The King's Man VII
Title: The King's Man
Pairing: Chanhee/Byunghun
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Disclaimer: They belong to Andy, not me.
Early the next morning, a servant arrived at Byunghun and Jonghyun's quarters, bringing the king's orders. Changhyun nodded hesitantly as the older man whispered to him before waving him away. He slipped into the boys' room and gently shook them awake.
"Jonghyunnie," he whined into Jonghyun's ear when he pushed Changhyun away and grumbled. "The king has summoned you and Byunghunnie, please wake up..."
Byunghun sat up at the sound of his name and yawned, looking sleepily from Jonghyun to Changhyun.
"What did you say?" Changhyun bit his lip. "The king summoned both of us?"
The boy nodded and poked at Jonghyun some more. "As soon as possible. We're to be at his court."
Jonghyun sat straight up, eyes wide as he grabbed Changhyun's arm and shook him. "What? He wants us to what?"
The boy rolled out of bed hurriedly and scrambled to his clothes, tossing some at Byunghun to try and hurry him along. There was a strange look in his eye as he called for Changhyun to bring them water quickly so they could wash up. Byunghun wrinkled his nose and dressed himself while Jonghyun swanned about the room frantically, his sleepiness all but forgotten.
"Jonghyun, why are you so-"
"He never summons us to the court!" Jonghyun grabbed Byunghun and dragged him to the water as Changhyun returned with it and set it down. "Not us! Never! We're not meant to go there unless something happens!"
Byunghun hurriedly washed his face, stepping away when Jonghyun splashed water everywhere in his rush to be done and out the door. He barely had time to slide his feet into his shoes as they left; Jonghyun dragged him along with him, an overeager child in a body too large and powerful for him to fully understand his own strength. The smaller boy didn't bother to protest, as he'd learned it didn't do much good, and he gave Changhyun a weak smile as the servant tried his best to keep up with the two.
They arrived at the king's court to find it full of people. Byunghun's stomach twisted nervously as he looked around; some of these people had been present when he'd been brought before the king for stealing. A few of them were looking at him as if he were a bug, or something worse. Jonghyun dropped Byunghun's arm and tried his best to look like a dignified young man. Byunghun lowered his head and kept his eyes on the floor.
"Come forward," the king called from his seat. Changhyun nudged Byunghun gently in the back, signalling to him that Chanhee meant him and Jonghyun, and Byunghun moved into the open area in the hall a half step behind the big child. "You too, Changhyun."
There was a quiet squeak, and Byunghun realised it had come from the small boy who was stepping up next to him with his head down and hands folded. Changhyun's nervousness came off him in waves, only adding to the other two's anxiety. There were too many people here, and all their attention was focused on the wonchungs and their caretaker.
Beside the king, Minsoo smiled softly, betraying the stoicism of everyone in the court.
"Look carefully at these three," the king commanded, his voice sharp. Byunghun flinched and tried his hardest to shrink in on himself. "They are whores and servants. They are beneath you, are they not?"
The words stung; beside Byunghun, Jonghyun tensed, his hands fisting in his clothing at his sides as he swallowed the unhappy sound rising in his throat. Changhyun had gone still as stone, and a murmur ran through the gathered officials, ministers, and servants. Only Byunghun lifted his head and set his eyes on the king, anger flaring in him. He hadn't chosen this. He hadn't wanted this. And here was the king, rubbing it in and repeating the mutters of the servants who-
"Anyone who lays a hand on these three will be severely punished in the future." Chanhee's voice grew louder as every eye in the room turned to him. "I have heard whispers of goings on I detest, in my own palace, under my very nose. These boys you believe to be beneath you are precious to me. Any person who causes them injury or upset will be met with the harshest retribution I can muster. What fairness is there in calling them whores and treating them as if they are less than true men? They are not the whores in this court. That title lies with those among you who sell their souls and their beliefs for power."
The room couldn't have been more still were it empty of human life. Byunghun, Jonghyun, and Changhyun stood together in the center of the silence, stunned expressions on their faces; Byunghun could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears as he blinked at the king before looking around. His slight movement seemed to break the spell on those in the court, and suddenly there was a flurry of whispers. Dark, small voices filled the area, and Byunghun reached for Jonghyun's arm as the men nearest to them eyed the boys threateningly.
This was happening because Byunghun had dared to speak to the king about being mistreated, and he knew it. He could see several of the offending servants standing against the far wall, their faces bearing fresh bruises. The men had their eyes set on Jonghyun and Byunghun, and there was murder in their gaze.
"Silence."
When quiet didn't fall over the court, Minsoo stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he stood next to Chanhee.
The murmuring immediately stopped.
"Changhyun. You are to report any misbehaviour to me, is this clear?" The boy nodded, and Chanhee held up a hand, signaling that the boys were dismissed. "You may return to your chambers."
The three boys inclined their heads and backed toward the door, trying not to look at any of the men they passed as they moved to escape the awkward tension of the room. Jonghyun had grabbed onto Byunghun's sleeve, his excitement almost palpable as he stole quiet glances up at Chanhee and Minsoo. Byunghun's stomach was still busy twisting in his gut at the unexpected meeting.
"Byunghun." The boy swallowed hard and looked up at the king. "I will see you tonight."
~ ~ ~
When the king had finished with the rest of his court and dismissed his ministers and servants, the queen's spy rushed to her quarters once again, trying not to look suspicious. He waited as the queen's attendants informed her of his presence once more, fidgeting nervously.
The queen impatiently demanded he be let in and settled herself behind her table, eyes settling on her looking glass as the man entered the room.
"Tell me."
The servant settled on his knees on the floor, head bowed as he tried to word his report in the way that would least upset the queen.
Futile effort, he knew.
"The king brought his lovers before the court... he summoned several of his servants as well, and..." he glanced up at the woman. "He berated the court for misbehaviour, my queen. He claimed they were precious to him, and their mistreatment would be met with harsh punishments for the perpetrators."
The queen clenched her fingers tight around the handle of her brush and stared at the table before her. Her soft lips pressed into a thin line as she fought the urge to throw the brush at the nervous servant; the man was her messenger, and she longed to shoot him for the news he brought. She had to remind herself that it wasn't his fault. Her husband was the one to blame for her current annoyance.
"And?"
The man closed his eyes. "The servants who had offended the boys previously... they were punished and dismissed. And the king revealed in front of the court that he will be seeing the newer boy tonight."
The hairbrush flew, and its fine, polished handle hit the man in the face. The queen stared at it as it fell into his lap, her expression livid. Her final nerve had been struck. This would not stand. Turning her gaze carefully to the wall of drawers, in which all her lovely trinkets and accessories were stored, she spat out two carefully measured words.
"Summon Daniel."
~ ~ ~
Jonghyun spent the rest of the day following Byunghun around their pavilion, occasionally tugging at his clothes and petting his hair as the smaller boy straightened things up again. Somehow their room always seemed to get messy... he knew it had to be Jonghyun, because he wasn't the one who left things laying about. Changhyun was in the room as well, sitting on the floor near the door and staring at it intently, almost as if he were a well-trained puppy expecting someone.
"Jonghyun," Byunghun said finally, his voice flat as he whirled to look at the boy. Jonghyun put his hands on Byunghun's cheeks and squished them gently. "What are you doing?"
The boy smiled. "Nothing... I'm just happy, this is what I do when I'm happy!"
Byunghun pulled his squished face away and grabbed one of Jonghyun's hands, eyes narrowed. Either this was a new level of happy, or Jonghyun had only pretended at it in the previous weeks. Either way, it was starting to become vexing.
"Why are you so happy," he mumbled, shoving Jonghyun's hand into his own clothing and stepping away as the boy squealed in surprise. "I'm trying to tidy our chambers, you could help."
Jonghyun pulled his hand free and promptly thwacked Byunghun across the butt, his lips curving into a pout. The smaller boy jumped in surprise at the sudden slap and rubbed the spot he'd been struck, casting a look at the innocent-faced giant. Across the room, Changhyun watched them with interest; the servant burst into a fit of giggles when Byunghun reached up and grabbed hold of Jonghyun's nose.
"Owww don't pull on that!" Jonghyun whined, arms flailing before he grabbed Byunghun's wrist. Byunghun gave it another gentle tug, pulling Jonghyun's face down closer to his. "Byunghunnie!"
Byunghun grinned and held the boy at his own eye level. "You behave."
Jonghyun did not seem to enjoy that command. He grabbed Byunghun's sides and dragged them both to the floor; Byunghun promptly let go of his nose and grabbed his shoulders, eyes wide in surprise as Jonghyun's fingers moved rapidly against his sides. Peals of uncontrollable laughter bubbled up his throat, and he tried to defend himself against the giant who was tickling him mercilessly.
What followed was a violent, blurry tumble of giggling, pokes, and prods. Anyone passing by outside would probably be confused by the sounds coming from within the small pavilion. They'd be even more confused if they saw Changhyun, who was rolling around just inside the door hiccuping and laughing without restraint.
When it was all done, the two boys were both on their backs on the floor, panting and a little sweaty, their hair and clothing rumpled. Every few seconds one of them would let out an errant, breathless chuckle, which would erupt into a small gigglefest if they happened to look at each other.
"Thank you, Byunghunnie," Jonghyun said finally, a bright smile on his face as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Really... thank you."
"For what?" Byunghun responded, still trying to catch his breath.
"For being here. For not running away." Jonghyun looked at him and reached to fix Byunghun's tousled hair. "For making the king admit he cares. For just being you."
Byunghun felt his cheeks flush, and wordlessly he nodded and turned his head to kiss Jonghyun's palm.
This boy was one of the good things captivity had given him.
"Come," Jonghyun said, sitting up and tugging on Byunghun's arm. "You must get cleaned up. The king will be expecting you soon."
Pairing: Chanhee/Byunghun
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Disclaimer: They belong to Andy, not me.
Early the next morning, a servant arrived at Byunghun and Jonghyun's quarters, bringing the king's orders. Changhyun nodded hesitantly as the older man whispered to him before waving him away. He slipped into the boys' room and gently shook them awake.
"Jonghyunnie," he whined into Jonghyun's ear when he pushed Changhyun away and grumbled. "The king has summoned you and Byunghunnie, please wake up..."
Byunghun sat up at the sound of his name and yawned, looking sleepily from Jonghyun to Changhyun.
"What did you say?" Changhyun bit his lip. "The king summoned both of us?"
The boy nodded and poked at Jonghyun some more. "As soon as possible. We're to be at his court."
Jonghyun sat straight up, eyes wide as he grabbed Changhyun's arm and shook him. "What? He wants us to what?"
The boy rolled out of bed hurriedly and scrambled to his clothes, tossing some at Byunghun to try and hurry him along. There was a strange look in his eye as he called for Changhyun to bring them water quickly so they could wash up. Byunghun wrinkled his nose and dressed himself while Jonghyun swanned about the room frantically, his sleepiness all but forgotten.
"Jonghyun, why are you so-"
"He never summons us to the court!" Jonghyun grabbed Byunghun and dragged him to the water as Changhyun returned with it and set it down. "Not us! Never! We're not meant to go there unless something happens!"
Byunghun hurriedly washed his face, stepping away when Jonghyun splashed water everywhere in his rush to be done and out the door. He barely had time to slide his feet into his shoes as they left; Jonghyun dragged him along with him, an overeager child in a body too large and powerful for him to fully understand his own strength. The smaller boy didn't bother to protest, as he'd learned it didn't do much good, and he gave Changhyun a weak smile as the servant tried his best to keep up with the two.
They arrived at the king's court to find it full of people. Byunghun's stomach twisted nervously as he looked around; some of these people had been present when he'd been brought before the king for stealing. A few of them were looking at him as if he were a bug, or something worse. Jonghyun dropped Byunghun's arm and tried his best to look like a dignified young man. Byunghun lowered his head and kept his eyes on the floor.
"Come forward," the king called from his seat. Changhyun nudged Byunghun gently in the back, signalling to him that Chanhee meant him and Jonghyun, and Byunghun moved into the open area in the hall a half step behind the big child. "You too, Changhyun."
There was a quiet squeak, and Byunghun realised it had come from the small boy who was stepping up next to him with his head down and hands folded. Changhyun's nervousness came off him in waves, only adding to the other two's anxiety. There were too many people here, and all their attention was focused on the wonchungs and their caretaker.
Beside the king, Minsoo smiled softly, betraying the stoicism of everyone in the court.
"Look carefully at these three," the king commanded, his voice sharp. Byunghun flinched and tried his hardest to shrink in on himself. "They are whores and servants. They are beneath you, are they not?"
The words stung; beside Byunghun, Jonghyun tensed, his hands fisting in his clothing at his sides as he swallowed the unhappy sound rising in his throat. Changhyun had gone still as stone, and a murmur ran through the gathered officials, ministers, and servants. Only Byunghun lifted his head and set his eyes on the king, anger flaring in him. He hadn't chosen this. He hadn't wanted this. And here was the king, rubbing it in and repeating the mutters of the servants who-
"Anyone who lays a hand on these three will be severely punished in the future." Chanhee's voice grew louder as every eye in the room turned to him. "I have heard whispers of goings on I detest, in my own palace, under my very nose. These boys you believe to be beneath you are precious to me. Any person who causes them injury or upset will be met with the harshest retribution I can muster. What fairness is there in calling them whores and treating them as if they are less than true men? They are not the whores in this court. That title lies with those among you who sell their souls and their beliefs for power."
The room couldn't have been more still were it empty of human life. Byunghun, Jonghyun, and Changhyun stood together in the center of the silence, stunned expressions on their faces; Byunghun could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears as he blinked at the king before looking around. His slight movement seemed to break the spell on those in the court, and suddenly there was a flurry of whispers. Dark, small voices filled the area, and Byunghun reached for Jonghyun's arm as the men nearest to them eyed the boys threateningly.
This was happening because Byunghun had dared to speak to the king about being mistreated, and he knew it. He could see several of the offending servants standing against the far wall, their faces bearing fresh bruises. The men had their eyes set on Jonghyun and Byunghun, and there was murder in their gaze.
"Silence."
When quiet didn't fall over the court, Minsoo stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he stood next to Chanhee.
The murmuring immediately stopped.
"Changhyun. You are to report any misbehaviour to me, is this clear?" The boy nodded, and Chanhee held up a hand, signaling that the boys were dismissed. "You may return to your chambers."
The three boys inclined their heads and backed toward the door, trying not to look at any of the men they passed as they moved to escape the awkward tension of the room. Jonghyun had grabbed onto Byunghun's sleeve, his excitement almost palpable as he stole quiet glances up at Chanhee and Minsoo. Byunghun's stomach was still busy twisting in his gut at the unexpected meeting.
"Byunghun." The boy swallowed hard and looked up at the king. "I will see you tonight."
~ ~ ~
When the king had finished with the rest of his court and dismissed his ministers and servants, the queen's spy rushed to her quarters once again, trying not to look suspicious. He waited as the queen's attendants informed her of his presence once more, fidgeting nervously.
The queen impatiently demanded he be let in and settled herself behind her table, eyes settling on her looking glass as the man entered the room.
"Tell me."
The servant settled on his knees on the floor, head bowed as he tried to word his report in the way that would least upset the queen.
Futile effort, he knew.
"The king brought his lovers before the court... he summoned several of his servants as well, and..." he glanced up at the woman. "He berated the court for misbehaviour, my queen. He claimed they were precious to him, and their mistreatment would be met with harsh punishments for the perpetrators."
The queen clenched her fingers tight around the handle of her brush and stared at the table before her. Her soft lips pressed into a thin line as she fought the urge to throw the brush at the nervous servant; the man was her messenger, and she longed to shoot him for the news he brought. She had to remind herself that it wasn't his fault. Her husband was the one to blame for her current annoyance.
"And?"
The man closed his eyes. "The servants who had offended the boys previously... they were punished and dismissed. And the king revealed in front of the court that he will be seeing the newer boy tonight."
The hairbrush flew, and its fine, polished handle hit the man in the face. The queen stared at it as it fell into his lap, her expression livid. Her final nerve had been struck. This would not stand. Turning her gaze carefully to the wall of drawers, in which all her lovely trinkets and accessories were stored, she spat out two carefully measured words.
"Summon Daniel."
~ ~ ~
Jonghyun spent the rest of the day following Byunghun around their pavilion, occasionally tugging at his clothes and petting his hair as the smaller boy straightened things up again. Somehow their room always seemed to get messy... he knew it had to be Jonghyun, because he wasn't the one who left things laying about. Changhyun was in the room as well, sitting on the floor near the door and staring at it intently, almost as if he were a well-trained puppy expecting someone.
"Jonghyun," Byunghun said finally, his voice flat as he whirled to look at the boy. Jonghyun put his hands on Byunghun's cheeks and squished them gently. "What are you doing?"
The boy smiled. "Nothing... I'm just happy, this is what I do when I'm happy!"
Byunghun pulled his squished face away and grabbed one of Jonghyun's hands, eyes narrowed. Either this was a new level of happy, or Jonghyun had only pretended at it in the previous weeks. Either way, it was starting to become vexing.
"Why are you so happy," he mumbled, shoving Jonghyun's hand into his own clothing and stepping away as the boy squealed in surprise. "I'm trying to tidy our chambers, you could help."
Jonghyun pulled his hand free and promptly thwacked Byunghun across the butt, his lips curving into a pout. The smaller boy jumped in surprise at the sudden slap and rubbed the spot he'd been struck, casting a look at the innocent-faced giant. Across the room, Changhyun watched them with interest; the servant burst into a fit of giggles when Byunghun reached up and grabbed hold of Jonghyun's nose.
"Owww don't pull on that!" Jonghyun whined, arms flailing before he grabbed Byunghun's wrist. Byunghun gave it another gentle tug, pulling Jonghyun's face down closer to his. "Byunghunnie!"
Byunghun grinned and held the boy at his own eye level. "You behave."
Jonghyun did not seem to enjoy that command. He grabbed Byunghun's sides and dragged them both to the floor; Byunghun promptly let go of his nose and grabbed his shoulders, eyes wide in surprise as Jonghyun's fingers moved rapidly against his sides. Peals of uncontrollable laughter bubbled up his throat, and he tried to defend himself against the giant who was tickling him mercilessly.
What followed was a violent, blurry tumble of giggling, pokes, and prods. Anyone passing by outside would probably be confused by the sounds coming from within the small pavilion. They'd be even more confused if they saw Changhyun, who was rolling around just inside the door hiccuping and laughing without restraint.
When it was all done, the two boys were both on their backs on the floor, panting and a little sweaty, their hair and clothing rumpled. Every few seconds one of them would let out an errant, breathless chuckle, which would erupt into a small gigglefest if they happened to look at each other.
"Thank you, Byunghunnie," Jonghyun said finally, a bright smile on his face as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Really... thank you."
"For what?" Byunghun responded, still trying to catch his breath.
"For being here. For not running away." Jonghyun looked at him and reached to fix Byunghun's tousled hair. "For making the king admit he cares. For just being you."
Byunghun felt his cheeks flush, and wordlessly he nodded and turned his head to kiss Jonghyun's palm.
This boy was one of the good things captivity had given him.
"Come," Jonghyun said, sitting up and tugging on Byunghun's arm. "You must get cleaned up. The king will be expecting you soon."