The Scattered Stars Effect part nine *FINAL*
Pairing: HimUp
Rated: PG13
Length: 5K
( one) ( two) ( three) ( four) ( five) ( six) ( seven) (eight)
Song
I don't think I've ever mentioned it but this was actually a request fic. THIS was the prompt sent to me with a request to make it into HimUp.
The walk to the transfer van was the first time in four days that Himchan had been allowed outside and the brightness of the sun made his eyes water. A riot in the middle of the cafeteria had lost the entire prison their recreation privileges for two weeks and even though he hadn't been involved there was no fairness in lockdown. Everyone had mass punishments and it wasn't the first time they'd lost one of their few comforts.
He hoped the new prison they were sending him to wasn’t as violent. The only reason they'd agreed to the transfer was because he had spent the last three years staying quiet and had never once been sent to the warden.
"You must have a pretty fancy lawyer," The guard leading him outside remarked. "Moving you up and out of here like some special bigshot. I only see this happen a couple times a year."
The lawyer that had been diligently working his case ever since his arrest was not what Himchan would call fancy. More like a shark than a gentleman. Himchan continued to attend their monthly meetings solely because he came with news of Jongup and Hayoung. He had shown up five hours after Himchan's arrest with assurances that money was no object thanks to Mr. Moon and that he would work tirelessly to help reduce the charges and obtain an acquittal.
That hadn't happened, of course, not with the prosecutors assuming he was Moon and coming at them with everything they had accumulated over the years.
"Jongup sent me," The man had told him during that first meeting by way of introduction. "He said to tell you that by the time we speak he should be halfway home."
"Is he going back for Hayoung?" All he needed to know at that second was that Jongup and their daughter were going to be safe and far away from Korea.
The lawyer opened his briefcase and pulled out the arrest papers to see what he was dealing with. "That's all Mr. Moon told me but rest assured that I am a staunch believer in privacy between my client and I. If I hear anything else from him I will tell you."
It wasn't until the next day that Himchan finally discovered Jongup and Hayoung were out of the country and hidden, with not even his lawyer knowing where exactly in the world they had ended up.
When Himchan stopped beside the windowless van that was going to be driving him almost two hundred miles away to his new home, the guard unlocked his handcuffs long enough for him to climb inside and then quickly recuffed him, looping the chain through a ring in the floor for extra protection. They had never needed the additional security though, not from him.
Keeping himself hidden on the sidelines and never making waves to draw attention to himself didn't matter when everyone in the country knew your face and every past crime you had supposedly committed. The guards kept close eyes on him, always watchful for the escape they were so sure Himchan would attempt the second he was given a chance.
"Slide to the end of the bench," He was ordered in stilted English from the guard in the front seat, voice low-pitched and stern.
He complied because doing whatever he was told was the easiest route and from his first day in prison he had already decided to just do exactly what they wanted him to.
"Any other pick-ups?" The guard flipped through the pages on his clipboard while the two in the front signed the release forms.
"One more from the local jail that we're dropping off at the same time," The man in the passenger seat informed him, handing the forms through the window. The metal bars were a barrier between the front and back but Himchan was able to see that he was older and tired-looking.
They set off in silence down the road, the radio the only sound coming through to the back and even then it was barely able to be heard through the large van.
"You'll get a meal later," The older guard informed him, turning around to peer through the bars. "After we pick up the second inmate it's going to be another eight hours to the other prison. Hope you're comfortable."
He wasn't. Not with the metal seat underneath him and the handcuffs squeezing tighter than they should have been around his wrists. But his lawyer had promised him that this new lock-up was going to be better than the last. And that Jongup had been paying him double for working hard to get him moved as soon as possible.
The thoughts of Jongup always calmed him when he was terrified in his cell. Thinking about the man he loved raising their daughter to be as solid and strong as he had been gave Himchan enough comfort to make it through the long, hard days in prison. There were pictures taped on his concrete wall that Hayoung had drawn him and Jongup had mailed anonymously to the lawyer, drawings of the three of them together and smiling and a family.
"I'm fine," he murmured back, closing his eyes and drawing up long ago memories that he only brought out when he really needed them. Memories of Jongup's smile and Hayoung's laugh and how it was the three of them against the world. Now he was alone. If he dwelle on them for too long they had the power to destroy him so he only let himself remember for a few moments before he pushed them away and shook his head.
After a few hours they turned onto a lesser-used highway, the signs rusted and fading as they drove along the road. If Himchan leaned forward and squinted out the front window he could barely see a large building rising up in the distance.
"Road is pretty bumpy," the second guard remarked, holding on tight to the bar over his head. "Who's the inmate we're picking up?"
"Boy that got caught stealing a diamond from a jeweler. He's being transferred closer to family," the man driving still hadn't turned around to look backwards but Himchan could tell through the muffled words that he was wearing a face mask. "Here we are."
The sun was high over top of the van and shining brightly down on them so Himchan didn't bother looking out of the front window again but kept his gaze trained onto the dirty floor. He didn't mind having another person across from him during the trip but he wished they would at least hurry it along. He was starting to grow hungry and the last meal he had gotten was for supper yesterday. Breakfast was withheld since he had to be processed and released, an ordeal that took all morning. At least it meant he didn't have to use the bathroom yet. There's always a bright side, he thought.
"There they come."
The back doors of the van opened, letting in such a wall of light that Himchan had to squint and close his eyes for a few moments. When they finally adjusted he was able to make out three new figures standing at the edge of the door. The other inmate's back was to him, jumpsuit loose around his small figure.
"Sign off and he's yours."
After the signatures were passed around the man who was going to be sharing the back of the prison van with him for the next eight hours finally turned around and Himchan felt the ground fall out from beneath him.
"You're Kim Himchan," The tiny inmate climbed his way into the seat across from him and let his guard check his handcuffs. "I saw you on the news. My name's Daehyun."
"No talking, Jung. You know the rules."
Daehyun waited until the doors were slammed shut before smiling slyly and winking at him. "Keep on sitting there and staying quiet," He murmured, motioning towards the older guard in the front seat. "Don't act like we know each other."
"But," Himchan swallowed through a dry throat. Hope was so close to him that he could feel the tingles of it on the tips of his fingers. "Jongup?"
"Is waiting on you," Daehyun promised, easing back against the hard wall and closing his eyes. "You've been patient this long you can make it just a little bit longer."
---
The silence was going to eat him alive, Himchan thought to himself after the first three hours passed and Daehyun still hadn't opened his eyes.
He thought about kicking him but the rattle of their chains would only alert the guards in the front and if there was a plan to get him out then Himchan wasn't going to do anything to affect it. The knowledge that Jongup was still working to set him free and had gone so far as to set this, whatever this was, up was enough to keep his brain working overtime.
"I can hear you screaming at me in your head," Daehyun finally spoke up, the words barely making his lips move. "Calm down."
"Where is Jongup?" Himchan hissed, keeping a close eye on the front seat. "Is Hayoung with him? Are they okay?"
Daehyun pretended to yawn and lean over to stretch his stiff muscles. "They're fine. Jongup moved them to the middle of nowhere and he's been planning this day in and day out for the last year. So just shut your mouth and let us get you out of here."
Us? There was no us, there was only Daehyun, a guard the age of his grandfather and a driver that Himchan still hadn't gotten a good look at.
The hard yank he made pulling himself towards the metal screen separating the front from the back left welts in his wrists but he didn't notice. It was only when the driver turned to finally look at him and he recognized the dark eyes looking back that he relaxed back into the hard plastic bench. It wasn't the man he wanted to see, but it was one who he knew could get whatever job he needed to done correctly.
"You okay back there?"
He nodded, still staring into the front. "Yeah," His voice croaked on the word and the driver chuckled when he heard it.
"Good," Youngjae glanced down to check the time on the dash. "Not too much longer now."
"We've still got over four hours though!" The man in the passenger seat checked their schedule and shook his head. "Was there another stop we were supposed to make?"
Youngjae pulled the van over to the side of the road and took a cell phone out of his pocket.
"Hey, hey wait!" Before the other man was able to finish his train of thought he was slammed over his head by the gun Youngjae pulled out of his other pocket.
"I was hoping to get closer to the plane before this happened," Youngjae wiped the steering wheel off with his sleeve and tapped a few buttons on his phone. "But to be honest I'm shocked it took Himchan this long to start flipping out."
Daehyun spit a key out of his mouth and quickly undid his cuffs before moving on to Himchan's. "I think he's in shock. He looked like he was going to throw up for the first couple of hours. Have you talked to Junhong yet?"
"Junhong?" Himchan shook his head to clear the confusion away. "Why are you working with Junhong?"
"He wanted in," Daehyun grinned up to him from where he was busily unlocking the chain that connected Himchan to the floor. "And he's sexy."
Youngjae was still typing on his phone but Himchan could hear the gag of disgust coming from the front seat. "They've been Skyping every night. It's turned Daehyun domestic."
"Skyping… What do-" Himchan hadn't been this stimulated since he was in court while the judge was reading off the guilty verdict and his entire body had hummed with painful electricity. "Where is Jongup?"
"Don't be jealous Jae," Daehyun unzipped his jumpsuit and threw it into the back of the van where Himchan still sat in a daze. "He said he has an older brother that swings both ways. I could always introduce you."
They continued to argue for what felt like years before Himchan threw himself out of the van in a rage and slammed Daehyun against the open door. "Where. Is. My. Family?"
Daehyun blinked up at him, hands scrambling for purchase as Himchan lifted him higher. All those days alone in his cell with nothing to do but exercise and meditation had made Himchan stronger and more focused on the only end goal he had.
"Italy," Youngjae forced himself between them, shoving Himchan backwards so that he would let go of the red-faced Daehyun. "They're in Italy but that's all we know. Junhong is with him but he refuses to tell us anything but the flight information."
He let the small tidbits of information sink in before responding.
"Together?" The word felt alien on his tongue. "They're in Italy together?"
"They became friends," Daehyun reached up to feel his tender throat. "After you were arrested and Jongup flew back to Korea for your daughter they all left the country together. But they're just friends. Trust me. Jongup wouldn't spend every spare second on busting you out of prison for the fun of it. He has a one-track mind and that track leads straight to Kim Himchan."
Warmth spread through him and he tried to unclench his locked jaw. It could only be a few hours or a day at the most and he would be with his family again. They could start over and live the life they deserved.
"What do I need to do?"
Youngjae pointed to his jumpsuit. "For starters you can lose the bright orange clothes. What do you have under them?"
It was matching blue cotton pants and t-shirt but Himchan thought maybe they could pull off pajamas in a pinch.
"How far away is the plane?"
"Close," Youngjae stared at him for a beat longer than necessary. "He's going to a lot of trouble for you." His gaze grew pensive. "What is that like?"
He opened his mouth to answer but Daehyun interrupted them by throwing the door open and dragging the still unmoving guard out by the arms.
"We need to get him tied up before all hell breaks loose," Daehyun told them as he swung his handcuffs around the guard's wrists. "If he is required to check in at certain times then we're screwed. Is the plane ready for takeoff?"
"Running and waiting," Youngjae's phone beeped and he scoffed when he looked down at the screen. "It's for you."
The phone was passed to the passenger seat where Himchan had let Daehyun push him into.
Tell Himchan we're waiting for him.
The message was simple and to the point, just like Jongup. He closed his eyes and let Youngjae lead them to wherever he needed to go to get back to his family.
---
The airstrip was small, smaller than any that Himchan had ever seen before. The broken tarmac was littered with clumps of grass and the man flying their plane had a bottle of tequila and a cigar that dropped ashes onto his shirt every time he moved.
"Are you sure this is safe?" He mumbled once to Daehyun as they strapped themselves into the tiny airplane. A headset was handed to him as Daehyun fit his own over his head. "It doesn’t seem like it is."
"We used them all the time when Seongwook was in charge," Youngjae overheard him from the front seat and turned to answer while the pilot was doing his final checks outside. "They're legit, they just try to stay under the radar, so looking at them it might seem a little shady. Jongup said to use them."
If it was good enough for Jongup then it was good enough for him, Himchan assured himself as the plane took off with a bumpier jolt than he was used to. The trip was supposed to last from the French countryside to a little-known town inside Switzerland so at least he only had a short trip before he would be disembarking and hopefully traveling a smoother path the rest of the way.
"We're just going to refill the fuel then we'll be back in the air," Daehyun told him as Himchan stumbled out of the plane and fell to his knees as soon as they reached Switzerland. "You really need to travel more often."
"I have traveled," he gasped, clenching the grass below him tight in his fists. "But on normal airplanes. Where you don't feel your stomach knocked into your throat."
Daehyun raised an eyebrow but threw him a bottle of water when Himchan was still kneeling several minutes later.
"Come on," His voice grew softer as he tried to pick Himchan up from the security of the firm ground beneath him. "Almost there. We're getting paid a lot of money to take you home and I'm not going to give up when we're this close."
He didn't want to know how much Jongup had promised them for his release. It would only feed the guilt bubbled up inside his stomach. Even if he hadn't of been the one to commit all of the crimes he was charged with he was still an accomplice in the last heist and he felt he had deserved to be punished. Three years away had felt like hell but then the image of Seongwook staring up at him with unblinking eyes would invade his head and he knew no lifetime of years in prison would ease that guilt.
The one bright side to all of his charges was that he had never been charged with the murder of Seongwook, the one crime he actually wanted to be punished for. Daehyun had been the only one in the room to have the forethought to grab the gun from the floor and take it with him before he had dragged Jongup away. No murder weapon, so no murder. There had been no doubt in anyone's mind that more than one person had been involved in the Moon cases but his attorney had been able to plant a solitary seed of doubt in the jury's mind over how he had committed a murder but not had the murder weapon. A single seed was all that was needed for that conviction to be blown out.
"Junhong is at the meeting point," Daehyun read a text from his phone and relayed the coordinates to Youngjae. He pulled his computer out of one of the duffel bags that had been waiting on them and typed the numbers onto the screen. A map of Italy was displayed with a blinking light showing up in the top of the country. "He's not near a city if this is the correct latitude and longitude. But he may be driving up from the bottom of Italy and just trying to throw us off."
"I thought Junhong was your special friend," Youngjae muttered dryly, popping two headache pills into his mouth and swallowing them down with a lukewarm bottle of water. "Should you two be keeping secrets like that from each other?"
"We just talk online sometimes," Daehyun actually looked embarrassed, Himchan realized. He didn't know the tiny boy had another setting other than annoyance. "It's not like we really know each other."
Himchan doubted that was the case but he didn't want to shame Daehyun even further so he kept his mouth shut.
It seemed to take days for the plane to traverse from one country to another. The only thing Himchan could see out his window was mountains and then more mountains. He knew that his daughter was down there somewhere, maybe somewhere close. It might just be a few hours before he could hold her again. He loved Jongup. Being apart from him made Himchan ache and his fingers itched to touch his skin properly for once because they hadn't been allowed that privilege until it was too late. But being separated from Hayoung was a punishment worse than death.
"Landing in five!" Youngjae hollered over his shoulder over the noise of the rickety plane.
Pinpricks of fear started to form all across Himchan's chest. What if things weren't like they used to be? What if Jongup and Hayoung were a unit now and didn't need him anymore? What if they became so awkward around each other that-
"Hey," Daehyun spoke gently to him from the seat beside him. "It's okay. You'll be okay."
"Why are you two helping?" Himchan pressed his palms into his eyes so hard that he saw flashes of light. If he didn't throw up he was going to pass out. Both were options he didn't want to happen a mile in the air in a plane that was probably superglued together. "Why? Jongup said neither of you had real feelings and that you'd both jump ship to whatever paid the most so why does he trust you now?"
Daehyun was quiet for a moment next to him. Once the nausea passed Himchan was able to carefully uncover his eyes and look at him.
"I have feelings," Daehyun told him stubbornly, crease between his brows. "I just learned it was easier to keep them to yourself when I lived with Seongwook. He wasn't the nicest guy, Himchan." He turned to face him and Himchan was surprised by the amount of anger in his eyes. "A lot's changed in the three years you've been away. And no matter how many places I broke into or things I stole I never hurt a child. We all have to have a line and that's mine. You can trust me because I won't do anything to make Hayoung grow up with a broken family like I did."
Himchan nodded his head towards Youngjae and raised an eyebrow.
"Jae would sell you out for a pack of cigarettes and a newspaper," Daehyun admitted truthfully. "But… he's been different lately. I think Jongup asking him for help changed him somehow. Maybe he didn't realize you could love someone enough that you'd put your faith in your enemy or something, I don't know. But I really think you can trust him, too. At least this time."
The plane began its descent and Daehyun shut up, flames fanning across his cheeks when he realized how much he had spilled.
Their runway was an old field running between two sides of the Alps that surrounded them. The weather was just starting to warm up from spring and wildflowers dotted the grass below them.
A comically small car waited for them on the ground, Junhong's tall body spilling out of it when they disembarked from the plane.
His eyes kept snapping between Himchan and Daehyun. Himchan was too nervous to be amused so he stepped between the two and waited until Junhong was able to focus only on him.
"How far?"
"Couple miles," Junhong's answer was just as short as his question had been because Daehyun had peeked around Himchan's shoulder and made the younger boy's blush flare up all over again. "We could walk it easily but I figured you'd want to get there quicker."
He did. An hour long trek through the mountains was something he would have loved to do any other time. Italy was his dream country after all. But that could wait for the three of them to do together. Right now he wanted to go home, curl up in bed with one arm around each of the most important people in his life, and then sleep for days.
They piled into the car with Youngjae taking the front seat next to Junhong and leaving the other two to try and fit into the tiny backseat. They were forced to drive slowly because of the terrain. Winding side roads that gave way to making their own path with spectacular views that Himchan couldn't believe were real.
"Why didn't Jongup come?" Himchan finally asked a few minutes after they set off.
"He knew there was a small chance this wouldn't work and he didn't want to get Hayoung's hopes up just to crush her," Junhong answered, glancing up at him in the rearview mirror. "She doesn't know you're out yet."
"Is she," He swallowed and blinked rapidly to try and get rid of the sudden moisture threatening to spill over. "Bigger? Does she ask about me?"
Junhong laughed from the front seat. "Yeah, she's bigger. She's going to be tall. Jongup hates it. He gives her expresso every morning because he heard it stunts your growth." He sobered up a bit and turned his head to smile at Himchan. "She asks about you every day, Himchan. Jongup has her saying a prayer for you every night in bed."
"Are you two living together?" He asked bluntly. Junhong had been a nice kid from the few times they had met previously but him knowing what his daughter did at night was a thorn in Himchan's side.
"Mmhmm," Junhong hummed under his breath as he pulled into a long driveway. "But I live in the guesthouse across the pond. I told Jongup as soon as you come home I would probably be leaving. If a better offer comes along that is."
Daehyun stiffened and Himchan could see a smile trying to pull at his lips.
A house came into view as soon as they started up the drive. Stone walled and smaller than Himchan would have picked for himself, but it fit Jongup. Jongup wouldn't have wanted something showy and grandiose.
The walls had thick branches of ivy trailing down the sides and the side yard had been fenced in with chickens and goats running around the pens. It was beautiful, Himchan thought to himself. It was beautiful and it was home.
As soon as the car stopped he threw himself out and stumbled to the front door.
"They're probably still outside!" Junhong called from behind him. "Just go around!"
He turned and ran the other way, around the corners then coming to a sudden stop. The backyard was oversized with Himchan unable to tell where it ended and the valley began. He could see a treehouse and a swing set and more signs of life than he was prepared for. Hayoung's shoes lay at the foot of the back porch, dirty and falling apart and obviously well played in.
This was his daughter's home.
A happy scream followed by a giggle sounded from around the barn and a dog went running after a ball thrown from out of sight. The brown and white spotted dog stopped when it saw Himchan and its tail wagged happily at the sight of a new person.
"Cocoa! Cocoa come back!" His daughter's voice rang out, not as high-pitched as it had been three years ago, but still sweet enough to melt Himchan's heart. She skidded around the barn, barefoot and grinning, t-shirt two sizes too big and longer legs than Himchan remembered. She wasn't the tiny princess he had lost three years ago but she was still his baby. Nine, he whispered, Hayoung is nine.
"Hayoung."
The word stopped her in her tracks and she looked over at him, blinking in confusion in the bright sun. He didn't know if Jongup had hung up the envelope of pictures he had left on the bed for them but he hoped he'd left out a few at least for Hayoung to remember his face by.
"Baby."
She dropped the stick she had been waving at the dog and took a small step forwards. Before Himchan could speak to her again Jongup appeared behind her. Jongup didn't look as confused as she did but when Himchan looked into his eyes he saw the same longing that was visible in Hayoung's.
"It's daddy, sweetheart. Go on." His voice made Himchan sway on his tired feet, but he kept his eyes glued to his daughter's because she was the beautiful piece holding this family together.
She took another step towards him.
"Hayoung," He repeated, dropping to his knees and holding his arms out. When she hit his chest he was finally able to close his eyes and breathe her in, the smell of dusty skin and happiness filling every inch of him. "I missed you," Himchan whispered into her hair, kissing every patch of skin on her face that he could. "Daddy missed you."
"Papa said you would come home one day," She sounded like she was crying but Himchan couldn't bear to pull away far enough to check. He could only bury his face into her neck and squeeze her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "You came home, daddy."
A shadow passed over them before fingers brushed tentatively over his shoulder and across the sensitive skin of his nape.
He managed to release one arm that was wrapped around Hayoung's back and reached behind him to grab for Jongup. As soon as he felt the warm hand sliding into his he yanked hard until Jongup tumbled down with them.
The soft laugh he had only been able to dream about filled his ears and the steady, reassuring beat of Jongup's heart thrummed against his back as the only two people in the world that mattered kept Himchan safe and surrounded as he finally let himself break down.
Jongup waited to pull away until the tears running down Himchan's cheeks had dried and Hayoung was twisting uncomfortably in her father's tight hold. "Go see where Junhong is, Hayoung. Let me talk to daddy for a second."
She gave Himchan one final kiss before skipping away while hollering excitedly for Junhong.
"You said Italy," Jongup was still on his knees staring at him. His small eyes appeared even smaller as he narrowed them. "If it's not what you want then we can go somewhere e-"
"I love you," Himchan pulled him across his lap, fingers tangled in the messy hair he used to run his fingers through every night as they watched TV together. His left hand skimmed across the thin t-shirt and over muscles he hadn't yet gotten the chance to memorize. "I love you." He kept mouthing the words until Jongup's lips were on his own, tongue thick and possessive inside him, knees sprawled to the sides so that he could crawl closer on top of Himchan.
Himchan had three years away from his family to make up for but as Jongup's hands cradled his face and he could hear their daughter laughing from the front of the house he knew that they'd get back to how they were before.
Jongup rested their foreheads together, breath loud as he sucked in for air. When he lifted his head it was to show off the spreading grin and the way his eyes disappeared the happier he grew.
"Welcome home."
--------------------------
Final word count: 46.4K (I started writing this fic in March of 2014 I am so sorry)
Obviously I have big plans for a few other characters to get their own stories someday but don't count on it happening any time soon >.<
I don't know if there's many people who still visit my LJ but if you stuck with this fic the whole time then thank you.
Rated: PG13
Length: 5K
( one) ( two) ( three) ( four) ( five) ( six) ( seven) (eight)
Song
I don't think I've ever mentioned it but this was actually a request fic. THIS was the prompt sent to me with a request to make it into HimUp.
The walk to the transfer van was the first time in four days that Himchan had been allowed outside and the brightness of the sun made his eyes water. A riot in the middle of the cafeteria had lost the entire prison their recreation privileges for two weeks and even though he hadn't been involved there was no fairness in lockdown. Everyone had mass punishments and it wasn't the first time they'd lost one of their few comforts.
He hoped the new prison they were sending him to wasn’t as violent. The only reason they'd agreed to the transfer was because he had spent the last three years staying quiet and had never once been sent to the warden.
"You must have a pretty fancy lawyer," The guard leading him outside remarked. "Moving you up and out of here like some special bigshot. I only see this happen a couple times a year."
The lawyer that had been diligently working his case ever since his arrest was not what Himchan would call fancy. More like a shark than a gentleman. Himchan continued to attend their monthly meetings solely because he came with news of Jongup and Hayoung. He had shown up five hours after Himchan's arrest with assurances that money was no object thanks to Mr. Moon and that he would work tirelessly to help reduce the charges and obtain an acquittal.
That hadn't happened, of course, not with the prosecutors assuming he was Moon and coming at them with everything they had accumulated over the years.
"Jongup sent me," The man had told him during that first meeting by way of introduction. "He said to tell you that by the time we speak he should be halfway home."
"Is he going back for Hayoung?" All he needed to know at that second was that Jongup and their daughter were going to be safe and far away from Korea.
The lawyer opened his briefcase and pulled out the arrest papers to see what he was dealing with. "That's all Mr. Moon told me but rest assured that I am a staunch believer in privacy between my client and I. If I hear anything else from him I will tell you."
It wasn't until the next day that Himchan finally discovered Jongup and Hayoung were out of the country and hidden, with not even his lawyer knowing where exactly in the world they had ended up.
When Himchan stopped beside the windowless van that was going to be driving him almost two hundred miles away to his new home, the guard unlocked his handcuffs long enough for him to climb inside and then quickly recuffed him, looping the chain through a ring in the floor for extra protection. They had never needed the additional security though, not from him.
Keeping himself hidden on the sidelines and never making waves to draw attention to himself didn't matter when everyone in the country knew your face and every past crime you had supposedly committed. The guards kept close eyes on him, always watchful for the escape they were so sure Himchan would attempt the second he was given a chance.
"Slide to the end of the bench," He was ordered in stilted English from the guard in the front seat, voice low-pitched and stern.
He complied because doing whatever he was told was the easiest route and from his first day in prison he had already decided to just do exactly what they wanted him to.
"Any other pick-ups?" The guard flipped through the pages on his clipboard while the two in the front signed the release forms.
"One more from the local jail that we're dropping off at the same time," The man in the passenger seat informed him, handing the forms through the window. The metal bars were a barrier between the front and back but Himchan was able to see that he was older and tired-looking.
They set off in silence down the road, the radio the only sound coming through to the back and even then it was barely able to be heard through the large van.
"You'll get a meal later," The older guard informed him, turning around to peer through the bars. "After we pick up the second inmate it's going to be another eight hours to the other prison. Hope you're comfortable."
He wasn't. Not with the metal seat underneath him and the handcuffs squeezing tighter than they should have been around his wrists. But his lawyer had promised him that this new lock-up was going to be better than the last. And that Jongup had been paying him double for working hard to get him moved as soon as possible.
The thoughts of Jongup always calmed him when he was terrified in his cell. Thinking about the man he loved raising their daughter to be as solid and strong as he had been gave Himchan enough comfort to make it through the long, hard days in prison. There were pictures taped on his concrete wall that Hayoung had drawn him and Jongup had mailed anonymously to the lawyer, drawings of the three of them together and smiling and a family.
"I'm fine," he murmured back, closing his eyes and drawing up long ago memories that he only brought out when he really needed them. Memories of Jongup's smile and Hayoung's laugh and how it was the three of them against the world. Now he was alone. If he dwelle on them for too long they had the power to destroy him so he only let himself remember for a few moments before he pushed them away and shook his head.
After a few hours they turned onto a lesser-used highway, the signs rusted and fading as they drove along the road. If Himchan leaned forward and squinted out the front window he could barely see a large building rising up in the distance.
"Road is pretty bumpy," the second guard remarked, holding on tight to the bar over his head. "Who's the inmate we're picking up?"
"Boy that got caught stealing a diamond from a jeweler. He's being transferred closer to family," the man driving still hadn't turned around to look backwards but Himchan could tell through the muffled words that he was wearing a face mask. "Here we are."
The sun was high over top of the van and shining brightly down on them so Himchan didn't bother looking out of the front window again but kept his gaze trained onto the dirty floor. He didn't mind having another person across from him during the trip but he wished they would at least hurry it along. He was starting to grow hungry and the last meal he had gotten was for supper yesterday. Breakfast was withheld since he had to be processed and released, an ordeal that took all morning. At least it meant he didn't have to use the bathroom yet. There's always a bright side, he thought.
"There they come."
The back doors of the van opened, letting in such a wall of light that Himchan had to squint and close his eyes for a few moments. When they finally adjusted he was able to make out three new figures standing at the edge of the door. The other inmate's back was to him, jumpsuit loose around his small figure.
"Sign off and he's yours."
After the signatures were passed around the man who was going to be sharing the back of the prison van with him for the next eight hours finally turned around and Himchan felt the ground fall out from beneath him.
"You're Kim Himchan," The tiny inmate climbed his way into the seat across from him and let his guard check his handcuffs. "I saw you on the news. My name's Daehyun."
"No talking, Jung. You know the rules."
Daehyun waited until the doors were slammed shut before smiling slyly and winking at him. "Keep on sitting there and staying quiet," He murmured, motioning towards the older guard in the front seat. "Don't act like we know each other."
"But," Himchan swallowed through a dry throat. Hope was so close to him that he could feel the tingles of it on the tips of his fingers. "Jongup?"
"Is waiting on you," Daehyun promised, easing back against the hard wall and closing his eyes. "You've been patient this long you can make it just a little bit longer."
---
The silence was going to eat him alive, Himchan thought to himself after the first three hours passed and Daehyun still hadn't opened his eyes.
He thought about kicking him but the rattle of their chains would only alert the guards in the front and if there was a plan to get him out then Himchan wasn't going to do anything to affect it. The knowledge that Jongup was still working to set him free and had gone so far as to set this, whatever this was, up was enough to keep his brain working overtime.
"I can hear you screaming at me in your head," Daehyun finally spoke up, the words barely making his lips move. "Calm down."
"Where is Jongup?" Himchan hissed, keeping a close eye on the front seat. "Is Hayoung with him? Are they okay?"
Daehyun pretended to yawn and lean over to stretch his stiff muscles. "They're fine. Jongup moved them to the middle of nowhere and he's been planning this day in and day out for the last year. So just shut your mouth and let us get you out of here."
Us? There was no us, there was only Daehyun, a guard the age of his grandfather and a driver that Himchan still hadn't gotten a good look at.
The hard yank he made pulling himself towards the metal screen separating the front from the back left welts in his wrists but he didn't notice. It was only when the driver turned to finally look at him and he recognized the dark eyes looking back that he relaxed back into the hard plastic bench. It wasn't the man he wanted to see, but it was one who he knew could get whatever job he needed to done correctly.
"You okay back there?"
He nodded, still staring into the front. "Yeah," His voice croaked on the word and the driver chuckled when he heard it.
"Good," Youngjae glanced down to check the time on the dash. "Not too much longer now."
"We've still got over four hours though!" The man in the passenger seat checked their schedule and shook his head. "Was there another stop we were supposed to make?"
Youngjae pulled the van over to the side of the road and took a cell phone out of his pocket.
"Hey, hey wait!" Before the other man was able to finish his train of thought he was slammed over his head by the gun Youngjae pulled out of his other pocket.
"I was hoping to get closer to the plane before this happened," Youngjae wiped the steering wheel off with his sleeve and tapped a few buttons on his phone. "But to be honest I'm shocked it took Himchan this long to start flipping out."
Daehyun spit a key out of his mouth and quickly undid his cuffs before moving on to Himchan's. "I think he's in shock. He looked like he was going to throw up for the first couple of hours. Have you talked to Junhong yet?"
"Junhong?" Himchan shook his head to clear the confusion away. "Why are you working with Junhong?"
"He wanted in," Daehyun grinned up to him from where he was busily unlocking the chain that connected Himchan to the floor. "And he's sexy."
Youngjae was still typing on his phone but Himchan could hear the gag of disgust coming from the front seat. "They've been Skyping every night. It's turned Daehyun domestic."
"Skyping… What do-" Himchan hadn't been this stimulated since he was in court while the judge was reading off the guilty verdict and his entire body had hummed with painful electricity. "Where is Jongup?"
"Don't be jealous Jae," Daehyun unzipped his jumpsuit and threw it into the back of the van where Himchan still sat in a daze. "He said he has an older brother that swings both ways. I could always introduce you."
They continued to argue for what felt like years before Himchan threw himself out of the van in a rage and slammed Daehyun against the open door. "Where. Is. My. Family?"
Daehyun blinked up at him, hands scrambling for purchase as Himchan lifted him higher. All those days alone in his cell with nothing to do but exercise and meditation had made Himchan stronger and more focused on the only end goal he had.
"Italy," Youngjae forced himself between them, shoving Himchan backwards so that he would let go of the red-faced Daehyun. "They're in Italy but that's all we know. Junhong is with him but he refuses to tell us anything but the flight information."
He let the small tidbits of information sink in before responding.
"Together?" The word felt alien on his tongue. "They're in Italy together?"
"They became friends," Daehyun reached up to feel his tender throat. "After you were arrested and Jongup flew back to Korea for your daughter they all left the country together. But they're just friends. Trust me. Jongup wouldn't spend every spare second on busting you out of prison for the fun of it. He has a one-track mind and that track leads straight to Kim Himchan."
Warmth spread through him and he tried to unclench his locked jaw. It could only be a few hours or a day at the most and he would be with his family again. They could start over and live the life they deserved.
"What do I need to do?"
Youngjae pointed to his jumpsuit. "For starters you can lose the bright orange clothes. What do you have under them?"
It was matching blue cotton pants and t-shirt but Himchan thought maybe they could pull off pajamas in a pinch.
"How far away is the plane?"
"Close," Youngjae stared at him for a beat longer than necessary. "He's going to a lot of trouble for you." His gaze grew pensive. "What is that like?"
He opened his mouth to answer but Daehyun interrupted them by throwing the door open and dragging the still unmoving guard out by the arms.
"We need to get him tied up before all hell breaks loose," Daehyun told them as he swung his handcuffs around the guard's wrists. "If he is required to check in at certain times then we're screwed. Is the plane ready for takeoff?"
"Running and waiting," Youngjae's phone beeped and he scoffed when he looked down at the screen. "It's for you."
The phone was passed to the passenger seat where Himchan had let Daehyun push him into.
Tell Himchan we're waiting for him.
The message was simple and to the point, just like Jongup. He closed his eyes and let Youngjae lead them to wherever he needed to go to get back to his family.
---
The airstrip was small, smaller than any that Himchan had ever seen before. The broken tarmac was littered with clumps of grass and the man flying their plane had a bottle of tequila and a cigar that dropped ashes onto his shirt every time he moved.
"Are you sure this is safe?" He mumbled once to Daehyun as they strapped themselves into the tiny airplane. A headset was handed to him as Daehyun fit his own over his head. "It doesn’t seem like it is."
"We used them all the time when Seongwook was in charge," Youngjae overheard him from the front seat and turned to answer while the pilot was doing his final checks outside. "They're legit, they just try to stay under the radar, so looking at them it might seem a little shady. Jongup said to use them."
If it was good enough for Jongup then it was good enough for him, Himchan assured himself as the plane took off with a bumpier jolt than he was used to. The trip was supposed to last from the French countryside to a little-known town inside Switzerland so at least he only had a short trip before he would be disembarking and hopefully traveling a smoother path the rest of the way.
"We're just going to refill the fuel then we'll be back in the air," Daehyun told him as Himchan stumbled out of the plane and fell to his knees as soon as they reached Switzerland. "You really need to travel more often."
"I have traveled," he gasped, clenching the grass below him tight in his fists. "But on normal airplanes. Where you don't feel your stomach knocked into your throat."
Daehyun raised an eyebrow but threw him a bottle of water when Himchan was still kneeling several minutes later.
"Come on," His voice grew softer as he tried to pick Himchan up from the security of the firm ground beneath him. "Almost there. We're getting paid a lot of money to take you home and I'm not going to give up when we're this close."
He didn't want to know how much Jongup had promised them for his release. It would only feed the guilt bubbled up inside his stomach. Even if he hadn't of been the one to commit all of the crimes he was charged with he was still an accomplice in the last heist and he felt he had deserved to be punished. Three years away had felt like hell but then the image of Seongwook staring up at him with unblinking eyes would invade his head and he knew no lifetime of years in prison would ease that guilt.
The one bright side to all of his charges was that he had never been charged with the murder of Seongwook, the one crime he actually wanted to be punished for. Daehyun had been the only one in the room to have the forethought to grab the gun from the floor and take it with him before he had dragged Jongup away. No murder weapon, so no murder. There had been no doubt in anyone's mind that more than one person had been involved in the Moon cases but his attorney had been able to plant a solitary seed of doubt in the jury's mind over how he had committed a murder but not had the murder weapon. A single seed was all that was needed for that conviction to be blown out.
"Junhong is at the meeting point," Daehyun read a text from his phone and relayed the coordinates to Youngjae. He pulled his computer out of one of the duffel bags that had been waiting on them and typed the numbers onto the screen. A map of Italy was displayed with a blinking light showing up in the top of the country. "He's not near a city if this is the correct latitude and longitude. But he may be driving up from the bottom of Italy and just trying to throw us off."
"I thought Junhong was your special friend," Youngjae muttered dryly, popping two headache pills into his mouth and swallowing them down with a lukewarm bottle of water. "Should you two be keeping secrets like that from each other?"
"We just talk online sometimes," Daehyun actually looked embarrassed, Himchan realized. He didn't know the tiny boy had another setting other than annoyance. "It's not like we really know each other."
Himchan doubted that was the case but he didn't want to shame Daehyun even further so he kept his mouth shut.
It seemed to take days for the plane to traverse from one country to another. The only thing Himchan could see out his window was mountains and then more mountains. He knew that his daughter was down there somewhere, maybe somewhere close. It might just be a few hours before he could hold her again. He loved Jongup. Being apart from him made Himchan ache and his fingers itched to touch his skin properly for once because they hadn't been allowed that privilege until it was too late. But being separated from Hayoung was a punishment worse than death.
"Landing in five!" Youngjae hollered over his shoulder over the noise of the rickety plane.
Pinpricks of fear started to form all across Himchan's chest. What if things weren't like they used to be? What if Jongup and Hayoung were a unit now and didn't need him anymore? What if they became so awkward around each other that-
"Hey," Daehyun spoke gently to him from the seat beside him. "It's okay. You'll be okay."
"Why are you two helping?" Himchan pressed his palms into his eyes so hard that he saw flashes of light. If he didn't throw up he was going to pass out. Both were options he didn't want to happen a mile in the air in a plane that was probably superglued together. "Why? Jongup said neither of you had real feelings and that you'd both jump ship to whatever paid the most so why does he trust you now?"
Daehyun was quiet for a moment next to him. Once the nausea passed Himchan was able to carefully uncover his eyes and look at him.
"I have feelings," Daehyun told him stubbornly, crease between his brows. "I just learned it was easier to keep them to yourself when I lived with Seongwook. He wasn't the nicest guy, Himchan." He turned to face him and Himchan was surprised by the amount of anger in his eyes. "A lot's changed in the three years you've been away. And no matter how many places I broke into or things I stole I never hurt a child. We all have to have a line and that's mine. You can trust me because I won't do anything to make Hayoung grow up with a broken family like I did."
Himchan nodded his head towards Youngjae and raised an eyebrow.
"Jae would sell you out for a pack of cigarettes and a newspaper," Daehyun admitted truthfully. "But… he's been different lately. I think Jongup asking him for help changed him somehow. Maybe he didn't realize you could love someone enough that you'd put your faith in your enemy or something, I don't know. But I really think you can trust him, too. At least this time."
The plane began its descent and Daehyun shut up, flames fanning across his cheeks when he realized how much he had spilled.
Their runway was an old field running between two sides of the Alps that surrounded them. The weather was just starting to warm up from spring and wildflowers dotted the grass below them.
A comically small car waited for them on the ground, Junhong's tall body spilling out of it when they disembarked from the plane.
His eyes kept snapping between Himchan and Daehyun. Himchan was too nervous to be amused so he stepped between the two and waited until Junhong was able to focus only on him.
"How far?"
"Couple miles," Junhong's answer was just as short as his question had been because Daehyun had peeked around Himchan's shoulder and made the younger boy's blush flare up all over again. "We could walk it easily but I figured you'd want to get there quicker."
He did. An hour long trek through the mountains was something he would have loved to do any other time. Italy was his dream country after all. But that could wait for the three of them to do together. Right now he wanted to go home, curl up in bed with one arm around each of the most important people in his life, and then sleep for days.
They piled into the car with Youngjae taking the front seat next to Junhong and leaving the other two to try and fit into the tiny backseat. They were forced to drive slowly because of the terrain. Winding side roads that gave way to making their own path with spectacular views that Himchan couldn't believe were real.
"Why didn't Jongup come?" Himchan finally asked a few minutes after they set off.
"He knew there was a small chance this wouldn't work and he didn't want to get Hayoung's hopes up just to crush her," Junhong answered, glancing up at him in the rearview mirror. "She doesn't know you're out yet."
"Is she," He swallowed and blinked rapidly to try and get rid of the sudden moisture threatening to spill over. "Bigger? Does she ask about me?"
Junhong laughed from the front seat. "Yeah, she's bigger. She's going to be tall. Jongup hates it. He gives her expresso every morning because he heard it stunts your growth." He sobered up a bit and turned his head to smile at Himchan. "She asks about you every day, Himchan. Jongup has her saying a prayer for you every night in bed."
"Are you two living together?" He asked bluntly. Junhong had been a nice kid from the few times they had met previously but him knowing what his daughter did at night was a thorn in Himchan's side.
"Mmhmm," Junhong hummed under his breath as he pulled into a long driveway. "But I live in the guesthouse across the pond. I told Jongup as soon as you come home I would probably be leaving. If a better offer comes along that is."
Daehyun stiffened and Himchan could see a smile trying to pull at his lips.
A house came into view as soon as they started up the drive. Stone walled and smaller than Himchan would have picked for himself, but it fit Jongup. Jongup wouldn't have wanted something showy and grandiose.
The walls had thick branches of ivy trailing down the sides and the side yard had been fenced in with chickens and goats running around the pens. It was beautiful, Himchan thought to himself. It was beautiful and it was home.
As soon as the car stopped he threw himself out and stumbled to the front door.
"They're probably still outside!" Junhong called from behind him. "Just go around!"
He turned and ran the other way, around the corners then coming to a sudden stop. The backyard was oversized with Himchan unable to tell where it ended and the valley began. He could see a treehouse and a swing set and more signs of life than he was prepared for. Hayoung's shoes lay at the foot of the back porch, dirty and falling apart and obviously well played in.
This was his daughter's home.
A happy scream followed by a giggle sounded from around the barn and a dog went running after a ball thrown from out of sight. The brown and white spotted dog stopped when it saw Himchan and its tail wagged happily at the sight of a new person.
"Cocoa! Cocoa come back!" His daughter's voice rang out, not as high-pitched as it had been three years ago, but still sweet enough to melt Himchan's heart. She skidded around the barn, barefoot and grinning, t-shirt two sizes too big and longer legs than Himchan remembered. She wasn't the tiny princess he had lost three years ago but she was still his baby. Nine, he whispered, Hayoung is nine.
"Hayoung."
The word stopped her in her tracks and she looked over at him, blinking in confusion in the bright sun. He didn't know if Jongup had hung up the envelope of pictures he had left on the bed for them but he hoped he'd left out a few at least for Hayoung to remember his face by.
"Baby."
She dropped the stick she had been waving at the dog and took a small step forwards. Before Himchan could speak to her again Jongup appeared behind her. Jongup didn't look as confused as she did but when Himchan looked into his eyes he saw the same longing that was visible in Hayoung's.
"It's daddy, sweetheart. Go on." His voice made Himchan sway on his tired feet, but he kept his eyes glued to his daughter's because she was the beautiful piece holding this family together.
She took another step towards him.
"Hayoung," He repeated, dropping to his knees and holding his arms out. When she hit his chest he was finally able to close his eyes and breathe her in, the smell of dusty skin and happiness filling every inch of him. "I missed you," Himchan whispered into her hair, kissing every patch of skin on her face that he could. "Daddy missed you."
"Papa said you would come home one day," She sounded like she was crying but Himchan couldn't bear to pull away far enough to check. He could only bury his face into her neck and squeeze her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "You came home, daddy."
A shadow passed over them before fingers brushed tentatively over his shoulder and across the sensitive skin of his nape.
He managed to release one arm that was wrapped around Hayoung's back and reached behind him to grab for Jongup. As soon as he felt the warm hand sliding into his he yanked hard until Jongup tumbled down with them.
The soft laugh he had only been able to dream about filled his ears and the steady, reassuring beat of Jongup's heart thrummed against his back as the only two people in the world that mattered kept Himchan safe and surrounded as he finally let himself break down.
Jongup waited to pull away until the tears running down Himchan's cheeks had dried and Hayoung was twisting uncomfortably in her father's tight hold. "Go see where Junhong is, Hayoung. Let me talk to daddy for a second."
She gave Himchan one final kiss before skipping away while hollering excitedly for Junhong.
"You said Italy," Jongup was still on his knees staring at him. His small eyes appeared even smaller as he narrowed them. "If it's not what you want then we can go somewhere e-"
"I love you," Himchan pulled him across his lap, fingers tangled in the messy hair he used to run his fingers through every night as they watched TV together. His left hand skimmed across the thin t-shirt and over muscles he hadn't yet gotten the chance to memorize. "I love you." He kept mouthing the words until Jongup's lips were on his own, tongue thick and possessive inside him, knees sprawled to the sides so that he could crawl closer on top of Himchan.
Himchan had three years away from his family to make up for but as Jongup's hands cradled his face and he could hear their daughter laughing from the front of the house he knew that they'd get back to how they were before.
Jongup rested their foreheads together, breath loud as he sucked in for air. When he lifted his head it was to show off the spreading grin and the way his eyes disappeared the happier he grew.
"Welcome home."
--------------------------
Final word count: 46.4K (I started writing this fic in March of 2014 I am so sorry)
Obviously I have big plans for a few other characters to get their own stories someday but don't count on it happening any time soon >.<
I don't know if there's many people who still visit my LJ but if you stuck with this fic the whole time then thank you.