Sins of the Father (7/10)
Title: sins of the Father (7/10)
Author: singoutloud25
Pairing/Character: JunSeung, DooSeob
Rating: R (Swearing and Violence)
Genre: AU, Drama, Romance
Summary: The lives of these six young men would now forever be changed. They will become what they once feared and hated. They will become violent, dangerous, aggressive, and one will even become a murderer. They will become feared, hated, strong, and powerful. Some will grow to hate themselves and some will become dead and numb inside. Some will lose hope and some will never dare to dream.
Author's Notes: The point that I hope to convey throughout this story is that true friendship (a bond of love and trust and faith) is so strong that it can withstand anything. That the bond of true friendship (even when you are pulled away from and forced to leave the ones you love) will always remain, even when you feel that all is lost, that bond still remains deep within you.
P1/ P2/ Ch 1/ Ch 2/ Ch 3/ Ch 4/ Ch 5/ Ch 6
Chapter 7
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Yoseob turned onto his side so he was facing Doojoon’s back. He traced his fingers across the large bruise that covered Doojoon’s shoulder blade before wrapping his arm around the others waist. He snuggled into Doojoon’s back and gently kissed the bruise.
“Doojoon?” It was whispered lips against skin.
Doojoon laced his fingers with Yoseob’s. “Hm?”
“I…well I…I mean I want…” Yoseob bit his lip. He wasn’t sure how to begin to say what he wanted to say.
Doojoon turned over to face Yoseob. He ran his fingers up and down Yoseob’s arm. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure how to say it.”
Doojoon smiled and placed a soft kiss on Yoseob’s lips. “You know you can tell me anything. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Yoseob gave a small smile. “I know.”
“So tell me.”
Yoseob took a deep breath. “Last night was really bad Doojoon, things got out of hand, and you know that. You guys were out numbered and I think…I think you weren’t fully prepared.” He placed a hand on Doojoon’s chest. “I don’t think you guys were prepared mentally for what you had to do, for what could happen.” He paused for a moment, trying to think of how to phrase his next words.
Doojoon placed his arm over Yoseob’s waist and gave a little squeeze. “And?”
“I don’t know what’s happened Doojoon, to your side and mine, but something’s changed, something within us. We aren’t as strong willed as we used to be. We don’t have as much determination as we used to. Each side seems to be outnumbered and it’s obvious that the city is beginning to notice.” He took another breath, this time to calm his emotions down. “It’s like we’re all falling apart from the inside out and I’m afraid that sooner rather than later we’re all going to be destroyed. I’m afraid that we’re all going to become lifeless even if we are still breathing.”
They were both silent for several moments, Doojoon rubbing small circles in Yoseob’s neck while Yoseob kept his palm steady on Doojoon’s chest.
“You’re right. I’ve been having the same thoughts myself.” Doojoon pulled Yoseob closer. “I just don’t know how to fix things Seob. I know we need more men, but it’s basically impossible to find people to trust. And I know…” He closed his eyes, fighting back emotions he wasn’t sure he wanted to face. “I know that we are all breaking, some of us more than others. I know that this is what we were all afraid of, what we all never wanted to have to face, but I don’t know what to do to change it.”
Yoseob wrapped his arm around Doojoon’s waist and placed his forehead against the others chest. “There is a way to fix things Doojoon, I just think that you don’t want to admit to it.”
Doojoon tensed slightly. “What?”
Yoseob sighed. “Junhyung. You need to talk to Junhyung. You need to make amends.” He put his leg over Doojoon’s thigh and squeezed, hoping to anchor the other from moving. He still kept his eyes level with Doojoon’s chest.
“You know that if we were all together we would be so much stronger. You know that if we were all together we would be able to mend each other, to fix each other.” He looked up into Doojoon’s eyes. “If we were all together we would have that bond of love and courage like we once did. That bond that made us strong, determined, and alive.” He squeezed the leg and arm he had around Doojoon. “You know I’m right. Please Doojoon. Please talk to Junhyung.”
Doojoon closed his eyes again. Of course he knew that Yoseob was right. He had thought of talking to Junhyung several times, but that was all he would allow himself to do, think, never act. Their lives were different now. They had seen and done things that had changed them all completely. None of them would ever be the same. Their bond could never be the same, how could it if they themselves weren’t the same. He felt Yoseob squeeze him again. He opened his eyes and rested his forehead against Yoseob’s.
“I can’t Yoseob. Not now. It isn’t the right time.”
Yoseob squeezed his eyes shut. “But Doojoon it…” He was cut off by Doojoon’s mouth on his.
“I can’t Seob. Not yet.” Doojoon squeezed Yoseob’s thigh when the other was about to reply. “But I promise you I will think about it.”
Yoseob nodded his head, but didn’t speak. He knew that Doojoon would only think about it and that he would never act on it. Yoseob knew that he would just have to keep bringing the conversation up. He just hoped that Hyunseung would have better luck with Junhyung.
~*~*~*~*~
“And then Jang left. Yong trashed the room up pretty good and then left about an hour later.” Kangin finished telling Rain what had happened between Junhyung and Hyunseung. He felt fairly confident that this information was what his leader needed to put together the final steps in his plan.
Rain leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands in his lap. “And you G.O.?”
“Yoon and Yang had a very similar conversation with a similar outcome. Yoon stated that now wasn’t the right time to talk to Yong, but that he would think about it.” G.O. was quiet for a moment. “Yang didn’t get upset at all, he seemed content with what Yoon said.”
Rain nodded his head a couple of times. “So he believes that Yoon really will talk to Yong. And I have no doubt that if Yoon were to make the first move it would be easy for Yong to comply.” He went quiet for several moments.
Kangin cleared his throat. “What are you thinking of Sir?”
“I’m thinking that if they were indeed to become one group we would have no chance against them.” He smiled. “It’s time to put our plan into action.” The rest of his men smiled as well.
Rain was confident that their plan would work, but he knew that they had only a few days to accomplish it. He had to keep the Yoon and Yong groups separated. And he was confident that with his plan he would achieve that. He was also confident that not only would his plan keep them separated, but that it would also destroy each group separately, and in turn destroy them all individually.
~*~*~*~*~
Hyunseung entered Doojoon’s office and sat down in one of the chairs. He waited for Doojoon to finish talking on the phone and when he hung up Hyunseung quirked an eyebrow at the smile on Doojoon’s face.
“Good news I take it.”
“Kikwang is being released from the hospital and Jiyoon’s awake.” The smile on Doojoon’s face was the biggest smile he had seen the other man give in a long time.
Hyunseung was sure his smile was quite large as well. “That’s great. Is she okay? What did the doctor say?”
“Teac said that she seems fine and alert, but the doctor hasn’t been in to see her yet.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. “Chan is at the hospital helping Kiki get ready to leave and I need to get over there to help him out and to be there when the doctor talks about Ji.” He pocketed his phone. “I know you want to go as well, but…”
“But tonight a certain Mr. Park has some fees to pay. I know.” Hyunseung gave a small smile.
“I’m sorry to ask you to do this on your own Seung.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll manage.” He gave Doojoon a reassuring smile.
Doojoon nodded his head. “Good. I’ll keep you posted on Kiki and Ji and call me if you have any problems, any problems at all.”
“There aren’t going to be any problems so don’t worry.”
Doojoon nodded again and headed out the door. If he had looked back, Doojoon would have noticed the worried look on Hyunseung’s face.
~*~*~*~*~
A half-hour later Hyunseung walked out of the house and got into the waiting car. He told the driver the directions and then rested his head on the headrest. He closed his eyes to try and concentrate on the task ahead of him, but his thoughts kept drifting to Junhyung.
It’s been two days since they fought, two days since they talked, two days since they saw each other. Hyunseung kept replaying the look on Junhyung’s face when he asked Hyunseung not to leave, the look that begged for Hyunseung to understand. Hyunseung let that look eat him up for the past two days, but he wouldn’t take back what he said or did.
Junhyung needed to hear the things that Hyunseung had said; he needed to realize that his mind was corrupting his true feelings, that it was distorting what was wrong and what was right. Hyunseung needed Junhyung to see that not everything was lost, that they weren’t all as broken as he thought. And Hyunseung knew that the only way that was going to happen was for him to have said what he did and to leave Junhyung alone so he could feel and understand what was right and what needed to be done.
Hyunseung sighed. He hated doing this to Junhyung, but he loved him too much to watch him let his own mind destroy himself.
Hyunseung opened his eyes as the car pulled over in front of a tall wooden fence. As he got out of the car he told the driver to drive around to the back of the house and to wait for him. He pulled himself up and over the fence and began walking up the walkway to the front door. He picked the lock, stepped inside, and shut the door quietly behind him. Before he could reach the stairs a loud scream came from one of the rooms upstairs.
Hyunseung took the stairs two at a time, ran down the hallway, and pushed open the door that the screaming was coming from. What Hyunseung saw made his blood boil. A young girl, no older than sixteen, was lying face down on a large desk, naked and bloody. Her hair was matted to her face from her tears and her eyes were full of pain and terror. Above her a man stood, using his hand to press her head into the desk, his knuckles red with blood. And between her legs stood Mr. Park, one hand on her thigh and the other holding a knife just above her lower back.
The girls eyes widened when she say Hyunseung. “Help me.” She sobbed. “Please help me.”
It took Hyunseung less than second to react. He grabbed the object closest to him, a large vase, and threw it at Mr. Park’s head, sending the man to his knees and the knife out of his hand. He then charged the other man, shoving him into the wall. He punched him in the gut twice and turned towards the girl, but she was already running out the door, wrapping a blanket around her body.
Before he could take a step himself, he was kicked in the back, hard enough that it sent him face first into the floor. He recovered quickly though, he grabbed the legs of a small wooden stand, stood up, and used the stand to block the fist aimed for his face. He then swung the stand and hit the man in the face twice with it, the second blow breaking the stand and sending the man onto his back.
Hyunseung went to run again, but was stopped when a vase flew past his head and crashed on the floor in front of him. Hyunseung whirled around just in time to feel a blade slash across his upper right arm. He was unable to focus on the pain though; instead he grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the knife in order to stop it from stabbing his chest.
The right side of Mr. Parks face was covered in blood from the gash where the vase hit him. “You fucking fool.” He spat. “How dare you barge into my home and interrupt my activities.”
Hyunseung glared. “You’re the fucking fool Park. Do you actually think you’ll get away with what you did to her? Do you think you’ll get away with what you’re doing to me?” He spoke through clenched teeth. Park was stronger than he appeared and the knife was beginning to knick Hyunseung’s collarbone.
Park let out a menacing laugh. “Yes I do think I’ll get away with it. Don’t think that word hasn’t spread about Yoon gangs inability to handle tough situations.” He gave a smile of triumph. “Yoon is outnumbered and you’re all falling apart. It’s only a matter of time before you’re all destroyed.” Park’s eyes then glazed over with what could only be described as evil. “And you’ll be the first one.”
Park wrapped one of his legs around Hyunseung’s, causing the latter to lose his balance and fall backwards, pulling Park down on top of him. The two struggled with the knife, Park aiming for Hyunseung’s throat and Hyunseung using all of his strength to keep the blade from cutting deeper than it already had.
Hyunseung wasn’t sure how it happened, or where he got the extra strength from, but the next thing he knew he had lifted Park’s hand, the knife, and Park himself far enough away from himself to be able to bring one of his legs up and kick Park backwards and onto his ass. Hyunseung hurriedly stood up and just as he did Park lunged at him with the knife. Hyunseung braced himself, but it wasn’t until he felt the warmth of blood ooze onto his hand and heard the gurgled noise escape from Park’s throat, that he realized that he had grabbed the knife, turned it around, and stabbed Park right below his chest.
Hyunseung pulled the knife out and stepped back, his eyes locking with Park’s. He watched as blood gushed from Park’s wound and dripped from his mouth. He watched as Park gurgled for his last breathe, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and as he fell to the ground dead.
Hyunseung took another step back and another until his back hit a bookshelf. He dropped the bloodied knife from his hand and chocked back a sob. And just as he was about to panic, a loud shot rang throughout the room and sparks shot out from an electrical outlet beside him.
He moved to the side just as another bullet whizzed past his head and hit the bookshelf where he was just leaning. He grabbed another large vase and threw it at Park’s accomplice. The vase hit the man in the leg and distracted him long enough for Hyunseung to charge him. The two fell to the ground and rolled around, both fighting for the gun. When Hyunseung felt the gun turn and his finger on the trigger, he knew what he had to do. He knew what he had to do because when he looked into the eyes of the man on top of him, into those eyes full of malice, hatred, and anger, Hyunseung knew that this man would never let him live.
So he pulled the trigger. And once again watched as the life left another mans eyes and this time he didn’t hold back the sob.
He pushed the dead man off of him only to meet with flames engulfing the opposite side of the room. He stood up, grabbed the gun and knife, and ran out of the room and out the back door of the house, making sure to cover his hand with his shirt to open the door. He jumped over the fence just as sirens reached the front of the house.
He ran across the street, dumping the knife and gun into the sewer drain, and got into the back seat of the waiting car.
He ordered the driver to take him to his destination. And as they drove away, the flames from the engulfed house lit up the back window of the car, the light illuminating the tears flowing down Hyunseung’s cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~
The young, longhaired reporter pointed to the burnt house behind her, smoke still filling the air.
“It was only one hour ago when 119 received a phone call that shots had been fired at the house of Judge Simon Park. When authorities arrived at the scene, one-half of the home had already been engulfed in flames. Firefighters went to work immediately and were able to put the fire out in a short period of time. When detectives entered the home they found the dead bodies of two men. Judge Park had been stabbed in the chest and his close friend, Daniel Lee, had been shot in the chest.” The young reporter shook her head. “No gun or knife were found at the scene and authorities say that any evidence was burned with the fire.” Her face went solemn. “Judge Park was one of the most respected and fair judges Seoul has seen in years. It is a shame that no justice will be brought to his killer.”
The TV in the hospital room turned off.
Jiyoon began to sob. Taecyeon and Chansung’s features were frozen in horror. Kikwang threw up. Doojoon went pale and looked as if Death itself had come for him.
~*~*~*~*~
To: Seung
From: Doojoon
Where are you? Are you okay? What the hell happened? Answer your phone!
To: Seung Seung
From: Kiki
Please be okay! Please tell us where you are! Please Hyunseungie!
To: Seungie
From: Seobie
For the love of everything Seungie please answer your phone!
To: Hyunseung
From: Junhyung
Answer your fucking phone Hyunseung! God Dammitt! Where the hell are you?!
To: Yoseob
From: Junhyung
Where the fuck is he Yoseob?! What the fuck happened?!
To: Doojoon
From: Yoseob
How the fuck did this happen? How could you let this happen?!
To: Hyunseung
From: Junhyung
Please Hyunseung, please answer your phone. Please tell me that you’re alive, that you’re okay. Please.
To: Junhyung
From: Yoseob
I don’t fucking know!
To: Yoseob
From: Doojoon
I don’t know Yoseob! I have no fucking idea!
To: Kikwang
From: Woonie
Have you heard anything? Is he alive? Is he okay?
To: Woonie
From: Kikwang
We don’t know anything Woonie. Nobody’s heard from him.
To: Seungie
From: Seobie
Hyunseung please, please tell me where you are. Please tell me you’re okay.
To: Seobie
From: Seungie
Hotel. Alive. Alone.
To: Junhyung; Doojoon
From: Yoseob
I have him. We’re at the old hangout.
~*~*~*~*~
Doojoon ran in through the door of their old hangout, expecting to see Hyunseung and Yoseob, instead he was met with a dark room save for the rays of moonlight shining in through the windows. He whirled around when he heard footsteps coming in through the door, thinking that it would be the two he was looking for, instead the person he saw made his body freeze and his heart race.
Junhyung froze mid-step when his eyes locked with Doojoon’s. His mind raced with a million thoughts, his palms became sweaty, and he was sure that his heart had froze also.
The two stared for several moments, neither moving, neither blinking, both barely breathing.
Junhyung was the first to regain some sort of sense. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. “What the fuck are you doing here? Where the fuck is Hyunseung?”
Doojoon’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. “I should be asking you the same thing! And why the fuck are you looking for Hyunseung?”
Junhyung dug his nails into his palms. “It’s none of your fucking business why I’m looking for him!”
Doojoon scoffed. “Are you fucking kidding me?! Hyunseung is my business you piece of shi…”
“Shut the fuck up both of you!”
Doojoon and Junhyung turned around to the right far corner of the room and watched as Yoseob walked into a stream of moonlight.
“Where the hell is He?” It came out of two different mouths, the owners turning to glare at each other.
“He’s safe and you’re both going to keep your fucking mouths shut until I’m done talking.”
The two men turned to look at Yoseob again, both going wide-eyed at the look of pure anger on Yoseob’s face. His body was stiff, his fists clenched at his sides, his eyes narrow, and his jaw clenched.
“First, since I know you’re wondering Junhyung, Doojoon’s here because I texted him, and the reason I have his number is because I’m fucking him and the reason I’m fucking him is because I love him and I’ve never left his side and I never will.”
Junhyung’s eyes widened in shock. “You what?”
“What the fuck do you care anyway, you’re the one fucking Hyunseung now.”
It was Doojoon’s turn to widen his eyes in shock. “What?”
Yoseob rolled his eyes. “Fucking get over it both of you. You think the four of us are the only ones sneaking around everyone else’s backs? Well think again! Everyone on your side,” he pointed to Doojoon, “and everyone on your side,” he pointed at Junhyung, “are either talking to each other and/or hanging out with each other!” He could feel his anger rising. “And you want to know why? Because that’s what you fucking do with your friends, with the people you care about, with the people you fucking love!” The last sentence was yelled, causing both Doojoon and Junhyung to wince.
Yoseob clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into to his skin. “But you two, who are fucking blinded by your minds and the hatred you have for yourselves and our fathers apparently don’t fucking get that! So let me fucking fill you in.” He narrowed his eyes. “Because of you two, because of your stupidness, one of our own has done something we all vowed never to do. Because of you, Hyunseung, our Hyunseung, our Hyunseung who hates to fight but only does it because it’s the only way he knows he’ll survive, that Hyunseung has turned into his worst nightmare!” He could feel hot tears burning his eyes.
“Hyunseung would never have been there alone if we were all together, as one group. If we were together there would have been someone with him, someone to help him and be by his side. Instead he had to fight, being out numbered and out armed, alone! Instead he had to watch two men die by his own hands! And it doesn’t matter if they deserved it! It shouldn’t have been Hyunseung! It shouldn’t have to be any of us!” He closed his eyes, fighting back the angry tears.
“Every single one of us has become weak and unmotivated. We’ve all succumbed to our fears and our hatred and have lost sight of what is right, of what we can do to make things better.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to suffer and destroy ourselves. We don’t have to fight this world alone.” He let the tears fall.
“Why can’t you see that there is a way? Why can’t you see that the only thing keeping us from being happy, from being alive, is you?” His voice took on a tone of pleading; his eyes no longer full of anger, but of sadness. “Why can’t you believe in the promises that we once made to each other? Why can’t you believe in the love and friendship that we once shared, that we promised to always share? Why can’t you believe in the truth that not all is lost? Why can’t you see that we decide our own futures?” He went quiet for a moment, letting his tears fall, watching the mix of emotions run through Doojoon and Junhyung’s faces: anger, surprise, hatred, sadness, pain.
“What happened between your fathers was their decision, was the way they decided to live. It doesn’t mean that you have to live that way as well. Our dividing was because of what they did and what they made us do, it was never what we wanted, it was never our decision, and it no longer has to be that way. Those fucking bastards are dead and have no control over our lives any longer! We make the decisions now! How we live is our choice not theirs!” He took a few steps closer to the other two men, forcing them to see the true pain he was feeling.
“I can no longer live this way. Just like everyone else, just like you two, I do have a heart and a soul, and I will no longer stand by and let them be destroyed! I will no longer stand by and watch as everyone I love suffers and slowly dies!” His tears continued to fall, but his resolve was stronger than ever. He stood in front of Doojoon, grabbing onto the others shirt.
“I love you Doojoon, but my heart can’t take this anymore.” He clenched his fists around Doojoon’s shirt, a sob finally escaping. “Please, I’m begging you,” He turned his head to look at Junhyung, “both of you. Listen to your hearts and believe in what we once had.” He turned his head to look Doojoon in the eye. “Believe in the fact that we can be like we once were, that we can be stronger, that our lives can be better. Please.”
Tears flowed down Doojoon’s cheeks as he wrapped his arms around Yoseob. “I promise Yoseob. I promise you things are going to change. I promise you that things are going to be better.” He looked at Junhyung whose own eyes were watery.
Junhyung nodded his head in agreement. “We both promise.”
Yoseob smiled, a sob full of relief coming out this time. He pulled away from Doojoon to look at Junhyung.
“Hyunseung loves you Junhyung, he always has, and I know you love him and he’s going to need you now more than ever.”
Junhyung nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. Yoseob went on.
“Don’t panic when you see Him. He was injured, nothing extremely serious, but some of the wounds are going to upset you.”
Junhyung nodded his head again. “Where is he?”
“The Hotel, room 19.”
Junhyung turned around to leave but stopped at the door. He turned his head around and looked at Doojoon and Yoseob, the two of them still in each other’s arms. He made eye contact with Doojoon. “Tomorrow…I’ll come over tomorrow and we’ll talk.”
Doojoon nodded his head while Yoseob smiled, they both watched as Junhyung left, running as soon as he was out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
Junhyung ran through the front door of the Hotel, his eyes meeting with Taemin’s. Taemin nodded his head, grabbed a key off of the counter, and threw it to Junhyung.
Junhyung caught the key and ran up the stairs and down the hallway, not stopping until he reached room 19. He hurriedly unlocked the door and entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him.
The first thing Junhyung noticed was the darkness of the room, the only light coming from the moon that shown through the open window. The second thing he noticed was the sobs coming from the bathroom.
He turned his head around the corner of the entryway and looked into the bathroom. The light from the moon poured into the bathroom illuminating Hyunseung’s figure. He was sitting on the floor, his back against the bathtub, his knees pulled up to his chest, his head resting on his knees, and his shoulders shaking with every sob.
Junhyung knew, at that moment, that he did indeed have a heart, because it was breaking at the site of the man he loved in a pain that he himself couldn’t even imagine.
He turned the light in the bathroom on and felt his heart clench as Hyunseung lifted his face up, his face pale, his cheeks wet with tears, his eyes red, swollen, and full of anguish.
Hyunseung let out a sob. “Jun.”
Junhyung let out a sob of his own as he sat down in front of Hyunseung, pulling the other man in between his legs and into his chest. He wrapped his arms around Hyunseung’s cold, bare shoulders and cried into the other mans hair while Hyunseung gripped Junhyung’s shirt and sobbed into his chest.
Hyunseung sobbed and Junhyung cried. Hyunseung asked “why’ over and over again and begged for Junhyung to make the pain go away. Junhyung answered with “It’s not your fault” and “They would have killed you” and swore that he would do whatever it took, no matter how long, to take away Hyunseung’s pain. They sobbed and cried and held onto each other until they had no tears left, until their chests ached, and they knew that they wanted, needed, to look at each other.
Junhyung cupped Hyunseung’s face, using his thumbs to wipe away the last of his tears, and held his gaze. Hyunseung looked into Junhyung’s eyes through half-lidded eyes and wet eyelashes.
“I can’t do this anymore.” His glossy eyes were pleading, his voice hoarse and full of sorrow. “I don’t want to live my life like this anymore.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to be afraid and I don’t want to live in fear. I don’t want to watch everyone I love suffer and fall into the emptiness that has become our worlds.” He placed his hands over Junhyung’s. “I don’t want to fight alone, to feel alone, to be alone. The little strength that I have left to fight and keep going is slowly fading and if it’s gone how am I going to help anyone?” He pulled Junhyung’s forehead to his. “If it’s gone how am I going to help the women and children we’re supposed to protect? How am I going to help Doojoon and Kikwang and Yoseob and Dongwoon and all of the others? If that strength is gone how am I going to help and save you? How am I going to fight to keep us, all of us, together?”
Junhyung closed his eyes, the heart and soul that he fought so hard to believe were non-existent, were screaming and begging him to listen to them. They were screaming and begging so loud that finally, after so many years, they were overpowering his mind and his hatred.
He snapped his eyes open. “You don’t have to live this way anymore. You no longer have to live in fear. You no longer have to fight alone.” He pressed his forehead even more so into Hyunseung’s. “Never again will you have to fight to keep us, all of us, together. You will never be alone and your strength will never fade.” He wrapped his legs tighter around Hyunseung, pulling him closer. “You will always have me and my strength and I will never leave you. And after Doojoon and I talk tomorrow we will finally all be together again.” He smiled as Hyunseung let out small sob. “We will finally live our lives they way we promised we would, together, all of us. We will become stronger by gathering strength from one another. We will be more determined and more prepared. We will no longer be outnumbered or feel like there’s a situation we can’t handle, because we will have each other.” His smile grew as Hyunseung began to smile himself. “We will be happy and once again feel alive and in control, because not only will we all be together, but you and I will be together. Always.”
Junhyung crashed his lips against Hyunseung’s, the two of them smiling into the kiss, a kiss that meant a new beginning and a better life.
“Yang is weaker than the rest; he will be fairly easy to get a hold of. And according to Minho, Jang is one of the strongest; he won’t go down without a fight.” Rain informed the men in his office. “That is why it is important that you stick to the plan. You change nothing unless it is absolutely necessary.” His eyes narrowed. “If any of you fuck this up, not only will you ruin everything, but I will slit your throats myself.”
The men in the room nodded their heads in understanding.
Rain smiled. “Good. You all have your assignments. In just a few short hours we will put the plan into motion and soon gentlemen; very soon, we will have everything that we deserve.”
Everyone in the room smiled, their eyes filled with eagerness, their fists ready for blood.
Rain knew that everything was going to change. He didn’t care whom or how many people died in the next couple of days, all he cared about was getting his revenge and taking what he believed belonged to him. He knew that his plan would work because he was confident that the men he was going after were not only weak minded, but also weak in spirit and conviction. He believed that what he was going to do over the next couple of days would weaken their spirits even more, thus giving him the perfect opportunity to strike.
But soon Rain would come to find that he was, in fact, wrong. The men he was going after were not weak in any way, especially the one he believed that he could convince to join his side. He would soon see that that one man had the strongest heart and spirit and most conviction of them all, and that one man would not, in any way, go down without fighting for those he loved.
Author: singoutloud25
Pairing/Character: JunSeung, DooSeob
Rating: R (Swearing and Violence)
Genre: AU, Drama, Romance
Summary: The lives of these six young men would now forever be changed. They will become what they once feared and hated. They will become violent, dangerous, aggressive, and one will even become a murderer. They will become feared, hated, strong, and powerful. Some will grow to hate themselves and some will become dead and numb inside. Some will lose hope and some will never dare to dream.
Author's Notes: The point that I hope to convey throughout this story is that true friendship (a bond of love and trust and faith) is so strong that it can withstand anything. That the bond of true friendship (even when you are pulled away from and forced to leave the ones you love) will always remain, even when you feel that all is lost, that bond still remains deep within you.
P1/ P2/ Ch 1/ Ch 2/ Ch 3/ Ch 4/ Ch 5/ Ch 6
Chapter 7
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Yoseob turned onto his side so he was facing Doojoon’s back. He traced his fingers across the large bruise that covered Doojoon’s shoulder blade before wrapping his arm around the others waist. He snuggled into Doojoon’s back and gently kissed the bruise.
“Doojoon?” It was whispered lips against skin.
Doojoon laced his fingers with Yoseob’s. “Hm?”
“I…well I…I mean I want…” Yoseob bit his lip. He wasn’t sure how to begin to say what he wanted to say.
Doojoon turned over to face Yoseob. He ran his fingers up and down Yoseob’s arm. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure how to say it.”
Doojoon smiled and placed a soft kiss on Yoseob’s lips. “You know you can tell me anything. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Yoseob gave a small smile. “I know.”
“So tell me.”
Yoseob took a deep breath. “Last night was really bad Doojoon, things got out of hand, and you know that. You guys were out numbered and I think…I think you weren’t fully prepared.” He placed a hand on Doojoon’s chest. “I don’t think you guys were prepared mentally for what you had to do, for what could happen.” He paused for a moment, trying to think of how to phrase his next words.
Doojoon placed his arm over Yoseob’s waist and gave a little squeeze. “And?”
“I don’t know what’s happened Doojoon, to your side and mine, but something’s changed, something within us. We aren’t as strong willed as we used to be. We don’t have as much determination as we used to. Each side seems to be outnumbered and it’s obvious that the city is beginning to notice.” He took another breath, this time to calm his emotions down. “It’s like we’re all falling apart from the inside out and I’m afraid that sooner rather than later we’re all going to be destroyed. I’m afraid that we’re all going to become lifeless even if we are still breathing.”
They were both silent for several moments, Doojoon rubbing small circles in Yoseob’s neck while Yoseob kept his palm steady on Doojoon’s chest.
“You’re right. I’ve been having the same thoughts myself.” Doojoon pulled Yoseob closer. “I just don’t know how to fix things Seob. I know we need more men, but it’s basically impossible to find people to trust. And I know…” He closed his eyes, fighting back emotions he wasn’t sure he wanted to face. “I know that we are all breaking, some of us more than others. I know that this is what we were all afraid of, what we all never wanted to have to face, but I don’t know what to do to change it.”
Yoseob wrapped his arm around Doojoon’s waist and placed his forehead against the others chest. “There is a way to fix things Doojoon, I just think that you don’t want to admit to it.”
Doojoon tensed slightly. “What?”
Yoseob sighed. “Junhyung. You need to talk to Junhyung. You need to make amends.” He put his leg over Doojoon’s thigh and squeezed, hoping to anchor the other from moving. He still kept his eyes level with Doojoon’s chest.
“You know that if we were all together we would be so much stronger. You know that if we were all together we would be able to mend each other, to fix each other.” He looked up into Doojoon’s eyes. “If we were all together we would have that bond of love and courage like we once did. That bond that made us strong, determined, and alive.” He squeezed the leg and arm he had around Doojoon. “You know I’m right. Please Doojoon. Please talk to Junhyung.”
Doojoon closed his eyes again. Of course he knew that Yoseob was right. He had thought of talking to Junhyung several times, but that was all he would allow himself to do, think, never act. Their lives were different now. They had seen and done things that had changed them all completely. None of them would ever be the same. Their bond could never be the same, how could it if they themselves weren’t the same. He felt Yoseob squeeze him again. He opened his eyes and rested his forehead against Yoseob’s.
“I can’t Yoseob. Not now. It isn’t the right time.”
Yoseob squeezed his eyes shut. “But Doojoon it…” He was cut off by Doojoon’s mouth on his.
“I can’t Seob. Not yet.” Doojoon squeezed Yoseob’s thigh when the other was about to reply. “But I promise you I will think about it.”
Yoseob nodded his head, but didn’t speak. He knew that Doojoon would only think about it and that he would never act on it. Yoseob knew that he would just have to keep bringing the conversation up. He just hoped that Hyunseung would have better luck with Junhyung.
~*~*~*~*~
“And then Jang left. Yong trashed the room up pretty good and then left about an hour later.” Kangin finished telling Rain what had happened between Junhyung and Hyunseung. He felt fairly confident that this information was what his leader needed to put together the final steps in his plan.
Rain leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands in his lap. “And you G.O.?”
“Yoon and Yang had a very similar conversation with a similar outcome. Yoon stated that now wasn’t the right time to talk to Yong, but that he would think about it.” G.O. was quiet for a moment. “Yang didn’t get upset at all, he seemed content with what Yoon said.”
Rain nodded his head a couple of times. “So he believes that Yoon really will talk to Yong. And I have no doubt that if Yoon were to make the first move it would be easy for Yong to comply.” He went quiet for several moments.
Kangin cleared his throat. “What are you thinking of Sir?”
“I’m thinking that if they were indeed to become one group we would have no chance against them.” He smiled. “It’s time to put our plan into action.” The rest of his men smiled as well.
Rain was confident that their plan would work, but he knew that they had only a few days to accomplish it. He had to keep the Yoon and Yong groups separated. And he was confident that with his plan he would achieve that. He was also confident that not only would his plan keep them separated, but that it would also destroy each group separately, and in turn destroy them all individually.
~*~*~*~*~
Hyunseung entered Doojoon’s office and sat down in one of the chairs. He waited for Doojoon to finish talking on the phone and when he hung up Hyunseung quirked an eyebrow at the smile on Doojoon’s face.
“Good news I take it.”
“Kikwang is being released from the hospital and Jiyoon’s awake.” The smile on Doojoon’s face was the biggest smile he had seen the other man give in a long time.
Hyunseung was sure his smile was quite large as well. “That’s great. Is she okay? What did the doctor say?”
“Teac said that she seems fine and alert, but the doctor hasn’t been in to see her yet.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. “Chan is at the hospital helping Kiki get ready to leave and I need to get over there to help him out and to be there when the doctor talks about Ji.” He pocketed his phone. “I know you want to go as well, but…”
“But tonight a certain Mr. Park has some fees to pay. I know.” Hyunseung gave a small smile.
“I’m sorry to ask you to do this on your own Seung.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll manage.” He gave Doojoon a reassuring smile.
Doojoon nodded his head. “Good. I’ll keep you posted on Kiki and Ji and call me if you have any problems, any problems at all.”
“There aren’t going to be any problems so don’t worry.”
Doojoon nodded again and headed out the door. If he had looked back, Doojoon would have noticed the worried look on Hyunseung’s face.
~*~*~*~*~
A half-hour later Hyunseung walked out of the house and got into the waiting car. He told the driver the directions and then rested his head on the headrest. He closed his eyes to try and concentrate on the task ahead of him, but his thoughts kept drifting to Junhyung.
It’s been two days since they fought, two days since they talked, two days since they saw each other. Hyunseung kept replaying the look on Junhyung’s face when he asked Hyunseung not to leave, the look that begged for Hyunseung to understand. Hyunseung let that look eat him up for the past two days, but he wouldn’t take back what he said or did.
Junhyung needed to hear the things that Hyunseung had said; he needed to realize that his mind was corrupting his true feelings, that it was distorting what was wrong and what was right. Hyunseung needed Junhyung to see that not everything was lost, that they weren’t all as broken as he thought. And Hyunseung knew that the only way that was going to happen was for him to have said what he did and to leave Junhyung alone so he could feel and understand what was right and what needed to be done.
Hyunseung sighed. He hated doing this to Junhyung, but he loved him too much to watch him let his own mind destroy himself.
Hyunseung opened his eyes as the car pulled over in front of a tall wooden fence. As he got out of the car he told the driver to drive around to the back of the house and to wait for him. He pulled himself up and over the fence and began walking up the walkway to the front door. He picked the lock, stepped inside, and shut the door quietly behind him. Before he could reach the stairs a loud scream came from one of the rooms upstairs.
Hyunseung took the stairs two at a time, ran down the hallway, and pushed open the door that the screaming was coming from. What Hyunseung saw made his blood boil. A young girl, no older than sixteen, was lying face down on a large desk, naked and bloody. Her hair was matted to her face from her tears and her eyes were full of pain and terror. Above her a man stood, using his hand to press her head into the desk, his knuckles red with blood. And between her legs stood Mr. Park, one hand on her thigh and the other holding a knife just above her lower back.
The girls eyes widened when she say Hyunseung. “Help me.” She sobbed. “Please help me.”
It took Hyunseung less than second to react. He grabbed the object closest to him, a large vase, and threw it at Mr. Park’s head, sending the man to his knees and the knife out of his hand. He then charged the other man, shoving him into the wall. He punched him in the gut twice and turned towards the girl, but she was already running out the door, wrapping a blanket around her body.
Before he could take a step himself, he was kicked in the back, hard enough that it sent him face first into the floor. He recovered quickly though, he grabbed the legs of a small wooden stand, stood up, and used the stand to block the fist aimed for his face. He then swung the stand and hit the man in the face twice with it, the second blow breaking the stand and sending the man onto his back.
Hyunseung went to run again, but was stopped when a vase flew past his head and crashed on the floor in front of him. Hyunseung whirled around just in time to feel a blade slash across his upper right arm. He was unable to focus on the pain though; instead he grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the knife in order to stop it from stabbing his chest.
The right side of Mr. Parks face was covered in blood from the gash where the vase hit him. “You fucking fool.” He spat. “How dare you barge into my home and interrupt my activities.”
Hyunseung glared. “You’re the fucking fool Park. Do you actually think you’ll get away with what you did to her? Do you think you’ll get away with what you’re doing to me?” He spoke through clenched teeth. Park was stronger than he appeared and the knife was beginning to knick Hyunseung’s collarbone.
Park let out a menacing laugh. “Yes I do think I’ll get away with it. Don’t think that word hasn’t spread about Yoon gangs inability to handle tough situations.” He gave a smile of triumph. “Yoon is outnumbered and you’re all falling apart. It’s only a matter of time before you’re all destroyed.” Park’s eyes then glazed over with what could only be described as evil. “And you’ll be the first one.”
Park wrapped one of his legs around Hyunseung’s, causing the latter to lose his balance and fall backwards, pulling Park down on top of him. The two struggled with the knife, Park aiming for Hyunseung’s throat and Hyunseung using all of his strength to keep the blade from cutting deeper than it already had.
Hyunseung wasn’t sure how it happened, or where he got the extra strength from, but the next thing he knew he had lifted Park’s hand, the knife, and Park himself far enough away from himself to be able to bring one of his legs up and kick Park backwards and onto his ass. Hyunseung hurriedly stood up and just as he did Park lunged at him with the knife. Hyunseung braced himself, but it wasn’t until he felt the warmth of blood ooze onto his hand and heard the gurgled noise escape from Park’s throat, that he realized that he had grabbed the knife, turned it around, and stabbed Park right below his chest.
Hyunseung pulled the knife out and stepped back, his eyes locking with Park’s. He watched as blood gushed from Park’s wound and dripped from his mouth. He watched as Park gurgled for his last breathe, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and as he fell to the ground dead.
Hyunseung took another step back and another until his back hit a bookshelf. He dropped the bloodied knife from his hand and chocked back a sob. And just as he was about to panic, a loud shot rang throughout the room and sparks shot out from an electrical outlet beside him.
He moved to the side just as another bullet whizzed past his head and hit the bookshelf where he was just leaning. He grabbed another large vase and threw it at Park’s accomplice. The vase hit the man in the leg and distracted him long enough for Hyunseung to charge him. The two fell to the ground and rolled around, both fighting for the gun. When Hyunseung felt the gun turn and his finger on the trigger, he knew what he had to do. He knew what he had to do because when he looked into the eyes of the man on top of him, into those eyes full of malice, hatred, and anger, Hyunseung knew that this man would never let him live.
So he pulled the trigger. And once again watched as the life left another mans eyes and this time he didn’t hold back the sob.
He pushed the dead man off of him only to meet with flames engulfing the opposite side of the room. He stood up, grabbed the gun and knife, and ran out of the room and out the back door of the house, making sure to cover his hand with his shirt to open the door. He jumped over the fence just as sirens reached the front of the house.
He ran across the street, dumping the knife and gun into the sewer drain, and got into the back seat of the waiting car.
He ordered the driver to take him to his destination. And as they drove away, the flames from the engulfed house lit up the back window of the car, the light illuminating the tears flowing down Hyunseung’s cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~
The young, longhaired reporter pointed to the burnt house behind her, smoke still filling the air.
“It was only one hour ago when 119 received a phone call that shots had been fired at the house of Judge Simon Park. When authorities arrived at the scene, one-half of the home had already been engulfed in flames. Firefighters went to work immediately and were able to put the fire out in a short period of time. When detectives entered the home they found the dead bodies of two men. Judge Park had been stabbed in the chest and his close friend, Daniel Lee, had been shot in the chest.” The young reporter shook her head. “No gun or knife were found at the scene and authorities say that any evidence was burned with the fire.” Her face went solemn. “Judge Park was one of the most respected and fair judges Seoul has seen in years. It is a shame that no justice will be brought to his killer.”
The TV in the hospital room turned off.
Jiyoon began to sob. Taecyeon and Chansung’s features were frozen in horror. Kikwang threw up. Doojoon went pale and looked as if Death itself had come for him.
~*~*~*~*~
To: Seung
From: Doojoon
Where are you? Are you okay? What the hell happened? Answer your phone!
To: Seung Seung
From: Kiki
Please be okay! Please tell us where you are! Please Hyunseungie!
To: Seungie
From: Seobie
For the love of everything Seungie please answer your phone!
To: Hyunseung
From: Junhyung
Answer your fucking phone Hyunseung! God Dammitt! Where the hell are you?!
To: Yoseob
From: Junhyung
Where the fuck is he Yoseob?! What the fuck happened?!
To: Doojoon
From: Yoseob
How the fuck did this happen? How could you let this happen?!
To: Hyunseung
From: Junhyung
Please Hyunseung, please answer your phone. Please tell me that you’re alive, that you’re okay. Please.
To: Junhyung
From: Yoseob
I don’t fucking know!
To: Yoseob
From: Doojoon
I don’t know Yoseob! I have no fucking idea!
To: Kikwang
From: Woonie
Have you heard anything? Is he alive? Is he okay?
To: Woonie
From: Kikwang
We don’t know anything Woonie. Nobody’s heard from him.
To: Seungie
From: Seobie
Hyunseung please, please tell me where you are. Please tell me you’re okay.
To: Seobie
From: Seungie
Hotel. Alive. Alone.
To: Junhyung; Doojoon
From: Yoseob
I have him. We’re at the old hangout.
~*~*~*~*~
Doojoon ran in through the door of their old hangout, expecting to see Hyunseung and Yoseob, instead he was met with a dark room save for the rays of moonlight shining in through the windows. He whirled around when he heard footsteps coming in through the door, thinking that it would be the two he was looking for, instead the person he saw made his body freeze and his heart race.
Junhyung froze mid-step when his eyes locked with Doojoon’s. His mind raced with a million thoughts, his palms became sweaty, and he was sure that his heart had froze also.
The two stared for several moments, neither moving, neither blinking, both barely breathing.
Junhyung was the first to regain some sort of sense. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. “What the fuck are you doing here? Where the fuck is Hyunseung?”
Doojoon’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. “I should be asking you the same thing! And why the fuck are you looking for Hyunseung?”
Junhyung dug his nails into his palms. “It’s none of your fucking business why I’m looking for him!”
Doojoon scoffed. “Are you fucking kidding me?! Hyunseung is my business you piece of shi…”
“Shut the fuck up both of you!”
Doojoon and Junhyung turned around to the right far corner of the room and watched as Yoseob walked into a stream of moonlight.
“Where the hell is He?” It came out of two different mouths, the owners turning to glare at each other.
“He’s safe and you’re both going to keep your fucking mouths shut until I’m done talking.”
The two men turned to look at Yoseob again, both going wide-eyed at the look of pure anger on Yoseob’s face. His body was stiff, his fists clenched at his sides, his eyes narrow, and his jaw clenched.
“First, since I know you’re wondering Junhyung, Doojoon’s here because I texted him, and the reason I have his number is because I’m fucking him and the reason I’m fucking him is because I love him and I’ve never left his side and I never will.”
Junhyung’s eyes widened in shock. “You what?”
“What the fuck do you care anyway, you’re the one fucking Hyunseung now.”
It was Doojoon’s turn to widen his eyes in shock. “What?”
Yoseob rolled his eyes. “Fucking get over it both of you. You think the four of us are the only ones sneaking around everyone else’s backs? Well think again! Everyone on your side,” he pointed to Doojoon, “and everyone on your side,” he pointed at Junhyung, “are either talking to each other and/or hanging out with each other!” He could feel his anger rising. “And you want to know why? Because that’s what you fucking do with your friends, with the people you care about, with the people you fucking love!” The last sentence was yelled, causing both Doojoon and Junhyung to wince.
Yoseob clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into to his skin. “But you two, who are fucking blinded by your minds and the hatred you have for yourselves and our fathers apparently don’t fucking get that! So let me fucking fill you in.” He narrowed his eyes. “Because of you two, because of your stupidness, one of our own has done something we all vowed never to do. Because of you, Hyunseung, our Hyunseung, our Hyunseung who hates to fight but only does it because it’s the only way he knows he’ll survive, that Hyunseung has turned into his worst nightmare!” He could feel hot tears burning his eyes.
“Hyunseung would never have been there alone if we were all together, as one group. If we were together there would have been someone with him, someone to help him and be by his side. Instead he had to fight, being out numbered and out armed, alone! Instead he had to watch two men die by his own hands! And it doesn’t matter if they deserved it! It shouldn’t have been Hyunseung! It shouldn’t have to be any of us!” He closed his eyes, fighting back the angry tears.
“Every single one of us has become weak and unmotivated. We’ve all succumbed to our fears and our hatred and have lost sight of what is right, of what we can do to make things better.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to suffer and destroy ourselves. We don’t have to fight this world alone.” He let the tears fall.
“Why can’t you see that there is a way? Why can’t you see that the only thing keeping us from being happy, from being alive, is you?” His voice took on a tone of pleading; his eyes no longer full of anger, but of sadness. “Why can’t you believe in the promises that we once made to each other? Why can’t you believe in the love and friendship that we once shared, that we promised to always share? Why can’t you believe in the truth that not all is lost? Why can’t you see that we decide our own futures?” He went quiet for a moment, letting his tears fall, watching the mix of emotions run through Doojoon and Junhyung’s faces: anger, surprise, hatred, sadness, pain.
“What happened between your fathers was their decision, was the way they decided to live. It doesn’t mean that you have to live that way as well. Our dividing was because of what they did and what they made us do, it was never what we wanted, it was never our decision, and it no longer has to be that way. Those fucking bastards are dead and have no control over our lives any longer! We make the decisions now! How we live is our choice not theirs!” He took a few steps closer to the other two men, forcing them to see the true pain he was feeling.
“I can no longer live this way. Just like everyone else, just like you two, I do have a heart and a soul, and I will no longer stand by and let them be destroyed! I will no longer stand by and watch as everyone I love suffers and slowly dies!” His tears continued to fall, but his resolve was stronger than ever. He stood in front of Doojoon, grabbing onto the others shirt.
“I love you Doojoon, but my heart can’t take this anymore.” He clenched his fists around Doojoon’s shirt, a sob finally escaping. “Please, I’m begging you,” He turned his head to look at Junhyung, “both of you. Listen to your hearts and believe in what we once had.” He turned his head to look Doojoon in the eye. “Believe in the fact that we can be like we once were, that we can be stronger, that our lives can be better. Please.”
Tears flowed down Doojoon’s cheeks as he wrapped his arms around Yoseob. “I promise Yoseob. I promise you things are going to change. I promise you that things are going to be better.” He looked at Junhyung whose own eyes were watery.
Junhyung nodded his head in agreement. “We both promise.”
Yoseob smiled, a sob full of relief coming out this time. He pulled away from Doojoon to look at Junhyung.
“Hyunseung loves you Junhyung, he always has, and I know you love him and he’s going to need you now more than ever.”
Junhyung nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. Yoseob went on.
“Don’t panic when you see Him. He was injured, nothing extremely serious, but some of the wounds are going to upset you.”
Junhyung nodded his head again. “Where is he?”
“The Hotel, room 19.”
Junhyung turned around to leave but stopped at the door. He turned his head around and looked at Doojoon and Yoseob, the two of them still in each other’s arms. He made eye contact with Doojoon. “Tomorrow…I’ll come over tomorrow and we’ll talk.”
Doojoon nodded his head while Yoseob smiled, they both watched as Junhyung left, running as soon as he was out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
Junhyung ran through the front door of the Hotel, his eyes meeting with Taemin’s. Taemin nodded his head, grabbed a key off of the counter, and threw it to Junhyung.
Junhyung caught the key and ran up the stairs and down the hallway, not stopping until he reached room 19. He hurriedly unlocked the door and entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him.
The first thing Junhyung noticed was the darkness of the room, the only light coming from the moon that shown through the open window. The second thing he noticed was the sobs coming from the bathroom.
He turned his head around the corner of the entryway and looked into the bathroom. The light from the moon poured into the bathroom illuminating Hyunseung’s figure. He was sitting on the floor, his back against the bathtub, his knees pulled up to his chest, his head resting on his knees, and his shoulders shaking with every sob.
Junhyung knew, at that moment, that he did indeed have a heart, because it was breaking at the site of the man he loved in a pain that he himself couldn’t even imagine.
He turned the light in the bathroom on and felt his heart clench as Hyunseung lifted his face up, his face pale, his cheeks wet with tears, his eyes red, swollen, and full of anguish.
Hyunseung let out a sob. “Jun.”
Junhyung let out a sob of his own as he sat down in front of Hyunseung, pulling the other man in between his legs and into his chest. He wrapped his arms around Hyunseung’s cold, bare shoulders and cried into the other mans hair while Hyunseung gripped Junhyung’s shirt and sobbed into his chest.
Hyunseung sobbed and Junhyung cried. Hyunseung asked “why’ over and over again and begged for Junhyung to make the pain go away. Junhyung answered with “It’s not your fault” and “They would have killed you” and swore that he would do whatever it took, no matter how long, to take away Hyunseung’s pain. They sobbed and cried and held onto each other until they had no tears left, until their chests ached, and they knew that they wanted, needed, to look at each other.
Junhyung cupped Hyunseung’s face, using his thumbs to wipe away the last of his tears, and held his gaze. Hyunseung looked into Junhyung’s eyes through half-lidded eyes and wet eyelashes.
“I can’t do this anymore.” His glossy eyes were pleading, his voice hoarse and full of sorrow. “I don’t want to live my life like this anymore.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to be afraid and I don’t want to live in fear. I don’t want to watch everyone I love suffer and fall into the emptiness that has become our worlds.” He placed his hands over Junhyung’s. “I don’t want to fight alone, to feel alone, to be alone. The little strength that I have left to fight and keep going is slowly fading and if it’s gone how am I going to help anyone?” He pulled Junhyung’s forehead to his. “If it’s gone how am I going to help the women and children we’re supposed to protect? How am I going to help Doojoon and Kikwang and Yoseob and Dongwoon and all of the others? If that strength is gone how am I going to help and save you? How am I going to fight to keep us, all of us, together?”
Junhyung closed his eyes, the heart and soul that he fought so hard to believe were non-existent, were screaming and begging him to listen to them. They were screaming and begging so loud that finally, after so many years, they were overpowering his mind and his hatred.
He snapped his eyes open. “You don’t have to live this way anymore. You no longer have to live in fear. You no longer have to fight alone.” He pressed his forehead even more so into Hyunseung’s. “Never again will you have to fight to keep us, all of us, together. You will never be alone and your strength will never fade.” He wrapped his legs tighter around Hyunseung, pulling him closer. “You will always have me and my strength and I will never leave you. And after Doojoon and I talk tomorrow we will finally all be together again.” He smiled as Hyunseung let out small sob. “We will finally live our lives they way we promised we would, together, all of us. We will become stronger by gathering strength from one another. We will be more determined and more prepared. We will no longer be outnumbered or feel like there’s a situation we can’t handle, because we will have each other.” His smile grew as Hyunseung began to smile himself. “We will be happy and once again feel alive and in control, because not only will we all be together, but you and I will be together. Always.”
Junhyung crashed his lips against Hyunseung’s, the two of them smiling into the kiss, a kiss that meant a new beginning and a better life.
“Yang is weaker than the rest; he will be fairly easy to get a hold of. And according to Minho, Jang is one of the strongest; he won’t go down without a fight.” Rain informed the men in his office. “That is why it is important that you stick to the plan. You change nothing unless it is absolutely necessary.” His eyes narrowed. “If any of you fuck this up, not only will you ruin everything, but I will slit your throats myself.”
The men in the room nodded their heads in understanding.
Rain smiled. “Good. You all have your assignments. In just a few short hours we will put the plan into motion and soon gentlemen; very soon, we will have everything that we deserve.”
Everyone in the room smiled, their eyes filled with eagerness, their fists ready for blood.
Rain knew that everything was going to change. He didn’t care whom or how many people died in the next couple of days, all he cared about was getting his revenge and taking what he believed belonged to him. He knew that his plan would work because he was confident that the men he was going after were not only weak minded, but also weak in spirit and conviction. He believed that what he was going to do over the next couple of days would weaken their spirits even more, thus giving him the perfect opportunity to strike.
But soon Rain would come to find that he was, in fact, wrong. The men he was going after were not weak in any way, especially the one he believed that he could convince to join his side. He would soon see that that one man had the strongest heart and spirit and most conviction of them all, and that one man would not, in any way, go down without fighting for those he loved.