Sanctuary - Chapter Nine

[yeonah]

Title: Sanctuary
Chapter: 9/?
Authors: renichifreak and yeonah
Fandom: SS501
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning:Angst, AU
Summary: In this era, people are bought and sold as though they are cattle. The human life is only worth what one is willing to pay for it. What happens when two such people end up in the possession of two brothers who refuse to follow the very practices they were raised to believe?
A/N: Another roleplay story by us for your enjoyment~! Yes, Unlock is still going XD We’re going back and forth.  HyunJoong and JungMin are played by me (yeonah ) and KyuJong and YoungSaeng are played by renichifreak .  Credit for the original plot goes to renichifreak  and hakkais_shadow ~ <3

Stepping inside the restaurant, it was warm and cozy inside, and not crowded. A young waitress greeted them at the door and showed them to an isolated seat near the back after spotting the collar around the slaves' necks, particularly YoungSaeng's. HyunJoong supposed there was some advantages to the fact he was expected to grope YoungSaeng every few minutes, especially in a family-friendly cafe. It meant privacy from prying eyes and ears.

Not caring that they were away from the general public, YoungSaeng took his seat beside HyunJoong as he was supposed to. It seemed like a nice place, and he had seen slaves in the main area who were being treated quite well by the paid staff, a rarity now.

Unsure, JungMin looked at them all before hesitantly sitting down next to KyuJong, entire body stiff at the proximity. Labor slaves weren't needed to come this close to their masters often, especially if they weren't ordered to. So far he had managed to put himself at the other end of the room from KyuJong at all times, not side by side like this.

The menus were passed out, and once the waitress was gone and they were alone, HyunJoong smiled at the slaves. "The food here is excellent. HyungJoon will wish that he'd tagged along."

Knowing that JungMin would be uncomfortable, KyuJong made sure that he was as far over as he could, giving JungMin as much room as he was able to. Even though it hurt knowing that he couldn't be trusted, he would rather this than JungMin being abused by the guards who would have done anything to make him react just so they could punish him.

Watching KyuJong still out of the corner of his eyes, HyunJoong opened his menu and looked over at YoungSaeng, smiling. "Have whatever catches your interest. Let's work a little on bringing those low numbers up?" He hadn't liked how small YoungSaeng's measurements were, and wanted him to gain weight in a healthy way.

YoungSaeng was still caught off guard by HyunJoong. He was just so different from his previous owners. To them, keeping him weak meant control, yet HyunJoong wanted him to gain it back...

It was as if he was helping him gain back control in general, something he'd lost years ago.

Shaking the thought from his head, YoungSaeng just pointed to a decent sized salad and juice. "This, I suppose."

Nodding, HyunJoong looked at his own menu briefly, already knowing what he was getting. JungMin seemed at a loss still, as if he wasn't too sure what he was supposed to be doing. Poking through the menu in front of him, he settled on a soup that didn't look too expensive, looking up at KyuJong through his bangs in confusion.

KyuJong smiled at the slave. "Just eat what you want. The owners and staff here won't treat you any different than us," he explained.

JungMin found that hard to believe, but he just pressed his lips firmly shut and looked back down at the menu.

After a moment, the waitress returned. "Can I take your orders?" she asked, smiling at all four of them.

KyuJong gave JungMin's order before giving his own, just settling for a small salad. "I'm not very hungry right now," he explained with a smile.

HyunJoong raised an eyebrow at KyuJong before giving YoungSaeng's order and then his own, a cold noodle broth that he had practically every time he came here. The waitress took their orders and left, returning a minute later with their drinks before disappearing again.

KyuJong accepted the drink with a smile before taking a sip, then moving to swirl the straw around the glass. He'd seen the look HyunJoong sent his way and knew that he probably wouldn't be getting out of a long talk later.

HyunJoong took in YoungSaeng's new hairstyle from the corner of his eyes, smiling to himself. "So do you like what she did with your hair?" he chuckled. He stayed far away from the topic of the brand marking YoungSaeng's skin, though it wasn't far from his mind. "Ajhumma's been a family friend practically since we were born."

Looking up from the glass, YoungSaeng straightened up and reached up to play with his now much shorter hair. "Surprisingly, yes," he replied.

A chuckle escaped the older man as he looked over the shortened locks. "I'm surprised she behaved somewhat. I thought for sure that we'd caught her in one of her 'creative bursts'." HyunJoong laughed. "You should have seen what she did to HyungJoon once." He looked at KyuJong in amusement. "Remember? Two years ago."

KyuJong choked on the water and began coughing at the memory. "He looked like he stuck his finger into an electrical socket. And blond is not a good color for him," he laughed. "Oh, remember the mohawk thing? I had no idea that his hair would stand so tall..."

HyunJoong snickered. "And she had to put so much spray in his hair to get it that way, he could have drawn blood." He looked at JungMin, eyes dancing. "You're lucky she hasn't had a go at you yet. She has a thing for redheads."

JungMin instinctively covered his hair with his hands and HyunJoong buried his head in his arms, body shaking with laughter.

YoungSaeng found himself snickering before the waitress returned with their food.

KyuJong nodded his thanks as she placed the food in the middle of the table before leaving after wishing them all a good meal. Passing out the food, he did the same and took a small bite of the salad he'd ordered.

HyunJoong repeated KyuJong's words before eating as well, enjoying the noodles.

JungMin checked through the soup at first, suspicious, before taking a sip. It was very good. Lips curling upward slightly, he had a little more, realizing how hungry he was for the first time.

Starting with small bites like JungMin, YoungSaeng gradually began taking larger bites when he realized there were no drugs in the food. He knew that he and JungMin must be drawing attention from their masters, but it was a fact of life for them both.

Watching them both, HyunJoong smiled to himself.

"So what do you guys want to do after?" he asked absently. "Anywhere else you wanted to go, or are we heading back?"

KyuJong shrugged. "I can't think of anything else we need to do." He turned toward the other two. "Anything you guys can think of?" he asked.

JungMin shook his head, still too baffled to really comment. HyunJoong looked over at YoungSaeng curiously. "What about you?"

"Um, no. Not that I can think of," YoungSaeng replied slowly.

"Then I guess we should head back," HyunJoong chuckled. "Before HyungJoon takes a fit." He focused on his noodles, thinking. He had a few tests to run through in the lab when he got back...absently he wondered what YoungSaeng would think about helping him out.

"Do we bring him anything back, or just tease him that we were here?" KyuJong asked, smirking.

YoungSaeng shook his head. "You two are horrible brothers..." he mumbled, only meaning how they tormented the youngest and made it vocally clear that that was how he meant it.

HyunJoong cast a sideways grin at YoungSaeng. "Why? It's just too much fun. And if you haven't noticed yet, he's just as prone to tormenting us back; we have to get our fun in somewhere." He hoped that, with time, YoungSaeng and JungMin would feel comfortable enough around them to torment them right back.

"Why not bring him some? And tell him he doesn't get it until he cleans up the mess he made of my poor lab."

"How about because you were the one to mess it up. You keep all the chemicals in an electric lock that he can't break," KyuJong pointed out. "Though I agree with bringing him something and tormenting him with it. Maybe he'll actually clean his room for a change. I think I saw something moving the last time I was in there."

"I just thought he was keeping a pet," HyunJoong blinked at his brother. "And he doesn't need chemicals to mess things up. Those beakers are expensive when he breaks them." He gave a woeful sigh.

"Well, he's not," KyuJong replied with a shake of his head. "And maybe you ought to consider locking the door to your lab, brainiac."

"But then I can't get into it, which defeats the purpose," HyunJoong protested. "We need one of those...thumbprint identification locks. And gel-pads and retinal scanners."

"What the hell do you do in there?" YoungSaeng blurted out. That was some heavy duty security he wanted.

"Experiments," HyunJoong answered mischievously. "And Joonie's running out of brain cells he can afford to lose in there. And I keep losing my keys." And he just wanted an excuse to mess around with such high-tech security.

JungMin looked vaguely spooked.

"...Okay, you scare me," YoungSaeng finally said.

"Hey~!" HyunJoong protested. "I'm not that scary. Am I?" He asked KyuJong. "I haven't put a hole in the ceiling for four months now." He stated it like it was something to be proud of.

"The fact that you did put a hole in the ceiling speaks volumes, Hyung," KyuJong replied with a smirk.

"I think every Science major has put a hole in the ceiling at least once," HyunJoong replied, folding his arms across his chest. "It's easier than you think."

"Not all science majors have ceilings as high up as we do, HyunJoongie," KyuJong pointed out.

"The ceiling at the school's higher," the older man replied with a grin. "And they still manage it. It's actually quite fun to watch sometimes...as long as you're clear of the smoke."

"And with that, you probably just lost YoungSaeng here as a lab helper," KyuJong laughed.

"Damn." HyunJoong turned to YoungSaeng again. "You'll help me out, right?" he pleaded. "HyungJoon keeps exploding things without me even doing anything and Kyu won't stay still." He meant when it came to holding beakers and things like that, but that wasn't how it came out. JungMin vowed never to step into the room.

"That all depends on what you want me to do," YoungSaeng replied.

"Nothing major. Help me measure out things. Hold the beakers steady. If you promise not to go all 'mad scientist' on me, mix things. The instructions are very precise, and no, I won't give you anything explosive."

YoungSaeng took a minute to consider before slowly nodding. "If you keep things that could kill me away, then I'll help you," he compromised.

"Sounds like a deal," HyunJoong agreed. "Well, still don't try drinking anything, because I'm pretty sure in that case the entire room would be lethal. I do have gloves and face masks, you know."

YoungSaeng lifted a brow. "You've seen me look at water as though I'm being drugged. What makes you think I'm gonna tip back something in a science major's lab?"

"Just making sure," HyunJoong said with a wide grin. "You never know. Plenty of smart people have tried sticking their noses over beakers with strong chemicals inside, both my little brothers for example." His eyes danced with mischief.

KyuJong held his hands up. "Uh uh. I didn't do it on purpose. You shoved it under my nose and made it itch!" he protested.

"Putting it on the tray in front of you is not shoving it under your nose," the older brother chuckled. "I had nothing to do with you thinking it smelt like lilacs."

"It did!! And when I got my sense of smell back a week later, everything did."

YoungSaeng looked at HyunJoong. "I'm definitely wearing a mask in there..."

"Good idea," HyunJoong grinned at YoungSaeng. "Unless you like the smell of lilacs that much."

JungMin just put his head down on the table, shaking in suppressed laughter.

"I don't, so as I said; I'll take the mask," YoungSaeng stated clearly, kicking JungMin under the table lightly.

Jumping at the kick, JungMin sat up straight again, hair falling into his eyes. He'd forgotten they were in public, though it wasn't as if they could be really seen where they were sitting.

Finishing his noodles, HyunJoong placed his chopsticks down. "Great. Feel up for heading to the lab when we get back? I have a few exercises I need to run through before the test tomorrow."

YoungSaeng chuckled as JungMin jumped and straightened. Turning toward HyunJoong, he sighed and shrugged. "Might as well," he replied.

"So YoungSaeng, what would you like to have written on your tombstone?" KyuJong teased.

Rolling his eyes, YoungSaeng said, "Slave, remember? Not getting one, but if I had to choose, make it say 'While his body lies here, his spirit is haunting Kim HyunJoong until the day he dies'."

It was HyunJoong's turn to kick KyuJong under the table.

"I'll leave tons of pretty flowers for you," JungMin chirped, the first time the labor slave had actually spoken during the whole meal.

"I am not that bad," HyunJoong protested with a forlorn sigh.

KyuJong let out a yelp as he was kicked by his brother, only to kick back before smiling as JungMin finally spoke up.

"Yes, Hyung, you are."

"Then explain why you and Joonie are still alive and healthy," HyunJoong retorted. "Despite the amount of times you both messed with things I specifically said not to touch." He turned to YoungSaeng. "They keep trying to pin me for anything that happens in there, but I actually do tell them to stay clear sometimes."

KyuJong turned red and averted his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about..." he mumbled, finding quite a bit of interest in his water.

JungMin snickered quietly. HyunJoong turned to the redhead, sensing an opening to get back at KyuJong for all the teasing. "I told him not to touch a bottle of laughing gas I brought back from school for tests, and left the room to get my notes. When I came back, he was practically rolling on the floor. Joonie and I had to drag him out of the room so we could close the door and let it air out."

A burst of laughter escaped the redhead before he clamped a hand over his mouth.

The redness darkened even more. "In my defense, I was fourteen, and you mumble..." KyuJong replied, voice reaching an almost-but-not-quite whine.

"Do you really need to hear me properly to not open a gas-filled bottle?" HyunJoong teased, eyes dancing.

"It's clear gas, Hyung! I thought it was empty!" KyuJong shot back.

"If it's in my lab, it's safer to ask first, no? You and Joonie with clear things," HyunJoong sighed. "At least you didn't stick your finger in clear liquid thinking it's water." He looked up at YoungSaeng. "Never do that by the way," he chuckled.

"Oh, you have nothing to worry about there, YoungSaeng stated adamantly.

"Well, at least I wasn't the one who nearly drank one of your concoctions like Joonie did if you hadn't have stopped him."

"I don't want to know what would have happened if he actually drank that," HyunJoong shivered. "I really should ban him from that lab. For his own safety. No common sense." Which was saying something coming from him.

The waitress came by, picking up their empty plates and bowls.

"How about labeling things? As long as they can read, they'll be good," YoungSaeng suggested with a shake of his head.

"I do label things," HyunJoong sighed dejectedly. "I wonder if they can read sometimes."

"Maybe if you labeled things in ways we actually understand, idiot. I know what chloroform is, but not the element...try that," KyuJong pointed out. He'd never forget the day HyunJoong's ex knocked himself unconscious by taking a large whiff.

"I still think it should be an instinctive reaction to ask what it is before sticking fingers, noses, eyes or mouths anywhere near something you don't know in a science lab," HyunJoong said firmly.

YoungSaeng simply sat back and watched the brothers volley comments as though it were a tennis match. He shot JungMin an amused look before returning his attention to the two again.

The arguing only stopped when the waitress came back with the bill, HyunJoong shutting up long enough to pay and thank her. The staff here were used to the Kim brothers by now.

"Time to head back?" HyunJoong chuckled, stretching.

"Yeah, let's go," KyuJong stated as he got to his feet. Turning toward JungMin, he asked, "Are you still hungry? We're getting something for Joonie, so if you want, we can get something for you to take back, too."

Surprised, JungMin shook his head. He was used to such small rations that even that soup had filled him. Labor slaves got just enough nutrition to keep them going, but nothing more than that.

HyunJoong turned to YoungSaeng. "What about you? Depending on if something explodes in the lab, we might be having dinner a bit late."

"That's fine. I can't eat a lot of food anymore anyway," YoungSaeng replied, voice implying more to it that he might possible explain at a later date.

Raising an eyebrow at the tone, HyunJoong nodded with a smile. "Alright then. There's always snacks at home if you change your mind." He walked up to the counter to pick up take-out for HyungJoon.

YoungSaeng nodded his head to appease the man.

"Hyung, if you want, we can go get the car and be back here by the time the food's done and paid for," KyuJong suggested.

"Sure, why not?" HyunJoong grinned. "Don't crash before you get here," he teased. Leaning against the counter slightly, he looked at YoungSaeng and motioned to the bar stools set up beside the counter. "Why don't you sit? It'll be a while."

Clearing his throat, KyuJong held his hand out expectedly.

Nodding, YoungSaeng took a seat, crossing his legs in an elegant manner as he waited.

HyunJoong blinked at his brother before remembering that he had the car keys. "Oh, right." He pulled them out of his pocket and placed them in KyuJong's hand, grinning sheepishly. JungMin watched KyuJong, waiting to follow after his master.

KyuJong took the keys with a smile and walked out the door, knowing that JungMin was behind him. "So JungMin, do you know how to drive?" he asked nonchalantly.

Following along behind KyuJong, JungMin jerked back in shock at the question. "Who in their right mind let's a labor slave drive?!" He had been taken by the slavers far too early to even consider learning.

"Well, in all technicality, you're not a labor slave right now, but a personal one. Therefore, I could always teach you how and you can be my 'driver'," KyuJong air quoted.

JungMin didn't see how being a personal slave was any better, but he bit his tongue on that. "One problem with that. Slaves can't own licenses. And how do you know I won't put you in danger?" He retorted.

"Well, it's just an option, and if you want to, we can always change your status. I know that you hate it here and even more so with me, but it would pretty much make you off limits. If we did that, you'd gain a bit more freedom, such as being able to drive and things like that."

KyuJong paused a moment. "Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself. I'll drop it now," he sighed. He'd read about people allowing it, but looking back, it was mostly overseas where they were a bit more lenient.

Pressing his lips firmly together, JungMin managed not to retort. As if a change in status would make a difference. It never did; this time wouldn't be any different.

He was silent for a long moment after that. When they were just about at the car, the redhead asked "Why do you even talk about things like that? It doesn't make a difference, you know."

Looking down at the ground, KyuJong nodded. "I know it doesn't, but if no one speaks out, it never will, right?"

"People used to speak out all the time," JungMin said drily. "And they were squashed like ants. Or became like us." He lifted one hand to the collar around his neck, but dropped it again before he could touch it.

"Be more careful of what you say."

KyuJong nodded, running a hand through his hair. He then allowed the hand to linger on the back of his neck for a moment before shaking it off and unlocking the car for them both.

Since they were in view of many people, JungMin fell into his role of slave and opened the door for KyuJong, expression carefully blank. Once the other man was in, he went to take the same seat as he had before.

Once JungMin was in the car, KyuJong took a moment to compose himself before starting the car and pulling out. It only took a couple minutes to get to where HyunJoong and YoungSaeng were waiting.

Putting the car into park, he slowly slid across the seat into the passenger seat and just looked blankly out the window as they waited.

It didn't take long for the other two to reappear, HyunJoong holding a bag of takeout for HyungJoon. Spotting the car, he walked over and opened the driver door. "Hey," he grinned, showing the bag. "Let's see if the brat actually thanks us this time."

Snapping out of it when he heard his hyung's voice, KyuJong turned to look at him, chuckling lightly. "Doubtable, but we'll still give it to him...probably."

Sliding into the seat, HyunJoong passed the bag to his brother and closed the door, waiting for YoungSaeng to get in. "Anywhere else we needed to go?" he asked, looking at the other three.

KyuJong shook his head. "Not me." He turned to look at JungMin. "And you? Is there anything else we're forgetting, or that you want to do?"

JungMin shook his head in response, attention outside the dark-tinted windows at the crowds walking around, and the large trees.

"Saeng?" HyunJoong asked, turning his attention to the other man.

YoungSaeng felt himself stiffen at the nickname. "No," he replied, clutching the bag to his chest. "There's nothing."

"Alright," HyunJoong said, not giving any reaction to how the younger man stiffened visibly. Turning around, he took the parking brake off and shifted the car out of neutral before easing out into the flow of traffic coming and going from the shopping center. After a minute they were back on the highway to go home.

Noting the silence, he tilted his head slightly to one side. "Anyone want the radio on?"

"Please," KyuJong replied gratefully at the same time YoungSaeng said "Yes".

Grinning at the overlapping responses, HyunJoong reached out and turned the radio on, flipping through frequencies until he found a station with good, popular music. "How's this?" He humming along absently to the song playing, tapping his fingers along the steering wheel to the rhythm.

YoungSaeng nodded as he relaxed further, the music calming him as it always did.

"Good song," KyuJong replied, turning it up a bit as he began quietly singing along.

Even JungMin smiled faintly, attention still out the window.

It wasn't long before they pulled up to the large manor, HyunJoong driving into the garage and shutting off the engine.

Still looking out the window, KyuJong suddenly choked on a laugh. "Hey Hyung. I don't think we have to look very far for Joonie," he said, pointing to the youngest brother who was standing in the doorway with a huge pout on his face.

Looking where KyuJong pointed as he got out of the car, HyunJoong laughed. "Aish, that brat...hide the bag," he chuckled, wanting to have some fun teasing their baby brother first. "Hey Joonie," he called. "What's wrong? You didn't want to come, remember?"

"Well I thought that you were just getting clothes, but you've been gone forever, and I got bored. Appa has friends over and they're creepy." HyungJoon paused when he saw YoungSaeng in the back. "Hyung, didn't you have more hair when you left?" HyungJoon asked before he even thought about what he was saying.

Amused, HyunJoong looked back at YoungSaeng and the others in the car. While the long hair had been nice, the new hairstyle suited him even more. And he was pleased to note HyungJoon was calling YoungSaeng 'hyung'. "Why are you guys still in the car?" he chuckled, looking at them.

"And yeah, we went out for clothes, but we did a bit of shopping elsewhere then we got hungry so we went to eat."

Rolling his eyes, KyuJong got out, making sure to leave the food on the seat out of HyungJoon's line of sight.

"You got food?! Did you bring me anything? Huh? I'm starving!" he whined.

"Why should we get you something? You didn't want to come," HyunJoong pointed out, leaning against the car (out of the way so YoungSaeng could open his door without smacking him). "You know how to cook, brat." His expression was disinterested as always, but his eyes danced.

JungMin slowly got out once KyuJong was out, watching him before turning his attention towards the eldest and youngest.

"You and Kyu banned me from the kitchen and told the staff, remember?" HyungJoon pointed out before turning to YoungSaeng with a smile. "I like it, Hyung," he complimented.

YoungSaeng blinked before nodding his head, unsure of what to say, especially about how he was being addressed.

"You can still ask for food," HyunJoong rolled his eyes. "What are you going to do if Kyu and I are out for the whole day? Waste away in your room?" He smiled at the compliment though, glancing at YoungSaeng out of the corner of his eyes to see how it was received.

"No, of course not!" There was a pause. "I'd waste away in the living room."

"Why was he banned from the kitchen?" YoungSaeng asked, curious.

"The same reason he was banned from my lab: He gets into everything," HyunJoong chuckled. "Practically destroys the place." He looked back at KyuJong with an amused look.

KyuJong groaned out loud. "And somehow, I'm always the one made to clean up after him." To HyungJoon, he said, "You're lucky I make you food at all, you little brat..."

"But hyuuuuuung," HyungJoon whined, turning the puppy eyes on them both. "I make it up to you, don't I? You wouldn't let me starve?" Seeing that his brothers were a lost cause, he quickly switched tactics and went to YoungSaeng and JungMin. "You guys wouldn't just leave me to starve, right?"

YoungSaeng, unable to stop himself, shrugged his shoulders and played along. "Sorry, but I do what I'm ordered to do," he stated, smirk peeking through the blank expression.

HyungJoon stared at him, then looked at JungMin, but the redhead was shaking his head and grinning.

"They've turned you both against me," he sniffled dramatically. "It's a conspiracy!"

"It's not a conspiracy, you drama queen," KyuJong sighed. "They're just smart enough not to get involved."

"Or watching you take a fit is just too amusing to pass up," HyunJoong chuckled, taking a look at the almost twin smirks on YoungSaeng and JungMin's faces.

Glancing back at KyuJong, he figured they should probably give him the food now before he stormed off.

Nodding at HyunJoong, KyuJong began laughing. "Don't worry, Joonie. We didn't forget you."

Perking up instantly, much to YoungSaeng's amusement, HyungJoon held his hands out in front of him and began opening and closing his fists in a distinct 'gimme' fashion.

Forever amused at his youngest brother, HyunJoong opened the car door and leaned in snatch the bag off the seat. He straightened and dropped the takeout into HyungJoon's waiting hands. "Happy?"

The younger man nodded like a bobblehead, holding on to the bag as though his evil hyungs were going to snatch it away again before taking off.

YoungSaeng couldn't stop the laugh from escaping as he watched HyungJoon practically protect the bag with his life. As annoying and confusing as his master was, there was something, as small as it was, that he just couldn't hate.

That didn't stop him from distrusting him, however.

"Aish, that brat...not even a thank you," HyunJoong chuckled, looking back at the others. "Well...I suppose experiments now." He looked at YoungSaeng, and the papers the man still held protectively. "Though maybe we should drop those off in our room first," he mused.

"..." YoungSaeng paused, clutching the papers tighter before nodding slowly. "Yeah. Maybe we should."

HyunJoong smiled a little, looking at KyuJong and JungMin. "See you both around dinner then. Ddeokbokee tonight," he grinned. "We're seriously spoiling Joonie..."

Shaking his head, he started for the door, looking back at YoungSaeng curiously after making sure the hallway on the other side of the door was clear.

With a look to JungMin. YoungSaeng followed HyunJoong through the hallway and toward their room. It was still odd to think of it as such, as well as the fact that his owner seemed to not mind him owning something of his own. It was just something so strange and foreign to him after so many years.