Coagulation (08/20)
I'm back again! Okay, personally, I do not like this chapter. I know I say it a lot, but this one especially. I feel like I am getting bored of this fic, but I assure you that all the interesting things I have planned are getting closer, one may even be next chapter ;) I'm going to my beach house next week, and whenever I am there I seem to write a lot, which is good. So I am hoping to get a lot done. Also, during the year of 2005, DBSK went to Bora Bora to film the music video for Hiyayaya, if you would like to read my chapter about this trip, it is here.
To everyone who reads his fic, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all have had a very happy, safe and healthy holiday season and I hope you have all started 2012 in a good light. I hope the year treats you all well ^^ <3
내품에 꼭 안겨서 들었던
겨울바다의 파도소리가
지금 흐른 눈물에 씻겨져 버리잖아요
울지말고 그대 나를봐요
You are the one
- You Are The One by Super Junior
“The entire year after our debut went fine... Better than expected. We started winning awards faster than anyone had thought we would, and I guess we were building a name for ourselves. We went on our first trip together out of Korea to film in America. It was amazing. I was living every dream I had ever wanted... but also by the side of the people whom I loved most. YunHo was finally pressured by the media into getting the surgery and JunSu destroyed our debut concepts by carelessly being cute and YunHo's doting on ChangMin made the boy think he was allowed to do anything.” Jae smiled at the last thought. During 2004 was when YunHo had really found his love for ChangMin. The two had grown ever closer, and Jae had become convinced that ChangMin could murder a whole family, but still remain YunHo's innocent little boy. The maknae had grown so fast, he was a frightened child when they met him, but over the following two years, Jae and YunHo had tried their best to bring him up into a strong young man. The snarkiness was just a side-affect.
“Did you worry over what HeeChul had said to you?” MinJong asked, breaking through the silent thought, “Did the idea scare you?”
“I guess I never thought about it. The prospect of YunHo being taken away from me...” Jae swallowed thickly, “the prospect was more painful than I had ever imagined it could have been, but he was with me, he loved me. Towards the end it became too unhealthy... Being so close together at all times, we were always with the other, and I guess we became dependant. Though I can't say it was always smiles and laughter. We fought, we fought over the schedules, we fought over jealousy, we fought over such small and trivial things... But we didn't fight against each other, we were fighting for each other, and I guess that's what made the fights bearable: we fought, but we fought because we loved each other. I don't want you to get the idea that what was in between YunHo and I was picture perfect.” Jae shifted on his spot on the floor, “YunHo and I were no fairytale. The love we shared was brutal, possessive and passionate. It wasn't all smiles and romance, it was deeper than that.” The room settled into silence. Jae was reminded of those times, the times he wished he could go back to. The two would fight with everything that they had, but it would always end with being held tight, and long professions of love and forever. Any moment the two had alone they would spend sharing secret touches, passionate kisses.
“If 2004 was so easy... Was 2005 harder?” MinJong finally asked,
“It was a new year, and our popularity was still on a...” Jae paused when he felt a buzz emitting from his pocket. He frowned, reaching down to grab his phone,
Hey, it's getting late, where are you? x
Jae didn't reply, putting it on the floor beside him and continuing on with his story,“Our popularity was still on the rise and we were ready to take on so much more...”
“Wow YunHo-hyung... I didn't know you were into that.” ChangMin's voice startled YunHo as he examined a pink, lacy dress. “Though I don't think pink is JaeJoong-hyung's colour.” the maknae added, his voice lower and a snarky smirk on his face.
“Yah! I need to buy something for my sister!” YunHo said, his cheeks darkening in colour at the maknae's accusation. YunHo examined the dress closely, he had never been good at buying gifts for his younger sister. He remembered one time when he had bought her a toy dragon for her fourth birthday, but the poor girl was so terrified of the figure that he had to keep it in his room until she was old enough. He loved JiHye with all of his heart, but her birthday was one of the most stressful times of year for him,
“Hyung, why don't you get Jae to help you buy a gift for JiHye-ssi. He does have eight sister, you know. Unless Jae is who you're buying for.” YooChun wiggled his eyebrows, elbowing his friend in the side,
“Who's the dress for?” JunSu asked, a lolly-pop protruding from his lips.
“Jae.” YooChun and ChangMin both said in unison, bending over from laughter when YunHo just hunched his shoulders.
“For me? Oh YunHo, you shouldn't have.” Jae said, coming up to stand beside the leader,
“It's for my sister!” YunHo cried, his face red. Jae simply wrapped an arm around his middle and took the dress from his hands, placing it back on the rack.
“Get this instead.” he smiled, pointing at a long silver chain decorated with fake pearls and pure white feathers. “She's 12, right? Well this will make her feel beautiful and grown up.” Jae smiled. YunHo stared at it for a moment,
“Are you sure she would like it?” he asked,
“I'm positive.” Jae smiled.
“But, Hyung, you're terrible with children. They scream and run away from you.” ChangMin added, nonchalantly, as he examined a rack of coloured, yet masculine, earrings. Jae didn't even bother to reply, deciding instead to merely smack the maknae on the back of the head.
“Hello?” Jae heard YunHo say, he turned back and watched as YunHo spoke on the phone. “Yeah they're with me now, HeeChul-hyung... No we don't have a schedule tonight... If you want... Of course... See you then...” YunHo shoved the device back in his pocket, moving towards the cash register. “HeeChul and Geng hyung-deul are coming over tonight, they said that they have news.”
~
When HeeChul and Geng arrived they both harboured giant smiles, the type of smile that could only mean good news. All the members assembled themselves in the living room, beside a large window that looked out over the lights of Seoul.
“So?” ChangMin asked, “You look excited...” he smiled at the two Hyungs.
“We do.” HeeChul grinned. “Geng and I are debuting this November.”
“Hyung! That's fantastic news!” JunSu cried, leaping across the room to embrace the elder two.
“Yeah... It's just a project group. We'll only be together for 6 months, but I think it's a start, you know?” Geng said as he hugged YooChun, his gentle accent smoothing his words.
“Is it just the two of you?” Jae asked,
“No, there's twelve of us, which seems like a lot, but I'm sure we'll manage.” HeeChul explained,
“Have you met them yet?” ChangMin asked, moving in the embrace HeeChul.
“They're all people we have trained with. DongHae and HyukJae, SungMin, KiBum, YoungWoon and JongWoon, and then there are some of the younger ones, RyeoWook and SiWon. The leader's name is JungSoo... They're great people... I'm excited about this.”
“We're excited, too, Hyung! I cannot wait until we do some kind of performance together!” JunSu grinned from ear to ear. The room fell silent once again and Geng and HeeChul exchanged quick glances. HeeChul opened his mouth to speak once more, his eyes looking toubled, when there was a knock on the front door. JunSu ran to open it,
“Oh... Hello there, Jung-ssi! JiHye-yah! Uhm... Come in!” JunSu sounded surprised, and as Jae looked over, he had a uncomfortable look on his face. JunSu was followed closely by a middle aged man and a girl who looked no older than twelve. YunHo immediately stood tall, his eyes widening and his throat clearing,
“Dad!” he said, shock in his voice. Jae frowned as he realised this was the first time meeting YunHo's father. He had met YunHo's mother on countless occasions when she came to visit, or when she came to watch them perform, but YunHo's father was absent from all of that. Jae followed the others in the room as they all bowed low, a respectful 90º angle, though the teen did not fail to notice the defensive positions both HeeChul and JunSu had taken upon the arrival of the man.
“HeeChul-ssi, still corrupting my son, I see?” Mr. Jung gave HeeChul a patronising look, his eyes grazing over his body in distaste,
“Sure am, Sir.” he replied, moving closer to Jae subtly. “Don't say anything stupid, pretty boy. This guy finds out you're the one warming YunHo's bed, you can kiss your ass good bye, cause you're both dead.” he whispered as Mr. Jung turned to JunSu.
“Kim JunSu-ssi.” he said, nodding his head slightly, ignoring Jae, Geng, YooChun and ChangMin in favour of looking at YunHo. Jae felt a cold arrow shoot through his stomach as he saw the look of terror on YunHo's face.
“Father...” YunHo greeted, bowing again.
“Oppa!” a squeal came. JiHye ran up to her brother, enveloping him in a tight hug. “Oppa I missed you! Did you know I'm twelve soon?” she asked, tugging on his shirt. YunHo broke eye contact with his father to look down at his gorgeous younger sister.
“Hey JiHye-yah! I missed you too.” he said, a smile spreading across his lips as he held her tightly. “I have something for you. Wait here a second,” he said,
“I'll get it.” Jae heard himself say. He smiled reassuringly at YunHo before ducking into the bedroom and finding the beautiful shop-wrapped necklace on YunHo's bed. He quickly returned to the room, handing the package to YunHo who gave it to his younger sister. The way she looked at him, with such pride and adoration, was so different to the judgemental eyes of his father. She tore the paper, pulling the necklace out and gasping, her fingers running over the silver,
“Oppa! It's so beautiful!” she clutched the jewellery to her chest, a smile forming on Jae's lips.
“Your JaeJoong-oppa helped me pick it out, you should thank him too.” YunHo smiled as she hugged him tightly. YunHo pulled away and she slipped the necklace over her head, moving across the room and bowing to Jae,
“Thank you, JaeJoong-oppa.” she said politely, causing YunHo's smile to get larger. Jae smiled down to her,
“You're welcome, JiHye-yah. Happy birthday.” YunHo's father cleared his throat from across the room, causing all smiles to drop, even JiHye's.
“This is where you live, then?” he asked, wondering around the room, stopping beside YunHo's giant jar of coins, cocking an eyebrow. “And who's is this?”
“It's mine, sir.” YunHo said, not moving from his spot. JiHye could sense the change in his mood and was trying to get his attention back onto her,
“YunHo-yah... why don't you come back home?” his father asked, looking around at the photos and posters on the walls, “This isn't the life for you. How can you expect family honour and pride when you live like this?” Jae had to bite his lips to stop himself from saying anything. HeeChul placed a hand on his back reassuringly,
“This is my life, my place and these are my brothers. I won't leave here, but I will bring honour and pride. That has always been my promise to you.” YunHo spoke strongly, but he was scared. So very, very scared.
“These are your brothers? These idiots,” he gestured towards JunSu, “These...” he pointed his hand at HeeChul, but couldn't seem to find the words.
“Yes. These are my family and I lo-”
“They are not your family. I am your family, and if you continue with this... You are a disgrace to our family.” he was cut off.
“I will bring you pride and honour.” YunHo just repeated. YunHo's father opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped when JiHye walked towards him,
“Let's go home, daddy.” she said. Jae felt his heart warm at her defence of her brother.
“When you fail, you can come home. I'll wait for that day.” the man said before taking JiHye's hand and leading her away, the front door shutting loudly behind them. HeeChul looked at YunHo,
“Congratulations, Hyung.” YunHo smiled weakly, leaving the room and closing the bedroom door loudly behind him.
“I fucking hate that guy.” HeeChul said, the other people in the room nodded in their agreement.
“He really said that to YunHo?” MinJong was stunned.
“YunHo's father was fixated on honour and pride. It's all he cared about, and when YunHo was fixed on becoming an idol... he didn't think YunHo could do it. He wanted YunHo to become a lawyer, someone powerful who would win fights and prosecute people. He wanted YunHo to be someone fixed on destroying lives... but YunHo could never be that person. YunHo's father was so certain that YunHo couldn't do anything right. He slept under bridges, he was forced to drop out of high school to move to Seoul to become a trainee when, with the slightest help from his father, he could have stayed in school... But YunHo knew his heart and knew his dream”
“Did YunHo's father know about you two?” MinJong asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“No... Well... Sometimes I think that... Maybe he did. He never said anything and he never made a move against my relationship with YunHo, even if we were masking it as friendship, but there were times when I thought he knew... I feel like he must have known, especially towards the end.” Jae confessed, his fingers tangling through his hair. “We became careless... Promise me you'll never be careless.” Jae looked desperately at MinJong. The trainee was so young, so innocent and so in love. “Only tell those you trust most. Don't let yourselves be obvious in public... try and keep it as private as you can.” Jae was almost pleading.
“I promise...” MinJong said, not knowing what else he could say. They were silent again, minds sweeping over the painful thoughts,
“We spent the summer in Bora Bora... We filmed there, and then had some down time to relax. It was nice.” Jae was smiling again, “When we went back to Korea we had to start preparations for the second album. HeeChul and the others were still going through intense preparations for their debut so we all spent a lot of time in the studios...”
“Come on, Hyung!” ChangMin sighed, smacking JunSu as hard as he could on the butt. “Don't be a lazy shit!”
“ChangMin, mind your language.” JaeJoong found himself automatically correcting as he watched his own reflection move in the mirror. The maknae ignored the scolding and continued to terrorise the singer. YunHo approached Jae from across the room, wrapping and arm around his middle just as he stopped dancing and nuzzling into his neck.
“Hmmm you look really hot when you move like that you know.” he hummed, a hand running across the elder's stomach.
“Oh Hyung, gross!” ChangMin threw his water bottle across the room.
“Oh don't be a princess.” Jae said, pulling away and starting to dance again. He grunted in frustration as he missed a step again. “I can't get this bit.” he whined, trying it over with more vigour. He spun quickly, but missed his footing, tumbling to the ground with a thud, his leg twisting harshly as he fell. Jae cried out in pain as he felt his leg burn,
“Fuck! Jae, are you alright?” YunHo cried, dropping to his knees beside his partner, pulling him up into a sitting position and reaching towards his leg. Jae winced in pain as YunHo began to pull his pants leg up over his knee, there was already evident swelling.
“YooChun, go get the manager. JunSu, try and find something cold, Ice or something like that.” YunHo commanded, trying to help Jae into a more comfortable position. “Are you okay?” he asked, pushing the black hair from his eyes.
“It hurts.” Jae gasped, biting his lip against the pained tears. The manager ran into the room, closely followed by JunSu who held an ice-pack tightly in his hands. The manager examined the boy closely before frowning and standing again,
“YunHo I need you to help me get him to the car. I will take him to the hospital with the coordi, you organise your members and get them back to the dorm.” he stated,
“Can't YunHo come?” Jae asked weakly.
“No.” the manager stated matter-of-factly. YunHo helped Jae to his feet and between him and the manager they were able to get him to the car, seating him in the back seat.
“I'm sorry...” Jae said, grabbing onto YunHo's hand.
“Get better.” YunHo replied, leaning in and kissing his forehead.
“None of that.” The manager said, pushing YunHo away and shutting the door. “He's going to be fine.” YunHo stood helpless as the car drove away, taking with it his most loved person in the world.
“Hyung... He's going to be okay. It's just his leg.” YooChun said, putting a hand on YunHo's shoulder.
“But he's in pain.” YunHo gave the younger a distraught look, “He's in pain and I'm not there for him...”
“He'll be fine.”
~
The sun was close to rising when Jae got back to the dorm. He used his crutches to carefully manoeuvre himself around the apartment, changing his clothes and brushing his teeth to get ready for the sleep he would try and get before they had to start recording for the day. He opened the door as quietly as he could, moved in between the beds and leaning the crutches against the wall. He closed his eyes as he buried his face into the pillow, the drugs in his system numbing the pain. He felt the bed dip behind him and an arm twine around his middle,
“Are you alright?” YunHo's voice broke through the silence.
“I'm alright... I won't be able to dance until it's healed, though.” Jae replied, shuffling back to press his body against YunHo's in the small bed.
“I love you.” YunHo whispered into his neck.
“I love you, too.”
To everyone who reads his fic, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all have had a very happy, safe and healthy holiday season and I hope you have all started 2012 in a good light. I hope the year treats you all well ^^ <3
내품에 꼭 안겨서 들었던
겨울바다의 파도소리가
지금 흐른 눈물에 씻겨져 버리잖아요
울지말고 그대 나를봐요
You are the one
- You Are The One by Super Junior
“The entire year after our debut went fine... Better than expected. We started winning awards faster than anyone had thought we would, and I guess we were building a name for ourselves. We went on our first trip together out of Korea to film in America. It was amazing. I was living every dream I had ever wanted... but also by the side of the people whom I loved most. YunHo was finally pressured by the media into getting the surgery and JunSu destroyed our debut concepts by carelessly being cute and YunHo's doting on ChangMin made the boy think he was allowed to do anything.” Jae smiled at the last thought. During 2004 was when YunHo had really found his love for ChangMin. The two had grown ever closer, and Jae had become convinced that ChangMin could murder a whole family, but still remain YunHo's innocent little boy. The maknae had grown so fast, he was a frightened child when they met him, but over the following two years, Jae and YunHo had tried their best to bring him up into a strong young man. The snarkiness was just a side-affect.
“Did you worry over what HeeChul had said to you?” MinJong asked, breaking through the silent thought, “Did the idea scare you?”
“I guess I never thought about it. The prospect of YunHo being taken away from me...” Jae swallowed thickly, “the prospect was more painful than I had ever imagined it could have been, but he was with me, he loved me. Towards the end it became too unhealthy... Being so close together at all times, we were always with the other, and I guess we became dependant. Though I can't say it was always smiles and laughter. We fought, we fought over the schedules, we fought over jealousy, we fought over such small and trivial things... But we didn't fight against each other, we were fighting for each other, and I guess that's what made the fights bearable: we fought, but we fought because we loved each other. I don't want you to get the idea that what was in between YunHo and I was picture perfect.” Jae shifted on his spot on the floor, “YunHo and I were no fairytale. The love we shared was brutal, possessive and passionate. It wasn't all smiles and romance, it was deeper than that.” The room settled into silence. Jae was reminded of those times, the times he wished he could go back to. The two would fight with everything that they had, but it would always end with being held tight, and long professions of love and forever. Any moment the two had alone they would spend sharing secret touches, passionate kisses.
“If 2004 was so easy... Was 2005 harder?” MinJong finally asked,
“It was a new year, and our popularity was still on a...” Jae paused when he felt a buzz emitting from his pocket. He frowned, reaching down to grab his phone,
Hey, it's getting late, where are you? x
Jae didn't reply, putting it on the floor beside him and continuing on with his story,“Our popularity was still on the rise and we were ready to take on so much more...”
“Wow YunHo-hyung... I didn't know you were into that.” ChangMin's voice startled YunHo as he examined a pink, lacy dress. “Though I don't think pink is JaeJoong-hyung's colour.” the maknae added, his voice lower and a snarky smirk on his face.
“Yah! I need to buy something for my sister!” YunHo said, his cheeks darkening in colour at the maknae's accusation. YunHo examined the dress closely, he had never been good at buying gifts for his younger sister. He remembered one time when he had bought her a toy dragon for her fourth birthday, but the poor girl was so terrified of the figure that he had to keep it in his room until she was old enough. He loved JiHye with all of his heart, but her birthday was one of the most stressful times of year for him,
“Hyung, why don't you get Jae to help you buy a gift for JiHye-ssi. He does have eight sister, you know. Unless Jae is who you're buying for.” YooChun wiggled his eyebrows, elbowing his friend in the side,
“Who's the dress for?” JunSu asked, a lolly-pop protruding from his lips.
“Jae.” YooChun and ChangMin both said in unison, bending over from laughter when YunHo just hunched his shoulders.
“For me? Oh YunHo, you shouldn't have.” Jae said, coming up to stand beside the leader,
“It's for my sister!” YunHo cried, his face red. Jae simply wrapped an arm around his middle and took the dress from his hands, placing it back on the rack.
“Get this instead.” he smiled, pointing at a long silver chain decorated with fake pearls and pure white feathers. “She's 12, right? Well this will make her feel beautiful and grown up.” Jae smiled. YunHo stared at it for a moment,
“Are you sure she would like it?” he asked,
“I'm positive.” Jae smiled.
“But, Hyung, you're terrible with children. They scream and run away from you.” ChangMin added, nonchalantly, as he examined a rack of coloured, yet masculine, earrings. Jae didn't even bother to reply, deciding instead to merely smack the maknae on the back of the head.
“Hello?” Jae heard YunHo say, he turned back and watched as YunHo spoke on the phone. “Yeah they're with me now, HeeChul-hyung... No we don't have a schedule tonight... If you want... Of course... See you then...” YunHo shoved the device back in his pocket, moving towards the cash register. “HeeChul and Geng hyung-deul are coming over tonight, they said that they have news.”
~
When HeeChul and Geng arrived they both harboured giant smiles, the type of smile that could only mean good news. All the members assembled themselves in the living room, beside a large window that looked out over the lights of Seoul.
“So?” ChangMin asked, “You look excited...” he smiled at the two Hyungs.
“We do.” HeeChul grinned. “Geng and I are debuting this November.”
“Hyung! That's fantastic news!” JunSu cried, leaping across the room to embrace the elder two.
“Yeah... It's just a project group. We'll only be together for 6 months, but I think it's a start, you know?” Geng said as he hugged YooChun, his gentle accent smoothing his words.
“Is it just the two of you?” Jae asked,
“No, there's twelve of us, which seems like a lot, but I'm sure we'll manage.” HeeChul explained,
“Have you met them yet?” ChangMin asked, moving in the embrace HeeChul.
“They're all people we have trained with. DongHae and HyukJae, SungMin, KiBum, YoungWoon and JongWoon, and then there are some of the younger ones, RyeoWook and SiWon. The leader's name is JungSoo... They're great people... I'm excited about this.”
“We're excited, too, Hyung! I cannot wait until we do some kind of performance together!” JunSu grinned from ear to ear. The room fell silent once again and Geng and HeeChul exchanged quick glances. HeeChul opened his mouth to speak once more, his eyes looking toubled, when there was a knock on the front door. JunSu ran to open it,
“Oh... Hello there, Jung-ssi! JiHye-yah! Uhm... Come in!” JunSu sounded surprised, and as Jae looked over, he had a uncomfortable look on his face. JunSu was followed closely by a middle aged man and a girl who looked no older than twelve. YunHo immediately stood tall, his eyes widening and his throat clearing,
“Dad!” he said, shock in his voice. Jae frowned as he realised this was the first time meeting YunHo's father. He had met YunHo's mother on countless occasions when she came to visit, or when she came to watch them perform, but YunHo's father was absent from all of that. Jae followed the others in the room as they all bowed low, a respectful 90º angle, though the teen did not fail to notice the defensive positions both HeeChul and JunSu had taken upon the arrival of the man.
“HeeChul-ssi, still corrupting my son, I see?” Mr. Jung gave HeeChul a patronising look, his eyes grazing over his body in distaste,
“Sure am, Sir.” he replied, moving closer to Jae subtly. “Don't say anything stupid, pretty boy. This guy finds out you're the one warming YunHo's bed, you can kiss your ass good bye, cause you're both dead.” he whispered as Mr. Jung turned to JunSu.
“Kim JunSu-ssi.” he said, nodding his head slightly, ignoring Jae, Geng, YooChun and ChangMin in favour of looking at YunHo. Jae felt a cold arrow shoot through his stomach as he saw the look of terror on YunHo's face.
“Father...” YunHo greeted, bowing again.
“Oppa!” a squeal came. JiHye ran up to her brother, enveloping him in a tight hug. “Oppa I missed you! Did you know I'm twelve soon?” she asked, tugging on his shirt. YunHo broke eye contact with his father to look down at his gorgeous younger sister.
“Hey JiHye-yah! I missed you too.” he said, a smile spreading across his lips as he held her tightly. “I have something for you. Wait here a second,” he said,
“I'll get it.” Jae heard himself say. He smiled reassuringly at YunHo before ducking into the bedroom and finding the beautiful shop-wrapped necklace on YunHo's bed. He quickly returned to the room, handing the package to YunHo who gave it to his younger sister. The way she looked at him, with such pride and adoration, was so different to the judgemental eyes of his father. She tore the paper, pulling the necklace out and gasping, her fingers running over the silver,
“Oppa! It's so beautiful!” she clutched the jewellery to her chest, a smile forming on Jae's lips.
“Your JaeJoong-oppa helped me pick it out, you should thank him too.” YunHo smiled as she hugged him tightly. YunHo pulled away and she slipped the necklace over her head, moving across the room and bowing to Jae,
“Thank you, JaeJoong-oppa.” she said politely, causing YunHo's smile to get larger. Jae smiled down to her,
“You're welcome, JiHye-yah. Happy birthday.” YunHo's father cleared his throat from across the room, causing all smiles to drop, even JiHye's.
“This is where you live, then?” he asked, wondering around the room, stopping beside YunHo's giant jar of coins, cocking an eyebrow. “And who's is this?”
“It's mine, sir.” YunHo said, not moving from his spot. JiHye could sense the change in his mood and was trying to get his attention back onto her,
“YunHo-yah... why don't you come back home?” his father asked, looking around at the photos and posters on the walls, “This isn't the life for you. How can you expect family honour and pride when you live like this?” Jae had to bite his lips to stop himself from saying anything. HeeChul placed a hand on his back reassuringly,
“This is my life, my place and these are my brothers. I won't leave here, but I will bring honour and pride. That has always been my promise to you.” YunHo spoke strongly, but he was scared. So very, very scared.
“These are your brothers? These idiots,” he gestured towards JunSu, “These...” he pointed his hand at HeeChul, but couldn't seem to find the words.
“Yes. These are my family and I lo-”
“They are not your family. I am your family, and if you continue with this... You are a disgrace to our family.” he was cut off.
“I will bring you pride and honour.” YunHo just repeated. YunHo's father opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped when JiHye walked towards him,
“Let's go home, daddy.” she said. Jae felt his heart warm at her defence of her brother.
“When you fail, you can come home. I'll wait for that day.” the man said before taking JiHye's hand and leading her away, the front door shutting loudly behind them. HeeChul looked at YunHo,
“Congratulations, Hyung.” YunHo smiled weakly, leaving the room and closing the bedroom door loudly behind him.
“I fucking hate that guy.” HeeChul said, the other people in the room nodded in their agreement.
“He really said that to YunHo?” MinJong was stunned.
“YunHo's father was fixated on honour and pride. It's all he cared about, and when YunHo was fixed on becoming an idol... he didn't think YunHo could do it. He wanted YunHo to become a lawyer, someone powerful who would win fights and prosecute people. He wanted YunHo to be someone fixed on destroying lives... but YunHo could never be that person. YunHo's father was so certain that YunHo couldn't do anything right. He slept under bridges, he was forced to drop out of high school to move to Seoul to become a trainee when, with the slightest help from his father, he could have stayed in school... But YunHo knew his heart and knew his dream”
“Did YunHo's father know about you two?” MinJong asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“No... Well... Sometimes I think that... Maybe he did. He never said anything and he never made a move against my relationship with YunHo, even if we were masking it as friendship, but there were times when I thought he knew... I feel like he must have known, especially towards the end.” Jae confessed, his fingers tangling through his hair. “We became careless... Promise me you'll never be careless.” Jae looked desperately at MinJong. The trainee was so young, so innocent and so in love. “Only tell those you trust most. Don't let yourselves be obvious in public... try and keep it as private as you can.” Jae was almost pleading.
“I promise...” MinJong said, not knowing what else he could say. They were silent again, minds sweeping over the painful thoughts,
“We spent the summer in Bora Bora... We filmed there, and then had some down time to relax. It was nice.” Jae was smiling again, “When we went back to Korea we had to start preparations for the second album. HeeChul and the others were still going through intense preparations for their debut so we all spent a lot of time in the studios...”
“Come on, Hyung!” ChangMin sighed, smacking JunSu as hard as he could on the butt. “Don't be a lazy shit!”
“ChangMin, mind your language.” JaeJoong found himself automatically correcting as he watched his own reflection move in the mirror. The maknae ignored the scolding and continued to terrorise the singer. YunHo approached Jae from across the room, wrapping and arm around his middle just as he stopped dancing and nuzzling into his neck.
“Hmmm you look really hot when you move like that you know.” he hummed, a hand running across the elder's stomach.
“Oh Hyung, gross!” ChangMin threw his water bottle across the room.
“Oh don't be a princess.” Jae said, pulling away and starting to dance again. He grunted in frustration as he missed a step again. “I can't get this bit.” he whined, trying it over with more vigour. He spun quickly, but missed his footing, tumbling to the ground with a thud, his leg twisting harshly as he fell. Jae cried out in pain as he felt his leg burn,
“Fuck! Jae, are you alright?” YunHo cried, dropping to his knees beside his partner, pulling him up into a sitting position and reaching towards his leg. Jae winced in pain as YunHo began to pull his pants leg up over his knee, there was already evident swelling.
“YooChun, go get the manager. JunSu, try and find something cold, Ice or something like that.” YunHo commanded, trying to help Jae into a more comfortable position. “Are you okay?” he asked, pushing the black hair from his eyes.
“It hurts.” Jae gasped, biting his lip against the pained tears. The manager ran into the room, closely followed by JunSu who held an ice-pack tightly in his hands. The manager examined the boy closely before frowning and standing again,
“YunHo I need you to help me get him to the car. I will take him to the hospital with the coordi, you organise your members and get them back to the dorm.” he stated,
“Can't YunHo come?” Jae asked weakly.
“No.” the manager stated matter-of-factly. YunHo helped Jae to his feet and between him and the manager they were able to get him to the car, seating him in the back seat.
“I'm sorry...” Jae said, grabbing onto YunHo's hand.
“Get better.” YunHo replied, leaning in and kissing his forehead.
“None of that.” The manager said, pushing YunHo away and shutting the door. “He's going to be fine.” YunHo stood helpless as the car drove away, taking with it his most loved person in the world.
“Hyung... He's going to be okay. It's just his leg.” YooChun said, putting a hand on YunHo's shoulder.
“But he's in pain.” YunHo gave the younger a distraught look, “He's in pain and I'm not there for him...”
“He'll be fine.”
~
The sun was close to rising when Jae got back to the dorm. He used his crutches to carefully manoeuvre himself around the apartment, changing his clothes and brushing his teeth to get ready for the sleep he would try and get before they had to start recording for the day. He opened the door as quietly as he could, moved in between the beds and leaning the crutches against the wall. He closed his eyes as he buried his face into the pillow, the drugs in his system numbing the pain. He felt the bed dip behind him and an arm twine around his middle,
“Are you alright?” YunHo's voice broke through the silence.
“I'm alright... I won't be able to dance until it's healed, though.” Jae replied, shuffling back to press his body against YunHo's in the small bed.
“I love you.” YunHo whispered into his neck.
“I love you, too.”