Of Swaggers, Saloons, And Star Badges - Chapter 9
Title: Of Swaggers, Saloons, And Star Badges - Chapter 9
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: 2,007
Disclaimer: I have a what?
Previous parts: Prologue , Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8
“He can’t be trusted. I’ve heard rumors about this guy and he is said to be worse than his cousins!” No way was Jaejoong going to go along with this ridiculous trade. “He’s probably got something planned.”
“Most likely.” Changmin concurred as he spoke with Siwon and Jaejoong outside the station - out of earshot. Youngwoon had not been too happy when he had been told to remain with the prisoners and Seung-Heon.
“Then what, Sheriff, is it that you plan to do?” Jaejoong had gone back to his arrogant and condescending façade that Changmin was beginning to hate so much.
“I’m going to sit on my ass and do absolutely nothing.” He smiled.
“Excuse me?” Jaejoong growled.
“You’re going to be doing all the work.” He grinned back teasingly. “We already know where he is keeping Yoochun. So while I keep him occupied with outlining the terms of our trade, you, hyung, will be going to bring Yoochun back.”
“Okay, except you said there are a bunch of cabins on that trail and I don’t know the area.” Jaejoong’s tone was beginning to soften and becoming confused.
“I can take you,” offered Siwon.
“No, it may look suspicious if both Jaejoong and one of my Deputies are gone. Best take the Kim brothers; they know the area and are fast riders.” Jaejoong nodded and headed back to the Saloon. The earth was still muddy under his boots and he hoped they could ride well even in these conditions.
“What’s going on Jaejoong-shii?” Junsu asked as Jaejoong re-entered the Saloon and Junho came around the bar to join them.
“Come saddle up your horses boys.” Jaejoong said as he turned to head back out the door.
“Why?” Junsu asked.
“Were going to go get your Chunnie-hyung.” Jaejoong said as he turned back and winked at the younger brother and ruffled his hair before headed out to the stables. Junsu ran past him in excitement and Junho came up next to him.
“Where’s the Sheriff?” Junho asked; uncertain about what Jaejoong may be planning.
“Buying us some time. We need to get to that trail fast and find which cabin Yoochun is being kept in before Song Seung-Heon catches on.” Jaejoong said. Junho’s face hardened with the seriousness of the situation.
“Junsu, set up quickly. We need to move fast.” Hearing the order come out so sternly from his brother Junsu obeyed without question.
When Changmin and Siwon returned to the station after giving Jaejoong some time to get back to the Saloon, they noticed that Seung-Heon had made himself comfortable at the Sheriff’s desk.
“Where’s the firecracker?” Seung-Heon grinned as he fingered the whip at his side.
“I sent him to cool off.” Changmin said as he pushed Seung-Heon’s feet off his desk, but made no movement to kick the man out of his seat - even though he wanted to.
“Good, now the real men can talk.” He was obviously referring to Jaejoong’s more feminine looks and Changmin hated the disrespect the comment implied but he held himself back once more; especially when the Jung Brothers began to chuckle at the remark. “Alone,” Seung-Heon added with a nod to the Deputies.
Changmin complied and shooed his two officers out of the station. He cleared his throat in an effort to calm himself. “Now, let’s talk.”
Yoochun was hanging from the ceiling of the cabin. A second rope had been attached to his bound arms and he had been strung up in the bedroom. The rope was looped around a metal hook in the ceiling. Yoochun had missed this bizarre decoration during his primary survey of the room but he certainly didn’t want to know what it was normally used for. He was pulled up high enough so that his feet couldn’t reach the ground and he was gagged with a handkerchief so that his cries were muffled. He had been dangling there for what felt like an eternity but was probably just a couple of hours. His hands had become numb once more and he was sure that at least one of his shoulders was dislocated. Seung-Heon had also been generous enough to give Yoochun another beating when he had the audacity to fight against being hooked up like fish bait.
Yoochun didn’t know when or if Seung-Heon was planning to come back for him, but he sure as hell didn’t want to stick, or rather hang around to find out. Seeing as the cabin was fairly rundown, he hoped that the wood of the roof was as old and unstable as the rest of the place. If he was able to swing himself around with enough force maybe he could loosen the hook from the ceiling. Propelling himself and getting a momentum going was harder than he thought and took several tries of him kicking his legs in the air. He mused to himself that is must have looked like he was trying to run in the air. If he wasn’t in so much pain and facing a possibly horrendous death, he might have laughed instead of starting to cry. He felt utterly hopeless until he remembered the swing by the lake that Jaejoong would take him to in the summers.
Bringing his legs together he jerked them forward and then back, bearing down with all the weight of his upper body. After four kicks he began to swing. He was so relieved that he began to cry even harder. It took awhile but he finally got a good momentum going. He just prayed that he was now putting enough stress on the hook so that it could no long support his weight. The first creak of wood above him was such a blessed noise that he almost stilled in disbelief; straining to hear it again. Five more swings and Yoochun landed on the floor with a thud. The hook barely missed his head coming down and hitting the ground with a clang. He rubbed the side of his face against the floor and debris from the ceiling and was able to lower the handkerchief down and loosened it more by wiggling his jaw until it fell around his neck. Yoochun then drew himself up on his knees and stood. Making his way to the door he realized that he was dragging the extra rope and hook behind him. He shrugged, unwilling to waste any more of his quickly depleting energy on trying the pick it up with his numb hands. He kicked the door of the cabin open and ran into the forest, using the sun’s position to guide him East.
It took some time but Jaejoong, Junho and Junsu searched through each cabin on the trail. Arriving at the last one, the one furthest from town, they got their hopes up.
“This place is as empty as all the rest!” Junsu kicked at the log pile by the fire. “Ouch!”
“Pabo.” Junho muttered, causing Junsu to pout. “That’s what you get for kicking a wood pile!”
“Wood pile?” Jaejoong asked. He inspected the fireplace to see fresh ash. “Someone has been here recently.” Walking around the rubble from the hole in the roof, he went to the bedroom to see the messy sheets on both beds. He knelt to smell at each mattress.
“Umm. Jaejoong-shii?” Junho asked, confused by the man’s actions.
“The bed by the wall smells like Yoochun’s bed over at your Saloon. He was here.” Jaejoong held back the tears that threatened to fall.
“But where is he now?” Junsu sounded as worried as Jaejoong felt, but the older man needed to stay calm in order to think clearly.
“Seung-Heon must have moved him. Let’s get back to town but keep an eye out on the trail for any signs for any structures we may have missed.” The Kim brothers nodded and they exited the cabin.
“Hyung! Foot prints!” Junho was pointing to a set of footprints they had missed when they had entered the cabin, probably too excited to notice. There was only one set of prints and a weird trail following it, like something was dragged on rope behind it.
“Do you think they’re Yoochun-Shii’s?” The older Kim asked.
“Maybe Chunnie-hyung got away!” Junsu exclaimed happily.
“Maybe, let’s see if I can follow them; I’m pretty good at tracking. Junho, you search the trail on horseback still heading West in case these aren’t Yoochun’s prints and Junsu, you go back to town in case Yoochun has been moved; Changmin will need to know.” The brothers went on their way, following his orders without question. Jaejoong tied his horse to the hitching post by the cabin and followed the prints into the forest.
“Then it’s settled. You bring Park Yoochun back here, alive, and I’ll hand your cousins over to your custody. It will be your responsibility to make sure they make their appointment with the County Judge.”
“Of course Sheriff, but it can’t be helped if they were to miss the meeting. Boys will be boys.” Seung-Heon smiled.
“Yes they will.” Changmin forced the half smile. He hoped Jaejoong had found Yoochun by now; he was sick of putting up with this guy.
“But I must say that this went rather smoothly.” Seung-Heon arched a brow.
“You mean too easy.” Ji Hoon spoke from his cell.
“Say, where exactly was it that you sent Deputy Kim to blow off steam?” Yunho asked; his eyes becoming slits in suspicion.
“He went for a walk to clear his head.” Changmin said coolly.
“More like a ride I reckon.” Younghwa didn’t say much often, but when he did his hyungs knew to listen. He was the great observer among them.
“A ride to the West perhaps.” Seung-Heon jumped up and drew both pistols. “Very convincing distraction Sheriff, it’s too bad it won’t be of much help to you now.” He fired at Changmin but the Sheriff dove for the ground. Hearing the gunfire, Siwon and Youngwoon ran back into the station with their guns drawn. “I’ll be back for you Sheriff.” And with that Seung-Heon threw himself out the open window on the one story building.
Siwon checked on Changmin and Youngwoon ran to the window.
“I’m fine, just a bit winded. What about Seung-Heon?” Changmin said as Siwon helped him up.
“Already off on his horse Sheriff.” Youngwoon said annoyed.
“Damn!” Changmin could not be more angry with himself for letting that dirt bag get away.
Seung-Heon made it back to the cabin only to find a strange horse tied outside it and the place deserted. He did, however, see the two sets of footprints heading into the forest and followed them.
“Wait, Kim Junsu is back!” Youngwoon said surprised as Seung-Heon had rode off not too long ago.
“Sheriff!” the teen cried as he entered the station. “Yoochun was not in any of the cabins but we think we found the one he was kept in - the furthest one out. Jaejoong-hyung thinks that Yoochun either was moved or got off into the forest on his own - he is searching there now. He also sent Junho-ah West in case he was moved somewhere further along the trail.” He panted.
“Seung-Heon rode off from here not fifteen minutes ago. If his horse is fast enough, he could be back on the trail by now.” Siwon pointed out.
Changmin didn’t say a word and ran out of the station. He mounted Junsu’s steed as the creature was close at hand and headed towards the old trail. He had never pushed an animal that hard but he feared for the lives of the men he was falling in love with.
Yoochun had been stumbling through the forest exhausted and trying to stay far enough from the trail so that Seung-Heon wouldn’t be able to easily spot him on his return. He was starting to get disoriented and hoped he was still going in the right direction when he heard a snapping of twigs nearby. He froze in terror and prayed that it wasn’t Song Seung-Heon.
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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: 2,007
Disclaimer: I have a what?
Previous parts: Prologue , Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8
“He can’t be trusted. I’ve heard rumors about this guy and he is said to be worse than his cousins!” No way was Jaejoong going to go along with this ridiculous trade. “He’s probably got something planned.”
“Most likely.” Changmin concurred as he spoke with Siwon and Jaejoong outside the station - out of earshot. Youngwoon had not been too happy when he had been told to remain with the prisoners and Seung-Heon.
“Then what, Sheriff, is it that you plan to do?” Jaejoong had gone back to his arrogant and condescending façade that Changmin was beginning to hate so much.
“I’m going to sit on my ass and do absolutely nothing.” He smiled.
“Excuse me?” Jaejoong growled.
“You’re going to be doing all the work.” He grinned back teasingly. “We already know where he is keeping Yoochun. So while I keep him occupied with outlining the terms of our trade, you, hyung, will be going to bring Yoochun back.”
“Okay, except you said there are a bunch of cabins on that trail and I don’t know the area.” Jaejoong’s tone was beginning to soften and becoming confused.
“I can take you,” offered Siwon.
“No, it may look suspicious if both Jaejoong and one of my Deputies are gone. Best take the Kim brothers; they know the area and are fast riders.” Jaejoong nodded and headed back to the Saloon. The earth was still muddy under his boots and he hoped they could ride well even in these conditions.
“What’s going on Jaejoong-shii?” Junsu asked as Jaejoong re-entered the Saloon and Junho came around the bar to join them.
“Come saddle up your horses boys.” Jaejoong said as he turned to head back out the door.
“Why?” Junsu asked.
“Were going to go get your Chunnie-hyung.” Jaejoong said as he turned back and winked at the younger brother and ruffled his hair before headed out to the stables. Junsu ran past him in excitement and Junho came up next to him.
“Where’s the Sheriff?” Junho asked; uncertain about what Jaejoong may be planning.
“Buying us some time. We need to get to that trail fast and find which cabin Yoochun is being kept in before Song Seung-Heon catches on.” Jaejoong said. Junho’s face hardened with the seriousness of the situation.
“Junsu, set up quickly. We need to move fast.” Hearing the order come out so sternly from his brother Junsu obeyed without question.
When Changmin and Siwon returned to the station after giving Jaejoong some time to get back to the Saloon, they noticed that Seung-Heon had made himself comfortable at the Sheriff’s desk.
“Where’s the firecracker?” Seung-Heon grinned as he fingered the whip at his side.
“I sent him to cool off.” Changmin said as he pushed Seung-Heon’s feet off his desk, but made no movement to kick the man out of his seat - even though he wanted to.
“Good, now the real men can talk.” He was obviously referring to Jaejoong’s more feminine looks and Changmin hated the disrespect the comment implied but he held himself back once more; especially when the Jung Brothers began to chuckle at the remark. “Alone,” Seung-Heon added with a nod to the Deputies.
Changmin complied and shooed his two officers out of the station. He cleared his throat in an effort to calm himself. “Now, let’s talk.”
Yoochun was hanging from the ceiling of the cabin. A second rope had been attached to his bound arms and he had been strung up in the bedroom. The rope was looped around a metal hook in the ceiling. Yoochun had missed this bizarre decoration during his primary survey of the room but he certainly didn’t want to know what it was normally used for. He was pulled up high enough so that his feet couldn’t reach the ground and he was gagged with a handkerchief so that his cries were muffled. He had been dangling there for what felt like an eternity but was probably just a couple of hours. His hands had become numb once more and he was sure that at least one of his shoulders was dislocated. Seung-Heon had also been generous enough to give Yoochun another beating when he had the audacity to fight against being hooked up like fish bait.
Yoochun didn’t know when or if Seung-Heon was planning to come back for him, but he sure as hell didn’t want to stick, or rather hang around to find out. Seeing as the cabin was fairly rundown, he hoped that the wood of the roof was as old and unstable as the rest of the place. If he was able to swing himself around with enough force maybe he could loosen the hook from the ceiling. Propelling himself and getting a momentum going was harder than he thought and took several tries of him kicking his legs in the air. He mused to himself that is must have looked like he was trying to run in the air. If he wasn’t in so much pain and facing a possibly horrendous death, he might have laughed instead of starting to cry. He felt utterly hopeless until he remembered the swing by the lake that Jaejoong would take him to in the summers.
Bringing his legs together he jerked them forward and then back, bearing down with all the weight of his upper body. After four kicks he began to swing. He was so relieved that he began to cry even harder. It took awhile but he finally got a good momentum going. He just prayed that he was now putting enough stress on the hook so that it could no long support his weight. The first creak of wood above him was such a blessed noise that he almost stilled in disbelief; straining to hear it again. Five more swings and Yoochun landed on the floor with a thud. The hook barely missed his head coming down and hitting the ground with a clang. He rubbed the side of his face against the floor and debris from the ceiling and was able to lower the handkerchief down and loosened it more by wiggling his jaw until it fell around his neck. Yoochun then drew himself up on his knees and stood. Making his way to the door he realized that he was dragging the extra rope and hook behind him. He shrugged, unwilling to waste any more of his quickly depleting energy on trying the pick it up with his numb hands. He kicked the door of the cabin open and ran into the forest, using the sun’s position to guide him East.
It took some time but Jaejoong, Junho and Junsu searched through each cabin on the trail. Arriving at the last one, the one furthest from town, they got their hopes up.
“This place is as empty as all the rest!” Junsu kicked at the log pile by the fire. “Ouch!”
“Pabo.” Junho muttered, causing Junsu to pout. “That’s what you get for kicking a wood pile!”
“Wood pile?” Jaejoong asked. He inspected the fireplace to see fresh ash. “Someone has been here recently.” Walking around the rubble from the hole in the roof, he went to the bedroom to see the messy sheets on both beds. He knelt to smell at each mattress.
“Umm. Jaejoong-shii?” Junho asked, confused by the man’s actions.
“The bed by the wall smells like Yoochun’s bed over at your Saloon. He was here.” Jaejoong held back the tears that threatened to fall.
“But where is he now?” Junsu sounded as worried as Jaejoong felt, but the older man needed to stay calm in order to think clearly.
“Seung-Heon must have moved him. Let’s get back to town but keep an eye out on the trail for any signs for any structures we may have missed.” The Kim brothers nodded and they exited the cabin.
“Hyung! Foot prints!” Junho was pointing to a set of footprints they had missed when they had entered the cabin, probably too excited to notice. There was only one set of prints and a weird trail following it, like something was dragged on rope behind it.
“Do you think they’re Yoochun-Shii’s?” The older Kim asked.
“Maybe Chunnie-hyung got away!” Junsu exclaimed happily.
“Maybe, let’s see if I can follow them; I’m pretty good at tracking. Junho, you search the trail on horseback still heading West in case these aren’t Yoochun’s prints and Junsu, you go back to town in case Yoochun has been moved; Changmin will need to know.” The brothers went on their way, following his orders without question. Jaejoong tied his horse to the hitching post by the cabin and followed the prints into the forest.
“Then it’s settled. You bring Park Yoochun back here, alive, and I’ll hand your cousins over to your custody. It will be your responsibility to make sure they make their appointment with the County Judge.”
“Of course Sheriff, but it can’t be helped if they were to miss the meeting. Boys will be boys.” Seung-Heon smiled.
“Yes they will.” Changmin forced the half smile. He hoped Jaejoong had found Yoochun by now; he was sick of putting up with this guy.
“But I must say that this went rather smoothly.” Seung-Heon arched a brow.
“You mean too easy.” Ji Hoon spoke from his cell.
“Say, where exactly was it that you sent Deputy Kim to blow off steam?” Yunho asked; his eyes becoming slits in suspicion.
“He went for a walk to clear his head.” Changmin said coolly.
“More like a ride I reckon.” Younghwa didn’t say much often, but when he did his hyungs knew to listen. He was the great observer among them.
“A ride to the West perhaps.” Seung-Heon jumped up and drew both pistols. “Very convincing distraction Sheriff, it’s too bad it won’t be of much help to you now.” He fired at Changmin but the Sheriff dove for the ground. Hearing the gunfire, Siwon and Youngwoon ran back into the station with their guns drawn. “I’ll be back for you Sheriff.” And with that Seung-Heon threw himself out the open window on the one story building.
Siwon checked on Changmin and Youngwoon ran to the window.
“I’m fine, just a bit winded. What about Seung-Heon?” Changmin said as Siwon helped him up.
“Already off on his horse Sheriff.” Youngwoon said annoyed.
“Damn!” Changmin could not be more angry with himself for letting that dirt bag get away.
Seung-Heon made it back to the cabin only to find a strange horse tied outside it and the place deserted. He did, however, see the two sets of footprints heading into the forest and followed them.
“Wait, Kim Junsu is back!” Youngwoon said surprised as Seung-Heon had rode off not too long ago.
“Sheriff!” the teen cried as he entered the station. “Yoochun was not in any of the cabins but we think we found the one he was kept in - the furthest one out. Jaejoong-hyung thinks that Yoochun either was moved or got off into the forest on his own - he is searching there now. He also sent Junho-ah West in case he was moved somewhere further along the trail.” He panted.
“Seung-Heon rode off from here not fifteen minutes ago. If his horse is fast enough, he could be back on the trail by now.” Siwon pointed out.
Changmin didn’t say a word and ran out of the station. He mounted Junsu’s steed as the creature was close at hand and headed towards the old trail. He had never pushed an animal that hard but he feared for the lives of the men he was falling in love with.
Yoochun had been stumbling through the forest exhausted and trying to stay far enough from the trail so that Seung-Heon wouldn’t be able to easily spot him on his return. He was starting to get disoriented and hoped he was still going in the right direction when he heard a snapping of twigs nearby. He froze in terror and prayed that it wasn’t Song Seung-Heon.
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