FanFic: Loving the Enemy.
Title: Loving the Enemy.
Author: rudeminnesotan
Rating: Rated M for Mature. (Probably anyway).
Pairing(s): broken!EunHae, Sungmin/?, Sungmin/Hyukjae.
Summary: World War three has broken out. People have chosen their sides. War... is not pretty.
Genre: AU, angst.
Notes: Warnings: Character death. Sungmin’s lover isn’t named specifically so you can think it’s whoever you want (of course I have my idea, but it’s a matter of how you interpret the text). Oh. BTW: This is for zaboomafoo76.
It had been three years since the war broke out in Asia-within just a few months it had spread worldwide and quickly World War Three turned nuclear. About a year ago was when Donghae had died; the submarine he had been deployed on was bombed by enemy ships. When Hyukjae got the news he was crushed. They had only been lovers for a short period of time before the war broke out and now Donghae was gone-and he hadn’t even been there to say good bye. Just ‘boom’ and he was gone. If the war had not still been going on, Hyukjae would have broken down right then and there.
But he was strong. He had been trained to be strong. And Donghae was just another casualty in the war, soldier, along with several thousand others. Now buck up! At least that’s what they had told Hyukjae when he started to cry over the news of Donghae’s death. That was a year ago. And now Hyukjae was the captain of his own ship in the ROK Navy. His ship was one of the best in the fleet-people rumored it was because the captain was cold and heartless but really it was because there wasn’t much left for Hyukjae to live for so he fought like it. Every day was his last.
Protocol was the only thing that kept Hyukjae from doing the things he truly wanted to do. If it wasn’t for that set of rules he was sworn to abide by he probably would search for and hunt down the enemies one by one… But he had to follow orders. And that was not his orders. Hyukjae’s orders were to patrol border and boundary waters, salvaging what they could from wreckage they came upon because resources were scarce.
He never expected to find what he did one day.
Bodies were to be expected, it was war after all, but never had one been alive before.
When it was first found, a message was sent up to Hyukjae to ask what to do.
“Captain. The men have found a man alive in the salvage. His uniform says that he’s not one of ours… What should we do?”
’Shoot him in the head?’ Hyukjae thought to himself as he leaned forward on his elbows, fingertips pressed together. “Take him aboard. He’ll be our prisoner. If we can’t get any information out of him… We’ll kill him.” That was protocol after all. Stupid fucking protocol.
“Yessir.” The peon left then to go deliver the message to the soldiers on the ship.
‘Hmm…’ Hyukjae hummed softly to himself, “A prisoner of war…”
When the prisoner was pulled onboard he had been unconscious, so after stripping him of his uniform the prisoner was dressed in simple clothes and thrown into a cell. Hyukjae took it upon himself to watch over the prisoner until he woke up.
As he began to stir, Hyukjae stood up and went over to rap his book against the poles of the cell.
“Wake up, you dog,” said Hyukjae with a snarl. The man scoffed as he rolled over and barely opened his eyes.
“I take it…” His voice seemed a bit hoarse and his eyes were red, not that Hyukjae cared to notice, “I’m not in the company of friends.”
“Your assumption would be correct, soldier. You are aboard the ROK Eastern Sea. I am its Captain. Now tell me. Name and rank.” If it was possible to spit venom with his words, Hyukjae would have at that moment.
The prisoner contemplated for a moment, both his situation and if he should tell the truth or not… But what did he have to lose now?
“Lieutenant Commander Lee Sungmin.” He said with a sigh, eyes directed to the floor.
Sungmin? Why did that name sound so familiar to him…? The thought was brushed off the second it came to him; Hyukjae had a job to do.
“Tell me, what was your mission Lieutenant Commander?”
Sungmin rubbed his face where he sat, looking up to that Captain through heavily lidded eyes. “Seek… and destroy.” A sarcastic laugh was added at the end as he just shook his head.
Hyukjae held back his anger. That… that… “I guess you failed, huh.” Was all he was able to get out; Sungmin only laughed more.
“More like seek and /get/ destroyed.” The words were followed up with another sarcastic laugh.
“And how did you manage to survive?” Hyukjae was already growing tired of this question game.
“Why don’t you just kill me and throw me back into the water.” Sungmin replied, glaring at the Captain again. “No one will ever have to know I was your prisoner and besides, you look like someone hungry for blood.”
The reply caught Hyukjae off guard for a moment, and his eyes went wide.
“Come on. You can even do it with your bare hands-I won’t struggle.” Sungmin had such an evil grin on his face, though his eyes were sad. However that sadness was hidden to Hyukjae who was too blinded by his anger to notice.
“Hah.” He started, “You’d like that wouldn’t you. I’d open your cell and you could get out easily. No. I won’t take that risk.” Besides, it was against fucking protocol… Though Sungmin had been right; Hyukjae craved the feeling of squeezing the life out of someone with his bare hands.
“You’re scared.” Sungmin said, rising to his feet shakily. “You’re scared of the rules, aren’t you.” He grabbed ahold of the bars to steady himself so Hyukjae had to take a step back.
“You are out of line.” Hyukjae said rather automatically, nostrils flaring with rage. “I won’t hesitate to kill you when the time comes.” The book he had in his hand was slammed down on the chair that faced the cell. “WHEN it comes.” The words added before he left the brig.
Sungmin let out a sigh and fell back down onto the hard bed he had. “Damnit…” he muttered to himself before letting his body quake with tears once more.
Hyukjae returned to his office and shut the door with such force the pictures on the wall nearly fell off-or they would have if they weren’t bolted down.
“FUCK!” he screamed, slamming his fists onto the desk before just running his hands through his hair, throwing his hat across the room. “I can’t believe I let him get to me like that…” The ends of his own hair were grabbed and tugged before he just dropped his head down onto the desk.
“Donghae…” he said the man’s name softly… “I miss you…” Hyukjae sighed and closed his eyes to prevent the tears from coming. Donghae would know what to do… Donghae was always strong. Strong and happy-even in this time of war he kept a smile on his face…
“Captain…?” A soldier opened the door cautiously and Hyukjae sat up immediately, straightening out his uniform.
“Yes? What is it man.” His voice almost cracked but he swallowed it back down and sniffed hard to compose himself.
“Orders from the top; they want us to find out whatever we can from the prisoner. What… have we found out?”
‘Damnit…’ Hyukjae was expecting that but he didn’t want it. “He’s a Lieutenant Commander. That’s all I’ve found out so far.”
“I see… I’ll forward on the message. Keep up the good work Captain.” The soldier saluted Hyukjae, a motion he returned before leaving him alone again. These orders… Hyukjae knew they wouldn’t be easy to fulfill.
A few hours later, Hyukjae returned back down to Sungmin’s cell. A small door was opened and a tray with food was slide inside. Sungmin had been lying down with an arm over his face; those tear strained eyes looked over to the tray and then to Hyukjae as he took his seat again.
“How am I supposed to know that isn’t poisoned.” He asked as he reached for the tray.
“You’re not.” Hyukjae retorted, flipping open his book and trying to ignore the other as best he could.
“That’s hopeful…” Sungmin muttered as he picked up the chopsticks and began to eat. The entire tray was cleared within a matter of minutes and he went back to lying down afterward.
Several more minutes of silence passed between them before Sungmin asked, “Are you just going to sit there?”
“No. I’m reading a book.” He held it up as it was mentioned and just smiled at Sungmin before returning to his page. Sungmin just scoffed.
“You’re not even going to question me more?”
“Nnnope.”
“You don’t want to know what I know?”
“I don’t, no.” This was just a game, obviously.
“But your superiors do.” Hyukjae shut his book then and nodded.
“Yes they do.” He started, “Do you have anything I can tell them?”
“That they’re going to lose the war?” Sungmin said automatically; they were his enemy after all.
“Says the prisoner on MY war ship; I’m not convinced.”
Sungmin scowled then and covered his eyes with his arm once again. Hyukjae returned to reading.
Several more conversations were had between the two like this one. Hyukjae’s superiors were not thrilled by his slow progress, but it’s not like they could do much about it. He was over 100 thousand miles away from land. This was his domain, not theirs and he would do things the way he wanted to… to a degree.
A few weeks passed before Hyukjae came into the room without prompting, looking determined.
“Tell me what you know.” He said, grabbing onto the bars of the cage and shaking the door to ruse the half asleep man.
“Heh… Finally gave into their demands huh?” Sungmin sat up, rubbing at his face. He hadn’t been allowed to clean himself and it was starting to show.
“No.” Hyukjae’s eyes were lined in red, “Just tell me. TELL me what you know Lieutenant Commander!” He shouted it, shaking the door again. Hyukjae was all worked up for some reason.
But Sungmin wasn’t scared. “Why should I? What if I don’t even know anything? If I tell you that, will you finally just kill me!?” The mood somehow transferred over to Sungmin who shot up to his feet and grabbed the bars right near Hyukjae but unlike before he didn’t retreat.
“Would you be telling the truth?” Hyukjae countered, almost baring his teeth like an animal.
“No! But who the fuck cares!? JUST KILL ME ALREADY!” Sungmin smacked his hands against the bars and turned his back to them facing his slab of a bed. “I don’t deserve to live…” His shoulders shook just a second before he swallowed down the emotion he felt.
“Trust me; I would kill you if I could!” Hyukjae yelled back.
“THEN JUST DO IT ALREADY!”
“I’m not going to kill someone who WANTS to die!! Tell me what you know and I’ll decide what to do with you after!” Hyukjae had heard what Sungmin had said, and for some reason the pain in Sungmin’s voice and in his eyes-Hyukjae could empathize with it so perfectly well.
“I’m dead anyway…” Sungmin sat down rubbing at his face and suddenly began to talk. He said everything that he knew about his sides plans, though it wasn’t as much as Hyukjae’s superiors would probably be hoping for.
Hyukjae returned to his chair and pulled it close towards the cell, listening intently. Everything was committed to memory and he left without a word to pass on the message.
Two hours later he reentered the brig with Sungmin’s dinner, sliding it through the small door again. Hyukjae returned to his seat and stared at Sungmin who didn’t move.
“So why do you want to die.”
The question was stated so plainly that Sungmin had to look at him and was surprised what he saw; the uniform was slightly disheveled and he was lacking his hat. There was a glint of sadness in Hyukjae’s face that Sungmin hadn’t noticed before.
“What’s it to you.” He replied, voice hard.
“I’m curious. You have the means to kill yourself in your cell, yet you don’t try. Are you looking for an honorable death?” Hyukjae shifted in the seat, moving just a bit closer.
“Honorable?” Sungmin laughed, “No… If I commit suicide … I won’t get t…” Should I say it… Sungmin wondered before dropping his head and letting the words out, “I won’t get to see him again…”
The answer surprised Hyukjae, but not as much as he was thought it might.
“How did he die?” He asked.
“Why do you even care…?”
“Because my lover died too.” Hyukjae said, sadness cracking his voice at the end. “And I want to know…”
Sungmin was silent for a moment before laughing, pulling his legs to his chest. “You and I are one in the same…” No wonder… his thoughts continued, “He died… on the ship. We were stationed together.” There was another pause before Sungmin asked, “How did yours die?”
“His submarine was bombed. So probably much like yours… But I wasn’t there. I was here.”
“Trust me. It was better to be here.” Sungmin said, “I watched him go down inside the ship…” he rubbed his face again as his Adam’s apple bobbed, preventing himself from crying anymore.
“I suppose you’re right.” Hyukjae responded, scratching at his head and then wiping at his eyes. Remembering Dongahe always brought back tears. “Does nothing for the pain…” The words were choked out with a quivering chin.
“I know…” said Sungmin sliding over to the bars and holding out his hand to Hyukjae. He looked at it through blurry eyes and then took it.
Not long after taking that hand, Hyukjae was on the floor. Both men were talking about their lovers as if they were the best of friends sitting around back home chatting, not enemies on a war ship holding hands through cell bars. It wasn’t until a soldier came knocking that they separated.
Still, many times after that Hyukjae went back and the pair talked like long lost friends. Hyukjae began to trust Sungmin and Sungmin… he began to like Hyukjae.
“Hey. Hyukkie. Come here.” Sungmin waved him over towards his cell. Once Hyukjae was close enough he reached out a hand and pulled him up against the bars and pressed his lips to his experimentally.
Hyukjae pushed away at first, the sudden yank catching him off guard and his soldier side kicked into action immediately. But then there were lips against his own, something he hadn’t felt in so… so long. And soon his own hands were reaching through the bars to hold onto Sungmin.
Their feelings exploded in that moment and it took Hyukjae forcing himself away from Sungmin, wiping a hand across his bottom lip afterward to get them apart.
“You shouldn’t have done that…” Hyukjae said, his hand shaking over his mouth. “I’m the captain..!”
“So? And I’m a prisoner. That doesn’t mean anything when it comes to feelings, Hyukjae.” Sungmin said both hands on the bars of his cell once again. “Let me out…” He said it softly, enticingly, “Bring me to bed with you.”
Those words alone had Hyukjae shuddering, but he shook his head. “No. No no no. I can’t. You’re a prisoner, I’m the captain. I.-…. I can’t.” He left after saying that leaving Sungmin alone yet again.
That night at dinner a peon of a soldier brought Sungmin his food instead of Hyukjae which was more disappointing than him walking away. He ate in silence for the first time in weeks, wishing once more that he had just died on that ship.
The next morning however Hyukjae did show up… with a change of clothes and a bucket of soapy water; his appearance surprised Sungmin who sat up immediately.
“Hyukjae; you came back.”
“I will let you out… and put you in these clothes.” He said, setting them down on the chair and setting the bucket near the cell. “And bring you to my quarters…” That was said quietly, “If you promise me one thing.”
“What is it?” Sungmin asked hesitantly. The whole idea had been merely experimental so the idea of conditions being placed on it…
“Turn coat.” Hyukjae said it simply, “Cross over to our side; be an ally instead of my enemy.” He stepped over to the bars and held his hand out for Sungmin to take. “Please…”
“You…” Sungmin began, looking at the hand, the clothes and then finally at Hyukjae. “You want me to … Betray my people? AGAIN?”
The question hurt; Hyukjae had been hoping this would be easy.
“Are they really your people?” He asked, chin quivering all over again. “You’ve been here on my ship for months now… And they’ve made no attempt to come and rescue you. These waters, in fact, haven’t been calmer since you got on the ship.” Hyukjae laughed at the end, eyes shining with the tears that threatened to fall. “And you still call them your people…” One fell that he wiped away, turning away from Sungmin in an attempt to compose himself.
“I was trained to be a soldier since I was very young, Hyukjae!” Sungmin countered, banging his hand against the bars. “You expect me to betray them just like that!?”
“You would rather betray me instead!??” He shouted in reply, covering his mouth after he’d said it. “These items… The bucket… The clothes. Me. They will all be out of your reach unless you become my ally, Sungmin.” Both items were placed just out of Sungmin’s range and he kept himself there as well.
Sungmin just stared a moment before sitting himself down on the bench. His people, his ideals, everything he’s known so far… Or that man before him. Somehow the decision was more difficult than he would have assumed.
“I’ll let you think about it.” Hyukjae said before turning on his heel and leaving. Shortly after he returned to his quarters and broke down. The idea of giving himself to another person and being rejected like that hurt and he only wished more fervently that Donghae was still alive and able to hold him… So that he wouldn’t be loving the enemy.
Reports of Sungmin in his cell still came to Hyukjae as he purposefully avoided him; the man was barely eating, sitting with his back to the clothes and bucket of water. As if he was sitting with his back to me… Hyukjae thought, filling out a report; more wreckage had been found and sorted on the ship though they were nowhere near capacity.
Down in the bowels of the ship, Sungmin was in pain. Heart wrenching pain. How could Hyukjae pose a condition like this on him? Weren’t they friends? Did he honestly expect him to give up home and country in favor of a MAN? No matter how he felt about that man… A feeling he hadn’t had since…
“Ugh!” Sungmin kicked his bed and rolled over onto his side on the floor. This sucked.
Another month easily passed before Hyukjae went back down to see Sungmin. The bucket of water, long cold, was picked up and the water thrown on the sleeping man.
He woke in a sputtering mess, staring at Hyukjae with wide eyes.
“I can handle your rejection. But you’re starting to smell.” It was, naturally, an excuse. Hyukjae couldn’t handle the rejection. He wanted Sungmin.
The next thing that was thrown at him was a towel, the bars blocking it from reaching Sungmin so he had to get up to reach it.
“Dry off… Then you can change.” Hyukjae said reaching into his pocket for the handcuffs he’d brought with him. “And then… You’re coming with me.” He trusted him not to run away, but it was protocol after all.
Sungmin hadn’t been expecting this… Not at all. He still hadn’t been able to make a decision… The pain of rejecting Hyukjae… the pleasure of accepting him… Betraying his country… Or Hyukjae. It was starting to slowly kill Sungmin. So all he could do was what he was told.
His wet clothes were stripped off and he dried himself, the stench surprisingly worse without clothes. The fresh ones were offered and put on before Hyukjae went inside and handcuffed him. Being that close to him again, Sungmin was almost delirious with Hyukjae scent… His bound hands reached out for him, pulling him back close so he could whisper hoarsely, “I missed you.”
Hyukjae said nothing though, just swallowed that lump in his throat and pushed Sungmin out of the cell. He was lead through the more hidden parts of the ship until they reached Hyukjae’s room. In there, Sungmin was pushed towards the bathroom.
“There’s another fresh set of clothes in there for you after you clean up… As well as everything else you might need.” Hyukjae was talking to Sungmin’s hands as he took off the handcuffs.
His words and that distance gaze… Sungmin wanted to wrap himself around Hyukjae; being close to him after not seeing him for so long and having him constantly on his mind for that entire month. Hyukjae couldn’t imagine what it had done to him.
“Okay…” Was all he said though, turning towards the bathroom; there were all the toiletries he needed including a toothbrush. Hyukjae left him alone in the bathroom and returned to his room. There he dressed himself in casual clothes and just waited.
It took Sungmin nearly two hours in the bathroom, but considering he hadn’t showered in probably over four months it wasn’t very surprising. Brushing his teeth finally was the most glorious feeling Sungmin had felt in those four months, asides from a certain kiss… The first thing he did in fact when he got out of the bathroom was apologize with a deep bow.
“What for?” Hyukjae asked, looking up from his book.
“Kissing you with that mouth. I brushed my teeth 3 times and it still feels gross…” Sungmin laughed a bit; he’d found a rubber band in the bathroom and tied his long hair up on top of his head. It was probably the cutest thing Hyukjae had seen since Donghae’s smile.
“I told you…” He was only able to say, closing the book slowly as he looked over Sungmin. That man… How was he doing this to him? “You were starting to smell.” Hyukjae rose up from his chair and crossed the room to Sungmin unconsciously embracing him tightly.
Sungmin froze for just a second before returning the hug, burying his face into Hyukjae’s neck. He smelt so … clean. So wonderful. Just like the day he’d kissed him. It made him want to do it again.
“Sungmin…” Hyukjae said his name softly, pulling him away for just a second. Their faces were so close that Sungmin could almost taste those lips again. “I have to bring you back.” He choked on the words, pulling the handcuffs from his pocket once again.
“No!” Sungmin said immediately, jumping away from Hyukjae. “No! Please, Hyukkie…” the reaction came before Sungmin could stop it, clinging to the doorway to the bathroom.
“I have to Sungmin.” Hyukjae was forcing himself to use his ‘Captain’s tone’ though it was hard. “You are my prisoner. And I am the Captain.”
“Please…” he begged softly, sliding down to the floor. “I--…” he couldn’t finish. It somehow felt like the being put back would mean he would never get to see Hyukjae again… and Sungmin wasn’t sure he could handle that.
“Kill me first before putting me back.”
“I don’t want to kill you Sungmin…” Hyukjae kneeled on the floor in front of his enemy who he so desperately wanted him not to be.
“Please… I don’t want to be without you Hyukjae.” Sungmin said it before he could stop himself, hiding his face against the doorframe while his shoulders sunk. “I-… I’d rather be dead…”
“Then change sides…” Hyukjae’s voice altered, pleading to him. “Please Sungmin! Y-… You can stay with you as long as you… as long as you change sides…”
Sungmin scoffed a laugh again, falling forward against Hyukjae; he held onto him for a moment finally trying to force himself to come to a decision.
“… you… won’t leave me?” Sungmin asked in a meek voice, asking Hyukjae’s chest more than anything.
“I won’t go off recklessly and try to get myself killed…” He replied, “You… would give me something to live for Min…” the question had brought tears to Hyukjae’s eyes that he couldn’t hold back; they fell freely as he spoke, hands clinging to the shirt on Sungmin’s back.
Hearing him say that, Sungmin looked up directly, staring at those crying eyes before him. Then both of his hands went to Hyukjae’s cheeks and he kissed him. The handcuffs were dropped the second those lips were on his own and soon Hyukjae had forgotten his own name, gasping for breath as they broke the kiss with bruised lips.
“I have…. Paper work.” Hyukjae gasped between words, even while Sungmin was trying to strip him of his clothes. “For you to…. To fill out.”
“To make it official?” he asked almost casually; they’d changed positions on the floor and Sungmin was now straddling Hyukjae’s lap; the Captain just nodded before pulling Sungmin down for another kiss.
“Later.” He mumbled against them losing himself in him.
Eventually they made it to the bed and both men would have problems walking in the morning. Hyukjae was the only one who had to actually get up, retrieving the paper work for Sungmin to fill out so he could officially become one of their allies. They also created a new history for Sungmin, disguising who he really was within the system and creating a new identity for him as Hyukjae’s cousin. This way they could stay close, if only for ‘family reasons’.
Hyukjae’s superiors were not pleased with the situation, but accepted it nonetheless. During the process of the war several people from Sungmin’s side had turn coated to their own so it wasn’t surprising that during the four months he was a prisoner aboard the Heartless Captain Hyukjae’s ship that he would change his ideals a bit. Most figured it was coercion that did it. They never would have suspected that the captain and prisoner became lovers, if only just to lick at each other’s wounds. Their love for each other was only surpassed by the memories of those that they had lost before. And that was something that would never change.
A/N:The ending isn’t very good… I just wanted to leave it open, like Sungmin’s lover. I’m curious as to who you all thought of? :)
Author: rudeminnesotan
Rating: Rated M for Mature. (Probably anyway).
Pairing(s): broken!EunHae, Sungmin/?, Sungmin/Hyukjae.
Summary: World War three has broken out. People have chosen their sides. War... is not pretty.
Genre: AU, angst.
Notes: Warnings: Character death. Sungmin’s lover isn’t named specifically so you can think it’s whoever you want (of course I have my idea, but it’s a matter of how you interpret the text). Oh. BTW: This is for zaboomafoo76.
It had been three years since the war broke out in Asia-within just a few months it had spread worldwide and quickly World War Three turned nuclear. About a year ago was when Donghae had died; the submarine he had been deployed on was bombed by enemy ships. When Hyukjae got the news he was crushed. They had only been lovers for a short period of time before the war broke out and now Donghae was gone-and he hadn’t even been there to say good bye. Just ‘boom’ and he was gone. If the war had not still been going on, Hyukjae would have broken down right then and there.
But he was strong. He had been trained to be strong. And Donghae was just another casualty in the war, soldier, along with several thousand others. Now buck up! At least that’s what they had told Hyukjae when he started to cry over the news of Donghae’s death. That was a year ago. And now Hyukjae was the captain of his own ship in the ROK Navy. His ship was one of the best in the fleet-people rumored it was because the captain was cold and heartless but really it was because there wasn’t much left for Hyukjae to live for so he fought like it. Every day was his last.
Protocol was the only thing that kept Hyukjae from doing the things he truly wanted to do. If it wasn’t for that set of rules he was sworn to abide by he probably would search for and hunt down the enemies one by one… But he had to follow orders. And that was not his orders. Hyukjae’s orders were to patrol border and boundary waters, salvaging what they could from wreckage they came upon because resources were scarce.
He never expected to find what he did one day.
Bodies were to be expected, it was war after all, but never had one been alive before.
When it was first found, a message was sent up to Hyukjae to ask what to do.
“Captain. The men have found a man alive in the salvage. His uniform says that he’s not one of ours… What should we do?”
’Shoot him in the head?’ Hyukjae thought to himself as he leaned forward on his elbows, fingertips pressed together. “Take him aboard. He’ll be our prisoner. If we can’t get any information out of him… We’ll kill him.” That was protocol after all. Stupid fucking protocol.
“Yessir.” The peon left then to go deliver the message to the soldiers on the ship.
‘Hmm…’ Hyukjae hummed softly to himself, “A prisoner of war…”
When the prisoner was pulled onboard he had been unconscious, so after stripping him of his uniform the prisoner was dressed in simple clothes and thrown into a cell. Hyukjae took it upon himself to watch over the prisoner until he woke up.
As he began to stir, Hyukjae stood up and went over to rap his book against the poles of the cell.
“Wake up, you dog,” said Hyukjae with a snarl. The man scoffed as he rolled over and barely opened his eyes.
“I take it…” His voice seemed a bit hoarse and his eyes were red, not that Hyukjae cared to notice, “I’m not in the company of friends.”
“Your assumption would be correct, soldier. You are aboard the ROK Eastern Sea. I am its Captain. Now tell me. Name and rank.” If it was possible to spit venom with his words, Hyukjae would have at that moment.
The prisoner contemplated for a moment, both his situation and if he should tell the truth or not… But what did he have to lose now?
“Lieutenant Commander Lee Sungmin.” He said with a sigh, eyes directed to the floor.
Sungmin? Why did that name sound so familiar to him…? The thought was brushed off the second it came to him; Hyukjae had a job to do.
“Tell me, what was your mission Lieutenant Commander?”
Sungmin rubbed his face where he sat, looking up to that Captain through heavily lidded eyes. “Seek… and destroy.” A sarcastic laugh was added at the end as he just shook his head.
Hyukjae held back his anger. That… that… “I guess you failed, huh.” Was all he was able to get out; Sungmin only laughed more.
“More like seek and /get/ destroyed.” The words were followed up with another sarcastic laugh.
“And how did you manage to survive?” Hyukjae was already growing tired of this question game.
“Why don’t you just kill me and throw me back into the water.” Sungmin replied, glaring at the Captain again. “No one will ever have to know I was your prisoner and besides, you look like someone hungry for blood.”
The reply caught Hyukjae off guard for a moment, and his eyes went wide.
“Come on. You can even do it with your bare hands-I won’t struggle.” Sungmin had such an evil grin on his face, though his eyes were sad. However that sadness was hidden to Hyukjae who was too blinded by his anger to notice.
“Hah.” He started, “You’d like that wouldn’t you. I’d open your cell and you could get out easily. No. I won’t take that risk.” Besides, it was against fucking protocol… Though Sungmin had been right; Hyukjae craved the feeling of squeezing the life out of someone with his bare hands.
“You’re scared.” Sungmin said, rising to his feet shakily. “You’re scared of the rules, aren’t you.” He grabbed ahold of the bars to steady himself so Hyukjae had to take a step back.
“You are out of line.” Hyukjae said rather automatically, nostrils flaring with rage. “I won’t hesitate to kill you when the time comes.” The book he had in his hand was slammed down on the chair that faced the cell. “WHEN it comes.” The words added before he left the brig.
Sungmin let out a sigh and fell back down onto the hard bed he had. “Damnit…” he muttered to himself before letting his body quake with tears once more.
Hyukjae returned to his office and shut the door with such force the pictures on the wall nearly fell off-or they would have if they weren’t bolted down.
“FUCK!” he screamed, slamming his fists onto the desk before just running his hands through his hair, throwing his hat across the room. “I can’t believe I let him get to me like that…” The ends of his own hair were grabbed and tugged before he just dropped his head down onto the desk.
“Donghae…” he said the man’s name softly… “I miss you…” Hyukjae sighed and closed his eyes to prevent the tears from coming. Donghae would know what to do… Donghae was always strong. Strong and happy-even in this time of war he kept a smile on his face…
“Captain…?” A soldier opened the door cautiously and Hyukjae sat up immediately, straightening out his uniform.
“Yes? What is it man.” His voice almost cracked but he swallowed it back down and sniffed hard to compose himself.
“Orders from the top; they want us to find out whatever we can from the prisoner. What… have we found out?”
‘Damnit…’ Hyukjae was expecting that but he didn’t want it. “He’s a Lieutenant Commander. That’s all I’ve found out so far.”
“I see… I’ll forward on the message. Keep up the good work Captain.” The soldier saluted Hyukjae, a motion he returned before leaving him alone again. These orders… Hyukjae knew they wouldn’t be easy to fulfill.
A few hours later, Hyukjae returned back down to Sungmin’s cell. A small door was opened and a tray with food was slide inside. Sungmin had been lying down with an arm over his face; those tear strained eyes looked over to the tray and then to Hyukjae as he took his seat again.
“How am I supposed to know that isn’t poisoned.” He asked as he reached for the tray.
“You’re not.” Hyukjae retorted, flipping open his book and trying to ignore the other as best he could.
“That’s hopeful…” Sungmin muttered as he picked up the chopsticks and began to eat. The entire tray was cleared within a matter of minutes and he went back to lying down afterward.
Several more minutes of silence passed between them before Sungmin asked, “Are you just going to sit there?”
“No. I’m reading a book.” He held it up as it was mentioned and just smiled at Sungmin before returning to his page. Sungmin just scoffed.
“You’re not even going to question me more?”
“Nnnope.”
“You don’t want to know what I know?”
“I don’t, no.” This was just a game, obviously.
“But your superiors do.” Hyukjae shut his book then and nodded.
“Yes they do.” He started, “Do you have anything I can tell them?”
“That they’re going to lose the war?” Sungmin said automatically; they were his enemy after all.
“Says the prisoner on MY war ship; I’m not convinced.”
Sungmin scowled then and covered his eyes with his arm once again. Hyukjae returned to reading.
Several more conversations were had between the two like this one. Hyukjae’s superiors were not thrilled by his slow progress, but it’s not like they could do much about it. He was over 100 thousand miles away from land. This was his domain, not theirs and he would do things the way he wanted to… to a degree.
A few weeks passed before Hyukjae came into the room without prompting, looking determined.
“Tell me what you know.” He said, grabbing onto the bars of the cage and shaking the door to ruse the half asleep man.
“Heh… Finally gave into their demands huh?” Sungmin sat up, rubbing at his face. He hadn’t been allowed to clean himself and it was starting to show.
“No.” Hyukjae’s eyes were lined in red, “Just tell me. TELL me what you know Lieutenant Commander!” He shouted it, shaking the door again. Hyukjae was all worked up for some reason.
But Sungmin wasn’t scared. “Why should I? What if I don’t even know anything? If I tell you that, will you finally just kill me!?” The mood somehow transferred over to Sungmin who shot up to his feet and grabbed the bars right near Hyukjae but unlike before he didn’t retreat.
“Would you be telling the truth?” Hyukjae countered, almost baring his teeth like an animal.
“No! But who the fuck cares!? JUST KILL ME ALREADY!” Sungmin smacked his hands against the bars and turned his back to them facing his slab of a bed. “I don’t deserve to live…” His shoulders shook just a second before he swallowed down the emotion he felt.
“Trust me; I would kill you if I could!” Hyukjae yelled back.
“THEN JUST DO IT ALREADY!”
“I’m not going to kill someone who WANTS to die!! Tell me what you know and I’ll decide what to do with you after!” Hyukjae had heard what Sungmin had said, and for some reason the pain in Sungmin’s voice and in his eyes-Hyukjae could empathize with it so perfectly well.
“I’m dead anyway…” Sungmin sat down rubbing at his face and suddenly began to talk. He said everything that he knew about his sides plans, though it wasn’t as much as Hyukjae’s superiors would probably be hoping for.
Hyukjae returned to his chair and pulled it close towards the cell, listening intently. Everything was committed to memory and he left without a word to pass on the message.
Two hours later he reentered the brig with Sungmin’s dinner, sliding it through the small door again. Hyukjae returned to his seat and stared at Sungmin who didn’t move.
“So why do you want to die.”
The question was stated so plainly that Sungmin had to look at him and was surprised what he saw; the uniform was slightly disheveled and he was lacking his hat. There was a glint of sadness in Hyukjae’s face that Sungmin hadn’t noticed before.
“What’s it to you.” He replied, voice hard.
“I’m curious. You have the means to kill yourself in your cell, yet you don’t try. Are you looking for an honorable death?” Hyukjae shifted in the seat, moving just a bit closer.
“Honorable?” Sungmin laughed, “No… If I commit suicide … I won’t get t…” Should I say it… Sungmin wondered before dropping his head and letting the words out, “I won’t get to see him again…”
The answer surprised Hyukjae, but not as much as he was thought it might.
“How did he die?” He asked.
“Why do you even care…?”
“Because my lover died too.” Hyukjae said, sadness cracking his voice at the end. “And I want to know…”
Sungmin was silent for a moment before laughing, pulling his legs to his chest. “You and I are one in the same…” No wonder… his thoughts continued, “He died… on the ship. We were stationed together.” There was another pause before Sungmin asked, “How did yours die?”
“His submarine was bombed. So probably much like yours… But I wasn’t there. I was here.”
“Trust me. It was better to be here.” Sungmin said, “I watched him go down inside the ship…” he rubbed his face again as his Adam’s apple bobbed, preventing himself from crying anymore.
“I suppose you’re right.” Hyukjae responded, scratching at his head and then wiping at his eyes. Remembering Dongahe always brought back tears. “Does nothing for the pain…” The words were choked out with a quivering chin.
“I know…” said Sungmin sliding over to the bars and holding out his hand to Hyukjae. He looked at it through blurry eyes and then took it.
Not long after taking that hand, Hyukjae was on the floor. Both men were talking about their lovers as if they were the best of friends sitting around back home chatting, not enemies on a war ship holding hands through cell bars. It wasn’t until a soldier came knocking that they separated.
Still, many times after that Hyukjae went back and the pair talked like long lost friends. Hyukjae began to trust Sungmin and Sungmin… he began to like Hyukjae.
“Hey. Hyukkie. Come here.” Sungmin waved him over towards his cell. Once Hyukjae was close enough he reached out a hand and pulled him up against the bars and pressed his lips to his experimentally.
Hyukjae pushed away at first, the sudden yank catching him off guard and his soldier side kicked into action immediately. But then there were lips against his own, something he hadn’t felt in so… so long. And soon his own hands were reaching through the bars to hold onto Sungmin.
Their feelings exploded in that moment and it took Hyukjae forcing himself away from Sungmin, wiping a hand across his bottom lip afterward to get them apart.
“You shouldn’t have done that…” Hyukjae said, his hand shaking over his mouth. “I’m the captain..!”
“So? And I’m a prisoner. That doesn’t mean anything when it comes to feelings, Hyukjae.” Sungmin said both hands on the bars of his cell once again. “Let me out…” He said it softly, enticingly, “Bring me to bed with you.”
Those words alone had Hyukjae shuddering, but he shook his head. “No. No no no. I can’t. You’re a prisoner, I’m the captain. I.-…. I can’t.” He left after saying that leaving Sungmin alone yet again.
That night at dinner a peon of a soldier brought Sungmin his food instead of Hyukjae which was more disappointing than him walking away. He ate in silence for the first time in weeks, wishing once more that he had just died on that ship.
The next morning however Hyukjae did show up… with a change of clothes and a bucket of soapy water; his appearance surprised Sungmin who sat up immediately.
“Hyukjae; you came back.”
“I will let you out… and put you in these clothes.” He said, setting them down on the chair and setting the bucket near the cell. “And bring you to my quarters…” That was said quietly, “If you promise me one thing.”
“What is it?” Sungmin asked hesitantly. The whole idea had been merely experimental so the idea of conditions being placed on it…
“Turn coat.” Hyukjae said it simply, “Cross over to our side; be an ally instead of my enemy.” He stepped over to the bars and held his hand out for Sungmin to take. “Please…”
“You…” Sungmin began, looking at the hand, the clothes and then finally at Hyukjae. “You want me to … Betray my people? AGAIN?”
The question hurt; Hyukjae had been hoping this would be easy.
“Are they really your people?” He asked, chin quivering all over again. “You’ve been here on my ship for months now… And they’ve made no attempt to come and rescue you. These waters, in fact, haven’t been calmer since you got on the ship.” Hyukjae laughed at the end, eyes shining with the tears that threatened to fall. “And you still call them your people…” One fell that he wiped away, turning away from Sungmin in an attempt to compose himself.
“I was trained to be a soldier since I was very young, Hyukjae!” Sungmin countered, banging his hand against the bars. “You expect me to betray them just like that!?”
“You would rather betray me instead!??” He shouted in reply, covering his mouth after he’d said it. “These items… The bucket… The clothes. Me. They will all be out of your reach unless you become my ally, Sungmin.” Both items were placed just out of Sungmin’s range and he kept himself there as well.
Sungmin just stared a moment before sitting himself down on the bench. His people, his ideals, everything he’s known so far… Or that man before him. Somehow the decision was more difficult than he would have assumed.
“I’ll let you think about it.” Hyukjae said before turning on his heel and leaving. Shortly after he returned to his quarters and broke down. The idea of giving himself to another person and being rejected like that hurt and he only wished more fervently that Donghae was still alive and able to hold him… So that he wouldn’t be loving the enemy.
Reports of Sungmin in his cell still came to Hyukjae as he purposefully avoided him; the man was barely eating, sitting with his back to the clothes and bucket of water. As if he was sitting with his back to me… Hyukjae thought, filling out a report; more wreckage had been found and sorted on the ship though they were nowhere near capacity.
Down in the bowels of the ship, Sungmin was in pain. Heart wrenching pain. How could Hyukjae pose a condition like this on him? Weren’t they friends? Did he honestly expect him to give up home and country in favor of a MAN? No matter how he felt about that man… A feeling he hadn’t had since…
“Ugh!” Sungmin kicked his bed and rolled over onto his side on the floor. This sucked.
Another month easily passed before Hyukjae went back down to see Sungmin. The bucket of water, long cold, was picked up and the water thrown on the sleeping man.
He woke in a sputtering mess, staring at Hyukjae with wide eyes.
“I can handle your rejection. But you’re starting to smell.” It was, naturally, an excuse. Hyukjae couldn’t handle the rejection. He wanted Sungmin.
The next thing that was thrown at him was a towel, the bars blocking it from reaching Sungmin so he had to get up to reach it.
“Dry off… Then you can change.” Hyukjae said reaching into his pocket for the handcuffs he’d brought with him. “And then… You’re coming with me.” He trusted him not to run away, but it was protocol after all.
Sungmin hadn’t been expecting this… Not at all. He still hadn’t been able to make a decision… The pain of rejecting Hyukjae… the pleasure of accepting him… Betraying his country… Or Hyukjae. It was starting to slowly kill Sungmin. So all he could do was what he was told.
His wet clothes were stripped off and he dried himself, the stench surprisingly worse without clothes. The fresh ones were offered and put on before Hyukjae went inside and handcuffed him. Being that close to him again, Sungmin was almost delirious with Hyukjae scent… His bound hands reached out for him, pulling him back close so he could whisper hoarsely, “I missed you.”
Hyukjae said nothing though, just swallowed that lump in his throat and pushed Sungmin out of the cell. He was lead through the more hidden parts of the ship until they reached Hyukjae’s room. In there, Sungmin was pushed towards the bathroom.
“There’s another fresh set of clothes in there for you after you clean up… As well as everything else you might need.” Hyukjae was talking to Sungmin’s hands as he took off the handcuffs.
His words and that distance gaze… Sungmin wanted to wrap himself around Hyukjae; being close to him after not seeing him for so long and having him constantly on his mind for that entire month. Hyukjae couldn’t imagine what it had done to him.
“Okay…” Was all he said though, turning towards the bathroom; there were all the toiletries he needed including a toothbrush. Hyukjae left him alone in the bathroom and returned to his room. There he dressed himself in casual clothes and just waited.
It took Sungmin nearly two hours in the bathroom, but considering he hadn’t showered in probably over four months it wasn’t very surprising. Brushing his teeth finally was the most glorious feeling Sungmin had felt in those four months, asides from a certain kiss… The first thing he did in fact when he got out of the bathroom was apologize with a deep bow.
“What for?” Hyukjae asked, looking up from his book.
“Kissing you with that mouth. I brushed my teeth 3 times and it still feels gross…” Sungmin laughed a bit; he’d found a rubber band in the bathroom and tied his long hair up on top of his head. It was probably the cutest thing Hyukjae had seen since Donghae’s smile.
“I told you…” He was only able to say, closing the book slowly as he looked over Sungmin. That man… How was he doing this to him? “You were starting to smell.” Hyukjae rose up from his chair and crossed the room to Sungmin unconsciously embracing him tightly.
Sungmin froze for just a second before returning the hug, burying his face into Hyukjae’s neck. He smelt so … clean. So wonderful. Just like the day he’d kissed him. It made him want to do it again.
“Sungmin…” Hyukjae said his name softly, pulling him away for just a second. Their faces were so close that Sungmin could almost taste those lips again. “I have to bring you back.” He choked on the words, pulling the handcuffs from his pocket once again.
“No!” Sungmin said immediately, jumping away from Hyukjae. “No! Please, Hyukkie…” the reaction came before Sungmin could stop it, clinging to the doorway to the bathroom.
“I have to Sungmin.” Hyukjae was forcing himself to use his ‘Captain’s tone’ though it was hard. “You are my prisoner. And I am the Captain.”
“Please…” he begged softly, sliding down to the floor. “I--…” he couldn’t finish. It somehow felt like the being put back would mean he would never get to see Hyukjae again… and Sungmin wasn’t sure he could handle that.
“Kill me first before putting me back.”
“I don’t want to kill you Sungmin…” Hyukjae kneeled on the floor in front of his enemy who he so desperately wanted him not to be.
“Please… I don’t want to be without you Hyukjae.” Sungmin said it before he could stop himself, hiding his face against the doorframe while his shoulders sunk. “I-… I’d rather be dead…”
“Then change sides…” Hyukjae’s voice altered, pleading to him. “Please Sungmin! Y-… You can stay with you as long as you… as long as you change sides…”
Sungmin scoffed a laugh again, falling forward against Hyukjae; he held onto him for a moment finally trying to force himself to come to a decision.
“… you… won’t leave me?” Sungmin asked in a meek voice, asking Hyukjae’s chest more than anything.
“I won’t go off recklessly and try to get myself killed…” He replied, “You… would give me something to live for Min…” the question had brought tears to Hyukjae’s eyes that he couldn’t hold back; they fell freely as he spoke, hands clinging to the shirt on Sungmin’s back.
Hearing him say that, Sungmin looked up directly, staring at those crying eyes before him. Then both of his hands went to Hyukjae’s cheeks and he kissed him. The handcuffs were dropped the second those lips were on his own and soon Hyukjae had forgotten his own name, gasping for breath as they broke the kiss with bruised lips.
“I have…. Paper work.” Hyukjae gasped between words, even while Sungmin was trying to strip him of his clothes. “For you to…. To fill out.”
“To make it official?” he asked almost casually; they’d changed positions on the floor and Sungmin was now straddling Hyukjae’s lap; the Captain just nodded before pulling Sungmin down for another kiss.
“Later.” He mumbled against them losing himself in him.
Eventually they made it to the bed and both men would have problems walking in the morning. Hyukjae was the only one who had to actually get up, retrieving the paper work for Sungmin to fill out so he could officially become one of their allies. They also created a new history for Sungmin, disguising who he really was within the system and creating a new identity for him as Hyukjae’s cousin. This way they could stay close, if only for ‘family reasons’.
Hyukjae’s superiors were not pleased with the situation, but accepted it nonetheless. During the process of the war several people from Sungmin’s side had turn coated to their own so it wasn’t surprising that during the four months he was a prisoner aboard the Heartless Captain Hyukjae’s ship that he would change his ideals a bit. Most figured it was coercion that did it. They never would have suspected that the captain and prisoner became lovers, if only just to lick at each other’s wounds. Their love for each other was only surpassed by the memories of those that they had lost before. And that was something that would never change.
A/N:The ending isn’t very good… I just wanted to leave it open, like Sungmin’s lover. I’m curious as to who you all thought of? :)