Project Yunho 20/?

[hydraheiress]

i. story by: hydraheiress
ii. pairing: yunjae, yoosu
iii. genre: romance, humor, drama, fluff, action/adventure, sci-fi
iv. length: chaptered|series
v. rating: nc-17
vi. summary: Jaejoong and Yoochun, best friends for life gets into a car accident and runs a guy over. What happens when the victim gains consciousness?
vii. chapters: character profiles | [01] | [02] | [03] | [04] | [05] | [06] | [07] | [08] | [09] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14] | [15] | [16] | [17] | [18] | [19 (1/1)] | [19 (2/2)] |



chapter twenty

“That’s enough, son.” The bottle of soju was lifted off the table. Jaejoong looked at his father through glassy eyes and hastily wiped at his cheeks before he felt the elder lay a gentle hand on his shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” Jaejoong lied, sniffling.

Mr. Kim pulled out one of the chairs and plopped down beside him. He turned the distraught youngster sideways so they could meet eye to eye. “Jae ah.” He began, voice soft and very much fatherly that it somewhat startled Jaejoong.

“A-appa.” His eyes were questioning.

“I’m sorry.” Mr. Kim murmured, those two words making the beauty’s eyes widen a fraction. “I’m sorry for every hurtful thing that I’ve done or said to you. I know I don’t deserve it, but could you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

Jaejoong stared at him, tried to force words out of his mouth, but found himself unable to. Hearing his father apologize and look at him with love and care in his eyes; Jaejoong didn’t think this day would ever come.

“I was a fool, son.” Mr. Kim continued, face falling in shame. “When your mother had you, I didn’t care that you weren’t mine. I loved her dearly that even though your biological bastard of a father got her pregnant and left her, I didn’t think twice of pushing through with our wedding. I accepted you as my own. You might not remember it, but we were happy for a while.” Releasing a shuddering breath, he brought his hands together as if in a prayer, shoulders hunched. “When Junsu was born, you were the proudest big brother on the planet. For a two year old, you were already acting so much like a mother hen. You had so much love to give and you could barely leave his side. You’d beg and beg to be able to hold him.” He lightly chuckled. “When he’d cry, you’d sing a lullaby even if you really couldn’t talk that straight yet.”

The familiar prickle of tears behind his eyelids resurfaced again. Jaejoong quickly brought the back of a hand against his cheeks to wipe at fresh tears. His father was opening up to him, telling him things about their family as if he really did belong. A choked sob blocked his throat, emotions stirring in his chest at the acceptance he was finally receiving.

Mr. Kim’s gaze swept back to him. He reached out to hold his left hand in his, thumb lovingly brushing the skin. Jaejoong could only stare at their joined hands, not quite believing that this was really happening. The affectionate touches that he’s been thirsting for so long from his father, it was at last being freely given.

“You were so gentle, caring and loving Jae ah. You were never reckless when it came to your baby brother.” Mr. Kim went on, gently moving a stray stand of hair on Jaejoong’s forehead. “When you found out that he was sick, you doted on him and loved him that much more. I was so proud of having you as my son. Jae ah, I loved you so much.”

Jaejoong’s grip on his father’s hand tightened as those three words threatened for the floodgates to open. “Appa…”

Mr. Kim held on to him just as tight, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. “You were my son and I couldn’t be any happier. But then when you were four years old, it was then things began to change. Jae ah, your real appa came.”

Whole body tensing, Jaejoong could only look at the elder in shocked surprise. “My… my real aboji?”

Mr. Kim slowly nodded. The pain was so evident in the elder’s eyes that Jaejoong felt his heart ram in apprehension. His real father came for him? If so, what happened? Did it have anything to do with why his father now hated him?

“His name was Jaehwa.” The elder Kim trailed off as if the memory was something he’d rather not think about ever again. With a heavy exhale, he locked gazes with Jaejoong. “Han Jaehwa and he was the biggest bastard I’ve ever had the grace to meet. He was a gangster.” Jaejoong stilled; a sense of fear coiling at the pit of his stomach at the new information he was receiving. “He wanted to take you away, but your mother and I would never allow it. He was the worst. He got mixed up with the wrong people and he wanted to sell you to pay off his debts. Your eomma and I, we could never let such a thing happen to our precious boy. He began threatening us that he’ll take you one way or another until one night, he and his fellow gangsters attacked us in our house while we were sleeping.”

The sharp gasp left Jaejoong’s mouth even before he realized it. “What happened?”

“Junsu was only two by then, but when you were being forcibly snatched away from your bed, he fought them, crying and screaming that they let his hyung go. That was what woke us up.” Another shuddering breath left the elder Kim. Jaejoong held onto him tight, wanting, needing to be somebody he could lean on for support.

“Appa, you don’t have to…”

“No, it’s alright. You deserve to know the truth.” Mr. Kim brought their joined hands to his lips, placing a heartfelt kiss on his son’s own. “I’ve hurt you so much for a long time and it was stupid of me to treat you that way. The time I spent inside the agency, it opened my eyes to a lot of things. And I’m not gonna be making the same mistake again.”

Biting his bottom lip, Jaejoong conceded. How could he argue when his father looked so sincere? He might deny it, but he knew a part of him also craved to know the whole truth other than the fact that his biological father was a bad man.

“I clearly remember how Junsu tried to bite one of your kidnappers in the leg before he was kicked to the side, his small, frail body slumping into an unconscious heap.” Hatred for the father he never knew lit up in Jaejoong's chest. “Junsu’s heart nearly stopped that day.” Tears trickled down Mr. Kim’s cheeks as he reached out to cup Jaejoong’s face in his hands. “In the end your father died trying to escape the authorities. It wasn’t your fault, but I was so traumatized seeing Junsu fight for his life in the ICU. It hurt so much looking at you Jae ah. You looked so much like your father that a part of me was scared if I continued to treat you like the usual, I might end up doing something I know I would surely regret. And so I alienated myself from you, tried to be cold and detached ‘cause whenever I see your face, the memory of your father reminds me of what happened and the anger always nearly consumes me.”

Sobs wracked the old man’s frame as he pulled Jaejoong into his arms, embracing him tightly. “I’m so sorry Jae ah. When your brother died in that fire accident, I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. The hatred I had for your father only grew and you got the brunt of all my bitterness, but I didn’t mean to hurt you son. I love you. I always have, but for a while there I was blinded. I couldn’t accept Junsu's death and so I blamed you for everything. I know I’m years too late to even ask for forgiveness. But please give me another chance to be your father, to be a family again.”

Jaejoong held onto him, only understanding and love in heart, the sense of loss and heartache over Yunho forgotten momentarily at his father’s confession. Tears cascaded down his cheeks as he hugged him tighter. “Appa. I already forgave you years ago. I just wanted your acceptance. I love you so much.” He professed. “I never stopped.”

“Jae ah.” Mr. Kim sobbed harder in his embrace. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

For a while they simply held onto each other, perfectly content of receiving the warmth the other had to give. All of the years wasted simply didn’t matter anymore as long as they were finally able to become father and son. It was Mr. Kim that pulled back first, his crystalline gaze boring into Jaejoong before he gently kissed the young man on the forehead, a gesture he used to do when he was still but a toddler. A smile made out of complete happiness stretched across the beauty’s face as he relished in his fatherly affections, heart fluttering. Soon, they broke into a giggling fit as they playfully mocked each other for crying like a bunch of 5-year olds.

“Let me properly look at you.” Mr. Kim said smiling dotingly as he ruffled the tufts of raven hair on his son’s head. He motioned for Jaejoong to stand up as he leaned back in his chair. Jaejoong rolled his eyes, turning a shade of pink when his father gestured for him to turn around and around, nodding approvingly. “Aigooo, my Jae ah sure grew up to be such a beauty. Just like his eomma.” Mr. Kim complimented.

Jaejoong couldn't help but feel moved with the effort his father was showing in trying to forget the similarities between him and his biological father. “Thank you, abeonim.” Jaejoong grinned and curtsied playfully to which his father chuckled wholeheartedly at the endearing sight.

“You are so pretty. No, wonder that Yunho fell for you.” Mr. Kim immediately snapped his mouth shut, but the words already escaped. The carefree expression on Jaejoong’s face dulled, the happy atmosphere dropping a notch lower.

He sat back down on the chair, fear and worry radiating off him in waves once again. “Appa, he…”

“He’ll be fine.” Mr. Kim assured, entwining his fingers with Jaejoong’s. “He’s a grown man and he’s got military training to back him up. If what you said was true, I have full confidence that he won’t do anything drastic.”

Jaejoong’s head lowered, absently biting at his bottom lip as he tried to find assurance in his father’s words. The familiar ache in his chest was starting to build up again. He now knew things about Yunho that he never thought was possible. He still couldn’t quite believe that his first assumption the very first night he brought him home could be so close to the truth. Yunho’s eyes reminded him so much of his first love, his Bear that he even shared such findings with Yoochun. And now as it turned out, Yunho was Bear and Bear was Yunho.

Seeing a detailed profile of him and a photo of Jung Yunho in the “Projects Database” on the microchip that his father brought, looking exactly like the last time he saw him in his high school days, almost had him forgetting which the right way it was to breathe.

Three hours ago

“Yunho was a test run. Out of the six "specials" in the agency, it was only him and Junsu who were created that were allowed to be awake. To put things simply, I was the one that cracked the right DNA cell sequencing on how to make a perfectly good copy of a concentrated DNA mark up. Other subjects were made from a series of different human DNA templates. They weren’t concentrated like Yunho and Junsu and our providers were perfectly fine with that. The agency’s mission was noble at first. We were to make artificial soldiers to fight in wars, advanced in every way possible, simply following on orders to avoid the unnecessary wasting of lives of our young people who were deployed to fight.”

Mr. Kim pointed at the screen, clicked on the “Projects Database” icon revealing pictures after pictures of the subjects that were created. “Each platoon was marked according to series. Junsu belonged in the X1 category. He isn’t anything like the rest, but he was marked as such since he was part of the first batch. Series X2-X5 were the same; just a mixing of several human DNA mark-ups, mixed up with various kinds of animal DNA. Most looked human, some looked more animal-like. Those ones were immediately put on the terminations list.

“It was in this time that some of the higher-ups showed interest in Junsu.” Mr. Kim looked at his son solemnly. “They wanted to know if I could make another clone from one DNA mark up just like how I did with him. I didn’t bother to question their orders thinking there was nothing wrong with the request and after all, if it weren’t for the agency’s funds, there was no way I could have brought Junsu back on my own.” He sighed then continued. “They gave me five DNA samples and corresponding photos. Yunho was one of them. After creating the subjects, the other 4 were simply sedated to sleep. Yunho was the one that underwent training. They approved of him greatly and before I knew it, he was already marked as an X5 and was deployed into the outside world. I only found out much later just what kind of “wars” they were sending our subjects to when they tried to have Junsu deployed. The briefings that they told him, to assassinate someone, he told me about everything even if they instructed him not to utter a single word to me. Imagine my horror when I found out that our knowledge in science was used in such a way. I vehemently refused to have him sent out. I threatened to leave the agency, and that was when they locked me up. They thought they could use my son to do their dirty job, but I instructed Junsu never to follow their orders and at that time, he only listened to me.”

“Appa, was this the time when eomma said you were going into a long business trip?” Jaejoong couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes.” he curtly replied. “But the truth was, I was being held captive against my will. I had no choice. I continued to work for them and Junsu and I continued to live on the inside.

“Wait, didn’t Yunho say that his creators wanted him dead?” Yoochun asked in bewilderment. “You wanted him dead?”

“The people that claimed to be his creators… they’re not.” Mr. Kim clarified. “I was the one that created him. Those bastards were merely his handlers. No scientist in their right mind would want to see the product of their hard work, their children being tortured to death to test their loyalty or for the sake of outlasting the highest degree of pain.” His fists clenched and Jaejoong couldn’t help but feel the paternal aura that his father was emitting. “There’s a difference between combat training and instructed to just sit there and do nothing even if you’re practically dying already.”

“Uncle.”

“I didn’t dare attach myself to the subjects I created except my Junsu. All of them turned out exactly what the agency wanted them to be, mindless, killing machines merely existing day to day to follow orders. Yunho was no different. At that time, he was actually the worst of them. He was too perfect and everyone praised how much of a success he was. I felt sick thinking that I was responsible for making such a monster.” His eyes softened however, when a memory filled his mind. “But when he showed compassion and doubt in killing Junsu, I had hope that maybe it still wasn’t too late. I was really grateful and at the first chance I saw a way of helping him, I instantly grabbed the opportunity.”

“But Appa, you said that Yunho’s DNA was merely given to you. So, where did it come from? And why did the agency want a copy of Jung Yunho anyway when he was still very much alive during those times?” Junsu piped in, a frown on his forehead. “And from the profile that you’ve shown us, it seems that he’s from quite a powerful family. Why make an assassin out of a face that would most likely be popular in the future?”

Jaejoong looked to his brother then back to his father. Before Mr. Kim had the chance to show them the files he managed to steal from the agency earlier, Junsu pulled him to the side and told him of what he saw in that funeral. He didn’t want to believe the words coming out of Junsu’s mouth, but when he did see the screen with Yunho’s picture of past and present shown side by side, no matter how much he tried to deny it, facts were already laid in front of him.

His heart had wanted to give out ever since. As word after word continued to pour out of his father about Yunho being a clone of the real Jung Yunho; showing them a picture of his immediate family, the Jungs, his father, the very same one that he saw that day at the funeral, his mother, and even his ex-boyfriend Minho; his whole body shook at the reality that he was now facing. Minho, that lying bastard. Thinking back to all the shit he told him about his older evil brother and the Yunho who was always bullied and beaten up in high school, it didn’t take a genius to figure out all his lies.

And the stupid prat that he was even empathized with Minho’s sob story. Self-disgust and self-hatred warred in him.

The truth hurt like a bitch and yet he couldn’t help but still feel grateful. The Yunho he knew and loved in highschool was gone, he even attended his funeral without knowing it; but for some twist of fate, he was reborn into the Yunho that he has now. His lover, just like his brother; he had been given a second chance to be with him again.

With the truth revealed about Yunho’s life, he wanted to go and find him more than anything.

“... he always wore a mask whenever he was deployed outside, instructed to never let anyone see his face. Now I realize the reason why. Unlike the others, he was to replace a future heir of one of the powerful families in South Korea. It would have only been a matter of time before the other four were also trained and deployed if Yunho succeeded to infiltrate that family and take the original's place. But him learning about emotions was something they didn't see coming."

“That agency is crazy.” Yoochun exclaimed, bringing Jaejoong's attention back to the matter at hand. He looked up at the other occupants of the living room and wiped the tears that he didn’t even realize was already trickling down his face.

“Chunnie, what...?” Jaejoong asked, resolutely squashing the sense of overwhelming need to find his lover. His father was still speaking and didn't his brother just voiced out a question that he himself wanted to ask? Why was Yunho cloned?

"Jae, Uncle said that Yunho was supposed to replace his original, kill him more like it and take his place in the family.”

“What?” Jaejoong nearly shrieked, dumbfounded. “Why the hell would they do that?”

“It’s simple.” Mr. Kim interjected. “If they make a copy of the original future heirs and train these clones to have a hundred percent loyalty to their handlers, the power of the country would simply be in their hands. Imagine it, if you have the future leaders of the country, heirs to conglomerate families that make up most of South Korea’s wealth under your command, loyal to the very core, you would be able to dominate the country in a matter of months.”

All three were floored as they listened to the scientist’s explanation.

“B-but who would do such a dastardly thing?” It was Yoochun who braved the question.

Mr. Kim looked at them austerely before speaking, “Our mortal enemies. Intelligence from the North.”

**

“You shouldn’t think too much about it Jae ah.” Mr. Kim gently coaxed the brooding beauty, rubbing the back of his hand with the pad of his thumb. “From what Yoochun told me about him, he seems to be really attached to you. And it also helps that you were a friend of him in the past."

"But appa-" Jaejoong began to protest, worrying over his bottom lip.

"The memory serum’s already lost its effect." His father cut in. Jaejoong absently nodded his head, recently made aware it was something that had to be injected to both his brother and lover every month to avoid them gaining any memories of their original templates. It was agency protocol as what his father told. "I’m sure Yunho remembers how kindly you had treated him back when you were younger along with every detail of his first life." Junwoo smiled and caressed his son's face. "He's a smart man Jae ah. Once he figures out everything, he’ll come right back to-“

“Hyung!” Yoochun suddenly came bounding into the dining room followed immediately by Junsu, standing beside him.

Back tensing, Jaejoong turned to his brother and best friend, a questioning, concerned look in his eyes. “What?”

Yoochun and Junsu parted, revealing the very man he’s been thinking of and craving for to see. Jaejoong’s eyes immediately watered at the sight of him as he practically threw himself into his arms. “Yunho-yah!”

Strong arms enveloped his whole body before he was gently pulled back only to have his mouth occupied. His eyes fluttered close almost instantly as he relished in the sweetness that he’s been missing for three days straight. He sobbed against the kiss as all the information he received filled his mind. The familiar loss and heartache was still there but it was only secondary now to he overwhelming joy, love and relief encasing his whole frame. His Bear. His Yunho was back.

Slowly pulling away, Jaejoong was met with the sight of his lover’s glassy-eyes. Both thumbs caressed his cheeks as Yunho looked at him as if he was burning him into his memory. A lone tear fell from his lover's almond orbs before Jaejoong was once again swept up into nirvana at the feel of those amazing lips taking his breath way.

“Jaejoongie. I’m sorry, I’m late.” Yunho murmured against the lip-lock, hands snaking their way around Jaejoong’s waist as he kissed him deeper, his passion increasing. “I never wanted to leave you. But I had something-“

“Ssh, it’s alright.” Jaejoong shushed softly as he drew back an inch. He cupped Yunho’s face in his hands and gazed up at him with eyes full of love. “What matters is you’re here now. You’re here Bear and I won’t ever let you go again.”

Yunho’s eyes widened the slightest fraction, looking quite stunned at the familiar nickname. “Jaejoongie. You remember me?”

“Of course Yunho-yah.” Jaejoong pulled him close, buried his face on the crook of his neck and murmured against the soft skin. “How could I forget my first love?” He felt the body against him tense before he was suddenly held at arm's length.

Yunho was looking at him with positively wide eyes. “W-what did you say?”

Jaejoong sweetly smiled and caressed the side of his face. “You're my first love Bear. I just wasn’t able to tell you my feelings before because you suddenly dropped out of school. You're a meanie." he pouted, punching him lightly in the arm. "You didn't even bother to give me your name back then."

"Jaejoongie..."

The clearing of throat resounded against the small area as everyone's heads turned to the source of the noise. “I think it’s best if you talk to him in private Jae ah.” Mr. Kim suggested, bowing slightly at Yunho, who looked at him in wonder. “I’m too old to see such passionate, hot-blooded kissing at this age.” He joked to which Jaejoong could only blush. Junsu and Yoochun snickered behind them. He walked towards the entrance to the dining room when Yunho opened his mouth.

“Junwoo-sshi, you’re awake.” He pointed out, questioning gaze flickering between Jaejoong and the scientist.

Mr. Kim side-glanced at him and smiled. “Indeed I am.” Before, Yunho could open his mouth again, Mr. Kim beat him to it. “I’m sure you have questions for me Yunho, but that can wait. My princess has been agonizing over waiting for you. Now why don’t you run along and catch up okay? I’m quite certain there are a lot of things you too need to sort out. And yes Jae ah, I don’t care if he’s a man. I’m a scientist. If you both love each other, I wouldn’t be an ass about it and get in between. Right Yoochun?” he queried, chuckling at Yoochun's startled expression.

“Right. Of course, Uncle.” Yoochun felt the blush rise in his cheeks. Junsu laughed at his cuteness. And with that Mr. Kim gave Jaejoong a playful wink before wrapping an arm across his youngest son’s shoulder and his lover.

Looking right back at each other, a mischievous grin flitted across Yunho’s face as he leaned down to capture Jaejoong’s mouth again in a heated kiss. “I knew there was a reason that I liked him.”

Jaejoong chuckled, wrapping both arms around his neck as he kissed him just a passionately. “You and me both.” He said and proceeded to nuzzle his neck, voice dropping an octave lower. “Yunho-yah, we need to talk.”

Sensing the serious aura that Jaejoong was emitting, Yunho held him by the back of his thighs and lifted him off the floor to which Jaejoong readily complied, curling himself around Yunho’s built frame like a koala. “I know Jaejoongie.”

Snuggling into his warmth, Jaejoong murmured quietly. “Take me to bed.”

After sending his son and Yoochun into their bedrooms, Mr. Kim proceeded to go to the only guest room in the house. He picked out his phone and dialed a familiar number. Upon the third ring, an even familiar voice floated through the receiver. Mr. Kim smiled and made himself comfortable on the bed. “It’s been a long time my friend.”

“Junwoo?” The voice was clearly disbelieving. “When did you manage to escape?”

“A while. I’ve been in a coma in the hospital for a week.”

“How the hell are you even still alive? The last time I checked the news, the very area that the agency was built, it was said that there was an oil spill that somehow resulted in the burning of a mental institution as what they called it.”

“Choikang.” Mr. Kim said, voice low and carefully modulated. “I need a favor to ask you.”

“A favor?”

“Yes.” He sighed. “For now, I’m not really that concerned with the agency’s dramatics. There hasn’t been at least a single assassination attempt on my life when I was in the hospital, so I guess for now I’m safe. I however am facing another dilemma.” His thoughts raced back to Yunho. He could tell that his son had fallen real deep with that hybrid and the least he could do was to ensure that Jaejoong didn’t get a broken heart.

“You’re my best friend Junwoo. You know I’d be more than willing to help you if I can.”

The scientist smiled. “Good.” he said, then dropped the bomb. “I need you to put someone in the system for me.”

TBC

--

A/N: PHAIL! *dead* I was supposed to have this undergo beta but since I'm so late already in the weekly update, I just decided not to send it to my beta-reader. Sorry unnie ;_; Anyway, hope you guys like the new installment. More YunJae in the next chapter and the thingy with the North will soon be put to rest. Comments are always loved and appreciated. Aigoo, aigoo, my dislocated collarbone is acting up again T_T