The Art of Being A Slave
The Art of Being A Slave part 1C
Jinki woke up naked, which he had anticipated, and alone, which he had not. Well, almost alone. He’d kept his eyes closed against the light of the sun as he squirmed his way around the bed, trying to pretend to be asleep as he looked for Yunho, but the older man wasn't there, and when he finally did open his eyes, it was Jonghyun staring down at him, not their master. Jjong looked quizzical as he sat next to the bed, playing absently with Jinki’s discarded sweats, and the older slave blushed brightly, pulling the covers up to hide most of his face, but Jonghyun had seen it anyway.
“Hyung,” the younger boy said, leaning forward, so close his nose was right up against Jinki’s, under the covers, his eyes impossibly wide and pretty, “did you and daddy have sex last night?”
Jinki choked on a breath, shaking his head wildly as he skittered across the bed away from the other boy, his movements wild and uncoordinated as his body struggled to keep up with his whirling mind. He panted as he sat on the other side, blanket pooled around his waist as he continued to stare at Jonghyun, who looked back innocently, and held up Jinki’s discarded pants, with a nod towards the older man’s covered waist, “Did you?”
“N-no!” Jinki sputtered, looking a mix between outraged and embarrassed, “He was supposed to punish me for being mean to you, and then I was going to go back to bed but he made me sleep here instead.” Jonghyun didn't look convinced, however, just raised an eyebrow and dropped Jinkis pants low enough for the older man to see his smirk, which just made the older man scowl deepen, “Stop thinking dirty thoughts. He didn't do anything, and then we went to sleep. We didn’t do anything.”
Jonghyun nodded slowly as he dropped the pants and crawled into bed with the other, Jinki squirmed away a little but Jonghyun just came closer until he was back in the older man’s personal space again, “It’s okay if you did.” Jonghyun said at last, “Or if you wanted to. Liking another man isn't anything to be ashamed of.” Jinki bristled like a wet cat, oddly annoyed at the younger man's understanding tone, even as he misunderstood the entire situation. Jinki was so upset with Jonghyun not getting it he almost missed the look in the others eye, the slight shake of shoulders; Jonghyun was playing with him.
He launched himself at the younger with a playful yell as Jonghyun erupted in giggles, rolling themselves right off the bed as the younger swiftly went for Jinki’s ticklish spots while the older man suddenly found himself on the defensive, significantly outdressed, he was much easier to tickle. He soon found himself pinned to the floor with Jonghyun sitting on his stomach, as he tried to fend off the younger’s hands, which were determined to find their way to his sides and underarms, as he bucked and squirmed to try and get Jonghyun off.
That’s how Yunho found them as he entered the room, eyebrows already furrowed because he was so sure he’d left the door closed, but upon being greeted with the sight of his boys on the floor, he wasn't sure what went higher, his eyebrows or his blood pressure. He cleared his throat politely as he continued to carry the tray of food he was holding over to the bed.
“If you two are done, I have breakfast” he said calmly, and couldn't help but smile as Jonghyun immediately stopped all attempts to torture the older boy at the mention of food. He leaned down and kissed Jinki on the nose and scampered off to the bed, eyes going wide over the food. On the floor, Jinki seemed to still be in a daze, cupping his nose with one hand as he blinked up at the ceiling, seemingly catapulted into thought. “Jinki-yah?” Yunho pressed gently, and his name seemed to snap the boy out of it, as he too crawled up onto the bed.
“Thats it?” Jinki asked, eyebrows raised, normally their breakfast was much larger than that. Yunho frowned down at the tray. What was wrong with it? It had a bowl filled with large strawberries and Key’s famous white chocolate dipping sauce, smoked salmon and basil spring rolls, soft bread with spreadable cheese… maybe he had gone overboard with the finger foods, but this was to serve a point.
“Don’t be greedy” Yunho muttered, slightly put out, as he set the tray beside him and reached out to tug the boys a little closer. It was almost fascinating to see how easily the two of them forgot about Jinki’s nakedness, and it was good that they were so comfortable with each other, it warmed Yunho’s heart. But now, the exercise.
“Jonghyun” he said, turning to the youngest, who immediately looked crestfallen, like he was anticipating getting reprimanded, probably about whatever happened last night, but Yunho chose to forget about that, “What do you want first?” Jonghyun immediately looked hopeful as he stared at the plate, reaching for a strawberry. But Yunho gently took his hand and placed it back in his lap.
“No, you have to tell me” Yunho said gently, at the stricken look the youngest slave. Jonghyun bit his lip and nodded.
“Can I have a strawberry, daddy?” Jonghyun asked, licking his lips as Yunho grabbed it and brought it to him. The younger didn't reach for the fruit again, instead he leaned forward, opening his mouth for the bright red fruit, almost purring as he sank his teeth into the firm flesh of the fruit and bit down, taking a healthy chunk out of it before he leaned back and chewed, giggling as he held a hand over his mouth politely.
By the time he finished swallowing Yunho was regretting all the decisions he’d ever made. This was supposed to be a trust building exercise, not so overtly sexual. He could feel Jinki side-eyeing him as Jonghyun licked the stray strawberry juice off his lips. pretending that display didn’t bother him, Yunho turned and offered the freshly bitten strawberry to Jinki, who was watching him closely as he leaned forward and bit into the rest of the strawberry, right down to the green stem, pulling back and chewing the food like he was trying to prove something to Yunho. Well, that went great.
“Daddy” Jonghyun asked, ducking his head a little as he tried to look Yunho in the eye, “May I have some more?”
Yunho smiled and nodded, “Another strawberry, or something else?” he asked, and Jonghyun, as shy as ever when he asked for something, pointed to the salmon rolls, which Yunho fed first to Jonghyun, and then to Jinki. it continued like that until the food was gone, Jonghyun always asking for more and Jinki receiving the seconds since he never spoke up. The youngest shivered with singular pleasure when Yunho started asking him if he wanted anything else, instead of making him speak up, vibrating with happiness to have Yunho’s attention on him.
Yunho thought, as he he kissed both boys on the forehead and sent them off to get dressed and do their chores, that this experiment, despite making him extremely uncomfortable in his groin region and probably costing him points with Jinki, was good to learn about Jonghyun. His need to please was dangerous, he could pretend he was well adjusted but it was false. At least Jinki was honest with his rage, if misdirected. Jonghyun was damaged and directionless, and, as the master stared at the report of the youngers home life with his abusive master, he had to wonder how deep this abuse went before it was found, if the abuse he’d undergone had lasted longer than the three months he’d admitted to on record.
If Jonghyun was exhibiting trained responses to Yunho’s advances, maybe even his progress with Key, the light touches and kissing, could be dangerous for his psyche. He groaned and rubbed his forehead. He might need professional counseling for the boy, if he couldn't get him to open up sooner, rather than later. But, from their last discussion, forcing the topic only brought distraction. Jonghyun was smart, smarter than a lot of people gave him credit for, and he was using his intellect to hide how broken he was. It was an admirable self defence technique, but it meant that not only was Jonghyun going to get worse, and that neither of these boys trusted Yunho, and they weren’t getting better.
They were functioning, but they weren’t exactly functional. He set down the papers and sighed heavily before suddenly and violently throwing everything off of his desk as he stood with a loud curse. He didn't know what to do anymore.
---
Yunho knew he needed help, desperately, but he also knew bringing in any other specialist like himself wouldn't help because they didn't have the history with his boys. They would see them as broken beyond repair and they all had the authority to send them home without his consent. It was almost assured that they would. So no. Help would not come from outside his walls. He did have three able bodied friends who were all willing and able to help the newest additions to their home, and as much as he loathed to do so, he would need them for this.
He assembled his three slaves late one night, after both Jonghyun and Jinki had gone to bed. He’d made the both of them promise to stay in their own beds tonight as he had lots of paperwork to finish for the city. They both said they understood, and he really hoped they did, because if one of them showed up tonight, he didn't think he could turn them away.
“I need help” he said at length, as the three boys lazed in chairs in front of him. The three of them had grown bored with sitting around. Yunho had kept them waiting for about 10 minutes as he worried about how he was going to start, “I need lots of help with Jinki and Jonghyun, but it has to be between the four of us. If anyone finds out how bad off they are, they’ll be sent home.”
The three slaves blanched at the thought. Most who sell themselves into slavery have families that rely on the monthly stipend, being forced home would end that pay. Kibum frowned the hardest though, having been there when Yunho seemed to decide that Jonghyun was better. “What happened?” the outspoken slave asked, leaning forward, his tone was polite but the master knew he was demanding an answer.
Yunho sighed and rubbed his temple, "It’s come to my attention that maybe Jonghyun has lied about his abuse history, and if so, we should be treating everything he’s been doing as learned behavior. For all I know his interactions with you could just be his subconscious trying to tell me that he’s ready for intimacy." He shrugged and leaned back into his chair, throwing his hands up like he had no idea.
Key’s frown deepened as he looked down at his hands, unnerved at Yunho's assumption, but it was Taemin who sat up straighter at the news, "Are you trying to say that Jonghyun wants you to have sex with him? With how long it took him to get used to physical contact, you'd think that wouldn't even be possible?"
"It sounds like he doesn't know," Minho interjected on his master's behalf, worrying his lower lip slightly, "but if Jonghyunie-hyung has learned to think that’s what happens, masters have sex with their slaves when they want to, he could just be assuming that Yunho-seonsaengnim hasn't wanted to yet, but by showing that he is available, he can possibly anticipate the action? Maybe?" He shot a hesitant look at Yunho, shrugging slightly, "Its just a guess, though. I haven't known Jjong long enough."
They all agreed to that. Even with the long months the two slaves had been in their house, they hardly knew the others, with Jinki doing his best porcupine impression and Jonghyun’s shyness, and since both of those behaviors are post abuse, it was hard to say they really knew them at all.
"Jinki would know." Taemin said suddenly, he was probably the closest of all of them, to the angry slave, since Jinki tutored him, "Though, he’s mad at you, so he might not help. But then, he's mad at everything." He added as an afterthought. He looked down at his hands shyly when he felt Yunho’s gaze on him, blushing at the attention. "Just an observation, of course, it’s not like he tells me these things, but you can see it in the way he acts around you. Us. Mirrors."
"Mirrors?" Yunho repeated, stupidly, but then it clicked, mirrors. Jinki hated his reflection, the scars he bore from the woman who abused him for so long, his broken nose. If Jinki hated who he was, how could Yunho ever get him to accept anything else? "Thats it!" He said excitedly, standing up swiftly and circling his desk, pulling the youngest slave into a tight hug, "Taeminnie, you're brilliant!" He kissed the blushing boys cheek before putting him down and ushering the three slaves out of his room and off to bed.
Jinki was the key to helping Jonghyun, so he needed to do everything he could to help Jinki first. He sat down behind his laptop and started some research, he'd never heard of slaves receiving plastic surgery, since most contracts only lasted 5 years, but if the older slave needed a full sex change in order to feel at home in his body, by god Yunho would see it done.
--
It took three days and a fist full of phone calls before Yunho finally figured out how it could be done. The process was mind numbing and lengthy, for him anyway, with weeks of referrals, background checks and an official visit from an office at the slave registry. He dreaded that almost more than anything else, since they could strongly suggest he send either Jonghyun or Jinki home and deny him the service he was seeking out to begin with. But the thing he feared the most was what would actually get this ball rolling in the first place, talking to Jinki.
The oldest slave ran hot and cold with Yunho now, almost simultaneously, He’d cosy up to him when Yunho would feed the both of them, then hiss and growl and straight up ignore everything he said and did for the next three hours, only to come and help Yunho organize the library. He never knew what mood the slave would be in, and trying to make the adjustments for the boy was really hindering any progress he could be making.
So he settled on an ambush. It was dastardly, but it was the only way he could think of to get the boy alone, vulnerable enough to talk to him about his issues. Something that normally happened only when Jinki thought he’d done something wrong and deserved to wallow in misery and be punished. But still, he felt a little bit terrible when he surprised the younger man outside the bathroom, fresh from the shower, crowding him back into the still steamy room. Yunho gripped Jinkis hips and made him face the mirror.
Jinki already had his war face on, hard and closed off as he gazed hatefully at Yunho through the reflective surface. “Sweetheart,” Yunho started, trying not to grin at the pout that formed on the youngers lips everytime he called him that, “look in the mirror, is there anything you see that you don't like?”
Jinki grunted and tried to wiggle out from the light grip Yunho had on his sides, scowling at the reflection, “The man behind me?” he offered bitterly, smirking sarcastically when Yunho’s eyes narrowed, but the smirk left his lips in a hurry when Yunho brought his hand up and slapped him hard on his ass, and even of the fabric of his jeans it stung.
“Don’t be obtuse, Lee Jinki” Yunho purred softly, voice suddenly thick with meaning and Jinki trembled, “I am trying to help you. I know that your last Master marked your body. She burned you and broke your nose. I'm offering you a chance to make those marks go away, but you need to cooperate with me. I need you to want those things to be fixed.” he stopped to let the words sink in, watched as Jinki’s armor fell away piece by piece, looking up in the mirror, to bring a hesitant hand up, cupping his flattened nose briefly, but he dropped it and looked away when he met Yunho’s eyes in the mirror. “Baby, its against the law for me to force you to have plastic surgery, do you understand? I cannot be a part of this process, not in person. There’s paperwork I’ll have to file, someone is going to come to the house to talk to you about this” Jinki tensed up in his arms, turning around to face the older man for real.
“I dont want to talk to anyone. I dont need to talk to anyone” he hissed, eyes narrowed as he stared at Yunho directly, definitely, “If this is another one of your ploys to get us to fucking- I don't know- appreciate you or some shit, where he comes and acts like an asstroll and you can show off how nice and caring you are-”
He broke off with a whine when Yunho pressed him a little harshly back into the sink, gripping Jinkis chin. He gently, but forcefully made the younger look at him, “I am offering to pay a very hefty price to fix the insecurities you have about your body, Lee Jinki, the ones I know you antagonize over.” he paused and dropped a light kiss on the youngers nose, ignoring the shiver that ran through Jinkis body at the action “You look in the mirror every day and see the reminder of your abuse. I know you're scared, and that's why you’re lashing out at me, so I’m not going to punish you even though I should” he watched the blush bloom over the younger’s cheeks, quirking an eyebrow but saying nothing, “I want you to be happy, okay? In your body, in your life, okay? That’s my only goal with you and your brother. So, if you want me to start filing the paperwork so this can happen, I need you to be on board, because I’m not going to be able to go to the doctors with you, I’ll have no input in anything that you want to happen, so this is all on you, Jinki.” he paused to let that sink in, before backing away from the slave, giving him room to breathe, “If you don't want it, tell me, and I’ll drop the whole idea and never talk about it again. If you do want to, I’ll file the paperwork right now, and in a few weeks you’ll look exactly how you want to look. Just say yes or no.”
Jinki blinked at him, face open, even his normal mask of aggravation and contempt having slipped, leaving him looking young and raw as he sagged back against the bathroom counter. He brought his hands up to rub his face, pausing when they touched his nose, and finally, he looked up, eyes wide and innocent and Yunho just wanted to hug him close and tell him everything was going to be okay. “Can they fix scars, too?” he asked softly, weakly, like he wasn't expecting a positive answer.
“Yes, they can” Yunho said gently, “like they were never there to begin with” and Jinki was nodding before the older man finished his sentence, sliding down the counter to the floor as he furiously agreed.
“I’ll do it” he said after a bit, wondering if Yunho needed verbal confirmation, “I wanna do it. as soon as We can? Please? I mean, thank you, Ma… Yunho… Daddy. Thank you” smiling brightly, Yunho crouched down, ruffling the youngers still wet hair, and yelped in surprise when Jinki launched himself at the older, wrapping his arms around Yunho’s middle and burying his face in the master’s chest, shaking with pent up emotions, and Yunho just held him.
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Jinki woke up naked, which he had anticipated, and alone, which he had not. Well, almost alone. He’d kept his eyes closed against the light of the sun as he squirmed his way around the bed, trying to pretend to be asleep as he looked for Yunho, but the older man wasn't there, and when he finally did open his eyes, it was Jonghyun staring down at him, not their master. Jjong looked quizzical as he sat next to the bed, playing absently with Jinki’s discarded sweats, and the older slave blushed brightly, pulling the covers up to hide most of his face, but Jonghyun had seen it anyway.
“Hyung,” the younger boy said, leaning forward, so close his nose was right up against Jinki’s, under the covers, his eyes impossibly wide and pretty, “did you and daddy have sex last night?”
Jinki choked on a breath, shaking his head wildly as he skittered across the bed away from the other boy, his movements wild and uncoordinated as his body struggled to keep up with his whirling mind. He panted as he sat on the other side, blanket pooled around his waist as he continued to stare at Jonghyun, who looked back innocently, and held up Jinki’s discarded pants, with a nod towards the older man’s covered waist, “Did you?”
“N-no!” Jinki sputtered, looking a mix between outraged and embarrassed, “He was supposed to punish me for being mean to you, and then I was going to go back to bed but he made me sleep here instead.” Jonghyun didn't look convinced, however, just raised an eyebrow and dropped Jinkis pants low enough for the older man to see his smirk, which just made the older man scowl deepen, “Stop thinking dirty thoughts. He didn't do anything, and then we went to sleep. We didn’t do anything.”
Jonghyun nodded slowly as he dropped the pants and crawled into bed with the other, Jinki squirmed away a little but Jonghyun just came closer until he was back in the older man’s personal space again, “It’s okay if you did.” Jonghyun said at last, “Or if you wanted to. Liking another man isn't anything to be ashamed of.” Jinki bristled like a wet cat, oddly annoyed at the younger man's understanding tone, even as he misunderstood the entire situation. Jinki was so upset with Jonghyun not getting it he almost missed the look in the others eye, the slight shake of shoulders; Jonghyun was playing with him.
He launched himself at the younger with a playful yell as Jonghyun erupted in giggles, rolling themselves right off the bed as the younger swiftly went for Jinki’s ticklish spots while the older man suddenly found himself on the defensive, significantly outdressed, he was much easier to tickle. He soon found himself pinned to the floor with Jonghyun sitting on his stomach, as he tried to fend off the younger’s hands, which were determined to find their way to his sides and underarms, as he bucked and squirmed to try and get Jonghyun off.
That’s how Yunho found them as he entered the room, eyebrows already furrowed because he was so sure he’d left the door closed, but upon being greeted with the sight of his boys on the floor, he wasn't sure what went higher, his eyebrows or his blood pressure. He cleared his throat politely as he continued to carry the tray of food he was holding over to the bed.
“If you two are done, I have breakfast” he said calmly, and couldn't help but smile as Jonghyun immediately stopped all attempts to torture the older boy at the mention of food. He leaned down and kissed Jinki on the nose and scampered off to the bed, eyes going wide over the food. On the floor, Jinki seemed to still be in a daze, cupping his nose with one hand as he blinked up at the ceiling, seemingly catapulted into thought. “Jinki-yah?” Yunho pressed gently, and his name seemed to snap the boy out of it, as he too crawled up onto the bed.
“Thats it?” Jinki asked, eyebrows raised, normally their breakfast was much larger than that. Yunho frowned down at the tray. What was wrong with it? It had a bowl filled with large strawberries and Key’s famous white chocolate dipping sauce, smoked salmon and basil spring rolls, soft bread with spreadable cheese… maybe he had gone overboard with the finger foods, but this was to serve a point.
“Don’t be greedy” Yunho muttered, slightly put out, as he set the tray beside him and reached out to tug the boys a little closer. It was almost fascinating to see how easily the two of them forgot about Jinki’s nakedness, and it was good that they were so comfortable with each other, it warmed Yunho’s heart. But now, the exercise.
“Jonghyun” he said, turning to the youngest, who immediately looked crestfallen, like he was anticipating getting reprimanded, probably about whatever happened last night, but Yunho chose to forget about that, “What do you want first?” Jonghyun immediately looked hopeful as he stared at the plate, reaching for a strawberry. But Yunho gently took his hand and placed it back in his lap.
“No, you have to tell me” Yunho said gently, at the stricken look the youngest slave. Jonghyun bit his lip and nodded.
“Can I have a strawberry, daddy?” Jonghyun asked, licking his lips as Yunho grabbed it and brought it to him. The younger didn't reach for the fruit again, instead he leaned forward, opening his mouth for the bright red fruit, almost purring as he sank his teeth into the firm flesh of the fruit and bit down, taking a healthy chunk out of it before he leaned back and chewed, giggling as he held a hand over his mouth politely.
By the time he finished swallowing Yunho was regretting all the decisions he’d ever made. This was supposed to be a trust building exercise, not so overtly sexual. He could feel Jinki side-eyeing him as Jonghyun licked the stray strawberry juice off his lips. pretending that display didn’t bother him, Yunho turned and offered the freshly bitten strawberry to Jinki, who was watching him closely as he leaned forward and bit into the rest of the strawberry, right down to the green stem, pulling back and chewing the food like he was trying to prove something to Yunho. Well, that went great.
“Daddy” Jonghyun asked, ducking his head a little as he tried to look Yunho in the eye, “May I have some more?”
Yunho smiled and nodded, “Another strawberry, or something else?” he asked, and Jonghyun, as shy as ever when he asked for something, pointed to the salmon rolls, which Yunho fed first to Jonghyun, and then to Jinki. it continued like that until the food was gone, Jonghyun always asking for more and Jinki receiving the seconds since he never spoke up. The youngest shivered with singular pleasure when Yunho started asking him if he wanted anything else, instead of making him speak up, vibrating with happiness to have Yunho’s attention on him.
Yunho thought, as he he kissed both boys on the forehead and sent them off to get dressed and do their chores, that this experiment, despite making him extremely uncomfortable in his groin region and probably costing him points with Jinki, was good to learn about Jonghyun. His need to please was dangerous, he could pretend he was well adjusted but it was false. At least Jinki was honest with his rage, if misdirected. Jonghyun was damaged and directionless, and, as the master stared at the report of the youngers home life with his abusive master, he had to wonder how deep this abuse went before it was found, if the abuse he’d undergone had lasted longer than the three months he’d admitted to on record.
If Jonghyun was exhibiting trained responses to Yunho’s advances, maybe even his progress with Key, the light touches and kissing, could be dangerous for his psyche. He groaned and rubbed his forehead. He might need professional counseling for the boy, if he couldn't get him to open up sooner, rather than later. But, from their last discussion, forcing the topic only brought distraction. Jonghyun was smart, smarter than a lot of people gave him credit for, and he was using his intellect to hide how broken he was. It was an admirable self defence technique, but it meant that not only was Jonghyun going to get worse, and that neither of these boys trusted Yunho, and they weren’t getting better.
They were functioning, but they weren’t exactly functional. He set down the papers and sighed heavily before suddenly and violently throwing everything off of his desk as he stood with a loud curse. He didn't know what to do anymore.
---
Yunho knew he needed help, desperately, but he also knew bringing in any other specialist like himself wouldn't help because they didn't have the history with his boys. They would see them as broken beyond repair and they all had the authority to send them home without his consent. It was almost assured that they would. So no. Help would not come from outside his walls. He did have three able bodied friends who were all willing and able to help the newest additions to their home, and as much as he loathed to do so, he would need them for this.
He assembled his three slaves late one night, after both Jonghyun and Jinki had gone to bed. He’d made the both of them promise to stay in their own beds tonight as he had lots of paperwork to finish for the city. They both said they understood, and he really hoped they did, because if one of them showed up tonight, he didn't think he could turn them away.
“I need help” he said at length, as the three boys lazed in chairs in front of him. The three of them had grown bored with sitting around. Yunho had kept them waiting for about 10 minutes as he worried about how he was going to start, “I need lots of help with Jinki and Jonghyun, but it has to be between the four of us. If anyone finds out how bad off they are, they’ll be sent home.”
The three slaves blanched at the thought. Most who sell themselves into slavery have families that rely on the monthly stipend, being forced home would end that pay. Kibum frowned the hardest though, having been there when Yunho seemed to decide that Jonghyun was better. “What happened?” the outspoken slave asked, leaning forward, his tone was polite but the master knew he was demanding an answer.
Yunho sighed and rubbed his temple, "It’s come to my attention that maybe Jonghyun has lied about his abuse history, and if so, we should be treating everything he’s been doing as learned behavior. For all I know his interactions with you could just be his subconscious trying to tell me that he’s ready for intimacy." He shrugged and leaned back into his chair, throwing his hands up like he had no idea.
Key’s frown deepened as he looked down at his hands, unnerved at Yunho's assumption, but it was Taemin who sat up straighter at the news, "Are you trying to say that Jonghyun wants you to have sex with him? With how long it took him to get used to physical contact, you'd think that wouldn't even be possible?"
"It sounds like he doesn't know," Minho interjected on his master's behalf, worrying his lower lip slightly, "but if Jonghyunie-hyung has learned to think that’s what happens, masters have sex with their slaves when they want to, he could just be assuming that Yunho-seonsaengnim hasn't wanted to yet, but by showing that he is available, he can possibly anticipate the action? Maybe?" He shot a hesitant look at Yunho, shrugging slightly, "Its just a guess, though. I haven't known Jjong long enough."
They all agreed to that. Even with the long months the two slaves had been in their house, they hardly knew the others, with Jinki doing his best porcupine impression and Jonghyun’s shyness, and since both of those behaviors are post abuse, it was hard to say they really knew them at all.
"Jinki would know." Taemin said suddenly, he was probably the closest of all of them, to the angry slave, since Jinki tutored him, "Though, he’s mad at you, so he might not help. But then, he's mad at everything." He added as an afterthought. He looked down at his hands shyly when he felt Yunho’s gaze on him, blushing at the attention. "Just an observation, of course, it’s not like he tells me these things, but you can see it in the way he acts around you. Us. Mirrors."
"Mirrors?" Yunho repeated, stupidly, but then it clicked, mirrors. Jinki hated his reflection, the scars he bore from the woman who abused him for so long, his broken nose. If Jinki hated who he was, how could Yunho ever get him to accept anything else? "Thats it!" He said excitedly, standing up swiftly and circling his desk, pulling the youngest slave into a tight hug, "Taeminnie, you're brilliant!" He kissed the blushing boys cheek before putting him down and ushering the three slaves out of his room and off to bed.
Jinki was the key to helping Jonghyun, so he needed to do everything he could to help Jinki first. He sat down behind his laptop and started some research, he'd never heard of slaves receiving plastic surgery, since most contracts only lasted 5 years, but if the older slave needed a full sex change in order to feel at home in his body, by god Yunho would see it done.
--
It took three days and a fist full of phone calls before Yunho finally figured out how it could be done. The process was mind numbing and lengthy, for him anyway, with weeks of referrals, background checks and an official visit from an office at the slave registry. He dreaded that almost more than anything else, since they could strongly suggest he send either Jonghyun or Jinki home and deny him the service he was seeking out to begin with. But the thing he feared the most was what would actually get this ball rolling in the first place, talking to Jinki.
The oldest slave ran hot and cold with Yunho now, almost simultaneously, He’d cosy up to him when Yunho would feed the both of them, then hiss and growl and straight up ignore everything he said and did for the next three hours, only to come and help Yunho organize the library. He never knew what mood the slave would be in, and trying to make the adjustments for the boy was really hindering any progress he could be making.
So he settled on an ambush. It was dastardly, but it was the only way he could think of to get the boy alone, vulnerable enough to talk to him about his issues. Something that normally happened only when Jinki thought he’d done something wrong and deserved to wallow in misery and be punished. But still, he felt a little bit terrible when he surprised the younger man outside the bathroom, fresh from the shower, crowding him back into the still steamy room. Yunho gripped Jinkis hips and made him face the mirror.
Jinki already had his war face on, hard and closed off as he gazed hatefully at Yunho through the reflective surface. “Sweetheart,” Yunho started, trying not to grin at the pout that formed on the youngers lips everytime he called him that, “look in the mirror, is there anything you see that you don't like?”
Jinki grunted and tried to wiggle out from the light grip Yunho had on his sides, scowling at the reflection, “The man behind me?” he offered bitterly, smirking sarcastically when Yunho’s eyes narrowed, but the smirk left his lips in a hurry when Yunho brought his hand up and slapped him hard on his ass, and even of the fabric of his jeans it stung.
“Don’t be obtuse, Lee Jinki” Yunho purred softly, voice suddenly thick with meaning and Jinki trembled, “I am trying to help you. I know that your last Master marked your body. She burned you and broke your nose. I'm offering you a chance to make those marks go away, but you need to cooperate with me. I need you to want those things to be fixed.” he stopped to let the words sink in, watched as Jinki’s armor fell away piece by piece, looking up in the mirror, to bring a hesitant hand up, cupping his flattened nose briefly, but he dropped it and looked away when he met Yunho’s eyes in the mirror. “Baby, its against the law for me to force you to have plastic surgery, do you understand? I cannot be a part of this process, not in person. There’s paperwork I’ll have to file, someone is going to come to the house to talk to you about this” Jinki tensed up in his arms, turning around to face the older man for real.
“I dont want to talk to anyone. I dont need to talk to anyone” he hissed, eyes narrowed as he stared at Yunho directly, definitely, “If this is another one of your ploys to get us to fucking- I don't know- appreciate you or some shit, where he comes and acts like an asstroll and you can show off how nice and caring you are-”
He broke off with a whine when Yunho pressed him a little harshly back into the sink, gripping Jinkis chin. He gently, but forcefully made the younger look at him, “I am offering to pay a very hefty price to fix the insecurities you have about your body, Lee Jinki, the ones I know you antagonize over.” he paused and dropped a light kiss on the youngers nose, ignoring the shiver that ran through Jinkis body at the action “You look in the mirror every day and see the reminder of your abuse. I know you're scared, and that's why you’re lashing out at me, so I’m not going to punish you even though I should” he watched the blush bloom over the younger’s cheeks, quirking an eyebrow but saying nothing, “I want you to be happy, okay? In your body, in your life, okay? That’s my only goal with you and your brother. So, if you want me to start filing the paperwork so this can happen, I need you to be on board, because I’m not going to be able to go to the doctors with you, I’ll have no input in anything that you want to happen, so this is all on you, Jinki.” he paused to let that sink in, before backing away from the slave, giving him room to breathe, “If you don't want it, tell me, and I’ll drop the whole idea and never talk about it again. If you do want to, I’ll file the paperwork right now, and in a few weeks you’ll look exactly how you want to look. Just say yes or no.”
Jinki blinked at him, face open, even his normal mask of aggravation and contempt having slipped, leaving him looking young and raw as he sagged back against the bathroom counter. He brought his hands up to rub his face, pausing when they touched his nose, and finally, he looked up, eyes wide and innocent and Yunho just wanted to hug him close and tell him everything was going to be okay. “Can they fix scars, too?” he asked softly, weakly, like he wasn't expecting a positive answer.
“Yes, they can” Yunho said gently, “like they were never there to begin with” and Jinki was nodding before the older man finished his sentence, sliding down the counter to the floor as he furiously agreed.
“I’ll do it” he said after a bit, wondering if Yunho needed verbal confirmation, “I wanna do it. as soon as We can? Please? I mean, thank you, Ma… Yunho… Daddy. Thank you” smiling brightly, Yunho crouched down, ruffling the youngers still wet hair, and yelped in surprise when Jinki launched himself at the older, wrapping his arms around Yunho’s middle and burying his face in the master’s chest, shaking with pent up emotions, and Yunho just held him.
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