(for chacenothing) the secret in the cherry blossom ✸ part 2 of 2
❊ for: chacenothing
❊ title: the secret in the cherry blossom
Jongin wiggled his toes and slowly began to open his eyes. That’s strange I wonder why Kyungsoo hasn’t woken me up for breakfast yet, Jongin thinks to himself as sunlight stings at his eyes. He lifts his hand to block out some of the sun’s rays only to cry out as a shooting pain travels up his arm. Heaving breath Jongin hears a rustling on his right side and looks down to see Kyungsoo’s large eyes staring back at him. He lifts his right hand up and wipes at a few tears that are running down Kyungsoo’s face.
“You’ve b..been unconscious for fi..five days” Kyungsoo says around his sobs. “I didn’t think you were ever going to wake up” Kyungsoo admits clutching at Jongin’s right hand and holding it between both of his. Jongin’s breathe catches in his throat as Kyungsoo leans down and plants a small kiss on the top of Jongin’s hand. “I’m so glad you are okay” Kyungsoo whispers locking his gaze with Jongin’s.
“What happened” Jongin asks voice scratchy from not being used.
“You were shot” Kyungsoo says and the many scenes of that day come flashing back.
“I’m okay, my arms a little sore but I’m fine” Jongin assures wiping away new tears from Kyungsoo’s face.
“That wasn’t the only place that you got hit” Kyungsoo says locking his tearful eyes with Jongin’s gaze. “I almost lost you” Kyungsoo says. Before Jongin has time to process the other’s words the door to the room opens and a new person comes walking into the room with a tray of food.
“Oh your awake, I’ll get YiXing right away to check that you are fine. In the meantime Kyungsoo I brought you some food since you won’t leave this room” the other person says setting the tray on the small table next to the bed Jongin lies on. As quickly as the male had come he was gone.
“Eat Soo” Jongin urges noticing the slightly hallow look of the other’s face.
“You’ve never called me that before” Kyungsoo says softly as he grabs a piece of toast off the tray and Jongin notices a small smirk on the others face.
“I’m sorry” he says.
“N..no I like it” Kyungsoo says before taking a bite of his toast. Jongin isn’t quite sure about what is going on, but he feels as if he and Kyungsoo are stepping over some invisible line together. The past month Jongin has openly flirted with the other and in some roundabout way let the other know that Jongin has feelings for him. Their shared actions have never went too far always ending in teasing remarks, Chanyeol always present on both of their minds. This time however things are different and although that thrills Jongin to no end, he can’t help but also fear this new development.
The sound of someone entering the room breaks Jongin from his own thoughts as he turns to see yet another unknown person enter the room. The person offers a gentle smile that allows a dimple to bloom on his cheek and instantly puts Jongin at ease.
“It’s good to see that you are awake, it was stop and go there for a little while” the new person in the room says before reaching down and feeling Jongin’s pulse in his wrist.
“YiXing is he okay now” Kyungsoo asks and Jongin hears the worry in the other’s tone.
“His pulse sounds good, I’ll have Joonmyun bring him some liquid soup” the other now identified as YiXing says.
“YIXING” someone yells from another room interrupting his statement. “YIXING” the voice yells again and Jongin can sense the panic on the other’s voice even though it is coming from a ways away. YiXing pats Jongin’s hand before turning and running from the room.
“Luhan is not doing so well” Kyungsoo says bringing a cup of water up to Jongin’s chapped lips.
“Do we know what happened” Jongin asks after swallowing the water that Kyungsoo tipped into his dry mouth.
“We know he was supposed to be investigating the many warehouses that we feared our competition was setting up in, we know something lead him to us at the gym instead of to the pier where Chanyeol, Minseok, and Sehun were which would have actually been closer, we know that he was beaten pretty severely and that whoever did it also shot you in the arm and in the stomach” Kyungsoo said and for the first time Jongin felt a bandage of sorts wrapped around his middle.
“Is he awake” Jongin asked wiggling his toes and fingers to get the blood flowing back into his tiered limbs.
“Once” Kyungsoo says softly and Jongin watches the other look down at his hands, “He screamed so loud that YiXing had to sedate him so we have no idea what exactly happened to him” Kyungsoo adds.
“I’m sorry Kyungsoo” Jongin says squeezing the other’s hand in his own from where it lies on the bed beside his own.
“How did you know what was coming” Kyungsoo asks softly rubbing a hand under his eyes.
“I saw that brown van again” Jongin says softly just in case anyone walks past the door.
“Why didn’t you just pull me down instead of jumping in front of me” Kyungsoo asks meeting Jongin’s gaze.
“I can’t let you get hurt” Jongin answers honestly.
“Because of your loyalty to Chanyeol” Kyungsoo asks standing up and pulling his hand away angrily.
“No Kyungsoo, because if something happened to you I would not know what to do with myself. Not because Chanyeol would probably kill me, but because I would not be able to live without you. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but everything about you draws me in” Jongin confesses watching Kyungsoo’s face morph with many different emotions as he speaks. “I..I really like you Kyungsoo” Jongin stated. As soon as the words left his mouth Kyungsoo’s eyes widened and Jongin watched as the other ran to the door and left the room with a slam of the door. Jongin didn’t call after the other, he knew that his feelings couldn’t ever be returned, but he had hoped selfishly for a slightly different response from the other. With a sigh Jongin laid back against the pillows and let sleep claim him yet again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Jongin” a soft whisper pulls him awake a couple days later. “Jongin” a voice that sounds familiar to Kyungsoo’s says for a second time. Jongin opens his eyes and the vast majority of his mind thinks that he must be dreaming as he sees Kyungsoo sitting in the chair beside his bed because the other has been avoiding for the past few days after his confession.
“What’s wrong” Jongin asks in a whisper because while looking at the other’s face he sees an unfamiliar expression covering it.
“I need to show you something” Kyungsoo say turning on the lamp beside Jongin’s bed. Jongin’s eyes take in the early morning hour on the clock before turning his gaze back to Kyungsoo. He moves his hand up immediately to cover his eyes as he spots Kyungsoo lifting his shirt above his head.
“Kyungsoo” Jongin says questioningly absolutely confused with the others actions.
“Jongin I need you to look while I talk to you” Kyungsoo says softly.
“I will just put your shirt back on” Jongin says feeling like a little kid on their first day in gym class.
“That’ll kind of defeat the purpose” Kyungsoo says with a chuckle before Jongin feels the other’s hands pull away at the hand covering his eyes. Jongin slowly takes in the sight before him. Kyungsoo gives him a small smile before he turns around. The whole room is filled with Jongin’s exhale of breath as he takes in the breathtaking sight of a beautiful constructed Cherry Blossom Tree decorating the entire expanse of Kyungsoo’s back.
“It’s beautiful” Jongin says softly lifting a hand to trace the shape and stopping short before actually lying his hand upon the other’s skin.
“You can touch it” Kyungsoo says softly and so Jongin does he traces his fingers along the elegant and masculine lines of a slightly twisted Cherry Blossom Tree loving the contrast of his skin against Kyungsoo’s.
“What does it represent” Jongin asks in a whisper appreciating the detailed lines adorning Kyungsoo’s back.
“This tattoo represents the story of me and my life Jongin” Kyungsoo says and Jongin hears the other take a deep breath. “I need to tell you my story Jongin, because I need you to understand” he adds. “Do you see how the roots and lower trunk of the tree are twisted in on itself, curling in such a way that shows trouble” Kyungsoo asks.
“Yes” Jongin responds trailing his gaze to the lower portion of Kyungsoo’s tattoo.
“That part of the tree represents my childhood Jongin” Kyungsoo says. “I was raised by my single mother who worked any and every job she could find to support us, she worked herself so hard that she sacrificed her health and was no match for the cold winter we shared when I was six that took her from my side” Kyungsoo says in a voice lacking and emotion. “If you look closely enough you can see dates scrawled inside the roots and along the lines of the trunk, do you see them Jongin” Kyungsoo asks and Jongin’s eyes immediately start searching for them.
“Yeah” he tells the other when he finds a couple different dates scrawled in beautiful cursive writing blending in so well with the rest of the tattoo that you wouldn’t know they were there unless you purposely set out to look for them.
“The first date on my back is the day that I was born, the day my father left” Kyungsoo says taking a breath. “The next one in chronologic order is the day my mom died, leaving my a homeless orphan, followed quickly by the date I meet another boy on the street who stood up for me and kept me safe, that boy is Chanyeol” Kyungsoo says turning around and grabbing onto Jongin’s extended hand. “I know for a fact that I would not be alive today if I hadn’t met Chanyeol when I did, the two of us probably wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the people we met or the events that have taken place that are dated on my back as well” Kyungsoo adds. “Jongin I love Chanyeol with all of my heart he makes me feel safe, he makes me feel like I have a home.” Kyungsoo says all while keeping eye contact with Jongin, “I confessed all these feelings for him a couple months back and he told me he felt the same way. He became uber protective of me, even going so far as to get some bodyguard to keep me safe” Kyungsoo says with a smile. Jongin returned the smile only half-heartedly.
“I understand” Jongin said bowing his head, so Kyungsoo wouldn’t see the devastation on his face.
“No you don’t Jongin” Kyungsoo said before Jongin felt the other’s hand gently life his chin back up. “You see this bodyguard he, he made me feel things too. At first I was afraid that he was going to replace Chanyeol and that made me angry at myself. However the closer I looked the more I realized that you weren’t trying to fit into the places of my heart that are filled with love for Chanyeol, or even the other members of our small dysfunctional family, no you were filling all the cracks that I didn’t even realize were there” Kyungsoo said and Jongin struggled to process the other’s words. “Jongin I really like you too” Kyungsoo states as a tear escapes his eye.
“What about Chanyeol” Jongin whispers pulling Kyungsoo down so he is sitting beside him on the small mattress.
“I still love him, but I realize Chanyeol is my family. The love I have for him is the love of a brother, a brother who has put his life on the line multiple times to save the other, but a brother none the less” Kyungsoo says leaning into Jongin’s side playing with the fingers on Jongin’s right hand.
“He’ll kill me” Jongin said softly minutes later he was surprised when Kyungsoo burst out into a small wave of laughter.
“He would never do anything that would hurt me” Kyungsoo said with sincerity. “You know I have to get a new date put on my back” Kyungsoo said a couple minutes later.
“Oh really” Jongin asked trying to stay awake which was quite hard with the added warmth of Kyungsoo against him.
“Yeah, the day you joined our family” Kyungsoo says with a yawn escaping his lips at the end of his sentence.
“Sleep now Soo” Jongin says tucking Kyungsoo’s head in the curve of his shoulder.
“Will you come with me when I get it added” Kyungsoo says with sleep layering his voice.
“Of course” Jongin says drifting off to sleep shortly after with Kyungsoo’s warmth radiating beside him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Days later YiXing allows Jongin to get out of bed and walk down to the kitchen. He learns that YiXing used to live with Chanyeol and the other’s until he met Joonmyun. Kyungsoo mentioned one night when he came back to join Jongin in his bed sometime after midnight, that Joonmyun had once been tortured by a rival group to get information on Chanyeol and the others.
“I killed almost all of them when I finally found Joonmyun again” Kyungsoo had said that night proudly. The other’s words had caused a shiver to run down Jongin’s back as he pulled Kyungsoo closer and held him tight.
Kyungsoo had continued to tell him that although YiXing wasn’t technically one of them anymore, family never really ends so in emergencies they can always count on the other.
After finding out what had happened to him, Jongin observed Joonmyun as he interacted with the other individuals at the table. Jongin noticed how Joonmyun would jump at even the smallest sound and how the raised voices of an argument would put him on edge. He couldn’t help thinking as he fell asleep later if Luhan would come out of his unconscious state the same way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Jongin” Kyungsoo’s voice called close to his ear. Jongin tried to fall back to sleep hoping that Kyungsoo would as well because he felt as if he had just gone to bed. “I know you are awake Jongin” Kyungsoo said and Jongin felt a small peck on his temple.
“Fine, I’m up” Jongin said sitting up and noticing Kyungsoo fully dressed. “What are you doing” Jongin asked the other in confusion.
“I have an appointment at the tattoo parlor” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he throws a pair of jeans and a white shirt towards Jongin. Jongin sat up and began to gingerly pull his pants up mindful of the still sore portion of his stomach. While doing so he say a green five twenty glaring back at him from the small digital clock in the room. “Why so early” Jongin grumbled wiping at his eye with his only slightly tender right hand.
“Chanyeol doesn’t want me to leave the house” Kyungsoo says as he ties his shoes.
“Do you think it’s safe to go then” Jongin asks, not pushing the issue of Chanyeol knowing that Kyungsoo will approach that situation when he is ready.
“Of course it’s early, plus I have you to keep me safe right” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he grabbed onto Jongin’s arm.
“Yeah” Jongin gave in allowing the other to lead the way out of the house.
“It’s not that far so we can walk” Kyungsoo said a little too chipper for someone who was up so early in the morning in Jongin’s opinion.
After walking a short while Jongin holds the door to a tiny little shop open while Kyungsoo walks through. A little bell dings as Jongin closes the door behind him causing a little lady to come out of a back room.
“Ahh Kyungsoo great to see you again” the lady says with a smile before her gaze lands on Jongin. “Is your friend getting work done to or am I adding to my masterpiece today” she asks with a smile.
“Just me” Kyungsoo says with a smile.
“Another date” she asks motioning Kyungsoo to come lay down on a flat bed of sorts.
“I wrote two dates for you here” Kyungsoo says handing the woman a piece of paper before taking his shirt off and laying down with his face pointing towards an empty chair he pointed Jongin to sit in. “I also need a tenth blossom” Kyungsoo says. “One for each member of my family” Kyungsoo whispers grabbing ahold of Jongin’s hand. Jongin smiles down at the other looking over to see the lady reading her supplies.
“I was thinking that I could make that omelet that you like with the mushrooms and spinach when we get back to the house what do you think” Kyungsoo asked and Jongin looked at the other’s face when he talked. A small buzzing sound caused Jongin to look up and see the lady as she began to scrawl the new tattoos onto Kyungsoo’s back. Why is the needle so long, Jongin found himself thinking as he watched the needle poke Kyungsoo multiple times and small pin prints of blood start to pool. “Don’t look at it” Kyungsoo says softly causing Jongin to look down at the other’s face.
“I think I need some air” he says apologetically feeling slightly woozy from the sight he had just seen.
“Alright sissy boy” Kyungsoo said jokingly releasing his hand.
“I’ll be back” Jongin stated before rushing back out of the store and taking a deep breath of the cool morning air.
“Well this is easier than I thought it would be” a voice behind Jongin says with a small chuckle that causes the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on edge. He slowly turns around and feels his breath catch when he takes in the sight before his eyes, the sight of the familiar man in a blue baseball cap. “Boo” the man says before lunging at Jongin.
A cloth is held against his mouth and nose before he can even react. Run Kyungsoo, Jongin tries to scream as the world around him slowly fades to black.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jongin woke up with a pounding in his head. Did I drink too much last night, he wonders to himself cracking on eye open and seeing a large room he could not remember.
“Look who decided to finally wake up” a booming voice said causing Jongin to flinch. He tried to raise his hands to cover his ears only to find his arms restrained. He looks down to see his arms zip tied to the arms of a rickety chair when he looks up he sees a man in a blue baseball cap and suddenly everything comes flashing back.
“Where is Kyungsoo” Jongin asks shaking in the chair trying to get free even though he knows it’s futile. The man just starts laughing and Jongin begins to wildly look around the room for Kyungsoo bound up somewhere.
“Why would I bring your bodyguard, wouldn’t that defeat my end goal” the guy asks looking down at Jongin demeaning.
“My bodyguard” Jongin asks in confusion. As soon as the words leave his mouth he feels a sharp pain in his cheek.
“Don’t play stupid with me boy” the man says curling his fingers into a fist. “I know that you recently moved into Chanyeol’s territory, I know that Chanyeol’s right hand man is always following you around. I’m not stupid, I know that you are Chanyeol’s boyfriend and in turn his one weakness.” The man says and the other’s words slowly sink into Jongin’s brain.
“What do you want from me” Jongin asks.
“Well you see Chanyeol runs this town, but I deserve it more than him” the guy says. “I was just going to kidnap you and demand a ransom of a promise, but that pretty boy came in a ruined all those plans a couple weeks ago, so I’ve changed my mind” The guy says and a terrifying smile takes over the other’s face as he pulls a phone out of his back pocket. “Say your goodbyes” the guy says putting the phone on Jongin’s lap while the ring of the phone on speaker echoes around the warehouse.
“Hello” Chanyeol’s gruff voice says through the phone.
“Chanyeol” Jongin says panic slightly setting his nerves on edge.
“Jongin thank god, where are you” Chanyeol asks.
“I don’t know” Jongin confesses.
“Are you lost, what’s around you, I’ll come get you” Kyungsoo’s voice comes through the line. As he opens his mouth to speak the blue capped man clamps his hand over Jongin’s mouth.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to find this little beauty ever again” the man says into the phone.
“What do you want” Chanyeol asks in an angry voice and Jongin hears the sound of sobs through the phone.
“I want this city Chanyeol, my crew and I can take better care of it then you can” the man says.
“What would you know” Chanyeol asks.
“Well you could ask that pretty boy who escaped my grasps, or you could ask your boyfriend, ohh that’s right you can’t because after tonight he isn’t going to be around anymore” the man says with a chuckle as he looks down and meets Jongin’s gaze. In that moment when their eyes are locked that Jongin realizes the severity of his situation. He realizes then that this man truly hold Jongin’s own life in his hands, and that thought terrifies him. I don’t want to die, he feels like screaming.
“He’s not Chanyeol’s boyfriend, I am” Jongin hears Kyungsoo yell through the phone and even more terror fills hid core as he imagines their roles reversed and Kyungsoo sitting tied to a chair staring at the man who will take his life. He acts without thinking biting down on the man’s hand that covers his mouth.
“Don’t lie Soo” Jongin yells, resolved to die for the one he loves.
“Well I was going to let you say goodbye but not anymore” the man says aloud reaching down and picking up the phone. “Look forward to the ear or finger” the man in the blue cap says before Jongin feels a fist land on his gut. Jongin tries to hole it back, he really does, but the scream crawls its way up his throat as the man’s fist lands directly on his nearly healed wound, tearing the stitches and reopening it.
“Jongin” he hears Kyungsoo yell before the man in the blue baseball cap throws the phone on the ground and crushes it under his boot.
“And so the fun begins” the man said with an evil chuckle that made Jongin’s stomach roll before he connected his fist with Jongin’s cheek again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“No fair you said you wouldn’t start without me” Jongin heard a whinny voice complain as he woke up. He tried not to move, too afraid of drawing attention to himself, too afraid to make the pain start again. He wasn’t quite sure how long he had been here, but Jongin didn’t think he would be able to last much longer.
“JongKook I left plenty for you” the man whose voice sent shivers down Jongin’s spine said. “Was the errand successful” the man asked and Jongin heard a door open and muffled screams fill the room. Jongin slowly opened his eyes to see what was causing the commotion.
“Parents wouldn’t pay up so it looks like we got ourselves a new plaything” a new individual says tossing a boy with bound hands and a duct tapped mouth into a chair off his shoulder.
“Good job Suga” the man in the blue cap says walking towards the bound boy whose eyes are starring, frozen wide. “What’s your name cutie” Jongin’s torturer asks pulling the duct tape from the other’s lips. Jongin watches in surprise as the freshly ungagged male spits directly on the other male’s shoes. Jongin knows it’s coming but can’t help but flinch as his torturer slaps his hand down on the other boy’s cheek. “I said what’s your name cutie” he asked again pulling on the bound boy’s hair.
“B..Baekhyun” the boy says in a scream.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful boy” the other says releasing the boy’s hair in favor of trailing his finger’s down the boy’s cheek.
“Aww, it looks like your little show woke our other guest Rapmon” the boy from the beginning JongKook said walking closer to Jongin.
“He’s all yours” the man now identified as Rapmon says. “I’m nothing compared to the pain you are going to experience now” Rapmon said with an evil chuckle as he met Jongin’s gaze once more.
“I think one of my bullets hit you the last time we met” JongKook says stopping in front of Jongin. “Was it here” the boy asks pushing on the upper portion of Jongin’s right arm. “Or here” he says bringing his fist down right on the earlier aggravated spot on his stomach causing Jongin to scream.
After removing his hand the other squeezed the still tender part of Jongin’s left arm.
“You see” the boy says pulling a gun from his waist band after Jongin had quieted his screams again, “I like my work to be symmetrical” No sooner had the other’s word’s left his mouth then Jongin felt a searing hot pain in the upper right portion of his arm. The sound of not only his scream but also Baekhyun’s filled the room after the gun fired. “Oh shut up” JongKook turned around and yelled at Baekhyun. Jongin watched in slow motion as the other aimed his gun and shot Baekhyun straight in the knee.
“Stop” Jongin yelled feeling suddenly brave as he watched Baekhyun crying in pain.
“I’m too bored to stretch this out anymore, the other one seems to be more responsive, its more fun that way” JongKook says before cocking the gun and pointing it in the middle of Jongin’s head. Jongin closes his eyes waiting for his end to come, he pictures Kyungsoo’s face in his mind and says a soft good bye.
Suddenly the door slams open and the room becomes a battle ground as round after round of bullets go off. Jongin feels a bullet fly into his stomach. I guess he got his desired symmetry anyways, Jongin thinks of the irony as black spots flood his vision.
“Jongin” Kyungsoo’s familiar voice screams before Jongin feels light fingers on his wrists.
“Kyungsoo” Jongin asks in disbelief as the other’s face floats into his vision.
“I’m right here baby, stay with me Jongin” Kyungsoo urges. Jongin tries, but the call of the darkness is just too overwhelming and Jongin allows his tired body to sag into Kyungsoo’s as he lets sleep claim him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Yeolie” Baekhyun’s familiar wail fills the house causing Jongin to wake from his slumber. “Luhan ate all the eggs that I made for you” Baekhyun complained and Jongin knew that Baekhyun was probably running into Chanyeol’s arms for comfort.
“It’s too early for this” Jongin complained rolling over and wrapping his arm around Kyungsoo.
“I still want to sleep” Kyungsoo mumbled curling closer to Jongin.
“Sleep Soo” Jongin said running his fingers through the other’s hair gently. He watched Kyungsoo’s face as the other fell back into the comforts of sleep, admiring the beauty Kyungsoo possessed. “I love you” he said planting a kiss on Kyungsoo’s forehead before drifting back asleep as well.
❊ title: the secret in the cherry blossom
Jongin wiggled his toes and slowly began to open his eyes. That’s strange I wonder why Kyungsoo hasn’t woken me up for breakfast yet, Jongin thinks to himself as sunlight stings at his eyes. He lifts his hand to block out some of the sun’s rays only to cry out as a shooting pain travels up his arm. Heaving breath Jongin hears a rustling on his right side and looks down to see Kyungsoo’s large eyes staring back at him. He lifts his right hand up and wipes at a few tears that are running down Kyungsoo’s face.
“You’ve b..been unconscious for fi..five days” Kyungsoo says around his sobs. “I didn’t think you were ever going to wake up” Kyungsoo admits clutching at Jongin’s right hand and holding it between both of his. Jongin’s breathe catches in his throat as Kyungsoo leans down and plants a small kiss on the top of Jongin’s hand. “I’m so glad you are okay” Kyungsoo whispers locking his gaze with Jongin’s.
“What happened” Jongin asks voice scratchy from not being used.
“You were shot” Kyungsoo says and the many scenes of that day come flashing back.
“I’m okay, my arms a little sore but I’m fine” Jongin assures wiping away new tears from Kyungsoo’s face.
“That wasn’t the only place that you got hit” Kyungsoo says locking his tearful eyes with Jongin’s gaze. “I almost lost you” Kyungsoo says. Before Jongin has time to process the other’s words the door to the room opens and a new person comes walking into the room with a tray of food.
“Oh your awake, I’ll get YiXing right away to check that you are fine. In the meantime Kyungsoo I brought you some food since you won’t leave this room” the other person says setting the tray on the small table next to the bed Jongin lies on. As quickly as the male had come he was gone.
“Eat Soo” Jongin urges noticing the slightly hallow look of the other’s face.
“You’ve never called me that before” Kyungsoo says softly as he grabs a piece of toast off the tray and Jongin notices a small smirk on the others face.
“I’m sorry” he says.
“N..no I like it” Kyungsoo says before taking a bite of his toast. Jongin isn’t quite sure about what is going on, but he feels as if he and Kyungsoo are stepping over some invisible line together. The past month Jongin has openly flirted with the other and in some roundabout way let the other know that Jongin has feelings for him. Their shared actions have never went too far always ending in teasing remarks, Chanyeol always present on both of their minds. This time however things are different and although that thrills Jongin to no end, he can’t help but also fear this new development.
The sound of someone entering the room breaks Jongin from his own thoughts as he turns to see yet another unknown person enter the room. The person offers a gentle smile that allows a dimple to bloom on his cheek and instantly puts Jongin at ease.
“It’s good to see that you are awake, it was stop and go there for a little while” the new person in the room says before reaching down and feeling Jongin’s pulse in his wrist.
“YiXing is he okay now” Kyungsoo asks and Jongin hears the worry in the other’s tone.
“His pulse sounds good, I’ll have Joonmyun bring him some liquid soup” the other now identified as YiXing says.
“YIXING” someone yells from another room interrupting his statement. “YIXING” the voice yells again and Jongin can sense the panic on the other’s voice even though it is coming from a ways away. YiXing pats Jongin’s hand before turning and running from the room.
“Luhan is not doing so well” Kyungsoo says bringing a cup of water up to Jongin’s chapped lips.
“Do we know what happened” Jongin asks after swallowing the water that Kyungsoo tipped into his dry mouth.
“We know he was supposed to be investigating the many warehouses that we feared our competition was setting up in, we know something lead him to us at the gym instead of to the pier where Chanyeol, Minseok, and Sehun were which would have actually been closer, we know that he was beaten pretty severely and that whoever did it also shot you in the arm and in the stomach” Kyungsoo said and for the first time Jongin felt a bandage of sorts wrapped around his middle.
“Is he awake” Jongin asked wiggling his toes and fingers to get the blood flowing back into his tiered limbs.
“Once” Kyungsoo says softly and Jongin watches the other look down at his hands, “He screamed so loud that YiXing had to sedate him so we have no idea what exactly happened to him” Kyungsoo adds.
“I’m sorry Kyungsoo” Jongin says squeezing the other’s hand in his own from where it lies on the bed beside his own.
“How did you know what was coming” Kyungsoo asks softly rubbing a hand under his eyes.
“I saw that brown van again” Jongin says softly just in case anyone walks past the door.
“Why didn’t you just pull me down instead of jumping in front of me” Kyungsoo asks meeting Jongin’s gaze.
“I can’t let you get hurt” Jongin answers honestly.
“Because of your loyalty to Chanyeol” Kyungsoo asks standing up and pulling his hand away angrily.
“No Kyungsoo, because if something happened to you I would not know what to do with myself. Not because Chanyeol would probably kill me, but because I would not be able to live without you. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but everything about you draws me in” Jongin confesses watching Kyungsoo’s face morph with many different emotions as he speaks. “I..I really like you Kyungsoo” Jongin stated. As soon as the words left his mouth Kyungsoo’s eyes widened and Jongin watched as the other ran to the door and left the room with a slam of the door. Jongin didn’t call after the other, he knew that his feelings couldn’t ever be returned, but he had hoped selfishly for a slightly different response from the other. With a sigh Jongin laid back against the pillows and let sleep claim him yet again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Jongin” a soft whisper pulls him awake a couple days later. “Jongin” a voice that sounds familiar to Kyungsoo’s says for a second time. Jongin opens his eyes and the vast majority of his mind thinks that he must be dreaming as he sees Kyungsoo sitting in the chair beside his bed because the other has been avoiding for the past few days after his confession.
“What’s wrong” Jongin asks in a whisper because while looking at the other’s face he sees an unfamiliar expression covering it.
“I need to show you something” Kyungsoo say turning on the lamp beside Jongin’s bed. Jongin’s eyes take in the early morning hour on the clock before turning his gaze back to Kyungsoo. He moves his hand up immediately to cover his eyes as he spots Kyungsoo lifting his shirt above his head.
“Kyungsoo” Jongin says questioningly absolutely confused with the others actions.
“Jongin I need you to look while I talk to you” Kyungsoo says softly.
“I will just put your shirt back on” Jongin says feeling like a little kid on their first day in gym class.
“That’ll kind of defeat the purpose” Kyungsoo says with a chuckle before Jongin feels the other’s hands pull away at the hand covering his eyes. Jongin slowly takes in the sight before him. Kyungsoo gives him a small smile before he turns around. The whole room is filled with Jongin’s exhale of breath as he takes in the breathtaking sight of a beautiful constructed Cherry Blossom Tree decorating the entire expanse of Kyungsoo’s back.
“It’s beautiful” Jongin says softly lifting a hand to trace the shape and stopping short before actually lying his hand upon the other’s skin.
“You can touch it” Kyungsoo says softly and so Jongin does he traces his fingers along the elegant and masculine lines of a slightly twisted Cherry Blossom Tree loving the contrast of his skin against Kyungsoo’s.
“What does it represent” Jongin asks in a whisper appreciating the detailed lines adorning Kyungsoo’s back.
“This tattoo represents the story of me and my life Jongin” Kyungsoo says and Jongin hears the other take a deep breath. “I need to tell you my story Jongin, because I need you to understand” he adds. “Do you see how the roots and lower trunk of the tree are twisted in on itself, curling in such a way that shows trouble” Kyungsoo asks.
“Yes” Jongin responds trailing his gaze to the lower portion of Kyungsoo’s tattoo.
“That part of the tree represents my childhood Jongin” Kyungsoo says. “I was raised by my single mother who worked any and every job she could find to support us, she worked herself so hard that she sacrificed her health and was no match for the cold winter we shared when I was six that took her from my side” Kyungsoo says in a voice lacking and emotion. “If you look closely enough you can see dates scrawled inside the roots and along the lines of the trunk, do you see them Jongin” Kyungsoo asks and Jongin’s eyes immediately start searching for them.
“Yeah” he tells the other when he finds a couple different dates scrawled in beautiful cursive writing blending in so well with the rest of the tattoo that you wouldn’t know they were there unless you purposely set out to look for them.
“The first date on my back is the day that I was born, the day my father left” Kyungsoo says taking a breath. “The next one in chronologic order is the day my mom died, leaving my a homeless orphan, followed quickly by the date I meet another boy on the street who stood up for me and kept me safe, that boy is Chanyeol” Kyungsoo says turning around and grabbing onto Jongin’s extended hand. “I know for a fact that I would not be alive today if I hadn’t met Chanyeol when I did, the two of us probably wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for the people we met or the events that have taken place that are dated on my back as well” Kyungsoo adds. “Jongin I love Chanyeol with all of my heart he makes me feel safe, he makes me feel like I have a home.” Kyungsoo says all while keeping eye contact with Jongin, “I confessed all these feelings for him a couple months back and he told me he felt the same way. He became uber protective of me, even going so far as to get some bodyguard to keep me safe” Kyungsoo says with a smile. Jongin returned the smile only half-heartedly.
“I understand” Jongin said bowing his head, so Kyungsoo wouldn’t see the devastation on his face.
“No you don’t Jongin” Kyungsoo said before Jongin felt the other’s hand gently life his chin back up. “You see this bodyguard he, he made me feel things too. At first I was afraid that he was going to replace Chanyeol and that made me angry at myself. However the closer I looked the more I realized that you weren’t trying to fit into the places of my heart that are filled with love for Chanyeol, or even the other members of our small dysfunctional family, no you were filling all the cracks that I didn’t even realize were there” Kyungsoo said and Jongin struggled to process the other’s words. “Jongin I really like you too” Kyungsoo states as a tear escapes his eye.
“What about Chanyeol” Jongin whispers pulling Kyungsoo down so he is sitting beside him on the small mattress.
“I still love him, but I realize Chanyeol is my family. The love I have for him is the love of a brother, a brother who has put his life on the line multiple times to save the other, but a brother none the less” Kyungsoo says leaning into Jongin’s side playing with the fingers on Jongin’s right hand.
“He’ll kill me” Jongin said softly minutes later he was surprised when Kyungsoo burst out into a small wave of laughter.
“He would never do anything that would hurt me” Kyungsoo said with sincerity. “You know I have to get a new date put on my back” Kyungsoo said a couple minutes later.
“Oh really” Jongin asked trying to stay awake which was quite hard with the added warmth of Kyungsoo against him.
“Yeah, the day you joined our family” Kyungsoo says with a yawn escaping his lips at the end of his sentence.
“Sleep now Soo” Jongin says tucking Kyungsoo’s head in the curve of his shoulder.
“Will you come with me when I get it added” Kyungsoo says with sleep layering his voice.
“Of course” Jongin says drifting off to sleep shortly after with Kyungsoo’s warmth radiating beside him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Days later YiXing allows Jongin to get out of bed and walk down to the kitchen. He learns that YiXing used to live with Chanyeol and the other’s until he met Joonmyun. Kyungsoo mentioned one night when he came back to join Jongin in his bed sometime after midnight, that Joonmyun had once been tortured by a rival group to get information on Chanyeol and the others.
“I killed almost all of them when I finally found Joonmyun again” Kyungsoo had said that night proudly. The other’s words had caused a shiver to run down Jongin’s back as he pulled Kyungsoo closer and held him tight.
Kyungsoo had continued to tell him that although YiXing wasn’t technically one of them anymore, family never really ends so in emergencies they can always count on the other.
After finding out what had happened to him, Jongin observed Joonmyun as he interacted with the other individuals at the table. Jongin noticed how Joonmyun would jump at even the smallest sound and how the raised voices of an argument would put him on edge. He couldn’t help thinking as he fell asleep later if Luhan would come out of his unconscious state the same way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Jongin” Kyungsoo’s voice called close to his ear. Jongin tried to fall back to sleep hoping that Kyungsoo would as well because he felt as if he had just gone to bed. “I know you are awake Jongin” Kyungsoo said and Jongin felt a small peck on his temple.
“Fine, I’m up” Jongin said sitting up and noticing Kyungsoo fully dressed. “What are you doing” Jongin asked the other in confusion.
“I have an appointment at the tattoo parlor” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he throws a pair of jeans and a white shirt towards Jongin. Jongin sat up and began to gingerly pull his pants up mindful of the still sore portion of his stomach. While doing so he say a green five twenty glaring back at him from the small digital clock in the room. “Why so early” Jongin grumbled wiping at his eye with his only slightly tender right hand.
“Chanyeol doesn’t want me to leave the house” Kyungsoo says as he ties his shoes.
“Do you think it’s safe to go then” Jongin asks, not pushing the issue of Chanyeol knowing that Kyungsoo will approach that situation when he is ready.
“Of course it’s early, plus I have you to keep me safe right” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he grabbed onto Jongin’s arm.
“Yeah” Jongin gave in allowing the other to lead the way out of the house.
“It’s not that far so we can walk” Kyungsoo said a little too chipper for someone who was up so early in the morning in Jongin’s opinion.
After walking a short while Jongin holds the door to a tiny little shop open while Kyungsoo walks through. A little bell dings as Jongin closes the door behind him causing a little lady to come out of a back room.
“Ahh Kyungsoo great to see you again” the lady says with a smile before her gaze lands on Jongin. “Is your friend getting work done to or am I adding to my masterpiece today” she asks with a smile.
“Just me” Kyungsoo says with a smile.
“Another date” she asks motioning Kyungsoo to come lay down on a flat bed of sorts.
“I wrote two dates for you here” Kyungsoo says handing the woman a piece of paper before taking his shirt off and laying down with his face pointing towards an empty chair he pointed Jongin to sit in. “I also need a tenth blossom” Kyungsoo says. “One for each member of my family” Kyungsoo whispers grabbing ahold of Jongin’s hand. Jongin smiles down at the other looking over to see the lady reading her supplies.
“I was thinking that I could make that omelet that you like with the mushrooms and spinach when we get back to the house what do you think” Kyungsoo asked and Jongin looked at the other’s face when he talked. A small buzzing sound caused Jongin to look up and see the lady as she began to scrawl the new tattoos onto Kyungsoo’s back. Why is the needle so long, Jongin found himself thinking as he watched the needle poke Kyungsoo multiple times and small pin prints of blood start to pool. “Don’t look at it” Kyungsoo says softly causing Jongin to look down at the other’s face.
“I think I need some air” he says apologetically feeling slightly woozy from the sight he had just seen.
“Alright sissy boy” Kyungsoo said jokingly releasing his hand.
“I’ll be back” Jongin stated before rushing back out of the store and taking a deep breath of the cool morning air.
“Well this is easier than I thought it would be” a voice behind Jongin says with a small chuckle that causes the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on edge. He slowly turns around and feels his breath catch when he takes in the sight before his eyes, the sight of the familiar man in a blue baseball cap. “Boo” the man says before lunging at Jongin.
A cloth is held against his mouth and nose before he can even react. Run Kyungsoo, Jongin tries to scream as the world around him slowly fades to black.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jongin woke up with a pounding in his head. Did I drink too much last night, he wonders to himself cracking on eye open and seeing a large room he could not remember.
“Look who decided to finally wake up” a booming voice said causing Jongin to flinch. He tried to raise his hands to cover his ears only to find his arms restrained. He looks down to see his arms zip tied to the arms of a rickety chair when he looks up he sees a man in a blue baseball cap and suddenly everything comes flashing back.
“Where is Kyungsoo” Jongin asks shaking in the chair trying to get free even though he knows it’s futile. The man just starts laughing and Jongin begins to wildly look around the room for Kyungsoo bound up somewhere.
“Why would I bring your bodyguard, wouldn’t that defeat my end goal” the guy asks looking down at Jongin demeaning.
“My bodyguard” Jongin asks in confusion. As soon as the words leave his mouth he feels a sharp pain in his cheek.
“Don’t play stupid with me boy” the man says curling his fingers into a fist. “I know that you recently moved into Chanyeol’s territory, I know that Chanyeol’s right hand man is always following you around. I’m not stupid, I know that you are Chanyeol’s boyfriend and in turn his one weakness.” The man says and the other’s words slowly sink into Jongin’s brain.
“What do you want from me” Jongin asks.
“Well you see Chanyeol runs this town, but I deserve it more than him” the guy says. “I was just going to kidnap you and demand a ransom of a promise, but that pretty boy came in a ruined all those plans a couple weeks ago, so I’ve changed my mind” The guy says and a terrifying smile takes over the other’s face as he pulls a phone out of his back pocket. “Say your goodbyes” the guy says putting the phone on Jongin’s lap while the ring of the phone on speaker echoes around the warehouse.
“Hello” Chanyeol’s gruff voice says through the phone.
“Chanyeol” Jongin says panic slightly setting his nerves on edge.
“Jongin thank god, where are you” Chanyeol asks.
“I don’t know” Jongin confesses.
“Are you lost, what’s around you, I’ll come get you” Kyungsoo’s voice comes through the line. As he opens his mouth to speak the blue capped man clamps his hand over Jongin’s mouth.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to find this little beauty ever again” the man says into the phone.
“What do you want” Chanyeol asks in an angry voice and Jongin hears the sound of sobs through the phone.
“I want this city Chanyeol, my crew and I can take better care of it then you can” the man says.
“What would you know” Chanyeol asks.
“Well you could ask that pretty boy who escaped my grasps, or you could ask your boyfriend, ohh that’s right you can’t because after tonight he isn’t going to be around anymore” the man says with a chuckle as he looks down and meets Jongin’s gaze. In that moment when their eyes are locked that Jongin realizes the severity of his situation. He realizes then that this man truly hold Jongin’s own life in his hands, and that thought terrifies him. I don’t want to die, he feels like screaming.
“He’s not Chanyeol’s boyfriend, I am” Jongin hears Kyungsoo yell through the phone and even more terror fills hid core as he imagines their roles reversed and Kyungsoo sitting tied to a chair staring at the man who will take his life. He acts without thinking biting down on the man’s hand that covers his mouth.
“Don’t lie Soo” Jongin yells, resolved to die for the one he loves.
“Well I was going to let you say goodbye but not anymore” the man says aloud reaching down and picking up the phone. “Look forward to the ear or finger” the man in the blue cap says before Jongin feels a fist land on his gut. Jongin tries to hole it back, he really does, but the scream crawls its way up his throat as the man’s fist lands directly on his nearly healed wound, tearing the stitches and reopening it.
“Jongin” he hears Kyungsoo yell before the man in the blue baseball cap throws the phone on the ground and crushes it under his boot.
“And so the fun begins” the man said with an evil chuckle that made Jongin’s stomach roll before he connected his fist with Jongin’s cheek again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“No fair you said you wouldn’t start without me” Jongin heard a whinny voice complain as he woke up. He tried not to move, too afraid of drawing attention to himself, too afraid to make the pain start again. He wasn’t quite sure how long he had been here, but Jongin didn’t think he would be able to last much longer.
“JongKook I left plenty for you” the man whose voice sent shivers down Jongin’s spine said. “Was the errand successful” the man asked and Jongin heard a door open and muffled screams fill the room. Jongin slowly opened his eyes to see what was causing the commotion.
“Parents wouldn’t pay up so it looks like we got ourselves a new plaything” a new individual says tossing a boy with bound hands and a duct tapped mouth into a chair off his shoulder.
“Good job Suga” the man in the blue cap says walking towards the bound boy whose eyes are starring, frozen wide. “What’s your name cutie” Jongin’s torturer asks pulling the duct tape from the other’s lips. Jongin watches in surprise as the freshly ungagged male spits directly on the other male’s shoes. Jongin knows it’s coming but can’t help but flinch as his torturer slaps his hand down on the other boy’s cheek. “I said what’s your name cutie” he asked again pulling on the bound boy’s hair.
“B..Baekhyun” the boy says in a scream.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful boy” the other says releasing the boy’s hair in favor of trailing his finger’s down the boy’s cheek.
“Aww, it looks like your little show woke our other guest Rapmon” the boy from the beginning JongKook said walking closer to Jongin.
“He’s all yours” the man now identified as Rapmon says. “I’m nothing compared to the pain you are going to experience now” Rapmon said with an evil chuckle as he met Jongin’s gaze once more.
“I think one of my bullets hit you the last time we met” JongKook says stopping in front of Jongin. “Was it here” the boy asks pushing on the upper portion of Jongin’s right arm. “Or here” he says bringing his fist down right on the earlier aggravated spot on his stomach causing Jongin to scream.
After removing his hand the other squeezed the still tender part of Jongin’s left arm.
“You see” the boy says pulling a gun from his waist band after Jongin had quieted his screams again, “I like my work to be symmetrical” No sooner had the other’s word’s left his mouth then Jongin felt a searing hot pain in the upper right portion of his arm. The sound of not only his scream but also Baekhyun’s filled the room after the gun fired. “Oh shut up” JongKook turned around and yelled at Baekhyun. Jongin watched in slow motion as the other aimed his gun and shot Baekhyun straight in the knee.
“Stop” Jongin yelled feeling suddenly brave as he watched Baekhyun crying in pain.
“I’m too bored to stretch this out anymore, the other one seems to be more responsive, its more fun that way” JongKook says before cocking the gun and pointing it in the middle of Jongin’s head. Jongin closes his eyes waiting for his end to come, he pictures Kyungsoo’s face in his mind and says a soft good bye.
Suddenly the door slams open and the room becomes a battle ground as round after round of bullets go off. Jongin feels a bullet fly into his stomach. I guess he got his desired symmetry anyways, Jongin thinks of the irony as black spots flood his vision.
“Jongin” Kyungsoo’s familiar voice screams before Jongin feels light fingers on his wrists.
“Kyungsoo” Jongin asks in disbelief as the other’s face floats into his vision.
“I’m right here baby, stay with me Jongin” Kyungsoo urges. Jongin tries, but the call of the darkness is just too overwhelming and Jongin allows his tired body to sag into Kyungsoo’s as he lets sleep claim him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Yeolie” Baekhyun’s familiar wail fills the house causing Jongin to wake from his slumber. “Luhan ate all the eggs that I made for you” Baekhyun complained and Jongin knew that Baekhyun was probably running into Chanyeol’s arms for comfort.
“It’s too early for this” Jongin complained rolling over and wrapping his arm around Kyungsoo.
“I still want to sleep” Kyungsoo mumbled curling closer to Jongin.
“Sleep Soo” Jongin said running his fingers through the other’s hair gently. He watched Kyungsoo’s face as the other fell back into the comforts of sleep, admiring the beauty Kyungsoo possessed. “I love you” he said planting a kiss on Kyungsoo’s forehead before drifting back asleep as well.