Of Swaggers, Saloons, And Star Badges - Chapter 5
Title: Of Swaggers, Saloons, And Star Badges - Chapter 5
Character/Pairing: Jae/Min/Chun and variations of, minor one-sided YunChun, YooSu bffery
Genre: drama/angst, romance, and a bit of comedy and action, Korean Wild West AU!
Rating: PG-13 to be safe (for now)
Word Count: 1,905
Disclaimer: I have a what?
Previous parts: Prologue , Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4
Yoochun awoke in a cocoon of warmth. It was the first time he had ever felt so rested that he didn’t want to open his eyes. He burrowed himself further into the source of heat only to be met with a hard wall of muscle and a chuckle that sent vibrations deep within his core.
“Mornin’” Changmin said tenderly and his ran his fingers through chocolate waves. “Well, it’s more like afternoon now.” Yoochun let out a sound somewhere between a whimper and a groan. His cheeks flushed as he realized it was Changmin that he was snuggling.
“Good afternoon, Sheriff Shim.” Yoochun whispered as he slowly withdrew himself and sat up, Changmin followed.
“Changmin, please.” He wanted to drop the formalities and make Yoochun more comfortable with him.
“Alright, Sheriff Changmin.” Yoochun smiled sweetly but was barely able to look Changmin in the eye. It was the first time Yoochun looked cute. He had been handsome, beautiful and sexy before but now, all flushed and embarrassed, he was absolutely adorable and Changmin couldn’t stop smiling.
Changmin gently cupped Yoochun’s face in his hands and turned it towards him. “Don’t ever hide yourself, not from me.” He leaned in for a kiss but Yoochun gently pulled away and slipped out of his hold. He gave Changmin a pained look.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that so much had happened so fast and I -” He sighed and rubbed at his eyes. “I just don’t quite know how I feel about everything.” He had shared his deepest secret with the man in front of him last night and it felt like the truth was a sign hanging over his head. WHORE. How could Changmin still want him? And what about going to find Jaejoong? He wanted to leave but would Changmin understand?
“Hey, stop thinking so hard. Smokes gonna come out of your ears.” He smiled so wide that his eyes became mismatched.
“What has gotten into you?” Yoochun finally pulled himself out of bed, thankful he had dressed last night.
“What?” Changmin followed after him and watched amusedly as Yoochun struggled into his boots. It was a wonder he could move in those tight pants at all.
“You’re different. You’re cracking jokes and being sweet.” Yoochun scowled at the laughing man who slipped his boots on with ease.
“Is there something wrong with that?” Changmin and Yoochun were making their way down to the Saloon’s kitchen.
“It’s confusing me.” Changmin could have sworn Yoochun was pouting but he never got to tease him about it or respond to the comment.
“Chunnie-hyung!” Junsu threw his arms around Yoochun in his signature bear hug. “Are you alright now? Sheriff Shim wouldn’t let me get anywhere near you!”
“I’m fine Junsu-yah. Good as new.” Yoochun beamed and ruffled the younger boy’s hair.
“He’ll be glad to hear it!” Junsu said as he swatted at Yoochun’s hand.
“He?” Yoochun asked; confusion in his voice.
“Oh yes hyung! A man came to town yesterday looking for you, he’s right in the main room. I’ll go let him know you’re alright.”
“Wait!” Yoochun cried out, but he froze. It couldn’t be…
“Hyung?” Junsu saw the panic on Yoochun’s face but the other teen didn’t reply.
“Who is he?” It was Changmin who asked the question in place of Yoochun. He could tell the man was struggling to ask.
“It’s your friend -” and before Junsu could finish Yoochun ran out into the Saloon’s main room. There seated at the bar with a cup of coffee in front of him was Kim Jaejoong.
The banging open of the back door caused Jaejoong to look over at the commotion. There in the archway looking like a vision from heaven was his Micky Park Yoochun. He got off the stool and approached the frozen figure. He was still as cute as ever.
“You changed your name and cut your hair.” Jaejoong faked a frown as he fingered the tips of Yoochun’s hair, grazing the young man’s jaw in the process. He noticed the shiver that ran through Yoochun and the reaction pleased him.
“How did you find me?” Yoochun had to close his eyes to be able to get clear headed enough to get the words out.
“I was nearby and heard about what happened with the Jung Brothers. I needed to make sure you were alright.” Jaejoong’s tone was as tender as the look in his eyes, but it did little to comfort the younger man.
The sound that came out of Yoochun was a terrible sob. He had meant it to be a laugh but it was more of a cry. Jaejoong had come to check-up on him? Now? What about when Yunho came after him the first time? All the anger and grief that he had been holding in came pouring out.
“Mi-Yoochun. I’m so sorry I left. I had no choice.” He reached for the man but Yoochun pulled back and stumble in to hard muscle - Changmin.
“Because I was so disgusting to you?” When had his voice become so venomous?
“Yoochun, no. I -” Jaejoong tried to explain what had happened to him but Yoochun cut him off.
“I waited for you! I - I -I - Yunho came and there was nothing I could do.” He took a moment to fight the tears. Jaejoong didn’t try to interrupt him; he understood that Yoochun needed to get this all out. “And then I went to find you. I needed to see you and apologize to make sure you were alright. And now you show up perfectly fine.” He let out a scoff. “How stupid of me.” When had he become so bitter? He didn’t want his reunion with Jaejoong to be like this but he just can’t stop the words from coming out. He felt a warm hand on his back and he knew it was Changmin giving him quiet support.
“I was the stupid one Yoochun.” Jaejoong dared to take a step closer towards the hurt man. “I was so shocked that day - but not because I thought you were disgusting.” He began to explain; his tone calm and patient. “Actually seeing you in the arms of someone else made me realize that I -” He reached out to Yoochun and hoped the sincerity in his eyes shone through. “I am in love with you.” The gasp from Yoochun seemed to echo but then Jaejoong realized that the repetitive sounds came from the other two men in the room; Kim Junsu who he had met earlier and another man, the one behind Yoochun who was in an officer’s uniform.
Yoochun shook his head in disbelief. The man he had idolized and loved for so long felt the same way he did? “But then why did you leave me?” His voice cracked - just like his heart. Jaejoong just wanted to reach out and grab him; crush him against his chest - but he settled for taking Yoochun’s hand in his as he was finally able to explain why he had left.
“My sister Hae Lin’s husband had gotten into some money trouble and I had to go away to help her. I was planning to come back for you but it took so much longer to settle everything. She is pregnant and her husband is ill and I couldn’t leave them destitute. I swear I did everything I could to get back to you as soon as I could. I was planning to come back for you and take you away from that awful place for good.”
It was all too much and Yoochun was having a hard time breathing. His head began to pound again and he pulled his hand out of Jaejoong’s hold to rub at the small bump beneath his hair. Jaejoong studied Yoochun’s pained face worriedly.
“Chunnie?” He tested out the endearment as he stroked Yoochun’s cheek with the back of his hand, finding he liked the way it felt on his tongue.
“Yunho is as much a bastard as ever; he still takes cheap shots at people.” Yoochun explained and Jaejoong nodded sadly.
“That’s why I had to come for you. I couldn’t stay away any longer knowing that I failed to protect you.” Yoochun looked up into Jaejoong’s sad eyes. The hurt he saw in them now was so different from the look he saw in them the last time. Jaejoong was hurting as much as he was.
“Hyung.” He whispered but before he could reach out to Jaejoong and embrace the man he was taken hold of by his shoulders from behind.
“I think we should settle you down and get some food into you before you pass out again.” Changmin steered Yoochun past Jaejoong and sat him down at one of the tables. It was all he could do to resist the urge to throw Yoochun over his shoulder and run away. Jaejoong followed them and took a seat across from Yoochun while Changmin took the chair at Yoochun’s side. Junsu followed soon after with some freshly baked bread and ham, carrot and potato hash.
Yoochun was more than thankful for Junsu’s presence at the table. The younger teen filled the tense and awkward silence with his gleeful chattering. Yoochun knew, however, that when the meal was done both Jaejoong and Changmin would want some explanations and answers from him. He regretted ever waking up that afternoon.
When Yoochun begrudgingly swallowed his last bite he looked up to the questioning stares of three men.
“Jaejoong-hyung, are you able to stay here in town for a while? I think I need some time to deal with everything.” He shot a worried glance at his hyung. It had been so long since he had looked into those eyes that he was afraid he’d drown in them if he looked too long.
“I can stay here as long as I please. The only place I need to be is where you are.” Jaejoong’s sappy words caused Changmin to scoff before he could stop himself.
“What’s it to you Deputy?” Jaejoong didn’t like how close the man had been to Yoochun.
“That’s Sheriff, Sheriff Shim Changmin. And you’re not the only one who has a stake in Yoochun’s wellbeing. I am in love with him as well.” Again three gasps could be heard before silence took over the table.
Yoochun was pretty sure the two men had begun to engage in an argument about him; who knew him longer, who knew him best, who could provide for him better, but it was all drowned out by the pounding of his heart. His one-sided love for Jaejoong was actually two-sided and Changmin’s confession made it three-sided. And where Yoochun should obviously be the one to make the final decision, the two men in question were turning their romantic struggle into a pissing contest.
“Enough!” He didn’t know where the sudden bravado came from. He stood up and moved to return to his room above the Saloon. When Jaejoong and Changmin made to stand up he sent them a hard glare that rooted them in their seats.
“Don’t even.” He ground out the words before disappearing behind the back door.
"So," Jaejoong turned to Changmin. "How are we going to settle this?" He gave the Sheriff a challenging look. Changmin smirked in response and somewhere in the background Junsu eeped and dodged from any potential gunfire before scampering off after Yoochun.
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Character/Pairing: Jae/Min/Chun and variations of, minor one-sided YunChun, YooSu bffery
Genre: drama/angst, romance, and a bit of comedy and action, Korean Wild West AU!
Rating: PG-13 to be safe (for now)
Word Count: 1,905
Disclaimer: I have a what?
Previous parts: Prologue , Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4
Yoochun awoke in a cocoon of warmth. It was the first time he had ever felt so rested that he didn’t want to open his eyes. He burrowed himself further into the source of heat only to be met with a hard wall of muscle and a chuckle that sent vibrations deep within his core.
“Mornin’” Changmin said tenderly and his ran his fingers through chocolate waves. “Well, it’s more like afternoon now.” Yoochun let out a sound somewhere between a whimper and a groan. His cheeks flushed as he realized it was Changmin that he was snuggling.
“Good afternoon, Sheriff Shim.” Yoochun whispered as he slowly withdrew himself and sat up, Changmin followed.
“Changmin, please.” He wanted to drop the formalities and make Yoochun more comfortable with him.
“Alright, Sheriff Changmin.” Yoochun smiled sweetly but was barely able to look Changmin in the eye. It was the first time Yoochun looked cute. He had been handsome, beautiful and sexy before but now, all flushed and embarrassed, he was absolutely adorable and Changmin couldn’t stop smiling.
Changmin gently cupped Yoochun’s face in his hands and turned it towards him. “Don’t ever hide yourself, not from me.” He leaned in for a kiss but Yoochun gently pulled away and slipped out of his hold. He gave Changmin a pained look.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that so much had happened so fast and I -” He sighed and rubbed at his eyes. “I just don’t quite know how I feel about everything.” He had shared his deepest secret with the man in front of him last night and it felt like the truth was a sign hanging over his head. WHORE. How could Changmin still want him? And what about going to find Jaejoong? He wanted to leave but would Changmin understand?
“Hey, stop thinking so hard. Smokes gonna come out of your ears.” He smiled so wide that his eyes became mismatched.
“What has gotten into you?” Yoochun finally pulled himself out of bed, thankful he had dressed last night.
“What?” Changmin followed after him and watched amusedly as Yoochun struggled into his boots. It was a wonder he could move in those tight pants at all.
“You’re different. You’re cracking jokes and being sweet.” Yoochun scowled at the laughing man who slipped his boots on with ease.
“Is there something wrong with that?” Changmin and Yoochun were making their way down to the Saloon’s kitchen.
“It’s confusing me.” Changmin could have sworn Yoochun was pouting but he never got to tease him about it or respond to the comment.
“Chunnie-hyung!” Junsu threw his arms around Yoochun in his signature bear hug. “Are you alright now? Sheriff Shim wouldn’t let me get anywhere near you!”
“I’m fine Junsu-yah. Good as new.” Yoochun beamed and ruffled the younger boy’s hair.
“He’ll be glad to hear it!” Junsu said as he swatted at Yoochun’s hand.
“He?” Yoochun asked; confusion in his voice.
“Oh yes hyung! A man came to town yesterday looking for you, he’s right in the main room. I’ll go let him know you’re alright.”
“Wait!” Yoochun cried out, but he froze. It couldn’t be…
“Hyung?” Junsu saw the panic on Yoochun’s face but the other teen didn’t reply.
“Who is he?” It was Changmin who asked the question in place of Yoochun. He could tell the man was struggling to ask.
“It’s your friend -” and before Junsu could finish Yoochun ran out into the Saloon’s main room. There seated at the bar with a cup of coffee in front of him was Kim Jaejoong.
The banging open of the back door caused Jaejoong to look over at the commotion. There in the archway looking like a vision from heaven was his Micky Park Yoochun. He got off the stool and approached the frozen figure. He was still as cute as ever.
“You changed your name and cut your hair.” Jaejoong faked a frown as he fingered the tips of Yoochun’s hair, grazing the young man’s jaw in the process. He noticed the shiver that ran through Yoochun and the reaction pleased him.
“How did you find me?” Yoochun had to close his eyes to be able to get clear headed enough to get the words out.
“I was nearby and heard about what happened with the Jung Brothers. I needed to make sure you were alright.” Jaejoong’s tone was as tender as the look in his eyes, but it did little to comfort the younger man.
The sound that came out of Yoochun was a terrible sob. He had meant it to be a laugh but it was more of a cry. Jaejoong had come to check-up on him? Now? What about when Yunho came after him the first time? All the anger and grief that he had been holding in came pouring out.
“Mi-Yoochun. I’m so sorry I left. I had no choice.” He reached for the man but Yoochun pulled back and stumble in to hard muscle - Changmin.
“Because I was so disgusting to you?” When had his voice become so venomous?
“Yoochun, no. I -” Jaejoong tried to explain what had happened to him but Yoochun cut him off.
“I waited for you! I - I -I - Yunho came and there was nothing I could do.” He took a moment to fight the tears. Jaejoong didn’t try to interrupt him; he understood that Yoochun needed to get this all out. “And then I went to find you. I needed to see you and apologize to make sure you were alright. And now you show up perfectly fine.” He let out a scoff. “How stupid of me.” When had he become so bitter? He didn’t want his reunion with Jaejoong to be like this but he just can’t stop the words from coming out. He felt a warm hand on his back and he knew it was Changmin giving him quiet support.
“I was the stupid one Yoochun.” Jaejoong dared to take a step closer towards the hurt man. “I was so shocked that day - but not because I thought you were disgusting.” He began to explain; his tone calm and patient. “Actually seeing you in the arms of someone else made me realize that I -” He reached out to Yoochun and hoped the sincerity in his eyes shone through. “I am in love with you.” The gasp from Yoochun seemed to echo but then Jaejoong realized that the repetitive sounds came from the other two men in the room; Kim Junsu who he had met earlier and another man, the one behind Yoochun who was in an officer’s uniform.
Yoochun shook his head in disbelief. The man he had idolized and loved for so long felt the same way he did? “But then why did you leave me?” His voice cracked - just like his heart. Jaejoong just wanted to reach out and grab him; crush him against his chest - but he settled for taking Yoochun’s hand in his as he was finally able to explain why he had left.
“My sister Hae Lin’s husband had gotten into some money trouble and I had to go away to help her. I was planning to come back for you but it took so much longer to settle everything. She is pregnant and her husband is ill and I couldn’t leave them destitute. I swear I did everything I could to get back to you as soon as I could. I was planning to come back for you and take you away from that awful place for good.”
It was all too much and Yoochun was having a hard time breathing. His head began to pound again and he pulled his hand out of Jaejoong’s hold to rub at the small bump beneath his hair. Jaejoong studied Yoochun’s pained face worriedly.
“Chunnie?” He tested out the endearment as he stroked Yoochun’s cheek with the back of his hand, finding he liked the way it felt on his tongue.
“Yunho is as much a bastard as ever; he still takes cheap shots at people.” Yoochun explained and Jaejoong nodded sadly.
“That’s why I had to come for you. I couldn’t stay away any longer knowing that I failed to protect you.” Yoochun looked up into Jaejoong’s sad eyes. The hurt he saw in them now was so different from the look he saw in them the last time. Jaejoong was hurting as much as he was.
“Hyung.” He whispered but before he could reach out to Jaejoong and embrace the man he was taken hold of by his shoulders from behind.
“I think we should settle you down and get some food into you before you pass out again.” Changmin steered Yoochun past Jaejoong and sat him down at one of the tables. It was all he could do to resist the urge to throw Yoochun over his shoulder and run away. Jaejoong followed them and took a seat across from Yoochun while Changmin took the chair at Yoochun’s side. Junsu followed soon after with some freshly baked bread and ham, carrot and potato hash.
Yoochun was more than thankful for Junsu’s presence at the table. The younger teen filled the tense and awkward silence with his gleeful chattering. Yoochun knew, however, that when the meal was done both Jaejoong and Changmin would want some explanations and answers from him. He regretted ever waking up that afternoon.
When Yoochun begrudgingly swallowed his last bite he looked up to the questioning stares of three men.
“Jaejoong-hyung, are you able to stay here in town for a while? I think I need some time to deal with everything.” He shot a worried glance at his hyung. It had been so long since he had looked into those eyes that he was afraid he’d drown in them if he looked too long.
“I can stay here as long as I please. The only place I need to be is where you are.” Jaejoong’s sappy words caused Changmin to scoff before he could stop himself.
“What’s it to you Deputy?” Jaejoong didn’t like how close the man had been to Yoochun.
“That’s Sheriff, Sheriff Shim Changmin. And you’re not the only one who has a stake in Yoochun’s wellbeing. I am in love with him as well.” Again three gasps could be heard before silence took over the table.
Yoochun was pretty sure the two men had begun to engage in an argument about him; who knew him longer, who knew him best, who could provide for him better, but it was all drowned out by the pounding of his heart. His one-sided love for Jaejoong was actually two-sided and Changmin’s confession made it three-sided. And where Yoochun should obviously be the one to make the final decision, the two men in question were turning their romantic struggle into a pissing contest.
“Enough!” He didn’t know where the sudden bravado came from. He stood up and moved to return to his room above the Saloon. When Jaejoong and Changmin made to stand up he sent them a hard glare that rooted them in their seats.
“Don’t even.” He ground out the words before disappearing behind the back door.
"So," Jaejoong turned to Changmin. "How are we going to settle this?" He gave the Sheriff a challenging look. Changmin smirked in response and somewhere in the background Junsu eeped and dodged from any potential gunfire before scampering off after Yoochun.
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