katsudono
For: katsudono
Title: Till Human Voices Wake Us, and We Drown
Pairings/Characters: Eunhyuk/Sungmin, Heechul/Sungmin, Han Geng/Kyuhyun, Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Yesung/Ryeowook, Henry/Ryeowook, with Kangin, Leeteuk, Kibum, Donghae, Shindong, and Siwon
Category: Apocalypse!AU, angst, action
Summary: Heechul's life is centered upon himself, and is oblivious to the many events occurring around him. As the battles between his faction of dancers and the singers culminate, Heechul is drawn out of his world by a series of desperate situations.
Warnings: Mild violence, character deaths
Author's Notes: Ah, so the premise of this future/apocalypse!AU is a bit shaky, so I hope that it makes some sense! Also, italicized scenes are flashbacks only in the sense that the the reader will know about them, but the characters won't. There is also foreshadowing like woah.
The title and cut-text are from T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock.'
I.
Heechul presses his fingers against the polished wood of the dance floor, as beads of sweat slowly slide down the sides of his face.
"You dead?" Beside him, Eunhyuk nudges Heechul with his elbow. When Heechul's only response is an angry huff, Euyhyuk laughs in response, extending his arms over his head as his body languidly stretches out over the floor.
The silence settles over them, rhythmically punctuated by Heechul's heavy breathing.
Eunhyuk drums his fingers softly against the floor. "Did you hear that Kibum's left everything to Yesung?"
Heechul only groans, as he presses his fingers over his closed eyes.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
Kibum turned around to face a scowling Yesung, as he flashed a lazy smile. "I thought that you'd be pleased," he drawled. "We all know that with me gone, you'll be in charge. You can conduct your research unchecked now."
"That doesn't answer my question. Where are you going?"
Kibum stretched his arms out wide. Framed against crumbling skyscrapers, he looked invincible to Yesung. "Anywhere. Anywhere but here."
"What's wrong with here?" Yesung's voice hitched slightly. "There's nowhere else for us, Kibum -- not for people like us."
"Oh, Jongwoon," Kibum sighed, and Yesung flinched as his eyes darted over their surroundings. There was no reason to be worried, though, Kibum thought. At least, not for now. The sun was rising, and he needed to leave soon.
"I don't think that what we're doing is right."
Yesung's scowl darkened. "But the results-"
"-are not good enough," Kibum interrupted. "We've lost too many dancers to them, and when I think of all that lost talent..." He paused and looked at Yesung seriously. "There has to be a better way, and I'm going to find it."
Yesung opened his mouth to retort, but Kibum effectively silenced him: "I've beaten you in everything, Jongwoon. Do you really think that you can save the world before I do?"
Yesung's left eye twitched, and his growl was audible when he saw Kibum smirk. He watched as his former leader turned away -- still so much of a picturesque scene -- and never once looked back.
Yesung's words - "do you really think you're that different from us?" - are swallowed by the wind.
"Come on," Eunhyuk says, as he stands and begins prodding Heechul's side with his foot. "We've got to keep practicing."
Heechul pushes himself slowly off of the floor, stretching his shaking limbs. There really is no point in protesting, he thinks, as Eunhyuk turns the music on, and their bodies begin to respond. Motion is a much better alternative to death.
II.
"Oh, god," Eunhyuk chants, his entire body shaking furiously enough that Heechul has to steady him even when he sinks to the ground. "I-I didn't m-mean to-he just-I-"
"You kil-" Heechul slaps a hand firmly over Ryeowook's mouth.
"Not a word," he hisses at the captive man, as he reaches for the gag and hopes that he wasn't too late. Damn Eunhyuk for leaving on the reconnaissance without him.
Eunhuk's tears fail to warm Ryeowook's chilling and accusing glare. He hasn't even said two words, yet the unspoken accusation rings in Eunhyuk's mind. 'You killed him.'
"It was an accident," he gasps, at the same time that Heechul mutters: "shit."
"Shit," the man sighed, as he watched Eunhyuk dance around the giant boulder that had very nearly bulldozed him over. "They've gotten better." He flicked his wrist, drawing the bow across a single string, and sent the nearby pile of rubble zooming towards the dancer.
Eunhyuk was beginning to regret leaving without Heechul, but their last practice had left the other man exhausted, and Eunhyuk had been feeling particularly restless. Now this was his chance, he recognized, to actually capture one of Siwon's singers.
Ryeowook whistled, impressed, as Eunhyuk did a complicated side shuffle past the sharp projectiles. "There aren't that many of them left," he replied. "Kibum must be desperate, though, sending out only one of them."
"There might be another," his guard replied, moving forward. "I'll finish it quickly."
"I think we'd better just head back."
The other man turned around to smile sweetly at Ryeowook. "Please let me have a bit of fun?"
Eunhyuk's hand reached up to wipe his cheek and came away bloody. He growled in annoyance; he had only just perfected the latest routine, and he didn't want to use it already. Unfortunately, he hadn't been expecting Ryeowook's guard to be someone who wasn't a singer. He ducked as a rock the size of his head whizzed barely over his own, shifting into the first stance of the routine he had practiced only yesterday.
"I really don't that any of your dances will be a match for Bruckner's 8," Eunhyuk's attacker smirked, running his fingers down the strings of his weapon. "You can't beat the classics." Eunhyuk watched his fingers curve, as the other hand slid the bow down. Stones began to rise from the ground as the violin trilled, and the man sustained the measure, obviously enjoying the moment.
"This is my favorite part," he grinned. He brought the bow down for the final staccato note, just as Eunhyuk cried: "no!"
The stones jerked in the air and clattered onto the ground, leaving both of the men to stare at them, astounded. He hadn't moved, Eunhyuk thought, so what had actually overcome the violin's music?
"Try something contemporary!"
Eunhyuk dodged around the various obstacles, and yet even as he was doing so, he felt an odd sense of elation. There was something else coursing through his mind -- not a dance, but-
-and the words burst out, before he could stop them, each one a perfect complement to the notes produced by the violin:
'the world is mine naega ee segyeui buhbiya
Geudeuri haengbokhagimaneul gidaryuhsseul ddae!'
There was a cracking sound, and twin groans from the violin and her master rang out with the last notes of the song.
"Henry!"
Eunhyuk stopped at the outburst that, even though unaddressed at him, was enough to disrupt the rhythm that had been created through the words, music, and movements. His mind was numbed by the music, but he felt amazing -- until he saw the two figures before him.
Ryeowook was bent over the violinist, his shaking body betraying his firm voice as he sang softly. Henry shook his head weakly, his fingers tightening over Ryeowook's shirt. His whisper was faint, but Ryeowook's tears were an indication that he had heard the other man perfectly.
Henry died with his bow in one hand and the other over Ryeowook's heart.
Heechul thinks that Eunhyuk is ridiculously lucky to have held out on a battle on his own until Heechul arrived to take advantage of Ryeowook's shocked state. Had Ryeowook actually sang to the other... He secures the restraints binding Ryeowook, taking extra precaution that the gag will not slip off.
"Let's go," he orders. "Eunhyuk!"
When the other man makes no response, Heechul huffs in annoyance. It takes him a minute to adjust to the weight of supporting Eunhyuk and leading Ryeowook, and Heechul's eyes barely flicker over the body of Henry Lau.
He'll leave that to the clean-up division.
III.
"Heechul," Yesung calls, and Heechul pirouettes away from the mirror to face his leader. "That was nicely done."
"Thanks. How's Eunhyuk?"
"No lasting damage," Yesung replies. "I've assigned him to the research division."
"I'm impressed," Yesung commented, leaning against the door frame to Eunhyuk's room. "Ryeowook told me what happened."
When there is no response from the other man, Yesung continued: "Well, I say 'told,' but he was actually ranting and screaming." The words had stung, but Yesung remembered how beautiful the disheveled singer had looked, twin trails of tears sliding down his red cheeks. "He's refusing to say anything else, although you'd think he'd want to take this chance and destroy us all." He chuckled.
Eunhyuk fidgeted minutely, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling. "He was called Henry," he murmured, almost in reverence. "And I killed him."
"And the singers killed all of our friends," Yesung replied, frowning.
"But are you going to kill Ryeowook?"
Yesung's fingers dug into the frame. "Never."
Eunhyuk turned to look at Yesung. "You said that he talked to you? How do I know that he's not controlling you?"
"Please," Yesung scoffed, "I'm damn good at singing too. Now, get up," he ordered. "I'm taking you to see Donghae."
A small smile spread over Eunhyuk's features. "You've finally decided to give him a break?" he teased.
Yesung rolled his eyes. "Insubordination," he muttered.
He led Eunhyuk down a series of corridors, until they arrived in front of a door neatly labeled 'Research Department.' Eunhyuk eagerly pushed open the door, calling "Donghae!"
"Ah, not so loud!" A voice snapped from the corner, muffled slightly the blanket over the man's body. Shindong tugged the cloth down, blearily glaring at the new arrival. "I'm trying to sleep."
"Hyukjae!"
Shindong groaned, shifting to sit properly in his chair. He was never going to get any sleep now.
Donghae hugged Eunhyuk tightly, laughing. "Sorry, Donghee, but this is a reunion!" Without loosening his grip, the questions tumbled out as a series of 'how-are-yous' and 'what've-you-been-doings.'
Eunhyuk just hugged his friend tighter, and Donghae seemed to understand. He exchanged a glance with Yesung, and nodded.
"Lee Hyukjae," Yesung declared. "From today on, I'm relocating you to the research division." His attention turned to the three men in front of him, Eunhyuk and Donghae having extricated themselves from their hug and were now pressed side-by-side, at attention.
"I was told that Eunhyuk managed to defeat a member of the singers using his own voice," Yesung began. "I think that we've been too insular by just focusing on dance routines. The singers have been able to retain their control over the world because of their ability to imitate the underlying harmonics in every living being. They harmonize with the very motions of the chemical compounds that constitute every living being. The interference of their sound waves are enough to disturb it, and they've been able to manipulate that to their advantage.
Even with your routines, I'm sure that you've felt that resonance. But now, if we fight with our own style of voice, that should be enough to overcome them."
Shindong grinned. "Yeah, their cheap mind control'll be no match for our rap!"
Yesung stared blankly at the other man. "Rap?"
"Really Awesome Power!"
Donghae and Eunhyuk burst into laughter.
"Radically Awesome Power?"
Heechul tries to shrug noncommittally, as he turns back to face the mirror. "That'll be good for him; he never really liked fighting anyway."
The silent question 'what about me?' hangs in the air.
Yesung stares back at Heechul's reflection. Heechul is surprised when, after a moment of silence, Yesung -- instead of giving him an order -- asks: "why are you here, Heechul?"
Heechul is unsure how to reply. He could brush the question aside with the standard answer -- because he's a good enough dancer and doesn't want to lose his mind to the singers -- but he knows that Yesung would kick him out if he vocalized the thought. The truth is, Heechul thinks:
"I don't know."
IV.
Heechul is aware that his stare could be considered rude in any other circumstance, but he feels that he is allowed to do so when his leader introduces a stranger to be his new partner on life-or-death missions.
"Hankyung is China's best dancer," Yesung states, sounding incredibly pleased even as the said man flushes at the attention focused upon him.
"Ah, it's only because I have been honored to study under the great masters," he says, humbly, stumbling slightly over the words. Next to Yesung, Ryeowook smiles encouragingly at Han Geng.
Heechul can't resist a snide comment: "Communication is a very important aspect to teamwork, you know that, right?"
Yesung rolls his eyes. "Just go practice with him, Heechul."
Whirling around, Heechul stalks towards the door. "Hurry up," he calls over his shoulder to Han Geng, only to find that other has already fallen in line behind him.
Yesung watches the two leave, sighing. "Why am I plagued by insubordination?" he groans to Ryeowook, who laughs softly and places a placating hand on the other man's shoulder.
Heechul glances fleetingly back at the two, in time to see the gentle display. "When did they get that close?" he asks Han Geng.
Yesung watched Ryeowook from across the dinner table. The other man's plate was still full, and he had yet to make a movement towards the food.
"I didn't bring you here to starve," Yesung said, placing his own chopsticks down. He grew frustrated when Ryeowook continued to stare down, ignoring him.
Five days had passed since Eunhyuk and Heechul had returned with the captive singer, and Yesung had watched the smaller man waste away day by day. To Yesung, the fury that Ryeowook had exhibited the first night was preferable to this display of self-defeat.
He sighed, frustrated, and stood up. Ryewook's eyes darted upward at the sudden movement, and they widened when Yesung sat down next to the other man.
Yesung picked up a piece of the food on the plate and held it out towards Ryeowook. "Eat."
Ryeowook's lips thinned, and his head tilted slightly away as Yesung brought the dumpling to his mouth. The food smeared over Ryeowook's cheek, and Yesung growled and tried again to push it towards the other's mouth.
The process continued for another few minutes, until it had settled to Yesung lazily drawing trails of oil over Ryeowook's cheeks, as the other man attempted to warn the leader off with his glares.
The glare changed into a puzzled glance when Yesung eventually stopped and discarded the dumpling onto the plate. He stood, frowning. "The food's gotten cold; I'll get the cook to prepare some warm soup."
Yesung looked at Ryeowook seriously before he exited the room. "I feel better after losing a friend when I drink this."
Ryeowook waited until the soup had arrived, and his lips twitched into a smile when he brought the spoon up to his lips.
*
Ryeowook had been staring at the box for an hour now. The wooden container sat in the center of his bed, barely making a crease on the sheets. He smoothed his hand admiringly over the surface, before curling his fingers under the lid to lift it up.
Yesung had been standing outside of Ryeowook's room, waiting for the other to emerge. He grinned when the other wrenched open the door, and spread his arms wide.
Ryeowook barreled into him, clenching his fists into Yesung's shirt. "Why?" he hissed, the close proximity and tears in his eyes both blurring his vision of Yesung. His voice was hoarse from disuse, but Yesung shivered at the sound of it.
"Because I understand," Yesung whispered, and Ryeowook could almost feel the gravelly voice wrapping around him. He realized then why Yesung had not bothered to prevent him from talking; the other man could harmonize just as well with him.
Ryeowook's hold on Yesung loosened, and the two stood there, barely touching.
Inside the room, Henry's repaired violin and bow lay on the bed.
Han Geng shrugs. "I don't know," he deadpans. "I've only just arrived."
Heechul stops suddenly and gapes at Han Geng. "Were you just trying to be funny?"
Han Geng smiles enigmatically, walking past Heechul, as the other man calls out:
"Because that wasn't funny!"
V.
Heechul walks into the dance room to see Han Geng in the middle of a routine. He grows concerned when he sees Han Geng's pace increase and fall out of sync with the music -- a mistake that he has never seen the other dancer make before. He rushes to turn off the music, but even when he does, Han Geng continues to dance, desperately.
The voice still echoes in his mind, wrapping itself around his heart.
Kyuhyun readied himself when he heard the door to his room swing open. Mouth open, he was ready to unleash his song, when Zhou Mi popped through, waving his hands frantically.
"It's me, Kui Xian, it's me!"
Kyuhyun relaxed and smiled in relief. "Mi! I'm so glad to see you."
Zhou Mi flashed Kyuhyun his brilliant smile, as he settled down next to the singer. Kyuhyun could feel the bruises that he amassed from their capture fade away.
"How did you get in?"
"Oh, that was easy," Zhou Mi replied. "Since they know that you're a tenor, they installed locks on your door that wouldn't vibrate and react to your pitch. Since my range is higher than yours, though..."
Kyuhyun elbowed Zhou Mi in mock exasperation. "Just sing me the note, I'll imitate it, and then we can escape."
"Now, that's not so easy. Even when we make it past this door, you still have to deal with all of Yesung's dancers." Zhou Mi grew more serious. "I've heard reports that Siwon's losing a lot of singers to whatever Yesung's been able to develop."
Kyuhyun was silent for a moment. "That's none of our concern," he finally muttered. "I don't want anything to do with them, not after what he did."
Zhou Mi reached for Kyuhyun's hand, lacing their fingers together. "I promised you that I would protect you," he said. "Just wait; I'll figure out a way to get past all the dancers."
Kyuhyun smiled gently at Zhou Mi. "My gentleman prince," he laughed softly. "I'm sorry that I'm such a dark hole when it comes to dancing. Otherwise we wouldn't have even been captured."
Zhou Mi shook his head. "It wasn't your fault!"
Kyuhyun's smile turned sad, and the two sat in a companionable silence.
Zhou Mi leaned over so that his head was brushing Kyuhyun's curls. He closed his eyes, the effects of the battle and the capture finally tiring him, and was only able to dimly register that Kyuhyun was humming.
Zhou Mi smiled -- Kyuhyun's voice was beautiful, whether natural or unnatural -- before he suddenly jolted up.
The room seemed to tilt before his eyes, and Zhou Mi quickly ran for the door, clutching his head. "Why, Kui Xian?" he moaned, but the music was too much for him and he stumbled out before he could hear Kyuhyun's reply.
"Because I want you alive." Kyuhyun ceased humming, and murmured quietly: "and I need to die."
*
"Are you alright?" Han Geng shouted, rushing towards the prone figure of Zhou Mi. Flustered, his cry was in Chinese, and Zhou Mi's mind, muddled by Kyuhyun's song, latched onto the only trace of home that it recognized.
"Please, save him!" Zhou Mi clung to Han Geng, his own reply in Chinese.
When Han Geng had carried Zhou Mi back to his room, and found two other guards to stand watch, he headed back towards Kyuhyun's room. It would have been irresponsible of him, he thought, to not check up on the prisoner he was supposed to have been guarding.
*
Kyuhyun scowled at Han Geng, who had been standing in the doorway just watching him for too long of time.
Han Geng smiled sweetly back.
Kyuhyun huffed. He drummed his fingers against the ground, boredom edging away his agitation.
"Would you like me to bring you anything?" Han Geng's accent was thick, and Kyuhyun felt an irrepressible smirk twitch at his lips.
"Do you have any games?"
Han Geng shook his head.
"Ah," Kyuhyun sighed. "I really wish I were dead."
"Is that why you tried to kill your bodyguard?"
"What?" Kyuhyun's eyes narrowed. "No, I was just trying to erase his memories -- you wouldn't be interested in him anymore."
Han Geng nodded then, surprised evenmoreso by the other man when he asked:
"Why haven't you killed me yet?"
"Do you really want to die?"
Kyuhyun fingered his throat. "Better me than someone I love. It's this damn voice..."
"Is something wrong?" Han Geng moved towards the other, and Kyuhyun could see how obvious his concern was.
"Ah, well," he rasped, waiting until Han Geng was standing before him, before reaching up to pull the dancer down.
His lips brushed Han Geng's ear as his now-clear voice began to sing softly a song that Zhou Mi had taught him.
The song was sweet and mesmerizing, and reminded Han Geng of home, and Han Geng leaned in to hear more of Kyuhyun's whisper.
Then his heart jumped, and Han Geng wrenched away from Kyuhyun.
The singer's dark eyes followed him as he ran from the room.
"Hankyung! Han Geng!"
Han Geng finally stills, head bowed, as he pants for breath. Kyuhyun's voice has dimmed to a whisper through his memory.
Moments later, Heechul catches the other as he falls to the ground.
"Are you insane?" Heechul hisses. "You're not supposed to hurt yourself."
"Sorry," Han Geng murmurs, a weak smile plastered on his face. He gratefully accepts the towel that Heechul tosses towards him, wiping away the sweat on his face.
Kyuhyun's voice and eyes suddenly swim up to his mind.
"Heechul?" he asks, voice slightly muffled by the towel.
"Hm?" Heechul blows a kiss to his reflection in the mirror, absentminded.
"Why are you a dancer?"
Heechul stills, and Han Geng's inquiring face reappears from beneath the towel.
"Why are you?"
Han Geng's reply is quick and sincere. "I want to protect the ones that I love."
The sudden realization that crosses over Han Geng's features is unseen by an uncomfortable Heechul, who moves to fluff at his hair.
He doesn't know why he's here.
VI.
Han Geng is folding his sheets when Heechul enters his bedroom. "Is it just me, or did your room get even more bleak?"
Han Geng laughs, patting his bed one last time before turning to Heechul. "You're very funny, Heechul," he says, tilting his head in contemplation before adding: "and temperamental, but nice."
Heechul rolls his eyes. "You're the one with a million moods," he mutters. "What's with the sudden praise?"
"I just wanted to say it now." Han Geng pauses. "I think that you're my best friend, Heechul."
"Okay, what's going on?" Heechul places his hands on his hips, fixing Han Geng with what he considers his best piercing stare.
"Nothing," the other man replies, unconvincingly. "Just try not to get put on the security shift tonight, alright?"
On his fifth visit to the captive singer, Han Geng handed him a book. "Here's a choose-your-own-adventure book," Han Geng said. "Zhou Mi told me that you like to play games, and I'm sorry that it's the closest thing that I could find."
Kyuhyun smiled sadly. "I suppose a dying man shouldn't be so demanding. Thank you." After his conversation with Yesung, wherein the leader had declared that 'if you want to die, I'll gladly oblige,' Kyuhyun had stopped caring. Han Geng's visits were the only occasions that interrupted the doldrums of his life.
Han Geng nodded, reaching out to place a hand on Kyuhyun's shoulder. When the other leaned in, Han Geng tightened his grip. "I'd suggest reading it as soon as possible; I might have to return it tonight."
He squeezed Kyuhyun's shoulder reassuringly as the other sighed, and left.
Kyuhyun opened the book to the first page, and began to read.
'You have been taken captive and separated from your personal guard, and have one night to escape. There is a guard within who is willing to take you both to another country. What do you do?'
Kyuhyun's heart beat faster, as he processed the words. If he could just leave the country...
The page displayed only one choice, and Kyuhyun turned to the second page. He read the text before him, and then began to page through the entire book.
The first genuine smile in weeks spread across his face while his mind absorbed every blueprint, detail, and instruction from Han Geng.
Han Geng stares pleadingly back at Heechul, as the other scrutinizes him for a moment, before nodding. "Fine."
They face each other for a moment, before Heechul reaches to pull Han Geng into a hug.
"Damn it, I've actually gotten fond of you," Heechul mutters.
"I'm sorry," Han Geng replies. "But I've found my reason for living."
Heechul laughs, sadly. "I really shouldn't have taught you all those Korean cliches."
"Heechul-" Han Geng starts, but Heechul pushes him away and silences him with a glare.
"Don't say anything," he threatens, although the effect is spoiled as he moves to wipe away his tears.
"Just be careful."
VII.
"Hi. I'm Sungmin, I'm Siwon's singer, and I'd like to be your prisoner." Sungmin beams at Heechul and Eunhyuk, his arms outstretched, waiting to be handcuffed.
The two dancers exchange bewildered looks. "What?"
Sungmin laughs, and the air jingles with the sound of bells.
Heechul moves to cover the singer's mouth, in case this is an ambush, but Sungmin's movements are fluid and he shifts out of Heechul's reach.
"I promise I won't harm you in any way. I didn't even sing!"
Eunhyuk shakes his head. "We know that you don't need to sing to be able to control us."
Sungmin smiles again, and poses coquettishly. "Are you complimenting my looks?"
Heechul laughs and Eunhyuk blushes.
"Now come on," Sungmin says. "Isn't is better that I'm going willingly?"
"I'm going to save Ryeowook," Sungmin announced to Siwon, as the leader of the singers was busy reading.
Siwon pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's too dangerous, Sungmin. I don't know how, but Yesung's dancers have actually become a threat."
"So we're just going to leave Ryeowook to suffer?"
Siwon closed his book with an audible snap. "You and I both know that he won't last long."
"But there's always a chance-"
"-no. I made a mistake in changing you, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun, and God's finally coming to punish me."
"What do you mean?"
Siwon sighed. "Yesung's dancers aren't the main reason why our singers have disappeared, Sungmin. There's a new force that wants us all gone -- singers and dancers."
"Who?"
Siwon ran a hand down the spine of the Bible. "Go find Ryeowook, Sungmin. Maybe you three will be able to resist the stretching, and my surgeries won't have been in vain. Just make sure that you leave this country, because otherwise, they will find you."
"Who, Siwon?"
Siwon paused, his hand tightening on the book.
"I found out where Leeteuk went."
VIII.
Heechul doesn't mind that he has never been extremely attached or devoted to anyone before. Nor is he bothered by the feeling that the world is passing him by -- that so much is happening around him that he is completely unaware of.
This all changes when Sungmin is brought to live with the dancers.
Upon Ryeowook's request, Sungmin is treated more of a guest than a captive. Yesung even goes as far as to say that "unlike Siwon, we can be hospitable." Sungmin seems to pose no threat, and ultimately, Yesung just wants his dancers alive.
Heechul often sees Sungmin in the dance room; the singer is remarkably adept at dancing, and there are elements in his routines that echo Han Geng's fusion of martial arts and dance.
Heechul comments about that to Sungmin, who smiles bashfully. He thanks Heechul for the compliment, and tells the other of how he had heard of Han Geng's prowess from Kyuhyun and Ryeowook's Chinese bodyguards.
To an extent, Heechul isn't drawn to Sungmin by his voice. Sungmin is charming and adorable and witty at all the right times, and Heechul likes that.
Heechul spends most of his time observing the way that Sungmin's lips part in a smile to reveal a row of upper teeth that cover the lower row slightly; how the singer moves to brush away his bangs even when they've been tied back; the many motions of Sungmin's hands when he speaks; and how Sungmin always looks at him when they are talking to each other.
He doesn't notice the way that Sungmin's smile widens when Eunhyuk enters the room; that Eunhyuk is always in the dance room when Heechul sees Sungmin there; that Sungmin excuses himself from dinner a few minutes after Eunhyuk is done; and that Sungmin sometimes calls Eunhyuk 'Hyukjae.'
"I like you, Eunhyuk" Sungmin announced bluntly, while he and Eunhyuk were stretching.
Eunhyuk's eyes widened, as he met Sungmin's look in the mirror, and then turned to face the singer. "Really?"
"No, I just felt like saying that," Sungmin said, sarcastically. He smiled when Eunhyuk's blush deepened.
"You can call me Hyukjae," he offered in apology.
Sungmin stilled. "Are you sure? Names are important."
Eunhyuk nodded. "That's why."
IX.
Heechul walks into the dance room one day, intent on confessing to Sungmin after the practice today. He stops when he hears Ryeowook and Sungmin talking together, and waits outside.
Heechul normally doesn't care to involve himself in other people's matters, but Sungmin's presence draws his attention.
"Why won't you leave with us, Ryeowook?"
"I won't leave Yesung alone."
"But it's too dangerous around him."
"He's not a bad person, Sungmin!"
"I wasn't referring to him."
A pause.
"So it's true?"
"I don't know what happened to Kyuhyun, but everyone else is dead. They're coming after all of us, Ryeowook, and if they don't kill him, you will."
"Siwon's tests?"
"All failed. He's computed the probability, and considering how much we use our vocal chords, they'll distort from our use any day now."
"What are the chances we can control what we harmonize with after that?"
"0.1%, at best.
This is why we need to leave, Ryeowook."
"No." The negative is expelled through gritted teeth. "Siwon's said that they won't discriminate between singers and dancers. That means that Yesung's still a target, and I've got to stay and fight with him."
"Ryeowook-"
"-thank you, Sungmin. But I've made my choice."
Sungmin sighs, sadly. Ryeowook walks past Heechul, too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice the other.
Heechul peeks around the door, his own mind working through the conversation that he has just heard. Distorting vocal chords? Another faction that wants them all dead? Either way, he resolves, he will do anything to protect Sungmin's smiling face.
The first thing that Heechul notices is that Eunhyuk has apparently been in the room -- as another silent observer -- for the entire exchange. He then hears Eunhyuk murmur "he can handle himself, Sungmin."
Heechul feels like he has been jolted into an even more night-mareish reality when he sees Sungmin lean into Eunhyuk's embrace and press a kiss to the other man's cheek.
But he is at last awake.
X.
Heechul understands why Han Geng chose to escape with Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi, now. There are ties more binding than songs, unknown to Heechul in his slumber of a life.
"Heechul!" Donghae and Shindong rush towards him, frantic expressions on their face.
"Quick!" Donghae grabs Heechul's arm and tugs at him, just as a series of loud crashes echo from down the hallway.
"What's happening?"
"They're attacking!"
Heechul sees the panic in Donghae's eyes, and he knows who. "We have to fight!"
"No," Shindong barks, yanking Heechul away from running towards the commotion. "Yesung told us to leave it to him and Ryeowook."
Heechul remembers the conversation between the two singers. "But they won't survive it!"
Donghae chokes back a sob, and Shindong closes his eyes momentarily. "They know."
"Get out," Yesung ordered to Shindong. "Take Donghae with you and make sure that the fool doesn't try to be a hero."
"What makes you think I won't try to be the hero?"
Yesung smiled. "I know that you'll do anything to keep him safe."
"Damn it!" Heechul lashes out at the wall. "Why don't I ever know these things until it's too late?"
Then: "Wait, where're Sungmin and Eunhyuk?"
"I don't know," Donghae answers, as he pulls harder at Heechul to force the other man to move. "Donghee?"
Shindong shakes his head. "They usually meet in the dance room around this time-"
"-hey!" Donghae exclaims, as Heechul wrenches his way out of Donghae's grip.
"Go ahead without me!" Heechul calls.
The same question reverberates within his mind. 'Why are you here?'
Heechul has finally found his answer. He's made his decision to protect Sungmin even if the other cannot return his feelings. This is love, even with all of its flaws.
XI.
Han Geng knows that they've been followed for the past two days. He shares a look with Kyuhyun when the group stops to rest for the night.
Zhou Mi excuses himself to search for firewood, and Kyuhyun settles himself down next to Han Geng. They watch the sun set, and Han Geng drapes his jacket over Kyuhyun and leans in.
"They're after me," Kyuhyun comments. There's no reason for it to be a question.
"But they don't know about you and Zhou Mi. Technically, neither of you were part of the singers or dancers; you were foreign aid."
"Do you have to phrase it so coldly?"
"I'm trying to save you," Kyuhyun scowls. "This is your alibi."
"We won't use it. We'll fight for you."
"I just want you safe."
Han Geng pulls Kyuhyun down to kiss the other man's hair. "You can't save both of us," he murmurs. "We won't leave you alone.
But you can save Zhou Mi."
Kyuhyun jerks up, angry. "I don't want you to die for me!"
"You love Zhou Mi," Han Geng states.
"And you."
"But I can fight, and I can die fighting. Zhou Mi's not that sort of man. He deserves another chance to live a peaceful life; he'd live a better one than I ever could."
Kyuhyun grabs onto Han Geng's hand, watching their entwined fingers.
"I've got the firewood," Zhou Mi calls, as he approaches the two. "What've you two been doing?"
In the semi-darkness, Kyuhyun and Han Geng's smiles seem cheerful. "Hankyung's just taught me a cute song," Kyuhyun replies.
"Oh, I'd love to see that," Zhou Mi laughs. "Is it anything like the 'three bears' song?"
"It's much better."
XII.
"We have to fight together," Ryeowook tries to reason to the two men before him.
Yesung glares at Siwon, but spits out a "he's right."
Siwon only nods, coolly. "For now, I won't consider all of the singers whom you've slaughtered."
"Yesung-"
Yesung shrugs off Ryeowook's warning hand, incensed, and growls: "what about all of my dancers?"
"You provoked us first-"
"-because you've got the entire world caught up in your web of songs! There's no more free thinking! A world full of mindless drones -- is that what your faith espouses?"
Siwon's glare darkens. "My songs are keeping the world safe from your-"
"-Stop it, you two-"
"-you lie," Yesung snarls. "Our entire purpose was to destroy all of your songs, and that would set the world free!"
"Stop it!" Ryeowook screams, and through that frustration and desperation for the impending dangers, his voice catches and cracks. He drops onto his knees, curled over, as coughs rack his body.
"Ryeowook!" Yesung cries, moving to steady the other. He watches as one of Ryeowook's hands moves away from his mouth, covered in blood.
"It's happened," Siwon murmurs, sadly. He stands in front of Ryeowook, and takes the other man's bloody hands in his. Yesung's fists clench, and he moves to push Siwon away, but Ryeowook chokes out a 'don't.'
"I have sinned," Siwon solemnly declares. "I took my friends and mutated their natural bodies. These vocal chords were never meant to harmonize at such a range. For that, I will end your suffering."
Ryeowook's eyes slide closed as Siwon sings a soft, low note. Siwon lets go of his hands, and Yesung immediately clutched them. Ryeowook opens them again, his sight already darkening. Yesung's visage is blurry, but his voice is clear.
"Is it too late for me to tell you that I love you?"
Ryeowook dies with a smile on his face.
"I would die for you," Yesung whispered into Ryeowook's ear. "I don't care if you lose control of your voice, and it deconstructs my entire body.
I will never leave you."
It wasn't a declaration of love, but for Ryeowook, it was enough.
XIII.
Kibum rubbed at his swelling cheek, glaring at the other man. "Who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare," he replied, and Kibum rolled his eyes.
"Are you incapable of speaking without cliches?"
"Why you-" Kibum ducked the swing, and brought his elbow sharply down on the other man's abdomen.
"Don't think that I've forgotten about you," Kibum called out to the other figure, who had been trying to edge away from the battle.
Leeteuk laughed weakly. "Look, we're really not here to fight. Kangin is just a little more hotheaded than most people."
"Then what are you here for?"
"We want you to join us."
Kibum raised an eyebrow. "Join you as what? I'm a dancer, you know."
"You may be a dancer, but I'm sure that you feel differently."
Kibum's eyes narrowed.
"There's something beyond the singers and the dancers," Leeteuk continued. "You're very expressive -- too much, for a dancer. Words have power too. Come join us."
Kibum shook his head. "I'm not going to leave my dancers to face the singers alone."
"There's no point," Kangin said, even as Leeteuk nudged him to keep quiet. He rubbed his stomach. "They're both making the situation worse."
"What?" Kibum glared at Leeteuk. "Tell me. How?"
"Do you why the singers attack your dancers?"
"They're afraid that our dances will be enough to counteract their songs."
"Sound waves and motion?" Leeteuk smiled, indulgently. "That's not the case."
"Then why?"
"That's simple," Kangin muttered. "Because you two have just been fighting each other for so long."
"And therein lies the problem. Humans are slaves to routine," Leeteuk sighed.
Kibum shook his head, disbelieving. "If they're not under any sort of mind control, then why does everyone still act like they're sleepwalking through life. Why hasn't anyone tried to rebuild?"
"Perhaps they're afraid. Why rebuild a world that you know will be destroyed in battles between the singers and dancers?"
Kibum dropped his head into his hand. "But what can we do? There's too much animosity between us to just stop fighting."
"That's why we, as presenters, need to put an end to both these groups."
Siwon stiffens at the sound of an exaggerated groan behind him.
"We were too late, Kibum! This is what you get for wasting our time on those other two!"
"Shut up, Kangin," Kibum snaps. "You were the one who decided to trail them for days, and one of them got away."
"He was just a bodyguard-"
"-but still-"
"-enough." The voice of the last speaker is uncomfortable close to Siwon's ear.
Siwon turns just as pair of hands clamp onto his, holding him firmly in place.
"Hello, Siwon."
"Leeteuk."
"I'm sorry to say this, but under the new ordinances of the presenters, you, as the leader of the singers, are to be placed under arrest and summarily executed."
"You're not sorry at all."
"Oi, Kibum! Stop dawdling and arrest him as well," Kangin calls, as he handcuffs Siwon.
Kibum watches as Yesung adjusts Ryeowook's body so that he can more comfortably cradle it.
"It looks like you win, Kibum," Yesung murmurs, as he smooths a hand over Ryeowook's even paler cheek.
"Ah," the other man quietly says.
"Didn't we agree that the loser dies immediately?"
Kibum looks on as Yesung begins to press gentle kisses onto Ryeowook. There is a moment's pause, before he replies: "we did."
Kibum places a hand on top of Yesung's head. His voice becomes authoritative. "By the ordinances of the presenters, you, as the leader of the dancers, are to die alongside your fallen-"
"-lover," Yesung breathes out. He never takes another breath in.
"There's one more," Kangin comments to Leeteuk later, when Kibum has already left for the headquarters with Siwon.
"I don't think we really have to worry," Leeteuk replies. "We've seen how unstable their voices really are."
XIV.
Heechul wrenches open the door to the dance room. "Sungmin!" he calls out. "Eunhyu-"
He gapes at the sight before him.
Eunhyuk is stretched out on the floor, as graceful as ever, but his body is unnaturally still. Beside him sits Sungmin, gently stroking his hand.
"Sungmin," Heechul whispers, placing a hand on the other's shoulders. He is able to now feel how hard he is shaking. "What happened?"
Eunhyuk grinned as he tried to copy the dance that Sungmin had just performed for him.
"No, no, no," Sungmin laughed, repositioning Eunhyuk's arms. "You're supposed to end like this."
"Like this?" Eunhyuk smirked, and brought his arms around to encircle Sungmin and pull him down to the ground.
"Well, creativity is good." Sungmin's voice hitched slightly.
Eunhyuk nuzzled Sungmin's neck, and the two sat together, relaxed.
"Hey, Hyukjae?"
"Hm?"
"Do you like me for my voice?"
"In the beginning, yes," Eunhyuk admitted. "It made me feel alive. But," he continued, shifting slightly, "it's you who makes me feel complete."
Sungmin beamed.
"Was that too sappy?"
"No, no. It was perfect." Sungmin's heart beat faster, as drew Eunhyuk down for a kiss.
They parted, and Sungmin sighed, content. "I really love you, Hyukjae."
The words warm Eunhyuk's heart, and he opens his mouth to reply -- "I lo-" --, but then the warmth becomes searing, and his heart just won't stop hurting-
-and then Sungmin is left alone with an unfinished sweet sentiment suspended in the bitter air.
Heechul pulls Sungmin up, whispering a soft goodbye to Eunhyuk's body before leaving. The only thought now is to take Sungmin somewhere safe.
XV.
Heechul carries Sungmin through the escape tunnel in Yesung's quarters, the other man limp and unresponsive from the shock.
He remembers one of Han Geng's comments that seemed to have come from a dream -- factions such as the singers and dancers don't exist in China. Even if they do, Han Geng had said, there's always a safe, sleepy village somewhere.
He travels until he reaches a small stream, and stops to drink. He lays Sungmin down, and attempts to feed some of the water to the other. The biological need for survival is intact, and Heechul breathes a sigh of relief when Sungmin reflexively swallows the water down.
Heechul is inching his way down the side of rocks bordering the sea when Sungmin suddenly starts screaming. The anguished voice rips through the air, and Heechul loses his balance, tumbling down the slope.
Somewhere between the first and fifth roll, Heechul hears -- and feels -- something -- or a number of things -- snap, and when he finally finds himself lying on the sand, he nearly faints from the pain of trying to get up.
"Heechul?" He looks up, blearily, and sees Sungmin's worried face above him.
"Oh, god, Heechul, I'm so sorry," Sungmin babbles, hands ghosting everywhere, unsure of what to do.
"It's not your fault," Heechul pants out.
"You should have just left me there."
"Never." Heechul raises his arm, and discovers that he can no longer move his wrist. Sungmin follows him though, and finds himself staring at the sea.
"We're right outside of a port village. Go there and wait for the next ship to China, and get on it, and then you'll be safe."
Sungmin reaches up to touch Heechul's arm gently. "You went through all of this just to help me?"
"I want you safe," Heechul rasps, dark spots dancing through his vision and marring Sungmin's features. "I-"
"-please don't say it," Sungmin chokes out, through his years.
Heechul swallows his words, all for Sungmin's sake, and nods. "Sing to me?"
Sungmin smiles through his tears. "My last song, just for you."
He sings of joy and loss; love and parting; friendship and pride; dreams and reality; the feeling of flying and the fear of falling under; and he sings of eternity.
Sungmin sings until no sound can issue from his mouth, and long after Heechul's pain has completely faded away.
XVI.
"Ready to begin the live dissection," the surgeon announces, and Leeteuk and Kibum turn to the window to see the operation.
The doors are not sound proof, and as the knife efficiently slices away a flap of skin, twin screams sound from the operation room and the viewing room above.
Han Geng continues to scream when Kyuhyun no longer can.
The fire was still burning when Leeteuk, Kibum, and Kangin surrounded Kyuhyun and Han Geng.
"Where's the third?" Kangin asked.
"We thought-" Kyuhyun choked,
"-he was dead weight," Han Geng finished, reaching out to hold Kyuhyun's hand reassuringly.
Kibum and Leeteuk exchanged doubting glances, but their primary concern was with detaining Kyuhyun.
"Cho Kyuhyun," Leeteuk began, "by order of-"
"-I know," Kyuhyun interrupted. "I'm surrendering willingly."
Leeteuk looked surprised.
"I know what it means to be one of Siwon's experiments, and I've wanted to end it a long time ago. Just grant me one condition."
"What is it?"
Kyuhyun gave Han Geng's hand a final squeeze. "Let him go. He has nothing to do with this."
Kibum nodded. "We don't have international jurisdiction, anyway," he told Leeteuk.
Han Geng tried to protest, but Kangin raised a fist towards Kyuhyun.
"I'm sorry," Kyuhyun whispered, as Leeteuk and Kibum led him away. "I love you too much."
"Let me go with him," Han Geng pleaded with Kangin. "I don't want him to die alone."
Kangin frowned. "He just surrendered to save you."
Han Geng smiled sadly. "He can be very selfish when he wants to."
Kangin presses the muzzle of the gun against Han Geng's temple. "It's pretty archaic and messy," he explains, "but it's ironic. China's greatest martial artist, shot down by a piece of metal."
Han Geng eyes never lose sight of Kyuhyun's body stretched out in the room beneath him. "Ironic indeed."
XVII.
"Are you feeling all right?"
Sungmin wakes up, disoriented, to a bright, flashing light; it takes him a few moments to realize that the gleam is actually from a set of particularly bright teeth.
"Here," and a pair of hands holding a glass of water is paired with the teeth.
"I heard that you came from Korea, and I thought 'oh, how interesting,' because that's where I came from too! At least, I think I did," the voice chuckles, slightly nervous. "I seemed to have lost most of memories after waking up on the boat."
Sungmin nods because he isn't sure how to respond, and instead mouths 'thank you' to the other.
"Oh," the voice continued. "I'm sorry; can you speak?"
Eunhyuk's smile and Heechul's pained laugh flash through Sungmin's mind, and he shakes his head. He knows that he will never be found if he does not speak, and he owes it to both of them to stay alive.
"That's not a problem! I think that I talk enough for both of us," the voice laughs. "Oh, and how rude of me not to have introduced myself yet."
The brilliant teeth flash again. "My name is Kui Xian."
Title: Till Human Voices Wake Us, and We Drown
Pairings/Characters: Eunhyuk/Sungmin, Heechul/Sungmin, Han Geng/Kyuhyun, Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Yesung/Ryeowook, Henry/Ryeowook, with Kangin, Leeteuk, Kibum, Donghae, Shindong, and Siwon
Category: Apocalypse!AU, angst, action
Summary: Heechul's life is centered upon himself, and is oblivious to the many events occurring around him. As the battles between his faction of dancers and the singers culminate, Heechul is drawn out of his world by a series of desperate situations.
Warnings: Mild violence, character deaths
Author's Notes: Ah, so the premise of this future/apocalypse!AU is a bit shaky, so I hope that it makes some sense! Also, italicized scenes are flashbacks only in the sense that the the reader will know about them, but the characters won't. There is also foreshadowing like woah.
The title and cut-text are from T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock.'
I.
Heechul presses his fingers against the polished wood of the dance floor, as beads of sweat slowly slide down the sides of his face.
"You dead?" Beside him, Eunhyuk nudges Heechul with his elbow. When Heechul's only response is an angry huff, Euyhyuk laughs in response, extending his arms over his head as his body languidly stretches out over the floor.
The silence settles over them, rhythmically punctuated by Heechul's heavy breathing.
Eunhyuk drums his fingers softly against the floor. "Did you hear that Kibum's left everything to Yesung?"
Heechul only groans, as he presses his fingers over his closed eyes.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
Kibum turned around to face a scowling Yesung, as he flashed a lazy smile. "I thought that you'd be pleased," he drawled. "We all know that with me gone, you'll be in charge. You can conduct your research unchecked now."
"That doesn't answer my question. Where are you going?"
Kibum stretched his arms out wide. Framed against crumbling skyscrapers, he looked invincible to Yesung. "Anywhere. Anywhere but here."
"What's wrong with here?" Yesung's voice hitched slightly. "There's nowhere else for us, Kibum -- not for people like us."
"Oh, Jongwoon," Kibum sighed, and Yesung flinched as his eyes darted over their surroundings. There was no reason to be worried, though, Kibum thought. At least, not for now. The sun was rising, and he needed to leave soon.
"I don't think that what we're doing is right."
Yesung's scowl darkened. "But the results-"
"-are not good enough," Kibum interrupted. "We've lost too many dancers to them, and when I think of all that lost talent..." He paused and looked at Yesung seriously. "There has to be a better way, and I'm going to find it."
Yesung opened his mouth to retort, but Kibum effectively silenced him: "I've beaten you in everything, Jongwoon. Do you really think that you can save the world before I do?"
Yesung's left eye twitched, and his growl was audible when he saw Kibum smirk. He watched as his former leader turned away -- still so much of a picturesque scene -- and never once looked back.
Yesung's words - "do you really think you're that different from us?" - are swallowed by the wind.
"Come on," Eunhyuk says, as he stands and begins prodding Heechul's side with his foot. "We've got to keep practicing."
Heechul pushes himself slowly off of the floor, stretching his shaking limbs. There really is no point in protesting, he thinks, as Eunhyuk turns the music on, and their bodies begin to respond. Motion is a much better alternative to death.
II.
"Oh, god," Eunhyuk chants, his entire body shaking furiously enough that Heechul has to steady him even when he sinks to the ground. "I-I didn't m-mean to-he just-I-"
"You kil-" Heechul slaps a hand firmly over Ryeowook's mouth.
"Not a word," he hisses at the captive man, as he reaches for the gag and hopes that he wasn't too late. Damn Eunhyuk for leaving on the reconnaissance without him.
Eunhuk's tears fail to warm Ryeowook's chilling and accusing glare. He hasn't even said two words, yet the unspoken accusation rings in Eunhyuk's mind. 'You killed him.'
"It was an accident," he gasps, at the same time that Heechul mutters: "shit."
"Shit," the man sighed, as he watched Eunhyuk dance around the giant boulder that had very nearly bulldozed him over. "They've gotten better." He flicked his wrist, drawing the bow across a single string, and sent the nearby pile of rubble zooming towards the dancer.
Eunhyuk was beginning to regret leaving without Heechul, but their last practice had left the other man exhausted, and Eunhyuk had been feeling particularly restless. Now this was his chance, he recognized, to actually capture one of Siwon's singers.
Ryeowook whistled, impressed, as Eunhyuk did a complicated side shuffle past the sharp projectiles. "There aren't that many of them left," he replied. "Kibum must be desperate, though, sending out only one of them."
"There might be another," his guard replied, moving forward. "I'll finish it quickly."
"I think we'd better just head back."
The other man turned around to smile sweetly at Ryeowook. "Please let me have a bit of fun?"
Eunhyuk's hand reached up to wipe his cheek and came away bloody. He growled in annoyance; he had only just perfected the latest routine, and he didn't want to use it already. Unfortunately, he hadn't been expecting Ryeowook's guard to be someone who wasn't a singer. He ducked as a rock the size of his head whizzed barely over his own, shifting into the first stance of the routine he had practiced only yesterday.
"I really don't that any of your dances will be a match for Bruckner's 8," Eunhyuk's attacker smirked, running his fingers down the strings of his weapon. "You can't beat the classics." Eunhyuk watched his fingers curve, as the other hand slid the bow down. Stones began to rise from the ground as the violin trilled, and the man sustained the measure, obviously enjoying the moment.
"This is my favorite part," he grinned. He brought the bow down for the final staccato note, just as Eunhyuk cried: "no!"
The stones jerked in the air and clattered onto the ground, leaving both of the men to stare at them, astounded. He hadn't moved, Eunhyuk thought, so what had actually overcome the violin's music?
"Try something contemporary!"
Eunhyuk dodged around the various obstacles, and yet even as he was doing so, he felt an odd sense of elation. There was something else coursing through his mind -- not a dance, but-
-and the words burst out, before he could stop them, each one a perfect complement to the notes produced by the violin:
'the world is mine naega ee segyeui buhbiya
Geudeuri haengbokhagimaneul gidaryuhsseul ddae!'
There was a cracking sound, and twin groans from the violin and her master rang out with the last notes of the song.
"Henry!"
Eunhyuk stopped at the outburst that, even though unaddressed at him, was enough to disrupt the rhythm that had been created through the words, music, and movements. His mind was numbed by the music, but he felt amazing -- until he saw the two figures before him.
Ryeowook was bent over the violinist, his shaking body betraying his firm voice as he sang softly. Henry shook his head weakly, his fingers tightening over Ryeowook's shirt. His whisper was faint, but Ryeowook's tears were an indication that he had heard the other man perfectly.
Henry died with his bow in one hand and the other over Ryeowook's heart.
Heechul thinks that Eunhyuk is ridiculously lucky to have held out on a battle on his own until Heechul arrived to take advantage of Ryeowook's shocked state. Had Ryeowook actually sang to the other... He secures the restraints binding Ryeowook, taking extra precaution that the gag will not slip off.
"Let's go," he orders. "Eunhyuk!"
When the other man makes no response, Heechul huffs in annoyance. It takes him a minute to adjust to the weight of supporting Eunhyuk and leading Ryeowook, and Heechul's eyes barely flicker over the body of Henry Lau.
He'll leave that to the clean-up division.
III.
"Heechul," Yesung calls, and Heechul pirouettes away from the mirror to face his leader. "That was nicely done."
"Thanks. How's Eunhyuk?"
"No lasting damage," Yesung replies. "I've assigned him to the research division."
"I'm impressed," Yesung commented, leaning against the door frame to Eunhyuk's room. "Ryeowook told me what happened."
When there is no response from the other man, Yesung continued: "Well, I say 'told,' but he was actually ranting and screaming." The words had stung, but Yesung remembered how beautiful the disheveled singer had looked, twin trails of tears sliding down his red cheeks. "He's refusing to say anything else, although you'd think he'd want to take this chance and destroy us all." He chuckled.
Eunhyuk fidgeted minutely, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling. "He was called Henry," he murmured, almost in reverence. "And I killed him."
"And the singers killed all of our friends," Yesung replied, frowning.
"But are you going to kill Ryeowook?"
Yesung's fingers dug into the frame. "Never."
Eunhyuk turned to look at Yesung. "You said that he talked to you? How do I know that he's not controlling you?"
"Please," Yesung scoffed, "I'm damn good at singing too. Now, get up," he ordered. "I'm taking you to see Donghae."
A small smile spread over Eunhyuk's features. "You've finally decided to give him a break?" he teased.
Yesung rolled his eyes. "Insubordination," he muttered.
He led Eunhyuk down a series of corridors, until they arrived in front of a door neatly labeled 'Research Department.' Eunhyuk eagerly pushed open the door, calling "Donghae!"
"Ah, not so loud!" A voice snapped from the corner, muffled slightly the blanket over the man's body. Shindong tugged the cloth down, blearily glaring at the new arrival. "I'm trying to sleep."
"Hyukjae!"
Shindong groaned, shifting to sit properly in his chair. He was never going to get any sleep now.
Donghae hugged Eunhyuk tightly, laughing. "Sorry, Donghee, but this is a reunion!" Without loosening his grip, the questions tumbled out as a series of 'how-are-yous' and 'what've-you-been-doings.'
Eunhyuk just hugged his friend tighter, and Donghae seemed to understand. He exchanged a glance with Yesung, and nodded.
"Lee Hyukjae," Yesung declared. "From today on, I'm relocating you to the research division." His attention turned to the three men in front of him, Eunhyuk and Donghae having extricated themselves from their hug and were now pressed side-by-side, at attention.
"I was told that Eunhyuk managed to defeat a member of the singers using his own voice," Yesung began. "I think that we've been too insular by just focusing on dance routines. The singers have been able to retain their control over the world because of their ability to imitate the underlying harmonics in every living being. They harmonize with the very motions of the chemical compounds that constitute every living being. The interference of their sound waves are enough to disturb it, and they've been able to manipulate that to their advantage.
Even with your routines, I'm sure that you've felt that resonance. But now, if we fight with our own style of voice, that should be enough to overcome them."
Shindong grinned. "Yeah, their cheap mind control'll be no match for our rap!"
Yesung stared blankly at the other man. "Rap?"
"Really Awesome Power!"
Donghae and Eunhyuk burst into laughter.
"Radically Awesome Power?"
Heechul tries to shrug noncommittally, as he turns back to face the mirror. "That'll be good for him; he never really liked fighting anyway."
The silent question 'what about me?' hangs in the air.
Yesung stares back at Heechul's reflection. Heechul is surprised when, after a moment of silence, Yesung -- instead of giving him an order -- asks: "why are you here, Heechul?"
Heechul is unsure how to reply. He could brush the question aside with the standard answer -- because he's a good enough dancer and doesn't want to lose his mind to the singers -- but he knows that Yesung would kick him out if he vocalized the thought. The truth is, Heechul thinks:
"I don't know."
IV.
Heechul is aware that his stare could be considered rude in any other circumstance, but he feels that he is allowed to do so when his leader introduces a stranger to be his new partner on life-or-death missions.
"Hankyung is China's best dancer," Yesung states, sounding incredibly pleased even as the said man flushes at the attention focused upon him.
"Ah, it's only because I have been honored to study under the great masters," he says, humbly, stumbling slightly over the words. Next to Yesung, Ryeowook smiles encouragingly at Han Geng.
Heechul can't resist a snide comment: "Communication is a very important aspect to teamwork, you know that, right?"
Yesung rolls his eyes. "Just go practice with him, Heechul."
Whirling around, Heechul stalks towards the door. "Hurry up," he calls over his shoulder to Han Geng, only to find that other has already fallen in line behind him.
Yesung watches the two leave, sighing. "Why am I plagued by insubordination?" he groans to Ryeowook, who laughs softly and places a placating hand on the other man's shoulder.
Heechul glances fleetingly back at the two, in time to see the gentle display. "When did they get that close?" he asks Han Geng.
Yesung watched Ryeowook from across the dinner table. The other man's plate was still full, and he had yet to make a movement towards the food.
"I didn't bring you here to starve," Yesung said, placing his own chopsticks down. He grew frustrated when Ryeowook continued to stare down, ignoring him.
Five days had passed since Eunhyuk and Heechul had returned with the captive singer, and Yesung had watched the smaller man waste away day by day. To Yesung, the fury that Ryeowook had exhibited the first night was preferable to this display of self-defeat.
He sighed, frustrated, and stood up. Ryewook's eyes darted upward at the sudden movement, and they widened when Yesung sat down next to the other man.
Yesung picked up a piece of the food on the plate and held it out towards Ryeowook. "Eat."
Ryeowook's lips thinned, and his head tilted slightly away as Yesung brought the dumpling to his mouth. The food smeared over Ryeowook's cheek, and Yesung growled and tried again to push it towards the other's mouth.
The process continued for another few minutes, until it had settled to Yesung lazily drawing trails of oil over Ryeowook's cheeks, as the other man attempted to warn the leader off with his glares.
The glare changed into a puzzled glance when Yesung eventually stopped and discarded the dumpling onto the plate. He stood, frowning. "The food's gotten cold; I'll get the cook to prepare some warm soup."
Yesung looked at Ryeowook seriously before he exited the room. "I feel better after losing a friend when I drink this."
Ryeowook waited until the soup had arrived, and his lips twitched into a smile when he brought the spoon up to his lips.
*
Ryeowook had been staring at the box for an hour now. The wooden container sat in the center of his bed, barely making a crease on the sheets. He smoothed his hand admiringly over the surface, before curling his fingers under the lid to lift it up.
Yesung had been standing outside of Ryeowook's room, waiting for the other to emerge. He grinned when the other wrenched open the door, and spread his arms wide.
Ryeowook barreled into him, clenching his fists into Yesung's shirt. "Why?" he hissed, the close proximity and tears in his eyes both blurring his vision of Yesung. His voice was hoarse from disuse, but Yesung shivered at the sound of it.
"Because I understand," Yesung whispered, and Ryeowook could almost feel the gravelly voice wrapping around him. He realized then why Yesung had not bothered to prevent him from talking; the other man could harmonize just as well with him.
Ryeowook's hold on Yesung loosened, and the two stood there, barely touching.
Inside the room, Henry's repaired violin and bow lay on the bed.
Han Geng shrugs. "I don't know," he deadpans. "I've only just arrived."
Heechul stops suddenly and gapes at Han Geng. "Were you just trying to be funny?"
Han Geng smiles enigmatically, walking past Heechul, as the other man calls out:
"Because that wasn't funny!"
V.
Heechul walks into the dance room to see Han Geng in the middle of a routine. He grows concerned when he sees Han Geng's pace increase and fall out of sync with the music -- a mistake that he has never seen the other dancer make before. He rushes to turn off the music, but even when he does, Han Geng continues to dance, desperately.
The voice still echoes in his mind, wrapping itself around his heart.
Kyuhyun readied himself when he heard the door to his room swing open. Mouth open, he was ready to unleash his song, when Zhou Mi popped through, waving his hands frantically.
"It's me, Kui Xian, it's me!"
Kyuhyun relaxed and smiled in relief. "Mi! I'm so glad to see you."
Zhou Mi flashed Kyuhyun his brilliant smile, as he settled down next to the singer. Kyuhyun could feel the bruises that he amassed from their capture fade away.
"How did you get in?"
"Oh, that was easy," Zhou Mi replied. "Since they know that you're a tenor, they installed locks on your door that wouldn't vibrate and react to your pitch. Since my range is higher than yours, though..."
Kyuhyun elbowed Zhou Mi in mock exasperation. "Just sing me the note, I'll imitate it, and then we can escape."
"Now, that's not so easy. Even when we make it past this door, you still have to deal with all of Yesung's dancers." Zhou Mi grew more serious. "I've heard reports that Siwon's losing a lot of singers to whatever Yesung's been able to develop."
Kyuhyun was silent for a moment. "That's none of our concern," he finally muttered. "I don't want anything to do with them, not after what he did."
Zhou Mi reached for Kyuhyun's hand, lacing their fingers together. "I promised you that I would protect you," he said. "Just wait; I'll figure out a way to get past all the dancers."
Kyuhyun smiled gently at Zhou Mi. "My gentleman prince," he laughed softly. "I'm sorry that I'm such a dark hole when it comes to dancing. Otherwise we wouldn't have even been captured."
Zhou Mi shook his head. "It wasn't your fault!"
Kyuhyun's smile turned sad, and the two sat in a companionable silence.
Zhou Mi leaned over so that his head was brushing Kyuhyun's curls. He closed his eyes, the effects of the battle and the capture finally tiring him, and was only able to dimly register that Kyuhyun was humming.
Zhou Mi smiled -- Kyuhyun's voice was beautiful, whether natural or unnatural -- before he suddenly jolted up.
The room seemed to tilt before his eyes, and Zhou Mi quickly ran for the door, clutching his head. "Why, Kui Xian?" he moaned, but the music was too much for him and he stumbled out before he could hear Kyuhyun's reply.
"Because I want you alive." Kyuhyun ceased humming, and murmured quietly: "and I need to die."
*
"Are you alright?" Han Geng shouted, rushing towards the prone figure of Zhou Mi. Flustered, his cry was in Chinese, and Zhou Mi's mind, muddled by Kyuhyun's song, latched onto the only trace of home that it recognized.
"Please, save him!" Zhou Mi clung to Han Geng, his own reply in Chinese.
When Han Geng had carried Zhou Mi back to his room, and found two other guards to stand watch, he headed back towards Kyuhyun's room. It would have been irresponsible of him, he thought, to not check up on the prisoner he was supposed to have been guarding.
*
Kyuhyun scowled at Han Geng, who had been standing in the doorway just watching him for too long of time.
Han Geng smiled sweetly back.
Kyuhyun huffed. He drummed his fingers against the ground, boredom edging away his agitation.
"Would you like me to bring you anything?" Han Geng's accent was thick, and Kyuhyun felt an irrepressible smirk twitch at his lips.
"Do you have any games?"
Han Geng shook his head.
"Ah," Kyuhyun sighed. "I really wish I were dead."
"Is that why you tried to kill your bodyguard?"
"What?" Kyuhyun's eyes narrowed. "No, I was just trying to erase his memories -- you wouldn't be interested in him anymore."
Han Geng nodded then, surprised evenmoreso by the other man when he asked:
"Why haven't you killed me yet?"
"Do you really want to die?"
Kyuhyun fingered his throat. "Better me than someone I love. It's this damn voice..."
"Is something wrong?" Han Geng moved towards the other, and Kyuhyun could see how obvious his concern was.
"Ah, well," he rasped, waiting until Han Geng was standing before him, before reaching up to pull the dancer down.
His lips brushed Han Geng's ear as his now-clear voice began to sing softly a song that Zhou Mi had taught him.
The song was sweet and mesmerizing, and reminded Han Geng of home, and Han Geng leaned in to hear more of Kyuhyun's whisper.
Then his heart jumped, and Han Geng wrenched away from Kyuhyun.
The singer's dark eyes followed him as he ran from the room.
"Hankyung! Han Geng!"
Han Geng finally stills, head bowed, as he pants for breath. Kyuhyun's voice has dimmed to a whisper through his memory.
Moments later, Heechul catches the other as he falls to the ground.
"Are you insane?" Heechul hisses. "You're not supposed to hurt yourself."
"Sorry," Han Geng murmurs, a weak smile plastered on his face. He gratefully accepts the towel that Heechul tosses towards him, wiping away the sweat on his face.
Kyuhyun's voice and eyes suddenly swim up to his mind.
"Heechul?" he asks, voice slightly muffled by the towel.
"Hm?" Heechul blows a kiss to his reflection in the mirror, absentminded.
"Why are you a dancer?"
Heechul stills, and Han Geng's inquiring face reappears from beneath the towel.
"Why are you?"
Han Geng's reply is quick and sincere. "I want to protect the ones that I love."
The sudden realization that crosses over Han Geng's features is unseen by an uncomfortable Heechul, who moves to fluff at his hair.
He doesn't know why he's here.
VI.
Han Geng is folding his sheets when Heechul enters his bedroom. "Is it just me, or did your room get even more bleak?"
Han Geng laughs, patting his bed one last time before turning to Heechul. "You're very funny, Heechul," he says, tilting his head in contemplation before adding: "and temperamental, but nice."
Heechul rolls his eyes. "You're the one with a million moods," he mutters. "What's with the sudden praise?"
"I just wanted to say it now." Han Geng pauses. "I think that you're my best friend, Heechul."
"Okay, what's going on?" Heechul places his hands on his hips, fixing Han Geng with what he considers his best piercing stare.
"Nothing," the other man replies, unconvincingly. "Just try not to get put on the security shift tonight, alright?"
On his fifth visit to the captive singer, Han Geng handed him a book. "Here's a choose-your-own-adventure book," Han Geng said. "Zhou Mi told me that you like to play games, and I'm sorry that it's the closest thing that I could find."
Kyuhyun smiled sadly. "I suppose a dying man shouldn't be so demanding. Thank you." After his conversation with Yesung, wherein the leader had declared that 'if you want to die, I'll gladly oblige,' Kyuhyun had stopped caring. Han Geng's visits were the only occasions that interrupted the doldrums of his life.
Han Geng nodded, reaching out to place a hand on Kyuhyun's shoulder. When the other leaned in, Han Geng tightened his grip. "I'd suggest reading it as soon as possible; I might have to return it tonight."
He squeezed Kyuhyun's shoulder reassuringly as the other sighed, and left.
Kyuhyun opened the book to the first page, and began to read.
'You have been taken captive and separated from your personal guard, and have one night to escape. There is a guard within who is willing to take you both to another country. What do you do?'
Kyuhyun's heart beat faster, as he processed the words. If he could just leave the country...
The page displayed only one choice, and Kyuhyun turned to the second page. He read the text before him, and then began to page through the entire book.
The first genuine smile in weeks spread across his face while his mind absorbed every blueprint, detail, and instruction from Han Geng.
Han Geng stares pleadingly back at Heechul, as the other scrutinizes him for a moment, before nodding. "Fine."
They face each other for a moment, before Heechul reaches to pull Han Geng into a hug.
"Damn it, I've actually gotten fond of you," Heechul mutters.
"I'm sorry," Han Geng replies. "But I've found my reason for living."
Heechul laughs, sadly. "I really shouldn't have taught you all those Korean cliches."
"Heechul-" Han Geng starts, but Heechul pushes him away and silences him with a glare.
"Don't say anything," he threatens, although the effect is spoiled as he moves to wipe away his tears.
"Just be careful."
VII.
"Hi. I'm Sungmin, I'm Siwon's singer, and I'd like to be your prisoner." Sungmin beams at Heechul and Eunhyuk, his arms outstretched, waiting to be handcuffed.
The two dancers exchange bewildered looks. "What?"
Sungmin laughs, and the air jingles with the sound of bells.
Heechul moves to cover the singer's mouth, in case this is an ambush, but Sungmin's movements are fluid and he shifts out of Heechul's reach.
"I promise I won't harm you in any way. I didn't even sing!"
Eunhyuk shakes his head. "We know that you don't need to sing to be able to control us."
Sungmin smiles again, and poses coquettishly. "Are you complimenting my looks?"
Heechul laughs and Eunhyuk blushes.
"Now come on," Sungmin says. "Isn't is better that I'm going willingly?"
"I'm going to save Ryeowook," Sungmin announced to Siwon, as the leader of the singers was busy reading.
Siwon pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's too dangerous, Sungmin. I don't know how, but Yesung's dancers have actually become a threat."
"So we're just going to leave Ryeowook to suffer?"
Siwon closed his book with an audible snap. "You and I both know that he won't last long."
"But there's always a chance-"
"-no. I made a mistake in changing you, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun, and God's finally coming to punish me."
"What do you mean?"
Siwon sighed. "Yesung's dancers aren't the main reason why our singers have disappeared, Sungmin. There's a new force that wants us all gone -- singers and dancers."
"Who?"
Siwon ran a hand down the spine of the Bible. "Go find Ryeowook, Sungmin. Maybe you three will be able to resist the stretching, and my surgeries won't have been in vain. Just make sure that you leave this country, because otherwise, they will find you."
"Who, Siwon?"
Siwon paused, his hand tightening on the book.
"I found out where Leeteuk went."
VIII.
Heechul doesn't mind that he has never been extremely attached or devoted to anyone before. Nor is he bothered by the feeling that the world is passing him by -- that so much is happening around him that he is completely unaware of.
This all changes when Sungmin is brought to live with the dancers.
Upon Ryeowook's request, Sungmin is treated more of a guest than a captive. Yesung even goes as far as to say that "unlike Siwon, we can be hospitable." Sungmin seems to pose no threat, and ultimately, Yesung just wants his dancers alive.
Heechul often sees Sungmin in the dance room; the singer is remarkably adept at dancing, and there are elements in his routines that echo Han Geng's fusion of martial arts and dance.
Heechul comments about that to Sungmin, who smiles bashfully. He thanks Heechul for the compliment, and tells the other of how he had heard of Han Geng's prowess from Kyuhyun and Ryeowook's Chinese bodyguards.
To an extent, Heechul isn't drawn to Sungmin by his voice. Sungmin is charming and adorable and witty at all the right times, and Heechul likes that.
Heechul spends most of his time observing the way that Sungmin's lips part in a smile to reveal a row of upper teeth that cover the lower row slightly; how the singer moves to brush away his bangs even when they've been tied back; the many motions of Sungmin's hands when he speaks; and how Sungmin always looks at him when they are talking to each other.
He doesn't notice the way that Sungmin's smile widens when Eunhyuk enters the room; that Eunhyuk is always in the dance room when Heechul sees Sungmin there; that Sungmin excuses himself from dinner a few minutes after Eunhyuk is done; and that Sungmin sometimes calls Eunhyuk 'Hyukjae.'
"I like you, Eunhyuk" Sungmin announced bluntly, while he and Eunhyuk were stretching.
Eunhyuk's eyes widened, as he met Sungmin's look in the mirror, and then turned to face the singer. "Really?"
"No, I just felt like saying that," Sungmin said, sarcastically. He smiled when Eunhyuk's blush deepened.
"You can call me Hyukjae," he offered in apology.
Sungmin stilled. "Are you sure? Names are important."
Eunhyuk nodded. "That's why."
IX.
Heechul walks into the dance room one day, intent on confessing to Sungmin after the practice today. He stops when he hears Ryeowook and Sungmin talking together, and waits outside.
Heechul normally doesn't care to involve himself in other people's matters, but Sungmin's presence draws his attention.
"Why won't you leave with us, Ryeowook?"
"I won't leave Yesung alone."
"But it's too dangerous around him."
"He's not a bad person, Sungmin!"
"I wasn't referring to him."
A pause.
"So it's true?"
"I don't know what happened to Kyuhyun, but everyone else is dead. They're coming after all of us, Ryeowook, and if they don't kill him, you will."
"Siwon's tests?"
"All failed. He's computed the probability, and considering how much we use our vocal chords, they'll distort from our use any day now."
"What are the chances we can control what we harmonize with after that?"
"0.1%, at best.
This is why we need to leave, Ryeowook."
"No." The negative is expelled through gritted teeth. "Siwon's said that they won't discriminate between singers and dancers. That means that Yesung's still a target, and I've got to stay and fight with him."
"Ryeowook-"
"-thank you, Sungmin. But I've made my choice."
Sungmin sighs, sadly. Ryeowook walks past Heechul, too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice the other.
Heechul peeks around the door, his own mind working through the conversation that he has just heard. Distorting vocal chords? Another faction that wants them all dead? Either way, he resolves, he will do anything to protect Sungmin's smiling face.
The first thing that Heechul notices is that Eunhyuk has apparently been in the room -- as another silent observer -- for the entire exchange. He then hears Eunhyuk murmur "he can handle himself, Sungmin."
Heechul feels like he has been jolted into an even more night-mareish reality when he sees Sungmin lean into Eunhyuk's embrace and press a kiss to the other man's cheek.
But he is at last awake.
X.
Heechul understands why Han Geng chose to escape with Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi, now. There are ties more binding than songs, unknown to Heechul in his slumber of a life.
"Heechul!" Donghae and Shindong rush towards him, frantic expressions on their face.
"Quick!" Donghae grabs Heechul's arm and tugs at him, just as a series of loud crashes echo from down the hallway.
"What's happening?"
"They're attacking!"
Heechul sees the panic in Donghae's eyes, and he knows who. "We have to fight!"
"No," Shindong barks, yanking Heechul away from running towards the commotion. "Yesung told us to leave it to him and Ryeowook."
Heechul remembers the conversation between the two singers. "But they won't survive it!"
Donghae chokes back a sob, and Shindong closes his eyes momentarily. "They know."
"Get out," Yesung ordered to Shindong. "Take Donghae with you and make sure that the fool doesn't try to be a hero."
"What makes you think I won't try to be the hero?"
Yesung smiled. "I know that you'll do anything to keep him safe."
"Damn it!" Heechul lashes out at the wall. "Why don't I ever know these things until it's too late?"
Then: "Wait, where're Sungmin and Eunhyuk?"
"I don't know," Donghae answers, as he pulls harder at Heechul to force the other man to move. "Donghee?"
Shindong shakes his head. "They usually meet in the dance room around this time-"
"-hey!" Donghae exclaims, as Heechul wrenches his way out of Donghae's grip.
"Go ahead without me!" Heechul calls.
The same question reverberates within his mind. 'Why are you here?'
Heechul has finally found his answer. He's made his decision to protect Sungmin even if the other cannot return his feelings. This is love, even with all of its flaws.
XI.
Han Geng knows that they've been followed for the past two days. He shares a look with Kyuhyun when the group stops to rest for the night.
Zhou Mi excuses himself to search for firewood, and Kyuhyun settles himself down next to Han Geng. They watch the sun set, and Han Geng drapes his jacket over Kyuhyun and leans in.
"They're after me," Kyuhyun comments. There's no reason for it to be a question.
"But they don't know about you and Zhou Mi. Technically, neither of you were part of the singers or dancers; you were foreign aid."
"Do you have to phrase it so coldly?"
"I'm trying to save you," Kyuhyun scowls. "This is your alibi."
"We won't use it. We'll fight for you."
"I just want you safe."
Han Geng pulls Kyuhyun down to kiss the other man's hair. "You can't save both of us," he murmurs. "We won't leave you alone.
But you can save Zhou Mi."
Kyuhyun jerks up, angry. "I don't want you to die for me!"
"You love Zhou Mi," Han Geng states.
"And you."
"But I can fight, and I can die fighting. Zhou Mi's not that sort of man. He deserves another chance to live a peaceful life; he'd live a better one than I ever could."
Kyuhyun grabs onto Han Geng's hand, watching their entwined fingers.
"I've got the firewood," Zhou Mi calls, as he approaches the two. "What've you two been doing?"
In the semi-darkness, Kyuhyun and Han Geng's smiles seem cheerful. "Hankyung's just taught me a cute song," Kyuhyun replies.
"Oh, I'd love to see that," Zhou Mi laughs. "Is it anything like the 'three bears' song?"
"It's much better."
XII.
"We have to fight together," Ryeowook tries to reason to the two men before him.
Yesung glares at Siwon, but spits out a "he's right."
Siwon only nods, coolly. "For now, I won't consider all of the singers whom you've slaughtered."
"Yesung-"
Yesung shrugs off Ryeowook's warning hand, incensed, and growls: "what about all of my dancers?"
"You provoked us first-"
"-because you've got the entire world caught up in your web of songs! There's no more free thinking! A world full of mindless drones -- is that what your faith espouses?"
Siwon's glare darkens. "My songs are keeping the world safe from your-"
"-Stop it, you two-"
"-you lie," Yesung snarls. "Our entire purpose was to destroy all of your songs, and that would set the world free!"
"Stop it!" Ryeowook screams, and through that frustration and desperation for the impending dangers, his voice catches and cracks. He drops onto his knees, curled over, as coughs rack his body.
"Ryeowook!" Yesung cries, moving to steady the other. He watches as one of Ryeowook's hands moves away from his mouth, covered in blood.
"It's happened," Siwon murmurs, sadly. He stands in front of Ryeowook, and takes the other man's bloody hands in his. Yesung's fists clench, and he moves to push Siwon away, but Ryeowook chokes out a 'don't.'
"I have sinned," Siwon solemnly declares. "I took my friends and mutated their natural bodies. These vocal chords were never meant to harmonize at such a range. For that, I will end your suffering."
Ryeowook's eyes slide closed as Siwon sings a soft, low note. Siwon lets go of his hands, and Yesung immediately clutched them. Ryeowook opens them again, his sight already darkening. Yesung's visage is blurry, but his voice is clear.
"Is it too late for me to tell you that I love you?"
Ryeowook dies with a smile on his face.
"I would die for you," Yesung whispered into Ryeowook's ear. "I don't care if you lose control of your voice, and it deconstructs my entire body.
I will never leave you."
It wasn't a declaration of love, but for Ryeowook, it was enough.
XIII.
Kibum rubbed at his swelling cheek, glaring at the other man. "Who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare," he replied, and Kibum rolled his eyes.
"Are you incapable of speaking without cliches?"
"Why you-" Kibum ducked the swing, and brought his elbow sharply down on the other man's abdomen.
"Don't think that I've forgotten about you," Kibum called out to the other figure, who had been trying to edge away from the battle.
Leeteuk laughed weakly. "Look, we're really not here to fight. Kangin is just a little more hotheaded than most people."
"Then what are you here for?"
"We want you to join us."
Kibum raised an eyebrow. "Join you as what? I'm a dancer, you know."
"You may be a dancer, but I'm sure that you feel differently."
Kibum's eyes narrowed.
"There's something beyond the singers and the dancers," Leeteuk continued. "You're very expressive -- too much, for a dancer. Words have power too. Come join us."
Kibum shook his head. "I'm not going to leave my dancers to face the singers alone."
"There's no point," Kangin said, even as Leeteuk nudged him to keep quiet. He rubbed his stomach. "They're both making the situation worse."
"What?" Kibum glared at Leeteuk. "Tell me. How?"
"Do you why the singers attack your dancers?"
"They're afraid that our dances will be enough to counteract their songs."
"Sound waves and motion?" Leeteuk smiled, indulgently. "That's not the case."
"Then why?"
"That's simple," Kangin muttered. "Because you two have just been fighting each other for so long."
"And therein lies the problem. Humans are slaves to routine," Leeteuk sighed.
Kibum shook his head, disbelieving. "If they're not under any sort of mind control, then why does everyone still act like they're sleepwalking through life. Why hasn't anyone tried to rebuild?"
"Perhaps they're afraid. Why rebuild a world that you know will be destroyed in battles between the singers and dancers?"
Kibum dropped his head into his hand. "But what can we do? There's too much animosity between us to just stop fighting."
"That's why we, as presenters, need to put an end to both these groups."
Siwon stiffens at the sound of an exaggerated groan behind him.
"We were too late, Kibum! This is what you get for wasting our time on those other two!"
"Shut up, Kangin," Kibum snaps. "You were the one who decided to trail them for days, and one of them got away."
"He was just a bodyguard-"
"-but still-"
"-enough." The voice of the last speaker is uncomfortable close to Siwon's ear.
Siwon turns just as pair of hands clamp onto his, holding him firmly in place.
"Hello, Siwon."
"Leeteuk."
"I'm sorry to say this, but under the new ordinances of the presenters, you, as the leader of the singers, are to be placed under arrest and summarily executed."
"You're not sorry at all."
"Oi, Kibum! Stop dawdling and arrest him as well," Kangin calls, as he handcuffs Siwon.
Kibum watches as Yesung adjusts Ryeowook's body so that he can more comfortably cradle it.
"It looks like you win, Kibum," Yesung murmurs, as he smooths a hand over Ryeowook's even paler cheek.
"Ah," the other man quietly says.
"Didn't we agree that the loser dies immediately?"
Kibum looks on as Yesung begins to press gentle kisses onto Ryeowook. There is a moment's pause, before he replies: "we did."
Kibum places a hand on top of Yesung's head. His voice becomes authoritative. "By the ordinances of the presenters, you, as the leader of the dancers, are to die alongside your fallen-"
"-lover," Yesung breathes out. He never takes another breath in.
"There's one more," Kangin comments to Leeteuk later, when Kibum has already left for the headquarters with Siwon.
"I don't think we really have to worry," Leeteuk replies. "We've seen how unstable their voices really are."
XIV.
Heechul wrenches open the door to the dance room. "Sungmin!" he calls out. "Eunhyu-"
He gapes at the sight before him.
Eunhyuk is stretched out on the floor, as graceful as ever, but his body is unnaturally still. Beside him sits Sungmin, gently stroking his hand.
"Sungmin," Heechul whispers, placing a hand on the other's shoulders. He is able to now feel how hard he is shaking. "What happened?"
Eunhyuk grinned as he tried to copy the dance that Sungmin had just performed for him.
"No, no, no," Sungmin laughed, repositioning Eunhyuk's arms. "You're supposed to end like this."
"Like this?" Eunhyuk smirked, and brought his arms around to encircle Sungmin and pull him down to the ground.
"Well, creativity is good." Sungmin's voice hitched slightly.
Eunhyuk nuzzled Sungmin's neck, and the two sat together, relaxed.
"Hey, Hyukjae?"
"Hm?"
"Do you like me for my voice?"
"In the beginning, yes," Eunhyuk admitted. "It made me feel alive. But," he continued, shifting slightly, "it's you who makes me feel complete."
Sungmin beamed.
"Was that too sappy?"
"No, no. It was perfect." Sungmin's heart beat faster, as drew Eunhyuk down for a kiss.
They parted, and Sungmin sighed, content. "I really love you, Hyukjae."
The words warm Eunhyuk's heart, and he opens his mouth to reply -- "I lo-" --, but then the warmth becomes searing, and his heart just won't stop hurting-
-and then Sungmin is left alone with an unfinished sweet sentiment suspended in the bitter air.
Heechul pulls Sungmin up, whispering a soft goodbye to Eunhyuk's body before leaving. The only thought now is to take Sungmin somewhere safe.
XV.
Heechul carries Sungmin through the escape tunnel in Yesung's quarters, the other man limp and unresponsive from the shock.
He remembers one of Han Geng's comments that seemed to have come from a dream -- factions such as the singers and dancers don't exist in China. Even if they do, Han Geng had said, there's always a safe, sleepy village somewhere.
He travels until he reaches a small stream, and stops to drink. He lays Sungmin down, and attempts to feed some of the water to the other. The biological need for survival is intact, and Heechul breathes a sigh of relief when Sungmin reflexively swallows the water down.
Heechul is inching his way down the side of rocks bordering the sea when Sungmin suddenly starts screaming. The anguished voice rips through the air, and Heechul loses his balance, tumbling down the slope.
Somewhere between the first and fifth roll, Heechul hears -- and feels -- something -- or a number of things -- snap, and when he finally finds himself lying on the sand, he nearly faints from the pain of trying to get up.
"Heechul?" He looks up, blearily, and sees Sungmin's worried face above him.
"Oh, god, Heechul, I'm so sorry," Sungmin babbles, hands ghosting everywhere, unsure of what to do.
"It's not your fault," Heechul pants out.
"You should have just left me there."
"Never." Heechul raises his arm, and discovers that he can no longer move his wrist. Sungmin follows him though, and finds himself staring at the sea.
"We're right outside of a port village. Go there and wait for the next ship to China, and get on it, and then you'll be safe."
Sungmin reaches up to touch Heechul's arm gently. "You went through all of this just to help me?"
"I want you safe," Heechul rasps, dark spots dancing through his vision and marring Sungmin's features. "I-"
"-please don't say it," Sungmin chokes out, through his years.
Heechul swallows his words, all for Sungmin's sake, and nods. "Sing to me?"
Sungmin smiles through his tears. "My last song, just for you."
He sings of joy and loss; love and parting; friendship and pride; dreams and reality; the feeling of flying and the fear of falling under; and he sings of eternity.
Sungmin sings until no sound can issue from his mouth, and long after Heechul's pain has completely faded away.
XVI.
"Ready to begin the live dissection," the surgeon announces, and Leeteuk and Kibum turn to the window to see the operation.
The doors are not sound proof, and as the knife efficiently slices away a flap of skin, twin screams sound from the operation room and the viewing room above.
Han Geng continues to scream when Kyuhyun no longer can.
The fire was still burning when Leeteuk, Kibum, and Kangin surrounded Kyuhyun and Han Geng.
"Where's the third?" Kangin asked.
"We thought-" Kyuhyun choked,
"-he was dead weight," Han Geng finished, reaching out to hold Kyuhyun's hand reassuringly.
Kibum and Leeteuk exchanged doubting glances, but their primary concern was with detaining Kyuhyun.
"Cho Kyuhyun," Leeteuk began, "by order of-"
"-I know," Kyuhyun interrupted. "I'm surrendering willingly."
Leeteuk looked surprised.
"I know what it means to be one of Siwon's experiments, and I've wanted to end it a long time ago. Just grant me one condition."
"What is it?"
Kyuhyun gave Han Geng's hand a final squeeze. "Let him go. He has nothing to do with this."
Kibum nodded. "We don't have international jurisdiction, anyway," he told Leeteuk.
Han Geng tried to protest, but Kangin raised a fist towards Kyuhyun.
"I'm sorry," Kyuhyun whispered, as Leeteuk and Kibum led him away. "I love you too much."
"Let me go with him," Han Geng pleaded with Kangin. "I don't want him to die alone."
Kangin frowned. "He just surrendered to save you."
Han Geng smiled sadly. "He can be very selfish when he wants to."
Kangin presses the muzzle of the gun against Han Geng's temple. "It's pretty archaic and messy," he explains, "but it's ironic. China's greatest martial artist, shot down by a piece of metal."
Han Geng eyes never lose sight of Kyuhyun's body stretched out in the room beneath him. "Ironic indeed."
XVII.
"Are you feeling all right?"
Sungmin wakes up, disoriented, to a bright, flashing light; it takes him a few moments to realize that the gleam is actually from a set of particularly bright teeth.
"Here," and a pair of hands holding a glass of water is paired with the teeth.
"I heard that you came from Korea, and I thought 'oh, how interesting,' because that's where I came from too! At least, I think I did," the voice chuckles, slightly nervous. "I seemed to have lost most of memories after waking up on the boat."
Sungmin nods because he isn't sure how to respond, and instead mouths 'thank you' to the other.
"Oh," the voice continued. "I'm sorry; can you speak?"
Eunhyuk's smile and Heechul's pained laugh flash through Sungmin's mind, and he shakes his head. He knows that he will never be found if he does not speak, and he owes it to both of them to stay alive.
"That's not a problem! I think that I talk enough for both of us," the voice laughs. "Oh, and how rude of me not to have introduced myself yet."
The brilliant teeth flash again. "My name is Kui Xian."