Saving Him
beta-ed by moon1084
Saving Him
“Come on you faggot, open up!”
That was what Jung Yunho heard as he turned the corner to the boy's gym locker room to go to his locker in the very back.
He stopped in his tracks as he came upon a scene that he had never seen in all his seventeen years in the American school that he had attended before moving to Korea.
Now being in this South Korean high school for just one month, he had heard enough gay bullying to last him a lifetime.
Being gay himself, he had learned quick enough to keep that he was gay to himself, he grew up in a small town, in America, where anything out of the normal was considered wrong and beaten out of you. No he wasn't ashamed of who he was, he just didn't like the idea of an ass whooping everyday.
Now, as he watched the slender boy on his knees in front of a bigger guy, naked except for a pair of white briefs, Yunho felt anger surge up inside him. The poor guy was trying his best to fight but the two assholes behind him was holding him still, holding his hands behind him as the one in front of him held his head up.
The guy in front had his uniform pants undone, and just low enough so that he could get his cock out. With one hand on his head, the guy was guiding his cocks head to the other's mouth, trying to get him to open up and take him in.
The one on his knees was jerking his head to the side, whimpering through his tightly compressed lips , his eyes shut tight.
Yunho sighed as he walked over to the bully's. He really didn't want to get involved, but they were right in front of his locker; that and the more he watched the more angry he became. He had seen this particular boy being bullied for the last few weeks but it had never gotten to this point. It bothered him because he knew that it could be him down there on his knees being forced to take a cock into his mouth that he didn't want.
Clearing his throat to let them know that he was there as he stopped a good foot from them.
The one holding the kneeling boy's head jerked his head up, and then seemed to relax when he saw that it wasn't a teacher. He sneered at Yunho, then turned back to the black haired boy, trying to get him to open his mouth.
“Get lost if you know what's good for you.” The one in the front snapped out. To Yunho he seemed to be the leader of this little pack of bullies.
Yunho was by nature, normally a complacent guy, he didn't like fighting and tried to avoid doing so, but that didn't mean he wouldn't if he was pushed far enough. But, today he really felt like the black haired boy wasn't the only one on his knees, but he was too. Yunho couldn't explain this feeling but he knew that he couldn't let these guys do this to the guy. He couldn't walk away knowing this boy didn't want this, didn't asked to be forced.
Yunho didn't like to fight, but that didn't mean he didn't know how. He had taken a variety of martial art classes since he was old enough to walk, as deemed by his Appa. As he geared himself up for a possible fight, he tried to talk to the guys into stopping what they were doing.
“Why are you doing this?” Yunho asked, anger barely being masked as he stared holes into the two boys behind the one kneeling.
One snickered, “Why? Because he's gay that's why.”
Yunho clenched his jaw, “So just because he's gay, your going to make him do something he doesn't want to do?” Yunho was about done asking questions, he wanted to get these guys away from the guy on his knees.
Another one of the guys laughed, “Not want to do this? Who says he doesn't want this? Look at him. He loves this. He wants our cocks in his mouth and ass, right, Jaejoong?”
The one named Jaejoong shook his head vigorously, his eyes shooting open wide and Yunho could see the fear in them. See the tears swimming in those terror filled orbs.
Yunho's stomach tightened, as he tried to control himself, “Guy's I don't think he wants this. He might not even be gay. He may be straight.”
The three attackers laughed, “Jaejoong not gay? Please, he's gay. Look at him. His face, his body. They way he walks, and talks. Don't try and tell me he's not gay.” One of them said. The laughter died down as Jaejoong struggled harder to get away.
The one in front grunted as Jaejoong turned his head again, he finally snapped and slapped him, Jaejoong's head jerking to the side from the force of the hit.
Yunho had had enough, and something inside him broke.
He moved quickly, his fist meeting the guy's face that just smacked the boy named Jaejoong. He stumbled back, shocked that someone would dare to hit him. Yunho turned and delivered a kick to the stomach towards another one, then another punch to the other guy who had been holding Jaejoong from behind.
As the three guys were tending to their wounds, Yunho rushed over to Jaejoong, helping the poor shaking boy to his feet.
Yunho pulled Jaejoong over to Jaejoong's locker which was just a few lockers down from his. While Jaejoong spun the nob on his combination lock, Yunho's attention was on the three guys behind them.
The leader had straightened up, a hand covering his nose, blood pouring from between his fingers, his eyes watering.
“You're Jung Yunho right? Well, Yunho, you're going to regret this. Anyways,hope that nasty fudge packer is worth the hell you're going to be getting..”
Yunho breathed deeply, as he placed a hand on Jaejoong's lower back, “Yeah, right. Come at me or Jaejoong again, and you'll have more than a bloody nose to worry about you jerk.”
The leader backed up while pointing at Yunho with his other hand, “You'll regret this, Yunho. You just wait.” Then he and his buddies disappeared around the corner of the lockers, a few seconds later Yunho heard the door to the locker room open and then close.
“My name is Jung Yunho.” Yunho muttered, his back turned to the other guy. There was a slam of a locker door, then a quiet moment.
“I'm Kim Jaejoong.” Finally came a small voice from behind him.
Yunho avoided looking at Jaejoong as the other dressed in a hurry. He didn't want the other to feel like he was in danger with him, but wanted him to be comfortable after what he had just experienced. Still as Yunho heard the rustle of clothing, he couldn't help but take a little glance at the guy he had just saved.
Yunho sucked in a small breath. Jaejoong was different. His frame slender and pale, and Yunho could see where the boys would think he was gay at. This kid was not a hunky male, not one who would make you think that he would have sex with a female if he had the chance. If fact, as Yunho's eyes looked Jaejoong from head to toe, he couldn't see this guy having sex period, least of all with a girl.
Yunho turned his head when Jaejoong looked towards him to see if he was watching. He heard Jaejoong clear his throat and then his voice, low and scratchy, sounded from behind him, “It's ok. You can look.”
Yunho turned in time to see Jaejoong pull his uniform pants up over the swell of his ass, then fastening them.
Jaejoong walked over to a small bench against the wall, sitting down, he pulled on his shoes, and Yunho noticed his hands trembling.
Yunho came and sat beside him. Laying a hand on Jaejoong's knee he gave him a small squeeze, “Are you alright?”
Jaejoong nodded his head, but didn't look up, “Thank you.” Was whispered out, his voice cracking and Yunho could see his shoulders shaking and knew the smaller boy was crying.
Yunho heard Jaejoong take another deep breath, “Thank you. Really. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't helped me.”
Yunho watched Jaejoong closely, wondering if he truly would be alright. He seemed to be settling down a little, seemed to be more in control of himself and Yunho was so relieved that he had come in time to help him out.
Just then, Jaejoong lifted his head up, turning to face Yunho. As the horror of what had happened came to Jaejoong again, Yunho felt his anger rise again at the guys who were stupid enough to bully this small figure sitting beside him.
“They wouldn't stop.” Jaejoong whispered, his eyes wide and shimmering. “I kept pleading with them, but they kept saying that I was just getting what was coming to me. That I was gay and would want what they were offering me.” Yunho watched as Jaejoong's lips trembled, “I didn't! I didn't want what they were doing to me! I didn't know what they were going to do! I'm a virgin! I haven't had my first boyfriend yet!”
Yunho could tell that Jaejoong was panicking again. Trying to get him to calm down again, Yunho placed his arm tentatively around Jaejoong's shoulders.
“It'll be alright, Jaejoong. “ Yunho didn't know if it really would be alright. He had witnessed the bullying towards Jaejoong increase over the last week, and Yunho wondered when it would all blow up for the slender guy. He knew from experience that this would only get worse and he knew, some how, that Jaejoong needed someone there with him. Someone that could help him be strong.
Yunho sighed and rubbed his face with his free hand. He didn't know what to do. He was one that didn't look gay. Didn't act or walk or talk gay, so he was never bothered. But Jaejoong... Yunho knew that it was different for him. Yunho really wanted to just walk away and not get involved, but what he just did, saving Jaejoong from those bullies, made him be more involved than ever.
“I don't even know how they knew I was gay. I never came out. I wasn't brave enough to.” Jaejoong whispered as he looked into Yunho's eyes.
Yunho nodded, he understood that also. “We could go to the principle.” Yunho suggested, then frowned as Jaejoong let out a dry laugh.
“The principle? What for? Do you know what the principle thinks? I've heard it myself. He says that if the gays are bullied, then maybe they will be scared straight. They will not help. There is no tolerance here Yunho. This is not America where being gay is being more and more accepted. Here there is no acceptance for it. If you are different; if you show any signs of being out of the norm then the authorities will leave it alone if you are bullied, harassed or even beaten for it. They have no sympathy for you. You are alone in your fight.” Jaejoong said, defeat in his voice, but Yunho could also hear that thin strain of anger in the undertone.
Yunho shook his head, “America is not as tolerant as you may think, Jaejoong. Especially where I came from. I came from a small town where everyone knew everyone's business. That town was so small that there was no traffic lights, and just one school for all the grades. If you had done something, you better believe that everyone will know before you can even tell your best friend.” Yunho paused here, wondering if he should tell Jaejoong the story he wanted to tell him. Then decided to go on and tell him.
“There was this boy in my school. I went to school with him since Kinder. He was well liked and kind to everyone. He had a lot of friends. About seven months before me and my family was transferred here, he was found dead in his closet. The official report was suicide; seeing as there was a belt tied around his neck and hanging from the rail in his closet. There was no further investigation, the sheriff wrote it off as suicide and no more was said about it. Well, a few weeks later there was some boys in one the classes talking about it. You see, it had only been like two weeks when this boy came out that he was gay. And these guys talking were saying that they had taken him to the woods, they said they were going to beat the gay out of him. But it went to far and they killed him instead. So, they hung him in his closet to make it look like a suicide. And since one of the boys father was the sheriff, it was all covered up. After his death, there was talk about how he needed to die; that sin like him shouldn't be able to live in their god fearing community. The rest of his family moved to another state, not being able to handle the pressure and the threats from the towns people. And everyone knew that it wasn't suicide. They didn't care though, they were just glad he was gone and also his corrupt family. After that, as far as I knew there was no gay or lesbians in that town. If there was, they were keeping quit about it.”
Yunho watched Jaejoong's face as he told his story, the disbelief etched in every inch. “Oh my God. That poor boy and his family.” Jaejoong gasped.
“Yeah, America is not as tolerant as you like to think. Yes, there are cities that welcome it; but in the smaller communities, it's still taboo. It is more welcome as each day goes by. More and more celebrities coming out that they are gay, and they are supported by some. But there is still bigotry there.”
“ You know what was sad about that whole thing with the boy dying?”
Jaejoong bit his lip and Yunho felt his stomach tighten for the guy. “What?” Whispered Jaejoong.
“It was his supposed friends that took him into the woods.” Yunho muttered.
Yunho winced as Jaejoong's shocked gasp.
Yunho nodded and felt his insides tremble as Jaejoong's hand found his and squeezed tightly; and Yunho knew right then that he wouldn't let this boy face his bully's alone. He was going to be beside him every step of the way.
“I'll be with you Jaejoong. I'll be your friend, and see you through this.” Yunho promised. Yunho knew he did the right thing at Jaejoong's trembling smile.
One week later found Yunho and Jaejoong walking through the hallway of the school. Taunts and dirty looks being throwed at both of them from both sides. Yunho walked Jaejoong to his locker, only to come to a dead stand still.
Beside him, he could hear Jaejoong's outraged gasp.
Across his locker in black spray paint was FAGGOT written from the top of the right corner going to the the bottom to the left corner.
Yunho slid his arm around Jaejoong's waist for support. “I'm here.” Yunho muttered in Jaejoong's ear. Yunho cursed the idiots that did this to Jaejoong.
This wasn't the worst thing that had happened in the week since Yunho decided to befriend Jaejoong, not the worst at all. There had been times when Jaejoong had been tripped, pushed, spit at. Of course Jaejoong wasn't alone in being bullied anymore, Yunho was right there with him. But Yunho was able to handle his emotions better, was able to show that it didn't effect him, even when on the inside he was torn to pieces from all the shit he was going through, by just being friends with a gay guy.
No he still hasn't come out, but then, neither has Jaejoong. People just assumed that they both were gay, because they were seen talking to one another, being friends.
As the both of them stood in front of the locker,a teacher walked up to them, in her had was a pail and washrags. Stopping before Yunho and Jaejoong, she handed the pail to Jaejoong, then looked around her to the other students still laughing and pointing their fingers at Jaejoong and Yunho “Get to you class now, or you'll have detention, everyone of you.” After the crowd had dispersed, she turned back to her two students, “ Jaejoong, I'm sorry for this. I wish there was something I could do, but I'm just one person. If you ever need to talk or anything else please come to me. I know how this is like, and know you are not alone.”
Yunho and Jaejoong's eyes popped open wide, “You mean...?” Jaejoong was afraid to finish the question, he didn't want to assume, like others did to him.
The teacher just smiled at him and nodded, then her smile melted away as she turned to face the locker, “The principle wants this cleaned up before you go home today. You and I both know where he stands on homosexuality. It's sad, but it's life and we have to deal with it for being who we are guys.” She turned her head to look at the both of them, “Be strong, the both of you. You can overcome this.” With that she walked away, her head shaking from side to side at the unfairness of life.
Yunho turned to Jaejoong, “We can be strong Jaejoong. Just like she said. This will blow over. When they see that you aren't going to change to suit them, they will grow bored. They will try to bring you down, but you don't let them, hear me.”
Yunho's breath caught as Jaejoong looked up at him, tears seeping from his eyes to wet his face, “Be strong.” He said in a low voice.
Yunho had noticed for the last few days that Jaejoong had become more introverted. Less like himself and it was worrying him. Yunho knew that suicide was high in the gay community and he was not going to let Jaejoong even think along those lines. He was with him every chance he got, not leaving him alone and giving him his support. More importantly, Yunho had developed feelings for this slender man who to Yunho was beautiful inside and out. Yunho worked at keeping Jaejoong from falling into depression and kept him in good spirits.
As they scrubbed the locker, Yunho thought about telling Jaejoong that he liked him but held it off, thinking that Jaejoong had enough on him at the moment and didn't want to weigh him down with a boyfriend, even if he was sure that Jaejoong returned his feelings. He might tell him soon though, but not today. Today, Yunho had other plans and hoped that Jaejoong would want to be in on them.
“Jaejoong, come with me tonight?” Yunho asked as he rubbed at the G in front of him.
“I don't feel like it Yunho, maybe next week, ok.” Jaejoong answered as he washed away at the F.
“You know that you need this Jaejoong. They are good friends and can help you and me. They will miss you if you don't come.” Yunho said in a persuading voice.
Jaejoong didn't say anything for a while, before Yunho heard, “Just, not tonight ok Yunho.”
Yunho nodded his agreement even though he didn't agree with Jaejoong not meeting up with a group of friends that they had had the good fortune to meet. They all tried to get together every Friday night to rant and rave about the woes of being gay, and Yunho found that all of them went through the same thing that he and Jaejoong were going through, and it made it all seem better in the end for him.
Yunho pushed the button that automatically dialed Jaejoong's number and held the phone to his ear, hoping that Jaejoong would answer. This was the sixth time he had tried to phone Jaejoong , all previous attempts coming up with Jaejoong not answering his phone. Yunho was worried, because Jaejoong always answered his calls on the first ring, The more he called the more he worried and wanted to go to Jaejoong's house.
Still not getting an answer from the other line, Yunho snapped his phone closed and looked at the other four guys sitting around the table.
Yoochun looked at him, with the same expression Yunho was sure was on his own face, “Still not answering, Yunho?”
Yunho just shook his head, “I'm worried. I'm going to see if he's alright guys. I'll see you later.”
Junsu, Yoochun's boyfriend, touched his sleeve as he passed him, “Call us and let us know if he's alright, and make sure and tell him that we missed him and want to see him soon.”
Yunho nodded again and left.
Yunho ran up the steps to Jaejoong's house, his heart beating a mile a minute. He pushed at the doorbell repeatedly, his impatience growing when Jaejoong didn't immediately open the door. Raising his fist, he pounded on the door, shouting Jaejoong's name over and over again.
Still pounding in the door, Yunho stumbled forward when the door opened. Not wasting a second, Yunho enveloped Jaejoong into his arms and hugged him tight. Yunho knew that Jaejoong could feel his heart beating hard, could feel his body shaking, but he didn't care. He had been so worried and seeing Jaejoong, feeling Jaejoong caused him to tremble uncontrollably. His hands went to Jaejoong's face, cupping his cheeks, his eyes searching Jaejoong big eyes for anything that was not right.
“Yunho. Yunho, what are you doing? What's wrong?” Jaejoong asked, his own eyes searching Yunho's.
“What's wrong? What's wrong? Why didn't you answer your phone when I called you, huh?” Yunho was shouting and he didn't care. He had thought his worst nightmares were coming true. He had thought that Jaejoong had taken his own life, had given up.
“Yunho, I was tired. I came home and went to bed. I'm sorry, I put my phone on silent mode and went to sleep.” Jaejoong explained.
Yunho took a good look at Jaejoong and saw him in a big t-shirt, and sighed in relief.
“I'm just so glad that you're ok. That you're not hurt. I don't know what I would have done if something happened to you.” Yunho rushed out as he hugged Jaejoong back to him.
Jaejoong pushed Yunho back a fraction, “Why would I be hurt Yunho? What are you talking about, something happening to me? Yunho? What are you saying?” Jaejoong was confused by his friends actions.
Yunho took a deep breath, “I thought you were tired of everything. I thought you were going to commit suicide. I can't let you do that Jaejoong. I love you, I can't let you go and do something like that. Please don't ever think things like that. I told you I will always be by your side. I'll fight all your battles, you don't have to do nothing but live. You had been acting differently lately and I was afraid that you wanted to end it all.” Yunho sobbed out, his face covered in hot heat from his tears.
Yunho didn't notice Jaejoong stiffening in his hold, his eyes wide with wonder. Slender hands came up to hold onto Yunho's shoulders, his voice whispering in Yunho's ear. “I could never leave you Yunho. No matter how badly I'm being bullied. I live for you. I love you, and I'll fight this for you. You told me to be strong and I'm trying. It's hard, but it's worth it. It's worth all the teasing and the shoves and the punches as long as you're by my side. They're not breaking me, Yunho. I'm stronger than that, and I would never take my own life. I don't have the nerve to do something like that.”
Yunho lifted his head, looking over Jaejoong's shoulder to the wall, his mouth hanging open wide. Jaejoong. Jaejoong just said he loved him, and Yunho's heart beat harder in his chest.
Yunho lowered his head and gazed into Jaejoong's eyes. Right there he saw all that he needed to see.
Lips met. First kiss for both of them. Clumsy, but still loving. Moistness met heat as their lips parted and their tongues met, a shy tango danced until Yunho pulled back. He kissed Jaejoong's forehead, his cheeks and then his lips again.
“I'll always stand by you.” Yunho's lips caressed Jaejoong as he whispered the words.
“I know, and I am just one voice but as long as you are here with me then I know I will be heard. They can bully all they want, but they will not take my pride from me.” Jaejoong whispered back.
Their mouth fused together again.
They kissed with passion and pride knowing that they were gay and they were not going to change for anyone.
They did not know what the future holds but as long as they held onto each other then they know they can face each day as it came.