Reunion [3/?]
Previous Chapter
Kyuhyun awakens to the sound of china hitting china. His limbs are completely tangled in sheets he knows he didn’t fall asleep under, which makes his heart beat a little faster than it should. After stretching out for a bit, he finally opens his eyes and searches the room for his company.
The young prince is sitting at the small, elegant table in the room, drinking tea and staring out the open window. He’s wearing a white undershirt with navy blue dress pants, and a towel is slung over his shoulders to allow excess water from his hair to drip. He grimaces at the taste of the drink; wishing he were still at the age where it was alright to add half a cup of sugar in.
“I always thought I would be the only one to see you like this,” Kyuhyun says quietly, startling the prince. “Relaxed and half-dressed… fresh out of the shower.” He lets his lips turn up in a small smile. “How’s the duchess?” he asks, suddenly serious.
Siwon sets his tea down on the table and rubs the nape of his neck. “My guess is as good as yours; I have not yet met her.”
Kyuhyun raises an eyebrow and sits up. “How is it possible that you’ve never met the woman you’re marrying in 2 months?”
“My father has not allowed me to meet her yet, for good reason. Through college and after I joined the army, I courted several women he picked out to be my wife, but I found something wrong with every one.” Siwon smiles to himself like he’s sharing an inside joke. “He seems to think the only way to make sure I marry is to meet her on my wedding day.”
The pianist is silent at the presentation of the new information, and he plays with the corner of the sheets to busy his hands. “Why are you here?” he questions, attempting to get to the reason behind the prince’s unexpected visit.
The smile Siwon flashes him hasn’t changed since they were ten years old. His dimples are deeply defined, and his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Would you think me mad if I said I have no idea why I came here? Originally, when I saw your performance announcement in the paper, I though about just quietly watching and leaving without a word. But of course, my status does not allow me to quietly do anything, so I planned to just briefly speak with you and part ways.”
“Could you really have done that? Pretend like we’re just old friends who haven’t seen each other in a while and leave again?”
“Are we not sitting in a hotel room I bought for 3 days?”
“You’re an idiot for coming here.” Kyuhyun swings his legs off the side of the bed and straightens his shirt. “I just… I waited for you. But I realized after 3 years you weren’t coming back. And I know you had your reasons, and I know you still do. But I’m having a hard time moving on, and seeing you isn’t helping.” His shoes had been abandoned at the foot of the bed at some point the night before and he pulls them on over his socks.
“Tell me not to marry her and I will find a way to call off the wedding.”
A tense silence falls over the pair as they stare at each other, understanding the implication of the prince’s words. Siwon’s eyes are sad. He’s known for years that he would be forced into a loveless marriage, as was common for royalty at the time, but he didn’t think he would ever be able to go through with it. Standing in front of someone he loved so dearly, how could he possibly leave and marry a stranger?
“I have to go,” Kyuhyun says softly. The pianist collects his jacket and doesn’t bother pulling it on before he quickly slips out of the hotel room.
-
The Duke pays no mind to Kyuhyun on the long journey to his new home. The six day journey feels even longer on his empty stomach; not that the Duke is cruel enough to starve his new servant. The teenager foolishly hopes that starving himself will convince the Duke to return him to the palace, but Kyuhyun receives as much attention as the hired driver.
By the time the Duke’s grand house is visible in the distance, Kyuhyun’s done trying to persuade his new master to return him back home. Perhaps he would try again later when he didn’t feel so sick, but for now, just like his bruises, his hope has faded.
The Duke’s property is obviously nowhere as expansive as the king’s palace, but it’s large enough to hold a significant amount of servants to upkeep the house. The Duke briefly explains that because of his many affairs, he employs someone to run the house during his frequent absences.
Jungsu appears to be a kindhearted man whose smile makes Kyuhyun feel a bit welcome in the strange environment. He smiles and nods at his master as the Duke quickly introduces Kyuhyun, mentioning that the teenager hasn’t eaten in a week and should probably eat before resting.
Mere seconds after the Duke retreats to his quarters, a hand is brought across his face, making him reel back from how weak he was already feeling plus the shock of the action. Jungsu’s eyes no longer hold any warmth, and Kyuhyun wants to cry from the combination of exhaustion and the possibilities of the situation he’s in. A bruising hand latches onto his forearm and drags him down the hall.
“I hope you’re not planning to pull any more of this shit while you’re here.” They enter a small kitchen that couldn’t possibly be the main one, and Kyuhyun briefly wonders if it’s just for servants before he’s shoved into a stool. “I don’t deal with any form of attention-getting, so I expect you to fall into the pattern of work or you’ll find yourself on the street.” A molding loaf of bread sits on the counter and to the younger man’s dismay a slice is cut from it and placed in front of him. “Eat.”
“I cannot eat this,” he says firmly, daring to look the man in his eyes.
Jungsu’s glare hardens, and he leans way too close to Kyuhyun’s face. “Then starve. That’s all you’re getting.”
Kyuhyun doesn’t realize how spoiled he’s being by refusing the bread. The conditions in the king’s castle had always been the best in the country, abnormally so because of the availability of fresh food. Others, as he will soon learn, are lucky if their masters leave some food over from his table to share among way too many servants. Because of his cushy life up to this point, Kyuhyun feels that he has the right to eat a fresh slice of bread and not the hard item in front of him starting to turn greenish.
He stares at the plate, waiting for the plate to be replaced with something more edible, but Jungsu only gives him 3 minutes to stare before Kyuhyun’s arm is seized again and he’s dragged out.
“What are you doing? I have not eaten yet! “ He successfully frees his arm from the grip, but the moment he’s released he’s slapped again. Kyuhyun freezes again, which gives Jungsu enough time to finish dragging him through a small hallway branching off a bigger wing. There’s only three doors along the ordinary hallway, two on the left and one on the right. Jungsu leads him through the right door that has ‘Servant Quarters’ engraved on a plaque attached.
Cots are strewn across the room, a moderate size for one of the king’s luxurious bathrooms, but definitely not an appropriate size for the number of cots crammed into the room. Kyuhyun counts about 30 beds in the small space; all of them are touching and there’s bedding on all of them.
“We’re out of beds at the moment. You’ll be sleeping on the floor.” Jungsu steps over the cots to open up the large wardrobe that took up most of the space in the room. From there he takes out a blanket and tosses it at Kyuhyun.
The young servant boy looks around, trying to find a spot to stretch out. “But… where? There only seems enough space for the door to open up.”
Jungsu raises an eyebrow and walks towards the door. “I’m afraid that’s not my problem. And you talk too high and mighty. Change that before the Duke hears it; he’ll think you’re being rebellious. I’ll be back in a few hours for your clothes. Remove them and leave them on top of the wardrobe.”
“My clothes…?” Kyuhyun takes a bit of his shirt between his thumb and index finger, examining them. “What could possibly be wrong with them? This is what I wore in the king’s palace.” Kyuhyun immediately steps back, preparing for another slap, but Jungsu only gives him an amused look.
“This is nothing like your dear king’s palace.”
The door slams behind him, and the teenager can only stand in place for a few minutes to gather his thoughts and bite back tears. He looks down at the tattered blanket in his hands and clutches them close to his chest. How could conditions be this bad?
Slowly, he strips off his outer clothes, leaving the undergarments on to sleep in. In accordance with Jungsu’s instructions he places them on top of the wardrobe then looks around for a place to sleep. He crouches in front of the door and spreads the blanket out. It’s very early in the morning, so he figures he can sleep in front of the door for a little bit before he needs to find a permanent place.
He falls into a deep dreamless sleep, and it only feels like a few minutes later when the door swings open fast and hits him square in the back. Another servant boy, maybe a few years older than him peeks in the door and smiles at the sight of a new person. The smile isn’t a welcoming one though; it’s one of ill intentions.
Kyuhyun gasps as the door swings back and hits him again. Quickly, he gathers the blanket and scrambles to his feet. “I apologize,” he starts, standing away from the door. “I just wanted to catch up on lost sleep. I know I should have found a better spot besides right in front of the door.”
“You talk like a prince,” another servant behind him pipes in. “Are you that kid who used to work under the king.”
“From what I heard, he’d love to quite literally work iunder the king.” The pair snickers and Kyuhyun bows his head in embarrassment and turns red. “What’s your name? How old are you?”
“Kyuhyun. Seventeen.” Fighting back isn’t an option, he decides. They both look like they have the ability to beat him up, and he’s already had enough of being slapped around for the day.
“Seventeen?” The second servant steps forward and harshly grabs Kyuhyun’s chin to look at him closely. “You don’t look like an adult. Are you really a boy? You look weak.”
The first servant steps forward and lifts Kyuhyun’s undershirt and runs a cold calloused hand across his midsection. He flinches away from the touch. “He obviously didn’t do any hard labor; he still has a bit of baby fat. A defenseless house servant.”
“Tell me. Do you have parents? What kind of work did they do?”
He wants to look away from the black eyes staring into his but the grip on his jaw is firm enough to tell him that it’s probably not a good idea. “My father passed away when I was small, but my mother is the king’s favorite companion so she doesn’t work often.”
“A whore’s son,” the other speaks up. Kyuhyun frowns and starts to protest but he’s cut off by Jungsu re-entering the room.
“Youngwoon. Jongwoon. Why are you not outside?” Kyuhyun doesn’t think he’ll ever be this happy to see the older man. “Release Kyuhyun.” The two men follow the head’s order, but they’re still too close for Kyuhyun’s comfort. “Now answer me. Why are you not attending to your duties?”
“Me and Jongwoon were working in the stables, but the Duke had some guests over and wanted to take them on a ride, so he told us to continue our work later when the guests leave.” Youngwoon flashes a bright smile and bows his head at Jungsu.
“So absolutely nothing else needs to be done? If I check the back door, there’s no mud tracked in?” Jongwoon groans, and Youngwoon stops smiling. “That’s what I thought. Go clean it up then see if the kitchen needs more wood.”
The two men grumble as they leave the room, and Kyuhyun smiles gratefully at Jungsu. “Thank you for helping me.”
“Have you done any manual work on a regular basis?” He ignores the young servant’s gratitude and leans against the doorframe.
“I did the prince’s laundry twice a week when he was at home.” His voice is very quiet as he thinks about the boy he hasn’t seen in a week. “When he wasn’t home I sometimes worked in the garden and brought his majesty his evening tea.”
Jungsu sighs and rubs his temple with his thumb and forefinger. “So untrained. Tomorrow we’ll get you started in the laundry room, but today you’ll make the rounds with me. Go wash up in the restroom while I get you some clothes that are appropriate for your position.” He points across the hall at one of the two doors and shoots Kyuhyun a look. “Hurry up.”
Only when he’s sure that the man’s gone does Kyuhyun lower the blanket clutched to his chest and peek out the door for signs of the two older servants. He lets out a quiet sigh of relief and takes the few steps across the hall to reach the servant’s restroom.
The room is nothing less than repulsive. Even though the room is small, three showerheads have been crammed in together leaving no room for privacy. There’s mold starting to grow on the damp floor and a horrible smell coming from the buckets along one side of the room. The chamber pots are quite literally just that: large buckets meant to be filled then emptied at a later time. There’s not even a sink in the room, a luxury for most servants.
Kyuhyun dry heaves at the sight, having nothing on his stomach to throw up. Hesitantly, he turns on one of the showers and yelps at the cold water that hits his feet. After a few minutes, he decides that the water isn’t getting any warmer and he does his best to wash his face and hands. His bladder can hold on for a while longer.
Jungsu unceremoniously bursts into the restroom with old but clean clothes in his arms. From just a glance, Kyuhyun can tell that they’re way too big for his too thin frame, but that’s something he got used to in the king’s palace. He dresses quickly, embarrassed of the hard look the head servant is giving him, and stares down at his uncovered feet.
“We’ll find a good size shoe for you tomorrow. Let’s go.”
Making the rounds is a exhausting task within itself. They make their way back and forth between all wings of the house. Jungsu makes sure that the servants are keeping up with their tasks, while double-checking behind them to make sure they weren’t cutting corners. Female servants shoot him wary looks when he’s introduced as the new boy from the king’s palace. The looks don’t escape him, but they’re not as worrying as the looks the male servants give him, looks very similar to the ones Youngwoon and Jongwoon were giving him earlier. One male servant, a gaunt-faced boy that Jungsu introduces as Ryeowook looks relieved to the point of tears to see him and temporarily drops the broom he’s using until Jungsu shoves his shoulder and tells him to get back to work.
All in all, he’s none too excited to live in the Duke’s house, but he’s sure that someone will come for him soon. After all, his mother is the king’s favorite and she should be able to change his mind with some time. Just a few weeks, he thinks, maybe months.
Months turn into a year, and a year turns into two.
Admittedly, he’s not as hopeful for a rescue as he used to be; he hasn’t seen or heard from anyone in the king’s palace since he was dragged out. He’s fallen into the regular pattern of collecting the laundry and cleaning the kitchen. He’s even gotten used to the lewd comments spat at him and the way the large male servants would grope at him. Sometimes Jungsu would be there to scold the workers and get them back on task, but most of the time he would be left on the ground, shaking and crying after being forced to kiss them.
The first few times he attempts to tell someone, namely Jungsu, who merely shrugs and tells him that it happens. After finding out he told, the men increased their activity for a while, touching him while he attempted to sleep, which made for several sleepless nights. This is common though, he learns. If it wasn’t happening to him, it could very well be happening to someone else. A servant, one who refrained from the constant bullying and teasing, confided that before Kyuhyun it had been the frail servant named Ryeowook. After four and a half years of being harassed and driven to a couple of suicide attempts, Ryeowook was finally free from his nightmare. Kyuhyun doesn’t consider himself a hero, but he knows he can deal with the touches and kissing if it means the servant being able to finally breathe and relax.
In sum, he’s following a routine that’s enough to drive a person mad, but he’s kept sane the past couple of years by holding onto his hope that someone was coming for him. Maybe it wouldn’t be Siwon, after all he had to finish school, but maybe his mother was working on a plan to bring him back.
“You’re looking especially pretty today.” Kyuhyun sighs and keeps his head down as he walks down the hall with his arms full of laundry. He quickens his pace to get away from the man calling out to him. Just seconds later though he’s pulled backwards by the ponytail that sits on the back of his head; he’s been begging the ladies of the house to cut it again for him as it’s much to long and a bit too girlish for his taste. “Didn’t I tell you that it’s best not to ignore me?” Youngwoon is breathing down his neck, his hand still tangled in his hair.
“Please not now… I have to gather the Duke’s bedding.” The master bedroom is only a few feet away, but the grip on his hair is too tight and has him dropping the items in his arms and dropping to his knees. “Youngwoon, please…” he begs. “I have to work.”
The older man chuckles and leans way too close to Kyuhyun’s face. “Of course, I wouldn’t hold you from your duties too long. Just give me a kiss, and I’ll leave you alone.” He leans even closer to steal a kiss, but Kyuhyun’s quick to curl his lips over his teeth and tries to pull away. “You’re being spirited today. Good try, but we both know you can’t take any kind of pain.” To show his point, Youngwoon tugs on the teenager’s hair, which has him yelping from the sharp pang.
“What’s going on here?”
Kyuhyun’s hair is quickly released at the sound of the Duke’s voice. Youngwoon inadvertently breaks the tie on Kyuhyun’s hair, which leaves his too-long strands framing his face and covering his neck.
“I was simply asking a question, Master.” Youngwoon is quick to bow to punctuate his lie. Kyuhyun follows his lead, nervous to see the Duke for the first time since his hunger strike stunt.
“Is that so?” By the Duke’s tone of voice, it’s obvious that he in no way believes the excuse but he appears to let it go. “I do not recognize this servant. Who are you, boy?”
A confused look graces Kyuhyun’s features as he looks up. Did the Duke not really recognize the servant he had personally retrieved? “I am Kyuhyun, your highness. You brought me from the king’s palace two years ago.” Brief eye contact is made and Kyuhyun quickly ducks his head again from the intensity of the man’s stare. He remembers he used to always feel Siwon’s gaze on him when they were together. At any given time he could have probably turned and caught the young prince staring at him with a fond look.
The air is tense as the Duke considers the teenager and even Youngwoon looks nervous and keeps his head bowed. “You may just address me as ‘Master’; ‘your highness’ is not at all necessary.” Kyuhyun nods and he’s out of the blue very aware of the laundry he dropped and hastily gathers it back in his arms and rises to his feet. “Youngwoon, take over Kyuhyun’s chores for the day. Kyuhyun, step into my room.” As much as the older servant wants to complain about doing menial work, he has no option to and obediently follows the Duke’s orders. Once he’s out of sight, the teenager and Duke are left standing alone in front of the master bedroom. “Into my room, Kyuhyun.”
The young servant is more than prepared to fall to his the ground and beg for any kind of forgiveness for what he may have done but to his surprise the Duke only asks him to sit at his writing desk and observes him for a bit. “A-am I in trouble?” he dares to ask, feeling uncomfortable under the older man’s stare.
“Not at all.” The Duke is silent again and the pause allows Kyuhyun a moment to study him. He’s much older than Kyuhyun, maybe by 25 or 30 years, but he seems to have aged well. His face isn’t handsome, in Kyuhyun’s opinion, but it’s not ugly by any means; just average. The clothes he’s wearing are very casual, light grey pants topped with a black smoking jacket over a white button up that’s doing nothing to hide his expanding waist. Hair that used to be a handsome jet black is now starting to show his age with streaks of white spread throughout. “I now recall that you were Prince Siwon’s companion.”
His heart flutters at the mention of his former lover. “Yes, sir, ah- Master, I was.”
“So, I take it you did not do much hard labor. And your mother was a concubine?” Kyuhyun nods. “Yes, yes, I remember seeing her. You both have the same pretty features.” The bottom of Kyuhyun’s stomach drops when a soft but cold hand cups the side of his face. “Be honest with me: are the others treating you well?” He’s answered with an instinctive nod. “I told you to be honest.”
“Well, um, I suppose they need an outlet to release their tension, and I just happen to be the one they pick on. It’s nothing I cannot handle though. When the prince was away, the same happened in the palace.”
The Duke hums in understanding and leans forward to place a kiss on the servant’s cheekbone. Kyuhyun sharply inhales and starts to tremble. “I can promise you that the others won’t bother anymore. You’ll get to live like you once did with the king, maybe even better. Would you like that, Kyuhyun?”
Wasn’t this illegal?, he thinks. Wasn’t this exactly what got him kicked out of the palace in the first place? He wants to say something, to refuse, but the Duke was his master and who would believe him if he told? No one would ever believe a servant over a noble.
That’s when it clicks. As a servant, he’s expected to follow the law to a tee, but the Duke could easily do whatever he wanted and get away with it. He could sleep with a male servant, in front of a group of witnesses if he wanted, but he had enough power to escape punishment, to escape death.
Tears well up in the corner of his eyes and he does his best not to cry in front of the Duke; he rather not explain the sudden emotion he’s feeling. He feels very stupid for not realizing earlier that Siwon was quite literally saving his life. Of course it still hurt, but it gave him that little bit of hope he needed to continue to wait.
The Duke interprets the collecting tears differently and withdraws his hand with a sigh. Kyuhyun’s half relieved when the older man stands to his full height and crosses over to cabinet near his bed. He returns with a glass bottle of whiskey and two glasses. “Doing this hard the first time, but this should help for now.” He pours an uneven amount of alcohol into the glasses and hands the fuller one to Kyuhyun. The smell has Kyuhyun pulling a face, and he refuses the drink and asks if he can get back to his duties. Any words he said goes completely ignored and the Duke forces Kyuhyun’s mouth open and pours the drink in his mouth. Most of the drink is spit back out, but the portion that makes it down his throat burns the whole way down. “This will go back much smoother if you’re relaxed.”
Tears start rolling down the young servant’s face for a different reason this time. As someone so hypersensitive to pain, he allows the Duke to pour another drink and cooperates when it’s forced down his throat. If sleeping with the Duke was something unavoidable, he much rather make it as easy as possible, even tasting his first drops of alcohol. It doesn’t take very much whiskey to have his vision hazy and his body feeling light.
He’s easily lifted out of the chair and stumbles over to the bed. The alcohol has a calming effect on him, making him slightly tired but awake enough to feel the cold hands pulling his thin clothes off and mapping out his body.
Lips are on his and they feel much too wrong on his, but they’re practice and not as awkward as his first kiss was with Siwon. He opens his mouth to allow the Duke’s tongue in. He moans into the older man’s mouth when a tongue is slid allow his at the same time a hand begins to stroke his length.
His moans become whimpers as the Duke’s other hand opens Kyuhyun’s legs so he can circle his finger around the slightly darker entrance. Obviously, he hasn’t had sex in over two years, so he’s feeling oversensitive, maybe also a result of the alcohol coursing through his system.
The Duke intends to waste no time and turns Kyuhyun over to his stomach and lifts his hips up, leaving the bed momentarily. Kyuhyun whines slightly, maybe even voices out a ‘no’ to the persistent prodding at his backside. Back at the palace, he and Siwon had fully slept with each other a handful of times, Kyuhyun not really a fan of the throbbing pain that came with the pleasure. Even though he’s drunk, he knows he doesn’t want to feel that pain again, especially with someone he barely knows.
“No…” he breathes out again, but he’s silenced by a slick finger penetrating him with ease. Before now, he’s never had access to a lubricant, as the young boys would in no way alert anyone that they were intimate. The feeling is new and even in this state he’s surprised at how it doesn’t hurt. At three fingers he’s still not hurting. It’s uncomfortable, but bringing him some sort of pleasure. His hips are moving backwards of their own accord to meet the finger’s forward thrusts. Small needy moans escape his lips, and he allows himself to be vocal, all inhibition gone.
The Duke removes his fingers, chuckling and leaning down to plant a kiss in Kyuhyun’s tousled hair when the latter whines at the emptiness. “Be patient.” Smooth material of the Duke’s still present shirt and jacket separates skin from skin as the older man leans against his back as leverage, guiding himself towards Kyuhyun’s entrance. He prods a few times, which makes Kyuhyun whine and beg for him to get on with it.
When he finally feels the Duke breaching that small ring of muscle and sliding in gradually, his breathing quickens and he grips the bed sheets in his fists. This is nothing like the sex he had before. Though it’s a little uncomfortable and stretches him more than he’s used to, it feels much more gratifying with the aid of the lubricant. Before the Duke is all the way inside of him, he’s already pushing back and moaning wantonly.
They set a quick tempo, one not used for lovers, reserved only for two strangers wanting to get off. They don’t kiss or even speak to each other, the only sounds in the room being the lewd sound of skin hitting skin as the Duke’s length slips in and out of Kyuhyun. While the Duke is only letting out low grunts, Kyuhyun’s unabashedly lets out long moans and embarrassingly high-pitched whimpers.
The teenager is first to let go, thanks to the aid of the Duke’s hand, and he’s suddenly very sober when the man above him empties into his tight heat and pulls out. A small sob escapes his lips before he can stop himself. What was he doing? Did he really care so much about stopping the bullying? Enough to lower himself to this point? Wet kisses are trailed down his back and crane towards his face as he’s turned over to his side. “You did so well, Kyuhyun. I’ll make sure you’re treated like a prince here.”
At the word “prince”, Kyuhyun starts to cry more and tries to curl into himself, but the Duke insists on holding him close and rubbing a comforting hand over his back.
-
Light applause brings Kyuhyun out of the trance he usually falls in while he’s performing. At first he’s too started to react, but when he takes in his surroundings, he cracks a smile and stands up from the grand piano to bow to the handful of men and women at the luncheon.
An older woman, maybe around his mother’s age, comes up to shake his hand and compliment him on his flawless performance. Her husband is behind her and rehashes her admiration. “You must be a very rich man with all the performances you’ve been doing lately around the city. Do you perhaps own a home around here?”
“Oh no, madam.” He flashes a charming smile. “I chose to continue living with my old master after I started gaining some fame.” Kyuhyun gestures his head towards the direction of the said man who’s usually at each and every one of his performances. “This way I don’t really have to worry about living expenses; I’m very happy staying with him.”
He hasn’t seen a cent of the money he’s earned, and he doubts he ever will. Though the newspapers and radio painted the picture of a rags-to-riches story: a lowly servant who became a famous concert pianist, he’s just as trapped as he’s been since he was three. No one realizes that even though he’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, his life still belongs to the Duke. That’s something he’s unwilling to admit to anyone.
Kyuhyun receives the guests’ compliments for about 15 minutes and excuses himself to the restroom. Really, he excuses himself to the bar just down the hall from the lounge he played in. He knows what’s coming for him, and he’s never really been able to face it sober.
Bills are slid across the counter into the bartender who will stay silent for a price. Hands run down Kyuhyun’s side and rest on his hips. Kyuhyun downs a shot and reciprocates the fervent kiss the Duke gives him.
“You did great today. Donghae wasn’t able to make it today, he apologizes, but he will be at next week’s wedding performance.” Kyuhyun smiles at the thought of his friend, the only one he’d been able to make in years, and turns to fondly wrap his arms around his older lover.
“It’s alright. How can I be upset when you allowed me to stay at the hotel last night? You know I never get the chance to stay in them so it’s special when you let me.” He tilts his head back for a close-mouthed kiss. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
The bartender knocks a bottle over in his hurry to bow, and the pair shoots him a confused look before a clear ‘Your Majesty’ comes from him. Kyuhyun cranes his neck to look over the Duke’s shoulder and pales at the sight of a frowning Siwon. The Duke, putting on his polite face for royalty, grins widely and bows to the prince. “Your Majesty. Good to see you after so many years.”
“Same to you.” His jaw is set tight. “Could I speak to Kyuhyun alone for a moment?”
“Of course.” The Duke brazenly kisses Kyuhyun’s forehead and dismisses himself back to the lounge to mingle with the guest. Siwon grabs Kyuhyun’s hand and leads him out of the room, out of the earshot of the nosy bartender.
They find privacy in an empty washroom. Siwon leans against the back of the door with his arms crossed and head down, leaving Kyuhyun feeling very awkward. He alternates between studying the prince’s face and staring at his dress shoes.
“What are you doing, Kyuhyun?” Siwon quietly asks. “He… that man bought you; how could you possibly love him?”
“I don’t love him. It’s only for survival… I learned quickly that servants aren’t treated the same way I was in the palace. He promised to keep me safe from the bullying and treat me well. He’s kept his promise so far, and all he wants is for me to show some affection.”
“So you pretend to love him for protection?” His voice is getting louder as he grows angrier. “I really cannot understand your logic, Kyuhyun. When we were growing up you never felt like you needed protection when you were bullied there. Why would you suddenly feel the need to use your body in exchange for favoritism?”
Kyuhyun frowns, not liking the tone of Siwon’s accusation. “Because all places are not like the palace! At the Duke’s mansion I was relentless picked on for being ‘the son of a whore’. Every chance they could get they would corner me and force me to give them a kiss. I tried to get use to it for two years while waiting for you!”
“So instead of being the son of a whore, you just became one?” The prince immediately realizes what he just said and softens his expression. “I did not mean that, Kyuhyun, I swear.”
“But you did…” Kyuhyun lowers his head and does his best to hide his face.
“Kyuhyun, I am so sorry.” Siwon attempts to gather the pianist in his arms but is pushed away as Kyuhyun shoves past him and out of the washroom. Back to the lounge. Back to the Duke.
1. Why do I keep doing this to myself.
2. Obviously I've been watching too much Moulin Rouge
3. Happy New Year!
4. I swear I won't take two and a half months to update again. -_- Things got really busy and then I've been slightly depressed and unable to write for a couple of weeks, but I swear things won't get like that again.
5. Also, random, but since I hit a slump, I've lost all creativity and I would love if you were to give me drabble prompts to get me writing faster.