could ignore the world and simply be with each other.
Yunho watched him walk away, his eyes following the fey creature weaving through the crowd, before moving towards his father.
“Son.” Signore Kims said, as Yunho approached. “Having a pleasant evening?”
“Of course, father.” Yunho replied. “It’s a grand party.”
“Yes, yes.” Signore Kim studied his eldest son, carefully. Yunho was handsome, manly where Junsu was soft. He would make a good politician. He would be a powerful man, if he did not stray from the path his father had set for him. “Perhaps it inspires you to find one for yourself?”
Yunho looked at his father, surprised. “Me? A partner already?”
His father nodded and gripped Yunho’s shoulders tightly. “It’s time, Yunho. You’ve had years to sow your wild oats.” Singnore Kim grinned. “The court in Florence is still talking about your escapades there. But now it is time to settle down. I have many prospective matches for you, ready and willing.”
Yunho looked stunned for a moment, not registering this sudden development. “But, I can’t. I’ve just accepted my promotion in the navy…and with the border trouble-“
“Nonsense, marriage won’t affect your military or political career.” Signore Kim interrupted his son. “In fact, it will only help. Look at your brother’s match. It has opened up whole new business possibilities, in fact…”
Yunho tuned out his father’s rambling. He had always known that an arranged marriage was in store for him, a marriage of State and not love. But he had hoped and prayed for a few more years, just a few years with Jaejoong, before any of this happened.
“Your match will be wealthy.” His father said, his tone commanding Yunho’s attention once more. “He will be a noble of high rank, and he will be from one of the great families, preferably a political one.”
He will not be Jaejoong. Yunho continued his father’s speech in his mind, and his head bowed.
“Yunho!” Signore Kim raised his voice. “You will marry according to your station. Soon.”
Yunho raised his eyes, and met his father’s unwavering gaze. He felt the pressure of Signore Kim’s hands, still on his shoulders. “Yes, father.”
~~
Yunho ran to their secluded little place in the courtyard. The moonlight was the only illumination that filled the small alley, and the sweet smell from the nearby kitchen wafted through the air. Jaejoong grabbed his waist and kissed him ferociously as soon as he was near enough. Yunho kissed back just as passionately and held his lover with desperate strength. His father’s words were still echoing in his ears. Yunho knew Jaejoong hoped to one day marry... What should he do? Let the dream continue? That would be too cruel.
“At least Junsu is an optimistic being.” Jaejoong sighed after the kiss, oblivious to Yunho’s mood. “If anyone can survive living with a walking skeleton I’m sure he can.”
Yunho forced a smile, and looked at Jae’s clear eyes.
“I think I can survive your snoring for the rest of my life, in case you’re wondering.” Jae teased, tweaking Yunho’s nose in fun.
Yunho bit his lip and buried his face in Jae’s sweet smelling hair. “I wish that were our wedding,” Yunho whispered, hugging his lover tightly. “You know that I want forever with you.” Jaejoong glowed at this confession. “But…”
Jaejoong leaned away and looked at him with magnificent eyes, a question lingering in his gaze. “But?”
“You know that we can never marry.” It was the hardest thing Yunho had ever had to say.
Jaejoong broke away from his embrace, with the beginnings of hurt on his face. “I only know what you tell me.”
“I must marry according to my family’s will. Someone who will help my family’s ambitions…” With each word, Yunho saw the pain deepen in Jaejoong’s eyes. “It is not my choice. Not my decision.”
“Why am I in your arms then?” Jaejoong whispered, brokenly.
“Because I cannot let you go.” Yunho said back, equally broken.
“Then keep me.”
“I need to marry according to my station.” Yunho’s words were failing him; so he threw his father’s words, hoping to keep his resolve firm in the face of Jaejoong’s pain.
“My ancestors were true citizens, my family goes back 700 years. “ Jaejoong said, grasping at any argument that could persuade Yunho to see reason. To stay and be with him.
“A coat of arms means nothing to my father without an inheritance.”
“It is money, then” Jaejoong asked, bitterly. His arms wrapped around himself as he moved even farther from Yunho.
“It is duty.” Yunho said back. “It is politics.”
“How romantic.”
“Marriage isn’t romantic.” Yunho shot back, trying to move closer to Jaejoong. “That is why God invented poetry.”
Jaejoong looked blankly out at the shimmering canals of Venice. His world, a glittering dream a few hours ago, seemed to be sinking into the dark waters of the city.
“Poetry to help men lie,” he said tearfully. “To-“
“If I were a liar,” Yunho said roughly, grabbing Jaejoong back into his arms. “Would I tell you this? Would I say this to you now?”
Jaejoong struggled against Yunho fiercely. “If you loved me you could not tell me this at all.”
“I love you!”
“Don’t tell me that now.” Jaejoong snapped. “After saying we can never marry. That you will marry someone else. Don’t talk of love.” He backed away from Yunho, fisting his hands and lashing out in fury.
“Jaejoong.” Yunho pleaded, following him. “Try to understand.”
“You are a coward, that is what I understand.” Jaejoong spat out, he was trembling and he didn’t know if it was out of fury or hysterical sadness.
Yunho winced at the venom in his words. “I want you. You…but I can’t. It’s impossible…”
Jaejoong ran away at that word, not wanting to hear anymore. He ran to escape from everything, to escape from Yunho. He evaded Yunho’s desperate grasping hands, and ran blindly through the streets. This was too much, the hurt from Yunho’s words had darkened something inside of him. Like a child, he had put his wholehearted faith in Yunho. And the man he trusted to keep him safe and loved and happy had shattered his dreams of a beautiful life together. Jaejoong went home in despair, looking for someplace, any place, where he could just cry.
~~
Dawn found Jaejoong in his bed, wrapped up in soft sheets and tears dried on his face. He had been crying all night. A soft hand stroked his back, fondly.
“You flew too high.” Yoochun whispered to him. “And the fall hurts like hell.”
Jaejoong shook his head at Yoochun’s words. “Please, just leave me alone.”
“I told you, didn’t I?” Yoochun continued. “Marriage is a contract. But you refused to listen, naïve youth.”
Jaejoong buried his head in his pillows. Stop Yoochun, my dreams have fallen apart. Let me be. Leave me alone.
“To a man of Yunho’s station, marriage has nothing to do with love.” Yoochun’s hand kept stroking his back.
Jaejoong tried to ignore his cousin as much as he could. He could not, and would not accept this reality.
“But you can still have Yunho.” Yoochun whispered.
At this, Jaejoong looked up. He turned to Yoochun slowly, in disbelief. “What?” He asked, voice raw.
Yoochun looked at him with serious eyes. “But not in wedlock. I know you want him forever: to have the world and God acknowledge your love, but that will never happen.”
Jaejoong gritted his teeth at his cousin’s harsh words.
“There is an alternative.” Yoochun continued.
“What should I do?” Jaejoong asked.
“You will become a courtesan.” Yoochun said, a sad smile on his face. “I’ve seen you watching them, mesmerized by them.”
Jaejoong quickly turned to his cousin in shock. A courtesan? To see and admire the courtesans was one thing…but to become one?
“You will become a courtesan, like I was.” Yoochun said softly.
“How will that get me Yunho?” Jaejoong whispered. “How will that get me the life that I want?”
“The life you want?” Yoochun laughed. “A house with children, a loving handsome husband waiting for you in bed every night? That was a dream. Nothing more. But if you become a courtesan you will have a richer life than you ever hoped to have.”
“A filthy life.” Jaejoong shot back, glaring at Yoochun and mindlessly wanting to hurt him or anyone. “One you abandoned.”
Yoochun smiled coldly. “I stopped being a courtesan for many reasons, but I never regretted becoming one. Remember love, if you are a courtesan then you can have Yunho even after he is married. And many other men as well.” Jaejoong looked away, shaking his head in denial and refusal.
Yoochun sighed and held his cheek softly. “Pretty cousin, you’ve always desired their freedom, their bold lifestyle…”
“I could never do that…” Jaejoong’s mind was whirling. He had imagined a future, a future with a husband and a child and a home. What was happening to him? How could he achieve that future? Was it gone for good?
“You have the wrong idea about courtesans.” Yoochun said, idly. His gaze was faraway and lost. “I lived a full and beautiful life.”
“I could never be one.” Jaejoong said, flatly. “Never.”
“Then what is in your future?” Yoochun asked him. “You cannot wed Yunho, will you wed someone else? The sailor that is infatuated with you? Or the cook from Pisa?”
“No!” To be owned by a man who was not Yunho, to be condemned to another man forever. The thought filled Jaejoong’s throat with bile.
Yoochun sighed. He looked at the fire in his cousin’s eyes. Jaejoong, so passionate and so full of emotion, he would be a perfect lover. A perfect courtesan. Looking down, Yoochun grasped Jae’s hand and stroked it.
“Soft,” he said. “Very soft. Not a scullery lad. Maybe a maid? Junsu would probably hire you. That would be funny…”
Jaejoong snatched his hand away.
“Then what?” Yoochun snapped. “A monk? Or a religious man? A scholar? Devote yourself to God or some god forsaken thing like Darwinism or Astronomy?” Yoochun laughed mirthlessly. “Think Jaejoong.”
Jaejoong imagined that life. Empty, without human touch and bodily pleasure. A paradise of theory and intellect. He shuddered even more.
Was there no other choice?
Was being a courtesan his path? He had always admired them, always lusted for their freedom and their passionate life. Closing his eyes, Jaejoong felt resignation sink into him. Yunho had made it clear that a wedded life with him was impossible. A priest? A scholar? He was not fitted to a life as dry and passionless as that.
What else could he do?
He opened his eyes and looked at Yoochun.
“Alright. Teach me.”
##
Chapter 1: Here
Chapter 2: Here
Interlude: Here